Roman Catholic church in Philadelphia, July 4, 1779, is a fair illustration of the spirit they exhibited throughout. After a Te Deum was chanted, the chaplain spoke as follows:

GENTLEMEN:-We are assembled to celebrate the anniversary of that day which Providence has marked in his eternal decrees to become the epocha of liberty and independence to the thirteen United States of America. That Being, whose almighty hand holds all existence beneath its dominion, undoubtedly produces in the depth of his wisdom those great events which astonish the universe, and of which the most presumptuous, though instrumental in accomplishing, dare not attribute to themselves the merit. But the finger of God is still more peculiarly evident in the happy, the glorious Revolution which calls forth this day's festivity.

He hath struck the oppressors of a free people-free and peaceable— with the spirit of delusion, which always renders the wicked the artificers of their own proper misfortunes.

Permit me, my dear brethren, citizens of the United States, to address you on this occasion. It is God, the all-powerful God, who hath directed your steps when you knew not where to apply for counsel; who, when you were without arms, fought for you with the sword of eternal justice; who, when you were in adversity, poured into your hearts the spirit of courage, of wisdom, and of fortitude; and who at length raised up for your support a youthful sovereign, whose virtues bless and adorn a sensible, a faithful, and a generous nation. This nation has blended her interests with your interests and her sentiments with yours. She participates in all your joys, and this day unites her voice to yours at the foot of the altars of the eternal God to celebrate that glorious Revolution which has placed the sons of America among the free and independent nations of the earth.

We have nothing to apprehend but the anger of Heaven, or that the measure of our guilt should exceed the measure of his mercy. Let us, then, prostrate ourselves at the feet of the immortal God, who holds the fate of empires in his hands, and raises them up at his pleasure or breaks them to the dust. Let us implore him to conduct us by the way which his providence has marked out for arriving at so desirable an end; let us offer unto him hearts imbued with sentiments of love, consecrated by religion, by humanity and patriotism. Never is the august ministry of his altars more acceptable to his Divine majesty than when it lays at his feet homages, offerings, and vows so pure, so worthy of the common Parent of mankind. God will not reject our joy, for he is the author of it, nor will he reject our prayers, for they ask but the full accomplishment of his decrees that he hath manifested. Filled with this spirit, let us, in concert with each other, raise our hearts to the Eternal; let us implore his infinite mercy to be pleased to inspire the rulers of both nations with the wisdom and force necessary to perfect what it hath begun. Let us, in a word, unite our voices to beseech him to dispense his blessings upon the councils and arms of the allies, that we may soon enjoy the sweets of a peace which will cement the union and establish

the prosperity of the two empires. It is with this view we shall cause the canticle to be performed which the custom of the Catholic Church hath consecrated to be at once the testimonial of public joy, a thanksgiving for benefits received from Heaven, and a prayer for the continuance of its success.

Archbishop Carroll, brother of Charles Carroll, who signed the Declaration of Independence, was able and eloquent in defence of the American cause. Those who heard him say " that when he recited the terrors, the encouragements, the distresses, and the glories of the struggle for independence," he was moved with intense emotion, and swayed the feelings of his audience with the strains of his patriotic and pious eloquence.

November, 1781. ADDRESS DELIVERED BY M. PAUL BARDOLE TO CONGRESS, THE SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, AND THE ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA, &c. &c., WHO WERE INVITED BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE MINISTER OF FRANCE TO ATTEND IN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA, DURING THE CELEBRATION OF DIVINE SERVICE AND THANKSGIVING FOR THE CAPTURE OF LORD CORN

WALLIS.

GENTLEMEN:

A numerous people assembled to render thanks to the Almighty for his mercies is one of the most affecting objects, and worthy the attention of the Supreme Being. While camps resound with triumphal acclamations, while nations rejoice in victory and glory, the most honorable office a minister of the altar can fill is to be the organ by which public gratitude is conveyed to the Omnipotent.

Those miracles which he once wrought for his chosen people are renewed in our favor; and it would be equally ungrateful and impious not to acknowledge that the event which lately confounded our enemies and frustrated their designs was the wonderful work of that God who guards our liberties.

And who but he could so combine the circumstances which led to success? We have seen our enemies push forward amid perils almost innumerable, amid obstacles almost insurmountable, to the spot that was destined to witness their disgrace; yet they eagerly sought it as the theatre of their triumph! Blind as they were, they bore hunger, thirst, and inclement skies, poured their blood in battle against brave republicans, and crossed immense regions to confine themselves in another Jericho, whose walls were fated to fall before another Joshua. It is He whose voice commands the winds, the seas, and the seasons, who formed a junction on the same day, in the same hour, between a formidable fleet from the south, and an army rushing from the north like an impetuous torrent. Who but He in whose hands are the hearts of men could inspire the allied troops with the friendship, the confidence, the tenderness, of brothers? How is it that two nations, once divided, jealous, inimical, and nursed in reciprocal prejudices, are now become so

closely united as to form but one? Worldlings would say that it is the wisdom, the virtue and moderation of their chief, it is a great national interest, which has performed this prodigy. They will say, to the skill of the generals, to the courage of the troops, to the activity of the whole army, we must attribute this splendid success. Ah! they are ignorant that the combining of so many fortunate circumstances is an emanation from the All-perfect Mind,—that courage, that skill, that activity, bear the sacred impression of Him who is divine.

For how many favors have we not to thank him during the course of the present year! Your union, which was at first supported by justice alone, has been consolidated by your courage, and the knot which ties you together is indissoluble by the accession of all the States and the unanimous voice of all the confederates. You present to the universe the noble sight of a society which, founded in equality and justice, secures to the individuals who compose it the most happiness which can be derived from human institutions. This advantage, which so many other nations have been unable to procure, even after ages of efforts and misery, is granted by Divine Providence to the United States; and his adorable decrees have marked the present moment for the completion of that memorable happy revolution which has taken place on this continent. While your councils were thus acquiring new energy, rapid and multiplied successes have crowned your arms in the Southern States.'

On this solemn occasion we might renew our thanks to the God of battles for the success he has granted to the arms of your allies and your friends, by land and by sea, through the other parts of the globe. But let us not recall those events, which too clearly prove how much the hearts of our enemies have been hardened. Let us prostrate ourselves at the altar, and implore the God of mercy to suspend his vengeance, to spare them in his wrath, to inspire them with sentiments of justice and moderation, to terminate their obstinacy and error, and to ordain that your victories be followed by peace and tranquillity. Let us beseech him to shed on the councils of the king, your ally, that spirit of wisdom, of justice, and of courage which has rendered his reign so glorious. Let us entreat him to maintain in each of the States that intelligence by which the United States are inspired. Let us return him thanks that a faction whose rebellion he has corrected, now deprived of support, is annihilated. Let us offer him pure hearts, unsoiled by private hatred or public discussion; and let us with one will and one voice pour forth to. the Lord that hymn of praise by which Christians celebrate their gratitude and his glory.

This eloquent address was followed by a solemn anthem of praise to God.

ADDRESS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLICS TO GEORGE WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

SIR:

We have been long impatient to testify our joy and unbounded confidence on your being called by a unanimous voice to the first station of

a country in which that unanimity could not have been obtained without the previous merit of unexampled services, of eminent wisdom, and unblemished virtue. Our congratulations have not reached you sooner because our scattered situation prevented our communication, and the collecting of those sentiments which warmed every breast. But the delay has furnished us with the opportunity, not merely of presaging the happiness to be expected under your administration, but of bearing testimony to that which we experience already. It is your peculiar talent, in war and in peace, to afford security to those who commit their protection into your hands. In war you shield them from the ravages of armed hostility; in peace you establish public tranquillity by the justice and moderation, not less than by the vigor, of your government. By example, as well as by vigilance, you extend the influence of laws on the manners of our fellow-citizens. You encourage respect for religion, and inculcate, by words and actions, that principle on which the welfare of a nation so much depends,—that a superintending Providence governs the events of the world and watches over the conduct of men. Your exalted maxims, and unwearied attention to the moral and physical improvement of our country, have produced already the happiest effects.

Under your administration, America is animated with zeal for the attainment and encouragement of useful literature; she improves her agriculture, extends her commerce, and acquires with foreign nations a dignity unknown to her before. From these happy events, in which none can feel a warmer interest than ourselves, we derive additional pleasure by recollecting that you, sir, have been the principal instrument to effect so rapid a change in our political situation. This prospect of national prosperity is peculiarly pleasing to us on another account,-because whilst our country preserves her freedom and independence we shall have a well-founded title to claim from her justice the equal rights of citizenship, as the price of our blood spilt under your eyes, and of our common exertions for her defence under your auspicious conduct,―rights rendered more dear to us by the remembrance of former hardships. When we pray for the preservation of them where they have been granted, and expect the full extension of them from the justice of those States which still restrict them, when we solicit the protection of Heaven over our common country, we neither omit, nor can omit, recommending your preservation to the singular care of Divine Providence; because we conceive that no human means are so available to promote the welfare of the United States as the prolongation of your health and life, in which are included the energy of your example, the wisdom of your councils, and the persuasive eloquence of your virtues.

JOHN CARROLL,

In behalf of the Roman Catholic Clergy. CHARLES CARROLL, of Carrollton,

DANIEL CARRoll,

DOMINICK LYNCH,

THOMAS FITZSIMONS,

In behalf of the Roman Catholic

Laity.

GENTLEMEN:

ANSWER.

While I now receive with much satisfaction your congratulations on my being called by a unanimous vote to the first station of my country, I cannot but duly notice your politeness in offering an apology for the unavoidable delay. As that delay has given you an opportunity of realizing, instead of anticipating, the benefits of the General Government, you will do me the justice to believe that your testimony to the increase of the public prosperity enhances the pleasure which I should otherwise have experienced from your affectionate address.

I feel that my conduct in war and in peace has met with more general approbation than I could have reasonably expected; and I feel disposed to consider that fortunate circumstance as in a great degree resulting from the able support and extraordinary candor of my fellow-citizens of all denominations.

The prospect of national prosperity now before us is truly animating, and ought to excite the exertions of all good men to establish and secure the happiness of their country in the permanent duration of its freedom and independence. America, under the smiles of Divine Providence, the protection of a good Government, the cultivation of manners, morals, and piety, can hardly fail of attaining an uncommon degree of eminence in literature, commerce, agriculture, improvements at home, and respectability abroad.

As mankind become more liberal, they will be more apt to allow that those who conduct themselves as worthy members of the community are equally entitled to the protection of civil government. I hope ever to see America among the foremost nations in examples of justice and liberality. And I presume that your fellow-citizens will not forget your patriotic part in the accomplishment of their Revolution and the establishment of their Government, or the important assistance which they received from a nation in which the Roman Catholic religion is professed, I thank you, gentlemen, for your kind concern for me. While my life and my health shall continue, in whatever situation I may be, it shall be my constant endeavor to justify the favorable sentiments you are pleased to express of my conduct. And may the members of your society in America, animated alone by the pure spirit of Christianity, and still conducting themselves as the faithful subjects of our free Government, enjoy every temporal and spiritual felicity.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.