"to thyself any graven thing, nor the likeness of any thing that " is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the waters "under the earth; thou shalt not adore them nor serve them.” Though here it is not altogether omitted, yet we detect the suppression of an essential part, "Thou shalt not bow down to them.” I have been induced to call the notice of your readers to the above, because when at Protestant meetings speakers have asserted that the Church of Rome expunges the second commandment from the decalague, some of their hearers have in consequence gone to Roman Catholic bookshops, and have purchased catechisms in which they have found the commandment as above quoted. This circumstance has, I have reason to believe, created in some minds an unfavorable impression as to the veracity of some of the champions of Protestant truth.

This is an instance of the "deceivableness of unrighteousness" so notoriously attendant on Popery, and would surely, if looked at without prejudice, cause the deluded members of that antiscriptural system to have their doubts as to the boasted "infallibility" of their church; for in this particular they are clearly guilty of either adding to or taking from, the commandments of the living God.

May God give you grace still fearlessly to manifest undisguised hostility to Popery, accompanied by sincere love to the souls of papists; and that your little Magazine may be the blessed instrument of turning many from the error of their ways, and causing them to "ask for the old paths, and to walk therein, and find rest for their souls," is the earnest prayer of,

Dear Sir,

Your obedient Servant,
OXONIENSIS.

P.S. On the suppression of the second commandment, Archbishop Leighton observes, "The creed of the Church of Rome is plainly impudent presumption and partiality, choosing rather to blot out the law, than reform their manifest breach of it:" and in his exposition of the tenth commandment he observes, "having smothered one commandment, they would have this divided, as the harlot the living child."

To the Editor of the Protestant Magazine.

POPERY DOMINANT IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

THE following melancholy picture of the religious state of New South Wales, is extracted from a work recently published by Mr. Justice Burton, one of the Judges of that Colony. We thence may learn, that this fertile and extensive portion of the globe, not long since a promising dependency of the British

Crown, is likely to fall a victim, through the treachery of a Popish Administration, to the great oppressor of mankind. The same wicked policy has ruined Newfoundland-in the Canadas it is eagerly and madly persevered in-Protestant grants have been withdrawn, Protestant ties have been dissolved, and the end must inevitably be, that Great Britain will be stripped in succession of all her colonies, whilst these in their turn will be reduced, under the dominion of Popery and Infidelity, to a state of anarchy and revolution, scarcely perhaps less horrible than that barbarism from which they at first emerged. The following is the important quotation from the work of Mr. Justice Burton:

"The position indeed of the Roman Catholic clergy is more favourable in respect of the number of their Clergy, Ecclesiastical Students, and Sisters of Charity, in proportion to their congregations, and in the sufficiency of their means of support, than that of their Protestant brethren.

“The number at which those who are of the convict class especially are estimated is not free from suspicion, both on account of the persons to whom is committed the chief part in taking the census, and on account of the inducements which may be held out to ignorant and vicious persons in their unfortunate circumstances, uninstructed in the truths of religion, to profess an adherence to the form of faith, the ministers of which represent themselves as authorised to exercise powers affecting their future condition, which the Protestant clergy disclaim; and who are frequently able to exercise an influence beneficial to them affecting their present condition. To the effect of the first kind of influence only is to be attributed the fact stated in the evidence of the Rev. Mr. Ullathorne, before the Committee of the House of Commons in 1838, where he speaks of twenty-two persons whilst under sentence of death changing their religious profession to that of the Church of Rome.

"An instance of the second kind occurs in that relaxation from labour in favour of convicts professing the Roman Catholic religion, which takes place upon their landing in the colony; and instances might be stated by the writer of these observations of the exertions of more serious influence by the Roman Catholic clergy.

"The principle of the support afforded by the Government to ministers of religion, which depends upon the number of signatures obtained by or on behalf of the particular minister, of persons expressing a desire to attend his church or chapel, is also highly favourable to the Roman Catholic clergy, as it admits of the signatures of convicts for this purpose, and by the subscription of one hundred adult persons, one hundred a-year may be obtained from the Treasury, by that of two hundred persons, one hundred and fifty pounds a-year, and even if there be not so many as one hundred persons, one hundred pounds a-year may be obtained for a clergyman. Either sum, it must be admitted, not so inadequate a stipend for a Roman Catholic clergyman who is necessarily by his vows without those natural ties which occasion the chief expense of a Protestant household, as it is for a Protestant.

"The clergy of the Church of Rome are, as may be expected, most

forward to take advantage of all these circumstances in their favour, and it will not be a matter of surprise, if from among the ignorant, and especially the convicts, many professors of their religion are obtained. The influence of the Sisters of Charity' over the female convicts confined in the factory (or penitentiary) at Parramatta, and which began to be strongly felt at the time the writer of these observations left the colony, may be expected to end in that result; and that their numerous illegitimate children will be baptized into the Church of Rome.

"Additional Roman Catholic churches are in progress of erection in many parts of the colony, at Windsor, at Goulburn, at Yass, at the Tumat River, and on the banks of the Murrimbidgee. For these purposes their funds are derived from other sources than the donations of their adherents in the colony.

"Very few of these are amongst its landed proprietors; but the Roman Catholic Establishment derives, it is believed, no inconsiderable portion of its support from the zealous members of that Church out of the colony, and that not in the United Kingdom alone, but in other parts of the world.

"The restoration of the Society of Jesuits, the design for reviving the Roman Catholic faith in England, and many other indications of the reanimated hopes of the Church of Rome, strongly point to those hopes as forming a very remarkable sign of the times; and apart from the actual fact of its late successes in New South Wales, would lead to the conclusion that New Holland, occupying between the vast Continents of Asia and America, and amongst the Isles of the Sea,' a position so favourable to the growth, if it shall be thereto appointed by Almighty God, of a great empire, would naturally present an inviting field for enlarging the borders of the Church of Rome; and for the enterprise of the Society of Jesuits.

"Many of the Protestant inhabitants of the colony lend also no inconsiderable aid to that end; being induced by various reasons, to subscribe in some instances very liberally towards the erection of Roman Catholic churches.

"Nor are the leading clergy of the Church of Rome in the colony, less aspiring in their demeanour than might naturally be expected, from their very rapid ascent to the position they now occupy, and the encouragement they have received.

"Several instances might be adduced, as indicating their full appreciation of the advantages they have gained, and their sanguine anticipation of still higher ascendancy.

"Of these, may be noticed, the appearance of their bishop in his full canonicals, attended by the military band of one of the regiments doing duty in the colony, at the laying of the foundation-stone of their new Ichurch at Windsor. His appearance at a public levee in May, 1837, in the full habit of his office, at the head of the Roman Catholic clergy in their canonicals, and being received by the Governor of the colony in that costume; and lastly, that occurrence which took place in the year 1838, when by placards and advertisements, he called a public Meeting of the members of his Church, to be held in their respective churches and chapels throughout the colony, on Sunday, after Divine worship,

at one of which Meetings he presided in person, assisted by his clergy, and passed Resolutions condemnatory of one of the judges (Mr. Justice Willis), on account of expressions used by him at a Meeting of the friends of the Church of England, declaring that they had no longer any esteem for, or confidence in Mr. Justice Willis.''

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

Protestant Lecture. The objects, views, and duties of Protestant Associations. A Lecture to the Operatives of the Borough of Finsbury, by Edward Dalton, Secretary to the Protestant Association. Delivered on Wednesday, May 6th, 1840. 8vo. pp. 16. Seeley, Fleet-street.

The Pastor's Gift. The Psalms of David, viewed in connexion with other portions of the Holy Scriptures, with a short Meditation on each, for the use of Families. By the Rev. R. Macklin. 12mo. pp. 384. Hamilton and Adams.

Ancient and Modern Rome. Comprising an Account of Italy, and the History of Christianity from its earliest date. In Question and Answer. By Mrs. Charles de Havilland. 18mo. pp 334. Houlston and Stoneman.

Knowledge and Love compared. By the Rev. Richard Baxter, Author of the "Saints' Everlasting Rest," &c. With a Life and Character of the Author, by Dr. Adam Clarke. 32mo. pp. 216. S. Cornish and Co.

Fear not. By the Author of "Thoughts in Suffering," my Birth-place," &c. 24mo. pp. 96. Shaw.

"A Visit to

Strengthen the things that remain. A Sermon preached in the Cathedral of Londonderry, by the Rev. Archibald Boyd. 18mo. Baisler.

Sermons, by the Rev. A. S. Thelwall. 8vo. Seeley.

Address of the Finsbury Operative Protestant Association, to their brother Operatives.

We have much pleasure in recommending to our readers the abovementioned works.

The Protestant Association have published the following since our last:

Protestantism confuted by Popery. Handbills.
The guilt of supporting Popery. S

National Religion. By Archbishop Tillotson.

Narrative Series. No. 5. Examinations and Martyrdom of Dr. H. Taylor.

No. 6. Murder of the Rev. J. Whitty, in Ireland.

INTELLIGENCE.

NATIONAL EDUCATION, IRELAND.-At a Clerical Meeting, held in Dublin, April 9th, at which between 400 and 500 Clergymen were present, the following Resolutions were carried by acclamation:-1st, That no terms should be held with the National Board. 2nd, That the strength of the Clergy should be directed to the support of the Church Educational Society.

ANSWER OF THE KING OF PRUSSIA, TO THE ADDRESS OF THE WARRINGTON PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION.-I have received through my Minister for foreign affairs, the address forwarded to me by the Protestant Association of Warrington, expressing their thanks for my protection of the Evangelical faith, against the arrogance of those, who, disregarding the laws and constitution, endeavour to disturb established peace and christian unity.

The praise-worthy sentiments and wishes expressed in that address cannot but be in the highest degree acceptable to me, as they can be suggested only by a sense of justice, and have their origin in genuine christian feeling.

To the Protestant Association, I hereby present my thanks and best wishes. It is to be hoped that the minds of all will soon be restored to that peaceful state, which notwithstanding a difference of opinion on certain subjects amongst the professors of different modes of faith, may be looked for, in all those who follow the precepts of the Gospel as the fruit of Christian love.

March 12th, 1840.

(Signed)

FREDERICH WILLIAM.

To the Protestant Association of Warrington, in the

County of Lancaster, England.

POPISH ENMITY TO THE BIBLE.-At the Mountrath Petty Sessions, a man, named John Browner, was fined in the sum of ten shillings, or one fortnight's imprisonment, for assaulting Margaret and Judith Querney, and forcibly taking a Bible from the latter, and trampling it under his foot. This person desirous of emulating the example set so often by other sons of holy mother church, in pursuance of the advice of the late Dr. Doyle, was very near acting up to it in full by committing the Sacred Volume to the flames.-Waterford Mail.

LORD STANLEY'S BILL.-One of the largest Political Meetings ever held in Liverpool took place at the Amphitheatre, on Wednesday last, to petition Parliament in favour of Lord Stanley's Bill to amend the System of Registration in Ireland. Sir T. Brancker took the chair. The resolutions, which after stating the evils of the present system, expresses the confidence of the Meeting that the measure proposed by Lord Stanley would have a most beneficial effect, were proposed by Mr. J. Aspinall, the Rev. Hugh McNeile, Mr. T. B. Horsfall, and Mr. Lawrence. They were carried almost unanimously; and after thanks had been voted to the chairman, the meeting separated without the least disturbance, but not until the petition had been signed by upwards of 2000 persons.-Times, May 15, 1840.

SOUTHWARK OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION.-A very promising Association has been formed among the Operatives of this Borough.

YORK PROTESTANT MEETING.-The first meeting of the York Protestant Association was held in the Concert Room, on Thursday the 23rd of April. The Hon. W. S. Clark in the chair. Lord Feversham sent £5 as a donation to the Society. The meeting was addressed with great power by the Rev. Robt. J. Mc Ghee, whose speech occupied nearly three hours in the delivery, and appeared to give universal delight.

John Hardy

FINSBURY OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION.-Lecture, May 6th. Esq. in the chair. After the meeting had been opened by prayer, the Chairman stated the object of the meeting to be, to hear from his friend the Secretary of the Protestant Association, a lecture on the objects, views, and duties, of Protestant Associations. Mr. Dalton then read an address, full of eloquence and sound argument.-The Record.

The lecture has since been published by the Operative Association in a cheap form for distribution.