Page:Historical account of Lisbon college.djvu/158

 charged with distinction the duties of various Professor ships, which included the Classics, Scripture and Canon Law, and he had received from Pius IX the degree of Doctor of Divinity. In the following year, 1859, Cardinal di Pietro, the first Apostolic Nuncio who had acted as Protector of the College, having successfully completed his negotiations with the Portuguese Government, left Lisbon for Rome. Prior to his departure he made over to the College, under certain conditions, the country house and vineyards known as Torre de Fato, adjoining the property already acquired at Luz; the Superiors purchasing from him a small villa called De Romeiros which stands at one corner of Torre de Fato.

It will have been noticed that the six years of Dr. Ilsley's Presidentship, which had intervened from the death of Dr. Winstanley, had been marked by various changes conducive to the intellectual and material well-being of the Establishment. By the introduction of additional subjects in the curriculum, both of the lower and higher departments of the House, the course of studies throughout had been brought more abreast of the requirements of the time, while the health of the students had been consulted for, and their material comforts thus greatly promoted. But at length the anxieties of a busy and laborious life, began to tell upon his health. For some years he had suffered from occasional slight epileptic attacks which did not, however, materially interfere with the discharge of his duties, but in 1859 the disease suddenly assumed a very grave character, and while preaching in the College church he was seized for the first time with a fit of such a violent nature that it seemed to endanger his life. Rest from labour and anxiety was recommended by the medical men whom he consulted, and during the two following years he was absent for considerable intervals from the College, But in spite of all efforts the disease increased, and at length finding himself quite unequal to his duties, he petitioned the Holy See to be allowed to resign the office of President, and in 1862 returned to England.