University of Virginia Library

THE ARMINIAN CONVENT.

An hour's gondola sailing brought me to St. Lazarus,
a pretty island about two miles from Venice; and
my application to view the very interesting convent
there situated, was very politely received by one of
the venerable and worthy brotherhood, Padre Pascal,
who, in his dark robes and long gray beard
looked like, what indeed he may justly be called, a
moral apostle of learning. Under his kind and intelligent
conduct I viewed this delightful institution;
the lovely and tranquil situation of which, the
neatness and order displayed in its interior arrangements,
and the works of useful and happy influence
going unassumingly on within its consecrated walls,
attracted my earnest sympathy and respect. In the
beautiful library I found books in all languages,
and a fine bust of the founder of the institution, by
Canova. At the table upon which this stood, my
conductor had given lessons in Arminian to Lord
Byron, who frequented the convent for that purpose,
and assisted his teacher in preparing a grammar
of the language. In a smaller library I was
shown many interesting works printed in the convent:

among others, a prayer book in twenty-four
languages, Milton's Paradise Lost, and Rollin's
Ancient History, translated into Arminian by the
learned padre. Having looked at the press below,
and enjoyed the fine view from various parts of the
building, I took my leave, eminently gratified
with this visit to one of the seemingly truly admirable
institutions extant. Its objects are primarily
the instruction of Arminian youth, the general dissemination
of knowledge, and the cultivation of literature
in connexion with theology. Its members,
strictly speaking, are Arminians, but education is afforded
to others, through visits to the island. Brethren
are continually sent forth; my good friend himself
had been a considerable traveller, and I could
readily believe his assertion, that in all his wanderings,
he had found no spot like this.