The Sun. — London, England, 1837-03-29 00:00:00

trail. of whom it is mo - re peculiarly placed ; the average is umber in weekly attend ance at this school, since I was s.-pointed curate, is front seven to ten, four or five of svhorn were-males—the ascend school, not a quarter of a /Mk distant from this, suworted by the rector, the master Vrotestant, the number in attendance with him usually :about thirteen, seven Pre testants and six Roman Catho lics—the third school, in the most remote end of the pa lish, is kept by a Roman. Catholic master, and supported rotely by what the scholarta pay him ; in it there are three or four Protestant childxf ..n in attendance, though the other two schools are as nearto or not much further from their Louses. Different causci; are assigned for thus dispersing the attendance of the Children through the parish. It is Trot necessary for me to state here what those causes are, ' I inquired into them, at id believe them to be known all who take an interest in thb a improvement of the children. I feel it, however, my dttLy to record these facts for the Kil dare-street Inspector, And all visitors of this school, and t' iexpress my decided opil non tleat while the attendance con tinues to be so diversified, a great progress in the religious instruction of the children cannot be expected. I trust those observations may exc!..te a desire to remedy the evil, and I think I may say of is rvself at least, that I will not be the last to come forward ! And co-operate with all who take an interest in the subject,, and endeavour to make such al terations as may afford ei n efficient Protestant school to the parish which does not eri,ist at present." It was objected to TC .e that I did not subscribe to Balli nacarrig school, that file sincerity of man's intentions is to be judged of by their acts. 1 acknowledge that I did not subscribe to it, but I . had the best reasons for not sub scribing to it, viz., t ;hat it was unnecessary- The mis tress is well paid for the little she has to do, she has twenty pounds a year and a comfortable house. I know some schools where there are a great many more children in at tendance where th e master has three times as much to do, with a salary of not more than half that sum. I sub scribed where I tb :ought my subscription more wanting ; both last year and t lie year before I subscribed to Carlow school, and here I may retort the objection that was made to me of judging o f men's sincerity by their acts. It ap pears that the Protestant school of Carlow was in debt to the amount of 351. for its expenses during the last year, a charity sermon w as preached for i ts su pp ort, and not withstanding the : seal, the ardour exhibited in talking about the bible, the whole bible, and nothing but the bible for the schools, wh at is the love evinced for it as proved by the amount of F subscription ? The paltry sum of thirty five pounds is' called for to teach the whole bible to -the poor Protestant of this town, and it, could not be col lected in the rich ne ighbourhnod of Carlow. The amount of subscription I hea td was only some shillings over thirty pounds, but a hund red pounds or thereabouts was soon collected for a politi 'cal dinner. There is a description of -.school which I woul d suggest the propriety ,of establishing, viz., an adult school. I have met with several instances of Protestants among the poorer clissas about eighteen or twenty years of at le extremely ignorant of the leading truths of the Gospel', ; we would do well to take heed while we contend for the -whole Bible, that we do not be- found ,more ignorant than Icy who only use part of it ; if our pri ' vil,ege of ! coding tl ie•entire be greater, so will our con demnation be great( r for our ignorance. I have.now candidly stated my reasons on that impor tant subject, and gi'vea an account which shows at least that I have not bee. 1 . nn idle spectater, that I endeavoured to satisfy my own mind by the practical results of the system, and grout- fled my opinions accordingly. if the stating of them thus publicly has the effect of inducing the _Protestant clergy and Protestant laity to con , ider the =otter more minut !ly, to reflect calmly and dispassionately, not suffering the r aind to be biassed by party•feeling, intent .only upon adopting what if good, when they discover it to be really so, I will perhaps deserve some little credit, and a better motive than the idle vanity of dragging myself before th a public be ascribed to my excitiops. 13cfore I conch ide, permit me, sir, 'o refer briefly to two .other topics ; a letter which I addressed lavt January to the Rev. Mi. Hume, Roman Catholic Curate of this town, and my address to the electors of this county at the late electioo. With regard to the former, when a coliee situ was about being made during the severity of the winter, in aid of the poor, I perceived that it could no: ".i se done without its being made a party question. I feel that every minister who interprets thn,Go.pel right, would riot suffer any Oistinction to be wade in relievinia the pour. When I fouad that several gentlemen had declined con tributing to that fund, to which the Roman Catholic clergy oontributeo, and in the disbursement of which they took a aait, it seemed to me to be a proper occasion for mak iog a few remarks relative to that grace which occupies so compictious a place in the Gospel page. I deprecated the es 11 esiliappy effects of party spirit in this country, quoted a passage from a learned Protestant divine, which is calculated to make us ,think less of our points of dif ference, and more of our points of agreement. it is this —.mall is the difference of the several sects professing Ciaist, when compared with the monstfous disproportion I.:hick Christian belief and Christian practice bear to infi delity and to vice. I also quoted those lines from a hymn, used in the ordination service of the Church of England, which are well adapted to impress on the heart of every minister, what one of his chief objects ought to be in that service, to which he dedicates himself. Of ,!rife and of dissention dissolve 0 Lord, the bands, And knit the knotsof peace and love throughout all - Christian lands. and concluded in words which I understand surprised, and I believe, shocked some. I concluded by subscribing my self his brollier in Jesus Christ. A course of lectures inn since been delivered in the Carlow Church on these points, controverted between the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Church ; I hope they may have the good effec", which were intended ; but conceiving that Protestants have enough to do to discover the errors, weaknese and infir mities common to man, and when discovered, to use their utmost diligence to correct them, I doubt, very much, the 'oeneficial icsillts. Being more disposed to concord than to controversy, I will here quote some passages from those %cry works which I hear quoted at the only lecture I at tended ; whoever reads them will, I think, admit that I was justified in concluding my letter to Mr. Hume, in the man lier 1 did, subscribing myself his brother in Jesus Christ— that in doing so it was no injury to the religion of Jesus as professed by Protestants—the lay champion quoted, -who, however, happened to be a divine, a clergyman •of the Church of England. The 'judicious Hooker, in Lis learned discourse on justification thus speaks -- " They (that is the Church of Rome) teach as we do, that in making man righteous, none do efficiently work with God, but God. They teach as we do, that unto justice no man ever attained, but by the merits of Jesus Christ ; they teach as we do, that although Christ, as God, be the efficient, as man, the meritorious cause of out justice, yet in us also there is something required ; God is the cause of our natural life, in him we live, but he quickeneth not the body, without the soul in the body. Christ hath merited to make us just, but as a medicine which is made for health, loth not heal by being made, but by being applied ; so, by the merits of Christ, there can be no justification without the application of his merit. Thus far we join hands with the Church of Rome." The other work I heard quoted was the Council of Trent : " In the sixth session this passage is found —though the sacred writings set so great a value upon good works, that Jesus Christ promises a reward to those who give even ii cup of cold water to the poor, and the Apostle declares that a trifling and momentary tribulation, suffered in this world, shall produce an eternal weight of glory ; yet God forbie that a Christian should confide in or glory in himself, and not in the Lord, whose goodness towards alt men is so great, as to be willing that his own gifts should become their merits." Again, in the 14th session—" we, who can do nothing o: ourselves, can do all things with him who strengthens us so that man has nothing in himself to glory or confide in but that ail his confidence and all his glory is in Jesus Christ, in whom we live, in whom we merit, in whom we satisfy—bringing forth fruits worthy of repentance, which have their efficacy from him, which are offered by him to the Father, and are accepted by the Father through him." Can any thing be more in accordance with the 11th article of the Church of England than those two passages. But sup posing a difference, allowing some points not the same, does the example of St. Paul forbid the use of the word bro ther ; does it forbid the practice towards all mankind, which that word implies ; to select one ins t a nce, in a very similar case, the Galatians acknowledged Christ to be the true and only Saviour, but added the necessity of observing Mo saical ceremonies ; did St. Paul remove their names out of the Gospel ? Oh, no, St. Paul knew and felt for the in firmities of man. How does he open his address to this er ring church of Galatia ? Thus :—" Paul an Apostle and all the brethren which are with me unto the churches of Galatia. Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ." He bestows on them the greatest blessings, grace and peace ; he calls them brethren, and directs that they should be treated Lindly, and received as brethren. Surely then I might conclude a letter to a Ro man Catholic Clergyman by the use of that term without incurring odium. When I behold those two beautiful spe cimens of human art, the spires of the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches in the town of Carlow, erected to the worship of the same glorious Being who presides over all, T am forced to cry out—would that the author of peace al lover of concord may cause the two bodies of the commu nity who worship in these and similar temples throughout the land, to stand beside each other, doing one another as little harm as those beautiful structures do, while each pro claims the majesty of Him, who has implanted the feelings of devotion in the human hearts. I am forced to offer up this fervent petition—would to God that all denominations of Christians, Protestants, Roman Catholics, and Dissenters might emulate each other in endeavouring to bring our Isle favoured so highly by nature to the best state of cultivation, to improve her trade, her coni- GREAT ANTI-CHURCH RATE Tierce, and thereby scatter 'pea ee and plenty through the length and breadth of the land—let this be the grand point in which the exertions of nil centre, and to promote this. object, let us allow each other to call down the bless ing of the Almighty on our lalours in that manner, which we respectively think in our consciences to be most ac cording to the light of revelation and reason. Let us not, because we do net all agree exactly in that manner, imagine that these blessings will n s et flow. God seeth not as man seeth ; he seeth the hew : a, he seeth when his own fear is lodged there, and wlnenever he finds it, he beholds it with a propitious setae. Now a few words in reference to my letter to tkie electors of this county. After having lamented and d'sprecated the evils of party spirit, many say how inconsincent, how foolish, to send forth an address to excite - and inflame. It may appear strange .; but I do enainte.'en that the most likely mode of putting an end to party spirit is to acknowledge error when we know and be lieve it to exist. With regard to our Church Establishment, I trust there is no one a more sincere believer in, a more sincere friend to her doctrines, as exhibited in the Book of Common Prayer ; but I am disposed to change in the dis tribution of Church property ; to change in her external discipline, perhaps it would be more correct - to say to the establishment or enforcement of a discipline, for passing events during some years prove her discipline to be almost a dead letter. I would say, assimilate the Church of Eng land to the Church of Rome in the appointing of curates and the selection of Bishops, giving our temporal head the final approval of the selection of the Bishops ; their mode seems to be more in accordance with Scripture than ours, as may be gathered from the Ist chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. Had this plan been adhered to since the Reformation, I doubt not but the Protestant Church would have proposed better. With respect to the distribu tion of Church property, am I singular among Protestants in long thinking an alteration desirable ? I need only refer to a correspondence between a nobleman and a bishop, the Earl of Mountcashel, and the late bishop of Ferns, that took place some years ago, to show that sonic thought a change requisite. That bishop is no more. I would speak of his memory with respect—he was an active zealous Bishop. There is a family celebrated for what is implied in this &stitch : " Englaed's pride and Ireland's glory. Was thrown into the ditch by the great ram of Gorey." Am I too fanciful in thinking these two lines prophetical of the cause of that crumbling in the establishment which is visible ; a revision of parishes has been proposed ; need I go further than the immediate neighbourhood of Carlow to show the necessity of a revision and alteration. Here is the town of Carlow itself, ene of the most impottant parishes iii the diocese, with an income for the rector of about three hundred a year. The duties of this parish would give ample cmployent to the undivided attention of two zealous active clergamen, their labour would be severe, the calls upon their humanity numerous, and what have they to support themselves and families I shall not ' say to remunerate them for their toil—the minister of Christ looks beyond this scene for his remuneration and reward. What have they to enable them to meet those calls, which their affections would' doubtlessly prompt them to do ? They have about three hundred a year. Now, there is a union of parishes, not far from the town of Carlow, in the Queen's County. I do not exactly know the names, but I understand they are worth upwards of a thousand a year. The two clergymen doing the duty are paid, I think I heard, a hundred a year each. The rector does not reside ; he holds another parish in another part of the diocese. Not possessing the power cf übiquity, he can only officiate in one. He receives his eight hundred a year, supposing the union worth a thousand, as I heard it was, for which he does not return any labour. Does the contrast of Carlow parish with this union call for a revision of parishes, or does it not ? There are many similar instances, but this is sufficient for my argument. Dr. Au)tin, who a few years back resigned the union of Mid dleton in the County Cork, worth about two tl:cusaiul a year, set a noble et:. imply to pluralists. It was Dean Swift who met whir that untoward event, when driving in company with one of the Rain family, and described it with so much humour. In thinking his lines on the ore,isien prophetical of ihe decay of our Church Establish ment, as I observed I would paraphrase it thus—The Church militant on earth. The Church in the simplieity and purity of her doctrine and pract;ce as professed by that brunch Christ's Church, called the Church of England, should he the pride and glory of any nation—but tempo reales has been too much blended, too much mixed up with her spiritualities. They affird too large afh Id fir the pension and place of the junior members of the nobilhy and aristo. racy of the land. They were too much used for that purpose. Her enereies have thereby been pars lazed. She has lost to a considerable extent her influence with the people, has lost her hold. on their affection—site has, therefore, been set aside—she has, as it were, been throe ain the ditch. Look to what a degree dissent prevails in England. Look to Wales. In Wales the clergy of the Established Church preach almost to empty walls. The mcctieg-houses there arc crowded. Look to Ireland—is there not almost in every town, at least, a congregation, separating front the Church of England ? And if the Protestants were as numerous in the country as in the town, I doubt not but a meeting-house would be seen ie every parish, as is generally the ease in Wales. May not, then, those lines of the wittet Dean be consi dered pro f hetic:el of that crumbling in the establishment as I have sail ? At the last election of Carlow, I voted con scientiously for the Liberal candidate, N. A. Vigors, Esq., fully persuaded that the measures which he would support is Pariiament were likely to do good in general ; were likely in particular to uphold the Church, to prevent the total ruin of this Establishment, by a due correction of its defects and abuses ; and what, let me ask you, Protestants of the town and county of Carlow, has been the conse quence of my voting as I did ? In Ballinacar rig perish, where I was acting as Curate, sonic of you. I understand, said you would not attend Church if I officiated there—l was in the habit of occasionally assisting at thee even ing service in the church of Carlow. Some of you sent word to Mr. Jameison, the Rector, that it I did so any mere you would leave the Church. I asked Mr. Jameison if it was true that you did so ; he told me it, was. Is this the purity of the elective franchise, that the Conservatives of the county Carlow would establish? 'lac right of private judgment on every topic is held by the Church of England to be the unalienable right of man. I. a Minister of that Church, exercised the privilege. Is it thus you show your veneration for one of the most distin guishing characteristic doctrines of your Church? I voted as my conscience dictated, und you therefore decline coming to the Church where I may officiate. Is not conduct like this equal to the tyranny—is it not calculated to revive the slavery of the darkest Popery, in the darkest centuries of the Christian era ? An answer which a woman in a low station in life gave me, when I asked her would she come to the Church where I might officiate, contains a lesson for high and low, rich and poor, learned and unlearned. What ever may be the description of the persons who expressed themselves unwilling to attend where I might officiate,. 1 would say to them, learn a lesson from this poor woman which teaches wisdom indeed—she is not too humble, too insignificant to instruct you. God sends man to the dumb animals to instruct them. Her answer was, " Oh, Sir, when I go to the Church, it is to the Creator and licd.•emer I look—not to his feeble minister." Our 26th Article teaches what is implied in the woman's answer —it teaches that the unworthiness of the ministers does not hinder the effect of their ministration. My voting for Mr. Vigors has been deemed by you a crime, a sin sufficient to render me unworthy of ministering among you. Had you viewed my crime (even if it was greater) in the charitable light of the Article of the Church, you would have shewed yourselves to be better acquainted with the re ligion that she inculcates. I saw extremes, violent ex tremes. I attempted to moderate them. The attempt may be considered hazardous, but the value of the old adage "in media tutissimus ibis" is worth fighting for—is worth risking profession, life, aye everything here below. I count all things but loss so that I may but win pe ace to Ireland. The judicious Hooker could not speak in his day, in the sixteenth century, with moderation towards his Roman Ca tholic brethren, without incurring s evere censure. It appears that I cannot now, in the 19th century, act with modera tion towards them without incurring the same censure. While I regret the slow march of intellect, while I regret that it has not advanced so far as to remove prejudice, that prejudices which seem to be innate, inborn, cannot be over ' come by the most powerful reasoning—that they are allowed to continue so as to grow with our growth and strengthen with our strength,-1 would adopt the language of Hoo ker, and exculpate my conduct, as he did his, in the follow ing words (it would be difficult to substitute better) : t‘ .Wherefore I beseech you, in the meekness of Christ, to consider that a watchman may cry an enemy when indeed a friend coineth. In which case, as I deem the watchman more worthy to be loved for his care than misliked for his error, so I have judged it my own part in this, as much as in me lieth to take away all suspicion of any unfriendly in tent or meaning, against the truth, from which God doth know my heart is free." I remain, Reverend Sir, Your Brother in Jesus Christ, Dublin-street, Carlow, CHARLES P. THOMAS, 1 17th March, 1837. MEETING IN STOCKPORT. „ COMPLETION OF CAPTAIN BRENTON'S NAVAL ilisTorty.—Those subscribera to this important and truly na tional work who have not yet completed their sets, are reminded that the 9th and concluding part may be had with the Maga zines on the Ist April. It comprises N arrati ves of the Bur mese war, of the battle of Navarro, of the attack on Algiers, and much other new and interesting matter, now first added ; and is embellished with portraits of Sir Edward Codrington, Sir Sydney Smith, Sir David Milne, and Captain Brenton. Complete sets of the work may also now be had in two large volumes Bvo., containing nearly 1,400 pages, and twenty-four portraits, &c., price 313, 6d. bound, THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 1837 tlon, and we shall find that those men who work hardest will be the best paid. Mr. Crofts then read the resolution, which was put from the Chair and unanimously carried. Mr. S. S. JACKSON moved the next resolution, acknow ledging the claims which his Majesty's Ministers had upon the gratitude of the meeting for their introduction of the measure for the abolition of Church-rates. Mr. CorrocK said his friend Mr. Christy had undertaken to second the resolution, but had been prevented. In Mr. Christy's. absence, he would beg leave to second the resolu tion. The Dissenters of this country were compelled to ,contribute to the support of a body of men who denied them religious freedom, and who, by their clergy in the House of Lords, and by the Tories in the House of Commons, never agreed to any measure affecting the people, except that measure was a bad one in itself. When Ireland was to be coerced, who supported the Ministry ? The bishops, the clergy, and the whole Tory force of both Houses. But when Dissenters- were to be relieved, who supported the efforts made to give them their just rights ? Only the in dependent and liberal Members of the House of Commons. Even those bishops who had been placed upon the bench by a liberal Ministry, in the vain hope that they would sup port liberal measures, deserted them when it was proposed to relieve Dissenters from Church-rates. We must gladly accept the present measure, by which this impost was destroyed, and give our support to those Ministers who , had ventured to bring forward a plan so honest, so wise, so good, and so beneficial to the country.—(Hear, hear.) But it was urged against these manufacturing districts, and especially against Stockport, that they paid no Church rates, and therefore they had no right to petition the legis lature to remove the grievance. It had also been asserted that the county of Chester was in flavour of the continu ance of Church-rates, and that not a single petition had been sent to Parliament from any place in Cheshire against a repeal of the system, but that a great many had been sent in its flavour.- It was time, therefore, that the inha bitants of Stockport should show that they had a strong feeling upon thnsubjeet ; and as this meeting was the first held in the county, he hoped and believed it would not be the last or the least.--(Hear, hear.) But it was said the inhabitants of Stockport bad no right to complain, because they did not pay Church-rates. He, however, would show the meeting that the inhabitants of Stockport did pay Church-rates, and that the Dissenters were not complain• ing either of an idle or a small grievance. He held in his hand the accounts of the expenditure for the support of the parish church of Stockport from 18 11 , and he found tha t it amounted to the enormous sum of 43,9451., the whole of which had been wrung from the pockets of the people by means of -Church-rates.—(Shame.) And he defied any men in the kingdom to show, in proportion to the time and benefits received, a greater, a more lavish, or more shameful expenditure of the public money. In 1811, the churchwardens levied from the parish 3,397/., a sum nearly equal to the amount" of the whole Poors'-rates, and thus one rector and two curates cost nearly as much as .the whole poor of the parish.—( Hear, hear.) In 1813 the churchwardens received 3,840/., and finding the money paid so readily, the next year (1814) they levied 4,0611.; in 1815, 4,017 ; in 1816, 3,959 ; in' 1817, 3,848 ; in 1818, 3,708 ; and in 1819, 3,016/. Then they give the parish a little breathing time, and in 1827 levied 3,119/. more, making a total in these years of 33,297/. And these were gentlemen who professed to teach and to preach the precepts of Christianity After 1827, they found it necessary to give the parish a little more breathing time, and they remained quiet till 1834, when they came forward for another rate amount ing to about 4,000/. more ; and it was not till Mr. Marsland, Mr. Howard, and several other parties who took an active part in the matter, had threatened to meet them them in a court of law, that they discontinued this most gross attempt at exact; on.—(Hear, hear.) .He would not make his case against the system of Church-rates worse than it really was—nay, he would not make it so bad as in fact it was, but he would state what the Churchwardens had partly done with the public money. He would take the first statement of accounts in his hand—that for 1833. One item was for ringing, and was placed down as costing 211. a-year, and another for extra ringing 13s. There was 31. for sacramental wine ; a verger for opening pew doors Si., assistants 6/. 12s„ 11. 10s., and 4/. 3s. 61, organ blower 6/. 6s. ; besides for washing gowns and surplices. The ac count was as long as a lawyer's bill, and he would not trouble the meeting with reading the whole of it, nor the charges for wasbirggowns anil surplices. But satisfied or not liatisfied with making the parish pay these expenses they made it pay 1711. 19s. 3d. towards the maintenance of St. Thomas's (Imrch ; and 70/. a-year towards St. George's at Hyde. He believed that a hundred years hence when the account of these transactions was read by our posterity they would be almost horror-struck to think that the intelligent people of England had been so foolish as - when they had the power as at present to do away with such a grievance, they had not at once. said, " we will not submit to be robbed with impunity—we will not allow taxes to be laid upon us for objects which we cannot conscientiously support." The pews in the parish church of Stockport belonged to nobody —they were said to belong to the public. But who used them ? Who received rents for them ?—(Hear, hear.) Did not everybody know idiot these pews were bought and sold every day for 401. or LOI. each, and that the party who made the sale put the money into his own pocket?— (Hear, hear.) Having sold the pes lie goes ti Church ho more,-hat somebody else occupied the pew, and the parish was put to the expense of keeping this man's property in orderl—' Hear, hear.) The Church possessed more than suffeient property to defray all its expenses ; and even in this very town there was property belonging to the Church which, if used in the way his Majesty's Ministers proposed to use it, would produce in the very least 4,0001. a year— ( Hear, hear) —which at the present moment was neither lost nor gained to any one. The system was in fact an obstruction to the value of property. The resolution was (Abridged from the North Cheshire R#former.) The absurd assertion of a member of the Episcopal bench that the county of Chester was opposed to the abo lition of Church -rates, because no petitions had been pre sented in favour of the Ministerial measure, has received a most triumphant denial on the part of the borough of Stock port, On the receipt of the London papers containing the Lords' debate, in which the assertion alluded to Ives made, measures were taken for a public meeting, and in a very short time a most numerous and respectably signed requisi tion was presented to the Mayor, pressing him to call a public meeting on the subject. The Mayor immediately assented, and appointed the meeting to be held in the Court-house on Wednesday, at half-past 10 o'clock in the forenoon. At the appointed time a large number of the in habitants had assembled. The Mayor, Jonathan Thorn hill, Esq., was unanimously called to preside. The Mavon opened,the proceedings by reading the re quisition, which requested him to call the meeting, " to take into consideration the propriety of addressing the King, and petitioning both Houses of Parliament in favour of the Ministerial measure for the removal of Church-rates." The Mayor then proceeded to observe that when the commutation or repeal of the Church-rates first be came a great national question, the friends of the Church looked upon the measure as one of great hos tility towards the - Establishment, as injurious to its well being, and nearly destructive of its existence. But it now appeared that the Church itself possessed dormant re sources fully adequate to sustain a burden so obnoxious to those who were not benefited by the Church, so that those who originated the present measure might fairly be consi dered the truest patriots. The Ministerial plan for dis posing of the different details or props which were to sup port this burden, had been selected and arranged with such wisdom, that we might almost look upon it as a m asterpiece. The only task, therefore, that devolved upon the people was to commend the measure, and to strengthen the hands of Ministers, that their judicious plans might become the law of the land. APELLES HOWARD, Esq., proposed the first resolution, expressive of the satisfactioe felt be the meeting at the efforts of his Majesty's Ministers to relieve all classes of the community from the unpopular impost of Church-rates. Church-rates, being a compulsory payment, were contrary to the spirit of Christianity. Much had been said on the one hand by Dissenters in favour of the voluntary system, and on the other hand much bad been alleged against it by the Church party. Now in talking of matters of another kind we were accustomed to say, " Look first at home." Upon the same principle he said, " Look at Stockport:'— ( Hear, hear.) Look at 43 schools, its places of public wor ship, and the number of attendants on each. Two-thirds of the people of this town received spiritual instruction by means of voluntary contributions, and of 11,000 children attached to our charity schools 9,000 were being educated at the charge of Dissenters.—( Hear.) What was the cause of so much dissent from the Established Church ? Be cause the friends of the Established Church were its greatest enemies by seeking to support it by a system of compulsion.—( Hear, hear.) The Rev. WILLIAM SMITH spole.e nearly in the following words—The measure that his Majesty's Ministers have in troduced in the lower House, not for the abolition, but ra ther, I should say, for the commutation of Church-rates, is one so evidently free from the slightest imputation of- in justice and spiolation, that I cannot conceive how Church man or Dissenter, or any man, whatever religious belief he may profess, or whatever political opinions he may support, can conscientiously -object to it. I ascribe all the opposition to this wise measure to ignorance on the one hand, and to party spirit on the other.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") And I am satisfied, perfectly satisfied, that in the whole com munity there is not any one of sane mind, who examining the measure, unless,. intleV, his mind be pre-occupied by party, and corrupted by long accustomed habit, or unless the light of his conscience and the distinctness of his intellectual perceptions arc obscured by party influences and motives, can give any feasible or honest opposition to it.--( Hear, hear.) Ilis .Majesty's Ministers tell the holders of Church lands that under their :ystem of management those lands are not rendered near so productive as they might be, which I can prove to be the fact ; and that so long as a Bishop, Dean and Chapter, Prebend, or whatever they may be called, has only a life interest in them, they never can get the proper value, on account of- the uncertainty of the tenure. The State then comes forward and says, " We will relieve you from this situation, and guarantee you the full present value of these lands, and a participation in the surplus which may be created by oar Aet, besides relieving those whom you call ) our enemies, by taking away from them their main ground of olipction to your Church ; we will use means to pour the oil of conciliation and peace over the troubled waters of rcl'gious discord and animosity ; and all we ask from you is to allow us to do so without bigoted and violent opposition."--(Cheers.) And yet this conciliatory measure has been resisted ! The Mi nisterial measure is opposed—is violently, determinedly, strenuously opposed—by certain parties; and it is our duty as Christian men, as citizens in a free country, and as lovers of justice and truth, to come forward and assert that it has our full and entire concurrence and approbation.—(Cheers.) But it is objected that, the Ministerial measure is an attack upon the clergy of the Establishment . It attacks the clergy of the Establishment certainly in one respect. It places before them a barrier, and this barrier prevents them advancing in a certain direction, and those parties who attack them ; hut the direction in which it prevents them advancing is a direction in which they go adverse to the feelings of the people.—(Cheers.) It is a barrier which prevents them from getting into personal collision with the people ; it is a barrier that arrests their hand when it would be thrust into the pockets of the people ; it i-; a barrier in fact that prevents oppression on the part of the clergyman, and dis c o n tent, opposition, and enmity on the part of the people.—(Loud cheers.) It is also said that this measure is an attack upon religion. I might go on in the same way and show you that religion does not consist in the imposition of rates of any kind, and above all that religion does not' consist in vexing or irritating the cern. sciences of our fellow-men, nor in perpetuating - a source of discontent and disunion among the people. I might go on to show you, on the contrary, that religion consists in the cultivation of kindly feelings, in the promotion of charitable dispositions, and in forwarding the temporal and eternal in terests of all with whom you come in contact. I think, therefore, it would not be a very difficult task to prove that the rights and privileges which the Established Clergy claim of levying Church-rates upon those who differ with them upon conscientious grounds, is not a part or parcel of religion.—(Cheers.) But I will go further, and say that not only is this a measure of Christian liberty and equity, but it is a measure eminently calculated to serve the Es tablished Church itself. I support the measure upon these grounds ; and I am sorry, indeed, that long habit, improper influences, and the custom of regarding as a right and a privilege what is manifestly not a right or a privilege; but an unjust, unfair, and anti-christian grievance, prevents the Clergy and the adherents of the Establishment from sup porting the measure, althouvh evidently for the best in terests of their Church. A petition lately presented to the House of Lords by the Archbishop of Canterbury against the abolition of Church-rates, had but twelve signatures— (Hcar)—and who do you think these parties were ? Six of them consisted of the parish clerk and his five children, another was the sexton of the parish, two were bell-ringers, and I know not what the others were, but no doubt they were " very respectable."--(Clieers.) I think we shall not have much difficulty in forwarding a petition as respectably, and at any rate as numerously signed as this. It is our duty to do so.--(Hear, bear.) The Rev. Gentleman concluded amidst loud cheers, by seconding the resolution, which was put and carried unanimously. Mr. Alderman Bnower said the Dissenters were, as he believed, a more numerous body than the Chu rc h men , it w as monstrous injustice that the majority should pay for the religion of the minority. We need not look very far to discover that the Ministers of the Establishment did not possess the same zeal as the Ministers of Dissenting deno minations. Many of them seemed to think that the cure of souls was only the means of obtaining a living.—(Hear, hear.) It was certainly much to be regretted, but the fact was so, that the Dignitaries of the Establishment seemed to have set their faces against the amelioration of our insti tutions. He need only refer for proof to their conduct on the Reform Bill, and on all the liberal measures which the present Ministry had introduced. Mr. Alderman Brown concluded by propo.sing the second resolution, which de clared the satisfaction of the meeting at the Ministerial measure. The Rev. H. 0. CROFTS seconded the resolution. Man is a rational being. He is a free agent therefore all compulsory measures, especially those of a religious kind, n has a r right theto ac tir must be looked upon as t y rannical.—(Cheers.) Libert y of conscience in matters o f reli g ion is the prero g ative of ever y l i r n a l t p i o o a s e a , h ofs opinionsevery uponthinkingan oh being. reerf ;ney to N w hold, God iho alon e are we ac denever and fo any law is m c o o u n n s t a w b e l e may f or the p e r f oopinions ri 7 c , e t no passed for the purpose of making any man subscribe to that which in his judgment he is convinced is wrong—l say we are tyrannising over that man's conscience, and taking away from him that liberty which the great God of all has be stowed upon him. I was born in the city of Litchfield. There is there a catlicerel and our churches, but I never heard in my life but of one parson preaching in any of those churches who might be said to possess the religion of Jesus Christ in his heart.--( Hear, hear.) And these men seem by all their actions to say to the Dissenters, " Stand off, stand off, for we are holier men than you." I look upon Church-rates as unnecessary, and I do so because I am well acquainted with the effects of the voluntary sys tem. Let the voluntary principle be brought into opera then carried. Mr. E. HOLLINS moved the fourth resolution, that a petition be presented to the King, and petitions to both Houses of Parliament, praying them to pass the Ministe rial measure for the abolition of Church-rates. Mr. J. FOWDEN seconded the resolution, which was una nimously carried. Mr. C. liusT proposed that Lord Vernon should be requested to present the petition to the Lords, and that Henry Marsland, Esq., present 1.1. e petition to tha Commons, with a request to E. J. Stanley, Eicp, to support its prayer. Mr. J. H AmEa, in a long and energetic address, se conded the resolution. Mr. H. SEFTON observed that as Major Marsland bad recorded his vote in favour of the Church-rate system, it would be unnecessary for the meeting to trouble him with a request to support the petition. To talk about applying to the House of Commons or to the House of Lords was a mere fallacy unless the people were determined to fol!ow up the prayers of their petitions with personal and active exertion.—(Cheers.) After a few further observations to the same effect, Mr. Sefton concluded, and the petition was unanimously carried. HENRY 'MARSLAND, Esq., M.P., then rose and was re ceived with loud cheering. The Hon. Member spoke to the following effect. There are only three parties to which the Ministerial measure appeals—the nation, the lessees of Church property, and the clergy. With regard to the na tion I think it has been proved by the preceding speakers that both Churchman and Dissenter will be equally be nefitted by the measure. With regard to the lessees of Church property there may be some division of opinion —I am of opinion it will be highly serviceable to the lessee, that he will by it acquire a certain tenure for the land which he now holds by an uncertain tenure. The lessee under deans and chapters may perhaps not be able to drive such a hard bargain with a body of men, some of whose lives may be uncertain, or perhaps of not so long duration as the patriarchs of old ; whilst the lessee under a Bishop, especially if he be healthy and vigorous, will not be liable to be sprung up to the highest pitch to which he is now subject. There-. fore, I think upon the whole that lessees of Church pro! p er ty will beg reatly beuefitted. Allusion has been made to the numberless petitions presented to the House of Lords. I have only to confirm the statement made that some peti tions have been in many instances very thinly signed, and that likewise they were got up under the impression that the Dissenter was not only to be relieved, but the relief to be, afforded to him was to be provided by placing greater burdens upon the poor Churchman. I think we ought to be truly grateful to his Majesty's Ministers for having brought forward this great question, for no doubt it will ex pose them to much obloquy and much opposition. I do not myself think they will be able to carry the ,Measure this Session, although it may go through the House of Com mons ; but notwithstanding truth will be powerful and must prevail.—(Cheers.) If this great question should still continue to be agitated, it will prove a source of con stant irritation throughout the country, and the Church of England will approach to the state in which the Church of Ireland, or rather the Church of England in Ireland, now stands—au edifice about to totter to the ground, from which no exertions of her friends can now save her, which must fall in consequence of the continual opposition made by her to every measure of improvement, to every kind of repair brought forward, not by its enemies, but by its very best friends.—(Loud cheering.) This being the whole of the proceedings, the Mayor va cated the chair, which was taken by Mr. Alderman Howard. The thanks of the meeting were then voted to the Mayor for the able manner in which he had presided, and the people separated. AUSTRIA AND THE AtisTRIANs.--We are re quested to state that the new work, entitled, " Austria and the Austrians,' in 2 vols., post Svo., with portraits of the Em peror Ferdinand and Prince Metternich, is published this day by Mr. Colburn, 13, Great Marlborough-street, and may be obtained of every bookseller in the kingdom. Agents for Scotland, Bell and Bradfute, Edinburgh ; for Ireland, John Cumming, Dublin. MEETING OF THE GENERAL ASSO CIATION. (Abridged from the Morning Advertiser.) DUBLIN, SATURDAY, MARCH 25. The news of Mr. O'Connell's arrival in town brought a large assembly to the Corn Exchange-rooms this day. The I-lon. and Learned Gentleman entered the Committee room a little before three o'clock, the hour appointed for holding the meeting, where he was greeted by a large num ber of his personal friends, who were assembled to receive him. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman looks rather thin, but is in excellent health and spirits. A few minutes after three o'clock Mr. O'Connell, accompanied by a great number of gentlemen, proeceded from the Committee-room to the place of meeting, and was greeted by the who!e as sembly in the most enthusiastic manner. Mr. Peter Purcell was called to the chair. When the minutes of the last day's proceedings were read, Mr. O'Connell handed in 2/. I ls. 6d. Justice Rent, which was giv'en him by Mr. John Childs, of Bungay, and was about to address the meeting, when Mr. Film said he begged leave to interrupt him for a moment, whilst he proposed a vote of thanks to the two pacificators in Kilkenny, who were instrumental in bringing Glennon, the hired incendiary, to conviction. When Mr. Finn con cluded— Mr. O'CONNELL rose and said—l am not sorry that I was interrupted by my friend, and that I gave way to him, as it gives me an opportunity of seconding his motion, and of directing attention to the subject of illegal societies. It is, in the internal management of our country, the most important point for consideration.—(Hear.) The greatest of all evils in a country is the prevalence of secret societies. No community is safe in which they exist. All national calamities and miseries originate and are pressed forward by the originators of them.—(Hear, bear.) I have been for some time aware of the existence of these secret societies in our country—and I directed attention to them. I knew where they originated, and whence, they came into Ireland. They came from Manchester, and there they began with a man whose principles were well known to be of the deepest Orange dye, and they were brought over here by a person who was no friend to our cause.—( Hear.) They spread fast through the country. They prevailed in Meath, Kildare, Louth, Kilkenny, Queen's County, and they even extended over to the west, into Galway. I heard of the establishment of a secret society there, I was consulted on the subject by persons who were not let deeply into particulars, but who were told, and who thought that it was established for the benefit of trade. I showed them the mischief resulting from such societies. I showed them that the persons with whom they originated were not friends, and that - the objects they had in view were bad, and I believe, for I do not positively know, that the result was, that I placed considerable impe diments, if I did not entirely put a stop to the further progress of illegal societies in part part of the country Tr our pacificators had not detected Glennon in Kilkenn, and brought him to justice, he would have gone abou, among the simple country people and have succeeded in swearing- numbers of them. He would call a general meeting, and would then proceed to some Orange Magis trate—most probably - to a Clergyman of the Established Church—lay before him informations of the whole plot a -- tell him where he would find his dupes assembled—where he would get the rules and regulations of the body, and then the whole matter would be brought triumphantly before Parliament, and would afford an excellent opportunity to Sergeant Jackson for the use of his leather lungs. Re corder Shaw would feebly echo him, and Mr. West, too, who banished all the Catholic tenantry from his father-in law's estate in Galway, would chime in, and ail would repeat the barefaced falsehood that Orange lodges had been corn p!etely abolished, but that ribbon societies had sprung up in their stead.—(Hear.) Any one who joins an illegal and secret association puts his life into the hands of any in former. I have but two topics on which I will now remark. The first is the advantage derived and derivable by the country from the appointment of pacificators. If those men in Kilkenny had not been specially appointed to that office, it is most probable that neither they nor any others would have given themselves any trouble in endeavouring to ap prehend Glennon. Prosperity to the plan of pacificators-- (Loud cheers) —to use a Kilkenny phrase—more power to their elbows.—(Cheers and laughter.) It is an excellent plan, and lam proud of it. It is a plan that is working well--like the gallows, as Shakspeare says, " it works well for those who do ill."—(Cheers and laughter.) Its only fruit is not the bringing to panishment such a miscreant as Glen non—and, by the bye, I think it would be well not to hurry on his punishment. Some hopes might be held out to him. After a few months' imprisonment, and a few months in the hulks, he will tell something. lam sure he has some dis closures to make.—(llear.) Suppose the pacificators were to visit Glennon in his prison, and undertake to interfere on his behalf with Government, if he would make a full disclosure: Mr. FRICNCH-There are persons engaged in that man ner already. Mr. O'CONNELL—Very well, but they will not do their duty a hit the worse, for having received a hint.from me.— (Hear, hear.) The second thing that I have to observe upon, is the wonderful unanimity that prevails between the Association and Baron Foster, on the subject of the con duct of the pacificators, and the evil of secret societies. It delights me to sse that we arc of one opinion. But it is very odd he never discovered the evil of the thing before. There were such things as Orange Lodges ; he never dis covered or proclaimed mischief of them.—(Cheers and laughter.) When they existed, secret societies were not so mischievous in his eyes, but now be has changed his opinion.—( Hear, hear.) This change is a proof of the Baron's increasing wisdom, and Heaven knows there was great room for improvement in that respect.—(Laughter.) As for his charges I know nothing of them, for I did not hear either his, or those of any, of the other Judges, and I do not believe one word imputed to them by the papers. —(Much laughter.) These papers misrepreSent the Judges most s hockingly.—(Continued laughter.) One of them states that Chief Justice Doherty threatened to fine Mr. Keogh, the High Sheriff of Carlow, for driving to the Court-house in his own carriage.—(Hear.) Who would believe such a statement ? But whether he made the threat or not, this I know, that Mr. Keogh is not the man to be biow-beaten,—(Hear, and cheers.) At the Carlow dinner I had the honour of sitting beside him. He would have been one of my witnesses ; you, Mr. Chairman, I believe, would have been another ; but Mr. Keogh was much nearer—in case any of the Orange miscreants of Carlow had been daring enough to swear to the words of blood which they put into my mouth.— (Hear, hear.) I will conclude as I began, by warning my countrymen against all secret societies. I feel great pleasure in seconding Mr. Finn's motion. The Learned Gentleman then sat down. The motion was put and carried. Mr. O'CONNELL again presented himself, and was re ceived with repeated bursts of applause. When the cheer ing subsided, he proceeded as follows :—I rise sir, to pro pose a vote of thanks to Mr. John Childs, of Bungay, as a mark of approbation of his conduct, and as a token of re spect to the Protestant Dissenters of England.—(Hear, hear.) I left you with the thorough conviction that you could not have lasting prosperity under any other auspices but those of a domestic legislature.—(Cheers.) I left you to make the experiment if we could have justice done, and our country prosperous without a native Parliament,—that experiment has and shall be patient, enduring, hearty, and cordial. We are now in the third year of that experiment. I do not despair ; we look for nothing but good govern ment ; and if the English wish to govern us well, we will throw Repeal to the winds. Our object is good govern ment and equal laws for Ireland. Ido not wish for—l cannot say the word—l cannot say that Ido not wish for repeal (a voice in the crowd cried out," Oh, never say it") ; well, I won't say it ; but I will act as if I wished the ques tion buried for ever in oblivion ; and I will continue to make the experiment as heartily and as cordially as the greatest enemy of repeal could desire ; and if ever I be driven to the agitation of the question again, no man in existence will be able to say that the fault was mine.— (Cheers.) There is nothing idle or presumptuous in my saying that I will make this experiment. I have already made a similar experiment. For five years I have been en deavouring to conciliate the Orangemen of Ireland, and I never gave up the task until I demonstrated to the world that the Irish faction could not be conciliated. I struggled for a union of hearts and hands--I made the experiment cordially and honestly. I made it to an extent that caused me to be laughed at in Parliament ; and passages of my speeches were quoted to show that I was then courting the Orangemen ; but I am glad of it, for I am now able to proclaim, without fear of contradiction, that I made the experiment honestly, and no man can now say that it is my fault that Irishmen of all classes and creeds are not hear tily united.—(Loud cheers.) I come now to the impor tant question—what progress have we made since I last ad dressed you in this. room ?—( Hear.) What has occurred since I was last among you ? Very little has been done by the Parliament. But there is one feature in the aspect of our affairs that is consoling in -the highest degree.—(Hear.) We have Lord Mulgrave continuing to govern the country with strict justice and true wisdom. He is acting as well as if there was a Parliament in College-green.—(Loud cheering.) We have this, and a Ministry determined to do strict justice. So far we see the good side of the picture ! but alas ! how evanescent that may be ! If the spirit of bi gotry should be triumphant, and that the present Minis ters should be put out of office but for one week, the light of hope which now beams upon us would be tran sient as the lightning flash, and leave the darkness which followed more sorrowful and gloomy when compared with the light which had passed away.—(Cheers.) But I have hopes of better times. 'There is a better spirit abroad in England upon Irish subjects. Sympathy towards Ireland is far more widely diffused through England than I was heretofore led to believe. The conduct of the House of L• Commons is pregnant with hypo. The majority of SO upon , the Irish Municipal Reform Bill was overwhelming; to be su re there was a great deal of opposition an d long speeches in Committee and out of it. Shaw kept dociling and dodg ing with his drowsy talk for six or seven hours. Hoevever, he could do nothing but talk, and he inflicted such pain :von even his own friends by listening to him, that I would t: of wonder if he actually turned some of them against him.- - ( Laughter.) I here call upon the English people, and implore of them in the name of my country to pour in pe titions Let them recollect what little hope they them selves have from the justice of the House of Lords ; that that they must extort their rights from their fears by: a manifestation of public opinion that cannot i':e resisted. Is there any man who thinks the House of Lards; will pase the Bill? If there be, he has more credulity Pia" I , have ; for I have no hope that it will. — ( Hear, 11,-ar.) There was a great deal of quarrelling about details irr L." House of Commons, and about measures which can neve . be accomplished but by a reform of the House of Lords' What noise and talk we had about tithes, and yet thew has not been one word about them since the commence-. ment of the present Session. I want to know is there any man so ignorant of public affairs as not to know that a sweeping vote for the total abolition of tithes might carry with it a conflagration that would spread over the whole country ? Who can believe that a total abolition of tithes could he attempted while England is taking her stand be hind the question of Church-rates ?If you were to throw' in the Irish tithes at such a moment, you would create a revolution which would render even the throne unsafe, and as 1 have said, would spread a conflagration throughout the country. The animosities which would be enkindled in the English mind would endanger the public tranquillity. Hete let me do the Ministry justice—they have brought forward two most excellent measures, the Irish Municipal Reform' Bill and the Bill for the relief of the Dissenters. The first: 'of these measures is as extensive as it was possible to carry through Parliament. I would have voted for Mr. Sharman Crawford's amendment, but that I knew it wohld be an additional reason for its rejection in the House of Lords. The measure itself, however, is as practically useful as it was possible for Government to make it. therefore gave it my support. With respoot to the Bill for the abolition of Church-rates, it is founded on that principle of justice which we have been so long s truggling to establish—that no man is hound to pay for the sup port of a religion which he does not profess, and front which he derives no benefit.—(Hear, hear.) No two measures of greater public utility, or more sound in principle, could have been brought forward by any Administration. X 2"P, to hail the wisdom, indeed I may say the perfection, 0; these two measures as a miracle in modern legislation.- - ' (Hear, hear.) But even suppose the Dissenters' Bill to pass the Commons, what hope is there of carrying it through the Lords? There will be a fierce struggle there,. and our just demands will be delayed while the conflict is: going on. Here is a complete halt and stop in legislation; brought on by this measure of Church-rates, which in' justice and principle we concur in, and in gratitude to the' Dissenters' support, but e in which we ourselves have no' further concern Whatever. Such is the position in which we are placed. But do I despair? Do I tell you t° stop short in the experiment ? No ; you, know what has been ever my advice to you— " Hereditary bondsmen know you not, • Who would be free, themse.ves must strike the blow ?" Let us look to ourselves. We possess resources which will enable us to carry anything. When I was last here, I spoke of the apathy of the people of the North. TheY have given many and many a proof since that I was misa taken in attributing to them anything like indifference. -- ( Hear, hear.) We have hopes from the North. Orangeisnt has, to be sure, a strong hold in Belfast, and is in every respect worthy of the Representative whom it has sent to Parliament (Mr. Emerson 'ferment). 1 demonstrated the other night at least a dozen falsehoods in a statement which he made. He attributed to 1836, that which happened just two years before. As to the newspapers, I have stif' fered consider_ ele annoyance from them since I was here last. There is the atrocious and abominable rl'imes— perfection of literary scoundrels.—(Laughter.) It actually invented a speech liar me. It made me traduce a lady of high rank and station in the most shocking manner ; an d when I complained of this, that do you think was the ex." cute? why, that of a dry night the reporter's notes got wet.—(Loud laughter.) This is the most extraordinary process of wetting I ever heard of; for it not only blotted out what was in it, but, it substituted half a column out of the pure imagination of this wonderful wetting.—(Conti' need laughter.) Now there is a paper claiming public confidence-e-it is the organ of a powerful party, and it is base enough to resort to such a vile fabrication as Jas. But Emerson Tennent had no such excuse, he had no we t: ngto plead—(Laughter;— here was his own handwriting, and he could not escape from it—what he so falsely stated in Glasgow I contradicted in his presence, and with the blefsing of God I will have him again before the House, and depend upon it I will nail his ears to the (Continued laughter and cheers.) 1 have spoken of our prospects in time North, and every where I look affords me a cheering anticipation of success. The county Donegal, if the Marquis Conyngham assists us, is secure—London derry will have a representative who is friendly to the liberties of the people. We will creep on in other con o " tics. Cavan, which has alrrady shown the fruits or oar exertions, will, I am confident, evince a further zeal in the good cause. As to Sligo, our letters to-day state th . ,!! t as soon as another registry comes into operation the lit berals will have an overwhelming majority there. 113° Queen's county, I hope, is secure. The present electiti u makes Carlow so safe that the most perjured Com mittee, that ever existed (I do not speak of the present habits of the Tories—(Cheers)—but of the old Tories, who nec e , r paid the least attention to the evidence) will not b e able to displac the sitting Member.—( Hear, hear, and low: cheers.) The prospects of the South and West of Irelan d are excellent; With respect to Drogheda, Randal Plu nkOfr is only the representative of a ComMittee ; just as in COl Longficld is the representative of Fear us O'Connor an the Committee that tried that petition. Kinsale will 1 1 rescued,from the bonds in which it now is ; and Yough; and Sligo towns arc perfectly secure. The Qua ricr if Review says that Ireland must-be convertei again. it means by this that they must publish fresh tracts , se- , out new missions, and enter again the lists of controvers''.. we are ready to meet them. They tried that helnr e .; and I do not think they will be in a hurry to attempt ie again.—(Laughter and cheers.) Converted ! how ? Jac and Maclean tell you—by the strong arm of power A li e, cruel persecution and tyranny. Is there a Catholic in '7* land, who feels as he ought, that will not strain his Altai' efforts to keep this bloodthirsty faction out o f powe r 'They call us infidels and heathens. From this room I P:, claim them tyrants, and set them at contemptuous d efisne e , —(Tremendous cheering.) We are working out the ca s t e , riment of repeal ; and that we are ready to give uP n ‘he gether the moment that justice is done t o us . meantime, let us assist'the genius and spirit of British ' lie berty, and afford our aid to the English Dissenters in t j struggle in which they are now engaged.—(Cheer s.) lbe confess that I have great confidence and much hope. prospect becomes still brighter when I turn to 1-te ' land. There the progress of liberal opinions aM°,nfee the operative classes has been greater than we could wija anticipated. They have suffered much injustice. It is Scio that property ought to he represented. There is one Veto of property that has certainly a paramount claim in ja respect, and that is the property which the labourer hashes his bone and sinew. —(Hear, and cheers.) If a me n be a house worth ten pounds a year, and lives in i dler bas can exercise time franchise ; whereas the operative, vv l ° t j 0 a property in his labour, is denied the privilege. "'l e nt' unjust. It has accordingly excited a feeling of ,elisennbieh ment and of inquiry amongst the operative classes, w, e s is rapidly spreading throughout England. Accor d , inl 'are political information is diffusing itself among them, tueltbieS casting aside their former prejudices, and their symP it oe, are aroused in favour of Ireland. There is, to be der' amongst them a little jealousy as to who should be 1e7040 but this will wear away ; the good workman has I l b ` ini 0 found his energies better directed by having over be A d' skilful engineer.—(Cheers.) They will find that t t°' vice of persons of political experience should be listebneces.) They are now looking for universal suffrage.---(Cereforni I am- delighted at that. I once thought tha t lhe not. Bill was sufficiently extensive—l now find th at it 3 %, to In the agitation of this question of Church:l7d h: England I see much to rejoice at ; and in Ire i ire increasing energy and union of her people insF e pros: with the most confident hopes as to her futurtvhat tb perity. It is for the Dissenters of England Ine : o rit i i i , s mall S 1 on Ministers are now struggling with a It is to relieve them from the tyranny and oPPr essi rpri e t t ; Establishment (and in my life I never knew a un n e r es sed ridden people than the English) that we have ' OOO , am . m . press the consideration of our own claims. ns ia e s !e l ; Learned Gentleman concluded, amid the , n t i e n cheers of the assemblage, by proposing the resold th 4 he had read. foe- Mr. PURCELL then put Mr. O'Connell's the; Mr. which was passed unanimously. , T u esday ne4 the: Mr. O'CONNELL gave notice that on at should move that it be referred to the Committe ie e ve pacificatory procure monthly returns from thea al parish in,lreland. het " is Mr. O'CONNELL again rose, and said t for t he pleasure to announce that the Justice Ren t , a ged ' 0 Hon Vet , c loy week amounted to the sum of 1181. 9r. Sa n on to remark that the Committee would meet -, r ,, e suk• two o'clock.—The meeting then adjourned to motion r It is renortcd in the military c ircles that -II t o 5 7 , Coloncl Burdett, only son of Sir F. Burdett, i 5 llcef th© t eed Lord Bingham in the Lieutenant-ColoneicY ° Lancers.