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not unequivocolly express secrecy and disloyalty, the words of the language we speak have no meaning."

And in a letter written in 1791, by the founder of this infamous Society, and which was sent to Belfast, with the prospectus, &c. were these expressions :

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My unalterable opinion is, that the bane of Irish prosperity is in the influence of England: I believe that influence will ever be extended, while the connexion between the countries con tinues; nevertheless as I know that opinion is for the present too hardy, though a very little time will establish it universally, I have not made it a part of the resolutions; I have only proposed to set up a reformed parliament as a barrier against that mischief which every honest man that will open his eyes must see in every instance overbears the interest of Ireland. I have not said one word that looks like a wish for separation, though I give it as my decided opinion, that such an event would be a regeneration of this country."

And in another part are these remarkable words:

"With a reformed Parliament every thing is easy--without it nothing can be done.”

And in another manifesto issued by this society carly in 1792, they boast,

"That in this society and its affiliated societies, the Catholic and the Presbyterian are at this instant holding out their hands and opening their hearts to each other, agreeing in principles, concurring in practice. Universal emancipation and representa tive legislature is the polar principle which guides our society, and shall guide it through all the tumult of factions and fluctuation of parties."

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"In the sincerity of our hearts do we desire Catholic emancipation but were it obtained to-morrow, to-morrow we would go on, as we do to-day, in the pursuit of that reform, which would still be wanting to ratify their liberties, as well as our own."

And what sort of a reform was their object, they very candidly stated in their manifesto of 1793.

"Let us conjure you not to abuse the present precious moment by a self-extinguishment, by a credulous committal of your judgment and senses to the direction of others, by an idle and idiot gaze on what may be going on in parliament...The will of the nation ought to be declared, before any reform ought to take place. Nothing less than the people can speak for the people, This competency resides not in a few freeholders shivering in the

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corner of a county court, but only in the whole community, represented in each county as at present in Antrim by parochial delegation, to provincial conventions, the union of which must form the awful will of the Irish people"."

"Such were the principles and avowed objects of these societies immediately formed after the prospectus had been issued, in every town in that kingdom, and which societies the Irish patriots in parliament proposed to con ciliate and satisfy by their plans of reforin and emancipation! These manifestoes of the Irish Union were, as I am informed, mostly the compositions of Theobald Wolfe Tone, then agent to the Catholic committee, and are signed by their secretaries, James Napper Tandy, and another gentleman, who having since heartily repented of his political errors, has in consequence received the pardon of his Sovereign-had his wild scheine been realized, he would no doubt have long since fallen a victim to his. own imprudence and the intrigues of the low ruffians of his party-so different is the gratitude of republicans from the clemency of a monarch!

"The design of theleaders of this society from its come mencement was the establishment of a republic in Ireland, independent of Great Britain. For the first three years their attention was engaged in bringing over to their societies persons of talents and activity in every part of that kingdom; and in order to prepare the public mind for the maturer plans, publications written with a view of degrading the parliament and government in the eyes of the people were distributed gratis by this society -Paine's "Rights of Man," and " Age of Reason," were desseminated with great industry; the latter Sir R. Musgrave informs us in his History, the Irish priests forbad their flocks to read; to the former the majority of them had little objection. Emancipation was held out to the Catholic, and reform to the Presbyterian ; and having at length, as they imagined, sufficiently prepared the public mind for bolder doctrines, in 1795 the test of this society underwent a striking alteration. The expressions in the test from henceforward were I will persevere in my endeavours to obtain an equal, full and

* The original manifestoes or addresses from whence these extracts have been made, are to be found in the Report of the Secret Committee of the Irish Parliament in 1798, in Appendix I. II. III. IV. V. VI.

See Report of the Secret Committee of Irish Parliament, 1798...

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adequate representation of all the people of Ireland*," omitting the words "in the Commons House of Parliament," which had been subjoined in the original oath or test."

We recommend this volume most earnestly, as containing a candid and full view of the state of Ireland, and a faithful exhibition of the real character and restless disposition of the Catholic party in that island.

POETRY.

THE CHRISTIAN'S COMPLAINT.

Translated from Racinès Plainte d'un Chretien, beginning, Mon Dicù, quelle querre bruclle!

MY

Je trouve deux hommes en mai.

Founded on Rom. vii.

God, what war my heart sustains!
Distracted thus by diff'rent aims,
I seem two diff'rent men:

Faithful to thee, while one prevails; ··
As fails his pow'r, my duty fails,
I soon revolt again.

Raised by the one to things divine,
I now my thoughts to heav'n confine,
And deem all else as dross:
And now, enslav'd by sin's controul,
To earth's low cares I bend my soul,

"Till these my thoughts engross.

Doctor M'Nevin, the Irish director, having been asked by the late Irish Chancellor upon his examination the reason of this change in the test or oath, M'Nevin replied, "the omission was made to reconcile reformers and republicans, and because they had given up all idea of reform, and were determined on republicanism."-Appendix No. xxxi. p. cclxxi of Secret Committee of 1798.-The reader will observe, that this change in the test took place three years before the rebellion broke out. Exhausted

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In a former Number of your Magazine, was inserted some beautifully interesting verses, on the death of a much valued and deeply regretted Mother. The same hand of filial piety and affection has now traced those for a Father, with equal sensibility, and energetic simplicity. Your insertion of them therefore as a proper counterpart to the former, will be deemed a favor, by Newington Butts. March 12, 1805.

F

Your obliged Servant,

ORGIVE blest spirit of my Sainted Sire,

JUVENIS

The selfish grief that mourns thy absence here,

For deep felt anguish will its force conspire

From filial love, to call each bitter tear.

How sinks the heart, oppressed by silent grief,
How dark and weary.seems each fleeting hour,

From thee, O God! I only find relief,

Till resignation points its healing pow'r.

Vol. VIII, Churchm. Mag. March 1805. Hh Ah

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茶流

Ah! never then, shall I again behold,

A parent's smile! or hear his voice of love,
Or feel his blessing! or that hand enfold,
Which mock'd at speech, for which I vainly strovè.
In mem'ry's mass how fondly I retrace

The past dear hours of sweet domestic peace;
Hours which th' wing of Time can ne'er efface,
Or bring such pleasures as belong'd to these.

But no! thy Virtues ne'er shall be effac'd

Tho' nought record them from the bed of earth;
Deep on this heart, thy precepts shall be trac'd
The living tablet..that shall tell thy worth.

Firm to the last, ah! sure thy conscious breast,
In Christian faith, and humble hope serene
Presag'd that bliss, thy dying lips express'd,
To light the darkness of this awful scene.
Ah! ever lov'd-and much lamented shade,
Friendship with fond affection join'd its tear,
Accept the tribute, by these mourners paid,
In mute affection kneeling by thy bier.

LIST OF NFW BOOKS IN DIVINITY,

DISSERTATION on the best means of civilizing the Subjects of the British Empire in India, and of diffusing the Light of the Christian Religion throughout the Eastern World; which obtained Mr. Buchanan's prize. By the Rev. William Cockburn, A. M. Fellow of St. John's College, and Christian Advocate in the University of Cambridge. 4to. 5s.

The Fatal Use of the Sword; considered in a Sermon preached in St. Philip's Church, Birmingham, on Wednesday, February 20, 1805, the day appointed for a general Fast. By the Rev. Spencer Madan, A.M. 8vo. 15.

A Sequel to, or Continuation of the Memoirs, prefixed to the works

of the late Reverend and learned George Bingham, B. D. or a Defence of the Conduct of his Successor the present incumbent of Long-Critchill, with More Crit chell annexed, against the unfounded Insinuations conveyed to the public, through the channel of those memoirs, addressed to the Clergy of the county of Dorset, by the successor. 8vo. gratis.

A concise and interesting View of the Objection of Mr. Gibbong that our Lord foretold his second coming in the clouds of Heaven in the generation in which he lived, which the revolution of seventeen centuries has proved not to be agreeable to experience. Chiefly intended as a Specimen of the true

Method

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