MOORIANA: OR, SELECTIONS FROM THE Moral, Philosophical, and Miscellaneous Works Of the late DR. JOHN MOORE. ILLUSTRATED BY A New Biographical and Critical Account OF THE DOCTOR AND HIS WRITINGS; AND NOTES, Historical, Classical, and Explanatory. BY THE REV. F. PREVOST, AND F. BLAGDON, Esq. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. "Floriferis ut apes in saltibus mellia libant. London: Printed by J. Cundee, Ivy-Lane, FOR B. CROSBY AND CO. STATIONERS'-COURT. MOORIANA. ABSOLUTION AND EXTREME UNCTION. A NEGRO slave, having allowed symptoms of compassion, perhaps of indignation, to escape from him, on hearing one of his brother-slaves ordered to be punished unjustly, his tyrannical master, in a transport of rage, ordered to be lashed severely, and renewed the punishment at legal intervals so often, that the poor man was thrown into a languishing disease, which confined him constantly to his bed. hi An Irish soldier, who had been long acquainted with the negro, and had a particular esteem for him, as soon as he heard of his dangerous situation, hastened to see him, carried him wine and other refreshments, and continued to visit and comfort him during his languishing illness. Perceiving at last, that there was no hope of his recovery, he thought the last and best good office he could do him, was to carry a priest, to give him absolution and the extreme unction, Soldier I should be very sorry, father, if this poor fellow missed going to heaven; for by Jesus, I do not believe there is a worthier soul there, be the other who he pleases. Priest-He is a black. Soldier-His soul is whiter than a skinned po tatoe. Priest-Do you know whether he believes in all the tenets of our holy faith? Soldier-He is a man who was always ready to do as he would be done by. Priest-That is something; but not the most essential. Are you certain that he is a Christian? swam away as fast as Soldier-I'll be d-d if he is not as pretty a Christian as your heart can desire; and I'll give you a proof that will rejoice your soul to hear. -A soldier of our regiment, was seized with the cramp in his leg, when he was bathing; so he hollowed for assistance, and then went plump to the bottom, like a stone. Those who were near him, Christians and all, their legs could carry them, for they were afraid of his catching hold of them. But that honest negro, pushed directly to the place where the soldier had sunk, dived after him, and without more ado, or so much as saying by your leave, seized him by the hair of the head, and hauled him ashore, where, after a little rubbing and rolling, he was quite recovered, and is alive and merry, at this blessed moment. Now, my dear father, I think this was behaving like a good Christian, and what is much more, like a brave Irishman too. Priest-Has he been properly instructed in all the doctrines of the Catholic church? Soldier That he has: for I was after instructing him yesterday myself; and as you had told me very often that believing was the great point, I pressed that home. "By Jasus," says I, "it does not signify making wry faces, but you must believe, my dear honey, as fast as ever you can, for you have no time to lose ;"—and, poor fellow, he entreated me to say no more about it, and he would believe whatever I pleased. This satisfied the father. They arrived at the dying man's cabin. Now, my dear fellow, said · the soldier, I have brought a holy man to give you absolution for your sins, and to shew your soul the road to heaven; take this glass of wine to comfort you, for it is a hellish long journey. The priest then began to perform his office.— Hanno heard him in silence. Soldier-You see, my good father, he believes in all you say. You may now, without any further delay, give him absolution and extreme unction, and every thing needful to secure him a snug birth in Paradise. Priest-You are fully convinced, friend, that it is only by a firm belief in all the tenets of the holy catholic church that |