Page:Historical account of Lisbon college.djvu/105

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HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF LISBON COLLEGE.
95

menced, and his sorrowing companions were summoned to assist him by their prayers. As soon as they had assembled in his chamber he addressed to them in his usual clear and earnest voice, these words "Pray for me, my friends, for I am about to plunge into the gulf of eternity." He suffered greatly during the two following hours; retaining, however, complete consciousness, and frequently repeating the sweet names of Jesus and Mary. At nine o'clock he suddenly raised his eyes to heaven, a smile as if some pleasant vision had been presented to him passed over his countenance, and he peacefully expired. Even in death his countenance was most beautiful, and his compressed lips still retained the pleasing smile. To return from this digression.

This same year, 1795, the Rev. Samuel Corbishley who, since 1790, had held the office of Procurator, became Vice-President and Professor of Theology. Father James Buckley was appointed Professor of Philosophy and the Rev. Wm. Victor Fryer, Classical Master. The latter, however, in the following year, 1796, went on to the Mission, Father Dennet succeeding him, and the Procuratorship was entrusted to the Rev. Edmund Winstanley, at that time a deacon and having completed his third year of Theology. In 1798 Father Dennet was sent on to the Mission, and was succeeded as Teacher of Classics by the Rev. Thomas Hurst who was in deacon's Orders, but had not completed his fourth year of Theology. The staff of Professors as thus constituted, continued until May, 1801, when Father James Buckley voluntarily resigned and went on to the Mission, leaving as Superiors in the House the President, Father Fryer, who taught Theology; Edmund Winstanley, Procurator; and Thomas Hurst, the Classical Professor.

The President was desirous of availing himself of the remarkable talents of the Rev. James Yorke Bramston who had been ordained priest two years before, and whom he considered well fitted to occupy the Chair of Theology. To this, however, the other Superiors, supported secretly by Father Allen, were opposed, as they