will prove, perhaps, a burden to sink them beyond any help save that of the Arm which, in its terrible uplifting, they refused to see, or to point out to their people. May they be led to a timely consideration of this for the spectacle of his scattered or slaughtered flock will be an agonizing sight to the pastor who refused to give them warning of the wolf's approach.'

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'We have cause to be thankful, uncle, that the recurrence of the great anniversary of our two national deliverances, on the Lord's day, gave fit occasion for so many faithful men to set before their congregation what every really Protestant minister must long to bring to their remembrance, though some may be too timidly backward in doing it at ordinary times.'

My uncle smiled. 'Nothing marks the extraordinary character of these times so strongly as the fact, that any thinking man, who professes to read his Bible, should consider them ordinary. If a clergyman chooses virtually to expunge from God's Book that part of it where no less a penalty than exclusion from the heavenly city is denounced on those who shall take away any thing from the words of the prophecy of that book, then he may, at his own peril, regard this time as ordinary. He who looks into the Holy Scriptures, and traces the course of past events, with a reference to prophetic truth, cannot fail to mark, with tolerable precision, the epoch at which we are arrived. He sees, in the east, the vial poured out upon the great Euphrates, with an exactness of fulfilment truly marvellous: he looks round, and finds in every quarter concurrent signs, enabling him to fix the present period as that where a solemn injunction to "watch," is given to the church of

Christ. To what purpose is this emphatic warning given, in an abrupt parenthesis of admonitory caution? At all periods of the world, at all times, and in all places, the Christian is exhorted to watch and pray to watch against temptation-to watch unto prayer to be vigilant against his adversary, the devil: but here is an especial call, distinct from the general command for watchfulness; and I am at a loss to conceive what excuse can be found for despising the Lord's gracious counsel, and refusing to hear, or at least to repeat, the warning that he has so mercifully given.'

This conversation took place before the meeting of parliament: an event to which my uncle looked forward with more anxiety than usual. He longed to see what he termed the line of battle displayed: but I don't think he anticipated so vigorous an onset from their quondam allies as the ministerialists were doomed to experience. It seemed to afford him peculiar satisfaction: he walked to and fro, rubbed his hands; and by the frequent smile that played on his features, I saw that a hope of better things had found entrance to his mind. As one of the Spottiswoode gang'-courteously so characterized by Mr. O'Connell, because at the suggestion of a gentleman of that name they had presumed to aid the aggrieved Protestants of Ireland in legally petitioning against illegal returns-my uncle richly enjoyed the augmenting lists of contributions; and proudly did he point out to me the long, full columns of youthful names, under the heads of the universities of the land. This true "Justice-to-Ireland rent," is a source of infinite delight to him. But sadly clouded did his clear brow appear, when the suggestion

seeming to point at a re-organization of the Orange society reached us.

'You know, my dear,' he said, 'that my whole heart is with them. I look upon the Orangemen of Ireland as the most injured and insulted body on the face of the earth. Such a return as they experienced for their ardently loyal devotion to the crown and cause of England in their own unhappy island, has seldom stained the page of any history. Having received from this country the assurance that the pure religion for which their fathers struggled, bled, and died, should be secured to them, and their national church upheld, they unreservedly threw themselves upon the presumed good faith of England, acquiesced in the sacrifice of their existence, as a distinct people, and with a bravery, a fidelity, an immoveable constancy, never surpassed, did they cleave to us, despite the menaces, despite the allurements that all the cunning of Satan himself could place before them. Have we forgotten the contortions of the great boa constrictor of agitation in the attempt to writhe himself into such a juxta position with the Orangemen as might enable him to suck them down his capacious throat? Have we forgotten the bumper of Boyne water, filled to the 'pious, glorious and immortal memory of the great and good king William the third,' by this master of dissimulationthe Orange medal pressed to his lips--the Orange flag to his bosom—while the storehouse of his crafty invention was ransacked for terms expressive of his fraternal and patriotic affection for the Orange brotherhood. There was a lurking temptation, the force of which we, in England, cannot appreciate, assailing that gallant body of Irishmen. They had much,

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very much ground of complaint, even then, on the score of non-performance of engagements entered into at the union they were conscious of the power residing in themselves, as a compact, harmonious band of patriots, fully competent to assert and maintain an ascendancy in their own country, if freed from English intervention. They might have made O'Connell the tool that he idly attempted to make them; and have used his instrumentality to get rid of what pressed more heavily on the Protestant than on the Popish section of the people. But no: the plighted honour of the Orangemen rose superior to every selfish consideration; and he remained true-oh, how true! to his engagement. Still relying on the empty repetition of an often violated assurance, the Orange Body sacrificed itself-disbanded, dissolved its loyal association; and each man went to his own home, an isolated being, singly thrown on the good faith of England's paternal government, for protection against those whom he had disabled himself from meeting on equal grounds!'

'It is all true, uncle-too true. And what sort of protection did they receive?'

'Do not encourage me to dwell upon it, my dear; or I shall once more throw the Orange ribband across my shoulders, and set the example of what I deprecate. You very well know, that the return made to those noble, confiding men, has been a tissue of insult, a foul mockery of their generous reliance.'

'Uncle,' I interrupted, it strikes me that you speak unadvisedly. I do not believe that the Orangemen of Ireland either had or affected to have, any confidence whatever in the government that crusbed them.

It was an instance of high principle, acting

out its own professions, even to the extent of selfimmolation. They knew what was likely to follow.'

'You are right, niece. I must correct myself. Your view of the matter enhances the sacrifice made, and does justice to the hearts that tendered it. Treated as the Irish Protestants have been-and you and I do not speak from hearsay: we have seen and judged for ourselves, on the spot-it is scarcely to be regretted if they place a limit to their abused submission; and once again unite for the protection which they may vainly demand at our hands. But-and here lies the pith of the matter-but though the cooler temperament, and more leisurely movements of John Bull, often belie the steady progress of his internal convictions, he has been touched, ay, and impressed, and excited too, by the patient endurance of his oppressed brother; and though slow in declaring it, he has long been gathering up his scattered energies to make a demonstration that shall give a very decisive turn to the posture of affairs in the west. Englishmen, even though partially benumbed by the torpedo touch of liberalism, can and must feel for brave, generous, faithful allies, disarmed for fighting by their side, and trampled down because they still held fast their integrity, and refuse to desert to the enemies' lines. The remedy that would be applied by the power of English conservatism must needs be one of searching depth, and extensive effect; altogether dissimilar from what the injured party alone can achieve, and embracing a far wider range. talk to the Protestants of Ireland of farther patience, obedience, and so forth, would be but to mock them with heartless words of unmeaning dictation; let the Protestants of England speak out, and avow them

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