same prudential motive which prompts the government to retain always in the capital a few men superior to the rest of their order, with the double motive of passing them off upon foreigners as only an average specimen of their class, and of avoiding the reproaches which the gross ignorance of the majority of the clergy would be sure to provoke. "There is not a Christian nation, however insignificant it may be, whose sacred literature does not cast into the shade that of the immense populations of the holy Russia. Nicolas Novikow, interpreter to the Holy Synod, and the metropolitan Eugenius Bulgari, inform us, that this church, which has existed nearly ten ages, has not begotten more than 213 writers!" And even of many of these the works are utterly insignificant. Moreover, twothirds of the ecclesiastical writers of the Russian Church are foreigners. Only ninety-four amongst them belong to their own nation, and all these either received their education abroad, or at the hands of some foreigner.' It would be obviously absurd to discuss the learning of such a nation as this.

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But Russia, or rather the Russian government, in asserting its pretensions to every other possession of Western Europe, wishes to claim that of learning also. "Russia," exclaims M. de Custine, indignant at the fraud and hypocrisy which encountered him at every turn, "is the empire of catalogues; to read as a collection of titles, it is magnificent; but take care that you dont search further. If you open the book, you will find nothing in it which the titles announce. All the chapters are marked, but they are all still to be written......the very nation itself is as yet only an advertisement, placarded in the face of Europe, the with those of the Europeans and Armenians." Histoire de la Compagnie de Jesus, tome v. chap. i. p. 9. They do the same thing now even in Constantinople. And in Russia itself, before the present policy of that empire was developed, and as it has been by the reigning emperor, Alexander, at the beginning of the present century, pursuing the plans of his predecessors, Catherine and Paul, entrusted to Jesuits the difficult task of "preparing unity amongst the heterogeneous colonists of Saratof, on the banks of the Wolga, and still later at Odessa and Astrakhan." Ibid, chap. vii. p. 508. Paul I. encouraged the spread of Catholicism designedly: Comme le plus formidable rampart entre les desordres de l'intelligence et les revoltes de l'esprit." p. 498.

66

* L'Eglise Schismatique Russe, chap. xi. p. 260.

dupe of a diplomatic fiction. When Catherine II. published her vast project of national education, according to which all the sciences, all languages, and all knowledge, were to be taught at once in all the corners of the empire, -and caused this stupendous scheme to be translated and circulated all over Europe; "we may be sure, says Theiner, "that in reading the panegyrics which such a stage-trick secured for her, she could not restrain the inextinguishable laughter which her success provoked. We have the proof of it in a letter written by her, to the governor of Moscow, one of her former paramours. She said to him: My dear prince, do not grieve if our Russians have no desire for instruction, and if the order to erect schools in my empire was made not for us, but for Europe, and to perpetuate amongst foreigners the good opinion which they have of us. For from the moment that the Russian people shall have seriously commenced to instruct themselves, I shall no longer continue empress, nor you governor of Moscow."

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It is the same system of deceit and imposture which still rules in Russia, and according to which all the clergy have lately been ordered to possess themselves of a certain religious code," printed in 1838, though the government knows perfectly well that they neither can nor will procure it, and that they could not comprehend it if they did. "Like the oukases of Peter, of Catherine, or of Nicolas; like the gigantic creations of schools; like the pompous relations of the Synod, of which almost the whole reality reposes upon the indignation of the authors; like all those juggleries without number, with which the Russian government has amused Europe during a century and a half; this magnificent work of ecclesiastical instruction is nothing but a handful of dust to be thrown in the eyes of idle or curious bystanders." It is not to promote learning, but to perpetuate ignorance, that the rulers of Russia direct all their efforts; for they know that with knowledge comes freedom, and that freedom would inspire war with a cruel and oppressive government, and peace and reconciliation with the Catholic Church.

The great length to which this article has unavoidably extended does not permit us to prolong it still further by reflections which, if we are not deceived, will offer them

* Ibid, chap. xi. p. 298.

6

selves spontaneously to every mind. We are not insensible of the disadvantage of considering, within the narrow compass of a Review, a subject upon which many volumes have been written, and for the due appreciation of which much study and examination is imperatively required. Enough perhaps has been said to give an adequate idea of the real character of the Greek schism, and to justify the proposition with which we commenced," that the separated Greek Church, far from being a witness against the Church of Rome,' offers a more complete, effective, and irresistible testimony in proof both of her claims and doctrines, than all other institutions whatsoever.' But it is necessary to have weighed carefully, not merely such fragments of evidence as our scanty space has enabled us to present, but the whole history of the Russian and oriental sects, especially during the last two centuries, in order to comprehend fully the grave lessons which that history involves. Whoever has not done this, though he may arrive at the most accurate general conclusions, and easily distinguish between the true mother of the faithful, and those who affect or usurp her titles, will not have a just impression either of the profound degradation of the schismatical communities, or of the immutability of God's promises to His Church. There is an observation of Saint Augustine, and with this we conclude, of the truth of which the history of the followers of Photius and Michael Cerularius affords one of the most striking illustrations. He is noticing how the efforts of her various enemies, and even their very existence, serve only to promote the glory of the Church, and he adds: "Utitur enim gentibus ad materiam operationis suæ; hæreticis ad probationem doctrinæ suæ; schismaticis ad documentum stabilitatis suæ; Judæis ad comparationem pulchritudinis suæ." Let any one, who possesses the necessary qualifications, compare, according to this suggestion of St. Augustine, the respective histories of the Catholic Church and of the various dissident communities; and we are persuaded that he will find, if hitherto he has been attached to the latter, only a new and affecting admonition to return to Unity; and if he have the happiness to be already a member of the former, a fresh motive for repeating once more that song of praise and thanksgiving which it belongs only

*De Vera Religione, cap. vi. opp. tom. i. p. 302. Paris, 1586.

to the faithful to utter: "Lauda, Jerusalem, Dominum; lauda Deum tuum, Sion: Quoniam confortavit seras portarum tuarum, benedixit filiis tuis in te."

ART. VIII.-1. Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down,

Connor, and Dromore, consisting of a Taxation of those Dioceses compiled in the year MCCCVI. with notes and illustrations. By the Rev. WILLIAM REEVES, M.B.M.R.I.A., perpetual curate of Kilcouriola, in the diocese of Connor. Dublin, Hodges & Smyth, 1847. 2. Leabhar na g-ceart, or the Book of Rights. Now for the first time edited, with translation and notes, by John O'Donovan, Esq., M.R.I.A., Barrister at Law. Dublin, printed for the Celtic Society, 1847.

3. Publications of the Irish Archæological Society, namely, 1.-The Circuit of Ireland, by Muircheartach Mac Neill, Prince

of Arleach; a Poem written in the year 1442, by Cormacan Eigeas, chief poet of the north of Ireland, now for the first time printed, with a Translation and Notes by John O'Donovan, Esq. Dublin, 1841.

2.-The Banquet of Dun Na N-Gedh, and the Battle of Magh Rath an ancient historical tale, from a manuscript in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, with a Translation and Notes by John O'Donovan, Esq. Dublin, 1842.

3.-A Treatise of Ireland, by John Dymock, from a manuscript in the British Museum, with Notes by the Rev. Richard Butler, A.B.M.R.I.A. Dublin, 1842.

4.-Jacobi Grace Kilkenniensis Annales Hiberniæ, edited with a Translation and Notes, by the Rev. R. Butler. Dublin, 1842. 5.-The Tribes and Customs of Hy-Many, commonly called O'Kelly's Country, with a Translation and Notes, and a Map of Hy-Many, by John O'Donovan. Dublin, 1843.

6.-The Genealogies, Tribes, and Customs, of Hy-Fiachrach, commonly called O'Dowda's Country, now first published, with a Translation and Notes, and a Map of Hy-Fiachrach, by John O'Donovan. Dublin, 1844. 7.-The Book of Obits and Martyrology of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, commonly called Christ Church, Dublin: edited from the original manuscript in Trinity College, Dublin, by John Clarke Crosthworte, A.M., with an introduction, by James Henthorn Todd, DD., V.P.R.I.A.,F.T.C.D. Dublin, 1844. 8.-Registrum Prioratus omium Sanctorum Juxta, Dublin, edited from a manuscript in T. C. D., with Additions and Notes by the Rev. Richard Butler. Dublin, 1845.

9.-A Chorographical Description of West or H-Iar, Conn ught, written A.D. 1684, by Roderick O'Flaherty, Esq., author of the Ogygia, edited from a manuscript in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, with Notes by James Hardiman, M.R.I.A. Dublin, 1846.

10.-The Miscellany of the Irish Archæological Society, Dublin, 1846, containing a Poem attributed to St. Columbkille, with a Translation and Notes by J. O'Donovan, and many other interesting papers.

THE

HE first thing which must strike the most superficial reader of the catalogue of publications which we have placed at the head of this article, is the immense impulse which has been given within the last few years, to the study of Irish History. The investigation of our ancient annals, has at length engaged the attention of men of all parties, and united them in the pursuit of one common object. By a species of miracle, party feuds and religious animosities have been forgotten, and the rank and wealth of the country, as well as its genius and virtue, have combined for the glorious object of illustrating its sad but eventful story. Two societies, the Archæological and the Celtic, have started into existence, for the purpose of publishing the ancient documents connected with the history of our country, not in jealous rivalry, but in zealous emulation of each other. The desire for this kind of knowledge, which was fostered by the Archæological society amongst the wealthier classes, having been communicated to the less affluent members of the community, it became necessary to found another association with similar objects, but on a broader and less expensive basis. The new society was so far from being treated with coldness or dislike, that it grew out of the old, many of whose most distinguished members took a prominent part in its formation, and both are now cordially co-operating in the promotion of the common object of their institution. They mutually and amicably arrange what works shall be taken up by each, so that their publications can never clash with each other. Both are eminently worthy of support, were it only on account of the example of forbearance and unanimity which they set before Irishmen. Here are two societies, each of which numbers amongst its members many of the clergy and laity of the Catholic and Protestant churches, the fellows of Trinity College, and the Professors of Maynooth, and all these hitherto antagonistic elements, which