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BONDS ARE BURSTING.

On the 28th of October last, while we were waiting for a sight of "The Times," and our plain dinner at Taylor's, the waiter put into our hands "The Morning Herald" of that day, a publication we do not often read. The first article which met the eye was one entitled The Real State of Ireland! Curiosity being excited, it was read; and proved to be a long letter, written by Alexander R. C. Dallas, Esq. of Wonston. He had spent some time in Limerick, Kerry, Clare, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Down, and Derry; and had also visited some of the eastern counties. He seems to have mingled with the people, and conversed with them freely; and having taken the opportunity to inquire minutely into their religious condition, he states the result, particularly as to what he conceives to be the present state of their minds with respect to Romanism.

He writes, as we think, with intelligence and candour; and as we have often maintained the same views, we are glad to cite a competent and impartial witness in support of them; more especially, as many esteemed and influential friends have sometimes thought our notions have not been confirmed by facts drawn from other sources of information than the reports of the agents of the Society.

We beg our readers to consider, with the attention which they deserve, the statements of this gentleman. The extracts we propose making now, will be pertinent to the title of this article. Other topics will be illustrated at some future times.

"The lower classes of the Irish people are at this moment in a state of mind with respect to the Roman catholic religion quite different from that willing bondage which has so long been the prominent characteristic of their adherence. It is not that they are more disposed to regard protestantism with favour, neither can it be said that they are less superstitiously influenced by what may be called the spell of Romish rites. But while such feelings still hold their power in a very great degree, the agents by whom these were formerly wielded as instruments of unresisted despotism have come to be regarded in a very different manner, so that the poor bewildered creatures seem to be in a state of much confusion of mind. The magic spell of Romanism is not broken from them, but the magicians cannot pronounce the incantations with effective power. Stations are performed at holy wells as of old; but the confession, which involves contact with the priest, is put off by every possible device. The sacred vestments are as awful as ever, but those who wear them are despised and hated.

"The result of frequent conversations with great numbers of the people in my recent tour, convinces me that this is the state of mind which predominates in Ireland, especially in the western counties. It would be easy to multiply indi vidual instances for proof, which, however, might fail of exciting the conviction produced by a comprehensive view resulting from enlarged intercourse with the people. I will, however, venture to illustrate this by one fact which occurred in the month of September last, when I was in the county of Mayo, because it evidently surprised the people themselves. The Roman catholic parish priests are paid by a levy of 2s. a year on the house of each of their flock, and by the dues which are claimed upon the various and often-repeated 'rites of the church.' These last are very exorbitant and very oppressive to an extremely poor population, whose superstition renders the acts so purchased matters of primary necessity. The parish priests receive considerable incomes by these means, out of which each pays 201. a year to a curate. The curate makes up the means of subsistence by gathering every year, after harvest, an offering of oats in kind from those who grow this grain. One sheaf is the claimed offering for the curate; but as he goes round to collect the sheaves himself, and is usually accompanied by the parish priest also, the mode of making the claim is commonly such as makes it impossible for the farmer to stint the offering, and thus a very large proportion of his little harvest is secured by his reverence. The priest and the curate of a parish in Mayo went round to collect their offerings, and, though the absolute failure of the potatoes left a sure prospect of famine to the farmers,

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mitigated only by their small crop of oats, the priests put in their claims so powerfully, that the haggard' of the curate was well filled with the collected sheaves. These were all stacked and thatched, but on the second night after, all the stacks were burnt to ashes. Such an outrage upon a priest's property was unheard of, and caused a general surprise; and though many different persons told me of the fact, only one of them seemed at all scandalised at it; all the others spoke of it with a degree of satisfaction.

"While I desire to give my testimony that this state of mind is general among the Irish, I would suggest an opinion as to some of the causes which have produced it. Two great classes of causes have acted from different quarters upon the Irishman's mind. The priests themselves have set one class in motion-their tyranny had long been felt and submitted to; but I think that the outrageous intensity of bitterness with which a large proportion of the priesthood have, for the last few years more especially, used their prerogative of cursing, has been one main means of disgusting the whole heart of the people; and thus they have. become more capable of forming a considerate judgment concerning the disgraceful immorality that marks the lives of too many of the priests, particularly in the more remote districts. Then, too, not a few priests have taxed the credulity of their blind flocks too far, while pretending to confer benefits of various kinds miraculously the failures have been so gross as to concur in awakening the dormant powers of reason. When a man, under the direction of his priest, has sprinkled holy water on the thatch of his cabin in a violent storm, expecting the wind to pay due respect to the blessing which had given such power to the water, and has found the straws scattered to the heavens in spite of the charm, he not only has recourse to bands and weights to secure his roof upon the next occasion of danger, but he becomes disposed to join his neighbours in despising the boast of the priest's power. And when the same charmed holy water has been used by the priest's own hands over the withering stalk of the potato, and yet the root yields nothing but a mass of corruption for the famished dupe, no wonder that the heart-broken man shrinks from the deceiving miracle-mongers. These things have been done-the latter in several instances, and it is not to be doubted that they have contributed something towards the breaking of the spell of priestcraft, although it is certainly true that the inveterate credulity of a large number of Romanists is proof against even this.

"But perhaps the most effectual of the causes connected with the priests themselves is the unfeeling rapacity with which the dues are drawn from those who are in the extremest poverty-not to mention the 5s. which is paid for a baptism, nor the accustomed dues for the house, extreme unction is constantly made an occasion for extortion. In the north and east, only a shilling is paid for anointing,' as it is called; but in Kerry and Clare, 7s. 6d. is required for that which is considered as essentially necessary to the salvation of a dying man's soul. So, too, the affections of the poor people have been made a source of profit in a manner which has tended to dry up the current of them. A private mass for the soul of a loved child, or parent, or wife, or husband, in purgatory, which in some parts is purchased for 2s. 6d., in other parts is refused without the payment of 20s.

"In such cases the superstitious credulity of warmly-affectioned hearts clashes with their deep, even starving, poverty, and in the collision the prestige of the priesthood is crushed. The callous craving for impossible payments has lost the priest his influence. To this has been added the effect of further exactions of money for political purposes, which the priests have almost universally pressed upon the people, under the excitement of wild hopes, which, having been always deferred, have at last made the Irish heart sick."

Our readers will need no apology for the length of the preceding extracts. We shall return to this letter, if spared next month, Meanwhile the reports of the agents will supply fresh proof of the gradual spread of truth, and the consequent decline of error and superstition, always the main props of tyranny, both

civil and religious. Mr. HAMILTON is still energetically carrying on the work at Ballina. He briefly speaks of one of his

PREACHING TOURS.

Since I wrote to you in October last I have preached in Crossmolina, Tullyglin, Mountain River, Easky, Mullifary, and

Greenaun, and also visited several of the schools. I trust many heard the word with profit.

BALLINA IMPROVES.

Our meetings in town are generally profitable, and more encouraging than they were. We have three meetings on the Lord's day, and two in the week. Formerly we had almost no congregation on the sabbath evenings, as most of our members lived in the country. But I changed the time from six to five, and several Christian friends of other denominations have become regular hearers, and a good many, who make no profession, come occasionally.

GOOD EVIDENCE OF USEFULNESS.

On week evenings several of the scholars belonging to the daily school, most of whose parents are Romanists, are beginning to come, and on Lord's day evening also. The priests are greatly afraid of our school here. Last Sunday one of them threatened to curse all who would attend. This is the case generally where the teachers are faithful; but if their hearts be not in the work, they create no alarm.

A CHILD'S USE OF A GREAT TRUTH.

One of the little girls in our school asked my daughter the other day this question :-"Does not the blood of Christ cleanse from all sin ?""Certainly," was the reply. "Is the word all in it, miss?" "Surely it is," she was told. Then," ," said the child, “we may scud off to heaven as quick as we can, for we have no call for purgatory."

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THE WORD OF GOD THE GREAT COMFORTER.

The bibles and testaments which came last were thankfully received by all who got them. Many of our Romanist neighbours are becoming acquainted with the truth. The father of a young man, to whom I gave a bible, was suddenly struck with a dangerous illness. Previous to this, his daughter had read many portions to him. When ill, he desired her to send for me, and as she was coming, I met her, as I was going that way. As soon as I came to his bed, he reached out his hand to me; the tears flowed from his eyes, and he could not speak. I spoke to him of Jesus, and besought him to look to him for pardon and remission of sins through his blood. While I was speaking he recovered himself, and sat up in bed. I read some suitable portions of the word of life to him. In a feeble voice, but with strong feeling, be

said, "I have great reason indeed, to be thankful to the Lord, who, through your Society, has afforded me the blessed opportunity of having a bible in my own house and Were it now the will of the Lord to remove one to read it for me, when you are not here. on the precious blood of Christ for salvation." me hence, I could depart, entirely relying

after giving a heart-rending account of Our excellent reader PAT. BRENNAN, the distress which prevails in his district, in Connaught, states

AN INTERESTING FACT.

With pleasure I have to say, that the poor are very willing to hear the word of life; and when I try to show them the preciousness of the bread that came down from heaven to give life unto the world, very often, with tears almost preventing speech, they cry, "Lord, evermore give us this bread."

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THE SCHOOLS YIELD THEIR FRUIT.

I found the schools well attended, although distress can be seen in the faces of the childMr. Holmes has purchased some rice to supply those who attend the school at E with one meal a day. This has brought back all the scholars. This school has been a which it is in. During the past eight years great blessing to the backward neighbourhood twelve of the scholars have been converted, left the Romish church, and eight of them are now in good situations, and are going on well.

Having expressed on former occasions a strong opinion that the almost total destruction of the potato crop will eventually produce such changes in the social habits of the people as will sensibly affect the moral condition, our readers will be glad to see this view confirmed by some of those who have laboured longest in Ireland. Mr. BATES, who is not accustomed to judge hastily or speak without a good deal of previous deliberation, thus expresses himself in a letter dated October 12:

There is much to be done yet, in every point of view, in Ireland. The extensive cultivation of the potato that has been practised, has never called forth industry or enterprise. On the contrary it has rather cherished sloth, ease, and immorality; for it could be raised with so little trouble. May we who are in the field be prepared for every good word and work! May the spirit of zeal, and faith, and prayer, be poured out upon us, that we may live to the glory of the Redeemer !

POSTSCRIPT.

WE again subjoin a list of contributions to the Relief Fund. We publish these lists with more than ordinary satisfaction. The responses to our appeals have been so ready and prompt; they are all so voluntary, and withal are accompanied with such cordial tokens of Christian principle and feeling, as to show how widely after all, their influence is felt. We have learnt, with some surprise, that doubts exist in some quarters as to whether there is much distress in Ireland. Surely the accounts of the last week must dissipate them. Hunger has driven many almost to madness. Hence the fearful crimes and outrages! But while we gladly bear testimony to the liberality of so many churches and individuals, some are lagging. What is Norwich aoing for this fund? And Manchester, Bristol, Leicester, and Liverpool partially, together with Cheltenham, Nottingham, and many other principal places, have not yet come forward. Surely it will not be long ere we have large contributions from these districts.

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Thanks to Mrs. Hopkins, of Newport, Essex, and Mrs. Cozens, of London, for parcels of clothing and tracts, which have been duly forwarded. Also to Rey C. Stovel for several copies of his lectures, &c.

Subscriptions and Donations thankfully received by the Treasurer, EDWARD SMITH, Esq., 60, Old Broad Street; Rev. J. ANGUS, and by the Secretary, Mr. FRED. TRESTRAIL, at the Mission House, Moorgate Street, London: and by the pastors of the churches throughout the Kingdom.

QUARTERLY REGISTER

OF THE

BAPTIST HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

THE well known failure of the potato crop has rendered the position of many of our agents in the agricultural districts an afflictive one. Their sympathies are constantly and painfully excited by the severe privations of some of the best of their people, whose sufferings are endured with quiet resignation, and are often unknown except by the devoted missionaries. So much of their very limited income as depends on the contributions of their hearers is rendered precarious, and in many instances reduced in amount, while the general rise in the price of provisions renders it desirable that their stipends should be increased. The committee would gladly augment the amount of their grants, but the expenditure of the society is already considerably in advance of the income. They entreat the churches while attending to appeals of acknowledged urgency from the sister country and from distant parts, not to withhold or lessen their ordinary contributions for the benefit of their own countrymen at a time when both their spiritual and temporal necessities demand the most earnest and generous consideration. A few special donations would render the committee, just now, very valuable assistance. Notwithstanding the poverty which is experienced in many of the rural districts the disposition to contribute to the cause of God has not declined. The following letter from the north of Devon will be read with interest:

Barnstaple, Nov. 3, 1846.

MY DEAR BROTHER,-We have been busily engaged in holding the meetings of our seventh anniversary, which are now completed, with the exception of those of some remote villages. Our deputation, Rev. D. Wassel of Bath, and Rev. J. Jackson of Taunton, have proved very efficient advocates of the Home and Foreign Societies. Mr. J. of course confining his advocacy mostly to the latter, being their agent. Their visit has given very extensive satisaction.

From last year's report, of which I enclose you a copy, you will see that our receipts amounted in all to £144 14s. 10d. The been ascertained. I am doubtful if they will receipts of the current year have not yet equal those of last year, for in our agricultural dis rict the failure of the potato crop seriously affects the condition of the labouring population, whose pence form the strength of our collections. We have however, reason, to believe that hold upon the minds of our people. Notwiththe subject of missions has lost none of its standing almost continuous rain, our congregations were as good as ever I have seen them in this district-in some cases better. The value of missionary services, I apprehend, is not to be estimated solely by the amount of money contributed, but also by the moral effect produced on the minds of those who attend. It is the growing feeling of attachment in our churches to the society that will ultimately tend most to its efficiency. Yours very truly,

Secretary to the North Devon Auxiliary.

WILLIAM AITCHISON.

A BAPTISTRY, ETC. WANTED.

The committee are not authorised by the constitution of the society to expend any portion of its funds in bricks and mortar, stone and stucco. They have great pleasure, however, in bringing the following interesting cases under the notice of their friends. The Secretary will cheerfully receive and forward any contributions which may be sent in answer to Mr. Hill's appeal. The church for which he pleads can only raise £30 per annum for their minister, who may be almost said to give his services gratuitously.

Eastington, Glo'ster. DEAR BRETHREN,-Having just complied, after several months' prayerful deliberation, with the unanimous and earnest request of the little baptist church in this place to become their pastor, I am requested by them to write and ask you for some help in this their time of need. They are few in number, about twentyfive members; but I can testify to their zeal for the divine glory, their deep interest for the cause of Christ, and their great concern for the salvation of souls.

K

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