But, the genuine matter of the original-suppose it read, what would it avail? what could the

the Appendix which is intituled, " No. VIII. The present state* of the CENTRAL SCHOOL, Baldwin's GARDENS," the passage stands as follows:-Page 196. "The Religious exercises "learnt by heart are the Lord's Prayer-Grace before and "after meat-2d and 3d Collects of the Morning and Evening Service-Prayer on entering and leaving Church-the Cate"chism entire—and the same broken into short questions."

"

"

"The Books in reading, for which the Children are prepared by previous instruction on the sand-trays, are-National So"ciety, Central School, No. 1. on cards (taught card by card, "first by previous spelling, then by words)-National Society, "Central School, No. 2.-National Society, Central School, No. "3.-the Sermon on the Mount-the Parables- the Discourses "-and the Miracles of our Blessed Saviour-Ostervald's Abridg"ment of the Old Testament-and Mrs. Trimmer's Abridg"ment of the New-all taught in the usual way, except that "the spelling columns, No. 3. are first read syllabically and then "by words: then follow the Bible and Prayer Book, to be put "into the hands of such as by means of this initiatory course " have attained to good reading."

These then-all these without discrimination-are the Books, for the reading of which the Children are "prepared." But in so long a list of Books-and some of them so voluminous-for example the Bible and the Prayer Book-that all should be read throughout is not possible. The consequence is that by those which are, those which are not the favourites, will, in a greater or less degree be pushed out: and these favourites which are

* « The present State of the Central School"-Present?-at what time? Ask those who are in the secret. Look for it in this same No. VIIILook for it in any other part of this same Report-you may look long enough. But, this and so many other such reserves, have their sufficient reason; concerning which, see Part IV.

children be the better for it, when it is the substituted matter-the spurious matter-when it is this alone that is got by heart: and not merely in the common way got by heart, but, by all the power of the new engine of instruction-by question and answer and by challenging-alias, competition and placetaking-injected: injected, as hath been observed into the very marrow of their bones. "1. Grace

before and after ment. 2. Second and Third Col"lects of the Morning and Evening Service. 3. Prayers on entering and leaving Church"*-all these put together, whether considered in respect of quantity or quality, are of little moment. For now comes the one thing needful-the Catechism.

This is injected no less than three times. over. For these are the words, in and by which it is spoken of as learnt by heart." The Catechism "entire-and the same broken into short questions."Upon the face of this statement, what might naturally be supposed, is that it was but twice. But, turn to the Book, intituled "The Catechism broken into short questions," and you will find that in that book the whole matter of this same Catechism is administered twice over, viz, in the first

they? that the portion of the Bible, in which are contained the accounts of the discourses and acts of Jesus are not of the number, is already but too manifest. One of them, however, we shall soon see, and in CAPITALS.

plan in larger portions, and then the same matter in smaller portions, into which, by the interposition of questions, each larger portion is broken down. Thus then we have the same matter administered three times over, viz. 1. unbroken; 2. broken into larger fragments; 3. broken into smaller ones.

In this most impressive manner, though it had been administered no more than once, it would have been quite sufficient to throw out into the back ground-every thing that came from Jesus: but in this same most impressive manner it is administered (we see) no less than thrice.

Even this was not thought sufficient. To provide the more effectually for the exclusion of every thing that belonged to Jesus,-under the name of "A CATECHETICAL INSTRUCTION, being an "ACCOUNT of the CHIEF TRUTHS of the CHRISTIAN " RELIGION, explained to the MEANEST CA"PACITY, by way of Question and Answer"— or (to call it by the shorter title given to it) CHIEF TRUTHS,-to make certainty more sure, provision is made of another body of divinity, and that a new one,-to co-operate with the Catechism, and act under it, in the character of a subsubstitute to every thing that came from Jesus. Suppose the manner in which this sub-substitute is taught suppose it even not more impressive than the manner in which, as above, the Discourses and Acts of Jesus are taught, how effectually the genuine matter might be elbowed out by this spurious B

matter, may easily be imagined. But it is in that same peculiarly impressive form, that this new portion of spurious matter-this sub-substitute to every thing that ever came from Jesus (the one short and unexcludible prayer excepted) is also fitted to be administered.*

As to these self-styled CHIEF TRUTHS-as to this new Supplement to the Old Catechism

* In the abovementioned Report, of which so much more will come to be said, it is in two places recommended to all the Schools carried on in subordination to that National Society, and, to inforce the recommendation, therein mentioned as being sold to them by the Society at reduced prices: viz. in Appendix, No. VI. p. 190. under the name of Chief Truths of the Christian Religion; and again in No. VII. p. 193, under the shorter name of Chief Truths. In No. VI. it stands next but one to "Catechism broken into short questions." This was in August, 1812. At this time nothing of Our Saviour was included in the list but the "Sermon on the Mount." In No. VII. p. 193. come

Parables of our Blessed Saviour; Miracles of ditto; and Dis"courses of ditto :" over all these discourses and acts of the Blessed "Saviour" precedence is given to this National Society's Chief Truths. In the list of the abovementioned Books, mentioned in this same Report, No. VIII. p. 196, as being employed in the instruction administered in the Central School, situated in the Metropolis, it is not visible.-Is it then employed there, or is it not? If yes, why suppress the mention of it? If not, why refuse to the children of this one School the benefit of a source of instruction recommended to every other? In p. 192. " to preserve "uniformity of proceeding," stands at the head of the list of those which the Society is there made to declare to be "its only objects."

who the author of it is, my Lords the Bishops have not vouchsafed to inform us. Who the author is, and what the contents are these are among the truths, as well as who the author is, among the secrets-which for the present purpose are not worth knowing. What, to the present purpose, it is quite sufficient to know, is-that in conjunction with, and subordination to, the Old Catechism, this new body of divinity, begotten by we know not who, but at any rate adopted by My Lords the Bishops, is employed in the character of a subsubstitute to the only authentic and genuine accounts) of the discourses and acts of Jesus-or, to speak more shortly and not less truly, to the religion of Jesus.

-

What, on this occasion, is moreover curious enough is to see how, as if by the shuffling of a pack of cards, the works of the "Blessed Saviour" are, without any the smallest distinction, huddled together in a promiscuous bundle along with those of the Rev. Mr. Ostervald, and the anonymous author of the CHIEF TRUTHS.

Not so those of MRS. TRIMMER. Her more holy name is distinguished and illustrated by capitals. What the Blessed Virgin is to the Church of Rome, this Blessed Matron is to the Church of England. In the Mother the Son finds a rival, and that rival a preferred one.*

* "With a view to furnishing initiatory Books with greater