which have been embodied and exercised under the term "Alliance "between Church and State;”—whether this “alliance” together with the numberless corruptions which have been the fatal consequence, and which still abound in different degrees in all churches dependent on, and supported by the civil power, may not be destroyed by the brightness of the coming of the great Sovereign of the church, whose prerogatives have been so long invaded?-Dis missing these unpleasant inquiries, we beg leave to express to our readers, and to the world, on this occasion, our own satisfaction and exultation as BRITONS, as PROTESTANTS, and as CHRISTIANS. The generality of christians it is to be feared, scarcely allow themselves to consider the END which thus appears to be accomplished, but are almost wholly intent on the instruments and means by which it is accomplished. With respect to the motives, and views of NAPOLEON, and the measures he is pursuing for the advancement of his ultimate designs, we have little to say in their favour: his own vast ambition is doubtless the main spring of his actions: the Almighty Governor of the World appears to have designed in the course of his Providence, that those disorders which have attended the rise, progress, and establishment of despotic governments, shall likewise, in different degrees, mark their fall; and in all ages of the world, from the days of PHARAOH to those of NAPOLEON, he has raised up those men to bring about events the most important, whose characters, plans, and ultimate designs place them in the eyes of every friend to virtue and goodness iu no favourable point of view: but this consideration, however humbling may be to the pride of man, ought by no means to hinder the exercise of that satisfaction which naturally arises in the minds of good men on the accomplishment of those ends. The design of the Almighty in all his dispensations, appears to be, to reserve the honour due to himself, that no flesh should glory in his presence. On such an event, therefore, as the fall of the church of Rome, it is impossible for us to refrain from congratulating the christian world. The accomplishment of the divine predictions, declared by the he ralds of the christian dispensation, eighteen centuries ago, causes light to arise out of darkness; and amidst the corruptions and disorders of society, this light enables us to rejoice that we live in an era so distinguished. We call on every true christian to join us in the exulting language of the evangelist, when he beheld in vision the grand scenes now passing before our eyes:-Rejoice over her thou heaven, and ye holy Apostles and Prophets, for God hath avenged you on her!. We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come, because thou hast taken to thee thy great power and hast reigned!.... Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy

it

DURING the last session of parliament the house of Com

mons was so much employed in the important Inquiry respecting his Royal Highness the Duke of York, and in attending to various corrupt practices in our public men, that the attention of ministers was principally occupied in devising the best means of preventing the effects of some of those inquiries, and of stifling the rest. They were, as usual, supported by large majorities, and after a stormy session, appeared secure in their respective places.

As the year advanced, the triumphs of NAPOLEON attracted their attention. To arrest his progress, and to afford to their own country, and to Europe, a display of their talents, and of the skill of their chosen commanders, Sir A. Wellesley, and Lord Chatham, the expeditions to Spain and Walcheren were contrived, and carried into execution. The effects of this united exertion of talent are now fully displayed to the public!

That disaster and disgrace should be the only effects of our councils, cannot, when we reflect on their distracted nature, excite much surprise. Weakness, incapacity, rashness,' in attention to the lessons of experience have characterised the conduct of both counsellors and commanders.

Whether these disasters and disgraces, and a waste of British resources, and British blood, almost unparalleled, will awaken the serious attention of parliament remains to be seen. When we, however, reflect on the increased and continually increasing venality and corruption of the times, and the supineness of the people, we confess, we entertain but slender hopes that any effectual inquiries will take place, * Public attention has been somewhat diverted from that reflection our situation so imperiously demands, by the circumstance of the tools of ministers having contrived the observance of a Jubilee, on account of his Majesty entering on

ways, thou King of Saints! Who shall not fear thee and glorify thy name, for thou only art holy; for all nations shall come and worship before thee, for thy judgments are made manifest !*

It is the peculiar prerogative of the Great Governor of the world to punish guilty communities; and although his retributive justice may be sometimes slow, it is always sure. As be on the one hand, not unfrequently suffers individuals who have been the most active in corrupting, and by that means effecting the ruin of their country, to escape in this world, the punishment due to their crimes, so on the other hand, in the fall of such communities, he permits those who have been entrusted with their guidance, to suffer, sometimes severely, although they may not be so charged with guilt, as their predecessors. A future day of judgment will, however, rectify all inequalities as they respect particular persons, so that not an individual of the whole race of Adam will be able to complain of injus tice. In the mean time, it must be the wish of every good man, that in the revolutions even of the most corrupt states, personal suffering may be, as much as possible, prevented. It adds to our satisfaction on this occasion, that the Pope has been treated so very differently from most of those unhappy potentates who have fallen into the hands of his predecessors. The old priest, instead of being stripped of his possessions, his liberty, and his life; instead of being driven as a vagabond to foreign countries, is allowed the quiet enjoyment of his estates, and left in possession of an annual income of upwards of 100,000l. sterling. We know nothing of the faith, or the morals of the "holy father": should he be infected with those principles of infidelity which have marked the college of cardinals, he may still exclaim in the language of one of his predecessors" What a profitable fable is christianity!" But if he be a real believer, he may spend the remainder of his days in tranquil< Jity, and be abundantly thankful that the measure-his predecessors meted to others, has not been measured to him again. May the fa vourite inscription on the tombs of catholics be applicable to the last days of his holiness:-Requiescat in pace!

* Revelations, Chap. xviii, 20. xi. 17. XV. 3. 4.

It is a well known fact that Lord Barrington, father of the present Bishop of Durham, when visiting Italy, had frequent opportunities of freely conversing with the cardinals of the church of Rome, who were fond of disputing, with him the truth of christianity: on his expressing to one of their eminences his surprise at finding infidelity so prevalent in the college, his eminence returned the compliment by expressing his surprise that a person of his lordship's understanding should be a believer in christianity!

Dr. Priestley in some of his works informs us, that when he visited Paris, previous to the Revolution, he found infidelity generally prevalent, and more particularly amongst the higher ranks of the clergy!

"

An important edict has been recently published by the King of BAVARIA, relative to the religion, and religious corporations of his dominions. It is stated to be of considerable length, but the most essential points are the following:-The edict declares--" That an "absolute liberty of conscience is guaranteed to, ALL the inhabitants " of Bavaria ;—that every person may choose and exercise what religion he pleases, as soon as he shall have obtained the age of "twenty years, without any prejudice to his civil rights: this "regulation applies to both sexes. The making of proselytes either by force or fraud is prohibited." Various other just, and wise regulations are adopted; the whole forming a tolerant code which promises the greatest advantages. These are some of the beneficial consequences of the French revolution; and when it is recollected, that the Bavarian dominions were entirely overspread with the darkness, superstition, and intolerance of popery, the adoption of a code, which for its justice and liberality is far superior to that of certain protestant states, we cannot but express our earnest hope that the example of the former will be speedily fol lowed by the latter.

It is surely high time that Protestant governments should no longer suffer themselves to be outrun in the glorious career of jus tice, and humanity; that those countries which boast of the freedom of their civil constitution, should no longer suffer the reproach of intolerance in the affairs of religion. It behoves the members of ALL protestant churches and sects, seriously to recollect, that the most odious part of popery is that persecuting spirit which has made such dreadful havoc with the property, liberties and lives of mankind. Although toleration has, owing to the policy of the ci vil power, made considerable advances, in our own country, there are laws still remaining on our statute books, which are a scandal to religion and humanity. The situation of the Catholics of Ire land, and of the Protestant dissenters of Great Britain, and their exclusion from many civil rights, mérely on account of their religious principles, too plainly prove, that we have yet much to learn, even from Sovereigns and States professing the Roman Catholic religion; and that whatever may be our professions, we have not yet so much imbibed the spirit of the Christian dispensation, as those governments whose statute books now declare," absolute liber σε ty of conscience, so that every person may choose and exercise "what religion he pleases, WITHOUT ANY PREJUDICE TO HIS "CIVIL RIGHTS."