attainment at the expense of desperate struggles, sacrifices, and blood. At this moment, I appreciate the advantages, with which the sovereign mercy of Providence has endowed the church and people of the United States, in a tenfold higher degree than ever I did before. If due improvement be made of the start that has been taken, what are the attainments in religion, in morals, in the arts, which our posterity may make, before other nations arrive at the point from which we now set out? I rejoice for my country; but I rejoice with trembling, knowing how frequently the fairest prospects are blasted, when the issue depends on human instrumentality. And I tremble still more, to think how much the cause of liberty, of religion, and of human well-being generally, is suspended on the course which the people of the United States may pursue. Any serious miscarriage, on the part of America, relative to the subject of government, or religion, would have a blasting influence on the best interests of man in every country, but especially in France. It was remarked to me, by the intelligent Protestant minister at Montpelier, that the eyes of the advocates of liberty and religion, in their present struggles, were turned towards the United States; and large calculations were made, of the advantages to be derived from our example. God grant, that in these calculations there may be no disappoint

ments.

About nine o'clock, the stage coach for London was before the door, to receive its load. At once, it attracted my notice, from the astonishing contrast it exhibited, to those kind of vehicles I had seen in the country I had just left, not excepting even those of Paris; which, to be sure, are immensely superior to the rude, grotesque machines, to be seen all over the south of France. Taste, neatness, and

convenience, are the characteristics of the English stage coach. The inside allows only of four passengers. But they have every accommodation of elegance and comfort, which a private carriage could furnish; with the privilege of paying the full value for them. The top of the stage, in front, furnishes a seat for three passengers, to which there is a foot-board, behind the driver, who sits low before. Iron hoops round the back and sides, sufficiently secure the passengers from any fear of falling from their elevated situation. A projection behind, on a level with the body of the coach, gives a seat to two or three passengers, on each side of it; who sit facing each other, and ride side foremost. The horses are elegant, the harness shining black, with brass hames and mounting, sparkling with brightness. The whole establishment, before dust or mud has soiled it, is truly elegant, and outdoes altogether any thing of the kind, I have seen in our country, and much more in France.

The day was uncommonly fine, and certainly few days of my life have passed with more intense interest, from morning to night, than this. I was completely roused from the apathy, under which my latter journeys in France had been performed. Mounted on the top of the coach, I had the finest opportunity for seeing the country, and a fine country every where presented itself to be seen. It was about the middle of harvest, in the region of Dover: but travelling north, we had arrived among fields too green for the sickle, before we reached London. Looking at the wheat, the oats, the barley, one would say, would say, "This is emphatically the land of plenty." The whole country seemed under cultivation,. and the produce abundant. The only exception I noticed was, here and there, waste grounds laid out for horse-racing, a degrading sport, to which the country gentry are

much addicted. We passed through a number of towns, as Rochester, Canterbury, &c. which in point of neatness, and cleanness, presented a surprising contrast to the rudeness and impurity of many of the French towns I had seen. But the rapidity of our motion, forbade any inspection beyond a passing glance. We left Dover a little before nine o'clock in the morning, and about dark, I was set down in London, at the Black Bear Tavern in Piccadilly-a distance of about 70 miles, in 12 hours, including the time necessary for refreshments by the way. This is nearly double the ordinary rate of travelling in France. And here I beg leave to close my history for the present. Whether you will hear from me again, before leaving this place is uncertain. At all events, you must expect very brief details. The little time I shall have to remain here, will be too little to take more than a slight look, at the multitude of curiosities, which every stranger must look at: and it would be foolishness in me, to spend time in endeavouring to describe to you, things which you can find much better described, in the printed accounts of fifty travellers, who have preceded me. Should any thing new fall in my way, worth recording, you may count upon receiving some notice of it; either before or after I go hence. "Arise! let us go hence." How frequently have I been obeying this mandate for some time past! and how soon in obedience thereto, will be the removal of us both to that distant country, from which no traveller returns, nor yet sends back any letter of information relative to his journey thither, or reception there! Let us seek to hold ourselves in constant readiness, that the mandate, which may be at a moment's warning, may not take us by surprise. With much affection, I remain, Yours, &c.

FOR THE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE. TRANSATLANTICK RECOLLECTIONS.

No. X.

"Forsan et hæc olim meminisse juvabit." THERE is no people, perhaps, under British domination, so much oppressed and trodden down as those of Ireland, and there is none other that has produced so many" chefd'œuvres." The courts of England and Rome have joined in destroying both the moral and physical energies of this people; and yet, like some noble spring issuing from its Alpine source, they have ever and anon arisen to a height of moral and scientifick elevation, loudly declarative of the superiority of their mental resources. If we search the library of wit and of elegant literature, we shall find Swift and Steel, occupying a distinguished station. If we examine the cabinet of theology, Magee, as every student of divinity knows, stands almost unrivalled. If we wander for recreation among the fragrant and flowery meads of poesy, we shall see that Ireland, from the days of her Ossian, down to the time of her Moore, has been a land of "song." In oratory, whether senatorial, forensick, or ecclesiastical, she stands second to no nation, ancient or modern. Who thinks of the bar without associating with its honours the unrivalled eloquence of Curran, and Flood, and Plunket? When modern writers dispute the palm of oratory with the ancients, do they not place opposite to Cicero and Demosthenes, the proud names of Burke, and Sheridan, and Grattan? When we search the annals of pulpit eloquence, shall we find in its whole extent a more conspicuous name than Kirwan? It is but a few years since Kirwan, Dean of St. Patrick's, enjoyed a fame for sacred oratory, far more distinguished than ever did Chalmers or Irving. It is

a military guard had to surround his church, and to refuse admission to all except those who had tickets: and that foreign orators made pilgrimages to the Irish capital, to hear this ecclesiastical Demosthenes. I recollect myself, when attending the elocution lectures in the University of Glasgow, to have heard the Professor say, that he had resolved, the winter in which Kirwan died, to have gone, during the next summer vacation, to hear him, and that he regretted exceedingly the disappointment. But Ireland, unhappy Ireland! has been just as distinguished by its sword. I need not mention the name of Wellington, the greatest modern captain, for Ireland ever has been a nation of heroes. Is there a land that ever struggled for freedom, whose soil has not been enriched with her blood? Is there a country bound in the chains of British power, which she has not fought to bind? Forced to fight for her slavemaster, she has left her blood and her name on every field of battle, where England has reaped her laurels, during the last century. When this country struggled with the gigantick force of Britain, did not Irishmen throw themselves into the conflict for liberty, with a devotedness which nothing but death or victory could subdue:-And in the very darkest moment of the South American contest, I beheld myself a noble band of heroes, called the "Irish Legion," composed, many of them, of youth of family and letters, leaving the home of their fathers and their fortunes, to fight for South American liberty, with the gallant Devereux at their head. But to show that I am no partial eulogist of Ireland, I will sum up this paragraph, by a quotation from a late tourist of talents and observation-"No foreigner of liberal feelings, can pay even a short visit to Ireland, as I have done, without being charmed with the instances

friendship, of open-hearted hospitality, and of that noble-mindedness which has rendered this island the nursery of so many characters that have added lustre to the political history, the learning, science, and moral elevation of Great Britain.”

The most glaring degradation visible in Ireland is among the Roman Catholick population: And this is occasioned, partly by the agency of the English government, in withholding from them their civil rights, but principally by the Pope of Rome, in withholding from them the "word of life." And oh, how dark! how very dark, is ever the moral horizon from which this "shining" light is withheld! Only let an opposer of the Bible look upon the gross darkness which envelops the intellectual powers of this naturally brave, and generous, and gallant people, and he will be terrified at the hideousness of his own principles. If we compare this part of the inhabitants with the Presbyterian population, we shall have an example (at least as far as physical appearances can represent those of a moral character) of the different states of the Egyptians and Israelites, when "thick darkness" covered the one, and the joyous light of heaven beamed upon the other. And yet this is a Christian people: they have Christian priests, and sometimes they hear Christian doctrines; but the fountain, the BIBLE is withheld from them; and darkness, and degradation, and death-spiritual deathis the result. The "dry bones" in the Valley of Vision were not more destitute of temporal, than this people of spiritual, life. What then, it may be asked, is the state of the heathen, who have not even these privileges! And who, oh! who that "has tasted of the good word of life," and has seen the heart-rending desolation which its absence occasions, can for a moment hesitate to come, by prayer and pro

perty, "to the help of the Lord against the mighty!"

In order to show you the miserable and blinded slavery and ignorance of this people, I will give you an anecdote which came under my own cognizance. Some years previous to the date of these "Recollections," a society was formed for the amelioration of the condition of the poor, and especially the Catholick population of this country, under the title of the " Hibernian School Society." In those schools the scriptures, and selections from the scriptures, were used; but proselyting was discountenanced. In a short time after the establishment of one of those schools in a neighbourhood, the scriptures became more plenty, and owing to the instructions, which were almost gratuitous, the Bible was no longer to many 66 a sealed book." This alarmed the Roman Catholick clergy-His un-holiness, the Pope, was immediately informed of the "leprosy" of knowledge, which had got among his good and hitherto ignorant people of Ireland; and the consequence was, that a mighty bull was immediately exported from the royal herd of Rome, into his Hibernian pasturage, to drive off this pestiferous enemy. Now I am aware that the inhabitants of this country would laugh at such folly, and would not feel the least alarm at the approach of such a harmless thing as a Popish bull." But in Ireland it was far otherwise; for immediately on the reception of this document, it was read by the priests from the pulpit, and such was its effect, that in the parish to which I allude, and in which there was one of these schools numbering about sixty scholars, only six were to be found bold enough to come the next day. In addition to this, they were ordered to return their Bibles, and in one instance, which came under my knowledge, the priest came into the family, and

seizing upon a New Testament, burned it before the owners.

But I will leave this subject, and accompany those who are willing to go with me, to the celebration of the sacrament of the Supper; that they may see the manner in which it is observed by the plain and innovation-hating Presbyterians of the north of Ireland. In fact so scrupulously do these good and unpretending people observe every iota, and exclude the minutest innovation, of this sacred ceremony, as handed down to them from the purest days of the church, that were John Knox himself to arise from the dead, and be present at the dispensation of the holy Eucharist in the north of Ireland, he might think he had been absent but a few months. How happy might it not be for the Christian church, were all its votaries as little inclined to refine on its doctrines, and to new-model its practices. But, alas! many of our wisest men

wisest since they tell us they are so-have not yet

"Learned to know how much need not be known."

[As the remainder of this paper properly forms a topick by itself, and we are in our present number pressed for space, our valued correspondent will excuse the delay of the residue till our next.]

MEMOIR OF MRS. LEAH W. MORRIS.

(Continued from p. 553—Vol. IV.) It yet remains to exhibit some of the outlines of her character.

Mrs. Morris possessed, in common with most of her father's family, a mind sound and vigorous. Had she enjoyed the early advantages of the truly great and excellent Mrs. Graham, whose biography she frequently read, and as frequently admired; had she, by Providence, been called with her to the same trials, and aroused by the same ne

cessities to exertion, she would have been equalled in mental energy by few, and surpassed by still fewer women of her time. But hers, more of a private and domestic life, presents few incidents worthy of record, and no written or public exhibitions of talent. But those who, by a familiar acquaintance with her, enjoyed frequent opportunities of witnessing the discrimination of her judgment, the versatility, the invention, and the originality of her mind, always felt, that hers were the observations of no ordinary intellect. And this was prominent, not only in her conversation, but to a careful observer, in the whole economy of her affairs through life-as might be fully illustrated by facts like the following-When her husband was living, it was her custom to have some useful book selected, which during their leisure hours they read together; and then, to strengthen each other's memory, and mature each other's reflection, they conversed frequently on its contents; and then they would introduce another, and again pursue the same course. What a rational application of time? How well adapted to the acquisition of useful knowledge? What an admirable means of producing that congeniality of mind, that would enhance all the endearments of the married state?

A systematic arrangement was also formed between them for the exercise of family discipline. If one administered correction, the other would never so interfere as to lessen the parent's authority in the eyes of the child; but they always appeared in concert and as they adopted the maxim, that correction should be inflicted on a child, not according to the irritated feelings with which an offended parent might frequently be influenced, but according to the magnitude of the offence committed, when one was applying the rod, the other, by signs, understood between themselves, but unknown to the

child, would signify when the punishment was likely to be too severe, and when to desist. And thus in acts of discipline, they appeared in unity, the one as judge, and the other as executioner. By this means the child was made to feel, that the application of the rod was regulated, not by caprice and passion, but by necessity and discretion-for his good, and not the parent's gratification. These are facts, in themselves apparently small, yet adapted to produce great practical results; and such judicious arrangements, mingled in all the economy of life, sufficiently distinguish between a superior and an ordinary mind.

Though Mrs. Morris received an education, respectable for this country in her time; yet her literary opportunities were not at all comparable with those presented to females of her rank, in the present day. But if owing to the neglect of the age, her advantages were comparatively small, yet she improved them, and they multiplied in her hand. The conversation of her old age, proved that the English classics, and approved works on Theology and History, had occupied the leisure of her youthful years. Within a twelvemonth before her death, though she often complained of the failure of memory, yet she could repeat, not merely a few words, or a line, or a sentence, but occasionally whole paragraphs from her favourite authors. How much to be regretted, that such a course of reading is not now more popular among reading females; and that for books of correct taste and solid information, are now substituted the legendary pages of romance, whose lying spirits rise from corrupt authors, just as did the frogs of Egypt, from the Nile, and infest the shelves, and contaminate the minds of modern youth, by filling them with fancies instead of facts, and by rendering their taste too fastidious and sickly, to relish any thing