Brian Condon: Diary of John Thomas Hynes, 1843-1868
February 1st. Took a pleasant drive with Mr Conolly to St Paul's to see that magnificent church, which appears to be in a very forward state. Saw the splendid alabaster columns presented by Mehemet Ali, six in number with pilasters &c.
A visit from the Guardian of S. Isidore, Dr Donaldson, Mr. Sherlock, Miss Conolly.
In the evening Don Pietro, secretary of Mons. Barnabò, introduced to me the avvocato Petri, who is compiling a statistical account of the diocese and Vicariates throughout the world.
1850. Rome. February 2nd. Paid my trattoria bill to the first inst. Paid also for ostensory, thurible, boat and crucifix.
3. Celebrated Mass today at the Ursuline Convent. Saw the Superior and Assistant - they are 20 professed Nuns and 11 lay Sisters - they have no boarders - about 100 in the Extern school. Received a quantity of prints of S. Ursula and S. Angela.
4th. Dined with the Sherlocks - quite an Irish party - the Conollys - Dr Cullen, Dr Donaldson &c &c.
Mrs. Everard has promised me $100 for the mission.
Wrote to Mother Regis via di mare and posted the letter myself.
Had an interview with Monsignor Barnabò today.
Officiated at the Irish College at Vespers.
5th. S. Agatha. Pontificated for the Irish College at Mass and Vespers - dined there - a full refectory, including Monsr. Vespasiani - President of the English and Scotch Colleges, Guardian of S. Isidore's and Prior of S. Clement's, Mr. Sherlock, a French Doctor &c &c.
Monsr. Vesp:, who sat next to me, alluded to the question of the Dominicans of Ohio with Dr Purcell and Dr Rapp, regarding some property or pension which the Bishops claim from the Dominicans, secured by a Pontifical decree or Brief and assented to by the General of the Dominicans. It is evident that Vesp: considers the Friars as in the right though the difficulty is to get over so solemn an act as the Pope's mandate, which the Dominicans wish to have revoked. Vesp: observed that the General "era ringannato".
7th. Dined last evening with Mr Conolly - a large dinner party. The Sherlocks, a Colonel Smith and his lady (a Venetian), Mr. O'Shea, Mr. Taffe [Taaffe?] late in the Piedmont Service, Count Gabrieli, Mr. Wiseman etc. - in the evening a Frenchman lately dismissed from the French Service, son of the celebrated Marshal Bertrand, a Mrs. and Miss Connor, a young Swiss and Mr. McBean.
Called at the Minerva this morning to see the pictures I purchased from Father Seraphino.
Saw Father V. General Cippoletti who requested me to undertake the office of Visitator of the Convent of Dublin.
Called on the Conollys and succeeded in extracting a declaration from poor Mr. C. that he would prepare himself for Confession.
8th. Visit this morning from Father Cippoletti, also from Father Seraphino and the two young priests of S. Clement's.
Called at S. Clement's to look over the papers found in the library by Father Costelloe relative to the West India Missions *... * by Irish Dominicans in 1758 and after years.
Cards left by Mr O'Shea and Signor Luigi Marciano.
1850. Rome. 9th February. A visit from Mrs. Everard, who has given me the handsome subscription of $100 for the Mission.
10. Dined with Mrs Everard - the same party as last at Mr. Conolly's - introduced to Father Lavel, Superior of the French Church.
11th. Two French soldiers were assassinated last night.
A son of Prince Canino and his sister were severely wounded by an explosive missile which was thrown into their carriage last evening in the shape of a bon-bon - on the Feast of the Purification a man was stabbed outside the Portone of S. Clement's.
11th. A visit from Dr Cullen and Fr. Smith.
Letters from Governor Barkly, Mr. Schade, and Revd. J. Cullen.
12th. Dined with Dr Cullen at the vineyard of the Irish College.
Paid yesterday the priest Don Pietro $20 for four paintings - the four seasons.
13th. Had an interview with Monsignor Barnabò this afternoon. The Ponenza is being printed and a Congregation will be held toward the end of this month or in the beginning of March. However I may feel the delay, or whatever the result, I cannot help remarking the wide difference in manner between Monsignor Barnabò and some of his predecessors. I find him frank, courteous and affable.
Changed a £10 Bill at Plowden & Cholmley's.
1850. Rome. February 15th. A letter from B Hawes in reference to the memorial from Demerara.
Changed a £20 Bill at Freeborn's.
16th. Paid Father Serafino Guidotti $150 for seven oil paintings, six of them being originals of his own composition.
Wrote to Mr Hawes and posted the letter myself.
17th. Changed my rooms today for a single one, which will slightly diminish my expenses here.
Forwarding three cases to Dublin to be then transhipped to Demerara - one contains the seven paintings purchased from Padre Serafino - the second four landscapes, three Madonnas, S. Aloysius and S. Stanislas purchased from the Sec'y of Mons'r Barnabò and the third case contains ostensory, thurible, incense boat, relics, mosaic, rosary, books, prints &c &c
A visit from Dr Cullen and Dr Kirby - the former is to be consecrated on Sunday next by Cardinal Castracane, Cardinal Fransoni having written from Naples that his return is postponed in consequence of the Pope's resolution to remain where he is for the present. Revd. Mr. Behan and Father Smith the Benedictine also called.
Dined with Mr Conolly, where I met for the second time a very exemplary and zealous French Clergyman named Lavel, formerly a Jew.
18th. Wrote Father Harold and Mother Regis - posted these letters myself.
1850. Rome. February 19th. Posted a letter for Father Lordan, desiring him to notify to the Governor the appointment of Mr. Brittain to the second Curacy in Georgetown ad interim, and of Mr O'Brien to the Mission of S. Rose's [Santa Rosa] - leaving for the present the two Catechist situations vacant.
The man who stabbed the French soldier during the Carnival was shot today in the Piazza del Popolo.
Had a drive with Mr Conolly around the walls and as far as the Irish College vineyard on the Fiumicino Road, where some desperate fighting took place between the French and the Romans - saw where 65 French soldiers and 15 officers were buried. There are also the grave of three of Garibaldi's Legion.
20. Bought from a poor artist (Vartolini) two small paintings, Madonna and S. Rose [Santa Rosa] for $3.25.
Paid yesterday my taylor's [sic] bill, amounting to $32.50.
21. Called on Monsigr Barnabò- the Sommario of the Ponenza is done, and they are busy printing the letters of Dr Smith and myself. If ready they will be distributed on Saturday, but before the 15th. of March Mons. B. has pledged his word that the matter will be terminated. Ten days before the Congregation the Ponenza is distributed to the Cardinals.
Good Mr Conolly drove me to S. Lorenzo's, afterwards to the Irish College vineyard, Porta Salana, and then round the walls by Porta del Popolo.
1850. Rome. February 22nd. Mrs. Everard called and brought me 6 nice ebony crosses for the nuns with 10 relics in each.
Miss Connolly also called and bought me a quantity of prints and medals, and three nice little articles for the bazaar - she also gave me a small Crucifixion copied by Lyster and a reliquary.
In the book case are 4 oil paintings.
24. 2nd. Sunday in Lent. Slept at the Irish College last night. Said Mass at 6 o'clock this morning - at 8 the ceremony of Dr Cullen's consecration commenced - Monsignor Monichini, ArchBishop and myself assisting. The ceremony lasted two hours and forty minutes. The Choir was very well served and the assemblage most respectable, comprising all the English and Irish in Rome, four Bishops, the students of the Propaganda, English and Scotch Colleges, all the Irish regulars, several prelates, professors &c.
To dine with the Cardinal consecrating, Castracane, at 2 o'clock.
An excellent dinner was given by the good Cardinal - the company consisted of three Bishops, Dr Cullen and myself - the Deans of the Rota and some other prelates. The old Cardinal appears terribly shaken by the late events. For 4 months he was concealed in the Irish College dressed as one of the students.
25. A dinner was given today by the Sherlocks in honour of Dr Cullen. Cardinal Castracane, Monsignor Barnabò, the Rectors of the three British Colleges, the Greek ArchBishop, myself, Count Gabrieli, Count Simonetti, and Mr Campbell Smith formed the party.
1850. Rome. February 26th. After dinner last evening Monsig'r. Barnabò gave Dr Cullen, myself and Dr Kirby a drive out the Porta Pia.
Mons. Barnabò is far more outspoken than any of his predecessors that I have known. The Ponenza will be distributed on Saturday, and probably on the 13th March the Congregation will be held.
Saw Mons. Vespasiani, who told me the same thing.
Dr. Olliffe has had a rift of so serious a nature with his Principal (Dr. Carew) that he was anxious to resign. They have prevailed on him here, however, not to do so.
Dr. Whelan has been called to Rome in consequence of some disagreement with the Carmelites of Bombay.
Dr. Nicholson is in bad odour, and not likely to intrigue successfully in future. Non fa altro che guiase &c were Mons. Barnabò's expressions.
Dr. Cullen is likely to have delegated to him a priority of jurisdiction in the approaching Irish Council or Senate so as to obviate the consequences of any disagreement among the ArchBishops arising from an equality of rank and authority.
Wrote to M. Kelly and posted the letter myself.
A visit from the Primate and Dr Kirby.
ArchBishop Murray, it is feared, has got into a scrape by a letter which he has just published in favour of the new Colleges.
1850. Rome. February 27th. A visit from Mr. Conolly to invite me to a trip to Albano.
Dr. Cullen and Dr Kirby called.