the difference so apparent in different portions of Ireland-the north and the south-and which at once strikes every stranger visiting the country ? Why is it that the people in the former are comparatively prosperous, comfortable, and happy; while the latter are poverty-stricken, and in the most abject state of wretchedness? It is simply their religion. The one is the result of Protestant principle, the other, as might be expected, the effects of Popish doctrines, inculcated by the priests educated in Maynooth. In one part of our country life and property is secure; in the other few Protestants who value their principles or their religion, can be induced to reside for any length of time.*

By the Census of 1851, it appears that the proportion of the popula tion of each province that could neither read nor write were—. - Ulster, 33 per cent., Leinster, 38, Munster, 52, Connaught, 64. The return of the Commissioners of National Education corroborates these facts. In the counties, the proportions who could neither read nor write were-Antrim, 23 per cent., Down, 27, Derry, 29; Kerry, 72, Galway, 78, and Mayo 80. Thus in the most Roman Catholic counties we have four-fifth of the people in total ignorance, in the most Protestant only one-fifth— while in all these counties those who can neither read nor write are almost all Roman Catholics.

The population of Great Britain was, in 1850, about three times that of Ireland. In that year 33,326 persons were committed in Ireland, and in the same year the number committed in Great Britain, out of a population three times as large, only amounted to 32,281, leaving a balance against us of nearly three to one-of those 33,326 committals in 1850, the number in Ulster was 5,260, not one sixth part. And of 23 executions in 1849 and 1850, only two occurred in Ulster.

In a little work recently published by the Rev. Dr. Dill, and which we would particularly recommend to the reader, this subject is treated at length, and from the statistics of crime it is made evident that as Popery prevails crime increases, and must increase. An excellent article on the subject also appeared in the Dublin University Magazine for September last-Extracts will be found in our Appendix.

It has been well observed by the highly respectable periodical referred to, that while a pure religion is the greatest of blessings, an impure and immoral one is an equally great curse. Look at Ireland-wherever Popery prevails, crime and wretchedness and misery are the attendants. Look to Tipperary, where Popery has its stronghold— where the Romish altars resound with awful denunciations, and we see man set against his fellow-man ; while if we turn towards the north, we find amongst the Protestant peasantry peace and plenty.

And shall such a state of things be allowed to continue? Shall assistance be given to educate men, who, after they are educated, are the means of doing so much mischief in the country? Shall a grant be continued to a seminary in which is taught principles so subversive of all order and good feeling amongst the inhabitants of the land? Will there be found a Protestant member in the British House of Commons to argue for its support? They have the matter fairly placed before them-let the Government inquire into the truth of the facts here brought forward; and let no feeling of "expediency," no fear of offending the priests or prelates-no danger in case of an invasion, as likely to result from their future doings or teachings-lead a single member to forego his principles. The priests have done their worst; they have excited the people to rebellion time after time-they have shaken hands with the enemies of their country; and, this moment give them all that they ask-still they would,

after all, to-morrow side with either France or America against England-such is the antipathy of the Priests of Rome to its people and its religion.

Should any reader still be so uninformed on the subject, as to inquire, what object the priests of Rome could have in acting and speaking as we have represented them to do? we would refer to the following extract of a speech delivered on the 15th of April, 1847, in the House of Commons, by one whose testimony may be depended on as being well informed as to the designs and objects which the Church of Rome has in view in all her proceedings in reference to Protestants.

The Earl of Arundel, on a motion for going into Committee on the Roman Catholic Relief Bill, observed

"The Church of Rome had been accused by many hor.orable members of persecution. He was not prepared to deny the imputation. (Hear, hear.) He admitted that on many occasions members of that church had been guilty of acts of persecution; but he might mention that each of those acts was to be estimated according to the temper and spirit of the time. (Hear, hear.) He might point to the Old Testament as containing much that might appear to authorize the persecution and extinction of unhallowed creeds. He alluded, of course, to the wars of the Israelites, and the extermination, by the chosen people, of the nations whom they encountered in their progress to the promised land. His honorable friend who had just sat down, had said that the Church of Rome was antagonistic to Protestantism. He perfectly agreed with him, and as long as the world lasted it would continue so, until Protestantism was extinct!!! (Cheers and counter-cheers.) The

struggle for religious freedom must go on; but in that struggle he was not inclined to relinquish one iota of the claims of his Church."

Here it will be seen that the object Romanists have really in view is "the EXTINCTION OF PROTESTANTISM," that nothing less will satisfy them; and that until this is gained, their most moderate men will not relinquish "one iota of the claims of the Romish Church." We ask, then, are the Protestants of Great Britain prepared to assist the advocates and priests of Rome to effect such a consummation? We ask Lord Palmerston and the present Ministry, are they prepared to assist the Earl of Arundel and his party, by educating priests for their purpose? and if they disclaim the idea or intention, we call upon them to prove their sincerity by withdrawing the Grant from Maynooth.

Had the Government thirty years since taken this advice, Ireland would at this moment have been in a very different condition. As a step in the right direction, let the supplies to Maynooth be at once cut off; let there be no more dallying with Popery ; let the English Government throw the Priests of Rome on their own resources; let them get up the college for which they have been for some years past been collecting funds; let the Priests and Bishops be made amenable to the law; and when they utter treason, as they have more than once done heretofore, let them be prosecuted for it. Let there be nothing done that would interfere with their religious liberty; let the Legislature but keep the poor

people of the country firm in the conviction of justice and protection, and very soon, by the blessing of God, the Bible and the schoolmaster will be found too powerful for the priests and their principles.*

Let the Ministry now in power remember that at the period of the Reformation, our forefathers solemnly renounced for themselves, their children, and their children's children, Popery, with all its incumbrances, priests and friars, penances and purgatories-never again to be recognized, or supported by the funds of the nation-that it was in the faith of this that the present line of English monarchs took the throne-and this, they, and whatever Government they may call around them, are solemnly engaged to perpetuate. Let us hope that to sustain those great principles, which our forefathers sealed to us in all their integrity, with their best heart's blood, the Protestants of England will unite as one man-let us hope, that Lord Derby and every member of the late Cabinet, even while out of effice, will in the maintenance of these principles consider no sacrifice too great, no exertion too arduous-but that, setting their faces as a

"Protestants are pretty generally in a position to protect themselves, and Irish Protestants are not men of a temper to shrink from the duty of self-defence; but the condition of the peaceable and well disposed Roman Catholics in Ireland is a condition of utter helplessness. The priest surrounded as he is always sure to surround himself with a band of the most ignorant and savage of the population, is a despot over the Roman Catholics of his parish, as absolute as any African chief, and this is the history of the half-hundred of priests' nominees sent to enlighten the legislature of the British Empire."-Standard.