exhibit it for half an hour to the Lord Primate of Ireland.

But this is not explaining the matterwhence all this ?-what made the church dumb-where the parson ?-where the church-wardens, and the Protestant parishioners? Good Mr. Reader, not so fast, it is easier to exhibit effects than to explain causes; I was but a stranger-I could only obtain hearsays, and perhaps prejudiced accounts. The parsonage house I saw about a mile off; it looked at that distance snug and comfortable-a nice green lawn-many trees-prettily, nay, beautifully situated on the shore of the sea, and surrounded by the sublime and various mountains. I heard stories, perhaps not true, how the greater part of the Protestants had turned Catholics; how even the clerk of the parish had shewn the example, and in order to procure his salary, had actually torn up the pews of the church, and sold the timber. I heard how, some years ago—perhaps a hundred-a cler

gyman, on being asked, whether in his minis tration he had been successful in inducing the natives of his parish to renounce their Romish superstition-laughed outright-"What, convert the Papists-No, no! on the contrary, all the Protestants somehow or other are turning Papists." This certainly would be so unlucky a confession from any Protestant minister, that I hope it never took place but this is quite certain, that many Protestants in this district have within this halfcentury joined the Church of Rome-and the loyal and high-spirited yeomanry, that the piety and patriotism of the Boyles, &c. &c. had planted in these districts, has, under the neglect of careless parsons, and the discountenance of greedy landlords, in a great measure, merged into the mass of the Romish population. Not far from the Church was a little hut, with a potato-garden attached to it, surrounded by a stone wall, in which a woman was digging with all the muscular energy of a man with an old hat on her head, without stockings, coarse clouted shoes,

and a simple woollen gown, and short petticoat of the same texture, she exhibited one of the most succinct and robust figures I ever saw in the costume of a woman. As she was

the only person to be seen in the vicinity of the deserted church, I called her from her work, which she seemed to leave reluctantly, and asked, "What was the cause of that house of worship being in such a state?"

Why then in troth, Sir, though it is now no longer the place I desire to go to, yet it is a shame, and grief to me often as I look out of my cabin door, to see it in that state."

Why, what do you mean, my good woman, by saying that you go no longer to such a place-did you ever go to Church ?” “Why, not all out to that place; but all my kiff and kin were Protestants-but I go, as all about go, to Mass." "Ah, my dear good woman! how could you, if reared in the Protestant faith, condescend to degrade your understanding, by giving up its reasonable service for the system you have adopted ?" "Why, it is easy for you, gentlemen, as you are, to

talk-but look at me, a desolate widow, without one on the living earth to protect me or give me a meal's meat-look at that poor cabin--look at this little garden-I have robbed it from the rock-it was I that picked up all the stones out of it, and built these walls-it was I carried earth to it on my back-it was I dug it-it was I carried on my dripping head, weeds out of yonder sea to manure it-and here I am a lone desolate crathur, not a living soul to lift his hand in my favour, and take my part-how could I continue a Protestant--I never knew the diffebetween the two persuasions-all about me tould me that the old ancient faith was the safe and secure Church-built up as that rock a Church no more to be moved than the mountain before us, and what better could I do than take the safe side for this world and the next? Oh ! if I had when my poor husband died--and God rest his soul -if I had remained a Protestant, not a herring would I have got to make kitchen for my pratie, nor a lock of wool from a Chris

rence

tian to make this camlet to cover my poor

back." and an agitated anxiety to excuse herself, which convinced me that she was not quite satisfied in her mind that she was right.-I asked whether she could read? She said she could." Do you ever read the Testament of our Lord Jesus?" "That I do," said

The woman spoke with a feeling

she, “and I am proud to own it to you, but would not like to confess it to another."My companions had all deserted me, and were beckoning me to follow, yet still I lingered beside poor Mary Blake-and before I parted, I directed her to passages in her Bible exhibiting the need of one only and all-sufficient Saviour, "the way, and the truth, and the life," only able to save-only competent to mediate only sufficient to intercede-as man, touched with the feeling of our infirmities-as God, capable of hearing prayer; why fly to another?-why let go holding to this head, to trust to living priests or dead saints? I spoke with all my soul and with, all my strength. Oh, that I had spoken as