To the Editor of the Dear Sre,—I quite agree with 'Alpha's' remarks in your issue of the 7th inst., and merely write to express a hope that his views with regard to the' arrestation of criticism may be generally adopted, for Tam a tailor, and. the adverse eri-ticism to which my coats are subjected by the unprofessional men to whom I sell them is extremely galling. No man who is not a tailor can tell whether a coat fits not; and consuls, merchants, missionaries and others should confine themselves to wearing and paying for them.
But I amin a little trouble in the matter, for though I can understand that no one but a shoemaker can tell whether a shoe fit, none but a baker whether our bread be good and wholesome, none but a cow have an opinion on rinderpest, I have been taught, rightly or wrongly, that religion is a thing concerning all—that everyone is in some way a minister of the Lord, that the fountain of truth jis free to everyone, that it is the duty of each to put his hand to the Lord's work.
And unless, therefore, I say that the missionaries are not members of the Church, that their work iv not the Lord's, that their doctrines are not the truth, that they are a profession apart—a peculiar people—I shoul seem to have a perfect right te form ideas regarding their labour, and, having ideas, naturally that of giving them expression.
Nor if the principle be carried out thoroughly, do L quite see how missionaries can criticize opium traders or other sinners, for as they neither speculate nor sin, a8 they have no practical acquaintance with evil-doing, as heaven not earth is the subject of their study, perchance it might be thought that in their periodical denundations of the communities who support them, they have forgotten the wisdom of the Dean's Tailor, and nut minded.their own business, "Yours very truly, Pera.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.