all rights of citizen; and, of course, their employments, whether civil, military, or ecclesiastical. This oath, as you may judge, became the subject of most violent debates; however, it passed as every thing else, at a great majority, and was immediately sent to the King for sanction. The King demanded time, to consult Rome; and, accordingly, a courier was dispatched: but before the answer could come back, the monarch was awed into compliance, and the sanction was given. A day was immediately appointed to receive the oaths of the ecclesiastical members of the assembly; but upwards of fourscore of them, (among which was one bishop,) full of zeal for the discipline introduced into the Gallican church, demanded to be admitted immediately, to take the oath, without waiting for the appointed delay; and you may judge with what applause this patriotic enthusiasm was received. The whole body of bishops, and the remaining clergy, resolved

to wait in silence for the fatal day. Many people thought they would only express their determination, by not appearing; which, according to the tenor of the decree, was enough to incur the forfeiture of their sees. But, contrary to expectation, they went to the assembly, as usual, the Cardinal de la Rochefaucauld at their head. As the hour for taking the oaths approached, every art was employed to urge them to compliance: their lives were threatened by the enraged mob, that had been placed on purpose in the galleries, and round about the hall: cries of fury were heard from all sides; but, to the everlasting honour of the Church of France, they stood out like heroes; and protested, they were ready to die, but would never be prevailed upon to take an oath contrary to their conscience. Their firmness was so much admired by the mob itself, that the greatest silence succeeded to the cries of blood, that had filled the Salle; and amidst that

silence, they arose, walked out, and did not receive the least insult from the people, though the people seemed, a moment before, to be in fury. The remaining part of the assembly immediately gave orders to the president, to wait on the King, and charge him to execute the decree, which in other terms signifies, that His Majesty must issue out a proclamation, to elect all over France other bishops in the place of those who, by not swearing, have forfeited their sees. How these matters will turn out, God alone knows; but the undaunted courage of our prelates seems to make the deepest impression upon all minds. Twenty-eight clergymen, out of the eighty, that had taken the oath, have publicly retracted it; and it is hoped, there will be many more.

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Hitherto, I have only spoken of the clergy who are members of the Assemblée Nationale. But 119 bishops have already adhered to their declaration, and of course are resolved to share their fate. This makes

up almost the whole clergy of France; and it must be allowed, that church history hardly affords a single instance of this kind.

"This morning was appointed for the taking of the oath, in every parish church of Paris. The curates received their invitations a week ago; and I have been waiting until this moment to know the event. They are, as you know, 52 in all; and I am assured, that 9 only have taken it: but you have no conception of the shocking means that have been taken to force them against their consciences. At St. Sulpice, the mob was outrageous. The curate, a young man of great abilities, and still greater virtue, received 22 nòtes last night, by which he clearly saw there was a plan to get him murdered this morning, if he refused the oath. Notwithstanding the danger, he got up into the pulpit; spoke with the greatest vehemence; and would, infallibly, have been the victim of his zeal, had not his pa

rishioners surrounded him as he came down, and saved his life from the villians, who had been sent on purpose, and filled a considerable part of the church. He knows, by name, a man who received yesterday 1100 livres to kill him this morning; but notwithstanding the most earnest entreaties of the Lord Mayor, he refused telling who it is. The curates of St. Marguerite, St. Paul, St. Gervais, St. Jean de Greve, have eloped; thinking it more prudent to withdraw, than to face a rabble worked up into fury, by every art that can be imagined.

"Such is the situation of this unfortunate town at this present moment. What it will be in a month hence, I know not. If the assembly prevail, we shall see, in a few weeks, the schism completely established ; all intercourse with Rome cut off; and 83 schismatical bishops in the places of the 136 now existing; in which case, we must practise our religion in corners and holes, as you formerly did in Ireland. At the