SECOND TRAVELS OF AN IRISH GENTLEMAN IN SEARCH OF A RELIGION. CHAPTER I. Arrangements for Controversy during the Tour.-Passage to Calais Jewish and Romanist Traditions compared: Observations on the Church of England. As I am not writing a novel, I have omitted a crowd of events and scenes which, without question, would have afforded very pretty matter for three or four chapters. The reader, however, is requested to imagine us more or less comfortably getting on towards Rome. The ladies and old Mr. Fitzgerald inside the VOL. II. B carriage, and Frank and myself outside, or alternately taking the vacant seat within. During the day's journey, we occupied ourselves chiefly with the scenery, or when we stopt at some remarkable place, with visiting whatever was to be seen. But it had been agreed that the evening should be devoted to conversation on, what might be called, our religious controversy. As the most practised in writing, I was appointed to take down notes whenever the conversation had made some advance towards settling the subject of our inquiry. The following is the substance of the first conversation which I considered of sufficient importance to put on paper. In the hotel at Dover, as we were waiting for the starting of the steam packet, Captain Cusiack observed a gentleman at a distance, whom he thought he had seen before. He had been eying the stranger a few moments when the recognition became mutual. "Mr. Lyons." Cusiack, (though I beg pardon,) I hope after so many years I may call you Captain Cusiack." "Mr. That you may, my old friend, answered the Captain; and turning to me, he begged to introduce Mr. Isaac Lyons, of London and Leghorn. "Mr. Lyons," (he continued,) "was to me a very kind friend some years ago." "Not more kind, Sir, than you deserve. But, as I remember I used to tell you when you overpraised my little services, I believe they were magnified in your eyes because they came from a Jew. Christian children, I fear, are frequently brought up under the idea that all they can expect from a Jew is to be eaten." We laughed at the bluntness of the Israelite; and having ascertained that he was going to cross by the packet where we had taken our berths, I promised to myself a great treat by means of catechising the Jew on controversial subjects. After we had deposited our ladies in the cabin, where they wished to lie down in order to avoid sickness, I tried to enter into a conversation with our Jew; but he also had retired below. He re-appeared, however, when we were not far from the coast of France. To lose no time I invited him to a seat where Mr. Fitzgerald, Captain Cusiack, and myself had spent the greatest part of the time. As the question of Jewish emancipation was pending in Parliament, I asked Mr. Lyons how he expected it to terminate.-(Mr. Lyons had a mercantile establishment in London and passed a great part of his time there.) MR. LYONS.-I have no hope for the pre- sent. in the House of Lords. MR. M (i. e. Myself.)—There was much more prejudice against us, (you should know I am a Roman Catholic) and yet our emancipation past. MR. LYONS.-Yes Sir: but you are many; we are a handful—a remnant. MR. M. Nevertheless, justice will prevail in the long run. And who knows but that the Jews themselves more and more assisted by the efforts which the Catholic Church is constantly making to convert them, will join the emancipated Catholics. We are going to Rome, Sir, and I propose to hear those learned sermons which are regularly preached to members of your nation. You have been at Rome: have you ever attended those sermons? MR. LYONS, (with a forced smile.)—I have never degraded myself so far. MR. M.- I beg pardon; I did not meanMR. LYONS.-No offence, Sir, no offence, I do not complain of individuals. It is against a cruel system of insult and oppression, to which each individual Christian contributes but little, that the heart of a Jew revolts. It has lasted too long. It is abating in Protestant countries; but where Catholics have exclusive power, we are still the scum of the earth. MR. M.-Yes, yes; that is perfectly natural, though I do not quite approve of it. You are Dissenters-Protestants against the great (if I did not fear to offend these gentlemen, I would say) the only true Christian Church. MR. LYONS.-That is a curious notion! So the Jews are Protestants-you mean a sort of rebellious people who resist the authority of the Church. I beg you to speak freely. A Jew's |