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ton in Staffordshire. In London are some day-schools; and in other parts may be, perhaps, little establishments, where an old woman gives lectures on the Horn-book and the Art of Spelling. As her lessons convey no documents of treason or sedition, Government need not watch her with any anxious attention §.-At the two first-mentioned schools are generally about twenty or thirty boys, who leave them about the age of twelve or fourteen. That in Staffordshire is far the most numerous. Its design is to give some education to children of a lower class. They learn their religion, and such other things, as may qualify them for trade and the usual business of life. When it can be avoided, they never admit Protestants, from an apprehension that it might give offence; as also from a well-grounded suspicion, that it would tend gradually to weaken the religious principles of the Catholic boys. It is to me astonishing, that Protestants can be found, who, were it in their power, would deprive us even of this small privilege of educating our own children! I have omitted to mention two schools for the education of girls, one at Hammersmith, the other at York. They are ancient establishments; and by no means, I apprehend, calculated to bring danger to the Protestant powers of the British Empire."

As a striking contrast to the above account, I refer you to another authentic Roman Catholic statement, published in " The Laity's Directory for 1819;" a little wook annually printed" BY PERMISSION," for the use of their own people, by Keating and Brown, of Duke Street, Grosvenor Square. Here I see a list of about FIFTY institutions, under

§ "After more accurate inquiries, I am still confirmed in the truth of the above representations. We have opened no new Schools of any note: though it has been repeatedly asserted that even thirty-two or more had been erected since the passing of the Bill in our favour. The instructions of Imaginary Teachers cannot instil much poison into the breasts of real Protestant Children."

the names of Colleges, Schools for Gentlemen, Seminaries for Ladies, Preparatory Establishments, and "Charitable Institutions for promoting spiritual and corporal works of mercy,”—all which latter (being in the Metropolis and its vicinity) are said to be "under the Patronage of the Right Rev. Dr. Poynter, V. A."-I do not find among them the famous school for Calmel Buildings, wholly under the management of Priests (Mr. Gandolphy was one of them), but chiefly maintained by the purses of Protestants in Mary-lebone; nor do I know how to estimate the comparative importance of those numerous institutions, for promoting Popish education in England. But some of them, which are passed over superficially in the " Laity's Directory," are certainly very important in a POLITICAL point of view; for instance, the one thus described: "STONYHURST COLLEGE, Blackburn, Lancashire; REV. CHARLES PLOWDEN, President. The plan of education and the terms are the same as usual; and may be had by applying to the President, or to the Rev. John Scott, No. 11, Poland Street."

This is all the notice here presented! I feel it right to particularize and distinguish that Jesuitical College, however insignificant a place it may have found in the "Laity's Directory." Other Jesuitical proceedings might, perhaps, be sifted by the aid of Parliament, as they certainly ought to be, for the information of Protestants.

But, I first shall repeat what is stated of Jesuits, by the author of the conciliatory volume already cited: "It is often said, that Popish Priests have an unbounded zeal for making Proselytes. Were it true, I see no reproach in the charge, It proves that they are sincere in their religious belief; that they esteem themselves in the best way; and that they wish to impart to others the important truths of salvation. The man of zeal, and only this man, will, in every religion, strive to make converts; and when evidently he is not actuated by motives of interest or some

worldly pursuit, his only aim can be the good of his neighbour.

"The influence, which Priests have it in their power still to acquire from the use of Confession, it must be allowed, is very great! Take but once fast hold of a man's conscience, and you may lead him where you please. It is therefore, in our Church, a concern of the greatest moment, that Priests be well-instructed, and that they be good men. Abstracting from all divine institution, were I to found a commonwealth, a law, obliging all my subjects to frequent confession of their sins, should be a principal ordinance. But the choice of my Priests should have my peculiar care. I would not, however, myself be found often in their company for the Priest who holds in his hand the conscience of his Prince, too often meddles in the temporal concerns of State, which belong not to him."

Sir, it is a most valuable concession FOR US, that so candid an acknowledgment as the foregoing has been thus spontaneously afforded, by a Roman Catholic of uncommon penetration: and, if the power of ALL Priests be so "very great" over men's consciences, as is here represented, it cannot be denied that they who "too often meddle in the temporal concerns of State," ought to be kept at the greatest possible distance from a reigning PRINCE,

"The Jesuits, from the day of their institution, raised through the Christian world, a suspicious jealousy, which they were little careful to suppress; they also raised an admiration of their zeal and of their unbounded activity.

"In our penal statutes they are marked out as a body of men wholly distinct from other Priests. It was thought, that they held principles inimical to the rights of mankind, and that their designs against Princes and their States were of the most deleterious complexion. There was no truth in this imagination. They had amongst them, indeed, Divines of wild fancy; they had loose and indulgent Casuists; and they had men of dangerous activity. Where the weak,

nesses and common passions to which our nature is subject, are allowed to operate, things could not be otherwise; and the Jesuits were not more reprehensible, than are all other societies of men. The influence which their zeal, their soft insinuation, and their abilities, acquired them, was, in every walk of life, amazingly extensive. It was often productive of great good, and it was sometimes productive of great evil. They aspired, I think, too high; and the rapidity of their fall could only be equalled by that of their ascent. To the Protestant Church they were always particularly odious: they were purposely raised to oppose the progress, and to combat the opinions, of the first Reformers. Their attachment to the See of Rome was great; and in them the Papal prerogative had always experienced the firmest support. It was, therefore, matter of astonishment when the Roman Pontiff pronounced their dissolution. He was either a bad politician, or he was compelled to do it. In abilities the Jesuits were thought to surpass all other religious Orders; but because they wanted prudence to rein their ambition, and to moderate their career of power, they fell,-probably to rise no more.

"The few still remaining, daily dying off, in the course of some years their generation will be extinct, and their name almost forgotten. WE shall then perhaps see reason to lament their suppression. At all events, it is now time to drop those idle fears, which the phantom of Jesuitical craft and machinations formerly gave rise to."

At p. 160, this intelligent Roman Catholic writer again says, "The Jesuits are also dying away; nor is there any succession to supply their places." Sed tempora mutantur!

In my next Letter I shall call your attention to a valuable record, which has never been contradicted, and must be believed until it is publicly disproved. The learned author of "A History of the Jesuits; to which is prefixed a Reply to Mr. Dallas's Defence of that Order," 8vo. 1816, 2 vols. gives a most luminous exposé of the Jesuits now in England,

SIR,

LETTER VI

In developing the views of the Jesuits in England, and describing their footsteps at Stonyhurst, in Lancashire, I shall only do what you personally requested of me on a late occasion; that is, lay before you a few extracts from one of the works which "you had not time to read."

The author of that History asks, “Now, how does the fact really stand? A reference to the extensive and increasing Establishment of Jesuits at Stonyhurst, near Preston in Lancashire, will best answer the question: at this place the Order of Jesuits has for thirty years past possessed a spacious College, which is principally a College of JESUTTs; is amply provided with all the materiel and morale of Jesuitism, and is carrying on the work of Catholic Instruction, and Protestant Conversion, upon the most large and extensive scale! The studies at this place are conducted upon the same system, and to the same extent, as at the Catholic Universities abroad: and there are regular professors in Divinity, Mathematics, Philosophy, Astronomy, &c. The College, which is a very large building, is capable of containing at least four or five hundred pupils independently of Professors, Managers, and domestics. It is supposed to contain at this time five hundred or more individuals of va rious descriptions.

"About eleven hundred acres of land are attached to the College, which the Jesuits keep in their own hands, and farm themselves. A Jesuit (who would be called, in a similar situation in a Nobleman's family, the Land Steward) has the direction and management of the land, with a very liberal salary, besides board and accommodation. The Jesuits consume the produce of the land in the College, and

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