em, who could so madly rush upon the sharp theological spears
of their own beloved clergymen. Dismay, or doubt, or apprehension of any
kind, were altogether out of the question, as was evident from the proud
look, the elated eye, and the confident demeanor by which each of them
might be distinguished. Here and there, you might notice an able-bodied,
coarse-faced Methodist Preacher, with lips like sausages, sombre visage,
closely cropped hair, trimmed across his face, sighing from time to
time, and, with eyes half closed, offering up a silent prayer for
victory over the Scarlet Lady; or, perhaps, thinking of the fat ham
and chicken, that were to constitute that day's dinner, as was not
improbable, if the natural meaning were to be attached to the savory
spirit with which, from time to time, he licked, or rather sucked at,
his own lips. He and his class, many of whom, however, are excellent
men, sat at a distance from the platform, not presuming to mingle with
persons who consider them as having no title to the clerical character,
except such as they conveniently bestow on each other. Not so the
Presbyterian Clergymen who were present. They mingled with their
brethren of the Establishment, from whom they differed only in a less
easy and gentlemanly deportment, but yielded to them neither in kindness
of intellect, firmness, nor the cool adroitness of men well read,
and quite as well experienced in public speaking. At the skirt of
the platform sat the unassuming Mr. Clement, a calm spectator of the
proceedings; and in the capacity of messenger appeared. Darby O'Drive,
dressed in black--he had not yet entered upon the duties of his new
office--busily engaged in bringing in, and distributing oranges and
other cooling fruit, to those of the Protestant party who were to
address the meeting. High aloft, in the most conspicuous situation
on the platform, sat Solomon M'Slime, breathing of piety, purity, and
humility. He held a gilt Bible in his hands, in order to follow the
parties in their scriptural quotations, and to satisfy himself of their
accuracy, as well as that he might fall upon some blessed text, capable
of enlarging his privileges. There was in his countenance a serene
happiness, a sweet benignity, a radiance of divine triumph, partly
arising from the consciousness of his own inward state, and partly
from the glorious development of scriptural truth which would soon be
witnessed, to the utter discomfiture of Popery and t