self (he being also an old and frail wizened body) might have been, in her place; whereupon she was desired, towards men of worship, to use more reverence in her speech, and not to permit herself a supposition, as though his judge's lordship might peradventure have been in her place, who was but a base midwife. Unto which she made rejoinder, that she did not use the supposition that he had been in her place as a midwife, but in her place as one that walked on the street, adding further, that she had herself seen the judge's worship so walk, by this token that he also had at that same time, hand in hand with "the squire," (so she named the stranger) flown or leaped into the air, if not wholly so high as she was accused of doing, yet in any wise higher than it was customary in Berlin to do; and yet had nobody, for this, fallen on the unworthy suspicion that his worship was a witch. And upon this being asked, how the judge's worship could be a witch, seeing none were such but old women, she made reply, evasively, and altogether from the purpose, that professionally she esteemed such to be old women, who were past bearing.

As nothing could be got out of her by oral questioning, it was determined at length to have recourse to the application of the mechanic powers, and to administer to her the question (emphatically so called), in its extremest urgency. And now, not being able to endure the pain, she relaxed from her obstinacy, and confessed all that was required of her; namely, that being of a long time in league with the accursed fiend, she had wrought, and up to that day did work, all manner of flagitious deeds of sorcery; that it was true she had bewitched Dame Lütkins, and by her incantations had conjured into the place of the true Christian infant that abominable mis-born imp; and that, moreover, in concert with two witches of Blumberg, whose necks the "squire" (being tired of) had some time since wrung, she had slaughtered and cooked many christened children, in order to cause dearth in the country.

Her guilt being thus by her own confession fully established, this execrable woman was adjudged, as a witch, to be burnt alive in the new marketplace. Hither, when the day appointed

for the execution arrived, she was conducted, amid an innumerable concourse of people, and made to ascend the pile erected for her in the middle. She had on a fair pelisse of fur, which she was bid lay aside, that it should not be consumed with her body; but of this she seemed to make little ac count, and would by no means conform to that which was desired of her, saying that the hangman's knaves should bind her to the stake, clothed as she was; in which humour finally she was indulged, and so it was done.

The pile was lighted, and burned up at all the four corners, when it was observed that the stranger stood among the crowd, and, towering gigantic over all around, glared on the witch with motionless blazing eyes. The thickening volumes of smoke went whirling up, the flames rushed from every side towards the old woman as if they had been living things, leaping, and crackling, and streaming up with a savage roar, until they had caught the garment in which she had wrapped herself, ravening like wolves for the quick flesh within; but at this she shrieked, in a voice that made the blood of all that heard it run curdling to their hearts, "Ha! Satan! Satan! keepest thou thus the league thou struckest with me? Help, Satan! help! my time is not yet out!"

All eyes followed the direction of those of the hag, which were bent with a frenzied gaze on the spot where the stranger had stood. But he stood there no more: nobody had seen him go, yet he was gone vanished — as if that portly form, the observed of all observers, the cynosure of Berlin, had been an optical illusion of the Fata Morgana sort. Some there were who said, afterwards, that they had seen him disappear, and that he did not wane off by little and little, into grey mist and thin air, tapering gradually into dimness and invisibility, like a ghost at the approach of daylight, but vanished at once, became extinct, non-extant, negative, in a moment; went out, in short, like a candle when you blow it out. And as the candle leaves a smoke, so did he; for there was seen to hang for a moment over the place where he had stood, a thin dark vapour, which, as the people gazed upon it, seemed to condense and take the form of a monstrous bat.

More and more palpable became the unclean shape to all eyes; it shot first whirring up to a great height into the air, then, stooping like a falcon on the pile, it laid hold on the pelisse of the old woman, and bore her aloft and away therein, soaring higher and farther till it was lost to the eye, while on the ear still came a doubtful sound from above, as of far off, eldritch laughter.

The multitude stood with blanched cheeks, and hearts faint and sick with dread; the glad sunshiny world around them seemed converted into a huge devil's phantasmagory, where were gibbering spectres and wily fiends, in wait for their simple souls. Who could be sure, from henceforth, that

the oldest familiar face that greeted him in his daily walks, was not a mere specious mask, behind which some guileful demon chuckled over his approaching destruction? For it was but too manifest that the civil stranger whom they had made so much of, was no other than the devil himself, who must certainly have had some shrewd mischief hatching against the good souls in Berlin, when for such a length of time he conducted himself in such a Christian-like and neighbourly way, beguiling with his hellish craft Master Walther Lütkins, and many other wise men and judicious women.

So great is the power of the devil, against whose craft the good powers keep us all in grace.

A STATE paper of much importance has recently emanated from the court of Rome. It is the address of Cardinal Pacca, pronounced "at the solemn opening of the academy of the Catholic religion"- -an address which derives authority from the circumstances under which it was spoken, but far higher authority from its contents, and from the well-known character of the speaker. "It is to be regarded," observes the editor of the Journal des Debats, "as an exposé of the ideas of the court of Rome on the subject of Catholicism in the different states of Europe, and as a resumé of its views and expectations. Under other forms of language, politics constitute its substance. Independently of the interest due to the subject, the address derives high consequence from the exalted position, the age, the abilities, of Cardinal Paccafrom the part he has played in the great affairs of Europe, and from his consummate experience." " We do not expect," continues the journal, "that the dean of the sacred college should be less than ultramontane; but it is good that governments should know that Rome has renounced no one of its pretensions. Let them reflect that

they are warned.”

Let the states of Europe consider themselves warned! The memento no one will think uncalled for, who reflects upon the indifference of governments to the progress of political schemes, which cover themselves with the name of religion, and concern themselves only with the inculcation and development of principles. Our times, if not "out of joint," exhibit some aspects of which the characteristics are very uncommon. There are many thinkers to be found in the people of every country. England, although not having her fair proportion of them, is not altogether destitute. Principles have honour paid to them in every civilized region. it is a very remarkable peculiarity of our age, &c., a peculiarity strikingly

But

evidenced in our country, that the thinkers who concern themselves with principle abide among the people, that those upon whom the responsi bility of governing is laid, bow down before the ascendancy of facts. If it were not so, the warning and the menace of the Parisian journalist would have been uncalled for, and would be especially out of place in the lands where it is now most seasonable England and France.

Rome has renounced no one of her pretensions!" "It is good that governments should be warned" of this truth. It is not a little surprising that governments should have become regardless of it. We confidently affirm that, since the erection of modern Romanism into a power, it has never been guilty of an act which could justly be said to imply an abandonment of its high pretensions. Governments, in their embarrassments, may have thought it convenient to put away the remembrance of them; statesmen may have found it for their interest to concealor in their indifference, may not have understood, the principles and the purposes of the court of Rome-they may have accepted also evidence, which, in other cases, they would have refused, that those dangerous principles and ambitious purposes were foregone and changed-but, in behalf of Romanism, we contend, that it never made itself responsible for the erroneous conceptions of sovereigns or states-that, in the warfare of diplomacy, it never stooped to the employment of a stratagem which it could not justify by its acknowledged code of morals-that it never deceived a political party, whether government or people, which ought not to charge on its own precipitancy, wilfulness, or culpable ignorance, the guilt of its betrayal. So much has been of late years written and spoken against the duplicity of Rome, that we feel bound to make this acknowledgment in her favour.

To return to our subject-there is

something of commanding interest in the office assumed by Cardinal Pacca, or rather by the church of which he appears in this instance the organthat of influencing national interests in every part of the Christian or civilised world. It is, truly, a phenomenon little less than marvellous, to see a state such as that of Rome, not only attempting, but succeeding in the attempt, to exert an influence over foreign countries. It is (one would say) feeble and disorganised — the people without love or respect for their rulers-the rulers altogether incapable of quelling or controlling the factions which threaten their overthrow-helpless in themselves-existing by a precarious dependance on a power, which, if exerted against them, they are unable to resist and which, even by withholding its protection and support, could seal their destruction. In such adverse circumstances the court of Rome maintains a haughty port, cherishes ambitious purposes, and instead of thinking to prolong a precarious existence by concentrating its energies within the narrow limits of its more especial jurisdiction, seems to dilate in a consciousness of universal dominion, and meditates or conducts great enterprizes within, or against, all countries upon the face of the earth, while it knows well, that even within its Own "States of the Church," its authority is ill-assured and feeble.

The

It is

And thus it has been ever. policy of papal Rome and that of pagan have strongly resembled each other. Both have been aggressive. To distract and defeat their enemies abroad, rather than contend against them upon the Italian soil, is found to be as prudent a device in modern times as it was when, under the generalship of Africanus, it had a successful issue in the destruction of Carthage. not to be wondered at that Rome should persist in a tactique through which many a triumph has been attained, but it is scarce less than wonderful to find the nations against which it has been employed, persevering in the policy or the impolicy which has conspired to its success. Romanism is vulnerable in its creed-in its creed only; and while it is contriving the disturbance and dismemberment of states, through agencies so subtle while they are weak, so peremptory when

strong, that it is thought no more than clemency to connive at them, or prudence to take them into alliance, the central principle of the false creed is suffered to remain in the obscurity with which it is artfully covered-the "veiled prophet" is permitted to prosecute his ambitious enterprises, and to gather around his banner multitudes who would abhor and renounce their merciless leader, if it were given them to look upon his deformity.

It is a confirmation of these views that, where Romanisin has been at liberty to embody her principles in act, her authority is prostrate or declining, -that where she is so held in check, that she can be cruel only in speculation, she is rising into power. In Spain and Portugal her wand is broken-her strength is gone. In Italy her dominion is maintained by foreign aid. In Belgium, in France, in England, she seems preparing-such are the flattering signs of the times-to resume her ancient ascendancy.

In speaking of the state of Spain and Portugal, Cardinal Pacca places no restraint upon the eloquence of his sorrow and indignation. He had many years since feared that calamity was to come upon these once favoured countries-that the relative condition of Spain and Africa was to be reversed; the latter restored to the faith for which it had been once illustrious, and Spain re-plunged into barbarism and infidelity. He wished that such thoughts had been dreams, not visions had belonged rather to poetry than prophecy :

"But, alas," he continues, "the melancholy state of religious affairs in Portugal and Spain recalled to me these sad presentiments, and I feared that the fatal day was come, when the faith would abandon these realms, once so catholic and faithful. I have seen on the coasts of Africa valiant France setting up again in triumph the standard of the cross, re-erecting altars, converting profane mosques into temples dedicated to the Lord, and constructing new churches; whilst on the opposite shore they despoil in Spain holy altars, tear down or deliver to the flames edifices set apart for divine worship. I have seen, in Africa, a holy and venerable pastor surrounded by zealous priests, not only received with acclamations and enthu siasm by catholics, but respected, venerated, by infidels, by Bedouins, and Arabs; whilst in unhappy Spain they

were cited before the tribunals of laymen, faithful pastors constrained to undergo unjust judgments, cast into prison, or banished from their sees, and in the very house of the Lord august ministers of the sanctuary cruelly slain at the foot of the holy altars, in hatred of the catholic religion.

"I have seen on the coasts of Africa, in Algiers, received as angels from heaven the daughters of Saint Vincent de Paul, the venerable sisters of charity who, armed only in their gentleness, their modesty, their tender solicitude for the afflicted, awakened admiration and enthusiasm in the hearts of infidels, and disposed them to accept the light of the gospel, and embrace a religion which inspires and cultivates so many virtues. And on the opposite shore, in Spain, the virgins dedicated to God were driven forth from their sacred asylums, and deprived of all resources necessary for the sustenance of life.

"Would not all this seem to announce, as I have said, and to cause fear for Spain, that the fearful moment is at hand when God, in his justice, wills to convey elsewhere the light of the faith and to fill up the fatal menace, which the Saviour made to the Jews, in the words cited by St. Matthew The kingdom of heaven shall be taken, to be given to another people, to bring forth fruits thereof.""

Such is the state of Spain-the country to which Rome committed especially the defence of her church. The cardinal, who laments over it, consoles and encourages himself by the more cheering prospect presented by the condition of England.

"I cannot behold without sorrow this situation of the Catholic Church in those two kingdoms (Spain and Portugal)— where it was formerly so flourishing. It is with very different feelings that I shall now consider what is passing in another country, where for several centuries, it had been groaning under the most rigorous and tyrannical persecution. There the unfortunate Catholics were denied even the consolation of a free exercise of their worship; not only was that worship not tolerated, but it was even proscribed under the severest and most cruel penalties. At present, through a marvellous change, new temples and magnificent cathedrals are to be seen rising in those very same regions, in honour of God-convents and monasteries are being built for the religious of both sexes and a beneficent and generous hospitality is tendered to the priests of foreign nations, whom the persecu

tion of their native country has struck. It is easily seen that I am adverting to England. These facts are most consol. ing. Yet, we must not flatter ourselves as some persons already do, that the sect denominated Anglican is already on the point of expiring. It is quite true that it is daily losing some ground, abandoned as it is by innumerable sectarians, who have already fallen into complete incredulity and by many others, who, enlightened by the divine grace, are returning to the bosom of their mother, the Catholic church, which has not ceased to love them with tenderness. Nevertheless, that Anglican church is an edifice, which, however impaired and tottering as it seems to be, rests on two firm props, the power of the aristocracy and the opulence of the clergy.

"So long as the great lords of that country shall be permitted to distribute to their brethren, children, and nephews, the opulent revenues of the episcopal manses, and of the rich benefices, amounting annually to £6,000,000, or 32,800,000 Roman scudi, it is vain to flatter ourselves that that sect will disappear. But if the Lord continues to bless the zeal and labours of our clergy in England, the Protestant pas. tors will soon be abandoned by the larger portion of their flock. It is not long ago, that the Protestant rector of a parish in Ireland had no other parishioners but his wife, children, and maidservant. At all events, that which the Anglicans call defection, and which we call conversion, will force the government to reflect seriously. In other times it might have been feared, that it would but serve to render persecution more violent-but in the present state of Europe, none but results favourable to the cause of the Catholics can be expected from it.

"England, therefore, yields us consolation amidst the sorrows of the church."

We are not disposed to envy to his eminence this transitory consolation. The condition of the church in England is certainly not that which we could wish-but our reliance upon truth and on the English character is such that we can read the predictions and menaces of foreign and domestic enemies without dismay. It is true that the public mind is much disturbed and alarmed on subjects of surpassing interest-true, also, that elements in the Church of England which had been held in combination now show themselves distinct and separated-but we are persuaded that this state of