The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-01 00:00:00

TAIT'S :MAGAZINE.

From the pointed and sententious style of the
article on " Protestantism," that stands the first
in this number, we are inclined to ascribe it to
the ready pen of the Editor of the Examiner.
At any rate it is not unworthy of him, for the
reasoninc, is clear, close, and forcible, and the
spirit that breathes through it, .is free from the
slightest alloy of intolerance. We subjoin the
writer's account of the leading tenets of the Pu-
seyites, which conveys much stringent meaning
in a few emphatic sentences :—" If the Puseyites
mean anything at all, they mean that the exer-
cise of private judgment is a crime ; and that the
men who exercise —the people' commonly
called Protestants—use the weapons of the devil.

There can be no mistake here—no compromise.
The alternative is plain : stand upon your own legs,
if you can; if not, take the crutch which the Clergy
provide. There can be no doubt that an honest
man can get to heaven both ways; only it cer-
tainly does -seem more honourable to march up
stoutly on one's own legs, than to be carried in
on the back of an old woman. We admire the
chivalrous candour of the Puseyites ; we despise
the puerile imbecility of their intellects—as if
God's whole creation, and man, his noblest
creatuA, were doomed to trip continually behind
the petticoats of a nurse, and be fed with spoon-
meat! Fie ! fie ! If, indeed, God had stereo-
typed visibly among men a council of angels
and archangels, and creatures all eyes, as
Ezekiel saw them in a vision; then we- might
have rejoiced to sit upon the knees of the gods,
and from the lips of the wise know an end of all
mysteries. But when we see creatures with the
stature of full-grown men, with solemn display.
of Greek and Hebrew, mumbling and maunder-
ing the sheerest puerilities ; were it not better to
have been born altogether without reason, than
to have it only that we may hand it over to the
safe keeping of these men ? Nature rebels against
such base betrayal—such stupid prostration of
her noblest functions; and in this. rebellion Pro-
testantism properly consists." The writer has
here hit the rig,ht nail on the head. His definition
of Puseyism is Oust to the Iptt.r,
Izave-i 1i erersti more explicit, and told us that
it is neither more nor less than Popery, with
scarcely an attempt at disguise. As for its favourite
doctrine of apostolical succession, we shall say
nothing more than that that succession is some-
what equivocal in the person of the slum-
bering Philpotts, who, to our thinking, bears
the remotest possible resemblance to the . pri-
mitive apostles of the Church. " Illustra-
tions of the Thieves' Literature" is a ca-
pital quiz upon those gross, ill judged fictions
which have been so much in vogue lately. We
hope the writer will continue his satirical ex-
posures, for it is high time that thieves, mur-
derers, burglars, and blackguards of all descrip-
tions, should be viewed in their proper light, and
not put forward as sentimental heroes. " A
Visit to the Monastery of La Trappe" furnishes
us with some curious details respecting the
austerities to which these gloomy fanatics volun-
tarily subject themselves. " Notes of an OVer-
land Journey through France and Egypt to Bom-
bay," is a clever critical notice of a work re-
cently published by Miss Roberts. From the
review of " Mr. Combe's Notes on the United
States," we quote an interesting passage descrip-
tive of the quickening effects produced on an
idiot's mind, by his habits of daily intercourse
with a beautiful young girl. Moore would turn
this anecdote to admirable account in a poem :
" In the course of conversation, a case was mentioned to me
as having occurred in the experience of a highly respectable
physician, and which was so fully authenticated, that I enter-
tain no doubt of its truth. The physician alluded to had a pa-
tient, a young man, who was almost idiotic from the suppres-
sion of all his faculties. He never spoke, and never moved vo-
luntarily, but sat habitually with his hand shading his eyes.
The physician sent him to walk as a remedial measure. In
,;_he iieighbourhapd a beautiful young girl of sixteen lived with.
her' parents, and used to see the young man in his walks, and
speak kindly to him. For some time he took no notice her ;
but after meetingher for several months, he began to look for
her, 'eel disappointed if she did not appear. He be-
came so tsli
omu
much interested, that he directed his steps voluntarily
to her father's cote e, and gave her bouquets of flowers. By
degrees he conversed zvith her through the window. His men •
tal faculties were roused ; the dawn of convalescence appeared.
The girl was virtuous, intelligent, and lovely, and encouraged
his visits when she was told that she was benefiting his mental
health. She asked him if he could read and write ? He an-
swered, No. She wrote some lines to him to induce him to
learn. This had the desired effect. He applied himself to
study, and soon wrote good and sensible letters to her. He
recovered his reason. She was married to a young man from the
neighbouring city. Great fears were entertained that this
event would undo the good which she had accomplished. The
young patient sustained a severe shock, but his mind did not
sink under it. He acquiesced in the propriety of her choice ;
continued to improve, and at last was restored to his family
cured. She had a child, and was soon after brought to the
same hospital perfectly insane. The young man heard of this
event, and was exceedingly anxious to see her; but an inter-
view was denied to him, both on her account and his own. She
died. He continued well, and became an active member of so-
ciety. What a beautiful romance might be founded on this
narrative I"

MONTIIL Y CHRONICLE.
The " Scottish Church Question" which for
the last year and a half has been the all-absorb-
ing topic throughout Scotland, is discussed at
some length in the present " Monthly Chronicle,"
and with a moderation and dispassionateness
worthy of all praise. The writer insists on the
expediency of the Legislature promptly and ac-
tively interfering_ in the matter, observing that
•' it is absurd to delay till the present agitation
ceases, for if that is resolved on, the delay must
iv till doomsday." In the article headed " Bio-
gmphical Recreations" we have the translation
of a strange, mystical fragment by the German
visiovary, Jean Paul Richter, which is so mys-
tical we honestly confess our inability to
comprehend it. By way of mending matters,
the translator has adopted the German idiom in
his version, so that the whole thing is as pretty
a puzzle as 0. reader could desire to be perplexed
with. What, forinstance, is to be understood by
this sentence, which is only one out of a dozen
that we could select?—" How much greater
would be the .enjoyment, if each were not
so squeezed by his neighbour, and so ham-
pered by something Which he co;lsiticrs his