must even try these troublesome and inconvenient means of education and good treatment.'*

But we turn from the political to the moral condition of this much injured country. Among the obstacles which lie in the way of general education and the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, Mr. Steven adverts to the state of the Protestant Churchestablishment.

The vast number of parishes which are without any resident clergy, is an obvious hinderance to the march of education, and cannot fail to involve the rulers of the church of Ireland in a solemn responsibility. It will scarcely be credited, that there is, at this very time, in one district, a space of one hundred square miles, and that not in a thinly inhabited or mountainous part, but in one of the finest counties in Ireland, in which there has neither been a church nor resident clergyman in the memory of man.

• The union of many parishes in one, too, presents a serious impediment to the intellectual and moral improvement of the people. I will give one instance, out of many, in which eleven parishes are united. This parish has only one protestant minister, although there are priests and coadjutors in it, to the number of about twenty.

This is, indeed, an alarming evil. The circumstance of there being no resident clergyman, or, as in the latter case, of a great part of the parish being ten or twelve miles from the church, renders it necessary for the Protestant parishioner, being destitute of clerical service, to apply to the Catholic priest, (who, with his curates, invariably resides in the parish, there being no non-residents in that church,) for the baptism of his children; so, also, when he is sick or dying, he is often so ignorant as to apply to the same quarter for absolution.

In this way, there has been a great accession of nominal Protestants to the church of Rome; so that in districts where, fifty or sixty years ago, there was a considerable body of Protestants, there is now scarcely one family left. And had it not pleased Almighty God, in his great mercy to Ireland, to raise up a noble band of faithful cler

"Thoughts and Suggestions on the Education of the Peasantry of Ireland." 8vo. pp. 58. London. (Cadell) 1820.

'I know what is usually urged by the non-resident clergy, as an excuse for their dereliction of duty. "We have no cure;" i. e. there are few or no Protestants in the parish. To such I would say,-yout sin is written on the front of your excuse. It is this which has so seriously reduced the number of Protestants. "You have no cure." Have your Catholic parishioners no souls? Are there not a thousand ways of serving them, in return for their contributions towards your comfort? I fear, the Chief Shepherd, in the great day of account, will not admit of your plea. "You have no cure." I ask, in the name of reason, of religion, and common honesty, why, under these circumstances, you exact your tithes, without an equivalent, from the poor who have another establishment to support?'

gymen in the Establishment, who preach the Bible doctrines of that church; to institute the Hibernian Bible Society, the London Hibernian Society, the Hibernian Sunday School Society, and other similar instiutions, and to send forth village missionaries; in fifty years, as matters were going on, there would scarcely have been found one Protestant among the lower classes in the country parts of Ireland.' pp. 25-27.

Other obstacles present themselves in the shape of a spurious candour and an intolerant bigotry; but what the Writer considers as a still more formidable enemy than either, is, that monstrous incubus, apathy.' With regard to the first, there is, we are told, an anomalous class in Ireland, who are warmly contending for the political emancipation of the Catholics, but are wholly indifferent as to their ecclesiastical emancipation; refusing to exercise their local influence on their estates, to prevent the priests from assuming an arbitrary power over those parents who are willing to have their children educated. They can stand by,' says Mr. S., and see, unconcerned, large schools broken up, the Scriptures cast out and burned, and the hearts of the children and their parents almost broken at not being allowed to attend the schools which they prefer.' The opposition to 'Bible schools' on the part of the Romish clergy, has been of late on the increase throughout the whole of the Catholic districts; and has, in some counties, put on the form of open outrage.

"The enemies of education have, in one place, burned a very excellent school-house and a master's dwelling house, and afterwards proceeded cruelly to card the master, and in doing so, they broke two ribs on one side, and one on the other, so that his life was despaired of. In a multitude of instances, the whole of the artillery of the church, allowed in that country, has been opened on the offending parents who dared to exercise the inalienable right of disposing of their children as they pleased. Numbers have, notwithstanding, exercised this right, fearless of the consequences, and, in the face of threatenings the most appalling, have continued their children at the schools of the Society; others, alarmed and terrified, with grief have confessed that they must withdraw them.

The growing desire of the Catholic parents for the education of their children, has compelled the Priests to open schools in a way of self-defence. In these schools, they can no longer (as formerly they did in what they called schools) abstain from teaching the children to

*This diabolical process is effected by driving a number of nails through a board, in imitation of a card. They strip the object of their fury, and drag this instrument of torture up and down the bare back, till the ribs and backbone are bared. Mortification and death frequently follow.'

read. But, though reading is taught in them, they are, as far as I have observed, wholly destitute of the Scriptures. I have visited very many of them, and never found one copy of either the Rhemish or Doway Testament in use. They appeared altogether destitute of books, no provision being made for their supply. If they had any, which was rare, I found them generally very improper, being just what the cabin of the parents, perchance, could furnish.' pp. 36, 7. Mr. Steven repeats this important assertion still more distinctly, in arguing against the adoption of the Catholic versions. The parents of the children, he says, make no objection to the Protestant version, until excited to it by the priests; and whenever the priest has in sincerity approved of the introduction of the Doway Testament, he would, if pressed, have consented to the use of the Protestant version.

The truth is, that the Church of Rome will not allow their own Scriptures, under any circumstances, to be in the hands of the laity, nor circulated through the schools. In proof of this, I have visited a great number of the Catholic schools, and never found in one of them a single copy of the Scriptures.

Some of the most pleasing instances are given of the strong attachment of the children to the schools. The priest may take ' away our books,' said one boy,' but he cannot take them out of our memories.' In some places, the priest stands at the corner of the street with a whip in one hand and a crucifix in the other, to chastise the children belonging to his flock whom he finds going to the Society's school. Mr. Steven mentions an instance in which this is notoriously practised: the children collect in numbers, and cautiously approach the dreaded corner; a general burst then takes place, and it is a race between them and the priest. And there are not a few Protestants,' adds Mr. Steven, who can quietly suffer the priest to take his course, who would join in the cry against the Protestant minister, were he to imitate him.'

In spite of all opposition, the cause of education is going forward. So anxious are the parents, in many parts, to obtain it for their children, that the Writer has known them voluntarily offer to build a school-house, and actually help in its erection without wages. It is only, he says, the want of funds, which prevents the Hibernian Society from doubling the number of its schools.* Schools have been successfully instituted in some of the prisons; in particular, in the county gaol of Sligo. Mr. Steven states, that above 130,000 children, and above 7000 adults, have en

In one county, a clergyman has pointed out to the Committee eligible situations for thirty schools, which he would be willing to take under his superintendance, but, from the want of funds, it is doubtful whether the Society can pay any attention to the application.

tered the Hibernian Society's schools since the commencement of its labours, of whom not one, that he has ever heard of, has been arraigned for any crime; although, out of every thousand of the population, it is calculated that twenty-one are annually committed to prison.

With regard to the merits of the Hibernian Society, both as to its plan and its general management, we have pleasure in availing ourselves of the unsuspicious and decisive testimony of the eloquent Catholic writer already referred to. If such a society has not yet obtained its due share of public attention and support in this country, it can in no degree be attributed to the inferior importance of the object, or to any defect in its constitution.

The London Hibernian Society has been fortunate in the adop tion of a plan more suitable than any that has yet been tried to the circumstances of Ireland. They do not interfere with the religious profession of the people; but they give the Gospel to all who are willing to receive it: and they insist upon having it read in their schools, by children of a proper age and capacity. Upon this ground, they have had to encounter, as is always the case, much difficulty. But they have persevered. They meet one class of cbjectors by giving, where it is preferred, the Catholic version of the Bible, without comment or note*. They disarm another, by putting the schools, where they can do it, under the superintendence of the Ca-. tholic priest. But with all this, they have met persons who could not be satisfied, and suspicions that could not be lulled. Persons little anxious that the poor should be educated by any process, yet, who carry their tender concern for their Catholicity to an amazing extreme. And while they are so anxious for this faith, pay it the extraordinary compliment of their opinion, that it is much more consistent with an ignorance of the Gospel than a knowledge of it: and much more compatible with an ignorance of letters, than an acquaintance with them. It is clear that no arrangement can satisfy such persons, that they are bad Catholics and worse Christians.

The plan of teaching adopted by the Society is excellent; and their system of constant inspection and superintendence of their schools, insures their usefulness. The profits of the schoolmaster are made also to depend, not upon the number merely, but as well upon the proficiency of the children. Acting upon principles so wise and excellent, it would be reasonable to expect that this Society must have made great progress; and accordingly they have been eminently successful. Their schools are to be met with every where in Connaught, and they are extending themselves rapidly in other parts of

This is a mistake. Some noblemen and gentlemen who are patrons and friends of the Society, have, we believe, individually distributed, in some instances, the Catholic version; but the Committee have not been able to satisfy themselves as to the necessity or expediency of the concession.

Ireland: their number is about five hundred, and the number of children instructed about sixty thousand.

We would say to those who still object to the plans of this Society; between whom and the Gospel in any shape or form, there can be no reconcilement,-" "Tis well; only adopt your own plan. Let the poor be taught. We do not object to your teaching; we object to your neglect. . . . Where you teach, we will not interfere; but we will occupy the waste ground. Otherwise, your system would be a sentence of perpetual barrenness upon the land-of perpetual ignorance upon the people. To such a sentence we cannot submit. The Protestants of England, the Protestants of Ireland, will not consent to it. The Catholic laity of Ireland will not obey it. The people must be instructed."...... For those to whom Ireland has any interest; for the people of England who would repay the injuries of ages; for those whose generous bosoms pant to do good, here is a thirsty soil that will drink the dews of their benevolence, and return a thousand fold.

The Hibernian School Society is better adapted to the circumstances of Ireland than any other; but this very adaptation, as it enlarged the sphere and the power of its usefulness, so it has checked its career in midway. Its funds have failed.'

Art. V. Seripture Antiquities: or, a Compendious Summary of the Religious Institutions, Customs, and Manners of the Hebrew Nation: compiled from the most authentic Sources, and designed as an Introductory Help for the better Understanding of the Scriptures. By the Rev. John Jones, Curate of Waterbeach near Cambridge. 12mo. pp. 292 (cuts). Price 5s. London, 1821.

THIS is a very useful and well compiled summary of Biblical

Antiquities, and, on account of its cheapness, will be very acceptable. It is divided into five Parts. Part 1. The Sacred Times and Seasons observed by the Israelites. Part II. Their Sacrifices and Oblations. Part III. Ecclesiastical Persons, and Jewish Sects. Part IV. Sacred Buildings and Places. Part V. Civil Customs and Manners of the Hebrews.

In the account of the city of Jerusalem, Mr. Jones has adopted the usual errors; but, for one error, he is personally responsible. The sepulchral caverns described by Dr. Clarke, in the passage referred to in the note, are not towards the west,' but southward of modern Jerusalem; and are supposed to mark the site, not of the mountain of Calvary', which mountain never had an existence, but of Mount Zion. The Author will do well to revise the whole of this section, His chapter on the Criminal Code might have derived some advantages from his having consulted the elaborate work of Michaelis on the Laws of Moses.

1

In the section on ecclesiastical persons, the Author is charge