and two sinecures. There were, he was sorry to say, two religions-one for the rich, and another for the poor-one for the aristocracy, and another for the natives of the country-one for the Cambro-Briton, the other for their Saxon masters. Such a church, he did not hesitate to say, drove from its bosom a vast body of people, who would otherwise feel in no way disinclined to adopt its tenets.

In the course of this debate, Mr. Cobbett said his attachment to the Established Church was not to be questioned, for he had a certificate of it from a bishop. Yes, the bishop of Salisbury, in a pamphlet he published in 1813, stated that he knew of no lay writer who was a friend of the Established Church. In the second edition, however, he said in a note, "I beg Mr. Cobbett's pardon, for I do believe him to be a friend to the Established Church." (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Having this under the hand of a bishop, he need not put forward any professions of attachment to the Church.

This infamous act, he continued, (the non-residence act,) allowed clergymen to traffic, to rent lands, and go to market; and if he wanted a man to buy or sell sheep for him, or a good pig-porker, he should always pick out a parson for the business. There were only four thousand resident incumbents out of ten thousand in the English: Church. He recommended the adoption of the American plan for the support of the Church. Things would never go on right in this country till the tithing system, and the Church Establishment were altered.

withheld by another, will satisfy nobody; and popular elections of Ministers once established in = boroughs, and in those parishes of which the Crown is Patron, must soon force the freedom of every = parish from the ignominy and thraldom of patronage. If the people of the ancient Borough of Rottenbruch, achieve the liberty of electing their own pastor, it will go hard with those of the neighbouring parishes of Dripdailie or Screechme-dead if they must submit to have the lady's favourite, or the young lairds tutor, thrust upon them, even when deserving men ;-and thus we say, patronage is at an end in Scotland, unless Government draw back from the declaration of Mr. Jeffrey, a practice not unfrequent of late. Patronage may, however, get the finishing blow in a more honest and direct way; be terminated at once as an innovation, a yoke on Christian liberty which has been tolerated too long in a Protestant and Presbyterian country., There have been antipatronage meetings held at Dumfries, Kelso, Paisley, Port-Glasgow, &c., &c. But Scotland has gone farther in church matters than this grievance. In Glasgow a petition to Parliament has been adopted by a meeting attended by Dr. Wardlaw, the Rev. Mr. Anderson, and several other dissenting clergymen, praying for the abolition of the established Episcopalian Church of Ireland. The meeting was held in Dr. Heugh's chapel. A short time back, this would have been called the work of infidels and revolutionists; but this cry serves no longer. Lord King, whom the Bishops would see-without the pale of the Church, labours con amore to expose abuses in the Establishment; and, for the first time in their history, the Welsh have moved in Church Reform. And time it were, when we hear that the number of Dissenting chapels in the principality actually ex- Mr. Irving at great length defended the docceeds the churches by two-thirds. Many of the trines which he had published, and quoted several rectors are not even in holy orders, but they do passages from the Scriptures in proof of their not neglect to collect their tithes nevertheless. truth. He denied the right of the General AssemCobbett, and Mr. Estcourt, the member for Ox-bly to interfere with him. Mr. Sloan, Dr. Duncan, ford University, were at issue in a debate on non- Mr Nivison, and Mr. Monilaws delivered their residence. Cobbett had examined regular returns opinions, condemning the doctrines as being confor several years; and stated that, in 1827, out trary to the standards of the Church, and as Mr. of 10,533 benefices, there were only 4,413 resident Irving had avowed them, sentence of deposition incumbents. In the diocese of Winchester alone, ought to be passed upon him. The Moderator was out of 3,389 beneficed clergymen, only 177 resided. about to proceed to the solemn duty which had Mr. Estcourt, with curates, and one thing or ano- devolved upon him; and, as a preliminary, rether, made up the number to 8,000 clergymen quested Mr. Sloan, the senior member of Presbyresiding in all the parishes of England. Welsh tery, to offer up a prayer to Almighty God, when incumbents often do not understand the Welsh a voice was heard from the pew in which Mr. language; and indeed we have heard nearer home Irving was seated, and which immediately was of such things as Saxons in Celtic parishes. No found to be that of Mr. Dow, late minister of Welshman has been made a Bishop within the prin. Irongray, exclaiming, "Arise, depart, Arise, decipality since the Hanoverian family ascended the part,-Flee ye out, flee ye out of her,-Ye cannot throne. Mr. Wilbraham said, the cure of souls pray.-How can ye pray to Christ whom ye deny ? was out of the question, when sermons were-Ye cannot pray-Depart-Depart― Flee preached in a language which the people did not understand.

THE REV. EDWARD IRVING. On Wednesday the 13th, the Presbytery of Annan held the longthreatened trial of this gentleman for heresy.

Flee."

Mr. Irving, and several others who belonged to This important fact he knew, that one gentle- his party, followed the advice of Mr. Dow. As he man in North Wales was in possession of no less was going, Mr. Irving lifted up his hand and said than eleven pieces of preferment-nine livings" Will ye not obey the voice of the Holy

Ghost, which ye have now heard? As many as will obey the Holy Ghost, follow."

The Moderator then solemnly pronounced the sentence of deposition, and the Presbytery was dismissed with a blessing.

His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry has been pleased to present the Rev. J. A. Wallace, Burntisland

to the church and parish of Hawick, vacant by the death

of the Rev. John Cochrane.

bertson.

Thursday the Presbytery of Edinburgh met in South Leith Church, for the purpose of ordaining the Rev. David Thorburn to the second pastoral charge of that church and parish, vacant by the death of the late venerable Dr. RoOn Thursday the 21st instant, the United Associate Congregation of Slateford gave a harmonious call to Mr. William Thomson, preacher of the gospel, to be colleague and successor to the Rev. Dr. Belfrage, their present pastor.

John is down, he may as well bring up the drumstick. It will not be lawful for the Lord Liecenant to proclaim a district merely for the non-jement of tithes, as it was not permitted to Master Stanley to rummage the well merely for the covery of the drumstick ; but, when the other bus ness is doing, it will be as well for the servant ia scarlet livery to turn a hand to the Church. Hap pen what may, we are sure that it will tend to the redemption of the drumstick. All precious thingwill be thrown down by Master Stanley, that the drumstick may be helped up. Ministers, of course, deny any such intention stoutly; they are ready to adopt any declaration that the lost plate is the object of the proposed descent, but when John is in the well a soft voice will bid him, as he is there, lend a hand to the drumstick. “Here is a loaded the 5th current, a petition, numerously signed, was pre- pistol, Captain Macheath; but it is unlawful for sented by the inhabitants of that parish, praying that the you to turn the lead to gold, by making it an inRev. Presbytery would adopt such measures as might ap-strument of robbery." These prohibitions are very pear to them to be most effectual towards obtaining an suggestive if suggestion were wanting. The thing alteration of the present law of Church Patronage; which must be apt for the use, or the use could not be petition was very favourably received. Similar petitions forbidden.-Examiner. from the same parish, signed by 600 of the male inhabitants, are about to be presented to both Houses of Parliament, the one to the House of Lords by the Earl of Camperdown, and that to the House of Commons by the Earl

At a meeting of the Presbytery of Auchterarder, held on

of Ormelie.

On the 18th instant, the United Associate Congregation of Holm gave a harmonious call to the Rev. Peter Buchan, A. M. of Sandwich.

A requisition to the Provost, to call a public meeting to petition the legislature to abolish the Established Church of Ireland, is in course of signature in Paisley.

The present Bishop of Durham received not less than L.27,000 in one sum, as a fine for the renewal of Mrs. Beaumont's lease of her lead mines.-Wakefield Journal

THE IRISH COERCIVE BILL,

WHEN men talk of such a national blot and misery-of that condition of the vast bulk of an entire people which has manifestly been the prin cipal cause (we mean their poverty) of whatever is most depraved and shocking in their moral con. duct, are we to be told that a bill of pains and penalties is the cure for such a world of wrong? What, suppose by the mixed civil and military machinery, screwed up as tight as willing hands can make it—suppose that lawless outrages be suppressed for a season, for that brief season during

SPIRIT OF THE POLITICAL JOURNALS, which it is to be presumed that a Reformed Legis

FOR MARCH.

MASTER STANLEY'S DRUMSTICK.

lature will submit to have despotism installed in place of the law of England-what shall we have gained by it, if the causes of the agrarian demora. A LITTLE boy dropped his drumstick into a well.lization be left untouched? One hundred and From the servants up to papa and mama, each in ninety-six murders, it seems, were perpetrated in turn, was implored to go down into the well for a given time, and within a single county. Why, the drumstick nobody would go into a well for a what are the motives to such a horrible butchery ? drumstick. In this strait Master Stanley (for that The Irish may be bad enough, but do they commit was his name) bethought him of an expedient. murder for nothing, or just to keep their hands in. Some articles of plate suddenly disappeared; great They are, we repeat, bad enough, but that would were the alarm and consternation, painful the sus-be too extravagant. Why, then, we say, look picions. In the midst of the searches and inquiries Master Ned rushed in with good news the plate was in the well. The well was instantly inspected, and sure enough the plate was seen shining at the bottom. A man was let down, and piece after piece of the plate recovered. Just as the last ladle was fished up, Master Ned pushed his way through the crowd, and softly addressed the man at the bottom" John, as you are down there, you may as well bring up my drumstick.”

into the sources of these awful proceedings, search into those circumstances in the state of Ireland which induce the people to be murderers. It is not surely the nature of Irishmen or of any other people to murder wantonly, with some chancepossibly not a great deal of being hanged. But, at least, when Ministers ask so much from Parliament even a total surrender of the constitution into their hands have not Parliament and the press a right to call for an unequivocal statement This story explains the whole history and mys- of what we are to get in return? Is military law tery of the pending legislation. The Irish Church to be eternal?. Then, if not, remove those tendenis the drumstick. Every thing valuable is to be cies of the peasant mind, which, so long as they thrown down the well that that worthless stick continue, cannot fail to record themselves in letmay be saved. No one would budge a step to re-ters of blood and fire, the instant we lay aside cover such a thing; but when for another object again the power of stifling the expression of them,

As yet we see not that anything specific or effectual, save the abolition of the Vestry Cess, has been promised by his Majesty's Ministers. Do they still fear the House of Lords or the Court? How in conceivably childish.-Times.

THE CHURCH IN IRELAND.

THE YIELDING OF MINISTERS.

"Captains are casual things."-Beaumont and Fletcher. IN the Coercive Bill, as passed through the House of Peers, we see the tyranny which the Ministers designed and the Lords approved. In that document we have damning evidence of intention. Whatever alterations may be made in the Commons will be forced upon Ministers, and show how far their despotic purposes have exceeded their powers-how far they had cast their plan' for the invasion of liberty beyond the subserviency of their majority. They would have carried the measure with all its enormities, but their supporters durst not commit themselves to such an outrage against public opinion. Hence modifications; hence Lord Althorp's statement on Wed

CATHOLICS emancipation was a boon to the aristocracy and gentry of Ireland. They are now eligible to places of honour and emolument, which were formerly closed against them. Nothing could be more unjust, intolerant, and indefensible than their exclusion from the privileges of freemen and loyal subjects of the Crown; and they were perfectly right to struggle with might and main to be relieved from this stigma. But it would be difficult to point out in what manner the great body of Irish Catholics-the million-the nation in fact-nesday, that. were directly benefited by the removal of the Catholic disabilities. Absenteeism was not diminished; rents remained as outrageously high as ever; Tithes, Vestry Rates, and Grand Jury Assessments, were just as oppressive and annoying as if Mr. O'Connell and Lord Killeen were still excluded from the House of Commons. It was evident, therefore, to the meanest capacity, that the great measure o. the last reign should have been speedily followed up by other measures of a more practically remedial nature, if any alleviation of Irish misery and discontent was to be expected.

The collection of tithes soon became impossible; and the Reforming Ministry undertook to relieve the farmer and the peasant, and protect the clergyman, by commuting them for the future, and endeavouring to collect the arrears of past years. How miserably this plan has failed, is known to all the world. Tithe prosecutions, by tens of thousands, have irritated the Irish peasantry almost to madness. The clergy have been hunted out of the country like a drove of wolves. Some have been murdered many more despoiled of the means of subsistence, and forced to exchange affluence and comfort for the bitter bread of charity. This state of things, of course, was not to be endured. Vast multitudes of the peasantry have been cut off by famine and disease. But famines, as the Duke of Wellington coolly remarked, were periodical in Ireland; and the typhus fever was one of the best friends the poor wretches possessed. As soon, however, as gentlemen with their children became sufferers-as soon as clergymen, with their eight or ten children fled to England to seek refuge at the paternal mansion, and to eat up the mortgaged revenues of the paternal estate-then we well knew that the reform of the Irish Church Establishment | was at hand. Accordingly we find, that the Ministry have determined upon a plan which really promises to effect extensive good. It is not a piece of archiepiscopal delusion; there are no special exemptions in it for the pluralities of Bishops-no disgraceful provision for titled laziness. The man of purple and of palaces is made to feel the knife of the operator, while the poar curate of the village is spared.-Spectator.

"In consequnce of the representations to Ministers, by those who were generally disposed to support the Bill, it had been determined to make two alterations. The first that no person should be permitted to sit upon a courtrelated to courts-martial. Ministers were ready to provide martial under the rank of captain in the army. They were also prepared to concede that, when the number of members of a court-martial should not exceed five, the verdict must be unanimous; when the number should not when it exceeded seven, seven members must agree before exceed seven, at least five must concur in the decision; and punishment could be inflicted. The second alteration related to domiciliary visits, regarding which Ministers were ready to make a change in the Bill, and to provide that it should be sufficient if, when the names of the residents were called over, they answered, and showed themselves; when this was done, the visiting party should not have the ower to enter the house."

They gave way, because they could not maintain the scheme of encroachment; but is the ground they stand upon sounder than that they have abandoned? Like all extortioners they pitch their demands at the utmost extravagance, and hope to get a mere abatement of exorbitance accepted as good terms. "Trial by Subs wont't do; take the Field Officers, then," cries the charlatan. " Sweep your chimneys with a goose hauled up by a string," advised the man in the story. "Horrid wretch! barbarous cruelty!" cried the lady. "Lord, Ma'am," replied the fellow, " if you object to the goose, a couple of ducks will do every bit as. well." "Excellent thought," assented the tender. soul. This is the opposite case; we began with. the two ducks, and we have got to the goose. The first proposal was for trial by infants in arms, and it is improved upon to trial by grown gentlemen. The enormity of making judges of ensigns having. been cried out against, captains are offered. If one epaulette is thought hardly a qualification for judgment, take two. Two epaulettes, are, we suppose, as much better than one, as two heads proverbially are; Major Wyndham wears them, Major Dundas, and some other worthies, of whose exploits we have had occasion to speak; but so also, we must admit, do Napiers and Beauclerks, and others we could name, who are actuated but by one interest-the interest of their fellow-men. It is far from our purpose to vilify military men; as a class they are, of necessity, peculiarly subject

JOHNSTONE'S POLITICAL REGISTER.

At Charlotte Square, on the 19th ult., Miss Alicia Steuart Murray rth daughter of the Hon. Lord Cringletie.

Here, on the 21st ultimo, Mrs Anne M'Kerrell, daughter of the William M'Kerrell, Esq. of Hillhouse, and wife of James Brown, Accomptant.

At 31, North Bridge, on the 19th ult., Mrs Stevens.

t8, Duncan Street, Newington, on the 19th uit., Mr George Steele, of the late Mr John Steele, confectioner, Prince's Street. 30, Haddington Place, on the 15th ult, Mrs Braimer.

At Richmond Lodge, Portobello, on the 22d ultimo, Wilhelmina rest, wife of Moubray Stenhouse, Esq.