priate figure, ad libitum. Let what is called a Sounding Post, (such as is fixed in a violin,) be introduced through the perforation; which post will communicate the vibration excited on its face, to the whole frame of the board. The wood used should be well dried, that it may be the more elastic; and highly varnished, to keep it dry. Its joints should be accurately closed, and fastened with glue as well as brads. If the Sounding-Board were suspended from the ceiling of the church, by a chain, it would best suit my theory. If it be necessary, as in a church without galleries, that the sound should be thrown downwards, I would recommend the making of a concave under surface. This would concentrate the sound of the voice, just as the rays of light converge when reflected from a concave mirror. But, perhaps, this may be esteemed refining too much. However, reflection from a concave surface, certainly will increase the voice's sound-on passing under the arch of a bridge, a cough or a hem, sound alarmingly loud. The board should project so far over the sides of the pulpit, as that no man could speak from the latter, without having his head under the Sounding Board. An empty pulpit, when the board projects farther over in front than behind, is not pleasing to the eye; but that the board should do this, in some degree, though not in the extravagant proportion so common, will best secure its good effects; and one may call that part of the pulpit where the speaker stands, the centre of the pulpit.

Now, Sir, the organ-builders have generally some excellent workmen under them, who understand, at once, the mode of working fit for the instrumental part of the organ; and also the architectural, fit for the organ's case. I would recommend an application to one of the organ-builders: let a drawing be made of a SoundingBoard; and let one be constructed on my principle, (I believe it to be a new one,) and I think you need not fear its answering all that you expect from it. But I would observe, that whereas my plan seems theoretically perfect, should its execution produce no greater effects than the common one, it is still a cheap plan; it admits not of inlaying, of carving, of a great consumption of materials, &c.

I have written too long a letter, and I have not time to shorten it, or to write it well. As you spoke to me upon the subject to-day, and as it seems not likely that

we

we shall have a full conversation upon it, I have adopted this mode of telling you, what is my notion of the effects which a Sounding-Board should produce, and how to bring those effects to a maximum.

I am, Sir,

With unfeigned respect,

Your most obedient servant,

STONEHOUSE'S" SICK MAN'S FRIEND:"

TO THE EDITORS OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCHMAN'S

GENTLEMEN,

PERMIT

MAGAZINE.

me through the channel of your useful Miscellany, to recommend to the notice of your readers in general, and particularly to my younger brethren of the clerical profession, a work which cannot well be praised beyond its merits. The book, to which I allude, is entitled, "Every Man's Assistant, or the Sick Man's Friend," by that truly pions son of the Church, Sir James Stonehouse. I have been several I have been several years in quest of it, but without success, till it was recently re-published by Hatchard. It is serious without gloom, pious without parade, and zealous without fanaticism. It edifies by its sanctity, and even amuses by its variety. Spiritual advice and application of Scripture; Prayer and praise; Epistolary correspondence, and even Narrative diversify its devout pages. It contains helps for religious conversation with almost every description of persons, and prayers to be used by and with sinners of almost every shade. To the younger clergy I am persuaded it will prove peculiarly acceptable, as it will greatly facilitate the discharge of one of the most awful and important duties of our sacred function; one great cause of the neglect of which (if it has been neglected) is, I am convinced, to be sought for principally in the arduous difficulty of the work itself, and in the consequent dissatisfaction arising from the imperfect performance of it.

Fot. VI. Churchm. Mag. June, 1804. Fff Accept,

Accept, Gentlemen, a sincere wish for the success of your laudable undertaking, from

Your friend,

Θεοφιλος.

QUERY ON A LITURGICAL SUBJECT.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCHMAN'S

SIR,

BEL

MAGAZINE.

EING a subscriber to your Work, and observing that references made to you for the opinion of any of your correspondents are treated with respectful attention, I beg leave to state a case, which has occurred here to the Minister of a populous parish, and the consideration of which, among the Clergy, has shewn that a difference of opinion exists concerning it. If, therefore, any of your learned friends shall think this letter worthy of an answer, it will be favourably received, and may tend to remove all doubts, and produce an uniformity of prac tice. Though it is seriously to be hoped, that instances, resembling that which I am about to mention, are seldom known, it is certainly wise to provide instructions for them, when they do happen, by means of your widely-circulating publication. If the compilers of our Liturgy had foreseen the accidental circumstances, by which such instances are occasioned, they would have inserted directions for them in the Rubric. But as they have not done this, and as other writers upon the Liturgy have not been led to any consideration besides the subject of its particular offices, you may now supply the

defect.

The case is this: a young man of the age of eighteen years, having had private baptisin administered to him in his infancy, by a Clergyman of the Church of England, came to Church, attended by proper sponsors,, to be admitted. The officiating Minister was ready to perform the service, but when he examined his prayer-book, he could not satisfy himself concerning the office, or the part of the office, which might with propriety be used. He could find no form specially appointed for the occa sion, nor any part of the forms of baptism, in his mind,

adapted

On the Expediency of Giving Support to the Clergy. 409

adapted to it. This led some to imagine, that the ceremony was unnecessary for a person at this advanced age, who might be allowed to consider himself properly admitted by being present at divine service, and partaking of the blessed sacrament. Others contended in favour of his formal admission, by using the office of baptism for persons of riper years, omitting the prayer for the consecration of the water, and consequently the act itself of baptism. Whether either of these opinions may appear to you right? Whether within your knowledge there is any practice, which can regulate the Minister's conduct? you are now solicited to declare. I shall no. longer trespass on your time,

Newcastle, May 28,

And am your's respectfully,

A, H.

1804.

ON THE EXPEDIENCY OF GIVING SUPPORT TO THE IRISH ROMAN CATHOLIC CLERGY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCHMAN'S MAGAZINE.

SIR,

THE

HE Christian Observer, in the last month, p. 102, express themselves indignantly at the idea of the English Government giving any support to the Roman Catholic Clergy in Ireland. Public Worship even in an erroneous religion, is better than no worship. The Papists allow the truth of Holy Scripture, they believe in the Divinity of the Saviour, and shall they then be represented as emphatically the ANTI CHRIST? They may differ from us in some matters, but they agree in essentials; and ought they not to enjoy the benefits of public Worship in their own Communion? We do not debar the Jews of their Synagogues in London; and supposing the Jews were so poor as not to be able to pay their Rabbi, I believe it would be wise and politic in Government to support them; not that by so doing you would give a preference to the Jews above the Christians, as the question has been perversely misrepresented; but that you are convinced that the Jews ought to have public

Fff2

Worship,

Worship, rather than to be deprived of such a benefit. The Irish Roman Catholic Clergy must be dependent for subsistence either on the See of Rome, or on their own congregations, or on the English Government. The See of Rome has an interest distinct from the Protestant Church and the English Constitution. The Irish Catholic congregations are so miserably poor and indolent, that they can ill afford to pay the Priest; therefore the English Government should create an interest in its favour, by a decent subsistence being given to these men, while they conducted themselves as loyal subjects. Thus animosities might be suppresed; and they who now add fuel to sedition, and rebellion in weak, ignorant, and violent minds, might find it their manifest interest, as well as bounden duty to preserve peace, order, and good government. The miseries of the generality of the Irish poor are acknowledged; why not then attempt to relieve them by removing the burden of the Priest from those who can scarce subsist themselves. In doing this, we give no preference to Papists over Protestants: we only encourage public Worship, and afford the people the best instruction they are willing to receive. If large sums are annually expended among the Dissenting teachers, why should the teachers of a large majority of the Irish be neglected?

London, March 11, 1804.

W. A.

ON THE EDUCATION OF YOUTH.

Docti indoctique docent omnes.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCHMAN'S

SIR,

THE impression made on the mind of children geneTally accompanies then through life: attention to that ought to be the first object to every well-wisher to society. The wisest lawgivers and philosophers amongst the Heathens, convinced of the necessity of it, would not trust parents to educate their own children, but committed them to the care of public instructors, who were paid by government. The wisest of men declared, "train up a child in the way he should go, and he would not de

part