492 T/te Catholic Association. [MAY, 



Ireland are equally far from their redemption. Place Mr. Canning at the 

 head of a strong and undivided cabinet, and the opponents of corn-bills 

 and of emancipation would dwindle into insignificance. No, Mr. Editor, 

 the people of England, their wants, and their wishes, are wholly out of 

 the question ; and while this influence " behind the throne, and greater 

 than the throne," prevails, temper, and prudence, and moderation, will he 

 as nothing. The oligarchy are essentially a selfish and an headstrong 

 faction ; and the Catholics are not so very wrong in imagining they can 

 frighten those whom they cannot convince or inspire with sentiments of 

 justice and humanity. One great and deplorable error they have com- 

 mitted, is confounding this faction with the people of England, and visit- 

 ing its sias, with ill-advised expressions of triumph on English misfortune, 

 which in fact they do not feel. The people of all countries are united in 

 interest ; and the instincts of the Catholics have taught them this truth, 

 however much they may swagger and pretend to disown it. I would, 

 therefore, willingly prevail with your correspondent, who is a powerful 

 writer, and a strong thinker, to re-consider the question ; and give to the 

 people of this uufortunate x and ill-treated country the full benefit of his 

 powerful talents ; by admonishing them of their errors, not upbraiding 

 them; and by imputing their mistakes, not to those who are mere effects, 

 but to those who are the causes, the fountains, and the springs, of all that 

 is mischievous and absurd in Ireland. Above all things, I wish that he 

 would visit the country, for he will there see so much to grieve the heart, 

 and to harrow up the soul, that if the people were as deep in sin as they 

 are in misery, he would be unable to reproach, arid scarcely find courage 

 even to reprove them. T. 



Dublin, April W y 



STANZAS. 



I WANDERED by her side in life's sweet spring, 



When all the world seemed beautiful and young 

 When hope was truth, and she a peerless thing, 



"Round whom my heart's best, fondest wishes clung. 

 Her cheek 'was fanned, not smitten, by Time's wing ; 



Her heart Love had drawn sweets from, but ne'er stung ; 

 And, as in youth's and beauty's light she moved, 



All blessed her : she was lovely and beloved ! 

 I stood by her again, when her cheek bloomed 



BrightUer than aye, but wore an ominous hue; 

 And her eye's light was dimmed not, but assumed 



A fiercer, ghastlier, butintenser blue: 

 And her wan cheek proclaimed that she was doomed, 



And her worn frame her soul seemed bursting through ; 

 And friends and lovers were around her sighing-, 



And life's last sands were ebbing : she was dying ! 



I stood by her once more and, bending down, 



Sealed on her lips a pledge which they returned not ; 

 And pressed her to my bosom but her own 



With life's warm fires, to mine responsive, burned not ; 

 And clasped her hand but, as in days bygone, 



Her heart's thoughts from its eloquent pulse I learned not ; 

 Light from her eye, hue from her cheek had fled. 



And her warm heart was frozen : she was dead ! H, N. 



