Body of Fr. Dominic - Purchase of Highgate property.
On the 15th April, 1858, a juridical examination of the remains of Father Dominic took place in Sutton. The coffin had been changed three or four times and also the habit wherewith the body was covered. Before 14 witnesses, including the V.G. of Liverpool, Canon George Fisher, a secular priest and a medical doctor, the body was found to be still incorrupt, although altered in colour and the features not capable of being recognised. The limbs were flexible and the nails even still remained. It was nearly nine years buried. When the proper examination had taken place, the proper papers signed and sealed, the body was placed in a new shell sealed with Dr. Fisher's signet and placed in its present resting place in St. Anne's Retreat, Sutton.
Our chronicler records a beautiful case of a conversion which took place in Broadway the month of May of this year. A poor woman was converted by her child. The child was burnt and in a dying state cried for leave to see the procession in honour of our Lady. The mother brought the child in her arms, let it be baptised and was baptised herself and her whole family.
Father Ignatius Paoli, the new Provincial was looking about him for some more suitable spot to remove our community at the Hyde to. We shall give the foundation at Highgate in the words of Fr. Ignatius Spencer who thus records the matter:
"The new Provincial, Fr. Ignatius of the Infant Jesus, came into this country with a determination already formed (to find a new residence instead of the Hyde). He had, in fact before leaving Rome, received express injunctions to this effect, from the General, who, from reports made to him from various quarters, had resolved that that step was necessary. Accordingly the first time he had an opportunity of conversing with Cardinal Wiseman he expressed these wishes to his Eminence and requested his assistance which was kindly promised. He thought it prudent however not to declare his intentions unreservedly to all until there should appear a prospect of doing something. Meanwhile he wrote to Rome to engage the prayers of as many holy souls as possible and asked prayers, in person, from great numbers in Ireland where he spent a great part of the Autumn and Winter. In the Spring he returned from Ireland to see about the accomplishment of his design.
On the 30th April he reached the retreat and on the next day went with Fr. Raphael to look at a piece of ground which was for sale near Kilburn Station. It seemed well suited to our purpose for several reasons, but, as Mr Tucker, solicitor had already been spoken to on the subject of finding a place for us by Fr. Vincent, more than two years before and had lately informed one of our Religious of a place for sale at Highgate, as well as several other pieces of ground, in other places, he determined on speaking to him before taking further steps.
On Monday, May 3rd, the Provincial, Fr. Fugene and Br. Thomas called on Mr. Tucker, who told them that the ground at Kilburn, on account of its being so near a railway station, would be too expensive; but showed them plans and gave descriptions of other places on sale, none of which however satisfied the Provincial. Lastly he showed them the plan of the property at Highgate which we now possess. Mr. Tucker made several objections to this. He conceived we should wish for a finer house and more extensive grounds. He remarked on the vicinity of the Smallpox Hospital. Fr. Provincial was convinced at once that this was the place for us, and without more ado, he and Br. Thomas (having first disguised themselves at Mr. Martin's, Argylle St.) went to look at it. They did not venture to enter the premises lest some one might guess what they were and the usual prejudices against Catholic purchases being excited. But they looked round the place, on every side and were perfectly satisfied with it. On the fifth of May, Br. Thomas disguised himself again and went with Mr. Tucker to look at the inside. On his report Fr. Eugene also disguised himself in the clothes of Mr. Matthews, the house porter at the Custom House and with Br. Thomas went to view it thoroughly and wrote an exact report to Fr. Provincial who had gone to Sutton. On receiving this, the Provincial went to Dublin to confer on the subject with his two Consultors, whom he found together at Blanchardstown giving a mission. He then returned to London to try and raise the money necessary for gaining possession of the property. It was supposed £1000 would be wanted for this purpose and that in a few days. He also had to encounter another difficulty which was to obtain the Cardinal's consent to the move. A letter was written to his Eminence on the subject in answer to which he strongly opposed our settling in Highgate, because of its likelihood to interfere with the interests of the neighbouring missions. The Provincial upon this went to speak to him on May 15th. At first he renewed his objections. It happened that in a consultation with his counsel, a few days before, a resolution was come to that the opening a mew mission at Highgate was inadvisable. However, in the course of conversation, his Eminence's mind seemed to change. He agreed that Canon O'Neal, V.G., should inspect the place and make him a report. This report being decidedly favorable to our wishes, the Cardinal, by a letter dated May 21st gave his consent to the purchase, but left it to the Apos. Coadjutor, Dr. Errington, to arrange with the Provincial the conditions on which we were allowed to settle there finally.
"There was no time to be lost in making those arrangements, as the day fixed for the sale of the property by auction was May 26th. The Archbishop did not dissemble his decided opposition to us, declaring that, if it had been left to him, he would by no means have allowed our establishment in the Archdiocese. He objected to us on several grounds. 1st our unfitness as he alleged to be of any use to the diocese. 2nd, our having to depend on the alms of the faithful and the consequent necessity of continual begging. 3rd, our interference with several other missions by being settled at Highgate. He insisted moreover on our making an entire sacrifice of whatever might be got from the sale of our property at the Hyde, in favour of the secular mission which should have to be established there. This condition had to be agreed to before he would allow the purchase to proceed. Subsequently the Cardinal took it on himself to allow us one half of what the property was sold for, notwithstanding a long representation to our disadvantage presented to the Cardinal by one of the principal members of our own congregation.
It was only about 8 o'clock in the evening of May 25th - the day before the auction took place - that the Archbishop, after several long and painful conferences, reluctantly gave his consent. The Provincial had to hasten to Mr. Tucker's house, where he saw him at 10 o'clock at night, to give him instructions and effect the sale, which he accordingly did.
"During the time that these discussions were going on, and indeed for two or three weeks before, the Provincial had been incessantly engaged in trying to raise the money necessary to be paid down at once on the completion of the sale. This proved not to be £1000 as imagined, but £1500. He was obliged to spend nearly his whole time in London, going from one place to another all day long and the whole sum was happily raised just in time to hand to Mr. Tucker on the evening before. Mr George Taylor lent £300, Mr. Reddin, £400, Mr. Copeland of Chestenham, £500 - all of these sums were given without interest to be repaid in about 2 years - Mr. Manning (1 Regent St.) lent £100 with interest. Some donations were given by friends among which figure £25 from Lord Petre."
We interrupt this narrative of Fr. Ignatius to remark that when we bought the Highgate property, where our house and church now stand, for £4500, we had not one penny in the world to spare and yet Fr. Ignatius Paoli ran the risk with such effects as we witness at this day.
"As soon as the place was secured Fr. Provincial and Br. Alphonsus came to examine the house. This was the first time that any of our people had been there in clerical costume; for were it known for whom the purchase was being made, great difficulties would have been raised and we should probably have been excluded. Our two pioneers found four ladies in the house, one of whom, Mrs. Woodward was 82 years of age. They seemed terrified at learning now, for the first time, who were the purchasers, and anxiously asked whether they should be immediately ejected. They were consoled at finding that everything would be done to suit their convenience and there they remained until about the beginning of September.
"There were some curious coincidences connected with our taking possession of this place. Some 9 years before it fell into our hands, old Mr. Woodward had a great mind to sell the place and he would have sold it, only some nights before the sale, he dreamt that it fell into the hands of some papists. Six or seven years before we went there the trustees of the hospital offered six thousand pounds for the place and the old man would not sell it for that price." It fell into the hands of the papists for much less.
"On the 29th September, feast of St. Michael, 1858 the Father Provincial with Br. Alphonsus and Br. Thomas came and took possession of the house."
Transformation then took place, but before we describe them, it may be as well to give some notion of the place itself and such history as belongs to it.
The spot, so well known now, on which our Church and monastery are built, in Highgate has somewhat of a history. At the foot of that hill, Lord Bacon caught literally "his death of cold" by stuffing a dead hen with snow in the year 15(1626). Andrew Marveli sent forth his curious lucubrations from another corner of Highgate. Nell Groyim was about to pitch the first Duke of St. Albans from a window in Lauderdale House, a few yards above the present St. Joseph's Retreat, when Charles II saved him by giving him an inferior title. Cromwell clanked his sword on the pavement of Ireton's dwelling, now a hospital just opposite to where we live. The 31 coaches which entered London from the North everyday and had their contents survive freedmen of Highgate, upon the horses at the Red Lion (Kimpton's) passed by this spot and put on their drays. The very house which our Fathers took possession of was once a stage and horses were changed there after the first spurt from the Spread Eagle or some other coach centre in London. It was called the "Black Dog" and as an inn gave hospitality to many wayfarers before it became the property of a penurious old gentleman. He lined the window shutters with iron and half-fortified the place, but left the old taproom with its stone pavement in its primitive simplicity and the kitchen with its elaborate
chimney piece just as he found them. We turned the taproom into a chapel and for two years the Catholics of Highgate and its vicinity confessed and heard Mass on that spot. The old kitchen became the parlour, the front rooms a library and sacristy and the house was thoroughly cut up by partitions until it could accommodate about 20 religious. Underneath we delved space for a kitchen and refectory and thus transformed the "Black Dog " into a monastery called St. Joseph's Retreat.
Whosoever looks at the beautiful church and monastery which now crowns that summit, where no one can build or encroach upon our solitude will wonder at the way in which the small seeds of that plantation grew into such a splendid establishment. It is confessedly the best position for a monastery in all the environs of London.
During this year missions were given by our Fathers in North Anne St., Dublin; Kilmore, Co. Wexford; Houghton le Spring, England; Blanchardstown, Castlepollard and Ferns. Retreats in Maynooth, Birr, Roscrea, Sutton, Cabra, Armagh,(2), Newry, Galway and Wexford. These are the only ones recorded, but as many more must have been given in various places.