LETTER II.

COUNTY WEXFORD.

July, 1837.

My last was a sketch of our transit to this place: I now proceed to matters of deeper interest. To visit Ireland with no purpose of promoting in any way the good of her people, would be criminal indeed and I know no way of promoting it so effectually, as by bringing their actual state fairly before the public eye in England. I write, of course, with that view, and will relate nothing which cannot be substantiated. Books are perpetually coming out on Irish subjects, but none that meet the case. One travels with a view of ascertaining the existing relationship between landlord and tenant, scanning with a sharp judicious eye what bears on that point; but caring for none of those things which stand in the same relative position to the other as the soul does to the body. A second makes a tour in search of the picturesque: anxious to be himself pleased,

and to please his readers, he carefully screens off from view whatever would mar the beauty of his picture, and introduces immortal beings as he does the stocks and stones, to heighten the landscape. Or else, with a cynical supercilious discontent, finds fault with every thing, without attempting either to ascertain the disease or to suggest a remedy. Another comes over, fully awake to the supreme importance of the moral and spiritual branch of the subject; but having received a wrong bias at home, he visits Ireland much in the spirit with which some good people open their Bibles, anxious to discover somewhat in favour of his preconceived notions, instead of being willing to model them by what he shall find there. They who know the vast influence of first impressions, particularly where the individual is prone to jump to hasty conclusions, may, if they have an interest in the matter, give the desired colouring to all that he shall see, by commending him at the outset to a clever misrepresenter of facts; a character by no means hard to find among the divided and deeply-prejudiced parties of this unhappy land, and so the result shall be a heavy blow unconsciously dealt to his friends, and a chuckling triumph secured to their foes. Now I am not going to set myself up as an oracle, where so many have failed: far from it. My purpose is,

simply, to read Ireland as I read an important book: to receive no text without a careful examination of the context; and on every occasion to recur to first principles. Or, if you prefer a plainer expression, to judge of the tree by its fruit.

Shall I recite my political creed, that prominent consideration in these troublous days? I believe that GOD is the supreme and only source of all human authority: that his revealed will in the Holy Scriptures is the plummet line whereby the whole work of government must be directed; the foundation being that which God has laid, and beside which "other foundation can no man lay," even Christ Jesus, King of kings, and Lord of lords, I know him to be; and whatsoever rebels against his authority, or waives the consideration of it for any purpose whatever, is a step from legitimate rule to anarchical revolution: its object being to unseat the king from the holy hill whereon he is enthroned, and wherefrom he looks down, principalities and powers being made subject to him. With me, the question is not, what says Mr. O'Connell, or what say the priests, or what says the Earl of Roden, but WHAT SAYS THE LORD? I ask not, Is this or that measure, or is it not, recommended by its expediency, its aptitude to meet present emergencies, its concur

rence in the flowing tide of popular opinion, and passing events: but, is it consistent with the unchangeable decrees promulgated by divine authority? Does it "render unto God the things that are God's," and show those who act it out to be ruling in the fear of the Lord? If not, then I appeal to effects, in proof that a contrary course is not to be pursued with even the semblance of present success: for as godliness has promise, as well of the life that now is as of that which is to come, so does ungodliness bring its promoters to shame and confusion of face among men, while they treasure up for themselves wrath against the great and terrible day.

If it can be shown by incontestible proof, that there is one system exceedingly abhorrent to all that God enjoins, opposing and exalting itself above Christ, usurping his exclusive prerogative of a priest upon his throne, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men, and those too stamped in the Holy Scriptures with that awful character, "Doctrines of devils;" if there be a power that reckons among the staple commodities of its merchandize," souls of men;" destroying them by assuming to dispense at its own sovereign pleasure what none can receive but as the free gift of him who bought both it and them at the costly price of his own blood;-if this usurping and malig

nant power be clearly defined in God's word, branded with a name that expresses a direct and total contrariety to Christ and his gospel, and expressly marked for a final destruction distinct from all other visitations of the divine vengeance, while the only way of escape from that impending doom is opened to its subjects in a proclamation from heaven," Come out of her, my people; be ye not partakers of her sins, that ye receive not of her plagues;" then I say, that whatsoever tends to strengthen the position of this adversary, to extend, confirm, or even to sanction the authority already usurped over any part of God's heritage, or to shade off the broad black line of demarcation laid down by the inspired penmen, who spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost,-I say that it is an act of deliberate rebellion against the Most High; an open attempt to prevent the kingdoms of this world from becoming the kingdoms of our God and of his Christ. These are my principles, this is my faith, not acquired by associating with any particular set of men, but built on the immutable word of God. Politics and religion! what an idle distinction. It is as though on meeting you, instead of the simple salutation of I am glad to see you,' I were to say, 'I am glad to see your body and soul.' To be sure the thing is understood; for I should grieve to see your body