36

MONTHLY REGISTER.

FOREIGN.

degraded envoy, Baron d'Ottenfels, to Greece. Nothing decisive has yet the office and state of Privy Counsellor, arisen out of the battle of Navarino," in consequence of his able and zealous mentioned in our last. Political opinion continues to vacillate between peace and war, influenced by the adverse rumours which reach us from various quarters. A collateral incident has, however, sprung out of it, as singular perhaps as any which the history of diplomacy can supply.

diplomatic services, in keeping the peace of the Levant." This is the enigma, the solution of which we must refer to time, the safest and most successful expositor of political mysteries.

South America.-Brazilian papers to the 24th of October have arrived, but contain no intelligence respecting the war with Buenos Ayres, and indeed no political news. In the sitting of the Chamber of Deputies, on the 10th of October, Senor Freigo, a member of the Ecclesiastical Committee, offered a separate vote on a motion of Senor Ferreira Franca, and requested that he might be excused from reading it, and that it might be printed. This request not being granted, he proceeded to read a very long paper, the object of which was to call on the Government to apply to the Pope to relieve the clergy from the penalties which at present attach to their marrying, and at the same time to state to his Holiness, that, even if his consent should be withheld, the Assembly could not avoid revoking the law of celibacy.

In the Gazette de France is an official document, addressed by the Austrian Minister, Prince Metternich, to the Internuncio, from the Court of Constantinople, chiding him in the severest terms with ignorance or wilful violation of his instructions; letting him know that the EMPEROR and KING" blamed him and disavowed him ;" imputing to him motives that could not be comprehended, for refusing to co-operate with the other great powers, “in making the Porte desist from its obstinacy, and obliging it to accept the salutary measures lately proposed to it by Russia, France, and England." For this his 'ignorance and dis obedience of orders-orders of which he had been in possession since the month of December last year-he is commanded to go himself and apologise We should not wonder if his Holiness to the gentlemen of the other nations, were sometimes a little perplexed by and to promise them his co-operation in these things, if it were possible for perfuture; "the wishes of his Imperial Ma-plexity and infallibility ever to be assojesty being entirely conformable to those ciated in the same mind. of his august allies, for the preservation of general peace, and the re-establishment of order and security in the East."

DOMESTIC.

One of the most interesting features in our domestic affairs, of an ecclesiasThere are some remarkable circum-tical character, is the stir among the stances relative to the date of this de- metropolitan Jews, occasioned by the spatch, but the principal and most persecutions of their brethren in Russia, puzzling part of the strange story is, the particulars of which will be found that, bearing the same date as that among the articles of intelligence. which is affixed to this disgrace of Baron d'Ottenfels in the German papers (viz. the 30th November), there appears in the Vienna Gazette an Imperial in strument, an order proceeding from the EMPEROR himself, advancing this same

Lord Goderich is understood to have tendered his resignation to his Majesty. The motives which induced this step, with its collateral bearings and ultimate results, remain to be developed. Parliament re-assembles on the 22d inst.

IRISH CHRONICLE,

JANUARY, 1828.

THE Baptist Irish Society has received from the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society a grant of Bibles and Testaments, both in the Irish and English languages, amounting to the sum of 285l. 18. 3d. The Committee take this opportunity of publicly returning thanks for this and many former instances of prompt and liberal assistance which they have experienced from the Society.

The Edinburgh Bible Society has also granted its kind assistance, in sending Testaments to the amount of 100l., for which the Committee feel truly grateful. The following letter, addressed to the Rev. John West, Dublin, contains information on this subject:

Edinburgh, 19th November, 1827. REVEREND SIR.

poverty, and dirt. At the entrance of their miserable hovels there are pools of stagnated water, into which they gather their pigs' By the Erin steam-vessel you will receive dung from year to year, and which frefour bales, containing three thousand brevier quently breeds fever in their wretched dwelNew Testaments, 12mo. quires, being the lings: it is sufficient to communicate conamount of two votes of our committee, in tagion through the country, were it not that favour of the Baptist School Society for it is greatly counteracted by the purity of Ireland, to enable that institution to supply our atmosphere. schools with New Testaments for the use of the children while attending school, with liberty to take them home to learn from, and to read for the instruction of their parents and others who may be willing to listen. I am, Reverend Sir, Your most obedient servant, W. ARNOTT.

Letter from the Rev. Mr. Thomas.

Limerick, Nov. 16th, 1827. To the Secretaries of the Baptist Irish Society MY DEAR FRIENDS,

You are not at a loss to ascertain the cause of all this ignorance and misery. I am sure had our society been established years before it was, these grievous miseries would have been prevented.

Cammass is the estate and residence of our worthy friends Mr. and Mrs. B., the only Protestants, except Mr. B.'s sister, in the parish. It is two miles west from Bruff. Nothing can exceed their exertions in the cause of truth, since Mrs. B.'s conversion from infidelity to the saving knowledge and service of the Saviour. They collect the poor people morning and evening, to instruct Since my last letter I have been at Bruff and to read the Scriptures for them. In fact, and Cammass, in the county of Limerick, they never cease to proclaim the truth, dark, dangerous, and dreadful places. The though they have received notices to prepare former is a small town twelve miles south of for death, and their relatives repeatedly inLimerick, on the Cork road, involved in ig-treated them to give up, fearing the threats norance and wretchedness, though in the should have been executed; but they are centre of the county of Limerick, and, I be determined to persevere, though they should lieve, the richest land in Ireland. There fall victims to Popish persecution. She is are but three or four Protestants in this quite willing, and said she would wish to die place, browbeaten and carnalized by the in- like a soldier in the cause of the great Capfluence of priestcraft, where no person was tain of her salvation. O, what a mighty ever encouraged, nor dared to stand to pro- change! What is it that divine grace canclaim the Gospel. On the north entrance not accomplish? She who was once a ridiculing there is a filthy village of the most wretched scoffing infidel, employing her highly culti buts, called Palatine Lane, where there was, vated mind and great abilities in the service in the time of Queen Anue, a colony of Ger- of Satan, making proselytes for hell, is now man Protestants. Their descendants have the subject of the Redeemer's spiritual all become Papists except one individual, kingdom, and the devoted servant of the and are immersed in indescribable ignorance, Lord.

I have just returned from Nenagh, Clough-jordan, Palas, and other places in the county of Tipperary, but neither paper nor time will allow me to enter into particulars. I am industriously circulating the excellent and suitable tracts sent me by the Society. You will see by Bushe's Journal, which I send with the other itinerant Irish reader's journals, what a demand there is for them, particularly for the Scriptural Reasons for separating from the Church of Rome. Another box of suitable and beautiful Bibles and Testaments, also sent me by the Committee, has come safe to hand, which I am very glad of, and they will make others glad also. I was teazed for them: I shall soon want more, as they will last but a short time.

MY DEAR BRetaren,

I herewith forward to you the journals of the readers in my district, which correspond very much in their statements with those of the last two or three months, as to the opposition that is given to our operations in general, and yet confirming the fact that the people are determined to hear and read the Scriptures for themselves.

As the children have been so fully em

ployed for the last three or four weeks, in the fields, I have nothing particular to say respecting the schools.

With respect to myself, I have been principally engaged, since my last, in preaching in the Independent place of worship in this town, and to the sailors on board the vessels at the quay, where there has been a very good attendance.

I was yesterday fully occupied, having, early in the morning, baptized two persons in the neighbourhood of Boyle, preached at ten o'clock, after which I received the newly baptized persons into the church, administered the ordinance of the Lord's Supper, and then travelled fourteen miles to preach at Ballinacarrow, where I had an unusually large and very attentive congregation.

Irish Chronicle.

tended preaching, affected even to tears. Who can tell what the Lord has to do with him? and if he shall prove a really converted character, we shell all be amply rewarded for our labour.

J. P. BRISCOE.

30

I

fully followed up, their system will soon be shaken from centre to circumference. think the reformation meetings lately institated will be a great means of accomplishing it; and, besides this, ministers of all denominations are now preaching the gospel in the cabins of the poor. Ireland is beginning to see the dawn of a more glorious day than ever she before witnessed. Respectable persons, who would, some time ago, have deemed it a sin or shame to hear the gospel out of what are called consecrated walls, may Eden Cottage, Kilbeggan, Nov. 9, 1827. in livery, driving to hear it in a smoky hut, be seen in some places, with their servants

To the Secretaries.

From Rev. J. M'Carthy.

DEAR BRETHREN,

I have mach cause to be thankful for the goodness of God, as experienced since the 3d of September last, when despatched my last journal, as there is an increasing desire excited in the minds of the people throughout my circuit to hear the word of

life.

I have travelled 390 miles since that time, and continued, as nsual, distributing the bread of life to my countrymen every day. My pions and indefatigable young brother, Hutchinson, has been exceedingly active in helping to facilitate the great object of extending the Saviour's kingdom, by proclaiming with me the same glorious gospel. This has not relaxed my feeble efforts, nor kept me from preaching one sermon less, nor, at the usual times, from visiting any one of my places; yet in my absence he has been made useful, in giving the people more constant preaching, and by that means keeping them together. I inclose his modest journal, which will give you but a very faint idea of what he has been doing since I addressed you last. A weekly prayer meeting has been set on foot lately at Athlone, and is in general very well attended, and brother Merry expounds a portion of the word of God to them twice in each week; and, from what I have been told by persons who have beard him, he is not only generally approved of, but has been also made useful. I am endeavouring to collect all the intellect and talent I can find amongst my brethren, and set it in motion. Within the bounds of my circuit, which extends from Keanagh in the county Longford to Donnacleggan in the Queen's county, &c. you may be assured of it, preaching, travelling, and inspecting the schools, forms but a moderate part of what constitutes my labours at the present eventfal period; keeping out of sight, also, my morning and evening duty of praying with the families where I visit, and expounding to them the Scriptures. Controverting the namerous heterodox principles, which like so many locusts, surround me day by day, absorbs almost every moment.

The opinions of the Roman Catholics are attacked from every quarter, and, if man

and inviting ministers to preach it at their own houses. Is not this the work of God? I know not of any place in my circuit which is not in general well attended. To excite and keep up the spirit of hearing amongst them, I mostly announce the subject to be delivered next, so it not only attracts their attention, but, in the interim, leads to research. The distribution of well-selected tracts has been made a blessing to some. Lately I travelled about twenty miles through a very destitute country-not of people, for it is numerously populated-bat destitute nearly of all means of religious instruction. I folded up sheet-tracts in the form of letters, and all the way I dropped them where I believed they would be taken up. Lord's day but one I preached at Mullingar, for the Rev. Mr. Gibson, who is in afflic tion. A person who was then there, and lives within the precincts of a village where knowing that I was the person who dropped many of the tracts were picked up, and not them, related the circumstance, and said,

Last

found them, that they would not lend them they were so esteemed by some who to their neighbours, lest they could not get them again; and that they were comparing the different kinds, and boasting each bad got the best." A contrary effect was produced on others, through not giving themselves time to examine whether the subject mind to follow me, and pelt me with stones." was good or bad; they said "they had a As to the schools, I mean to give you a detailed account of them in my next letter; suffice it to say, as usual they are going on well. At Ballycumber the master has instituted a night school for several adult Catholics; some of them are learning their letters, others are reading the word of God. At Keanagh, after using every other means to induce a Catholic boy to commit the word of God to memory, without effect, I publicly dismissed him from the school. A few days after his father brought him back, humbly soliciting his readmission, which was done. In general I find this to be the most efficient means of maintaining the constitution of the schools.

J. M'CARTHY.

From a Scripture Reader.
Moyo Scariff, Oct. 12, 1827.

REVEREND SIR,

reasoned out of the Scriptures in three houses in Scariff, Tomigrany, and Carbumou. Met with a very bigoted Romanist in the latter place, who entered into a warm argument on the mass, purgatory, praying to saints, &c. &c. Several present were much interested, and paid the greatest attention.

Monday, 14th. Took my way to Scariff, accompanied by Stephen Ryan. Called into the next house to the chapel, and after we gave the family and a few others a short lecture, I gave the man of the house an excellent religious tract, for which he seemed thankful: I frequently read and lectured in

I have been out every day during the month ending yesterday, and have visited various places in the counties of Clare and Galway, and in the city and suburbs of Limerica, and have had various interesting meetings, opening and expounding the blessed gospels of the grace of God on every opportunity, and directing poor deluded and perishing sinners to Him who is the way, and this house. From thence to Fletchers. the truth, and the life, and upon whom whosoever believeth shall not perish, but have James M.Namara followed us in. I asked everlasting life. There is evidently an in-him if he read the Testament that I was a means of getting for him? "I do not," creasing desire for scriptural knowledge; numbers of the Romanists rising above the for a stick or wattle with a man in M'Shansaid be. Is it true that you bartered it authority of their priests, and now actively

"What

inquiring the way to Zion: and, indeed, non?" said I. "It is," said he. such is the desire to receive and read reli-induced you to do so, after being so exgious tracts, that I disseminated the whole tremely desirous for getting it as you were?" said I. of what tracts you gave me the two last Why, man, they were then as times I visited Limerick. I have been fre-honeycombs to us," said he," but since the quently pursued and overtaken whilst going priest told us that they were full of poison, along the way, and crossed by other persons, thorns, and briars, and commanded us not who ran from their work in the fields, beg-with them." Stephen asked him what harm to read them, would have nothing to do ging these silent little preachers of righteousness. If I had one thousand of my own favourite tract (" Scriptural Reasons for separating from the Church of Rome"), I could find persons who would be thankful for them all. I think you ought to send for a large supply, the people are so desirous for them.

On looking over my journal I scarcely know where to begin; but, however, I will begin near where I ended my last.

13th ult. A few persons came into my cottage a religious discussion commenced, on the mass, extreme anction, church, &c. &c. which lasted for some hours; and, towards the close of the debate, I asked the principal of them, "if the church of Rome be built upon a rock against which the gates of hell cannot prevail, why are the priests so much against the indiscriminate reading of the Scriptures, or letting the poor children too cme the schools where the Scriptures are read?" "A clear case," said a man named G

that their church is built on sand, and that their doctrines are not to be found in

the Bible."
You are a rotten member,
you are a bad Catholic," &c. &c., said the
principal advocate ;" and when they agreed
not among themselves, they departed." I
gave G
a Testament two or three years
ago I trust he is benefitted by it. The
priest threw out some darts from his altar
against him for finding him in conversation
with me, which did not dismay him.

Lord's day, 14th. Spoke on the word to several Romanists at a funeral, and read and

they had done. He would not listen to any sort of reasoning, but ran away, declaring that his priest condemned it. Thas, you see that the priests are the chief stumblingblocks in all parts.

THOMAS BUSHE.