Brian Condon: Diary of John Thomas Hynes, 1843-1868
1850. Rome, Via Propaganda. January 1st. Dined at the Irish College today - heard of the assassination of a priest at Faenza.
4th. Received a letter yesterday from Choiselat Gallien.
Wrote to Mrs Crawley to send Mr. Choiselat Gallien's letter of the 12th November addressed to her hotel for me.
Wrote also to Mother Regis - posted both letters myself.
The rumours which were *after* about the Pope's return have died away, some fresh disagreements having arisen to retard his movements.
A visit from Lord Clifford to advise about the disposal of some papers belonging to Dr O'Finan - recommended their being burnt.
5th. Called today on the saintly Abbate Palotta who has instituted and directs the services in S. Andrea della Valle to request him to allow the collections to be made at my sermons to be applied to the Mission of Guiana, which he kindly consented to.
Called also on Dr Cullen.
6th. Feast of the Epiphany. Celebrated mass in the little church of the Propaganda. Saw several Irish and Americans among the students, also two from Corfu who knew me when I was there.
1850. Rome. January 7th. Dined with Mr Conolly, a fine old Irish gentleman - met at dinner Mrs Conolly, Miss C.; Mrs Everard; Mr., Mrs and Miss Sherlock; Dr Donaldson, Bishop Olliffe, the Rector of the Scotch College &c.
8th. A very rainy day - a most unpromising one for the services at S. Andrea della Valle - preached to some dozen people.
Lord Clifford most kindly brought his carriage, and accompanied me with Fathers Mullins and Moloney to the church.
Dined with his Lordship, who also very kindly invited the two Irish Dominican Fathers from S. Clement's.
Received yesterday a letter from Father Lordan enclosing the petition to Lord Grey which I suggested.
9th. Called at the Propaganda and saw Monsignor Barnabò, who evinced much kindness. He is anxious to hasten matters and suggested that my affair should be brought on immediately along with Dr Olliffe's - Vespasiani is not so willing - another letter came from Dr Smith's priests in opposition to annexation of Grenada &c. From Dr S. to report his readiness to give up Barbados and Tobago.
Rome. 10th Jan'y. 1850. Visited the Lateran gallery with Mr Lyster, an Irish artist whom I am thinking of employing to paint a portrait.
11th. Dined with Mr Conolly - besides his own party, viz. Mrs C. and daughter, Mrs Everard, met there Dr Donaldson.
12th. Preached at S. Andrea's - a tolerably good congregation.
13th. Dined at S. Isidore's and afterwards with Mr Conolly. The poor Guardian gave an excellent dinner. Got two doppias from Mrs Conolly, and two Napoleons from Mrs Everard for the Mission.
14. Called at the Propaganda and left for Monsignor Barnabò a French translation of the memorial to Lord Grey - also a letter from myself - attended the Accademia in the evening.
15. Changed a £20 bill at Plowd: & Cholm:
Purchased from Monsig. Barnabò's Secy. three small Madonnas, a S. Stanislas and S. Aloyisius [sic] for 25 scudi - bought several prints and bespoke an Ostensory etc.
Dined at Mrs Sherlock's - a most respectable dinner party including Lord Clifford, young Englefield, now Silver*cross* &c - several French officers - Canonico Vacari - another Monsignor (Rinaldi) who had been shot at five times during the revolution and had to escape in the disguise of a contadino [peasant].
Rome. 16th Jany. 1850. Called on Dr Cullen and Dr Olliffe - all hope of the Pope's speedy return has died away A letter from dear Mother Regis enclosing a fragment of the Colonist containing a discussion on the burial ground Bill of Georgetown - also the letter of Choiselat Gallien of the 18th Oct. referred to in his last.
Filled up the Bills (1st and 2nd) forwarded by Choiselat Gallien - F2,800 - which Mr Cholmley is to forward this day to Monsr. Malachy Daly in Paris to whom I have endorsed them - I retain the 2nd Exch.
18. Called six times this week at the Propaganda without being able to see Monsr. Barnabò.
A visit from Fathers Doherty and Costelloe - the former informed me that the V. General, Father Cippoletti, wished me to undertake the visitation of Denmark Street Convent to adjust the dispute about the building of the church.
Dr Olliffe called to take leave. He starts tomorrow evening in the Courier for Naples. The Pickpusians [sic] [Picpus Fathers] have agreed to supply Dacca with missionaries on condition that the next Bishop be chosen from their Congregation. The Propaganda has consented to this arrangement.
19. Saw Monsignor Barnabò today - his manner and bearing is kind and respectful - on the 15th prox he says my business will be bought before the S. Congreg: and that should I wish to leave he will immediately inform me of the result - signed an order for a good number of books - all that I noted down.
Rome. 19th Jany. 1850. Mons. Vespasiani is to write a letter of recommendation to the Bishops of the United States - also to the ArchBishop of Cuba and to the Bishop of Porto Rico to assist me in any collection for church building which I may undertake.
Mons. Vesp: inquired if I knew Monaghan, whose name has been again brought under notice by Dr Smith.
I set down Barbados and Grenada as the two Islands I would most desire.
20. Dined with Mr Conolly - engaged all day writing.
22. Two or three hours sitting for painter. A visit from Monsignor Colombo. Letters from Mother Regis, Father Lordan and Father Fitzgerald.
23. Made several visits today - the Sherlocks, Dr Donaldson, Mr. Tiffany, and the Conollys.
Report now says that we shall have the Pope here by Ash Wednesday.
24. Wrote via di mare to Mother Regis, Revd. D. Lordan, and Revd. J. Fitzgerald - also to M. Kelly and L. Costigan.
Sent in a letter today to Monsignor Barnabò shewing how insufficient was the plan proposed by Dr Smith for the wants of Guiana.
Heard of the death of the good Abbate Palotti - buried on the 22nd.
Visit from Mrs. Conolly and Mrs. Everard.
The Villa Lante nuns and Cardinal Patrizzi have been shockingly imposed upon by a swindler named Cavendish, a pretended convert whose wife was received into the Church by the Cardinal.
Rome. 25 Jany. 1850. Called at the Irish College - saw Dr Cullen and Dr Kirby - left with the latter a memorandum of matters which I wish to have arranged before leaving Rome - the permission to establish several Sodalities &c &c - additional holidays - use of the Caraccas directory with the Irish Supplement.
Dr. C. had a letter from Cardinal Fransoni stating that he would be here the first week in Lent, and the Pope shortly after.
A letter from Dr Harold enclosing one for Father Cippoletti - Choiselat Gallien's letter of October last addressed to Crawley's has come to hand.
Called on the Guardian of S. Isidore's.
26. A visit from Father Ennis.
27. Dined with Mr. Conolly - Dr Cullen and the Guardian of S. Isidore's also.
28. Paid Mr Lyster $10.36 cts in advance. I have agreed to give him 65 Scudi for the painting of a portrait and three copies of Guido's Crucifixion, which he engages to have executed in three months.
A letter from Letitia Costigan.
Paid the Syndic of S. Clement's for the two quarteroles of wine which I have had, also for postage to date.
29. Visits from Miss Conolly, Miss Woodmason, Mr. W. (Senr) and Mr. W. (Junior).
Miss C. enters the Convent of the Sacred Heart after her return to Ireland.
1850. Rome. 30th. January. Visited the Ursuline Convent - the preservation of their establishment from the intrusion of the Republicans or the French, centrally situated as it is, is something very remarkable - the Nuns attribute it to the all powerful protection of S. Joseph to whom the church is dedicated. The night that the French entered Rome they had orders from the Republican Government to quit their convent within an hour, and within that hour the French arrived. They had Seven Weeks devotion to S. Joseph and seven general communions for the preservation of the Establishment. No injury whatever was done, altho' some five or six cannon balls during the siege struck the walls.
Two flasks of wine from S. Clement's.
31. Returned Mr O'Shea's visit.