Star.
London, England, 1825-12-28 00:00:00

FRENCH MISSIONARIES.

If there could be any doubt of the obstinacy and un-
changing character of the Roman Catholic religion, it
would be removed by the conduct of the Missionaries
in France, who, notwithstanding their signal defeat in
the Cour Royal; by the acquittal of the Cousiltutioartel
and Courier Francais, still labour, and that most ac-
tively, to spread fanaticism throughout the country.-1
In the latter Journal, of Friday last, there are some ex-
tracts from one of those little books with which France
is inundated by the Missionaries. This book, which is
•• permitted to be printed and to be sold at Epernay, by
the Sub Prefect VALLLRY," and is sold in all the com-
munes, is a sort of substitute for Prince H011E1)11.011;
who has been marvellously inactive of late. It consists
of series of prayers for the cure of various disorders, ac-
cording to which the tooth-ache is cured by ••five paters
and five ave-marias," with the addition of the " sign of
the Cross on the cheek with the finger, where the pain
is felt." For stopping the bleeding of any cut, and
healing all sorts of wounds, the Priest, who is, of course
the Surgeon-extraordinary and Dentist on the occasion,
is " to repeat three times the Latin words—Natus est
CSristus, mortuus est, et resunexit Christus—and each
time to Mote in the form of a Cross on the wound,naming
the name of the person, saying, GOD has cured thee, so
be it:' Rheumatism, dislocations, fractures, and all sorts
of infirm ties, " are cured by three paters, three ayes, re-
peated for nine days, every morning, fasting." There are
similar prayers for " cutting fevers," " dispersing bad
spirits," for •• preserving fiom the clouds." Some of
the prayers e Accompanied by medicine, but others are
left to work uu; their own way, without that assistance.
Well may the Editor of the Courier Francais state,
that hooks such as these " are only calculated to bring
religion into contempt ;" and well might the Judges of
the Cour Royale refuse to sanction by their verdict,
such gross blasphemy and impiety.

One or two of the Morning Papers, alluding to the
renewed Issue of One and Two Pound Bank notes for
countrycirculat ion, state that the Provincial Bankers who
receive them will be required to indorse each note with
their own names; we trust they will not be required to
do any such thing, for a better device in aid of forgery
could scarcely be suggested. At the time when these
notes were formerly circulated there was scarcely a
forged note that was not purposely indorsed with fictiti-
ous names, in order to give it an appearance of being
genuine. If the public were deceived by this fraud,
they will be much more likely to do so when they see a
note in circulation indorsed with the name of a neigh-
bouring banker, with whose hand-writing a very small
portion only of the Public can be acquainted.
Thursday morning, as the LORD M A TOR of Dublin, ac.
companisd by a Gentleman, was driving down Dawson.
street, the coachman, in consequence of the density of
the fog, did not perceive a large hole in the street where
the.pavement was displaced, until the coach was pre-
cipitated into it. His Lordship was enabled to proceed
into Monntsoza's Hotel, near which the transaction oc-
curred, but the coach was smashed in several parts.
A few days ago, the steam boiler at Cheadle Eaves
colliery, belonging to Messrs. HoLMas and PRATT,
burst, in consequence of one of the safety valves being
out of order. The boiler was carried to an astonishing
Fright in the air, and exploded with a terrific report.
Monday evening, as George Graham, of Darlington,
was driving Mr. Pic kersgill's waggon between Catterick
Bridge and the Toll Bar, the horses took fright, and
the wheel ran over his thigh and broke it; and although
surgical aid was obtained and his thigh set, he died
soon afterwards. He has left a widow and nine children
to lament his untimely end.
S 'me scoundrel INV. several eve, logs lately infested
the lonely parts of the town and environs of Sotnhamr
ton, equipped in a skeeton dress, with a false neck and
head, se, constructed as to :war him appear of a pro-.
digious height. On the approach of a female, or any
person whom he considers unable to cope with him, he
throws back his cloak, and appears as described.
Several females have last week been thrown into the
greatest agitation by the dastardly villain.
Comair.Avlon.—Although on Friday last Thomas
Drummond, one of the combined shoemakers, was con-
victed of lounging about the waiehouse of Messrs W.
and A. Patterson, and intimidating his workers, for
which he was sentenced to suffer three months solitary
confinement at hard labour in BrideVrell, yet the spies,
in direct defiance of law, continue to parade up and down
before the door of the warehouse. They have, however,
been taught some caution by the punishment inflicted
on their fellow-tradesman. When they observe a person
taking some work, they follow him at a cautious dis.
tAnce, learn his place of residence, and return to their
►tatiorn, intimating by their conduct that they have
marked the iudividnal•for (wore visitation. It gives us
pleasure to hear, that in spite of this flagitious combina-
tion, plenty of new hands have offered to supply their
place.—Glasgow Chronicle.
A . number of pencils were attracted on Monday
morning, between ten and eleven o'clock, at the end of
Illeet-nsarket and Bridge-street, to observe a hawk, or,
as some were of opiaioo, a larger bird of prey, pursue
a flight of pigeons. It wheeled round beneath them
while rising, and, diminishing each• revolution, com-
pelled them to ascend within the circle it had formed
to an immense height, when 'one was seen to drop,
which it pounded 'iron, and .hnhiediattly, flew across
Ise Timm&