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ignominious spectacle to see the Ministers of the British Crown crouching at the feet of the modern Goliath, the champion of the Papacy. But with regard to the elective franchise, I believe that the qualification for Ireland was to be fixed at a higher standard than that of England, in order to constitute one of those safeguards or precautionary measures with which the Emancipation Bill was to be accompanied. If it is now to be lowered, or equalized with the English franchise, a pledge given at that time will be broken, and a security will be removed. The influence of O'Connell will also be prodigiously increased by thus giving him a wider range among

a lower class of voters.

Another demand made by O'Connell was, that the right of election, which has been taken away from Sudbury, should be transferred to Cork, in order that the arch-agitator may have the nomination to one or two more seats in Parliament. He has actually given notice that he will bring in a Bill for that purpose.

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O'Connell already has the power, by means of his Repeal Association, of influencing the return of nearly three-fourths of the Members for Ireland. This is the way in which the nation and its rulers are giving all their strength and their power to the Beast," and preparing for themselves a slavery the tremendous effects of which it is fearful to contemplate. Yet how little attention is given by the people of this country to events and transactions in which their religion and liberties are so deeply involved!

I hope there will be a strenuous opposition to the alteration of the franchise in Ireland, and to the transfer of seats in Parliament from England to an Irish county.

DEFENSOR.

MISCELLANEOUS.

THE RIBBON CONSPIRACY.-It is believed that the murders and outrages in Ireland, by whomsoever procured, are almost universally perpetrated by members of the Ribbon conspiracy. That the Ribbon conspirators are exclusively Romanists, has been fully

proved by evidence before a court of justice, as will appear from the following trial:-Richard Jones, Secretary of the Irish Ribbon Society, was tried in 1841. Though suspected of having planned many murders, he was merely indicted for being a member of a society. In the opening speech of the Attorney-General, he stated that one of the great evils of the system, was its exclusively Roman Catholic character, and that none but the members of that persuasion were received into it. This fact was afterwards proved in the evidence brought forward in support of the indictment; and Jones was found guilty and transported.

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"Mr. Pierce Carrick was a PROTESTANT, and Anti-Repealer, and had supported the Whig candidate at the various elections for his county. He subscribed the anti-repeal declaration. And, as a grand juror and county magistrate, also signed a memorial in favour of the Arms Act: and for this apparent change in his political conduct, he doubtless incurred the displeasure of the Repeal party. A few months before his death he was publicly denounced, together with other gentlemen, from the altar of a chapel in the district; a circumstance that ought to be enquired into by a Committee of either House of Parliament.

"PIERSE CREAGHE. "52, Great Charles-street, Dublin."

CAVILLERS AND BACKBITERS.-Like the gad-fly, they will pass over whole fields of sweet flowers and never light on one, never be attracted by the sweetest or the most lovely; but di rectly they discern any sore or blemish in a poor afflicted animal, they must

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In love with death! oh, sceptic, turn thine eye

To that bright world where Jesus reigns on high;

Where ransomed souls by Him redeemed to God,

Are clothed in garments washed in precious blood;

In dazzling splendour round the throne they stand,

And wave the palm in each victorious hand.

Say, dost thou still the Scripture hope disdain,

Laugh at the fire, despise eternal pain?

Weep, Christian, weep, not genius early dead,

A deeper darker shade hangs o'er his head.

His ashes sleep even on that lovely spot,*

"By some lamented, and by most forgot,'

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His soul, ah! pity drops the falling tear,

Nor dares with curious hand the veil to rear.

It is said that the Poet Shelly, who was accidentally drowned in Italy, was buried in the spot he so much admired.

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THE ANNUAL MEETING of the PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION Will be held in the Large Hall, EXETER HALL, on WEDNESDAY, May 13, 1846. J. P. PLUMPTRE, Esq., M.P., will take the Chair at Twelve o'Clock. The Rev. Hugh Stowell, of Manchester; Rev. W. M'Ilwaine, of Belfast; and Rev. C. Prest, will take part in the proceedings.

The ANNUAL SERMON will be preached at the EPISCOPAL CHAPEL, GRAY'S INN ROAD, by the Rev. T. R. BIRKS, M.A., on TUESDAY EVENING, May 12, 1846. Divine Service to commence at Seven o'clock. A Collection will take place after the Meeting and Sermon in aid of the funds of the Protestant Association.

SOUTHWARK OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION. A Meeting of the Members of this Association was held in the Parochial School-room, Borough-road, on Tuesday evening, March 31, when the Rev. M. H. Seymour, who has recently returned from a tour on the Continent and a five months' residence in the Papal states, spoke at great length, and gave an interesting detail of the abomination of Popery which he had witnessed at Rome. The chair was taken on this occasion by the Rev. J. Horton, Rector of St. George's. The other speakers were the Rev. G. F. Galaher and Messrs. Basey, Sykes, Binden, and Chant.

DERBY OPERATIVE PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION, April 13, 1846-On Monday last the Annual Tea Meeting of this important and useful Association was held in the Mechanics' Lecture Hall, Derby. The Meeting was by far the largest of the kind that the Society has ever held; and the arrangement and general management of the affair throughout reflected great

credit upon the Committee, and upon the very active and efficient Secretary of the Society, Mr. E. Webster. About five hundred persons partook of tea, and many came to the hall afterwards who were unable to come to tea. The Meeting was addressed by the Rev. Roseingrave Macklin, President of the Association, who took the chair on the occasion; the Rev. W. Cobb; the Rev. J. Moran; Dr. Bernays; Mr. Sowter, of Castle Donington, and others. The Choir of St. Peter's Church, Derby, assisted by several friends from the Choral Society, added greatly to the enjoyment of the evening, by singing a selection of sacred music from the works of Handel, Neukomm, and other great composers. Mr. Norton, jun., presided at the pianoforte, which he played with excellent judgment, throughout the evening. After the repast was finished, the Rev. R. Macklin rose, and briefly addressed the Assembly. He said he could not but express his deep gratitude to God for the great success which He had vouchsafed to the Society. The Meeting to-night was held under very encouraging circumstances; for at no period of the Society's existence was it in such a flourishing condition as at the present time. The Lord had smiled upon it, and blessed it with great success. The members of the Society knew its position at the present time. As true Protestants, they were surrounded by difficulties and dangers; but they knew where to look in every trying hour; they knew that there was a mighty Arm ever ready to help them, an untiring eye on all their movements; and an Ear ever ready to listen to their supplications at the Throne of Grace. They had no reason, then, to quail or tremble in the slightest degree; but every encouragement to increase their exertions, being sure that the Spirit of the Lord was with them. After some further remarks on the necessity there was for Christian union, the Reverend speaker said there was danger to every Protestant throughout the three kingdoms. Every Protestant, by whatever name he might be called, if really a member of the Church of Christ, was in duty bound to lay aside all petty distinctions, and to feel and sympathize with each other when as

sailed and afflicted. If the Church of England should be assailed and baited by Popery, then let the Dissenters of England come manfully forward to her assistance. If the Dissenting body of England cared for the value of the truth of God, which in his heart he believed they did, let them join the Church in wielding the sword of truth against the common enemy. Let them wage a holy war-a war which Almighty God would look upon and bless. But it would, very likely, be said by some, "Oh, there is time enough yet; we need not yet unite and come boldly forward; we may rest upon our arms for the present; we will have our ammunition ready, our arms in order against we want them!" This would not do. The enemy was at the very gates of the constitution. The Jesuits were abroad, and for aught known to the contrary, there might be one in the very midst of the Assembly to-night, who would send an account of their proceedings to the Pope of Rome himself! The soldiers of the Vatican were spread over every realm of Europe, and were actively at work. Was this, then, a time for true Protestants to be silent? Was this a time for them to be inactive, when cold, lukewarm, and false Protestants were pretending to support the truth one day, and the next endeavouring to pull it down; when Popery was obtaining in the Houses of Parliament, and the Legislature suffered the Premier to carry such an abominable Bill as the Maynooth Act? Was this false position of the Premier-this double dealing with the truth of Christ, to be tolerated? Were Englishmen and Protestants to stand coldly by, and see their constitution frittered away piece by piece without making an effort to retain it? True it was they were surrounded by dangers; but they had the Lord on their side, and therefore nothing to fear. They might use the language of David, and say, "I will fear no evil: Thy rod and thy staff

they comfort me.” The Rev. speaker concluded by an impressive appeal to the matrons in the assembly around him, urging upon them the importance of training up their children in the religion of Jesus and the Bible, by which they would help to raise up a powerful host, who would become " mighty as an army with banners," to the overthrow of Popery, Idolatry, and Superstition throughout the world. The Rev. Chairman then called upon Mr. E. Webster, the Secretary, to read the Report for the past year. The Report stated that since their last Annual Meeting sixty-seven new members had joined the Society; donations to the amount of 291. 10s. had been received, which had enabled the Committee to add 150 volumes of books to the library. The reading-room is open every Thursday evening, from eight till ten, and the table supplied with a number of newspapers and periodicals of a standard character. Lectures had been delivered to the Society during the past year, by the Rev. W. Currie, of Liverpool; Rev. J. Moran, Burton-onTrent; Rev. G. Harvey, of Winster; Rev. T. P. Blakeney, of Nottingham; Rev. J. Bull, of Birmingham; Rev. R. Macklin ; and the Venerable the Archdeacon of Derby. The Report stated that the lectures had been followed by the most beneficial results. The Meeting was afterwards addressed by Dr. Bernays; Mr. Sowter, of Castle Donington; Mr. Hammond, of the Commercial School, Derby; the Rev. W. Cobb; the Rev. J. G. Howard; and the Rev. J. Moran. The Rev. T. P. Blakeney, and several other clergymen and friends who were expected to be present, were absent, from illness and other causes. Votes of thanks were given to Mr. Webster, the Secretary of the Society, for his exertions in its behalf; and to the Rev. R. Macklin, for his kindness in taking the chair. About ten o'clock the National Anthem

was sung, and the Meeting shortly afterwards separated.

Stamped Copies of the Protestant Magazine, price fid., may be had at any time by order to the Publisher, and may be forwarded to any part of the kingdom, postage free.

N.B. Every Subscriber of 10s. annually to the Protestant Association is entitled to a copy of the Magazine: to be had on application at the Office.

Macintosh, Printer, Great New Street, London.

THE

PROTESTANT MAGAZINE.

JUNE, 1846.

MAY MEETINGS.-DUTIES OF ELECTORS.

THE Anniversary Meetings of the religious Societies held at this period of the year, are both interesting and important. We know not of a more beautiful sight, than to behold those who are working all the year round, often in a barren and neglected spot-coming to this, their common centre-to give an account of their own operations, and to hear of the doings of their Brethren; to report the result of past proceedings, and to gather strength for fresh labours.

Pagan Greece and Rome, were strangers to sights like these, and Papal Rome can exhibit nothing like them. There is no country in the world which displays a similar spectacle; so many brothers and sisters of Charity, though not ostentatiously arrayed under the names of some imposing order, and therein kept though longing to be free;-but voluntarily devoting themselves afresh each year and day, to promote throughout our empire and the world, the moral and social happiness, the temporal and spiritual benefit of their fellow-creatures.

The young, the beautiful, the learned, the aged, assemble from all parts of the empire at these annual gatherings, not for any selfish object, their motives are too pure for that; not for any party purposes, their aim is higher; not for any mere local objects, their view is more extensive. No, they seek the public good, the benefit of the world. In spite of all the outcry against. Exeter Hall, we cannot but rejoice in these Meetings. How great is the power, how sacred the trust lodged in the hands of those who are privileged to address the assembled thousands! To bring forward that which may give momentary delight in the midst of excitement is perhaps no very difficult task, nor to report the proceedings of the gone-by year, but so to speak, as that the effect produced shall be as permanent and deep-rooted, as the reception of it was cordial and enthusiastic, is a far different thing. There is one feature peculiar to the Meetings of this year, it is the more general testimony borne by different speakers to the spread of the baneful influence of Popery, and the duties of VOL. VIII.-June, 1846. R New Series, No. 6. J

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