SPECTATOR'S LIBRARY.
Thayer.",
A Pilgrimage to Rome t containing some Account of the High Ceremonies, the NO. nestle Institutions, the Religious Services, the Sacred Relics, the Miraculous MOP tures, and the General State of Religion in that city. By the Reverend M. Hobart Seymour, M. A Seders. Beath Anstralla ; its Advantages and Resources. Being a Description of thatcoloses, and a Manual of Information for Emigrants. Ry George Malustuu Wilkinson. FicrioN, Murray. My Sister Minnie; a 'Novel. In three volumes. By Mrs. Mackenzie Daniel, Author Of " The Poor Cousin," "Jeremiah Parkes," &c limb,. Mrscitm.Assoos LITLHATURE, Lays of the Deer Forest. With Sketches of Olden and Modern Deer-hunting; Traits of Natural History in the Forest ; Traditions of the Clans ; Miscellaneous Soles.
Blackwood and Sans, Edutborgh and Louden.
MR. M. HOBART SEYMOUR'S PILGRIMAGE TO ROME Is an able and informing book; treating with freshness a country so ex- hausted as Italy, by directing the mind to a definite subject and consi- dering it widely and deeply. Landscapes, art, the social condition of the people, and the more remarkable classes into which natural disposition and circumstances may form them, are not overlooked during the au- thor's Italian tour, though mostly viewed with some reference to religion; but on his arrival at Rome religion alone occupies his pages, not merely in its strictly religious aspect, but in its social and intellectual influences. "The essential object of my pilgrimage," says Mr. Seymour, "was reli- gion, and the main subject of these papers must be religion. Those who seek information on the antiquities of Rome, its temples, palaces, and theatres, will find ample assistance in many able and learned works, and I cannot add one item to the amount of such inform- ation: but as the state of religion is less known,—as there is far too little understood in England respecting the actual, the real state of re. ligion at Rome—of the monastic institutions—of the high ceremonies— of the holy relics—of the manner of worship in this city of the Church,, —I shall devote myself exclusively to the religion of the Church—to the description of the state of Romanism at Rome."
The task could not have fallen into better hands, unless it had been undertaken by a large-minded and conscientious philosopher. Mr. Sey- mour is an Anglican clergyman of mature years and masculine intellect, well read in general and theological literature, with distinct and rational views of Romanism, Tractarianism, and Protestantism. He sees clearly that natural or national character influences men in the choice of a creed, as much as the doctrines of the creed themselves ; and that the effects of a religion are to be looked to as much in their economical as in their strictly theological operation. A man of the world, be explains if he does not tolerate worldly frailties; and seems rather inclined to allow for vices of the blood enforced upon men, if they do not take a gross and profligate form. A stanch and uncompromising Protestant, not shrinking from denouncing in terms theological the worser errors of the Romish Church,, he does not adopt the extreme step of parading the " damnable and' idolatrous " at every turn : it may indeed be objected by some, that he looks at matters with an eye rather professional than religious, bringing forward the scenical and worldly character of Romanism more than its' deadening and dangerous influence upon the sonic of its votaries. This, however, gives a peculiar and an informing character to the Pi4Timage, by stripping Romanism, and especially the conventual system as seen in Italy, of a romantic and mysterious character. We see the system as an abuse arising from other abuses. Were civil and political liberty greater and the " noble " prejudices against commercial and professionaL industry less, a career would be opened to younger sons, which would enable them to marry and support families, instead of being compelled as at present to enter a monastery, either ordained or half-ordained ; while this enforced celibacy induces a lax moral state of society, that renders it advisable, at least in Italian opinion, to remove unmarried women from its temptations.
The literary character of Mr. Seymour enables him to present his views and matter with effect. He has a mental vigour which under other circumstances would have given him the power of the platform and made him eminent as a sectarian orator; but the training of the univers sity has saved him from the mechanical force and mannerism of congre- gational eloquence. The discipline of the college, classical study, and not improbably association with the world, have given him a better taste, without depriving him of his vigour. He is also a full-minded writer. Whatever subjects he touches upon he presents completely, and is ex- haustive without tediousness. This cast of mind well qualifies him for the task of investigation and exposition which he has undertaken. What- ever Mr. Seymour's subject is, he presents it fully ; and the reader, if he may not always agree with the author's conclusions, has the mate- rials to form a judgment of his own. Something of the pulpit is occa- sionally visible in the manner and the dogmatic tone; but this is chiefly on religions topics, and is difficult for a clergyman to avoid. The preliminary tour of Mr. Seymour was brief and short. In Sep- tember 1844 he was with his wife in Switzerland ; whence the "Pilgrim- age to Rome " was determined on. From Vevey they crossed the Simplon to Milan; passing through the Canton Vallais, and inquiring into the then recent outbreak between the peasantry and their priestly rulers or tyrants. Leaving Milan, Mr. Seymour proceeded to Genoa. by Pavia, in order to make a pilgrimage to the tomb of his favourite Saint Angustine,—though it would require a strong faith in relics to believe that his bones are there. From Genoa the travellers went to Florence; and, after lingering delighted with the city and its government, they proceeded onward to Rome by the cities of ancient Etruria- It wills be seen that the tour was made before the late revolutions in Italy ; but this has no effect upon the importance or interest of the book. Mr. Sey- mour's observations extend to matters deeply rooted in the present state of society, or inextricably interwoven with the practice of the Romish Church. The latter are not likely to be changed by any clerical influence, though. they might possibly be overturned by the violence of a destruetive
revolution : the social evils would only be made worse by any sudden change ; though gradual improvement, by opening a career to the men, and purifying the moral character of society, would render monasteries less necessary and less used,—a process which Mr. Seymour thought was beginning in Northern Italy. Many topics are handled at Rome in as many chapters,—the behaviour and religious character of the people as shown in their attendance on the services; the practices of the Church in its principal festivals or ceremo- nies; Romish superstitions in its system of relics and indulgences; the character and principles of the Jesuits ; with similar topics. The most important, however is the monastic establishments, both for men and women ; and the only one our space allows us to touch upon.
In Mr. Seymour's view, the conventual system, everywhere and in all time, is exaggerated and misunderstood by the Tractarians; while an erroneous notion is formed of it, as existing in Italy, by Engish people in general. Those institutions differ as much in their comforts and re- sources as boarding-houses in England; but they have two broad dis- tinctions. One class is adopted for the younger sons of respectable fa- milies; where the accommodations vary according to the endowment and the sum paid as admission-money; but in all cases a premium, or family interest, which may in some cases supersede it, coupled with the endowment of the convent, is a provision for life. The poorer monas- teries vary in their wealth, or rather poverty; but some are so wretch- edly poor that their members are little above workhouse paupers in England. No entrance-money is required in these, as "no person with five pounds in the world would enter them ": their members are of the lowest class of society : the institutions are chargeable with all the eco- nomical evils which Hume and the French philosophers ascribed to the sys- tem of monkery, in diverting the vulgar from useful labour ; besides the foul and discreditable view in which they present religious orders of men. Of the best of the higher orders Mr. Seymour draws the following pic- ture. Speaking of the custom that it was usual to look to the Church as a provision for the younger sons, he says—
"It is not, however, m the same sense as that expression implies in England, where it implies ordination, and ministerial charge and parochial duties. It merely implies the becoming a member of some monastery, without any duties or responsibilities being necessarily involved in it
"Some of these convents are well and richly. endowed; and as they are con- ducted with great respectability, are supplied with many comforts, and impose no rigid discipline, they admit only a superior class of persons as members, with the exception of a few laymen of the lower classes, who are admitted on the express understanding of their being servants to the others—acting as porters, cooks, mes- sengers, &c. In convents of this class, the mode of his is not unlike that of some members of our English universities. Having nothing to do, they live in their apartments, dine together, gossip with one another, attend the prescribed number of services at chapel; sometimes, where their taste so inclines, they give themselves to study, and thus spend what some regard as a pleasant bachelor's life. This is precisely the character of the more respectable convents of Rome; religion and religious feeling having as little to do with the matter as with a col- lege life in England. "It is not religion, but convenience, that has dictated the system. And the whole interior life du convent of the superior class bears all the traces of this. Some of them offer a considerable amount of comfort to their members, with pleasant gardens, a good library, and an excellent table, with well-finished apart- ments. In one establishment,—through the whole of which I was kindly con- ducted by one of its membersr—there was appropriated to each, a suite of small apartments, consisting of a sitting-room, a sleeping-room, and a little study, all opening into another vacant apartment, or hall, or gallery; and the whole being Separated by a door from all the rest of the establishment. There were twenty- two gentlemen living in this convent, every one of them possessing a similar suite of apartments. And though to the eye of one accustomed to the comforts of an English house there always seemed a lack of comfort about these establishments, yet such is the general character of an Italian house. And I am bound in can- dour and honesty to say, that the bachelor life of a convent in Italy is in every re- spect, considering the two countries, equal in comforts and in society and enjoy- ment to the general ran of a college life in England. In some respects it has a decided advantage.
"Into some of these convents of the superior class it is difficult to obtain ad- mission as members or brothers. They are well and richly endowed, and some require considerable interest; some require family connexion, as the appointments rest with certain families—like the Founder's kin in our universities; some re- quire a considerable sum of money—as five hundred pounds, and then the mem- ber is provided for life with his home, hia support, and his clothing. • * •
"I do not feel disposed to attribute to the monks and friars of Rome any spe- cial irregularity or impropriety of life. Every one knows, who has any knowledge of the world, that when a number of unmarried men are living together in a barrack, or residing together in a college, the atmosphere of such places is not usually more pure and moral than elsewhere. The experience of the world has long since settled this matter. Nuw, the convents of the higher classes in Italy are neither more nor less than large evarding-houses for the younger sons of the aristocracy,—a sort of club, arranged in an Italian fashion, where they can live cheaply and well, and enjoy the society of those who are in every respect their equals, within the establishment, and at all times go forth to enjoy any society more suited to their tastes, without the establishment. And, under a aye- tem like this, it is contrary to all experience of mankind and all knowledge of the world to suppose that in such large assemblages of young and unmarried men there should not be a certain amount of irregularity and impropriety. The climate and society of Italy have never been remarkable for purity of morals. " The results are what might be anticipated. Some, whose inclinations lead them to study, devote themselves to the acquisition of knowledge in the various departments of literature, and have proved themselves among the most intellec- tual, learned, and able men of the age, while they are the most polished and agree- able companions. Some, whose tendencies are towards religion, or whose ambi- tion is to rise in the state, devote themselves to the acquisition of ecclesiastical knowledge and political intrigue, which fill at Rome the place of Parliamentary talent to the ambitions aspirant in England; the only channel to power at Rome being through the Church: others, whose indolence or whose recklessness make them indifferent to such things, devote themselves to the amusement of the pass- ing hour; and accordingly they are seen in the drawingroom, and in the billiard- room, and at the gaming-table, and in every place of fashion or amusement. Truly, they are sometimes where they ought not to be; realizing the old song, 'up stairs and down stairs, and is my lady's chamber: "
The subject of nunneries, or, as they are always called in Italy, monas- teries, is treated quite as clearly, and has perhaps more interest. They equally furnish a provision for life for unmarried daughters of the gentry class : when a father has placed his daughter in an establishment of this kind, society considers he has done his duty and provided for her.
Socially speaking, indeed, they are more necessary than the monasteries for the men; but as the age at which girls are admitted is early, and their knowledge little, great misery, according to all that Mr. and Mrs. Seymour could learn, is the result ; and dark deeds are hinted at. Still, in our author's view, they are a social necessity, arising from social circum- stances. The whole section is well worth perusal ; but we must limit ourselves to a little romance of real life, and much better than an in_ vented one. After speaking of the general opinion upon the subject, and the suppositional freedom of refusal, Mr. Seymour goes on.
" All this applies only or chiefly to the novice, to whom the opportunity is no. min' ally offn.ed of withdrawing if she wishes. The truth is, that she dare not accept this nominal offer, however much or anxiously she may wish it. The feel. ings of her own family, and the state of public feeling, impose an insuperable ob- stacle to her fulfilling her desires; and she passively resigns herself to her hard fate. It is not that she finds her noviciate a happy spring-time, as some have imagined; nor is it that the other nuns, though naturally anxious for some new companion to lighten the dull monotony of the cloister, weave all their arts to fascinate and ensnare the novice; it is not this that impels and precipitates the fatal step, but it is the impossibility of overcoming the obstacles arising from the feelings of her family and the tone of public feeling on the subject. If her parents oppose her wishes, she has no alternative but to take the final plunge, unless in- deed she can depend on the honour and love of some man who may have won her affections, and who will open to her a home and secure to her protection. A curious instance of this kind occurred at Rome, and was narrated to us by a general officer who was present at the time. A young lady was destined by her parents for the cloister. She had regarded herself as the wife of one to whom she was much attached. The parents not approving this marriage, placed her as is usual in such cases, in a monastery, where she could never see him; and she commenced her noviciate. Before doing so, however, the young gentleman found means to communicate to her that he would attend in the church at the conclu- sion of her noviciate; and that if she still loved him and preferred marriage with him to the taking the veil, he would be there to claim her, and give her the home and protection which her own family would deny her. The year rolled slowly away. The noviciate had ended. The profession was publicly announced; the bells rang merrily as for a bridal; the first flowers of spring were blooming on the floor of the monastic chapeL The cardinal had arrived; the young novice, fair as the young moon in May, knelt with her white veil floating behind her, and her eye glancing eagerly from face to face in the assembly till it rested on him, whom for that long and sad noviciate she had never seen, and whose presence at this moment assured her of his faithfulness in the past. The service proceeded till the cardinal asked the usual question as to her willingness for the life of cloister: she at once declared her unwillingness. The cardinal was astounded. The assembly was greatly excited. And on her being again asked for her rea- sons, she pointed to the young man who was present, and said boldly, My wish is to be married to that gentleman.' She was the next instant on her knees to the cardinal, beseeching him to forgive her, and to permit the marriage. The feelings of the cardinal and all the assembly were deeply moved. The service ceased. The cardinal declared that she must not be received into the sisterhood, as she had herself refused her consent: he made inquiry, and in the end himself married the young couple. And thus she found at once the home and protection she required, and the want of which would otherwise have consigned her against her own wishes to the cloister for ever. This, however, is a scene that cannot be of frequent occurrence."
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