chair. With torn flesh and bleeding limbs they approached this chair, where a miserable old lame beggar-mau, called Charlie M'Cabe, sat as master-general of the ceremonies, who is stated to be one of the fraternity of mendicant friars. Here they again repeat a number of prayers, and then, bowing in the most solemn manner to the representative of the saint, and kissing his stone footstool, they made a wide circuit seven times around the chair. Then, having deposited some pecuniary memento in the old friar's hat, placed there for that purpose, they descend as quickly as their bleeding and lacerated knees, shins, and feet, will permit them; and, reeking hot, run for the bathing-houses. Here a scene that beggars all description presented itself to my astonished eyes.

"On coming up to them, I was indeed struck with amazement that such infamous orgies should be tolerated in any civilized country. Men, women, and children, were stripping near these houses. The one I looked into was about twelve feet by eight. There they continued till they were tired, jumping and splashing in the accumulated mud and filth, and alternately squeezing themselves up to the spout at the upper end of the room, through which the water entered, holding themselves in a stooping position under it-the women screeching, the children squalling, the men swearing, laughing, and bawling, using the most indecent and disgusting expressions. When these votaries of superstition had got their turn under the spout, out they rushed in the same promiscuous manner in which they entered; and in doing so had to force their way, in a state of nudity, through a crowd of wretches naked as themselves, standing outside waiting for admittance.

"At one of the cairns, about midnight, the same person (so far as I could identify him), who was reading in the early part of the evening, addressed the votaries in a long harangue, on the benefits to be derived from observing the regular performance

of the various stations, the miracles that had been wrought, and the virtues of the water of Struel. He undertook to prove to them, from the fathers, that the identical water then flowing beside them at Struel, was part of the famed river Jordan, and was endowed with a power of purifying believers from all sin, as well as of healing all bodily infirmities. I could not form any correct idea of the number of persons present; but I do not think I would overrate it if I named 5,000. On coming out of the water and dressing themselves, the greater part of them adjourned to tents and shebeen-houses, where whiskey flowed in abundance.

"In the course of the night I conversed with several of the devotees, and they professed to believe firmly that the waters possessed great value, and that several miracles were performed yearly. Various cases were related to me, and all were stated with the greatest gravity, and ready, as the reporters affirmed, to be verified on oath, if required.

"I must not omit to mention, that a stone at one of the wells has a round hole in it, into which the pilgrims thrust their fingers as they pass. That was the spot, they say, which the blessed St. Patrick's thumb touched when going into the well to drink. At the outside of the bathinghouse there is also a stone fixed in the wall, much smoother than its fellows, and rather hollowed, which they describe as St. Patrick's face-they stop opposite to that in their peregrinations, and rub it with their hands and with their foreheads, and again repeat certain prayers.

"There was a good deal of quarrelling and some fighting during the night, more especially towards morning, when the effects of the whiskey began to be felt. On the whole, such a scene of supersti tious mummery, profane swearing, and debauchery of every kind, I never witnessed; and was informed that those infamous scenes were likely to continue during the entire week, and that the coming Sunday was expected to be a great day there."

THE LATE BISHOP BARRINGTON.

WE did not lay before our readers an obituary of the late venerated Bishop of Durham, not knowing that we could add much to the numerous brief narratives which had appeared in various periodical works, and besides expecting the possible publication of a detached authentic memoir. We might, indeed, from our own personal knowledge, as well as from pub

lic sources, have corroborated the testimonies of respect which were borne to the many excellencies of that beloved and revered prelate; but it seemed due to his memory that a more full and authorized narrative should be given to the public. This has not been done; and perhaps the regular and settled tenor of his lordship's valuable life may be thought to have rendered it unnecessary, as the chief incidents have been often related; but the Rev.

George Townsend, who was appointed chaplain to his lordship about two years before his death, in his edition recently published of the Theological Works of the first Lord Barrington, the bishop's father, has introduced some interesting notices respecting the bishop, which we think, though late, will gratify our readers, and in some measure supply the place of a memoir. The first Lord Barrington, whose son, Shute, was to arrive at so high a station in the Established Church of England, was himself a Dissenter. He was a man of very considerable talent, a copious and learned theological writer, and a zealous advocate for religious liberty, and a spirit of tolerance. His son Shute, was born in 1734; but never experienced the benefits of paternal care, his father having died when he was only three months old. He was educated at Eton; proceeded to Merton college, Oxford; became a fellow; was ordained by Bishop Secker in 1757; obtained various preferments, and at length in 1769 the bishoprick of Llandaff, in 1781 that of Salisbury, and, ten years after, that of Durham, which he held till his death in March 1826. He was twice married; but had only one child, which died an infant. His talents were acknowledged to be considerable, and his various publications, which consist of biblical criticisms, tracts, sermons, and charges, were all conscientiously devoted to promote the glory of God, and the spiritual welfare of mankind. Several of them have been noticed in our successive volumes; and though we have frankly stated some points in which we did not coincide in his lordship's opinions, yet we can cheerfully, at the distance of more than a quarter of a century, repeat the expression of "peculiar satisfaction" with which in the very first Number of our work we introduced to our readers his charge of 1802, as truly "honourable to the piety and eloquence of the distinguished prelate, and well calculated to produce the happiest effects on the minds of those to whom it was addressed." In a tone which at that period was not so familiar as happily now it is in the high places of our church, his lordship pointed out the fallen condition of mankind, the necessity of faith, and of that spiritual change which is wrought in the true believer, "which constitutes," says his lordship, "a new birth, and is the source of every spiritual comfort here, and of all our hopes hereafter." We might notice many of his lordship's excellent qualities, both of the heart and the understand. ing; his numerous deeds of unostentatious yet munificent charity; his zealous patronage of religious objects and institutions, especially the Bible Society, his warm af fection for which he took especial occasion to promulgate when, on any occasion, it was affected to be questioned; but, inrending to confine ourselves to the follow

ing descriptive remarks of Mr. Townsend, we pass over these and various other points, upon which, at an earlier period, we should have considered it appropriate to dilate. Mr. Townsend states as follows. "Personal observation and experience assured me that the universal estimation, in which the Bishop of Durham was held by his contemporaries, was established upon the only solid foundation of permanent eminence,-regard to the will of God in every action of his life. The strictest regularity prevailed in his household. At seven in the morning he was awoke by his valet; and, after the time allotted to dressing, he devoted to private prayer, and devotional reading, the time which remained before the assembling of the family, for morning worship, at a quarter past nine. Breakfast was then served up. The conversation which had originated at breakfast, (and which generally arose from our informing each other of some remark or incident, which appeared worthy of remembrance, in the reading of the morning,) sometimes continued till post-time, when the bishop retired to read and answer his letters. He was attentive to business to the last, and generally wrote from two to nine letters daily, answering every letter, if possible, by return of post. If any communication required a more deliberate reply, he would favour me by fully discussing with me the subject of the letter. After finishing his letters, he received his morning visitors, or read, till one o'clock, when luncheon, at which he was accustomed to take one mouthful of solid food, was served up. He walked, or was driven out, for about two hours.

He

He dined at five. Small parties, never exceeding, with ourselves, eight in number, dined at his house, about twice a week. It was at his own table that he particularly excelled in conversation, at once varied, intellectual, and useful. never permitted the subject, on which we had begun to converse, so entirely to drop, that there should be any awkward or embarrassing pause, in the conversation. He carefully watched the moment, in which a new turn might be given to the dialogue, if there was the least discontinuance of animated and cheerful discussion. It generally happened that at every party one of the guests had been distinguished by some enterprise, or pursuit; or excelled in some department of literature, or branch of art. Whatever might be the subject, the bishop would imperceptibly lead the conversation to some matter connected with the pursuit, or department, in which his guest had attained eminence; and he so used to proceed with questions, remarks, or hints, that the enthusiasm of the traveller, the artist, the author, or the professor, was gradually kindled. The more eminent guest became the principal speaker: curiosity was excited, attention

fixed, and information was elicited, without pedantry in the speaker, or fatigue to the hearer. When we dined alone, we generally talked over the controversies, which were engaging the attention of the public, the debates in parliament, or the literature of the day. The bishop took a lively interest in every proceeding relative to the great national question which still divides us; and I remember that he strenuously encouraged me in writing my reply to Mr. Butler's work, The Book of the Roman Catholic Church.' He had none of that apathy, which is too frequently the misfortune of the aged, when they have not devoted their minds to intellectual pursuits. Literary curiosity, the comfort and refreshment of age, was an active principle in him to the last ;and the love of literary novelty, next to devotion and benevolence, his ruling passion.

"Tea was brought in at half-past seven, and at eight the bishop ended the day as he had begun it, by the perusal of devotional books, or by private meditation and prayer. I well remember his telling me, that he considered it to be a part of his duty to God to devote to him the remaining strength of his intellect, by dedicating to his service those hours, in which the faculties of his mind were most active: and for that reason he never gave his restless and sleepless hours, which at his advanced age were unavoidably numerous, to prayer, and to devotional exercises. He preferred giving up the prime of his day and the remnant of his intellect to the Almighty; and he surrendered the dross of his time-such was his own for cible expression-to inferior subjects, to literary recollections; or to soothing remembrances of the friends he had lost, whose conversation he recollected with pleasure.

A

He was

"At a quarter before ten, the family were summoned to evening prayer. slight supper was then served, and at eleven the bishop retired for the night. The pleasantest hours, which I passed with my lamented friend, were those which elapsed between the removal of supper, and the entrance of the servant who attended him to his room. now ninety years of age, and he had long been accustomed to live in the constant anticipation of death. Every night he composed himself to rest, not expecting to live till the morning. The conversations, therefore, which we were accustomed to hold at this hour were always grave and serious, though uniformly cheerful. He regarded death as a man of sound judgment and Christian principles will ever do,-without fear and without rapture; with well-founded hope, though with undefinable awe; as a punishment decreed by the Almighty, yet as the introduction to a higher state of happiness than he could possibly experience (though he possessed every worldly enjoyment) in this

state of his being. Though our conversation was sometimes directed to the literary or theological publications of the day, or to the actions, demeanour, or conduct of his more distinguished contemporaries, of whom he related numerous and most interesting anecdotes; yet the more frequent topics of our conversation were derived from the possible or probable approach of the period when the body should be committed to the ground, and the spirit return to its Maker. He delighted to dwell on these subjects. The questions which appeared to interest him more than any others, were,-whether the soul slept in the grave, with the suspension of its faculties, till it awoke, with the reanimated body, in the morning of the resurrection; or whether (as he stedfastly believed) it passed in some mysterious manner into the more manifested presence of God immediately upon the dissolution of the body,-the nature of future happiness and future misery,-the continuance of the mental habits which are formed in this state, and which constitute in some manner our future condition, the extent of redemption,-and the opposite opinions of Christians respecting the invisible state;-these and similar considerations were alternately discussed in these calm and silent hours; and he uniformly concluded these discussions by observing, I know not, and I care not, what may be the real solution of these questions; I am in the hands of a merciful God, and I resign myself to his will with hope and patience.' All our inquiries, indeed, upon these subjects, though they may be very interesting, are merely speculative, and are always unsatisfactory. Yet the sight of an old man, full of days, riches, and honours, at the close of a religious and well-spent life, patiently expecting his end, abounding in every virtue which can adorn mankind,in humility, in patience, in kindness, in charity to all,-in serene submission to expected death,-in implicit dependence upon the mercy of a God, whom he believed to be his Friend and Father, by the atonement, which had been accomplished by the Mediator of the New Testament,

the image of such a man can never be obliterated from my memory; and the continued enjoyment of his conversation, till within a few weeks of his death, while the strength of his body was gradually declining, and the intellectual, though not the spiritual powers, were decaying that is, while he was beginning to be more averse to worldly business, and more intent upon devotional exercises-was a privilege, which I cannot too much appreciate, and which may be justly envied by all who can delight in the society of the wise and good; or who would contemplate the triumph of the spirit of man over the weakness of the mind, and the infirmities of the body."

I

ESSAY ON SUPERSTITION.

(Continued from p. 536.) PROCEED to notice cerebral irritation arising from bodily causes, as another source of spectral appearances.

It has already been shewn that the brain is the organ of the mind; and that under certain circumstances of irritation it is liable to disordered manifestations, so as to occasion various illusions, and among others the appearances of ghosts, and other alleged supernatural visitations. My present position is, that under given circumstances the brain ceases to be a perfect organ for mental manifestation; and that in this state of imperfection it continues to act on without the guidance of the presiding mind, and so as to give rise to various appearances, which have usually been attributed to supernatural agency.

Perhaps the most important of these cases are those, first, in which there has been supposed to be the re-appearance of departed spirits to distant friends, at the moment of the dissolution of the connexion of mind with its material tenement; and, secondly, those which have been ascribed to the immediate intervention of the Deity.

Of the former class, it seems just to infer that one established case in which the supposed circumstances have taken place, but the death of the party has not occurred, will be CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 334.

sufficient to overturn the hypothesis; because, if intended by the Divine Power as a notice or warning of the death of certain individuals, and therefore permitted or appointed by that Providence, it must be invariable, or it cannot form a portion of the moral government of a Being of infinite and immutable truth. Such a history is furnished us in the narrative of the Rev. Joseph Wilkins, published in the Record of September 2, 1828. [Having mislaid the paper, I quote from memory, but I believe correctly.] It is there stated, that Mr. Wilkins dreamed that he paid a visit to his family at Abingdon; that he arrived in the night, and tried to obtain an entrance at the front door, but in vain; that he then went round to the back door, and, finding it open, proceeded up stairs to his mother's chamber, and addressed her: after this he awoke, and perhaps would not have thought a second time about his dream, but that on the same night, and at the same hour, Mrs. Wilkins, his mother, was awakened by a sound of some person endeavouring to obtain an entrance at the street door but failing in doing so she heard presently afterwards the back door opened, her son came up stairs, and addressed her in the words before alluded to. So thoroughly convinced was she that this was the usual supposed appearance of departed spirits to their distant 4 G