against it, must be in danger of God’s displeasure; and we remember that Bible burning was practised just before the judgments of 1846. Let us, then, address a few observations on this solemn subject to all classes in the land. And, first, to Roman Catholics themselves, at least, to such as have any moderation and candour. Surely there must be many among them who do not approve the deed. We would ask the men of intelligence, and rank, and property—men who are anxious for the welfare of their country, and who especially desire the social amelioration of the poorer classes. What do these men expect from the burning of that book which more than any other teaches the principles of industry, and leads, under God, to the exercise of self-reliance? What do those men hope from the deed, who have publicly acknowledged that the difference between Ulster and other parts of Ireland in these respects is traceable to the circulation of the Bible alone? We ask such Romanists as have any interest in literature, what they think of the burning of a book that has done more for the advancement of true learning than all others put together? We ask the men of that creed who profess liberal principles, what they think of the burning of a book which is the Magna Charta of our privileges—the palladium of our civil and religious liberty? Above all, we ask those who have any interest in piety or morality, do they consent to ignore a book which is the source of the one and standard of the other? Now, it will not do for such Roman Catholics as these to say, they did not do the deed, and were not cognizant of it. It was done under the direction of their clergy; and, until they protest against the deed, they must be held answerable for its results. Suppose the deed to have been done—if I may venture upon such a supposition—by a minister of any Protestant community, would not every minister and every man of that community throughout the kingdom be held accountable for the outrage? And we do not hesitate to tell the Roman Catholics that their Protestant fellow countrymen can place no confidence in any profession of moderation or liberality till they wash their hands of an enormity such as this. We have been informed that during the visit of these men many persons from the different Protestant bodies have joined the Church of Rome. Whether this be so or not, we have no means to determine, and God forbid that we should interfere with the fullest exercise of the understanding or liberty of conscience, but if there have been any who, from levity of disposition or sinister motives, have forsaken the teaching of the Scriptures, and have aided in this deed or given it their countenance, we dare not address to them other language than that of this holy book: “For if we sin wilfully, after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin; but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the