Page images
PDF
EPUB

cr

[ocr errors]

"church has been so long reproach"ed, we do verily believe that there are not ten individuals who can "read, that really conceive that any "thing so utterly absurd, or abo"< minable, either is, or ever was, carried on with the sanction of the "catholic authorities. Dispensa"tions from canonical impediments to marriage, which are not very "different from our special licences, "and absolution from canonical censures, are issued no doubt from "the chancery of Rome; but in"dulgencies to sin, er absolutions from sin, neither are, nor ever were granted by this court, or by any acknowledged authority. A "fee too is, no doubt, paid to the "officer who issues these writs; but "this is no more the price of the "absolution or dispensation, than "the fee paid to the clerk of a magistrate who administers an oath "in this country is the price of the "oath. Ecclesiastical

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

penances,

moreover, are sometimes commu"ted into pecuniary mulcts, at the discretion of the proper authority, "but these fines always go into a "fund for charitable uses; and in "fact, a similar commutation is "expressly authorised by the canons "of our own church. Vide Spar"row's Collection, Articuli pro clero, "1584, and Canons 1640, c. xiv, "concerning Commutations.' Such "is the whole amount of the Ro"mish doctrine and practice as to "venal absolutions and indulgen"cies."

I cannot, Mr. Editor, help expressing my astonishment, that men of talents, natural and acquired, should venture on a statement so contrary to the plainest and most incontrovertible evidence. I should have thought it scarcely possible that there were ten individuals who can read," who entertained any doubt that the sale of "indulgencies to sin, and absolutions from sin," even for the worst of sins, was

66

once openly practised in the Romish church, and that this nefarious traffic was one principal cause of the opposition of that incomparable reformer MARTIN LUTHER, and of the glorious reformation of which he was the principal champion. This fact is so generally known and acknowledged, that I think it unnecessary to trouble your readers with quotations from historians on the subject: but I beg leave just to refer to one book, printed under the express authority, and sanction of the Popes of Rome, and which has passed through various editions on the Continent, one of the earliest of which, I have seen :

-The Tax Book of the Roman Chancery.-The original edition printed at Rome 1514, bears the following title.-Regule, Constitutiones, Reservationis Cancellarie, S. Domini nostri Leonis Papa decimi &c. In this most scandalous book there are stated prices for absolutions for the most enormous of crimes; as killing one's father or mother; acts of lewdness committed by the clergy, with a dispensation to be capable of taking orders, and to hold ecclesiastical benefits,-keeping concu bines &c. And as if this traffic was not in itself detestable enough, it is added

፡፡

"Et nota diligentur &c. "Take notice particularly, that such graces and dispensations are not granted to the poor, for not having "wherewith to pay, they cannot be comforted!"

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

The horrible abuse of granting indulgencies and absolutions is not without example even in modern times, and has been practised by some of the most enlightened of the bishops of Rome of this we have a remarkable instance quoted in your Review, (Vol. ix. p. 376) from a sermon of Mr. Belsham's; and which as it is so well deserving the attention of the Edinburgh Reviewers, I beg leave to quote.

[ocr errors]

66

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

"Of the Jubilee celebrated in the pontificate of Pope Lambertini (1750) I heard the account from "the late Earl of Miltown, who 66 was present on the occasion; and "who being high in favour with "Benedict XIV. obtained from his "holiness a plenary indulgence for "all offences, past, present, and to come, for himself, his relations, and for any other thirty persons "whom his. lordship would name! "This indulgence splendidly em"blazoned with the papal arms, "Lord Miltown himself shewed me, "and by his permission, and in his presence I took a copy of it, which 66 is now in my possession. The "learned pontiff when he put it in "to the hands of his lordship, laughed and said- Do not my "lord make use of it to seduce a "pretty young woman. In this in"stance the caution was needless; "but it shews to what purposes papal indulgencies might be applied; and the levity of the pontiff, who gave as little credit to "the validity of his indulgence, as "his protestant friend, too nearly "resembled that of the man who "casteth about firebrands, arrows, "and death, and saith-Am I not "in sport?"

66

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

I cannot Mr. Editor, but express my wish that Mr. Belsham would favour the public with a copy, verbatim et literatim of this indulgence. Its publication, and extensive circulation might have the tendency to lead 'modern Roman catholics

calmly to examine-What sort of a church that must be, which can in any age,, or on any pretence, sanction such scandalous fooleries?

I should be very sorry, Mr. Editor, if on the present occasion, when a regard to truth has been the sole motive of my exposing the

ignorance, shall I say? or something worse than ignorance, of the Edinburgh Reviewers, I should render myself liable even to the suspicion of being the friend of intolerance. No, Sir:-there is not a person in existence, I will venture to affirm, who more ardently wishes for the utter annihilation of all penal laws in matters of religion, and I am almost ready to add, of all antichristian churches, under whatever name they may take shelter, popish, episcopal, or presbyterian, supported, either directly or indirectly, by penal laws, than myself. Popery, thanks in great measure, under Providence, to the French Emperor, has lost its sting; toleration is so gloriously spreading in popish countries, as to shame certain protestant countries; and I firmly believe that the principal supports of the peculiar absurdities of the Romish church, more particularly in the united kingdoms of Britain and Ireland, are the foolish and abominable persecuting statutes which are still so stoutly advocated by our clergy under the direction of our no popery ministers. When will the period arrive, when the rulers of all countries will attend to the just and politic hint of Mr. Hume?" The true secret for the

66

management of sectaries is to to"lerate them." I say nothing about religious motives, as these are, I fear, banished from the cabinet of almost, if not of every court under heaven!

I am, Mr. Editor, happy to perceive, that the Edinburgh Reviewers are now such ardent friends to catholic emancipation: time was, when, under the direction of their political masters, they were by no means

friendly to such a measure; but their party has since taken the right side on this great question, and their disciples have, of course, followed. It will be curious to observe, how their vacillating opinions on another important subject, that of Parliamentary Reform, will finally settle; and what will be their ultimate opinions on the grand subject of toleration in general? I perceive that these politicians, philosophers, and christians, in their last number, although professing themselves to be presbyterians, are become the warm panegyrists of that highest of all high churchmen of modern days, Bishop Horsley ; of whose unprincipled revilings of Dr. Priestley, and of the dissenters in general, they are become, if not the panegyrists, at least the apologists, as they declare they consider the bishop's language as scarcely too severe ! However, I hope these northern critics, and presbyterian christians, will in future find it their interest to be on the side of religious liberty, as we may then be sure of their services!

A FRIEND TO TRUTH
AND TOLERATION.

April 10.

REPLY TO A LETTER IN THE MONTHLY REPOSITORY RESPECTING THE DEATH OF MR. HOWARD.

SIR,

The Monthly Repository for March last, contains another letter from the anonymous N. L. T. on the subject of Howard; and as the writer displays an uncommon zeal and officiousness in vindication of Dr. Clarke's statement, the following remarks may convince him that Dr. Clarke has no reason to be indebted to him for his intended good offices.

Premising that Captain Priestman

shall not shrink from "impeaching "the discernment of the learned tra"vellers, and the integrity of their "host" and shall prove what I have written to be no act of literary injustice."

66

66

I must first notice a mistake of the anonymous N. L. T. in saying that "Mr. Reginald Heber was Dr. "Clarke's companion." The doctor's companion was Mr. Cripps.t

Mr. Heber travelled over much of the same ground a few years after Dr. Clarke, and has allowed him to enrich his notes with much valuable matter.

In order to avoid repetitions, I shall only remark concerning the young lady whom Howard visited, that I saw her in the enjoyment of health, and even dancing, at Cherson, during the winter of 1792, nearly three years after Howard's death.

I shall next proceed to "impeach" part of the conversation as reported by Dr. Clarke to have taken place between Howard and Admiral [Captain] Priestman.

[ocr errors]

1. Howard could not say, "it is such jolly fellows as you, Priestman, "who get over these fevers." The term jolly fellow could not be applied to Priestman, if it means having a healthy appearance, for he was rather emaciated, always slovenly in his person, taking large quantities of snuff, and constantly in the habit of scratching his head: he had been married to a native of Holland, whose. end was hastened by the unkind treatment of her husband. He was by no means a "jolly fellow" in 1790, 91, and 92. Perhaps he might be one, when Dr. Clarke saw him an Admiral in 1800.

2. Howard could not say, "There " is a spot near the village of Dauphiny, which would suit me nicely:" Such a village never existed,

[ocr errors]

cr

Month. Repos. for Dec. p. 376.

was my brother-officer at the time + Edinburgh Rev. Aug 1810, p. 336.. when Howard died at Cherson, I

Ibid, p. 349.

unless the cottage and grounds of M. Dauphinè, a French merchant settled at Cherson, be magnified into a village. There was indeed another cottage in that vicinity, belonging to a rich Jew, named Markus, who had married one of M. Dauphine's daughters. In this last cottage a native of Liege, named Leroux, who had arrived at Cherson from Constantinople with the famous Miranda, in 1787, shot himself in a fit of jealousy, occasioned by the preference shewn by Madame Markus to Major Bremer, of the marines, who afterwards became her second husband.

The rest of the conversation alluded to, shews that Admiral Priestman, in 1800, had the same volubility of tongue, and, no doubt, the same unceasing gesticulation, as had Captain Priestman in 1790, 91, and 92. But his rapid loquacity always tended to mislead or humbug: (in French mystifier.)

Dr. Clarke quoted from Mr. Heber's journal, that, "The tomb of "Howard is in the desert, about a "mile (two miles) from the town

(Cherson); it was built by Admi"ral Mordwinoff, and is a small "brick pyramid, white-washed, but "without any inscription." On which I beg leave to remark as follows:

1. The tomb of Howard was built by M. Dauphinè in his own garden, agreeably to Howard's request, and not by Admiral Mordwinoff, whose honour and integrity I know too well to suppose him capable of telling an untruth. He is a worthy character and an enlightened man.

2. It is rather strange that Mr. Heber had not seen, in the pyramid, the bust of Howard, which was a tolerably good likeness, at least so late as 1793, when I saw it last.

The anonymous N. L. T. notices (doubtless from Dr. Clarke), "that "Prince Potemkin, the favourite, if not the master of Catherine, closed

66

VOL. IX.

"his life near Cherson, &c." The fact however is, that Potemkin died near Yassi, the capital of Moldavia, a considerable distance from Cherson, whither his body was carried for in

terment.

As the article of the anonymous N. L. T. only notices what relates to Howard, I shall not trouble you, for the present, with various other inaccuracies in Dr. Clarke's work. I remain, Sir,

Your humble servant,

AN OLD RUSSIAN OFFICER.

Epping, April 15.

P. S. There are a few errata which you have made in my letter in your last number: the following I will thank you to notice.

P. 126, line 23. for June 27, 1807. read June 24, 1804.

P. 127, line 26. for born in 1788, read born in 1778.

INQUIRY RESPECTING ANNUAL GRANTS TO THE DISSENTING MINISTERS OF ENGLAND AND IRELAND.

SIR,

It has so long been the fashion for those" guardians of the public purse” the members of the house of Com mons, to vote millions on millions without inquiry, and in such thin houses, that were they to be counted out, it would be found they did not amount to the number necessary to constitute a house, and of course were they not all of a mind no vote would be suffered to pass-this custom has been of such long standing, that I have for some time ceased to look for information as to what we pay our money for, from what passes amongst our representatives; and I must, like the rest of the nation, be content to place implicit confidence as to the national expenditure of eighty of ninety millions, in the wisdom and integrity of our minis, ters, and those who are appointed to

2 A

watch over them, who seem to comprise all their duties in one-following the directions, and of course approving of every administration for the time being. I perceive, however, one or two articles amongst many others of a comparatively small amount, which have somewhat excited my curiosity.

In the Committee of the house, (March 23) for granting the supplies to his Majesty, I read as follows:

"For the dissenting clergymen in England, Scotland, and Ireland, for the year 1811, 9,2821.”

called the Regium Donum, cannot be comprised in either of these grants, as that I understood comes from his Majesty's privy purse. I have applied to several respectable dissenting ministers and laymen for some information on this subject, but hitherto without success. I am not unknown to several members of the hon. house of Commons; but while articles of the national expenditure, of a thou sand times the magnitude of the above mentioned, are not deemed worthy their attention, it must be a useless task to expect any information from them respecting such mi

In the Committee, March 27 :For completing the sum to be grantednutie: but if any of your readers, to the nonconforming ministers in Ireland, 9,481/.

For seceding ministers in Ireland, 3,7917.

Now Sir, I conceive that what is

or correspondents can satisfy me ou this head, it will oblige, Your Constant Reader,

April 17.

REVIEW OF BOOKS.

[blocks in formation]

The awful subject of war, has, alas! been too superficially considered by the great majority of mankind in all ages. At the present moment we fear it is little thought of,--we are sure it is not properly thought of by the generality of our countrymen, not excepting those who profess to have peculiarly serious views of christianity, and who glory in being called evangelical; but who in utter inconsistence with their profession, are not unfrequent ly to be found in the ranks of the most servile supporters of state corruptions the most gross, and of wars the most sanguinary, the most unjust, and the most unnecessary.

Amongst the various topics which engage the attention of the different

CURIOSUS.

parties, political, and religious in the united kingdom of Britain and Ireland, we seldom find that of war discussed either on the principles of reason, or religion: we therefore deem it our peculiar duty to notice a performance like the present, in which the author forcibly reasons with his countrymen on the injustice and impolicy of war, and draws his arguments both from the light of nature, and the superior light of revelation.--Amidst a variety of sensible miscellaneous observations, which may be considered as introductory to his main argument, he has we conceive, in one instance, most unnecessarily given a handle to the enemies of revealed religion, by representing the sacred writings as containing contradictory laws on the subject of war. We cannot but recommend to his serious attention what so many of our most judicious divines have remarked on the orders given by God himself under the Jewish theocracy, respecting the Ca

« PreviousContinue »