tached from the world, and shut up in cloisters, are dead to all the passions which agitate the human frame. On the contrary, all the little mean passions, such as envy, malice, curiosity, and selfishness, are to be found inhabiting the bosoms of too many who have apparently retired from all worldly concerns. The good mothers were confused; but as I addressed them civilly, they soon recovered, and paid me much attention.
When I had been about three weeks in the convent, I was one day much surprised by the information, that my trunks of clothes had been brought that morning, and left without any message or inquiries. On examining them, I found all was perfectly right; my ivory cabinet was also in one of the trunks; but not a single paper of any kind remained. Convinced now that I was to be confined for life, without some miracles should effect my deliverance, my spirits no longer supported me. I fell into a low nervous fever, that reduced me extremely, both in body and mind. One of the lay sisters,
