in these times, would, if not absolutely subvert the social edifice, (and some would do even this,) at least annihilate all differences in condition, and reduce mankind to a common standard. This is the aim of our malcontents and radicals. And thus, like the accumulating sands of Lybia, gradually overtopping the venerable grandeurs of ancient Egyptian architecture, the lower level of society is daily rising around the higher, and threatening to submerge all in one drear desert. The seeds of sedition and revolt have been widely and deeply sown the leaven of democracy and anarchy has long been fermenting: and there is accordingly a mighty mass of mind, more dreadful and uncontrollable than the raging ocean, now in a state of strong excitement, and ready to burst forth aud bear before it our most valuable institutions, and the mounds of all social and civil order.

For proof of this, we appeal to the growing insolence of the lower classes, already noticed; to the disloyal, yea, treasonable spirit which animates so many of the public journals and orations of the day to the ripeness for insurrection indicated so often in Great Britain and to the undeniable fact, of the arming and organization of the Roman Catholic peasantry of Ireland. 1

Nay, the same spirit is disturbing the whole

1 "I do not exaggerate in the least-we are on the verge of a volcano -nothing can preserve the country from a dreadful explosion but the continuance in office of his Majesty's present advisers."—From Mr. O'Connell's Letter to the Reformers of Ireland, dated 4th Dec. 1835.

earth. The body politic is diseased. The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. Restless and uneasy, the world tosses to and fro, like a feverpatient upon his death-bed. The earth is moved exceedingly.' The nations heave, as with the throes of a moral earthquake. Overturn, overturn, overturn,' is the common cry; and the rampant spirit of revolution is only kept down by the omnipotent hand of Jehovah, and the sword of magistracy. We tread on the verge of a labouring ' volcano;' we hear the subterraneous winds and gases rumbling beneath our feet, and struggling for a vent the vessel of our invaluable constitution wheels in the circles of a whirlpool; and whether she will go down or be rescued from the gulph, is a problem of painful uncertainty, and most difficult solution.

5. Accordingly, as another sign of the times, there is a general and very natural impression of our being on the eve of extraordinary events. We live in an age of wonders; and now, persons reasonably inquire, What shall be the end of these things?' A A vague, undefined expectation of some approaching catastrophe, generally, we do not say universally, prevails; attended by an unprecedented attention to Prophecy. Neglect in this department of study has given place to research; aversion, to the most intense interest. Whence is this? Doubtless from Him, who sways with absolute power, the realm of mind. He so ordained, that, as the predicted occurrences drew nigh, greater attention

should be drawn to the prophecies respecting them. Previously, this might have been accompanied by evil consequences. Accordingly, "the vision was shut up, and the words were sealed till the time of the end." Now, however, the more thinking are all on the watch-tower of observation. The church stands on tip-toe; looking with outstretched neck, and strained eye, for some great arrival, as occurred in the east, before the advent of the Saviour. These then are all portentous signs of the times.

6. But perhaps as remarkable a portent as any is THE AMAZING SPREAD OF POPERY. The reformation inflicted on the beast its first deadly wound; and another was inflicted at the French Revolution. After that period it appeared for a time so stunned and crest-fallen, that, a few years since, it was generally deemed to be declining to a rapid death. Latterly, however, in a manner wholly mysterious, its deadly wounds seem to have been healed, and it has risen to such an altitude, and assumed such an imposing front, and so bold and imperious a tone, that all the world (indeed) wonders after the beast.'

What numerous and gorgeous edifices is the Church of Rome every where erecting. In the year 1814 there were in all England only forty-four mass-houses; in 1830 the number was stated to be 497, and it has since been increasing with a still greater progression. For illustration of this the reader is referred to the Appendix. That popery

1 Note VII.

is on the increase is matter of fact-matter of ocular demonstration.

It may not be amiss that we investigate a little

the circumstances that have forward in these countries the

contributed to help mystery of iniquity' in this its last and most desperate struggle for the

supremacy.

1. The first impulse latterly given to it was undoubtedly the Act of Emancipation. That act was to have been a balm to all political wounds; a healer of all heart-aches; a general moral panacea. So the Romanists and many Protestants affirmed. Well-the country was cajoled; the bill passed the imperial legislature, and received the royal assent. But what has been the result? Did the Romanists keep their promises? Have they evinced gratitude to their benefactors? Have they ceased to make further encroachments? The very reverse of all this has occurred. 'As if increase of appetite had grown by what it fed on,' they have become more hostile in their feelings, more overbearing in their deportment, and more exorbitant in their exactions, than ever. And to what enormous heights they ultimately aspire, let the known genius and history of popery suggest. So strictly has Rome adhered to her dogma, that no faith is to be kept with heretics.'

May that emancipation not enslave the kingdom! May its announcement not ultimately prove the death-knell of the united empire! But alas! from that momentous epoch-wo worth the day!

she appears to have been descending a declivity of ruin with accelerated rapidity. Commercial and agricultural distress, pestilence, internal dissention, excited to the boiling point, and only not breaking over in actual revolution and blood-shed; weakness in our national councils, and want of public confidence, paralizing improvement, generally speaking, compose the annals of the interval.

2. Another circumstance that has greatly contributed to the spread of the same system, is the intermarriage of Papists with Protestants. This, the priests have by all means promoted; and the almost invariable consequence is, the acquisition of the Protestant to their party.

3. Another circumstance is, the liberalism and unfaithfulness-(I had almost said perfidy) of professing Protestants. The parliament, though swearing that the sacrifice of the mass is blasphemous and idolatrous, has yet had the awful hardihood to allot, yearly, large sums of the public money to the maintenance of Papal schools and colleges, those nurseries of bigotry and spiritual despotism,1 while it has withdrawn the grants formerly conceded to the association for discountenancing vice, the Kildare-place Society, and that for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. Individual Protestants also have not been ashamed to assist at the founding of Popish chapels and cathedrals, and to sanction by their presence

1 Vide An Impartial View of Maynooth College.' By EUGENE FRANCIS O'BEIRNE, late Student.