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of printing a Hebrew version of the New Testament, with specimens of the proposed work.

I am yours, &c. Cambridge, April 1811.

from the learned lecturer.

tled ETERNITY. The Prayers and Collects, though some of them contain excellent sentiments and expressions, yet consist of a strange T. Y. mixture; and it is hard to say on what system of divinity the whole is founded; some things appearing orthodox, and others quite the reverse*. From the number of editions

To the Editor of the Christian Observer. YOUR Review of "Ireland's Lectures to the King's Scholars at Westminster," shews it to be a learned and elaborate work. How far it is adapted to promote the religions knowledge and practical piety of those youths, which is doubt less a most important object, I am not qualified to judge, not having seen the book. But from your account, something further is highly desirable, and is to be expected My chief object in writing at present is, to make inquiry of you, or some of your correspondents, concerning another religious publication, which appeared some years ago, intended for the benefit of the same class of young men, though of a different kind, being chiefly devotional. The title is, Sacred Exercises, in four Boks, compiled for the Use of Boks, compiled for the Use of Places of Education, particularly Westminster School." On seeing the work advertised, as having come to a sixth edition, in 1792, I purchased it for the use of some young gentlemen whom I then had under my care. But on inspecting it, I found myself greatly disappointed;

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and the more so, when I saw that it was dedicated to " Zachary, Lord Bishop of Rochester:" I suppose that eminent prelate, Pearce. It is drawn up in so singular a manner, that I knew not how to make use of it, and I am at a loss to describe it. The general method is confused. The lessons are made up partly of Scripture passages, oddly tacked together, and partly of sentences from other books, without any references to either. Some of them are, what the author calls "Poetical Lessons," without rhyme or reason, especially Book iv. which (without any visible propriety) is enti

which it has passed through, it should seem to have acquired considerable reputation; and yet it appears to me the strangest medley that I ever met with. Indeed, the compiler himself seems to be aware of such imperfections as he knew not how to remedy. For he says, in his long preface, p. 3, "The compiler would have great reason to esteem himself very happy, if he had been in any degree able to perform what is his little share of the following papers, answerably to the dignity and majesty of the subject. But as it is, he can only wish it had been in his power to have better supported desideratum, viz. of Lord Bacon, them." And again, p. 5, This might be supplied by a work of the following kind; supposing it what is, indeed, very far from being the present case) to be drawn up with sufficient abilities."

I feel a great curiosity, sir, to know who this very modest author was; whether this book is in actual use in Westminster School; and in what manner it is used: and I submit it to any judicious person acquainted with the work, whether it mit it to any judicious person acmight not be greatly amended, or recomposed, with great advantage both in respect to language and

sentiment.

QUERO.

To the Editor of the Christian Observer. THERE is a question I wish to see discussed by some one of your correspondents, as I really want information on the subject for practical

"Let us, after the example of Pe ter, labour most abundantly to make atonement for our sins."-Ought the Westmin. ster Scholars to be taught such doctrine as this? Let Dr. Ireland answer.

purposes; it is this, How far it is the duty of Christians, and espe'cially of our sex, in the middling and higher classes of society, to condescend to the lower, for furthering their temporal and spiritual good, without leaving the station Providence has assigned them; and whether the wife of a minister, for such 'is your correspondent, is bound by any peculiar obligations? I know that you will naturally refer me to the example of Him, whom when we call Master and Lord, we say well, for so he is, and who yet took upon himself, not the form of a servant only, but also the office, and left us an admonition on the ser

vices we ought to render to our brethren, sanctioned by his authority and example.

Now really, Mr. Editor, I do hope and believe that I would on no occasion refuse any menial office to the meanest of my neighbours around me; but it is not here that the inconvenience lies: there is an old saying, which I remember, when a girl, writing in my copy-book, in large text, "Familiarity breeds contempt." And where I was lately settled, I cannot but think that my sharing a meal with a cottager's family, or their partaking a cordial cup of tea at the vicarage, rendered my advice less influential, and made them much more ready to give counsel than to take it.

There is also, I presume, a marked difference in dress, which becomes Christians of different stations in life; but, from frequent intercourse with them, I found many young women who copied the pattern of my hat or gown, with far greater accuracy than the model given them in some tract, or explanation, I employed myself in reading to them. Besides, one liberty introduces another; and where are we to stop? If any familiar request is refused, serious consequences may be apprehended, and pride imputed so repeatedly as at length, perhaps, not to be quite untrue. Redeemed by the blood of Christ are the rich and poor, with

out distinction of any kind; and if there be a partiality, it is doubtless in favour of the latter, on whom our blessed Master pronounced his earliest benediction: but my wish is to ascertain in this case the path of duty; and having ascertained it, cheerfully to pursue it, and to submit to all the contingencies attending it, whether it continue to present such vexatious circumstances as those to which I have alluded, or open, as I proceed, to fairer prospects, which may abundantly compensate for my past disappointments.

I am, &c.

LOUISA.

To the Editor of the Christian Observer. PERCEIVING, from your last Number, the lively interest which you take in what concerns the education of the Irish poor, I have thought it would not be unacceptable to you, or to your readers, to receive some account of a Report, addressed to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, by the Commissioners of the Board of Education in that country, in November last, and recently laid on the table of the House of Commons. The Report respects the state of the parish schools.

The number of benefices in Ireland is 1122. Returns have been made to the commissioners from 736 of these by which it appears, that in this number of benefices there are only 549 parish schools at present kept, at which 23,000 children receive instruction. In some parts of Ireland, the number of schools has been declining. On the whole, however, there has been an increase, since the year 1788, in the proportion of about five to three; and the number of children under instruction has more than doubled in the same time.

The present course of instruction at these schools, comprises reading, writing, and arithmetic. The children, for the most part, pay for their tuition at rates, which vary from two shillings and sixpence, to five

ter.

These schools are open to children of all religious persuasions; but there are many instances in these returns, and particularly in those from the dioceses in the South and West, and in some from the province of Leinster, of Roman catholics refusing to send their children to be instructed at them, in consequence, as is said, of an order to that effect given by the Roman catholic clergy. Throughout the returns, there is a general complaint of the want of school-houses, and of the difficulty of procuring properly qualified masters. In one return, it is stated, that many of the poor were averse from sending their children to school, conceiving that the sedentary habits of school unfitted them for bodily labour. "But we are persuaded," the Commissioners go on to observe, "that, generally speaking, a very great and almost universal desire exists at this moment, among the poor of this country, to give their children some kind of school education. Among the many instances of this general inclination stated in the returns, we shall select the following. In the return from the union of Castlemore, diocese of Killalla, in which benefice there are ten schools, one of which is a parish school, it is stated, that six hundred children attend these different schools, but that double the number could and would attend, were they not prevented by the poverty of their parents, who cannot afford to pay for their instruction.' The

shillings and fourpence, and even were a roomy and commodious as high as eleven shillings, a quar- school-house, it would quickly be filled. The present school is kept in a small dark and inconvenient building lent by a farmer.' And in a return from Drumaul (diocese of Down and Connor) the general disposition in the lower orders for educating their children is mentioned, and as a proof of it, it is stated, that in two or three instances the poorer parishioners have erected schoolhouses by a voluntary subscription among themselves.' And in the return from the union of Kilbride and Multifarnham, in the diocese of Meath, a more remarkable fact is stated, namely, that a night school was kept at Multifarnham, to accommodate the children obliged to labour in the day :' at which school one hundred and thirteen children are returned as attending. The clergyman who makes this return, gives it as his opinion, that the parents in the choice of a master, are governed more by his merit and proximity, than by his religion, though, all circumstances equal, they would prefer a master of their own religion.' And in a return from the parish of Lea, diocese of Kildare, a fact is stated, which seems to corroborate this opinion, viz. That the parish school was flourishing, until a Roman catholic priest encouraged a Roman catholic to set up a school in opposition to it, and was at first successful in drawing off such pupils as were Roman catholics. And further, that charges having been fabricated against the Protestant parish schoolmaster, which occasioned his dismissal, another was appointed, who shortly after dying, the former master was recalled, and replaced at the request of those very people who had exhibited the false charges against him, and who solicited his return, as the Roman catholic schoolmaster bad disappointed their hopes.' It certainly, however, appears from our returns, that religious prejudices in too many parts of this country, but more particularly in the south

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curate who makes the return from the parish of Upper Langfield, in the diocese of Derry, states that in his parish, the population,though poor, is numerous, amounting to nearly fifteen hundred souls, about threefifths Romanists, the remainder composed of the Established Church, and Dissenters, all striving to a degree at once exemplary and affecting, to give their children as much learning as possible; so that if there

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and west, have operated against the attendance on the parish schools. For very many instances are stated of Roman catholic children who had attended them having been with drawn by order of their priests, and never suffered to return; and a very strong instance of a mutual religious prejudice in this respect, is stated in a return from the parish of Ballesidare, diocese of Killalla, namely, that there seems to be a general determination in that parish on the part of the Roman catholics not to send their children to Protestant schools, and vice versa.' But we observe in the other returns from the same diocese, that Protestant and Roman Catholic children are mixed in the parish, as well as in the other schools; we find also in. the other dioceses, Protestant children returned as going to schools kept by Roman catholics; and from the general returns from all the dioceses, it is evident that a large proportion of the children attending the parish schools throughout Ireland. are of the Roman catholic religion." The commissioners, after giving it as their opinion,that in those parishes. where parochial schools are already established, or could be so, it would proper to adopt every practical measure for their support and encouragement; but that even if it were practicable to establish an effective school in every benefice, such institutions would prove very inadequate, as a general system of education, to the wants of the Irish poor; thus conclude their report.

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"And this inadequacy is the reason of our not entering more fully into the consideration of any plan for putting them into a more effective situation, as such a plan might possibly interfere with, or be superseded by, a general system for the education of the poor, the consideration of which is reserved for the conclusion of our labours. We shall nevertheless at present observe, that not any funds, however great, or the best considered establishment, can substantially carry into effect either any CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 113.

improvement in the parish schools, or any general system of instruction of the lower orders of the community, until the want of persons duly qualified to undertake the education of the lower classes he remedied, and till some institution be formed to prepare persons for that important office."

I would entreat your readers to compare this conclusion, with the information which you have communicated to us at the close of your Review of Mrs. Leadbeater's dialogues in your last Number (p. 240.) They will then be better able to judge of the justice of those claims which the institution, you there recommend, for the education of Irish schoolmasters, has upon their benevolence. I cannot believe that those claims, binding as they have been stated by you to be, and strongly enforced as they are in the official paper which has now been brought to your notice, will fail to excite the general attention, and to engage the requisite assistance, of at least the religious public, 1 am, &c.

S.

To the Editor of the Christian Observer. As I perceive you have correspondents of every clime and race, many, of whom never before dreamt of turning letter-writers, I have thought that I also might venture to address you. I am a Skate, sir, living in hourly expectation of being crimp, ed, and thus have all the pretensions of a dying martyr to be heard. But think not, sir, I mean to complain merely of my individual grievances. I wish to plead the cause of all our tribe. It is highly probable that some of the great public will soon pick my bones; but,in the mean time, I have a bone to pick with them.

The case is this, sir :-of late, the

fondness for fish in the Protestant ed, that really the Reformation, countries is so wonderfully increasthough it ablished those Wednesday and Friday fish-dinners which were the terror of our species, has been of little use to us.

What

with hooks, nets, lines, and harpoons,

2 R

we have little rest day or night.
To secure my life, I myself was ac-
customed to dodge from sea to sea,
and wave to wave, till I had scarce-
ly strength left to master a shrimp.
In this state of continual anxiety,
think, sir, with what joy I and my
brethren learned, by the happy sink-
ing of a Lisbon packet with its let-
ters, that a general fast was proclaim-
ed throughout Great Britain on the
20th of March. "Now (said I to my
friends), we are at least secure for a
time. On a day of general fasting,
of course, every man will deny his
appetite; and as fish is the general
favourite, no man will touch fish,
unless, perhaps, thornbacks or sea
hedgehogs-bristles and all." The
fish, of course, devoutly wished my
doctrine true; and therefore, like
some wiser folks, directly thought it
must be so. The week before the
fast, accordingly, was appointed to
be kept as a jubilee by us. Every
fish took his own way. The seals
went on shore. The oysters went to
sleep. The torpedoes stunned one
another. The crabs ran backwards.
The porpoises rolled. The whales
ran races across the frozen ocean.
I, with a few select friends, went
down to dine upon the leg of a fat
boatswain. All was peace, and joy,
and love. I actually saw a shark
pass a whiting without swallowing
him. But how did all this end?
You shall hear. I had finished my
meal, and being a lover of fresh air,
I went up to get some and look
about me. But guess, sir, my as-
tonishment when, instead of seeing
the waves relinquished to our race,
I actually saw our old enemies of all
kinds drawn up in greater number,
and more deadly force than ever.
Every scale of me shook, sir. I at
once saw the fatal consequences of
our error, and lamented that we had
put any confidence in man. O, sir,
how many friends did I soon behold
struggling in the net, and writhing on
the hook. Never, never did I know
our ranks so thinned, and the sea so
purpled with the blood of its inha-
bitants. Knowing the peril of my
situation, I naturally tried all means

for security; but at last, seeing an
enormous net advancing on one side
I unfortunately darted in an opposite
direction, entangled my fins in the
meshes, and there hung the sad
victim of human brutality and irre-
gion. Not less than one hundred
and fifty fish were captured by the
same cast. What happened to me
afterwards I can scarcely tell, but
I believe I fell into a trance.
At least, I know nothing of my
state, till I awoke upon the very
same leaden scorching slab on
which I now lie. I have been here,
I think, three days, on each of which
my owner has in vain protested to
some customer, that I am "this
instant out of the water." And this
indeed, is no more than what, in the
market phraseology, is termed a
white lie; for the fact is, that when
he sees me just about to escape by
death from my torments, he plunges
me into a tub, where, in spite of
myself, I regain just enough of life
to know the miseries of my situa-
tion. But, sir, it is not merely what
I have suffered myself, it is the suf-
ferings of my friends, which break
my heart. I have positively seen
an eel skinned alive. I have seen
a lobster plunged, in the prime and
vigour of life, into a boiling saucepan.
I actually saw an old woman, who,
by the bye, said she had just come
from nursing a parish child, and
whipping a pig to death, crimp my
first cousin for a dinner at the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer's.

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But you will ask, sir, what I wish you to do for us. Now, I fairly confess, I do not require you to convince mankind they have no right to eat fish; for I question whether this point could be made out. We eat them when we can catch them, and they have a right to return the compliment, and eat us if they can lay hold of us. But what I beg of you is, to press two points upon them. First, tell them that a right to eat is no right to torment; and though they may catch a skate and boil a skate, they have no right to crimp him. Secondly, tell them they have no right to practise the

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