During The Period Of My Indisposition, The Bishop Sent Frequently
To Make Inquiries, And, As Soon As I Was Able To Walk, I Went To Thank Him
For His Civilities.
His whole conversation and conduct showed him to be
a man of great benevolence and kindness of heart.
Alluding to
my being a Protestant, he stated that he was a Catholic from conviction;
and though sorry to see others, like myself, following another path,
he entertained no uncharitable feelings, nor would he ever sanction
persecuting measures. He compared the various sects of Christians,
in their way to heaven, to a number of individuals choosing to pass
down the different streets of Loanda to one of the churches -
all would arrive at the same point at last. His good influence,
both in the city and the country, is universally acknowledged:
he was promoting the establishment of schools, which, though formed
more on the monastic principle than Protestants might approve,
will no doubt be a blessing. He was likewise successfully attempting
to abolish the non-marriage custom of the country; and several marriages
had taken place in Loanda among those who, but for his teaching,
would have been content with concubinage.
St. Paul de Loanda has been a very considerable city, but is now
in a state of decay. It contains about twelve thousand inhabitants,
most of whom are people of color.* There are various evidences
of its former magnificence, especially two cathedrals,
one of which, once a Jesuit college, is now converted into a workshop;
and in passing the other, we saw with sorrow a number of oxen
feeding within its stately walls.
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