thus prevent the public from seeing the true state of the question? No; I hope not. I feel that there is a public spirit yet in our body to resist such an abuse, notwithstanding the heavy pressure of the times, and the constant importunities of the tax-gatherer. To those friends whose kind assistance I have already experienced, I offer my warm acknowledgments, and I frankly assure them, and such others as may feel inclined to tend their friendly aid in the cause of independence, the same line of consistency, the same integrity of conduct, the same aversion to partyspirit, which have marked my previous steps will be followed in my future toils to forward the cause I have engaged in. If any of my friends are desirous to support the end in view, but are averse to be known as such, from their connection or acquaintance with the arrogant leaders of the party, they may rely on the most implicit secrecy being preserved by me, as well as on all other Occasions were confidence is required. With these observations I conclude, relying on the good-will and zeal of every member of our communion, who loves plain-dealing, and approves of an active and open defence of our civil and religious principles. Narrative of Titus Oates's Plot, 75. 6ả Clinton's Guide to the Altar, or The Ad- -Sincere Christian, 2 vols. 10s. -Scripture Doctrine of Miracles dis- Plowden's (Francis) First Letter to Sir J. Second Letter to do. 5s. -Vetoism Illustrated 3s. 6d. 12s. Moral Reflections, 2 vols. 10s. Elevation of the Soul to God, 5s. Ditto, with fourteen engravings for each Stations and Devotions on the Passion, as dozen to Schools. Clergymen, Noblemen, Ladies, Gentle Dr. Milner's Summary of the Scriptures, Common Edition of do. for the use of Catholic Vindicator, a Controversial Work, in 52 weekly numbers, 2d. each, or A few copies of the Doway Bible and Life of St. Wenefride, Is. 8d. Small do. with a fine Head of the Blessed Printed by W. E. Andrews, 8, Drake- HEN the Smithfield meeting, have not heard that he has had the misrepresentation, which, were he posessed of a spark of literary honour and integrity, he would not have hesitated one moment to have done, as an act of justice to the exalted chaIn conse quence of this attack, I felt myself constrained to enter on a defence of my conduct and character, as the editor of an independent and orthodox publication. I repelled the insinuations of my accuser, and I jus its resolutions in favour of Civil and Religious Liberty, as an advocate for this cause I inserted those resolutions in this Journal, together with an address founded upon them, conceiving that a subject so impor-racter he had traduced. tant, and of such momentous interest to the catholics of this kingdom, ought to be recorded in a work devoted to their service. In doing this, I accompanied them with such remarks of my own as I considered the question demanded, and I sug-tified the correctness of my actions gested, at the same time, the necessity of the catholic body meeting this first public effervescence in their favour with "corresponding feelings."-These remarks drew forth the animadversions of a writer in a venal print, called The New Times, who misreported me as having lent myself to the views of those advocates for reform, who are designated "radicals," and represented as the enemies both of the throne and the altar.-This writer was no less a personage than the eldest son of a catholic peer, who, with more boldness than good sense, misrepresented the venerable vicar apostolic of the Midland district in the polluted columns of the same paper, and though made sensible of his error by the learned prelate through the pages of another Journal, yet ORTHOD. JOUR. VOL. VIII. and sentiments. In this performance, I was necessarily compelled to diverge into a more extended range of argument than I had heretofore done, particularly on political topics, which created much alarm and some displeasure among many of my readers. They did not consider that I had no other alternative left, but either to submit in silence to the imputations cast against me, of which my enemies would not fail to take the utmost advantage, or to venture boldly to the attack, in whatever direction my enemy might choose to assail me. The latter course was most congenial to my feelings, and I hesitated not to pursue it.-The public efforts of my opponent were reduced to silence, but private slånder was resorted to by other enemies to vilify me, and render my work 2 F suspected and obnoxious to pious | last, page 401, in which you very and credulous catholics.-One of truly say "strange and awful have my readers, however, more candid been the events of the last few and liberal than my honourable ac- years, in which the independence cuser, differing from me in opinion, of the divine and sacred establishcommunicated his objections in writ- ment of our Blessed Saviour has ing, under the signature of RATIO, been menaced, both in this and whose letter I inserted in the num- the countries on the continent, ber for February last, to which I while the thrones of sovereigns have subjoined in that and the succeeding been shaken in consequence,” &c. number, a reply to my correspond- To these strange and awful events ent's observations, which I flattered I evidently referred in my letter to myself would prove satisfactory. you, and they formed the basis in By a second communication, re- some degree of my sentiments thereceived last month, I find I was mis- in stated. The events of these taken, and that my correspondent latter times (I mean since the herethinks me deficient in that force siarchs Luther, Calvin, &c.) are, of reasoning which he is pleased to I own, strange, and clearly new feaallow me to possess on other occa- | tured, not merely from discontents. sions. A perusal of his letter con- arising from some particular or spevinces me, that, if I am deficient in his cified objects of complaint, but eyes, he is still more defective in his against subordination and lawful rejoinder in mine; besides which authorities in general, whether these he has travelled a great way from the be spiritual or civil, both which are question, and introduced much mat- menaced with destruction by the ter totally irrelevant to the point declarations and actions of modern in dispute.-Nay, I will go farther, philosophers, and by the doctrines and say, that he absolutely appears to | of Luther, Calvin, and others, ejusbe under a misconception of my argu- dem farinæ, even to the present moments, and ungenerously intimates, ment. You bring forward examples towards the conclusion of his long | of sedition, &c. anterior to the above letter, that my sentiments are cal- epoch of the reformation, to prove culated to lead my catholic bre- that I have mistaken the consequenthren into a violation of the laws of ces for the cause. Here I differ God and my country, which I from you, and affirm the strange and am sure my words do not warrant. new-featured events to have marked Before however, I proceed to offer the progress of what is called the any more observations, I will here reformation down to the French lay the second letter of RATIO revolution and to the present period. before the reader, and beg his serious I am fully aware of examples of sedition, discontents and murmurings before the rise of Luther, &c. Such events may be traced up to the time of Moses, whose meekness and other virtues were not sufficient to counteract and hinder the seditions and murmurings of the people, though he was acting under the immediate appointment of heaven: in every age and country a seditious spirit has arisen from time to time, even under the most virtuous, wise, and attention to it. MR. ANDREWS,-It appears to me, from your reply to my observations in your journal of February last, that a few remarks may be proper, and I hope you will then not think it necessary for me to maintain an inversion of the order of nature, to substantiate the truth of what I advanced. I must again refer you to the journal of November holy rulers. Royal and ecclesias tical authority have experienced such events, and what does this prove but that the heart of man is impatient of restraint, and that laws and regulations, with governors and rulers, are necessary to regulate his conduct. Hence the Almighty himself has imposed laws and appointed authorities to see them observed; and it is the attempt at the inversion of this order, which has particularly, within these few years, menaced the independence of the divine and sacred establishment, both in this and other countries, and produced "strange and awful events." And though you say (page 103 of your last journal) "I am unfortunate in differing from the respected vicar apostolic of the Midland district, concerning the vitiation of the public mind, I cannot otherwise think, that where the divine and sacred establishment of our Saviour is menaced, there exists a vitiation, nor can the present "disorganization of Europe" be done away, till, as I have said in my former letter, a return takes place to sound and orthodox principles of religion. And my opinion is, that Dr. Milner, nor yourself, will say, the tenets maintained by the various sects in this unfortunate country lead in their effects otherwise than to atheism, &c; and the bible distribution tends most undoubtedly to the same, so far from promoting religion. If this be the case, I as think you will agree with me that it is, a vitiation existing must be allowed; for the true religious principles, as established by the unerring Founder of the christian religion, must and can alone be the line for the regulation of faith as well as morality. You could advance the catholic religion by no method so much, as by coolly and dispassionately combating the blindness so prevalent at this day, by which the divine word is made the sport of erroneous human reason and even subservient to it. Thus no rule remaining as a guide in faith, no authority to appeal to, a Babelish confusion of sects have necessarily sprung up, incoherent in themselves and unintelligible to others. Religious faith in this nation appears despoiled of its essential beauty, which is unity, as revealed by the sovereign unchangeable and Eternal Truth. Is it possible even for a moment to suppose all this turbulent variety of creeds, (if so they can be called) can be the work of, or appointed by, a God infinite in all perfection. Christ has incessantly declared it necessary to believe in His doctrine, which evidently points out the es sence of faith and unity, and an authorized guide, constituted by himself, follows of just consequence. The heresiarchs Luther and Calvin broached tenets tending to the subversion of faith, authority, discipline, and social order; and some years after the first turbulent career of the above disturbers, the plausibility, art, and insinuating pen of Voltaire was exerted but too successfully to deceive the unwary and embolden the vicious, to adopt their destruct. tive principles, and give them effect in practise to this full extent. Thus the age of antichristian philosophy arose and inserted the malignity of its poison into every state. A better judgment cannot be formed of the cause of these disasters, than by ascertaining the intentions of the authors of them. It will suffice, on this occasion, to refer you to the Disquisition mentioned in my former letter, though innumerable other testimonies might be brought forward. The author in the first chapter observes that "Luther and "Calvin, discarding all spiritual "power, and substituting the pride "of intellect for a christian tradi"tion of ages, gave a convulsive 66 up to? "shock to the foundations of every | taph." And again, he exultingly government....and set the four writes, "Cruel revolution! What corners of the civilized world in " is not the next generation to look "flames." In chapter 5th, he brings " The axe is laid to the forward the genuine correspondence" root of the tree. The edifice is of the heads of the impious confede-"sapped in its foundations, ready to racy, and says, it exhibits in strong fall in. The nations will recount colouring men animated with an "in their annals, that Voltaire was infuriated hatred of christianity, con- "the promoter of the revolution, certing measures for debasing and "which will take place in the HUMAN annihilating it, "animating them"selves reciprocally to foment this 66 sacrilegious prostitution of intel"lect, which tramples under foot "the first duties to the Creator, "rends asunder, without shame or "remorse, all ties of conscience, and "shakes to the base the foundations "of every state." Voltaire, writing to a nobleman of his party, says, "we " are surrounded by monsters, (mean"ing the Jesuits, Sorbonne, &c.) "But they do but fire my worthy "friend, and rouse him to action, MIND before the close of the nine"teenth century." When it was in contemplation to heal, in some measure, the wound received in the education of youth, from the suppression of the Jesuits, by establishing a new society of clergymen, who should have the care of the public schools, the philosophers took an alarm, represented the mischiefs of putting the rising generation under the tuition of any of the priesthood, all of whom they represented as ultramontanists, unnatural, and bad citizens; and D'Alembert on this subject writes to Voltaire, “the game is up with reason, if the enemy gain this great battle.' ور What more glorious testimony could the catholic church receive, than these efforts of impiety levelled against her, That she should be the marked object of the hatred and malice of this impious and antichris and at the same time warn him to "conceal his movements from the enemy." D'Alembert tells Voltaire, "the parliaments of Paris are the "executioners of summary justice on "behalf of the philosophers, whose "orders they take without knowing it;" and, after enumerating the successes of their plans against religion, adds, "and fanaticism is crushed, without the people perceiving it."tian coalition. This church, whose What could better prove the subtilty of their antichristian renown, and the progress it was making than these observations of impiety. Again, Frederic king of Prussia, who, in his hatred to religion, rejoiced at the progress of their plans, says, "What an unfortunate era for the church of Rome....The philosophers are "openly undermining the apostolic 16 throne, &c....All is lost. Nothing short of a miracle can set the "church on her legs again. She "has received a severe stroke of apo"plexy. And you (Voltaire) may have the satisfaction of laying her in the grave, and writing her epi ་་ chief pastor has been denominated antichrist, the scarlet whore, &c. by the religionists of this kingdom. Do they then second the views of the age of reason? This catholic church, whose members have been exiled from the shores of Britain, and are actually not admitted to enjoy the privileges of the charters they framed and founded for the freedom and benefit of its people, who are moreover excluded by oaths, to which by far the greater part of the nation are averse, and which are also burthensome, or at least troublesome, to the consciences of many at the time of taking them. Much more might |