The Press.
London, England, 1855-03-24 00:00:00

•

But as Mr. Parry was quite contented for the space
of twelve years with that system which he now
denounces as dishonest., may we not suppose that be
will be equally disgusted with Rome alter the same
period of trial ? We looked into Mr. Parry's
pamphlet with some expectation of finding the
Romish religion upheld by the most potent argu-
ments of sophistry. But nothing of the sort is there.
The author at great length attempts to prove
Protestantism a mere human system ; but the only
passage in support of the Church of Rome is the
following:-
- - -

The Roman Catholic Church has no rival as a divine
teacher, no limit to her power. She points you to the
mighty works she performs, to the Scriptures in which
you think you believe, to the certainty of her own children,
to the testimony of her adversaries, and to the wants of
human nature. If uncertainty suits you, you will reject
her, because she allows no doubt ; but if it is a supreme
wit;:ess that you seek, you will tall down in gratitude at
her feet. You will not examine into her doctrines before
you believe in her, for that would be making yourself her
judge ; nor will you be trying those doctrines by any
standard whatever that men way set up, for she is the only
divine standard of truth. She brings you the revelation,
and you accept it on her supreme authority; and you
cannot, therefore, interpret that revelation against herself.
It you leave her, there is no other to whom you can go ;
and if authority is wanted for your faith, yon cannot have
it out of her. She has the words of eternal life, and
teaches, without permission to doubt, the most momentous
doctrines. She unfolds them, in due season, as God sees
good. You may doubt her if you choose, but you cannot
supply her place. All over the world she has but one
creed—one majestic system. if she is in error, it is the
most gigantic error the mind can imagine. If she is in
error, there can be no certain truth.

Here we stop in amazement, and ask who is Mr.
Charles E. Parry, 8.A., that he is to give us a page-
full of dogmas on his cwn authority ? Rome's only
claim to infallibility is that no one may examine into
her doctrines. Why ;nay not every other Church
demand the same privileg -? The enlistment of
"common sense " into the ranks of Rome is certainly a
novelty ; but we believe it will be found but an incon-
venient recruit. Mr. Parry has acted wisely in leav-
ing any that he possessed behind him.

American Liberty and Government Questioned. By
Thomas Ryle. London : Longmans.
THE purpose of this volume is to set forth the un-
favorable opinion which many eminent American
authorities have expressed of the democratic govern-
Ment of their country. That government, in Mr.
Ryle's judgment, though favorable to the material
progress of America, is adverse to the moral and in-
tellectual cultivation of the people. The cheap un-
licensed press is set down as one of the " cardinal
corruptions " of the States. The following remarks
deserve attention at a moment when a great change
in our newspaper press is proposed :
In America there are many journals and periodicals that
would do honour to any land ; but alas! these are few
compared to the legion of halfpenny firebrands, in bad
small print, with calumny, slander, licentious tales, party
faction, and demagogism for their principal stock in trade.
From this foul source the general information, knowledge,
anti literary taste of the "majority" is almost entirely
taken.

We add an extract from Mr. Fenimore Cooper's
opinion of the American press :
The press tyranises over public men, letters, the arts,
the stage, and even over private life. Under the pretence
of protecting public morals, it is corrupting them to the
core, and under the semblance of maintaining liberty, it is
gradually establishing a despotism as ruthless, as grasping,
and one that is quite as vulgar, as that of any Christian
state known. With loud professions of freedom of opinion
there is no tolerance; with a parade of patriotism no sacri-
fice of interests ; and with fulsome panegyrics on pro-
priety too frequently no decency. In America, while the
contest was for great principles, the press aided in eleva-
ting the common character, in improving the common
mind, and in maintaining the common interests. It is
employed, as a whole, in fast undermining its own work,
and in preparing the nation for some terrible reverses, if
not in calling " down upon it a just judgment of Uod."
The volume is intelligently compiled, and may be
usefully consulted for competent authorities on the
practical working of democratic government in a
country where it can be tried under the most favor-
able circumstances.

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.
BOOKS.
Frank 11-adman's Adventures. F. Gerstacker. Routledge.
The Court of England under the Stuarts. Vol 111. Bentley.
History of Modern Italy. R. H. Wrighton. Ditto.
The Vicar of Wakefield. Van Voorst.
Hart's Army List for 18.55. Murray.

ACCORDING to common acceptation, Jenny Lind
(Mrs. Goldsmidt) has resumed professional life for
a time. in order to raises thereby an endowment fund
for an hospital in kl
-t OC-.10.M.
A r a meeting of the Distressed Needlewomen's
Committee, held on Thursday, it was resolved that all
females employed by the society should receive
ls. rid. eaob, as a remuneration for observing the
Fast-day.

THE PRESS.

UStC.

SIR HENRY BISHOP-EEETER-HALL.-A concert on
an extended scale, exclusively selected from the
works of our eminent English composer, Sir Henry
Bishop, and under his immediate superintendence
and direction, is announced to take place at Exeter
hall on Tuesday evening next, which we cordially
recommend to all lovers of music thoroughly Eng-
lish—moreover executed by English artists. On
this occasion the arrangements appear to be on a
scale much more extended than that of the After-
noon Vocal Concerts at the Hanover square ROOMS ;
and will engage, in addition to the vocalists em-
ployed in those agreeable entertammens, Mr. Sims
Reeves, Miss Birch, and a chorus of two hundred
voices. We are, however, gratified to know that Mr.
Mitchell has the intention of resuming the Afternoon
Concerts after Easter.

HARMONIC UNION.— Handel's Messiah is an-
nounced for performance by this society next
Wednesday at the Hanover• square Rooms. The
principal vocalists are to be Madame Clara Novello,
Miss Lascelles, Mr. Sims Reeves, and Mr. Weiss.
Mr. H. Blagrove is the leader, Mr. Rea the organist,
and Herr Molique the conductor.