better than my own, but in vain. I visited Rome; but in that city, once the cradle of Christianity, my disgust became complete. As the truth gained possession of me, the fact could not be concealed from those around me. In spite of my caution they perceived that I held in scorn their religious practices. This was enough to stamp me as a heretic, and to make me the object of their persecution. I could not relate all that I suffered, but in all my sufferings the Lord gave me courage, and filled my heart with joy. After many trials, in which all the refined ferocity of priestcraft was brought to bear upon me with no effect, they made a simulated truce with me, and knowing that it would not last, I felt that the time was come for a decided, though seemingly a desperate step-that of sacrificing all for the love of Christ, even to the tenderest affections of the heart-my love for my country and for my parents. But through all this trial the Lord was with me, and upheld me with his strong arm, and brought me through a thousand dangers to a place of safety. In my case, at least, I trust that the voice of calumny will be silent, and that the work of God in me will not be misrepresented. I feel that it is to God's glory that I should speak out. I am the first among the Benedictines who has openly declared himself against Rome; and thus I feel that in me a principle is represented, and a hundred others of my order are ready to follow me. You, my brethren, will help me with your prayers, and here, in this free land of Britain, I may profess openly, and without fear or dread, the faith that I hold. Free from every prejudice of sect or system, I hold the faith as I find it in the Word of God-that faith which, in the Lord's own time, will yet be preached in my beloved country."

The chapel was completely filled with an attentive and interested auditory, amongst whom were a very large proportion of Italians.

A NEW KIND OF EVIDENCE.

THE Roman correspondent of the Daily News gives the following indication of the steps now taking, on Dr. Newman's part, to substantiate his accusations. The letter from which this passage is taken bears date, Rome, 20th November:"_

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"On entering the British Consulate a few mornings ago, I found the passage obstructed by ecclesiastical cocked hats and gowns, a somewhat unwonted sight in that latitude; but I discovered upon inquiry, that they belonged to a body of priests, Jesuits, and inquisitors, who had waited upon Mr. Freeborn for the purpose of making their affidavits on certain documents about to be sent to London, which will doubtless come out in the trial of the action for libel brought by Dr. Achilli against Messrs. Burns and Lambert, the publishers of Dr. Newman's 'Lectures on the present position of Catholics in England.' The documents were in Latin and Italian, consisting of extracts from the registers of the Inquisition, and copies of letters from Naples, tending to destroy Dr. Achilli's moral and religious reputation; and the truth of them was sworn to by the parties present-viz., the procurator and notary of the Holy Inquisition, and six or seven Italian and English (and one French Jesuits and ecclesiastics. What weight these documents may have in a British court of justice, I cannot pretend to foresee; I presume the Consul merely received the affidavits of his visitors as a matter of official duty, without entering into the merits of the case, every British Consul having to act as a notary-public in the registration of such documents as have to be sent to England from abroad for judicial purposes."

To this piece of intelligence the London Watchman justly appends a query, as follows:

"The Holy Inquisition has condescended to depart from its usual practice, and to bring forth from its archives certain letters said to have been received from Naples, inculpatory of Dr. Achilli. It must have been in correspondence with that tribunal that Father Newman became instigated to the publication of his calumnies. The relation between the President designate of the new Catholic University,' that is designed to supersede the Queen's Colleges in Ireland, and the Inquisition, is extremely edifying, and will tend to assure the orthodoxy and the loyalty of the university. But our query isWill the Court of Queen's Bench confirm the amicable relations already existing between this country and the Inquisition, through the medium of Maynooth, by admitting excerpts from the books of the Roman Inquisition as evidence in this cause? Mr. Freeborn, it seems, has officiated as notary in the transmission of the documents, but will the Attorney-General, on behalf of Newman, feel himself at liberty to make use of them at Westminster, and will Lord Campbell suffer it? If so, what is to be, henceforth, the standard of credibility in cases of libel! If so, who in England can be safe? For the Inquisition carries on a universal correspondence, and hides itself and its correspondents under a veil of impenetrable secrecy, so far, and so long, as it suits its nefarious purposes to keep the secret. But the Inquisition is to furnish evidence, it would be more interesting to get over the live Inquisitors as witnesses."

SCOTLAND'S OPPOSITION TO ROME.

When trampled nations rose to arms,
And Europe shook with wild alarms;
When Freedom's patriots fought and fell,
And rampant reigned the powers of hell!

When in that black and bloody hour,
Again arose a crimson'd power-
Old Scotland knit her lofty brow,
For well she knew her ancient foe.

"Firm is that Rock, strong is that Tower;
Thou'rt not afraid of Papal power-
Nor foreign foe-nor bloody brand-
Thou'rt still the warriors ancient land!"

THE BULWARK,

OR

REFORMATION JOURNAL.

PROGRESS OF PROTESTANTISM.

We are truly glad and thankful to observe the decided progress which Missions for the Conversion of Papists are making in every direction. There is the most marked and satisfactory progress in London. In the "London City Mission Magazine," for February 1852, the following interesting passage The case of Dr. Armstrong is a truly noble one. This is the effectual way of dealing with Popery.

occurs.

"We are also thankful to announce to our readers, that the appeal made in the December Magazine for the half support of two additional missionaries for Popish districts, to enable the Society to avail itself of the generous offer of a lady who conditionally promised to give the remaining half, has been so liberally responded to as to provide the support of three missionaries, all of whom will be appointed to St. Giles's, under the superintendence of its new Rector, the Rev. Robert Bickersteth, and the Incumbent of one of the district churches of the parish, the Rev. Samuel Garratt.

"The sympathies of Christian individuals are at this time especially directed to the evangelization of the Popish portions of London. If we might venture to ask yet more on their behalf, (and their wants must plead an apology for still soliciting,) we would yet drop a word on behalf of a poor and Popish district in Bermondsey. A Scripture-reader visits the Protestant and better portion of this district (St. Paul's). But the Popish and poorer part of the district requires still more a Reader or a Missionary. The incumbent, the Rev. Dr. Armstrong, has been recently so impressed with the claims of the poor Irish in the parish and neighbourhood, that he has set to work and learned the Irish language; and, with the consent of the Bishop of Winchester, he has opened his church for an Irish week evening service. We believe this is the first instance in London of an Irish service being held in either church or Dissenting chapel; but it has, by God's mercy, acted as a charm. The Roman Catholics from various parts of London have flocked to it, and they have been led to look with a very kindly feeling on a minister who has learned their dear Irish tongue, simply for their benefit. Already a considerable number have desired publicly to recant their faith in the church, and a form for that purpose has been drawn up and sanctioned by the Bishop. It is for the district around this church-a district in itself most poor and wretched-that we venture to appeal for a missionary, to be placed under Dr. A.'s superintendence. A minister thus acting deserves assistance, and we consider the opportunity of usefulness in the appointment peculiarly promising."

We rejoice also to hear of the success of the mission in St. Giles's; and we see by the grumbling of the correspondents in the Popish prints, that the Liverpool mission is also beginning to tell. At Paisley, a new AntiPopish mission has been started with encouraging prospects. Mr. Henderson of Park, who is amongst the foremost in every good work, has just despatched two Highlanders to commence a mission in Ireland-the Gaelic and Irish languages being nearly the same. Christians in Scotland have this object much at heart, and for the promotion of it, by preparing properly instructed agents, the new Training School, or Protestant Institute, is projected at

VOL. I. NO. IX.-MARCH 1852.

I

Edinburgh. The subscription for that is steadily advancing. And speaking of Ireland, we may mention that Mr. Campbell at Belfast is now raising subscriptions to double the size of his present place of meeting for controversial conversations; and that we have the most undoubted evidence of the great progress of Protestantism in that country. The most striking proof of this is found in a letter from Paul Cullen, to the editor of the great French Jesuit paper the Univers, and dated "Drogheda, Feast of St. Thomas, 1851." The following is an extract. Of course we know the true meaning of the pretence, that the people are converted merely from temporal motives. Any man who knows Popery at all is aware, that apart from the grace of God, it clings to its creed all the more desperately as it sinks in beggary and rags. Let us "thank God and take courage."

"Latterly," says Paul Cullen, "new auxiliaries, in the shape of Bible hawkers and street preachers, have been added to our numerous enemies. They are generally men of low condition, ignorant, without education, without knowledge of the truth, and whose antecedents are often anything but edifying. It is probably on that account that they are selected to carry on this war of unexampled calumny and outrage. They are paid from two to three pounds sterling monthly. These singular recruiters of falsehood watch the poor man in the street, and enter stealthily into his dwelling, to inoculate his mind with their diseased doctrines. Money! Money! that is their great persuasive argument. As soon as they discover a starving fellow-creature, a child of sorrow, they hasten to exclaim, 'Join us— abjure your faith, abandon your adoration of the Virgin Mary, and we will relieve your wants !' If the poor man remains true to his faith, they refuse him all succour. When we consider the conduct of these men, we cannot help recalling to mind the words of the tempter to our Divine Saviour, If thou wilt fall down and worship me, I will give thee all the kingdoms of the earth.'

"What increases the strength and consistency of the hostilities directed against us is, that we have in Ireland the most complete system of Protestant education, commencing with parochial schools, and terminating with the Great Dublin University-the bulwark of the Anglican doctrines of the country. These institutions are entirely under the control of the Protestant clergy, and deeply imbued with its spirit. It is not necessary to add, that they possess large incomes, formerly the property of the [Roman] Catholic Church.

6

"We had been told, the government will give you colleges where your religious doctrines shall be respected. In fact, those colleges were given; but you are aware that, though dangerous to the faith and to the morals of the faithful, they were disapproved of by the Synod of all the Irish bishops assembled at Thurles. To give you an idea of the spirit in which those colleges are directed, it will suffice to state, that in the college at Belfast, of twenty-two professors and masters, there are but one or two [Roman] Catholics, and that French Huguenots, or Scotch Presbyterians, and other sectarians, are entrusted with the training of the young minds of the [Roman] Catholic children of Ireland. This precise information will enable you to understand the immensity of our embarrassments, and the want we feel of some great support to maintain the fierce combat waged against our faith.”

THE ANTI-MAYNOOTH AGITATION.

"Whate'er is false, deceitful, foul;
Whate'er antagonist to truth;

The bigot's heart, the tyrant's scowl,-
Thou art their native soil, Maynooth.

And shall we still the nuisance nurse?

Still feed a death-diffusing pest?

No! rise, exterminate the curse,

The gangrene starve on Ireland's breast."

"Ireland asks bread, government gives her the stone of Popery; she asks a fish, they give her the serpent of Jesuitism."-Rev. Hugh Stowell.

SINCE our last, the agitation for the overthrow of the Maynooth Endowment has been proceeding with great energy, especially in England. Splendid meetings have been held in a great number of towns; those of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Dublin, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Bolton, and Plymouth, Belfast, and the clergy of the archdeaconry of London, being chiefly

remarkable. It is truly delightful to discover, not only the strong Protestant spirit that has everywhere been manifested at those meetings, and to read the eloquent speeches that have been delivered, but to observe the thorough spirit of union amongst all denominations of Protestants, which has formed one of their most striking characteristics. Let this spirit only be maintained, and by the blessing of God the issue is certain, and will be speedy. We are glad to observe that the agitation is beginning to tell directly on the members of Parliament; and, although in the case of Mr. Cardwell, M.P. for Liverpool, we have a thoroughly unsatisfactory answer to Dr. M'Neile's letter, which may also be said of the answer of Lord James Stewart to the people of Irvine, and the professions of Admiral Houston Stewart at Greenwich, let the people only determinedly persevere, and the politicians will soon change their tone, or they themselves will be changed, for the public feeling is gaining ground. The Glasgow petition against Maynooth is signed by 62,459 males. We observe, also, from the wailings of a correspondent of the Catholic Standard, February 14, that the candidates for the vacancy in Kent are both against the Maynooth Endowment.

"Kent, on the shores of which St. Augustine with his few zealous companions first landed, bringing the good tidings of the Catholic faith, directed by Pope Gregory the Great, in the sixth century, is now a wilderness. God's grace is absent. That once holy ground is now the arena of horrid blasphemy. The kings of the earth are rather obeyed than the ordained priests of the Church of Christ. Sir Brook Bridges and Sir Edward Dering are rival candidates; and to prove the wretched depravity and miserable degree of degradation and prejudice of this place, their success mainly depends upon the amount of their No-Popery' cry. Extract from Sir Brook Bridges' address :-'I will oppose to the utmost of my power all grants of money for the Roman Catholic College of Maynooth.' Extract from Sir E. Dering's address: He (Sir E. D.) believed the charges brought against Maynooth had been literally and substantially proved, therefore he should vote against the Grant.""

6

Mr. Spooner, member for Birmingham, has declared his determination, as might have been expected, to vote against it. Now, if the politicians are determined to persevere in their infatuated course, we are aware that a cry of politics may perhaps be raised against us; but that cry must be met by firm determination. Mere partisanship is beneath a true Christian, who should have no politics but the Bible, even as the Papists have no politics but the interests of Rome. Hence, they gain alike from both classes of politicians. Let the Christians of the empire learn a lesson of consistency from them. Let them stand together, and subordinate all politics to the resistance of Romish aggression, and by the blessing of God they are sure to succeed. But, meantime, we find the Popish organs congratulating themselves on the vacillation and feebleness of Government, which of course ought only to lead Protestants to redoubled efforts and greater determination. Speaking of Mr. Fox Maule's speech at Perth, the Catholic Standard, February 14, says:—

"He also declares that it is a very different thing opposing a measure which you think to be wrong, before it has become law, and one that has been established and acted on for six successive years.' Therefore,' continues the right honourable gentleman, 'I candidly tell you at once, that if any bill be introduced to abolish this Act of Sir Robert Peel, it will not only, I conceive, be my duty, but IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE GOVERNMENT TO OPPOSE SUCH A BILL,'-an avowal, which the report states, was received with hisses and cheers.' What effect this Cabinet manifesto will have upon the malignants, it is impossible for us to conjecture; but as every statesman in Parliament,-as every member of either House who can have the remotest chance of office, or the faintest pretension to a seat in any Cabinet, has been a party to the endowment of the Catholic Ecclesiastical College, WE ARE DISPOSED TO THINK THAT MAYNOOTH IS PERFECTLY SAFE. And why? The Presbyterian President of the Board of Control is candid enough to state the reason; namely, 'the great risk of withdrawing the endowment at a period when the sister kingdom is not in a state of tranquillity;' he might have added, and when Europe is in a state of commotion-and England tormented with apprehensions of a French invasion.""