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men with the millions who are insulted, enslaved, and defrauded by impostures so vile and undisguised as Christians, we compassionate souls deluded to their eternal loss; while we contemplate a visible commentary on the declaration, "This is your hour, and the power of darkness!"

The Romanists are very fond-and well they may be of citing a passage, which they have discovered, I believe, somewhere in the writings of St. Augustine, that pictures are the books of the unlearned. It is one of the golden sentences of their church; and is estimated, immeasurably beyond its value, by a people conversant with picture-language, hieroglyphics, chambers of imagery, and all other physical means of awakening the passions of animal nature under the name of devotion. We have similar stimulants, and similar arts of deception, among ourselves. An altar-piece representing the Crucified; a chorus in the Messiah; a pensive walk in the aisles of a cathedral during the time of service, accompanied by recollections from Milton and Gray-these things constitute the religion of many a Protestant, who utters bitter complaints against the superstitions of another party and thus we and our opponents are again identified.

But, whatever resemblance may be traced between the formalists or partisans of the two rival communions, my immediate object is to convict our adversaries of the guilt they incur in countenancing such things as the Blessing of St. Francis. I am, at the same time, fully aware of the apology offered, in this relation, by such British Catholics as, having not been educated in the glooms of cloisters, but amidst the intelligence and social usages of a free country, are compelled to blush at the extravagancies of their own church; and plead that pilgrimages, holy wells, and all matters of like pretension, are only local customs; by no means essential to their religion; inconsistent with its doctrine and regular ministrations; and no further necessary to its credit than the grimaces of a buffoon to the success of a tragedy.

It is asked, then, why does not Dr. Doyle interpose, without a moment's delay, his high authority, and utterly abolish the ceremonies practised at Lough Dearg, and at various other stations of most hateful superstition in Ireland? If he cannot do this, what becomes of the boasted powers of the hierarchy of his church? If he can, what shall we say to his eloquent periods, asserting the independence of that church of every auxiliary which cannot be

supplied by good sense, the right use of reason, obedience to the revealed will of God, and by traditions inculcating nothing inconsistent with the Gospel, but confirmatory of its truth and eternal importance?

Before we proceed further, I will cite, for the information of readers not familiar with the abominations of Irish idolatry, the following authentic statement.

'Lough Dearg is a lake surrounded by mountains. It is about four miles broad by six long; containing several rocky islands; on one of which the pilgrims perform their several penances. The island is about half a mile from the shore. approaching it we found all the people walking round one of the buildings, in the direction of the sun.

On

'There are two chapels; one for confession, and another for general worship. Into the former, no strangers are admitted; but on entering the latter by one of the galleries, a mighty multitude, of the most apparently devout worshippers I ever beheld, presented themselves. All were kneeling, except the choir; and every one busy for himself, without the smallest interruption from his neighbour. The only instruments they used were their beads, crucifix, and manual. Their food is a small quantity

of bread, which they bring into the island with them; and water, which by the Priest's blessing is supposed to be made equally nutritive as wine. They take this only once a day, except when in the prison, where they remain twenty-four hours. During this period, they are prohibited from tasting food of any kind. TWENTY-FOUR PRIESTS are the regular number for officiating in this place; each, one hour. The prison is a dungeon, into which the light of day is not allowed to enter. A man with a switch is kept in regular exercise here, to keep the pilgrims in a wakeful state. Sleep is very dangerous; for a single nod may lose the soul for ever, without the interference of all the fathers and saints of the calendar, and a considerable sum of money.

'I have, after much difficulty, obtained access to a publication chiefly intended for the direction of the pilgrims at Lough Dearg, which I designed to transmit you, but was unable to purchase it; they are so very cautious about the person into whose hands they will allow it to come. I shall therefore give you a few extracts from it, in its own language. It begins with describing the spiritual benefits of the pilgrimage, and says

CHRISTIAN READER, Observe, that it is very proper and profitable for a man conversant

in this turbulent world, who, having the care of a house and family, is necessarily involved in the tribulations and affairs of this wicked world, and surrounded with infinite occasion and snares of offending God, to withdraw himself from these unavoidable snares of sin, either perpetually, and during his life, or at least for some time; and to retire to some solitary place, to look to the salvation of his soul; following herein the example of the Royal Prophet, saying, Behold, I have retired, and remained in the wilderness.' (Psalm. 1. 5—7.)"

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'The pilgrims are directed, on entering this holy ground, to approach it with all due reverence and awe, bare-headed, and bare-footed: "For if the place wherein the angel spoke to Moses, concerning the Israelites' delivery from the bondage of Pharoah, was so holy that he was commanded to tread upon it bare-footed, why should not this place be holy, where God commissioned and deputed our Apostolic Moses, St. Patrick, to enlarge us out of the slavery and captivity of our spiritual Pharoah, the Devil? And if Joshua was commanded to loose his shoes from off his feet, when he spoke to the prince of the host of the Lord, because the place whereon he stood was holy, why should not this place be holy, where we speak to God,