Chancellor Clare answer in his own words: "The division of Ireland," says his lordship, "between those who adhered to the Catholic, and those who adhered to the Protestant religion, is the grand schism which has been the bane and pestilence of Ireland, and rendered her a BLANK among the nations of Europe."

The foregoing extracts are not, perhaps, the most apposite which might have been chosen, but I prefer taking a few indiscriminately from the body of the work, rather than to give a studied selection. The literary talents of Mr. Butler have long been known and duly appreciated. I have, however, never read any one of his works, estimable as many of them are, from which I have derived greater pleasure from the perusal, than from "The Book of the Roman Catholic Church. "May Dr. Southey and our Protestant brethren read it with the attention it deserves; may they examine the truths which it contains with the same candour, and in the same spirit of charity with which it is written; and may all who engage in religious controversy remember the golden sentence of St. Francis de Sales, "A good christian is never out-done in good manners."

ter,

Trusting, Sir, that you will not object to insert this hasty letI am your's, &c.

December 20th.

A ROMAN CATHOLIC.

A VIEW OF THE OHIO MISSION.

The state of Ohio is situated in North America, between the 38th and 42d degress of N. Lat. The population in 1800 was computed at 45,000 souls; it has since increased to the number of 600,000. That country is principally indebted for the propagation of the true faith, to the labours of the Right Rev. Dr. Edward Fenwick, a descendant of the ancient family of the Fenwicks, originally of Fenwick Tower, in the county of Northumberland. He was born in Maryland, A. D. 1768. At the age of sixteen, he entered the Dominican college of Bornheim, in Flanders; was there ordained and professed. In the year 1804, he returned to his native country. Two years after, the late Dr. Carroll, Archbishop of Baltimore, sent him to Kentucky,

where he found but one priest, Mr. Badin. He there exercised missionary duties and devoted the whole of his patrimony towards establishing a convent of his Order, in which eleven priests have already been educated for the American mission. In 1810, he extended his labours into the forests of Ohio, where no Catholic priest had before penetrated; he found there three Catholic families only, of German extraction. Ten years had elapsed since they had seen a priest; they welcomed him as an angel sent from heaven into their wilderness, to administer to them the consolations of religion. A parcel of land was bought and cleared, a wooden chapel was erected, and a house built in the rude style of the country, for the reception of a priest.

Three years ago, Pope Pius VII. to encourage the progress of religion, erected the See of Cincinnati. This town, situate on the Ohio river, contains at present about 20,000 souls, of which 11,000 are Catholics. The Rev. Ed. Fenwick was appointed to fill the new See. Never, perhaps, were the resources of a prelate less proportioned to his wants; aided by the contributions of his former parishioners in Kentucky, he was enabled to proceed to Cincinnati. On his arrival there, obstacles presented themselves on all sides: he was compelled to purchase the very ground for the site of his Cathedral on credit. This small cha

pel is not yet paid for.

The prelate had still no seminary, when providentially a suitable building, with 56 acres of land, situated within half a mile of the Episcopal town was offered for sale. 7,000 dollars, payable in seven yearly instalments, was the sum demanded. The opportunity of making a cheap purchase, and the promotion of the greater glory of God, were objects not to be neglected. The land was accordingly purchased. The debt remains unpaid, and a failure in complying with the conditions of the contract must prove detrimental to the interests of religion. No substantial contributions can be expected from the humble means of the christians of Ohio; the offerings of the faithful are indeed so scanty from real penury, not from want of good will, as scarcely to afford their pastor a subsistence, after having made the utmost efforts in raising chapels, and meeting the usual expences of the sacred altars.

Dr. Fenwick is very grateful and has requested us to return his warmest thanks for the liberal succours which he obtained in England and other countries, during his last visit to Europe. His benefactors will have the cordial satisfaction of feeling that they have lent their aid through the purest motives of charity; that their contributions and names will be connected with the rising religion of the most destitute diocess in christendom; that their memories will be cherished, and handed down to posterity by the reclaimed settlers and christianized savages of Ohio. But much remains to be done, before religion can be said to be firmly established in that new country, and a large field is here open to the charities of the religious Europeans. Englishmen annually vote thousands of pounds to the furtherance of their foreign missions and to the spreading of the bible. Now, can any claims be more urgent upon the generosity of christians than the distressed circumstances of the Ohio Mission? The bishop of Cincinnati and the Catholic population of Ohio humbly present this short statement of their condition, and address, with confidence, this appeal to the friends of humanity and religion. In confirmation of the above statement, the public are referred to the following

EXTRACTS OF LETTERS

Addressed by the Clergymen of Ohio within the last twelve months, to the Right Rev. Bishop Fenwick, during his last visit to Europe.

1st. "Your only resource is, after God, in a few broken down Missionaries, without money, without a home of their own, or necessaries for the service of the Church. Most of the old Catholics have been to their duties since you left us. We should have more hearers, could they possibly find accommodations : but the Chapel, (your Cathedral) is much too small, and we have no means of enlarging it. Your Lordship's, &c.-STEPHEN MONTGOMERY."

2nd. "With regard to Spirituals, nothing can be more consoling: there is a spirit of piety gaining ground every day. The Church (of Cincinnati) is constantly well attended, and would be more so, if strangers could readily find seats. You will please to send us some money as soon as you can: the rents of the pews are badly paid; the weekly collection is only about a dollar and a half.— W. Mitchell is our cook and factotum; our expenses are as little as possible; the chief article is clothing; bring with you as many coats and pantaloons as you can get. I was advised to go to New Orleans to collect some money for our church. Times are as hard there as elsewhere. I shall not succeed in paying my expenses.-Patience; I don't repent of my journey, as I have procured some good books and useful information. Your Lordship's humble servant, J. A. HILL, Catholic Missionary.

P. S. Mr. O Leary, (nephew to the late celebrated Dr. O'Leary) made his first missionary excursion of some weeks into Indiana with success. He prepared and received into the Church twenty-five persons and baptized many children.

3rd.

"I visited Canton and those distant congregations in Ohio last Autumn.

Religion and society are improving in all of them; several new churches are now being built, the one at Canton is nearly finished. A good brick church has also been erected on Mr. Mc'Allister's land, five miles from New Lisbon. The Indians, especially the old people, frequently say that true preachers ought not to have wives, and ought to be dressed in black gowns; probably alluding to the Jesuits, whose memory they still cherish." Your Lordship's &c. IGNATIUS YOUNG."

4th. "The congregation, (of Cincinnati) goes on exceedingly well. I gave prayers and a long instruction every evening in Holy Week. The result was sixty communicants on Easter Sunday. On my arrival here twelve months before, there were only five. I thank God that a spirit of piety increases, which will console you as it does me, after all our labours and privations. A great many attend mass every morning, when I read one of Bishop Challoner's meditations. The rosary is said, I believe, every evening, in almost every family. Knowing their fervent dispositions, I forbid meat on Mondays during Lent. I think that next year they may be brought to the full observance of Lent, as prescribed by the Church. Your's, &c. J. A. HILL.

5th. "The law allows the President of the United States to spend yearly, 10,000 dollars for the purpose of aiding the schools, that are or may be established for the instruction of young Indians. You see that the whole is not to be done by Government; a beginning must be made by the benevolence of some charitable persons. The Government is disposed to pay two thirds of the expense of the necessary buildings.-It may, perhaps, be important to state, that there are at Mackinac two ladies, who would willingly assist in teaching the young Indian girls sewing, spinning, netting, reading, writing in French, English, and the Indian language, which they can speak and read. They can even sing more than fifty or sixty hymns in the Indian tongue, which contain the most necessary part of the Christian Doctrine. Your's, &c. GABRIEL RICHARDS. *Parish Priest at Detroit, and member of the Congress. * He was formerly a Protestant, and an Officer in the British service.

"Bruges 8, Sept. 1824. "Messieurs les Curés et mes Confrères de l'Ordre de St. Dominique. "Plein de confiance en votre piété et votre zéle pour le progrès de la religion, je vous recommande le porteur de cette lettre, Monsr. l' Abbe Badin, mon Grand vicaire, qui vous communiquera mes intentions et mes vœux-qui vous instruira de tout ce qui concerne mon diocèse et moi même qui vous prouvera qu'il est digne de votre confiance et qu'il n'y a pas un évêque dans le monde plus pauvre que moi, sans fonds, sans revenus, sans seminaire, sans maison même ou me loger, et presque sans prêtres. Je sollicite au nom de Jesus Christ vos secours. Veuillez recevoir d'avance l' expression de ma gratitude. Je prie le Seigneur de repandre sur vous et sur vos travaux ses benedictions precieuses-En union a vos prières et S. Sacrifices je suis, Messieurs les Curés, L. S.

Votre trés humble Serviteur, + ED. D. FENWICK, Evêque de Cincinnati."

66 My Dear Sir, "I have no doubt that you are always mindful of me and engaged in the interests of my poor Diocess. I sincerely thank you for all the trouble you have taken, and for all the services you have rendered me; I will be grateful to you as long as I live. It is more than time for me to sail. I consulted Bishop Poynter and other Clergymen on the propriety of staying longer in Europe. They [and Bishop Bramston also,] all agree that it is my duty to return immediately to my Diocese. I therefore leave the success of my quest to divine Providence, to your zeal, and to the charity of benevolent persons. The experience I have had of that bountiful Providence and of your zeal is sufficient warrant of a generous continuance. This thought at once consoles and encourages In te Domine speravi, non confundar.

me.

I leave letters for you-again repeat my sincere thanks, and beg a continuance of your friendship and zeal, daily prayers and friendly communications. Farewell. Your's affectionately

EDWARD FENWICK, Bishop of Cincinnati.

10th of Oct. 1824, (London) Rev. Mr. Badin, Grand Vicar of Ohio and Kentucky."

Donations will be thankfully received at LONDON, by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Poynter, 4, Castle-street, Holborn; the Rt. Rev. Dr. Bramstone; the Rev. Edward Scott; and by Messrs. Wright, and Co. Bankers, Henrietta-street, Covent-Garden. At MANCHESTER, by the Rev. Michael Trappes, Catholic Chapel, Mulberry-street. At LIVERPOOL, by the Rev. William White, 37, Russel-street. At PRESTON, by the Rev. Joseph Dunn, and by Stephen T. Badin, Vic. Gen. of Kentucky and Ohio. And in London, by the Editor hereof.

A History of the Protestant Reformation in England and Ireland, addressed to all sensible and just Englishmen. In a Series of Letters, by William Cobbett. 12mo. London. Clement, Fleet Street.

No. I.

This Work is now publishing in parts, price Three-pence each. The importance of the subject, and the manner it is treated, claim our particular attention. The first is an introductory letter, the paragraphs are numbered; we will briefly notice the substance of each, with a few observations.

1. The Protestant system of inculcating Protestantism. 2. Misrepresentation and abuse of the Catholic religion form a part, and a considerable part, of this system.

3. The terms Catholic, Protestant, and Reformation, briefly and clearly defined in their true and real signification.

4. The" Reformation" a change greatly for the worse.

5. The bare love of justice a sufficient motive for entering on the enquiry: and when its importance and consequences are considered, it "presses itself upon us as a duty which we owe to ourselves, our children, and our country."

6. Rise and progress of "the Reformation" promised to

be clearly shown in all its stages to the present time.

7. Preliminary observations on early prejudices. "Popery"