4 APRIL 1846, Page 16

SCOTLAND, ITS FAITH AND ITS FEATURES. STIMULATED, perhaps, by the

approbation with which his Diary of a rn Jouey in France and Spain was received, the Reverend Francis Trench, with Mrs. Trench and " the ponies," set off last summer on a tour to Scotland, in order to see its physical beauties, and examine the working of the Free Church schism. The party started from 6° F----,

on the Hampshire coast," (for Mr. Trench has a sad bad habit of using initials,) wended their way across the Midland counties to Manchester, and entered Scotland by Carlisle. Blair Athol and Inverary were the extreme points of the journey Northward ; but the intermediate sights— such as Glasgow, Edinburgh, and the natural beauties—were examined, till the wet weather drove the tourists back to England, by Abbotsford, Melrose, and Dryburgh, just before the autumn cleared up, after bet year's fashion.

The narrative contains many pictures of quiet English landscape, or wilder Scotch scenery painted with a natural zest, which imparts attrac- tion, as much by the mind visible in the piece as by the subjects them- selves. Many little incidents, to whose point or production the profession of Mr. Trench conduced, are told with a bonhommie and good feeling that animates the common. There are also many traits of the widely- diffused religions feeling of the Scotch, and of their views upon the sub- ject of the Free Church, gathered direct from discourse or observation. The bulk of the book, however, consists of the story of the secession from the Presbyterian Establishment, with whiCh most attentive readers of news- papers are already acquainted; and an exposition of the present schism in the Scottish Episcopal Church, owing to the more than Tractarian leanings of the Bishops, especially the introduction of all but the doctrine of transubstantiation into the communion service. This last subject, as involving no patronage, and consequently creating no clamorous appeals to law and legislation, has attracted leis attention in this country; though the correspondence between Mr. Drummond, the Bishop of London, the Bishop of Cashel, and others, in reference to the question, has supplied "copy" for the newspapers. This part, in consequence, furnishes more information than the tale of the Secession, and is put into much less space. Both, however, are of the nature of compilation. The matter is mainly taken from newspaper reports of legal proceedings, Parliamentary speeches, 'or religious meetings,—well condensed and well put together, for those ;rho want it ; but we should think the number of this class less ilyin-Mr. Trench supposes. Space is further filled up by an account of the Scotch Poor-law ; and a review of Dr. Johnson's unjust idea of trees in Scot- land, as promulgated in his Tour to the Hebrides.

The character of bookmaking, which this description implies, is re- moved from Scotland, its Faith and Features, by the evident convic- tion of the author that he is doing good service to somebody. This feel- ing cannot, however, impart freshness to old news ; and the book is much inferior in general attraction to the Diary of a Journey in France and Spain,—not from deficiency in the author, but from want of novelty and variety in the topics proper to a tour, as well as from the preponder- ance of matter drawn from contemporary documents, with which those for whom the subject is likely to have much interest are probably as well acquainted as Mr. Trench himself.

Either in town or country, however, the author's natural eye for scenery gives character to his descriptions, because it seizes the precise characteristics of the originals.

A PICTURE OF OXFORD.

An hour's travelling by railroad brought us to Oxford early this morning. I can never pass by this city, or through its neighbouring locality, without strong impressions as to the permanency and unchanging character of the town and country. Certainly we now enter the town, by the railroad, at a point where in former times few arrived at the place; and as we advance in the direction which we pursued todayt the newly erected Martyr's Cross rises as a testimonial of syrn- pathy with the spirit by which our noble and blessed Reformers were influenced; and here and there some grand recent edifice or local improvement appears: but nevertheless, antiquity, permanence, and stability, remain as the peculiar features of the town; and it is remarkable that the same character should equally apply to the surrounding country. The frame suits the picture right well I cannot recall any part of England, familiar to me twenty years ago, in which less altera- tion is visible. The roads, the farm-houses, the cottages, the fences, and stone walls, remain precisely, in *tofu quo, according to my remembrance of them when at college myself. Little or nothing has been added; little or nothing has been removed. No trim citizen's box appears with its gay flowers and bright green palings. No chimney smokes on high to tell of manufacturing speculation as having visited this part of her Majesty's dominions. All the scenes in the imme- diate neighbourhood of Oxford seem, so to speak, stereotyped. They seem, not- withstanding these innovating times, to harmonize still in the most appropriate manner with the venerable town itself. They are solemn and impressive;. and though not what is called picturesque, have their peculiar charms, which soma, like Arnold, who was a first-rate judge of scenery, and very sensitive to its effect on the mind, have duly felt and prized.

COMFORT FOR TILE TARIFF-TIMID.

Our ponywas waiting for us at the station; and we then pursued our journey Northwardthrough Banbury and Southern to Leamington. The whole country presented one almost uninterrupted succession of pasture land, denoting England to be indeed a meat-eating and horse-using country far beyond all other lands. In no part of Europe have I ever seen such large districts devoted ex- clusively to grass as county after county in its midland parts exhibit. Any one looking to the right and left as he journeys by the railroad from London to Liver- pool may bear testimony to the truth of the'observation.

Even in the religious discussions of Scotland the effects of a purpose are visible. Mr. Trench's own views in religion are Evangelical and Anti-Tractarian. His sympathies are not only with the Secession, but he anticipates the possibility of some similar proceeding being forced on the faithful of the Anglican Church. Here is part of his argument : the danger apprehended is from the Tractarians. "But I would go a little further into details, and instance a few circumstances, which, if brought to bear by the State on the faithful members of the English and Irish Church, would rightly summon them to come out and be separate '— would justify the ancient appeal, To your tents, 0 Israel.' Let us then hypo- thetically put this case, viz.:—That the time might arrive when, either to please some political party, or under some pretext of a mere secular character, or for any similar causes, (of which a multitude may be readily imagined by any think- ing mind,) the State should forbid the assembly of her citizens for public wor- ship, or prescribe limits in the matter, unscriptural in their character; or, let us suppose. that in the ruling and legislative body such false doctrine should prevail as to originate the public issue of enactments which would tend to establish false doctrine in the Church; or, let us suppose that any measures should emanate from the same quarter ordering the general adoption of Popish rites and ceremo- nies through the length and breadth of the land. What in such a case would the duty of the Church be? Undoubtedly, at once to protest against such pro- ceedings; and if such protest should avail nothing, to throw off boldly all connec- tion with the State—abandon its honours and emoluments—reject that influence, salutary at other times, 'but' Which in such a case could only he retained by the dereliction of principle—and cast itself heartily and freely on the affections and sympathy of the people for support and continuance. Now I repeat, that this is a crisis to which every national church is liable at all times, if faithful to its Master in Heaven, if worthy of the name of a tree branch of Christ's Church, and not a mere set of time-serving Erastian men."

• Looking at the manner in which the people of this country have ex- pressed themselves upon the subject, the rather ill odour of Tractarianism at present from its leaders who have lapsed to Popery, and the number of Members which England returns to Parliament, we do not partake of these fears. Should, however, a great secession ever take place in the Anglican Church, we suspect it will not be so peaceful as that in Scot- land. The temporal powers may think that the time has come to deal *kb the whole temporalities.