Indeed it is most creditable to the orthodox Presbyterian body, that so few amongst them have been seduced into an approbation of this system; and that of these few, some have honestly relinquished all connection with it, when its real character became fully known to them. Its chief advocates must still be looked for amongst Papists and Socinians; amongst those who hate the blessed light of scripture, because it would expose the monstrous fallacies by which they trade on public credulity, and those who deny the divinity of the Son of God. The orthodox churchman, who finds himself in such company may well say"Woe is me, that I am constrained to dwell with Mesech, and to have my habitation in the tents of Kedar; my soul has long dwelt among those that are enemies unto peace."

The Morning Chronicle refers to Mr. Blake's evidence, for the purpose of showing that the present works, on the whole, more equitably than any former system. But it does not state that Mr. Blake's conclusions have been drawn from Mr. Carlile's returns, and that these have been shewn to be so inaccurate, that no dependence should be placed upon them.

Our readers will probably hold in mind a letter of the Archbishop of Dublin, in reply to a communication from the Derry clergy, in which, for the purpose of showing how well the system works, in the combined education of Protestants and Roman Catholics, his Grace selects four cases, which, he says, are taken at random from these returns, (iu point of fact, they stand at the head of them,) and from which it would appear, that the Protestant children in attendance amount to 241, while the Roman Catholic children only amount to 200; thus, as far, at least, as these cases go, negativing the assertion that they are exclusively Popish schools. Now, these schools were also visited by the Rev. Lorenzo H. Robinson, and his returns are very different from those of Mr. Carlile. Finding this discrepancy when he arrived in London, he was desirous of knowing, exactly, how the case really stood, and he wrote to the Rev. Mr. Maclain, submitting to him both Mr. Carlile's and his own returns, and begging of him to visit the schools, and ascertain as nearly as possible, which were correct. The schools were -Mulladuff, Dorsey, Tullyvallen, and Cortamlet. The first was returned by Mr. Carlile as containing fifty Pro

testants and thirty Roman Catholics; Mr. Robinson returns it as containing thirty-five Protestants and seventy Roman Catholics; that is, Mr. Carlile represents the Protestants as bearing to Roman Catholics the proportion of two to one; while Mr. Robinson represents the Roman Catholics as bearing to Protestants very nearly the proportion of two to one. Upon examination, Mr. Maclain found that Mr. Robinson's return was the correct one, and his belief is, that even in the account given to him, the number of Protestants is greatly overrated. The master of the school professed himself wholly unable to account for Mr. Carlile's mistake.

With respect to Dorsey national school, Mr. Carlile's statement was, that there were fifty-four Protestants, and one hundred and twenty Roman Catholics; Mr. Robinson's statement, that there were three Protestants, and one hundred and forty-six Roman Catholics. The latter statement was found to be the correct one; the roll evincing and the master declaring that Mr. Carlile's return was most unaccountably erroneous. The masters, in the two last cases were Roman Catholics.

With respect to Tullyvallen national school, Mr. Carlisle's return is, fiftyseven Protestants and seventy Roman Catholics; Mr. Robinson returns the gross number as seventy-six; this the master declares was the number returned to Mr. Robinson, and that it is correct; but he adds now, for the first time, that there may be included in it from ten to twenty Protestant children, who, however, had never been regular in their attendance. He pronounces Mr. Carlile's return altogether incorrect, and is wholly unable to account for it.

With respect to Cortamlet, Mr. Maclain makes no report, except that it never could be fairly considered a national school, as the inhabitants of the town-land in which it is situated, solicited the patron, Mr. Bond, not to place it under the national board, and entered into a legal agreement to pay the master £30 per annum, provided their wishes were complied with. “Mr. Bond," he observed, "has agreed to their request, and Cortamlet school is not now, even in name, a national school. In reality, it never was; the scriptures were read at all hours, and the scripture extracts supplied by the board carefully excluded. I myself, repeatedly visited the school at differ

ent hours, and always found the children reading the scriptures."

In thus exposing the incorrectness of Mr. Carlile's returns, we have not, by any means, selected the most glaring instances that might be produced; but have chosen those, especially, upon which the Archbishop of Dublin relied, when he wrote that letter to the Derry clergy, in which he expressed his gratification at the favourable view which they were disposed to take of the system of national education, and labours, evidently, that such an impression of it might go abroad, as that others might be induced to follow their example. The reader has now seen how grossly his Grace had been deceived, when he was, thus, unwittingly, made the medium of a false representation, and how necessary it is to undeceive those who, by his high authority, may have been misled. It is, also, quite plain that any calculations founded upon Mr. Carlile's returns, must be absolutely good for nothing. We may, on a future occasion, take an opportunity of entering into them more at large; but, we trust, enough has been at present adduced to prove them utterly worthless. His Grace, the Archbishop of Dublin's representations, therefore, as far as they are founded upon them, must go for nothing. Mr. Blake's calculations, as deducible from them, must, therefore, go for nothing. All the vapouring of The Morning Chronicle, and the other ministerial journals, in setting forth his Grace's representations and Mr. Blake's calculations, which they do most triumphantly, must therefore pass for nothing more than so much idle vaunting -if they be not, indeed, in effect, (as coming from those who profess, at least, to have consulted the report), a most disgraceful suppression of evidence and perversion of facts, which carries with it its own condemnation.

It was our intention to have said something of the nature of the inspection, and the characters of the inspectors, employed by the commissioners in the supervision of their schools, but the length to which our paper has already extended, renders it quite impossible to do that part of the subject any thing like justice. Should we think it necessary to take up the subject again, we will not fail to bestow upon these

"*

These and other matters, connected with the workings of this system, must, for the present, be postponed. But we cannot postpone the admirable view which Mr. Colquhoun gives, in his evidence before the House of Lords, of the system which should really be pursued, and which is peculiarly fitted to the condition of Ireland.

"Should you then consider it objectionable even to give separate education to Roman Catholics, unless it was given on principles which required resistance to their priesthood?

"I should decidedly. I conceive that a Protestant State will find itself to be at issue with the principles of the priests of the Church of Rome; and they occupy the most favourable position if that issue be taken on the ground of education, in which the feelings of the parents will be enlisted on the side of the Protestant State. I think it much better, therefore, that the Protestant State should meet the collision of the priesthood upon the ground of education than upon any other ground; nor do I conceive that you can avoid this collision. If you intend to give a solid education to the people, I do not think it possible to avoid it.

"Then is it to be inferred that you would leave the Roman Catholic population entirely in ignorance unless so far as you can enforce Protestant education upon them ?

"I would certainly not leave them in ignorance any more than the Church and State of Scotland left the people of Scotland in ignorance. I would place in every parish a scriptural school; I would make that school admirable in its intellectual arrangements; I would take care that the master should be an efficient master, and I would then trust most confidently

Certainly not.

"But requiring that they should study the Scriptures as a necessary part of their education?

"Even upon that point I should say that was a matter upon which discretion might be used. I am not prepared to say that the State would act wisely in insisting upon the Roman Catholics reading the Scriptures in the schools; but I am prepared to say, that they should plant a good scriptu ral school, with a good efficient master, in every parish, and that he should be left to his own discretion upon that point.

"By a good and efficient master' do you understand necessarily a master not of the Roman Catholic religion?

"I think so; because I question if a Roman Catholic master would be good and efficient.'

"In point of fact is it not known that the Scotch system of education does not require the presence of the Roman Catholic scholars at the reading of the Scrip

tures ?

"It does not require it.

"Then you would give no education whatever to the Roman Catholics but through the medium of Protestant schoolmasters ?

"Through the medium of schoolmasters selected by a Protestant body; I am not prepared to say that they must all be Protestants, because I know many Roman Catholic schoolmasters in Ireland who are in that state of transition of mind in which they are passing from Roman Catholic doctrines to Protestant doctrines; and so far from wishing to exclude that class, I should hail them, and place them in the schools.

"Then in fact you would only have Protestant schoolmasters, or such Roman VOL. XI.

Catholic schoolmasters as you believed to be in a transition state?

"I should almost say that I would leave a larger discretion than that; I would say that the schoolmasters must either be Protestants or in a transition state, or men of such known candour of mind as would induce a Board who were

watchful over the interests of Protestantism to select them. I am not prepared to say that the Board using its discretion might not select honest and conscientious Roman Catholics.

"But you would object to any schoolmaster who attended to the recommendation or desire of the priesthood in not allowing the Scriptures to be generally read in the school?

"I should object to any master who would look for his interest and consider himself under the direction of the Roman Catholic priesthood.

"You would consider that his being a Roman Catholic would not be a decided objection in your mind, if he were from any considerations independent of the influence of the priesthood?

66

Certainly; that is exactly the view I entertain.

"Is it not true that of late years the Church of Scotland has exerted itself with much vigour in planting schools in remote districts of the country where they were wanting?

"It is beginning to do so, and as far as its funds go it will do so.

"Did you say that your objection to the religious instruction in general use in the National Schools was, that the priests taught the children that there was no salvation out of the Church of Rome?

66

Certainly; that doctrine is taught in the catechisms which are taught in many cases by the masters of the schools upon the Sunday, and those books are referred to and sanctioned by the Board of Education.

"Have you ever visited any of the Kildare-street schools?

"I do not think I have.

"Are you aware whether, in the Kildare-street schools, previous to the establishment of the National Schools, the number of scholars was, generally speaking, increasing or diminishing in the Roman Catholic parts of the country?

"I believe that it diminished rapidly from the exertions made by the priests; but I still remain of opinion that those exertions might have been met if the State had shown itself determined to mainI think tain scriptural instruction. there was on the part of the priests an expectation that their efforts would prevail to induce the State to endow such a system of united education as the present,

R

and consequently, I think, they acted wisely for their purposes in withdrawing as many children as they could from the schools of the Kildare-place Society.

"Do you mean, in speaking of the efforts which might have been made by the State, any interference by the State?

"Not further interference than by continuing or increasing the grant to a Board of Scriptural Education, instead of the present Board.

"Then you think, that although the number attending the scriptural schools was diminishing, if the grants had been increased, the number of children attend ing would have increased?

"I think so, if it had been made clear to the minds of the priests and people that the Parliament of this country could not give way upon that great principle. "Do you think it would have induced the priests to diminish their exertions?

"It probably would not have induced

them to diminish their exertions; their exertions would have been continued for a-certain time, but they would have worn themselves out, or rather the people would have prevailed over them. The struggle was going on, and I conceived we interfered at a very critical moment of the struggle. When the priests had succeeded in withdrawing a great number of children, we interfered and established another system of education. Had we, instead of establishing another system of education, persisted in the old scriptural system, and made it more efficient, then the children would have leaped over the priests' barriers; and though he withdrew them in the beginning of the month, they would have been at the end of the month in the school again.

"You think that the success of the priests in withdrawing children from the schools in that state of things, is no proof

that they would not have been unsuccessful afterwards, if that assistance on the part of the State to the scriptural schools

had been continued?

"No proof whatever."

We must now conclude. The immense mass of matter which lies before us, and upon which we have not been able to touch, may invite us, at a future period, to resume the subject. Assuredly, there is no one, at present, more important. The momentous question at issue is, into whose hands are the rising generation to be entrusted, or, are they to be trained to good or to evil? There can be no doubt how the question is to be answered, if it be resolved that the priesthood of the church of Rome shall continue to possess the power which they already exercise. In that case we have seen enough to satisfy us how fearfully it must be abused. Indeed, in such a case we could see no hope for the country; for, if all its other evils were redressed, that alone, would, in our judgment, ensure, at no distant period, the separation of Great Britain and Ireland.

But we will hope better things. We will hope that the exposures which have taken place, have not been made in vain; and that enlightened and honest men, by whom the system was patronised, and to whom the character of the Romish priesthood was but imperfectly known before the late enquiry, seeing how little it has answered the purpose which they had in view when they gave it their support, will cease to protect it by their high authority, when its determined and intrepid assailants in parliament make manifest its enormous evils.

may shortly be expected amongst us; from the many accounts we have received of this highly-gifted gentleman's powers, we anticipate a great treat to the lovers of the drama," &c. &c. "So you see, my dear Hal.-continued Curzon-thy vocation calls thee; therefore come, and come quicklyprovide thyself with a black satin costume, slashed with light blue-point lace collar and ruffles-a Spanish hat looped in front; and, if possible, a long rapier, with a flap hilt.-Carden is not here; so you may show your face under any color, with perfect impunity. Yours, from the side scenes, "C. CURZON."

This clever epistle sufficed to show me that the gallant -th had gone clean theatrical mad; and although from my "last appearance on any stage,' it might be supposed I should feel no peculiar desire to repeat the experiment, yet the opportunity of joining, during Col. Carden's absence, was too tempting to resist, and I at once made up my mind to set out, and, without a moment's delay, hurried across the street to the coach office, to book myself an inside in the mail of that night; fortunately no difficulty existed in my securing the seat, for the way-bill was a perfect blank, and I found myself the only person who had, as yet, announced himself a passenger. On returning to my hotel, I found O'Flaherty waiting for me; he was greatly distressed on hearing my determination to leave town-explained how he had been catering for my amusement for the week to come-that a pic nie to the Dargle was arranged in a committee of the whole house; and a boating party, with a dinner at the Pigeonhouse, was then under consideration; resisting, however, such extreme temptations, I mentioned the necessity of my at once proceeding to head-quarters, and all other reasons for my precipitancy failing, concluded with that really knock-down argument, I have taken my place," this, I need scarcely add, finished the matter-at least I have never known it fail in such cases. Tell your friends that your wife is hourly expecting to be confined; your favourite child is in the measles your best friend waiting your aid in an awkward scrape-your one vote only wanting to turn the scale in an election. Tell them, I say, each or all of these, or a hundred more like them, and to any one you so speak, your answer is Pooh, pooh, my dear fellow,

never fear-don't fuss yourself-take it easy-to-morrow will do just as well." If, on the other hand, however, you reject such flimsy excuses, and simply say, I'm booked in the mail," the opposition at once falls to the ground, and your quondam antagonist, who was ready to quarrel with you, is at once prepared to assist in packing your portmanteau.

Having soon satisfied my friend Tom, that resistance was in vain, I promised to eat an early dinner with him at Morrisson's, and spent the better part of the morning in putting down a few notes of my Confessions, as well as the particulars of Mr. Daly's story, which, I believe, I half or whole promised my readers at the conclusion of my last chapter; but which I must defer to a more suitable opportunity, when mentioning the next occasion of iny meeting him on the southern circuit.

My dispositions were speedily made. I was fortunate in securing the exact dress my friend's letter alluded to among the stray costumes of Fishamble-street; and rich in the possession of the only properties" it has been my lot to acquire, I despatched my treasure to the coach office, and hastened to Morrisson's, it being by the time nearly five o'clock. There, true to time, I found O'Flaherty deep in the perusal of the bill, along which figured the novel expedients for dining, I had been in the habit of reading in every Dublin hotel since my boyhood. "Mock turtle, mutton, gravy, roast beef and potatoesshoulder of mutton and potatoes!-ducks and peas, potatoes!! ham and chicken, cutlet steak and potatoes !!! apple tart and cheese, with a slight cadenza of a sigh over the distant glories of Very, or still better the "Freres," we sat down to a very patriarchal repast, and, what may by always had par excellence in Dublin, a bottle of Sneyd's claret.

Poor Tom's spirits were rather below their usual pitch; and although he made many efforts to rally and appear gay, he could not accomplish it. However, we chatted away over old times and old friends, and forgetting all else but the topics we talked of, the time. piece over the chimney first apprised me that two whole hours had gone by, and that it was now seven o'clock, the very hour the coach was to start. I started up at once, and, notwithstanding all Tom's representations of the impos sibility of my being in time, had dispatched waiters in different directions for a jarvey, more than ever determined upon going. So oftey is it that when