Note J — AN ADDRESS TO THE CLERGYMEN OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

I cannot help relating here a circumstance (I hope it is not foreign to the purpose) that happened to one of my acquaintance. He was travelling in a coach, in which were three other respectable passengers. Among other subjects, the conversation (as is often the case) turned on Catholics. One of the gentlemen, immediately commenced a philippic against the Catholics, and called them idolaters, superstitious, murderers, and many other pretty names. My acquaintance allowed the gentleman, to pour out his abuse for some time without interruption, and appeared much amused by his bold assertions, and flaming descriptions of the poor deluded papists. During the conversation, a person in liquor, rode up to the coach window, and began to annoy the passengers, by his yells and impertinent behaviour. My acquaintance immediately said to the gentleman, who was telling such pretty things about the Catholics, let us have this drunken man taken up, he has murdered two or three people. The gentleman replied, "Are you, Sir, certain that he has murdered two or three people? Can you prove it? Because it would be very unjust to take the man up, unless you could prove the crimes which you mention." "No," answered my acquaintance, "I am not certain. And let me ask you, if you are certain, that all the charges, which you have just brought against the Catholics are true? I am a Catholic, and must tell you they are false, and if you would only follow the advice, which you have just given me about this man, you would find the truth of what I say. If you would not wish me to accuse this man of a crime, which I am not certain he has committed, I beg that you, for the future, will never accuse the Catholics of charges, which you cannot prove to be true, and which, if you would only take the trouble to examine, you would find to be absolutely false." The gentleman looked much perplexed, and was so ashamed of himself, that he never spoke another word until they parted. The other two gentlemen enjoyed the joke wonderfully, and laughed most heartily.