and the hardships of the campaign contributed with the sword in thinning the ranks. Upwards of twenty hospitals were established in different parts of the city, and they were all kept constantly filled by the crowds of sick and wounded that daily poured in from the army. As many of the regiments were almost exclusively composed of Catholics from Ireland, a most laborious and extensive mission was thus created. The task of administering the succours of religion to all these distressed objects was assigned to the Rev. Edmund Winstanley who for this purpose was retained at the College and unremittingly continued to exert him self in the discharge of these severe duties until the close of the war. He was assisted in this charitable work by the Rev. Thomas Hurst, who devoted to the hospitals, or to the making private or public exhortations, whatever time he could spare from his duties in the Academy.
In the year 1813, the Rev. John Paul Colegate who during the past six years had devoted himself to the duties which fell to him in the carrying on of the Academy, died from an attack of European cholera, and he deserves more than a passing mention.
He was born at Faversham in Kent. His parents were members of the Established Church, and in the early years of his life he was directly brought up in the tenets and practice of Protestantism. The occasion of his conversion to the Catholic Faith was remarkable. During the course of his education which was carried on under his father's roof, he had for a Master in the French tongue, one of the numerous emigrant clergy, who about this period, flying from the horrors of the Revolution, found hospitality in England. The talents and virtue of his Preceptor struck young Colegate with admiration, and lamenting to see so much worth obscured by the gross delusions of Popery, he resolved to attempt his conversion.
Accordingly one day when the good priest was not at all expecting an attack on his faith, his scholar led him into the garden where, instead of repeating his task, he
