in this parish, and those best calculated to enlist the sympathies of Ireland's friends, are the schools lately established. There are three of these in the neighbourhood, each two or three miles distant from the other, and, in which, from three to four hundred children are daily instructed. Two more are in course of erection, and will soon be opened for girls. The anxiety of the parents to have their children instructed is very great; and the children themselves are well disposed to learn. Ignorance has hitherto exercised a most degrading influence on the minds of the people, and even now it is only just beginning to be dispelled. Until the thick veil of little better than heathen darkness is removed nothing like success can be looked for. In the present state of these mountainous districts, the people are wholly unfit to receive the simplest message from a preacher's lips. Let them but be educated, and every obstacle will be removed; the words of mercy will then be understood, and happy results may be rationally expected. No patriotic heart can witness the scenes of misery and wretchedness that I had the painful opportunity of witnessing, and not bless the man, or men, that will establish schools; and no one can reflect on this want and woe, without coming to the conclusion that an enlightened system of school instruction is the truest and best forerunner to the reformation of dark and bleeding Erin.

I cannot refrain from giving you a short account of a visit to Galway, in company with Mr. H-. We set out early in the morning, taking with us a plentiful supply of tracts and books. With few exceptions every person on the road received one of these little messengers of truth. Scarcely an instance of refusal was met with, a circumstance which at the time afforded no little encouragement, and which may encourage others in similar efforts; especially from the fact, that a short time previous not one would have been accepted.

'Remaining at the village of C-, for a short time, we visited the chapel of a nunnery. The interior was elegant in the extreme. Its altar-piece was made of the most costly Italian marble, with the Lamb and seven seals beautifully embossed; and above, a most magnificent painting of the ascension, also from

Italy. To one who loves and pities Ireland, and who feels for her woes, such a visit must excite the most painful emotions. If one half that has been expended there, were employed for the eternal good of this single neighbour hood, Oh! what results might follow. Arriving at Galway, early in the evening, we had an opportunity of viewing the entire town. It is comparatively small, but not too much so, to contain THIRTEEN ROMAN CATHOLIC CHAPELS. Only two Protestant places of worship were discernable, an Established Church and a small Wesleyan meeting-house.* Early next morning we were passing the chapel of St. Nicholas (the parish chapel), and witnessed part of the proceedings. Confessions were being heard in the respective boxes; mass was being celebrated; and the people, rich and poor, were evincing the most earnest attention to the imposing ceremony. I was pained, as every Protestant must be, to witness the sad and unlimited reliance on forms and outward observances, and yet could not but blush for a church which professes a better faith. If such scenes will not excite to holy exertion for the welfare of others, Protestants may and ought to be awakened and aroused to greater earnestness with regard to God and their own souls.

There was no opportunity whatever afforded me of preaching in the town, and to have attempted an open air service under existing circumstances would have been altogether opposed to the serious convictions of conscience. To say the least of it, one tenth of the people would not have understood a word, and those that had understood would have become more inveterate to the truth than ever; a quiet and becoming mode of procedure is the only one calculated to effect any lasting good. Of this every visitor to the west must be convinced, and wherever and whenever a contrary course has been pursued the most painful results have followed. soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger. Abuse will avail nothing when preaching to the Roman Catholics of Ireland, but to confirm the already well established prejudice that the hated cause of Protestantism is only to be served.

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*There is, we believe, a third-a Presbyterian meeting-house.-ED.

At S-t H-1, a village two miles from the town, we distributed a great number of tracts. Being market day, the road was thronged for the entire two miles with people from the country, thus presenting a valuable opportunity for the circulation of the sacred Scriptures, as well as religious tracts. Some were riding, others walking, but all alike seemed willing and thankful to receive them. Many who could not read themselves gladly consented to take them to those who could. Parents also wished them for their children. One boy, when asked if he could read, said, “No! but he would take his to a scholar and learn what was in it." Happily our supply was not exhausted till we reached the town.

Anxious to be home for our regular meeting on the Sabbath, we left Galway on Saturday Evening: and here a scene took place more interesting than any before witnessed. After throwing a tract to a little boy, the reins were seized, the wheels were clogged, the gig hung upon, and ourselves regularly beseiged with cries of "give! give!" "give us one," "only one, your honour," and "God bless you!" "God speed you for a little book,' was shouted at first by twenty voices, and then a hundred cries were heard, till at last the inhabitants of the whole street were out of their doors. If we had been some royal personages we could not have caused greater eagerness to see or greater crushing to come near us. At last the gig was emptied, and after repeated assurances that they had received them all, we were allowed to proceed.

The poverty of those districts, where the schools are established, is a sad drawback to the improvement of the children. They are so poor that they cannot, in a hundred instances, furnish a single thin garment in which to appear at school. Ashamed to appear outside their wretched cabins, they grow up there, the unhappy victims of ignorance and woe. If a stranger, better clad than they, should chance to meet them, they shrink from his eye reluctant to approach.

If those, to whom God has given the means, would interest themselves on their behalf, something might easily be done. Clothes, however old, for the children would with gratitude be received by them, and the parents would be led

THE IRISH SOCIETY, For promoting the Education of the Native Irish through the Medium of their own Language,

Is one of the daughters of the Hibernian Bible Society, and has grown up to a maturity of vigour and activity which must be gratifying to those who remember her birth and infancy. It is a pleasing trait in her character that she is not ashamed of her parentage. She bears a strong and striking resemblance to her mother in her veneration for the Word of God, and her anxiety for its circulation among the peasantry of Ireland, as the great means of their regeneration. The parent Institution, however, has such a general family likeness as to endear her to, and identify her with," the whole family of the firstborn, whose names are written in the Lamb's book of Life;" while the daughter has contracted some marked peculiarities of countenance, which bespeak her as belonging to one particular section of the family; and which might at times appear, to some of her brethren and sisters, too much like a frown, designed to repel them and keep them at a distance. It was not

always so; and though we would not wish to be severe on what we may fancy to be the altered aspect of a sister's face, we could wish that any feature which might seem at all repulsive, were exchanged for the attractive smile that would invite all the members of the family to the true domestic posi tion of union, co-operation, and love.

Not to speak any longer in parables, while the Hibernian Bible Society rests firmly on its primitive basis of Catholic union, combining all the friends of the Bible in its circulation, the Irish Society has altered this part of its original plan, and it is now exclusively Episcopalian. Were it not for this exclusiveness of character, we know not any Society in Ireland that would be more likely to become a universal favorite with every denomination of Evangelical Christians there.

But our object is not to find fault. Our Magazine is not designed to be a microscope, to magnify minute objects, and to scrutinize every little defect; but a telescope, to render distant objects visible, the more visible in proportion as they shine forth in their own native brightness, or rather as they are lighted up by the bright and blessed beams of the Sun of Righteousness; and in the contemplation of those irradiating glories as much as possible to forget their opacity, their eclipses, their wanings, and defects. We should like to look at poor Ireland, as we do at the planets; to see her, as we do our neighbouring worlds, Venus and Mercury and the Moon, in the brightest seasons of their illumination, without being able to discern the deep moral stains that sin may have inflicted upon them, or to hear any of the agitating cries for vengeance that may arise from them into the ears of Him who created and who rules and regulates all.

Notwithstanding the exclusion of Dissenters from its management, we understand that the Irish Society has to make some use of their agency, and we are sure that its labours will issue in the general increase of the Church of God. If that Society, like the Hibernian Society, considers that its plans can be more efficiently wrought out by a Committee who see eye to eye, on questions of Church government and discipline, we do not blame them.

Some of our "Dissenting communities" have felt the same. Let us agree to differ, but " endeavour to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." We would candidly say, that we believe this has been the spirit of the Irish Society. Let our Dissenting brethren, who are excluded from its counsels, establish something like it in their several communities, for the benefit of the Irish speaking population of the Sister Land. Without any arrogance, and certainly without meaning any offence, we believe that Dissenters led the way in these movements on their behalf. The exertions of the Rev. Christopher Anderson, of Edinburgh, are, through his publications on the subject, matters of public notoriety; and the zeal of the Rev. Dr. Townley, late of Limerick, has often roused many of his brethren from their apathy. The Irish Society is an example to us. Let us mark its zeal and emulate its active usefulness. Meantime, let us bid it "God speed," and rejoice in its success.

We believe that this Society has been much encouraged and assisted in its progress by a resolution of the Hibernian Bible Society "to furnish the people of Ireland with a stereotyped pocket edition of the Bible in the Irish language and character. Other helps from the same quarter have greatly aided its operations. This is acknowledged by the Hon. and Rev. Henry Ward, one of the several Summer deputations of the Bible Society to its different auxiliaries in Ireland. He says,

"At Kingscourt your deputation were delighted with the opportunity afforded us of hearing and partly witnessing how extensively and successfully the Bible Society works through that noble instrumentality— the Irish Society.

"Our meeting here, for many reasons, was of a deeply interesting character. Your deputation were much gratified in hearing that testimony in favor of the Hibernian Bible Society which has been afforded by others, confirmed by the spontaneous and hearty testimony of the Rev. Robert Winning: viz.-that the laurels won in the fields of religious enterprize by the Irish Society, should, at least, be shared by your Society. The noble stream by

which the Word of God has had free course among the Irish-speaking population of our country, through the channel opened for it

by the operations of the Irish Society, having its source in the Hibernian Bible Society, must endear that Society to every Christian patriot's heart; and I am happy to find that our expectations respecting the interest which our Roman Catholic fellowcountrymen take in the Scriptures, when once they are made acquainted with them, are daily being realized: a proof of which was afforded in the bold demand that Mr. Winning made, through your deputation, of 200 copies of Bibles with marginal references, and 500 Testaments, which was so promptly granted by you. In reference to which supply Mr. W. assured me that the utmost secrecy would be required in the neighbourhood to prevent his house from being rudely beset by the numerous applications that it would give rise to; so mightily grows the desire to read and search the Scriptures in the English version, when once admission to the sacred treasure

has been gained through that in the Irish character."

We can only add, in addition to the foregoing, the commencing paragraph of this Society's twenty-sixth Report (1844.)

"The position of the Irish Society is just at present peculiar. Fresh calls for its exertions are heard from all its districts; new openings, the most inviting are disclosed; demands, the most encouraging, are proffered for its assistance from without, while steady, though slow, improvements within, demonstrate that it has lost none of that buoyancy which indicates health, and that if its growth be somewhat restrained, it is not from any paralyzing cause. Yet there does an evil influence prevail which restrains it much, but we are thankful to add that it is one so superficial, that it is in your power most readily and immediately to remove. It is simply a deficiency in its pecuniary means. Doubtless, it must be highly gratifying to the benevolent to be assured that the Lord is sup. plying us with agents and with opportunities; that he has turned to us the hearts of very many of the people; and that it is now only requisite for them to open their hands yet more liberally to furnish us with the silver and the gold; and to continue their supplications at the hrone of grace, for a continuance of God's lessings on our labours."

BELFAST TOWN MISSION.

As it appears to be the object of your publication not only to awaken the sympathies of the religious public, in reference to the destitute state of the inhabitants of

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Ireland, which requires increased exertion in the propagation of religious truth, but also in reference to exertions in active operation, perhaps you may not deem unworthy of notice the following extract from a speech made lately by the Rev. Dr. Edgar, at the annual meeting of the Belfast Town Missionary Society, which I think strikingly sets forth the necessity of such Societies, and claims the cordial congratulations of every Christian in their establishment. The Rev. Doctor said,

"That he held in his hand, a report of the proceedings of the Town Mission, which he would read, that the inhabitants might know something of what the Society was doing. It was no doubt melancholy to contemplate the spiritual destitution which prevailed around them. The circumstance would be turned to account by the enemies of religion; but the Christian public need not be afraid of this, provided they put forth their efforts for the benefit of their fellow-men. In a report like the present one, it was necessary to preserve a certain degree of privacy, as to names, on the score of delicacy. In this way blanks might occur, but this did not in any way impair its authenticity. He would state several cases illustrative of the working if the Mission, as detailed by the agents; and first, as to the deplorable ignorance of the Gospel shown by many who were visited.

"J. D. an individual who had been conversed with on several previous occasions, was visited on his death-bed. The visitor said, addressing the dying man, 'It is a solemn thing to be laid on a bed of death;

do you not think this?' 'Yes,' he answered: 'I feel this to be so.' 'But,' said the visitor, 'Jesus died for sinners, to save them. Do you not understand this ?' But the poor man was so ignorant that though this had been repeatedly told him before, he gave a sigh, showing that he did not know or appreciate its meaning.

The next case he would adduce, was that of a female, who had not been in a church of any description for forty-three years, and professed to see no advantage to be derived from attending ordinances."

Dr. Edgar proceeded to detail other cases of a similar kind, proving the need for Missionary effort being made, and then read the report.

The above is taken from the Banner of Ulster, a newspaper much in circulation among the Presbyterians of this country. If it meets your views, I shall endeavour to obtain the report itself, and transmit it to you.

I send this extract to show that even among Protestants there are cases which call aloud for Christian sympathy and benevolence, and that whilst those who hold

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the truth have abundant reason to deplore the gross darkness and superstition which hang over the Popish population of this country, it is not to them only that our attention is required to be directed. Our own people have long-too long been left to ramble in the scenes of darkness, as sheep without a pastor; but, thanks be unto God, the Protestant churches of all denominations are now awakening themselves to the destitution so extensively prevalent. A spirit of zeal, of self-denial, and of generosity, has been imparted to them, and the prophetic address seems peculiarly appropriate to us, "Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." Hoping that the insertion of this in your next number might be accordant to your object, and tend to keep IRELAND before your English readers,

I remain,

In H-, I had a large and most interesting meeting. The people expressed themselves much gratified at what they heard. Persons of various denominations attended, and I could learn that all were greatly pleased, though I shunned not, I trust, to declare the pure truth, unmixed with any human invention. Here I had a conversation with a convert from Popery, who seems to adorn the doctrines of the Gospel which he has adopted. I was glad to see an intelligent young man at the meeting, of whom I have hopes that he will one day abandon Popery.

Whilst in this part of the country, I had conversations with many Romanists. An intelligent man of that persuasion, to whom I pointed out some of the errors of Popery, appeared convinced of the error of the doctrine of transubstantiation, which he professes to believe has no foundation in Scripture, and to be equally inconsistent with reason and common sense. This man candidly acknowledged, when speaking to me, in the presence of a Christian gentleman,

that the priests, in many things, are exceedingly inconsistent, and that no reliance ought to be placed on what they say. In proof of this, he mentioned, that the day preceding that on which I was speaking to him, the priest, in the chapel, made an oration, in which he stated, it was an absurdity to think that any one dying without the sacrament of extreme unction could not get to heaven. It is only generally necessary, said he, but when the priest cannot attend there is no danger. The man's commentary on this, which is certainly a novel doctrine to be propounded by a priest of Rome, was amusingly shrewd. The priest's reason, said the man, for giving utterance to such sentiments was, that he might be excused from attending calls as punctually as he might be required; and the evening of the same day this was proved, for when he had been sent for to attend a sick call, he said, he could not go, as he had engaged to dine with a certain gentleman, and that he could not break his word. I was glad to hear of this circumstance, in order to be able to call the people's attention to the Good Shepherd, who gave his life for the sheep, and who never neglects those who hear his voice. Such facts as that above related, tell upon the people's minds when the poor deluded creatures would refuse to listen to the words of inspiration, and they are to be made use of in leading them to consider the character of that system, and its ministers, which can give the anxious and inquiring soul no solid peace. Indeed, the priests in this country are at present so engaged with politics that it is a favorable time for working among the people; but though politics, and not religion, seem to be the theme with "the priests," the country is being overspread with monks and nuns, who are very active in going among the people, engaged in the endeavour not only to strengthen and perpetuate their unscriptural creed among their own party, but also seeming most anxious to overturn Protestantism, to and draw away as many as they can of its professors. It is my conviction-and that conviction is the result of experience that from the neglect of those who ought to have minded the people committed to their charge, many professing Protestants could become an easy prey to those propagators of noxious errors. The labors of the missionary are needed not only to proclaim the Gospel of God to Romanists, but to tell it also to those who are only nominally Protestant, and prevent them, in this day of excitement, from joining the ranks of Popery. J. G.

PENANCE.-A new life is the best and most sublime penance.-LUTHER.