help Thy servant
when he is feeble and would fall.

"One thing that gives me much peace and joy is that all worldly
inducements, all temptations toward self-gratification whatever, are
in favor of the Anglican Church and in opposition to the Catholic
Church. And on this account my conscience feels free from any
unworthy motive in joining it. The Roman Catholic Church is the most
despised, the poorest, and, according to the world, the least
respectable of any; this on account of the class of foreigners of
which it is chiefly composed in this country. In this respect it
presents to me no difficulty of any sort, nor demands the least
sacrifice. But the new relations in which it will place me, and the
new duties which will be required of me, are strange to me, and hence
I shall feel all their weight at once."

His premonitions were speedily fulfilled, though probably not in the
extreme form which he anticipated. The spirit of courtesy which
prevailed throughout his family doubtless prevented any but the
mildest criticism on his action. But even that had hitherto been
spared him. There had been anxiety and much questioning about his
final course, but that it would end in this way does not seem to have
been seriously apprehended. On the same day on which he made the
entry just quoted he wrote the following letter to them:

"June 11, 1844.--On Saturday last I went into Boston and did not
return until this morning (Tuesday). . . . My purpose in going was to
see Bishop Fenwick of the Roman Catholic Church, to learn what are
the preliminaries necessary for one who wishes to be united to the
Church. I saw the bishop and his coadjutor, men of remarkable
goodness, candor, and frankness. I was chiefly interested with his
coadjutor, and spent some hours with him on Monday. And this is the
result to which I have come: That soon, probably next week, I shall
go from here to Worcester, where there is a Catholic college, and
stay there for a few days, perhaps a fortnight, to see the place,
become acquainted with their practical religious life and their
system of intellectual instruction. From there I shall go on home to
New York, and, after having gone through the requisite preliminaries,
be united to the Roman Catholic Church in our city. . . . Before I
make any unalterable step, I wish to see you all and commune with you
concerning this movement on my part. . . .

"Whatever theories and speculations may be indulged in and cherished