was conscious of the folly of the work she was engaged in. Midway between Ballina and Killala is the fine Abbey of Moyne, which I visited; the steeple is perfect, and the arches and cloisters are in good order; the tombstones have been wantonly broken by some mischievous persons, but in future no injury can occur, as the Abbey is closed up, and under the care of a person, by the order of Mr. Jones the present proprietor. My guide was communicative; he told me a Mr. R. lived in part of the Abbey about forty years ago, and kept hounds near it, but that he had no luck in it for his senses went astray on him. He ordered his body to be buried near the cloisters over a stream that runs through the Abbey, and the guide pointed out his tomb in that particular spot. A tombstone over the remains of a Mr. B. stands erect against the steeple. This poor gentleman,' said my guide, 'met with a sudden death.' What was that?' said I.He was hung, your honor, the time of the French, whose part he took, thinking they would conquer the English. His brother was the Catholic Bishop, and he, Lord rest his soul, lies beside him, just there, your honor. Oh! they were cruel times in the year ninety-eight. See all the fine tomb-stones smashed in smiddereens there; 'twas the Prince of Wales did all that, your honor.' "How so, friend, I never heard that his Royal Highness was in Ireland at that period.' 'Oh, your honor, 'twas his rigiment, "the Prince Wales Fencibles," and they were quartered at Killala at that time, and it was them that smashed all the tomb-stones here, just like Cromwell's army long ago. May be your honour would come up top of the steeple, it has 180 steps in it.' I agreed to do so, and had a very extensive view from the tower. On the top I met a person very well dressed; one of the peasantry was with him; he was abusing the countryman for having broken a bottle of whiskey by' accident, which this gentleman had taken up with him, by way, I suppose, of making his head steady in this ticklish place. Poor Paddy was in a great fright and sure he never put a finger to the bottle, but that he saw it of itself give a jump, and dash itself against the steeple and no wonder it should, said he, for it was an undeacent thing to bring to so blessed a place !-Sure one might drink enough before or after one visits here! if, cried he, I got the world I culdn't taste a sup of whiskey in the presence of all them sculls, God be merciful to their souls! Upon saying so much, Paddy hastened down the steps lest the gentleman might have been tempted to have sent him by a shorter way. Next day was Ladyday, the finest day that came for a month before, and although the hay and turf demanded all hands to work ; the whole country presented one scene of idleness: upon remonstrating with a man I saw idling, he observed," this is a blessed day, our Lady's-day, and we know better than to work on it," The next day was one continued pour of rain, and all were forced to be idle, a bad return made by the Lady for all the compliments paid her the preceding. It was remarkable that at all the patterns held over the country on Lady-day, the usual fighting between clans was not to be seen. At Tubbermurry, county Roscommon, where sculls were broken without number by the Carneys and the O'Flannigans at the pattern of last year, all was peace and harmony. Such is the present organization among the peasantrysuch the influence of the great leader, O'Connell. I had some other things to notice, but fearing I have tresspassed too much upon your patience I shall conclu e. OBITUARY. DIED. At Richmond-place, on the 29th of July, Elizabeth, the wife of the Rev. William Faussett. In her, were exemplified the advantages of early piety. Brought acquainted in her youth with the excellency of her Redeemer, she was enabled, throughout a trying course, to manifest with uncompromising firmness, tempered with the meekness and gentle ness of Christ, the practical influence of the religion of Jesus. The details of domestic and social life furnished in her case, an expressive commentary upon the apostolic precept, "That ye study to be quiet, and do your own business." The sacred volume was indeed her constant companion. "The word of Christ dwelt in her richly." Though her path was chequered with many afflictions, she "went up through the wilderness, leaning on her Beloved." To the last, she had found peace in the blessed truth, that "Jesus had put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." Fellowship with God, and with his Son Jesus Christ, cheered and sustained her, turned "the shadow of death" into the dawn of an everlasting day, and administered to her departing spirit, an abundant entrance into the Kingdom of her Lord. VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS. Since we last went to press, no material change has taken place in our foreign relations: Portugal continues in the same state, awaiting the Brazilian declaration; but in the mean time has placed Madeira under a blockade, which is not, of course, respected by our cruisers. The violence of the wretched tool of bigotry, who calls himself king, will probably provoke our Government to take a decided part, as some British subjects have been seized by his agents, and thrown into prison, and notwithstanding the representations of the proper authorities still detained. No very certain information has transpired from the seat of war between Russia and Turkey; but the former seems to be making gradual and steady advances on the territories of the Porte. The plague is said to have checked their progress more effectually than the Turkish arms. Much of the public interest is indeed absorbed in the consideration of the state of Ireland; and in truth we do not remember to have ever known even this our country in a situation calling for more prompt or more prudent measures. It is not that the parties dividing Ireland, are in a state of active hostility; awful as such a situation would be, the remedy would be obvious, but the present excitement has deepened into the most decided hostility, and there is a fearful pause of expectation at this moment, that instead of promising tranquility, looks, in truth, more like the forerunner of a storm. The state of unchecked licentiousness in which the self-constituted Catholic Association were permitted to revel, by (we will say) the mistaken policy of Government, has produced the douhle effect of giving organization and confidence to their friends, and producing a counteraction and excitement on the opposite side. The expiration of the restraining act, has permitted the Orangemen to reorganize themselves in great numbers, while the triumphant exultation of the Association ora tors, who abviously ascribe the quiescence of Government to fear, has roused even the most moderate Protestant to a feeling of indignation, not unmingled in the minds of many, with a fear of the ultimate consequences. An order of the Lord Lieutenant, that seemed preliminary to the disarming of the Yeomanry, and a speech of the Member for Derry, at a recent meeting in that city have contributed not a little to this. This gentleman, hitherto conspicuous for carrying Orange principles to a violence that was objectionable even to his own party, took the opportunity of reading his recantation, grounded on the frightful state of Ireland, and the absolute power possessed by the Association; and no measure seemed to him to be likely to meet these evils but Emancipation. These sentiments, which were doubtless sincere, coming from a Minister of the Crown, and a near connection of Mr. Peel's, and grounded as they were on circumstances which every friend of Ireland had long since lamented and pointed out, served to irritate the Protestant population exceedingly. The situation of our Cabinet is certainly one of great difficulty; and the strange and hesitating manner in which Ireland has been governed, the absurd and dishonest expedient of playing off one faction against another, have produced that bitter harvest our governors are now reaping. We trust much to the firmness and good sense of our Premier-but much more to the goodness of Him from whom "counsellors learn wisdom," and we hesitate not to say, that it is not the artifices or violence of our enemies that we dread, but the absence of true Protestant and Christian principle in our nominal friends. While we see a spirit of indifference and carelessness pervade all ranks, a want of that serious and scriptural feeling on the subject of religion that is so necessary in the present times, and even those who take an active lead in works of piety, proving by their conduct that motives less pure than the love of God and his people actuate them, we do fear for our Zion. Oh, let those who feel the importance of Scriptural religion, oppose themselves to this spurious admixture; let them pray that wisdom may be given to our rulers, and sobriety to our people, certain that our Church can only be subverted by the worldly-mindedness of those who call themselves her children. POETRY. RETROSPECTIONS. (By the Author of "The Lough Dearg Pilgrim," &c.) And the winter storm on bleak Slieu-gorm Had its awful beauty too; I've since view'd many a fairer scene, But none so dear to view. Can I forget how the sun would set On the brow of dark Culmore ? Like Hope when shed round the Christian's head, When his warfare here is o'er; I may see many a setting sun, But I'll see thine no more. When day's first light had banish'd night, Like a monster to his cave, And the breeze of spring tried his young wing Upon the morning wave; Alas! the joy which then I felt No other prospect gave! When the early smoke from the cottage broke, So tapering and so fair; And Zephyr play'd as half afraid, Around it in the air; 'Twas sweet to see them wantoning In graceful beauty there. As the white low mist the meadows kiss'd, In the summer twilight's glow, And the otter splash'd, and the wild-duck dash'd In the sedgy lake below; 'Twas sweet to hear the silver bell From the flocks on high Dunroe. From the rail's hoarse throat the ceaseless note, Would flit now far, now nigh, And the quavering hum of the snipe would come Quick shooting from the sky, Whilst the lovely beam of the evening star Shone to the raptur'd eye. Oh! memory brings a thousand things, Which care cannot controul; The scented heath, and the orchard's breath, And the strains which often stole At eve, from lips that made them dear To my impassion'd soul. When the morning ray of the Sabbath day, Fell on my slumbering eye, And a stream more bright of heavenly light, Spread round a holy joy, Oh! the worship of the warbling fields, And as the bell, whose distant swell With measur'd sweep, came slow and deep, 'Twas sweet to join the village train Oh! Lumford's glen was lovely, when In youthful joy I stood, And tried to call back echo's fall As it died on solitude; Or on Knockmany's peaceful top Repos'd in thoughtful mood: Then the moon would rise in cloudless skies, Of shadowy light o'er the brow of night, I then would turn to Logan's burn, Beneath the rays of the same light plays; Now by the Rath I find my path, Why is each tree so lov'd by me Each early scene so dear? The birds that sung when I was young Still sweetest in my ear? And why, as fancy brings them back, Now falls the pensive tear? Ah! man is wrong,-'tis not among Our native hills and plains The magic lies, which turns our eyes Back to their dear domains; 'Tis what we were, ere passions strong In darker years, when sin appears Where'er we turn, alas, we mourn Life was more peaceful, happy, free, Because less guilty then. And if so dear the memory here Of scenes so dark and dim, How full must be our joy, to see Th' eternal fields of Him Who with Jehovah fix'd his throne, Betwixt the Cherubim ! 'Tis there on high the Christian's eye, By faith, should always turn, On wing of prayer unceasing, there His spirit should be borne; There lie those scenes which, once beheld, No heart will ever mourn. WILTON. ON THE UNCONDITIONAL FREENESS OF THE GOSPEL. THE SEPTUAGINT QUOTED IN THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE MISCELLANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS. ON THE ISRAELITISH DESCENT OF THE IRISH AND SCOTCH (continued) Page 235 244 252 256 259 261 262 271 290 300 303 FOREIGN RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.. INDIA. Serampore-Dr. Marsham's Account of the Providential manner in which the Scriptures have been introduced into it.-Ava-Nature and extent of Budhuism. PRUSSIA-Important Intelligence concerning the Jews. AMERICA-Letter from Mr. Luke Matthews-Favourable disposition of the Public Authorities to the reading of the Bible by the People. DOMESTIC RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.. Dublin Sunday School Union-Irish Society-Wicklow Bible MeetingReformation Meeting-Limerick Branch of the Hibernian Bible Society-Extracts of Private Letters from Waterford and Carlow-Establishment of the Stations of the Cross in Phibsborough ChapelShropshire Auxiliary to the Sunday School Society for Ireland, ECCLESIASTICAL INTELLIGENCE.. VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS... POETRY BISHOP HEBER'S FIRST HYMN FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT, 306 311 ib, 312 WILLIAM CURRY, JUN. AND CO. DUBLIN, AND HAMILTON, ADAMS, AND CO. LONDON: SOLD ALSO BY ALL THE BOOKSELLERS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, Printed by Bentham and Hardy. |