scarcely be expected to exist very pure now, in the nineteenth century. But Augustine was no SOLOMON, (ED.) and that, perhaps, will be thought to account for his strange ignorance of the whole matter.

How Dr. Wiseman may have prosecuted his argument I pretend not to know. Does he profess to have discovered any peculiar marks or signs of the African recension, so as thereby to be able to ascertain whether an old Latin MS. has been originally copied in Africa, and not in Ireland, or in Italy, or in Spain? and does he undertake to shew, from these sure and certain signs, that the MS. in his possession is one of that favoured and special number? If he has actually attempted all this, I should feel highly gratified to be informed in your Magazine how the experiment has been conducted. The assertion that the African recension is older than any Greek MS. now existing, if intended as an argument for the genuineness of the disputed text, is a most absurd and silly allegation. The Latin version, used in the African churches before the time of Jerome, may have existed long before the date of any Greek MS. now in existence, but it does not therefore follow that the Santa Croce MS., supposed to derive its descent from this African recension, is consequently of greater antiquity than any Greek MS. at present existing. If remarks of this sort are to be allowed to pass for arguments, the opponents of the verse may just as well allege that the Syriac version, which never had the passage, is much older than any Latin MS. of the African recension. Nay, they may proceed at once to finish the controversy by truly alleging, that the Greek original of the New Testament is doubtless older than the oldest translation.

The reference to a Greek MS. at Venice demands a few words. It appears, then, that in certain marginal annotations in a certain Bible, which once belonged to Angelo Rocca, secretary to the congregation for the correction of the Vulgate, there is to be found inserted a statement to this effect, that the words of the disputed passage, commonly called the text of the Heavenly Witnesses, are by all means to be considered a genuine part of the sacred text; that they are cited by Athanasius, Gregory Nazianzen, Cyril, Cyprian, and Jerome, and are read in a very old Greek MS. preserved at Venice. But, before we can attach any importance to this marginal statement, we require some further assurance that the MS. referred to was really what it is declared to have been, an ancient and not a modern MS., that it contained the words in the text and not in the margin only, and that it furnished the whole of the passage and not merely a part of it. If what is affirmed of the testimony of the Greek MS. may be judged of from what is affirmed of the testimonies of the fathers, it must have been all a mistake from beginning to end. The passage, so far from being quoted against the heretics by the long list of fathers here enumerated, is quoted by none of them. The Benedictine editor, Baluze, by referring the reader for satisfaction to Father Simon, clearly indicates what he himself thought of its supposed citation in St. Cyprian. Then, as to the rest, I believe I may safely challenge your correspondent to name any one of their genuine tracts in which the passage under dispute is either cited or alluded to. Dr. Wiseman ought to

have hesitated to print such a tissue of falsehoods without adding, at the same time, a corrective to prevent the simple reader from being led to suppose that in the writings of these fathers there is forthcoming some strong evidence for the verse, whilst, as every scholar cannot but know, there is none in reality. In what the Bishop of Salisbury calls the learned defence of Dr. Hammond, the name of St. Ambrose is also added to the list of those who are falsely reported to have quoted the passage; nor can there exist a doubt that the supposed testimony of such a number of ancient vouchers in its favour remaining uncontradicted for a century or two after the age of Robert Stephens, even by the Socinians themselves, must have had great influence in obtaining for it that undisturbed possession in the Greek Vulgate, which, in despite of all want of evidence, it retains at this day. Indeed, if a fourth part of that testimony could be now produced which was thought to be forthcoming by the divines of the seventeenth century, I myself should feel inclined to admit and defend it. I have the honour to remain, &c., JOHN OXLEE. Stonegrave, March 17th, 1835.

[ERRATA IN THE LAST LETTER :-For Schottz read Scholtz; for adeibuit read adhibuit; for negligentæ read negligenter; for cabinet read web.]

GAOL CHAPLAINS.-MR. SEYMOUR, &c.

SIR, I will say nothing of the liberality of certain magistrates of Sussex, because I cannot add any thing to what you have so well observed upon that point; but I would ask, Is it wise-is it consistent with their public duty, to degrade the chaplains of their gaols? The act for the better discipline of prisons has placed these chaplains on higher ground than they formerly occupied; and, whilst it has greatly increased their labour, it has raised their office to greater importance and respectability; although its importance and utility, I conceive, are not yet fully appreciated, or generally considered. What officer connected with the administration of justice is more likely to check the progress of crime, and thereby protect the property of the community, than he whose energies are all directed to the reformation of the offenders? I would appeal then even to those who, in their estimation of public benefits, cannot raise their minds above the sordid calculation of pounds, shillings, and pence, whether the services of such a person may not, in this point of view, and independently of infinitely higher considerations, be rendered eminently beneficial to the public?

I have long had the honour of acting as chaplain of the gaol of no mean county, where the committee of visiting justices is composed of men of the highest respectability in it. By them I am particularly invited to take a place regularly at their weekly boards, and to give such information as my constant intercourse with the prisoners may enable me to offer, and freely to declare my opinion upon all questions connected with the discipline and good order of the gaol. And not only by them, but by the whole body of the magistrates, I have ever been treated with that attention, kindness, and respect, which men of

liberal education are in the habit of shewing to each other. Now, sir, what is the effect of this kind and liberal conduct? In the first place it renders an office comparatively light, which otherwise would be an intolerable burthen. For, whatever may be Mr. Seymour's surmises upon the subject, I can assure him, from long experience, that the duties of a chaplain of a gaol are at all times severe, and occasionally harassing and distressing beyond all other professional labours,so much so, that I have never been called upon to attend the wretched criminals who have been condemned to death, without having my health visibly affected, for a time, by the arduous and agitating duty. In the next place the wisdom as well as the kindness of this conduct is most evident; inasmuch as it gives me far greater influence with the prisoners, and all persons connected with the gaol, and thereby renders my services, in every way, much more efficient and useful than they could be were I treated as one held in little or no estimation, and thus degraded in the eyes of those whom I am expected to instruct and direct. Few, however, are fully aware to how large an extent the services of a chaplain may be made available to the public good. Let him, by discreet and honourable conduct, gain the confidence of the prisoners, and it is surprising how ready, nay, glad, many of them will be to communicate to him information of the highest importance to the community. And, although he is bound by honour, and by every other consideration, not to betray the person who confides in him, yet much of the information obtained will refer to others, who have no such claim upon his secrecy. Thus the chaplain becomes better acquainted than any one else with the history of crime in his district. And, although prudence will suggest to him the propriety of not suffering his name to be mixed up with the administration of justice, yet various opportunities will present themselves by which he may interpose checks to the progress of crime. I could mention cases where such checks have been interposed, and the property of no inconsiderable districts protected, to an amount which renders the chaplain's stipend of small consideration. I am almost ashamed to advert to these inferior services; because there are high and holy duties more peculiarly belonging to his office, which make them appear as nothing -duties that every charitable Christian would wish to be performed, though no advantage were derived from them but to the unhappy culprits, for whose benefit they are primarily provided. But if influential men will endeavour to thrust down the chaplains of gaols to the very lowest place in their profession, and will confine their arguments to mere pecuniary considerations, it may surely be permitted to these humble labourers in the vineyard to remind such gentlemen, that the chaplain who diligently performs his duty neither eats the public bread in idleness, nor is an unprofitable servant, but that, so far as even worldly calculations go, he gives much more than he receives.

In a field so wide and unexplored as the terra incognita of prison discipline, I should be tempted to expatiate, did not the length to which I have already extended my remarks warn me not to tire your patience. I would also suggest to the Sussex magistrates the reasonableness of

allowing some innocent or useful professional employment, moderately pursued, to refresh the tired energies and jaded spirits of one whose skill and labour are devoted to the cultivation of the most stubborn and barren soil. May not a garden of useful herbs and pleasant plants be granted to the solace of so laborious an husbandman?

A CHAPLAIN TO A COUNTY-GAOL.

SCHISMATICS.

REV. SIR, Few things seem more important to the well-being of the church, than that churchmen should understand its real position with regard to the state, to the schismatical and heretical bodies in this country, the foreign churches, &c. I have often, therefore, regretted that my want of familiarity with the writings of the fathers, and the other purer sources of Christian antiquity, prevents my being able to solve many questions connected with this subject.

I have at this moment been led into these thoughts by reading the letter of the Scottish Catholic Deacon," in your February number. Surely, Mr. Editor, the writer does not speak the doctrine of the church, when he denies the southern churches to be catholic churches! Would he maintain that there are in the world none such, save those of England, Scotland, Ireland, Sweden, and North America? Yet several of his own arguments apply to the Greek, and other churches, no less than the Latin. Does not the question deserve to be carefully sifted? If I may venture to give an opinion, the position, that there never can exist a schism between two parts of the catholic church, is one which should not be assumed, as I think it is by your correspondent. That such a state of things is lamentable and sinful, and that the labours and prayers of all Christian men should be united to put an end to it, I deeply feel; but may not the churches between which it exists be still part of the catholic church? If not, I think it will not be difficult to shew, that at some periods of history there has been no catholic church on earth. For example, the church of Antioch was divided by a disgraceful schism for very many years, in consequence of the troubles introduced by the Arians;* meanwhile the churches of Alexandria, Cyprus, and the west remained in communion with one party, those of the east recognising the other. Now, sir, the true church of Antioch (whichever it was) was denied by a large part of Christendom, which thereby, according to your correspondent, ceased to be catholic. But, moreover, the remaining churches, according to your correspondent, by communicating with these schismatics, became themselves schismatical, and therefore there were then no catholics in the world. The same might be shewn of some late periods.

I have not written this from any slight sense of the evils produced by the separations among the modern Christian churches. Alas! it is one of the worst signs of the times, that churchmen should think it a light thing that when they leave their own land, in scarcely any

• See Newman's Arians, page 388.

country are they received as brethren. The freemason is a freemason all the world over, but the churchman, living in the peace and communion of the church, crosses a river, or a sea, and finds himself recognised by none; he may be a priest, perhaps a deacon, but he is refused even lay communion, and, if a layman, he is altogether debarred (in the heart of a Christian land) from all Christian privileges. This lamentable state of things, which arose chiefly from the fault of the pope, but was in a great degree owing to the crimes of the lustful and ambitious princes who polluted the reformation, is viewed, I fear, almost with indifference, in the present day; but if it please God that the church ever" reign again as in her youth," that indifference will seem incredible. Surely it is a subject so serious, that none could blame our rulers if special days were appointed to deprecate, by fasting and prayer, the wrath of God upon us, and to seek for the restoration of peace.* I am, Rev. Sir, &c., W. D.

LITERARY INSTITUTIONS.'

SIR,-Believing, as I do, that much beneficial communication might ensue were the localities of the various literary and scientific institutions in the different counties of England published, you will perhaps allow the columns of your Magazine to be made the medium of such information. Should this notice, therefore, meet the eye of any of your readers, (and I should hope the clerical portion are all, without exception, attached to these pursuits, as a part and parcel, I may almost say, of their profession,) who can give a brief account of any such establishments, stating their peculiar features, and particularly whether they have local museums of public access annexed, with the address of the secretaries or any other superintendents, they would confer a favour if they would send you their details for insertion. PHILOSOPHIA.

PARISH SHOP.

SIR, I beg leave to send you an annual summary of a mode of administering substantial relief to about 120 of the most respectable poor persons in my own parish and neighbourhood. Of the many plans I have at various times tried, this, I can say without hesitation, is the only one that has answered in every respect, without a single drawback to cast a doubt upon its efficacy. I know that it is a more usual, may I use the term, more fashionable, mode of effecting a similar benefit, to resort to penny collections, and I was accordingly assured when I began my plan that it would never answer, that the people I proposed to benefit were either too poor or too improvident to advance their money in a single payment, and that unless I adopted the favourite penny machinery system, my labour would be lost. Now, however highly this same penny system is estimated, I cannot per

The Scottish Catholic Deacon's (now Priest's) letter in the next number will partly answer these questions.-Ed.