escape the possibility of corruption; nor would its corruptious militate against its pristine truth. The Revelation of God has been corrupted. Paul, in several parts of his writings, foretold it would be corrupted, and where is the reason, where the discernment, in saying, we must believe the whole corrupt as it is, or none of it? As to the writers of the Scriptures being inspired, that also is what they do not pretend to, at least as writers; it was utterly unnecessary that they should have been, in a variety of instances; the prophetic writings are an exception to this observation. men appointed by God to establish pure re The And now, in reply to Mr. Cobbett's question, "Are the Old and New Testa66 ments the word of God?" W. C. can answer for himself, and he thinks he can for Tranquillus,' that it is their opinion they are not, and that for this simple reason, because they do not assume to be such, The Old and New Testaments are a miscellaneous collection of ancient writings, comprising History, Poetry, Prophecies, Moral Maxims, Letters, &c., which have been by the industry of subsequent ages collected together into one Book, known by the name of the BIBLE, or THE Book, which is the meaning of the term. Now to comprise all these multifarious composi-ligion in the world were inspired, but when tions under one title, which shall be ex- they wrote the history of these things there pressive of their several contents, is what is every reason for believing they did not cannot so easily be done. To call them write under divine inspiration. And even the word of God,' is ridiculous in the if this were admitted to have been the case, extreme, for a great part of them are evi- it would not have secured their inspired dently the word of mau, and do not pre-writings from mutilation and corruption, tend to be any thing else. The historical books of the Bible may be considered as a history of a revelation, (or of the word of God, if you please), which was given to man; other parts of this book are evidence of the truth of such revelation, and the Epistles of the New Testament, generally speaking, arose out of the abuse of this revelation, and were written to correct errors and disorders that had crept into the Christian Churches. unless all the transcribers, and all the translators, and all the printers of those writings, were equally inspired, unless also men were very different from what they ever have been. It may be well here to observe, that neither the revelations of Moses, or of Jesus, are revelations to us, they were only such to the persons to whom they were given, they were communicated in an extraordinary way, they were confirmed by miracles, they were fully established in the world, and from those who first received their truths and their principles they have been handed down to us. Nor does it ap ment intended their writings as the means of perpetuating Christianity, though they have since, in the ways of Providence, become so. Their design was to write principles and truths, not in books, but in men's hearts, that to future ages might be made known through the church the mani In this view of the subject it will follow, that the truth of revelation, the fact of its having been given, must originally have stood perfectly independent of the book called The Bible, though to us of these lat-pear that the writers of the New Testater times it is the best remaining evidence that can be adduced in support of revealed religion. Now, then, this book must necessarily have been exposed to the same chances of obscurity and corruption as any other book written in such distant times; and as in the ancient classics, critics sometimes find it necessary to collate and com-fold goodness of God. If any one should pare the different copies and editions of the same work, so such a necessity may exist with regard to some parts of the Scriptures, without any impeachment of their general veracity. Mind, it is not said or even insinuated, that such critical investigation is necessary to understand CHRISTIANITY, its doctrines and principles appearing too obvious from the general tenor of the Scriptures, even in their corrupt state, to require it. But even if men could be ridiculous enough to believe that the Bible is, or rather was, the word of God,' it would not follow, that it should on that account be weak enough, in the way of objection, to ask why the Deity, who had revealed himself to man, did not guard this revelation from the possibility of corruption, it may be answered, that many good reasons might be given; but, perhaps, the shortest, and the fairest way of replying to the question would be by asking, why the Deity has not secluded evil and error altogether from his creation? W. C. has thrown out these hints that Mr. Cobbett may not fight in the dark, and of which he can avail himself if he pleases. As to the observation, that the it a duty which we owe to you, to our country, and to God, to declare in the most public manner, "that they have not, "and that in their present shape they never can, have our concurrence. As, however, we have, upon all occasions, incul author of the letter has no authority but his own assertion for denying the authenticity of the chapters in Matthew and Luke, he can only say, if Mr. Cobbett pleases, he will give such authority, and such argument in support of his assertion, as neither he nor any man living will be able to inva-cated the duty of loyalty to our Most Gralidate; but this would be only doing what has already been done before him, and that in a much better manner than he could pretend to. Hackney Road, June 8, 1813, To W. Cobbelt. PASTORAL ADDRESS. cious Sovereign (the securing whereof, is the professed object of the proposed Ecclesiastical Arrangements), so we would be always desirous to give you the most convincing proofs, that we are ready, in the most exemplary maner, to practise it ourselves. We have sworn to preserve inviolate the Allegiance which every subject. owes to his Sovereign-we are not accused of having violated our oaths.-Should The Roman Catholic Prelates, assembled in any other Oath, not adverse to our religiDublin, to the Clergy and Laity of the ous principles, be yet devised, which could Roman Catholic Churches in Ireland. remove even the unfounded apprehensions Reverend Brothers-Beloved Children of any part of our countrymen, we would Peace be with you-Solicitude for the Spi- willingly take it. We owe it to our God, ritual Interest of our Beloved Flocks, obliges to be free from disloyalty. We owe it to us once more to suspend the exercise of our our Countrymen, to endeavour, at least, other Pastoral Duties, in order to delibe- to be free from suspicion. Upon these rate, in common, upon the present posture grounds, Reverend Brothers, Beloved Chilof our religious concerns.- -We hasten to dren, we announce to you the following declare to you, the lively feelings of grati-Resolutions, which, after invoking the tude excited in our breasts by the gracious condescension of the Legislature in taking into its favourable consideration the disabilities which still affect the Catholic Body. With these feelings deeply and indelibly impressed upon our hearts, it is with the utmost distress of mind that we are compelled, by a sense of duty, to dissent (in some points connected with our Emancipation) from the opinions of those virtuous and enlightened Statesmen, who have so long and so ably advocated the cause of Catholic Freedom.Probably from a want of sufficient information, but unquestionably from the most upright motives, they have proposed to the Legislature the adoption of certain arrangements respecting our Ecclesiastical discipline, and particularly respecting the exercise of Episcopal Functions, to which it would be impossible for us to assent, without incurring the guilt of Schism-inasmuch as they might, if carried into effect, invade the spiritual jurisdiction of our Supreme Pastor, and alter an important point of our discipline, for which alteration his concurrence would, upon Catholic principles, be indispensably necessary. When the quarter is considered from whence the clauses have proceeded, it might perhaps be imagined, were we to continue silent, that they had our unqualifed approbation, on this account we deem light and assistance of God, we have unanimously adopted, viz.1. That, having seriously examined a Copy of the Bill, lately brought into Parliament, purporting to provide for the removal of the Civil and Military Disqualifications under which his Majesty's Roman Catholic subjects labour, we feel ourselves bound to declare, that certain Ecclesiastical clauses or securities therein contained, are utterly incompatible with the discipline of the Roman' Catholic Church, and with the free exercise of our religion. 2. That we cannot, without incurring the heavy guilt of Schism, accede to such regulations; nor can we dissemble our dismay and consternation at the consequences, which such regulations, if enforced, must necessarily produce. 3. That we would, with the utmost willingness, swear (should the Legislature require us so to do)" That we never will concur in the appointment or consecration of any Bishop, whom we do not conscientiously believe to be of unimpeachable loyalty and peaceable conduct." And further, " that we have not, and that we will not have, any correspondence or communication with the Chief Pastor of our Church, or with any person authorized to act in his name, for the purpose of overthrowing or disturbing the Protestant Government, or the Protestant Church of Great Britain and Ireland, or LONDON GAZETTE. Colonial Department.Downing-street, June 2. Sir George Prevost, in a dispatch dated Niagrea, Feb. 27, 1813, acquaints Lord Bathurst, that on the 21st of February he arrived at Prescott, within a mile of the enemy, posted at Ogdensburg, who had availed themselves of the frozen state of the St. Lawrence, in that neighbourhood, to carry on repeated nocturnal enterprises against posts of communication which were occupied by the Militia, and to commit frequent depredations upon the persons and property of His Majesty's subjects, carefully selecting objects beyond the immediate support and protection of a regular military force.In order to put a stop to these depredations, Sir George deemed it necessary to dislodge the enemy from his position at Ogdensburgh, which was effected in a very spirited manner, by a detachment under the command of Major Macdonnell, of the Glengarry light infantry fencibles, whose report Sir G. encloses. Sir George praises the gallant conduct of Capt. Jenkins, of the Glengarry Fencibles, and Lieut. Impey, of the Dundas Militia, the former of whom lost an arm, and the latter a leg. Sir G. warmly recommends them both for promotion. Prescoll, Feb. 22. Sir, I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of his Excellency the Commander of the Forces, that, in consequence of the commands of his Excellency to retaliate, under favourable circumstances, upon the enemy, for his late wanton aggressions on this frontier, I, this morning, about seven o'clock, crossed the river St. Lawrence upon the ice, and attacked and carried, after a little more than an hour's action, his position in and near the opposite town of Ogdenburgh, taking eleven pieces of cannon, and all his ordnance, marine, commissariat, and Quartermaster-General's stores, four officers, and seventy prisoners, and burning two armed schooners and two large gun-boats, and both his barracks. My force consisted of about 430 regulars and militia, and was divided into two co1umns; the right commanded by Capt. Jenkins, of the Glengarry light infantry fencibles, was composed of his own flank company, and about 70 militia; and from the state of the ice, and the enemy's position in the Old French Fort, was directed to check his left, and interrupt his retreat, whilst I moved on with the left column, consisting of about 120 of the King's regiment, 40 of the Royal Newfoundland corps, and about 200 militia, towards his position in the town, where he had posted his heavy artillery. The depth of the snow, in some degree, retarded the advance of both columns, and exposed them, particularly the right, to a heavy cross fire from the batteries of the enemy, for a longer period than I had expected, but pushing on rapidly after the batteries began to open on us, the left column soon gained the right bank of the river, under the direct fire of his artillery and line of musketry, posted on an eminence near the shore; moving on rapidly, my advance, consisting of the detachment of the Royal Newfoundland and some select militia, I turned his right with the detachment of the King's regiment, and after a few discharges from his artillery, took them with the bayonet, and drove his infantry through the town; some escaping across the Black River into the fort, but the majority fled to the woods, or sought refuge in the houses, from whence they kept such a galling fire, that it was necessary to dislodge them with our field-pieces, which now came up from the bank of the river, where they had stuck on landing, in the deep snow. -Having gained the high ground on the brink of the Black river opposite the fort, I prepared to carry it by storm; but the men being quite exhausted, I procured time for them to recover breath, by sending in a summons, requiring an unconditional surrender. During these transactions, Capt. Jenkins had gallantly led on his column, and had been exposed to a heavy fire of seven guns, which he bravely attempted to take with the bayonet, though covered with two hundred of the enemy's best troops: advancing as rapidly as the deep snow, and the exhausted state (in consequence) of his men would admit, he ordered a charge, and had not proceeded many paces, when his left arm was broken to pieces by a grape shot; but still undauntedly running on with his men, he almost immediately afterwards was de Action of Feb. 22. Total Loss-1 serjeant, 7 rank and file, killed; 1 field officer, 2 captains, 5 subalterns, 3 serjeants, 40 rank and file wounded. Names of Officers wounded. 8th (or King's) Regiments-Ensign Powell, Glengarry Regiments― Lieut.-Col. M'Donnell, Capt. Jenkins, and Ensign. M'Kay, Militia-Capt. M'Donnell, and Lieutenants Impey, M'Lean, and M'Dermid. can FRENCH PAPERS. tion of General Sorbier, keep our artillery prived of the use of his right arm by a dis- | Return of the Killed and Wounded in the charge of case shot: still heroically disregarding all personal consideration, he nobly ran on cheering his men, to the assault, till exhausted by pain and loss of blood, he be came unable to move; his company gallantly continued the charge under Lieut. M'Auley, but the reserve of militia not being able to keep up with them, they were compeiled, by the great superiority of the enemy, to give way, leaving a few on a commanding position, and a few of the most advanced, in the enemy's possession, nearly about the time that I gained the height above-mentioned. The enemy hesitating to surrender, I instantly carried his eastern battery, and by it silenced another which now opened again, and ordering on the advance, the detachment of the King's and the Highland company of Mi litia, under Captain Eustace, of the King's regiment, he gallantly rushed into the fort; but the enemy retreating by the opposite entrance, escaped into the woods, which I should effectually have prevented, if my Indian warriors had returned sooner from a detached service on which they had that morning been employed.I cannot close this statement without expressing my admiration of the gallantry and self-devotion of Capt. Jenkins, who has lost one arm, and is in danger of losing the other. I must also report the intrepidity of Capt. Lefievre, of the Newfoundland regiment, who had the immediate charge of the militia under Col. Fraser, of Capt. Eustace, and the other officers of the King's regiment, and particularly of Lieut. Ridge of that corps, who very gallantly led on the advance, and of Lieut. M'Auly and Ensign M'Donnell, of the Glengarry regiment, as also Lieut. Ganguehen, of the royal engineers, and of Ensign M'Kay, of the Glengarry light infantry, and of Ensign Kerr, of the militia, each of whom had charge of a field piece, and of Lieut. Impey, of the militia, who has lost a leg. I was also well supported by Col. Fraser and the other officers and men of the militia, who emufated the conspicuous bravery of all the troops of the line. I enclose a list of the killed and wounded. The enemy had 500 men under arms, and must have sustained a considerable loss.I have the honour to be, &c. G. MACDONNELL, Major, Glengarry Light Infantry, Lieut.-Col. Commanding in the Eastern District of Upper Canada. (True Copy.) NOAH FREER, Mil. Sec. We Conversation between Buonaparte and the Austrian Ambassador. Buonaparte, after complaining of the want of assistance on the part of Austria, in his designs upon Russia, in the late campaign, says, in answer to an observation of Bubna, that he had destroyed the influence of Austria over the Germanic body. "I am satisfied with allowing Germany to have a strong organization, and I am not disinclined to extend the advantage thereof to Austria. That was a part of my object when I began the war against Russia. I wished, after having driven the Russians northward, to enlarge the Austrian fronand rivers. Austria may, however, still tiers, and strengthen them by mountains enjoy the fruit of my good will, if she will help me to regain those positions which I possessed before the last campaign. This assistance is due to me as well for her own advantage as from gratitude. In reality, what has she to fear from me? Have not I guaranteed the integrity of her Polish possessions?" Bubna." Sire, you cannot blame my Sovereign for employing his present ascendency to recover his ancient possessions ?" things in Europe, wished to provide against its being swallowed up thereby. Well, then, it appears my views are not understood. I am dealt with deceitfully, while the greatest frankness is shewn in my conduct. You increase my troubles, while I have only in view the welfare of Austria. This situation of affairs must end in a crisis. This convulsion I cannot endure, and woe to you and to your Austrian Master when this explosion breaks forth against you!" Bubna." Sire, we have, in the mean Buonaparté. "Ascendency! That, then, is your secret thought. Do you believe that you preponderate as you naturally should do? Well, I will annihilate that ascendency, should it cost me my last dol-time, shewn that menaces do not frighten us. The explosion of which your Majesty speaks, cannot be directed against us." Buonaparte." Ha! you defy me; you utter in my presence, against the Emperor of the French, words which could scarcely be allowed towards an abortion of the Rhenish Confederacy! Rovigo, do your duty." Rovigo immediately stepped forward to Count Von Bubna to disarm him; but the latter stepped quickly back a few paces, and laid his hand on his sword to be ready to defend himself. Rovigo, by a wink of the eye, inquired the pleasure of his Master, who, now more calm, signified to him, by a similar signal, not to proceed farther. Buonaparte." M. Bubna," said he, I am passionate; I possess all the pride of the Sovereign of a great and brave nation. I have a lively feeling of insults, and in what you said there appeared something offensive. However, though you may forget yourself, I will not forget what is due to the character with which a Sovereign, who is my relative and ally, has clothed you." lar. M. Bubna, I am not yet down; I am Bubna." Sire, my Sovereign will perceive in my language only the expression of what is due to himself." Buonaparte." Do you know, M. Bubna, that to-morrow I can make peace with Russia, if I re-establish Prussia, and even enlarge her? If I place a Russian Prince on the throne? What in reality have I to fear from Russia? She is too distant from my States for me to fear her as a power: and what would become of Austria, were I to permit Russia to extend herself towards the Danube? Let me hear what you have Bubna. Either that your Majesty does not know your own situation, or that you are pleased to give me a view of it which you have not yourself." Buonaparte.-"You then believe me to be in a very critical state (here he turned about to the Duke of Bassano). You see what this senseless babbler must ever be |