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246 shall think of you in sorrow only. If at any future time you think I can give you one helpful word, write to me, and believe me now to remain in simple truth, 'Yours sincerely.'

The writer of the above is considered to be unusually well informed in philosophical matters, for a Catholic, and had been intimate with me for some time. I had, therefore, thought it possible, though improbable, that he would be able to take my secession in a purely intellectual light. After such perverse misunderstanding, and harsh and insulting language from him, I was constrained to abandon all hope of sympathy from Catholics. However, I quote one more letter; it is from one of my colleagues whom I much respect. Kind and generous at heart, he is unfortunately narrow in intellect, and imbued with the orthodox notion of a seceder; the effect of the system is, therefore, again visible. It is too long to quote in extenso, but I give the more relevant passages. He commences by saying of my words (in describing the treatment I had received), 'the perverse and degrading sentiments of Roman Catholics' that they are 'as insulting as they are false'; he then defends Father David about the scandal over the books, on the ground of my vow of poverty, adding that he did not think me consciously unjust, or unmindful of my duty to the college, or hypocritical. Then he continues: