tion; and the old Milesian vocabulary, which used to be hanging-matter some sixty years since, is now -as a preparation, I presume, for the re-enactment of the Penal Code-to be made a chief part of our national education, and to "speed the soft intercourse" of Rockism in future, under the special patronage of "the Irish Society."

The Kildare Street Society" is also, I find, assisting my interests. Out of the public funds granted to this institution for the purposes of edu. cation, the greatest portion, it seems, finds its way to the favoured region of Ulster,-that being (according to the usual rule for appropriating money in Ireland) the part of the country where such assistance is least wanted. By their own report, indeed, it appears that one northern county, Antrim has shared, twice as much of their assistance as the whole province of Connaught; and, in conformity with this system, we find, out of a list of one hundred and twenty-seven schoolmasters appointed by them, no more than forty-nine Catholics.

But the "London Hibernian Society" promises to be the most useful to ine of any-as the following specimens of their success in proselytism, extracted from the Appendix to their Report of last year, will prove.

In a letter from one of the travelling agents, employed by this body, we find the following description of a little fourteen-year-old Protestant, which he had just succeeded in making :-" Her demeanour and conversation has gained the attention of her parents to the word of God; and although her dissent from the prevailing religion has subjected her to some obloquy and reproach, she is generally respected by her neighbours, and at an age little above fourteen, is found the avowed advocate of christianity in its scriptural character, in opposition to the corrupt glosses and traditions of men.

It appears by the following extract, that proselytes are sometimes promoted into schoolmasters —in the hope, no doubt (from a London estimate of the Irish character), that such tame converts will act as decoys to catch others :-"B-, master of our school in E- —, had some time since informed me, that he found in the conversation of a shoe-maker in that neighbourhood, much to strengthen and animate him in his Christian course, and that they were mutual supports to each other, beneath the trials to which their apostasy from popery exposed them."

We have afterwards a story, from one of these agents, of a Catholic, who, in going through some

act of penance with about "fifty fellow-sinners," was suddenly struck with the conviction, that "he was, in the exercise in which he was engaged, adding sin to sin-idolatry to his other crimes." Beneath this impression, adds the agent, "he sunk to the earth nor could proceed, when, as with the rapidity of lightning, a certain text of scripture struck upon his recollection. For some time he was motionless with delight and astonishment: believing, he rejoiced with exceeding great joy; when recollecting the situation in which he was placed, regarding its idolatry with abhorrence, he sprang off his knees and fled from the chapel, never again to visit it or bow to a priest."

Such are the inducements held out to Catholics, to be educated in the Schools of the "London Hibernian Society."

The old Charter school plan of alienating children from their parents, may be traced pretty clearly in the following dialogue between one of the Inspectors of this Society, and "a little girl." "My dear," said I, "Where did you find this text?" ""Indeed, Sir, I have a good Testament, and can read a Bible." "Is your father a Roman ?" said I. "Indeed, Sir, he is, and believes every thing the Priest tells him."

Little children, as might be expected, act a con

" I

siderable part in these cases of conversion. will relate an instance," says one of the Schoolmasters of the Society, "of a child no more than six years old, who, on receiving a Testament this quarter, threw himself on his knees, and thanked God for the gift he bestowed on him, through the means of the Society."

If any further proof be wanting of the benefits which these well-meaning persons are likely to confer upon the Rock cause, one more specimen will amply suffice: the convert in this case is " a weaver by trade." "It is manifest that God, who calleth men from darkness to light, hath abundantly blessed the reading of that precious gift to him. He spends all his hours in reading that valuable book, which was the instrument of awakening him out of the deep sleep of sin. nearest friends are become his greatest enemies : his wife and brother-in-law say that he is religiously mad."

His

CHAPTER III.

Education of the Captain.-Hedge Schools.-Abduction of a School-master.-Catalogue of a Rock Library.

Ir may easily be supposed that my Father was too good a Catholic to risk the orthodoxy of the young Rocks within the proselytizing vortex of a Charter School. Our education, therefore, was imbibed in one of those ancient seminaries, which, like the academies of the ancients, are held in the open air, and which, from the sheltered situation they occupy, are called Hedge Schools.

That particular Hedge School which had the honour of educating me, deserved rather, perhaps, to be called a University-as the little students, having first received their rudiments in the ditch, were from thence promoted, in due time, to graduate under the hedge.

When I was between 13 and 14 years of age, our old school-master died; and as I still continued, in those intervals of leisure which my early initiation into my father's calling allowed me, to avail myself of the instruction of this worthy pe