went smoothly. Manning hastened to Rome, and was immediately
placed by the Pope in the highly select Accademia Ecclesiastica,
commonly known as the 'Nursery of Cardinals', for the purpose of
completing his theological studies. When the course was finished,
he continued, by the Pope's special request, to spend six months
of every year in Rome, where he preached to the English visitors,
became acquainted with the great personages of the Papal court,
and enjoyed the privilege of constant interviews with the Holy
Father. At the same time, he was able to make himself useful in
London, where Cardinal Wiseman, the newly created Archbishop of
Westminster, was seeking to reanimate the Roman Catholic
community. Manning was not only extremely popular in the pulpit
and in the confessional; he was not only highly efficient as a
gleaner of souls--and of souls who moved in the best society; he
also possessed a familiarity with official persons and official
ways, which was invaluable. When the question arose of the
appointment of Catholic chaplains in the Crimea during the war,
it was Manning who approached the Minister, interviewed the
Permanent Secretary, and finally succeeded in obtaining all that
was required. When a special Reformatory for Catholic children
was proposed, Manning carried through the negotiation with the
Government. When an attempt was made to remove Catholic children
from the Workhouses, Manning was again indispensable. No wonder
Cardinal Wiseman soon determined to find some occupation of
special importance for the energetic convert. He had long wished
to establish a congregation of secular priests in London
particularly devoted to his service, and the opportunity for the
experiment had clearly now arisen. The order of the Oblates of
St. Charles was founded in Bayswater, and Manning was put at its
head. Unfortunately, no portion of the body of St. Charles could