Catholic Clergy, in general. I hope my present application will be received in the true spirit of candour and benevolence. "I am, &c. &c.

“Jan, 14, 1813.

، W. BLAIR. (p. 5.

"69, Great Russell-street, Bloomsbury."

In answer to this letter, Mr. Blair received the following:

« Sir,

"I am sorry I was not at home when you did me the honour to call at my door. I have read your Prospectus, and must beg leave to suggest the propriety of several corrections. I then advise you to send a few copies of the Prospectus, by franks, to each of the Catholic Bishops in Ireland-proposing that the pastor of the parish shall always be the channel of distribution to the poor: for, in the Catholic Church every thing is done in the most regular order.

"I have the honour to be, &c.

"PETER GANDOLPHY. (p. 6, 7.) "7, Spanish Place, Jan. 16, 1813.",

Protestants, through courtesy, in order to avoid giving the papists unnecessary offence, generally style them Roman Catholics, but seldom Catholics, without the qualifying epithet, Roman; and for this obvious reason, that to admit their Catholicism would be, in opposition to Scripture and reason, to acknowledge one of the most corrupt parts of the visible Church, for the Church Universal. Did Mr. Gandolphy know that these sentiments are adopted by all intelligent protestants? If he did, where was his courtesy, when, in his answer to Mr. Blair's truly polite and Christian letter, he said, "the Catholic church does every thing in the most regular order?" But civility from papists to protestants, whenever religion is touched upon, is not to be expected: upon every such occasion, protestants may expect to be informed, directly or indirectly, that they are heretics.

For a perusal of the Prospectus, to some parts of which Mr. Gandolphy objected, and for an account of his proposed corrections, as well as of several particulars relating to the subject in question, we refer our readers to the work itself; and proceed to copy the "Substance of a Conversation respecting the distribution of the BIBLE among ROMAN CATHOLICS, between Mr. BLAIR, Mr. LEFROY, and the Rev. PETER GANDOLPHY, April 7, 1813." "Mr. Blair and Mr. Lefroy called on Mr. Gandolphy, at Spanish Place, to inquire what were the intentions of the Roman Catholic Board, as to printing and circulating the New Testa ment, conformably to their advertisements, which appeared on the 9th of March, in several newspapers. Mr. Blair stated, that letters had been written, without effect, to Mr. Butler, Mr. Blake, and Lord Shrewsbury; in order to learn whether the purpose of

promoting a GRATUITOUS distribution of the HOLY SCRIPTURES,' by the English Catholics who met at Lord Shrewsbury's house, was similar to the plan which had been proposed in a printed address of January 12th, formerly sent by Mr. Blair to Mr. Gandolphy? The reverend gentleman answered, that he laid the letter and address before Lord Clifford and other Catholics, who finally came to a resolution of printing a new edition themselves, by Stereotype, from the same Rhemish Testament as was alluded to in Mr. Blair's Prospectus; but, that the Committee would also reprint the Explanatory Notes, which they hoped would not prevent the Protestant Society's purchasing copies of that Testament, as these notes were deemed too slight to afford any just ground of objection. This work was in progress, and Mr. Gandolphy promised to send a sheet of it to Mr. Blair in a few days.

Mr. Blair said, that he possessed several different Catholic Editions with notes, and begged to know, whether the notes mentioned were those commonly ascribed to the late Bishop Challoner? He doubted if any comments whatever could be admitted by Protestants; and his present wish was, not to recede from the plan already in circulation. Mr. Gandolphy answered, that the notes were those of Bishop Challoner; he also feared it would oppose a principle of his church, if Catholics were to print the Scriptures in the vulgar tongue, without notes; and that they could not allow the English Bible without them, because ignorant persons would misinterpret certain important texts, unaccompanied by explanations. Mr. Blair remarked, that those notes of Bishop Challoner, though short, were highly exceptionable; since they reflected uncharitably on Protestants, often charging them with being heretical, and with wilfully corrupting the text of the Holy Scriptures. No,' exclaimed Mr. Gandolphy, not with doing it now, but with having done so formerly.' To which Mr. Blair rejoined, that the charge was altogether groundless and unfair; but, in reality, the notes would convey an idea of such practises being still continued, especially when hand-bills, pamphlets, and commentaries, were at the same time dispersed abroad industriously, (for he had some of them in his possession,) expressly making similar allegations! The republication of such notes, therefore, was both unjust and illiberal: and, besides, Mr. Lefroy added, that those explanatory observations were chiefly on controversial points, relating to the differences between Protestants and Roman Catholics; which could never be admitted, in any impression to be paid for and circulated by Protestants.

"Mr. Gandolphy was then asked, whether the New Testament, which Protestants meant to reprint without those notes, provided it were done faithfully from the Rhemish version, would be generally acceptable to the Catholic people? He answered, that him

self and other Clergymen would put some copies in circulation though he could not say that they would be universally acceptable, as it was not a Catholic principle to recommend the Scriptures without such explanations. Moreover, the English Catholic Board did not now intend to disperse gratuitously even their own stereotype edition with notes; for they could not go about to desire the people to receive Testaments, because the Catholics did not in anywise consider the Scriptures necessary.' He said, they learned and taught their religion by means of catechisms and elementary tracts.

6

"To which Mr. Blair observed, that the Council of Toulouse, under Innocent III and several other Popes whom he named, especially since the proceedings of the Council of Trent, as well as many priests in connexion with the Church of Rome, had either prohibited or restricted the Laity from having the Bible: he knew that in Italy, Spain, France, Ireland, &c. the free use of the Scriptures had always been considerably clogged by licenses, and might at any time be absolutely withheld in the vulgar tongue, or interdicted by rigid and severe church censures; but he trusted that injunctions of this nature would not be now generally enforced. Mr. Gandolphy did not contradict these observations, but briefly replied, that such orders and directions only related to discipline, and might, therefore, be different in various places: he did, indeed, think no modern Prelates, especially in England, would interfere to forbid or restrain the use of their own Bible; and certainly not where it was read with advantage, or was unlikely to be abused.

"Mr. Blair told Mr. Gandolphy that our Saviour himself, as well as the Prophets and Apostles, commended those Jews who read their ancient Scriptures. Christ even imputed religious errors to a culpable ignorance of the Old Testament, and required men to search therein diligently: so that it did not appear to be optional, whether the Clergy should grant or refuse to their people the free use of the Sacred Writings in any language; but it was a natural right of all men, and their incumbent duty, if possible, to examine the Scriptures for themselves. Mr. Gandolphy rejoined, that well-educated and intelligent persons were never prohibited; but only the ignorant and ill-designing people, who might do themselves or others injury, by perverting the true sense of the Bible: the Catholic Church did not sanction its indiscriminate use among the people; nor publish it without notes, to guide unlearned and common readers. He asked, Why, if you Protestants be disposed to enlighten the poor in our congregations, will you allow the explanatory notes to be any obstacle? They do not lessen the efficacy of the Bible for salvation, and you profess not to meddle with controversial

matters.

"Mr. Lefroy replied; but they put that construction upon the text, the correctness of which is the very question before us. If Protestants, therefore, circulate your explanatory notes, they wave this vital question; and if they wave this question, they surrender their own cause. Leaving, then, all points of construction between Catholics and Protestants quite open and untouched, the latter make a positive advance towards you in offering to accept your text; which you must meet by an equal movement in concession on your part, before you ask us Protestants to go further. Mr. Gandolphy answered, that the variations in the English text between the translations authorised by both parties were not very material: to which Mr. Blair said, that there were some passages not immateriai; particularly one, which he pointed out, affording countenance to image-worship, where Jacob is represented as worshipping the top of his staff. Mr. Gandolphy remarked, that this text was translated according to the Septuagint, as well a the Vulgate; but Mr. Blair doubted that; and conceived, (if it be so) we were not to be much governed by the Septuagint, in translating the Greek Testament. Nevertheless, added he, no alterations would be now made in reprinting their Rhemish version from the Vulgate: which was a concession, he perceived, not at all imitated by Roman Catholics, who were indisposed to approximate one hair's breadth toward Protestants.

"Mr. Gandolphy was positive that the Catholic clergy would not relax a single principle which had always been in exercise to this time; that they would never put the English Scriptures into the hands of the poor and ignorant, without comments: nor yet give the Bible gratuitously, even with notes, to every body who applied for it, but only under the direction, and at the will of their superiors!!! He observed, the word 'GRATUITOUS,' in the resolution of the Catholic Board, did not mean that they would in future distribute the Scriptures indiscriminately; but merely, that those poor people to whom their priests thought fit to intrust the Scriptures indiscriminately; (published with explanatory notes,) should be supplied for nothing. Mr. Lefroy replied, that, in this case, the advertisement operated as a complete deception upon the Protestant public, and that it was apparently published with the intention of imposing; for, otherwise, cui bono the advertisement at all? And, why did they publish that deceitful resolution, under the existing political circumstances? Qualified, as Mr. Gandolphy had qualified the intentions of the board, no security was given, nor had they even afforded any presumption, that the Catholic clergy were a whit less inclined to withhold or restrain the use of the Scriptures, than they ever had been! It was further urged by Mr. Lefroy, that Mr. Gandolphy's broad suggestion, in his first printed letter to Dr. Herbert Marsh, of the readiness of the Roman Catholics

(speaking in general terms,) to accept gratefully, and distribute faithfully, their own version of the Scriptures, EITHER WITH OR WITHOUT NOTES, if any of the Protestant Bible Societies would present them with such an edition, is open to the same misconception and animadversion as that delusive Resolution published by the Catholic Board, which ought to have been accompanied with a remark, honestly confessing, that the author spoke only of his own personal disposition,-knowing it to be in direct opposition to a uniform principle, as well as a constant practice, of the Roman Church, from which he also knew the Catholic prelates would disdain to sanction the slightest deviation! To this he made no answer.

* Mr. Blair added, that Protestants, seeing the Catholic advertisement of a determination to promote a gratuitous distribution of the Holy Scriptures,' did undoubtedly suppose the Catholics were becoming more liberal and enlightened; for he had been lately written to, and reminded of there existing now no necessity to reprint the Rhemish Testament without notes, as the plan was superseded by the exertions of the Roman Catholics themselves. This induced him to write two days ago to the Earl of Shrewsbury, in hopes of gaining that information which was now indispensable; and, to obtain which, Mr. Lefroy and himself had waited on Mr. Gandolphy. The Rev. gentleman expressed his surprise, that Mr. Blake had not answered the letter sent to him on the subject; and said, he understood that an official reply had already been written.

"P. S. In a subsequent conversation, (April 17,) Mr. Gandolphy was informed, that a paper, containing the minutes of the proceedings of the Bible Committee, had been sent to Mr. Blair, by the Earl of Shrewsbury; which proved, that the English Catholic Board designed to afford him an opportunity of conferring with that Committee, but they had not yet done so. Mr. Gandolphy answered, that the Committee, on further consideration, declined having such conference; as it would be of no use, and could not lead to any thing, because their plan was so different from Mr. Blair's. He also said their printing business went on slowly; and that it was in the hands of a person at Pancras, whom Mr. Blair understood to be Mr. Wilson, the stereotype printer," (p. 12-16.)

We have quoted largely from this part of the work, in order that our readers may see the grounds on which the Romish clergy prohibit the indiscriminate distribution of the Scriptures among their people. The poor and ignorant, must never, with their consent, have the Scriptures put into their hands, without notes, nor even with notes, "but only under the direction, and at the VOL. XXXVI. DECEMBER, 1813.