God, as thou hast been made known in Christian lands, and confirm in them a true and unfailing faith, and assist me, O Lord, against my enemy that opposes me, that, trusting in Thee and in Thy power, I may overcome all his wiles. Vladimir erected the first church. Thus was Russia enlightened." A long succession of bishops, the all-important connection with the Greek patriarch, the uncorrupted bodies of the holy saints, the wonders wrought by the venerated Icons, or pictures, fill up the pages which seem to be giving the history of a church herself an Icon, rather than the living bride of the Saviour. It would indeed be an evil omen to our own beloved Church were inter-communion with this darkened Church, still striving, by alternate wiles and persecution, to enlarge her boundary, more natural to her, than fellowship with Christians of nonepiscopal bodies in our own land. Yet, to promote this inter-communion, is the express object of the English clergyman, the Rev. R. Blackmore, chaplain in Cronstadt, by whom Mouravieff's History is translated; and tracing the blessing he supposes to have rested on that church, mainly to its firm adherence to the doctrine of apostolic succession, he concludes his Preface with the hope, that the happy example of Russia, may lead the English clergy to adopt such means as may best serve to repair the effects of their past sins, negligences, and ignorances, and bring down on themselves and their flocks the fulness of the Divine blessing.' Could our venerable bishops, Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer arise, would they not mourn over such a blight, passing over a church founded in the blood of martyrs. Far different were the means they used to bring down the Divine blessing and to light that candle in our land which never has been, and never will be extinguished.-ED.

THE IRISH PEARL.

No. II.

Ir is almost the history of my young life ; can you, oh yes, you must, recollect the first time I ever saw your Grace, though the memory carries back your thoughts through long, and changing, and most eventful years?'

Can I remember?' exclaimed the Duchess, 'say rather, can it ever be forgotten? it was when I accompanied Lord Ormond in his progress through the southern counties, after the capitulation of Limerick, and the sad dispersion of Ireland's gallant, though mistaken hearts. Never shall I forget the traces of that final struggle; the scenes of desolation and ruin that met our view on each succeeding day, the cottage and the stronghold alike deserted: the ruined walls, the blackened roofs; and then the misery, the famine; the lowly ones who, deprived of their natural protectors, cried in vain for relief; while suspicion, and jealousy, and hatred, amongst the more powerful, who still remained, made it seem as if a moral and physical blight had settled down on that devoted land.'

The Duchess paused, and, shuddering, pressed her hand upon her eyes, as if to shut out the painful picture; then, in a calmer tone, continued :

'The unceasing recurrence of those harrowing scenes, made the contrast doubly precious, when, at last, we

arrived at your fair ancestral home; yes, Florence, I never can forget that day, or that bright landscape, though even then a cloud was resting on it, portentous, yet hardly visible, and all unnoticed by me, as eagerly banishing those recent visions of unceasing wretchedness, those perpetual complaints, those clamorous, impossible demands, which, at every step, had impeded our progress, we entered, as if it had been another world, the deep and tranquil shade of your venerable woods; and following the windings of a scarcely perceptible ascent, emerged, at last, from the leafy shadow of those old oaks to find ourselves suddenly on the platform before the castle, almost blinded by the sunshine, and the glorious view before us, the boundless ocean; around us, the gigantic mountains, stupendous monuments of that power which holds all rival interests in his grasp, and can overrule each circumstance to his glory. A calm and elevated sentiment seemed to fill my heart, conquering all its late depression, and I could have gazed thus for hours, forgetful of man and his misdeeds, had not a low murmur, gradually increasing to a shout from the midst of the motley crowd of peasantry which had followed our cortège, almost painfully recalled my attention.

'Turning round to learn the cause of this enthusiastic cheer, I found we were beside the lofty ivied arch that gave entrance to the court of your castle; and, looking through, I beheld the sweetest picture that ever graced such a time-worn, rugged frame; yes, there you stood, dear Florence, within your ancient door-way; your retainers behind you in the hall; your two white greyhounds beside you on the steps; yourself, like some young antelope, with glancing eyes, and slight, elastic form; and girl-child almost as you were, still ready

to give us hospitable welcome with that untaught grace and dignity, which has ever been a characteristic of your race.

‹ That was a very pleasant day to me, Florence; and, even while I urged them, I marvelled not that you resisted my own and your aunt's entreaties, to leave that attractive, though secluded home, and remain under my protection, until better times should come. You were then hardly fourteen, my Florence; no wonder I was struck with your courageous and devoted answer; "My father is compelled to wander from his hearth and his home, and none but a feeble child remains to uphold it: but it was here he bid me his last farewell; and, trusting in my God, it is here I will remain to give him his first welcome, should he ever return." Now, Florence, do I remember that day?'

Florence answered not; her face was buried on the lady's knee, and a low suppressed sob alone testified to the faithfulness of the picture. The Duchess allowed her to indulge this sweet, sad memory, and after a few moments, the fair girl again raised her drooping head, and in low and trembling tones resumed her narrative.

'Well, after your departure, dear lady, all settled down into a calm and monotonous tranquillity, and except for that dear father's exile, I might have imagined that neither change or chance had betided our old home; I remained as heretofore under the guardianship of my father's sister, the widowed Lady O'Donnel; she did the honours of the household, which still retained somewhat of its ancient character, at least the wayfarer or the stranger never sought admission in vain. Tidings of the still unsettled state of the country, of harsh oppressions, wild deeds of reprisal, would now and then reach us; but personally we suffered no disturbance,

and with thoughts and gaze for ever turned sea-ward, I listened with comparative indifference to tales of internal commotion, and to the anxious comments of my aunt. Indeed, when our neighbour, the young lord of Glenleary, would pay us a visit, and in relating the present policy of the government, would speculate on its results, and, above all, on the chances it offered towards my father's return; then my spirit would expand, and, for a while, I would be almost persuaded to become a politician; but it was not my vocation, now or ever,' added Florence, with a smile, and the impulse always vanished with its immediate cause.

'Three years thus passed away, when the correspondence my beloved father had been able with more or less interruption to maintain with us, ceased altogether on his compulsory departure he had entered the Irish Brigade in the service of King Louis, and enrolling himself in one of the battalions commanded by his relative Lord Mountcashel, had joined in the battle-cry of the M'Carthys as it floated on the waters of the Rhine, or was re-echoed from the battlements of Rosas. So far his letters had informed us, but now we heard of him no more weeks, months, and a long year passed by, and still found us without intelligence of his fate, I drooped and pined unconsciously to myself, but I was watched by loving eyes, and at last the one that loved me best, my betrothed husband, Glenleary, resolved to end this suspense, and bring me certain tidings, of evil or of good.

'It was a hazardous undertaking, involving not only risk of life, in a foreign land, but of property and loyal name at home, for already there had been instances when all was forfeited, by correspondence with the army of Louis, the enemy of the sovereign who now