only true and genuine scriptures; and denouncing with the greater excommunication, any person who should dare to change the smallest particle, minimissima particula, not even to be absolved by the pope. There was infallibility enough here to make light darkness, and darkness light; and this infallibility remained during Gregory's, Urban's, and Innocent's reigns, for near three years, (short reigns they were,) until Clement VIII. was raised to the chair; but he being a pope himself, was not afraid to take the bull by the horns, and turn it over to the Index Expurgatorius, where it was quite harmless; for he boldly declared, in the face of the greater excommunication, that it was not minimissima particula (i. e. small matters) in which Sixtus' Bible was erroneous, but in two thousand principal errors, and innumerable smaller ones, which he would not mention, lest it should produce too much scandal; he condemned it, and published the present Clementine edition. So much for the infallibility of the popes; for the preservative care of the scriptures by the church that is the pillar and ground of truth; and the purity of the only genuine copy of the word of God.

I shall finish my miscellaneous matter for the present, with the following letter from a correspondent in Ireland:

"TO THE PROTESTANT.

"SIR:-Having lately read in your paper, your just conclusions as to the effects which must follow the granting of promises of pardon and indulgences, by popes and priests, to men, on the mere private acknowledgment of past crime, and a promise of future amendment, without any idea of that inward change of heart, producing heartfelt grief for, and real detestation of sin,-and those purifying influences of the Holy Spirit, inseparably connected with the scripture promises of pardon, upon the footing of what Christ has done and suffered ;-and, as facts are the best proofs of positions, I shall state, from my own knowledge, some of those effects which are the result of such pretended remittance of sins. Living some years ago in a small town in the south of Ireland, and being intimately acquainted with the parish priest, and with others, both priests and laity, of the Roman Catholic communion, I could not be unacquainted with many of their practices, and their system of worship. As some of your English readers are not acquainted with many circumstances relative to the system of popery in Ireland, it being more unfettered here than in England, I shall first give you some account of those things they call Stations for Confessing, and conclude with other miscellaneous matter.

"It was formerly the custom, at whatever house these stations were held, to require that a dinner be provided for the priest and as the host would not set the priest down by himself, it was always the practice to invite fifteen or twenty of the neighbouring farmers, and their wives, who were expected to attend at confession, and who would ask them in return. I have frequently seen purchased for these occasions, meat, several gallons of whiskey, &c., and always a bottle of wine for the priest's own drinking. This, you will say, was paying pretty well for the honour of his company: but this was not all; there was a tax of five shillings on the landlord for saying the mass, who was made to believe that a temporal and spiritual blessing would follow. Besides this, it was expected that each confessed person would pay something

for absolution. For causes best known to themselves, these dinner par ties were, of late years, changed for breakfasts; which were more convenient for the priest, as he had to return home, when these stations were held in the country, perhaps some miles, and he might not so clearly see his way. Some simple people have said, that they were changed to do away those drunken revels which always followed these dinners; but this was not the case, as the following facts will show. I lived opposite to an industrious couple of the Romish religion, the man a cooper by trade, and his was one of those houses set down in the priest's book for a station, (for the priests like to follow industry, hoping to partake more largely of those temporal blessings which may rationally be expected from it.) I had, therefore, frequent opportunities of observing the effects of station confessions at this man's house. I have seen some of the company invited come out quite intoxicated; and on asking how they could get so beastly drunk, they stammered out that they were only at a station.

"As the priest is seldom ready before twelve o'clock, these breakfasts usually commence about that time. The bill of fare is as follows: tea, a hot griddle-cake, butter, eggs, &c. &c., with decanters of whiskey, placed on the breakfast-table: and as the Irish have a great affection for the native, as they call whiskey, these decanters are frequently replenished, and the feast prolonged for the remainder of the day. It may be said that this is an unfair construction put upon the society of fifteen or twenty persons, invited to meet the priest at a station breakfast; that although some may outstep the limits of sobriety, the rest should not be charged with it; that these poor souls, for ought I knew, were, after pardon received from the priest, making pious resolutions of future. amendment-laying down plans for moralizing their relatives and acquaintances or devising how they may promote the moral and religious education of the rising generation, by the introduction of the Bible into schools, as the great and only fountain of divine revelation to man; showing him his lost estate both by nature and practice, and the necessity of coming to God for real pardon, peace, and holiness;—and that, at all events, surely their drinking bouts could not be fairly charged upon the priest. Whoever agues thus, does not know what popery is. How sure its doctrines lead to licentiousness; how cruel and intolerant are its principles; and how much opposed to every effort to promote the moral and religious education of the poor children in its communion, I shall hereafter show. Indeed, with them the proverb, that "ignorance is the mother of devotion," is held as true, and more current, than any of the proverbs of Solomon.

"But to return to the subject of the stations-the writer was present at the settlement of an account with the spirit-dealer, for the whiskey drank at but one breakfast station for confession, at his opposite neighbour's house, where the whole company, men, women, and children, could not have exceeded twenty-four persons; when the bill, admitted to be correct and paid for, was seven half gallons of whiskey, at 16s. per gallon; a liquor considerably stronger than either brandy or rum. It may be objected, that this was too particular a case to be taken for a general rule; and that the master of the house might be a very dissipated character himself, and have been too pressing with his guests. With regard to this man's general character, he passed among his neighbours

for an industrious, sober man, in general: and as to his character with the priest, I assure you that both he and his wife were in several holy orders, as they are called in Ireland. So that, taking this man's character, I am convinced that I take a standard much too high as an example of the good effects following confession stations; for were I to select those stations which are held at publicans' houses, it would far exceed what I have detailed.

"It is the practice for the priest to publish from the altar, at certain periods of the year-I believe before Christmas, and before Lent-that he will hold stations for confession at certain houses, then and there named. These houses are selected without previous liberty obtained from the owners, perhaps lest they may make objections, which many of them would most certainly do, if not thus publicly given out from the altar. The individuals thus selected make the necessary preparations, (a general bill of the fare I have already presented to your readers:) and as it has been a prevailing opinion from the time of the Jews, that the publicans (formerly tax-gatherers) were the greatest sinners, and consequently required most mending, I have observed that they are more frequently selected: nay, I have observed that those who have most business are particularly selected by the priest; it being reasonable to suppose, that the chief amongst the publicans must be chief amongst the sinners. As the liquor on these occasions is drawn from the cock, it is not so easy to calculate the expenditure; but as they ask their best customers, it would be natural to believe that the landlord is not backward in recommending his liquor, nor his guests in trying its strength, not having the usual reckoning to pay, and having previously quit scores with the priest.-As it may be alleged that the priest does not countenance these practices, I shall mention a fact. A female, invited to one of these confessional coteries, mentioned to some others how very polite the priest was at breakfast to the women, pressing the bashful ones to take whiskey in their tea. Faith,' says her husband, it was very easy to prevail on them to take it, and for him to offer what was not out of his own pocket.' The wife replied, 'You dare not tell him so at your next confession.'

Thus you may see, sir, how much the moral principle is degraded by such a system, and even by the priests; a system which holds out to its deluded followers a yearly, or half-yearly, acquittal for sin. Well may that truth, applied by our Saviour to the scribes and Pharisees, he applied to them: Ye encompass sea and land to gain one proselyte; and when ye have gained him, ye make him twofold more a child of the devil.'

"That this system is equally opposed to every attempt to promote the moral and religious education of the poor children, I shall show by the following fact. A country gentleman of my acquaintance, of landed property, often deplored the wretched state of ignorance and wickedness in which his tenants' children were brought up; and more especially the profanation of the Lord's day, by every species of mischief, plundering orchards, breaking down young trees, gambling, dancing, drinking, &c.-conceived that some good might be done if these children could be brought into a Sunday school, and kept from idleness. Accordingly, he sent and received from the Hibernian Schools Society, sets of Moral Lessons for Children; he provided a house with two

rooms; one for boys, the other for girls: and, at no inconsiderable expense, had every thing prepared for opening the school on the most liberal plan; and lest the Bible should give any offence, it was not to be introduced. Having thus prepared his plans, he desired his tenants to send their children there for two hours every Sunday morning, and the same in the evening. Sunday morning came, and about sixty of the finest open-faced children attended, all anxious to learn to read. Information of this soon reached the priest's ears. He immediately cursed from the altar every person who would presume to send a child to the school to be instructed by a heretic; and fearing this would not deter them, he declared he would not give the rites of the church to any per. son when dying, who would, after this injunction, attempt to send a child there. Thus was an establishment, calculated merely to convey moral instruction, with the knowledge of reading and spelling, broken up and although the gentleman himself waited on the priest, and assured him there was not the least wish to proselyte a single child, requesting he would personally visit the school, and begging the co-ope ration of any of his flock who would attend,-the priest was inexorable, and told him, he could not consent that Protestants should interfere with the education of his people. I could adduce many more instances of the uncongenial nature of popery, to every thing connected with the improvement of the degraded condition of the poor in that community, in this kingdom. They act on right views of the subject, no doubt; because it is impossible that the Roman Catholics, as a body, could be so priestridden, if the scale of moral and intellectual improvement were advanced. Masses are so common in Ireland, that the price of them is very cheap, considering the advantages stated to be received from them. Now, a pious son of the church can get a promise from the priest of saying as many masses for the souls of his dear relatives in purgatory, as will bring them clear and clean out, at half-a-crown each mass: for it is laid down as an invariable rule, that to make a mass efficacious, it must be paid for. Indeed, the priests are willing to say masses over the brute creation; as in cases of murrain among cattle, the rot among sheep, and the measles, &c. among pigs. I dare say you will hardly credit this; but I assure you, I knew of masses being said over a par cel of pigs who had got some distemper!

Having alluded to the orders instituted amongst the Romish laity, I shall endeavour to give you some idea of them. From amongst the most devoted to the priest, and of those most frequent at masses, stations, &c., the priest selects a certain number of both sexes, who, on payment of certain fees, and the performance of certain ceremonies, are decorated with the badges of the particular orders they are initiated into: such as the order of the virgin, (one of the highest, if not the highest,) the order of St. Bridget, of St. Francis, St. Benedict, &c. &c. These badges, or amulets, are worn inside, out of public view; and as they are first consecrated by the priest or bishop, the favourite devotee thinks him or herself placed under the immediate protection of that saint as a titular deity. These fraternities make a collection among themselves for particular masses, on these saints' days. I saw one of the rituals of one of these orders, which stated, That as nothing in heaven or in earth was so meritorious in the sight of God as the celebration of the mass, in each of which the sacrifice of Christ is as truly and really per

formed as when he died on Calvary; and as the frequent repetition of the same was recommended and enjoined to all the faithful, it seemed good to the bishop to create and appoint a certain confraternity of holy brothers and sisters, in such a place, under the patronage of such a saint,' &c. &c. next followed the rules. These fraternities are not confined at all, or prevented from carrying on their trades and several callings. But although the above is stated to be the ostensible cause for forming these fraternities, yet there are private rules and instructions given to them, by which they are bound to be under the immediate direction, and in strict obedience to the priest; to inform him of every thing done in his parish, which affects himself or the Roman Catholic cause; and, in general, to be the talebearers of the parish. They thus act as so many emissaries or spies, and are a great restraint on the people. Wo betide the person who dare speak disrespectfully of the priest, even if he should deserve it; or who attempts to read the Bible, or to eat meat on a fish-day, (but he may get drunk as often as he pleases, without any reprimand.) The account is brought in triumph by one of these his emissaries, and the party accused immediately cited, and condemned to pay a fine, and undergo a heavy penance; which if he should refuse, he is threatened with excommunication, and the thunders of the church. I never knew an instance of resistance to such penance by the poorer sort, although I have amongst some few of the rich and more independent; and I have observed, that, in the latter cases, the priest did not follow up his threat.

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"But this is not all the service required from these confraternities. They are required to offer themselves to attend the sick Protestants, and the poorer classes particularly. If their services be received, they are directed to try every persuasive: first, by seeming compassion for their souls; and, if that is not strong enough, then, by promises of temporal assistance; next, by endeavours to frighten them by frightful tales of apparitions, visions, &c. &c., of the damned spirits of Protestants, or the revelations of saints, particularly the virgin. In the meanwhile, the priest's housekeeper is seen frequently calling to know how the patient is, and bringing tea, whey, &c.; although, if the patient prove finally obstinate in refusing the priest's assistance, he may starve for him. The consequence is, as you may suppose, that, in many cases, they thus succeed, and then trumpet their success through the different parishes. Many other causes contribute to their success; times the want of a resident clergyman of the church of England; and the natural bias of the unregenerate mind to lean to popery, on the opinion that good works, with a little assistance, will help them into heaven. The Papist even dares to tell them, that though men may live Protestants, they wish to die Papists. Thus, they sometimes prevail by assiduity, affected kindness, and constant application, with the poor dying patient, who often does not know the principles of the new religion he is introduced into, and when his strength, and often his faculties, are exhausted. I shall now give you one example out of many. A poor Protestant, in the above town, was dying; his daughter having previously married a Papist, and turned to mass, exhorted, and pressed, and entreated him to have the priest sent for, but all to no purpose. His Bible was then taken from him, as that was supposed a hinderance. Next, his own daughter took the bed her poor dying father was lying