hosts also took their caps and walked down with us to Hurst'sGreen. As we approached that place, I pointed out to them the new English church built on the hill opposite. They smiled, and said

"Yes, they may build churches, and preach bitter sermons against us, but it all will not avail; it is not by these means that the hearts of the people are won, and their lives amended. We shall go on in our way."

And what is that way? That is an important question. The fact, indeed, that the fathers have proselyted the greater part of the population of the neighbourhood, is one which has naturally excited no little curiosity and interest. Their regular congregation then consisted of 1600 people, exclusive of their own establishment, which was 250, making in all about 1850 people. The popular alarm respecting the increase of Catholics in England, has therefore necessarily been particularly strong in this neighbourhood, so much so, that the members of the Established Church have built this new church in the nearest possible approach to the estate of the College, in order to counteract the influence of the fathers. A portion of the success of the Jesuits may probably be attributed to their being landlords of a good deal of the district, as well as to the fact of the estate having been from time immemorial in the hands of a zealous Catholic family, whose influence could not fail to leave a strong impression. But this will not account for the whole; and the simple cause is to be found, in the policy of the Jesuit fathers themselves. It is evident that they have established their

influence here by the very same means that their order established such amazing power over the people of Paraguay; not by their doctrines nor their ceremonies, but by that of active and unwearied personal attention to their wants and comforts. This appears to be the only "witchcraft which they have used," and which will produce the same results in the hands of all who will use it. One act of personal kindness, one word of sympathy, will win more hearts than all the eloquence of Cicero or the wealth of the Indies. The religion of good works, of generous and active philanthropy, is the only religion which will suit the people. The bulk of the population are not nice reasoners: they are none of your acute metaphysicians, who can tell

you the difference between the hundredth and the hundrethand-first shade of a sentiment; but they know in a moment when they are treated as men, and their hearts kindle and embrace their benefactors with a sympathy not easily destroyed. Their understandings may even revolt at the prominent errors of a church's doctrines; but if they once feel that it has the pith of real Christian kindness in it, they are gained for ever. Errors become changed, in their minds, into matters of indifference, or are actually converted by the mental alchemy of grateful affection into venerable truths. This, from our observation and inquiry, appeared to be the process by which so great changes had been effected at Stonyhurst. More cheerful, friendly people than the Jesuit fathers, it is impossible to find; visiting the poor in their cottages with the utmost assiduity and familiar kindness. Differing most widely from the creed of these gentle

men, it is only justice to bear this testimony to their practice. And so far from cause of alarm, we think that that very success points out to Protestants of all persuasions the most luminous means of its counteraction. If the faith of these men be adulterated by grievous errors and traditionary superstitions, as it unquestionably is—and yet, by their simple practical policy of interesting themselves in the welfare of the people around them, they have succeeded in restoring to popular favour, a religion which for three centuries has been stigmatised throughout England and Scotland as a bloody and superstitious religion-a religion which, in fact, when it was the established religion of the land, crowned itself with odium for its rapacity, its sensuality, and for the folly, idleness, and everlasting bickerings of its monks; and what is more, if they who have done this belong to an order of that religion which, beyond all others--by the depth of its policy, the ambition and the talent of its leaders, by the pliant and most persevering pursuance of its objects-rendered itself the terror and abhorrence of the English nation-what shall not the professors of a purer faith achieve by the same means? The doings of the Jesuits of Stonyhurst are, in fact, a study of curious interest to all those who are alarmed at the growth of Popery, or who would strengthen their own influence in the hearts of the people around them.

HISTORICAL REMINISCENCES.

WHAT an interesting old city is Winchester! and how few people are aware of it! The ancient capital of the kingdomthe capital of the British, and the Saxon, and the Norman kings -the favourite resort of our kings and queens, even till the revolution of 1688; the capital which, for ages, maintained a proud, and long a triumphant rivalry with London itself; the capital which once boasted upwards of ninety churches and chapels, whose meanest houses now stand upon the foundations

of noble palaces and magnificent monasteries; and in whose ruins or in whose yet superb Minster, lie enshrined the bones of mighty kings, and fair and pious queens; of lordly abbots, and prelates, who in their day swayed not merely the destinies of this one city, but of the kingdom. There she sits—a sad discrowned queen, and how few are acquainted with her in the solitude of her desertion! Yet where is the place, saving London itself, which can compete with her in solemn and deep interest? Where is the city except that in Great Britain, which can shew so many objects of antique beauty, or call up so many national recollections? Here lie the bones of Alfred-here he was probably born, for this was at that time the court, and the residence of his parents. Here, at all events, he spent his infancy, and the greater portion of his youth. Here he imbibed the wisdom and the magnanimity of mind with which he afterwards laid the foundations of our monarchy, our laws, liberties, and literature, and in a word, of our national greatness. Hence he went forth to fight those battles which freed his country from the savage Dane; and having done more for his realm and race than ever monarch did before or since, here he lay down in the strength of his years, and consigned his tomb as a place of grateful veneration to a people, whose future greatness even his sagacious spirit could not be prophetic enough to foresee. Were it only for the memory and tomb of this great king, Winchester ought to be visited by every Englishman with the most profound veneration and affection; but here also lie the ashes of nearly all Alfred's family and kin: