scandalously than the electors; and some of the hackney coaches were even inscribed with the profaneness, "Foster and Jesus for ever!" Though we acquit Mr. Foster of sanctioning these impieties, we cannot think he could enjoy the triumph of a majority of fifty-eight, gained as it was by such a rabble. Mr. Lendon demanded a scrutiny, which the church-wardens refused; in consequence of which opposition, that gentleman entered a caveat in the bishop's court.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

MISCELLANIES CONTINUED, AND ACTS OF PARLIAMENT.

Contents.

I. Scotland; Election of a Professor of Natural Philosophy.-II. State of Religion in Ireland.-III. Dr. Buchanan's Prizes.-IV. His Memoir on India.V. New Regime in Examination at Oxford.—VI. Downing College, Cambridge.-VII. The Rev. Mr. Stone deprived for Socinianism.-VIII. Jubilee.— IX. On the Burial of unbaptized Infants.-X. On Craniology. - XI. On Sunday Exemptions from Turnpike Duty.-XII. Death of the Duke of Bedford.-XIII. Isaac Hawkins Browne.-XIV. Forsyth's Moral Philosophy.-XV. Bampton Lectures.XVI: Acts of Parliament.

A. D. 1805.

I. IN Scotland, a contest between Mr. Leslie and Mr. Macknight for the chair of natural philosophy, brought several important principles into discussion. Mr. Leslie was elected, although well known to have espoused several of the sentiments of David Hume; and language was used and tolerated in the general assembly, disgraceful

to a body mainly composed of ecclesiastics. Mr. Macknight ought to have been supported on the ground on which he was opposed: that education ought to be thrown into the hands of the clergy. To say that philosophy has nothing to do with religion is talking at random. If a man's philosophy opposes the cosmogony of Moses, it will not be long before he secretly and unsuspectedly undermines the principles of his pupils.

II. From Scotland let us divert our views to the state of the Irish Church. The dioceses of Ireland were first united in thirty-two, and afterwards in twenty-two bishoprics; but they are still out of all proportion to the English sees, and might well bear a further reduction. It has been found necessary, likewise, from time to time, to consolidate the two thousand three hundred and forty-eight parishes, into nearly one thousand two hundred benefices; in many of which, a large majority of the parishioners are, in the north, attached to Presbyterianism, and in other parts, to the Roman Catholic faith. To these it must needs prove galling, while holding the creed of their ancestors, to maintain, by compulsion, a religion which they regard as one of usurpation; and this hardship is felt more sensibly by the Roman Catholics; who, as the country is likewise divided into Popish sees and parishes, are drained for the support of two churches. These evils are greatly aggravated by the state of Church patron

age in Ireland; where the bishoprics have been apportioned, with few exceptions, (such as Young, Lawrence, Magee, and Verschoyle) to the younger sons of noble families, or the chaplains of lord lieutenants*; and the livings assigned to incumbents, who considered them rather as a provision, than as a field for the exercise of zeal. Residence seems little necessary where there is no congregation; and even where it is enforced or given, it is greatly to be feared, that many of the clergy partake too much of the field sports and convivialities of the neighbouring gentry; whose shake of the hand is a squeeze, and whose very warm-heartedness is a snare to a sober divine; who can hardly be hospitable without excess, or gregarious without a row, and who know but little of the Scottish adage, “It is good to be merry and wise." Yet these incumbents

* Dean Swift having been formally introduced, on some occasion, to the chaplain of a lord lieutenant, inquired of him whether he was a classical scholar; and on his replying in the affirmative, proposed to him to translate the wellknown line:

"Romanos rerum dominos, gentemque togatam.” "Nothing more easy," replied the solemn divine: "It signifies, The Romans, lords of the universe, and the nation which wears the toga.' "That shews," said the Dean, with a satirical smile, "what sort of latinity you have been accustomed to. Now hear my translation: Romanos, you have a Roman nose,-rerum, you are a rare and a rum one, -dominos, d- your nose,-gentemque togatam, and all state chaplains."

are gentlemen; who, through delicacy to the Romish priests, and, perhaps, a lay and secu larized average of zeal, meddle not in the busi ness of conversion, and content themselves with keeping their handful of a flock together. The parishioners of non-resident ministers, on the other hand, like the tenantry of absentee landlords, are liable to all the mischiefs, and to all the consequent discontents, brought on that unhappy country by the interference of middle-men. How can the Protestant Episcopal Church flourish, under such a system of complicated evils?

Under these circumstances, it has been thought desirable that Methodism should be introduced, as a corrective of Irish barbarism. The Papist would not go to church; but the Methodist assailed him in the market; and where the object was to enlighten total ignorance, and to mitigate savage ferocity, the claims of the Church against schismatics might well be left to a later stage of improvement. To a woman, who, howling at a funeral, could ask her neighbour, " Arrah honey, who is it we're crying for?" to a dying peasant, who said of his enemy, "If I die I'll forgive him, but if I live I never will," the earliest beam of knowledge would be a blessing, from whatever quarter it might come.

*

Lady Morgan's "Patriotic Sketches." "Miss Leadbetter's Cottage Dialogues."