tower, arrayed in his ecclesiastical | But, if there be a surplus porobes! pulation, ought there to be laws,

Alas! my Lord, how little do to give encouragement to those Englishmen, of the present day, who breed and who do not work? know about the means by which Ought such immense sums of the the thing called the Reformation public money to be given to penwas effected! They did not dis- sioners of all ages and of both like the religion of their fathers. sexes, that they may live in a It took a good three quarters of a state of ease and plenty upon the century of the cruelest of perse- labour of others?" Ought there to cutions, to make them submit to have been sixteen hundred thouthat order of things, which trans-sand pounds given to the poor ferred the Abbey of Wooburn Clergy of the Church of England? and the Priory of Tavistock, from MALTHUS and all his hardhearted the church into lay hands. My crew, tell us, that to give the laLord, little do the people in ge- bourer parish relief, is to encourage neral know, and yet they ought him to breed children whom he to know, that the bayonet and the cannot support. How comes this halter were the great converters. argument never to have occurred But is there one out of a thousand to those who gave the sixteen hunthat dreams of such a thing, as dred thousand pounds to relieve that German and Italian hire- the children of the poor Clergy lings were brought over to assist of England? Was not that also in the enterprise? Yet they a "premium for population," as ought to know it at this time, when it is called? Yes, and for popuEngland and Ireland are tasting | lation, too, who never would work. of the natural and ripe fruits of Not a word do we ever hear the famous Reformation.

about this increase of population: Coming back to the subject of it is the labourers only that you enclosures. Great improvements find to be too numerous. It is upon Bagshot Heath. But, my they only that you fear to see inLord, go down to Bagshot, and crease; and, while we have this into all the parishes lying round outery against the over populous→ that Heath; and there any intel-ness of the labouring classes, not ligent farmer will give you a detail a syllable do we hear, in the way of the ruin and misery which those of grumbling, against giving nearly enclosures have produced; a detail enough to wring the heart of any man of feeling. And what have your Lordship and your Committee to oppose to canses so powerful and so destructive as these? The Oundle Plan? And what have the MALTHUSES and SCARLETTS and Scotch Economists to propose as the means of counteracting these causes? When you talk of an increase of population, you forget the probable half million of small farm-houses and of cottages that have been swept from the face of the earth by this funding system.

six millions of pounds sterling a-year to what is called a deadweight. It is reasonable and just, that those who have really and truly served the country in arms, and served it to some effect, should have a provision made for them. But, is it wise, is it just, that if, for instance, an officer marry and have a family of children, the country should be saddled with the keeping of his wife and children after his death! It is thought dangerous to give a labouring man a little relief, lest he should marry and breed children. But it is not

thought dangerous to give six mil- tem approach very nearly to that lions a-year, or thereabouts, part of the West Indies, in point of of which, at any rate, must tend | discipline; but in Ireland some to increase population. To say great change must and will take nothing about the numerous stand-place; and it is impossible that ing army; to say nothing about such change should take place, the monstrous disadvantage of without materially affecting every having an establishment of mar- part of the kingdom. That it may ried parsons, can it be wise or take place soon; that it may be just to bestow these six millions in just in its principles; that it may this way? Amongst all the mis- be productive of peace, cordial fortunes of England, none is union, and strength and security, greater than that of having so is the anxious wish of many thousands upon thousands of married people maintained out of the public money, and breeding children who, it must be evident to every one, never will work. They are not only not bred up to work,

Your Lordship's
Most obedient, and
Most humble Servant,
WM. COBBETT.

but they are bred up in the firm JOCELYN-SCHOOLS. belief that they have a right to be maintained by the public.

Would I sit in that House of Commons and hear all this talk about a surplus population; hear all this talk about checking the breeding of labourers, and not say one single word about these expensive encouragements to the breeding of idlers? I certainly would not; and, though I may hope in vain, I still will hope, that some man will be found in that House to put this matter in its true light, and to produce an alteration accordingly. Abuses go on for a long while with impunity to those who are the cause of them, but they do not go on for ever. Great military force keeps people down, but it does not pay the debts of a State. The labourers of England, being contented enough upon the score of religion, having always at hand some itinerant knave or other to cajole and entertain them, might probably go on a long while in their rags, hunger and thefts, of all of which there are great abundance. The Rev. Mr. COLLETT might possibly live to see the sys

For mending the manners and saving the souls of the Irish.

I HAVE before me a printed report relative to these SCHOOLS. They are called the schools of the LONDON HIBERNIAN SCHOOL SOCIETY." But, this is a stupid name. The head man of the concern appears to be the EARL OF RODEN, who has, indeed, recently been holding meetings in Ireland, in person, for the purpose of promoting the object of the Society. He is what we may call the acting man of the house; and, as his name is JOCELYN, and he is also the head of all Jocelyns, I shall call these, the JOCELYNSCHOOLS.

Now, as to the real object of the Jocelyn-Schools, it is evidently to convert the poor Catholics to be Protestants. I shall have more to say about this object, and about the motives to it, another time. At present I have to record a Debate, the very best I ever read. The Jocelyn-school people sent over two Missionaries, a fanatic of the name of NOEL, and a crafty thick-skinned Scotchman,

of the name of GORDON, a teach, them obedience to the laws, Captain of the Navy! These men by teaching them to walk in the went to Cork, got a large meet- ways of God. In England the uting together, and opened their most anxiety prevailed for the recommission. But, they met; the igious amelioration of Ireland, and he and his friend had come amongst merits, not only of their inten-thein, not with any idle anxiety totions, but of the two religions, gratify a profitless curiosity, but for were fully debated; and, if there the improvement of the moral naever were a triumph more com- ture of the people, to which they plete than all others, the "religion were solicitous to contribute their of our fathers" gained that tri-humble exertions. umph here. The Scotchman was not spared. He had the lash well laid upon his thick skin.I have inserted the whole of the debate; and I shall return to the subject very shortly.

of their aimable solicitude than the

The ladies of this great country ought to feel that there could be no object more worthy instruction of the female portion of the community. Upon the virtue of a woman much of that of man depended, and the religious habits of the sex could not fail to exercise a salutary influence. The population of the county amounted to seven hundred thousand people, of whom it was just to presume that one half In the City of Cork, at a Grand Meet-were females; and it was deplorable ing of the Ladies' Auxiliary Bible Society, held in the County Court House, Cork, September the 9th and 10th, 1824.

Defeat of the Missionaries of the LONDON HIBERNIAN SCHOOL SOCIETY,

This Meeting was summoned for the purpose of hearing the Hon. Mr. NOEL and Captain GORDON, who are Members of the London Bible Society, and have come to Ireland for the purpose of promoting the objects of that Institution. The Court-house was crowded with Ladies, and a splendid and numerous assemblage of the Gentry of the County and City of Cork. JOSEPH DENAE FREEMAN, Esq. having been called to the Chair,

that out of that vast body so few enjoyed the benefits of education. In the promotion of this great work, they would evince a true and genuine sensibility. How many there were who shed tears over works of fictitious woe, and who failed to extend their emotions to any instance of practical benevolence. They should be influenced by a higher motive than ordinary tenderness, and should draw their humanity from the sacred springs of scriptural religion. He had heard with pain, that out of the whole of the sum contributed by the ladies of Cork, for the diffusion of the holy writings, The Hon. Mr. NOEL said, that he one sixth had been raised by a subhad recently arrived in Ireland, and scription at a ball. Religion should saw, with a feeling of deep anguish, do inore than fashion. Benevolence the wretchedness, and the moral and ought to be less a matter of taste physical degradation of the great than of duty. The Hon. Gentlebody of the population. They ex-man proceeded with great ability to hibited a hideous and appalling enforce the necessity of founding spectacle. Their habitations were education upon the basis of religion, receptacles of filth, and their minds and of dispensing the Scriptures were utterly destitute of religious among the poor. Their first object instruction. The calamities of should be to make the people Christians the country, the spirit of violence-Christianity was the best gift that and tumult, and all the fatal con- could be conferred upon them, and sequences incidental to it, might its only source was in the sacred justly be referred to the absence word of God. The reading of the of religious education, which would Scriptures had been opposed by pre

Judice, by scepticism, and by profli-posed to interrupt the proceedings, gacy. Experience had proved that had an opportunity of attending a as the virtues of the people of Eng- public meeting, to which however land arose from their familiarity they did not condescend to come; with the Scriptures, the vices of other but when a meeting was held for the countries had arisen from their being purposes with which they had no denied the use of that holy light. The concern, and the Ladies of Cork were honourable Gentleman described the assembled to hear two Gentlemen horrors of the French Revolution, from the English Bible Society, cerwhich, he said, were to be referred tain persons showed a singular ala to the spirit of impiety which was crity in thwarting their proceedings. allied with ferocity. That revo- However, if they were heard, it was lution had been prepared by the from courtesy, and not upon any mock-philosophy which made the ground of right. He applauded the holy writings the theme of blasphe- sentiments and language of Mr. Noel mous derision. Education without and his associate, in their great and religion would prove rather an evil good work. For his own part, he than a good, and he strenuously de- wondered how any man who believed precated any system of instruction in the Scriptures could withhold which was not associated with the them from the people. Almost in perusal of the holy writings. In the very first passages of that holy them the poor would find true faith, book, and in the commencement of and the principles of genuine mora- the history of mankind, God had lity, illustrated by the light of heaven: given intimation of his will that his and those men were the enemies of word should be taught. He referred the happiness of their fellow-crea- to several texts, from which he artures, who sought to deprive them of gued that Abraham, Moses, and Dathe only real source of virtue here, vid had received the same injunctions and felicity in the other world. They to teach the law from the Bible; and could not do a work more acceptable that in the New Testament the same to God than by the propagation of principle is inculcated in the passages his word, and it must be a matter of relating to Timothy. The darkness. high gratification to them, that while that covered this country could not they were advancing the spiritual be removed, except by the general interests of their fellow-creatures, perusal of the word of God. There they were securing their own eternal was no other mode of rescuing the welfare. The Honourable Gentle-people from their hideous superstiman sat down amidst loud applause. tion. How disastrous was the ignoCaptain GORDON, of the Royal Na-rance and barbarism that prevailed in vy, rose after Mr. Noel, and spoke to Ireland, when a mother permitted a similar effect. He appealed espe- her child to be trampled to death by cially to Scotland, (his own country) a wretched man, who pretended that as an instance of the noble results of he was armed with divine authority, a moral and religious education, and and had the power to perform mireferred to some passages in the Scrip- racles. tures to show the impropriety of withholding them from the people.

Mr. DWYER rose, and asked whether he should be permitted to make some observations in reply?

The CHAIRMAN said that the Meeting was private, but after some discussion on the right to speak, desired Mr. Dwyer to write a resolution if he wished to propose any.

Mr. KENNY said this was a Meeting in a great measure private, and that the gentleman who seemed dis

Mr.SHIELasked whether he should be allowed to make a few observations on what he had heard.

The CHAIRMAN said, if, Sir, you are a friend to the Society, you are entitled to speak.

Mr. SHIEL said, then, Sir, in one sense I am a friend to the Bible Society, and I shall evince it by an act of substantial friendship, in venturing to give you some honest, though it may possibly be mistaken advice. (Laughter, and cries of "Go on.")"

Mr. SHIEL said, that when the for- Mr. Noel had pathetically lamented mer meeting was held, to which a the physical degradation and utter gentleman had adverted, he was not wretchedness of the Irish people, and in Cork, and that upon that account attributed both to the absence of he ought not to be considered as an scriptural education. Without comoverweening intruder upon their de-paring him to an empyric who would liberations. They should not shrink fain apply his own favourite remedy from discussion, if it was carried on to every disease, he should remind in a fair and mitigated spirit. The him that the misery of Ireland arose meeting was called private, but it from a vast variety of causes. He exhibited singular evidence of privacy had just come from a country whose in the numbers by which it was at-prosperity, was the accumulation of tended. It concerned the public-a a thousand years. On the other great national question was involved hand, the wretchedness of Ireland in its proceedings, and it was the was the product of many centuries of right of every individual to remon- calamity. Mr. Noel had started at strate against a system by which the the contemplation of that wretchedinterests of the whole community ness-he, who was familiar with the were affected. He should studiously luxuries of the English cottage, naavoid giving offence to the religious turally shrunk from the miseries of sensitiveness of the ardent and lovely the Irish hovel. He would ask, whetheologians whom he saw assembled ther the vast diffusion of wealth, the around him. He regretted that some extent of commerce, the number of observations had fallen from those manufactures, and the equality of who preceded him, which reflected the people, had produced the riches upon the Creed of the Irish people; and the happiness of England; or at no time were controversial dis- whether her unparalleled greatness putations well calculated to promote was all owing to the reading of the the real interests of Christianity, Scriptures without note or comment? and they were peculiarly ill-adapted Had centuries of iniquitous misrule to the fair auditory whom he had accomplished nothing in the work risen to address. The religion of a of misery, of degradation, and of woman ought to be an impassioned guilt? If the Hon. Gentleman were meekness, and that sweet spirit better acquainted with Ireland, he which was typified by the dove, would soon perceive that it is upon the should spread its wings upon them, higher classes that his religious labours -while he entreated their forbear-ought to be bestowed. This amiable ance, and that pity for human error itinerant would, in the course of his that was akin to the love of heaven, sacred peregrinations, soon discover he should take care not to abuse that it was not in the smoke of the their indulgence. He had heard hovel, but in the blaze of the banquet, Mr. Noel with pleasure. He had that the precepts of the gospel ought given proof of high intellectual at- to be enforced he would endeavour tainments, and there was in his zeal to impart the practical spirit of an internal evidence of sincerity. In christianity to the barbarous aristocraone sense only, was he an impostor, cy of Ireland, to civilize them into by practising a delusion upon him-pity-toconvince them that their wretchself. The Honourable Gentleman, and ed serfs are made of the same flesh and his Caledonian associate who had ma- blood as themselves, and belong to the nifested so much anxiety for the great brotherhood of men. With what spiritual welfare of the Irish people, indignation would he not behold and who was not only a Scotchman the system of merciless exaction but a Captain, deserved much praise adopted by the Irish landlord, which for the motives which had induced is so widely at variance not only their religious excursion. The nau-with the principles upon which the tical Divine had combined the enthu- English proprietor deals with his siasm of his profession with the cha- tenant, and with the habits of his racteristic sagacity of his country. own great country, but utterly repug.