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mon, suited to the occasion, was preached by the Rev. John Walker. His text was chosen from the 8th chapter of the third book of Kings. He commenced with an appropriate description of the dedication of Solomon's Temple; his exertions at this part were striking and impressive, although the effect was, at times, in some degree lost to the auditors in the more remote parts of the building.

Having noticed the Society of St. Patrick, to whose exertions the new chapel owes its erection, the Rev. Gentleman proceeded to illustrate the nature of the Eucharistic Sacrifice. This part of his discourse, addressed, as it was, to a mixed audience, required, doubtless, no inferior degree of talent to dispose of without offence to his "separated brethren;" and this was effected in a manner eminently divested of that sectarian acerbity which so often distinguishes the public assertion of any peculiar doctrine.

After alluding to the highly-valued exertions of the labouring classes of the Catholic community of Liverpool, as well as to the generous benefactions of the more opulent classes, in erecting this temple, the Rev. Gentleman paid a handsome and wellearned tribute to the characteristic zeal of the sons of the sister Isle, and warmly eulogized their indefatigable industry, and perseverance, in promoting the faith of their fathers. He then concluded in a very animated and impressive manner. The sermon occupied forty-two minutes, and the collection amounted to £300.

It may be worthy of remark here, that the Rev. Mr. Walker's talents as a preacher are by no means of an humble order. His style is dignified, and his delivery remarkably free and unrestricted; whilst his manner is ingenuous, and his sentiments correct and well adjusted. With enunciation somewhat more full and distinct than was exhibited on this occasion, he would doubtless become a more than ordinary attraction.

To the Editor of the Catholic Miscellany.

SIR,

The Morning Herald of Saturday last contains the two following articles; and certainly the Editor acts with candour by inserting both, for if, as the writer of one article asserts, the monks of San Lorenzo de Escu rial lead an easy and idle life, most undoubtedly the article of the other shews that certain dignitaries of the Protestant establishment in England are not behind them in worldly enjoyment.

I make considerable concession when I appear to admit that the monks contribute as little to the public benefit as do the bishop and his rich pluralist sons, or that the cases are similar. The bishop alone, and his sons, engross an income infinitely larger than all the possessions of the four hundred monks of St. Lorenzo; nor do the monks wallow in luxury, and lead lives of comparative inutility. They employ a great number of persons in the cultivation of their lands, practice the most extensive hospitality, give their time to gratuitous education, clothe and feed the poor, assist the sick, comfort the afflicted, and perform all the duties of religion.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient servant, EDWARD BLOUNT.

August 29th, 1827.

CHURCH PREFERMENT. CONSIDERABLE dissatisfaction is said to have been felt amongst the clergy, in consequence of instances having been recently multiplied, of individuals high in clerical dignity holding at the same time several appointments of large emolument more especially in the annexation of deaneries to bishoprics. It might, probably, appear invidious to point out the instances referred to; they are, however, but too obvious to that order of persons most immediately interested in the subject.

The disproportionate remuneration of the clergy has frequently been termed the opprobrium of the church;

and it cannot but be regretted by every friend to the establishment, when grounds of complaint on this point appear rather to increase than to diminish. While there exists so great a number of meritorious candidates for ecclesiastical preferment, it is to be lamented that the honours and emoluments of the church should be unfairly engrossed by the few. How will hundreds, nay thousands of learned and laborious clergymen feel, many of whom perfectly understand the meaning of "res angusta domi," when they see that a bishop of large private fortune, whose annual revenue from the church, independently of immense occasional fines on renewals, is. £16,000

has heaped upon his two sons the following benefices:

SAN LORENZO DE ESCURIAL.

THE palace, church, and convent, of San Lorenzo de Escurial, have been so often described, that it would be useless to say a word about them; the beauty of the architecture and the magnificence of the interior would almost compensate the trouble of visiting them from any distance. There are immense treasures in the church, and though many of them have been removed, among other things, I am told that there is still an image of St. Lorenzo, which weighs four hundred and fifty pounds, in silver, and has eighteen pounds of gold about it; this, however, forms only a small part of the valuables attached to it. Some of the finest paintings, by Spanish and other masters, are to be seen in

C. M. VOL VIII. NO. 69.

the convent, which is a very handsome and convenient building. Before the entrance of Napoleon Into Spain, there were about four hun dred resident monks; but now there are only half that number. These holy fathers lead a very pleasant, or at least idle life, and divide their time to the best advantage. They have a fine garden to walk in with fish-pouds; and when I was there, several were amusing themselves with angling, and they, of course, smoked at the same time. Thus, without contributing at all to the public benefit, they have all a man can desire, with a comfortable house and excel lent living, while thousands of indus trious persons in some of the small towns either cannot find employment, or when employed do not earn enough to support their families. The beauty of the palace forms a strong contrast to the ruined and miserable-looking houses of which the town is formed.

The monks whom I met in the convent were particularly civil and obliging, and seemed anxious to show me every hole and corner. The kitchen was well supplied, and the most goodly preparations were making for supper; good living, were I to judge from appearances, is not at all out of repute with them.

The late Mr. Canning.-In the preceding memoir of the late Mr. Canning, it is mentioned that his ancestor, William Cannings, was a wealthy merchant of Bristol, and several times mayor of that city. Towards the close of the 14th century, he founded the ancient and beautiful church of St. Mary Redcliffe, near Bristol, in which he afterwards became an officiating priest; and two monuments of him are now to be seen in one corner of the church. In one of these are full-length stone figures of himself and his wife, and the other represents him clothed in his sacerdotal vestments, in which character he closed a long and holy life, about the year 1411. The present Francis Canning, Esq. of Foxcote, is the lineal descendant from the same. ancestors.

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ultation; they have already shown how closely allied to the demon they are. They triumph because mighty talents have fallen, and because great virtues have become extinct (cheers). So, in the fettered land of Spain, the enslavers of their country will rejoice with them; and the oppressors, who live by the misery of their fellows in the streets of Constantinople, will join their shouts of triumph to those of the Orangemen of Ireland, when they shall be told that George Canning is no more (cheers). But while they rejoice, we ought to mourn. We have lost a powerful friend-the mothers of Irish children have lost a protector-and the blessings which, under his administration, we hoped so soon to enjoy in reality, have now suddenly been hurried from us, and show like a dim and distant vision in our eyes. Ireland ought to mourn,and notwithstanding the fallen and miserable condition in which Spain now is, there is still in that unhappy country many a heart that will de

plore the misfortune of her people in not having combined the causes of religion and liberty, while such a friend remained to favour their exertions. There is still in Portugal many a degraded subject, who will grieve that his fellow-countrymen did not endeavour to secure to themselves the advantages of that constitution which Canning protected. There is still in struggling Greece many a gallant spirit that will long to demonstrate the sincerity of its grief for his departure, by sacrificing at his tomb whole hecatombs of the enemies of Christianity (cheers). In South America, too-in Mexico, in Peru, in Chili and La Plata-and, more than all, in Colombia, will his death be followed by mourning. The great, the immortal Bolivar, will shed tears of bitter anguish; the sounds of sorrow will ascend to the very summit of the Andes; and throughout all the nations of the earth, the name of Canning will be consecrated in the grief of every worthy breast."