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Clonmel, and there had been nothing of the sort since he had been alive. He was proceeding towards the platform, uttering abusive language, when he was stopped.] The Rev. Mr. Foley continued-My friend is not likely to remember it in Clonmel, as it took place in Galway. (Cheers.) I can give him the name of the priest, and all the other parties concerned in it. (Cheers.) The Rev. Speaker, after narrating some other acts of the Irish priesthood, spoke of the awful nature of the confessional, particularly between man and wife, illustrating this by narrating a case which came under his own observation, where a poor woman, who was supposed to be dying, was persuaded by the priest not to see her husband, or have anything to do with him whatever, in consequence of his being a Protestant. The woman recovered, and is now a member of the true

Church. Did this not show, then, the awful influence exercised by the priests of Rome? The Rev. Gentleman concluded an animated address, which took two hours in delivery, by declaring that the Church of Rome was a lying system, historically false, and that she spoke nothing but lies and hypocrisy. It was not in a spirit of hostility to his countrymen that he said it, but with a sincere desire for their spiritual welfare. (Loud cheers.) The Rev. H. STOWELL on rising to address the Meeting was received with loud cheers.

JAMES LORD, Esq., followed in a brief but pointed speech, urging on those present the necessity and duty of returning Protestant Members to represent them. If they had Protestant Members they might then depend on Protestant measures being introduced.

The other speakers were the Rev. R. CREWE, and the Rev. Mr. FELL. The Doxology was then sung, and the large Meeting broke up.

MISCELLANEOUS.

AN USEFUL HINT.-Pardon me, Sir, saying, that if you could find means to send a few numbers of your Magazine upon the continent, to places where there are regular English congregations, it might do much good.

Your Society and its publications are almost unknown. In France, in Switzerland, in Tuscany, in Germany, Malta, Gibraltar, &c., no opposition direct would be experienced. Work while it is called to-day, and the God of Battles be your might.

CABINET.

PRAYER AND EXERTION.-There are, those on the one hand, who have too much thought that prayer would supersede exertion; or on the other that effort would supply the place of prayer. But prayer and exertion should go together. Some one has observed, we should so pray as if all depended on prayer, and so labour as if it depended on exertion.

TRIUMPH OF RELIGION.

WHEN worldly comforts fleet away,
Fast as the passing cloud;
And all the dismal, dark array,

Of woes unnumbered shroud
The bosom that once filled with joy,
Ne'er tasted sorrow's draught-
Oh! will not such keen ills destroy

The strongest, noblest heart? When friendship withers like the rose Plucked from its native bed; And cheering hope and soft repose Leave the wreck'd spirit dead! Oh! who could bear such potent grief, Or sink not 'neath its power, Did not religion yield relief,

In that despairing hour? Did she not point her radiant hand, To heaven's tranquil sphereTell us of joys divinely grand, And ceaseless pleasures there. S. PHILLIPS DAY.

June 15.

NOTICES OF BOOKS. A Letter from Rome, shewing an exact conformity between Popery and Paganism. By CONYERS MYDDLETON, D.D. New edition, with an Abridgment of the Author's Reply to a Romanist. Pp. 66. London: Grant and Griffith; Hatchard and Son.

THESE celebrated letters stand in need of no recommendation from us. We are glad to see them published in so cheap a form, and wish them an extensive circulation.

Popery; its Character and its Crimes. By WILLIAM ELFE TAYLOR. With Fourteen Illustrations from MSS. and rare books. Pp. 348. London: Seeley and Co.

POPERY seeks to attract by painting, poetry, and song; a far greater use might be made by Protestants of the engraver's skill than is usually the case, and many works descriptive of Popery would derive an additional attractiveness and usefulness from it. The above work is on other accounts calculated to do much good.

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INTELLIGENCE.

LANCASTER.-A Protestant Lecture was given here on Monday evening, by James Lord, Esq., in the Music Hall. Simpson, Esq., of The Greaves, in the chair. On the platform were E. D. Salisbury, Esq., Rev. Bury, Rev. J. Dodson, Vicar of Cocherham, and several others. Proceedings having been commenced by prayer, the Chairman pointed out the importance of Protestants coming forward at this crisis to prevent any fresh concessions to Popery. Mr. Lord commenced by expressing the satisfaction he felt in perceiving the question had lost none of its interest since he was last amongst them. He believed it would be found generally to be the case, that when this question was taken up on principle it would have too strong a hold to be easily shaken off.

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ASHBOURNE. Two Meetings were held here on Tuesday morning and evening, the 15th June, on behalf of the Protestant Association. Sir Matthew Blakiston, Bart., presided on each occasion. The Meetings were addressed by Sir Digby Mackworth, Bart., Rev. Daniel Foley, Rev. Rose-, ingrave Macklin, James Lord, Esq., Rev. J. C. Richards. The statements of the various speakers were listened, to with much interest.

READING.-A Meeting was held in the Town Hall, Reading, on Wednesday evening, the 23rd June; the Worshipful the Mayor in the chair;

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to form a Protestant Association for that borough. The Meeting was addressed by Revds. Trench, Goodhart, Dr. Cowan, and James Lord, Esq.

ISLINGTON. An address to Electors has recently been adopted by the Islington Protestant Institute, with a pledge for electors to take, promising not to vote in favour of those who will support Popery, or seek to impair the Protestant character of the constitution.

WAKEFIELD.-Mr. Lord delivered a Lecture here to a crowded audience, Thursday, June 16. The Chief Constable took the chair at seven, and proceedings having been opened with prayer, Mr. Lord proceeded to bring forward facts as to the progress and nature of Popery. Very deep interest seemed to be taken in the proceedings. A vote of thanks having been moved and seconded the Meeting separated. We hope to see shortly an Association formed for Wakefield.

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THE

PROTESTANT MAGAZINE.

AUGUST, 1847.

THE PAST AND THE FUTURE PARLIAMENT.-THE QUEEN'S

SPEECH.

THE Parliament now dissolved has witnessed some of the most important changes in the Government and policy of our country. The new Parliament may be instrumental in effecting still greater changes. May the overruling providence of God grant, in answer to the prayers of many of his faithful people, that we may be preserved as a Church and nation from the errors of Popery; and the punishments which are denounced upon those nations who make a league with that system of iniquity!

There is a very general opinion that things cannot stop where they are. We must become more or less Protestant: more or less Popish. Events are coming to a crisis. It would seem as if the time were hastening on in which all that is not of God shall be arrayed against all that is of God, and the various powers of darkness, error, and superstition come to a mighty and final conflict with the truth.

The light of prophecy, the voice of history and events passing around us, all witness against Popery. Yet with this same Popery many are seeking to ally us as a Church and nation. The more closely, promptly, and prayerfully the attention of Protestants is brought to bear upon this question, the better may it be for them and our cause.

In the Royal Speech, delivered on the prorogation of Parliament, prior to its dissolution, we have nothing bearing immediately on this question. The following was

HER MAJESTY'S SPEECH.

MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

I have much satisfaction in being able to release you from the duties of a laborious and anxious session. I cannot take leave of you without expressing my grateful sense of the assiduity and zeal with which you have applied yourselves to the consideration of the public interests.

Our attention has been principally directed to the measures of imme-
VOL. IX.-August, 1847.
New Series, No. 20.

R

diate relief, which a great and unprecedented calamity rendered necessary.

I have given my cheerful assent to those laws which, by allowing the free admission of grain, and by affording facilities for the use of sugar in breweries and distilleries, tend to increase the quantity of human food, and to promote commercial intercourse.

I rejoice to find that you have in no instance proposed new restrictions, or interfered with the liberty of foreign or internal trade, as a mode of relieving distress. I feel assured that such measures are generally ineffectual, and in some cases aggravate the evils, for the alleviation of which they are adopted.

I cordially approve of the acts of large and liberal bounty, by which you have assuaged the sufferings of my Irish subjects. I have also readily given my sanction to a law to make better provision for the permanent relief of the destitute in Ireland. I have likewise given my assent to various Bills calculated to promote the agriculture, and develope the industry of that portion of the United Kingdom. My attention shall be directed to such further measures as may be conducive to those salutary purposes.

My relations with foreign powers continue to inspire me with confidence in the maintenance of peace.

It has afforded me great satisfaction to find that the measures which, in concert with the King of the French, the Queen of Spain, and the Queen of Portugal, I have taken for the pacification of Portugal have been attended with success; and that the civil war which for many months had afflicted that country has at last been brought to a bloodless termination.

I indulge the hope that future differences between political parties in that country may be settled without an appeal to arms.

GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,

I thank you for your willingness in granting me the necessary supplies; they shall be applied with due care and economy to the public service.

I am happy to inform you that, notwithstanding the high price of food, the revenue has, up to the present time, been more productive than I had reason to anticipate. The increased use of articles of general consumption has chiefly contributed to this result. The revenue derived from sugar especially has been greatly augmented by the removal of the prohibitory duties on foreign sugar.

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The various grants which you have made for education in United Kingdom will, I trust, be conducive to the religious and moral improvement of my people.

MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

I think proper to inform you that it is my intention immediately to dissolve the present Parliament.

I rely with confidence on the loyalty to the Throne, and attachment to the free institutions of this country, which animate the great body of my people. I join with them in supplications to Almighty God that the dearth by which we have been afflicted, may, by the Divine blessing, be converted into cheapness and plenty.

Most sincerely will all Her Majesty's loving subjects join in this prayer. The fearful scourge that has desolated Ireland and impoverished England, has been felt severely; and we would indulge the hope that a spirit of prayer and repentance has been the result in many a heart.

The stirring scenes around us—the way in which Protestants are evincing their fixed determination to oppose Popery, whilst they love the Roman Catholics, show how deeply the recent famine has impressed the minds of multitudes of the people with the conviction, not only that national punishments come not without a cause, but that Popery is one immediate cause of them. That Popery, with her unscriptural creed-her perfidious and persecuting principles-her idolatrous rites—and her murderous practices-her confessional at once the instigation of crime, and the asylum of the criminal-has engendered a state of society there, wherein God is dishonoured-the finished work of the one Mediator despised-and man misled by those who should guide him to the way of peace.

Never may England persecute Roman Catholics; never may she endow them. Never may she suffer Roman Catholics to persecute, as is too often the case, unprotected and conscientious Protestants.

But it behoves each one now to be careful, prayerful, vigilant, that the delusions of Popery may neither in politics deceive our statesmen, nor in theology mislead our divines.

Let it not be said, these are affairs which belong to others alone. They belong to us also. In a Christian community, no less than in civil societies, the whole often suffer for the fault of a part-and the people for the crimes or follies of their rulers.

As the passengers in a stately vessel may meet a watery grave, if the unskilful pilot steer upon the rock, so the errors of statesmen and theologians reach beyond those who invent and practise them. Hence the need for combined activity and prayerfulness, that, through the Divine interposition, all the crafts of Satan or man against the purity of our faith,-the independence of the empire, and the peace of society,-may be utterly defeated; and the blessings which we have so long enjoyed may be continued and increased to us. In the elections now terminated, and those yet to take place, there is much, very much to encourage, as well as much also to dishearten. Protestant energy is being roused far beyond the expectation of many, but not yet adequate to the crisis.

When the County and Borough Elections have all terminated, we trust our friends will not think their work done. Far from it. Be it theirs to be in a state of better preparation for the next election; to be fortified in the meantime to resist the rapid encroachments of Popery; to retrieve the past; or defend the remaining vestiges of our Protestant Constitution.

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