val of civil disabilities, and a free admission into the full privileges of the constitution; yet it clearly appears, that if they were made Legislators and Judges to-morrow, that would not content them; it would avail them nothing, as long as the Established Church like Mordecai, sat at the King's gate. They are not emancipated yet; none pay tribute but slaves; they still pay the tithe tribute, and therefore they are not emancipated. Such would be their ulterior arguments, accordingly they would act, and Ireland be as far from peace as ever. Will, then, the Protestants of the British Empire forego their cautionary wisdom-will they, tempted by the "beau ideal" of bestowing a community of constitutional rights on their fellow countrymen, forget how uncongenial the spirit of Popery is with the Protestant Institutions of British polity. The warnings of history are before us, shewing how Lazaroni, and Poissardes, and Slaves let loose, are not fit for freedom, but licentiousness. What then is an Irish Romanist but the slave of his Priest ;-let him then first be emancipated from that severest of all bondages, and then the freedman of Rome may become the legislators of Imperial England. FOREIGN RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. FRANCE. Lyons. A great part of the inhabitants of the village of Marcy, in the department of the Rhone, have renounced the Roman Catholic religion, and embraced Protestantism. In addition to this, a considerable number of the most respectable class in the City of Lyons, have gone over to the Reformed Faith. Nancy.-Serious disturbances have been excited in this city, by the intolerant conduct of the Bishop Forbin Janson, who, without any grounds, removed a Priest from his parish, where he was universally esteemed, The Bishop is devoted to the Jesuits, which has drawn on him the ill-will of all moderate and intelligent persons. His palace was attacked, and he found it necessary for his safety, to leave the city. Paris. The Police have suppressed a pamphlet, by the Rev. Wurtz, Priest of the parish of St. Nizier, at Lyons, by order of the Procureur du Roi. This work (Lettre à M. l'Abbé de la Mennais) attacks the liberties of the Gallican Church, and reduces every thing to a servile dependance on the Pope. GERMANY. Hanover.-Nov. 19, 1825. A Jewish family, Nathan Ritter of Eimbeck, his wife, and four children, were bap. tized in the Church of Lauenstein. The ceremony was very fully attended, and an excellent sermon was preached by Dr. Goldmann. Wurtemberg.-The Waldenses, who have been settled in this kingdom for some generations, have hitherto preserved their original language in their schools and churches, but in consequence of the recommendation of government, they intend for the future to make use of the German. The union between the Lutherans and Calvinists, is also rapidly proceeding in this part of the countryindeed a difference hardly exists at present, for the Lutherans receive the Calvinist Ministers as the pastors of their Church, and vice versa. Austria.-In Steiermark, (a Province in Austria,) it is calculated that there is one clergyman to 381 laymen— In Russia, one to 262.-In Spain, one to 50.-In Sicily, one to 23-and in Portugal, one to 15. SWITZERLAND. Geneva,-In consequence of the numbers of Roman Catholics, who annually come over to the Protestant religion in this Canton, and to avoid as far as possible, any religious disputes, which the public form of recantation hitherto in use might occasion, the clergy of Geneva have determined on admitting all converts to the Holy Sacrament, on their making application privately to any pastor in the church. This regulation was adopted at the conclusion of the past year. VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS. We rejoice in being enabled to congratulate the public on the final termination of the Burmese contest, and that our arms have been attended with complete success. Great as has been the loss of life, our superiority seems not to have been at all doubtful, and the Burmese, who for the first time had tried the force of the British, appear to have far overrated their own strength: four provinces are ceded in perpetuity to the British, and four others placed under our protection; the expenses of the war are paid, and free commercial relations established. But we trust the cause of humanity and religion have been served by the contest. No one who looks at the map of India but must have perceived the inevitable contest that was impending, and perhaps the hastening such a contest before the parts of the Burmese Empire lately conquered, and coalescing badly, bad become consolidated by time, has been a saving of human life instead of a waste. The interference of the British, and intercourse with civilization, must improve the state of the Burmese; the tolerant spirit of our Government, and the missionary feeling which pervades the east, will, we trust, be found friendly to their best interests, and thus the sword of the conqueror may be made but the forerunner of the Bible and the Cross, No news from the other quarter of India, in which a rising had excited some alarm, has been made public, but, from the inconsiderable nature of the foe, nothing serious can be apprehended. Our empire in the East is however so circumstanced, as never to permit confidence-a spark would suffice to set all Hindoostan in a blaze. The native princes are sufficiently ready to rejoice in a general insurrection, and although the mass of the population are decidedly benefited by our rule, unquiet spirits in abundance would be found to join any hostile standard. In England the disorders of the manufacturing districts have subsided, partly by the interference of the military, and partly by the active exertions and benevolence of the residents, What the legislature could do has been effected by a modification of the corn laws, which Government has carried, notwithstanding a spirited opposition on the part of the landed interest. The attention of Parliament has been repeatedly called to the Slave Trade during the Session; but we regret, that while there is not a second opinion outside the doors of the house, the West India interest should be so strong within, that Mr. Brougham's motion, which only pledged the house to an early consideration of the question, was lost by a division of 100 to 38. A speedy dissolution of Parliament is expected. The Distress prevails to a considerable extent in the manufacturing parts of Dublin, and great doubts are entertained as to the expedients proposed for alleviating it. That much of the evil originated in the spirit of combination, there can be but little doubt, and the remedy applied seems unable to meet the disease. King, with the benevolence that has ever marked his character, has subscribed£500 to the Dublin, and £200 to the Drogheda fund, and yet his bounty has been made the theme of censure, ridicule, and abuse in the Roman Catholic Association. We condemn not the exertions made by the Roman Catholics to regain what they with sincerity may consider their political rights, but it seems to be trifling with an important subject, to demand these rights, while joining with a party whose leaders make it their boast to outrage, in the undistinguishing violence of party zeal, every social and moral obligation. We are glad to learn, that considerable doubts are thrown upon the capture of Missalonghi. 486 POETRY. THE HARP OF JUDAH. "How shall we sing the Lord's song, in a strange land.”—Psalm cxxxvii 4. BY THE REV. THOMAS KELLY. WHY SLEEPS THE HARP OF JUDAH NOW? Why laid unheeded on the bough, WHY SLEEPS THE HARP OF JUDAH NOW? Are all restrain'd, by solemn vow, That none will praise the King of kings? WHY SLEEPS THE HARP OF JUDAH NOW? Our foes insulting ask a song, And of their captives mirth demand; From Zion far we mourn and pine, Our hearts are sad, our tongues are dumb. And is that arm of pow'r bereft, The Lord from exile will recal His people to their native shore, Then let the harp of Judah ring, SONNET BY THE REV. J. WILLS. MOSES. Wisdom's first earthly name was his for man, Till ages roll asunder, and reveal The crowning light above it -God's own truth : Who taught creation's awful mystery, The Spirit and the Word, the spring of light, Whose record earth contained not; save in guise Of uncouth symbol, or mysterious rite, Fitly esteemed by few. Until inspired, He wrote them first-the wondrous Genesis |