WILLIAM COBBET AND HIS HOLINESS PIUS VIII.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 233, 19 October 1877, Page 9

WILLIAM COBBET AND HIS HOLINESS PIUS VIII.

William Cobbet dedicated his celebrated " History of the English Reformation"' to His Holiness Pope Pius VIII. The following is the dedication which was written in manuscript in the copy of the book sent to His Holiness by Mr Cobbet : " To his Holiness Pope Pius VIII. " The present head of that most holy Church— under the influence of which England enjoyed so many days of plenty peace, happiness, and renown— this new edition of the History of the Protestant Reformation is dedicated by, and in the handwriting of His Holiness' most obedient- and most humble servant, « Wm. Cobbet." The clergyman who forwarded this dedication to the magazine from which I copy it mentions that Mr Cobbet prefixed to some other copies of the " History," the same manuscript dedication, one of which was in his possession. He adds, in forwarding this interesting document. " One can only regret that a man professing such respect for the Head of the Holy Catholic Church, and tearing such honourable testimony to the blessed fruits derived by this country from the influence of the Catholic religion should have refused or neglected to embrace and practice its doctrines and precepts."' To me it seems not only a matter of regret, but of surprize, not to say mystery, that Mr Cobbet should never have embraced the Catholic religion but lived and died, so far as we know, a member of that Church which he represented as having been established by such improper, or rather wicked means, and whose ministers were, in his view, anything but a blessing to England. But such is the inconsistency of human nature. It must be noticed that Mr Cobbet never, so far as I remember, expresses any opinion on theological questions in the course of his history. He keeps to historical facts and the common principles of justice, and shows how inimical the Protestant system has proved to the comfort, happiness, unity and reputation of the people of England. It is a practical book, and places in tbc clearest possible light the mischief the Reformation has worked to the humblest ranks of Englishmen, the destitute especially. I think you could not do a better service to the Catholic cause than give now and then short extracts from Mr Cobbet's celebrated " History of the Reformation." Englishmen arc apt to forget those things connected with the Reformation which Mr Cobbet has placed in the clearest light before them, showing the loss they sustained when they madly rejected the Catholic faith, or rather tamely suffered themselves to be robbed of it, for the benefit of a selfish party, who seized the possessions of the Catholic Church, and now hold them.