further, what was the testimony of one who, at least, will be allowed to be an unbiassed evidence? What did the present secretary for Ireland say, after returning from visiting, in person, the tenantry upon the Irish estates of his noble grandfather? Speaking of the attacks which have been made upon the establishment, he says" If the same exertions had been employed in publishing the splendid instances of individual merit which are to be found amongst its members, the church would stand, at the present moment, far above the boldest attempts of calumny. In fact, the cases of abuse are exceptions from that mass of rectitude which is not less admirable for being found in the shade, and their very prominence proves the strength of the rule." Such are a few of the testimones that have been borne to the "locust" establishment, and which may afford some grounds for judging whether its extinction would be productive of general benefit to the country.

But, again, what a precedent will it afford for the gradual introduction of other measures, which (as far as Protestant security is concerned), will amount to a virtual Repeal of the Union. With all the fury of the great leader, he is a most profound and able man. There are persons who consider him as little better than a madman, for pursuing such a scheme, but they will find that he has, at least, as much of the wilyness, as of the strength, of madness; and that he will not waste his powers at a useless tug when the paulatim vello" will more effectually serve his purposes. Many of those persons express great surprise at his not having already given some notice on the subject. But they know little of the man. Thinking him to be a generous and devoted enthusiast, they naturally suppose that he would, in defiance of every obstacle in contempt of the all but unanimous sentitiments of the people of the sister country, and the Protestants of this bring forward his favourite measure. But, I repeat it, they know but little of the man. The Repeal of the Union is a fine topic out of doors a powerful agent in gathering in the 12,000. a-year from the wretched peasantry. But he has no such intention at present. There may be some Sanchos in his train, whom he amuses by sketches of

a constitution for their island, when they shall gain possession of it; but he is himself no Quixote; and poor Steele's plantations are not yet to be dispeopled of their pike-handles, in order to effect the separation of the two countries. No, O'Connell's plan is this:-He calculates upon exciting the sympathies of the English nation, who, in addition to all their honest and generous sentiments, are a very matterof-fact sort of people a people very likely to be gulled into the belief that, where there is such vehemence, there can be no dramatic deception. He calculates, also, upon the chance of there being some among the ministry weak enough to believe him serious in his menaces; and others, weak and wicked enough to propose lulling his Cerberean howl by throwing him a succession of sops. If, then, he can succeed in extinguishing the Protestant Church in Ireland again, in destroying the cor porations, which have been hitherto (amongst human means), the most prominent in preserving Protestant life and property-if he can further sueceed in obtaining an elective magistracy

and, lastly, in so altering the present constitution of the panel, as to secure a jury of Whiteboys to try their brethren in the dock-if he can, I say succeed in effecting all those preparations of anarchy, he is in hopes that there may be a party in the ministry which (influenced by a feeling similar to what we are told was once expressed by Lord Clarendon), may wish to get rid of all the trouble of governing Ireland; and may be, for handing over the few remaining Protestants that shall then be found, to his tender mercies, in the capacity of Chancellor, Attorney-General, or Chief Secretary; or, should Providence dispose the hearts of our rulers otherwise should they open their eyes at last to the folly of expecting to bind down this Protean monster by any ties, save those of physical compulsion-then, indeed, he may meditate bringing forward the measure seriously. And only see what a 'vantage ground he will then stand on in urging the Repeal question. In Ireland, Protestantism, (the only link that binds us to England), beaten down and crushed, and ready to embrace any alternative that may be offered, sooner than endure the slow but consuming fires of persecution to which she shall

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then be exposed. In England, a large portion, even of the most reflecting and loyal, disgusted at their "most filthy bargain," and indifferent to, if not anxious for, a separation. Is this an unlikely feeling to arise in England? Look to the course he is now pursuing, both in and out of doors. Seditione, dolis, scelere"-" Intra muros peccatur et extra." The whole business of the country impeded the great council of the nation occupied in listening to inflammatory harangues which, in reality, are intended, not for the house, but for the SCOUNDRELS out of the house; furious invectives against every public officer who dares to do his duty; and such veracious tales, as how, once upon a time, an Irish baronet was brought before a court-martial, and hanged up at his own hall-door, for not entertaining some hungry ensigns, &c. &c., for he does not now even aim at the questionable merit of the "paltering fiend" ➡“ he does not lie like the truth." Consider the effect of all this in time, even upon the sober and reflecting part of the English nation. Again, look to the course he is now pursuing with regard to the lower orders. Look at the famishing and ferocious banditti with which that hitherto unhappy land will be infested, if his fiendish advice is adopted. They are, it seems, to withdraw their money from the savings banks, in order, doubtless, to spend it at the ale-house-to drink the Liberator's health, who (like his predecessor, Jack Cade), will soon make "the three-hooped pot have ten hoops," and to devote any little surplus that may remain to the establishment of a new O'Connell fund, in addition to that pretty Dangelt which he has already inflicted on the wretched peasantry of his native land.

What a striking similarity, when we compare the awful circumstances of England, in the year 1819, with the state of Ireland at present and would we could say of Ireland alone-if the present system be long continued. Indeed, at all periods of the history of the world, the precursory signs of revolution and rebellion have been much the same, and this sameness of symptoms is a most providential safeguard. It seems to be one among the many indications of the way in which a moral Providence controuls the affairs of the universe. The Supreme Disposer of events does not

interpose a miracle to stay "the madness of the people ;" but, if the rulers should be perverse or infatuated enough not "to ask a sign of the Lord," in the hour of peril, he forces one upon their view, if they will but have "the eyes to see, or the ears to hear." He seems to call their attention to the records of the human race, where they will find that He has established it as a lawthat similar effects spring from similar causes; to the invariable connexion which has ever subsisted between unchecked licentiousness and open rebellion to the various instances in which (under his protection), promptness and energy have saved the land: and when fear and despondency are paralyzing their counsels, He seems to say to them, as to the Jewish leader, Why criest thou unto me; speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward." Yes, it is the fact, that whilst that true wisdom, which marks the statesman, is ever rich and new, and varying in its resources, prospective, remedial, all-embracing, consulting for the interests of the whole community, and not for the present occasion merely, but, for ages yet unborn; a merciful Providence seems, on the other hand, to have restricted the cunning of the agitator. He cannot find out channels for " abounding iniquity." He must fall back upon the clumsy artifices of his predecessor in guiltthe vulgar invective "the scurril jest

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new

the lie so oft o'erthrown." Hence it is that we see so strong, so pervading, a likeness between such portions of the history of mankind. It is but the same filthy agents, working upon the same filthy materials; but, perhaps, in no parallel that could be traced, are the points of resemblance stronger than between the period I have just alluded to and the present. If we wish to refresh our recollections on the subject, (and it will be a refreshment in more ways than one), let us take up any one of three of the most powerful displays of senatorial eloquence that ever thundered within the walls of a British parliament, the speeches of Grenville, Canning, and Plunkett-bursts which seemed at once to awaken the slumbering, moral might of England, and call upon her to shake off the horrible nightmare by which she had been so long convulsed.

What do we find then upon a survey

of that period? Itinerant demagogues, paid too, not men loving mischief for mischief's sake; but influenced by more selfish and solid considerations; Penny subscription orators, "Fortune hunters who would not court even deformity it self until they found that she was well portioned."Fellows of this description, assembling large and ferocious mobs, under the preposterous pretence of petitioning; but in fact for the purposes of intimidation and disorder. Again, a licentious and infidel press; and (in point of talent) such a press!!! Black Dwarfs, Medusas, &c. " Gorgons, Hydras and Chimeras dire," It was no longer the Bolingbrokes; the Voltaires; but the Carliles, and the Hones. It was no longer (to borrow the conception of our great painter) the "harlot infidelity" with something like beauty; and tricked out in the ostentatious finery of prostitution; but the same wretched creature, with features bloated and brutalized by excess, beating hemp amidst the vile inmates of the workhouse. It was no longer Satan, under the form of the "archangel ruined," but the foul and venemous "toad squatted at the rabble-ear." We all recollect this vile crew (their dullness unfortunately for a long time operating as a protection) speaking a language to which Englishmen had never been familiarized; the mingled and virulent dialect of treason, blasphemy, "malice, hatred aud all uncharitableness," assailing every order and institution, around which the habitual and long cherished affections of Englishmen had been entwined. Again the magistrates, men, who in defiance of every risk, at the peril of their lives and fortunes, set themselves to stem the desolating torrent; held up to general execration; petitions hawked about from one pot house to another, thumbed by every greasy ruffian, whose name was enrolled as one of the sovereign people, calling for justice on the devoted heads of their oppressors; and those very petitions, presented to the Legislature by certain Knights of the Post," who were ready (in addition to the damning internal evidence upon the documents themselves) to add the still more damning evidence of their own personal testimony. Again, the very judges of the land, bullied and brow-beaten, and held up to detestation and assassination; one of them, because he had declared

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his opinion in a charge to the grand jury of York, "that the riots had arisen not so much from actual distress as from acts of evil-minded persons," openly prescribed; astonishment expressed that "none of the staring thousands should raise his knife and plunge it into the bosom of the monster, who could coolly insult his sufferings." Such were some of the symptoms at the awful crisis I have alluded to, a crisis, however, when England's good genius prevailed and rescued her from the most awful fate that God in his inflictions ever sent upon a nation-the despotism of the mob.

Does it then (let me ask) require any very great effort of imagination or any " considering the matter too curiously" to find in the present state of the country a striking parallel to all the circumstances I have just mentioned. After the passing of the bill of 1829, we all flattered ourselves, (however we might have differed upon the accom panying measures,) that at least that horrible goitre; the Catholic Associa tion, had been deracinated. Have our hopes been realized, Has it not again appeared in a form, if possible, still more foul and loathsome. Have we not the Arena pouring forth from its vomitories at midnight, and through the heart of our metropolis, groups, and such groups!!! Spouters, whose style of oratory, (if we must “ squander away" such a term,) may be, for noise, and filth, and fury, compared to those mud volcanoes of which we have lately heard so much. Poor wretched tradesmen swindled out of their weeks earnings, and returning, maddened by want, and riot, and intoxication, to their naked and famishing families. Demogorgon himself, (by way of giving them a foretaste of the liberty they would enjoy under his paternal sway,) ordering his former

honest, trusty," but rather " too drouthy cronies," into the custody of the mob, or turning them out of his room, whenever a little too much of the native prompts them to resist his sovereign commands. "Illase jactat in aula. It is there he wins" brazen opinions" from the mob. "O cives, cives, quærenda pecunia primum est." It is not to be wondered at, that an advocate so well fee'd should stand forth, even in more august assemblies, as the vindicator of the "fine peasantry" which,