Page:Historical account of Lisbon college.djvu/124

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114
HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF LISBON COLLEGE.

port and were conveyed home. The rest remained in the house, and pursued as far as circumstances permitted their usual duties. To the honour of the corps quartered in the College it should be said, that at their departure they scrupulously restored the articles which had been lent them during their stay, the only deficit in the delivery being that of a single sheet.

Scarcely had the rejoicings for the departure of these unwelcome guests ceased in Lisbon, when news arrived that Soult at the head of a fresh army was preparing to reoccupy the Portuguese territory. Prudence now suggested to the Superiors, the necessity of taking measures for the preservation of the College as well as for the safety of the inmates, in case of success on the part of the French. They therefore adopted the resolution of sending the students to England, and with them the library and the more valuable part of the effects, and of forming in the House a temporary Academy for the education of Seculars. Thus it was hoped that not only might the Establishment be preserved, but its means augmented, and by temporarily diverting it, during the continuance of the war, from the great object of its institution, it might at a more favourable conjuncture and with brighter prospects, be again employed in the education of the peaceful members of religion. The result corresponded to the expectations of the Superiors.

The plan and terms of instruction were no sooner made public, than applications for admission poured in from every quarter. The system followed gave general satisfaction, and in a few months the house was found too small for the numbers who solicited admission. Dr. Buckley, the President, undertook the general direction of the schools, assisted by the Revv. Messrs. Colegate and Spain while the spiritual instruction was assigned to the Rev. Thomas Hurst.

In the meantime war continued to desolute the Peninsula, and Lisbon was the grand depôt of the combined British and Portuguese armies. The heat of the climate