The National Register. — London, England, 1818-01-18 00:00:00

1 ! - (Tatt Artationail toiOtt No. 519.—V0r.. XL POLITICAL DISQUISITION. ....sm.-- ON THE LATE MELTING TO CELEBRATE THE REFORMATION, WITH REMARKS ON THE CLAIMS OF THE " ROMAN CATHOLICS." " The Protestants in France bear office in the State, be " cause, though their religion be different, ♦et they ac " knowledge no other King but the King of France. The " Papisti in England, they most have a King of their own, " a Pope, that must do something in oar kingdom, therefore " there is no reason they should enjoy the same privileges. " Amsterdam admits of ali religions hut Papists, and 'tis upon " the name nermint. The Pt gists wherever they live, have " another King at Rome ; all other religions are subject to the " present State, and have no Prince elsewhere." SaLDEN'S " Table Talk." IN our last number we made some observations„ arising out of two Meetings lately held in the metropolis having for their object the relief of poor distressed Sai lors, and others: we come now to notice a little, ano ther Meeting of a very different description, held at the City of London Tavern, on the last day of the Old Year. On that day a numerous assembly of highly reputable persons met together at the above place, in pursuance of public advertisement, for the purpose of celebrating the Tri-centenary of the Great Reforma tion from the errors of Popery, which begun in Ger many, under the preachingV Martin Luther, just three hundred years ago, and %as effected in this coins try nearjy about the same period. To the liberal mind it must be a % pleasing source of reflection, that we live in a day when religious professora , ,of various denomi. catkins, with their Clergy at their head, arc found meeting and uniting with their brethren of the Esta blished Church, to conanemorate an event, fraught' with the most valuable blessings to the Christian com munity at large, and from which they derive not only the enjoyment of liberty, but all these rights and privileges which are foundaupon a just know ledge of the doctrineS of the Bible; which, as a learned Judge has observed, form a part of our laws, and which sacred treasure the Reformation first laid open to man kind. By the wise and salutary measures which have since been adopted from time to time, the Scriptures are now to be found in the hands of almost every per son capable of reading their contents ; and such is the improved state of society, resulting from that lielit which has itemised upon the human mind in consequence of the Refiirmatiln, that an universal system of educa tion prevails, end not only children, hut persons ad vanced in years, arc provided with teachers to ena!de tham to participate in, that divine effulgence, which 1w tended so much to the, advantage and improvement of mankind in every Protestant country. The Episcopa- , lian, the Anabaptist, the Presbyterian, the Quaker, may all, with the greatest cordiality, join in an Asso ciation of this kind ; fbr, whatever may be their minor and unimportant distinctions, they alike value the pri vileges they derive from the above grand epoch, and such a Meeting as this, must have the effect of promot ing that harmony and brotherly love, which ought to be found pervading the breasts of Christians of every denomination. On this occasion, the Chair was filled by the Duke of Sussex, and it must have been a pleasing reflection to his Royal Highness, that in the act in which he was engaged, he was patronizing a subject which ever lay near the heart of his Royal Parent—the Religious Liberties of his People ;—as consideration which ever induced him to resist any attempted innovation bearing upon so important a point, either in Church or State.—lt is well known that his Majesty uni formly set his face against those pretendel claims which have from time to time been set up by the Pa pists, A and to which the Le jialatitre has hitherto been, and we :lave nn doubt ever will be opposed, as incom patible not with Religious liberty, but our civil rigUls, mini ii.c happiness and well-being of society at larlc.—lt is a truth, as is olverved by " the learned Our Et ing, onatitution anb /EMU. SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 1818. Selden" whose words we have quoted, that " wherever the Papists live, they have another King at Rome." We certainly can have no objection to their obtaining all the privileges, and immunities which that King can bestow, but the Members of our legislature will, we trust, ever bear in mind the many woeful examples which our history affords, of the consequences result ing from a power lodged in such hands, before they proceed to make any alteration in the law as it now stands with respect to the adherents and followers of the Romish Church. The subject of the " Catholic Claims," as they are called, bears a peculiar relavency to a consideration of the meeting now under our notice. That freedom of opinion in Religion, which we inherit. from the Reformation, and a toleration of the Papists to the extent they demand, are perfectly incompatible. The followers of the Church of Rome, do not in any Coun try where their Religion prevails, allow this toleration to an Englishman, or to a Protestant of uny nation.— The establishment of a Church for the use of the Bri tish residents at Libon, has lately been noticed as a singular instance of tolerance in a " Catholic" Go. vernment ;—a Government, by the bye, which holds its existence through the valour of British arms, and and it was doubtless out of pure gratitude that the Re ligierz in Portugal, have, for the first time, winked at a proceeding so directly in opposition to their general principle .—After this, we have no doubt that the Pa pists in this counfry, will not fail to, boast still more *boot the liberally of," the tathoties of the present day,!: Who have even condescended to permit the English, in a country they have rescued from a foreign yoke, to worship their God in a way accordant to the dictates of their conscience. This is trial, a wonderful conces sion on the part of the Roman " Catholics" of Portugal, and will not fail to be made the ntostof by their brethren of the same fold in this Country, whenever the question of their claims shall be again brought before Podia meat. To the advocates of the claims urged by these peo ple, we would put the following plaia question :—Will your friends, the " Catholics," grant generally to all Protestants in Popish countries, the same toleration, the same privileges, which themselves already enjoy under the Protestant Government in England ? When they agree to this, their claims will, doubtless, find a greater number of 'advocates, and perhaps be entitled to further consideration than they have hitherto de, served.—But, the cause of that Church is rapidly de clining, the eyes of the world have long been open to its juggling tricks, its hollow pretensions. Man rind in the present day are too enlightened to be led astray by the dark-lanthona of Popish infidlibillity. We, therefore, can have no doubt, that the same spirit which led our early reformors to throw off the yoke of Papal tyranny, will induce their descendants, in the present day, to oppose the least inroad or innovation which these peo ple may yet have in view ; fir were they once to ob tain that power in the State, which is evidently their aim and object (as they already possess religious free d:an to the fullest extent), adieu to all those bless ings which we deri?:e from the REFonmaTtom—f.tre well to the civil liberties; of Englishmen, which would inevitably become absorbed in the darkest abyss of slavery and intolerance—that the vilest system of priestcraft, could possibly imagine or devise. • The word Papist, will sound harsh to the cars of some, the softer appdlation ROIRdN t'atholie being now generally in use; but as the former is the term by which thaw people arc designated in our Statutes and Ilistorical !tweeds, and as we are not willing to allow their peetensh' to reitholickn, we trii:t v..,2 may be excu:.eil in a i „d ; leetion for ‘La7li: , g persons as well a; things by their right • COURT MoURNING. — Strohn CHANor.—The tikes place this day ; aud change of Conn M ournin g in another fortnight (Sunday, Feb. I), th e i t „ l ,t, agree _ ably to thc notice alreatly bsuctl, oe3 out of Mourning; making WI duration three mouths. l'+ Pales 91d FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. FR4NCE. PARIII, Jar:At—The Committee chosen from among the members of tbs. French Academy to make a report to the Minister of the Interior icspectiig the re-organization of the French theatres, have finished their labour. It is said that they propose to establish a sit ond Theatre Francois, a se cond Theatre d'Opern Comique, and not to allow more than one theatre for vaudevilles. sail two theatres fur melodrames. "On the 30th of December, het ervess7 :sad I o'clock the morning, was found dead tu his elm ober, the Count de Witt genstein, Colonel of the Legion of Elohenlobe, in garrison at Valence. This officer blew out his brains with a pistol, rlairg ed with several balls. A few moments before he exec-isle:l his purpose, he gave some directimis to Ills domestic with his customary vainness. The motive of this desperate act is not known. RUSSIA. The follawing is an extract of is letter of the 12th ult. from St. Petersburgh :—" Advices front Georgia of the 13th nit. state, that on the 21st of October, an immense avalanche fell from the mountain of Kasbeck, nod covered an extent of three wersts in length, to the height of 30 fathoms. It completely dammed up the rapid river of Turek; which, Ishwever ' on the. third day, worked a passage for itself underneath the mass of snow. 'Chia accident for some time interrupted the commnnicatian with Georgia. Fortnnately there were no travellers passing when it happened. Nine years have elapsed since the last avalanche occurred ; though, according to the reports of the inhabitants, they generally take place once in seven years, and In the summer season. The follow ing article appears in oar Court calendar Three hundred and Afty-tive yearshave elapsed since all the Russianprovinces were united under one Government, during which period the Russian frontiers. have been frisna time to lime extended, without a single instance iu Russian history of a cession of territory. The acquisitions of territory made by Russia took place as follows :—Siberia, in 1.373 ; Little Russia. in 1014 ; Livonia, and Esthonia, iu 17101 White Russia, 1772 t the Crimea, in ITBS Lithuania and Courier'''. in 1723; the re mainder of Poland, in 1793 ; Georgia, in 1801 ; Rialystock in 1907 ; - Findlauil, and the Duchy of Warsaw, in 1815: " \ PEThitsAURGIt, DEC. IG.—lt is known that the great em. pire of Russia has laboured tender a 101 , 4 want of coal, but hopes are now wisteetainew) of some having been famed in the environs of Tools, simenirfActuring lawn, 113.reiles Irons Moscow. The Emperor has, through the agency of his Am baasador in London, the Count de Eleven, engaged a Scotch. man, M. Cougutiac, with a great number of workmen, from 11'hitehavtn and Newcastle. They'left London on ti p ' lit of Oetabor, and have already arrived at MoAi.ovr, wher e the( will pa.s the winter, and commence the works at Tonle in the arptimehing spring. 'the Emperue, constantly oceepiedwith whatever may tend to the encouragement of letters in his vast empire, has invited from France two orientalists, in order to establish and propa gate in Russia the knowledge of the oriental languages, which has been too much neglected among us. The individuals are M. Dernange, and M. Charmoy, both of them pupas belonging to the speelal school of oriental languages, at Paris. The first n ill teach Arabic and Armenian ; the other Persian and Tin kish. tl. Denninge has likewise studied Sanserit, and can teach that branch, so important as Asiatic literature, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. VF 11.0, DEC. 2.—Sok VINING NOVEL.—Yesterday Nov, 9, seven young warriors of 'the Seneca nation of Indians, left this village in the stage, nutter the charge of Messrs. A. C. Pox of this village, and W. Bringliam of Chatanq ne, for New York, trout whence, we understand, they are to take passage for Liverpool, England. Their chive , is to exhibit themselves in all the important towns in England, whence the;, , will pro. teed to Paris, and afterward probably complete the grand tour throng!' Europe. lothans are all fine looking active voting men, and will undoubtedly edit' d the Enropea t is 'Very tinsel and interesting exhibition. Mr. Mies Macdonald, Governor of Lord Selkirk's colony at Hodson's.,!tay, arrived at this place lIM the 2.2 d tilt. recently from the lied Kiser coun try. Ile Caine io the brig L'Hion, Captain lleard, ft orn Green Hay, &c. on his way to M L rnheal , Meet hi: h 131. 011 V tho charges which have beep preferred against hint by the agents of the North West Company.—Nure I , Tk. Letlthlit PnNt. 1.-,hu,AGE,M ENT WITH THE IND{ V,S$. Copy of a letter from it la . jor-Genrral Gaines to the Gayer. nor of Georgia, dated at rot t `colt, near the confluence cf the Phut and Chatahoochie ricers, 2 I st of November " Slit,—The first brigade of United Stites troops arrived at this place on the 19th inst. I had preciously sent a ruiner to notify the Fowl Town Chief Jin-/re-noitit-io, of my antra ars to atteertais whether his hostik kniper had abat:J. and requested 11:tit tovisit Ile replied, that he hail already said to the Commanding Officer here all he had to say, and that be would not conic. " Ile hat warned Nlajet• Twigg- not to ems., or cut a stick of wood on the east side of the Flint river: alL w int; that the hound was his, that he was directed by the powers above and below to protect and defend it, and he should do so. This being the talk referred to, .and his town having continued to he hostile ever since the late war, and having participated. as die foetidly Indians arreert. In the predator/ war canted on for sonic time past .geamst the Georgian hontiera yesterday detached about Vitt men, tsuppi.wed to he about the strength of the novo, wider the tilatrnand of Major T.i g.zs , w i t h order., to bring to me the chat anil watriot.., and to the event of' le. sistance. to trait theft a.` eticntie.. '('lee deuchmott , . atriviM :t the town eley this itiornint and were instantly filed own, bat without rtLit. The lire %VA:. mt , if nel by Ow eletachTent, will the ludi:a.3 putt to blebs welt of firm War lam, and. us tberc moon to 11..Iiests, man, Illi/re wounded. Among the Irricles found in the 11041.4: the e %%nitwit) twit ts , ielet), with a pay iif 4okt .veirti.o... a Cef s•gned h. a H !ttsit t ap , am of flosses . • i i .,:„, t wh" , in t he alwei.t.• of Colter I -rating. that die l fik f had always been atone and &Ulna 11.itrait. &- 5 1 /‘ ,`-e-e t*) "4 *** ;,e'T A I • - 7 ~ .