allying itself with, and supporting an anti-christian system; they hold that no national blessings can be expected while the Lord is offended by such manifest derelictions of scriptural principle and christian duty; and therefore they petition against that grant, praying that the parliament will act as becomes it, and withhold every kind of public support from a college in which idolatry is taught and superstition is engendered, and from which, as a practical retribution to the Protestants who support it, disaffection is spread throughout the kingdom. Any of our friends are welcome to alter our Petition if they see fit; but the prayer of it we hope, for many reasons, that they will not change at all. It is important in these times that the friends of Protestantism should remain steadfast and faithful, and should decline being moved from their present firm position to the shifting sands of worldly expediency. Let the House of Commons inquire if it will into the course of studies pursued by the students of Maynooth; they will find it worse, we believe, than any member at present conjectures, and probably much good may be produced on their minds by the useful but appalling information they will receive. But let us not induce them to think that we want only an inquiry, and will be contented to abide by their opinion formed as the result of their investigations. No, no; our objection to Maynooth is simply an objection, as we have stated, in point of principle; if Maynooth were shown to have given up this or that Popish bull, or if its professors gave evidence that they taught nothing but the mere mummeries of Popery, instead of her persecuting canons, still our feeling would remain the same. Popery, we know, can often change her cloak, and assume for special purposes special garbs and disguises; and our protest therefore against Maynooth rests on the ground that a Protestant state cannot, without offending the Almighty, educate a Popish-that is, an Antichristian priesthood.

One observation remains to be made-we beg to call the particular attention of our readers to it. In the debate on Mr. Plumptre's motion, many staunch Protestant Members, including the seconder of the motion, were deluded and induced to refrain from voting for it, by a very artful trick (we cannot style it anything else) of Mr. Shiel, the Popish Vice-president of the Board of Trade. He produced the act of the Irish Parliament passed in 1795, and pretended that that act in fact endowed the college. He made a speech almost solely on this point, and so completely deceived the House, that nearly every person went away with a belief that the College of Maynooth had a vested interest in the annual vote of £9000! We do not wish to use harsh language, but cannot help saying plainly that a subsequent examination of the matter has proved that this statement was utterly false. The facts are simply these: before 1795 it was unlawful to keep

An

a school in Ireland for the education of the children of Roman Catholics exclusively. At that time it was thought that the Irish priests would be better affected were they educated in Ireland by the Government instead of in France, as they then were. Act of Parliament was therefore passed by the Irish Parliament, which, after reciting that it was then unlawful to establish Popish schools, appointed certain Roman Catholic Trustees, and authorized them to receive subscriptions and donations towards building a college for the education of students for the Popish priesthood. The act then provides that no children of Protestant parents shall be taken in there, and forbids the trustees purchasing more than one thousand pound's worth of land. At the end of the act, £8,000 is given (out of the sum granted for the supplies of that year) towards building the college.

Into this subject we shall (D.v.) enter more fully in our circular respecting the Maynooth petition; at present we call our readers attention to the fact, that nothing can be more absurd than the pretence that this act endowed the Popish College of Maynooth, It did nothing more than authorize the Papists to build a certain sort of school or college, which before that act would have been an illegal thing; it authorized certain persons to raise and receive subscriptions towards the building and endowment fund, and gave a subscription towards the building. Since that time, a grant has been made, it is said, every year, though certainly we cannot say that we have been able to find that anything was granted in 1799-however, Dr. Crotty's return to the Commissioners states that £8000. was in that year received. But the sum has varied, and there is no reason to believe that anything was set aside or appropriated for the College, or that any grant was intended to be perpetual. It might just as well be said that the House of Commons must consider the grant to Sandhurst College, or the Dublin Philosophical Society, a fixed thing for

ever.

We need not at present enlarge on this question; we only call on our readers to beware of the Jesuitical devices of those men who pretend that the Popish College of Maynooth has been enendowed at any time by the English or the Irish Parliament; and to remember that the objects contemplated by the founders of the College have wholly failed-the priests are more disaffected than ever-and consequently it is clear that the continuance of the grant to Maynooth is impolitic and inexpedient, as well as unjustifiable in point of christian principle. We therefore trust that the following petition will be generally and speedily adopted, numerously signed, and early presented to Parliament, and may the Lord bless the efforts of all who in working in this important question, "contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints." "The beauty of the Lord our God be upon us and

establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea the work of our hands establish thou it." (Psalm xc. 17.)

PETITION AGAINST MAYNOOTH COLLEGE.

The Petition of the undersigned inhabitants of

Humbly sheweth,

That your petitioners, receiving the written word of God as the only true standard of faith and morals, are convinced by its testimony that the peculiar tenets of the Church of Rome, as defined and settled at the Council of Trent, are Anti-christian, idolatrous, anti-social, and utterly incapable of being reconciled with the genuine doctrines of the Gospel.

That those heresies were solemnly and consistently repudiated by this country for many generations, during which the blessing of Almighty God descended upon the Government in a marked and unprecedented manner.

That your petitioners, therefore, deeply lament that a College for the instruction of a Popish priesthood has been established, and is now supported, at Maynooth, in Ireland, by grants from the public Treasury; and they fear that this measure, being a participation in the guilt of idolatry, and a dereliction of the principles of our Protestant Constitution, is calculated to draw down Divine judgments on the nation.

Your petitioners would further remind your Honourable House that it has been proved, by the most satisfactory information given in evidence before both Houses of Parliament, and a Royal Commission appointed to investigate the state of Irish education, as well as by the uniform testimony of actual experience, that the objects contemplated by those statesmen who recommended the establishment of the College have in no respect been attained: but that, on the contrary, that Institution has proved the chief source of seditious turbulence, as well as of superstitious delusion and religious discord in Ireland.

Your petitioners, therefore, on every ground of principle, policy, and consistency, humby pray your Honourable House to withdraw every kind of public support from the Popish College of Maynooth. And your petitioners, &c.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

We have particularly to recommend to our readers, a penny tract (with a woodcut), entitled the Fifth of November. It has been just published by the Protestant Association for distribution, and its circulation at the present time will, we trust, prove eminently useful. Also we have to state that Messrs. L. and G. Seeley have published a cheap little Tract, entitled "The dangerous character of the Oxford Tract_developed;" it contains many important quotations from the Tracts and from writings against them-the general circulation of this tract will likewise be found useful.

POETRY.

STANZAS ON THE DUE COMMEMORATION OF THE
FIFTH OF NOVEMBER.

Shall ringers raise the loud triumphant peal,
But none for such deliy'rance grateful feel,
And at the sanctuary meet to raise

The willing tribute of their thanks and praise ?—

Shall thoughtless boys their num'rous bonfires light
And through the land illuminate the night,
But christian patriots show no true desire
To kindle in their hearts devotion's fire?-

Shall Jews, whom Haman's plot could not destroy,†
Their feast of Panim keep with holy joy,
But Britons cease to bend the adoring knee,
From soul-destroying tyrants twice set free ?—
Do not God's fearful judgments now impend,
Prepar'd in righteous vengeance to descend,
Because Religion's calls we thus neglect
And cease the church's mandate to respect?
Let not th' observance of a glorious day
By signal mercies mark'd thus die away;
But ev'ry year a lively sense renew
Of gratitude to God for ever due!

J. D.

INTELLIGENCE.

FUNDS. It is requisite for us again to request our friends to consider the great necessity in these critical times of supporting liberally the Protestant Association. No one who is unacquainted with its operations can tell how extensive, how important, and how rapidly increasing in their magnitude and influence they now are; nor rightly estimate the strength and zeal of our opponents. Increased aid therefore is necessary, and we believe few Societies have opportunities of more usefully employing it.

CHRISTIAN LITERARY INSTITUTE.-Believing that Literary and Mechanics' Institutes when not carefully founded on religious principles have a tendency to promote Scepticism and Infidelity, we hail with

N.B. It appeared that Catesby had discussed the plan with Garnet (the Jesuit) on other occasions, and that Garnet had sent a Mr. Bainham to the Pope to tell him of their projects, and had obtained authority from that head of his apostate church to forbid any petty plots which might endanger the progress of the GREAT ONE.-Walter's History of England.

Esther ix. 2-26.

great satisfaction the formation of a Christian Literary Institute at No. 22, Finsbury Square, which has a Clergyman of the Church of England for its Secretary, and in the direction of which it is intended that the neighbouring Clergy should take a leading part. We entertain the hope that this excellent system of basing instruction in Science and Literature on the sacred Oracles of Divine truth will be extended throughout the Country, as we are happy to learn that a similar Institution has been established at Gosport.

Since our last, Mr. Lord, one of the Association Secretaries, has travelled into the West, and has delivered Lectures at Basingstoke, Andover, Salisbury, Bodmin, Truro, Launceston, Exeter, and St. Columb.

MEETINGS IN DERBYSHIRE, ETC.-Extract from a Letter from George Holden, Esq., of St John's College, Cambridge. "You would do a kindness, and the cause would be much benefitted if you were to notice seriatim our meetings in Derbyshire, &c. On Friday the 2nd Inst. we held the first meeting in Derby, at which it was my lot to lecture to the Operatives -great interest was shewn throughout the evening, and when it was announced that another lecture would be delivered on the following Wednesday, a request was made for a larger room. Accordingly on Wednesday night the 7th, a second meeting took place at Derby, at which from 700 to 800 were present. All seemed animated with one spirit, and the meeting in every respect was most enthusiastic. On Monday 5th, we had a numerous meeting at Derby in the Parish Church, which was equally interesting and excited much attention. On Tuesday 6th, a meeting was held at Ashbourne, the Rev. the Vicar, presided, and we have every reason to believe that much good will ensue. On Thursday 8th, we held a meeting at Ockbrook, and on Friday 9th, at Newhall, both of which elicited the greatest interest and were numerously attended. On Monday 12th, our meeting took place at Sheffield-for an account of which I must refer you to the Sheffield Mercury of October 17th, as also for a very brief account of a lecture delivered there by me on Tuesday night, 13th. The reports of both these last meetings are very brief, but they may serve to shew you the interest and the spirit evinced.

THE Anniversary Meeting of the Warrington Protestant Association was held on Friday, October 9th, when at least 1500 persons were said to be present. Mr. G. Greenall, of Walton Hall, in the chair. Professor Butt, and the Rev. Hugh McNeile, were the principal speakers. The following Resolutions were agreed to:

1. "That this meeting recognizes the revealed Word of God as the basis of all legislation, as well as of individual duty, and therefore repudiates the practical infidelity which, under the plausible but nauseous garb of liberalism, would prostrate all creeds to one indiscriminate level."

2. "That it is a duty incumbent on all Protestants to endeavour to check the rapid strides which Popery, under the fostering protection of Government, is making towards the subversion of our Protestant constitution in Church and State, and that the formation of Protestant Associations is well calculated, under the Divine blessing, to accomplish so desirable an end."

NORWICH.-The annual meeting of this Association was held on the 14th Inst. John Cator, Esq., of Woodbastwich, in the chair. On the preceding Evening the Rev. Hugh McNeile preached its anniversary sermon. The meeting was attended by the Hon. and Rev. the Dean of Norwich, many other Clergymen, and many influential gentlemen, and was addressed by