ect, something of irony and satire, looked
upon his curate with dismay--the smooth and rosy cheek got pale, as did
the whole purple face down to the third chin, each of which reminded one
of the diminished rainbows in the sky, if we may be allowed to except
that they were not so heavenly.

"Clement," said he, "you amaze me--that is a most exceedingly clear view
of the matter. Transfer them! no such thing, it would be a most dreadful
calamity, unless church property were proportionately increased; but,
could not that be done, Clement? Yes," said he, exulting at the idea,
as one of which he ought to feel proud, "that could and would be
done--besides I relish the multiplication of the bishoprics, under any
circumstances, and therefore we will proceed with the Reformation. At
all events, it would be a great blessing to get rid of Popery, which we
would do, if we could accomplish this glorious project."

"I must confess, sir," replied Mr. Clement gravely, "that I have never
been anxious for a mere change of speculative opinions in any man,
unless when accompanied by a corresponding improvement in his life and
morals. With respect to the Reformation Society, I beg leave to
observe that I think the plan for the present is unseasonable, and only
calculated to fill the kingdom with religious dissention and hatred.
The people, sir, are not prepared to have their religion taken by storm;
they are too shrewd for that; and I really think we have no just cause
to feel anxious for the conversion of those who cannot appreciate the
principles upon which they embrace our faith, as must be the case with
ninety-nine out of every hundred of them. I have ever been of opinion
that the policy pursued by England towards this country has been the
bane of its happiness. She deprived the Irish Roman Catholics of the
means of acquiring education, and then punished them for the crimes
which proceeded from their ignorance. They were a dissatisfied, a
tumultuous, and an impracticable, because they were an oppressed,
people; and where, by the way, is there a people, worthy to be named
such, who will or ought to rest contented under penal and oppressive
laws. But there was a day when they would have been grateful for the
relaxation of such laws. Oppression, however, has its traditions, and
so has revenge, and these can descend from father to son, without
education. If Roman Catholic disabilities had been removed at a proper
time, they would long since