Hosa's lot to go, instead of him. He said that he had been informed the same by others. Manuel advised him to be very prudent here in America; as there were so many poor Protestants living there, whom their Protestant ministers were leading in darkness; and they would all be lost. They said they wished they had all the Pro testant ministers on the island, in the Moro castle, where the old man was. This man that they spoke of, was an American, who was found in the Moro castle, not long before Father Hosa left the island. He had been there about forty years. I cannot inform you who first learnt he was there, or for what purpose; but when he was found, they said that he was elderly, but in health. I recollected a few months previous, that there was great talk about some one finding him in this prison.

Moro castle is the principal fort, and station for soldiers, and the prison for desperate criminals. It is on a small island, close to the harbor of the city. They keep the prisoners in it: those who have committed murder, and those who are waiting to be transported to Spain, and to the Spanish mines. I know, at the time the old man was found in the castle, the Priests were very uneasy about it. I asked my Priest, if they could not set. him free, and let him come to America. He said it would be just as the Bishop decided; and charged me not to mention it to any of my country people. What I learned from my Priest, at the time, led me to believe this poor man had been put into the prison, for some of the wicked purposes of the Priests. I can not tell his name, nor the part of the United States he came from: but he was from the United States, and was very old, and Manuel pitied him much.

Since I have been writing and reflecting about these Roman Priests, so much of their wickedness comes to my mind, which I was eyewitness of, during five years I was on the island of Cuba, that my mind is overwhelined; and I feel as if it was my duty, and as if it was serving the Lord, in writing, to let the world know about them; not, that I believe it will be so much for the benefit of the

souls of the Priests, (although God is able,) for they all know, that their lives are full of evil purposes; but it is for the love I bear for the souls of the many people they are leading in darkness.

Their religion is perfect witchcraft. They have a most peculiar way of enlisting you into it. You may think it strange that there is so much murder and robbery in those countries, but it is because the Priests make the people believe there is no harm, which they cannot heal, in committing murder, robbery, or telling a lie; if, when you are committing any of these wicked deeds, you have your mind, your thoughts, and your heart, fixed on the Virgin Mary; and it is no sin, if you go immediately to some Priest, and Confess it to him.* This was common doc

trine among both Priests and people, so far as I knew them. But they cannot intercede with the Virgin Mary, unless you take them a sum of money, to have your pardon. Money with them is necessary to buy salvation for the soul.

They are also very superstitious. If you dream about any near relative, who may have been dead for years, you are led to believe by the Priests, that their souls are unhappy: and that they can put them to rest, by saying Masses and burning Holy Candles. If a person has not got money to pay for them, they will take jewelry. I have had given me by Manuel, while living with him, at different times, jewelry, which he has got in such a way. When I asked him if he thought it was not wicked to do so, he would reply: "If I did not take it, some other Priest would."

In this city the souls of the dead are also sought "to be laid." If any rich lady, or gentleman, be in bad health,

* All the evils of the world, are, by the Apostle, reduced to three heads: "The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life." 1 John 11. 16. The Popish Doctors, however, say, that these are only "evangelical COUNSELS.' Thom. Aquin. L. II. Quest. 9. Art. 3.

"To disobey an evangelical counsel," (they say,) "is no sin." Vega de Justif. L. XIV. C. 12. Navar. C. XXIII. N. 49. and C. XXI. N. 43. -ED.

and think they are going to die soon, they will sometimes put their money into the Priest's possession, believing that he will pray more sincerely for their souls, on account of the money.

I knew a rich widow lady who had given her wealth to a Priest, Father Antonia, belonging to the Convent of St. Domingo, to keep. This is not the Father Antonia that used to visit at my house. They both belonged to the same Convent; but Manuel's friend was a young, small, light framed man, with a Roman nose; while this Antonia was a large, fat man, with a red face, forty or fifty years of age. This Priest would make her believe that she must live in such a secluded way, that she would not allow herself the necessaries of life; but every cent she could get, she would give to this Priest. He made it a rule to call at her house every day at eleven o'clock, to hear her Confession. Her retired room for worship had images of the Virgin Mary, our Saviour, and other Saints, as large as grown persons. The Virgin Mary was placed in a small house, they call it, de Cassa, the house, (similar to a cage, or show-box, to contain the image,) decorated with artificial flowers; and dressed in the richest manner with pearls and diamonds. The room was always illuminated with Holy Candles. Precisely at the hour her Priest would come, a table was placed in the centre of the room, with a bottle of wine, cakes, sweetmeats, and fruits of every description. A large candle, placed in the centre of it, would be lighted up. They would remain in this room, alone, about an hour.

Afterwards, Father Antonia would go to another room which she had appropriated to the servants. In this room would be the Virgin Mary and our Saviour, and one candle. In a corner of this room, was placed an image representing the devil, a most horrid figure. Here he would every day hear the Confessions of the servants, to keep them in subjection through fear. These scenes I have witnessed, as I used to go to her house often; and she has often taken me into her room of worship, and kneeling down with me to the image of the Virgin Mary, she