"The Committee of the National Society deeply regret that all their representations upon this important subject have been unavailing; that arguments which they consider to be convincing have had no influence with their Lordships; and that they are thus compelled to bring the present correspondence to a close. "I have the honour to be, &c.,

"To Dr. KAY,

"JOHN SINCLAIR, Secretary.

"Secretary of the Privy Council Committee."

We feel no surprize at this result. We have always exposed this Popish Plot concealed under the disguise of an Education Scheme, as having for its real and principal object the overthrow of the Established Church. The Board of Privy Council have throughout this correspondence shewn every disposition to insult and degrade the Prelates and Clergy of the Land, and to pour contempt on their holy office by appointing Lay Inspectors to supersede them in the discharge of their spiritual and diocesan duties.

2nd. They have shewn their enmity to Christianity by seeking to exalt the value of secular, as distinguished from religious instruction. In further proof of which they have refused to allow any portion of the Grant to Sunday Schools, though always allowed from former Parliamentary Grants by the Treasury.

3rd. They have been guilty of the shameful fraud of subjecting a balance of £5000. justly due to the National School Society from a Parliamentary Grant of 1836, placed at the disposal of the Treasury, to the ex post facto regulations of a new Board created in 1839.

But we trust that the day is at hand when a Board which was appointed under the advice of a Popish Ministry, by an unconstitutional stretch of the Royal prerogative, as we believe, will be finally arrested in its baneful and Anti-christian career. We have some confidence in the moral and religious feeling of the people of England, and they have spoken out decidedly in condemnation of the system. But above all, our trust is in the power and goodness of that Omnipotent Being who has so often delivered this Nation, and who is "the Saviour of all men, especially of them that believe,” that Rome will not much longer be suffered to tyrannize over the Land by means of this her iniquitous Education Scheme. Lord John Russell, as Leader of the House of Commons, has addressed a circular to the Ministerial members, earnestly requesting their attendance on urgent Business. But we would ask, if any duty can be so pressing or imperative as that of exonerating the Land from the Guilt of a National rejection of Christianity, and from the displeasure of Almighty God, to which it lies exposed so long as this Board of Education continues in existence. The Honour

of God, the safety of the Nation, and the almost unanimous voice of the public, if their petitions are to be regarded, require it at the hands of the Representatives of the People, that this unjustifiable Grant of public money should be repealed without delay. The House of Lords have nobly discharged their duty.

We have much pleasure in presenting, in conclusion, the following letter from a Clergyman to this Board of Privy Council.

"Parsonage, Paddington,

"November 5, 1839.

"Sir, "In reply to your letter of the 5th October, I have to state, for the information of the Lords of the Committee of Council on Education, that the additional National and Infant Schoolhouses now building in this Parish are nearly finished; that they will hold 400 children; and that the tenure of their site and the materials employed are such as could not fail to be satisfactory to their Lordships.

"But it is needless to trouble you at present with details upon these subjects, since glad as I should be to obtain assistance from the public purse upon the conditions annexed to former grants from the Lords of the Treasury, I am not prepared to embarras the future operations of our Schools by placing myself under an engagement which tends, in my opinion, to withdraw parochial Schools from the superintendence of the Bishops and Clergy, and to perpetuate a System of National Education which will be set aside, I hope at no distant day, by Parliament, as inconsistent with the principles of the British Constitution, and repugnant to the feelings of the great body of the people.

"To Dr. KAY,

"I am, Sir,

"Your obedient Servant,

"A. M. CAMPBELL.

Secretary of the Privy Council Committee."

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

The First Volume of the Publications of the Protestant Association. London: 2, Exeter Hall; Seeleys; Baisler, &c., &c.

Some of our readers are doubtless aware, that the Committee have lately bound up, and published in one volume, the first Twenty-two Publications of the Association. The book thus produced, contains a great deal of valuable matter-valuable especially for reference. The papers are by Mr. Colquhoun, M.P., the Rev. R. J. McGhee, the Rev. Dr. Croly, the Rev. Henry Melvill, J. E. Gordon, Esq., the Rev. E. Nangle, the Rev. H. Mc Neile, the Bishop of Exeter, &c.; and we

believe will be found remarkably important for the purpose we have mentioned. We therefore can safely recommend this volume to our readers, which we now do earnestly and sincerely.

Answers have been written to the Declaration of the Romish Bishops in Great Britain; one by the Rev. Prebendary Townsend, the other by the Rev. Mr. Richardson of York. The former is published by Messrs. Rivington, the latter may be procured at Messrs. Hamilton, Adams, and Co.

INTELLIGENCE.

POPISH PRIESTS' POLITICAL PARTISANS.—Local Proclamation.— Thirty Pounds Reward.-Whereas, on the night of the 21st Sept. last, an armed party of men forcibly entered Michael Reynolds' dwelling-house, at Drumbeighra, in the County of Leitrim, and threatened to roast him on the fire if he would not swear to vote for the Priest's nominee at the ensuing election of Poor-Law Guardians for the Mohill Union, by which he was induced to swear and vote accordingly; and there being reason to suppose that said party visited the houses of Francis Connor and John and Peter Reynolds for the like purpose; I hereby offer a reward of £ 30. to any person who shall give information, &c. &c. &c.

Mohill, Nov. 23rd.

J. S. STUART, Sub-Inspector.

From this single instance some idea may be formed what the consequences would be of passing the Municipal Corporations' Bill for Ireland. We trust that all Protestants will give this measure every opposition in their power through their Representatives in the ensuing Session of Parliament.

A RIBANDMAN IN THE IRISH POLICE.-Last week it was ascertained that a Ribandman, who was lately appointed to the Constabulary, was a notorious Whitefoot in the County of Kildare, and that at the moment of his appointment a warrant was out for his apprehension on a charge of burglary and robbery of arms.-Carlow Sentinel.

We need not inform our readers through what influence was procured the appointment of this offender against the laws to a situation in the Police Force of Ireland, which is maintained at great public cost to preserve the peace of the country.

WE are sorry to observe that the Irish Journals continue to be filled with the dreadful intelligence of deeds of assassination and bloodshed. There is little doubt that these may generally be traced to the Riband system, and that has been proved by evidence taken on oath before the House of Lords, to be the work and combination of Papists. We hope that this inquiry will be renewed in the approaching Session. Englishmen little think how deeply they are responsible for these barbarities in supporting an Administration which depends for its existence on the party at whose instigation they are perpetrated.

PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD.-Some people to-day were going to the Roman Catholic Church to offer, as they say, prayers for a deceased

66

friend. I said to one man, "Do you think it is of any use to pray for a man who has been dead five months?" Massa," said he, “dat's what I be tinking: me no see how it do him good. I would not do so."-Church Missionary Record, Nov., 1839, p. 256.

Lord Langdale has recently decided, that prayers for the dead must be considered as falling under the head of superstitious uses, when the question arises relative to the proper appropriation of money intended for that object.

It is stated on authority, that the expences in the case of Mary Woolfrey, were defrayed from the funds of the Catholic Institute.

ENDOWMENT OF POPERY IN AUSTRALIA.—From a Speech delivered by Mr. Justice Burton, at the November Meeting of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, it appears:—

Ist. That the endowment of the Church of England by George IV. in 1826, with one-seventh of the whole land of the colony, has been withdrawn.

2nd. That at the present time there is no permanent endowment for the clergy in that colony.

3rd. That there the Churches of England and Scotland are placed on an equality with that of Rome.

BIGOTRY OF THE LIBERAL Government of SPAIN.-The Spanish Government have refused to accede to the request of the British to allow a Protestant place of worship to be established at the Havannah, or a British Chaplain to perform Divine Service.

MEETING FOR SPECIAL PRAYER.-A Correspondent has requested it to be signified in the Magazine, that the Rev. Joseph Irons, of Grove Chapel, Camberwell, has set apart the Evening of the first Tuesday in every month for a Special Prayer-meeting, to implore the Divine interposition on behalf of England—the first was held on the 5th Nov.

RUSSIA. The Court of Rome is beginning to feel some uneasiness because the Czar is not disposed to acknowledge the Pope as the Head over the Church of his mighty Empire.

PROGRESS OF POPERY.-We learn with pain proportioned to the concern which we feel for the immortal souls of our fellow-creatures, that a Popish Chapel is in contemplation to be erected in the Village of Peckham, in the County of Surrey.

The monthly organ of the Papacy states that an unusual bustle in church matters has lately taken place among the Papists of the Metropolis. Not a week passes without one or two meetings of the branches of the Institute being held; to which we have now to add meetings for the erection of New Churches. A splendid Church is to be built for the district of Lincoln's Inn; another in St. George's Fields. The erection of a Cathedral in the Metropolis is not lost sight of.

Staleybridge.-A new Popish Church is said to have been dedicated on the 1st of November, 1839.

The Papacy seems to be making active exertions for the propagation of its soul-destroying heresies in Ireland, the United States, and the East Indies.

SOUTHWARK ELECTION.-In the present critical situation of the country, every Election for Members of Parliament becomes of un

speakable importance. We have heard one of the Candidates for this Borough, Mr. Wood, spoken of as holding Socinian principles. If this be the case, he is totally unqualified to represent a Christian people in a Christian Parliament, and which is especially convened to guard the rights of the Established Church. This Gentleman, if we may judge from his addresses to the Electors, will be thoroughly prepared, as indeed all the disciples of Modern Liberalism are, to help forward the designs of Rome against the venerable Institutions of the Land, both in Church and State. We trust that on this occasion, men of Christian principles will feel themselves constrained to come manfully forward in their defence. In such a case, the exercise of the Elective Franchise for the vindication of Christianity and the preservation of our civil and religious liberties, becomes an imperative duty.

GREAT PROTEStant Meetings IN SCOTLAND.-On the 4th December, a Meeting was held of the Glasgow Protestant Association. Henry Dunlop, Esq., of Craigton, Lord Provost of the City, was in the chair, and around him, besides a very large number of the Clergy, were most of the Chief Merchants. The resolutions were moved by the Revs. Dr. Paterson and Mc Leod, the Rev. Hugh Mc Neile, of Liverpool, (in a most powerful and effective speech,) the Dean of Guild, William Brown, Esq., of Kilmardinny, the Rev. Robert Buchanan, &c. It was resolved to adopt an address against the recent Popish appointments, and generally to revive the energies of the Association.-On the Evening of the 6th inst. another Meeting was held in Edinburgh of the Protestant Association there, Sir Andrew Agnew, Bart. in the chair. The Rev. Hugh Mc Neile again spoke with great eloquence, and was ably supported in other speeches by the Rev. Dr. Patterson, of Glasgow, the Rev. J. K. Drummond, the Rev. Dr. Muir, John Swinton, Esq., of Swinton, A. Pringle, Esq. M.P., and the Rev. J. Mackenzie. On the following Sabbath, Mr. Mc Neile preached an impressive Sermon for the Association at Dean Chapel, and on the ensuing Monday addressed a large Meeting in St. Luke's Church-Sir Andrew Agnew again taking the chair, supported by very many Clergymen, Sir George Sinclair, Bart. M.P., Mr. Pringle, M.P., James Haldane, Esq. &c. &c. At the first Edinburgh Meeting, we are happy to say, that a petition was adopted against Maynooth, and since that time, at a Committee Meeting of the Edinburgh Protestant Association, other active measures were proposed.

HEREFORD PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION.-The Anniversary Meeting of this Association was held on the 19th November, in the Shire Hall, and was numerously and respectably attended; the body of this spacious and noble apartment being completely filled with an attentive auditory. The chair was taken by Sir Hungerford Hoskyns, Bart. and amongst the other gentlemen present were the venerable and highly respected Sir J. C. Cotterell, Bart., the Rev. Canon Morgan, Rev. Canon Huntingford, and many others of the Clergy. The Rev. J. Venn having opened the Meeting with prayer, and two verses of the 100th Psalm being sung, the Meeting was ably addressed by the following: Sir H. Hoskyns, W. H. Bellamy, Esq., Rev. B. Hoskyns, J. G. Barker, Esq., Rev. E. Nangle, of Achill, H. Lee Warner, Esq., Rev. Hugh Stowell, of Manchester, Sir E. F. Stanhope, and Major Coyle.

MARGATE PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION. We are happy to announce the formation of a valuable Auxiliary at Margate. J. P. Plumptre, Esq., Member for the County, President; J. W. Cobb, Esq. Treasurer; and the Rev. J. Streatfield, Secretary.

YORK PROTESTANT MEETING.-On Wednesday Evening, Dec. 4th, a Public Meeting of the Members and Friends of the York Operative Protes