Results of the Irish Census of 1861. With a special
reference to the condition of the Church in Ireland. By the Rev. A. Hume, LL.D. and D.C.L. (Rivingtons.)—The author of this pamphlet is a member of five learned societies and the honorary secretary of another, as his title- page carefully informs the reader. His composition, however, is in- tended to support the Establishment in Ireland, and the only novel part of it is that which is headed "Religious Professions." The remainder contains nothing which is not to bo found in the blue-book, and is we cannot help thinking mere stuffing to afford a justification for the general title of the publication. On the religions question it would be unjust to deny that Mr. Hume has brought prominently forward a good many interesting facts, admirably illustrated by maps and tables, and that this part of his pamphlet is well worth study. But we cannot see that ho has said anything to justify the existence of the institution he wishes to defend. Roman Catholics seem to us quite justified in com- paring themselves with members of the Established Church, and not with Protestants generally, when they wish to show the uselessness of the Establishment, and we do not see that the undeniable fact that th
property- of the country is chiefly in the hands of the Protestants, who therefore, speaking generally, form the upper classes, is any reason why their Church should have a State endowment. On the contrary, it would be more reasonable to endow the Church of the poor, who cannot afford to pay their own teachers. Neither does the success of the Church missionaries in the extreme west prove anything. They are not the parochial clergy, and although in communion with the Establishment are not part of it. The Establishment is, we are disposed to believe, absolutely a hindrance to the Protestant missionaries.
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