1835.-Feb. 11-As the Rev. John Murphy, rector of Kiltullagh, county Kerry, was returning from a funeral, he was pelted with stones, one of which cut through his hat and inflicted a DEEP WOUND in his head. March 28The Rev. G. Carr insulted by a man in the churchyard of Old Ross, and ordered" to hold his tongue." June 2-The Rev. Mr. Dawson, while walking across a field, was suddenly attacked by three men, and MURDERED, at Ballincarrig, about 9 miles from Limerick.

RATHCORMAC.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STANDARD.

Ballinterny, Rathcormac, Ireland, Jan. 16, 1836. SIR,-In your paper of the 6th instant, I perceive by your leading article that you are endeavouring to place the Rathcormac affair before the English public in the true point of view. As I am individually interested in having the matter faithfully laid before the public, I take the liberty of stating a few particulars, the truth of which you may rely upon. It was in consequence of a message sent me (through one of my bailiffs) by the widow Ryan and her neighbour, that I went to her farm to distrain, as I had every reason to believe, that on my arrival there with the military, the tithe would be paid; and I am borne out in considering the information correct, by subsequent circumstances. On my arrival at her farm, and while the mob, which was composed almost entirely of strangers, was opposing the entrance of myself, bailiffs, and military, the widow sent one of her sons, who is still living with her, to pay the money, but he was compelled to return into the house; and, subsequently, when the firing was over, and the military had withdrawn to an adjoining field, she came out of the house to me, and offered to pay me the amount of tithe; but my feelings, at that moment, were such that I could not take it, nor have I ever since been paid it. I mention this to shew you that she was prepared with the money actually in her pocket, and that she only wanted an excuse to be allowed to pay. The story of my calling upon her, even over the dead body of her son, which has been made so much of by Mr. O'Connell and the other agitators, is totally groundless, and I declare most solemnly that such never took place. I can prove, by the testimony of one of the police who attended me, that no such demand escaped my lips, and that I did not either then or during my stay at that farm, know or suspect that her son was shot; nor was I certain of his death until the following day. The speech of Mr. O'Sullivan, as quoted in your paper, is substantially correct; and if a fair and impartial investigation were to take place, the fact would disclose itself, that I was innocently trepanned into this unfortunate business. Until this occurred, I may truly say, without vanity, that I was a favourite among the people, and stood on good terms with all my neighbours; but since this occurred, I have been persecuted by the agitators, and my protestant congregation actually deterred from coming near my church; so that, during the last year, my Sunday attendance at church is confined to my own family and servants, the safeguard which is afforded me by government, and one other family. If you wish to be informed of any other particular, let me know, and I will immediately furnish it. I trust you will excuse me for thus trespassing upon your otherwise better employed time, and believe me, Sir, your obliged and humble servant, W. RYDER, Archdeacon of Cloyne.

"Ir the Whig Radicals have a particle of gratitude in their composition, they will be ready to own their obligations to Rathcormac. The unhappy occurrence there has afforded any easy theme for their orators and writers to enlarge upon, whenever their arguments were running short, while their powers of abuse remained unimpaired. All this time, however, it was remarkable enough,

that neither Mr. O'Connell nor any of the Irish papists, with a whole ministry at their nod, thought it worth while to bring the matter before the cognizance of Parliament. Our readers, perhaps, may guess why they were thus backward; -if they cannot, we can inform them. The fact is, that Archeacon Ryder went to distrain at the request of Widow Ryan; that she had probably been induced to make the request, that, while she paid her dues, she might appear to do so by compulsion (a contradictory state of things not uncommon in Ireland); that her neighbours, having discovered her intention, brought a mob of strangers, in order to overwhelm whatever small party might accompany the Archdeacon with a view rather to a mere demonstration than with any expectation of being called upon to act. This mob of lawless ruffians (for they were nothing more nor less) assaulted the police; and the first shot which was fired, was an act of necessity, in order to save the life of a police-man, and actually "intercepted this attempt to murder." The widow's son was unhappily killed in the course of the short struggle which took place; and deep as must be our sorrow that any innocent blood (for we believe the son of the widow guiltless of having connived at the conspiracy) should have been shed, yet when the necessity of self-defence requires soldiery to act, all who are present are involved in one common danger, as they usually are in one common guilt. The soldiers were in a situation almost like an ambuscade, where it was thought they might have been easily overwhelmed; and they could not have retired on the first obstruction without the greatest danger, and the probability of a far greater loss of life than actually took place. They had gone armed, for bitter experience had taught them that police parties might be trepanned and murdered as a party of more than fourteen had been, not very long before, in Kilkenny! This is the real history of Rathcormac; and we think the man must be stone-blind who does not see how convenient a topic it affords for the lying journal, or the seditious orator, but how very inconvenient it would be to the agitators of Ireland to see it fully investigated in the House of Commons. It would be inconvenient to the parliamentary trader in agitation to have his own malpractices proved in the very cause which he selected as the best ground of vituperating his enemies, and, accordingly, Rathcormac will never be investigated by parliament, or at least, not at the request of Mr. O'Connell.”—Cambridge Chronicle.

INCORPORATED SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING THE ENLARGEMENT, BUILDING, AND REPAIRING OF CHURCHES AND CHAPELS.

A Meeting of this Society was held at their chambers in St. Martin's Place, on Monday, the 15th February; his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury in the chair. There were present the Earl of Harrowby, the Bishops of London, St. Asaph, Bangor, and Gloucester, Lord Kenyon, Lord Bexley, Rev. Archdeacon Cambridge, P. Pusey, Esq. M. P., Joshua Watson, Esq., George Gipps, Esq., Rev. H. H. Norris, Rev. Dr. Shepherd, Rev. Thomas Bowdler, H. J. Barchard, Esq., N. Connop, jun. Esq., James Cocks, Esq., J. S. Salt, Esq., William Davis, Esq., Benjamin Harrison, Esq., &c.

Among other business transacted, grants, varying in amount according to the exigency of the case, were voted towards building a chapel at Oakridge, in the parish of Bexley, county of Gloucester; rebuilding the body of the church at Easton Grey, in the county of Wilts; building a chapel at Bexley Heath, in the county of Kent; building a chapel at South Stoneham, in the county of Southampton; enlarging the chapel at Brierley Hill, in the parish of Kingswinford, and county of Stafford; building a chapel at Middleton, in the parish of Wirksworth, county of Derby; procuring free sittings in the chapel at Bognor, in the county of Sussex; building a chapel at Sarisbury, parish of Titchfield, county of Hants.

CHURCH ROOM AT SOUTHAMPTON.

DEAR SIR,-In the January Number of the " British Magazine," in stating the population and church room of Southampton, the contents of St. Mary's church are not given. This makes an important difference. I am now able to furnish you with a more accurate statement :

THE reader will perhaps remember some remarks, in a recent number of this publication, on the City Mission. Let any credit which can be given to its managers for good intentions not be refused. Still, its proceedings, unfortunately, not only fully justify those remarks, but call for the decided reprobation of all those who are concerned for the honour of the Gospel, and anxious to become instruments for applying suitable remedies to the fearful evils existing in the metropolis, from the want of religious instruction. No words can be found too strong to paint the extent or the degree of those evils; yet, existing as they do before the eyes of so many hundreds of wealthy men, able, from station, influence, and worldly means, at least to attempt a remedy for them, no such remedy has yet been attempted. It is consequently but too clear that, either from carelessness as to moral and religious responsibility, or from a feeling of the hopelessness of contending with such a mass of evil, an indisposition to act exists. On the other hand, many indications prove that attention is excited to this sad subject, that Christian men are beginning to see that nothing can justify their silence, but that they are bound to make the call in the loudest tone and with the utmost perseverence. What can be so mischievous, under such a state of things, as proceedings, the absurdity and fanaticism of which are such as to give those who are indisposed to listen to the call, not indeed a real or legitimate excuse for turning a deaf ear to it, but just that sort of plausible excuse which always answers where there is already a decided bias in the

mind? They can turn to this City Mission, and, exposing, with a just severity, proceedings which may excite laughter in some, and loathing in others, can take them as a fair picture of all attempts, and ask whether the inevitable effect of such measures must not be to increase the scorn of the scorner, and give him fresh matter for poisoning the minds of the young and the unsettled in faith? They may ask whether (to say the least) any possible good can be hoped for by a reasonable man from efforts of which it is difficult to say whether the directors or the agents seem most unfit for the task of instructing the myriads of unhappy beings who are now living without God in the world, most insensible to its difficulty, and most incapable of coping with it? Let the following miserable piece of fanaticism be carefully considered, as a specimen of the temper and feelings of those who are organizing and directing this body, and then let it be considered whether the public dissemination of such language does not tend directly to increase infidelity

"EFFICACY OF PRAYER.-It is generally admitted that the success hitherto afforded to the London City Mission, has surpassed the expectations even of its warmest friends. Formed on the 16th of May last, in eight months after we find twenty-four agents appointed, and much good done. To what is this success to be ascribed? We believe it can be traced to the abounding prayers of those interested in the measure. The first stone of this mission was laid by prayer in Dublin, in the month of December, 1834; when five individuals cordially united in their supplications that the desire in the heart of one of their number, if of God, might be granted, and that many souls might be brought to Jesus thereby-but if not, that his way might be stopped. All present believing it to be of God, passed certain resolutions, and afterwards carried them into effect, tending to the furtherance of the object. In February following, another stone was laid, by from twenty to thirty, who had power in heaven, meeting in Dublin unitedly to commend the work to God. Since that period, these and other friends have met at least once a month for the same purpose. In Scotland also there have been many wrestlers employed; and in London we know that much individual and united prayer has been presented to the throne for prosperity to the cause.

"Ye wrestling Jacobs, who have given your money, and who cannot give your money! if this work be of God, and, having carefully examined it, you know it is, it must prosper; but it will be hindered or pushed forward just as your hands are up-plead-plead-plead in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, with our Father in heaven, that his Holy Spirit may descend and rest upon the London City Mission, that all connected with its management, and that its operations, from first to last, may be so governed, that He may be seen throughout; and that tens of thousands of precious souls may, through its instrumentality, be plucked as brands from the burning! Open your mouths wide; seek, that great glory may be brought to our God, and that all concerned may be found in the dust."

But, again, to shew their wisdom, let the following advertisement be read :

"Wanted immediately, an experienced individual to superintend the twenty district agents now employed. He must be a man of a catholic, humble, and loving spirit, of deep piety, of evangelical sentiments, of good education, able and willing to labour, capable of addressing to edification numerous assemblies. It is necessary that he be able, not only at once to prove from the law and the testimony whatever he states to be the mind of Christ, but that he be capable of defending the truth from the attacks of infidels, deists, socinians, Roman catholics, &c. Salary about 1001. It is hoped that no person will apply whose conscience does not testify that he may in some humble measure lay claim to all the above qualifications. The managers will, with equal readiness, admit a clergyman of the churches of England or Scotland, a minister of any other evangelical denomination, or a competent layman, to the office-the mission having no party end to serve in their proceedings, but simply to glorify God by doing good to souls. Applications to be addressed (post paid) to the Secretaries, No. 3, Red Lioncourt, Fleet-street.

VOL. IX.-March, 1836.

2 T

One thing may readily be believed, that there is indeed wanted immediately, and wanted exceedingly, a person to look after the agents employed by this society! What can be expected, as to the persons so employed, except that they shall be those who, from whatever cause, are without any other means of support than this society offers ? For the regular ministry of the church, persons are duly educated; but from what class are these agents to come? None are educated, none are waiting for it. It will and must clearly consist of those who have been brought up for other employments, have sought for them in vain, or have tried other things, and failed. One would be extremely sorry to stigmatize any class; and, doubtless, of those who fail in life, many may be most estimable persons. But as a class, would one wish to commit the work of Christianizing the heathen parts of the metropolis to persons not educated for it, hardly educated at all, and who can either find no other employment, or have found it in vain? One may quite agree with one of the speakers, that there will be no want of agents. Of such as have been described, there will be a large class in such a city as London, to whom the 607. per annum given by this society will be a boon indeed. The "Græculus esuriens" who would do anything and go anywhere will always find thousands of counterparts in the unemployed, incapable, incompetent, and doubtful characters who haunt our streets. To such a class this society must be contented to commit the great work of preaching the Gospel. As to the inquiries to be made about them, they are singularly vague and unsatisfactory. "Do they give evidence of real piety, and have they long maintained a temper and deportment consistent with the Christian character and profession ?" "Do you know their moral character to be good, or do you know anything against them ?" would be a much more stringent question. Evidences of real piety vary according to the mind of the referee, and will ordinarily refer merely to the use of certain technical phraseology, which is supposed to indicate a converted and regenerated man.

The next question is, whether the proposed agent has been anxious to embrace opportunities of usefulness, by attending Sunday-schools, distributing tracts, &c.? On this question it may be right to say that those who are at the head of Sunday-schools would do very well to inquire most minutely into the moral character of all young men employed as gratuitous teachers. This caution is not given in vain, nor without a very definite meaning.

Then come questions as to the opinion entertained (1) of his talents for teaching, of which, in ninety-nine cases out of one hundred, the referee can have had no means of judging; and (2) of his temper, prudence, &c.; whether he is mild and humble, or forward and assuming; and lastly, whether there is anything else which can be stated, favourable or unfavourable. Any plain and direct question as to his moral character is entirely omitted. But, then, these agents are to be superintended, and superintended, too, by such a person! One who is able to "defend the truth from the attacks of infidels, deists, socinians, and Roman catholics, &c. (the &c. deserves notice)! But "quis custodiet ipsos custodes?" No examination, as far as one can