professions should not be entitled to as much weight as those of any other men.

But we are not in the habit of attaching much value to professions, nor is it usual to estimate the loyalty of a subject by the terms of his oath. Allegiance does not depend upon these, but upon the feelings of attachment; an oath is the outward sign of these, but it is nothing more; and when the sentiments change, the oath becomes an idle formulary. Revolution arises, not from an alteration in the words of the oath, but from a change in the opinions of the people; and when this takes place there is an end to allegiance, though it were secured by the most solemn formalities which a statute book can devise. When men believe themselves to be injured they rebel; they do not wait for a papal dispensation, nor will popular feeling, exasperated and roused, sit down to weigh the scruples of conscience. What should we think of attempting to quell a riot, by reminding men of their oath of allegiance? Would such an argument have much weight in the Palace Yard? We read the Riot Act; we do not appeal to men's sense of duty, but to their fears. Nay, even in the common course of life, an oath is readily set aside when it does not suit men's inclinations

to keep it; and there are many oaths every day taken, only to be evaded. If the only guarantee for our liberties consists in a coronation oath, the conduct of the Stewarts may teach us its value; and if, on the other hand, all that our king has to trust to is our oath of allegiance, the sooner he escapes the better. The recollections of Whitehall may warn him not to trust either in the faith or the humanity of subjects.

Fuge littus avarum,

Nam Polydorus ego.

The argument, therefore, which has been founded on the allegiance of the Catholics, has resulted from a narrow view of the subject, and has evidently been adopted by those who had previously made up their minds as to the conclusion, and sought for a pretext. That which they have chosen cannot be admitted. The oaths of the Catholics are as good as those of the Protestants, and quite as likely to be kept; but they will be in force so long as men are disposed to observe them, and no longer. When they are disaffected they will rebel. The only question therefore is, what are their sentiments? are they well affected towards us? and we shall find that we must judge of them by the feelings and views of the Priesthood.

But I hear it loudly asserted that the influence of the priesthood has ceased; that the power of the church has fallen with that of the Pope; and that no men in the present day consent blindly to be led by an ignorant and bigoted clergy. This is a point on which much misapprehension prevails, arising from a misconception of the nature of the Catholic system. To say that the priesthood have lost their influence, would be simply to assert that the Catholic religion does not exist: both must fall together; and on the day when it may be said that the authority of the clergy is at an end, Europe may be pronounced free, and mankind will have escaped from a superstition which has oppressed them for centuries.

But it is argued that it is idle to imagine that enlightened men, who on every every other subject think for themselves, will submit upon this to be led by their priest,-a poor ignorant creature, with no power to compel obedience; whose authority falls to the ground the moment it is disputed. And who ever heard of any authority which is not precisely in the same situation? Is there a government on earth, from the chief of the South Sea Islands, to the Emperor of China, which may not be shaken off, when his subjects are so disposed?

It is not physical force which keeps men in subjection; one individual cannot chain down thousands, though he had all the armies and dungeons of tyranny. Men are not held down by the arms of a feeble dotard, but by the power of habit, the fear of personal evil, and the force of established opinion. Wherever the sentiments of a people change, tyranny falls, and there never was an instance of a government being maintained against the feelings and dispositions of its subjects. It is otherwise with the brute creation, but with men you can only enslave their persons by governing their minds. Now the Catholic church has this power in its hands as effectually as any other potentate, and its authority might be envied by the Autocrat of Russia. It has on its side the force of habit, -early associations, superstitious fear,-long confirmed respect. If this will not enforce submission, nothing can; and it is impossible to conceive how any tyranny exists,— how Austria secures obedience, and the firman of the Sultan is respected by millions. So great, however, is this authority, that it requires an effort of the mind to throw it off, such as few are equal to. But it is said the doctrines are so absurd; more absurd are they than the

But I hear it loudly asserted that the influence of the priesthood has ceased; that the power of the church has fallen with that of the Pope; and that no men in the present day consent blindly to be led by an ignorant and bigoted clergy. This is a point on which much misapprehension prevails, arising from a misconception of the nature of the Catholic system. To say that the priesthood have lost their influence, would be simply to assert that the Catholic religion does not exist: both must fall together; and on the day when it may be said that the authority of the clergy is at an end, Europe may be pronounced free, and mankind will have escaped from a superstition which has oppressed them for centuries.

But it is argued that it is idle to imagine that enlightened men, who on every other subject think for themselves, will submit upon this to be led by their priest,-a poor ignorant creature, with no power to compel obedience; whose authority falls to the ground the moment it is disputed. And who ever heard of any authority which is not precisely in the same situation? Is there a government on earth, from the chief of the South Sea Islands, to the Emperor of China, which may not be shaken off, when his subjects are so disposed?