their daily food: that, so far from being injurious, they had contributed very greatly to the emolument and security of the Tower; and that in evidence of this their good conduct they could bring forward the testimony of their keeper, and also that of many monkeys, pelicans, and other respectable and defenceless animals, who had lived for years in the Tower with them in undisturbed security. For these, and other reasons, they prayed emancipation from their present state of oppression and unjust confinement."

Perceiving the favourable manner in which the Petition was listened to, and fearing, as the crowd was rapidly increasing, that I might not be able to escape before the wild beasts should be liberated, I was happy to learn that counter meetings had been held in Lamb's Conduit and Cateatonstreets, Horsemonger-lane, Hounsditch, and Cow-cross; at which Petitions had been voted and forwarded from the various tame animals in the

metropolis against the emancipation of their wild fellow-subjects in the Tower. One of these Petitions stated, "that since the wild beasts acknowledged the lion as their rightful sovereign, swearing obedience to his will and commands, they could not be relied on as trustworthy subjects of King George IV., who was nothing more than a man."

A grave old gentleman entreated Honourable Members coolly to weigh this fair objection-he was, however, silenced by a shrewd and powerful orator, who reminded the assembly that the lions, having for the last 200 years been regularly washed every 1st of April, had been purged by degrees of all their natural ferocity, and would certainly require nothing of their subjects inimical to the peace of the nation at large, or to the authority of their well-beloved human brother on the Throne. The solidity of this argument being confirmed by a loud shout of "Hear, hear!" no one had courage to answer it. Another Petition reminded the Meeting, that the wild beasts were in the constant habit of maintaining that no faith was to be kept either with men or tame animals; and that they were in the

habit of taking an oath, that, should it be considered for the good of the wild fraternity, they might tear and slaughter other animals as a matter of conscience.

Another grave man now entreated the assembly to allow this fact to possess its just and proper weight with them; so that, if they would not listen to the arguments of the tame animals, they would at least regard the acts and confessions of the wild beasts themselves. A flourishing fellow, however, quashed all this by stating that what the wild beasts promised on their honour to the tame animals, or to man, was of much more importance than all the oaths they took to their Creator.

After the counter-petitions had all been read, I thought the debate continued as follows:-" Mr. Chairman, all beasts have equal rights--they have been obedient subjects, and peaceable inhabitants."-"What do you mean?" replied a stable-keeper: "why one of them got loose and killed the keeper's wife in the Tower the other day; and a relation of his, at Exeter Change, broke out, and ate two monkeys. Another wild beast near Salisbury, attacked the Exeter mail-coach, tore one of the horses, and killed a dog; and wherever they have broken out they have always done the same: and as for the Tower, if they have lived harmlessly there, it has been only for this plain reason, that they have not had the power of doing mischief, which very power you now wish to allow them."

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"Sir,"

"But," said a lawyer's clerk, "they may be let out safely now, for they are ready to grant security; they will give bonds, and sign and seal anything you please." Hang it," exclaimed the keeper of the wild beasts, "but they can claw it to pieces as soon as they have signed it.' said one, a gentleman has most unjustly reproached wild beasts bloody and ferocious in their dispositions; I can disprove such assertions altogether, and put beyond doubt the fact, that all wild beasts have at times been generous, grateful, and honourable; in proof of this universal characteristic in wild beasts, I will appeal to the story of Androcles in

as

history, and to the fable of the Bear, who so carefully whisked the flies from his master's face while he was asleep."

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I'll tell you what," observed an Honourable Member; "you had bet ter let them all out directly; for they have grown so much stronger latterly than formerly, that, if you do not, they will soon force their way out without leave."

No one present seemed to think this argument worth answering, since all remembered our successful opposition to the French Revolution, and the glorious end of the battle of Waterloo. "I am for letting them out," said another, "because I am sure that we enjoy so much light, knowledge, and freedom now, compared with what we did when England was covered with wolves, that neither men, women, sheep nor pigs will suffer themselves to be torn to pieces as they used to be formerly." Another advocate for the claims, who had been conversant with many foreign menageries in the course of his life, appeared to think, that so far from there being any real grounds for alarm, the wild beasts, when released would, from the natural principles of gratitude and self-interest, be found among the most orthodox, pacific, and loyal of all His Majesty's subjects, and even afford considerable assistance in keeping in order certain refractory animals, who, under the present system, were often showing their teeth, and giving him considerable trouble; and as this advocate was known to be much in the secrets of Government, his notion seemed to take surprisingly with all, except with those who apprehended, that, when the wild beasts should once feel their own strength, they would set up for themselves, and only concede to this modern champion of their claims the privilege of being devoured last.

Another Member affirmed, that "times were completely altered, and that therefore wild beasts and everything else must be altered too." "Yes," said one, "but what has made the alteration? Has it not been the putting down the power of these

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ferocious animals? If you are sensible of the blessings of light, freedom, security, and peace, then keep them while you have them; and if so, you will continue those under control who have never allowed these blessings to other animals than those of their own fraternity." He also added, "Suppose, you let them out, and they should begin their old tricks of tearing and devouring, how are you to get them in again?" He was, however, silenced by cries of "Order. order!" and a reprimand from the Chairman, that his expression, “old tricks," was unparliamentary, and that any reference to future evil could only be speculative.

*

The facts which had been brought forward were, however, deemed likely to have some effect on the minds of impartial hearers, and it was therefore considered advisable to divert them from close consideration: and, in order to effect this, I thought a lively little old man stepped forward as a volunteer with a violin under his arm, and said, "Mr. Chairman, I will sing you a song on this subject;" on which he began, and I thought I never heard a more musical voice than that of the old man. He skipped round and round like a bird on his perch, and brought such melodious sounds out of his violin as made all the people cry out, "Hear, hear!" and clap their hands with ecstasy. The following I thought was his song:

"Through this grand conciliation,
We shall be a happy nation,
Loving grows each savage beast,
Grateful for our favours past.
Blessed day when all are free!
Let them out, my friends, and see."

Now, I suppose, it will be allowed that there was more sound than sense in all this, yet it had such an effect on the hearers, that they seemed indisposed to hear any one else, and there was a general cry of "Question, question!" A member indeed ventured to say, "Mr. Chairman, on a subject of this serious importance to us and to our children, is it to be supposed that we shall allow our

* A late Member for Bramber.

selves to be fiddled out of our old English understanding and common sense?" But, perceiving that he was against the question, they soon coughed him down; and only one more speaker would they listen to; this was a bald-headed man,* who pleased them much by reminding them that there was once a lioness who used to suffer her keeper to go into her den whenever he pleased; from which circumstance he asserted it was proved that wild beasts were by nature friendly to mankind; and after dwelling most forcibly on this wondrous piece of disinterested hospitality, he added, "One good turn deserves another."

This was enough.-They were now ripe for emancipation; and strangers being ordered to withdraw, I was most happy to find it possible to obey the command, lest I should feel the fraternal hug of so many lions, tigers, bears, and leopards. Just as I was passing Allhallows Barking, I thought some one had conveyed the joyful result of the Meeting to the Tower; and the universal howl, growl, and scream of exultation emitted from the dens of the various animals, terrified me so greatly, that I awoke, and behold it was a dream.

POPERY AND PROPHECY,

BY THE REV. DR. M'CAUL.

IN Rome may be found, even now, the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. In the first place, Rome is answerable for all the Christian blood shed in wars, produced immediately by Papal pretension, or the maintenance of her religious supremacy. Since the day that the Seventh Gregory proclaimed himself arbiter of kingdoms, and donor of imperial and royal crowns, as well as head of the Universal Church, the stream of time flowed with Christian blood long before the Reformation. Germany and Italy witnessed the long-continued strife between rival emperors, and torrents of Christian blood poured forth by Christian hands at the bid

ding of a Christian pontiff. Since the Reformation, it has been Popery that armed Christian against Christian, and filled Germany, France, and the Netherlands with mourning, lamentation, and woe. Popish bigotry that forbad even a short repose, again disturbed the public tranquillity, and desolated Germany for thirty years, and moistened its fields with the tears and the blood of its children. These wars, necessarily flowing from Papal usurpations and corruptions, or immediately instigated by Papal or priestly authority, would in themselves go far to prove that in the history of Rome this prediction has been accomplished; but this indirect method of proof is unnecessary. The Church has not been content with mere wars, she has herself wielded the sword of the executioner, and with her own hand kindled the fire to consume the witnesses of the truth. Need I to remind you of that tribunal which, for six centuries, has been the scourge of mankind and the disgrace of Christendom, whose progress through the world has been marked by fire and by blood, or proclaimed by the groans of murdered martyrs? Need I to tell you, that by its diabolical agency the light of the Gospel was expelled from Italy and Spain and Portugal, and that the sacrifices which it offered were thousands of the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, of every age and sex and condition? Need I to relate how the Roman Church representative, in council assembled, consigned two ministers of the Gospel to the flames, under circumstances of aggravated atrocity? or how an hundred thousand persons in the Netherlands were murdered within the period of fifty years, for no other crime but the profession of the Gospel in its purity? Need I to speak of the devouring fire that consumed so many of our forefathers, or the infanticidal sword that deprived France of tens of thousands of her best and most devoted children. Nothing (says a layman)—nothing in the Mexican or Carthaginian superstitions (the most execrable of the Heathen world) was ever more execrable than the persecutions exercised in Elizabeth's time, by the Romish

Church, wherever it was dominant. The cruelty of Nero towards the Christians was imitated in Paris, at the inauguration of Henri II., as a part of the solemnity and of the rejoicings. Protestants were fastened to the stake in the principal streets, and the piles were kindled at such times that the king might see the martyrs enveloped by the flames in their full force at the moment when he should pass. The massacre of St. Bartholomew's-day completed the crimes of that guilty city, and made the perfidy of the Romish Church as notorious as its corruption and its inhumanity. The head of Coligny, after having been presented to the king and the queen-mother, was embalmed and sent to Rome, that the Cardinal of Lorraine and the Pope might have the satisfaction of beholding it. Public rejoicings were made at Rome for this cursed event, a solemn service of thanksgiving performed, at which the Pope himself assisted. Happy should we be to be able to say that the cruelty of Romanism held its last festival, but the massacre of 1641-the inhuman persecution of the Hugonots in France, testify that, in the seventeenth century, the Roman thirst for the blood of the saints was not yet slaked; and the similar persecutions of Protestants in Hungary, Silesia, Saltzburg, bring us down to the beginning of the nineteenth century, and prove not only that the prediction of St. John contains nothing impossible, but that it is fearfully and literally true that a society calling itself the only true and Catholic Church the mother and mistress of all Christians-has rivalled in cruelty the disciples of the ancient Heathen superstitions, persisted for centuries in the murderous persecution of the disciples of Christ, until, as the Scripture expresses it, it has become "drunken with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus."

APPALLING NARRATIVE.

A BOOK has just issued from the American press, entitled, "Auricular Confession, and Popish Nunneries;" the author is William Hogan, Esq.,

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a member of the American bar, formerly a Roman Catholic Priest. He commences his pamphlet by a statement of the causes that made him doubt the infallibility of the Roman Catholic Church, and speaks thus:

"I have often been asked, Why did you leave the Roman Catholic Church? However painful the relation, however heavy the narrative may fall upon Roman Priests, and Bishops, and disreputable to nuns and nunneries, I will answer the question frankly. Several causes induced me to doubt the infallibility of the Romish Church, and to renounce its ministry altogether. Amongst the first was the following:

"When quite young, and but just emerged from childhood, I became acquainted with a Protestant family living in the neighbourhood of my birth-place. It consisted of a mother (a widow lady) and three interesting children, two sons and one daughter. The mother was a widow of great beauty and rare accomplishments. The husband, who had but recently died, one of the many victims of what is falsely called honour, left her as he found her, in the possession of a large fortune, and, as far as worldly goods could make her so, in the enjoyment of perfect happiness. But his premature death threw a gloom over her future life, which neither riches nor wealth, nor all worldly comforts combined, could effectually dissipate. Her only pleasure seemed to be placed in that of her children. They appeared, and I believe they were, the centre and circumference of her earthly happiness.

"In the course of time the sons grew up, and their guardians purchased for both, in compliance with their wishes, and to gratify their youthful ambition, commissions in the army. The parting of these children, the breaking up of this fond trio of brothers and sister, was to the widowed mother another source of grief, and tended to concentrate, if possible, more closely all the fond affections of the mother upon her daughter. She became the joy of her heart. Her education was an object of great solicitude; and having a fortune at her command, no

expense was spared to render it suitable for that station in life in which her high connexions entitled her to move when she should become of age. The whole family were members of the Protestant Church, as the Episcopal Church is called in that country. As soon as the sons left home to join their regiments, which were then on the Continent, the mother and daughter were much alone; so much so, that the fond mother soon discovered that her too great affection for her child, and the indulgence given to her, were rather impeding than otherwise her education. She accordingly determined to remove her governess, who, up to this period, was her sole instructress, under the watchful eye of the fond and accomplished mother herself, and send her to a fashionable school for young ladies. There was then in the neighbourhood, only about twenty miles from this family, a nunnery of the order of the Jesuits. To this nunnery was attached a school, superintended by nuns of that order. The school was one of the most fashionable in the country; the nuns who presided over it were said to be the most accomplished teachers in Europe. The expenses of an education in it were extravagantly high, but not beyond the reach of wealth and fashion. The mother, though a Protestant, and strict and conscientious in the discharge of all the duties of her Church, and not without a struggle in parting with her child and consigning her to the charge of Jesuits, yielded in this case to the malign influence of fashion, as many a fond mother does, even in this our own land, of equal and far-famed, though mock equality, and sent her beautiful daughter, her earthly idol, to the school of these nuns. Let the result speak for itself.

"Soon after the daughter was sent to school, I entered the College of Maynooth as a theological student; and in due time was ordained a Roman Catholic Priest, by particular dispensation, being two years under the canonical age. An interval of some years passed before I had an opportunity of meeting my young friend again; our interview was un

der peculiar circumstances. I was ordained a Romish Priest, and located where she happened to be on a visit. There was a large party given, at which, among many others, I happened to be present; and there meeting with my friend, and interchanging the usual courtesies upon such occasions, she-sportively, as I then imagined-asked me whether I would preach her reception sermon, as she intended becoming a nun, and taking the white veil. Not even dreaming of such an event, I replied in the affirmative. I heard no more of the affair for about two months, when I received a note from her designating the chapel, the day and the hour she expected me to preach. I was then but a short time in the ministry, but sufficiently long to know that up to the hour of my commencing to read Popish theology, especially that of Dens and Antoine de Peccatis, I knew nothing of the iniquities taught and practised by Romish priests and bishops. On the receipt of my friend's note, a cold chill crept over me; I anticipated, I trembled; I felt there must be foul play somewhere. However, I went according to promise, preached her reception sermon at the request of the young lady, and with the special approbation of the bishop, whom I had to consult on such occasions. The concourse of people that assembled on this occasion was very great. The interest created by the apparent voluntary retirement from the world of one so young, so wealthy, and so beautiful, was intense, and accordingly the chapel in which I preached was filled to overflowing, with the nobility and fashionables of that section of the country. Many were the tears that were shed, when this beautiful young lady cut off her rich and flowing tresses of hair.

"Having no clerical connexion with the convent in which she was immured, I had not seen her for three months following. At the expiration of that time, one of the lay-sisters of the convent delivered to me a note. I knew it contained something startling. These lay-sisters among Jesuits are spies belonging to that order, but are sometimes bribed by the nuns for certain purposes. As soon as I