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The author has devoted one chapter to what he calls religious members;" by which he must be understood to mean, those who have taken a prominent part in debates on subjects of a religious character. Their number is but small, and the way in which they are often received seems to justify their being made a class by themselves. Considering the stress which is laid by most members on the fact, that christianity is part and parcel of the law of the land, it may well excite surprise that anything which has really the appearance of christianity, should be so unhandsomely scouted. The following extract will shew the state of religion in the House of Commons. On one occasion the correct quotation of a text of scripture was matter of dispute;

"The controversy became keen, as to the literal version of the text in question, when Mr. Finch at once set the matter at rest, by putting his hand into his pocket, and pulling out a very handsome diamond bible, from which, AMIDST SHOUTS OF LAUGHTER, he read the passage n question."

We cannot refrain from expressing our regret, and even our indignation, at the development of a spirit like this. That our senators should feel a reverence for religion, would be too much to expect; but we were not prepared to find that the BIBLE, that national_ornament and glory,—the classical, the poetic, the venerable BIBLE, would bring down on its admirer the scorn of the law-givers of Britain!

THE DEAD CHILD, OR THE “HAPPY
RELEASE."

How grateful ought you to be, that your dear infant is removed from you, at an age when no doubt can be entertained respecting its final condition," said Mrs. .... to her friend, who mourned over her child, and "refused to be comforted, because it was not."

"I wish to acquiesce in the arrangements of Divine Providence," was the reply, "but I must confess, that I can admit no grateful emotions. 'The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away,' and 1 bow with resignation to his will. My desire was, that my babe should live, and now it is dead, I can see no reason why I should view the dispensation otherwise than as a cross, which, though heavy, I must endeavour to bear." A deep sigh, accompanied with a look of yearning affection towards the milk-white receptacle of her dead, proved that nature sanctioned the sentiment of the speaker.

"But, my dear friend, must we not consider the death of infants a 'happy release'? When we call to mind the innumerable troubles of this life, to be permitted to escape them, appears to me a great privilege. But when I remember how many, by an improper use of their term of probation lose the happiness of the life to come, I rejoice in the exit of these young immortals; believing as I do, with a pious poet, that

'Millions of infant souls compose

The family above."

I believe

"Your theory is a beautiful one," said the sufferer, "nor do I mean to say that it is not perfectly correct. my little one is happy. But allow me to give you my reasons for considering the death of infants a misfortune, and for my consequent inability to perceive the truth of the expression, a happy release.'

"In the FIRST place, I make a distinction between the troubles of life, and real evils. I rather wish my children should make a right use of their afflictions, than escape them. The career of our life requires trial, in order that its proper end may be secured. That my child should have been inexperienced of these sorrows, which may be turned into blessings, does not, therefore, reconcile me to its loss.

"SECONDLY, the possibility of a creature of earth losing the reward of heaven, cannot be a reason why we should thank God, that he has prevented that creature from becoming a candidate for the blessings attending obedience.

In

that case, it must be considered an act of kindness, if God were to prevent the farther increase of our species, in order that contingent evils might be prevented. The bounty of heaven having supplied us with the means of obtaining immortal felicity, we ought to hope that they will be rightly used.

"THIRDLY, in the case of my child, the primary design of its creation is not answered. Had no disorder been introduced into our world, the impartation of life would always have been followed by its growth and maturity. I cannot look upon a flower blasted in the bud, without regretting that it has not accomplished the purposes of its existence: much more do I lament that God's best work should thus be marred. The intellect has never developed itself, which might have indulged the most lofty imaginings; and mere instinct alone has been displayed, where emotions of a deep and thrilling character might have existed.

"FOURTHLY, I believe my child is happy, but cannot believe that it is equally blessed with those, who by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for eternal life. There must be a connection between the character sustained on earth, and the state of felicity in heaven. What we know of God, forbids us to believe that the soul of an infant becomes extinct at death; it rather convinces us that it must be happy. But the whole of the divine conduct would lead us to expect some analogy between the degree of its powers here, and its state hereafter. My babe is blessed, but I entertain the hope, that had its life been spared, I might have trained it in the paths of religion and virtue, that so an entrance might have been ministered abundantly into the everlasting kingdom. I cannot, for these reasons, call the death of my child 'a happy release."

TO AN ORANGE.

Written in time of Sickness.

FRUIT of a warmer clime,

Thou com'st from far to me;

Thanks to the hand that brought

Thy golden, fragrant sphere from o'er the sea.

Where skies of deeper blue

Their kindling rays do shed,

Thy form adorns the grove,

Which, ever-verdant, shades the weary head.

That warmer clime no more

Thy glittering vest shall see;

Friend of the sick! thou leav'st thy skies, thy bower,
To give delight to me.

But how unconscious Thou,

Of all the blessings thou hast shed!

To HIM let grateful feelings glow,

Who raised the orange-grove, to heal the sick, and
cheer the weary head.

BRIEF COMMENTARY ON PASSING EVENTS.

Opening of a Infant School at St. Albans.-A handsome building erected at the expense of Enoch Durant, Esq. of High Cannon, near Barnet, was opened for an Infant School on Thursday, April 7th. The chair was taken by the Earl of Verulam, and several able speeches were delivered by ministers and other gentlemen present. We were glad that the object met with the countenance of the nobleman already mentioned, but must express our surprise at the guarded and cautious manner in which his approval was conveyed. "He stated," says the "Herts. Reformer," "that as he had been previously assured 'there were no political or sectarian objects contemplated, he had consented to preside, otherwise he should make his bow and retire,

professing his faith in the Protestant religion of the Established Church, in which he hoped to live and die." Now what a strange suspicious character must his Lordship, (or his advisers) possess, to lead him to imagine a connection between a school for babes, and the political parties which divide the country! The partizans of contending sects give each other credit for wonderful industry in their respective spheres! At the same time the bearing of all plans and schools of education is political and sectarian, inasmuch as they form the public mind to resist all systems of error, corruption, and oppression. We hope the time will speedily come, when benevolent objects will be espoused for their real worth, by men of every political party.

New British School at Luton.-A sum of money sufficient for the erection of a School, to be conducted on the system of the "British and Foreign School Society", has been collected at Luton, and it is hoped education will speedily commence. We recommend three things to the conductors of this object; first, to select, if possible, a public situation, as every town is adorned most by its public institutions. Secondly, to build in connection with it, apartments for the Master, that the annual expense may be lessened. Thirdly, to connect with it an Înfant School. If the latter were done, Luton would have every advantage of an educational kind which the public could bestow upon it. There is already a large School on the "National "plan, in active operation.

Irreligion of the "Times" Newspaper.-On Thursday, the 7th of April, the following article appeared in this paper, in reference to the Speaker, the Lord Advocate, and the Attorney-general :---

"Whereupon the aforesaid Trinity, being morally compelled to concentrate their powers in achieving the precise Scheme of Redemption demanded of them, move every possible political influence to carry