The Sun. — London, England, 1820-06-09 00:00:00

- - AGGREGATE CATHOLIC MEETING. (From the Hibernian Journal of the Ist inst.) Thursday ',sift, an Aggregate Meeting of the Roma% Catholics of Ireland was held at the Me tropolitan Charl, in Liffey-street, for the avowed purpose of, petitioning Parliament for a repeal of the remaining restrictions affecting that body. At two o'clock the Chapel was crowded almost to suffocation ; and shortly after Sir EDWARD BEL- E.Sw wag called to the Chair. Mr. O'GoRMAN apolo4ized for the absence of Lord Fingal, who was detained in Wales in con scgtiNice of en accident which betel his son-in- The CHAIRMAN then rated the object of the Netting, and req , kested that every gentlernin who should he inclined to deliver his sentimeots woold be heard wi!ts impartiality, and entreated of the speakers 1.• coo-Ili:a themselves solely to the Ties tion before them, atid tp,t by iiilrtyducitig extra peons matter, ititte the cause of Catholic EIII4H- cipation. Mr. O'Goustssr Announced to the Meeting that he had received a letter from Lord Ir'ingal, swing had presented the Addiess of :h e Catholics to Ireland to his Majesty, wio was pleased to receive the saint in the most gracious manner ; upon w hich a vote of thanks was pissed to his Lordship, for 1114 constant exertions in the cause ot Catholic freedom ; and a s iniilnr vote of thanks was returned to Mr. O'Gorman, for o,e efficient !inte=r in which he discharged the duties of Se cret,' y to the Cusliolits of lieland'. Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL then proposed the fol lowing fiesolotion : " .1 hat it is the undoubted right, as it is the first duty of rnan to worship his God, according to the dictates of his conscience." Mr. ENRAS NI . DONNELL seconded this resolu tion. He had been asked since he came to the m re ting if there was not a petition already in ex istence, and toonerously signed? to which he should aoswer in the affitmative; but the petitiou alluded to had been ptepared for a former Parlia ment, and to a different Executive Authority. The petition, which would now be read to the Pteetiog, was intended to be presented to a new "Parliament, and to a new King, end was there fore rendered necessary at the present period. He could not but augur the best consequences from the early predilection of his Majesty to wroth Leland, and it was impossible that the pupil of the great Fox, the fellow-student of Grey, with Moira for his monitor, and Sio•ridan for his friend, could be (Abet wise than favourably dispos-d towards the Catholics of Ire land. Alt er emone rating the many virtues which adorned the character of 'he late Doke of Kent, end tidying a high compliment to the Duke of Sussex, for his sentiments on the Catholic Claims., which he had an opportunity of learoing from the lips of the Royal Duke himself, Mr. M'Donnell %veto on to thew that the cause of Catholic freedom bad gained ground from a continued discussion in Parliatuettt ; that the prejudices of the Protestants in both countries were nearly removed ; that the great families in England and behold were become converts to the peaceable demeanour of the Catbo bet= ; that Catholic States on the Continent had emancipated their Protestant Subjects, and conclud ed by expressing his conviction that the day was, not tar distant when all their hopes would be •realised 8 complete emancipation of the Irish Erman Catholics. The resolution having been put and carried, Mr. NltmoLas MAHoS rose for the purpose annoying the second resolution. He eulogised the conduct' of Lord Fingal, and contended that the Catholics of Ireland deserved far better treatment than the contintiance of those fetters which bound anti gall , d them. He trusted that an end would be put to all those distinctions which rendered the Catholics a separate body, and that the. State would shortly have the benefit of their undivided energies. " That the political conduct of the Catholics of Ireland has been uniformly loyal and peaceable, and has repeate , lly obtained the approving testi mony of the three estates of .Putlnsolent." ' The next Resolution was moved by Mr. RAN'. DALL 'Dos NELL., who animmiverted with much acrimony on the Corporation of Dublin for.anti cipating the Catholic Petiti,:n by their systematic oppost ion. They may be called the Corporation of Dublin, which was a high.sounding name else u here, but who were they ;+ Men of no weight, of no con•equence, and whose proceedings were the suhject of mirth and laughter. He merely noticed their interference, to join in the ridicule which they had brought upon themselves. The Resolution which was as follows, was then put and carried " That the Catholics of Ireland contribute their full proportion to the support of this realm, and in return for such services are well entitled to claim equal rights with mhers of his Majesty's subjects. This Resolution having been carried, Mr. Cop- , riNG,I.7,R proposed the next in rotation. In doing so, Mr. Coppinger said that he could not help ani madverting upon that bondage which still oppressed and degraded t lie Catholics of Ireland. It was in vain to eery that they Were' a degraded race, as they may be fairly called aliens in their native land. it was in vain for their enemies to assert that the Ca tholics of Ireland - had a right to be contented vii,h the concessions granted them in 1793; they were not, and they ought not to he contented with such trifling favours—favours he could. not call them, but joit tights. He denied the exist ew.e of that freedom, which was alleged to b e the boast of Englishmen, while himself and countrymen were deprived of the privileges which belonged to their birth-right. When he looked around the Continent of Europe, and saw in every direction Catholic Monarchs granting freedom and political - privileges to their l a I otestilot subjecis-..-when be saw Prottstaut Hun gary, Catholic Bavaria, and last of all, Catho lic Spain granting freedom to all classes, how could be concede the palm of liberality to Eng land! 1 Ages of exclusion and persecution had the"ltish Catholics suffered, unmeritedlii and he tear tree to confess, that from the view he bad .toltrir of the foeseat prospect of affairs, he had now to expect from the generosity or the justice of .4.13 c Atitisla Legislature. whci, its rc fleeted on the manner in which Their last .Peti- 7 1 tion bad been treated by Parliament, who re jected it with contumely, withont deeming it even worthy of going into a Committee on its merits, be confessed he had nothing to hope from the result of their present application. When he reflected, too, on the manner in which their venerated Catholic Prelates had been insulted in the House of Lords, orlon whom a foul libel was pronounced by a person who had been raised to the highest dignity of the Peerage by the flow 'of Caiholic blood, he was still more inclined to ex pect a further contiouance of their ilegradation-; he meant the Doke of Wellington..--(Lood and continued hisses and disapprobation.)—He should • speak his mind, although he regretted that the greatest military hero of the day should be found the object of censure. This person had said like wise that the Irish nation was a conquered coup try. This modem advocate of itvolerance--•his modern champion of Orangeisim-- Sir EDWARD BELLE.W here tose, in the midst of great tumult and uproar, and as soon as he could command a (tearing, observer!, that he had an ar duous duty to perform. He declarer! the Gentle man to he out of order, and begged of him to confine his °hies vations to the object for which they had assembled ; a contrary coarse would only injure their cause. He could not see what the conduct of the Duke of Wellington had to do with the subject before them. Mr. COPPINGER continued. He 11110111 d bow to the Chair, but lie nevertheless thought it tight to hold up the political conduct of the Duke of Wel ling, on the detestation of the Catholics of Ire lam'. The English Ministry were blind to the interests of the Empire by the system of exclusion in which they persevered respecting the Catholics; and much as had been said to the contrary, he could not give the manufacturer of that abhorred mea sure, the Union (Lord Castlereagh) the smallest credit for liberality. He who could he found ca pable of battering his country's freedom did not deserve the slightest respect from any portion of his countrymen, and those who act with him in the Ministry, could not, he feared, be relied on. He had heard it said that the opinions of our pre sent Sovereign were inimical to Catholic Ematici pat ion ; he could not, however, credit the asser tion. as the whole tenor of his life, while Prince of Wales, was at variance with such a supposition. The divisions which unfortunately existed for the last few years amongst the Catholic Body were indeed a smalls of great mortification, and the fatal resolutions of 1812, might have a bad effect on the mind of George the Fourth. The CHAIRMAN here again interfered, and re quested that no extraneous topics should be intro duced. He was sorry to interrupt the Gentleman so often, but he felt it his duty to remind him that he was not strictly in order. Mr. COPPINGER resumed, by declaring that as be bad met with such frequent interruptions, be should not trouble the meeting much longer. He then took a view of the conduct of the Catholics for the last 2.5 years, contending that their l o yalty, their bravery, and their nunn:ical strength entitled then► to the full benefits et the Con• stitution. He trusted, notwithstanding, that whatever advantages they may acquire or possess, they would never desert their prelateS, or barter the religion of their forefathers, by subscribing to any oaths at variance with their religious tenets. It was indeed unnecessary, as the cause of six millions of men would ultimately triumph in spite of every obstacle. After some further remarks, this Gentleman concluded a speech of consider able warmth, of which the totegoing can only convey an abstract merely of its substance, by moving the following Resolution, which was se conded and passed : " That there does not now exist any pretence to justify, or t ten to palliate the con!inuance of that Penal Code, which exclndes.us On account of our religion, from the . participation of the Consti tution. The false and indignant imputations which iuterested bigotry excited against us are exposed and dikredited. The services we have rendered to the State are known and acknow ledged. The great body of our, Proiestant knew. subjects (to whom . we owe and offer our most de voted gratitude) are favourable to our just claims, and the hostility that is o pposed to us rests upon the unsocial intolerance of that unmitigated in• fluence which was generated, and is still.tostered, by the Penal Code•" Mr.Tasvee, in a few words, by way of preface, moved the following :-- " That we deem it a duty, at the commence tnent of a new Reign and a new Parliament, hum bly, but earnestly to seek relief from the oppres sive proviiion of that code ; and to solicit the Legislature, as well in respect to the character of this Empire among foreign States, as in justice to so. numerous and so injured a body of faithful subjects., to repeal those enactments which directly tend to excite internal dissections, and to endanger the security of the State, whilst they infringe pri vate rights, and degrade the national reputation." Mr. O'CortNet.t., in seconding the Resolution, was fearful that the opinion entertained by many persons of this being the last. time of the Catho lics having an occasion to petition was chimerical and unfounded. His own opinion was, that there was little probability of the honest demands of five-sixths,.nay, he would say nine-tenths of the people of Ireland, being attended to with ; .effect by the English Ministry ; but, at the same time, he was not averse to the experiment of trying an other Petition, and, in the event of its failure, he should never, as an individual, again come for ward to petition ; and he would advise the Ca tl►olic population of Ireland never more to petition, unless some unhooked fur. event, some unforeseen revutsion,_ rendered it absolutely necessary. lie bail not the honour of that personal knowledge of the two Royal Dukes boas led of by his friend Mr.-E. M.‘Donnell; he kt►egt no Duke but an Itish Duke, and that was the Duke of Leinster ; but he fully concurred in every thing that had been said in their eulogy, and be regretted that the Catholic Aristocracy of Ire land bad not before now assembled to address the widow ,of that Royal Duke who had been all his life so friendly to their claims (Kent.) It had been said that the Irish Catholics were relieved front many disabilities during the late reign; and with this assertion he entirely concurred. At the com mencer:teat of the reign of George the Third the Catholics of Ireland groaned in liontlite;e, from which they were afterwards no doubt relieved, but under what civutnstances ? He contended that the Catholics should thank Oreir own weight and importance for any relief they got, and not from any favourable disposition on the part of England, to whom they were not indebted for a single favour. Fen' I'6 years after the late King's accession they pined in their sufferings, until at length in the year 1776, at the period of the American rebellion, as it was edited, the first act was passed in their favour. In 1778 when America was about to establish her independence, when France was leagued with her against Eogland, and Spain on the eve of declaring war, another act was passed in favour of the Irish Catholics ; they were then al lowed to take long leases, and to acquire property. In 178; the third Act was passed as a bribe to the Catholics to remain quiet, at a period when Ireland was defenceless, and the Dutch and French fleets rode triumphant in the British Channel ;• and in 1793 the last Act was passed in their favour, by which they got the right of franc;hi.e. Even this latter was forced front the English Government, by the effects of the French Revolution, and the impression made on the public mind by the victories of Durnoriez, who a short time previous had gained the celebrated battle of Jemappe. All these cir ctonstences clearly she wed that the Irish Catho lics were more indebted to adventitious circum stances for the little they now enjoy, than to any sense of justice on the part of the British Go vernment. Since 1793 what has been the sate of the Catholics ? Year after year have they be sought their rulers to extend to them their just privileges, and though they have constantly ex perienced nothing but mortifications and denials, yet have t key remained loyal and peaceable. He expected no better result front the present peti tion, nor would their hopes be realised until a proper change was effected. In the event of their petition being rejected in the present Session of Parliament, the Catholics sho , ild be fit in, and add their strength to the swelling chorus of Reform, (or while the House of Commons re mained coostituted as it was at present, while the Boroughmoneering Faction carried with it an un bounded sway, there was little to expect on the scot eof liberality or justice. Taking these broad views of the subject, it gave hitt, hut little unea siness what the poor, the pi!ittil Corporation of Dublin could do ; their efforts were ridiculous, even aided by the foolish writings of Sir Harcourt Lees, who was himself a Priest and a Baronet. — He had done him (Mr. O'Connell) the honour to address to bin four letters, but if it was any satis faction to the Rev. Baronet, he could assure him. that he had never read one of them. His friend (Mr. Randall M'Donnell) had spoken truly of this pitiful Corporation, for he was convinced that he (Mr. M'Donnell) paid more into the Trea sury than the whole aggregate who formed their Commons House. He would not follow the ex ample of his friend Mr. Coppinger, in speaking of the Duke of Wellington, lest he should be checked by the Chairman ; but he was not surprised at the warm feelings of his young friend, deprived as he bad been of 15001. per annum of his hereditary property, of which his aucestors had been de spoiled. He knew that hishnsen and Irish Ca tholics had made the Duke of Wellington what be now is, and a very bad return he made them for doing so. The CHAIRMAN requested Mr. O'Connell not to fall into the same line of argument adopted by Mr. Coppinger, aj his duty to the meeting with respect to both was alike, and of course equal impartiality should guide his conduct. O'Corftsista. expressed his determination to be guided by the decision of the Chairman. He attributed the hostility with which the claims of the Roman Catholics of Ireland had been treated to a system which originated with Pitt, and which still contioues to • afflict the country in the persons of his disciples and advocates.—This country bad suffered, severely suffered, by a system of misrule, which at one time shook the Empire to , its centre, and he trusted that any events which could renew the disasters that formetly convulsed the country would be carefully guarded against, He should recommend putience to the Catholics, in the event of another disappointment to • their just claims, a virtue for which they had. been long. remarkable. They-should be firm too, for in the. end their • cause must surmount every diffi cully---they bad the ranks of reform open to them, and by a-perseverance in so good a cause, with the - additional importance which their great weight and.. influence would add to it, the result must be. glorious. Mr O'Connell here took a view of the different • states on the Codtinent which: have extended privileges to persons of all religions ; he . instanced the Pope, who lately .established. a Calvinist Church at Rome, and the amity which subsisted between the British King and the Sovereign Pontiff, whose picture was expressly .painted for his Majesty. He re marked upon the late failures in Cot k, and the general distress which-pervaded the country, the strength of :which he contended would be con solidated by admitting - the Catholics to a full participation of the benefits of the Constitution. Ile commented upon the good con:luct of the Catholics : during the last ye;tr, when the sister Country was convulsed, and observed it was fortunate, that even so humble an individual as himself, had not offered an opinion on what was there going on. Mr. O'Connell adduced se veral other arguments in favour of Catholic Eman cipation, and concluded a long speech, of which we do not pretend to give more than a meagre outline, by seconding the Resolution proposed by Mr. Taaffe, nbicb having been put, was carried unanimously. The last Resolution was moved by Mr. Esmond, brother of Sir Thomas Esmond, Bart. and se conded by Mr. Coppinger, seta. Its import was " That we do petition Parliament to be ad 7 mitled to the full enjoyment of the Constittitioo, and that the Earl of Donoughmore be retviested to present our Petition to the House of Lords, and that the Right Honourable Henry Grattan be requested to present our Petition to the Honee of Commons." 'rile Petition to both houses of Parliament was then read by the Secretary, Air. O'Ciottntt4. It is • of Wrnsiclet \ able length, aild . Mr.otOttieti it as his production. On the motion of Colonel it *as agr e h t that the Petition now read should stand Its i h r i Petition of the Catholics Of Ireland--that it referred to a Committee tnr revision, and after,. wards transmitted as speedily as possible tO Ist liament. Mr. Joi; LAWLEISS thetamoved, Oat a C° ll/4 1 mittee, consistiug of the tcblowing perstins, —Sir Edward Bellew, Messrs.. Randal i1I'Doli! nell, Daniel O'Connell, John O'Connell, Iglch°‘ las Mahon, C. Donelan, N. P. O'Gornoll, M'Cabe, John Lawless, Eneas Nl'Donorl, C ° P; pinger, and Garret Ddion, shmild be appou' le ,i to prepare an Address to the King , with (''';:; to nominate a Deputatioti to present it to lila jests in person;--which, on bring seconded 01 Mc; O'Connell, was carried. Mr. Dlt.t.ors moved the thanks of the Nl eer l to the Pro(eslant Dissenters of Cockermou'h, I°l their liberality, which was carried. It couched as frallays l•lint the cordial thanks of the CalhO l i Cgef Ireland are doe, and hereby given to tit; tant Dissenters of Cockermouth , for t he I. it sand enlightened sentiments expressed in tlici Petition to Parliament on our bets alt.'' The Rev. Mr. L'ESTRANGR said , some I) , r 4 - 10 io the gallery bad do eateued to write an an tisV el letter to Dr. Troy, for having given the L'' ° h t for the use of that Meeting. lie Itieretore thooghl it necessary that the subjoined Reactional sioo/1. be unanimously passed ':— " 'fbat the cot dial thanks of the Cath olics Ireland be presented to his Grace the Mnst Dr. Troy, for his very kind concession of 1 11 Chapel for the use of this Met tiog," • .„ 1 1) Mr. O'CoNNeLL sec,ntled this Resoltill' which was passed by acclamation: The following Resolution was also passed td "'That the thanks of the Catholics of l!'-'140; are due, and hereby returned to N P. 01.30r10,1 Esq. for his faithful told honourable discl' il J of the duties of his office as Secretasy. :60 that be be, and is hereby requested to c oots the same." Mr. O'GoRMAN wi•bed to say a few wort ,- parting. He did not despond so much as hi sl l hied friends, on the subject of their claims shorty conceded ;• he looked at the bright ailtept ; the picture. Since he came to the meeting had received a communication which he w 44110 at liberty to disclose, but which induced o'lo conclude that the Royal ear was not tin favoli rj o e disposed towards the Catholics: he would goligis titer and say, that, if they waited for six W ec o li he haul no doubt that Catholic Emancipation 55') --- be granted...--(Loud laughing ) 1 111 Mr. O'CoN NE LL hoped the prophecy woolcvol fulfilled, but be very much &wined the predi cll of the prophet. Mr. RANDALL NP DONNELL SVB3 then Ca lle the Chair, and the thaaits of the Catho lic ti l io' Ireland voted to Sir Bd‘vard Bellew, for hit pi nified and proper conduct as Chairman which the Meeting biohe up. CHARITY CHILDREN. Yesterday the Right lion. the LottolND,; f lo / Sheriffs, several of the Aldermen, attended City Marshals, &c. went in grand state I° o lo Paul's Cathedral to the antilversai * ic e' jog 0 - 8 41 , charity children (boys and girlS) who are cl°ll.loll maintained, and educated by voluntary COn' 1 0 / tions, in the several charity schools w ithi l 'olc cities of Loildon ,and Westminster, Soott i ' 3' t and parts adjacent. Beery street leading I ° O , l Cathedral presented the most gratifying sP. c lt i the eye of sensibility could behold, and olt‘_,l4( other metropolis in the world could exhi bit-- ; senting a procesr.ion of children; am oottt ir ' 3 :o l t 8,000, all clad in homely, bolt decent i,et fortable clothing, well led, and health and C .Ol fulness glowing on their cheeks. The ci ll ot ' of each school were headed by thei r 1t133 0 and mistresses, preceded by the parish be 33,11 with their batoons. When all were sotiettil, elevated benches under the gt eat dome of t" Paul's, pouring forth praise to their Cit'av and thanks to their earthly benetactors, it ' 3 ed a rich treat to the contemplative idiot' et o Sermon was preached by the Right 1 1 ` : 9 Fattier in God, William Lord, Bishop c, daft - . The Church was extremely t"kCl!' well attended by the soppoiters of O f , i city. " 'Fe Deum Jobilitate Deo"- -- ‘l , Coronation Anthern"—llandel's Gtand " Hallelujah, for the Lord God," &c. w ef t by the Gentlemen of the Cho , r, who al so ed the Psalms, the Children joining iu 11)- 1 1 ) fusses. The children also sung two ° l r a ctsi Psalms in good style. The collection at the t.e, ate happy to say, was liberal. After ser vi o l l children returned in different procession 9 o 1 r respective schools, and the friends and stT i t :4 of the charity repaired to the London rerio where a sumptuous entertainment W. ,6 for them. The Right Hon. the Lord i\i'" the Chair. NICHOLAS BOYLAN. Esq. of Hi laud, lots 3t this time living in his men servants, whose united ages and 9e amount to 346 years. Their names de alt Hot ish, and Gogain ; the first is 77 ,r , c , and has heed in the family 46 years; is 75, and has served 4:2 years ; the i sib rs , and has acted as land ste‘vard f o e ;36 131 13111.THS. -f Mrs. On the 4th instant, at Cheltenham, th e I on • , of a sou. 4llse At Edinburch, on. the 4th inst. the Lady 0 - / fund Macleod, Es 4. of a sun. 'MARRIED. e 6 1 *I Wednesday, at St. George's, 114nover-squikri,:ct Esq. M.P. ,oli of the Earl of Wincliilsea , tu '' cf Admiral and Lady Elizabrili Halliday. ,z i' DIED. ter oP On WednePday, Isabel, the infant dallgil ,01 Wood, Bat ristts ot Law. th' it" nnNitiiiday lust, at his residence in N or toy-square, John Hughes, Eq. aged 70. „, IP Ou Fri,lay last, in Berners-street, aged . 1 .1 '0( 0 Esq. of Wendover. Bucks, formerly Comilla ..11, India CO pany' Sertice. , M O n Weunesday, Mts. Ann Hastings, i"to"' ford-row 9 9 ' it LONI)ON: Printed hy J. B. CA 'INTL; Rs, h ,d Ormond-street. cn- Qnes:inare; and Wild's at 1 SCR I PPS, II f No. 7, South Molton-sire' 00 (Mice, No. I it, Strand where Adrei tise° Lettcrk, Uc. (poit-puiC mutt addroptd!.. % , . ' 44c ?► 1 . : A I),sPt Nk; .0