Westbury, our readers are aware, is stoutly contested, but no one at present can foresee the result. -Devizes Gazette. HEREFORD. Mr. Sergeant Glover has begun his canvass, and has been most successful. Sir R. Price and Mr. Clifford, the Whig candidates, commenced their canvass on Friday morning. HUNTINGDON.-Mr. Prendergast has completed a very successful canvass, and Mr. Thomas Baring's re-election is by no means a matter of certainty. His vote in favour of the Maynooth Bill will cost him many votes. READING. The interest excited in the struggle now going on between the four candidates for this borough, all of whom are determined to proceed to the poll, increases as the election day approaches. ROCHESTER. A Meeting of the electors of this borough took place on Friday evening, at which Mr. Douglas and Mr. Bodkin, the late Members, were present. ST. ALBAN'S.-There are already four candidates in the field; viz., Mr. Repton (Conservative), the Hon. F. K. Craven, Mr. A. Raphael, and Mr. John Wilks. The last three named all profess liberal principles, the only difference of any importance being the much debated question of “ Catholic Endowments." The four candidates have all expressed their determination to go to the poll. SALFORD.-The election for this borough is fixed for Wednesday. No opposition to the return of Mr. Brotherton, however, is anticipated. SOMERSET (EAST). Both the late Members, Mr. W. Miles and Mr. Pinney, have issued their addresses. Mr. Miles avows his strenuous opposition to the endowment of the Roman Catholic religion. SOMERSET (WEST).—Mr. Acland and Mr. Dickinson, the late Members, have retired, and the constituents have been addressed by Sir Alexander Hood, Bart, and Mr. C. A. Moody, of the Western Circuit, upon Protestant and Conservative principles, and Mr. Bouverie, as a Whig, and a supporter of Lord John Russell's administration. KENT. The nomination for the western division of the county of Kent will be on Tuesday, August 3. Mr. T. L. Hodges, in answer to a deputation of electors, has consented to stand, and will come forward upon the Liberal interest. KINGSTON-ON-HULL.-(From the Hull Packet of Saturday.) Wednesday next is the day fixed by Mr. J. L. Smith, the Sheriff, for the nomination of candidates for our borough. At present the only two candidates in the field for the representation of Hull are Mr. Baines and Mr. Clay. LANCASHIRE (NORTH).-Mr. Charles Townley has positively refused to stand, not from a doubt as to his election, but from private reasons. Mr. Wilson Patten has issued his address. ABINGDON.-The nomination is fixed for Wednesday next, and the polling the day following. Both candidates (Sir F. Thesiger, the late Member, and General Caulfield) are very sanguine of success; but the general opinion in the borough is that Sir F. Thesiger will be elected by a small majority. BERKSHIRE.-The nomination for this county is fixed for Tuesday, the 3d of August. The recent Members for this county, Mr. R. Palmer, Viscount Barrington, and Mr. Pusey, issued their respective addresses on Saturday, again soliciting the support of the freeholders. HASTINGS.-The nomination is fixed for Wed- DEVONPORT.-Mr. J. Sanders, jun., a private gen tleman from Liverpool, has just addressed the elec- interest. The old Members will be returned. LISKEARD.-Mr. W. C. Curteis, of Montagusquare, in this city, has addressed the electors. MAIDSTONE.-The nomination for the borough of Maidstone will take place on Thursday, the 29th instant. MANCHESTER. The election for this borough has been fixed for Thursday next. No opposition to the return of Mr. Gibson and Mr. Bright is anticipated, but, should any appear, the day of polling is fixed for Friday. NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT.-Four candidates are now in the field for the representation of this borough in the ensuing Parliament. Messrs. Martin and Plowden offer themselves on the Conservative interest; Messrs. Blake and Crompton come forward on Liberal principles. The nomination and election will take place this week. BEDFORD-A desperate contest is expected between one of the Conservative candidates and Sir H. Verney, Bart, the quondam M.P. for Buckingham, Captain Polbill's re-election is secure. The struggle will lie between Mr. Stuart and Sir H. Verney. BEDFORD COUNTY.-Lord H. Russell comes for- BODMIN.-Mr. Gardner retires. CAMBRIDGESHIRE.-Mr. Allix has resigned. The TAVISTOCK.-The Hon. E. S. Russell is to come TRURO.-Messrs. Vivian and Turner offer themselves for re-election. WHITEHAVEN.-Mr. Matthias Attwood announces his intention of withdrawing from the representation of the borough of Whitehaven, his delicate health being the alleged reason of retirement. WINDSOR.-The day of nomination is appointed for Wednesday next, and the polling, in the event of a contest, on the following day. WILTS (NORTH).-The High Sheriff has issued his proclamation, fixing the 6th of August for the nomination for this division of the county. THE DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT. (From the London Guzette of Friday.) A PROCLAMATION FOR DISSOLVING THE PRESENT PARLIAMENT, AND DECLARING THE CALLING OF ANOTHER. VICTORIA R. Whereas we have thought fit, by and with the advice of our Privy Council, to dissolve this present Parliament, which was this day prorogued and stands prorogued to Tuesday, the 21st day of September next; we do for that end publish this our Royal Proclamation, and do hereby dissolve the said Parliament accordingly; and the Lords spiritual and temporal, and the knights, citizens, and burgesses, and the Commissioners for shires and burghs, of the House of Commons are discharged from their meeting and attendance on the said Tuesday, the 21st day of September next: and we, being desirous and resolved, as soon as may be, to meet our people, and to have their advice in Parliament, do hereby make known to all our loving subjects our Royal Will and pleasure to call a new Parliament; and do hereby further declare, that, with the advice of our Privy Council, we have given order that our Chancellor of that part of our United Kingdom called Great Britain, and our Chancellor of Ireland, do, respectively, upon notice thereof, forthwith issue calling a new Parliament: and we do hereby also, our writs in due form, and according to law, for by this our Royal Proclamation under our Great Seal of our United Kingdom, require writs forthwith to be issued accordingly by our said Chancellors respectively, for causing the Lords spiritual and temporal and Commons, who are to serve in the said Parliament, to be duly returned to, and give their attendance in, our said Parliament; which writs are to be returnable on Tuesday, the 21st day of September next. Given at our Court at Buckingham Palace, this 23d day of July, in the year of our Lord 1847, and in the eleventh year of our reign. A PROCLAMATION, IN ORDER TO THE ELECTING VICTORIA R. Whereas we have in our Council thought fit to declare our pleasure for summoning and holding a Parliament of our United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, on Tuesday, the 21st day of September next ensuing the date hereof; in order, therefore, to the electing and summoning the Sixteen Peers of Scotland, who are to sit in the House of Peers in the said Parliament, we do, by the advice of our Privy Council, issue forth this our Royal Proclamation, strictly charging and commanding all the Peers of Scotland to assemble and meet at Holyrood-house, in Edinburgh, on Wednesday, the 8th day of September next ensuing, between the hours of twelve and two in the afternoon, to nominate and choose the Sixteen Peers, to sit and vote in the House of Peers in the said ensuing Parliament, by open election and plurality of voices of the Peers that shall be then present, and of the proxies of such as shall be absent (such proxies being Peers, and producing a mandate in writing, duly signed before witnesses, and both the constituent and proxy being qualified according to law); and the Lord Clerk Register, or such two of the principal Clerks of the Session as shall be appointed by him to officiate in his name, are hereby respectively required to attend such Meeting, and to administer the oaths required by law to be taken there by the said Peers, and to take their votes: and iminediately after such election made and duly examined, to certify the names of the sixteen Peers so elected, and to sign and attest the same in the presence of the said Peers the electors, and return such certificate into our High Court of Chancery of Great Britain. And we do, by this our Royal Proclamation, strictly command and require the Provost of Edinburgh, and all other the magistrates of the said city, to take especial care to preserve the peace thereof during the time of the said election, and to prevent all manner of riots, tumults, disorders, and violence whatsoever. And we strictly charge and command that this our Royal Proclamation be duly published at the MarNORWICH.-A contest is anticipated, the candi-ket-cross, at Edinburgh, and in all the county towns WALLINGFORD.-The nomination-day is not yet dates being the Marquis of Douro, Mr. Peto, the of Scotland, twenty-five days, at least, before the decided on, but expected to be at the end of the railway contractor, and Mr. J. H. Parry, a barrister. time hereby appointed for the Meeting of the said week. The late Member (Mr. W. S. Blackstone) is EAST WORCESTERSHIRE.-Captain Rushout, Con- Peers to proceed to such election. again a candidate, but is opposed by Mr. James Mor-servative, and M. Hodgetts Foley, Whig, it is arrison, jun. ranged, will be returned without opposition. CUMBERLAND (EAST).-The Hon. C. Howard, M.P., and Mr. W. Marshall, M.P., have met with a most cordial and kindly reception. CUMBERLAND (WEST).-Mr. E. Stanley has issued an address to the freeholders and electors of the western division of Cumberland. Mr. S. Irton, his colleague, after occupying his seat for fourteen years, retires into private life, to be succeeded by Lieut. Henry Lowther, of the Life Guards, son of the Hon. Colonel Lowther. DEVIZES.-The nomination is fixed for Wednesday next, when the late Members, Mr. Heneage and Mr. Ludlow Bruges, will be returned without opposition. GREENWICH.-The day of nomination for this borough will be Thursday next. No opponents are yet in the field against Admiral Dundas and his colleague, Mr. Barnard. FROME. Mr. Bethell, the Chancery barrister, is canvassing the electors as a Conservative. BEVERLEY.-Two Protestant candidates are promised to oppose Mr. Townley and Sir J. L. Goldsmid. BOLTON. Mr. William Bolling, Conservative, is in the field, and is reported as being quite sure of being returned. CHRISTCHURCH.-The Hon. E. A. I. Harris says, in his address to the constituency of this borough:"I shall continue unflinchingly to resist any attempt to compromise the maintenance of the Protestant spirit of our constitution, either by the endowment of the Roman Catholic priesthood, or by tampering with the guarantees for the security of Protestantism reserved in the Act of 1829.” WOODSTOCK.-The day of [nomination is not yet fixed for this borough. Witness ourself at Westminster, this 23d day of July, 1847, and in the eleventh year of our reign. Your statesmen well know this. But they dare not act until honest John Bull bestirs himself, and compels the Minister to recollect, that if those who butchered the holy Cranmers and Ridleys and Latimers are allowed any additional power, they will again realize the Redeemer's description of them, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the works of your father you will do; he was a liar and a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie he speaketh of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it." When the marvellous coincidence between the conduct and teaching of Romish priests and the Pharisees is considered, none can question the justice of the application of the passage which was designed prophetically, and is even more applicable to the former than to the latter, as all the ablest divines have maintained.-See Whitby's Parallel, Lord Arundel, in his late speech, has honestly warned us that his Church is only biding her time in order to exert her wonted power. Englishmen, will you go on year by year, blindly led, committing national suicide, plundered of your hard-earned money, not to feed the poor Irish, but literally to pamper the priests of darkness, to foster rebellion, to purchase fire-arms, and involve yourselves in enormous expense? Look for a moment at the proof of this. Why, I may ask, needs Ireland so many millions to support a standing army and fleet, and for criminal prosecutions and prisons, more than all England and Scotland require? Why must Government maintain a large military force only in those places throughout England and Scotland to which Irish Papists resort, such as Manchester, Birmingham, and Glasgow, while a few policemen suffice elsewhere? Why, for one slight offence committed in Protestant Ulster, are there 500 grave ones committed in Popish Munster amongst the same number of population? Why are the Crown prosecutions in the south, where Popery reigns, 500, and in some cases, 1,000 per cent. more costly than those in the north or east? Why is it, that an estate in the Protestant north of Ireland will obtain money on mortgage at small interest, and sell at twenty-five or thirty years' purchase, while in the south, property will not sell at half that rate? Why were railroads in the north of Ireland contemporaneous with those in England and Scotland, while in the south and west no capitalist would venture his money until the Government came to his help? I shall name one instance out of thousands of the insecurity of property in the south. English and Irish capitalists purchased and worked a mine in County Tipperary. They employed upwards of 100 men. One very efficient labourer had years before given evidence in some case of crime. The managers were not aware of this, but found the man most useful. The wild revenge was awaiting him. On resuming the work on a given morning, three men, of whom he was one, were prepared to enter the bucket in which they were to descend about eighty or ninety feet. By one of those remarkable Providences still occurring in our way, the rope was examined, and on rolling it out it was found cut, so that the three men must have been dashed to pieces if not thus preserved. To revenge themselves on one they would have deliberately killed three. The proprietors became alarmed, almost in despair for their undertaking. One suggested that they should send the priest five pounds and give him a good dinner, and he would settle the matter. Accordingly the perpetrator was discovered. lowers impatient for the same privilege, and they a wicked superstition can convert a whole country wrung it from him. What could we not do if we into a band of murderers; yea, eradicate the very raised the standard of imperishable truth at all instincts of nature, and exemplify the Lord's words, times and in all places to its proper height? -a liar and a murderer from the beginning, Why is that country, with SO exuberant a drunken with the blood of the saints. If these un, soil, obliged to be a yearly mendicant upon godly men would recollect their tremendous responyour ill-requited bounty, while Scotland, with sibility, abandon their traditions, and take up that the poorest soil, needs not drain your trea- charming volume, how soon would the desert resury? Why, but because, in one place God's joice and blossom as the rose! holy Word is superseded by priestcraft, in the other it is law? But the worst features of the system of Popery in Ireland have not been exposed. Their misuse of the most solemn seasons and places is truly appalling. Will you believe that murder, and treason, and perjury, are familiarly taught from the altar on the Lord's-day? In consequence of this, the officers in command of the Roman Catholic section of the troops who attend mass, are frequently obliged, by directions from the Horse Guards, to order them out of the chapel, from the extremely violent tirades of the priests, who immediately exclaim, "Come back, boys, and hear the end of it." Again, we observe daily, in that black chronicle of bloody deeds, from Ireland, that the most aggravated murders are invariably committed on Sunday evenings, under the maddening influence of the priests' oration (his text being some exciting passage from the weekly newspapers), and copious draughts of ardent spirits. Their principal meetings to consult and drill, preparatory to rebellion, or for joining some foreign invader, are always held on Sunday evenings. Can we wonder that, while an Englishman execrates the crime of murder, in Ireland a murderer can, in open day, amongst thousands, imbrue his hands in the blood of his benefactor, and yet pass unnoticed? yes, and so completely engage the sympathies of all, that if any one ventures to interfere, he would surely be butchered on the spot. Can you wonder that witnesses are deterred from giving evidence, and jurors from finding verdicts, while the priest enters the court, and awes by his look, these trembling victims of his ire, while he sympathizes with the felon in the dock as his obedient pupil ? After that At the summer assizes of 1838, in the town of Longford, a remarkable case of this kind occurred. The Government had brought from Dublin a prisoner who had there deposed to most important facts in a case of murder which must have led to a conviction The trial was proceeding in the usual way, and this witness was placed in the box. He was beginning to answer the question put by the Counsel for the Crown, but suddenly he stopped. The Judge and Counsel observed a person in black had just entered the court and looked sternly at the man. no argument could weigh with him; he would answer no question. The look was sufficient. Can the British Constitution subsist, and life and property be secure, where so overwhelming an influence stands against it? Of what use are judges, juries, and laws? Would any part of Christendom but too confiding England nurture such a system? The Judge (I think the Hon. Baron Pennefather) was obliged twice to threaten that he would commit the priest if he saw more of it, as in another case a juror had been tampered with in the same way. Of course the murderers escaped. No conviction can be had unless the priest wishes it. So widely spread is that diabolical conspiracy, that although 3,000l. and an annuity of 1007. payable in any part of the world, were offered for the detection of the murderer of the late munificent landlord, Earl Norbury, to this hour he has not been discovered. The last words of that nobleman to Lord Charleville, an hour before his death, were "that he would not rest till every tenant on his estate had a comfortable slated house." Can we wonder that men inured to such atrocities from youth, come over here and disgrace this land, by increasing so fearfully that horrid crime? After the murder of Mr. Why, again, it may be asked, are the Ro- Clarke, in the same county, in October, 1845, it man Catholics commingled with the Protestants was sworn by one of his tenants before the Coroner's of the north so very superior to their brethren in the jury, that there were thousands of persons in the south? Yes, and I shall add, as a lesson to Protestant "fields gathering in the harvest at two o'clock in the England, on her responsibility, why, while every day when the murder was committed, and that the other Popish Bishop withheld and fulminated his murderers walked quietly through the fields with anathemas against the Holy Scriptures, did Dr. their guns on their shoulders, no one interfering." Croly, the Romanist Bishop of Down and Connor, When asked,-Why did not he to whom Mr C. was introduce the Bible into his schools while residing so good a friend, attempt to stop them? "Gorrah!" in Belfast? Simply because he saw that the neigh-replied the man, "Life is sweet; and I knew the bouring light of scriptural religion made his fol- consequence of touching them too well." Oh! how But its workings are everywhere alike. Ask the surviving relatives of the twelve hundred unoffending Chinese recently murdered by a French crew who instigated that atrocity, and gladly conveyed the intelligence of the murder to Paris! They will reply a Romish Bishop, and simply because the poor Chinese had mildly declined to receive the filthy frauds of Rome, and to transfer their loyalty from the Emperor to the Pope. Such are the tender mercies of that body who pretend that they represent that meek and lowly Saviour who came not to destroy men's lives but to save. Again, ask Dr. Kalley, your countryman, who it was, that for two years incessantly goaded the otherwise grateful inhabitanis of Madeira, to conspire last year, for the murder of himself and his family, and the destruction of all his property and house, merely because he read God's word to the poor, who became more exemplary characters. He will tell you that the Popish priests exerted all their fearful powers and threats ere they could madden the people into these acts of desperate wickedness. Or ask the Rev. Mr. Gayer, of Dingle, or Lord Ventry, or Rev. Mr. Moriarty, or Rev. Mr. Stamer, of County Limerick, who are now stimulat ing the benighted peasantry to the infliction of that frightful persecution which is raging in every part of Ireland, against all who have read the Irish Bible, and having discovered the childish absurdities of the priests to be so different from real Christianity, have renounced the one and embraced the other? They will tell you the priests cheer on the barbarians as their predecessors, the Spanish priests, did the blood-hounds, when they plundered and exterminated the poor Mexicans. If you ask the Irish landlords or farmers who instigate their tenantry and labourers rather to let the crops rot in the ground than assist in reaping them, because the owner has voted or given evidence according to his conscience, they will tell you the Roman Catholic priests. Ask the landlord again who reduces him to so fearful a dilemma by denouncing him from the altar as an object so obnoxious to the Deity, that if he remains he must be murdered, if he leaves his rents must not be paid, because he is an absentee, and his name be dragged before Parliament, he will tell you the Romish priesthood. Ask the American Representative, who were found in 1844 and 1845, with their chapels stored with fire-arms and ammunition, in order to excite rebellion and fire on the Americans, and he will tell you Irish Roman Catholic priests and people. To them all modes of Government are alike, under the Pope's sceptre. Ask the same functionary, who, by intrigue and threats, when they became sufficiently numerous, forced the Republic in their case to abandon that great national principle, that God's word should be taught in all the public schools, he will tell you the Irish Roman Catholics. Again, ask our Colonial Secretary if hé recollects who last year fired at the judge at Sydney, or Port Philip, because, in the discharge of his duty, he was bound to pronounce judgment against them some time before? He will tell you the Irish Roman Catholics. If you ask the same functionary, who vowed in the same place that if the English Protestants met together to dine, they would surround the house and murder them? He will tell you the same intolerant Irish Roman Catholics. If you go a little further back and inquire, who in 1837, urged on the French Roman Catholic rebels in South Canada, and involved us in war, while the Protestant portion was perfectly loyal, you will also find that we are indebted to Roman Catholic priests. Ask the Tahitians, who murdered and spoiled them? French Jesuits. If you enquire who behind the scenes have superintended and supplied French, Spanish, and Italian officers to drill, and furnished with European facilities for war all the forces employed against us of late years in India and elsewhere, you will find that Romish Jesuits are the untiring emissaries. But, Englishmen, will you believe it, that every Ask any of your Missionary Societies who resist and undermine their laborious efforts to convert the benighted heathen, and they will tell you that whereever they erect the standard of the cross there the Irish Popish priests follow them in dozens and strain all their powers not to convert heathen, but to seduce and corrupt the Protestant converts, who hold the truth as it is in Jesus, by their images and creature worship. Ask your laborious clergymen throughout the metropolis and the country at large, who artfully seek to estrange and destroy the flock by insidious attacks, and they will tell you that the Irish Popish priests are the persons. outburst in England, whether in Wales, or Bristol, the house," said she, "and I expect my landlord or Lancashire, has been traced by your Government to-morrow, as it is due some months, and he is very to Popish priests from Ireland, who have lain in considerate to me. It is about twenty-five pounds." secret and involved your poor countrymen in crime" No matter," said the priest. I must have it to through Jesuit artifice? But time would not admit wards extricating your husband," and he took it. of my adducing a tithe of their atrocities. The landlord called at the expected time,-heard Who are the originators and sustainers of all the from the woman's own lips the fearful tale,-went Chartists and Social bodies? Lay-Jesuits, who to the priest,-asked him how he could venture to artfully work upon the unsuspecting Englishman, in trifle with the feelings of the deluded widow, and the hope of creating division and weakness. rob her of her substance? He replied, that he was Ask the librarians at Zurich and elsewhere, who hard up for money, dreaded arrest, and called to have taken advantage of their privilege to read and his aid the superstitions of his Church to help him cut out of original manuscripts large portious from out of his difficulties. On the threat of exposure, he the writings of the glorious Reformers because their repaid the money. own wicked ways were recorded, they will reply, Another striking and well-authenticated instance the Romish priests. of the astonishing stupidity of the people under this system occurred in Clarendon-street Chapel, Dublin, and was witnessed by a Scotch lady, and is also fully authenticated in the Protestant, a valuable work by Mr. M'Gavin, of Glasgow, and of which the late learned Bishop Burgess has expressed his opinion in terms so very favourable. Father Keogh, a noted priest, was expatiating on the duty of all good Papists contributing largely towards the release of souls from purgatory. In the centre of the chapel was a table to which the hearers approached from time to time and laid different sums of money during the eloquent and exciting discourse, some persons having their feelings harrowed to such an extent that they would repeat the contribution several times to release their dear departed relatives from the fire. But I now come to the horrible visu, the monster of wickedness; and after it, reader, I think you will go along with me in praying and labouring to extirminate heathen frauds and impostures, and to restore our own holy Catholic and Apostolic Church in the affection of the poor deluded people. At one part of the chapel where the light was very faint, a sort of trap-door had been inserted in the floor from beneath, containing upon it some black creatures, like crabs covered with black velvet, which moved; and awful as it may appear in a country where God's word is taught, to these the priest pointed in proof that if the tables were groaning under the contributions of the faithful, they had not given in vain, as there were the spirits. What say you to this in the nineteenth century? Is it safe to nurture a system replete with such expedients? A Scotch lady went to the door and brought away one of the crabs in her reticule. Ask your intelligent Protestant poor about London, who seek to pervert their faith and entangle them in controversy, they will reply, Irish Popish policemen. Ask your police about London who are the dealers who crowd the streets, and shock the English mind on the Lord's-day in all parts of the metropolis, they will tell you invariably the Irish Roman Catholics. Ask the laborious Irish clergyman who is driven from his lawful sphere of labour, and he will tell you that his faithfulness endangered the priests' reign of superstition, and a conspiracy was formed to dislodge him. Again, ask the respectable tradesman in London, who it is of his workmen that gives him most trouble and that is insinuating and plotting against his fellows, he replies the Irish Romanist workman. If you inquire of the beggared relatives of rich testators, who at the dying hour obtruded themselves, and by the threats of eternal damnation, wrung the original will from their reluctant parents or uncles, tore it up, and coerced the sufferer to write one in their own favour,-they will tell you the Romish priests. A case occurred at Rathmines, near Dublin, some years ago, in which an uncle had left 60,000l. to his poor and unprotected relatives; but the priest having heard of it, immediately cancelled the will, and wrote one, leaving all to himself, and compelled the servants to witness it. This and other flagrant cases drew the attention of the Government to the matter, and they passed a law illegalizing all bequests to religious purposes, unless made three months prior to death. A talented Roman Catholic barrister, Mr. O'Regan, I think has published a book on this subject. lucky numbers if he is disappointed at his want of memory, but trusts in the saint as an infallible oracle. Again he falls asleep, again sees a vision, and again is disappointed. There is no end of superstition in its various modes. In dark times it was believed universally that by certain forms and invocations the spirits of the dead could be called upon to reveal future events. A lottery in Florence gainful to the Government and injurious to the people gives great scope to superstition. A man who purposes to purchase tickets must fast six and thirty hours, must repeat a certain number of ave marias and pater nostersmust not speak to a living creature, must not go to bed, must continue in prayer to the Virgin and to saints, till some propitious saint appear and declare the numbers that are to be successful. The man fatigued with fasting, praying, and expectation falls asleep; occupied with the thoughts he had when I cannot withhold here two remarkable and well-awake, he dreams that a saint appears and mentions the authenticated facts, illustrating the shameless cupidity of the priesthood of Rome. In Thomasstreet, Dublin, lived a poor widow, whose means had been all exhausted by the purchase of her husband, as she supposed, from purgatory. However, she received an unexpected visit from a priest, who looked very gloomy, and asked her what she thought about her husband. She replied, “Of course he is now, from all the masses for which I have paid, happily settled in heaven, as you all promised." "By no means," replied the priest. "An unhappy accident has occurred. The bridge over which the spirits passed from purgatory to heaven has given way under the pressure of the crowds, and your husband is one of those left behind." "What is to be done?" said the distracted woman, who burst into tears; in an agony of disappointment at finding her husband still in the fire, as she fancied, she asked what could be done? "Why, of course," said the priest, "to repair the bridge." "How can that be done?" said the distracted and unsuspecting woman. "By those who are interested placing proper deposits of money in the hands of the Church for the purpose." "Oh! what will be required, dear father?" said the widow. "All you can command or reach," said the greedy priest." I have only my half-year's rent in CANTERBURY. (From the Kentish Observer.) The arrival of Lord T. Clinton, and John Vance, Esq., on Monday evening, dispelled all doubts as to two Conservative candidates presenting themselves for the representation of the city. On Tuesday evening, a large party of the constituency met at the Guildhall Concert-room. The room was crowded nearly to suffocation. A large concourse also assembled in the street. Mr. CROASDILL, Chairman of the Conservative Club, having briefly addressed the assembly expressive of the purport of the candidates appearing, introduced Lord Thomas Clinton, as a son of the truly Protestant and revered nobleman, the Duke of Newcastle, and Mr. Vance, as a gentleman of high and extensive connexions in the mercantile world. Lord THOMAS CLINTON, on coming forward, was greeted with most enthusiastic cheering. His Lordship said,-If by their votes at the ensuing election they would do him and his honourable colleague the honour of returning them as their representatives to Parliament, he was resolved to prove himself a most determined supporter of the Protestant Church, and a most resolute opponent to concessions to Roman Catholics by grants or other indulgences. (Loud applause.) He had from his childhood been educated in the Protestant religion, and to it he would adhere unto his death. (Applause.) Holding such sentiments he should consider it an infamous dereliction of all moral and religious principles to vote for the advancement of a religion which he be lieved to be erroneous. (Applause.) He had no desire to interfere with any rites of that religion; and casting aside all considerations of it in that sense, he asked whether it was just that Englishmen, of whatever denomination they might be, should be taxed for the maintenance of that which they held to be wrong? Was it fair that the people of England or the Protestants of Ireland should be taxed for the maintenance of the Roman Catholic priesthood, who were the avowed enemies of the constituted and established religion of the country? (Cries of "No, no.") He for one would never vote for any further grant to them. (Loud applause.) Nor did he consider, were further boons granted, that the Roman Catholic priesthood would be satisfied. Theirs was a religion so grasping that they would never be content until they had overthrown everything opposed to them, and trampled the Protestant religion in the dust. (Loud cries of "Hear.") The Roman Catholics already possessed equal rights with the Protestants; and he should decidedly oppose their having more. (Applause.) To what did the country owe its name as a nation-to what its pre-eminence-to what the prosperity and great. ness of all their institutions, but to the glorious Reformation for which their forefathers bled and willingly sacrificed their lives? (Applause.) And would they of this generation be the first to come forward and destroy the moral and religious edifice they had erected? (Cries of "No, no.") He trusted to God they never would. (Loud applause.) He felt deeply on this point, as he doubted not they all did whom he was then addressing, and he assured them if they sent him to Parliament he would do his utmost to avert the danger now pending. It was on this ground he had come forward for their suffrages-on no other would he have solicited them. (Applause.) JOHN VANCE, Esq., on coming forward, was saluted with deafening cheers. He dissented from the opinions of their two Representatives on several grounds. First, on a religious ground; secondly, on a financial and commercial ground; thirdly, on account of the Government patronage having been improperly bestowed; and fourthly, on account of the imbecility of the Government. Taking the religious, to which in all duty he should give the precedence, he thought he might fairly assume that Mr. Smythe was in a great degree a follower of Sir Robert Peel, though going much further than the Right Hon. Baronet in democratic opinions; and that Lord Albert Conyngham was the representative of Lord John Russell. He thought this could hardly be objected to. Now, Sir Robert Peel had lately published a "manifesto," in which he had stated (and he, Mr. Vance, was very glad he had so stated, for they had him now in print) that he would not pledge himself, in all future time, not to bring forward a measure to endow the Roman Catholic priesthood. (Hear, hear.) What was the meaning of that, but that he was willing to do it? (Loud cries of "Hear.") He (Mr. V.) defied any one to come to other conclusions. (Applause.) And he (Mr. V.) believed Lord John Russell had declined to state to the citizens of London that he would pledge himself against such endowment. Therefore he contended that his Lordship was in his heart friendly to it. (Hear, hear.) It was no assumption to say that both Lord John and Sir Robert were leagued to do it. (Loud applause.) Their two representatives, as a matter of course, had to follow their leaders. The one had been in office under one of those leaders, receiving the public money; and the other had at all times been the constant adherent of a Whig Government. If, therefore, they unfortunately returned those gentlemen to Parliament, they would doubtless find them both voting for the endowment of the Roman Catholic Church. (Loud cries of "Hear," and applause.) He had gone step by step to prove this logically, knowing that if he had stated it abruptly it might have been said he was taking unfair advantage, or stating what was not true. He thought he had now proved to their satisfaction that they must so vote. Now, he considered that any gentleman who would (Applause.) vote for the propagation of error, would not give support to the enforcement of truth; and further, that any gentleman who would vote money for the endowment of a Church he conscientiously believed, and, indeed, knew to be erroneous in its doctrines, would not vote a farthing for the support of what he conscientiously believed to be the veritable, the true Church. (Applause.) He contended that the establishment of churches, open to all classes, without pew or seat rents, was much more likely to promote religion, than was the payment of Roman Catholic priests. (Applause.) How many Roman Catholic priests, he asked, did they suppose there were in Ireland? (Some one replied "Two hundred.") Two hundred! No-there were five thousand, who, by paying them 2001 a-year each, that being the smallest sum on which they could subsist, would absorb 100,000l. annually. (Loud cries of "Hear.") He put it to the assembly whether they were in a condition to afford this additional burden, and what taxes they would have put on for the purpose. had been urged as a reason for paying the Roman Catholic priests, that a vast number of the people of Ireland, were Catholics. The fallacy of this was friends, to continue our journal on an enlarged scale, It has been resolved, on the suggestion of various as a Weekly Paper, to be published each Friday, price Sixpence, as soon as arrangements can be completed. It will then assume the name of "THE PROTESTANT STATESMAN, AND CHRISTIAN PHILANTHRopist." ADVERTISEMENTS. With power to add to their numbers. Secretary for General Business.-Thomas Felton, Esq. Secretary for Scotland.-Robert Pitcairn, Esq., F.S.A. Sc. Agents for Ireland.-Messrs. W. Currie, jun., and Co., Dublin. Bankers.-Messrs. Coutts and Co. the research. study can alone be prosecuted-viz. by access to the works of the The importance of Church History as a study is too generally comparatively few, even among those who are most interested in acknowledged to need any remark; but the means whereby the difficulty, if not impossibility, of obtaining some portions of the best Ecclesiastical Historians-will be found within the reach of series, and at the lowest possible price, the whole History of the The great cost of a series of such works-the whole-all point out the propriety of embracing in one uniform Christian Church, and more particularly of that part with which we are ourselves connected. Each Author will be reprinted entire, and without comment or abbreviation. The names of Antony a' Wood, Barlow, Bede, Burnet, Collier, Dugdale, Dupin, Field, Fuller, Gildas, Godwin, Inett, Heylin, Sprat, Strype, Stow. Walker, Wharton, Winstanley, and many others, will be sufficient to shew the field of labour before the Society and the value of the works they propose to publish. It C SOCIETY, for Neumulative and General Assurances, &, The Society's New Edition of Strype will contain a life of soon apparent. Since the Union, the two countries had become one. The Catholics of Ireland were not half so numerous as the Protestants of England, and therefore should be treated as any others who dissented from Protestantism. disposed of, and he hoped to their satisfaction, the He thought he had attempt on the part of the two great leaders, Sir Robert Peel and Lord John Russell, to endow the Roman Catholic priesthood. He trusted the constituency were quite satisfied that such a scheme would be most fatal to their dearest interests and to those of the country generally. (Applause.) THE ELECTIONS-By a tabular statement in the Globe, we see the names of the various candidates who have announced their intention of standing for English constituencies. The number of Members to be returned is 463; the Liberal candidates amount to 291; the Peeli'es to 93; and the Protectionists to 222. These numbers will tend to show the activity of the several parties, and their probable importance in the new Parliament. Nature of itself can no more rise above nature than water can rise above its level. EXTRACT FROM A PRAYER OF KING EDWARD VI.-" Oh, my Lord God, defend this realm from Papistry, and maintain thy true religion, that I and my people may praise thy holy name, for thy Son Jesus Christ's sake!" TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS. Subscribers are requested to inform the publisher when any irregularity occurs in the transmission of their copies, as arrangements have been made at the office for the prompt and regular delivery of our periodical, Our London subscribers should receive their copies the day of publication, and our country subscribers by the following morning. POST-OFFICE ORDERS. We request our subscribers and friends to be very careful in informing our publisher of the exact Christian and surname of the party in whose name Post-office orders are made payable, as otherwise considerable difficulty will arise at the Postoffice. It will further diminish the labours of our publisher if all Post-office orders in our favour are at once given payable at the General Post-office, London. INCREASED AND IMMEDIATE CIRCULATION. The object of this journal can only be attained by an increased and immediate circulation. 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D.D., Professor of Hebrew, King's College, London. The Rev. S. Lee, D.D., F.R.S., F.R.A.S., Regius Professor of Hebrew, Cambridge. The Rev. R. C. Trench, M.A., Professor of Divinity, King's The Rev. W. Jacobson, M.A., Public Orator, Oxford. College, London. published. scription One Guinea. Not less than Four Volumes will be published annually. Sub of Wood's Athena Oxonienses," edited by Rev. Dr. Bliss;" The publications of the Society for 1847 and 1848, will consist of two vols. of "Strype's Cranmer;" two vols. of "Field's Books of the Church;' a vol. of Ecclesiastical Trials," containing trials of Bishop Fisher, Sir Thomas More, &c.; 1st vol. importance by A. J. Stephens, Esq., entitled "Notes Legal and Walker's "Sufferings of the Clergy;" and a new book of great Historical on the Services of the Book of Common Prayer." An Athena Cantabrigienses is in the course of preparation, and will form one of the future publications of the Society. Subscriptions £1 1s. are now due, and will be received by Thomas Felton, Esq., Secretary, at the Temporary Offices, 426, Strand; to whom it is requested that Post Office Orders be made payable through the Charing Cross Office; by Robert Pitcairn, Es., 9, Northumberland-street East, Edinburgh; and by William Curry, Jun., and Co., Booksellers. Dublin. N.B.-The Annual Subscription of One guinea may be redeemed by a Donation of Twenty Guineas. Books. PROTESTANT LECTURES. ECTURE I.-On THE PROTESTANT CHA- A Cheap Edition is now ready. MONTMORENCY: a Roman Catholic Tale. TY the CONTEMPLATED ENDOWMENT of the for OPPOSING ROMISH PRIESTHOOD in IRELAND, and the continued support of Maynooth College. By. J. LORD, Esq. 160, or 12. per 1000. 3s. per Forty-eighth Thousand. 8. ENGLAND the FORTRESS of CHRISTIANITY. By the Rev. G. CROLY, LL.D. 1d., or 7s. per 100. Twentieth Thousand. 50. ADDRESS of the PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION to Duties of Protestant Electors. Questions to Candidates. 3s. the ELECTORS of GREAT BRITAIN and IRELAND. per 100, or 11. per 1000. HANDBILLS. Fiftieth Thousand. 7. NO POPERY. 1s. per 100. 12. The POPISH CREED. Second Edition. Thirty-fifth Thousand. 1s. per 100. 16. MURDEROUS EFFECTS of the CONFESSIONAL. 1s. per 100. 22. The PERSECUTING and SANGUINARY SPIRIT of the CHURCH of ROME (Notes from the Rhemish Testament). Is. per 100. The above are some of the publications of the Protestant Association, of especial importance at this crisis; and may be had at 11, Exeter Hall, Strand, London, through any bookseller, or remitted. on Post-office order, payable to Arthur William Stone, being Printed by ALEXANDER MACINTOSH, Printer, of No. 20, Great The election for the City of London will be over before we can again address our readers. Such, too, will be the case with reference to many of the borough towns. To our readers who have votes, or friends privileged to exercise the elective franchise, we would urge the importance of securing, and polling every vote they can. Let this be done, whether in London or other cities, or in counties. Many, when an election strongly contested is over, where the votes are evenly balanced, or nearly so, regret afterwards that they were not present at the critical juncture, and lament the infatuation which led them to think their votes could be spared. Our cause is strong enough. It is not too strong. Prodigious efforts are made on the opposite side. Let not us, then, be outdone in fair and honourable Published on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 1847. [PRICE 3d. your ancestors for you, see that the trust reposed | priest alone, and kept by them with the utmost pendence. REMEMBER MAYNOOTH! ΤΟ THE PROTESTANT ELECTORS OF GREAT The time has come for proving the sincerity of The expression of your deep religious convictions Petitions. Many of you solemnly pledged yourselves not to means to secure the return of the four candidates vote at the next election for any Member who in the Protestant interest. Books are little read, and yet less considered Your actions are of vast importance, and telling interest; and your votes may have a weight in the policy of the country, and the proceedings of each successive session of the approaching new Parlia ment. One vote may decide the question. Let each elector imagine his own vote to be the casting vote. Let him hasten early to the poll. Let no one think his vote unimportant. The mightiest calculations have commenced with units. The greatest consequences have resulted from causes which in themselves appeared trifling. By union and energy you may do what one alone must fail to accomplish. What keeps the ocean within its bounds? What is the natural barrier imposed by the Supreme Architect against its devastating the earth by an inundation? Grains of sand,-which, powerless when single, become resistless when united. Be you the electors of London,-be you electors of Great Britain and Ireland,-be you to the aggressions of Popery, what these grains of sand are to the tempestuous ocean. Form by your prompt and united energies an embankinent against the encroachments of Popery. Make it a matter of prayer and effort, that the tide of Popery shall not roll onward its turbid wave, and sweep away what most you value. Then, by the Divine blessing, it may yet be yours to say, Hitherto shalt thou go, and no further, and here shall thy proud waves be staid. voted for the endowment of Maynooth. Of the importance attached by them to it, some idea may be formed from this fact. Though the usual price is but about 2s. 3d., the biddings were as high in the auction as 77. 10s.!! and the book was bought for a Roman Catholic priest. The bookseller informed the editor that the whole impression, as soon as printed, was sent to Dr. Murray, the Roman Catholic Archbishop and that he alone, or those acting for him, sold them, one copy to each priest. Although every chapter contains something of much interest to those who investigate the principles of Popery, yet, as it is merely the object of the Editor to give a few brief translations of important matters, he must pass several over, and advert, in the next place, to the sacrament of penance. We find in the commencement of this chapter, the following melancholy testimony of eminent Roman Catholic dignitaries-Archbishop Murray, of Dublin, Dr. Keating, Dr. Doyle, and Dr. Kinsella; men, whose evidence as to confessors is indisputable :EXTRACTS FROM CHAPTER XVI.. CAFES AND CENSURES. Now prove yourselves consistent and true; and give not again political power to the men who deceived, betrayed, and insulted you. The Maynooth Endowment Act took the nation ON THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE AND RESERVED by surprise. There was no avowed intention long beforehand. Sir Robert Peel calculated his power before he made the announcement. He used towards his friends the tactics adopted by generals towards their enemies. He kept you in ignorance of his movements and intentions. So Lord John now seeks to lull your suspicions to rest, to calm the fears which he perceives he has excited. But be not you deceived again. The Noble Lord may postpone, but he will not abandon; he may delay, but think not he will change his principles as to the endowment of Popery. THE CONFESSIONAL. The confessional is the forge in which chains are made for binding in abject slavery the souls and bodies of our fellow-creatures. Let us, who are free, value our liberty. Let us seek to preserve it, and to extend it to others. The Confessional is one of the secrets of Rome's strength, and one of the most powerful of her engines of wickedness. The following powerful remarks are from a very important book, The Diocesan Statutes of the Roman Catholic Bishops of the Province of Leinster. This is a work never intended for the profane eyes of laymen to inspect, but for the use of the Published by Messrs. Seeley, Fleet-street. With Notes, by As you now enjoy the blessings purchased by Rev. R. J. M'Ghee. and danger of those who undertake so formidable "It must be considered how great is the burthen an office, since experience proves that this remedy, so salutary to the fallen, is sometimes so perverted by the ignorance and negligence of confessors, that this fountain of grace is turned into an occasion of perdition. We fear that there is no time in which the melancholy saying of St. Thomas Villanova is themselves and sinners down careless into hell.""" not fulfilled in some confessors, that they send Then, in the list of reserved cases, we have the following: "The priest who shall attempt to absolve his accomplice in the foul sin against the sixth commandment, incurs, ipso facto, the greater excommunication, reserved to the Pope, and such absolution death, and even then, unless no other confessor can is altogether null and void, except in the article of be had." to the commission of dishonourable and base sins, "The priest who shall attempt to solicit or entice either by words, or signs, or nods, or touch, or by writing, then or afterwards to be read, any penitent, mental confession, or before, or immediately after conwhatsoever person she be, either in the act of sacrafession, or by the occasion or pretext of confession, or even without the occasion of confession in the confessional, or in any other place destined or chosen to hear confessions, with the pretence of hearing confessions there, or who shall have held with presumptuous audacity any unlawful or dis honourable conversation or intercourse with them, is ordered in the Bull of Benedict XIV., entitled Sacramentum Pænitentia, to be suspended for ever; and the same Benedict XIV. decrees that priests so soliciting shall be for ever incapable of celebrating mass." ELE TOR |