of great moment, and I must confess that in those church schools where the clergymen or other managers confine their spiritual instruction to the delivering of lectures and expository addresses, however excellent they may be, without eliciting from the children what they really know, a most grievous deficiency of practical religion-nay, I may say, of true evangelical knowledge, was forced upon my notice. Amidst much pro

fession of seriousness, there was a great want of attention to those common principles and rudiments of Christian knowledge, without which no solid edification can be expected. I was shocked to find that in one school, governed by a gentleman who is regarded, and justly, as most pious, not one of the chil dren could repeat the church catechism, while, on the other hand, they were directed, during the mumbling (I cannot call it the reading) of their morning prayers, to shut their eyes, as a mark of devotion. They who are acquainted with the books (see below) which are read in dissenting schools may estimate the nature of religious instruction there inculcated. Great attention is, however, in general paid to personal viva voce explanations and exhortations; and the ministers are especially assiduous in their weekly, or more frequent examinations. In the Unitarian schools I discerned a great anxiety after popular attainments, and to take advantage of customary prepossessions. I said in one, "Do the children learn any religious instruction by heart?" "Yes." "What?" "The catechism, and other books." Will you shew me the catechism." One was brought; the impression had been given to me, that it was our beloved church catechism, but it was-“ A catechism—of the Lord's Prayer." The professedly Roman catholic schools are diligently superintended; but those of "all-denominations" are left too much to the caprice of masters, who are not controlled by any known religious principles.

The attendance on Sunday is most strictly enforced in all the sectarian schools. I should think one-half of the children who are expelled by the methodists, are sent away on account of not attending on the Sabbath day.

Very few of the church schools have gratuitous teachers; but the dissenters have great numbers of adult teachers on Sundays.

(To be continued.)

WILLIAM R.

IRISH ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSION.

William IV., by the grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, &c., to the Most Rev. Father in God, our right trusty and right entirely beloved Councillor, Richard, Archbishop of Cashel, the Right Rev. Fathers in God, Richard, Bishop of Derry, Edmund, Bishop of Killaloe and Kilfenora, and Charles, Bishop of Kildare, and to our trusty and well-beloved Francis Sadlier, Doctor in Divinity, and John Caillard Erck, Doctor of Laws, greeting:

Whereas, by an Act passed in the last session of Parliament, entitled “An Act to alter and amend the law relating to the Temporalities of the Church of Ireland," it is among other things enacted, "That the Lord Primate of all Ireland, the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, being a member of the United Church of England and Ireland, the Lord Archbishop of Dublin, the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, being a Member of the United Church of England and Ireland, all now and hereafter for the time being; and also such four of the archbishops, and bishops of Ireland as shall be appointed from time to time by His Majesty in Council for the time being, by warrant under the sign manual, together with three proper or discreet persons, being members of the United Church of England and Ireland, two of whom to be appointed from to time by His Majesty in Council, by warrant under the sign manual, and the other to be

appointed from time to time by the said Lord Primate and Lord Archbishop of Dublin for the time being, by writing under their respective hands and seals, shall be one body politic and corporate by the name of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for Ireland."

Now, know ye that we, reposing especial trust and confidence in your knowledge, discretion, and ability, do hereby, with the advice of our Privy Council, and in pursuance of the provisions of the said recited Act, appoint you the said Richard, Archbishop of Cashel, Richard, Bishop of Derry, Edmund, Bishop of Killaloe and Kilfenora, Charles, Bishop of Kildare, Francis Sadlier, and John Caillard Erck, to be the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for Ireland, with all rights, powers, and privileges thereunto belonging or appertaining. Given at our Palace at St. James's, this 11th day of September, in the fourth year of our reign.

By His Majesty's command,

MELBOURNE.

POOR-LAWS COMMISSION.

The following circular has been sent to the different Governors of Houses of Correction, throughout the country :

Poor-Law-Commission Office, London, 9th August, 1833.

SIR, I am directed by His Majesty's Commissioners for inquiring into the Practical Operation of the Poor Laws to transmit to you the enclosed paper of queries relative to Vagrants who are or have been in your custody; and to request that you will return the same, with answers to the several queries therein contained, at your earliest convenience; stating at the same time the name and address of the individual at. . . . . . . . .... from whom you consider that the Commissioners are likely to obtain the best information as to the conduct and treatment of the Trampers or Travellers who wander about the Country upon the plea of seeking for work.

I am to add, that it appears to the commissioners to be desirable that you should bring under the notice of the Visiting Justices your answers to the set of questions; and that you should intimate to those Gentlemen that the Commissioners will feel obliged by any suggestions or remarks which any of their worships may be induced to offer upon the subject of Vagrancy generally, with a view to the amendment of the law or the practice in respect thereof.

I am, Sir, your very obedient servant,

Governor of the House of Correction, at

QUESTIONS.

JOHN REVANS, Secretary.

1. What number of Vagrants were committed to your custody in each of the years 1826, 1829, and 1832 ?

2. What number was passed by the Visiting Justices under the provisions of the 5th Geo. IV. cap. 85, in each year?

3. What was the expence of Milage authorized by such Justices' Passes to be incurred in each year?

4. What proportion of the Passes was returned to you in each year at the expiration of the Journeys to be performed by the persons passed?

5. For what number of days was the largest proportion of these Vagrants sentenced to be confined in each year?

6. What proportion did the Vagrants bear to the whole number of prisoners in your charge during each year?

7. What is the estimated weekly expence incurred for each Vagant in your custody?

8. What is the "Labour" to which the Vagrants in your custody-men, women, and children, respectively-arc subject?

9. What do you consider to be generally the effect produced upon them by their punishment; judging from their conduct while in custody, the number of recommittals, and any other circumstances which may lead you to form an opinion upon the subject?

10. What proportion of the whole number whom you receive have you reason to believe owe their committal to the pressure of want, produced by unavoidable circumstances, and not to indolent or vicious habits?

11. What number are now in your custody under the ages of 20 and 40, and above 40, respectively; and what proportion of each class can read or write?

THE following important resolution of the clergy of Lismore diocese conveys a strong protest against the late act for the extinction of nearly one-half of the protestant bishoprics of Ireland. It most probably will be followed up by similar declarations from the clergy of the other dioceses which have been victims of whig innovations and the perjured hostility of popish legislators. 34 of the Lismore clergy have been parties to the subjoined resolution :— "At a meeting of the clergy of the diocese of Lismore, held at Lismore, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 1833; the archdeacon in the chair

Resolved,-We, the undersigned clergy of the diocese of Lismore, whilst submitting to the provisions of an act which has lately passed the legislature for the regulation of the church of Ireland, fearing lest our silence might be construed into approval of that measure, take this first opportunity of our assembling together to express our strong disapprobation, particularly of that part which unites this diocese with the archdiocese of Cashel,"

In the year 1732 the revenue of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge was about 60007., the number of its members 460, and the issue of its publications about 16,000. In the year 1832 the reveuue of the Society amounted to 66,000l., the number of its members to 15,000, and its publications to nearly a million and three-quarters. Thus in the course of a century its operations have increased a hundred fold.

CHURCH MATTERS.

ONE of the dissenting papers expresses surprise and satisfaction that a late number of the British Magazine contained no attack on dissenters. Its satisfaction will be probably not so great on taking up the present number. And yet it is not the writer's purpose to attack the dissenters, but merely to let them hold the mirror up to nature. The following correspondence is indeed most satisfactory to the churchman. On one side are the spirit and tone of a gentleman, claiming his right, but not enforcing it, and replying with charity to violence and falsehood. His agent has had words and motives attributed to him which he never used, and wrongs imputed to him which he never committed; and yet he uses no violent nor improper language. The justice of the case is tolerably clear, inasmuch as after the outcry, after full consideration, three magistrates confirmed the agent's proceedings. On the other side, what are the qualities exhibited in the letter of the Dissenting Minister, Mr. Fitz-Er (?) Burchell? Are they gentleness, meekness, temperance? Is there no believing of evil, no readiness to grasp at a story, however false or frivolous, in order to blacken an adversary, no endeavour (however awkward) to lay hold of some topics to excite odium against him, no determination to prevent all possibility of explanation, by making the thing public at once? It is, indeed, a pleasing picture which Mr. Fitz-Er has drawn of himself, and of the feelings which guide him. No remark need be made on the purity of his diction, the sublimity of his language, or the Christian calmness of his temper.

TAX UPON DISSENT.-No. 1.

SIR,-I shall feel obliged by your giving publicity, through the medium of your columns, to the following exposure of the methods adopted by a clerical agent to build up "the church" in this remote part of the kingdom. I would briefly premise, that the “rector's rate," of which mention is made, is a modus for tithes; that the instrument by which it is enforced does not become legal until it has received the signatures of three justices of the town, as distinct from the parish, such justices having no other municipal jurisdiction over the parish than that of inflicting this rate; and that in the parish (in which I am a resident) the said rate had been in abeyance for at least a century, until revived about six or seven years ago. You will perceive that my letter is addressed to the rector himself, who happens, at present, to be temporarily resident amongst us. A reader of your journal from its commencement, and an admirer of the sentiments it advocates, believe me to be,

Upper Berkeley-place, Sept. 6th, 1833.

Yours, very truly,

WM. FITZ-ER BURCHELL.

(Copy of a letter to the Hon. and Rev. W. Woodhouse, &c. &c.) Falmouth, Sept. 4th, 1833. SIR,-In the course of yesterday afternoon, I received a note from James Cornish, Esq., a magistrate of this town, of which the following is a copy :

:

Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 3rd, 1833. "MY DEAR SIR,-The communication I am about to make will amuse you, and at the same time give you a pleasing instance of the kind care which the church' is disposed to take of you. About an hour since, a son of Mr. Genn called at my house, with a book containing the rector's rate, for my signature. I inquired if any alterations had been made since last year. He replied, there was an increase of about 141. have been raised.' "Whose?' 'Mr. Burchell's.' Why his?' to the church.' Who caused this to be done?' 'Mr. Pollard.' at the time, and said, that, as it had not been signed by the mayor,

How is this?' Some rates
Because he is not a friend
I declined signing the rate
he had better call on him

first. The bearer then said, that Mr. Burchell's house had not been previously rated to the same amount as others in the parish If you are not sufficiently grateful for the consideration shewn you on this occasion, you really deserve to be deprived of the happiness of paying any more rector's rates.

"Rev. W. Burchell."

"I am, my dear Sir, very faithfully yours,

"JAMES CORNISH."

The above, Sir, needs no comment of mine. Yet, I cannot forbear remarking, what a singular contrast is furnished in the conduct of your agent and that of the venerable the Archdeacon Sheepshanks, of Gluvias, who, when his tithe proctor delivered in a statement of the amount to be levied on the Rev. Mr. Wildbore, of Penryn, for his garden, is reported to have said, "What! exact tithe from a fellow-labourer in the vineyard ?"

But it is not, Sir, the increased amount at which I am to be rated, of which I now complain; although I think I have sufficient reason even for this, as the house in which I reside is lower in its rent this year than in any former one; and the amount of rate I have hitherto paid, is the same as when the house was let at nearly one-third per annum more than at present.

It is the ground on which I am to be taxed to a larger amount than usual which renders the matter so oppressive and infamous. Your agent says, "Mr. B. is no friend to the church." What then? Because I do not "see eye to eye" with the friends of the episcopal establishment, am I to be denounced and maltreated as an enemy? Because I am a conscientious dissenter, and, as a dissenting minister, am peacefully engaged in disseminating the principles I derive from the Scriptures of truth, am I to be visited with ecclesiastical persecution? Am I," for such a worthy cause,' to be fined and levied on, under pretext of law? Is my property thus to be abstracted from me, merely because the rabid inspirat ons of intolerance (!) would so dictate? I cannot, Sir, find language of sufficient energy to express the indignation feel at conduct so atrocious: conduct, let me say, worthy of the fierce and cruel spirit of a Bonner, and that developes the same principles which in his day lit up the fires of Smithfield, and crowded the cells of Newgate and the Fleet. But, Sir, though the ashes of the victims of intolerance in olden times were scattered to the winds, their spirit still survives. It is now rousing itself from its dormancy in every part of the land, and, under the direction of Him who is "Love," [These are particularly fine sextences. is destined soon to bring about a different order of things.

With regard to the sinister compliment your agent pays me, that I am "no friend to the church," I am utterly at a loss to conceive on what he is pleased to found it. I challenge him, Sir, (and he knows me personally, and did, at a former period, not unfrequently attend on my ministry,) or any other individual, to adduce one instance in which, by any act in my public ininistry or private deportment, I have violated the spirit of the gospel in reference to the establishment. Not that occasion has not been furnished me to do so, could I have condescended to avail myself of it: such occasion has been frequently ministered by what has been reported to me of the ignorant and vulgar tirades of abuse which, in your absence, have been delivered from your pulpit against the great body of dissenters, who have been classed with "infidels and jacobins," as well as by the gratuitious calumnies and falsehoovis lately published, and circulated in this town by a "lay" advocate of the high church party. For yourself, Sir, I entertain but one feeling, that of high and unmingled respect; and I deem you to be incapable of anything unworthy of the gentleman and the Christian. Yet, I feel it to be due to myself, and to the most sacred of causes, to risk, on this occasion, ecclesiastical spoliation, rather than acknowledge, by a voluntary payment, the propriety of the censure involved in the intended amersement; and to "take joyfully the spoiling of my goods," rather than submit to exactions enforced on such unrighteous principles. [Good and patient man.]

I can readily imagine your agent did not intend the reason of the increased assessment, in my particular case, should transpire. It was made known by the unsuspecting ingenuity of youth, without the possibility of self-interest being in view. He had no spleen to vent, no favour to solicit, no friendship to gratify.

I have only to add, Sir, that the same post which puts you in possession of this will convey a similar statement to some of the leading metropolitan journals; that so, by public exposure and animadversion, such a flagrant instance of religious intolerance may receive that correction which it merits.-[And that no explanation may be given!]

With every respect for you, Sir, personally; but with the deepest detestation of all persecution for conscience' sake, believe me to be, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

To the Hon. and Rev. W. Woodhouse, Rector of
Falmouth, &c. &c., Bar House.

WM. FITZ-ER BURCHELL.

⚫ Who is the impartial magistrate who writes such letters?—ED.
† Does Mr. Fitz-Er mean Hate?