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an immense number of pieces of cannon; and the line slowly advanced, loading and discharging their muskets. To describe the noise and disorder, confusion, and uproar, that followed, would be impossible; nor was I any longer permitted to be a witness of it. I was summoned to my station some distance in the rear; a prudent man might still have found it not distant enough-a curious one would probably have thought it too distant-my curiosity was perfectly satisfied, and I found it quite near enough. The wounded were now brought in, in considerable numbers, and our part in the bloody drama commenced. We were principally employed in putting on tourniquets to suppress hæmorrhages, which were sometimes so excessive that the patients died in our hands. The fate of one poor little drummer was particularly distressing. He had a leg and a part of the thigh shot away by a cannon ball; he was instantly carried to us, the drum still suspended about his neck; he was a fine looking boy, about fourteen years of age; he looked as if he could cry, but thought it unmanly, and endeavoured to laugh. "This would be a poor sight for my father," said he, looking up in my face, "but I am a soldier now, and must not mind it." I was busied about him, when, leaning his little head on his drum, he expired.

AN ESSAY ON CHAPEL-GOERS.

The purpose is, to hold, as 'twere the mirror up to nature; to shew virtue her own feature, scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure. SHAKESPEARE.

CONTRARY as it is to the benign principles of Christianity, and the express command of its divine author, how intolerant are people in general! And into what innumerable divisions and subdivisions, and sects do they divide themselves; upon points too, which are in themselves of no importance whatever. For instance, of what consequence is it, whether one or two fingers be held up in pronouncing the benedic

tion? or whether a minister delivers his discourse in a gown and cassock, or simply dressed in a plain suit of black? Indeed, I fear it might be too truly affirmed, that temporal interests, generally speaking, have more influence over religious professions, than can be claimed by those of eternity; if the motives of men could be discovered by their actions. In saying this, I would not be understood as casting an illiberal reflection upon any particular class of men; far from itbut as a proof that it is not said inconsiderately, I know, at this time, a most respectable gentleman, and most strict to his profession of religion, who placed his son in a house, where there is no religion at all; and where he must have been aware, that his companions would lead him into vice and extravagance, (which, I am sorry to say, they did) because he knew that it would be for his temporal advantage. But to proceed.

The division which comes next under consideration, viz: Chapel-goers (see page 206) is likewise composed of a numerous and respectable body of men, and may also be divided into two parts: those who are so from habit, and those who are so from principle. On the first head I shall merely refer the reader to the Essay pointed out above. The second, those who are chapel-goers from principle, I shall subdivide, into the moderate, and the enthusiastic.

The moderates are by far the most numerous and respectable. They object to certain modes, sentences, and, sometimes, (I should say frequently) only words, made use of in the established church; and being unwilling or unable to reconcile them with their Ideas, they abandon it; and either establish a new sect, or join some one, which may be more consonant with them. Now, though most of them will acknowledge that the point at issue is not of eternal importance; that it would not prevent an humble suppliant, subscribing to it, from obtaining the aid of the Redeemer, and the influence of his spirit; "Yet," say they, "we belleve it to be erroneous, and our consciences will not permit our compliance with it." Thus, without any advantage to themselves, or any one, they weaken the cause, of which they profess to be conscientious sup

porters; making breaches in its bulwarks, and exposing them to the attacks of its vigilant and inveterate enemies.

If Christ, whose name we bear, and whose followers we profess to be, did not refuse to conform to established customs, (" then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan, unto John, to be baptized of him)" surely it is not for us to do so: At least, not until we have candidly and attentively considered the subject, laying all partiality aside. Then, if it be found to be of vital consequence, reject it; but not till then. I reason thus with the moderates because they will hear it, and sometimes make use of their own reason, (though they sing, "Reason's tormenting voice subdue!") and I hope they will take my hints into consideration.

The Enthusiasts are a class of people which one would rather expect to find in places of the utmost barbarity, where the light of reason never shone, and the voice of truth was never heard, much less that of the glorious gospel, than in a civilized country, upon which the celestial light abundantly shines, and where the gospel sound is every where heard. They are worse than the most mischievous lunaticks, and much more fit for a mad-house, than to be at large troubling "the people of Israel" with their impious and absurd doctrines.

A limited education, (if they possess any) neither guided by religion, morality, nor common sense, has left them suspended in vacuity, and surrounded by a cloud of confused ideas, which they can neither comprehend themselves, nor make comprehensible to others, whom they draw in.

They assemble in some obscure place, (as they call it) of worship, where

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"The pulpit, drum ecclesiastick,

They beat with fist instead of a stick."

degrading in their harangues that last and noblest work of the creation, man, (whose form even the Creator himself assumed for a time) below the vilest objects in existence; and dealing out damnation indiscriminately to all. Selecting those passages only, from the Sacred Book, which suit their purpose, they

exclaim, with every aggravation their horror-working imaginations can produce, "The heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked. There is none good, no, not one," &c. &c. thus destroying all hope instead of zealously encouraging its most extensive influence. Their power of doing harm, however, is fast decreasing; and as the classes where it almost exclusively exists, are daily becoming more enlightened, it wil soon be totally lost.

I will conclude by strongly recommending to all men to consider for themselves, taking the Bible for their guide, and not to follow blindly the counsel and opinion, nor be deceived by the sophistry of any one; and to all ministers, to dwell more in their discourses, on a subject that might be largely treated upon with great advantage to their hearers; namely, pride. It is an innate principle in the heart of man, and is felt by him, when he is conscious of having performed a good action; then, and then only, for it is not vanity, though they are often misnamed the one for the other. A man may be vain even of a bad action, but he never can be proud of it. More generally understood, and its influence more extensively felt, crimes would, I am confident, soon become far less numerous.

R. F.

A TALE OF THE NORTH OF IRELAND.* IN the harvest of 1798, a stranger applied to Mr. S- for employment; he was an uncommonly able young man, and did as much work as any two of the labourers, yet he never threw off his coat as the others did, and his left arm was tied up; he said he had received a slight hurt in it from a splinter of wood: as he looked very pale and thin, Mr. S from motives of humanity, allowed him to sleep in the house.

This tale is from one of Mr. Gamble's volumes of "Sketches of the Society and Manners of Ireland," which were published several years ago. The volumes have not been so much read in this country as they deserve to be, (for they are faithful pictures) and we doubt not that the tale, which we now give, will be both new and amusing to the major part of our readers.-ED.

Mr. S conversed with him often in the fields, and found, though an untutored man, he had great strength of understanding, and uncommon energy of mind and expression. He was always anxious to hear the newspapers, which Mr. S, as is not unusual in this part of Ireland, often read to the labourers of an evening, after their work was finished. On one of those occasions he stumbled on a paragraph, beginning with, "Whereas a most daring robbery." At this instant his eyes rested on the countenance of the stranger-the expression struck him as so singular, that he discontinued his reading. On retiring to his own room, he read the article in question. It gave an account of a most daring robbery, committed a short time before, by four armed ruffians, one of whom was killed, and another supposed to be desperately wounded; an exact description of the person of the latter followed, and Mr. Shad little doubt that he was the stranger whom he had taken into his family. He did not hesitate a moment on what he should do. An Englishman would, perhaps, have hesitated a little, but the conclusion he would have arrived at, would, probably, have been a different one. He reasons better than an Irishman, and therefore he is oftener just; his feelings are less lively, and he is seldomer merciful. Mr. S could not bear to give up to punishment an unfortunate stranger, who had been sheltered under his roof. This was his feeling as an Irishman, He thought that the punishment of death, which he knew would be inflicted, was disproportionate to the offence. This was his conscience as a Presbyterian, Except in cases of cool and deliberate murder, Presbyterians think (and I think along with them) that man has no right to deprive his fellow of that life, which no power short of that which gave it first, can give him back again.

Mr. S- brought the stranger in; he shut the door, and read to him the paragraph without comment. The other listened without betraying any emotion.

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"I see what you suspect," said he; you think I am the person,' was silent.

Mr. S

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