Produced by David Moynhan, Lee Dawei, Marvin A. Hodges,
Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
[Transcriber's Note: The original page scans used to create this textwere illegible in places; the notation [illegible] has been used in thetext to indicate these places. Additionally, Chapter XIV was missingfrom both the table of contents and the book; presumably this is aprinting error as opposed to an actual missing chapter.]
By
Of the
Containing, also, Many Incidents Never Before Published.
This volume embraces not only my "Awful Disclosures," but acontinuation of my Narrative, giving an account of events after myescape from the Nunnery, and of my return to Montreal to procure alegal investigation of my charges. It also [illegible] all thetestimony that has been published against me, or every description, aswell as that which has been given in confirmation of my story. At theclose, will be found a Review of the whole Subject, furnished by agentleman well qualified for the purpose; and finally, a copiousAppendix, giving further particulars interesting to the public.
I present this volume to the reader, with feelings which, I trust, willbe in some degree appreciated when it has been read and reflected upon.A hasty perusal, and an imperfect apprehension of its contents, cannever produce such impressions as it has been my design to make by thestatements I have laid before the world. I know that misapprehensionsexist in the minds of some virtuous people. I am not disposed tocondemn their motives, for it does not seem wonderful that in a purestate of society, and in the midst of Christian families, there shouldbe persons who regard the crimes I have mentioned as too monstrous tobelieved. It certainly is creditable to American manners and character,that the people are inclined, at the first sight, to turn from my storywith horror.
There is also an excuse for those who, having received only a generalimpression concerning the nature of my Disclosures, question thepropriety of publishing such immorality to the world. They fear thatthe minds of the young, at least, may be polluted. To such I have tosay, that this objection was examined and set aside, long before theyhad an opportunity to make it. I solemnly believe it is necessary toinform parents, at least, that the ruin from which I have barelyescaped, lies in the way of their children, even if delicacy must be insome degree wounded by revealing the fact. I understand the case, alas!from too bitter experience. Many an innocent girl may this year beexposed to the dangers of which I was ignorant. I am resolved, that sofar as depends on me, not one more victim shall fall into the hands ofthose enemies in whose power I so lately have been. I know what it isto be under the dominion of Nuns and Priests; and I maintain, that itis a far greater offence against virtue and decency to conceal than toproclaim their crimes. Ah! had a single warning voice even whispered tome a word of caution—had even a gentle note of alarm been sounded tome, it might have turned back my foot from the Convent when it was uponthe threshold! If, therefore, there is any one now bending a step thatway, whom I have, not yet alarmed, I will cry beware!
But the virtuous reader need not fear, in the following pages, to meetwith vice presented in any dress but her own deformity. No one ca