from this we wholly dissent, and again express our belief, that the unfair and untrue representations which we certainly think the volume contains, are the results of prejudice and not of design.

It will be said, we presume, that we defend the Catholics because as Unitarians we are opposed to anti-Catholics; how far we are governed by this feeling we cannot, of course, say, but would remark, that until the late attack upon the Catholics, and the examination we were thereby led into, we were believers in most of those charges laid at their door, and far more opposed to them than to Calvinists. Our examination has in a great measure dispelled our fears and our prejudices, but still we are no favorers of the Catholic faith, nor do we wish to see it grow among us. The creed and system of that Church we look upon as erroneous, and in theory illiberalizing, because it forbids the free action of the mind upon the all important subject of religious faith. The Protestant should be, (though thousands are not,) educated to examine for himself, and to take for granted neither the opinions of his parents, his church, or any individual or collection of individuals, but the Catholic is on principle forbidden this freedom of thought. To that principle we object, though, we believe, in practice the mass of Protestants are no more free-thinkers than are intelligent Catholics, and although we consider the clergyman of any denomination, who uses his influence to prevent his followers from becoming acquainted with the faith of another sect, as in spirit a Catholic:-he substitutes his own, or his creed's infallibility for that of the Pope and the Roman Councils.

But the objection to the Catholics of which we speak, is very different from that insisted upon by Dr. Beecher. He talks of a design on the part of Austria, to crowd our land with emigrant Catholics, to influence those Catholics through the Pope, and by them to destroy our republic; all this we think a phantom, and though possible, yet very improbable. The great Missionary Societies of the Catholic church are seeking to extend their faith among us, and send out funds for that purpose; for the same purpose, the Calvinists, the Methodists, and the Unitarians of the East are sending funds and ministers to this great Valley, but do we therefore suspect them?

us.

We say it is possible for Austria through Rome to influence Austria governs the Pope, the Pope appoints the Priests, the Priests influence the people; there is the connecting chain between despotism and ourselves: through that connection we

may be injured, as we may by our National Executive, or our National Bank; but the question is, can this danger be averted without incurring a greater? should we not run more risk by excluding Catholics from our country, and destroying universal toleration, or exciting Protestants against them, thereby forcing them into union against Protestants,-than in any other way?

The purpose of the Plea is said to be to induce Protestants to approximate to, and educate the Catholics, but its practical operation must be to separate the two classes more widely than ever; and for this reason, that it argues against the whole Catholic mass, it presupposes them guilty, and directs the attention of Protestants against them; whereas in our view, in order to guard against the possible danger above named, the true course would be, to point out that danger to Catholics themselves, taking it for granted that they are as much opposed to despotism as we are. There is danger in the organization of our government, but ought those who disapprove of that organization, to denounce those who approve of it, or should they point out to them the danger, and beseech them to beware of that danger? Certainly the last course were the proper one.

For the same reason and in the same spirit we would direct the eye of the Catholic to the threatened subjection, convinced that he loves liberty and his country as truly as we do; convinced that he will lay down his life rather than be false to that country. The Roman Catholics of Maryland were the first tolerant community; forbidding and abjuring nearly two hundred years since, what is still asserted to be the faith of their church, the persecution of heretics. The patriots of modern Italy, Silvio Pellico and his fellow-martyrs, are Catholics: many of our own revolutionary soldiers and leaders were Catholics; thousands of the exiled Poles are of that faith, and so were numbers of the United Irishmen; and do not these facts prove that no necessary connection exists between Catholicism and despotism? and shall we not hold the Catholics of this country as stanch freemen, until proved otherwise?

The danger from emigration we see and lament; it is bringing upon us a vast incubus of dark and un-American mind. From slavery, and from unchecked emigration, our liberties stand now endangered; and never were two more difficult problems presented to statesmen, than how to get rid of the one, and stop the other. But, as we look upon the abolitionists of the day as dangerous, however honest they be, so do we look

upon the strong anti-Catholics of the time as in a wrong path, however sincere and disinterested. We believe the course they are pursuing will hasten and not retard the dreaded union of politics and religion, and therefore it is, we regret to see Dr. Beecher giving his name and talents to that cause, and though in style less denunciatory than others, yet in substance going as far as any.

P.

NOTE.-After the above article was in type, the writer had the pleasure of conversing with a very intelligent German gentleman, relative to the exportation of Austrians, and other Germans to this country. He states that Austrians not only are not sent, but are not permitted to come, and that the smaller German States permit their subjects to emigrate only because they are too full of the spirit of liberty to be quiet at home; in no case, however, he says, has any German government sent out emigrants, if we except the case of Austria, who made over three ship-loads of Polish patriots to this country, because they were dangerous subjects. Our informant who had heard of one shipload, (note p. 8,) had reference, doubtless, to this transaction. The emigrating Germans (see Westminster Review for Jan. 1835, p. 85,) are many of them not paupers, but persons of substance, flying from oppression at home; they come out generally in communities, with physicians and priests. They come of their own accord, both Catholics and Protestants;* and to whatever point they please.-All the smaller German States, are under the political influence of Austria and Prussia, though not under their laws, and have not so many subjects that love despotism, as to be willing to part with any of them. One other thing we have had our attention called to since the above article was in type; it is that the anti-Catholic papers are broaching the doctrine that the "Papists" are to be opposed by the ballot-box. The Aurora of New Lisbon, of May 28th, says, "Will the people of this country deign to see such insolence (the knocking off of Duncan's hat in this city,) without giving it a just and merited rebuke at the ballotbox." The language of the Pittsburg Times, is equally plain, and it means, if we understand it rightly, "destroy the principle of religious toleration; unite Church and State by excluding Catholics." This is very different from the end which we are convinced Dr. Beecher has in view, but we believe it, or, what is yet farther from his wishes,--the action of the populace,―to be the natural and legitimate result of much contained in the Plea for the West.

It is worthy of remark, that in all Germany, including Austria, there are seventeen millions of Protestants to sixteen millions of Catholics.

ART. II.-1. The life of the Rev. George Crabbe, L. L. B. with his letters and journals, by the Rev. George Crabbe, A. M. his son. 2 vols.

2. Memoirs of the life and correspondence of Mrs. Hannah More. By William Roberts, Esq., author of "the Portraiture of a Christian Gentleman." 2 vols.

Among the many bright lights over whose extinction the world. has lately been called to mourn, there have been none more carefully trimmed, or whose rays have been more invariably bent upon the strait and narrow way, than the two on which we are about to comment. If the poet, as an author, were more highly endowed, having indeed a most original cast, if not the highest sort of genius, the prose writer (as a woman subject to greater difficulties,) made through a long life, the most rational and noble use of her faculties, while her actions were a perpetual commentary on her works, enhancing ten-fold the value of each sentiment and opinion. The bard and reprover of the poor may be not unfitly associated with her, who devoted herself to be their teacher and protectress, while she was the flattered darling and revered censor of the rich.

The life of Crabbe is given to us by his son. A child is not generally the most suitable biographer to a parent, nor are there many who would dare undertake so delicate a task. We have sometimes been charmed in the histories of celebrated men, by a passing tribute to the merits of a dear departed fosterer. We would mention as particularly happy, the notices of their parents with which Marmontel and Goethe have adorned their memoirs. But this is only done by occasional touches, lightly shaded sketches here and there. We recollect no full-length picture very well limned. If filial piety and delicacy towards the foibles of a parent be not the vir tues most frequently encountered, their absence is of all the most intolerable. We expect reverential tenderness in noting the most palpable faults of a parent, and absolute silence with regard to them when possible. We presume there is no tale more revolting to the minds of children than that of Esop's thief, who bit his mother's ear at the foot of the gallows, to which her weak love had brought him; and with all Moliere's wit, he is obliged to throw on the Scapins and Mascarilles all the blame of the stratagems, by which his young heirs dupe their parsimonious parents, to make the representation endurable to us.

In consequence of this deeply implanted sentiment, the careful analysis, the impartial scrutiny, which are the first re

quisites of biography, from a child towards a parent, revolt us; while on the other hand, as no unshaded picture can satisfy the eye, so the filial biography even of the judicious and accurate Miss Edgeworth, the brilliant and discriminating De Stael, seem but a tissue of palliatives and panegyrick on which we cannot, contentedly, pin our faith.

The present is the best essay we have seen, sui generis, and we are inclined to attribute this to the propitious nature of the subject. The life of Mr. Crabbe, divided between meritorious struggles and the blameless literary retirement which crowned them, seems never to have been polluted and distracted by that Titan-brood, who are generally so busy with the man of genius,-yet, for more satisfaction, we could have wished our poet in other hands. The biography is written in a clear unpretending style; there is no exaggeration of any sort; the excellencies of Crabbe as the father, the poet, and the man, are spoken of in that tone of deep, but restrained feeling, so appropriate and interesting in the situation of the narrator; still we cannot but feel that we have the mere outline; the superficies of the man; and we would gladly have seen this very remarkable mind, not as in a glass, darkly, but in the full coloring of life.

Yet secure that what we have is true, so far as it goes, we may here admire the power of "that very fiery particle," the mind, to struggle with the adverse elements, and if not absolutely stifled by heavy earth or hostile water, to rise into the friendly air, and there manifest itself a beauty and a portent.

George Crabbe was born in a low condition, and amidst circumstances apparently most unpropitious to poetical development. But one friend had his early youth, one instructor in that art of generalizing, of interpreting phenomena by the spirit of the universe, without which, the most active mind must remain earth-bound, narrow and desultory. This fostering friend, this elevating teacher was-the ocean. That mighty voice to which so many ears are marvellously, incomprehensibly deaf, spake to the depths of his soul, gave meaning and dignity to the miscellaneous lore of a low and oppressed lot, teaching him to feel and understand men, books, himself, in connexion with the great system of things.

The sublimity of nature does not, we believe, separate us from man. We have heard many describe their emotion when standing on ocean's brink, and listening to its voice, as utter absorption, an involuntary yielding to, and mingling with its solemn power. This we have felt, but also know that this mighty music has another action. Once, an hour of strong