me, that it is the last letter in the correspondence. 56 66 66 66 Among the divines of the confession of Augsburgh," says Bossuet, "I always placed M. Molanus, in the first rank, as a man, whose learning, "candour and moderation, made him one of the persons, the most capable I have ever known, of advancing the NOBLE PROJECT Of Reunion. In a letter, which I wrote to him, some years ago, by "the count Balatis, I assured him that if he could "obtain the general consent of his party, to what "he calls his Cogitationes Privatæ, I promised "myself, that, by joining to them, the remarks, " which I sent to him, on the confession of Augsburgh, and the other symbolic works of the pro"testants, the work of the reunion would be perfected, in all its most difficult and most essential 66 parts; so that well disposed persons might, in a "short time, bring it to a conclusion." XV. SUCH, then, being the charges brought against the roman-catholics by their adversaries, and such being the defence made by the roman-catholics to them, will not every candid protestant admit, that the unfavourable opinion, which some still entertain of the civil and religious principles of roman-catholics, is owing, in a great measure, to prejudice? But we have the satisfaction to find, that the prejudice against us decreases rapidly. With the mild able character, the earl of Liverpool thus expressed himself, in his speech in the debate of the house of lords, on the petition presented by the Irish catholics in 1810:-" I have heard allusions made this "night, to doctrines which I do hope no man now "believes the catholics to entertain: nor is there 66 any ground for an opinion that the question is "opposed under any such pretence. The expla"nations which have been given on this head, so "far as I know, are completely satisfactory, and "the question as it now stands, is much more nar"rowed than it was on a former discussion."— [See his lordship's speech, printed and published by Keating and Booker.] How very little beyond this declaration, and a legislative enactment in consequence of it, do the roman-catholics solicit! Lincoln's-Inn,] CHARLES BUTLER. ESSAY VII. The Discourse pronounced by Mr. CHARLES BUTLER, at the Anniversary Meeting of the ROMAN-CATHOLIC ASSOCIATED CHARITIES, On Monday the 13th of May 1816. I HAVE to request, of my numerous and respectable hearers, that they will favour me with their attention, for a few minutes, while I shortly state the object and circumstances of the institution, which they are this day solicited to patronise. It was established in 1764.-Early in that year some charitable persons, who compassionated the lamentable condition of the poor roman-catholic children in this metropolis, formed themselves into a society for their relief, and called it "The "Charitable Society for the Support of poor "Children." Another Society, established for a corresponding purpose, under the appellation of "The Provident Society," was afterwards incorporated into it. From that time the two societies have been styled, "The Associated Catholic "Charities." The beginning of them was small.-At the end of the year 1764, the whole receipt amounted to five pounds sixteen shillings: but Providence has and upwards of two thousand pounds were collected for the Associated Catholic Charities during the last year. From the annual subscriptions to them about 700 children receive daily instruction. Of these, more than 5-7ths are born of Irish parents. Two hundred and fifty of the boys, and one hundred and fifty of the girls, (besides receiving their daily instruction), are provided with clothing: 20 orphan boys are lodged, clothed, and fed; and, upon an average, 20 of the children are annually apprenticed. Thus, every subscriber to the charities, has the satisfaction of knowing, that he contributes daily to the education and comfort of 700 children, to whom, otherwise, these blessings would be wholly unknown. It must add to the pleasure of the subscribers to be informed, that, among the objects of their bounty, there are several, whose fathers, bravely fighting for their king and country, fell at Waterloo. The dying moments of these invaluable men were, perhaps, imbittered by reflecting on the destitute condition, in which they would leave their children. How would it have cheered their parting spirits to foresee, that many months would not elapse, before their children would be received into the interesting lines, which you now behold,-in the midst of a numerous meeting, where every eye would survey them with generous compassion,— every hand would be ready to contribute to their relief, the most exalted of their brethren in faith would be active in their cause,--and it would be, openly and warmly, patronised by sons of their king. I am aware that the royal dukes, to whom particularly I allude, do not, this day, honour us with their company; but their hearts, I know, are with us and with our charity. To use the words of the duke of Kent, in a letter which I hold in my hands, and which I have the permission of his royal highness to read, "the subject, uppermost “in his heart, is to give public proofs of his attach"ment to religious toleration, and of the pleasure it "affords him to encourage the education of the poor, "whatever be their religious creed." May this noble sentiment become universal!-May it pululate in a thousand institutions like the present!-In every part of the globe, may every child of every creed receive a useful and a virtuous education !— And never, never let it be forgotten, how early and how powerfully they were supported by the illustrious personages I have mentioned. Let me now request you to consider, for a few moments, what, in all probability, would have been the situation of the poor children, whose cause I advocate, if they had not been relieved by this society. Of all the afflicting spectacles which suffering humanity presents, none calls for compassion more, than a destitute child in a corrupt and luxurious metropolis. He sees nothing, and hears nothing that is good, or which incites him to good; |