connexion (which, as an Irish nobleman, he cannot be ignorant of) that exists between the habitual teaching of the priests and the prevalence of disaffection, be it called Fenianism or by any other name. The same reticence was observed by the leading speakers on the Opposition side. In this evident fear of offending the priests there exists an ill omen for future Irish legislation, whichever party may sit upon the Treasury benches. The policy of the Government, as announced by the Chief Secretary, is, in one particular, unmistakably pro-Papal. The proposal to grant a charter to the Roman Catholic University, to endow it, in whole or in part, by the State, and then to leave it completely to itself, without any interference or supervision by the Government, is a concession to the insolent claims of an antinational ultramontanism that no Roman Catholic country would grant, except, perhaps, Spain. At a time when efforts are being made in Parliament to develop Oxford and Cambridge from denominational into national institutions, a proposal is made to establish and endow a university, to be rigidly denominational, to be supported or assisted by the general taxation, for the exclusive benefit of the narrowest and most un-national sect in the United Kingdom! While the Government are disposed to make concessions to the new "Catholic claims" on the subject of education, they are evidently prepared to resist the demand for the dis-establishment of the Irish Church. No doubt they would be willing to secure its preservation by the endowment of Romanism and the augmentation of the regium donum to the Presbyterian ministers, if they saw any probability of carrying a measure to that effect. The leaders of the opposition are still more disposed to endow truth and error indiscriminately, having regard not to creeds but to capitation. If they cannot accomplish this, it is not improbable that their return to office will be signalized by the introduction of a measure for the dis-establishment of the Irish Church. This, of course, is what the Romish priests ardently desire. When Protestantism is repudiated as the religion of the State, the way will be open for new demands on the part of Popery; for new agitations to enforce them; and, if necessary, for new conspiracies and insurrections to frighten the British public into the concession of them. The Romanist hierarchy have surprised many by their declaration against State support for their own sect; but those who have studied their whole spirit and policy cannot fail to recognise their tradi tional cleverness and cunning in this piece of strategy. What they want is not to be one of three established Churches in Ireland, as Earl Russell has proposed, but to be the exclusive and supreme State Church in that part of the United Kingdom. And when English Protestants have helped them to dis-establish the Irish Church, how can they resist their new claims? When they demand that as the State supports Episcopalianism in England, and Presbyterianism in Scotland, that it shall support, by establishing and endowing, Roman Catholicism in Ireland, how, according to the fashionable theories and reasonings of the present day, can those demands be refused? Doubtless there are many English Protestants who advocate the dis-estab lishment of the Irish Church on the pure principles of voluntary ism, holding that every denomination should support its own ministry, and believing the interests of religion are not helped, but hindered, by alliance with the State. Their conduct is intelligible enough; although it would be more consistent if they fought the battle upon their own broad principles, refusing to join with Romanist allies who are seeking the overthrow of the Irish Church, not because they believe State endowments to be wrong in principle, but because that Church is Protestant; and refusing to unite with time-serving politicians who are labouring for its abolition, not because of its truth or error, but because it is the Church of the minority. Upon the whole, the Protestants of Ireland have cause for complaint. Their Church has been called, again and again, not only in English newspapers, but in the imperial Parliament, "an alien Church," although it has existed in Ireland as long as the Church of England, in its Protestant form, has existed in England. If it be an alien institution, so also is the crown, the lord-lieutenancy, trial by jury, the Habeas Corpus Act, and the whole system of British law in Ireland, as opposed to the old Brehon laws of the country. If the Irish Church be -what it has been styled in the recent debate-" an insult to the Roman Catholics," so also is Methodism, although unendowed by the State. At least it was thought so in Granard by the mob who stoned the Rev. W. G. Campbell. It is quite possible that the Irish Church may not suffer ultimately, if severed from the State. In the mean time, the loyal and intelligent Protestant minority must think it strange, that, as a reward for their persevering loyalty to the throne and institutions of the United Kingdom, and notwithstanding that they have benefitted their native land by their industry and enterprise, and adorned it with the genius by which it has been distinguished, they should be threatened, for the gratification of the disloyal and anti-English, with repudiation by the State, and deprived of the position which they have occupied for more than three hundred years. March 17th, 1868. VARIETIES. A PETRIFIED FOREST.-The process of isomorphism, the formation of what is an easterly direction, the tourist reaches the "tombs of the Caliphs." These scsally termed a petrifaction, and some few other similiar subtile operations of pulchres are small mosques furnished with Bature, have never a minaret and cupola, and are designed in fathomed and satisfactorily accounted for, been completely the purest style of Arabian architecture; a style especially delighting in those by either the practical man or the theorist. multitudinous vaga. ies of delineation which There exists in the vicinity of Cairo, have given rise to the term "arabesque." though but little known to European Unfortunately these unique relics of byvisiters, and still less to the Arabs in gone splendour are left altogether to the general, a petrified forest, which presents ravages of time; and it is lamentable to features of great attraction to the geologist predict that in a short time they will and antiquary. Owing to the intense disappear for ever. beat of the sun, the expedition to this After passing them, a brief interval reveals to notice here and curious natural feature of the country is there fragments of petrified wood, the best city by the gate of Nasr, and travelling in however, is still some distance off. Bearing uniformly to the east, and surmounting and descending numerous sand-hills, the scene of which we are in quest is at last before us; and one more desolate it would be difficult to conceive. The term "petrified forest" may perhaps seem a misnomer, when it is stated that there are neither trees nor leaves. The fragments, to all appearance, are stones, only outwardly resembling wood; and in myriads of pieces are scattered around, half buried in the sand. One of the most remarkable circumstances about them is that the most accurate search, the most rigid scrutiny, fails to detect the least vestige of arable land, the smallest oasis, which could have afforded an origin to these mutilated relics of timber. Occasionally a trunk is found riven in two, as if split by the heat. The largest of these specimens measured ten feet in length, and has a diameter of twelve inches. One would naturally expect that the species, or description of timber to which these petrifactions belonged, would be identical with that met with at present in the country. The reverse is the fact. The oak, the beech, the chestnut, and others, are distinctly recognised; but scarcely a single specimen can be discovered of the palm, the sycamore, or the fig-tree. Not only does the specific gravity of the specimens vary, as is always the case with timber, but the original colour is well preserved. All the tints are plainly perceptible, from the light Naples yellow to the deep red brown, or even black. The perforations produced by the passage of insects through the bark are clearly visible; and a gummy secretion has been found in some of the holes made in this manner. It would be idle to attempt at present to offer an explanation of this curious phenomenon; but it is to be hoped that geologists will ultimately solve the problem. THOMAS MORE AN OPPONENT OF MARIOLATRY AT COVENTRY IN 1517.About this time More* had occasion to go to Coventry, to see a sister of his there. Its citizens, if not "wholly given up to idolatry," yet were "in all things too superstitious;" and, like the Athenians of old, prone to run after any new thing." At the time of which we speak, they were the subjects of a strange religious frenzy -a fit of Mariolatry. The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin had not yet been finally settled. It was the bone of contention between the rival monastic orders. The Franciscans or Grey Friars, following Scotus, waged war with the Dominicans, who followed Aquinas. Pope Sixtus IV. had, in 1483, issued a Bull, favouring the Franciscans and the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception; and Fox tells us that it was in consequence "holden in their schools, written in their books, preached in their sermons, taught in their churches, and set forth in their pictures." On the other side had occurred the tragedy of the weeping image of the Virgin, and the detection and burning of the Dominican monks who were parties to the fraud. It chanced that in Coventry a Franciscan monk made bold to preach publicly to the people that "whoever should daily pray over the psalter of the blessed Virgin could never be damned." The regular pastor of the place, thinking that it would soon blow over, and that a little more devotion to the Virgin conld do no harm, took no notice of it at first; but, when he saw the worst men were the most religious in their devotions to the Virgin's psalter, and that, relying on the friar's doctrine, they were getting more and more bold in crime, he mildly admon ished the people from the pulpit not to be led astray by this new doctrine. The result was, that he was hissed at, derided, and publicly slandered, as an enemy of the Virgin. The monk again mounted his pulpit, recounted miraculous stories in favour of his creed, and carried the people along with him by his eloquence. More shall tell the rest in his own words: While this frenzy was at its height, it so happened that I had to go to Coventry, to visit a sister of mine there. I had scarcely alighted from my horse when I was asked this question: Whether a person who daily prayed through the psalter of the blessed Virgin could he damned?" I laughed at the question as absurd. I was told forthwith that my answer was a dangerous one. A most holy and learned father had declared the contrary. I put by the whole affair as no business of mine. Soon afterwards I was asked to supper. I promised, and went. Lo, and behold, in came an old, stooping, heavy, crabbed friar. A servant followed with his books. I saw I must prepare for a brush. We sat down; and, lest any time should be lost, the point was at once brought forward by my host. The friar made answer as he already had preached. I held my tongue, not liking * At that time (1517) a barrister. He received the seals as Lord Chancellor in 1529. to mix myself up in fruitless and provoking disputations. At last they asked me what view I took of it; and, when I was obliged to speak, I spoke what I thought, but in few words, and off-hand. Upon this the friar began a long premeditated oration, long enough for at least two sermons, and bawled all supper-time. He drew all his argument from the miracles, which he poured out upon us in numbers enough from the 'Marial;' and also from other books of the same kind, which he ordered to be put on the table, he drew further authority for his stories. Soon after he had done, I modestly began to answer, first, that in all his long discourse he had said nothing to convince those who perchance did not admit the miracles which he had recited; and this might well be, and a man's faith in Christ be firm notwithstanding. And, even if these were really true, they proved nothing of any moment; for, though you might easily find a prince who would concede something to his enemies, at the entreaty of his mother; yet, never was there one so foolish as to publish a law, which should provoke daring against him by the promise of impunity to all traitors who should perform certain offices to his mother. Mach having been said on both sides, I found that he was lauded to the skies, while I was laughed at as a fool. The matter came at last to that pass, by the depraved zeal of men who cloaked their era vices under ardour of piety, that the opinion could hardly be put down, though the bishop with all his energy tried every means in his power to do so."* is surrounded first by two layers, one outside of the other, and then by the three external skins, which together constitute the husk. These three outermost skins are of the same character as the straw, and have no nutritious value. Hitherto, white bread seems to have been made from the central granules alone, or mixed with the material of the layer immediately surrounding them. The second layer has always gone with the three outer skins, under the name of bran; and has either been given to animals, or used for making brown bread, for which latter purpose the whole grain, including the husk, is employed. It was always known that the layer so put aside with the husk contained a large portion of nitrogenous substance, and therefore of the elements of nutrition; in this respect, indeed, it decidedly excels the central part of the grain. But it was not found possible to use it without the result being to produce what in colour, taste, and properties was essentially brown bread. It is now stated that this was chiefly owing to the fact that the layer in question is in contact with a membrane containing a substance called "cerealine," which gives rise to a special fermentation during the process of baking, and produces the characteristics of brown bread. By an ingenious mode of sifting, combined with ventilation, the particles of this membrane in the ground corn are winnowed out, and the whole of what we have called the second or outer of the two internal layers becomes available for the bread. The loaves into which it enters have, it is admitted, a slightly yellowish tinge, as compared with the best white flour; but, for all essential purposes, they are white, not brown, bread. The layer in question is estimated by M. Meige Mouriés at twenty-two per cent. of the whole: the inner portion of the grain being called seventy per cent., and the useless husk eight per cent. So large a saving, therefore, as twenty-two per cent. in the grain, is surely well worth looking after; and when we remember that the layer in question is singularly rich in nitrogen, we ought perhaps to estimate the result for the purpose of nutrition somewhat more highly still. What is now required is that this process should be made generally known in this country; and that, if possible, our own millers should be induced to give shortly state that a grain of wheat, when it a practical trial.-The Contemporary opened and examined by the microscope, Review. consists of an internal white mass, which THE ECONOMIZATION OF WHEAT.Bread is the staff of life. Can we increase this all-important support of mankind? It is said that it is possible to do this; and that, too, without the addition of a single grain of wheat to our present supply. The solution to this apparent riddle is, that We may get more bread out of our wheat than we have hitherto done. M. Meige Mouries, of Paris, has discovered a plan which is actually in work at the Boulangerie Scipion in that city, whereby a part of the grain usually employed as food for animals seems convertible to the use of mankind. Giving a simple and popular view of the subject, and not entering into technical or scientific details, we may * Seebohn's " Oxford Reformers" of 1498. COMMERCE ON THE RIVER AMAZON.The British Consul at Parà, in his report to the Foreign-Office on the trade of the past year, remarks, that the opening of the navigation of the Amazon to the shipping of all nations must tend to introduce foreign capital and competition on this great river; and, thereby, eventually increase the trade, importance, and wealth of the country; but that a considerable time must elapse before any company can be able to compete with the steamers of the Brazilian corporation, which receives such large subsidies from the Government. The contract was made in 1852 for twentyfive years, at an annual subsidy of 720 coutos of reis, or about £80,000; and the amount has since been increased, first by 60 coutos, and afterwards by 250 milreis, per voyage, for running to additional ports. The company had eight steamers in 1866, and carried 10,249 passengers in the year, receiving 111 coutos for passage-money, and 299 coutos for freights. The total value of produce exported from the Amazon in 1866 amounted to more than 7,384 coutos, or (at the exchange of 2s. 2d. to the milreis) £799,983. The imports to Parà amounted to above 4,711 coutos, or £510,429 sterling. The trade with Bolivia, by the Madeira river, has much increased, and will make considerable further progress whenever steam navigation is re-established. The trade with Venezuela, by the river Negro, has but little increased, as no steam communication has as yet been re-established. The Amazon river is navigable as far as the frontier port of Tabatinga for vessels of the largest size; but the different tributaries, though of great breadth, are crossed by waterfalls or hidden banks, rendering them impassable by vessels drawing much water. The two provinces of Parà and Amazonas have together a population of about three hundred thousand souls, without including the wild Indians, who infest the dense forests, and many of whose tribes are almost unknown. Large importations are annually made of articles of consumption and luxury from Europe. The cotton goods come chiefly from England; cloth from England, France, and Belgium; metals from England; in hardware the United States compete successfully with England. Rubber is the most important article of export from Parà; the rubbertree grows in great abundance throughout the whole valley of the Amazon. Cacao, is also an important export; the quality of the Parà fruit is considered among the best. Brazil nuts are easily collected; but decreased the exportation. The valley of the Amazon offers remarkable facilities for raising sugar; but the cultivation is in a most backward state, both owing to the want of field hands and a proper system of culture. No cotton is now grown on the Upper Amazon, where, under the despotie rule of the Marquis of Pombal, in the last century the Indians grew and wove much cotton. The mineral wealth of the Amazon valley is entirely unexplored. Vast quantities of fine cabinet woods, hard woods, and dye woods grow in the forests of Parà and Amazonas; but freight, export duties, and the high price of labour have been too high to encourage exportation. The Government of Brazil have for some years invited foreign immigration into the vast and fertile provinces of the Amazon; and latterly large numbers of "Southerners" have arrived from the United States, and been forwarded up the Tapajos river, where lands are granted them, and in some cases loans of money. It remains to be proved, however, whether the white race can prosper in agricultural pursuits under the tropical sun of Amazonas or Parà. Professor Agassiz, who has lately been engaged in examining the fish of the river Amazon, states that he has not found one fish in common with those in any other fresh-water basin; that different parts of the Amazon have fishes peculiar to themselves; and, as an instance of the teeming variety of the river, he adds that a pool of only a few hundred square yards showed two hundred different kinds of fish; which is as many as the entire Mississippi can boast. In the Amazon itself, two thousand different kinds exist; a great proportion of which are most excellent eating. Several are extremely curious, one especi ally, which has the power of walking or creeping on dry land, and of worming its way up the trunks of trees. ARCHBISHOP CHICHELEY.-Archbishop Chicheley was a Northamptonshire shepherd boy, whom William of Wyckham found musing by the banks of the Nene, and whose answers to his queries were so apt, that William withdrew him, nothing loth, from herding sheep to be a shepherd of sonls. Chicheley's success was so undoubted, and so splendid withal, that his enemies were never able (poor things) to forget that his father had been (or was said to have been) a tailor. Some of his rivals, afraid lest Chicheley might himself forget the pleasant fact, and might therewith lose a wholesome source of humility, the low price in foreign markets in 1866 are said to have kept him in mind of |