many humiliating applications from this young man and his wife to him, he at last condescended to give his consent to their remaining in the parish, not, I suppose, influenced by any better motives to this amazing condescension, than a consideration of the difficulty likely to attend a contest with the persons by whom they had been employed.

Your readers may be already begin ning to think that I have related of him as much as the most intolerant Priest could be guilty of; but I cannot yet put a period to the catalogue of his mischievous proceedings. This man and his wife having found it more to their interest to establish themselves elsewhere, the parish was again left to the mercy of Father C., when he showed himself utterly devoid of any thing bearing the most distant resemblance to humanity, by effectually opposing with bis usual intolerance, a young man of most excellent character, in conjunction with whom, the Rev. gentleman's brother has since been teaching elsewhere. For acting in this manner, he attempted to assign no reason-the teacher being of such character as I have described. This Priest's toleration was applied for by a Roman Catholic, who had in the next parish an aged father and mother, to whose support his Reverence should rather be influenced by a charitable disposition to contribute, than deprive them of that which may be considered their greatest earthly comfort; he obliged their son to abandon his parent's cottage, and go to some distant part of the country to make out a livelihood.

The most unaccountable of all his acts is the following, and the last I have to relate, as having occurred but a short time ago. A young man, to whose character, as being a stranger, 1 can give no other testimony than a certificate signed by a Roman Catholic Priest, called on Father C., confident that a Priest's certificate should be a sufficient recommendation to any other Priest, not only for obtaining his permission, but co-operation, in establishing a school: but from the history I have already given of this Rev. Father's conduct, it is by far easier to imagine than to describe the reception given by him. With uplifted hands, and a most terrific voice, he in a most peremptory manner ordered him to quit his parish without any further delay; and having observed him the following day walking on the road, not far from his (the Priest's) house, he rode towards him, and with gesticulations and accents, if possible more magisterial

than those of the preceding day, he again ordered him to depart; but lest this might not have the desired effect, on the following Sabbath, he gave (positive orders from the altar, that no encouragement should be given to him by any persons who may have children to educate. From such conduct, some may infer that this man is mad, and therefore that the Church of Rome is not to be accountable for the acts of a maniac Priest; but I assure you he is not, for he can collect and accumulate money, converse as rationally, read mass with as voluble a tongue, and utter as thundering an excommunication as any other priest that I know.

If so influential a personage as he is, exercised his authority in checking the progress of superstition, idolatry, and Sabbath-breaking, his efforts might be productive of some beneficial result; but such practices, if they dont (at least some of them) afford him some gratification, give him very little uneasiness. It would be quite superfluous for me to encumber the pages of the Examiner with a detail of the various acts of Sabbath-breaking practised in his neighbourhood, as any persons who have an opportunity of witnessing an uninterrupted repetition of such impious scenes, wherever Popery is predominant, need no better instruction than that to be derived from personal observation; but, as I have made allusion to the superstition and idolatry for which this place has been distinguished, in all probability for centuries, I shall give as correct an account of it as an opportunity of constantly observing, ever since I first became capable of observation, enables me to give.

Between the Priest's house and one of the chapels in which he officiates, there is a large stone stuck fast in the ground, on the side of the road; this stone is on the exterior quite uneven and craggy; in the centre of it there is a hole about a foot and a half in diameter at the mouth, about the same depth, and not a quarter of an inch in width at the bottom; it is shaped precisely like a tunnel, by which liquor is poured into vessels, and appears to have been excavated by a very ingenious stone-cutter. This stone is dedicated to a saint of the name of M'Adam, and from him is called in Irish Clugh M'Adam,' that is in English, "M'Adam's Stone." The miraculous quality supposed to be possessed by this, is a power of curing

sore eyes.

"

Since I wrote the last sentence, I

walked out to consult for further information, a man who resides not far from me, and who, suspecting the sincerity of my motives in making so particular an enquiry; after having very cordially expressed his friendship for me, said, "See, now, sir, I could be sent to gaol for a crown; and I would'nt wish this moment for twenty pound, that you would have any thing to do with that; for maybe 'tis another day all that would fall on you.' He assured me that it was repeatedly taken from its present situation up to K. house (meaning the glebe-house, which is about a hundred and twenty yards to the north of it,) and that it was always found in its own place in the morning; and the track on which it travelled back, when last removed, was perfectly bare of grass for fifty years. This he seemed to have from some traditional document, as he did not attempt to assert that the track was discernible within his own recollection. He then told me that its miraculous power was not confined to the healing of sore eyes, but that it extended to all manner of diseases. Finding that this man was not capable of communicating to me as much information as I desired respecting Clugh-M'Adam, as having said that he only witnessed the miracles performed on others, and could not give testimony to them from personal experience, I went to another, to whom the first man directed me, as very capable of putting me in possession of most satisfactory information, being at present under the necessity of paying homage there himself. On entering his house, I found him sitting opposite to the door, with a bandage drawn over his eye, which appeared almost closed, and had water running from it profusely. Thought I to myself, this man's eye does not appear to have derived any great benefit from his visits to the Holy Stone. When I mentioned to him what my business was, he said, "Sir, there's no one that can tell betther nor your uncle Tom, for his own eye was cured there; and because he did'nt pay all the rounds that he said he would, his eye was a dale worse for a long time, till he went agin, and gave all his rounds, and thin 'twas as good as ever," But when I expressed a particular desire to be informed by himself, he said that "as he only went by guess himself, and was afraid he did not do the thing right, he would call in a man that could give me the entire thing bet ther nor himself." To this proposal I consented, when he went out, and in a short time brought in one of his neigh

bours, who seemed to feel great pleasure in communicating to me as much information as he possibly could. While I was engaged in conversation with him, the old woman of the house seemed very inquisitive to know what friend of mine was sick; but soon beginning to suspect that in my enquiries I was not actuated by motives of the purest holiness, said in Irish," Bu duchas duit fein dull ann agus bedirg ungletha er an sagarth fos," that is, "It is kind for yourself to go there, and perhaps you may yet be calling for the Priest." This man gave me an account of the several duties necessary to be performed at ClughM'Adam, in effect as follows:

On Saturday night the invalids repair to a well called in Irish "Tubberannhiona," which signifies in English, the "Wine Well," about half a mile distant from the stone; from this they bring each a bottle of water, which they leave concealed all night in a hedge near the stone, being under an impression, that if they at the first brought this into a house, it would be rendered incapable of receiving that salutary quality which the stone communicated to it the following morning. After they have carefully deposited the bottles of water in the hedge, they retire to their respective lodgings, and return before sun-rise in the morning, that is, Sunday morning, when they take the bottles from the depositories where they lay the preceding night, and pour the water from them into the cavity in the stone. They then commence the ceremonies by falling on their knees, in which posture they go round the stone three times, during which, they repeat a certain number of prayers, which are offered up by them in the following order. They commence by five gloria patris, five pater nosters, and five ave marias; these are followed by one pater, ten aves, one pater, ten aves, one pater, ten aves, one pater, ten aves, one pater, and ten aves, at the end of which they say one gloria patri, three aves, and credo, all of which amount to fifty-eight ave marias, eleven gloria patris, eleven pater nosters, and one credo. After having gone through their" vain repetitions," they apply to the diseased part a portion of the water from the stone, with a rag, which they leave suspended on the hedge, alongside which the stone is fixed. This they now call "a token," the meaning of which appellation, when thus applied, I do not well understand; but I am inclined to think that it was originally intended as an offering to St. M'Adam, who is sup

posed to patronise the stone, and from whom it derives its name. They then take home in the bottle some of the water, which they continue to apply until the following Sabbath morning, when they return to a repetition of the same, and so on from Sunday to Sunday, till the cure be effected.

Can it with any reason be asserted, that such practices do not meet with the approbation of the Romish Priests, when this has for so long a time been, in effect, approved of by them, inasmuch as all the Priests who have succeeded each other in that parish, have been in the babit of passing, at least once a week, that stone, within a few feet of it? And who can suppose that their curiosity has never been raised by the singular appearance of the stone, and that they have not been led to enquire for what purpose have so many rags been suspended from the bushes, two or three dozen of which are ever exposed to the inspection of all who pass that way? O! if they came to Jesus with as full an assurance of his all-sufficiency to heal their spiritual maladies, and save them from the wrath to come, as they come to a dumb and senseless stone, perfectly satisfied of the effect it has in removing their bodily disorders, what a blessed and happy people would they be! how distinguished would the parish of K. be, for inhabitants animated with piety

and zeal in their Master's service-what burning and shining lights would they be in the Christian hemisphere! and how many by witnessing their good works would be led to glorify their Father which is in heaven? But, alas! they know not Jesus-they are totally unacquainted with his ways- they are not sensible of the necessity of seeking for pardon by faith in the atoning blood that flowed from Jesus' side; they are not aware of the necessity of being in possession of that holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord; but believe, (as I have heard some of them say) that one of their good acts put in the scale against ten bad ones, must preponderate, and procure for them the favour of God. Such is their view of an atonement, and such must be the view taken by all, whether Protestant or Roman Catholic, who strive not in a spirit of humility and prayer to obtain a saving knowledge of the contents of that volume which God in mercy has caused to be left for our instruction, and the edification of our souls. How earnestly should all who profess themselves to be children of the day and of the light, unite in prayer to

the shrine of grace, that not only they, but all who continue to be yet uninstructed in the dark corners of the earth, may have the eyes of their understanding en lightened with the day-spring of Gospel light-and that they may be made acquainted with its transcendant excellence ! LIBERTINUS.

To the Editor of the Christian Examiner.

Some years ago (not many) a Mr. and Mrs. H were compelled by embarrassed circumstances to leave England. They fixed their residence in Italy. The first three children born to them in that country died after their birth. again became pregnant; when a nurse,

Mrs. H.

who had lived in her service from the

time of her arrival in Italy, observing her uneasiness about the probable fate of her fourth child, told her, that if she would devote it (it having been born at this time) to the Virgin Mary, and have it reared in the Romish faith, she might be certain it would live and grow up. Mrs. H. whose religious views seem to have been very imperfect, and did not lead her to HIM with whom are the issues of life, from a natural anxiety for her child, followed the nurse's advice. The child throve and grew up. A son and another daughter grew up under the same circumstances. After some time, But Mrs. the nurse took ill and died. H- 's astonishment and horror may be better imagined than described, when the nurse, in her dying moments, confessed, and rather with a feeling of selfapproval, that she had herself taken care that the other children should not live, lest they should grow up heretics, and so be cast away!

But

to a deed so atrocious and so deliberate. It is not easy to give the proper name There is a mingling of pity in the feeling it awakens, which rescues the unhappy criminal from utter abhorrence. may we not reserve our unmingled abhorrence for that vile system of false reand for those teachers who mislead the ligion, which inculcates such feelings, ignorant with doctrines the antipodes of evangelical love and meekness ?"

I send you the real names of the parties concerned, in order that you may be enabled to substantiate the truth of this

remarkable story.—Yours, &c.

Society for superseding the necessity of Climbing Boys, by encouraging a new method of Sweeping Chimneys; and for improving the condition of children, and

others employed by CHIMNEY SWEEPERS. The last Report of the Com→ mittee of this Society having been kindly forwarded to us by the Honorary Secretary, we cannot but express at once our pleasure and our regret, Exceedingly do we rejoice that the circumstances of a class of our fellow creatures, so deplorably situated as the young chimney sweepers, should have at length attracted the notice it deserves in the sister island; and that the cause which this Committee advocates, seems at length likely to be advanced in good earnest. We are sorry at the same time that so much apathy has been shown among ourselves upon this interesting subject. Why should England be before us in every thing? We might calmly submit to her taking the lead in enterprise and commercial speculation, in manufactures, and in the arts; but in the things which pertain to the cause of God, and amelioration of the human race, both as to temporal and spiritual circumstances, we feel grieved that we should be left behind. Trae it is, we too have a Society, but as true it is, that it has not taken the hold it should of the public mind. There is a lamentable apathy about us on this point. We are charged by many who are enemies to the religious Societies, as though we neglected the wants which lie close at our own doors, in seeking to alleviate foreign distress

.es.

And certainly, if the Irish public do not take up, as it should do, the case of those unhappy little ones, who every year, consigned by the cupidity of unfeeling parents to the cruelly of a tyrannical master, undergo the wretchedness of having to climb up and sweep the foul and filthy chimneys of this metropolis, and of all the large towns in the country, we shall go far to substantiate the accusation brought against us. It appears demonstratively from the report which now lies before us, that chimneys can be swept fully as well by the machines now in use, as ever they could be by climbing boys; the expense is not greater, and the sin is taken off our shoulders. For a fearful sin it is to condemn by our practice so many young and tender creatures to so miserable an employment, when a little energy on our part would relieve them altogether. It is a common thing for people to shelter themselves under the plea, that what is a general custom can never individually be a thing of crime. This is a great mistake. If it be wrong for a person

THE CHURCH.

The Marquess of Ormond has presented the Rev. Mr. Hamilton to the living of Carrick-on-Suir, county of Tipperary, vacant by the death of the Rev. Standish O'Grady.

On the 17th July, the Rev. Thomas Brady was granted institution by the Lord Bishop of Killaloe to the valuable living of Tomgrany, in the gift of John Brady, Esq. of Raheen, county Clare.

The Archbishop of Cashel held his Visitation for the Diocese of Ardfert and Aghadoe, on the 30th of July, in the Church of Killarney, on which occasion the Rev. John Fitzgerald preached an excellent sermon.

UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE. At the late Quarterly Examinations held in Trinity College, the following honours were adjudged :

FOR GENERAL ANSWERING, Certificates to Wilson 2dus, (Benjamin,) Longfield, Robins, Freke, Browne, 1mus (Stephen) Mr. Thompson 3tius (Robert,) Mr. Leader, sen. (Nicholas,) M'Cay, Graydon, Moran, Quarry, Harris, 2dus (Thomas,) O'Connor 3tius (Edward,) Crosthwaite 3tius (Benjamin,) Walsh 3tius (Edward,) Fridlezius, M'Neese; and Premiums, to Bredin, sen. (Andw.) Darley 3tius (Henry,) Hóbart, Andrews, Harricks, Browne 4tus (John Thomas,) Mr. Knox 3tius (George,) Mr. Noble, Mr. Burrowes, Waddy, Woodward 2dus (Thomas,) Woodward 3tius (George,) Oakley, Best, Trench 2dus (James,) Thomas 2dus (William,) Crawford 5tus (Arthur S.) Lynch 3tius (David,) O'Flanagan.