Francis Paris, a strenuous opponent of the bull Unigenitus, was the son of a French counsellor. Pious, humble, and benevolent, Paris relinquished to his brother all claim to the paternal succession, renounced the world, lived by the labour of his own hands, and spent his leisure moments in prayer, and in succouring, consoling, and instructing the poor. His modest estimate of his own abilities deterred him from taking holy orders. He died on the 1st of May, 1727, and was buried in the church-yard of St. Medard. Many of those to whom he had been a comforter and guide, looked upon him as a beatified being, and came to pray at his tomb. Among the number were many females. Rumours soon began to be spread, that miracles were worked by the influence of the sainted defunct; sight was said to be restored, and contracted limbs extended to their full longitude. Multitudes now flocked to the sacred ground. Then ensued, especially among the women, contortions and convulsive movements, attended by cries, shrieks, and groans, all of which were regarded as manifestations of divine power. All convulsive movements are catching, and consequently, the number of persons who displayed them at St. Medard, increased daily to an enormous extent. The jargon which was uttered by the convulsionaries, during their paroxysms, was next supposed to be the language of prophecy; and a whole volume of it was actually published, under the title of “A Collection of Interesting Predictions.” Before, however, we laugh at our Gallic neighbours for such folly, it may be well to remember some things which have happened in England, within the last quarter of a century.