"We recommend the following communications to all persons who doubt the
wickedness of Nunneries. The young gentleman who sent us the letter is
now in this city, and we have heard the same statements from other
witnesses. That subterraneous passages from the Seminary to the
Nunneries, we ourselves have seen, and close by the spot designated by
our correspondent:--
(STATEMENT OF J. M.)
_"Underground passage from the Jesuit Seminary to the Hotel Dieu
Nunnery, Montreal._
"I have been informed that you are endeavoring to obtain facts and
other incidental circumstances relative to the Black Nunnery, in
Montreal, and the disclosures concerning it, made by Maria Monk, in
which are many hard things, but hard as they are, they are not
indigestible by us Canadians; we believe that she has told but a small
part of what she must know, if she was but half the time there which
she says she was. Maria Monk has mentioned in her book something about
the underground passage which leads from the Black Nunnery to other
places in Montreal. That fact I know by ocular demonstration, and which
nine tenths of the Canadians also will not deny, for it has been opened
several times by the labourers, who have been digging for the purpose
of laying pipes to conduct gas and water. While preparing a place for
the latter I saw one of those passages; the earth being removed by the
labourers, they struck upon the top of the passage, and curiosity led
them to see what was beneath, for it sounded as though there was a
hollow. They accordingly removed the large flat stones which formed the
top of the passage. Many persons were looking on at the time, and
several of them went down into it; when they returned after a few
minutes, they stated that they went but a short distance, before they
came to an intersection of passages, and were afraid to proceed
further. Shortly after, several priests were on the spot, and prevented
the people from further examining it; and had the place shut up
immediately, while they stood by and guarded it until it was all done.
The appearance of that part of the passage was the same as I saw while
they were laying the water pipes. The floor of it in both [illegible]
where I saw it was clean to appearance, with the exception of a little
dirt that fell in on opening them, and of stone flagging. I have heard
much about these underground passages in Montreal, in which place I
have spent the most of my days. I give you my name and residence: and
if you should be called upon from any quarter for the truth of this
statement. I am ready to attest it upon oath; and there are others in
this city who have witnessed the same things. The places where those
openings were made in the underground passages were in St. Joseph
street for the water pipes; and for the gas pipes in Notre-Dame street,
near Sacrament street, at a short distance from the Seminary.
"W. M."
* * * * *
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