he Man of Sin.
For some time before the business of the day commenced, each party
was busily engaged in private conferences; in marking passages for
reference, arranging notes, and fixing piles of books in the most
convenient position. Mr. Lucre was in full pomp, exceedingly busy,
directing, assisting, and tending their wants, with a proud courtesy,
and a suavity of manner, which no man could better assume. The
deportment and manners of the Roman Catholic clergy were strongly
marked, and exceedingly well defined; especially in determination of
character and vigor of expression. In a word, they were firm, resolute,
and energetic. Among the latter, the busiest by far, and the most
zealous was Father M'Cabe, who assumed among his own party much the same
position that Mr. Lucre did among his. He was, no doubt of it, in great
glee, and searched out for Mr. Lucre's eye, in order to have a friendly
glance with him, before the play commenced. Lucre perceived this, and
avoided him as much as he could; but, in fact, the thing was impossible.
At length he caught the haughty parson's eye, and exclaimed with a
comical grin, which was irresistible--

"I am glad to see you here, Mr. Lucre; who knows, but we may make a
Christian of you yet. You know that we, as Catholics, maintain that the
power of working miracles is in the Church still; and that, certainly,
would prove it."

Mr. Lucre bowed, and smiled contemptuously, but made no reply.

When the chairman was appointed, and the regulations by which the
meeting was to be guided, read and assented to by both parties, the
melee commenced; and, indeed, we are bound to say, that a melancholy
comment upon Christian charity it was. It is not our intention to give
anything like a report of this celebrated discussion, inasmuch, as two
reports, each the genuine and authentic one, and each most egregiously
contradictory of the other, have been for several years before the
public, who, consequently, have a far better right to understand the
business than we do, who are at this distant date merely the remote
historian.

We may be permitted to say, however, that the consequences of this great
discussion were such as are necessarily produced by every exhibition of
the kind. For a considerable time afterwards nothing was heard between
Catholic and Protestant but fierce polemics, and all the trite and wordy
arguments that are to be found in the mouths of ignorant and prejudiced
men on both sides