349 to affirm, is a most powerful check on the depravity of men and a most effectual preventive of their criminal excesses. But is it true that crimes, especially murder and illegitimacy, are more prevalent in Catholic than in Protestant countries? I utterly deny the assertion, and also appeal to statistics in support of the denial. Whence do our opponents derive their information? Forsooth, from Rev. M. Hobart Seymour's "Nights Among Romanists" and similar absolutely unreliable compilations, the false statements of which have been again and again refuted. [371] Rev. Mr. Seymour gives the following list of the number of murders in England, France and Ireland: Ireland: 19 homicides to the million of inhabitants France: 31 England: 4 The reader of the above might well draw back in astonishment and exclaim, "Truly moral atmosphere of England!" But how do these statements compare with the official records which I submit to the unprejudiced reader? Recent returns from the "Hand-Book" for France, and "Thorn's Official Directory for England and Ireland, 1869," are as follows: Convictions Executions. (and sentences to death). 1864.9 5 France 1867.27 10 England and Wales Ireland 3 0 These figures, which are from authenticated sources, do not bear out our accusers in their assertion that murders are more