"

true pleasure has no enjoyment, and saith the Lord, "To this man will I where peace never dwelt: for if we look, even to him that is poor and of a call to mind the fate of kings and contrite spirit, and that trembleth at princes in all ages of the world, we my word." And again, for the consolashall find that they have been loaded tion of those who feel the hand of powith the greatest sorrows, and subject verty, the psalmist declares," The needy to the worst misfortunes. Sardana- shall not always be forgotten, the expalus burnt himself with all his trea-pectation of the poor shall not perish sures in his palace. Nebuchadnezzar for ever.' Thus honour, and wealth, believed himself to be a mere beast and power, and riches, are less than of the field, and Manasseh was fet- nothing, when put in comparison with tered with chains, and carried in cap- poverty, religion, and peace. tivity to Babylon. Generally, the greatest heroes have fallen victims to the most miserable deaths, and they who have been most fortunate in their enterprises, have left behind them nothing but a name-a perishable garland-and a fading wreath. Time, the silent destroyer of all things earthly, undermines the towering hopes of men, and disappoints the expectations of the ambitious; shewing to the world, at once, the weakness of power, and the fallacy of worldly honours. Thus it is, that he at whose name

Where then is Happiness to be found? Does she dwell in the more retired scenes of life? In the humble cottage, and in the peaceful hamlet? It was the confession of Sir John Mason, when upon his death-bed, that could he live over his years again, he would exchange the court for a cloister, and all his honours for a hermit's retirement. The world is a sphere of action, wherein the good and the bad alike play their parts; wherein merit is oftentimes neglected, and ignorance preferred. That man whose temper leads him to the bustle of a city, may feel no enjoyment in a landscape, be it ever so lovely; and reap no pleasure from a retreat, be it ever so fair. But to him who hath suffered in the world,-who hath pass,"ed through a series of trials, and felt

the world grew pale, Now points a moral and adorns a tale. Does Happiness consist in riches? When a person once said to Menedemus, that it was an excellent thing to have whatever we desire,-" Ah,' replied he," but it is a much greater The hand of ruin on his brow, happiness to desire nothing but what retirement presents the only consolawe have." It was this indifference to tion. It is there he learns to despise riches, that induced Socrates to de- those attractions that mislead the unclare, that he was the happiest who wary, to meditate on the transient exhad the fewest wants. Riches in them- istence of all things, and to smile in selves, are like the "Dead Sea fruits," undisturbed repose at the world's inbeautiful in their appearance, but dignities. But retirement may somewhich "turn to ashes on the lips." times be enjoyed in the most crowded Hence, Cicero regarded them with cities: hence, Des Cartes says, that contempt, and Milton called them "the he could walk in the streets of Amstertoil of fools." If poverty hath evils, dam, in as much seclusion as in the riches have many more, and it is often green fields around his country resitoo late when we discover that a great dence. A partial retirement, however, fortune is a great burden. To be poor discovers a love of society, and sois the lot of many, and to be rich the ciety engenders a wish for retirement. fate of comparatively few; but in what The union of those feelings produces does true riches consist? in outward that which acts against melancholy. magnificence-in houses-in gardens The man who retires from active life, -in palaces, or in kingdoms? No, and delights in the works of creation, but rather in possessing that hope, feels more real satisfaction than any blooming with immortality, and in other, and though small be his compegaining an habitation in that house tency, yet he is at rest from the evils "not made with hands, eternal in the of time, only fitting his days for eterheavens." The wealth of this world nity, having no care but the extension has no attractions for one whose views of good, and no pleasure but that of are not bounded by this earthly dwell-seeing his prayers successful. Dwelling, and cannot be regarded by him ing in the sunshine of perpetual happiwho looks beyond the grave. What ness, he looks unmoved on the events

by prevailing on their parents to let really sorry that I cannot see any sahim dedicate them to the one living tisfactory proofs, even in his own stateand true God, by baptism, as the ments, that popery is so far regeneJews had dedicated theirs by circum-rated, so far purged from its atrocious cision, and by putting them under the protection of some reputable Sponsors."

Reply, by Omega, to the Animadversions of "A Member of the Established Church," inserted Col. 425, on Omega's former Essay respecting the Catholic Claims.

and blood-stained crimes, that it is become the duty of the British Government to admit its professors into the bosom of the Constitution; that Constitution which woeful experience taught our ancestors to frame upon the principle of the exclusion of these very people and their religion from all share in the formation and administration of the laws, and from all stations of honour, power, and influence, in the church and state, in the army and navy.

It would be a libel upon the wisdom and piety of our ancestors, to dispute the grounds upon which that exclusion was founded; or to call in question the absolute propriety of its adoption. But were even this to be done, it would find a complete and satisfactory answer, in the civil and political tranquillity, and religious toleration, which the British dominions have enjoyed since the expulsion of popery from the councils and government of the nation; compared with the political feuds, and religious persecutions, which marked, in bloody characters, the calamitous reign of that religion in Britain.

the struggles of popery to recover its power and authority in these realms.* Blood marks every footstep of its progress; while desolation and misery tread upon its heels!

Let it be remarked, that the only important deviations from this state of harmony and tranquillity which have occurred in the British Islands, since its happy and providential exSIR,-Your correspondent at St. Aus-pulsion, have resulted exclusively from tell, who subscribes himself " A Member of the Established Church," has furnished you with some observations on the subject of what is termed the Catholic Claims, in reply to my letter on the same subject, which appeared in your Magazine for February last, under the signature of Omega. I certainly admire the spirit in which this gentleman writes, and the principle which appears to have dictated his letter. I have no doubt that he is a genuine philanthropist, and his charity induces him to believe and hope the best of every one. I am sure he must possess all the cardinal Christian virtues, of faith, hope, and charity, in a very abundant degree, as nothing else could either qualify or incline him to become the apologist of Popery, and the advocate of Papists. But, although I admire his principle, I cannot agree with him in its application. I am

Your correspondent indeed cannot entirely resist the evidence of those historical facts, which exhibit the civil and religious principles of his present clients, as of too atrocious a nature to justify their admission into a Protestant state, and as being incompatible with its peace and safety; but he has persuaded himself, and would fain persuade the whole nation, that the present race of papists are grossly slandered and insulted, by the imputation of such principles and such con

1688, and 1798: and those of Scotland, for the restoration of Popery in the persons and go vernment of the Stuarts, in 1715, and 1745

* Witness the Irish Rebellions of 1641,

past! Just as though a notorious murderer, when receiving sentence of death from his judge, was to exclaim, with characteristic impudence,—“ My Lord, I suspect there are several people in court, who have been occasionally guilty of crimes for which they are not punished-I therefore cannot be so guilty as you seem to think I am; and I assure you, it is quite unjust to hang me; I beg, nay, I insist, that you will restore me to my former rank in society!"

duct to them, as are on record in the faithful page of history, respecting their forefathers. He ascribes our hostility against popery, to the mere effects of prejudice, and the improper and unjust association of its crimes with its religion; from impressions received in the nursery, and which the reason and judgment of our maturer years have not been able to obliterate. And he insinuates, that so far are these prejudices from being well founded, that popery has in fact lately grown very good; that its nature is so But he proceeds, "The atrocious far changed, that its professors are sud-principles, with which they have been denly fallen in love with Protestant states and governments; and consequently have a fair claim upon a share of the loaves and fishes ;" and, " ab- | stractedly, an indefeasible right to participate in all the privileges, the power, influence, and emoluments, of the state of which they are subjects, although a Protestant state."

The paucity of the proofs, and the imbecility of the arguments, which your correspondent adduces in support of this supposed regeneration of popery, lead me to suspect, that it exists only in his own imagination; and is the mere creature of his benevolent and unsuspicious heart. It would be a pity to see such a man fostering a serpent in his bosom, although in a delirium of charity he might imagine it was a dove! Let us therefore examine some of his arguments, and briefly reply to them.

Your correspondent commences his defence of Popery, by asserting that "there are certain dogmas in the Creeds and Articles of most of the different denominations of Christians, that are irreconcileable with, and repugnant to, Christian charity." I presume the object of this assertion is, that inasmuch as the corruptions of Popery are too glaring to be concealed, and too atrocious to be cured, the only chance it can have of ranking with other Christian denominations, is by endeavouring to assimilate them as much as possible to it. For it seems to be a maxim with your correspondent, that the more corruption can be discovered in any Christian church, the more it resembles the church of Rome: and this appears to be his first, and indeed his best, apology for the horrible crimes with which Popery stands charged and convicted, in the annals of Europe, for ten or twelve centuries

charged, are disclaimed by all classes of that community;" and hence he concludes they have, in fact, no more practical existence among them, than among any other body of Christians! Dear, innocent creatures! Not a soul among them would tell a lie for the world! Only let them exculpate themselves, and every man and woman of them is as immaculate as the Virgin Mary! Sure every body knows that Ireland was a land of Saints, till the heresy of Protestantism sprang up in it: and though oceans of blood were shed by the Holy Mother Church, to purge away the guilt of this pollution, yet it remains to the present day. Sir, let me tell your correspondent, what appears to be a secret to him, and perhaps even he may yet learn, without the demonstration of a pike in his heart, how much faith is due to the exculpatory declarations and oaths of Papists.

Prior to the Irish rebellion in 1798, all classes of Papists flocked to the Quarter Sessions, and to individual magistrates, with anxious solicitude, to take the oath of allegiance to the king, and to have their names enrolled among his Majesty's most loyal and faithful subjects. I myself, holding an official situation, administered the oath to many hundreds. A few months, however, developed the real source of this superabundant loyalty; the plan of the rebellion was laid, and it was necessary to mask the first operations with the oath of allegiance! But no sooner was the rebellion actually commenced, than every man among them, who could procure a pike or a musket, hastened to join the standard, and give a practical and decisive proof how conscientiously they kept faith with heretics! If twenty or thirty of these fellows had been

taken into custody after the rebellion | of God, and the wisdom and power of the British government, continue to restrain it, and preserve us from its operation! It is to these alone, we are indebted for our present tranquillity and safety.

He

was providentially subdued, and put on their trial for high treason and perjury; according to your correspondent's plan, it would only be necessary to leave the question of their guilt or innocence to their own decla- One fact stated by me, is controrations! If these pious and immacu-verted by your correspondent. late worshippers of the Virgin's images, only condescended to "disclaim" all connection with "the atrocious principles and practices they were charged with," we must in all conscience acquit them; and by way of apology for the slanderous accusation, make them members of parliament, and of the privy council, and give them the command of our fleets and armies!Excellent reasoning, admirable law, consummate policy! Glorious plan to consolidate the energies, and unite the interests, of the British Empire!

alleges that the obnoxious clause in the oath taken by the Popish Bishops at their consecration, which binds them to “do their utmost to persecute and destroy all heretics, schismatics, and rebels against our Lord the Pope," was expunged by Pius the Sixth, in 1792. I am not prepared to disprove this statement; it may be true or false, for any thing I know positively concerning it. If true, it shews at least the conviction which rested upon the mind of the Pope, and the holy conclave, that the light which then began to dawn upon Europe, and parBut your correspondent will proba- ticularly on France, would not fail to bly accuse me also of a total want of detect and expose to public execrathat Christian charity, so strongly tion, so horrible a display of popish inculcated in the sacred writings," in zeal and popish charity. Hence, sound thus charging the Irish Papists with policy would naturally suggest the proadding perjury to rebellion. Perjury! priety of omitting those diabolical what, incurred by swearing upon a words, in the sacred oath of a prelate heretic Bible? O no, that can be no of the religion which had assumed the perjury to a Catholic. And what if it name of Christian; and which professwas? Sure the price of absolution ed to have emanated from the founfrom real perjury is not above a five- tain of all goodness and love. A judipenny piece; or may be only two- cial obligation taken by a dignitary of pence to a poor man! But if incurred the religion of the meek and lowly by breach of faith with a heretic, and Jesus, to spread havoc and desoladone for the good of the Church," tion among mankind, however congeinstead of incurring a penalty, he nial it might be to the principles of might safely plead the merit of the the Holy See, and conformable to its action, as a cover for many a lesser actual practice, was nevertheless too crime! Alas, how little does your glaring a display of internal atrocity, correspondent know of the deplorable to be submitted to the public eye at ignorance, subjection, and moral tur- such a critical period; when the enthupitude, of the Irish Papist! To this siastic spirit of liberty, manifested in ignorance alone, he owes his exculpa- the revolution of France, threatened tion from the charge of being an destruction to all tyrants and all tyenemy to his country, in thus labour-ranny, whether temporal or spiritual, on ing to procure them political power and influence in the British dominions.

the face of the globe. This spiritual Shylock was therefore compelled, most reluctantly, pro forma, to renounce his That their" atrocious principles claim on the pound of human flesh; but have no practical existence among did the carnivorous monster divest himthem" at present, that is, that they self of his appetite for it? Was the naare not at this moment dragging usture of the beast at all changed, by to the inquisition, to the torture, and withdrawing the clause, if it actually the stake, I readily grant; but my was withdrawn? For an answer to this conscience will not allow me to ascribe question, let your pious and charitable this to the absence of the principle, | correspondent search the records or which I well know exists in full force, 1798. Let him investigate the transand wants only the opportunity of exertion. Long may the providence No. 21.-VOL. II.

*Revelation xvii. 3.

3 M