tion of her doctrines and principles. I have compared her, not only with the word of God, and with other Churches, but with herself at different periods-I have, by the assistance of this little library, traced the progress of her power and the gradual development of her authority; and am led to acknowledge, that wherever her influence is established or has been established, knowledge, arts, science, industry, and civilization have retrograded-the human mind has become dark and grovelling, and the character of mankind sunk into slavery on the one hand, or raised into an intolerable and arrogant oppression on the other.

There is very little more, Sir, in my history. On rising from my illness, after Ellen's death, I found her mother dying, and in a week afterwards I saw her laid for ever beside that daughter whom she loved so well.— Father A

was now very anxious that I should make a visit along with him to C――. What his reasons were for this I did not then know; but I knew them the next morning, when my father, at breakfast, after having contemplated my countenance very earnestly for some time, whispered me to follow him to

his room as soon as breakfast should be over. I accordingly went, and he there informed me, that in consequence of Father A.'s representations, he had willed the property to the establishment at C-. "What, my dear father," said I, "was the nature of his representations?" 66 "Why," said he, "he entered into a long argument, in which he proved, I think very clearly and satisfactorily, that I could not with a good conscience dispose of it otherwise. Your son,' he argued, will not live to inherit it, for he will not survive yourself; in that case it is your duty to consider the claims which the Church has upon you, and indeed upon every child who lives within her bosom. These claims, if the Church thought proper to urge them, could be made imperative; in their own nature they supersede every other.' In addition to this, he said that I should establish a perpetual mass for you and me, and the rest that are in dust, which indeed, James, we ought to do." I now saw that I had much to encounter ; but I knew my father was both a liberal and an intelligent man, who met, with unqualified indignation, any thing like duplicity or deceit. To relate the arguments that passed

between us on the subject, would occupy too much of your time; let it suffice to say, that I succeeded, after considerable trouble, in giving him a thorough knowledge of Father A.'s views and disinterestedness. The will he immediately cancelled, but he has now made another, to which I have to request that you will have the goodness to become either a witness or an executor." I told him that I certainly did not like the office of executor, nor to have much to do with wills in general; "but," said I, "as your case is so peculiar, I shall have no objection to become a witness."

I must observe here, that this narrative occupied a much longer time, in consequence of Father Butler's weakness and the frequent fits of coughing which seized him, than would be spent in its perusal. I now rose to take my leave, which I did accordingly, after promising to call the next day but one-when two friends more were to meet me for the purpose of subscribing also as witnessesand he went out, leaning on the arm of a servant, to seek his father.

CHAPTER X.

It was now the forenoon of a beautiful day, and I was on my way home, driving leisurely along, reading a book, as I am in the habit of doing, when I overtook a poor woman, whose countenance had once been beautiful, leading an interesting little girl, aged about ten years, by the hand. There appeared to be no other object in the walk they were taking, than that of exercise for the child, who seemed to be an invalid; for they stopped now and then to pull such wild flowers as the little one thought pretty enough to put into a nosegay which she carried in her hand. When I came up with them they forbore their amusement, and each made a low curtsey. I was much struck with the appearance of the child, who was a sweet little creature, with fine blue eyes, and

flaxen hair, that fell into natural ringlets on her fair and graceful neck. She appeared to be recovering from a fit of sickness.--" Has your little girl been ill?" said I, addressing the mother" she has a sickly look, I think.""Ah! then, your honour, it's she that has been ill, God help her-so ill, indeed, Sir, that I had no notion in the world she would ever over id; but God has been better to me than I deserve, blessed be his name for id." "I am glad to find," said I, that you are truly sensible of his goodness in sparing her to your affection; and I trust you will bring her up in this fear and in his knowledge :-how many children have you besides her?" "Indeed, Sir," replied the woman, "she's all that ever we have had, an' I often blame myself for lovin' her so much, an' pray that my heart may be weaned a little more from her; bud I can't help lovin' her still-for she has never cost her father or myself a frown, from the hour of her birth to this minnit; and, Sir, it would delight you to hear how she can repate her catechism.-Maybe, Sir," said the poor woman, delighted at the idea-" maybe your honour would be good enough to try her in id?"