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less ambition of Buonaparte, and afterwards the Orange treachery of the wretched suicide Castlereagh. They are related, as far at least as concerns the opening of a Protestant Conven- . ticle at Rome, by various public writers, and they are not denied by the Cardinal's advocate, who came forward in your last number, Francis Grandi.

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The concessions in question, alluding particularly to that of opening a protestant chapel in the holy city, are here termed strange and unprecedented. In fact is it not strange that the Cardinal should have given leave for a public worship to be celebrated in the pope's own city, and perhaps within his hearing, which denounces a solemn curse upon him and all other Catholics for the religious worship they pay to the images of Christ and his saints?* Again, is it not strange that in addition to all the heresies and blasphemies which the parsons and other protestants, are au-, thorized by this measure to proclaim in the centre of Catholicism they should be allowed even publicly to reproach the whole Catholic body with being cruel and blood-thirsty enemies, and to perform a whole long-spun hypocritical service, calculated in every part of it to calumniate and render odious the Catholics and their religion? + Has there been any precedent for such concessions since the popes have been the temporal sovereigns of Rome, that is to say for a thousand years and more? Is there any authority for them in the conduct or the writings of the fathers and other saints of the Church? When the Empress Justina, an arian, desired St. Ambrose, Archbishop of Milan, to allow but of one church in that imperial city or its suburbs to those of her sect, and when afterwards the emperor Valentinian seconded the requisition with all his authority, the saint refused to comply, saying, "If the emperor wants my temporal property, the whole of it is at his service; but I cannot surrender what belongs to the church and to God." He is seen to have persisted in this refusal to the last and with the imminent danger of his life. § Such instances however, were not among the feats of our modern Hercules. Your's, &c. THOMAS MORE. *Comminations to be read on the 1st day of Lent. See Book of com. Prayer. + Service for the Popish Conspiracy, Nov. 5th lbid.

See Alban Butler's life of St. Ambrose. December 7th.

‡In taking leave of the deceased Secretary it is natural to inquire by what means he got possession of such incalculable wealth as he is said to have bequeathed. That for re-building St. Paul's Via Ostia, alone would

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Memoirs of Captain Rock, the celebrated Irish Chieftain, with some Account of his Ancestors. Written by himself. pp 376. small 12mo. Price 9s. Longman and Co. Paternoster Row, London. 1824.

This excellent performance, by the famous melodist Thomas Moore, Esq. is a most valuable collection of historical facts relating to Ireland; and for vivacity, humour, and depth of pointed satire, stands unequalled since the days of Swift. We understand that the bigotted part of the favoured class of Protestants are in great alarm at the appearance of this little volume, giving as it does so true a picture of Protestantism, and that too by the very masterly hand of one of her own children. But why, thou venerable Church established by law, and upheld by bayonet-why alarmed at thy own portrait? Answer, my lords the Archbishops of Dublin, London, Chester, and others. Because my origin is base, and like the proud strutting peacock with its fine and wide spreading plumage, we are ashamed of the legs on which it stands.

The religious or irreligious, the anti-catholic or protestant delusion which has been kept up by Church and State either to "enlighten the people" or to fatten certain individuals, is beginning to explode, and those who according to the spirit of their institute, like feasting sumptuously every day better than such superstitious practices as prayer, fasting, or alms-deeds, having long passed the zenith of their career, are beginning to think seriously of the matter, and as the evening approaches, well may they exclaim, "O Lord! we have "erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have "followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. "We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left "undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done;

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exhaust a royal cxehequer. Certain it is he did not derive it from his father, who, whatever his family might have been, was a common corn-dealer by profession. On the other hand, it did not come out of the pope's treasury which was completely exhausted. It must then have been furnished in the way of presents by princes and ministers, some of whom there is reason to believe were not of the religion of his master. There can be no doubt but that the requisition of the Austrian Ambassador for the restoration of Consalvi to the secretaryship was a concerted scheme between the latter and Metternich.

"and there is no soundness in us.

But thou O Lord, have mercy upon us miserable offenders; and grant that we may “hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life. Amen."* Yes, Amen, so be it."

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As another proof that our seperated brethren are beginning to see through the thick clouds of misrepresentation, calumny, and prejudice, which have been so industriously raised against the ancient Faith. The Protestant editor of the "Sheffield Independent," has in his paper of the 1st Inst. entered upon our vindication at considerable length; and as the article contains much valuable information and some extracts from the famous Captain Rock, we here insert the whole of it which we think cannot but please and entertain our readers.

ROMAN CATHOLICS.

"An article in the Sheffield Mercury of last week has turned our attention to the subject of the Roman Catholics. The writer of that article is confidently of opinion that the principle reason why the Irish are still so untractable is, that they are— he means that the most part of them are-Roman Catholics.We shall perhaps startle our readers when we say that we agree with him. If the Roman Catholics were converted to Protestantism, the reasons at present existing for their degradation would cease, as they would receive their civil rights at the moment they threw off their religious distinctions. Having granted this, we may, in turn, assume that if the Protestants were all to become Catholics, provided there were no disqualifications on account of their religion, peace and happiness would equally ensue. We will take a third view of the case :Suppose the Catholics were to become Church of England-men, and the existing Church of England-men were to become Protestant Disssenters: suppose the Protestant Dissenters were to possess themselves of all political power, and fill every officedistribute all the patronage-exclude from dignities and emoluments every Church of England-man-receiving for their Dissenting Minis ters all the tythes, and conferring nothing but poverty upon the Church of England-priests. Can any one doubt for a moment that the result of such oppression would be the same as Ireland now experiences? As we lately said on * See Book of Common Prayer, the Order for the Evening Service.

another occasion. Are the feelings of Churchmen less acute than those of other sects? It is surely no wonder that the Scotch have improved while the Irish have been stationary. The instructions given by King William to the Commissioners of Scotland, were, "You are to pass an Act establishing that Church Government which is most agreeable to the inclinations of the public." If this had not been the case, would not the Scotch Covenanters have been as wild as the Irish? And might not their ferocious character have been ascribed to their Presbyterianism, with as much truth as the Catholic Religion is blamed for the unsettled state of Ireland? And if the same regard for the rights of conscience had been paid with respect to the Irish, which was paid with respect to the Scotch, might we not justly have expected the result would have been the same -decency, order, and good government? For ourselves, we cannot doubt it; and we submit to the writer in the Mercury, the few remarks which we make for his consideration. We would argue the question coolly and dispassionately. It cannot be regarded as a party-question, for Tories differ from Tories, and even Ministers from Ministers; and agree to leave it as neutral ground. Besides, we believe the writer of the article in the Mercury to act, on many subjects, with a generous and manly policy; and supposing ourselves right in our conjecture as to who he is, we are not without hopes of inducing him to act the same part on this important subject. At any rate, as he has repeatedly introduced it with the same feelings of dislike to the Catholic Religion, we cannot allow his readers any longer to receive such impressions without contradiction, lest they should at length confide in them as truths. And we do conscientiously think that the interests of the State are paramount in our mind, and that we sit down to this friendly discussion in a state of mind open to conviction at least we have no ties which ought to prevent our being accessible to the force of truth. The writer in the Mercury hints that every where the Catholic Religion has produced results unfavourable to knowledge and happiness. He says, "look at Italy, its very focus." Now, most of the misery existing in that country, we believe is owing to mis-government rather than to religion. We think it not unfair to be guided by a friendly pen in our

view of this

country; and we have consulted Eustace. He very judiciously introduces his remarks on religion in the following manner.

RELIGION OF ITALY.

"The traveller who wishes to form a just idea of the religion of Italy, or indeed of any other European territory, would do well to consider, that in all Christian 'countries the same gospel is professed, and of course the same principle articles of belief are admitted, and enforced by the same sanction of eternal rewards and punishments; or in other words, that Faith, Hope, and Charity form the spirit and the essence of Christianity, in whatever manner it may be taught, or wheresoever established. When we enquire, therefore, concerning the religion of a country, we mean to ask whether these Christian virtues influence its inhabitants more or less than they do those of other Chistian countries? and according as this influence is perceptible in public and private life, we form a favourable or unfavourable opinion." "If we examine the religion of Italy upon these principles, we shall find much to praise, and something perhaps to admire." He then proceeds to shew that the Italians are universally regular in attendance on public worship; nor is their devotion confined to public service," The churches are almost always open: persons of regular life and independent circumstances generally visit some or other of them every day; and individuals of every condition may be seen at all hours, on their knees, engaged in prayer or meditation." The number of persons who receive the sacrament, and the becoming gravity of their deportment, will be another source of edification to a sincere Christian, who, of whatever denomination he may be, must always rejoice in seeing this affecting rite often, renewed and duly frequented." So much for the exterior of religion: with respect to its internal and most essential qualities, Mr. Eustace says-" I will venture to assert, that no country exhibits more splendid examples of public benevolence, or furnishes more affecting instances of private charity, than Italy." "Whoever has visited and examined the hospitals of Rome, Naples, Genoa, Venice, and Milan, will readily admit that Italy has the honorable advantage of surpassing all the kingdoms of Europe, in the oumber and the magnificence of her charitable foundations."

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