The National Register. — London, England, 1815-12-24 00:00:00

THE N still reluctant in their submission to the Bourbons,we must believe that our brethren of the reformed religion, after 12 months experience of the paternal tenderness of the re. turned emigrants, aie driven to absolute despair, and prefer instant martyrdom to a lingering oppression. But this cannot be ; we confidently feel, that no religion is so little hostile to a good government as the Protestant. Give protection to worship interfere not with private de. votion, with the tranquil meeting, and the pious unpretend. ing psalmody of out brethren, who ask no pomp of proces. lion, and no splendour of decoration,—no theatre of gaudy mummeries, for their offering to the most High ; and their religion Emphatically teaches them submission to the power s that be. Protestants are, by religion, good subjects every where ; for it is of the very essence of their religion, to preach peace, and to spread its doctrines by preaching, and by prayer and exhortation ; not by whips and scourges, and faggots and buntings. We are not ashamed to say, for our own parts, that we feel alarmed at the present progress of Popery. When the revolution first appeared, we were in hopes, that if it should be subdued for the preservation of legitimate thrones, it would not be used as a means of raising au impenetrable barrier for the support of that most illegitimate of all thrones, the Papal chair ; uniting temporal power in one of the fairest portions of the globe, in one of the most re_ nowned cities of all ancient and of all modern times, with a vicarious, secret, inquisitorial authority, over the better part of all Europe. To judge from recent events, Popery, far from being extinguished, or in its wane, is reviving with furious strug gles, and hastening to march firth rapid strides ; and if the modern Charlemagne hath fallen, his fall is the signal, not merely for the deliverance l but for the spiritual and Catholic, that is universal, supremacy of the Church of Borne.— Eight thousand emigrants have lately, it is s'id, returned to France. With their return, the protestants in that coun try are expelled; their temples are closed ; 4he general, who, under the authority of the king, protects their worship, is assassinated ; their ancient priests are murdered. In Ire land, the power of the Pope is acknowledged by a majority of the people, in all things spiritual ; and negociations are entered into with him, to ax the nature of his authority over them, upon which he iNnwillitig to come to an explana tion, awaiting the chances of his reviving power. In Eng. land, a Cardinal Legate (the first4iince'the days of Ban. tier and the buntings in Smithfield) has been received at London, with the permission of the Government, deco. rated with the distinctive marks of his dignity, " in the same manner," says the present Pope, " as he wouid have appeared in Rome, the Capital of the Christian World.' n one district in Ireland only, the Papists have lately snide 500 converts ! The number of public chapels erected bete in the last 2Nyears by the Papists,is 900; and we have monastic illgitUtioll3 in 'Eaddatd ) and a great collegiate se. L REGISTER. D . 24, minary at Sto . neyhurst. Who can doubt, then, but that Popery bath increased, is increasing, and ought to be diminished. The Powers of Europe have combined to throw down a monstrous imperial and political tyranny: let them beware that they do not assist in the replacing of a pontifical and spiritual tyranny. Far from thinking it indecorous or unnecessary for be Protestant Governments to inteyfere with the internal go. vernment of France, as far as respects religion, after - giving its sanction to the Charter, we think it the bounden duty.of all true Christians, to prevent the extinction of the light of Christianity in France, by supporting and protecting the Protestants, by guaranteeing to them the liberty of Wor. ship, and the liberty of the Press. We have not time to pursue the subject furtherat pre. sent ; but after reading the note that accompanied the late treaty, and which faintly recognizes the Charter, and boldly denounces vengeance against all actual insurrection of the people ; we, as friends to our religion, cannot but regret, that, in this re - spect,:we appear to have actually interfered with the Protestant part of the people of France, to subject them to the dominion of the Pope ; and, if it so please the King of France, to the power of the inquisition, without the opportunity of an appeal to reason, and to the public of Europe. Looking at the present state of the Press in France, and particularly to the instance given in suppressing the defence of the Protestants, we are compelled to say, that we have no hope of our divine religion extending itself, in the spirit of truth and of peace, over Europe, unless a free press 15 established wherever the Papal authority is set up ; and wherever English blood has been shed, we hope it will be compensated by the recovery of freedom; the establishment of free worship, and a pres. 4; without which, in the shape of cheap tracts, and repository pamphlets, little hope can be now had, for the support of the Protestant Church abroad. We write on the eve of Christmas, and we feel the awful sanctity of the approaching hour. The Birth of Christ, we trust, was not for the suppression of all choice in matter of religion. His blood was shed by a cruel persecution and we pray to God, that the blood of Englishmen may nu•ver he again shed, in maintaining the horrible system of that violence and terror by which the Papal tyranny is sup. orted. The commissioners for ascertaining the boundarsr line be tween Carolina and the territory of the Indians of the South West were about to commence their journey. It has, however, been deemed necessary that they should be accompanied by a strong military force. The English residents have taken into consideration, a plan for making new roads to extend to the Lakes St. Lawrence and Champlain ; this is done with a view to encourage a commercial intercourse with the Americans in that quarter. The completion of the scheme would reduce considerably the prices of American articles, compared with what is now paid. The jlrojeet for a canal from Albany to I ..aloe Erie is revived, 'which is expected to prove of great ;tau lAnctit. I :. 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