THE PROTESTANT ADVOCATE, Erish Missionary Magazine, AND CHRISTIAN WATCHMAN. AUGUST, 1846. SPIRITUAL STATE AND CLAIMS OF IRELAND. THOUGH in accordance with the uniform heading of this our leading article, and the religious character of our Magazine, Ireland's spiritual condition claims, in all our notices of her affairs, our principal regard, we cannot at such a period as the present pass by her temporal circumstances in utter silence. These, indeed, often materially affect her spiritual concerns. The failure of the potato crop in many parts of the country, the diseased state of a large proportion of that staple article of food, and the famine which it was apprehended that the scarcity and the disease would unitedly produce, have already been sufficiently before our readers, and have arrested the attention of our government, by whom remedial measures, suitable to the necessities of the case, have been adopted. We have seen no reason to recal an opinion we have already ventured to pronounce, that both the distemper and the failure were comparatively partial, and that the apprehensions of famine have been greater than the real state of things would warrant. The want of employment and of money is, after all, the radical evil that affects the peasantry of Ireland, and renders every visitation of the kind productive of a degree of misery and distress, that would not otherwise be experienced. How far this want of employment is to be attributed to combination, to the influence of secret societies, to political agitation, or to habits of disorder, we shall not undertake to determine. We have heard several who were willing to give employment to numbers, complain loudly of the numerous holydays of the Church of Rome, and of the interruption which these occasioned to the progress of manufactures and the regular efforts of industry. From what we have seen, we do not consider that the Irish peasantry are fairly chargeable with an innate love of idleness; on the contrary, they seem to be a hard-working race, willing to undergo any degree of labour, when they can find employment, and are secure of a remuneration scarcely adequate as a reward for VOL. II. Y their toil. They may not possess sufficient habits of economy, but it is hardly just to pronounce them extravagant where they have so little inducement to economize, where their wages are not sufficient to afford them comfortable subsistence, and where with the utmost thrift they can save but a bare trifle that does not compensate the self-denial and abstinence which the saving even of that trifle demands. Had they better wages; were the produce of their little plots of land, when they can afford to call such spots their own, and to attempt their cultivation, sufficient to secure them from the risk of Recent researches, which have brought many abuses to light, will, we trust, be followed up by wise and well-directed efforts to redress and remedy existing evils of this nature, by which the progress and prosperity of Ireland starvation in consequence of every slight vicissitude of weather; or were they less dependent on the caprice of negligent landlords, we should have a better opportunity of estimating their habits, and might, with less appearance of severity condemn them for not availing themselves of resources which their country indeed possesses, but which its peasant population by no means enjoy. have been sadly retarded. Without wishing to encourage the railway mania of the day, we cannot but hope that the increase of railroads in the sister island will not only give immediate employment to many of the Irish poor; but, that they will also, in conjunction with steam navigation, facilitate a mutual intercourse between Great Britain and her western neighbour, that will greatly improve the condition of the inland and more distant regions of the sister island, and will be permanently beneficial in various ways to her inhabitants. these circumstances will expedite the access of religious as well as commercial and other travellers to different parts of Ireland, we would confidently expect that the free communication of divine truth by the circulation of Bibles and tracts, by friendly converse with fellow-passengers, and by an increased influx of faithful and zealous missionaries will be one prominent feature of these beneficial results. As Our readers must have learned from other sources of information, that the repeal-rent, and the repeal agitation appear to be sinking together. Convinced as we are that the repeal of the union is an idle and visionary speculation, that cannot be realized, and if it were, would be injurious, not useful, to Ireland ; and that the RENT is an enormous drain upon the resources of the poorer inhabitants of Ireland, for a mere chimera that can only serve the purpose of mercenary and interested agitators, we rejoice in the decline of both. The country has real grievances, enough to obviate any necessity for conjuring up those which exist merely in imagination; and it will be well for the thoughts of its people to be directed to what would actually benefit and improve their position, instead of being diverted by unprofitable questions that can only engender strife and discord. One year of peaceful and profound tranquillity would do more to devolop the industrial resources of Ireland, and to give due weight to her natural advantages and just claims, than has ever yet been accomplished by centuries of agitation; not that we are insensible to the necessity of agitating important questions on suitable occasions, or blind to some benefits that Ireland has secured thereby; but such necessity exists only for a time, and therefore agitation ought not to be perpetual. It may occasionally be made subservient to the attainment of a good, but becomes detrimental when it grows into a habit. It may be allowed when it seeks the accomplishment of a just and righteous object; but cannot be too strongly deprecated when employed merely for the promotion of private ends, and the subversion of settled order in subserviency to the mischievous designs of We admire and applaud the struggles rampant and unprincipled ambition. of the patriot; but we proportionately and consistently deplore the turbulent and factious efforts of demagogues who only wear the name and counterfeit he character. We are not yet prepared to pronounce what may be the changes produced in Ireland by the ascendancy of WHIG principles in the government of the United Kingdom. Denounced as the Whigs have been in no measured terms by a leading partizan in the Emerald Isle, we can scarcely expect, notwithstanding the proverbial fickleness of our neighbours, that such vituperation will soon or suddenly be changed into applause. The former lord lieutenant, Lord Heytesbury, left the shores of Ireland amidst the splendour of a military cavalcade, and the groans of a mob assembled to witness his departure. The present lord lieutenant, Lord Besborough, entered the metropolis of Ireland in comparative secrecy and silence, unmarked by any pageant, and undisturbed by any expressions of popular dislike or approval. His well-known character, as a resident Irish landlord, will, doubtless, secure for him a friendly reception, and give him a fair opportunity for working out any beneficial plans that are to be attempted. There is full scope for wise and legitimate experiment in the present state of the country he has been appointed to govern; and in every such experiment we hope he will have the best wishes, and full co-operation of every true friend of Ireland. But if it be the intention of our government to conciliate our Roman Catholic neighbours by the establishment, or even the endowment of Popery, we more than question the wisdom or success of their policy. If Protestant ascendancy, in the political sense of the phrase, is to be deprecated; assuredly, Protestant depression is not to be desired. The undue elevation of any party is equally inconsistent with justice to Ireland. The ascendancy of Popery by establishment or endowment, would be a retrograde movement indeed. It would be a shifting of the balance that would leave the inequality of the scale, so much complained of in times past, utterly unremedied; only reversing the preponderance, and reversing it upon the side that would be most injurious to the interests of truth and freedom: and, however great may be our confidence in the all-wise providence of God, that every measure will be over-ruled for ultimate good, we should deprecate such a step as a heavy blow, and deep discouragement to the Protestant population of Ireland in all its various sections. But we wish not to be prophets of evil, or to conjecture and forebode calamities that may never come to pass. Let us rather hope that all political parties may coalesce in promoting a just and fair equality, in leaving religion to its unfettered energies, in allowing all the forms of religion free scope for the use of legitimate means, and in affording to all parties the full enjoyment of civil and religious freedom. Let truth have but liberty to choose her battle-field, and ample room to wield her spiritual weapons, and we have no cause to fear the ascendancy of error. Truth, unencumbered and unclogged by the trappings of state, the wiles of human policy, or the accumulations of worldly wealth, must win the victory. God has promised it; and man by his carnal and unnecessary interference has only retarded and hindered the accomplishment of the prediction. Let the friends of truth move onward in the spirit of love and wisdom, and a sound mind. Let the rulers of the land "STAND STILL, and see the salvation of the Lord." The result cannot be doubtful. "Great is the truth, and it will prevail." "The word of the Lord shall have free course, and be glorified." C. ESSAYS, EXTRACTS, AND CORRESPONDENCE. RAMBLES IN IRELAND. BY THE REV. THOMAS AVELING. No. I. IT is to be feared that the rage for travelling abroad, the desire of being able to talk of the "the continent," has led to a neglect of the scenery nearer home. Too often, that which is easily accessible is comparatively little valued; the pleasure anticipated or realized being in proportion to the difficulty experienced in seeking, and not according to the real grandeur or loveliness of the scenes surveyed. To what else are we to attribute the indifference felt towards Ireland by tourists in general -a country which for its extent has as many natural beauties as any land in Europe, Switzerland excepted? Twenty four hours' travelling places a Londoner in the midst of some of its most splendid scenery. The expense of transit from place to place in any part of the country is much less than any part of England; and with the exception of some of the most secluded villages, no difficulty is ever felt by the hungry traveller in having even a luxurious taste gratified. Frankness, heartiness, a cheerfulness which no disasters or troubles seem to impair; wit, overflowing and frequent, at times in the extreme; a generosity of spirit of which the daily instances are many: a readiness to oblige on the part of servants and dependants; all these are characteristic of the people of Ireland. What then keeps from her shores some of the tens of thousands that annually migrate from close counting-houses, narrow streets, or suburban villas to the watering-places of our own island, or the different points of attraction in the continental countries? Perhaps the cause has been partially hinted at: "'tis distance lends enchantment to the view." Ireland is too near home. There is one other objection not unfrequently made, and by intelligent persons too, against travelling in that country; the supposed insecurity of life or property. Irishmen may well smile, as many of them did, when, in speaking with them on the subject, this objection was named. They ask whether Englishmen are not afraid to travel in their own land, be cause there are robberies and murders at times disgracing the country. There is about as much reason to be afraid in one land as the other. The truth is, the sad disturbances, accounts of which from time to time are received by the British public, if not exaggerated-as is often the case-may be traceable to local causes; and as with these, travellers having nothing whatever to do, so from them they have nothing to fear. The tenure of land is one of the most frightful sources of contention and bloodshed in Ireland; and the assertion may be hazarded, that scarcely any outrage is committed of an alarming character which is not excited or encouraged by something of this kind. The writer of these papers spent several weeks in travelling through the emerald isle, last summer; visiting many of its most famous localities; staying in its largest cities and loneliest cabins; observing life amid the refinements of the metropolis, and the poverty of the mountains and bogs of Connaught, among the Presbyterian and other Protestants of Ulster, and the Romanists of Munster and the western province; and can bear an unqualified testimony to the absence of all causes of real alarm. Neither by coach nor car, public or private; steamer or canal boat; on foot, alone, or in company; on the high road or more retired paths, was the slightest interruption met with by night or by day. Ireland is as safe as London streets; in some respects safer. It was in the midst of a drizzling rain, on the evening of August 18th of last year, that I left Liverpool in the "Newry" steamer. The fore-deck of the vessel was crowded with Irishmen, women, and children, who sat or stood exposed to the elements, except such as had been fortunate enough to creep inside an empty box or two, that lay scattered about'; or beneath some pieces of wood that were placed in a slanting position against the mast or sides of the steamer. Three had taken possession of a glass crate, and were sleeping soundly as if on a bed of down. It was a curious sight to behold the various groups; some smoking, others singing, some telling tales, others exercising their wit; and all appearing careless and happy, as if the world had done its worst with them. Although they must, many of them, have been drenched to the skin, yet this seemed to give them no particular trouble; at any rate they submitted to the inconvenience with a most philosophic coolness and indifference. The contrast of the accommodations of the cabin passengers to them was not trifling. Elegance and comfort were both cared for in the saloon of the steamer; and a very agreeable company of Irish gentlemen and ladies, who were returning from a visit to England, made our intercourse pleasant. The sea was very calm; and many of the passengers walked the deck until midnight; admiring the beautiful phosphoric coruscations of the waves, as they rolled from under the paddlewheels of the steamer. Tired, at length, we all sought repose; which nothing disturbed till the morning light, about five o'clock, pouring in at one of the cabin windows, woke me. I immediately went on deck, and saw in the distance the high land of the Isle of Man, which for nearly two hours remained visible. At eight we ought to have had a sight of the Irish shores; but a soft haze covered the sea, and effectually hid the coast from us. In another hour, however, the mist rolled away as if by enchantment, and a most magnificent sight presented itself; producing in my mind the most indescribable sensations. We were making direct for Carlingford Bay, in the entrance to which stands aflighthouse, seen at a great distance, with a few small islands around it. On the left was the Carlingford range of mountains, towering high above the seaport town of that name, whose grey church tower uprose at the foot of the hills, and not far from which are the remains of a castle and Dominican monastery. On the right was a yet grander range, the mountains of Morne; the highest of which, Slieve Donard, reaches to 2796 ft.: these stretch as far as Dundrum Bay, and are conspicious objects for many miles inland. They looked bleak and barren, although the sun's rays were playing upon their summit and sides, and clothing them with that soft golden hue, which makes mountain scenery so inexpressibly beautiful. On the side of the Morne range, that hems in Carlingford Bay to the north, is one of the loveliest villages in Ireland, Ross Trevor, the resort of invalids and visitors, who, desirous of inhaling these a breezes with magnificent inland scenery, have here an opportunity afforded for the most ample and delicious gratification. I was constrained, however, to hasten on to Newry; and to rest content with the view of it which could be afforded from the deck of the steamer. The landing at Warren's Point was a busy, humorous piece of business. Our Irish deck-sleepers, most eager to tread their own shores once more stood, some of them, a fair chance of being more completely saturated than they had been by the rain of the previous night. All, however, reached the land in safety, and many mutual greetings took place. I parted with my fellowvoyagers, who had kindly pointed out to me all the objects of interest as we sailed up the bay, evidently delighted at the involuntary expressions of my pleasure, as each presented itself prominently to our notice. They had frends awaiting them, the meeting with whom was the occasion of undisguised and unfeigned delight. I turned away with a sigh; there was not one to welcome me. I felt I was a stranger in a strange land, and for a few moments my thoughts were far away over the sea, in the midst of my own loved home, and with a quivering lip and a grateful heart I commended all dear to me to the care of Him who had graciously brought me in safety to the Irish shores. The first greeting I received as I stepped on the land was from a beggarwoman, who looked the very picture of extreme poverty and wretchedness. Her appeal was most urgently presented, and, as is the case with all of that class, charity was sought for "the love of God," "in the name of God;" words used by Irish mendicants with more than usual volubility and carelessness being considered as necessary and effectual auxiliary phrases. This application for relief was soon drowned in the clamour of the car-drivers for the honour of my company to the town of Newry, which was about six miles distant from the place of debarkation. Having selected |