indeed, radical objections to the present system of government in India, which, we hope, will have due weight whenever the question of renewing the Company's charter shall be submitted to discussion. But they relate to very different objects from the distribution of patronage, and the sale of places. These are minor considerations-mere tubs to the whale-traps for the multitude, and unworthy, in our opinion, of legislative cognizance. Indeed, when some judicial offices and all military commissions are sold in Great Britain, it seems passing strange that the sale of similar appointments, in India, should be deemed a fit subject for public animadversion.

We trust, however, hat, if any such scandalous project of dismission is seriously in contemplation by the legislative, executive, and judicial sages in Leadenhall-street, the Board of Control will interpose their authority to prevent so glaring an act of injustice, the commission of which would interrupt the peace of numerous families, and be ruinous to a number of deserving individuals. One word more upon the sale of writers' appointments. We have stated, that the practice of selling them has uniformly prevailed for a very long period of time; and it has been so public and so notorious, that the Committee of the Commons would have had as much claim to praise for their discovery, if they had gravely reported, for the information of the House, that a former chief magistrate of the city of London, and a member of the Whig-Club, had been implicated in an usurious transaction, at a gaming-house in St. James's Street; and had accurately stated the specific sum paid, to avert the effects of a threatened prosecution. Indeed, the publicity of such sales is evident from the circumstance of a secretary of state and his secretary having given two writerships to one individual, as a reward for services rendered to the government. Had they not been intended for sale, they could not have been given for such a purpose, as one man could not hold two of them, nor could they have been considered as a reward.

The debates which have taken place on the military events of last summer have only strengthened the conviction of all unprejudiced minds, that the opposition have provoked the discussion for no other purpose than that of rendering ministers unpopular, with a . view to their removal, and in order to succeed to their offices themselves. The line of debate adopted by these partizans clearly de

monstrates their object. They purposely overlook the most obvious causes of the occurrences which they deplore, and bestow the most indiscriminate praises on the generals who commanded the expeditions, in order to attach the blame of their miscarriage to the cabinet, or to the ministers by whom they were projected. Not the smallest censure is cast on either Burrard or Dalrymple, though the first refused to embrace an advantage over the enemy which was manifest to a child; and though the last signed that disgraceful Convention which defeated the first expectations of the country. This may be party-spirit, or may be faction, but certainly is any thing but patriotism, Although we are very far from thinking that no blame attaches to the minister who regulated the details of the operations in Spain; yet it is impossible to read the letters of General Moore without lamenting most deeply that he ever was employed on a service, from which he appears always to have anticipated an unfortunate result. Confidence of success is one great means of obtaining it; and a general whose mind is constantly bent on defeat, `will most frequently sustain it. At all events, it is most impolitic to employ a man who thinks the object he is sent to attain unattainable. The officious zeal of Sir John Moore's friends has produced a letter which ought never to have been published; for, whatever inferences their partiality may lead them to draw from it, in the eyes of impartial men it will do no credit to the memory of that general. We paid a just tribute to the valour of Sir John Moore; and having died the death of a hero on the field of glory, we wished the tears of patriotism to water his grave, and his ashes to remain undisturbed, But if a discussion be provoked of the merits of his conduct in Spain, by the untempered ardour of his friends, and by the interested animadversions of the opposition (who see in General Moore nothing but the whig associate, who shared in their feelings, and concurred with their sentiments), whatever may be the result, they will have only themselves to blame for it. In such case, regardless of all inferior considerations, we shall discharge our public duty, by delivering our candid opinion on the subject.

The brilliant victory attained over the cowardly fleet of France, in Basque Rouds, adds another glorious page to the annals of British gal lantry. Lord Cochrane by his conduct on various occasions has proved himself the worthy successor and companion of those. naval heroes whose achievements will continue to be contemplated with

gratitude and delight by our latest posterity. At once intrepid, daring, judicious, and skilful, with a mind fertile in resources adequate to every exigency, he seems born to command, and doomed to conquer. We feel so much pleasure in the contemplation of such a character, and of such an event, that we cannot stoop to notice some unpleasant circumstances attending the transaction which has been whispered in our ear.

APRIL 24th, 1809.

MISCELLANIES.

On the Reverence to be paid to a solemn Oath, administered according to Law in Ireland, as taught and inculcated by the Rev. Dr. Milner, Vicar Apostolic of the holy Roman See.

IT is well known how little the popish peasantry in Ireland regard our English translation of the New Testament, as published by authority, and therefore it is usual, when an oath is administered to any of them in the courts of justice there, to do it with a golden cross stamped on the cover of the book, to be kissed by him who swears, as it is well known, that he venerates it much more than the contents within. To this cause may, perhaps, be attributed the contradictory evidence, which is too often given in the most direct and positive terms in the Irish courts, and the disregard of an oath which the English ascribe to the inferior natives of Ireland, when they have crossed the channel. What respect, then, in future, will ever be paid in Ireland to an oath administered according to law, by simply kissing the New Testament, when a person of high authority in the Romish church has not scrupled to publish, and declare, that he who takes such an oath there," is forced, with uncovered head, to bow down and kiss the leather and paper of which the book consists.” Whence he cannot but infer, that it ought to have no other force upon his conscience, than what is due to such a solemn piece of mockery.

Yet this is the opinion most impressively inculcated by Dr. Milner, an English Roman Catholic bishop, and a vicar apostolic of the holy Roman see, in a late publication, intitled, "An Enquiry into certain vulgar Opinions concerning the Catholic Inhabitants, and the Antiquities of Ireland, in a Series of Letters from thence, &c. by the Rev. J. Milner, D.D. F.S.A. &c. London, published by Keating, Brown, and Co. Duke-street, Grosvenor-square, &c, Svo. 1808."

This book, though printed in London, was chiefly intended for Ireland, where it has been most industriously circulated; and that it might attract such persons as read for amusement, it is lettered on the back," Dr. Milner's Tour through Ireland," In this volume,

which contains the most virulent and illiberal attacks on the Established Church, and very scurrilous abuse against many respectable persons, are the following remarks on a passage in " Sir Richard Musgrave's Memoirs of the different Rebellions in Ireland," wherein he quotes " A Narrative of the Rebellion at Wexford, by George Taylor," who has related, that, before that rebellion broke out in 1798, the Roman Catholic children were observed to have strings of red tape round their necks, which, by their having received priestly benediction, were, to preserve them from an expected plague; but were believed to be intended to distinguish them from protestant children, in a massacre of the latter, which, it is hoped, was falsely apprehended. Here the author openly encourages the superstitious practice of hanging St. John's Gospel round the neck for a charm, and displays his accurate information, that this Gospel is all which is required to be kissed by a person who takes a legal oath. His words are: → ·

"Our well informed historian has mistaken the strings with which the poor people are accustomed to tie the Gospel of St. John round the necks of their children, for badges of protection from slaughter. And surely the historian who, as a Custom-house officer, is accustomed to carry about the Gospel of St. John in his pocket, and to force poor merchants and tradesmen, with uncovered heads, to bow and kiss the leather and paper of which it consists, will not accuse Catholic women of idolatry, merely for honouring St. John's Gospel!" P. 82.

It has been mentioned before, that the Roman Catholic peasantry have little or no respect for our English translation of the New Testament; yet, to remove all possible reverence for its contents, Dr. Milner carried with him to Ireland, and had reprinted by a subscription of the Roman Catholic clergy, among whom were many members of Maynooth College, an old forgotten treatise, published in the reign of James II. containing the grossest misrepresentation, and the most indecent treatment of the prelates and ministers of the Established Church at that time, intitled, "Errata of the Protestant Bible, or the Truth of the English Translation, examined in a Treatise, showing some Errors that are to be found in the English Translation of the Scriptures, used by Protestants, &c. By Thomas Ward, Author of a celebrated Poem, intitled, England's Reformation. London, printed in the year 1688; and Dublin reprinted, by Richard Cayne, &c. 1807. 4to."

This was considered so virulent a libel against the Established Church, that its author fied to the continent, to escape a criminal prosecution; and yet, though the Government have used the most earnest endeavours to conciliate the Irish Roman Catholics, by a repeal of the penal laws, and by richly endowing a magnificent college for the education of their priests, this scandalous and inflammatory volume has been recently re-printed, under the sanction of the heads of their church.

Henceforth, whose life or property will be safe, when either may be taken away by evidence upon oath, as the person to whom it is administered, according to law, is taught to believe, that he only kisses" the leather and paper of a book," whose con

tents are thus represented to be erroneous, and undeserving of regard!!! We think it right to inform the reader, that Dr. Milner is the person who endeavoured to prove that the coronation oath of our gracious sovereign was not binding,

COLONEL MACDONALD's REPLY TO THE CRITICAL REVIEWERS

OF HIS TREATISE ON TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION."

To the Editors of the Antijacobin Review.

Gentlemen;

Exeter, March 7, 1809.

THE support of moral, and the illustration of physical truth, ought ever to be the province of liberal and just criticism, Your very able and useful Reviews are subservient to the cause of literature and science, in pointing out deviations from the legitimate objects of periodical criticism. To the mere opinions of reviewers, no author has a right to object; but, when his work is completely misrepresented, and he is falsely accused of motives for publishing, that do not appear evident in the body of the work, it becomes incumbent on him to justify himself before the public tribunal, through the medium of a widely-circulated Review such as yours I request, therefore, that you will do me the favour to publish the two inclosed letters to the Editors of the Critical Review.

I am,

Gentlemen,

Your obedient humble servant,

JOHN MACDONALD,

"Exeter, 15th December, 1808.,

"Gentlemen, Critical Reviewers;

"Your very Critical Review for November is before me. The last page contains sixteen lines of quotation from my original work on Telegraphic Communication, but without its being apparent that they are copied. In such instances, you ought to alter your usual practice, and insert all extracts between inverted commas. The remaining ten lines you deem a review of a work, which I am now to convince you ought, for your own sakes, to have been left untouched, in lieu of being, as it appears in your notice, either grossly misrepresented (to use, in the mean time, no stronger term) or completely misunderstood.

"You write, and print, that Colonel Macdonald presented his Treatise to the Lords of the Admiralty, during the administration of Lord Howick, by whom it was rejected, as being more liable to errors than the one at present in use,' and that to testimony so much more competent to form a decision, we [meaning the reviewers] shall not pretend to enter into any competition. As