Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

have been applied to the solution of the problem; but the interpretation which the Sanscrit yields is in every way unexceptionable. Whatever, then, might have been the spot in which this extraordinary tongue was originally cultivated, whatever might have been its primitive form, Colebrooke's opinion, that it is deducible from a primeval tongue, variously refined in different climates, where it accepted different names, is the most rational, and that which is the most justified by the result of philological researches.

The words which Mr. Winning has compared with each other are compared with great judgment, and Mr. Winning deserves great praise from every philologer for the valuable labours which he has performed. But he appears to us to attach an undue importance to Grimm's law: it is good as far as it goes, but it does not go far enough. Causes, which cannot be recapitulated

[blocks in formation]

tanidan (to twist) Eng. to twine; dan being merely the sign of

[blocks in formation]

From hence we will pass to the Arabic, in which most of the derivations from the Hebrew which lexicographers have given, may be included.

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

Eng. a claw (b and v being interchangeable).

Eng. vanish.

Eng. jewel (r and being interchangeable).

Eng. cable.

gewgaw.

in a review, effect permutations in language; and a comparison of given terms in any tongue with their cognates in others, will show the excursive extent to which they have reached. Take the Sanscrit, for instance; mark in it a series of words common to many Hindú dialects; examine their multifarious permutations, additions, and omissions; and it will be evident that Grimm's law does not comprehend all the circumstances to which it is applied. To determine the origin of words must ever be a difficult task, since from unknown causes many have passed into languages of totally different structures. Thus we find ab'hraka in Sanscrit, and in Arabic, with many more; whilst the genius of the tongues certifies us that they are absolutely distinct. We have fairly stated the points in which Mr. Winning and ourselves differ; but we give every credit to his industry, learning, and ingenuity. If he has erred in some particulars, he has

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

If we advert to the Malayu, we shall there find many of our nautical phrases. But the specimens adduced are sufficient to show, that no oriental family should be excluded from the comparison with European languages; for, what do we know of early intercourse? These specimens would be more striking if we had space to detail our laws of permutation and ellipsis.

pioneered the way to a new line of study, and has advanced in the comparison of languages beyond his predecessors. His work is devoid of that presumption which has frequently disgusted us, and it is one which merits particular attention, and should have its place in every literary collection. It contains much valuable knowledge, and is a book which could only have been written by a deeply thinking and diligent scholar.

ART. IX.—A Brief History of the Church in Upper Canada, containing the Acts of Parliament, Imperial and Provincial, Royal Instructions, Proceedings of the Deputation, Correspondence with the Government, Clergy Reserves Question, &c. &c. By WILLIAM BETTRIDGE, B.D. St. John's College, Cambridge, Rector of Woodstock, Upper Canada, one of the Deputation from the late Bishop of Quebec, the Bishop of Montreal, and the Archdeacons and Clergy of Upper Canada. London: W. E. Painter. 1838.

We have seldom met with a more interesting work. In the compass of a pamphlet it contains matter enough to fill a volume, and matter, moreover, of the most important and valuable kind. Mr. Bettridge has presented us with the history of the Church in one of the most important dependencies of the British crown, a subject which, independently of the interest it has always possessed in the eyes of the religious reader, cannot fail to acquire an additional claim on our attention at the present moment, from the events which have recently taken place in the provinces with which it is connected. We believe we shall be gratifying our readers, and at the same time promoting the object which Mr. Bettridge has in view, by making the contents of his work as extensively known as possible. We shall not hesitate, therefore, to make a large use of its pages in the present article.

The province of Quebec, as our readers are of course aware, was conquered by the gallant General Wolfe in the year 1759. The French commander exerted himself so zealously for the church to which he belonged, that of Rome, that he succeeded in securing for it by the articles of capitulation agreed upon previous to the surrender, the rights, privileges, lands or seigneuries, which it had held before the conquest of Wolfe. These stipulations were eventually confirmed by an act of the British parliament, passed in 1774. The granting of such terms appears to have excited animadversion, and justly we think, on the part of the Protestant population of the northern states of America, who solemnly declared in the assembly of their states the regret which they felt that such concessions should have been made. There are certain limits within which liberality should be con

fined, especially in religious subjects; and although the concession to a conquered people of the same privilege which they had enjoyed under their native sovereigns, may appear at first sight very generous, laudable, and proper, yet when we remember that those same privileges were from their very nature subversive of a Protestant monarchy and a Protestant Church (a result which late events in these districts have gone very near to produce), and were, moreover, totally opposed to that policy which was at the same time pursued towards the members of this faith in the mother country, we cannot but think, to say the least of it, that it was a very unwise and a very dangerous course to adopt. As Mr. B. observes, "The effects of this first concession to the Church of Rome, which as in her error, so in her enmity to the Protestant faith, boasts of being semper eadem, have been too plainly manifested to escape the attention of the reflecting portion of our people." The Church of England, however, was not entirely neglected in this measure of concession to the Romish faith; for it was expressly provided in the act that "It should be lawful for his Majesty, his heirs or successors, to make such, provision out of the rest of the said accustomed dues and rights for the encouragement of the Protestant religion, and for the maintenance and support of a Protestant clergy within the said province, as should from time to time be thought necessary and expedient." The dues and rights and lands, which were secured to the Church of Rome in Canada, it may not be generally known, are productive of a vast revenue. No curé, or parochial priest, in Lower Canada, each parish of which possesses one, has a less income than 2001. per annum; in general they have as much as 3007. per annum. But notwithstanding these large revenues, and the great property possessed by the monastic establishments in the provinces, it appears that liberality has been carried so far, that in 1832 the government gave an allowance of 1,000l. per annum to a Romish bishop in Lower Canada, which is still received by his successor.

The revolt of the United States of America commenced about the period of the passing of this act, and during the continuance of the struggle which took place between the mother country and her rebellious colonies, it seems that no attention whatever was paid to the ecclesiastical condition of the province of Quebec. After the evacuation of New York in 1783, the devoted friends of the British crown, preferring monarchical institutions to a republic, even at the sacrifice of their earthly possessions, took refuge in those districts which are now called Upper Canada. Singular enough, and as if to mark in the strongest manner the connexion which has always existed, and through the blessing of God we trust will ever continue so to do, between affection to the Church and loyalty to the Crown, the majority of these selfdevoted emigrants for righteousness' sake were churchmen.

They only asked that in the desert tracts to which they were journeying to find a city of refuge, they might still continue to enjoy those venerable institutions in Church and State for which they had fought and bled. This boon was promised to them. How it has been fulfilled will presently be seen.

In the year 1791, King George the Third, by a message to the parliament, intimated his intention to divide the province of Quebec, and expressed his wish that a good and sufficient provision might be made by a legislative enactment for the support of a Protestant clergy. The parliament immediately entered upon the consideration of the message, and an act was passed accordingly (31 Geo. III. c. 31), called the constitutional act of the Canadas. This act is regarded by the Church in that country as the security for her establishment," protection, enlargement, and support;" and upon the manner in which its clauses have been construed the whole question of the Canadian Church rests. The ecclesiastical sections of this act we shall lay before our readers. They are somewhat long, it is true, but they are necessary for the full elucidation of the subject:

"31 Geo. III. c. 31.—35. And whereas by the above-mentioned act, passed in the fourteenth year of the reign of his present Majesty, it was declared that the clergy of the Church of Rome in the province of Quebec might hold, receive, and enjoy their accustomed dues and rights, with respect to such persons only as should profess the said religion, Provided neverthless, that it should be lawful for his Majesty, his heirs or successors, to make such provision out of the rest of the said accustomed dues and rights for the encouragement of the Protestant religion, and for the maintenance and support of a Protestant clergy within the said province, as he or they should from time to time think necessary and expedient; And whereas, by his Majesty's royal instructions, given under his Majesty's royal sign manual, on the 3d of January, 1775, to Guy Carleton, Esquire, now Lord Dorchester, at that time his Majesty's captain-general and governor-in-chief in and over his Majesty's province of Quebec, his Majesty was pleased, amongst other things, to direct, "That no incumbent professing the said religion of the Church of Rome, appointed to any parish in the said province, should be entitled to receive any tithes for lands or possessions occupied by a Protestant, but that such tithes should be received by such persons as the said Guy Carleton, Esquire, &c., should appoint, and should be reserved in the hands of his Majesty's receiver-general of the said province, for the support of a Protestant clergy in his Majesty's said province, to be actually resident within the same and not otherwise, according to such directions as the said Guy Carleton, Esquire, &c., should receive from his Majesty in that behalf; and that in like manner all growing rents and profits of a vacant benefice should, during such vacancy, be reserved for and applied to the like uses; And whereas his Majesty's pleasure has likewise been signified to the same effect in his Majesty's royal instructions, given in like manner to Sir Frederick Haldinand, late his Majesty's captain-general, &c., in and over his Majesty's said province of Quebec,

« AnteriorContinuar »