30(5 Dublin Saints. [MARCH, 



discovered in a hyacinth, and all ungodliness in a camelia japonica. A 

 painting of the Crucifixion brought down the malison of all the Saints 

 upon an exhibition of pictures, which was thereupon declared to savour 

 of idolatry ; and the accidental circumstance of Rothwell's " Dead 

 Christ" having been shewn in the same room with " a dancing faM r n," 

 occasioned as much up-turning of the eyes as if a second Paine had 

 openly traduced the gospel. With the poet it fares no better than with 

 the painter and statuary. Pollock's " Course of Time," is almost the 

 only poem, except such things as the " Satan" and " Omnipresence," to 

 be found in any drawing-room of sanctity. Dr. Bowdler's mutilated 

 Shakspeare may perhaps be discovered in some forgotten corner ; but, 

 generally speaking, the poets, ancient and modern, are held in the same 

 light as the Apocrypha, or "Week's Preparation," the latter of which 

 was lately torn to pieces in a fit of holy indignation by the orator of a 

 fashionable pulpit. Pope composed the " Universal Prayer ;" Dryden 

 rhymed in defence of Rome ; Milton was an Any-thing-arian ; Gray 

 was a moralist ; and Byron a blasphemer ; so that Don Quixote's 

 library was not more severely handled by the unromantic Curate, than 

 the treasures of English poetry by the critics of this religious world. It 

 is not surprising therefore, that the lovers of literature, and all the ele- 

 gant arts that soften and embellish life, begin to be alarmed for their 

 innocent enjoyments, and look with dismay upon the ravages fanaticism 

 is making upon the dominions of taste and letters. They remember 

 what has been said by Adam Smith " Public diversions, and the fine 

 arts of painting, poetry, and music, have always been objects of dread 

 to the promoters of popular frenzies, because they tend to dissipate that 

 gloomy temper which is always the nurse of popular superstition and 

 enthusiasm." To us, far from opposing, " Divine Philosophy" appears 

 to sanction, every thing that cheers and refines society. Christianity, of 

 all religious systems, seems to be that of politeness and good-humour. 

 " Dull fools/' and such only, suppose it to be " harsh and crabbed." It 

 teaches us to regulate our tastes, and direct them virtuously ; but neither 

 by its letter or its spirit does it encourage the docrines of the soi- 

 disant saints of the present day. An Apostle cited Euripides and 

 Hesiod ; and the primitive converts to the cross, while they burned the 

 books of astrology and magic, spared the works of the sculptor, the 

 painter, and the poet. 



A " thousand and one" religious sects are enumerated by Evans, in his 

 little work entitled " Christian Denominations." Of these there is scarcely 

 one which does not set apart a certain period of the year for extraordinary 

 meetings and solemnities. Sacred for social pleasures to the children of 

 the establishment is Christmas. The Catholics after their meagre Lents 

 rejoice rather at Easter. The broad-brimmed and sober-suited followers 

 of Penn make merry in May. Midsummer is said to be the jubilee of the 

 Jumpers, when they are most active in the exercise of their devotion, and 

 enliven the dull streets of Carnarvon with their holy harlequinade. An 

 analogous usage prevails amongst the Dublin Saints; they have an 

 annual gathering on the first of April (absit omen verbo}^ and they fre- 

 quently carry their pious festivities far into the month. Then is the 

 season to observe them : then they are in their glory. All the lights of 

 the gospel are kindled, and shine with more than wonted lustre. The 

 Rotunda, an immense building always at the service of the highest 

 bidder, sinner or saint, for a mission or a masquerade is secured at a 



