But on the other hand my congregation had expressly written to the Archbishops fourteen
months ago in answer to a communication from them, as follows;- "August 8 1857. We
conceive we do not mistake in interpreting your Grace to mean, that you wish to gain
our consent to our Father Superior' residence in Dublin, as during the last three years for
an indefinite time to come. Now we are sanguine that we shall be able by a statement
of the circumstances of the case, to carry your Graces with us in the conclusion, to which
we have come ourselves that such a further leave of absence from the oratory to be granted
to our Fr. Superior is simply incompatible with our duty to Sr. Philip and that we cannot
with a clear conscience make ourselves partners to it.
And in the previous May I had received at Dublin from the oratory the following
notice: - Congr: Gen : May 5 1857 Whereas by Decree of May 6 1852 we gave permission
to our Father Superior to accept the office of President of the Catholic University and
whereas the time has long since expired which we contemplated for his absence when we
gave here that permission and whereas we find we cannot continue longer the great
inconvenience [illegible] from his protracted separation from us; We hereby unanimously determine in general congregation assembled that his leave of absence shall end
and that in virtue of obedience to Sr. Philip he must return to us.
Under these circumstances bound by duty to be here bound by honour
to residence in Dublin as a necessary condition of the Rectors office a condition
which my own judgment accepts and yours also what is left to me but to resign it?
EN