Cook Street, when the pressure of the congregation caused the joists to give way. Several lives were lost; and, among others, the pious minister of the gospel was buried in the ruins. Chesterfield was then lord lieutenant; and, though a bigot at heart, he immediately caused all the chapels in the metropolis to be opened. He was enabled to do this the more readily, as the loyalty of the Roman Catholics during this trying period, was conspicuous, and undoubted. ing immediately from an extensive From that time to the present The sides of the chapel may be moment no opposition has been considered fronts also, being finishopenly offered to the public cele-ed in a very beautiful and singular bration of mass; and Dublin now style; in the centre of each is a exhibits fourteen or fifteen capa- retiring colonnade, rising from a cious edifices, where the Catholics flight of steps, and supporting an can hear the word of God. These entablature, and at each side, wings temples, however, are found to be or pavilions, ornamented by one still insufficient; and, in 1816, a large window divided into three Metropolitan Chapel, on a magni- compartments, by four pillars of ficent scale, was commenced on Portland-stone, and crowned by an a plot of ground formerly occupied entablature and pediment. There by the mansion of Lord Annesley. are no statues to be placed over any The ground was purchased for 500l. of the porticos. and the design was sent over to this country by an amateur artist, residing in Paris, who entrusted it to the care of Dr. Murray. The design is not taken from St. Maria Maggiore at Rome, St. Philip du Roulx at Paris, or any other building in existence: those churches are in the Roman, whereas the Metropolitan Chapel is in the Grecian style. The interior, which is not yet completed, will be equally simple and chaste. The centre or grand aisle is enclosed by a range of columns on each side, which support an entablature, from which springs an arched ceiling, divided into compartments. The colonnade is continued behind the altar, which stands in the centre of a semicircular recess at the end of the great aisle, exactly opposite the principal entrance, and a passage is left outside the colonnade in the recess. is 150 feet, and the breadth about 120. This stately edifice has been raised by subscrsption solely : 26,000l. has been already expend. ed upon it, and it will probably cost as much more to complete it. Hugh O'Conner, and Cardiff, Esqrs. contributed 7,000l. to this laudable purpose. The donation of Mr. O'Connor was 4,000. The management of the subscription is entrusted to a com mittee, of which the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin is chairman, and the members of this committee inspect the progress of the building.* The edifice, though not yet completed, is to be opened for the celebration of divine worship in a few days. The engraving at the head of this article is intended to repre. sent what this magnificent structure will be when finished. While I am ever ready to admit the liberal spirit of the present age, I am reluctantly obliged to state, that the legislature is still liable to be branded with fintoler. ance. The laws which still affect Catholic places of worship, and Catholic charities, are a disgrace to a nation claiming supremacy in point of civilization. While the members of other religious persuasions in Ireland,' says Counsellor Scully,+ are per. mitted to provide for the permanent maintenance of their respective ministers of worship, and of the esta blishments connected with their tenets, the Catholics alone are deThe altar, which is quite denied this permission. Reproached, as they frequently are, with the poverty of their clergy, the misery of their people, and the supposed ignorance of their poor, they are forbidden, by law, to resort to the necessary measures for supplying these deficiences. The principal front is presented to Marlborough Street, and consists of a portico of six magnificent columns of the Doric order, supporting an entablature, the frieze of which is ornamented with trig-tached from every other part of the lyphs; the entablature is carried along the front and sides of the entire building. Over the entablature, in front, is a magnificent pediment, the tympanum of which is enclosed by a rich mutule cornice. Beneath the portico are three entrances, the principal one in the centre, and the smaller near the extremities of the colonnade. The portico is a projection of ten feet; the columns are without bases, ris building, is of white marble, en- The Catholics, though they see in silence that all the national charities, legislative endowments, and pious funds, are absorbed in Pro* Wright's Dublin. 1 Statement of the Penal Laws. charities in Ireland will be found First, as to donations of lands testant institutions, and monopo- It seems unjust to refuse all national aid, all participation of public bounty, to those great and salutary objects. But it is too much to forbid the Irish Catholic to exercise his benevolent feelings towards Catholic foundations, to debar him from settling a moderate annuity or piece of land upon his own pastor for the time being, from granting or procuring a long lease of the site of a Catholic chapel or school-house, or endowing any of those valuable charities, permanently, with suitable means of maintenance; nay, even to convert these prohibitions into topics of habitual obloquy, ridicule, and reprobation against the Catholic community. The Law of Charities, as now in force in Ireland, is involved in some obscurity. The highest judicial authorities have, even recently, admitted the difficulty of tracing the doctrine of this subject. subsequent statutes have also, upon the same principle, dispensed with the Mortmain acts in favour of various kinds of donations. 6 As, of impropriations of Protestant benefices, glebes, tithes, and other rights, heretofore deemed ecclesiastical, to be granted to the Protestant clergy. 'Endowment of churches with glebe lands.§ Grants to various Protestant That "No corporation, civil corporate bodies, by force of seve. or religious, should purchase any ral statutes enacted from the year lands in mortmain, under penalty 1701 to the present time; and emof forfeiture of the lands purchas-powering those corporations to ed,*" that is to say, that no reli- take and purchase lands, in pergious house, or any bishop, priest, tuity, for the maintenance of them&c. for himself and his successors, selves aud of their succesrors, and should, or could, take any interest for the permanent support and proin land, &c. for support of the secution of the purposes, for which house, or of the bishop, priest, &c. those corporations were respecfor the time being, and his succes- tively formed. sors. Thus, gifts of land to corporations, civil and religious, and purchases by or for them, were declared generally void. However, subsequent exceptions have been made, by express statutes, in favour of certain Protestant institutions, and of such testant institutions, and of such corporations as the king may think proper to license. For, in 1634, it was enacted by the parliament of Ireland, that "All archbishops and bishops in Ireland may be compelled in Chancery, or by petition to the council board, to execute trusts and conveyances to them, of lands or hereditaments, +" for certain purposes specified by the act, which alone are thereby declared to be lawful and charitable purposes; such as "The law of England differs mabuilding and repairing Protestant terially from that of Ireland, rechurches, colleges, schools, or hosspecting charitable donations.pitals, bridges or highways, mainThis is chiefly owing to two important statutes in force in Eng. land, which have not been enacted in Ireland; namely, the statute of the 1 Ed. 6. c. 14, and that of 9 Geo. 2, c. 36, English. Of these we shall treat presently. However, we apprehend that the following view of the law of tenance of ministers and preachers, Mortmain Acts, 7 Ed. 1, stat 2.; 15 ↑ 10 Charl. 1, sec. 3, c. 1. Nearly simi- 'Finally, in 1792, an act|| was passed, whereby "His majesty, his heirs and successors, are authorised to grant licences to any person, body, politic or corporate, to grant or to purchase, acquire, or take lands in mortmain :" that is, in the manner forbidden by the old Mortmnin Acts, already mentioned. Thus, the prohibition being general, and the exceptions limited to Protestant institutions, or to such lawful purposes as the crown may direct, it follows, that the Catholics alone remain, at this day, disabled from endowing any of their charities with any lands, or interests in lands: and this is in three ways, viz. 1. If a person were to grant lands to a Catholic charity—as, for the maintenance of the pastor, the support of the chapel, school, &c. there exists no Catholic corporation, civil or religious, legally competent to take such lands in trust, or competent to any other purpose: for the law does not recoguise the 10 and 11 Charl. 1, c. 2. § 15 Charl. 1, c. 11.; 2 Anne, c. 10 and 19.; 4 Geo. 1, c. 14.; 10 Geo. 1, c. 7. ; 11 and 12 Geo. 3, c. 11. 15.; and 16 Geo. 3, c. 33, &c. &c. 32 Geo 3, c. 81. Similar to the stat. 7 and 8 Will. 3, c. 37. English. Catholic bishop, or priest, and his successors as a body corporate, for any purpose whatsoever. 2. Even if there did exist a Catholic corporation, it could not take lands without a licence from the crown: and, under the present system of penal laws, such a licence isnot to be expected. 3. If a Catholic corporation were even to obtain such a licence, it would not (neither would any individual) be enabled to take lands for any other than charitable and lawful purposes, as recognized by existing law. Now there is every reason to apprehend (as we shall presently show) that it would not be deemed a good charitable use, within the policy of the law, to apply the income of such lands towards the support of Catholic clergy, schools, or similar foundations. II. As to Donations of Money, or of other personal property, 1. It is true, that donations of this nature, for the permanent support of Catholic charities, do not appear to be prohibited by the express letter of any statute, enacted in Ireland. his representatives, but are to be appropriated to Protestant institutions. at prayers for souls:" these, and Now it is laid downt that not only by force of this statute, and of other statutes, (as 15 Rich. 2, c. 5., 23 Hen. S. c. 10 37 Hen. 8. c. 4.) but also generally as head of the church, and as entrusted by the common law, to see that nothing is done in maintenance or propagation of a false religion-the king is entitled to all such grants, gifts, &c. so as to appropriate them to other uses, that are held lawful and truly charitable. 2. If such, then be the established principles of the common law, they must guide courts of justice in Ireland, as well as in England. And it follows, that all gifts and grants of lands, money or goods, in Ireland, to or for the support of a Catholic pastor of a parish, &c. are as fully comprehended in the prrohibition, as if the statute of Edw. 6, had been enacted in Ireland. Indeed, it has been held, by very respectable authority, and not controverted, "That superstitious uses are void, not merely by the statutes of England, but also by the general policy of the law." This argument of general policy, be pushed to any extent, that may • In England, indeed, such donations are declared illegal, by a celebrated statute (enacted in the in-being of an undefinable nature, may fancy of the Reformation) which enumerates a great variety of gifts and charities of this nature, terms them superstitious uses, and vests them in the king, who is empower- The master of the rolls in Enged to direct and appoint them "inland (Sir W. Grant) thus expresses eodem genere,' -so as that they himself: There is no doubt that can never revert to the donor or a disposition, for the purpose of bringing up and educating children in the Catholic religion, is unlawful" And in Ireland too, in a "By this statute, a superstitious very recent case, the lord chancel. use is defined to be, "Where lands, lor (Manners) intimated a strong tenements, rents, goods, or chat. leaning against the validity of a sitels are given, secured, or appoint-milar disposition; and, although ed for or towards the maintenance of a priest or chaplain, to say mass; of a priest or other man to pray for the souls of the dead or of any dead person-or to maintain perpetual obits, lamps, &c. to be used English stat. 1 Edw. 6. c. 14. + Bacon's Abridgement, vol. 1.581. 4 Co. Rep. 104. Cro. Jam. 51. Sulk Rep. 162. Mr. Mitford, in Cary . Abbot, 7 Vesey, jun. 492. 1802. Commissioners of Charitable Bequests v. Dr. Bray, Dr. Power, and others. April 21, 1809. this case has not been finally de cided, there appears but little room to doubt, that his lordship adopts the construction already received in England. It is, therefore, not too much to affirm, upon a view of all these circumstances, that no person can safely give or grant any lands, money, or other property, to or for the permanent support of any Catholic priest, house of worship, school, charitable edifice or foundation of any description,—in Ire. land; subject as such donation must be to serious doubts and hazards. That such donation would probably be diverted to Protestant institutions, directly contrary to the donor's intent, is a prospect sufficiently discouraging, to deter any rational person from granting it. 6 This may be taken, therefore, as equivalent to an actual and positive prohibition.' THE ENLIGHTENED ENGLISH. FACTS illustrative of the com. parative ignorance of the lower orders in England have become so notorious, that I thought it need. less to insert them. I saw, not many weeks since, a woman standing on the scaffold before Newgate, while the hangman passed over a wen on her neck, the hand of a person just executed, that process being considered an infallible curc. Such a scene is quite common here, and no one present attempts to rediculesuch absurdity, yet John Bull talks about the superstitious, the ignorant Irish. It is not for the purpose of insulting the English nation, and ridiculing the English peasantry, that I make these extracts. No such thing; but I want to shew them that, while they see a mote in their neighbour's eye, there is a beam in their own. The following is taken from the Home Mismonth. The name of the place is sionary Magazine' for the last given, and it looks like truth. 6 Where in Ireland can such deplorable ignorance be found? Awful Ignorance in England. feelings are appalled at the cir- there were FORTY WHOLE FAMI- HOUSES COULD MORE THAN TWENTY DEAR SIR.-I often find a lively interest excited in my mind when reading the accounts you give of our "Home Mission," a society highly calculated to rend the dark shades of ignorance that have so long surrounded the vil-ciety has three stations, though far lages of our much favoured island: distant from this neighbourhood,) the institution, by bringing into a call was made at seventy-two action the combined energies of houses in progression, which were piety, zeal, and property, and found to contain three hundred watching over and strengthening and fifty-eight souls; out of such its measures in progress, will ef- a number, eighty only can read: fect, under the divine blessing, these principally had received their that which individual efforts, how-instructions at Sunday schools; ever great, must sink under; and we may, with such agents as it employs, anticipate the period when the desert shall blossom as the rose;" for that there are, in a moral point of view, "deserts" in our own country, none need doubt, and if they do, it can only be for the want of an acquaintance with these dark places of the earth." I would, therefore, most seriously recommend such to take an evangelical ramble, and see for themselves. Cities, towns, and watering places have their attractions, and these often operate powerfully on the religious world, and when attended with a pure feeling for the divine glory, visits to them may be beneficial;-but the poor, the ignorant, the dirty village, is often considered, not only as destitute of all charms, but as a place cautiously to be avoided, even by those who, in other cases, seem to have a love for immortal souls, and whose sincerity we would not question. I rejoice, however, that your society provides agents, whose business it is to step out of the common track, and tread more in the steps of our great Lord and Master, who, whilst he faithfully warned and wept over the citizens, did not fail to visit and instruct the villagers, leaving us an example. "The following fact came under my own notice, and whilst my SCRIPTURES BE FOUND, and many T. H. It is singular that such a character should have been honoured by the especial favour of the most illustrious courts of Christendom. The agents of authority certainly do not always bear an unblemished reputation, but it is not by imperial crosses and royal orders that the labours of such assistants are rewarded. There is for them the secret service money and the suspected subsidy; for the most absolute despotism depends upon a feeling of honour, and the most abject of nobles would deem his feelings outraged, if he wore the My letters from home relative same riband as a pirate. But Paul to the disposition of the public Jones was the intimate and respectmind are so satisfactory that I do ed friend of many of the most disnot think it necessary to publish tinguished and most estimable chamy intended address to the peasan-racters of his age, and, above all, try; particularly as a small Tract the illustrious Franklin signalled of mine on Cottage Economy, &c. him out as the object of his sincere will be ready in a few days. This and valuable friendship. We shall, TRACT shall contain more useful in the following pages, learn in Gornal, Sept. 5, 1825. THE PEASANTRY. what circumstances the popular conception of Paul Jones's charac ter has originated.' which are contained in a letter written at a more advanced period of his life, it is evident that he had So far the preface to this volume. been engaged in commerce to no The original papers from which inconsiderable extent, and had sufthe particulars of this extraor fered from the ill conduct of his dinary man's memoirs have been partner. In 1773 he was in Vir. extracted, are undoubtedly genu-ginia, arranging the affairs of his ine; and, while they amuse the brother, who had died intestate in reader, they shew to the world that county. It is probable that how much injustice national pre- Paul, at this period, was suffering judice will induce men to commit. from pecuniary difficulties. It is Paul Jones, hitherto, has been look- certain that he was living in ed upon in this country as a sanAmerica in a very retired manner, guinary pirate-a ruffianly Bucca- and about this time he adopted the neer; but what is the fact? Jones name of Jones. was one of God Almighty's nobility; he possessed the soul of a hero-was humane, benevolent, and tender, and seems to have been as learned as he was brave: by learned I mean practical knowledge; and, from the letters and poems which are given, he appears to have been also a man of some literary talent. 66 "John Paul Jones," says the biographer, was born in the month of July, 1747, at Arbegland, in the stewartry of Kirkcudbright, in Scotland. His father, John Paul, was a gardener, and young Paul received the rudiments of his education at the parochial school of Kirkbean. The contiguity of his residence to the shore of the Solway Firth inspired him with an early predilection for a seafaring life; and his friends, yielding to the ardour of his youthful supplications, sent him at the age of twelve across the Firth to Whitehaven, and bound him apprentice to a merchant in the American trade, of the name of Younger. 'Before he had completed his thirteenth year he landed on the shores of that country which he was destined to adopt as his own. "Young Paul was at length freed from the trammels of apprenticeship. Of his life at this period scarcely any memorials exist, except that he made several voyages to various parts of Europe and America. From certain details, The with deep interest the political agitation, which seemed now about to subside into submission, and now to burst into independence. want which was then generally felt of able naval officers gave him an opportunity of offering his services to the Congress, and on the 22d December, 1775, he was appointed by that body a first lieutenant of tlie American navy.' The first proceedings of the in. fant navy were not very successful, but the genius of Jones-a name be had now assumed-soon triumphed over difficulties, while he pointed In a letter to the Honourable out to the Congress the means of Robert Morris, written three years remedying the defects which existafter this period, he says, "I con- ed in the naval affairs of America. clude that Mr. Hewes has acquaint- It is singular,' says the biograed you with a very great misfor-pher, that during the first years tune which befell me some years of the American navy, with the ago, and which brought me into exception of Paul Jones, no man North America. I am under no of any talent is to be found directconcern whatever that this, or any ing its operations. Had it not past circumstance of my life, been for the exertions of this indi. will sink me in your opinion. vidual, who was unsupported by Since human wisdom cannot secure fortune or connexion, it is very us from accidents, it is the greatest probable that the American naval effort of wisdom to bear them well." power would have gradually disappeared. But Jones was not con. tented with reforming petty abuses in the profession which he so loved, or conducting expeditions near the shores of his country. His views were more extensive, and his comprehensive mind had been long in. tent upon undertakings far more important. The moment that he had obtained a duc rank in the service of his country, and when, from the importance of his services, his advice became to be considered as authority, he instantly develop 'If, as is most probable, he alludes, by the phrase "very great misfortune," to some incident of his commercial life, it must be ob served, that we shall have hereafter to admire his pure and honourable conduct on this subject. 'Before the British American colonies had avowed their independence, the maritime aggressions of Great Britain had determined the American Congress to proceed to reprisal. It was resolved therefore that a naval force should immediately be fitted out, and an cager search was made for individuals capable of acting on board the infant fleet. Jones had at this period just completed his twenty-eighth year, and had already begun to discover that he was not precisely suited for the solitude which the first disappointment of life had made him deem so valuable. The cause of American liberty had found in him an carly advocate, and he watched ed his ideas to the assembled Congress. The plan of Jones was characterized by a magnificent boldness, unusual to the naval operations of those days; and indeed it may be doubted, whether any mode of conduct was ever recommended to the notice of a govern. ment, at once so daring in its conception, and so matured in its detail. It required no slight degree of courage to recommend to a government of a country yet covered with |