fited by the removal, however harshly
executed at the moment, of enormous abuses connected sometimes with
wealth, sometimes only with the reputation of wealth, but in either case
with a weight of popular odium. The vessel has righted and become buoyant
by the sacrifice of masts and rigging. A spirit of activity has again
manifested itself in many directions. And with this has concurred a new
body of hopes, arising from social accidents in America. Throughout the
great central valley of North America, and along the line of the most
recent inroads into the western forests, a great opening has arisen, of
late years, for throwing a network of spiritual power over a vast
territory that is rapidly unfolding its power and wealth. Through this
opening has poured, for some years like a spring-tide, a huge host of
Catholic missionaries. Such was the extensive demand for spiritual
ministration amongst a population multiplying to excess, that _any_ order
of Christian clergy would have been welcome. Here is a basis laid for
future magnificent development of Popish power. Rome itself has been
stirred and agitated with the prospect of seeing its energies revive, and
of reaping a malicious retribution by entering into combination with that
Teutonic race, from whom, during the last three centuries, she had
received her deadliest wounds. But a doubt arises, whether this very
combination will not be more likely to impress a totally new character
upon the Papal religion. The Saxon energy will be likely to strangle
Popery, rather than Popery in the long run to pervert that energy. In
England itself, through Oxford, unexpected auguries have dawned upon Rome,
of a new birth for the pomps of Papal Rome. And exactly at this crisis of
hope and unlimited anticipation, the splendid endowment of Maynooth,
solemnly proposed and vigorously pressed forward by a cautious minister of
England, coinciding also with the spasmodic throes of the Irish people to
establish an independent nationality, have doubtless spread through the
councils of the Vatican as much of what will probably be found visionary
expectation, as through the hearts of our own Protestant countrymen, they
have spread of what equally, we trust, will be converted by this national
insurrection against Maynooth into visionary fear.

Another point we are bound to notice, as error generally diffused--though
shocking to just logic. It is said, by way of reproach to ourselves--the
England of this