we, would, perhaps, often wish it otherwise, but it cannot be; and our hearts are not right if the love of the world, in any degree, seeks to supplant love to God. Now I do not think, as I have hinted, that we are to do one thing because there seems no particular harm in it, and to avoid another because it seems so palpably wicked; but our whole spirit should be so purified, that we should look upon it all alike; whatever we do, our hearts should be His who rightly owns them, and who bought us with His precious blood. If your motive for going to these dancing parties be a right and pure one, and if you think your soul will be benefited thereby, then by all means go. You reply that it is impossible that all our motives, in all our actions, can be entirely pure, and that it is equally impossible that we can be thoroughly holy in this world. Grant this; yet I ask, what is the difference between a Christian and an unconverted man, if it be not, the one aims to be holy and aims to love God; and in all that he does, acts upon principle, and not from the promptings of fleshly desire; while the opposite is the case with the other? You see it is the principle in each which is the vital point, and the question with us is, are we guided by right or by wrong principle? If by right principle, then we may be sure we shall desire to do nothing that is contrary to that principle; but where the direct line is to be drawn, one cannot determine for another-it must be left to the individual himself and his own conscience. Youth, indeed, is a dangerous period of life, and Solomon solemnly admonishes us of that danger. "Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment."

It is quite probable that dancing, as a mere lively exercise, may not affect the heart, though, even in this point of light, serious objections to the recreation might be alleged; but the whole character and tendency of the thing is what we are to look at.

Many

object to dancing, not only upon Christian grounds, but as being a thing wholly out of propriety; and it was undoubtedly so looked upon by the Greeks and Romans-whether the modern mode of conducting it be preferable I do not know. But with this we have nothing to do at present; the question is, is it suitable for a believer in Jesus? Now, in the first place, is not dancing a decidedly worldly amusement? Is not its whole character worldly? Do those who assemble to dance, either at balls or elsewhere, meet for any other purpose than frivolity and pleasure? Do they not mean something more than mere bodily exercise, which can any day be obtained by riding or walking? Is not spiritual or even intellectual profit wholly set aside? Moreover, are they not, in the majority of cases, unconverted persons, to say the least, and so the enemies of our Saviour? I think you cannot deny all this. Shall we, then, join with them in what they make a worldly amusement, whatever we may consider it to be? And whatever views we may hold upon the subject, will they not consider

us as one of themselves, or deride the religion of Christ which allows its disciples to be so worldly? and thus shall we not go contrary to the Scripture precept which enjoins us to "avoid the appearance of evil," and so bring disgrace on the religion of Jesus? Again, would it not exert a baneful influence upon our own minds, causing us to imbibe their spirit, concerning whom the inspired apostle says, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather rebuke them?" Thus, too, should we not wilfully expose ourselves to sin while praying, "Lead us not into temptation?" I think if we consider these several points, we cannot but conclude that if it be not actually sinful to attend dancing parties, it is yet wrong in its tendencies, and so inexpedient. St. Paul says, "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient; " meaning thereby that there may be many things which it were no sin to do, but which Christian character and position render better not to be done. You may, perhaps, think that I have passed too severe a judgment in the case, and my own heart would have dictated a much milder view, shrinking from inflicting the least unhappiness; but conscientiously I could not have said less, but much more, if time and space admitted, and which must be left for another period.-Memorials of J. W. Winslow.

MILITARY HEROISM.

HIS fame has been so recently achieved, that he seems young-sixty-two years of age. His deeds have been performed when the great generals whom history has immortalized were preparing to die. A thin, frail man, with nothing of the bluff soldier about him, you would have supposed that the first roar of the cannon would have separated soul and body; but the spirit, the dauntless and heroic spirit, overflowed the region he commanded. Nor can we doubt that his very superiority of character caused his death.

Inferior men, who can think, and survey, but never feel, will last, when the sensitive spirit breaks down beneath the force and pressure of its own convictions. But to us he will seem, and to fame he will seem, ever young. Death sets the seal upon the man; hence from of old came the lesson-Call no man happy till he is dead. The last moment of life seals a man's reputation. How illustriously closed that evening! Amidst storm and lightning he made his transit to heaven, Elijah-like, in his chariot of fire. He left to earth his wasted body, tired by age, by toil, by watching, and drenching, and thirst, and famine. There, in future ages, on that soil, pilgrim feet shall turn reverently to the spot where the monumental marble shall lock within its gates all that the tomb can claim as its trophy. Meantime, "I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, Write, Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them." That grave needs but little to hallow it as a martyr's shrine. Rest, venerated body, rest! Rest, beautiful and beloved

spirit, too! Rest, thou saintly soldier"Behold we count them happy which endure." Posterity will twine for thy memory the unfading palm; and history, with reverent finger, pause to notice where the descendant of the lion-hearted, heavenly-minded puritans fell on India's plains. But what is that to thee? Thou hast already entered on thine inheritance of "glory, honour, immortality, and eternal life." "Henceforth, there is laid up for thee a crown of righteousness, that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for thee." Farewell! thou great heart. Rest, saintly Soldier; rest, Warrior; (rest, Missionary, and Hero, and Warrior in one. Denied the jewelled sword, the triumphal arch, a grateful people might have awarded thee, thou hast "entered through the gates into the city." Denied the coronet, thou hast the crownthe fadeless and incorruptible crown.

And now, if that grave were less sacred, how then might we breathe the well-known epitaph of Collins :

"How sleep the brave who sink to rest, By all their country's wishes blest!" But not there. Illustrious victor, spared to bring relief to so many hearts, and to be the defender of so many lives; spared to vindicate the cause of Britain, and, infinitely higher, the cause of Christ; he was not spared to see the consummation of his toils, nor receive on earth the reward. He has been compared, and the comparison is faithful, to Moses; not like him in disobedience, but in the illustrious prospect illuminating the evening of the day; not to enter in, but to fight the good fight, and to see the end.Hood's Havelock.

SIR, Will you favour me with a small space in your valuable Magazine to call the attention of your readers to the present condition and prospective enlargement of the above Institution? It has now attained the hundredth year of its existence, thus living out three generations. Eleven years ago it was planted where it now stands,-a noble edifice, doing honour to the men who designed and erected it. Upwards of five hundred children have been received during that time, and fifty are admitted every year, who are wholly maintained, clothed, and educated. The Committee have resolved to celebrate the centenary by such an enlargement as will provide room for four hundred children, instead of two hundred and forty. To accomplish this noble purpose, they require a large increase of support. £10,000 will be necessary to fairly start with, besides a large addition to the annual subscription list, before the whole can be accomplished. Upwards of £4,000 have already been obtained and promised. warm-hearted friend, a member of the Committee, has promised two hundred and fifty guineas; cannot three more, like-minded, be found, to make it up one thousand? Seven have already promised or paid one hundred guineas; cannot thirteen more be obtained to give a like amount ? and that would be two thousand more. Seven are down for fifty guineas each; if thirteen more could be obtained, that would give another thousand and then the smaller

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donations would soon make up the amount. When it is remembered that for every twenty-five children admitted at the half-yearly election, there are upwards of one hundred candidates, it will be at once manifest how needful is the proposed extension. When the enlargement is made, and the funds raised, instead of fifty children being annually admitted, there will be eighty, -a number still far below the necessities of our increasing population.

It is surprising that, after so long an existence, so little should be known by the churches, both in London and the country, of the plan and operations of this charity, which receives children from all parts of the United Kingdom, and from every denomination of Christians; which imparts a sound and scriptural education, and fits the recipients of its bounty for good citizens and industrious workmen, and prepares them for the proper discharge of duties both as connected with time and eternity. Pleasing instances of its success are to be found in the present state and condition of many of its old scholars.

The school has been visited lately by many noblemen and gentlemen who take a deep interest in the question of education, and it has met with their unqualified approval. One of my principal objects in addressing you is to invite the public who feel an interest in this all-important matter, to imitate that example. Come and see the Insti tution. Look on that interesting band of children. Listen to the voice of the

fatherless. Behold the especial objects of our heavenly Father's care, and think upon the widow in her deep distress; and as the cry penetrates the ear, let it sink into the hearts and move the hands, that the work of merey may be increased, and the pillars of the house strengthened. Much may be done by the union of a few devoted Christians, and here much has been done; but much more may be accomplished if the press and the pulpit will lend their valuable aid. Do, Sir, let us have your support; say a word now and then on behalf of the Orphan Working School.

ELIAS CHARTIER,

THE LILWALL TRIBUTE.

SIR,-We beg permission to solicit your valuable aid in furtherance of our efforts to raise a tribute to Mr. Lilwall, who, for nearly twenty years, has been labouring so zealously and successfully to benefit the industrial classes, not in the metropolis only, but throughout the entire kingdom. His exertions in the noble cause with which his name is identified have not only been long sustained, but have been carried on often under the most difficult circumstances. These exertions have, moreover, been attended with very great sacrifice, not only of his domestic comfort, but of his worldly interest, and this during the most important period of his life. It is desired, therefore, that the tribute shall be of such a substantial character as to bear some adequate relation to those services, and—what is very important—to secure a continuance of them, if possible.

We do not doubt but you are already, to a great extent, acquainted with the immense efforts made by Mr. Lilwall in carrying out the general Early Closing and Half-Holiday movements: possibly, however, the accompanying papers contain some particulars on the subject which will be fresh to you. They will, at least, serve to show how highly Mr. Lilwall's services are appreciated by a large number of eminent persons who have been brought into immediate official connexion with him.

We trust the object aimed at will meet your approval; and knowing how almost entirely all public measures are dependent for success on the favourable notices of the press, we shall very highly esteem your obliging editorial support.

NEW CHAPEL AT BROWNHILLS. SIR, We have sometimes been gratified by your notices of large Independent churches; can you find a nook in the WITNESS or PENNY for the following sketch of a small one at Brownhills? We are about to build a new chapel there, and to convert the old one into a day-school; good reasons for which projects exist in the estimation of the Rev. Dr. Gordon, the Rev. J. Hammond, and other neighbouring ministers.

In 1817 the Rev. T. Butteaux, an agent of the Home Missionary Society, first visited Brownhills. Mr. B. commenced his labours in a cottage. Soon after the meetings were held in a clubroom, belonging to James Caddick, and a Sunday-school of 120 children. This was the first Sunday-school formed in the parish of Norton.

The present chapel was built in 1831, under the direction of the Rev. C. Greenway, whom I succeeded in 1837, twenty years ago. What changes since then! To the west of the chapel, for miles over Cannock Chase, scarce a house was discernible at that time but now the telegraph wire is seen, and the railway whistle heard; canals have been dug, mines sunk, streets built. How changed the congregation! Only about half a dozen of my original hearers are left! The men and women who bring their children to chapel now were boys and girls in the Sunday-school then. Some have emigrated, and some immigrated so that if ministers are stationary, congregations change. To new comers they are new preachers, and to their original hearers old friends.

Few congregations have agreed amongst themselves and with their minister for twenty years together, so well as that at Brownhills. Much stress has ever been placed by the good people on prayer-meetings; and occasional revivals have filled up the gaps made by death in their little church. But their zeal for Missions has been rather extraordinary. When the Missionary Ship was in building, Brownhills lads worked over hours for a shilling, that they might have a plank in it. And

one poor lame man, now in Australia, got and gave £7 16s. 6d. one year, for the London Missionary Society.

Those who subscribe to the London Missionary Society do well; but those who subscribe to the Home Missionary Society do better, for they support the Gospel at home and abroad at the same time. The Home Missionary Society planted the Gospel at Brownhills; and

hundreds of pounds every year are received by the London Missionary Society from our Home Missionary stations.

Any pecuniary assistance towards our new chapel at Brownhills would be thankfully received by Yours truly,

Cannock, Feb. 1858.

THAT "the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel," is a maxim of inspired origin. In every age of the world it has been exemplified, but nowhere so fearfully and so uniformly as under the dominion of the Man of Sin. Notwithstanding the ameliorating influence of political freedom and modern civilization, it is still exemplified with little short of Middle Age rigour, in the Papal States. Mankind have heard much of late years touching the Neapolitan prisoners; and the half, we believe, has not been told. But whatever has been affirmed of Naples may, with the utmost emphasis, be affirmed of the dominion of the Pope, who is propped up on his rotten throne by the bayonets of France. A recent writer has thus declared the facts of the case, from his own personal knowledge. Writing from Rome, he proceeds :

"You have asked me to give you an exact account of the manner in which the political prisoners at Paliano are treated, and I now comply with your request.

"I will say nothing of the very sad condition in which the political prisoners were in former years. That will be described before long, and fully described, by others, giving the painful history of what these unhappy persons have had to suffer, and exposing to infamy among all civilized nations that most unjust tribunal, the supreme tribunal of the Sacra Consulta. I will only speak of the present condition of the prisoners, in order that it may be manifest how impudently false is the language of the Gazzetta di Venezia, when it descants upon the pretended good regulations of imprisonment for political offences in the Papal States.

"Those who are condemned for state offences are now divided as prisoners between two fortresses, namely, Paliano and another, named after Pope Urban. The

D. GRIFFITHS.

latter is situated on the frontiers of the Papal dominions, towards Modena, and the former place is about 35 miles from Rome. The air is not pure at one of these places, and at the other it is pernicious, especially in hot weather. There are more than a hundred prisoners in Fort Urbano, and about 200 in the other fort, Paliano; one hundred of them were condemned for being members of secret societies. In the rooms and chambers where the prisoners sleep in the fortress of Paliano there is no glass to the windows, but very thin canvas, so that draughts of wind enter and give them face-aches and toothaches. There is

no light in their rooms at night. The daily food of a prisoner consists of eighteen ounces of brown bread, which is sometimes full of dust and earth, together with half a pint of miserable liquor, which is called wine, and four ounces of heavy dough or rice, or else six ounces of beans or French beans boiled with water and lard in a sort of broth, which on Fridays, Saturdays, or fast-days is made with water and oil, in the proportion of twenty ounces of lard or of oil, in a hundred ounces of the broth. The unfortunate man who receives no aid from his family or friends, and is obliged to depend on the prison diet to keep himself alive, is indeed to be pitied, for if he does not die in the wretched place, he will protract a most painful existence, which will be to him a long and dreadful agony. Those who, from disease of long standing, are unable to eat this food, have three ounces of flesh given them, which, when it is cooked, is reduced to scarcely one ounce, together with four ounces of bread, of rice, or of bran boiled up with salt, and called broth by the Papal government; they also have half a pint of wine, and bread like that given to the others.

"There are now no beds, not even any benches, in this prison, as there were in the time of Gregory XVI.; there is no such thing as a mattress or a chest of drawers. The prisoner has nothing but a

canvas sack, stuffed with straw, which is stretched upon a stone shelf in the wall; he lies there, whatever be the weather, with no covering but a woollen rug, the weight of which is from 6lbs. to 10lbs., and he is allowed to hang his clothes and linen upon a cord. The prisoners are clothed, winter and summer, like other prisoners condemned for criminal offences, since it was provided by a decree of the minister at the end of November, 1855, that the political prisoners should be kept on an equality with all the others, and no distinction made between them. By another ministerial decree, in June last year, an edict of Cardinal Lante, dated 1806, which prescribes the punishment of the cavelletto (riding a horizontal rail) for any sort of disturbance made by the inmates, was revived and made applicable in the prison of Paliano.

"The regulations which are prescribed by the Sacra Consulta forbid the use of a basin, a pot, a glass tumbler, an earthenware plate, a chair, a table, or any other of those articles which the poorest man regards as necessary furniture, and being deprived of which is, in itself, a new and serious punishment to those who, when they were at liberty, enjoyed a comfortable

life.

The prisoners have given to them only a pitcher for their water, a tin cup, and a tin plate, such as that which soldiers call a gernilla; these articles are to serve them both to wash themselves and to eat their food. It is true that many of them do, in fact, get a basin, a glass tumbler, and now and then, also, a clay plate or two; but this is done by the special favour and permission of the commandant, who does not prevent them from purchasing these articles. In the winter, they drink the water of the cisterns, and in the summer, the stagnant and verminous water of the moat, to which cause, as much as to anything, may be ascribed the virulent and prolonged attacks of intermittent fever with which the prisoners are afflicted, especially those who are natives of the northern provinces.

"Their bad diet, their inexpressible mental sufferings, and the hard shelf of the wall upon which they lie, have reduced many of them to such a state that they are like mere shadows of men, and more than fifty of them suffer wretchedly from hernia. This will for ever disqualify some of them for the labour by which they were accustomed to earn an honourable subsistence for themselves and their families; and if they are not relieved by the charity of their brethren whenever they quit the prison, they must beg at the roadside.

"It cannot even be said that the prisoners are allowed to beguile the tedious hours with study, for the vicar of Paliano, the clerical inspector of their books, if the

VOL. XV.

book happens to be in a foreign language, or to contain any such words as Italy, democracy, liberty, independence, or any other which he does not like, prohibits its use.

"This is enough, so far as Paliano is concerned. The other prisoners in Fort Urbano are treated in the same manner with regard to their food, clothing, and sleeping, but their existence is still more wretched. These unhappy men wear a chain upon their feet, which weighs ten pounds and more. During the night they are all fastened together by another long chain, which is called the corsia, and which is passed through a larger link in the chain of each man. And here, be it observed, as an instance of the justice of the Papal government, that of the men under sentence for the very same offence, some are confined in Paliano, while others wear out their lives more quickly in Fort Urbano dragging a heavy chain. These are the facts from which you may see what is the condition of political prisoners in the Papal States."

Once

History, experience, and observation unite to testify that Popery is a system of the direst despotism. In free countries, such as England, it walks in a mask begirding itself with a garment of lies, it adapts itself to existing circumstances, and bides its time. in a strong majority, it will reveal its true character, and work according to its peculiar instincts. Down goes liberty, and away goes the British Constitution! Our fathers knew this, and acted accordingly; but the great lesson seems to be lost on their infatuated posterity. Few have a wisdom large enough to comprehend the whole case, and to descry the fearful perils which repose in the future. Blindly boastful, they affect to ridicule the idea of apprehending danger from Popery in England. They thank Heaven that here there is no Maynooth, with its five hundred students for the priesthood, every year sending forth a stream of pernicious agency, to deceive the earth, and destroy the souls of men. To add to their felicity, they rejoice that the Church of the land, by law established, is Protestant. Simple people! They appear to be oblivious of the fact that England's Universities admit of becoming-nay, have largely become-Popish Colleges; and that England's Established Church may be abundantly supplied with men of a thoroughly Romish spirit. They forget, or overlook, the operation of our present system of education. That sys

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