Association at length compelled the Irish Protestants to stand to their arms. The hero of Ballibay was checked in his progress, and while the Irish Government lot ked on supinely; the Irish Protestants said, 'We will not be insulted.' We defend not the violence or intemperance of any, whether Protestants or Romanists. We merely refer to the fact, that in the course of last autumn there existed in Ireland voluntary associations formed in defence of Protestant interests which rendered it far easier for the government to maintain tranquillity in that country than at some former periods. It may be very well for Catholic demagogues to speak of the physical force of seven millions; but those very demagogues know thal were every British soldier withdrawn from Ireland, however horrible might be the scenes which would ensue, yet the Protestant party would eventually maintain its ascendancy.

The melancholy fact is, that the supposed necessity for concession arises from the inconsiderate concessions already made, and the want of moral principle, political sagacity, and steady courage in successive administrations. Had his Majesty's ministers possessed these qualifications, they would immediately on discovering the inefficiency of the former act for the suppression of the Catholic Association have adopted other and stronger measures either by renewed application to Parliament, or on their own responsibility. They, however, allowed the Association to proceed, until the Protestants were thoroughly alarmed, felt betrayed, and rose in their own defence, and then the Prime Minister comes down, not at once to suppress the Catholic Association, but with a kind of capitulation "Allow us to put you down, and then we will do something for you—we will settle the question. The Association has taken the hint-it is dissolved its members will wait-they will take all that Parliament will give ; and then begin to try for more.

Such are our views on the general question. To the inquiries made in different quarters, we can only return very unsatisfactory answers. Some ask, Is concession now inevitable? We fear that some concession is. How much will, as far as human means are concerned, depend upon the decisive expression of Protestant feelings, by clear, numerous, and temperate petitions to both Houses of Parliament, and upon the measures which the Romanists themselves adopt. We therefore strongly recommend those who think with us that no concessions should be made, to address without delay their petitions to both Houses ; at the same time advising the adoption of short and clear petitions, rather than long, recondite and argumentative addresses ; some which have appeared in print appear to us more calculated to injure, than advance the Protestant cause.

It is however, to God, the giver of cvery good and perfect gift, that our petitions should especially be addressed. The circumstances in which we are placed call for humiliation, penitence and prayer. We ought to be humbled in recollecting how little we have done for the cause of true religion ; what feeble exertions we have made for the instruction of the ignorant; the enlightening of the Romanist; the conversion of our fellow men, and our fellow-subjects in Ireland, Canada, and various other places where Popery prevails. We ought to repent us deeply of this our past supineness and negligence, and to do works meet for repentance, by redoubling our efforts in the cause of true religion. We feel this the more strongly from being informed, that while Roman Catholics are desirous of seriptural instruction, the London Hibernian Society is compelled to close some of its schools for want of funds, and some other Irish institutions are exercised with similar difficulties. But above all, it becomes us to abound in prayer that the Holy Spirit may be largely poured out on our Sovereign, his Nobles, Senators, and Counsellors,

that all things may be so ordered and settled upon the best and surest foundations that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, may be established among us for all generations. We intreat all our ministering brethren, all our worshipping congregations, and all our individual readers to adopt in sincerity and truth such petitions in all their public and private, social and family worship: 4 praying nation may be chastened, but will never perish.

Notices and Acknowledgments. Received-N. T.-CLERICUS DERBIENSIS.-R. B. S.-A SURRY PROTESTANT. - E. P.-IRÆNEUS.-R. A. H.-S.-A Young CLERGYMAN.-O.-A. Z.S. N. K.-Monica.--and J. B. S.

BISHOP BEDELL.

[Concluded from Page 86.] . The concluding scenes of the doms, the English settlers would Bishop's life were marked with be very generally in the interest trials, which called for the exercise of the parliament of their motherof those patient and steady graces country; so that they could not which adorned his character. serve the king better, than by

The increasing animosities, aris making themselves masters in ing from the collision of parties Ireland, and then declaring for his in England, the irritating differences Majesty against his other rebellious between the King and the Parlia- subjects. ment, the departure of the Earl The enterprize prospered so well, of Stafford from Ireland, and the and the conspiracy was cemented sojourn of his Majesty in Scotland, by so many oaths and sacraments, seemed to afford a favourable con that the day was fixed for a general juncture to the bigoted Romanists insurrection. As the castle of to embroil their Irish fellow-coun- Dublin was stored with a plentiful trymen in the borrors of civil war. magazine, which the Earl of StafThe military force was weak, and ford had laid up for the army, but the popish priests persuaded their defended by a weak and careless congregations, that by a bold and garrison, it was resolved to endeasimultaneous insurrection they vour its seizure, which would not might overpower the Protestants, only furnish the insurgents with shake off the English yoke, and arms and ammunition, but probably recover the estates that bad belonged lead to the surrender of the capital to their ancestors. They resorted and the whole island. But Provi. to subterfuge, to gain over those dence thwarted the guilty design who had scrupled at breaking their by the simple exercise of human allegiance to their sovereign, by affection. Though the plan was representing their measures as so well laid, as almost to ensure calculated to promote his interest, success, and though it was kept so and as warranted by his authority. secret, that no suspicion had been A seal was cut from another char- excited, one of the chief conspi. ter, and appended to a forged com- rators himself was constrained to mission, which purported to have give information to his friend, an been sent over from Scotland. Irish convert from popery, who They also pretended, that from the would probably have been massaknown spirit of rebellion existing cred. This gentleman immediately in the parliaments of both king communicated the plot to the Lords

APRIL 1829.

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Justices of the kingdom ; a dis. how soon that life might be taken covery, which was the more remark- from them by some popish weapon. able, as it only occurred on the The Bishop was indefatigable in night previous to the day appointed paternal solicitude, and pastoral for the attempt.

encouragement. He preached to But though Dublin was thus then the first Sunday after this mercifully preserved, the English terrible calamity had brought them and Scotch in various provinces, together on the third Psalm, applyand particularly in Ulster, fell in ing to their present situation the great numbers into the hands of the language used by the royal minstrel, rebels, by whom they were cruelly in the rebellion raised against him butchered, or suffered to depart by his unnatural son. With what after being completely stripped holy animation did he set before of their garments. More than two his weeping audience the confidence hundred thousand are reported to of David!“But thou, O Lord, have perished, under circumstances art a shield for me ; my glory, and of the most horrible barbarity. the lifter up of my head. I laid

Amid the tumults, assassinations, me down and slept : I awaked, and burnings, which prevailed on for the Lord sustained me. I will every side, the good prelate could not be afraid of ten thousands not be without bis share of appre- of the people, who have set them. hension for personal safety ; but he selves against me round about:” proved the truth of the declaration, The following Sabbath, bearing - Thou wilt keep him in perfect of the scoffings, as well as the peace, whose mind is stayed on cruelty, of the Irish, he addressed thee!' His exemplary conduct, them from Micah vii. 3. “ Rejoice and well-known character for gen. not against me, O mine enemy. tleness and kindness to all men, When I fall, I shall arise; when I of whatever religious denomination, sit in darkness, the Lord shall be were not without effect on the most a light unto me. I will bear the barbarous minds. It was said by indignation of the Lord, because the rebels, · He shall be the last I have signed against him, until he Englishman whom we put out of plead my cause, and execute judgIreland.' His house was respected ment for me : he will bring me in the general disorder, and many forth to the light, and I shall behold of his neighbours fled to it as an his righteousness. Then she that asylum. His Lordship did not fail, is mine enemy shall see it, and as became him, to convert it into shame shall cover her who said a sanctuary, where, with daily prayer unto me, Where is the Lord thy and fasting, he exhorted them to God?” prepare for that death, which, at While affairs were in this state, all times uncertain, was then more Dr. Swiney, titular bishop of Kilimmediately imminent; showing more, carne to Cavan. He bad a them, that the name of the Lord brother whom Bedell had converted, is the strong tower, into which the and entertained in his family, till righteous flee, and are safe. Not he could be provided with the only the episcopal palace, but the means of livelihood. He pretended outhouses, with the contiguous that he came only to protect the church and church-yard were Bishop, desiring to be taken under thronged with refugees, of whom his roof, that he might more many were persons of good con- effectually secure his preservation; dition, who a few days before were but Dr. Bedell wrote him a Latin in the enjoyment of ease and plenty, letter, remarkable for presence of but were now glad to support life mind, piety, and discretion, of which by some boiled wheat, not knowing the following is a translation.

. * Reverend Brother, -I am sen, for the people, if they obey you. sible of your civility in offering to But if not, consider that God will protect me by your presence in the remember all that is now done. midst of this tumult; and upon To whom, reverend brother, I do the like occasion I would not be heartily commend you. wanting to do the same charitable

"Your's in Christ, office for you. But there are

· WILLIAM KILMORE.' many things which hinder me from November 2, 1641. making use of the favour you now "To my reverend and loving offer me. My house is small, and brother, Dr. Swiney.' there is a great number of distressed persons of every rank and After the lapse of several weeks, age, of both sexes, who have fled when the insurgents had matured hither as to a sanctuary; besides their plans, they sent to him an that some of them are invalids, of order to dismiss all who had placed whom one is my own son. But themselves under his protection. what is of more consequence, is the He did not hesitate to refuse obedifference of our way of worship- dience to this requisition, resolving I do not say, of our religion ; for I to share the fate of his fellowhave ever thought, and published it protestants, whatever that fate in my writings, that we have a might be. He would rather have common Christianity. Under our offered himself to have died for present troubles, we comfort our them, than have accepted exclusive selves with the reading of the Holy mercy in his own favour. When Scriptures, with daily prayers, they sent him word, that though which we offer up to God in our they esteemed him more than any vulgar tongue, and with the singing of his countrymen, they must act of Psalms : and since we find so according to the orders received little truth among men, we rely on from their provisional council of the truth of God, and on his assis- state at Kilkenny, and take him tance. These practices would be away from the people, he merely offensive to your visitants, if not to replied, · Here I am! The Lord yourself; por could others be do unto me as seemeth good unto hindered, who would pretend that him; the will of the Lord be done!' they caine to see you, if you were On the 18th of December, they among us; and under that pretence, came and seized on him, and on all those murderers would break in that belonged to him, conveying upon us, who after they have him and his two sons, prisoners to robbed us of all that belongs to us, the castle of Lochwater, the only would think they did God service place of strength in the whole by slaughtering us. For my own county, and permitting them to part, I am resolved to trust to the take nothing with them; for Dr. divine protection. To a Christian, Swiney took possession without and a Bishop, now almost seventy, scruple of all his goods, and on the no death for the cause of Christ next Sabbath celebrated mass in can be bitter : on the contrary, the church. The Bishop was nothing is more desirable. And allowed a horse, but his sons with though I ask nothing for myself a Mr. Clogy were forced to walk alone, yet if you will require the by his side. In this plight they people under an anathema, to ab- proceeded to their place of constain from further violence towards finement. those whom they have so often It was a small tower raised beaten, spoiled, and stripped, it originally in the midst of a lake on will be at once acceptable to God, a little island, on which the water creditable to yourself, and happy had gained so far that it washed

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the foundation. The dampness which marked the age, the worthy and misery of such a situation may man himself became dispossessed. be well imagined. It had been in He bore an excellent character for the hands of a governor, to whom piety and benevolence, and being an ample allowance was made for considered very rich, the Irish had a magazine to be laid up in it for preserved him, in hope of drawing the defence of the country; but he large sums from him. Being in neglected to make this necessary the course of Providence conveyed provision, and was in consequence to this very prison, he got some taken on the first day of the re- tools and old boards, and secured bellion, and confined in his own himself and fellow inmates, as well castle. All but the Bishop were at as he could, from the inclemency first put in irons, for the Irish, who of the season. were constantly intoxicated, were The keepers brought them a afraid lest the prisoners should take sufficiency of food, but left them to advantage of their imprudence. dress it for themselves; which they Yet after a while, they abated their who were unacquainted with culisuspicions, and taking off their nary matters were fain to perform chains, left them more at liberty to in any way that might tend to selfenjoy the privilege of joining in the preservation. They were in geneworship of God, which was now ral much supported in spirit. They their only consolation.

did not suffer as evil-doers, and The part of the fortress which were not ashamed of the cross of they inhabited was ruinous and Christ, but rejoiced in God in the exposed to the weather, which was midst of their afflictions. The good that winter very severe ; a circum- old Bishop took joyfully the spoilstance, which augmented the suf- ing of his goods, and the restraint ferings of those who had been of his person, comforting himself stripped by the unfeeling rebels, in the reflection, that these light and left in a state of nudity. But afflictions which were but for a it pleased God to bring another moment would work out for him, prisoner to the same dungeon, who under the divine blessing, a far by his bandicraft powers alleviated more exceeding and eternal weight the confinement in which he was of glory. He also felt, that from called to share. Richard Castledine bis advanced age and infirmities, had come over to Ireland as a poor celestial happiness could not be discarpenter, with nothing but his tant. The day after he was brought tools on his back, and was first to the fortress, being the Sabbath, employed by Sir Richard Waldron he preached to his fellow-captives, in a castle, which he was building on the Epistle for the day, which in the parish of Cavan. But as set before them the pattern of the this gentleman expended his means humility and sufferings of Christ, before he had finished the fabric, On the Christmas festival, he ad. and subsequently quitted the coun- dressed them in an affectionate try, God had so blessed the industry manner from Galatians iv. 5. “ But of the poor carpenter, during thirty when the fulness of the time was years' labour, that he had purchased come, God sent forth his Son, made the estate ; and entertaining a of a woman, made under the Law, grateful feeling towards his bene- to redeem them that were under factor, and not having a son of his the Law, that we might receive the own, had married one of his adoption of Sons.” On the twentydaughters to Sir Richard's youngest sixth of December, bis eldest son, son, intending to leave him the William, spoke to the little flock property that had once belonged to from the last words of the martyed his father. In the vicissitudes Stephen, suitable as they were to