The Sun. — London, England, 1828-06-28 00:00:00

TO HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF `WTI- LINGTON, K.G. &c. &c. &e. My Lord Duke,—lt ought not to be a matter of surprise to any one, that the writer of this letter should address your Grace. Your late.speech on the Catholic Question; has; led some to think, and confirmed others in the opinion, that you are anxious to settle,that question finally. 'l:have been at dif ferent times engaged in the consideration• ordisCus of the Catholic Claims... I have bestowed on them .all. the ,attention - . and study of which J' am capable, and should I now be so fortunate' as' to render the slightest assiStance to your Grace by , the further applicatiou of that study and attention, I should both gratify: my own wishes and contribute something to the public good. .It- is true that your Grace is supposed by many to have entered fully into the views of those, who • have -doomed the Catholics to perpetual exclusion, notwithstanding that you have thought proper, as :head of the Go vernment, to abstain from harsh language towards so large a body of the King's subjects, and even to let in a glimmering, resembling the light of hope, upon the gloom which envelopes them. There are others who think that your Grace, like all the Statesmen who have gone before you, would be regulated in your policy more by necessity than by preconceived opinions ; and that whilst, in compliance, perhaps, with your own sense of duty, or if not, with the wishes of those on whose support you depend, you would willingly postpone the-Catholic Question to an indefinite period, yet that you are disposed to watch the course of events, and even to enter into an alliance with your Catholic countrymen, should your Foreign allies cease to be your friends. Fear is the beginning of wisdom, and though the Irish were not to be feared, the state of England and of her Foreign relations may produce a salutary dread even in your mind; and out of that fear may spring these wise and healing measures which itis our most anxious desire you should adopt. Having before then the state of Europe, and not of Europe only --knowing, as we do, the difficulties which beset us at home, we may, though not endowed with more than ordinary foresight, discover that at no very Alktant period your Grace may-be seriously, and s7n cerely disposed to settle finally and amicably the laims hf the Catholics. My object therefore is to A.:tier before-hand my feeble assistance to your Grace, so that if the time should arrive " when some thing may lie dome," you may avail yourself of it ; but should that time not arrive —should peace be re-established on the Continent, should our trade and manufactures flourish--should our income ex ceed our expenditure, and England enjoy as here tofore, both peace and plenty, then the reflections which I am now about submitting to your Grace, rimy lie, with the parchment of our petitions, buried in I will proceed however on the supposition that urea in power are upright and sincere; and with a roost anxious wish as my part to assist in pointing out die way to avoid those difficulties which appear to impede the progress of our claims to a satisfactory adjustment. From it perusal of thelate debate in the House of Lards, I infer that the opposition to the Catholic Question, on constitutional grounds, was and is con fined to o very small number, a number, perhaps, not exceeding the minority who voted against the repeal of the Test and Corporation laws, and that the majority opposed to the Marquis of Lansdowne's motion consisted principally of Noble 'Lords, who are only anxious to have competent securities pro vided against the danger apprehended to the . Chord' and State, from the admission of Catholics to the privileges of the Constitution. The . position of the Question is thus altered, and if circumstances urged the c.Tttlement ,of it, that settlement could not be long retarded. It is difficult to suppose in a case .where great interests are concerned, and those. en gaged in conducting, them have only to settle details, that an agreement may not : quickly .be _come, to, .if the parties so engaged are animated by a spirit of peace and concord, if they proceed with good faith and a sincere desire, by mutual allowance and con cession, to hasten—not obstroet, the consummation eat their labours. In political questions, as in war, the end proposed is security and peace; and whilst the parties combat in the field, or employ all their resources in preparing for action, they secretly make overtures of peace to each other, and often sign the k retiminariee with arms in their hands. 'Tis so at present with the Catholics, and those who are op posed to them : they have contended, and.-will still contend; hut they are, on both sides, wearied of the combat, and anxious, many of them, to bring it to an honourable and safe conclusion. Let wisdom, then, supersede violence, and amicable discussion rake the place of force. To you, my Lord Duke, it belongs to proselairn a cessation, not in any ambigu ous language,. which only serves to excite to new exertion, but in terms plain, distinct, and intelli gible. You cannot say to the sea of our troubles, " be still," nor to the tempest whiele rages in Ireland, "do not blow." We . .are a' nation . grDwn up to manhood, and the only . force which can subdue us, without ruin to the State, is the force of equity. ' Tut, though Strong, and daily waxing stronger by exertion, we desire most earnestly to conclude our struggles. Our cause is just; those great principles which have ;wormed Europe, are operating in our favour; we are supported by the yoice of wisdom herself, and by the sympathies of the entire world; we are trot doubtful of the issue of the contest in which we are engaged ; for if young, we are vigor oue—if poor, we are frugal—though dispersed, we are united; there is no luxury, nor corruption, nor 'wasting principle, within us; and, such is oar de votion to the cause in which we are engaged,, that, let it require a sacrifice of 10 per cent. or '2O, upon our time, our labour, or our income, we are pre pared, from tl - .e Peer to the peasant, to offer it up C. 31 the altar of our common wrongs. But, with all the confidence which this knowledge of ourselves and of our situation inspires, we are prepared to desist from our pursuits if your Grace only invites oa to do so, in a manner suited to your own dignity, and to the justice and importance of our cause. We are willing even to precede your Grace, and to assist you by our most zealous eo-operation, to remove whatever obstacles are opposed to the adjustment of our claims. You are reported to have said, "let our agitations cease, and, perhaps, something may be done." Eveo in those expressions, vague and indefinite as they are, we would fain discover a dis position to peace, and though they will oot cause us ,to desist from exertion, but rather prompt us to in crease it, they induce me to offer to your Grace the frallowing reflections on the subject of those securi ties, on which the adjustment of our question is now Admitted to depend. The nature and object of " Security" is to provide againat danger, wither existing or apprehended. — The principle of the Securities required of us is, " to provide against the danger to which the Constitu tion in Church and State may he exposed; if Catho lics be placed on the same footing in the State as their Protestant fellow-subjects." The danger to be guarded against is snpposed to arise from the encroachments of the See of Rome, or from the in fluence which the Irish Catlielie Clergy are sup posed to possess over the lait y of their communion. In providing security against this apprehended danger, it is required on the part of the Catholics, and conceded by those opposed to them—lst o That. the former are to enjoy the free profession and exer cise of their religion in all its integrity---2d, It is re !attired and conceded in like manner, that the'rela-1 tions of the Catholic' Church in Ireland with the ' Holy See, is a subject distinct from the influence of the Irish Priesthood over the Irish Catholic laity 2d, The danger apprehended from Papal influence, and that supposed to arise from the influence of 'the Irish Priesthood over their flocks being distinct, the securities to be applied to them should also be distinct. Thus in the re-establishment of the Gallican Church, under Buonaparte, the future relations o' that Church with the See of Rome Were determined Joy a Concordat, whilst the cooperation of the French , - Clergy with the Government was provided for, and secured by, the " Lois orgaiquel. ' . This Concordat , th '. . il ilq - 010/4 Puliitie.te ferred to, not as p de to to Frk fotio,wa • i hilt as illustrations, of the, hi* ess 4) 1 .,.t,V bbiereti ,. .,in treating of ite - relliciatS - Of I.liii:Coaililie Church -in Ireland,, and of the influence of the Catholic Clergy over the Irish People !—these are, in reality, two subjects not only distinct but . different—nay so dif ferent, that the influence of the Pope over the Irish Clergy, and that of this Clergy over the Catholic People of Ireland, might increase or decrease in an inverse, ratio; and hetice it is that, supposing danger to be•app'rehended from both these sources, the se curities. to lie provided should not only be distinct but 'different. Let the latter of these subjects be first examined. The influence of the Catholic Clergy over the laity of their communion arises partly from.the na ture of 'the Christian Religion, and the ministerial duties which the Clergy in every Christian Church, but especially in the Catholics, are called on to per formiand it arises in part from the state of society produced by the past and present system of govern ment pursued in Ireland. This influence, so far as it arises from the first of these causes, cannot be removed, if, as has been con ceded, the Catholics are to enjoy the free profession and exercise of their religion in all its integrity; nor is it desirable either to remove or diminish it, as it tends, of its own nature, to preserve order, to incul cate submission to the law, and obedience to every constituted authority. But .on the other hand the clerical influence arising from the state of the law and the system of the Government is liable to great abuse, and may be justly considered dangerous. How is this danger to be remedied, and what se curity can be devised to provide against it? It ap pears to me that if the cause which produces this in fluence were removed, the influence itself would cease, so far as it arises from that cause ; and if the laws were made equal, and the Government admini stered impartially, that such clerical influence as is liable to abuse would disappear altogether. At all events, this mode of providing security should be first tried, for if novel or suspected measures were re sorted to, new evils might be created, the salutary in fluence itself of the Clergy might be impaired, even religie,ii might become less sacred in the eyes of the people, than which no greater evil could happen in Ireland. If after this mode of proceeding were adopted, the Catholic Clergy were found to exercise an improper influence, or excite apprehension, t'he Government supported by the gOod sense of the people, and as sisted by the Catholic Bishops could make and en force such regulations as would effectually confine the Priesthood to the discharge of their own professional duties. As this influence now exists, it is likely to enerease and to become still more liable to abuse.— It may be found, in some time, regardless of all re straint, or employed in the subversion of that which it would be its.duty to preserve; but if the laws were equalized, and the Government impartial, it would be powerful only for good, or if it diverged into any undue course, it • could be restrained by measures which, if now adopted, would be liable to suspicion, and . therefore should fail of their purpose. AS to the intention perhaps generally entertained of neutralizing this influence by the employment of gifts; or pensions in purchasing the Irish Catholic Priesthood kora anong the people, to whom by blood and profession they belong, that is impossible. Whether a legal provision could hereafter be made for them on such terms as would be satisfactory to all parties, is to me extremely doubtful, but I know that if it were attempted, the attempt should be made only when Ireland is pacified, and a new mind and teniper infused into the people—even then, the arrangement should proceed on the principle of afford ing relief to the laity, rather than of proykling com forts for the Clergy. • A provision, as now spoken of, is confessedly in tended to attach the Clergy to the State, by detach ing them "from the people, and the people from them. The consequences of it as calculated, are " to dimi nish the strength and purity of the Catholic Reli gion, and thereby prornotethe security of the Esta blished Church." With such impressions abroad, no arrangement of the kind can he made—indeed no such arrangeMent ought to be made. The Catholic Clergy never will partake of any provision, of what soever description, which will render them liable to evert a suspicion of being detached from the people, and the Established Church never can find her se curity in the moral degradation of any Priesthood. Let the question which excites all the passions, which generates every where distrust, jealousy and contention, be settled, and then such an arrangement as that now mentioned may be calmly considered, and, if found practicable, equitably adjusted. There is no necessity for its hasty adoption, and in the pre-.. sent circumstances of the country, and of the opinions prevailing with different parties, it cannot form any part of the designed securities. Raving thus briefly, but with perfect candour, placed before your Grace my ideas as to one species of danger, agiiirist which security is to be provided, and having pointed out that security, whichis, in my opinion, effectual and placed within our reach, I shall now discuss the other apprehended danger, point out the security sui!ed to its. nature, and which, like the former, is of easy application, and by no means inaccessible to your Grace. In considering the means whereby to guard against the encroachment of the See of Rome, it is neces sary to have precise ideas of the dangers to be ap prehereLd from it, as there can be no necessity of guarding against that See more than against any other, unless it be in the power of the Pope to do some injury to the British State or Government, or interfere with the Legal rights or privileges of its , - subjects. One class of the oncroadiments of the See of Rome, against which our ancestors were often called upon to guard, was the collation to Ecclesiastical Benefices, whether the subjects were natives or strangers--a sec,cnd class nearly connected with thie, were the legal privileges claimed by the Clergy, for both their persons and property as exempt from the civil jurisdiction, of which privileges the Pope was the official and legally recognized guardian. The statute of Elizabeth, abolishing the Papal 'supremacy, power, and jurisdiction within this realm, and establishing in its place that of the Sovereign, has'pot at end to these two classes of encroachments, and to all the niF.; - ,,ters of provision and appeal grow ing out of them. The next danger or encroaehmgpt proceeding from the See of Rome, consisted in the ancient ainl often exercised pretension of the Popes to depose the So, vereign of these realmS, and to absolve his subjects front their Oaths of Allegiance to his Majesty: This danger is removed, or sufficiently guarded against by the universal and uniform opinion of Catholics. and Protestants in this country, if not throughout Chris tendom, that the Pope has no such power of depos ing Sovereigns or of absolving subjects front their Oaths of Allegiance. This danger is stiil further 1 .,,,, wee d by the disclaimer of the above mentioned papal pretensioi; Dt!ing embodied in the Oath. of Al legiance, as taken by Ce.tholics. • As every species of apprehended danger or en cioardiment of the See of Rome might •Nstl y b e re _ (laced to QM! or other of the above heads, and as the Papal Supremacy and j urisdiction within these realMs are abolished by law, and as the oaths taken by Catholics and Protestants include a direct and express disclaimer of the doctrine of the deposing -and dispensiwg power of the Pope, it would seem to follow that all the securities which could be desired for the safety and.protection of our Constitution and Government against the encroachments of the See of Rome, are already in our possession—and that whilst We profess and perhaps thing, many of us, that we are seeking securities against papal encroach ments, we are only apprehensive of our own Irish Catholic subjects, and endeavouring, at the sugges tion of our own fears, to provide against the growth of the Catholic religion in Ireland. This is a re flection worthy. of serious consideration,, for if this be the case, all the efforts to settle the Catholic Question whilst it continues on its present basis must prove abortive. They cannot suceee'd, for if the proposed settlement proceed on the admitted prin ciple that " the Catholics are to be permitted the free profession and exercise,of their religion in all its integrity," and that its existence in this shape , is at the same time sought to be weakened or counte racted, under the,pretence'or gtiarding.against..pipal, e ncroachment, goodlaitli is wanted, and die parties treating can never arrive at a satisfabebry adjustment. 1 would therefore presume to submit to your Grace, that if the existence of the Catholic religion in Ireland be an object of apprehension, or a danger to be guarded against, it ought to be met fairly, and considered upon its ' own merit's; .or let the Pro selytizing Societies he reinforced, •Or a second ern sade organited and employed against it; but let not the danger supposed to arise from it be confounded with the 'encroachments or apprehended dangers from the See of Rome, with which in reality it has no connection. I know this religion is hated gratuitously by some, and your GraCe has on a late occasion witnessed the excess and folly into which a person of high station has been betrayed in yielding to the zeal which ani mated him against it. You have heard another, of a widely different character and mind, endeavouring to conciliate prejudice by indulging in remarks upon this religion wally unworthy of his talents and his wisdom. You have heard it said " that the Irish once had a Christianity pure and undefiled, but which afterwards Norman English oVerlaid with su perstition." It should have been said, "that pre vious to the arrival of the English, and for centuries before their coming, the' Irish Chnich'Was perfectly independent, thoagh in occasional communication, and uninterrupted communion with the See of Rome, but that the luMber of the Decretals, the tithes and all that was odious and burdensome in papal power and clerical dominion were of Norman English im portation, and as to superstition that "it is an ex crescence of our rude nature ratherthan of religion, but an excrescence from which no church or nation ever was exempt." To men labouring under supersti tion may be applied the saying of the Poet, • Nemo nam sine vitiis nascitur Optimus est qui. minimis urgetur. What one man calls - religion, another calls ceremony, whilst a third designates it "superstition." Where the extreme begins or the mean ends, whether in belief or practice, a wise ritin will not pretend to determine, and he who looks at human nature pass ing through ages, like sand through a time glass, may abound in his own sense, but will not pretend to tix a standard to which 'mankind must conform under the penalty of losing their reputation. One thing hoWever is certain, additions made to the es sential practices of true religion, and which may be designated " superstitions," are not so noxious in themselves as that casuistry which would trifle with the name of God, and call him to witness what is true only by implication,• or in a sense inconsistent with the words we utter. But to return to the subject under consideration. That the state of the Catholic Church in Ireland, or rather the attitude and movements of those who belong to it, excite strong apprehensions is evident, but in my poor opinion a_thorough knowledge of our position, good. faith, and, conciliatory disposition, such as ought to exist between the inhabitants of the same country, and the subjects .of the same King, are alone necessary to remove those apprehensions and bring all our unhappy differences to a satisfac tory adjustment. - • It may appear to your Grace, as it does. to many others, that the Catholic Church in Irelandought to be paralyzed by inducing the Pope to co-operate in placing the appointment - of her Bishops in the hands of the King, whilst the arraugemententered into for that purpose would be designated, •" a security against papal power or encroachment." But this would be a proceeding inconsistent with good faith, equity, or any of those principles whereby freemen should be, •governed or their hearts united'in affec tion to the•threne, leaving out of view the anomaly of a Protestant Governmenti. calling in the uid of the Pope to assist them in' ulling . down the liberties, whether civil or'religious, of their own subjects. I would say to those _who.cherish such views, "be generous to the Irish—Spare the Constitutionde not indulge your jealousy of us-to the enslavement of our Priesthood—the King does not require the patronage of our Church=he cannot understand her interests, nor be a Protestant and be anxious to promote them. Leave us a free people—let us exert all our energies, and if you confide in our oaths, which have never bean violated, or in our honour, which has never been tarnished, you will not have hereafter to repent -of your own generosity, or to complain of our ingratitude. You may, by imposing bonds upon us, remove the alarm felt by some timid Churchmen, but you will give a death-blow to free dom in Iceland, and indict upon-our common Chris tianity the deepest wouud. The Catholics of Ire land excite apprehension They do and justly, for they are numerous, poWerful, and discontented; but let them be admitted fully and freely to all the bless ings of the Constitution, and if their hearts be of flesh, if they have - children and love them, if they have property and value it, if they have law and pri vilege and prize them, if - they have a country and almost adore it, they will be among the best, the most loyal, the most devoted subjects in the realm. The Pope to them would be almost unknown or unthought of ; but their country, their laws, their religioN, and the Government which promoted their interests and watched over their. welfare, would en gross all their respect-and all theirnffection." It is thus, may it please your Grace, that' the danger from the .growth of the Catholic religion in Ireland, which danger, fear, or fanaticism, alone has created, should be provided against, and not by measures founded upon false pretences—measures having for their object to weaken and disturb our Church, whilst it was virtually or expressly stipu lated that she should be left free to struggle against all the difficulties with which, in her humble state, she must always and necessarily be encompassed. But then, it may be asked, is nothing to be done to secure the Constitution in Church and State against the danger to arise from papal encroachment ? Yes, these encroachments are to be even still more effec tually shut out than they are at present, by closing up the only channel through which, by possibility, they might - operate. The State is already perfectly secure against them ; but I . would be anxious to see the Catholics of Ireland equally secure. At present, and for the whole of the last century, they have not been molested; but they are liable to inconvenience,. and even to be vexed and troubled by the Pope, whilst he holds in his hands, as he now does, the unqualified right of appointing Bishops' to the Ca tholie Church in Ireland. My object would be to have the' right of electing those Bishops vested in those who have the - most' direct and immediate inte rest in their appointment, and by an arrangement which would effectually exclude all foreign influence or encroachment—providing at once for the interest of the Irish Catholics, and satisfying those Pro testants who are still so weak-minded or misinformed as to entertain apprehension of the Papal power. liow a measure of this kind could - be' effected, appears to most people a question difficult of solu tion. It is difficult, without doubt, but the diffi culty arises, not from the nature of the thing itself, but from the state of distrust and alienation in which the Catholics are kept by the. Govern ment—Were the Government to . act frankly and cordially with the Catholic Clergy and people, and availed themselves of the support to be thus obtained, propose to the Pope an arrange meet, having for its object to render the Catholic Church in Ireland more national, and the appoint ment of its Prelates entirely domestic, there is little doubt but such a proposal properly urged would be acceded to. An arrangement of th:s sort by which the Pope would agree to vest in some one of the Irish Catho lic Prelates such power in matters of conscience and e cclesiastical discipline as is now exercised by some congregations of Cardinals 'in Rome, or such as has often been committed to Legates of the holy See, and which would .also authorise some persons or body of persons to elect native Clergymen to the office of BiShop, so . often AS such office became I vacant in,the:,Ctitholiv Church in Ireland—reserving to himself the.serne right only of rejection, as is re served to him with regard to the Bishops-elect of France, Beigium, or Germany—such an arrange ment as this, simple and precise as it might be, would ansWer every purpose which would be rea sonably deiired. The question then above proposed, which appears to many so difficult and intricate, is 'in fact simple and easy of solution. By the arrange ment, the outline of which has just been sketched, the right of electing the Catholic Bishops in Ireland would belransferred from Foreigners to some body of electors, natives of the country, subjects of the King, to men bound by their. allegiance, by their oaths, their interests, and their duty. The inter course With Rome mould be diminished, and almost cease, if the extensive powers, relating to cases of conscience and matters of discipline before alluded to, were vested in some Irish Bishop or Bishops, Vie. lected by the Pope, and approved of by the Govern ment. , Any remaining correspondence on spiritnal or ecclesiastical matters might be made- to, pasS through the hands or office of such Bishop or Bishops, and be subjected to such rules and regulations as would he agreed upon, and specified in the arrange ment with the See of Rome. , . In treating of this subject, two reflections natu rally suggest themselves—the first is, that if the Go vernment thought it advisable to imitate the conduct of other States, by entering into an arrangement with tlf Pope for the regulation of the Catholic Church in Ireland, it should not proceed on the principles of distrust, but of confidence in its own subjects; for, to depend more on papal aid; to adjust our civil rela tions, than on the tried fidelity; loyalty, and interests of the Irish Catholics, would be, in rny opinion, not only tin oversight in policy, an infringement of our rights as British - subjects, and a disparagement to our Government and country ; .but it would give an advantage in the disenssion to , the Court of Rome which.she ought.bot to thave. For what has:Roane to lose by the rejection of a proposal to which the Ca tholics of Ireland are not a party ? • The second reflection is, that a proposal made to Rome by the Government, acting in'concert with the Irish Catholic Clergy and people, would not'only be irresistible, if well conducted; but would', at the same time operate , most beneficially . on the public mind and feeling at home, and ensure a favourable reception to an arrangement, which, if entered into under suspected circumstances,might be looked upon with indignation or treated with contempt. I have- said thus much upon securities,,,not, be cause I consider them necessary, for danger to the Constitution is as likely to proceed from Mecca as from. the .Vatican; but because I think an arrange ment such as I have mentioned would: be useful to Ireland, and would serve to allay the apprehensions of those whom your Grace is, perhaps, obliged to satisfy. Were I a Minister of the King, I would say to lti. Majesty—" Sire, if you govern Ireland justly, and give to your Catholic subjects the full benefit of equal law, they will be contented, faithful, and loyal, and among the foremost to resist . all en croachments on the Constitution of the country, or prerogatives of the Crown. But, should they act otherwise ; should they become forgetful of their allegiance—regardless of their oaths and interests— traitors to their King and country, which I deem int possible,—then your Majesty can earn the applause of mankind, and the approbation of your own con science, by restraining and punishing them—even as mach, as you now do by extending to them all the constitutional blessings to which they aspire. To Mr -colleagues :in office I would say—" The Papal influence which is feared may be considered as it has been found to operate since the gradual but general,' and now universally acknowledged, extinc tion of that power in the civil concerns of the Euro pean States. If, then,. in the first place, this power were to continue such as it now is, and such as the present notions of mankind doom it to be hereafter, no security beyond those which we. possess is at all necessary.. For. a disposition to revive a power which would not be respected, but condemned, can not exist on the part of the Pope, unless, hebe totally destitute of common sense, and to suppose that the -- Catholic Bishops in Ireland would be induced, by such a Pope, to violate their oaths, and become hos tile to a government and country which cherishes and protects them, is to suppose them not only capa ble.of the most atrocious crimes, but equally desti tute as the Pope himself of common sense and common prudence." • The other light in which thiS Papal power may be considered is—by supposing that Europe may retro grade to that state of feudalism and barbarity from which she has been advancing for the last. four hundred years. Supposing that this may happen, and that the temporal power of the Pope may ad vance even more rapidly than it has declined; •and diet in its progress it may attempt to .influence the Irish Catholic Clergy to become disaffected to the state ;—we ought to reflect that in this country the Pepe can have no means of exercising this influence, unless such as are purely spiritual, and is it credible that, with such auxiliaries, he can persuade any body of intelligent men to adopt his interpretation about the two swords of Peter, or persuade them that the kingdom of Christ is other than the Redeemer has described it. . But admitting the worst that can be imagined, is this nation and government to be also blindfolded, and the 'Legislature rendered incapable of providing for the safety of the State—endangered, as you suppose it may be, by those ecclesiastical traitors, and their fanatical adherents ? I have done, my Lord Duke, with this subject—at least for the pre::ent;, I shotild not ; have noticed it, but for the purpose of proclaiming,_ that as firr as my sentiments prevail, there is in the Catholic body, combined with the most firm determination.to per severe in their Constitutional pursuits, a disposition to concur, earnestly and zealously, with the King's Government, in settling this great national Question, on the bi..iis of preserving and securing every exist ing institution, whether Catholic or Protestant, in all their integrity. I have the honour to be, My Lord Duke,. Your Grace's most obedient, humble servant, Carlow, June 19, 1828. -1- J. DOYLE. CLARE ELEc,TioN.—Yesterday we stated that Major MACNAMARA had declined offering himself for the repreentation of Clare. The Free Electors there, however, are in no want of a liberal candidate. Mr. O'CONNELL has offered Liinsolf to their consideration. We cannot doubt of his success. We think it even more cer tain than that of Major MACNAMARA, %MO be.--Dublin Morning Register. RUSSIAN CONSULATE GENERAL, JUNE --Sir, I have the pleasure of informing you, that I have received from my - Government an o ffi cial notification, inti naatirig that beacons with the red flags, placed in the Gulph of Fiftliad, along the northern side of the channel front Crontuadt to • Hochland, will be replaced this summer by landmarks fixed on the top of a pole. I beg you will com municate this information to the British eaptsins and mer chants trading in those seas. (Sigurd) G. BENKHAUSEN, John Bennett, Esq. Sec. Russian Consul-Genersi. . FINANCE C OMNIITTEE.—On 'Flinn(lay night Sir HENitY ELAN ru., the Chairman' of the Finance Com mittee, presented the third report upon the income and expenditure- of. the - kingdom. This report relates exclu sively (as 'WS have already stated by anticipation) to pensions and diuperanntutioni. It is, .like the preceding one from this Committee, a bulky document, from its com prehending a variety of details, both of calculati , n and re ference to evidence. But, in substance, it, proposes to bring hack the principle of the pensions for widows to its fru met plan (that acted upon in the year 1822, and subsequently r epealed,)—viz. that widows ure to forfeit their pensions, if they contract fresh marriages, or if they derive from any source an income double the . amount of dig peusion. That the different clerks and officers ,the service of Government are to contribute out of their salaries to their superannuation fund; but thatit distinction is to be drawn between the clerks now in office and their successors—the former are to contribute upon a graduated scale, beginning at per cent., and ascending to 51. 101. and higher, ac cording to the amount of their respective salaries, while the latter are not to have the same advantages upon similar terms. This report, like those which have preceded it, exhibits a degree of labour and research to which the Fi stance Committee have devoted thews4lves,.." Times. FROM IeAS .11.1:•- .'' GAZETTE. , AiSlt, $ Jor. f . .a c ~ au . 3, 1828. i% Tilt -ad been ple , - t i; .a . 7.14 Colonel Thomas Armsttdn pone 6t tilt Grodnt , t h ',Majesty's Bedcham ber, in the'toom of 4 Sir. A nirew z l3 ~i r feorei g -n-11 , . . * aisiv) ;.. SPIRIT OP THE PUBLIC JOURNALS a wl c l urio i i p ts eak ap in p g lic: f ti t o h n e o t f w t o er;: n i i % i z Sta l u t ho w p a e s , that of last y and that. of the, present lr tePi i ' l that the latter,-not.. being, intended by .Govern l ol as a stepping-stone to further spoliation ' sweistbe" fare the less objectionable. Supp o s e there s were° Corn Bill at all, but nature -were left free to all her children, then, we presume, there-cooks/ no spoliation, for there would be no act of irein...„. is with human or legislative 'action that, VA': begins, and begins, too upon the weak and or , systemtected ; , and the more the shall , be brel back to that state in which nature placed ,irs,,i more will it be ,freed from unjust. aggressionsr spoliation. lt 4is very easy to praise teassmis Administration,. and to traduce one timt n is , 4 Bat it is. not forgotten- that the. Cora. itiliSsii!s ' year•sprung up under the Administration of i Liverpool, and was s upp or t e d by th e .Du Liverpool, lington as a member of his- Lordship's-Admistie tion: Who ever talked of putting down the laa4e interest ? On the contrary, their security; V it! founded on principles that will endure,—if it de I', rest upon artificial support, upon party„ trick, a ll , 1 Parliamentary expedients,—is t'lle object which eye"' honest man , has at heart.—Tinier. , Mr. Goulburn has already unfortunately signalii his fiscal administration by the prOposed imposition .' a tax more vexatious to the poor of the westernSel s ties than any that the least considerate • f his pr y cessors had yet attempted. Because. beer is s liett, taxed, lint gin and other ardent .poisons * yetSt ficiently encouraged, it seems that ciden ,mllOssff, be placed . under the paw of .theexcittemettSeltbett% fortunatessqueezeresof apples must*: aubjeciedit the retailers of aleand; porter tostbescapileiotoqj tronage.or displeasure , of .justices of thiesteateiSt labourers of- • all classes are to be -deprived et,t w among the • cheering .pleasurer whicksi . them; - by` having the only • liquor' not't ~;',', taxed, raised sin price 'by a licence, atid;". ~.ss' quality by the decrease of competition. : IStirlait • tax the worst of this new expedient,. ...Miuttlity W,. the morality of the, poor I—the sneaking and, ieslv tiag. pretence for. always intrudinu and s ; eneddlisl with the...people in their most intweeut habits ' s- 4 ' if possible, a thousand times mere hateful dialed! thing for . which it professes to apologise:..' How, ?, the name . Of wonder, is the•intermixture of that po i breed, the officers of excise, to operate on 'the mar k of the poor ? .Not well, we warrant. - . Wale,' feetly intolerable to hear men in ' o ffi ce talk of-0, couraging cider, as an " immoral" drink, that ra" spirits may take the place of it.—lbid. It will be observed, that the , glovers ,in vt4il 9 ' parts of the country are petitioning for-such 0 ''; 'crease of the duty on foreign gloves as mayf ewes°, to a prohibition of the article. . They arelabeOr o like other would-be monopolists, in theirsvoesPi °P i Now, as we follow a different vocation in. re . 400 kid-skin- of- being, in fact, purchasers, urchasers, steasc 9ll' sumers of that commodity, insteedSof saanu4 , tAllgT --we do . sincerely - hope. and.trust, 'that . ,the. Logi'''' tare, which represents..the great -bodysoCesonstna li . „' viz. the whole - English 'nation, 'will - consider a Alt What 'may` sere , the general interest, no leis 411 F..:( that of the petty monopolizing body, and turn ttil' hr ear to all such unreasonable demands., h ii . 'pti 11 , observed, that every' Hon. Gentleman'whastiber!i, monopoly petition into Parliament, begins his 4e oc o i by a laudable acknowledgment of the. excellence , free- trade in practice as well as , theory.;. butstito be never fails to slide in with one,-and only onessAl g ic i exception to the principle, admitting mansion) ', that every trade ought to be freens-air, except 4l° l , very specific branch of it, in favour of-i.wb„ it i - be-smoothes down his constituents, • by: - 1 0 10 ,0, upii his Majesty's Ministers to 'enforce a rier, ° .,,,, prohibition. The debate of Thursday o'ol affords a curious example of such tactics. For. o b ` parts we know not where these proofs ari r i° ,I found of a decaying trade in ,gloves o . If _the •9 11 ,,P ply were above ) the demand, -AV Mid i it« AU, be tj' monstrated by-the prices'? Would . not the price , swessaysfall I', ,And have they ?, , , Undoubtedly 0 unless some glovers whom we shall not name be t $ , A greatest cheats in existence. .The ordin ar ys co lour_cy morning gloves, worn by men, have' for many ro A `; been 3s. (id. per pair : they are so still, we beg 10 4 to repeat; or certain retailers deserve to be du ck , for charging more, than their brethren; and 'if it ; F r said* that gloves of inferior deseriptions—viz a if evening wear—are sold for less money, why, we al e h swer, so they ought; for it is quiteas much as trits; that cannot be worn twice is worth, and a. returo t the old prohibitory law would just bring back the old system of irresistible extortion.—lbid. - , In the lengthened report which we gave Yest':,' day of the Anniversary of the Licensed :Victualle r ' ', School, some inaccuracies,. .as might natura!, , , enough have been expected, where about, , I • 3 ''' persons dined, occurred; a circumstance w hi c h tl , regret the less, as in correcting them, it affords'' i an opportunity to bring the subject matter ofsthetsc more distinctly before our readers. • The' sum °. funded property, for example, belonging to the I-''; tensed Victuallers' School, though stated, 'bY si misprint, as amounting to 25,0001., is onty,,ls, oo ' al. : The health of Mr. Orgill, 'also, ,the hite_Chttire n , of the Committee of the Licensed ,Yietuellers'.P ° : ciety, was proposed by -Mr. littrient,s.tu e ,., pr esen , Chairman, and drank with the greatest :applause...." Mr. Sheraton also proposed " Prosperity to the Li' ceased Victuallers' Asylum," which _was also re' ceived with due approbation. It is somewhat silt' gulur also, that the excellent speech- reported 0 ' having been delivered by Mr. Hazard—we sure , , the health of the Chairmari. Mr. Booth=s-wag,„,w, s ' understand, a c t ua ll y spo k en b y M r . W oo d.. " i t '' these exceptions- however; we believerthere 'Whale in the r e p ort which calls for amendment ; and even for Mat little (for it is merely names) .it is but ki s ' tice to the gentlemen who were employed on the occasion to state, that we do not consider their chargeable. The same inaccuracies which are charged to our report occurred in all the other re' ports of the. Meetin g given by our- cotemporarie si and had they occurre d with the gentlemen belong: ing to the establishment -of-this paper only,. ° l° ,, readers, we feel assured; would have justly conclu d e ° from their general, and, indeed, we may say, und is ' ' puted accuracy, on all other occasions, that theli must have arisen out of the. peculiar, circumstanc e of the case, and not from negligence ;oe ineserei t Y . The main point, however; respecting, , the ,Meetal (for the inaccuracies to whickwe. harswallutled s 9r , but trifles, and not in the slightest degree intetesn to the public, though perhaps .importantsto ue),_l i , that it was eminently successful in the attitiennent.'s its object.' The 'subscriptions were h an d so me, ou given in a spirit which . greatly enriched their valtle: The prcipnetors ' . 01 r • the British Traveller Norsi paper came handsomely forward with a' dourttio e 0 , classand slvy h o tr u ste will r b e the e l i ti .o 6l : u fiftye manner. The Licensed Victtial ig a re of -all' others, us we remar k e d , wh i ne : the err; leeft ehgeiuni sautenaesi milar " ; prietors of the Sun gave as annual donaticnt of - fli:Y' gu ineas to th e Li cense d Vi c t ua ller s ' Asylum; tl : 4 ',' best patrons of the Press ; and we -consider it '''' consequenc e but justice on its part to 'show let sY II/ 3 . pally With the success of the charitable itistitutio P which they have instituted so creditably to theo l ; selves, an d usefully to others.—Mornini 4 44 ' venires. ' . . ' ___ , There was some warm work in the iHouse I ° , POLICE INTELLIGENCE., night on the 'East Retford business. -Tlie.oo° 94 wa s brought up far the __ BOW-STkEET..;-Nesteday Thomas `;Clinton the should go to a' great Town or the Hundred, and tl l ` young man w h os e dmiiiiat i O y i d .„ a sh a r e of having Hundred carried it by 108 to 43. ' Mr. Tennyse° stolen a leiter containing . a bill of exchan ge, which was took the liberty of speaking out, a little,intiii-J?? 1 ,. : ° 11 given to him in trust for his master, who keeps a General : than i S consistent with the usnal courtesy .ot Par meat, his opinion of Mr. Peel's conduct. NOr .1 though it be true that Mr. Peel had no ulternative to the Post. !us.. pe4cock, solicitor office, attended, .and that honour and honesty. are very good in the ob i P th e i s r t d I t t i z e i: big-house in Ifolbaro, street, but cannot move the wheel: of the Gover°' was committed for . trial. . , o , after a long but tniateresting examination, the merit without the aid of (Ise Borough-holde. i / The prisoner attempted no defence, tut Complained of " What had de honest man to do in my closet 70 , the length of time he had been node': examination since prisoner his apprehension, and said he wa s anxious to b e se nt to said lis.'Caius, very significantly; " What has 11 1 , trial at once. 1 I netty to do in my Cabinet ?" says the Duke, poi° , June ,27. The King has been graciously pleased to approve of Thomas Godfrey Tomer, Esq., to be Consul at Gibraltar, for the Free Hanseatic, Republics of ,Harnburgli, Bremen, and Lubeck. Cro*n:Of&e, - Juni 26. MEHBERS RETURNED TO SERVE IN THE PRESENT rARLIA- IMENT. Town of 'Wenlock.—The Hon, George Cecil Weld Forester, of Willey P4rlt,. in the county of Salop, in the mom of the Hon. Jplm . George Weld I!Orester (now Lord Forests r), called up . to the House of Peers. County, of Westmoreland-,—The Right Hon. William Viscount Lowther. Borough of Wareham—The Right Hon. Johp Calcraft, of Rempstone-hall in the county of Doreet, Paymaster- General ef . his Majesty's Land Forceft., Commissions in tie Veit Sot netsit lieginient of Yeoman ry Cavalry, sngned by the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Somerset. Edward 11Oulditeh, Gent. to be Lieutenant. Dated May 16, 1828. Blake, pent. to be Cornet. May 16: DECLARATIONS OF INSOLVENCY. John Barnard,' Commercial 7 rotul East, baker. Wm. fliviside, Jerusalem Coffee-house, master-mariner. BANKRUPTCY ENLARGED. Chtts, Ashton Fitch, Allen-street, Goswell-street, bacon dryer, from July 1 to July .4, at eleven, at the Court of Commissiomers. . BANKRUPTS. John Woohawk, Truro, Cornwall, linen...driver, to sur render July 4, at nine, 11, at.ten,.and Aug. - B,' at nine, at the Court of Commissioners. Sole,. Aiderreanbury, •" Charles Fraser and George Charles Pratt Living, St. Helen's-place, London, nercliants;July 8, at nine, lb, and Aug. 8, at ten, at the Court of CUmmissionere. Kearsey; Lothbury. Thomas Saxon, . Oxford-street, Middlesex, chinaruan, July 4, at one, IS, at eleven, and Aug. 8, at twelve, at the Court of Commissioners. Robinson and Son, Half-moon street, Piccadilly. Thomas John - Alderson,Chancery-lane, money-sCrivener, July 4, atone, 11, and Aug. 8, at two, at the Court of Commissioners. Weymouth, Gray's-Inn- s q uare. _ _ John Bailey, Derliy, mercer, Atli 10, at eleven, at the King's Head, Duffield, 11., and. Aug. 8, at eleven, at the King's Head Inn, Derby. Adlikgton, Gr,tory and Faulk ner, Bedford-row, London ; Moss, Derby. ' John Staintori, . Lincoln, bookseller, July 9; 'lO, and August 8, at twelve, at Monson's_ Arms; 'Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. Wells, Grinshorough ; 'Spike, Temple. Arthur Palmer, Mincing-lane, merchant, 'July 4; • 11, and Aug. 8, at eleven, at the Court cif .• Com►hissionere; Spurr and Leach, Warnford-court, Throginorton-street. William Walton, Manchester, timber merchant, July 11, 12, and Aug. 8, at two, .at the King's 'Mimi Inn, Man • chester. Foulkei and Sons, Manchester ; Clarke, Richards, and Medcalfe, Chancery-lane.. ... • Samuel Beadsmoore, Ashby-de-la-Zottcb; . Liicester, bookseller, July 8,9, and Aug. 8, at twelve, at the Queen's Head Inn, Ashby-de-la-Zouch.. and . Son, Gray's Inn-square: . . • . James Jardine, Birchin-lane, stationer, July. 4, at eleven; Il , and Aug. - 8, at ten, at the Court of Commissienere. Rice, Verulam-buildings, Gray's-Inn. John Parsons, Mostertun, Dorset, Miller, July 10, 11, and Aug. 8, at eleven, at . the George Inn; Crewkerne, Somerset. Holme, Frampton, and Loftus, New-inn, Lon don ; Murly, Crewkerne, Somerset. Christopher Hammond Wearing and William Green wood, Saint Paul's Church-yard, .merchants,'July 4, at eleven, 11, and Aug. 8, at ten, at the Court of Commis sioners. Hamilton• and Twining, Berwick -street, Soho. DIVIDENDS. J. R: Lecointe, St. Helen's-place, City; merchant, July 25, at oue, at the Court of Conirnii4ioners-I'. - 'Brant, Hatton-garden, lamp-manufacturer, July 18, At one,' at the Court of Commissioners—G.' Cterke, Cherry-tree -Court, Aldersgate-street, watch-manufacturer, Jury 18, at eleven, at the Court qf_CosomissionersT. Prichard, Foot's Cray, surgeon, July 18, at eleven, at the Court of Commissioners —G. Fearn, ,I!lottingbam, dealer in shoe 4, ,JuW . ?g,. at twelve, at the 'Court of ComrnisaiOneti--4, Lani!efield; Littlebourue, Way the Court . cif codamiesicinerar-L=.l - .' baker, July 18 . ,. at twelve; thd Cduifuf —M. Rickerhy, Pitteld4freet,'"HoXtrin; linen draper, July 25, at eleven, at the • Court Of Comtnlisioners-4. Billing, Oxford-street, livery-stahlekeeper, July 18, at ten, at the Court of ComrnissionerS—Elizabeth Barker, Drummond-crescent, Somers-town, soda-water-rnanufotop turer, July 18, at ten, at the Court of Connisairmers,--: , W. Killick, jun., Chapel-street, Neill; Britton, veterineiy• surgeon, July 18, at twelve, at the Court of Comnaissioners C. Knott, Ashford, 'Kent, ironcon4r, july . .lB, at twelve, at the . Court Of COmtnissfOrier. 'l6e . 4ipsey and J. Reis, `ell-"street, WellcloseSquare; sugar-tefinetS; July 18, at eleven, at the Court olcommissiOhers--W Bristow, Lloyd's Coffee-house, under Writer, July l 8; at eleven, at the Court of Coincnissiorieta::-,W. Botien, 'Barnstable; Devonshit : e, silk-mercer, July' 18, at 'eleven', at - the Court of Commissioners—B. S. Se.wden, Bridlington-quay, York shire, corufactor, July IS, at eleven,' at the Court of Com: rnissioners, CERTIFICATES--JuLv 18; ' L. Lyon, Gtu.well-street, tailor—F. G. Silsbury, Leek, Staffordshire, silk-manufacturer—J. - sal% - Biddle, Car:- cliff, Glamorganshire, timber- merch'aitta-r—j:Ourch; tieter, horse-dealer—.l. Giblett, Frome-Selleaod,' SOinersetshire, clothier—J. and T. Iles, Chalfotd Minehinharnp'tOn, Glo ceeterehire, clothiers:—G. Ttinstall, Worcester, hopmer chant—G. Cram, North Shields, sail-maker—T. Mar shall, Basinghall-street, 13Iaekwell-hall-factor-4-J. and J. A. Adams, Southampton,. toy-sellers: PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED. ' Sarah Russell and Jas. West, .Crass-street, Newington• Butts, auutioneers,--Eleanor . Smith and Mary Brown, Lucas-place, Continercial-road, milliners— Hen. Kear Whithorn and Jas. Kingsbury, Tewkesbury, Gloucester, coal merchants—John .Cole and John Brown, F a, et n t d er il /aa; t : oil and colourmen—Wm., 'rassie and John Wilson,, Leices ter-square, seal eng,ravers,,Rnht...iiaeell, sCu• Havell, jun. Newman-street, Oxford-,street, printers —John Allcock, Wrn. Adams, Rich Mason, and Jas. Porter, Lane eud, Staffurdshire, c hina-manufacturers, as far as regards John Allcock and Win. A,darns—Thos. Wilson and Fran. Walton, Wapping-street, Middlesex, sail-makers—Win. Randall, Hen. Strong, Anna .Prideaux , And. Ilingaton, Chas. Prideaux, John Copier, Wm. Collier, Sarah Fox, J. Oake, Ann Bennicke, Robt. P. Hillyar, Eliz. Oake, and Ben. Brooking, pilchard merchants—H. M. Cockshett and Win. Cockshott, . Warrington, cotton-spinners—Nath. Grace and Fran. H. Richmond, Birchin-lane, solicitors— John Clarke and John Cox, Tooley.-street, surgeons —Will. Addison and John Wren, Manchester, drapera,--Hen. Att wood and Rich. Gibbs, Radcliffe-street, Bristol, linen drapers—John. Wirntale,. Neh. Wimble, Wrn.' Attwood, Thomas Palmer, Rich. . Green, . Arundel, ironmongers— Wm. . 1 in S g m ha a rn l lw,,cozli,Clark, inden, ~..4wesGautt.rneweetoigeoae..atikj:Seausriimassiut„74......s.lolEaEwoiniddhootlinii.i..:lll(ll...ciaßtawiinlrede.eikiglailFgagnFsiadernusimidailarsr.ne7:dAv,a.virapaenloitetr.iva,oEsino.et.i, lers,-Wastel , Cliffe .I=l Chas, .liarris,.Loogber, Glamor street, n l y 3 e r ay i r g i ua g n : , td( t N ac V r ee i g ros iio H r T e a -street,. fishmongers.rourket-ts:reße .York-street,, manufacturers, as far as regards Thus. "Wogr ß hmo m r 'g t Tl l : : h e ruo t t l i u i I F nti la r b e rald ( re l H. Yates and , Dan..Terry, Adelphi Theatre,_ Sttand, co medians—Hugh Dl‘Deyit,and Hen. Hollier,'Graeecliiirch street, drapers-Benj..l.ashury and, John Peters,'•Kensing ton-terrace, Kensington,. butchers--Thos. Barlow and Geo. Barlow, Manchester,. calicn.printers,--Wm. . Corfe and Wm. Redgrave, cattle-dealers—Jos.v and Sam. Parker, Birmingham,. corn-dealers—Thos. Perks, Edna. Gwyer, and Chas. J.. Good,. Castle-street, Bristol, iron mongers—John Raven and . plat.. Harrison, Lawrence Pountney-lane. Cannon-street, grocerii—Jas. Cook and John May, Broad-quay, Bristol, ftour-factors-- 0 0 1 ° Alex. Berens, Sam. Angel, and Lml. Blumberg, Si. Paid's Church-yard r dealers, as far as regards Son. 'Angel. ri g significant _ _ i lowever, M the sorer,ed 1- Ore -mened 4 ,4(04ice-4 SIO left mat t ki:cottaei., , `,"..414114 tEast it bight. littlitisioi' has' 1 P 4 ,%Tfiiasiid ii *AI iofili' kenl ' takfsficti e 'n . A 7reNl l l7ll, C. 1 4 44.3 AnkiklEt '.._1 1114 .4ridp1411 '' i lt4l4.aild.M 11-*ay.twhi, ti °q ow leis e 'teat he had 1 44 W was: tit Not by Mr. I : 4 ).,espet to ] ''''' to allude p HOUSE The Royal the Sugar Du then ;. gent Gard kPtival • The Lords 4 ,_ t wtiOlt;!. g 'the *Ktiittisiiou ;rk c , Sir A. qv Ltought up , 9 t4;.1412.,. 70ering -.goo of spil 146 11017 Note With the,arne Mt; Mixt Lle Earf t4ilit titsi . 4ll i ll) P e n d r g e l a /D el :f ti t o 1 1 ; I,egging zid to. Lam ski pin th e glel °t* the repel, French gli 0.11, ik:ltensing lii u ltead a se4 Thelllalq EProlong tl duration S r oniote edi re imen di 41 % a soviet ' l 4a 4egii l „tad BM the SeleC litrl S'TA L tt e eriod p ropose j u ice .:.great h you t c th i s d s No i i h. er Y soon al Z•,ft,tion ea] 4 1 1 9sitions autistanti eVreu. The Hou ir M. th twca,tle pound from 4 th sb eu he Rouse 64.fte r a *%?i, ihi tk Ir. T. 7 detail e 4 it. ordere • h i‘l r r* GI e -e.. l, apts 4. 11 ) . on 4 i. treh uu hi! coutidt ti! truniit 411:ehts, a uud slirerutut feet. r. CA v % th e I ; 'objetpj k t . 'cl he a 4 1 , 3 Y hi! lir N)le3 C.IIh I du A"qts c ( t , _ x litrtl if „,'''i t r• ii! t,,,,, Judi •otsed • .. i,Y.ei 'thud, r 4 J. ell % „ Tis 414 15f ie! L„ 14.14. V ad xi vhichr t . . 1 4114 i m Chili t4t. •