Although the Halifax packet of the 16th August brings no
intelligence of importance from the United States, we must not suppose that the people are, for once, without a topic of excitement. The Puseyite con- troversy is raging at second-band, with characteristic fury. A friend writes—" We are, as you know, a very excitable people, and must always have one engrossing subject before us ; the election of a Constable or a President, the mania of speculation, or the delirium of Repudiation, or the intolerant spirit of Abolition. Now, these things all being in a quiescent state, the Church is the great topic. Go where you will, it is High Church or Low, Puseyism or Anti-Puseyism. Stand at the corners of the streets, and the ragged news-boys are shouting to the top of their bent, an assertion from the Reverend Mr. This,' or a denial by the pious Mr. That all under a variety of names and titles too tedious to mention. The Churchmen have become religious gladiators, and tilt at each other savagely, bandying about such uncivil epithets that lookers-on of other sects are sadly shocked." In the course of a few weeks the whole thing will expend itself; to give place, perhaps, to a warfare on the merits of Mr. Macready.
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