It is

us to the loss of European traffic; of very serious importance to the but, if we are not very careful, the country. The unfortunate catholic adventurous spirit of the American question is not at rest, nor will it be mariner will fill the ports of Europe, at rest, till either Bonaparte is master and he will become what the Dutch- of Ireland, or emancipation has taken man formerly was, the great carrier place. Whatever may have been the for the commodities of the world. views of persons who made this quesOur domestic politics have excited tion the grand means of tripping up a variety of rumours, some of a very the heels of the late cabinet, it is now unpleasant nature. What respects supposed, that the country may be the supposed changes in the cabinet is brought into a very perilous situation, of too trifling importance to the pub- by resisting the tolerant measure that lic to occupy much of our time, how- would, without the artificial steps taever great it may appear to those who ken to excite a flame, have been are looking out for benefits, or antici- adopted without difficulty, and carried pating losses from the accession of into execution without danger. their friends to, or the removal of reported, that persons, high in the them from power. The cabinet has Irish church, have expressed their had enough to do with the great ar- fears for the safety of the country, if rangements relative to commerce, in we persist in resisting the catholie consequence of the probibitions claims; and there cannot be a doubt, thought necessary on the intercourse that our enemy will not fail to make of neutral powers with hostile ports. use of every engine we leave in his These regulations are very numerous. power, to work upon the passions, and To add to its embarrassments, the ma- to delude the ignorance of our cathonifesto of the Emperor of Russia re- lic fellow subjects. The danger in quired an answer, which has been that quarter is apparent. Perfect republished in the Gazette, and a reply ligious liberty will be preached up by has been made to all the charges the French, if they land in Ireland, brought against us. The accusation if they do not carry the matter farther, of not sufficiently assisting our ally is and profess to make the catholic the laboured: and we still hope that the predominant church. war may be carried on with words more than swords. The expedition under Sir Sidney Smith to the Tagus has been beneficial: and too much praise cannot be bestowed on our ambassador, for prevailing on the Prince of Portugal to put himself under the protection of the British flag. This seems to have been of great service, in preventing a mutinous spirit which might otherwise have arisen in the Portuguese fleet. Another expedition is fitted out under Sir Charles Cotton; the place of its destination is not known, but it is probably connected with the revolution in Portugal. On the whole, there is a degree of activity now apparent, whose effects must be left to time; but whatever may be our activity, it must evidently be confined to the sea, and there is little reason to expect that it will make any changes on the destination of the continent of Europe, of which Bonaparte is evidently at present the master.

But the rumour of the changes in the ministry arose from another cause

To effect the measures of the artful sovereign of France, a bull has, it is said, been obtained from Rome, which is to force on the catholics of Ireland the necessity of standing fast by their faith, and using strenuous exertions to regain their liberty. That the pope should issue such a bull need not surprise us; that any one should circulate it is less likely, for it is evidently treason. However, there is a danger in letting even such a sentiment be talked of amongst the lower orders of Ireland, who cannot but feel most poignantly the degradation in which they are kept. How to resist the artifices of the enemy is the question. Shall we give up? says the bigotted protestant; Shall we let a papist be on the same footing with us, who are in possession of the truth and of power? Rather let the island perish. We are sorry to see such bigotry, which evidently blinds the minds of the protestants, or the pretended protestants. For, after all, it is a mere question of prudence: and, for our own part, we had rather see popery made by

law the established religion of Ireland, Institution. Its professed purpose is than have it severed from this country. pleasure, or rather the laborious idleWhat the cabinet has determined ness of silly people of fashion. Dissiupon in this respect will be known at pation is the grand article in which the meeting of parliament. By re- they deal, and every one knows what moving all religious restraints, you peculiar mode of life the dissipation take away one impediment to the of the masquerade and midnight hour union of a people; and to us nothing have a tendency to encourage. The in the world appears so perfectly con- favourite object of the institution is, temptible and ridiculous, as for a le- to use his own words, to "see an gislature to deprive itself of the bene- establishment in this town totally defit of the co-operation of all orders, dicated to that class, which ought to merely because some believe one be kept separate and distinct from any thing, some another. If the legisla- other." Our readers may not easily ture gave itself no trouble about such guess what this class can be, or bow it matters, we have no doubt, that Ire- is to be formed, or where it is to exist. land would be just as composed as The great beauty of English society England: and we are inclined to be- has hitherto been, that all ranks are lieve, that if Popery had been suffered so blended together, that no one is seto remain the established religion of parated from the other by impenetraIreland at the reformation, the num- ble bars, but all can associate with ber of protestants would at this day each other on terms of propriety. far exceed that of the papists in that The man of science, and the man of country. It is our intolerance which fashion, and the merchant, and the has made them cling like the travel- country gentleman, can mix with lers in the storm to their old coat; the each other, retaining sufficient of their sunshine of candour and moderation respective characters to make their would have opened their hearts to the union pleasing; and it was the fault benign principles of the gospel: but of the French nation, and one great what right have protestants to expect cause of the cruelties of their revoluto succeed, when they exceed the pa- tion, that one class endeavoured to pists in malignity, in bigotry, in into- keep itself so removed from the rest. lerance? and in consequence became a martyr

A variety of institutions has been to its own folly. We should be sorry formed within these few months, to believe, that there was a class in which are likely to call the attention this town either wretched or foolish of the legislature. Proprietary com- enough to embrace the sentiment put panies are incorporated, for the pur- forth in the letter printed by the chase and sale of all the articles of order of the society; for we know of trade. They began with brewing, and no class, "that ought to be kept sepathreaten to attack every business. It rate and distinct from any other," is evident, that such concerns can- but that of loose women and men denot be carried on with profit to the void of honour and principle. public, but where it is impossible to If we cannot give any countenance make it the business of a few indivi- to an institution which professes to duals to attend to it; where the secu- separate a class of the community rity of the public, or of the institu- from the rest, and to engender the tion, requires a combination of a worst species of vanity and frivolity, number of persons, as in the case of we are happy to see endeavours of a life or fire insurances, of canal and contrary nature, and an attempt to water-work companies; there, evi- afford to tender minds the opportudently the formation of a company is nities of obtaining those improvedesirable but when they come in ments which arise from greater culticompetition with private industry, vation. The proprietor, whoever he they may do a very great injury to is, of the Argyle-street institution, honest individuals before the mischief wishes to separate one class of the can be remedied or even detected. community from the rest, not by any But among the institutions of the arts which improve the species, but present day, one deserves peculiar by those refinements which have a notice. It is called the Argyle-street tendency to enervate and to injure UNIVERSAL MAG, VOL. VIII.

the human race. Mr. Lancaster has prehension. This is indeed a duty promulgated a system of an opposite we owe to the rising generation. What nature, and his wish is to impart to a melancholy thing it is, that so much the lowest class the advantages of of our time in later life is employed education. His scheme is easy, sim- in getting rid of the prejudices that ple, and clear; and may, with very we have imbibed in our early years! little trouble and attention, be intro- If we would be content to teach childuced into any town or county. He dren only what they can understand, has tried the experiment with between we should do a great benefit to sofive hundred and a thousand boys and ciety: we should be acting like that girls in the Borough: it has lately judicious geographer Arrowsmith, been taken up in Kent; and we have who, instead of filling the middle seen with pleasure advertisements space of Africa with monsters, with from Canterbury and Dover, an- men whose heads are growing beneath nouncing, that there had been meet their shoulders, has left a blank space ings in those towns for the establish- to be filled up by those who can com meut of schools upon his plan; and municate real information. From all the children of the place will, instead of idling their time away in the streets, become profitably employed and amused, as well as instructed.

this rule the men of Canterbury have departed? for they have ordered the church catechism to be taught in their schools. Now, without enterThe scheme is this. The boys ing into the enquiry, whether the dogand girls are divided into classes; mas contained in that catechism are and those in the higher classes are true or false, we will take upon ourmade instructors of the lower, thus selves to assert, that no two men in perfecting themselves in the parts Canterbury, nay, not any two men in they had previously learned, and gra- all England, agree in the explanation dually acquiring the power of com- of this catechism: and more than that, municating, as well as receiving, we do not believe, that there is a sinideas. The boys are taught writing gle man in England who understands and reading at the same time: for it. Now what a pity it is that children they form the letters upon sand as shall be set to learn by heart such a mass they learn them, and mark down the of stuff above their comprehension, words in the same manner as they and drawn up without any view to the spell them. Arithmetic is taught with the same facility: one boy dictates to the rest a sum, going over the operation with them; and thus a dozen are taught with the same ease as one. Ingenious rewards and honours are bestowed upon the proficients, and a variety of schemes are adopted to facilitate the learning to read, to write, and to cypher. We remember Not only new institutions are formto have read, in the preface to Mr. ing for the benefit of the rising geneFrend's Algebra, an account of what ration, but enquiries are making into he had done in a similar manner in a the state of those in existence; and a school of poor boys, and the success whether they have deviated from the with which it was attended encou- original foundation. Among them raged him to recommend the same is not one more respectable or useful plan to our great schools, for the than the foundation of Christ's Hos fearuing of arithmetic, geography, pital. Rumours have prevailed, that chronology, and history; but we do interest had too great weight in pronot hear that any one has listened to curing admission into this hospital, the recommendation. so much so, that persons of very con

state of childhood! We speak of it with more concern, from the remem brance of the torture it gave us in our early days: and we should be happy to contribute, to the utmost of our power, to rescue the rising generation from the evit of learning words without meaning, or which are too difficult for their comprehension.

It cannot be doubted that Mr. Lan- siderable property availed themselves caster's plan will be extremely bene- of that interest to procure support ficial; and one grand point in his and education for their children, scheme was, not to cram into chil- whom they were very capable of dren's heads dogmas above their com- maintaining. A case of this kind has

been detected, in which it is said, "Are you persuaded, that the that a beneficed clergyman, with up- Holy Scriptures contain sufficiently, wards of twelve hundred a year, and all doctrines required of necessity for rich connexions, has obtained an ad- eternal salvation, through faith in mission for his son, as under the de- Jesus Christ? and are you determined, nomination of children of poor dis out of the said Scriptures, to instruct tressed men, and widows, or father- the people committed to your charge, less children. This has led a free- and to teach nothing as required of holder of Middlesex to lay before the necessity to eternal salvation, but that public the certificates requisite on which you shall be persuaded may be the admission of a child; and they concluded and proved by the Scripare of such a nature, one would think, ture?" To which question Mr. Stone as to prevent such abuses; but if answered: "I am so persuaded, and they do not produce this effect, the have so determined by God's grace." attention of the governors is very pro- The bishop then asked him this quesperly called to the subject. The ad- tion: "Will you be ready, with all vertisements of gratuities ought stre- faithful diligence, to banish and drive nuously to be discouraged; and such away all erroneous and strange docis the respectability of the directors in trines, contrary to God's word." To general, that we doubt not they will this Mr. Stone answered, "I will, the be alive to the interests of the charity, Lord being my helper." Now these The case of Mr. Stone, the aged are the solemn questions and answers clergyman, under prosecution, car- to be found in the prayer-book in the ried on by Mr. Bishop, for preaching ordination service; and thus every doctrines not conformable to the person to be ordained replies, before church of England, is not concluded, he has power given him to preach. Mr. Mr. Bishop has concluded, we be- Stone contends, that he has conscilieve, the examination of his witnesses, entiously conformed to these answers; who are chiefly booksellers, except that he has taught nothing contrary to one person, who is a doctor of di- Scripture; and, that he has endea vinity, and a clergyman. To what voured to drive away all erroneous the evidence of this clergyman goes, and strange doctrines, contrary to we do not know: but since our last, God's word, We shall see hereafter we have seen the letter written by Mr. the decision of the ecclesiatical court Stone to the Bishop of London, in upon these heads. To us plain men which he justifies his preaching by here is the authority of a clergyman, the constitution of the church of who has spent upwards of fifty years England: and, if he is not right in in the study of the Scriptures. Against his opinion, the state of the clergy is very different from what we apprehend it ought to be, He quotes the solemn vow he made to his bishop at ordination, in the sight of God and the church. The bishop questioned him in these words,

his opinion is to be set that of Sir William Scott. The judgment of the court may, for aught we know, be according to law: but if it is given against Mr. Stone, which of us unlearned men will take upon himself to say, that it is agreeable to God's word?

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

"Truth" from Brighton, complains that the lines on Mrs. F's bed in our last, are founded upon error. Non tantas componere lites, &c.

To" J. G." the Editor has written according to his direction.

The extract" from the popular and interesting work of the Dæmon of Sicily" is inadmissible. We never heard before of that popular and interesting production.

To "J. L Moore" we are sorry to offer a negative: but the strict line by which we regulate ourselves will not permit us on any occasion to forego the indispensible prerogative of merit.

"The Realm of Shades," from the German, has been received. Its length almost terrifies us.

"D. L. S." on Cowper and Gray, next month.

"W. P" from Manchester, will be inserted with a few needful corrections. "W. B." on the words tramontane and furrow in our next. His letter bears the post-mark of Morpeth. We refer him to p. 484 of the present number. Our friend "Metaphor" shall certainly appear next month.

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