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AMERICA.

ON THE ISLAND OF GRACIOZA,

ONE OF THE AZORES.

IN the spring of 1791 I made a voyage to America. Before the vessel, which conveyed me, reached her destination, we were in want of water, as well as provisions; and finding ourselves near the Azores, resolved to touch there. Several priests were passengers in the same ship; they were emigrating to Baltimore, under the guidance of the superior St... M. N. Among these priests were some foreigners, particularly Mr. T... a young Englishman of an excellent family, who had lately become a convert to the Roman faith.

The history of this youth is too singular not to be recorded, and will perhaps be more particularly interesting to the English reader.

Mr. T... was the son of a Scotch woman and an English clergyman, who was, I believe,

the rector of W. though I have in vain tried to find him, and may possibly have forgotten the right names. The son served in the artillery, and would no doubt have soon been distinguished by his merit. He was a painter, a musician, a mathematician, and master of several languages. He united with the advantages of a tall and elegant person the talents which are useful, and those which make us court the society of their possessor.

M. N. superior of St..... having visited London on business, I believe in the year 1790, became acquainted with young T... This monk had that warmth of soul which easily makes proselytes of men possessing the vivid imagination by which T... was distinguished. It was determined that the latter should repair to Paris, send the resignation of his commission from that place to the Duke of Richmond, embrace the Catholic religion, and, after entering into holy orders, accompany M. N. to America. The project was put in execution, and T... in spite of his mother's letters, which he could not read without tears, embarked for the new world.

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