it into successful execution. They have enjoyed the best opportunities of being qualified for such a task; and, besides their peculiar literary qualifications, they possess the higher advantages of being well fitted and inclined to advance their pupils in religious attainments. It is truly delightful to witness the opening of schools for this afflicted class of the community throughout the country, and to know that these are enjoying a large measure of success. But a select school for deaf mutes was still a desideratum, and we are much gratified to see the prospect of its being now supplied. We request our readers to give as much publicity as may be in their power to this important undertaking, And we trust that parents will eagerly embrace the opportunity thus afforded to them, to have the benefits of a sound literary and religious education extended to any of their children whom it has pleased an unerring Providence to bring into this world under the united calamity of deafness and dumbness. The terms of education are not stated in the advertisement, but we believe it is the benevolent purpose of the Conductors of the school to make these as reasonable as may comport with the circumstances of parents, and allow a fair remuneration for their labour.

REVIEW.

Au teagasg Criosduigh do reir ceisd agus freagradh air na tharruing go bunadhusach as Briathair shoilleir De agus air na chraobhsyaoileadh chum leas spiriodalta a thabhairt do dhaoinibh heirinn, &c. &c.

Christian Instruction, in question and answer, carefully drawn from the pure Word. of God, and enlarged upon, for the spiritual instruction of the people of Ireland, &c. &c. (The Shorter Catechism, in Irish.)

It must be a subject of rejoicing to the Synod of Ulster, that its Home Mission has been the means of putting so much machinery in motion, for the accomplishment of important purposes in the cause of Christ. Already have its labours remarkably extended, considering the shortness of the time since it first began to assume the form, and to put forth the efforts that characterise a Missionary Society. We know of no way in which it would be likely to effect greater good than by circulating among the poor and unenlightened inhabitants of the southern and western districts of Ireland, sound religious information on the great subject of their salvation. Thus might their minds be gradually enlightened to discern the errors of their own system, and the scripturality of the doctrines held by the Presbyterian Church, as embodied and condensed in the Shorter Catechism. When preachers go forth, furnished with a facility to expound the Scriptures in the tongue of the native Irish, they excite the jealousy of the priests, whose interest it is to exclude the light of truth from the people placed under their pastoral jurisdiction. The fear of their ecclesiastical superiors is made the ready instrument of deterring them from assembling to hear the genuine and unadulterated Gospel, even though it be conveyed to them in their own expressive, copious, and energetic language. But when a tract is left at their houses, curiosity itself, apart from a higher motive, may lead them to peruse it, particularly when it comes to them in a favourite garb. The present little book will doubtless be an acceptable present to those Irish schools in which the power of the priest is scarcely sufficient to debar the laity

from the use of the Scriptures. It is the production of our Missionary Agent, by which we judge that he is animated by a spirit essential to his important occupation, and actuated by zeal for the enlightenment of his Roman Catholic countrymen. The Catechism of our Church, clothed in the Irish language, is a work hitherto unattempted, and now happily executed. In looking into the manner in which the translation is made, we find that it is highly creditable to his attainments and his industry. Although the English and Irish languages differ in many particulars, yet we observe that he has generally given such an Irish construction and air to the phraseology, as are found in a work primarily composed and written in Irish, It is evident that Mr. Field is well acquainted with the grammatical forms and idiomatic peculiarities that distinguish the two languages with which he was concerned in the present translation. We augur much good from the extensive circulation of this admirable Catechism among the native Irish,—a Catechism pre-eminently distinguished by the soundness of its doctrines, the systematic accuracy with which the whole Gospel is presented, and the philosophical and lucid arrangement that it presents. It wears no controversial aspect, and thus it is less liable to excite the rancour and jealousy of the Roman Catholic: it contains a very brief and perspicuous statement of doctrine and duty, divested of all the bitterness of polemic theology, and free from all the false representations of Scripture truth, so prevalent in the religious world. The little work closes with a short address to the reader, whether he be young or old, in the manhood of life, or the decline of age, which we consider to form a very suitable and appropriate conclusion. It is affectionate, simple, and plain. Glad will we be to see our excellent Catechism, well rendered as it has been into the Irish language, judiciously introduced into many schools where the Irish Scriptures are read. It will form an appropriate commentary. By it the minds of the young will be led to reflect, inquire, and meditate,-to search the Scriptures with care and attention, and to imbibe a spirit of piety from their repeated perusal. We consider it a mark of good judgment, that the proofs accompany the answers, in the manner of Gall's edition; for thus the reader will be induced to examine the various passages quoted, far more readily than if there had been but a bare reference to chapter and verse. We hail the translation of this and other English works, especially the Pilgrim's Progress, as calculated to speed forward the moral regeneration of our countrymen, by opening their eyes to the abominations of that idolatrous system under whose heavy yoke they unhappily groan.

We recommend the translator, if a second edition be called for, to change the long title prefixed to the Catechism, and restore the original one. However laudable may have been his intention in writing a new title, from which a stranger would naturally judge that the Catechism was now, for the first time, composed for the spiritual instruction of the Irish, we dislike such an alteration. Rather would we have every thing called by its proper appellation, and especially the Shorter Catechism, to which the Westminster Divines prefixed a brief but appropriate notice. It is matter of regret to us to see their names expunged from their own production. Let the Catechism be honestly and candidly allowed to retain the title which they gave, into whatever language the work itself may be translated. The first page should be a real index to what follows.

NOTES OF A SERMON, BY THE REV, JAMES MORGAN, FISHERWICKPLACE, BELFAST.

"Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the i children of men"-Psalm xii. 1.

THE text appears to have been the exclamation of the Psalmist, upon the death of a righteous and useful man. The evil thus inflicted upon the Church and society he felt deeply, and he betook himself to God for support in such a season. His language discovers a mixed feeling of sorrow and of comfort,-sorrow, under a sense of the loss which had been sustained, and comfort, from a confiding trust in God.

It was in the use of these words my own mind felt any measure of sensible support, on the death of our friend and brother, William Cochrane, and I am therefore naturally led to make them the guide of our meditations upon that event, on the present occasion. Nor can any words be more suitable for such a purpose than these; for whether we consider the field of labour which he occupied, or his qualifications for cultivating it with success, or the duties imposed on us by his death, we are impelled to cry, "help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men."

In pursuing our reflections on this subject, we shall simply follow out the method that has been suggested; and give me leave, therefore, to consider,

1. The field of labour which he occupied, as a reason for applying to his death the exclamation of the text. Generally speaking, that field may be said to have been the poor and neglected of our population. As an agent of the Town Mission, it was to these he was sent. And it may be useful to consider, particularly, the condition of these persons, as requiring an extensive and well sustained Mission, to rescue them from their present situation of misery and sin.

The first feature of their case that strikes an observer, is the " large amount of those who are living neglected and unprovided with religious ordinances. The population of Belfast, including that of Ballymacarrett, is now returned at 70,000 souls. The ordinary reckoning for Church accommodation is, that seats should be provided in places of worship for twothirds of the population. But, assuming a lower standard, let it be granted, that were one-half of the population provided with accommodation, this would afford an opportunity to the whole of the church-going population to hear the Word of God; and what is the state in which we find our own town to be? All its places of worship do not furnish more than 17,000 sittings. It follows, that there are 18,000 persons without the benefit of religious ordinances. And of these there are about 12,000 who are nominal Protestants. It is easy to make this reckoning; but oh! what a spectacle does this neglected population present to any Christian spectator. A large proportion of our entire population without a sanctuary, or a pastor, or a Sabbath, with its refreshing exercises. Cansider what these are by nature, alienated from God, and at enmity with him; calculate what they become by habit,—all their evil propensities confirmed and strengthened; and what must we conclude their life and character to be? It is not to be wondered if the language of the Prophet, descriptive of Israel in a degenerate age, should be applicable to them," the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it." Even the stronger language of an Apostle may not be inapplicable," there is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: their feet are swift to shed blood: destruction and misery are in their ways: and the way of peace have they not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes." Rom. iii. 10-18.

Another feature in that portion of the population which we are now contemplating, is their denseness. By this is meant the nearness and familiarity in which the poor live with one another. In other circles, the rich live more in families, -they are comparatively independent of one another, and can form their habits, and pursue them as they please; but it is otherwise with the poor. Several families are commonly within one house, they are sometimes found in a single apartment, they are associated in the same employment, and they appear more as one undistinguished mass, than as broken down into the departments of families. The consequence is obvious. Contagion

is easily spread,-the leprosy of sin is carried from person to person, and the whole mass is in danger of corruption. The evil passions are greatly provoked, and ceaseless collisions excite them to the utmost. Hence it is matter of common observation, that the crowded population of the town is more depraved than the scattered population of the rural districts. And, not to rest in the more distant contemplation of this mass of human society, let us draw near to it, and more narrowly inspect it, and how much moral deformity do we discover? Examine how the personal and relative duties of life are discharged. What is the conduct of husbands and wives, parents and children, neighbours and relatives? Alas! the allusion is sufficient; and a depth of depravity is found in our population, of which those who have not considered the subject are not aware.

Hun

Nor is it merely the condition of the population itself: consider, next, the influence of a town population on the surrounding country, and the subject will be seen to increase in importance. There is one stream of population continually flowing in upon us, and another flowing out from us. dreds annually settle with us from the neighbouring country, and many leave, to reside in other districts. Those who leave us carry their vicious habits with them; and those who come, soon adopt our evil practices. Business and pleasure bring us constant visitants, and the loaded coaches of every day fill and empty our streets again, from hour to hour; nor does one of all this varied multitude come into contact with our population, without receiving some impression, for good or evil. It is not too much to say, that the society of Belfast will soon exert a mighty influence in forming the character of the whole province. Well did the Apostles understand the influence of the populous towns. It was in these they ever sought, in the first place, to make their lodgments. Witness Corinth, and Ephesus, and Rome. Were our population so provided with religious ordinances, that every family that became connected with it would be brought under the influence of a Gospel ministration, and that every individual who departed from it would go out under the freshness of a faithful admonition, what might the country all around soon become, through the leaven of its principles and people? As it is, our town is as a stagnant pool, emitting an atmosphere hurtful to the morals and religion of the people, while it might, and ought to be, a living fountain, pouring out streams of purity and peace over the face of the land.

The rapid increase of the population deserves, also, to be mentioned in this sketch of its condition. It is now progressing annually at the rate of two thousand souls. Of these the great majority are the poor, who are attracted by the hope of employment, or driven by the necessity of their circumstan