Dec^'r. 1^st. Settled accounts today with Clergymen - received from them my proportion of fees - $21.50, being a third.

Share of month's house expenditure $22 - which I received from Messrs. Fitzgerald and O'Connor.

This morning a man named Abraham Armstrong preferred a serious charge against Mr. O'Connor, accusing him of frequenting his sister's house, walking with her at night. I disbelieve the worst part of the report, but think that O'Connor was indiscreet in visiting the house in which this female lived and others. This comes of the propensity to street strolling.

1847. Georgetown. 1^st. December. Handed to Mrs. Burton a letter from Martha McKenzie to me written last evening in which she acknowledges that the story of Edwin Firebrace's sending a message to her through Ellen Burton is untrue - a June fabrication of her own.

Mrs. Cramer passed an irrevocable power of Attorney today on her son Stephen, and he substitutes J. Reed.

The decision of the Judges has gone against J. Reed's petition.

2. The Nathans have sent a message this morning to S. Joseph's to say that they cannot afford to pay longer for the education of their children etc.

If Martha McKenzie be sent away, as she deserves, the scholars will be reduced to six - unless after Christmas a large accession of scholars takes place I shall begin to despair of the success of our Establishment.

Our incomprehensible little Portuguese priest, Father Joachim, has made his appearance this morning.

A much larger number is availing of the Jubilee than I expected.

1847. Georgetown. 2^nd. December. In this diary when I seldom jot down more than some leading circumstance which I wish to remember and may have recourse to hereafter - nothing can be known of the daily, nay hourly, anxieties, the hopes, fears, and misgiving connected with my position.

After dinner today disposed of the $111 dollars 61/2 bits in my hands and belonging by arrangement to Father Joachim. $104 of sum was handed to J. Reed, being money lent to Fr. Joac: - the balance to himself.

Renewed Fr. Joachim's faculties for 4 months from 1^st. instant.

3. Read in the Royal Gazette an article headed "cheap living in Brittany" and taken from The Sportsman of France, from which it would appear "that a single man may live like a Prince upon £60 a year at L'Orient [Lorient], and so he may at Quimper, but this is on a grand scale - he can live respectably on forty - and a married couple could enjoy every luxury with a rental of a Hundred a year".

Received yesterday from Mr. Wolseley $82.50, balance due of house rent.

1847. Georgetown. 4^th. December. Received J.F.D. - $30 restitution money, to be paid in to the Colonial Treasury.

5. Within the last two weeks several of the deluded followers of unfortunate Clancy have come to make their submission, and on this day after the last [Mass?] some twenty or thirty, men and women - all Negroes. The form I have hit upon in receiving their amende seems to make an impression. I cause them to kneel outside the church and after a suitable lecture and admonition give them the end of my stole and introduce them in this way, telling them to go up to the altar and give God thanks there for the mercy he has shew[n] them in permitting them to make this reparation and not taking them off in their sins. I then impose a trifling penance on them - fasting on one or more days according to the guiltiness of the parties.

The packet due on the 27^th. ult., or according to the new arrangement on the 1^st. instant is not as yet in, and fears are entertained of their safety.

Next Tuesday week is appointed for the marriage of Victor Heyliger and Annette Van Oucraallen.

1847. Georgetown. 6^th. December. The mail is in at last, but brings no letters for me - 3 letters for the Nuns.

An Englishman by the name of Marks called on me today, and expressed a wish to be received into the Church.

7. Received three poor deluded dupes of unfortunate Clancy in to the Church.

8. Wrote to Fr. Joachim by John Reed, going with D^r Cramer tomorrow evening to Essequibo.

Received at the B. Guiana Bank $14, being dividend due on 5 Shares Estate Alex: Murdoch.

9...Commenced last evening taking down spare pews. Received 2^nd. dividend due on Shares in B.G. Bank $14.

I have now the most positive proof that Cullen has been tampering with all the new Priests - that Fitzgerald has fallen into his toils and most probably MacNamara and O'Connor - a correspondence is kept up between all parties - indeed I am equally sure that O'Connor has been betrayed into some indiscretion already with this very adroit intriguer.

1847. Georgetown. 11^th. December. In consequence of the rumours afloat concerning the stability of our local Banks, called on the Receiver General to ascertain what ground there may be for apprehension. Assured by him there was none so far as he could see; but in these times, when failures of such magnitude are taking place in England, that it is very hard to say what bank is safe. To secure something however in case of the worst, I have drawn a cheque on the Colonial Bank for the balance of my account in favour of J. C. Schade, who has promised to have it cashed for me - the am^t. of cheque being $1396.48 cents.

12^th. A very large number of Africans, larger than usual, assembled at the Convent today for instruction.

14. Received from Mr. Schade dollars for the cheque of Saturday.

A solemn matrimonial service today in the church, the parties being Mr. Victor Heyliger and Miss Van Oucraallen - after the knot was tied, a handsome and sumptuous déjeuner was prepared for all parties, at Mrs. Cramer's.

1847. Georgetown. 15^th. December. Yesterday Mr. Vyfhuis informed me that he was authorized by the Proprietor to give me a piece of land on Plantation Ruimveldt for the purpose of erecting a church and burial ground. Promised to drive me out there next week to select the spot.

I endeavoured to prevail on him and Mrs. Vyfhuis to send their eldest daughter to S. Joseph's.

Received a letter yesterday from Mr. Lordan in reference to midnight Mass on Christmas and wrote to him today to say that he may do so, provided no danger exists in his judgment that any scandal or disorder would ensue therefrom.

The uneasiness respecting the Banks seems to have subsided.

16. A very rainy morning - went over however to say Mass at S. Joseph's, where I breakfasted.

The mail has come in and brought only one letter for us - from the President of the Propag: of the Faith at Lyons - none for the Convent, neither has there been any by the last.

1847. Georgetown. December 17. Gave $40 to Mother Regis in advance for C. Murdoch's pension - also $5 received from Mrs. Fleming towards her daughter's education in the Extern School.

A visit from Cap^t. Taggart, commissioned by Mr. Lyng to speak to me about the purchase of Mrs. Gilgeous's house for $15,000!

18. Mrs. Davison has written to our Rev^d Mother to say that she intends placing her daughter at S. Joseph's.

20. Poor Jackson the Tailor of Wakenaam is no more.

Mrs. Davison called at S. Joseph's today and has arranged for placing her daughter at school.

Examined Mr. Walsh's scholars - a very lame exhibition indeed.

22. Presided at the examination of S. Joseph's - nothing could be more satisfactory - pity the number of pupils is not larger.

After the examination an address on the part of the school was read by Fanny Goodman, expressive of their gratitude to me for enabling them to avail themselves of all the advantages of so noble an institution.

Yesterday the examination of the children of the Extern School took place - their answering was particularly good.

Yesterday after Mass received Mr. Burton into the Church.

24. Prepared a large number of Africans for Communion tomorrow.

Bought a Spanish dog named Pedro.

Yesterday Mrs. Taggart shewed me a letter from a priest named Kennedy now serving on the Halifax mission. He had been at Bermuda for a short time, where he made acquaintance with the T's. The letter is dated from Dartmouth on the 17^th. Feb^'y and he requests her to enquire of me if I would receive him on this Mission.

Mrs. Gilgeous's house is now offered for $15,000 - offered $8,000 for it through Cap^t. Taggart.

1847. Georgetown. 25 December. Said two Masses at the Convent this morning. Fanny and Sophia Goodman made their first communion in the little chapel. From ninety to a hundred communicated in church.

26. Today one of the largest congregations I have seen here assembled in church for the last Mass - preached - and afterwards went to the Convent and gave Benediction.

27. Mrs. Arrindell, her niece (Mrs. Wolseley) and three daughters visited the Convent today. Mrs. W. is to place one of her daughters at School on the 10^th. proximo.

28. This evening the Spiritual Exercises opened at S. Joseph's.

29. Paid Morrison and Knox $288 for painting, glazing and papering done at S. Joseph's.

Gave Coolie Michael $3 out of the $5 he gave me to keep for him.

It seems that Miss Light, the daughter of the Governor, is dying to make the acquaintance of the Nuns.

1847. Georgetown. December 30^th. Doctor Clifton called this morning to conclude an arrangement proposed by him for farming, as it were, the collections and Pew rents of the church. With considerable fears as to the plan's resulting in some misunderstanding, I have assented to his proposal so far that he undertakes to superintend the collection of the Pew rents and the offerings made at Mass - giving in the first instance to me out of said collections $750 - the surplus to be laid out under my direction in defraying lighting of church, paying Organist etc. God grant that this arrangement may not eventuate in some lay intermeddling and thereby lay the foundation of bitter feelings between Bishop and people.

A visit from Mrs. Van Waterschoodt - shewed her the sketches of Convent and church, which seemed to surprise her a great deal.

1847. Georgetown. December 31^st. In last night's Gazette appeared a report of proceedings in the Court of Policy relative to a reduction of public salaries etc. to the amount of 25 per cent.