CORRESPONDENCE. TEETOTALISM-REPLY TO DR. LEES. To the Editor of the Citizen. SIR, I shall not be able, so fully as I could bave wished, to refute the arguments in favour of teetotalism, which my remarks in the May number of The Citizen have called forth. My observations will first be directed to Dr. Lees's remarks in your last No. I must confess that I am unable to fathom the Doctor's intentions in resorting to his method of meeting my arguments against teetotalism. Why not, instead of advancing a number of questions (the answer to which can conduce but little, if at all, to the arrival at truth), at once disprove what I endeavoured to show; viz., that the moderate babitual use of fermented drinks is not injurious. I proceed to notice his quesstions in the order observed by himself. are 5. "Is there not some natural standard of health and hunger?" There is; and it is this very standard, more tangible to the senses than argiument is impressible upon the judgment whch counteracts whatever little weight the, assertion-that even moderation is blameable might carry with it; which assures us that "satisfaction of hunger," whether sudden or gradual, is the same in effect. 6. "Is there any channel by which the dead tissues can be cast off, without being decomposed? And is there any such decomposition without heat?" To the first of these questions I answer, No: to the second, Yes. To substantiate would be unnecessary, because foreign to the subject under consideration. 7. I prove that "man-made alcohol" is a cheaper fuel for the animal body than fat, sugar, flour, &c.; from the fact, that a quantity of ale, of a certain value, would better satisfy, and more materially benefit, a hungry man, than a portion of either sugar or fat of and the same of bread, would much better and the same value: and that a quantity of beer, would double the quantity of the latter, if more speedily answer the same purposes, than taken by itself. 1. Dr. L, asks," When, where, and by whom was it proved that "the powers of endurance in a labouring man who drinks beer in moderation as respects' hunger and coldgreater than those of a labourer who drinks water only" There is no necessity for the 8. I will not take upon me to affirm that a "when, where, and by whom;" because there moderate drinker is "more healthy than a teeis abundance of individual experience to stamp totaller who has been so from his cradle"; but the assertion as a fact; however, as a special experience fully testifies to the assumption, illustration, bearing upon the subject, I would that moderate drinkers enjoy better health, or direct attention to the experience of multi- what is the same thing, are more lusty and tudes of those Irish reapers who annually visit strong than men who have brought themselves this country, and who think it advisable-and to habits of total abstinence. My former affireven necessary- to dispense with the restric-mation, to the effect that moderation conducts, tions of their teetotal pledges during their stay as surely and safely as total abstinence, to old in it. age, is a weighty truth; but, from finding men who are but partial drinkers described as being upon "inclined slippery planes," and upon the borders of "destructive gulphs," I was prepared for its unhesitating denial. 2. There is no coincidence between the senses in which Dr. L. and myself use the word endurance;" and the endeavour to form analogy between them, tends rather to mystify than to explain my meaning; which I shall better disclose by supposing the cases of two men, working a stated time without solid food, one of whom drinks as much ale as the other does water. In whichever case the capability to work was longest retained, would the powers of endurance be proportionally greater. sult?" 3. It is asked, “Does not life consist in a change, of which hunger is an index and reLife does always consist in a change, of which hunger should be, though it is not always, an index and result. "Is not hunger, therefore, a desirable state, when proportioned to the real amount of life of which the frame is capable, i.e., when the hunger is natural ?" The "therefore," in this question, evidences that Dr. L. expected answers in the affirmative to it, and to the former; consequently, the latter resolves itself into this-"Is not health desirable? An unnecessary question, and badly expressed; because the real amount of life of which the frame is capable," if tested, would be far from proportioned to subsequent hunger; indeed, fainting would most probably ensue. 4. "Consequently, may not a less degree of hunger, result from a less degree of life than is natural?" Doubtless it may: but since the same degree of hunger may be consequent upon an excess of life, the diminished amount of solid food required by a beer-drinker cannot, by this mode of reasoning, be explained;cannot, in fairness, upon such grounds, be deemed an abnormal state. (The answers in the two last clauses would have been satisfactory to Dr. L.'s mind, and therefore differetn, had I gran ted the soundness of the premise, that " hunger is a constant and a true index of life.") 9. Here the reasoning of Dr. L. is very shallow; and the comparisons particularly odious. From the illustration made use of, it might be inferred that, because it is a property of cabbage to rot, and of mutton to putrify, fermented liquors, ripened fruits, and sugar, as being the natural products of change in other substances, should alike be discarded, and receive the same prohibitory epithets. would remind Dr. Lees that, although neither bad mutton or bad cabbage make cheerful countenances," or "gladden mens' hearts," other articles do so; and he should also recollect that the process by which the food taken into the stomach is digested, is one of true fer. mentation. 66 10. To escape the opprobrium of being supposed to add weight to the curse which the ground labours under, Dr. L. would recom mend the consumption of vinous fruits, in the place of vinous fluids. A plausible hint, if he could convince people that such general consumption would be generally beneficial,-that less colic than profit, would result from it ;that there would be incentives to purchasing among the poor.--I do not hesitate to affirm that the facts and theories which Liebig has given to the world, support the conclusion that teetotalism is a foolish "totalism." 11. "Are we to believe that, until the discovery of wine-making, the best plan of warming the body, and of diminishing hunger, was unknown?" That depends upon the reasons there may be for thinking so. It is plain that, until the discovery of wine-making, a very comfortable, innocent plan of warming the body was unknown:-that men who get their bread by the sweat of their brow were, until theu, without very good means to keep their spirits in, and the cold out; and that the discovery is nearly as old as the fruits themselves from which wine is obtained. ducts contain alcohol, as that carbonate of It can as easily be shown, that natural prosoda contains carbonic acid. 12. "What does Veritas' mean by good creatures of God" This is a question for which there was not the slightest necessity. fear of being misunderstood. Among these In making use of the term, I entertained no good creatures,' I include every thing which may in any way contribute to men's comforts or wants, without, of necessity, in any way proving injurious. Every good creature may be abused; but from the abuse of a thing, we must not argue against the use of it. Dr. L.'s reason for insinuating that I included, in the phrase, the deadly articles, sword and pistols, is known only to himself. This, however, is evident, that he was not actuated by a becoming desire to say nothing preposterously irrelevant. it will, no doubt, be as apparent to others as I have thus briefly replied to Dr. Lees; and from my having done so. to myself, that scarcely any good will accrue Dr. L.'s talents are, I am persuaded, sufficiently brilliant to eluci date anything which, based upon truth, common capacities may understand; and, by explaining, in a homely, intelligible manner, why the use of alcoholic drinks is attended with danger, he would be conferring benefits, in the first place, upon teetotallers; who would then be able to give a reason for adhering to their principles, and also upon anti-teetotallers, who might modify their views without running counter to evidence glaringly favourable to them. I shall next month reply to the letter of Mr. Jenkinson. CHURCH-RATES.-A FEW PLAIN QUESTIONS. RESPECTED FRIEND,-As I believe the columns of The Citizen are open for every subject connected with religious liberty, and for the breaking of every unchristian yoke, I venture to call thy attention and that of thy readers to the subject of "Church-Rates," (so called). How is it that in these times, persong who dissent from the Episcopal form of worship, so readily pay the rate made by the vestry for the support of the place of worship falsely called "The in a moderated and milder form? and do not those Church?" Is not the system of that body, Popery True it is, that, by the law of the land, when sanewho pay such rates, contribute to its support ? tioned by the vestry we are called upon to pay the rate; but has the Parliament who made the law, and has the Queen, or has any man, any right, founded upon Scripture, to make laws which affect the conscience, and force us to support a religioa which is partly Jewish and partly Christian? When Jesus Christ said, "Whose image and.superscription is this ?" and the man answered, "Cæsar's," and He replied, "Render unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, and unto God the things that are God's," did He mean that we were always to pay to the king or government, without enquiry, all that he required? Or did He mean, that, as the conscience was God's, we were bonnd to obey God in religious, and to obey the king in civil matters only? I have been told, as Christ paid tribute on that occasion, and as part of the money was applied, by the Roman public, to the support of the Heathen religion, we are commanded, thereby, to pay Church-Rates without reserve! The Society of Friends have long refused active compliance with this law, and have suffered much, and do now suffer much, in consequeace. (For a rate of only a few shillings, the expences often amount to five times as much; besides which, their goods, seized by the magistrate's warrant, are often THE CONFERENCE PAPERS. MR. MURSELL'S. WE feel great interest in offering, at the present time, the concluding notice of these valuable addresses. No measure of govern ment could more clearly have justified the establishment of the Anti-State-Church Asso ciation, than the carrying of a pro-Maynooth Bill. Of itself, it suffices to show that the Conference had not been gathered too soon,that an instrument of instruction was really required to direct the current of opinion on subjects connected with the church; while equally it has appeared, from the absurd resistance which is yet making to that measure on merely protestant grounds, that a fair statement of the question, as one which concerns equity and religion, and not, as they would have it, political objects merely, and sectarianism, was strongly and imperatively demanded. Indeed, it has become quite necessary, if only to shield dissent from the vapour ing misrepresentation of our Smiths and Blackburns, and to make free scope for the influence of particular Crosby-Hall conventions, that a regular organized body, capable of numerical computation, should stand, had it nothing more to do, as the representative of the honest Voluntaries. It is surprising to observe our growth; how quietly, and yet how strongly we are taking our position in the land; the reconciliation of liberals, the deep alarm of other parties; the facilities that reward our boldness, and the prospects that appear before necessary to use the press, the platform, and One extract we may certainly be allowed, will meet the precise case of many with whom 'In entering on the arrangements which are saint." THE CORN LAWS.-Sir Robert Peel is one of those men described by Bacon, who "object too much, consult too long, adventure too little, repent too soon, and seldom drive business home." He will not drive this business home, or he will do it when the season or the advantages are lost. The stable door will be locked in vast hurry and fright when the steed is stolen, past recovery. The time is gone for pleas of the danger of sudden change; the worst is now the continuation of the present uncertainties, with nothing to be reckoned on but the rent. "We are advised to be moderate," said one of our English worthies, “but I do not take moderation to be a virtue in all cases. If I were flying from thieves should I ride moderately lest I break my horse's wind? If I were defending my own life, or the lives of my wife and children, should I strike moderately lest I put myself out of breath? and if I were in a sinking ship, ought we to pump moderately lest we bring on a fever." We do dot hesitate to admit, that we have at last been fully convinced that the land does lie under "peculiar burdens." friend Punch. The peculiar burdens of the land We agree with our are the landlords. -Examiner. BRITISH ANTI-STATE CHURCH ASSOCIATION. NOTICE. sinee, and in very good numbers: an excellent indication, and THE Anti-State-Church Society met in council a short time highly encouraging. The principal instrumentality hitherto put forth, has been the publication of opinion, through tracts this direction, before we shall be at liberty to hope for mnch and lectures. An immense field of employment is offered in of more direct fruit. The ignorance displayed on these subjects is amazing; especially if the quarters be considered in which it is most found. Church people think the Society a club of demons, or something like it; and as to the character of dissent, it is perfectly unmannered, unfashionable, strange, fanatical, and, to crown all, "odd!" Yet the persons who so and sober truth. If only our productions could reach them, they might be persuaded. It is of some use to reinstruct one's friends. Knowledge on any subject is never too clear for further light not to be desirable. But the use of this is comparatively small. Better instruct the ignorant, and those "out of the way" of hearing wholesome truth. The Tracts are ready for these uses. The whole of the Conference Papers may be obtained, separately, at the smallest conceivable expense. The two Prize Essays are also out. Several valuable men. We wish, therefore, to direct attention to these facilities regard us, are not fools by nature. They are open to reason afforded for the spread of sound principle. Our advertizing page will show where the books may be obtained, and in what The address before us is one of the most able, judicious, and truly eloquent that we have had the good fortune to see. The feeling This is true, and a fine reply to the hundred-treatises are, besides, advertized, from the pens of our best with which the reader closes it after a frequent and-one objections of persons who might have perusal, is one of the highest admiration for known better. When are we to have a meeting the author's genius, mingled with an earnest again in this town? What lecturers will aid seuse of the deep moment of the subject. It the work? How many registrars have been exemplifies a principle too much neglected in appointed? The system of operations which the rhetorical studies of the schools;-that we are obliged to use, under the enlightened strong thought, combined with sincere feeling, policy of our laws, we seem to find it difficult and chastened by keenness and severity of to grow accustomed to. The London Comtaste and judgment, are the only possible pre-mittee are at work almost daily; let us do paratives for the highest style of speech. Every what we can to second and sustain their noble word in this paper is full of sentiment of the endeavours. gravest and most comprehensive character; and we offer it to all disciples of the noble art of persuasion, as a model of the purest and most effective kind. The topics of the paper are abstracted in the following brief propositions. The means which our friends will use are; First, that which has brought them to their present position, the spread of spiritual truth. This, as before, in his proper place, every member of the Conference will attend to. Without this, we are not prepared for the others; for the question is of little moment if not felt to be a religious one. Secondly, since many of our brethren are behind the mark of their rights and duties, they require to be instructed by the Association, and animated to take their true place. Thirdly, there is ignorance in the country, and among men of every name and rank, of the real ground we take as dissenters from the endowed sect. To answer, therefore, both the purposes of instructing, whether within or without, it is REAL STORIES ABOUT SOLDIERS AND WAR; the horrors of some of our ancient and modern It may be had at the Citizen office. manner subscriptions are to be be forwarded to the Society." It was an inadvertency, that the registrars were not appointed at the meeting of some months since; but we are pleased to be able to state, that a gentleman, well qualified for the duties of the office, has undertaken to fulfil it. The real reformers of the county may be expected to enrol themselves readily: only let it be distinctly remembered, that, while larger though wishing to aid the general protest against establishsubscriptions from the wealthy are desired, for all others who, ments, are not able to subscribe, the peppercorn of one penny a month is sufficient. TO CORRESPONDENTS. R. S. W. and J. Barnes, are thanked for their contributions to the GRATUITOUS DISTRIBUTION FUND. Copies of our Journal, to the amount of their contributions will be for warded as desired. An Admirer,' will best "promote our circulation," by subscribing to the Fund, and forwarding a list of persons to whom he would wish copies to be sent regularly therefrom. PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. "Tithes and Conscience," "The Sabbath School Maga zine." "The Teacher's Offering for 1844," "The Law of Primogeniture," the notices of which are in type, but we are obliged for want of space to postpone them till next month. TO OUR READERS. Two gentlemen (members of the society of Friends,) well known for their benevolence, and the warm interest they feel in the promotion of the principles of Liberty, Temperance, and Peace, are desirous we should establish a GRATUITOUS DISTRIBUTION FUND, the same as most other kindred publications. They have headed the subsince receiving their suggestion, who have readily fallen in with their idea.-Already received, £4 10s. scription liberally and we have applied to a few of our friends Subscriptions in aid of the Fund, will be received by our Printers, our Publishers, or by any of our Agents, 56 THE BAPTIST RECORD AND BIBLICAL REPOSITORY. THE conductors of this Magazine, being deterand best of our denominational periodicals, materially increased it at the commencement of the present year. "This is a periodical of higher literary and critical pretensions than have been before assumed by any journal bearing that denominational name. It bears on its title page the motto, "speaking the truth in love," and we are inclined to hope, from the spirit of some of the articles we have read, that this is fulfilled."--Congregational Magazine, Jan 1845. "Decidedly one of the ablest, cheapest, and best conducted of the religious periodicals."-Nonconformist, Feb., 1845. "We can with confidence recommend The Baptist Record to the class of individuals for whom it is specially intended, assuring them that in it they will find an able advocate for the views they entertain."-The Student, Ditto. A masterly and scholar-like publication.”—Christian Witness, March, 1845. CONTENTS OF JULY NUMBER. ADVERTIZEMENTS. BRITISH ANTI-STATE-CHURCH ASSOCIATION. M. MERLE D'AUBIGNE. Now ready, price 3d., (No. VII. of Monthly Series.) afterwards imported in larger qu under the name of Howqua's Miz excite general attention until on Pidding and Co. received the R send a supply for the use of his personal instructions to make ON THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND in the Theological School of Geneva, and Author" The Royal Howqua's Mixtur State. By M. MERLE D'AUBIGNE, Professor This Tea has since been sold u of "The History of the Reformation." Translated number of Teas of which it is co from the French, by J. M. HARE. many, all will agree that none bu are used. G. WILLSHER, 332, Agent for the West End.-Morni FULL REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS of the Protestant Dissenters' Anti-Maynooth Conference. Leld at Crosby Hall, London, May 20th and 21st, 1845; with a corrected list of the Delegates and Ministers. Edited by Mr. E. MIALL and Dr.T. PRICE. Price 6d. MINUTES OF THE FIRST ANNUAL Meeting of the Council of the British Anti-State1.-The Duty of the Church towards the Hea- Church Association, held at the Guild-hall Coffee House, on Tuesday, May 6th, 1845. Price 2d. RELIGIOUS ESTABLISHMENTS INCOM then. 2. Letters from an Absent Pastor, No. 2. 3.-German Literature-its Religious Character Fatible with the Rights of Citizenship. By Edward and Influence. THE Price One Shilling, cloth gilt, HE NATURE, CHARACTER, AND IN- By J. H. WILSON, of Birmingham. Dedicated, by permission, to DR. WARDLAW. This little work treats, in a very admirable manner, a subject whose importance is, we fear, greatly overlooked. We rejoice, therefore, that Mr. Wilson's attention has been directed to this momentous topic, and that he has handled it in a manner at once so simple, practical, and complete. We cordially recommend the work.-Baptist Record, May, 1815. London: AYLOTT & JONES, 8, Paternoster-row, to whom all communications for the Record' are to be addressed, and Advertisements forwarded; Birmingham J. SHOWELL; and all Booksellers. [One concern.] Animal Miall. Price Two-pence, STATE CHURCHES NOT CHURCHES OF Christ; being the Second Prize Essay. By Edward S. Pryce, B.A. Price Two-pence. CHURCH PATRONAGE; more particularly as developed in the so-called National Establisment of England and Wales, as also in Ireland. By Matthew Bridges, Esq. Price Two-pence. THE LAW OF CHRIST FOR MAINTAINing and Extending His Church. By the Rev. David Young, D.D., of Perth. Price Three-pence. THE CHURCH OF CHRIST-WHAT IS IT? Being the First Premium Tract, Second Edition. Price Three-Halfpence. AN ADDRESS TO DISSENTERS, ON THE Religious Bearings of the State-Church Question. Price Two-pence. The SIX ESSAYS read at the First Anti-StateChurch Conference, together with the other Proceedings, List of Executive Committee, Council, Water Cure, Dietetics, Physiology, and Agricultural Chemistry, Education, National and Social Economy, Mental and Moral Philo- SABBATH SCHOOL MAGAZINE actory, Banbury, Oxfordshire. sophy, Biblical Criticism, and Theology, the Wine Question in relation to Tectotalism and the Sacrainent, &c. THE TRUTH-SEEKER is perfectly independent in its principles, unshackled by interest or party and conducted without fear or favor. Its columns are open to all communications on the subjects of which it treats, written in a fair and philosophic spirit, whether for or against the doctrines of its conductor.. Its motto is that of M. Antoninus"I seek after TRUTH, by which no man ever yet was injured." THE TRUTH-SEEKER is sustained by the literary contributions of many eminent writers, including the author of Anti-Bacchus;' Dr. E. Johnson, author of Balbirnie;' Life, Health, and Disease;' Drs. Wilson, Gully, and other distinguished authors and physiologists. The size is that of Chambers's Journal; the price 2s. per year, paid in advance. It will go post free in any quantities, and to any address, within the United Kingdom ADVERTISEMENTS inserted at the following rates: under 50 words, 2s. 6d.; under 80, 4s. ; under 100, 58.; every 10 words additional, 3d. Circulation 3,000. AND FRIENDLY COTTAGE VISITER. TO BE CONTINUED MONTHLY. The Christian Temperance Sabbath School Magazine is published on the 1st of every month, and contains short biographical accounts of teetotallers remarkable for piety and usefulness essays on experimental and practical religion and temperance-extracts from new and scarce publications-illustrations of scripture-progress of religion-anecdotes, poetry, &c. "The getting up is neat and correct-the entire contents is good and must be useful, if duly appreciated and observed. interesting and inviting style, and will please whilst they inThe articles are not only good but are represented in a very struct."-Cornwall Temperance Journal, "We shall do our best to flood Sabbath Schools with this long-needed periodical. The circulation ought to be Ten Thousand monthly."-Long-pledged Teetotaller, London: Published by J. E. EVANS, 4, Snowhill; J. WILLIAMS, Hayle; and all Booksellers. cash for single copies, post orders for larger sums) This Tea was first imported and sold in the year DR. FRANKLIN'S DOMESTIC BE is an excellent and healthful substi Coffee, and is patronised by thousa among all classes, who testify th much better (though it is incomp thas any other beverage. It is ap and recommended by the Medical has been adopted by many large Households, and by Ship's Crews, Sold in Half-pound and Quarter at Eightpence per pound. To be prepared precisely the cleanliness, and it is of a most whoThe manufacture of this article is Agents for Northampt Messrs. WESTBROOK and ISAAC Printed by JOHN COOKE WESTBRO ISAAC, at their Office, situate in in the Parish of ALL SAINTS, of NORTHAMPTON; and publish Aylott and John Morris Jones, c noster Row, London; July 1st, 12 Glasgow; Abel Heywood and J. Gadsby Sold by Oliphant and Sons, Edinbur Showell. Birmingham: E. Goode. A MONTHLY PERIODICAL; DEVOTED TO THE ADVOCACY OF POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS, NEW SERIES, No. 8. CONTENTS. The New Conspiracy John Bull and the Income Tax Maynooth-Baptist Noel-Crosby Hall Conference... Will PAGE 57 ib. 59 Old Ben Barnes the Pauper the Liberal Party?—A Home Question 60 The Charioteer and the Foot Passenger; an Illustrative When shall we hear the last of the Queen's Visit ?- Military Outrage on Decency and Humanity. The Great Dr. Samuel Johnson a Total-Abstainer. CORRESPONDENCE-Teetotalism-Reply of 'Veritas' to Mr. Jenkinson To Our Readers To Correspondents THE NEW CONSPIRACY. 61 ib. 62 63 ib. 64 ib. ib. to sing to a very different tune. It is parliament, the people, if they do not THERE are some signs of an approach- trying, galling position! He is truly the Catholic Priesthood. This is sanctioned, too, by some of the most influential of the Tory organs. The Catholic priesthood in Ireland is becoming less and less loud in its protests against such a scheme. This, however, is not the whole of the business. It is rightly judged that the parties in parliament who advocated the late Maynooth Grant could not, in consistency with their votes and speeches on that occasion, refuse the extension of state support to any body of Christians, in this country, who should claim it. This, too, it is thought the legislature would much more readily consent to, than the severance of Church and State. But will the voluntaries accept it? True voluntaries will not. There are, however, so many professed dissenters who are not true, that it is difficult to say to what extent the temptation would succeed. Some think rather extensively. human nature and society is, the more ones. We have JOHN BULL AND THE INCOME TAX. the man to sit down quietly under his burTHE true, thorough-bred Englishman is dens, and suffer those who heap them upon at will, until he is almost crushed into the him to increase their number and weight earth. It is true that, while lying down under this mighty load, a groan or grunt will sometimes escape him; but whether it is an expression wrung from him by the nation at the treatment he receives, is uneasiness of his position, or by indignever known, as he has not been observed to rise up manfully and shake off the cumbrous load, that he may stand erect and look about him. Of what benefit is it to a nation that the Those who cannot see this, or who feel that such a law is too painful to be submitted to, must have their choice in sacrificing honour to ease and convenience. And we can almost fancy crowds of such hailing any prospect of the kind in question, somewhat in the legislature abolishes a tax that has been earnest and exultant language of Ed-heavily felt by the people, if a still heavier one is put on immediately after?-what amount of gratitude is due to our present scheming Premier for his kindness in superseding the duty on dried grapes by It may be a long time, perhaps, before The key note has but just been Dissenters may have an opportunity of struck, and already a multitude of taking their principles to such a marvoices seem ready to strike in, and of ket; but nothing is more probable than those, too, that have been accustomed that in the course of another session of 58 tent. growling too, under it. So long as there was hope, though deferred for three long heartand-pocket-sickening years, he was conBut the three years are expired, and still the Income Tax exists. Aye, there the incubus sits in its former place, uglier than ever, leering down upon him with a hideous and distorted grin; looking into his private affairs, conning his ledger, calculating his profits, citing the amount of his butcher's bill, guaging his beercasks, and peering into his wine-cellar; and every year putting its thievish hand into his pocket, and abstracting thence in nine cases out of ten, an amount which is not a portion of the surplus of his profits, but a robbery of his means. What remedy then remains to him against this iniquitous exaction? - Petitioning--which in times past has been the stronghold of the people against any flagrancies of the government-must, from its total want of success latterly, soon grow obsolete. There is no other than united and determined opposition, and refusal of payment of an impost, no less unjust in its principle than annoying in its details. No fear of consequences. Civil wars and popular anarchies are things of a forgotten date and period, long antecedent to the present time, and no evil would follow in the train of the benefit-freedom from the In come Tax. Who, like the noble Roman of old, will leap into the chasm, and dare even destruction for the good of the nation? Alas! the baseness of spirit manifested by the Premier has infused itself apparently throughout all the ramifications of moral principle in parliament, and from it unto the mass of the people; and a patriot is a being to be sought for as the philosopher of old sought for the honest man at noonday with a candle, and we fear with the same results. The current of Sir Robert Peel's talent has set in the wrong way. Our admiration of his vigour in conception, his tact in collecting materials for debate, his talents as a statesman, and his qualifications as a politician, must be whelmed in disgust at his selfishness as a man; and he now stands before us in the character of a knave, who certainly did one day appear in the garb of an honest man. The Irishman has asked for bread and the Premier has given him a stone (and to the Protestants, a veritable and indigestible flint it is,) in the shape of a grant to Maynooth! What pity is it that neither collegiate lore, nor speculative theology, nor Jesuitical maxims, will satisfy the cravings of a hungry belly, nor give relief to starved and starving thousands. If the Irishman's stomach could be filled by an appeal to his religious principles or his hunger assuaged by gratifying the vanity or ambition of his priest, the wisdom of such a grant would be obvious, but unfortunately his physical capabilities are not like the fabled ones of the chameleon, and he will not willingly MAYNOOTH. "From seeming evil still educing good."-MILTON. * many of the Dissenters joined, and in which many of them were assumed to have joined. Our legislators considred the opposition raised to the measure before them, as being substantially, an opposition raised by the Church of England aided by the Dissenters, and as consisting of the "No Popery" cry. Hence, in both Houses of Parliament it was despised and ridiculed. Earl Spencer's speech in particular may be recalled to memory. "You," said his Lordship, "you, the members of the Church of England declaim against popery as idolatry, and against all donations given to the Irish priests as a national sin of enormous magnitude; and yet you must know that the clergy of your own church attach a mysterious virtue to their ordiare constituted the lawful teachers of the churches." Such was the substance of his The Queen's ministers, being Conser-nation, and maintain stoutly that by it they vative in their politics, proposed to endow a college for the education of Roman Ca- people. That ordination, and the virtue, therefore, which resides in it, they receive tholic priests. The leading Whigs cheered through the Church of Rome; and, acthem on in their course. The people (in-cordingly if a Romish priest wish to concluding the electoral body), offered an un- form to the English church, no new ordiprecedented opposition: yet, the bill be-nation is required. Surely, there cannot came law. The measure in itself is insig-be such a wide difference between the two nificant. Its direct results scarcely deserve a thought; but its indirect consequences, are in their nature profoundly interesting; and, in their extent, incalculable. It is quite impossible that the national mind should have been agitated as it has been, without consequences great and good resulting from that agitation. The Reform Bill, the New Poor Law, the Factory Bill, the Maynooth Bill, were in truth, so many educational measures of the highest order, quickening a nation into thought, and accelerating greatly, changes, which the rights of man and the laws of God alike demand, but which the aristocracy and the church have hitherto resisted to the ut most. Strange as it may be thought, we regard this measure as having shown triumphantly by its progress and consummation, the value of enlightened public opinion, the worth of moral influence, as distinguished from that which is merely political. Sir James Graham, some time since introduced a measure for compulsory edu cation. The Nonconformists as with one voice opposed it vigorously, and it was withdrawn. During the session just expired, the government brought in the May nooth bill. The Nonconformist, as before, resisted it, and, together with them a large body of Episcopalians. Why was the stronger opposition (immensely stronger among the electors) unavailing, while the weaker succeeded? There were two reasons for this. Cne, was, undoubtedly, the state of Ireland, which presented to the government a motive for perseverance, such as did not exist in the case of the Factories bill. The other, was the utter absurdity of the opposition as it came most prominently before the legislature. The cry raised against the bill was chiefly the No Popery" cry; in which, unhappily, lordship's argument: and we believe no answer was given to it. In fact, it is unanswerable and it proves that in pretendof England (as it is improperly called) is ing to protest against Popery, the Church impotent. The two are much too closely allied for such a protest to be effective. The opposition was formidable enough in point of numbers and political power to defeat any measure which any government should care to propose; but was morally weak, and hence its failure. This is a token of good. The Honourable and Reverend Baptist Noel has put forth a pamphlet, in which he courageously declares his conviction that the Protestant establishment in Ireland must be abandoned; and, if as our statesmen with one consent declare, the only alternative be the establishment of Popery, there are surely thousands of considerate and devout Episcopalians, who will unhesitatingly adopt the same conclusion, and in that conclusion they will assuredly be joined by the Wesleyan body. Sir Robert l'eel has in truth struck the decisive blow at that establishment. Its downfall is now only a question of time. On the 20th and 21st of May, and while the measure was yet pending, a conference of Dissenters was held at Crosby Hall, London. The delegates to that conference abhorred Popery as much as Sir Culling Smith, and his allies; but they did not conceive the House of Commons or Lords the proper tribunal, before which |