He does not change with Time: he will not fail, When earth and all her charms shall pass away. He gave us power to love; and can it be That most ungrateful, though the best beloved, We value most what least possesses worth, Nor satisfy the vast capacious soul, Let not thy love be chained to things of naught, But rather soar above terrestrial joys, Piercing the clouds, and eagerly in quest Of Him who owns thy love by every claim. Then_shalt thou live upon the empyreal glow Which feeds the seraph from the eternal throne: THEY say thou art withering, Royal Oak!! And that thy limbs have lost their rind, And that thy trunk, with palsied stroke, Shakes hollow in the sickly wind. As if the vital sap of British mould, Had spent its virtue in thy lengthen'd reign, And left thee 'mid thy subjects, helpless, old, Without a princely sapling on the plain. The forest mourns. An awful gloom, Such as might shade a Monarch's tomb, O'erhangs the lovely Queen of Isles. The wild dogs in her glory born, Await the fierce awakening horn, And Ruin in his giddy smiles, Leans on his staff to vault the bounds, Where clamouring Havock trains his bloody mouthed hounds, ९ 2. Oh! should'st thou fall, immortal, trees And from the North, fresh gather'd to the 3. Hail then thou hoary Monarch of our woods! In thee the embodied strength of king doms grows, Close at thy foot, once more the Lily buds, Within the friendly umbrage of the Rose. While in thy branches Eagles hang their nests, Secure of shelter, where their kings are guests, The Imperial hive that wrought in state, And left the naked wretch to fate, Did pity mourn his guilty plight? "The summer swarm bath vainly Britannia waves her oak o'er Anarchy's proud throne." 4. Yet shouldst thou fall immortal tree! That withered on the Gallic coast? Gaunt Riot howls and gives the wild assent, With eye of laughter and of glancing + When arrowy ruin shall array, Deluded by the hellish crew, Who point a people's woes, and keen that To strains of revolutionary sound, Yet Britons wake! to you 'twas given, That strength should languish in your Yet wait till in the tide of life, Might well attune his thoughts of woe pro- Nor like Rome's Gladiator rise, Who while his foe beneath him lies, EPITOME OF INTELLIGENCE. IN closing the sixth volume of this work, which, by the kind aid of Providence, we are enabled to do with the prospect of extending our exertions in the cause of truth, notwithstanding the unjust, uucharitable, and underhand means resorted to by our enemies to ruin us, we present our readers with a variety of singular and interesting facts, relating to religion, not usually combined in one publication. The first is an account of a protestant persecution of protestants at Geneva, taken from the Evangelical Magazine for March last. Three years ago, the cry of persecution was raised against the catholics from one quarter of the kingdom to the other, in consequence of a political fracas at Nismes between the catholics and calvinists there, and much obloquy was spread against the principles of the church of Rome, from its supposed persecuting spirit. Now, how ever, it is evident that the calvinist church of Geneva is not averse to harsh measures to prevent innovations in faith, after all the clamour to popery. The second is an exwhich has been set up in opposition tract of a letter from Holland, taken from the foreign papers, shews that the Dutch catholics are which now under persecution by their protestant rulers, The third is the court of Cassation at Paris, in fadecision of a question before the vour of religious toleration. The circumstance which led to the decision was this. A minor court, that of Correctional Police, at Gap, had fined a protestant of the name of Roman, for refusing to hang out house, while the procession of the tapestries upon the front of his Host was passing, although enjoined thereto by the mayor of the little town of Lourmarin. M. Roman appealed from this sentence, tive to the establishments for the instruction of the catholic youth of Great Britain and Ireland, which we hope will be favourable in pro. curing zealous labourers for the vineyard in the united kingdom. GENEVA. 'PROTESTANT PERSECUTION. "The spirit of opposition to those who have embraced evangelical sentiments in Geneva, which has been-long manifested by the ministers of that canton, and which has publicly calumniated the orthodox ministers, and their hearers, in the journals of the continent, has now assumed a more shame ful and violent form. The following who was invited by the pious people in letter is written by a French minister, Geneva, to preach and administer to them the ordinance of Christ, as a christian church. -- and the court of Cassation decided I remonstrance should be prepared, in his favour. Thus, while catholics and afterwards presented to par are restricted in the exercise of their liament, that the world may know religious rights by protestant go- how liberally catholics are treated vernments, and protestants are per- by protestant superiors. The sixth secuting protestants, a catholic court is the substance of an ordonnance of justice in France has passed judg-issued by the king of France, relament in favour of the conscientious scruples of protestants, and allows them the free enjoyment of their religious principles. The fourth is the report of an application to the court of King's Bench, Dublin, on behalf of the catholics confined in the prison of Newgate, in that city, to have religious consolation administered to them, which furnishes such an instance of mean, atrocious, and diabolical bigotry and intolerance on the part of the Dub lin grand jury, the members of which are all chosen out of the corporation, as to be without a parallel, and stands in need of no comment. The fifth is a detail of the expulsion of a catholic priest from Botany Bay, by the governor of that colony, for exercising the sacred functions of his profession, and is highly deserving the attention of the catholic public. have heard that the reverend gentle-bre des E'trangers had ordered me to leave man who was so ignominiously treated by the governor, a few particulars of which we laid before our readers in our July number, has been advised by some servile sycophants to keep the affair as secret as possible, and lay his case before the holy father at Rome, lest the transaction should get to the ears of scribblers, who might make such comments upon it as would create alarm amongst the catholics, and displease the government. For our part we hope a different measure than this will be adopted; and that, instead of troubling Rome with the deplorable case of our unfortunate brother in exile, their just complaints will Occupy the attention of a public meeting, at which a petition and We "Geneva, Jan. 22, 1818. "On the 16th, at 5 o'clock, p. m. the Lieutenant de Police sent to summon me to an interview.-He told me that la Cham 6 Geneva. I enquired the reasons of their determination. You shall not know the reasons (said he;) we are masters here.' law, human or divine, requires my depar I replied, Unless I see that some just ture, I cannot go,' What, sir, (said he) will you refuse to comply with the order?" My conscience obliges me so to do.'—' Then we shall find means to enforce obedience.' Having left his house, I went into two places and preached, and on returning home at 9 o'clock, I found the following note: I would have wished, sir, as I informed you, to allow you time to settle your affairs, before your departure. But the positive manner in which you have refused to go till you had motives assigned to you, which might have your own approbation, does not permit me to follow my first design. I now, sir, give you positive orders to leave this canton within 24 hours.' "I have all along intended to resist any tyrannical attempts to prevent me from preaching the gospel in this city. When Reva. the occasion arrived, I was much agitated. towards evangelical religion. Mr. HalI spent till 2 o'clock in the morning in read- dane, of Scotland, was some time ago ing the word of God, and in prayer.-Af-in that city, and had much conversater many reflections and supplications, I tion with one of the students. The Soresolved to write to the lieutenant. The cinian clergy were so offended, as to next morning some of my friends would have dissuaded me, but I thought it my forbid this intercourse; some of the duty to send the following letter: students, however, persevered, and were To M. Le Conseiller d'Etat Lieut. de Po-on the arrival of Mr. Drummond to disgraced. These young men were glad lice of the Republic and Canton of Ge- avail themselves of his protection. The 'SIR-The persons with whom I am lished on May 3, 1817, a resolution to clergy, more and more enraged, pubconnected, and my own conscience, bear me testimony that all I have done, since exact from all candidates for the miI came to Geneva, has been to preach the nistry, promises to refrain from assertword of God; to exhort children to obe-ing any opinions on the divinity of dience, men to temperance, the aged to pa-Christ, original sin, predestination, &c. tience, the dying to hope for the bliss of-In short, they resolved in effect, to heaven, and all to faith in Christ. Then, it is only for this conduct that you wish to banish me; and it is for this reason that you are determined to conceal from me the mo is tives for my expulsion. Your order, sir, expressed in the 4th chapter of the Acts, 18th verse-my answer is in the 19th-It is this. Whether it be right in the sight of God, to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.' Now, sir, with that calmness which God may give me, I am disposed to wait the dispensations of his providence.-If by force I am compelled to leave, without the gates of the city, I shall shake off the dust of my feet, as a testimony against the persecutors. I shall do this, not in any feeling of hatred or vengeance, but in obedience to the divine command, Matt. x. 14, 15; and as it is said, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom in the day of judgment, than for such a city,' I shall pray for it, and especially, I shall pray for the principals and the agents in the persecution. May God give them salvation! suppress by authority the preaching of the cross. In spite, however, of all opposition, a church has been formed knowledgment of Christ only as the on the basis of the gospel, and the achead of the church, having no other laws than his word, and having recourse to no other power to enforce those laws, than the power of the Holy Spirit." Evangelical Magazine. Extract of a Letter from Holland, dated October 10. sels a papal nuncio, with whom eight Many years ago there was at Brusor nine arch-priests could correspond on the affairs of the catholics in Holland, who had no bishops of their own. In the revolution, this nuncio went to Holland, and lastly to Munster, where there resided at that time monseigneur Ciambatani, house prelate of the pope, I have the honour to be, &c. &c. who, at the beginning of 1814, was On the 18th, Sunday morning at 5 kindly treated by the king of the Neo'clock, the gendarmes entered my dwell-therlands, and from that place directed ing, but I had not slept there.'-1 preach- the business of his office. He directed ed on Acts, xx. 26. The zeal of many is also the correspondence with the head increased. Daily in the prayer-room, and of the church, in affairs relative to disfrom house to house, we cease not to teach pensations, penance, &c. according to and preach Jesus. Many respectable per- the well-known fundamental constitu sons of the town, who'do not belong to our tion of the catholic church. Even durchurch, take part with us. Some persons ing the short reign of Louis Buonaparte, imagine I am very unhappy, but God be M. Ciambatani was supported as he praised that I have the power to rejoice in tribulation. Pray for us, and for the cause wished, whenever he wanted in any of our Lord." Yours, &c. &c. affair the aid of the temporal government. But the government has now "We are glad to hear of the formation adopted quite other principles, The of a protestant evangelical church at catholic ex priest Kramer, at AmsterGeneva, on the plan of the congrega dam, has been called to account, being tional churches in England. This mea-accused of a correspondence with the sure seems to have been occasioned papat ambassador, monseigneur Camby the violent hostility which most of balani; and it was then attempted to the pastors of Geneva have manifested apply the 207th article of the code Napoleon, respecting prohibited correspondence with foreign powers to their spiritual head. This proceeding has excited astonishment and alarm in the catholics of the Netherlands, who constitute about three-fourths of the population of the kingdom. It is well known that the pope's ambassador, who is at this time apostolic vicar, has been considered as the sole bishop of the catholics in (old) Holland. Even Buonaparte, by a decree of the 18th of Oct. 1810, orders the con tinuation of the constitution of the catholic clergy, and thereby approved their connexion with the apostolic vicar. Monseigneur Kramer may confidently appeal to this decree, which is of a later date than the code, and to the fundamental law of the kingdom of the Netherlands. The same spirit appears to shew itself in this affair, which has justly excited much attention in the persecution of the bishop of Ghent, prince Maurice of Broglio. The chapter of Ghent was lately desired to take upon itself the administration of the bishopric, because the bishop was out of the kingdom, and could exercise no jurisdiction. But the chapter answered, that it thought itself bound to look upon the prince of Broglio as the lawful bishop; because the temporal government, according to the canon law, was not authorized to deprive him of his power. Court of Cassation:-Criminal Section, November 20. Can a citizen be compelled to hang out tapestry on the front of his house, while the external ceremonies of the catholic worship are performing? Such was the question brought be. fore the court, by an appeal from the sieur Roman, a protestant, against a judgment of the correctional tribunal of police of Gap, which condemned him to a fine of six francs for not having obeyed an edict of the mayor of the town of Lourmarin, ordering the inhabitants of that town to cover the fronts of their houses, in those streets. through which the Holy Sacrament might pass, during the procession of the fete Dieu. M. Odilon Barrol, counsel for M. Roman, entered into a detailed argument in support of the appeal. He observed that the constitutent assembly, and, after it, all other constituted authorities, had proclaimed the principle of religious freedom; and had completely separated questions of religion from those connected with civil and political rights. The concordat of 1801, with the view of maintaining a perfect equality between the Roman catholic religion and other systems of religion, went so far as to prohibit the celebration of any ceremony out of churches, in towns in which there were temples destined for public worship. The charter had made no change in these principles; on the contrary, it had confirmed them, by proclaiming anew, that every citizen is free with regard to his worship; and that all religions are equally protected. We therefore still live under the influence of the principle rendered sacred by the constituent assembly; a principle which places a man's religion out of the jurisdiction of the law. When the law is neutral, the civil authority must necessarily be the same, and can not interfere with different religions, except to give them equal protection. It cannot, therefore, associate itself with the ceremonies of any one particular worship; and still less can it compel a citizen to participate in ceremonies against his will, and in disregard of the scruples of his conscience. This argument holds, whatever may be the apparent religion of the citizen who de clines to take a part in ceremonies, whatever may be the grounds of his refusal, and even though he should choose not to assign any grounds. In fact, if to warrant a refusal to comply. with a religious ceremony, it were necessary to prove that it was contrary to the tenets of a certain sect of protestauts or jews, or to some particular existing sect, it would follow that only these acts would enjoy liberty of wor ship. Liberty of conscience, then, would not be a privilege held in conse quence of being a citizen, but of being a jew or a protestant. The law, how ever, sanctions liberty, not as belonging to this or that faith, but to all in general. And as there may be as many different creeds as there are citizens, every refusal to participate in a religious act was to be respected. If even a catholic might be compelled to assist in a religious ceremony of the catholic |