ing them up with both hands as if by a great ef-|

FATHER OSWALD.

fort, he went on dancing with a desperate expres- Father Oswald; a Genuine Catholic Story. sion of face that was irresistibly ludicrous. 8vo. London: 1843.

From the Edinburgh Review.

The

During all this time, the company was convulsed with laughter; and I could not help remarking the extreme modesty and propriety of It was anciently usual, when opinions the young lady, who never even smiled or looked differed upon any point of importance, to at him, but when the dance was ended, bowed and returned to her seat. The poor fiscal stood discuss the question according to the forms gazing at the vacant place where she had stood, of logic-each party stating his own arguas if the sun of his existence had set. At length ment, and refuting that of his opponent he turned his head, and calling out "amigo," with all the dexterity in his power. But asked if there were any such Mestizas in my this custom, however rational in itself, has country? if I would like to take her home with proved so inconvenient to many controver me? then said that he could not spare this one, sial writers, that it is now very sparingly but I might take my choice of the others; insisting loudly upon my making a selection, and promising resorted to. It has been found that unskilto deliver any one I liked to me at the convent. ful combatants in these intellectual conAt first I supposed that these fiscales were, flicts cannot always escape serious injury like the vaqueros, the principal young men of to their vanity and their reputation; and the village, who for that day gave themselves up therefore a new mode of discussion has to frolic and fun; but I learned that these were been adopted, in which victory, if not quite not willing to assume such a character, but employed others known to them for wit and humor, so honorable, is far more secure. and at the same time for propriety and respec- challenger now excludes the party assailed tability of behavior. This was a matador de from all share in the dispute. He takes cochinos, or pig-butcher, of excellent character, both sides of the argument under his own and muy vivo-by which may be understood management, and arranges the attack, defellow of infinite wit and humor." The people fence, and victory, with the secure preof the village seemed to think that the power cision of a general directing a mock fight given him to whip the Mestizas was the extremity of license; but they did not consider that, at a review. Political and theological coneven for the day, they put him on equal terms troversies are now decided by fictitious with those who, in his daily walks, were to him narrations, in which the various characters as beings of another sphere: for the time he discuss the question; and the conversion might pour out his tribute of feeling to beauty of the hero or heroine to the author's own and attraction; but it was all to be regarded as a piece of extravagance, to be forgotten by all opinion forms the catastrophe. We have who heard it, and particularly by her to whom it abandoned the ancient judicial combat, in was addressed. Alas, poor matador de cochinos! which arms and horses, sun and wind, were divided with scrupulous impartiality; and we have begun to imitate the adroit duelists of Brantôme, who not only exerted their own skill to the utmost, but took care to supply their antagonists with unserviceable weapons.

a

It may be desirable to add, that many specimens of these ancient cities were brought safely to the States by Mr. STEPHENS, but a considerable portion of them were lost in the great fire at New-York.

SONNET,

By the Author of the Life of Burke, of Goldsmith, &c.,

ON VIEWING MY MOTHER'S PICTURE.
How warms the heart when dwelling on that face,
Those lips that mine a thousand times have
prest,

The swelling source that nurture gav'st her race,
Where found my infant head its downiest rest!
How in those features ain to trace my own,

Cast in a softer mould my being see;
Recall the voice that sooth'd my helpless moan,
The thoughts that sprang for scarcely aught save
That shaped and formed me; gave me to the day,
Bade in her breast absorbing love arise;
O'er me a ceaseless tender care display,

me;

For weak all else to thee maternal ties !
This debt of love but One may claim; no other
Such self-devotion boasts, save thee, my Mother!

We have selected the Novel* before us

* The number of Novels of a far different, and far more eligible description, daily issued from the Press-two or three sometimes appearing in one day-makes it impossible for any Quarterly Journal to overtake even those that rise greatly above mediocrity. It is with some regret, certainly, that we have felt ourselves obliged to omit all notice of such publications as "The Last of the Barons"a work of great power and brilliancy; the charming tales of Swedish Life by Frederika Bremer, lately translated; "Widows and Widowers," the chef d'œuvre, in fictitious narrative, of its highly respectable authoress; and the "Adventures of Susan Hopley, published previously to the other works just named, but now again brought under our observ. ation by its reappearance in the unusual form of weekly Numbers. With some blemishes, it has merits altogether peculiar, and well-fitted to recommend it to readers of all classes, were it not for an impression which has somehow arisen that it is addressed chiefly, if not solely, to maid-servantsthan which no supposition can be more wide of the fact, or more likely to circumscribe the attraction, and limit the utility, of what we feel it to be a duty

as the occasion, rather than the principal | suade an ignorant Catholic that all Prosubject, of a few observations upon this testants are skeptics, or an ignorant Propoint, for these reasons: It is the latest testant that all Catholics are idolaters; but controversial novel with which we have it is impossible to prevent such an opinion happened to meet; it combines in itself from being dispelled by correct information many of the most unpleasing peculiarities on the subject; and thus a delusion, which of its class: and it proposes to decide a ques- certainly will not promote Christian chartion of the utmost importance-the authority while it lasts, may bring on a dangerous. ity of the Church of Rome as opposed to the doctrines of the Reformation, and the Right of Private Judgment.

reaction when it is removed. Intolerance is no security whatever for consistency. The poise of the mind, like that of the body, is safest when it stands uprightnot when it exerts its force in one particular direction. And we see by experience that no man is in general so ready to abandon the substance of his opinions, as the bigot who has become ashamed of their superfluous bitterness.

We need scarcely stop to point out to our readers how useless in all respects, and how much worse than useless in many, such a work upon such a subject must always be. It is obviously impossible to make it at once conclusive and impartial. The author's grand object is of course to give a decisive victory to his own side of Some of our readers may recollect that the question. But he cannot be sure of a little tale, entitled "Father Clement, a doing this to the satisfaction of his readers, Roman Catholic Story," was published if he argues as real Protestants would argue about twenty years ago. Though intended with real Catholics. If he conducts the to present a contrast between the noman dispute by fairly matching the arguments Catholic and Calvinistic creeds, to the deof Luther and Chillingworth against those cided advantage of the latter, it was preof Erasmus and Bossuet, he will have their served, by the good taste of its author, comparative force as undivided in fiction from many of the worst faults common in as in reality. He must therefore either controversial novels. But in spite of this, run the risk of making converts the wrong and in spite of much that is both striking way, or betray, by a pious fraud, the cause and pleasing in the fictitious part of the which he thinks in error. However skil- story, it is a work whose spirit, we think, fully his article is performed, it can seldom no liberal-minded Protestant can approve. escape detection. The simplest reader, The author, though not expressly denying when he observes that the writer never the possible existence of a truly religious allows an attack which he cannot parry, Roman Catholic, has taken care to repreand never notices an objection which he cannot solve, will ask himself whether questions, upon which the wisest men have differed for centuries, could, if they were fairly stated, be unanswerably solved by an indifferent novel. The more skilful critic will at once contrast the feeble sophisms of the mock disputant, set up merely to be defeated, with the forcible reasoning of those advocates who have elsewhere espoused the same cause in truth and sincerity. Those who already agree with the work will not be benefited by it. Those who think otherwise, will throw it aside with the incredulous contempt of a Frenchman witnessing a puppet-show of the battle of Waterloo or of an Englishman reading, in Mr. Fenimore Cooper's Romances, the defeat of the British regiments by Captain Lawton, and the capture of British cruisers by Tom Coffin.

Where the deception is successful, the case is much worse. It is certainly possible, by artful misrepresentation, to perto pronounce a highly meritorious and widely-interesting story.

sent every member of that Church but one, in whom the reader takes any interest, as a knave, a fool, or a Protestant convert. The single exception is the character of an interesting Jesuit, who, after a life of religious doubt and distress, is worn out by mental suffering and corporeal austerities, and dies in peace, unconsciously abandoning, though not openly abjuring, the opinions of his church. A sincere Catholic must strongly resent the injustice of such a picture of his creed; but this is the very reason why, if he were a man of sense and feeling, he would scorn to retaliate by a similar attack upon Protestantism. "Father Oswald" is intended as "an antidote to the baneful production of Father Clement." " It is the history of an English Protestant whose wife has become a convert to the Church of Rome. The husband, after treating the unfortunate proselyte with the most inhuman harshness, goes to the Continent to escape from her society. At every stage of his tour he is silenced by the reasoning, or edified by the piety, of saintly priests, simple peasants, and blue-eyed sisters of

charity. He receives a severe wound dur- work is carried on. A man who will not ing the Revolution of 1830-which is re- believe that Protestants can be decent mempresented as the causeless persecution of bers of society, is not likely to represent a pious Catholic by fanatical Deists-and them as rational Christians. Accordingly, is shocked by the neglect of all his liberal we find that the author of " Father Oswald" friends. At length, after resisting proofs of has carefully abstained from placing in the Catholic virtue and Protestant depravity which might have converted John Knox himself, he visits Italy, when his apparently insane incredulity is finally dispelled by witnessing the miracle of the blood of St. Januarius.

mouth of any of his Protestant characters a single sentence bearing even the semblance of an argument. Vague assertion and angry abuse are the sole weapons allowed to these devoted champions; and they are seldom permitted to employ even The spirit of the work is as uncharitable these, without being interrupted by the faas its plan is unskilful. The author of cetious remarks of the writer upon the ab"Father Clement," though frequently dis- surdity of their manners and gestures. It playing the gloomy prejudices sometimes is impossible to witness the author's comattributed to extreme Calvinism, has at plaisant triumph over the discomfiture of least the sense to refrain from coarse abuse the senseless puppets whom he has conand pointless ridicule. But the present jured up, without being reminded of the writer, though in his dedication he expres- duellist in the "Tatler," who practises the ses great anxiety for the welfare of the art of fence by making passes at figures "many noble and generous individuals in chalked upon the wall, and boasts that he the British isles" who have the misfortune seldom fails to hit them in a mortal part. to be Protestants, is perfectly unable to "Father Oswald" caricatures the nnfairkeep his hatred of those whom he courte-ness which may generally be detected in ously styles "madcap biblicals" within de- controversial tales. In a fictitious dispute cent bounds. It is not too much to say, upon such a controversy as that between that he does not appear to believe in the the Catholic and Reformed Churches, a deexistence of a virtuous or rational Protest- cisive victory is at best a suspicious event. ant. His hero, whom he represents as a But a rapid, easy, unresisted victory, is too strict and exemplary member of the Church much for the credulity of the most careless of England, is a domestic tyrant, a politi- reader. Surely, he will reflect, there must cal Jacobin, and, until he becomes a Ro- be some plausible arguments for a creed man Catholic, little better than a religious which satisfied Newton and Locke. Sureinfidel. But it is upon the clergy of the ly there must be some excuse for doubts Established Church that the full measure of which did not shock Hooker or Tillotson. the author's insolence is poured forth. He These eminent men may have been mistaintroduces the characters of several, and ken; but they must have had something to never without doing his utmost to ridicule say in their defence. The triumph of and degrade them. They are all depicted "Father Oswald" resembles that of the in the coarsest strain of dull malignity-as English at Agincourt, or of the Americans ignorant, indolent, corpulent priests, en- at New Orleans-it loses its chief glory by cumbered with tawdry wives and innumer- the very ease and impunity with which it able children, and devoted to the sports of is achieved. Every one knows that no victhe field and the pleasures of the table. tory worth having is gained without hard The Catholic divines, on the other hand, fighting and severe loss; and therefore, are all upon the model of Sterne's senti- when the conquerors are found to have susmental Friar, and are endowed with every tained no injury at all, it is impossible to imposing quality of mind and body which believe that the vanquished have had fair the author's imagination can furnish. We play. shall not allow such absurd misrepresentations to lead us into a discussion of the general character borne by the Protestant and Catholic clergy; but we must say that charges of pride, luxury and ambition, come but ungracefully from the advocates of a Church which placed Wolsey and Dubois among its Cardinals, and still retains Dunstan and Becket among its Saints.

After this, we need scarcely describe the plan on which the controversial part of the

'The author of "Father Clement" does not escape. We have said that we cannot consider the plan of that work as at all satisfactory to a candid mind; and, therefore, we do not intend to undertake its defence. There is much in it which a well-instructed Catholic could no doubt refute. There is therefore the less excuse for an ignorant Catholic, who wilfully misrepresents its arguments. But the author of "Father Oswald" is perpetually misquoting passages

from his antagonist, in order the more ef fectually to refute them. We will give a single instance out of many. In "Father Clement," a Presbyterian clergyman is made to cite a text of scripture as opposed to the Roman Catholic custom of bestowing the paternal title on priests. This is perfectly consistent with the known doctrine and practice of the Scottish Church. But the author of "Father Oswald" has the folly to place the same sentence in the mouth of an Episcopalian Dean; purely in order that his Catholic opponent may triumphantly remind him, that the Bishops of the Anglican Church are styled "Right Reverend Fathers in God."

consist chiefly of general promises of Divine support and consolation, or of injunc tions to obey the Church; most of which, as appears by the context, allude solely to the maintenance of the moral discipline, so necessary in a community of Christians living under a heathen government. There is only one text which we remember to have heard cited as absolutely decisive upon the point. This is the express promise made to St. Peter, that the gates of hell should not prevail against the Christian Church. To us these words appear a simple prediction of final triumph to the Christian religion. We are perfectly satisfied with their fulfilment, when we find that It is not, as may be supposed, our inten-religion, after a lapse of eighteen centuries, tion to discuss in this place the theological still flourishing, and likely to flourish. We opinions of the Catholic church. If it were, are unable to comprehend by what subtle we certainly should have taken the pains to process a Catholic can extract from them select some more responsible opponent an assurance of the uninterrupted existence than the author of the slight and feeble of a Church holding an entirely pure faith. work before us. There would be little cre- Nor can we conceive how the gross pracdit, and less real utility, in exposing the tical abuses which are admitted to have blunders of a writer who believes that the abounded during the dark ages, can be Sovereign of Great Britain is head of the thought consistent with a prophecy which Scottish Church;* who advocates the wor- excludes the most trifling and transitory ship of Saints without an attempt to explain theoretical error. A Pope might profess the express prohibition of Scripture ;† who himself an Atheist-he might commit parargues the question of clerical celibacy ricide, and incest, and sacrilege-he might without noticing the advice of St. Paul, encourage crime by the open sale of Indulthat a Bishop should be "the husband of gences-he might destroy the souls of unone wife:" and who endeavors to prove born generations, by disgusting whole nathat St. Peter possessed supreme authority tions of good Catholics into incurable hereover the primitive Church, in apparent ig- sy. All these abominations gave no triumph norance of the remarkable passage, in to the powers of darkness. But that a Pope which another Apostle speaks of "having who hated and despised Christianity should withstood him to the face, because he was misrepresent the least of its doctrinesto be blamed."§ that a Pope who had poisoned his father should consecrate an unworthy Saint-this was a scandal precluded by the express promise of Scripture. We certainly cannot understand why the bad advice of a Pope should be more pernicious to the Church, or more gratifying to its enemies, than his bad example; and we own, that a victory over the gates of hell, which was maintained by Alexander Borgia and would have been lost by Melancthon, appears to us very far from unequivocal.

The only subject mentioned in the work before us, upon which we intend to permit ourselves a few remarks, is the doctrine of Ecclesiastical Infallibility-a doctrine which has caused an intolerant spirit, the shame and scandal of every other Christian sect, to become a necessary article of the Roman Catholic creed. It is on this account, and not merely because we think it a theological error, that we desire to notice it; and we shall discuss it in the character, not of polemical disputants, but of advocates for universal peace and goodwill-in the hope, not of making Protestant converts, but of making candid and charitable Catholics.

The strictest Catholic will scarcely maintain that the passages of Scripture which refer to an Infallible Church are either very numerous or wholly unequivocal. They * P. 261. † Col. ii. 18. 1 Tim. iii. 2. Gal. ii. 11. VOL. II. No. II. 17

Our limits will not permit us to discuss the evidence of the various modern miracles upon which most Catholics place such strong reliance. We shall but remark that the facts, supposing them proved, are mere exceptions from the ordinary laws of matter, occurring spontaneously, and without any perceptible cause or object. When S. Paul healed the sickness of a believer, or struck blind a blaspheming fanatic, it was easy to see the connexion between his

miraculous powers and the truth of the as an infallible authority in matters of docdoctrines he preached. But we cannot trine! And how much more strange that perceive any such connexion between a it should contain two or three passages, supernatural phenomenon and the religious apparently, if not indisputably, recommendbelief of the nation in whose country it ing the inspired writings as a rule of Chrisappears. Take, for instance, the miracle tian faith! which converts the hero of the present Before we proceed to mention a few of tale. Suppose that, fifteen hundred years the most plausible arguments against the ago, Providence was pleased, for some Right of Private Judgment,* we must mysterious purpose, to endow a phial of briefly notice a misapprehension which blood with certain miraculous properties- very commonly prevails on the subjeet. can any one presume to say, that the relic Catholics are accustomed to speak with asmust necessarily lose those qualities while tonishment of the presumption which Proin the custody of persons holding an erro- testants display in rejecting the authority neous faith? Can any one prove that it of the Church. They are apt to talk as if would not retain them, though transferred they could conceive no possible motive for to Westminster Abbey or the mosque of doubting it, except a desire to exercise the St. Sophia? Every one has heard of the intellect upon forbidden subjects. To us, extraordinary stories which several intelli- we confess, implicit submission on such a gent travellers have related respecting the subject appears no such safe or innocent feats of certain Egyptian necromancers. measure. We can easily conceive the conThey are as well attested, and appear as solation which fancied relief from responinexplicable, as any miracle of the Romish sibility bestows on those minds which misChurch. But would it have been reasonable take indolence and indifference for faith in Lord Prudhoe to turn Mahomedan, be and humility. But to a conscientious Chriscause he could neither doubt nor explain tian we think that the admission of a guide what he has told us? Or was a devout Jew pretending to infallibility, must appear a bound to accept the miraculous qualities of most serious and anxious step-a step to the pool of Bethesda, as a Divine confirma- be taken with the calmest deliberation and tion of all the absurd subtleties taught by the deepest solicitude. This is the feeling the Rabbinical schools? of a religious Protestant. He would gladly shelter himself under the authority of an infallible Church, if he could satisfy himself that any such Church existed. But he is unable to feel this conviction. He knows that Providence has given him faculties which enable him, in some measure, to weigh the evidences, and understand the nature of revelation; and he dares not abandon this security until he is confident that it will be replaced by a better. He may be wrong; but we are sure that his error is one which a candid mind would rather pity than blame. It is the error of over-scrupulous timidity rather than of presumptuous self-conceit.

We have thought it necessary to touch upon these subjects, because we are unwilling to test the pretensions of the Roman Catholic Church by human rules of reason, without at least stating our opinion on her claims to the support of revelation. It is not for us to doubt the inspired writings on grounds of expedience or of probability. But if as we think will be agreed by most persons who minutely examine the wellknown arguments, at which we have merely hinted-it is more than doubtful whether this supreme authority interferes with the question, we have then less scruple in giving our own opinion. To us, indeed, the mere existence of a reasonable doubt upon the point we have noticed, appears almost conclusive. How strange that a book like the Bible, written for the express purpose of being expounded by an infallible human tribunal, and of a nature to prove most pernicious to those who reject that assistance, should not be full of references to the auxiliary guidance which can alone make it a blessing to mankind! How strange that it should nowhere inform the reader in what precise quarter all his doubts may be resolved! How strange that the Catholic should be unable to discover in its pages a single distinct recognition of the Church

We shall not meddle with the arguments, addressed rather to the imagination than the understanding, which Catholics found upon the venerable antiquity of their Church. We shall leave them to discuss their chronological priority with the Ghebir and the Brahmin; and their claims to primitive immutability with the Anglican high-churchman and the Greek schismatic. Nor shall we dispute their boasts of the affecting and consoling nature of their peculiar doctrines. We know that every

length, and in a different fashion, in an article de*We have discussed this subject at sufficient voted to it, in our preceding Number.