ples of civil and religious liberty, and the long and patient endurance of oppression and injustice which bigotry and intolerance have inflicted on them.

The next danger which the protestant discovers is the boasted ia, fluence which the clergy possess over the minds of their flocks, an influence more extensive than that of the legislature and executive powers united, and by a body of ecrlesias tics too, who, till lately, were under absolute proscription, and are still an insulated and an unacknowledg ed, but most formidable power with in the country, totally unconnected with the state, and studiously inde pendent of it. If this be a real danger, then the Jews and Romans were justified in their apprehensions of the progress of christianity. Our Saviour, when on earth, possessed an influence over his disciples greater

freatment proceeded. Well, supposing Mr. Foster to be correct in his statement, would it not be wise in him to exert his abilities to prevent the further continuance of this mistaken policy, and pursue a course of treatment which might lead him to expect that human nature would feel grateful for the happy reverse, and become attached to that government from which such blessings flowed? Such would be the dictates of reason and justice, but the biblical enthusiam of our sage legislator would not permit him to think of a plan so congenial to common sense, and he therefore imagines that this danger, as well as others, is to be overcome by the all-powerful influence of the bible societies, and the new system of education. But let not Mr. Foster deceive himself; the catholic clergy will not swerve from that line of conduct which duty imthan that of the sanhedrim or Roman poses upon them. If the protestant sees the Irish catholic laity depend-insulated and unacknowledged, and council, his doctrines were likewise ent upon the clergy for their opinions of the government of England, nected with and independent of the he also studiously kept them uncon let me tell him that his optics deceive state. The Jews, because they could him. The opinion of the catholic on not controvert his arguments nor subthe conduct of his temporal gover-due his influence, charged him be nors is not formed by the instruc-fore the Roman governor with being tions of his spiritual guides, but from the treatment which he experiences from the government itself, and the happiness or oppression which is produced from it. Equally does he deceive himself, if he ima gines that the catholic clergy are guided by the springs of human nature, in the instructions which they give to their flocks. On the contrary, the whole tenor of their exhortations is to inculcate the spirit of obedience to lawful superiors, to resist the impetuous passions of human nature, to cultivate the feelings of universal charity, and to bear with patience the injuries inflicted for conscience sake. And hence arises that unshaken attachment which the Irish have borne to the true princi

a seducer, and preaching sedition. But will Mr. Foster and his coadju tors say, that the Jews were defensi ble in their conduct towards the Messiah because he acted on the education, the morals, the habits, the opinions, and conduct of a great part of the people of Judea, more extensively than the Jewish syna. gogues and Roman governors? The apostles and their successors in the same manner preached the precepts of the gospel in direct opposition to the mandates of the imperial coun cils, and gained such an influence over the minds of the multitudes, that, notwithstanding racks and tor tures, and penal laws and prescriptions, were brought into the utmost activity to root out this spiritual in

fluence; the people were still resolve ed to be dependent upon this for midable power within the country, insulated and unacknowledged, and totally unconnected with the state, for their habits and opinions, and preferred the sacrifice of their lives to the relinquishment of their sentiments? And will Mr. Foster condemn the conduct of the apostles for giving religious instructions contrary to the will of the state, and applaud the intolerance and impiety of the pagan emperors, who opposed religious liberty by penal laws, and put those to death, or sent them into banishment, who dared to teach and follow the religion of Christ? I think he will not have the hardi. hood to do this. Then why does he slander the catholic clergy and laity of Ireland, who only act upon the same principles which guided the actions of the apostles and the primitive christians?

bishops meeting in synods convoked by the own authority, and promul gating whatever decrees upon whatever subjects they think proper Whether the fears of this protestant arise from his attachment to the church of England, or his hatred of popery, is a question which requires but little discrimination to solve.d It is evident that the latter impulsé predominates within his breast. If not, why feel so much alarm at the meetings of the catholic clergy, and pass over the combinations of the different sectarians which have been engendered in the womb of protesta antism, all opposed to the doctrines of the established church, and all seeking to proselyte her children. If the catholic clergy meet to regu late their ecclesiastical concerns, do not the methodists, the quakers, &c. assemble and have their conferences? If the catholic clergy convoke synods of their own autho Another dreadful danger which rity, do not the methodists, &c. do terrifies the protestant is, the comb the same ? Will the latter submit bined power of the great ecclesias- to have their religious freedom in tical body of the church of Rome. this or even any other case controlHe sees the inferior clergy of Ire- led? Then why single out catholic land submitting with unlimited de synods as objects of complaint and votion to their bishops, and these jealousy, if popery was not the object bishops acting with steadiness and of dread? But these synods prounanimity in asserting their autho- mulgate whatever decrees and upon rity. Mr. Foster, however, is far whatever subjects they judge profrom blaming this, as he says he per! Softly, Mr. Foster; the ca should, no doubt, act in the same tholic clergy have no power whatmanner, were he in a similar situaever to issue any edict except such tion. Having been so candid as to as relate to theological disputations make this acknowledgment, he or canonical regulations, and if these should have pointed out in what the are at any time contrary to the indanger consisted. But then comes terests of the nation, and opposed to a fourth alarm. The protestant sees the happiness of civilized society, a number of these bishops meeting surely the strong arm of the law is annually at Maynooth, primarily for sufficient to arrest any mischievous the regulations of that college, but projects which may be contained in he well understands that they do hot the decrees thus promulgated, withseparate without settling the con- out having recourse to measures cerns of their church, due deference contrary to religious liberty, of being paid to the recommendations which so much boast is made by the of the lay association assembled at braggadocio fanatics of this protestDublin; and upon more urgent ocant country. Besides, the quakers casions he sees the whole body of the publish their yearly epistles, the ORTHOD. JOUR. VOL. V.

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methodists the result of their annual | conferences, all of their own authority, and why should not the catholics do the same in this land of evangelical freedom?

struction, which has been recently introduced under the auspices of the Bible, Evangelical, Hibernian, Lancasterian, and the lord knows how many other societies, which have been established for the purpose of civilizing and christianizing the

Having thus marked out the perils which he has discovered menacing the existence of the protestant esta-poor oppressed Irish papists. But blishments of this country, from the Mr. Foster will be disappointed.→ influence of the catholic clergy, he The catholic clergy are not ignorant now.fixes his keen eye on the lai- of the pernicious effects of this pesty, and there he beholds the people, tiferous mode of decatholicizing (in this case I presume he means their flocks, and they are already both catholic and protestant) acting at their posts. Already have the in some districts in avowed defiance clergy of Cloyne and Ross declared of the law, subverting the founda- their sentiments against the "new tions of society, and glorying in their system," which the puritan zeal of crime when delivered by the hands anti-papal scripturists have ushered of justice to the executioner to expi- into Ireland, well knowing that vice ate their offences by the sacrifice of and immorality have received no their lives. Now mark the disin- check in this land of bibles, notgenuity of this organ of biblical bi-withstanding they have been so progotry. The pernicious effects of the sanguinary penal code and injustice of former times were too notorious even for this prejudiced man not to acknowledge that the evils complained of were caused by the inhuman policy of his ancestors; but whilst he makes this candid confession, and admits that the origin of these evils were the faults of his forefathers, he takes special care to insinuate that he considers the errors of the present race of the peasantry as rather a continuation of the habits of their fathers, generated by the misgovernment and calamities of the times, and tremendously ENHANCED by the bad qualities of the education which they receive-a supply, he says, of MORAL POISON. Whether he includes the course of education given in the protestant charter-schools in this general denunciation is not certain, but that the instructions bestowed by the catholic clergy on their flocks come within the term of moral poison is evident, from the hope expressed by the speaker that they will bethe foremost to adopt the new system, both of books and of in

fusely circulated here, that every cobler has one by him in his bulk, as well as the dish-wench in her scullery. The catholic clergy in Ireland very well know that the growth of crime has been increasing in a rapid degree in England since the formation of bible societies and the new system of education, where these institutions have had their complete sway, and therefore common sense tells them not to expect any advantages from such delusory plans among their flocks. That I do not exaggerate as to the deplorable state of morals and religion in this country, let the published reports on the police of the metropolis, as well as the public papers, bear testimony. In the Courier of the 8th instant, speaking of the disgraceful scenes which occurred at Bartholomew fair, which had just finished, the editor says, "the spirit of thieving was never known to animate her votaries with more energy." The Morning Chronicle of the succeeding day contained the following observation:- The assizes at Lancaster are not yet concluded. It is the blackest calendar that ever

forgot to plant the spirit of religion in this unhappy land, and left it a prey to the locusts which arose from the bottomless pit, the smoke of which darkened the sun and the air, and thus obscured the light of true faith and piety from its inhabitants.

was known." The Courier, in a subsequent impression, inserted the subjoined article:- "OLD BAILEY SESSIONS. On Wednesday next, (the 17th inst.) these sessions commence, and they will in all probability continue three or four weeks. We lament to observe the increase of Oh! how blind and delusive crimes, as the present number of are the characteristic qualities of prisoners is greater than ever was biblical enthusiasm! Notwithstandknown before; at the same time it is ing the notoriety of the depraved gratifying to learn that the offences state of the people of this country; are not of so serious a nature as upon notwithstanding the prisons are former occasions; out of 386 comcrowded with offenders of every demitted for trial, there are but 85 scription, and our courts of justice charged capitally." What a pic-almost constantly occupied in decidture is this of the metropolis of pro- ing on their cases; notwithstanding testant England, the head quarters the public papers are daily announc of the bible society of Britain, ing the committal of suicides, from "whose spirit," says Mr. Foster, the most trivial occasions, and of "like the angel described in the murders springing from the most apocalypse, is now flying through unmanly and unnatural motives; the midst of heaven-having the notwithstanding the most sacred everlasting gospel to PREACH to rules of society are scandalously viothem that dwell upon the earth,lated by the growing crime of adulto every nation and kindred,and tongue, and people." Three hundred and eighty-six criminals for trial since the last goal delivery, which takes place every six weeks, and the journalist deems it a grati fying circumstance that there are but eighty-five charged with of fences which incur the penalty of death! Moreover, be it observed, that this session is expected to last four weeks, which will leave but an interval of a fortnight before the commencement of the next. Thus, supposing the degree of crime to be stationary, two-thirds of the year will be employed in trying of fences in the metropolis only, and should the progress of vice and immorality spread as rapidly as it has done for the last few years, we shall see the Old Bailey courts permanently occupied by the judges in the decision of criminal cases. Surely the apocalyptical angel, in flying through the midst of heaven, to preach the e everlasting gospel to every nation, tongue, and people,

tery, which under the Jewish theocracy was punished with death; notwithstanding these dreadful evils are fast augmenting in this land of protestantism,-no sooner do the catholics apply to the senate to be replaced in their just rights, than the whole herd of bigots join in an outcry against the danger of their immoral principles and the bad qualities of the education which they receive. But, let me ask, if the qua lity of the tree is to be known by its fruits, does the moral situation of Ireland present so frightful a picture as that of England? Look to the two principal cities of the former island, Dublin and Cork, the majority of whose inhabitants are composed of persons commonly designated by English bigotry, papists. Are the commitments and convic tions there in any degree proportionate to those of London? Do they, in fact, bear any ratio even united to those of the latter? The

answer must be given in the negative. And from whence does the

cause arise? Not, reader, from the | patience under persecution for conbad qualities of the education which science sake-a supply of moral poithe people there receive, but from son! No, Mr. Foster, "the source the good properties which the ca- of the evil" is in the arrogant and tholic clergy instil into their minds oppressive qualities of protestant in by exhortations, instructions, and tolerance, From the first dawn of good example, which is more likely the pretended reformation, persecu to be efficacious in restraining the tion for religious difference became guilty passions of a sinner, than the the predominant passion of every mere putting a bible into his hand, leader of a sect, and the history of whether he is able or inclined to our own country testifies that the read it or not. I do not disown but ruling faction always persecuted cases of the deepest atrocity have those who opposed their creed ;been committed by some of the pre- that of Ireland presents a still greater sent race of the Irish peasantry, example of the fact I have advanced. generated, as Mr. Foster admits, by" It has been the fate of Ireland," "It the misgovernment and calainities of says Mr. Plowden, "to experience the times, but I most positively deny more harshness from the English that they have been enhanced by the government than any other part of education they have received; a the British empire; on none has supply of MORAL POISON, as the the hand of the conqueror pressed speaker terms it. What! shall the so heavily; and the inflexible ad religion of Christ be deemed by a herence of the Irish to their old resenator of the imperial parliament ligion, has been generally, and not venomous and corrupt! Shall the without reason, assigned as a cause instructions of the catholic clergy, of their harsh treatment." This is the influence of which has been ac- the supply of moral poison; it is the knowledged by the Courier to have penal code, which is far from being stemmed the progress of irreligion relaxed or suffered to slumber, and free-thinking in France, and From this evil arises the grievances awakened sentiments of repentance of Ireland and the tumults and outand faith in the blood-stained crimi- rages committed by the catholic nals of 1793,be deemed a moral poison peasantry, which would be far more in Ireland, and the principal cause of numerous and lamentable, were they the dreadful deeds which occasion not restrained by the good qualities ally occur in that unhappy country? of the education they receive from What inconsistency-what per- their clergy. If the protestant sees versity-what ignorance! does in some district an increasing proreligious prejudice create in her in scription of himself and of his creed ; fatuated devotees. That system of does not the catholic see himself of instruction which first softened proscribed and systematically haand civilized our savage ancestors; rassed throughout the island, by the which taught our Saxon sovereigns operation of the penal code? If to frame a code of laws on the basis the protestant tradesman is suddenof civil freedom; which animated ly deserted by his catholic custothe barons to demand the restitution mers, and the protestant farmer is of those laws from an irreligious ty- menaced in his habitation, or way rant, and preserved them until they laid on his journey, to compel his were again lost in the reign of a still conversion (an assertion that remore impious oppressor of his coun-quires proof before it can be credittry; which, in fine, undeviatingly ed); does not the catholic tradesinculcates obedience to lawful supe- man and farmer meet with more riors, good will towards all men, and harsh and uncharitable traatment