MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE.

WE are much gratified at the aspect which Catholicity presents to us at this moment in Great Britain. The numbers who continue to join themselves to our communion, attest the beneficial tendency of the spirit of enquiry, which marks the religious character of our age.

The extraordinary efforts which were made in the course of last summer, by the Conservative party, to arouse our Protestant countrymen to religious warfare against us, have more than failed. The meetings in Exeter Hall came a day too late to find credit with a thinking public. But they were not without their effect. They awakened attention, and they induced an enquiry into the reality of the charges, which our slanderers had exhibited in such revolting relief The result has been, a wonderful augmentation of our numerical, as well as moral strength.

On Wednesday, the 30th of March last, the Duke of Newcastle moved, in the House of Lords, for " returns of all Roman Catholic chapels, with the dates of their erection: also returns of all monastic establishments, distinguishing whether for monks or nuns, together with the number in each also for returns of all Roman Catholic Colleges and seminaries in England and Wales, distinguishing those which belong to the Jesuits; and also of the number of Roman Catholics in 1799, and their progressive increase down to the present time." After some discussion the motion was agreed to, except that part of it which referred to the number of Catholic colleges and seminaries, and the number of Catholics in 1799. The noble Duke on that occasion stated, "that Popery was alarmingly on the increase in Great Britain; that, in 1835, there were 510 Roman Catholic chapels in England, while, sixty years ago, there were only thirty. In addition to this, eleven new churches were building; and, at Kidderminster and Dover, Protestant chapels had been turned into Popish chapels. There were also eight Popish colleges and seminaries, the object of which was manifest." We can assure his Grace that he has underrated the number of our new churches now in the course of erection: they are certainly not less than forty, not to speak of some four or five which have been opened this year. The number of our British colleges

amounts to nine.

The

DR. WISEMAN'S LECTURES.-These Lectures, which were first delivered in the Sardinian Chapel, and afterwards in the Chapel at Moorfields, are now in progress of publication in numbers by Mr Booker. public journals have recorded, that in both Chapels they were attended by immense crowds; indeed, so numerous, that on more than one occasion, the chapel at Moorfields, which affords accommodation to upwards of three thousand persons, was not large enough to admit all the applicants for places. It is with great satisfaction we hear from all quarters, that these discourses have produced a profound impression throughout the metropolis. Several persons, anxious to testify their gratitude to Dr. Wiseman, have entered into a subscription, with a view of presenting him with some token of their respect, before he returns to Rome. We have no doubt, that if the list already formed were published, it would speedily receive very general support.

On the other hand, in St. John's Chapel, Millman Street, Dr. Martin, an Irish Protestant clergyman, is at present engaged in a course of Anti-Catholic lectures, to a very thin congregation. It has often struck us as somewhat singular, that while numerous lectures of the offensive cast teem periodically from Protestant pulpits, none of our polemical foes seem to conceive the propriety of following the temperate course of our own theologians, by expounding and defending the principles of their own religion. We had the curiosity to be present at one of Dr. Martin's lectures the subject was penance. We regretted the want of candour, or of information, which characterized his assertions. The impartial reader may appreciate both, when he is assured by Dr. Martin, that, "according to Aquinas, it is impossible to make a good confession. Some fathers and doctors of the Roman Church declare it sufficient to love God once a-year. Reginaldus says, that there is no precept against remaining one's whole life in enmity against God, &c. &c. &c." A young layman of our Church, who was present, wrote next day to the lecturer, demanding his authorities for these positions among others, but the Doctor made him no reply, stating from the pulpit, on the ensuing evening, that he could not be expected to do so, and confining himself then to a mere review of what he had said on one isolated point, which was the obsolete charge about the deposing power. It has been remarked that Dr. Wiseman, in his lectures, never stated a Protestant opinion without producing an authority, and never omitted to make a written reply to those of his Protestant hearers who addressed him upon the matter of his lectures by letters, to which their names and residences were subscribed.

We are glad to learn, from the organ of the " Reformation" Society, that at West Bromwich, our Priesthood" insinuate much" of our religious doctrines among the people, and that the said Society is " suffering occasional inroads,' by means of their "persevering foe," the Hon. Mr. Spencer.

The Protestant Journal relieves us from the trouble of enquiring into the state of Catholic Scotland. "The Eastern District," we are assured, “in which is included the capital of Scotland, is remarkable for the increase of Catholicity. In almost every town of any size, the efforts of the Church are many and persevering, and their success painfully apparent." It would seem, however, that the Journal did injustice to the "Northern Papal District," by the invidious mention of the Eastern. "The proofs of the progress" of our faith are in the former "equally melancholy." In Inverness several members of the professedly Protestant town council, have contributed to the erection of a Catholic Church, although they would not give sixpence to the parish Church. In Greenock, our population is immense and increasing. In Perth, the visit of an itinerant Catholic preacher, provoked the Voluntaries to vindicate our cause, to the great repletion of the priest's chapel in that city. In fact, one of these men, a "leading light," declared in public, somewhere, that "Catholicity had ceased to be Popery, because it had become voluntary." In a word, bells are now no longer heard on the "5th of November," and the "rulers" of Glasgow are convinced that "all opposition" to our religion, "is unchristian," and the result of our labour is succinctly stated to be such, "that from being rid of Ca

tholics, to a considerable extent," Scotland has come once more to swarm with them, and to revert, in some places, to almost her ante-Reformation condition.

The accounts which have been received from our colonies are most cheering.

Letters of a late date from the Jesuit Fathers, who left Stonyhurst for India at the end of 1834, speak very encouragingly of their mission. They were in the enjoyment of good health and spirits. The college which they established in Calcutta, shortly after their arrival there, was very successful. The Rev. Francis Chadwick is the Rector of the institution. The Right Rev. Dr. O'Connor, Bishop of Madras, had arrived there from Ireland in safety.

The Right Rev. Dr. Polding, Bishop of Hiero-Cæsarea, and V. A. in Australasia, reached successively the shores of Van Diemen's Land and New South Wales, in July and September last. His Lordship writes in good spirits of his health and missionary prospects. Private letters speak very favourably of the impression produced by the Bishop on the local authorities. A large sum had been voted by the Legislative Council of Van Diemen's Land for the erection of a Catholic church in Hobart town, the capital; and a Sydney newspaper assures us, that, before the close of the session of the Legislative Council of New South Wales, that body voted, for the Bishop's maintenance, the sum of 500l. We believe that the Australasian Association, founded by his Lordship shortly before his departure, thrives well, and produces, in aid of his mission, a sum of no

mean amount.

We are happy to inform our readers, that there is great prospect of a Vicar Apostolic being consecrated for Demerara, and the adjacent colonies, where the want of one has been long so seriously felt.

We are sorry to hear, that in Lower Canada, the Irish Catholics are still in that state of exceeding distress, to which the cholera and other calamities, some while since reduced them. It appears, that a few years ago, the overwhelming proportion which the numbers of our brethren at Quebec, presented, to the spiritual accommodation afforded them, determined them to open subscriptions for the erection of a new church. The ground was bought, and the Church erected, but its completion seems as remote as ever, by reason of the exhaustion of their resources. Out of a population of 35,000, Quebec contains 7,000 Irish Catholics. Among the 40,000 inhabitants of Montreal, there are 8,000 Irish Catholics. About 12,000 Catholic emigrants arrive at Quebec, annually, from Ireland. In the French Canadian chapels, of course, instructions are given in the French language only.

The state of religion in France is most consoling. Of late years, a gradual return to Christianity has been remarked throughout the provinces of that country, and even in its capital. In the present year, this happy change has made a most important progress. The youth of France, in whom religion once found so much to fear for, give now the fairest promise of becoming her glory and her safe-guard. The venerable Archbishop of Paris, ever alive to their real welfare, appointed, chiefly upon their account, a course of lectures, on the philosophy of Christianity,

VOL. I.-NO. I.

to be delivered by the Abbé Lacordaire, upon the Sundays in the Lent which is just passed. With great propriety, the locale of these discourses was fixed within the venerable walls of Notre Dame. We were present at one of these lectures. Long before one o'clock, the hour of the lecture, this magnificent cathedral was crowded in every part. There were not less than 10,000 assembled. Of these, three-fourths were males, and of these again, a large majority were young men. In the midst sat the Archbishop: his golden crosier planted before him, seemed the standard of that mighty host. The lecture, which discussed the conformity of revelation to natural evidences, whether inanimate, animate, rational, or social, was heard with the profoundest attention, which, indeed, it unquestionably merited. At times, the glowing eyes and cheeks of the youthful auditors rendered an eloquent testimony to the truths which the preacher displayed before them, with all the powers necessary to produce conviction. We are happy to announce, that the Archbishop, in a most kind and appropriate manner, has, since the commencement of these lectures, bestowed on M. Lacordaire one of the stalls of Notre Dame. The numbers of young persons of the male sex, comparatively so numerous, who present themselves at the confessional and the communionrail, the crowded churches at the period of a retreat, and the increase of devotion observable during the celebration of mass, assured us that the change alluded to has not been nominal, but real.

The recent investiture of M. de Cheverus as the Cardinal Prince of Bordeaux, has given great satisfaction generally in France. The bill for the increase of his salary, as well as for the expenses of his inauguration, has passed both houses without opposition.

At Paris, in January last, appeared the first number of a monthly periodical, called "L'Université Catholique,' edited by a brilliant réunion of the most illustrious Catholic writers in France and Belgium. This "aristocracy of talent," as the biographer of Schlegel very appropriately terms it, undertakes, in the "Discours Preliminaire" of July last, the accomplishment of a double duty. It says,-"First, we should cultivate the various branches of useful knowledge, in such a manner as to disengage them the more and more from the erroneous conceptions which have been confounded with them, and thus to favour the movement which is restoring the spirit of Catholicism. This first effort is nothing more than a work of purification. To accomplish this, it suffices to reject the evil, -it suffices to treat of science in a spirit which is not hostile to religion." "But to this must be joined another task,-a task of organization. To show that the Catholic faith generates philosophy, or the general science which constitutes the unity of all the various sciences,-that the Catholic hierarchy contains the rallying point of order and of social progress, that Catholic charity, combined with the results of science, can alone resolve, in a manner complete and durable, the most important problems of political economy, that all art should be Christian, and that all which is Christian emanated from Catholicism, or returns to it ;this is the grand religious thesis of the nineteenth century."

C. RICHARDS, PRINTER, ST. MARTIN'S LANE, LONDON.

THE

DUBLIN REVIEW.

JULY, 1836.

Art. I. Agrarian Disturbances in Ireland, produced by Fulls in Prices. 8vo. London. 1836.

Is

S the condition of Ireland really improving? The question interests the inhabitants of Great Britain as much as the people of Ireland themselves, and it is in all views of it eminently entitled to dispassionate and candid investigation.

During the discussion of the Repeal of the Irish Union, speculation was naturally more than commonly active on this important subject. On one side it was held, not only that Ireland had not advanced, but had retrograded; on the other, it was insisted that her progress was not merely unquestionable, but gigantic! The truth seems to be, that she has made some move onwards, but that it is by no means proportioned to the growth of her prosperity before the Union; to the increase of her population since that period; or to the improvement of Great Britain; with which it was rather too sanguinely assumed, in the discussions of 1800, that she would be able to maintain a commercial rivalry in twenty years from that period.

The speech made by the Right Hon. Thomas Spring Rice, on the question of the Repeal of the Union in 1833, as well as that delivered on the same subject, in the following year, abound in tables framed to establish the hypothesis of the gigantic' progress. The most unerring test, Revenue, is left unnoticed in those speeches. Change of taste may produce a great alteration in the relative consumption of tea, sugar, coffee, wine, or spirits; one branch of commerce may prosper, and another decay; Waterford may exhibit by her export returns a prodigious increase of trade, but this may be from local causes, and other ports may be comparatively abandoned. Revenue is the result of transactions of all kinds, and is not affected by the mutations which will occur in particular instances. It is thus the safest guide in comparing the present with the past, and it is to be regretted that it gives but a slender support to the arguments of Mr. Rice.

In the Parliamentary Return, ordered on the 15th of April,

VOL. I.-NO. II.

X