care that no grant ever shall be made. What they give to aid Popery in Ireland helps on Popery in England.

At pages 90 and 91 Sir Francis thus notices some peculiar traits of the priestly character:

"Generally speaking they appeared to be in the enjoyment of perfect health; many were exceedingly muscular, sturdy, and robust; almost all had clear ruddy complexions, and yet in the countenance of every one I happened to speak to were to be seen very faintly impressed the unmistake able lines which, in every country I have visited, more or less, characterize the lineaments of the Catholic priest." The devotion to the Virgin seems to have surprised him.

"As I was ruminating on a beuch, I observed at my side a small black covered book, which a student had apparently left there. A portion of it appeared to have been much thumbed, and, the leaves opening of their own accord at that particular spot, I read as follows:

"Oh! Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy upon us.

"Holy Mary, Holy Mother of God, Holy Virgin of Virgins, Mother of Christ.

"Mother of Divine Grace. "Most pure Mother. "Most chaste Mother. "Most undefiled Mother. "Most amiable Mother. "Most admirable Mother. "Mother of our Creator. "Mother of our Redeemer. "Most prudent Virgin. "Most venerable Virgin. "Most renowned Virgin. "Most powerful and most merciful Virgin.

Most faithful Virgin. "Mirror of justice.

"Seal of wisdom.

"Health of the weak.

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Refuge of sinners. "Comfort of the afflicted. "Help of Christians. "Queen of Angels. "Queen of Patriarchs. "Queen of Prophets. "Queen of Apostles. "Queen of Martyrs. "Queen of Confessors. "Queen of Virgins. ""Queen of all Saints.

"O Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the world. Spare us, good Lord.'

At page 92, Sir Francis expressed his opinion that the severity of the College had been increased by the method adopted to improve Maynooth.

"I entered one of the chimneyless rooms on the lower floor, and closing the door I could not help saying to myself 'Well, here I am at last, a student of Maynooth!' And, after thinking my new profession over for some time, and looking first at my lofty walls, and then at the large tall chapel window above me, for it was so high from the floor that I could scarcely look out of it, my mind gradually came to the conclusion that the fine new system by whomsoever it may have been devised, of giving to each student a separate cell instead of crowding, as in the old building, from two to eight in a room, will materially increase the monastic severity of the education to which they have hitherto been subjected; indeed, to deprive them of their room-comrades will, I submit, prove to be the bitterest drop in that cup of ecclesiastic medicine, which, it is said, will cure them of-or rather kill-attachment to the things of the world."

At pages 96 and 97, we have the following dialogue on the Bible:—

"I then observed to him that I was glad I had visited compartment A of the library, as people in England were usually of opinion that Roman Catholics did not read the Bible. He replied in the following words, which I read to him from my note-book, to ascertain, as I told him, that I had correctly copied them from his mouth: It is a rule of our establishment,' said he, that every young man at entrance should be provided with a

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copy of the Bible for his own individual use; and so solicitous are we for the observance of this rule, that our Procurator purchases a number of Bibles, one of which is handed by him to each student, immediately after his accession, if he has not already a Bible in his possession.' I then stated that, as I had truly told him on my arrival, it was not for theological information I had come to visit his college. But,' said I, as I feel a great interest in the welfare of Ireland, may I ask you what is the real cause of the schism which so unfortunately exists between the Roman Catholic priesthood and the Protestants, or, in other words, what is it that the Roman Catholic priesthood desire?' He replied,' As you ask me plainly I will tell you frankly.' After, however, he had done so, and after I had, as he pronounced his sentences, written them in my book, he added,' On reflection I should not desire to make public my opinions on a political subject with which it is not my province to interfere;' and accordingly I instantly drew my pencil through the lines I had written, which of course I shall never feel myself at liberty to repeat.'

Sir Francis Head, at page 393, thus meets the assertion, that Roman Catholics being in the majority ought to have the property of the Established

Church.

"As a British House of Commons will, I feel confident, summarily deal with physical force projects of this nature as they deserve, I will only observe, as a statistical fact, that the argument for appropriating to Catholics the revenues of the Established Protestant Church of Ireland, simply because the population of the former creed exceeds that of the latter, rests on a foundation that will very shortly be reversed, inasmuch as within a couple of years there can exist no doubt whatever that the Protestant population of Ireland will form 'the majority,' in which case, if the present argument be worth anything, they, the Protestants, might, according to 'the law of the strongest,' seize upon whatever property of the Roman Catholics they might be inclined to covet."

We next come to page 393-4; and

the opinion, the erroneous opinion, of Sir F. H., as to Maynooth, is thus expressed as to taking away the grant:

"I deem it right to say that, in my opinion, no such act of vengeance should be, I will not say indulged in, but committed."

There is no act of vengeance contemplated. As a matter of principle, Protestants have for many years objected to the endowment of the Romish College of Maynooth.

But though Sir F. would continue the grant, he feels compelled to say, p. 395:

،، The addition to education-money, granted in late years by Parliament, has not produced much improvement; for although it has undeniably increased the number of priests, it has not improved their quality. In short, Mr. Pitt's project in almost every point of view, has proved to be a most serious failure."

Yet he adds, fallaciously as it appears to us:

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Notwithstanding, however, all these reasons in favour of the abolition of the College of Maynooth, and notwithstanding the misconduct of the Irish priesthood, of which no one can be more fully convinced than myself, I will not conceal my decided opinion that by continuing to them our grant we shall administer to the degraded priesthood of Ireland an infinitely heavier blow than we should inflict upon them by withholding it. In the struggle and contention which for so many years have disgraced the connexion between England and Ireland, it has been, and it is, of vital importance that we should not only satisfy but undeniably prove to the civilised world who it is that has been to blame. And as the priesthood of Ireland, blood-stained with the barbarous murders they have encouraged, have made themselves the objects of detestation and contempt, it is, I submit, the duty as well as the interest of Protestant England to evince, on the detection and self-degradation of an inveterate and ungrateful opponent, that generosity and magnanimity which have ever characterised her conduct to Ireland in general, and to the Irish priesthood in particular; and, there

fore, although I have to the utmost of my power acted as the public prosecutor of their offences, with equal energy I urge, as their advocate, that the annual Parliamentary grant for Maynooth, should be continued to them."

Want of space forbids our noticing further this question now; but we can

not conclude our notice without protesting against the advocacy by Sir Francis, at p. 397, of friendly or diplomatic relations with Rome. It is sound in principle, and would be unsafe in practice.

Further notice of this we must defer to our January number.

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CONFESSION AND CONVOCATION.-A Meeting of Members of the Church of England was held on Wednesday, November 10, at the Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen-street, "for the purpose of adopting Resolutions on the attempted introduction of auricular confession, and on the threatened revival of Convocation." The body of the large room in which the Meeting assembled was crowded by an audience consisting almost exclusively of gentlemen, while a numerous party of ladies occupied a spacious gallery appropriated to their accommodation. The chair was taken shortly after twelve o'clock by the Earl of Shaftesbury, amidst_considerable cheering. The noble Earl was supported by the following noblemen and gentlemen :The Rev. Dr. Marsh, Earl of Cavan, Lord Thomas Cecil, Hon. and Rev. H. M. Villiers, Rev. Canon Stowell, Lord Henry Cholmondeley, M.P., Sir H. Verney, Bart., the Rev. Lord Wriothesley Russell, J. C. Colquhoun, Esq., Rev. E. Auriol, Rev. J. Meek, Captain Trotter, Rev. T. Nolan, General Sir Peregrine Maitland, Rev. D. Wilson, Hon. Captain F. Maude, Admiral Vernon Harcourt, Dr. Cowan, Sir George Pollock, Rev. C. Kemble, Hon. A. Kinnaird, M. P., Rev. M. Preston, Rev. Henry Venn, John Thornton, Esq., R. C. L. Bevan, Esq., J. Macgregor, Esq., J. J. Cummins, Esq., J. H. Maxwell, Esq., Rev. G. A. Rogers, Rev. J. Miller, Birmingham, Rev. W. Fremantle, Ven. Archdeacon Hill, Rev. T. Tate, &c. After prayer, by the Rev. Dr. Marsh, the Meeting

was addressed by the Noble Chairman, Mr. Colquhoun, Rev. Mr. Magee of Bath, Mr. Carter Wood, Mr. Baxter, Mr. Cummins, Admiral Vernon Harcourt, and Rev. D. Wilson.

In the early part of the present year the Rev. R. Bickersteth, Rector of St. Giles-in-the-Fields, established a class for Roman Catholic inquirers; the result of which has been so far successful, that up to the present time, upwards of thirty persons have publicly abjured the errors of Romanism, and joined the Church of England. Two of these persons are now in training to become Scripture Readers, and one has given up a situation of considerable emolument, to proceed to Ireland as a Scripture Reader, and has left London to enter upon the scene of his future labours.

LUTHER AND MUSIC.-Whoever despises music (said Martin Luther) I am displeased with him. Next to theology, I give a place to music; for thereby is all danger forgotten, the devil is driven away, and melancholy and many tribulations and evil thoughts are expelled. It is the best solace for a desponding mind.

TRUE RELIGION, THE BASIS OF TRUE MORALITY.-Where religion is neglected, the duties of morality are never regularly practised. For such is the propensity of our nature to vice, so numerous are the temptations to a relaxed and immoral conduct, that stronger restraints than those of mere reason are necessary to be imposed upon man.