sent to me, and approved of by my judgment, especially as said John, though a man of excellent learning, is suspected not to be orthodox; for which reason yur majesty will be pleased to send both the book and its author to Rome." "John of Erigena is described by the author of the life of King Alfred, as a man highly celebrated for wit, acuteness of understanding, and uncommon knowledge in the sciences and languages known in that age; particularly for an extraordinary acquaintance with the Greek, Hebrew and Arabic tongues. He was the intimate friend and companion of Charles the Bald of France, so long as the court of Rome permitted that Prince to be the protector of wit and learning, and to him the celebrated King Alfred, the preserver of his country, the reviver of English literature, and reputed father of the universe of Oxford, is said to have been indebted for his liberal and uncommon education." Johannes Erigena, Hibernus, Scoti nomine notior, &c., Vir ingenio præacuto, singulari doctrinâ, &c.; summæ existionis habebatur apud Carolum Calvum, &c. Postmodum ab Ælfrido Rege solicitatus, in Angliam trajecit, ubi ipsi regi præcepit, tum in linguis, tum in Artibus. Elfridi Magni vita, lib. 2. page 99, &c. A Job, Spelman Oxonii. Also Hovidon's Annals. "Erigena was obliged to fly from the court of France, which could not protect him from Papal persecution to his native island, the safe asylum from Roman tyranny, where he died in the year 874.* "Numberless other instances might be adduced as evidences of the spiritual independence of Ireland, * See Dupin's Eccles. Hist. Cent. 9. NOVEMBER, 1841. and the apostolical simplicity of its religion, antecedent to the tenth century." "At the unhallowed close of the ninth century, when the bloody weapons of barbarian invaders had effectually supported the spiritual arms of Rome, and spread universal ruin and distress over the land; when public seminaries were overthrown, their peaceable inhabitants butchered, and learning and religion in an instant extinguished; the people of this unhappy island, rapidly hurried from meridian splendour into the darkness of midnight, experienced a degree of ignorance and misery far surpassing even the wretchedness of savage life." THE VISCOUNTESS LORTON. WE were about to allow ourselves the mournful gratification of enrolling in these pages a tribute of grateful respect for one who from the first commencement of the work was among its warmest, most liberal, and most encouraging supporters; but in the columns of an Irish Newspaper we have met with a sketch so exceedingly beautiful, so faithfully just, that we prefer inserting it to expatiating on what so deeply and personally affects us-the loss of a dearly loved and honoured friend. We will only preface the striking extract we are about to give by stating that this beloved Christian Lady, after visiting London and Cheltenham, had journied to her own sweet home by a northern track, and abode for some days at Tollymore Park, the lovely seat of the Earl of Roden, where a party was, by the good providence of God, collected from among the "not many noble" ones of this world who openly follow Christ. The venerable Duchess Dowager of Beaufort, the Earl and Countess of Galloway, were of this party refreshing and being refreshed by the spirit of one who was ripe in the sight of all for her heavenly inheritance, but who exhibited no indications of so speedy a removal from our sight. Taking Derry in their homeward path, Lord and Lady Lorton surveyed that glorious old fortress of the Protestantism so dear to their bosoms, and to the maintenance of which their whole lives had been devoted; and after this delightful tour, they reached what had for so many years been to them the haven of domestic love and peace, to become within one short week the house of such mourning as only they who knew the departed saint can well conceive. She sank rapidly, and fell asleep in Jesus, who had been through life her hope, and whose Name was the last sound emitted from her lips. It is no small praise to say of the following brief record that it truly pourtrays our lamented, honoured friend. She was a woman of such rare qualities that every succeeding year of intimacy with her character brought an increase of affectionate respect, not often growing so steadily with prolonged observation among such frail, sinful beings as we are. The vigour of this lady's mind, and the energy of her spirit were only to be equalled by the warmth of her loving disposition. It is well known to what trials of faith and patience, and of personal courage too, Lord Lorton has been exposed through his firm, uncompromising resistance of the evil spirit of Popery, which never could have so desolated poor Ireland had but a small band of resolute men in his high rank, and of his extensive possessions, stood forth with him on the same lofty ground of Christian patriotism. As it is, he bore almost alone the brunt of fierce and vengeful opposition; and the Lord who gave, alone knows the value of what he has taken away, in removing from his side that precious helper in every good work, that fond and faithful partner in every dispensation, that believing encourager of every self-denying effort in the cause of God and his country. May the balm of divine consolation be richly poured into his spirit; and his mind be stayed on the assurance that yet a little while, and He who will come shall come, and re-unite him to his beloved partner in unmixed, unfading joy before the Lord for ever! We proceed to our extract from the Dublin Evening Mail. 'Lady Lorton was in truth a public character. Though one of the most humble, gentle, unobtrusive, retiring of human beings, her heart, her hand were open-her name and influence were known and felt, wide as the range of pure religion and of Christian charity throughout the land. "What mission ever went through Ireland to advance the diffusion of the sacred volume-to send the Gospel to the benighted heathen-to proclaim the blessed MESSIAH to the blinded Jew-to promote the hallowed cause of Scriptural education, which, while it found in the noble proprietor a patron, an open house, and a cordial welcome at Rockingham, did not find also a friend, a helper, a patroness, a liberal benefactress in Lady Lorton? “Who ever projected the erection of a building-the formation of a society-the founding of an institution —a plan for the promotion of any cause of true religion or benevolence in the land, for which the aid and influence of a Christian lady of exalted rank might be properly solicited, who did not, as it were |