The Sun. — London, England, 1827-01-19 00:00:00

been carried into effect, in 'all probability the promise of Mr. Pitt to the Irish Romans would have been performed. F . ? The Pope and Popery, or Romanism, are to the Protestant, r,, like a man in the dark. His fears or suspicions conceive him to 4 be a giant, a tremendous giant; whilst the Roman would hive it I% believed ; that he is a little harmless and inoffensive personage. 4:•:; Both may be wrong ; but the delusion is kept up by the Roman not showing him out, and bringing him to the light ; or, when detected, disowning him. There is no sound principle in myster y of human creation—it induces fear or superstition, and restrains the intellectual faculties. Nit the Church of Rome goes beyond. She declares herself the only true Church ; unchanged—unchangeable—divinely con stituted—supreme. The Douay Bible contains this note on St. Matthew, cap. vi., v. 24 , " Two Religions—God and Baal, Christ and Calvin, Mass and Communion, the Catholic Church and heretical Conventicles." In the Roman Catechism, the young are thus taught : Q. Believest thou, that the holy Catholic and Apostolical church is the one true church, in which the one baptism is given, and the true remission of all sins ? A. I believe. Q. Moreover, lost thou accurie every heresy which lifteth itself up against the church ? A. I accurse them. It is thus that the Romans in their early years are tutored to 'accurse every other church than their own ; and therefore, con clude, that the difference between the two churches is this—that the unworthy, or insincere, or hypocritical of the Protestant church, who prof'ss the faith, but believe it not, are condemned. But the language of the church of Rome is this—" Here is my faith—out of it there is no salvation ; if ye believe it not ye are accursed, and cannot be saved. The Church of England does not presume to condemn and ana themire that of Rome. It consider. her forms overstrained and unnecessary ; and impelled and influenced by an excess of zeal, rather than a want of piety, or of religious feeling. The mem • bars of the Church of England are volunteers—those of the Church of Rome are not; " Belong to me, for any other enlist• ment is disloyal,." is the principle of its recruiting. My firm opinion is—that no sooner shall Catholic Consolida tion be grafted on the Constitution, than many noble families will turn from the Church of England to the Communion of Rome ; and I rely more upon the untitled and industrious classes of so ciety for the maintenance of Protestant ascendancy, than I do upon the descendants of the Barons of Runnimede. I strongly suspect misty Protestant noblemen to be Catholics at heart ; and who, but for their seats in Parliament, would attend the Romish Mass to morrow ; and I fear, that but for the Bench of Bishops, my asser tion would not remain long unproved. The principles being the same, unchanged and declared to he un changeable, even in the belief to this day of the performance of mi racles by Roman priests ; Ido not think it impossible that many disastrous events may arise again out of a religion in no wise al 'tend. It is said, that all fears may now be dismissed, since the race of the ill-fated and ill-advised Stuarts is no more ; and since 'no one can appear at the Coronation with a right to impugn the succession of my august family to the throne of England.— Granted !—But suppose I am not found wrong in my strong suspicions, that many ancient and noble families will return to Romanism, when by so doing they will not lose their Parliamentary privileges. Will the example stop?— ' Will the contagion approaching so near the throne, and among the King's hereditary counsellors, be stayed at such a point? Suppose the case of a weak prince near the throne, becoming a convert to the Roman religion ? Suppose by deaths he come in turn to succeed to the throne? His chance is cut off; he cannot reign. Why ?—Because of his religion. Suppose him at the time to be a married man, and to have children brought up in the faith of the prince their father ; and at the time remaining so ; but, that after a Protestant prince shall have succeeded, (having also children to inherit,) one of the sons of the formerly disqua lified prince shall retrace his steps, and return to the Protestant faith, the tool, perhaps, of some foreign power? If no preten der exists now—may not in such a case (a case by no means of difficult conception) a pretender arise? I put the question for consideration—for serious consideration. There is (I believe) no man yet bold enough to bring forward a measure for Catholic consolidation, which is not accompanied by a protection of the Protestant principle—of, in fact, Protestant ~ Ascendancy—and, for this purpose, certain Great Officers of State, and the Monarch, must be Protestant. Now, in my :Simple way of arguing, where protection is considered necessary, dani - er is apprehended and to be feared—and yet the attempt is, to.adnait the danger with a view to contend against or crush it. 1 say, roll the barrel into Parliament, when you are satisfied that it contains no gura-powder. If you do not, there will be an ex plosion, however small the train. I have rested my objections upon several grounds.-1. That the Roman will not allow a Protestant Parliament, or Protestant Church, to interfere with his religion. I have proved that posi tion, by referring to the theological judgment circulated among the Peers of Parliament, on the first attempt to pass Mr. Plunkett's two bills.-2. That on the several occasions, when measures have been pressed upon Parliament, the parties on whose behalf such measures were brought forward, were decidedly at variance upon the policy of such measures.-3. That the Roman Bishops, on the prospect of the Union between England sisal Ireland, had come to certain measures of accommo dation and arrangement, which they subsequently retracted, not only ht the most unequivocal, but in the most opposed manner, as regarded their former dispositions.-4. That any parliamentary measure would be contravened by the Roman priesthood, if inter fering with their ahurch discipline.--5. That the authority of the gee of Rome is brought forward as the reason of such dissent.-6. That religion is part and parcel of the law of the land, and is em bodied in the Constitution ; that the admission, therefore, into th e Constitution af a party who considers its religious branch as heretical and accursed, is an anomaly of the most extraordinary ,nature.....-7. That the assertion so boldly made, that—by admit the Roman into the Protestant Constitution—the former would abandon his creed and his principles, is mere assertion ; , than any sound positi on w h ereon and is rather a satire upon him to found apolitical measure.- 9 . That the answers of the Catho lic Universitien to the questions propounded to them by the Bri tish Catholics, at the desire of Mr. Pitt, are mere opinions, and of no authority whatever in the canons of the Roman Church.- 9. That some legislative declaration or compact should be entered into, in acknowledgment of the titles of the Protestant hierarchy to its sees and possessions ; which should precede Catholic conso ' lidation.-10. That where protection is required as part of a le gilative measure, danger is to be apprehended.-1 1 . That the case o f a pretender may arise. These are, I believe, the several grounds in which I Lave con licienti„,lseopposed myself to further concession to the Romans. They are not t;se results of early prejudices, or unexamined his tory ; but of my sincere and hearty conviction. I may not have it i n my power, in any other situation, to prove that my declaration was ram verbiage. But et this solemn and serious moment, I wish to give strength to my farther pledge ; and to confirm it, as far as I can, by this voluntary explanation—l again repeat, that " Security," nothing but " Security," must be taken ; and, as yet, none has been offered, none shown, which even the weakest judg ment could areept. Fronahislevelopement of my candid and honest sentiments, it may be said that I am the enemy of the Romans; that had I lived I would have cut them off from all hope, and have left them, as to the future, a prey to despair. Nay, that I should have preferred to see the " Fair Green Isle" deluged with the hlnod of the Ro man and the Protestant, in order to maintain the ascendancy of the latter, and vindicate my own principles. Gad forbid ! and forgive those who have attributed such false intentious to me! I never would, certainly, under any circumstances, have signed the heath -warrant of the Protestant Constitution. Never would , I ' ti L der ,_ any circausatances, have given my authority to a Bill for '''` t "'"` Emancipation. No !--not even with the rebels' sword at my throat. The historian of my family has said—" Thirty-three genera tions, and a thousand yea, occupy mo st certainly a small space even in the historical Period of th e wor ld ; but all greatness is relative; and it may be added, that there is not one family in Europe which can establish, by ric i ,er and contemporary proofs , a similar antiquity. The h ouse of Guelph appear as Sovereign Princes &pm the earliest period of their history. If, therefore, an tiquity and illustrious birth are entitled t o en, d egree of respect, Great Britain may be proud of her pre sent g oaere ian ; I and al though , George the First' owed the Crown more immediately to his female parent, yet he was the only lineal descendant of the Plantagenet stem.—The blood which warmed the heart of Bruce flawed also in the veins of the Elector of Hanover. It cannot fail ea be remarked in the history of this familyi; t h a t w hil e i ts A its ;I ta ns acquired wealth anti honours by their union with the daugh ters of Emperors and Kings, the daughters adorned the throne of the greatest potentates in Europe and Asia. " Could the conjectural evidence of the German antiquaries be admitted, not less than five centuries might be added to the period of our history, and fifteen generations more of probable anceetors. But the highest ambition of human pride may be satisfied with what is certain in the pedigree of the House of Guelph. There is 1m Sovereign House iri, Europe, ancient or modern, that has not been connected with, and sprung from some branch of this family." Succeeding, theri, as my family did, to the Protestant Throne of England, and qualified as it was to succeed by the profes sionof the Protestant religion ; it should never have been said of me, that in the fourth generation, such sacred qualification had been neutralized and betrayed by the Duke of York. But, though I express myself thus strongly and decidedly, and undissimulatingly ; my country may feel surprise, when I declare myself the staunch friend of " Catholic Consolicfation." Catholic Consolidation will produce Emancipation. And as I am ready to admit, that England cannot he too warmly the friend of Ireland ; that nothing can tend so much to a mutual repose, a mutual confidence, and a mutual greatness, than the set tlement of this great question ; I will now briefly explain what I mean by " Catholic Consolidation ;" and my opinion, that it will produce " Catholic Emancipation." We have heard much of the Slave trade ; in olden days, how ever, the Irish were accustomed to buy British children as domestic slaves; yet Ireland subsequently became subject to England as a conquest ; and now the great object is, to unite both, so that they may form, in heart, but one kingdom and one country. I may make myself more clearly understood, by stating, that I look for the effecting of Catholic Emancipation from the merging of the great mass of the Roman Irish into Protestantism ; by which, a consummation will be brought about:without the neces'- sity of any legislative measures. This is what I mean by the term, Catholic Consolidation. If the Roman priests do not fear a comparison, or do not dread that an opportunity should be afforded for the free circulation of the Scriptures ; if the Roman priests are so confident of the supe rior truth of their own divinely constituted church ; they would promote a comparison and an opportunity, which ought, according to their doctrines, to ensure to them the victory. Here, then, I offer another ground for Catholic Consolidation —namely, that Ireland generally has been, from various causes, obstructed in the knowledge of that which rendered perfect " the Reformation in England ;" and that when time enough has elap sed, to make up for this delay, the same result may be reasonably expected. I have alluded to the sums levied by a demagogue influence, and seconded by the priesthood, under the head of "Catholic Rent." The payment may seem to be voluntary, because no legislative power exists to compel it; hut if no legislative power, there is a spiritual influence exercised, of more efficiency—of much more efficiency—and the Roman, who having the means, refuses to con tribute, becomes a marked man—and yet notwithstanding all this machinery, I think it no mean proof of the torpidity of the great body of the people ; that complaints of the insufficiency of these col leCtions are constantly made at the meetings of the association ; and any contributions are received with much acclamation. Whatever may be my suspicions, (and I do not profess to fathom into the mode of expenditure), I cannot well ima gine to what legitimate purpose such a collection can he ap plied, unless to bury their secretaries, who are permitted in their lifetime to starve upon the honour of gratuitous services. A great conscientious question, such as Emancipation ought to be to the Irish Roman, surely should he conducted by vo lunteer exertions of mind and body. But the orator who sets a value upon his lost time, and missed briefs ; and the scribbler who values the columns of his journal, are not very inaccessible to bribery. The best pay being on such occasion the best cause. Here, then, is another feature in the management and getting up of Catholic Emancipation, which may lead to Catholic Con solidation. The cause which depends upon the purse wears out soonest--people do not allow patriotism to make holes in their pockets. Another piece of mechanism in this important measure, is the counting of heads, in which with difficulty, the pig is omitted from the score. I know the motives of the census may be taken two ways ; first, as chewing the numbers affected, or to be affected by the measure; and next, as a means of threat. I wish I could bring myself to think, that this census was only intended as a means of showing the comparative or relative proportion of the population, as divided into Roman and Protestant. But when, in the proceedings of the Roman Parliament, I have read of allusions to foreign fleets, and foreign connections ; of pro ceedings little short of attempts at alliance; and of the syrn pathiea of foreign states in the degraded condition of Ireland. When, again, I find from accounts in foreign journals such allusions caught up, and Ireland unhesitatingly alluded to, as the vulnerable part of Great Britain ; where, when an attack is to be made, it will be made—l must confess, that I am tempted to believe that Romanism has as exten sive a language as Jacobinism—and as intelligible. I recog nize in these expressions and allusions, that system of threat which I do not trace in other bodies—in other numerous bodies excluded from some participations in public office or public honour. But I owe it to Ireland to declare, that little or no ap parent impression has been made by these demagogues on her loyalty ; and, I think, these violent allusions have recoiled upon the authors of them. I argue then, that this absence of all disposition to insurrection, when so repeatedly goaded ; and of all traitorism, when so often hinted at ; will secure peace to Ireland, till the many beneficial measures progressing in her favour shall have had time to produce their efficacy and their benefit. By such a delay as this, Catholic Consolidation may also be promoted. Among the arguments in favour of " Catholic Emancipation," none has appeared to me so full of contradiction, chicane, and in consistency, as its advocacy on the ground of " civil and religious liberty." Had I come to the Throne, I should have considered myself as thereon seated in virtue of the Revolution which took place, bottomed as it was upon a determication to support civil and religious liberty. The Revolution did not take place in op position to a Pretender to the Throne ; hut because, in violation of his coronation oath, James 11. had attempted to destroy the Constitution; and with it, the enjoyment of civil and religi ous liberty. For the blind obedience required to the priest, transfers itself into arbitrary power, when applied to ci vil matters. Romanian was banished from this coun try, because, in principle, it is opposed to all religious liberty, which is not of its sort, of its own grant or creation ; and, because, a Roman Catholic Monarch is sub servient to the Pope as to ecclesiastical jurisdiCtion, or derives it from his authority ; the Pope being also both a spiritual and temporal prince. The favourite argument, or rather the apology made by the ad vocates of " civil and religious liberty," for their support to the Romans, is grounded (I believe) upon an assumed right to wor ship God according to individual conscientiousness or conviction. The Church of England is not against any such principle. She only claims the power of protecting and preserving herself; and throws open wide the door of admission, upon terms free to be ac cepted, and as free to be objected to; and there is hardly any one subject upon which there is more general misconception (not to say ignorance in many), than the supposition, that the Church of England is a Church of exclusion. A Quaker is no longer a Quaker, when he ceases to adhere to the rules and tenets of his Society—an Unitarian ceases to be an Unitarian, when he ceases to disavow the Divinity of Christ. Thus, a member of the Church of England ceases to be one, when he does not acquiesce in the articles of faith propounded by that Church. The Church of England claims a liberty for her communicants to believe in her faith and doctrines; and denies it not to any differing communi cant. This, I, as a well-meaning man, with a so-so head, and a good heart, submit as the very essence, or position of civil and religious liberty ; and it is not the Church herself, but the laws of the country, sanctioned and made by a vast majority, which have created such Church to be the " Na tional Church." In Scotland, the same church exists, but not as a national church. But does the Presbyterian com plain that he is accursed, because lie is not a communicant of such church ? Upon any other ground then, than upon the plea of " civil and religious liberty," would the advocacy of Catholic Emancipation he more consistently conducted : for it is to re-in troduce a system which has been rejected " at the Reformation," and expelled " at the Revolution," because of its enmity to civil and religious liberty ;" which enmity it embodies to this very day. Look at Spain, as a proof. I think, therefore—that when the delusion of the principle, and the singular anomaly shall become apparent,—of bringing again into existence, upon the ground of civil and religious liberty, their own inherent and interminable enemy ;—that another step will be accomplished towards Catholic Consolidation. No other Church but that of Rome accurses her neighbour. Notwithstanding my so-so head ; I have really looked into Mr. Butler's book of the Roman Catholic Church, which has convinced me more than ever, that I am right in proclaiming myself to be " a true Protestant Prince ;" and I leave him full liberty to re main a " good Roman." I could not, however, but smile at the mode which Mr. Butler takes to substantiate his arguments ; re ferring not a little to a former book of his own writing—to the works of Dr. Lingard and Mr. Sharon, or Aaron Turner, (I for get which), both which gentlemen lie calls his mutual friends; and to (I presume) a relation of his own, one Mr. Alban Butler, whom he prodigiously praises. Most of his other autho rities are Romans—all Romans. I should have thought, that the right way to convince, would have been—to have detected the errors and falsehoods of Protestant writers, and not prop up his own church out of her own bricks and mortar. The Rev. George Townsend iu his " Accusations of History," has don e something towards a reply to Mr. Butler , which, as far as it goes, is good, and at all times fair and candid; but of much too timid and polite a temper. I have referred to 'Mr. Butler's " Book of the Roman Catholic Church" because of one chapter in it, which helps to cirri , o n my plan of Catholic Consolidation, or " future merging into Protes.. tantism." In this (which is the 10th Letter), Mr. Butler gives an account of the Transalpine and Cisalpine doctrines, respecting the power of the . Pope ; stating, that formerly the Trans alpixes admitted his right to dethrone Kings by temporal power, in order to carry into effect spiritual objects; yet that such power was denied by the Cisalpines ; but that now, no difference exists between the two opposing patio. Mr. Butler does not, however, give any authority for this assertion, or produce any canoe or council to corroborate his statement, but proceeds thus : " But though, on this important point; both parties are at last agreed, the`• still differ on others. "In spiritual concerns, the TAmsalpine opinions ascribe to the Pope a superiority and controlling power over the whole church, should she chance to oppose his decrees; and consequently, over a general council, her representative ; and the same superiority and controlling power over the canons of the universal church. They describe the Pope as the fountain of all ecclesiastical order; jurisdiction, and dignity. They as sign to him the power of judging all persons in spiritual con cerns ; of calling all spiritual causes to his cognizance ; of con stituting, suspending, and deposing Bishops ; of conferring all ecclesiastical dignities and benefices, in or out of dominions, by paramount authority ; of exempting individuals an►l communi ties from the jurisdiction of their prelates ; of evoking to him self, or to judges appointed by him, any cause actually pending in an ecclesiastical court ; and of receiving immediate appeals from all sentences of ecclesiastical courts, though they be inferior courts, from which there is a regular appeal to an intermediate superior court. They further ascribe to the Pope, the extraor dinary prerogative of personal infallibility, when he undertakes to issue a solemn decision on any point of faith. " The Cisalpines affirm, that in spirituals the Pope is subject in doctrine and discipline, to the church, and to a general council representing her ; that he is subject to the canons of the church, and cannot, except in extreme case, dispense with them ; that even in such ca.ses dispensation is subject to the judgment of the church ; that the Bishops derive their jurisdiction from God hint self, immediately, and not derivatively through the Pope ; that he has no right to confer Bishoprics, or other spiritual benefices of any kind, the patronage of which by common right, prescription, concordat, or any other general rule of the church, is vested in another. They admit that an appeal lies to the Pope from the sentence of the Metropolitan ; hut assert, that no appeal lies to the Pope, and that he can evoke no cause to himself during the in process. They affirm, that a general council may without, and even against the Pope's consent, reform the Church. They deny his personal infallibility, and hold, that he may be deposed by the church or a . general council for heresy or schism; and they admit, that in an extreme case, where there is a great divi sion of opinion, an appeal lies from the Pope to a future general council." It does not appear to me, of what " the Church" consists. It is not the Pope; it is not a general council, because both are spoken of as distinct from the Church ; and yet to the Church Mr. Butler attributes power ; unless, therefore, it is the abstract brick and mortar, and timber and paint of St. Peter's, I cannot define the Church of Rome. But the question is-Are the priesthood of Ireland Transalpine Cisalpine?or I suspect them strongly to be of the former. If so, there is ample latitude for most important changes u re gards their connexion with, and obedience to the Roman Pon tiff. They may, on becoming Cisalpine, elect their own bishops in their own chapters, without leave of the Pope; and, possibly, they may present the elected to their own Sovereign for his approbation. Certainly, however, the spread of the Cisalpine doctrines is calculated to create so complete a schism in the Roman Church, and so completely to shear the Pope of his honours, his powers, his interference, and his infallibility.; that he may come soon to be a mere ecce signora. I must confess myself not aware that there were two such complete sets of Romans—the one quite Papistical, and the other all but Protestant, as far as papal allegi ance is concerned. I think, therefore, the schism which Mr. Butler has disclosed to public view, requires only to be widened a little and a little by degrees; and that from such division will spring another seed of Catholic Consolidation. There is but one other point to which 1 will allude, or my countrymen will say that " York grows tedious." In times of public commotion, nations are seen to run from one extreme to the other. Look at France now, and as in the hour of revolution. She once banished her priests, shut up their places of divine worship, and substituted the goddess of reason in their place.— Now she is approaching to a priest-ridden condition—Spain is entirely so; and what is there which tends to a suspicion of the Cabinet of France; The good understanding between the priests of the two countries ! And how is this effected ? I cannot but think, that, as in the Court of Rome, the Pope is a sovereign not only in spiritual matters as regards other countries, but is himself a temporal prince ; and since spiritual matters would bring to his temporal court, ambassadors from all countries but our own; the Pope becomes thereby master of all the intrigues of Europe, and negatively gives an impulse to the councils of Roman Catholic countries. And yet it is to this same influence, which the British politician ridicules or opposes, under the term of apostolical ; that the object is, to give resuscitated power at home. Possibly this last consideration, duly weighed, may also lead to an objection to Catholic EmanCipation ; and every objection which gains time, and admits of the growth of an increased pro sperity in the temporal affairs of Ireland, tends to the establish ment of my principle of Catholic Consolidation—or merging into Protestantism. I now propose, as regards Ireland, three golden rules— ENRICH LIER! GIVE HER. THE BIBLE! LAUGH ♦T HEB. DEMAGOGUES ! With these rules I conclude this legacy of my opinions —my firm belief being, that no legislative measure can effect Emanci pation, which requires to be accompanied with securities and ex clusions—it is but to confer power on a party not yet five from cause of suspicion. If it be of no consequence, abstractedly— whether a people be heathens, idolators, Turks, Jews, or Chris tians, provided they are rich and powerful, and great among the nations of the earth; then—grant Emancipation. But if our fore fathers have shed their blood, and, from a small band of deter mined men, have, by their brave example, made us a nation of Protestants; and if the present generation is bound to the coin. try as Protestant ; then the characteristics must be perpetuated, and throe principles avoided, which, to become Protestants, our ancestors rejected upon trial and examination—and I think, ton— that to find a way for the renovation of the Roman religion, is to revert back to the era of the Heathen mythology, between whose household Gods, and earthly-made Saints, there appears not a very great shade of difference. I had thought to have concluded this branch of my letter ; but there yet remains one brief remark, which I beg to make, and in which I trust to escape the imputation of improper motives. Many Protestant Noblemen and Gentlemen, resident in Eng land, treat their most extensive Irish possessions more upon a Colonial policy, than consider them situated in a country which, since the Union, may be admitted to be as much England as any one of the home counties.—Such persons, through the repreaen - - tations of their agents, are led to think, that Catholic Eniaricipa lion only is wanting to secure the peace of Ireland ; that this granted, the population will settle down into habits of steady in dustry; awl that laud will increase in value, and rents be more regularly remitted. Acted upon by such reports, many who would reject the measure as one not at all necessary in England, or which, if confined to England, would be perfectly harmless and unimportant, look upon it, being an Irish measure, as one really connected with the best interests of the " fair green Isle." I have stated, that from the year 1790 Ireland has been increas ing in wealth, in population, in agriculture and manufactures ; and that in all this time vain have proved the attempts to subvert " Protestant Ascendancy." I warn such reasoner' upon such grounds, of what I cannot but fear will prove erroneous ; and am of opinion, that danger may arise from advantages held out as certainly to accrue from some specific measure, but which may prove fallacious altogether. The trou bles of Ireland arise from the hatreds and feuds of clanship. The intellectual and political value of Catholic Emancipation is, I fear, of too refined a nature for a calculator of the price of !patter, pigs, and potatoes. I expect that my letter will occasion differences, and be dis pleasing to those who consider every thing from Honest York must be the antipode of Romanism, men who, having well con sidered the principles in which they have been brought up, and connecting them with the Constitution, must be opposed to, and have enemies among those, who would seek to destroy such Con stitution. Could I resolve to pats into the grave as one convinced of error; or who, had he lived, might have found some convenient pivot on which to turn round upon his former sentiments ; .1 bad not cared to perpetuate the spirit of York. May, then, those who thought with me in my life-time, remember this my last memorial ! and may it hind them more firmly than ever, and as one family, in the defence and preservation of the principles we mutually professed ! These may possibly tend to induce many who differed from me (from the effect, perhap, of prejudices stronger than those attributed to my self) to examine further the reasons of such dissent. P er h a p s I may impart strength to the weak, and decision. to the wavering. To those who remain conscientiously my opponents, I deny not the character of good and honourable men ; nor, lit my life-time, did I withhold from such my personal esteem. There yet remains one subject of some personal importance to myself, but of far less estimation than the vital question into which I have se fully entered. My enemies, when I am no more, may fasten upon my errors as a man subject to human infirmities; let them, however, do jus tice to me as a Prince. My reverend King and Father relinquished the hereditary revenues of the Crown, which are now applied to the general service of the State, and by_ the constitutional and annual grant of the civil list, the King and Princes of the empire are dependents upon the public bounty. I dispute not or object to this.arrangement. But there are ad- Vantages derived from the landed revenues of the nobility, which enable them to meet difficulties, and make provision for honour able or just engagements, into which folly or fashion, or inexpe rience, or imprudence may occasionally betray the wisest and the boldest. The Princes of England, in point of temporal wealth, are placed much below numerous branches of the nobility, and of more commoners. Should, then, the question come before the country,—whether imprudent, but Honest York is to rest discredited in his grave— -1 trust the question will be considered by the country, not as a British one merely, but as one of international policy.—The eyes of Europe will watch the decision. York dies at his post! Forty-seven years a soldier, and thirty as Commander-in-Chief, in the service of his King and country ! Ask the army, over which I presided, how I did my duty? Enquire of the generals, who have won for their country such un fading and perpetual laurels, the quality of the troops placed under them by my anxious care? Ask the soldier, whether each was not to me as a son? Ask your enemies, the estimation in which the British army is now held ? You may possibly learn some good account of one, now on a lingering bed of certain death ; and who, expecting soon to resign his soul to the King of Kings, bequeaths the care of his honour to the kind and serious conUideration of the country—not to be dealt with, according to the merits or demerits of York—but to he pro tected by the powerful shield of England ! Adieu, my beloved Countrymen ! Honoured King, most be loved brother, farewell ! Princes of our Royal House;, we shall meet (I trust) in happy immortality. Protestants! be firm, united, true, and conciliating without the abandonment of principle ! And may the dews of God's beneficent Providence fall kindly upon my caentry, of England, Ireland, and Scotland ! FREDERICK. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. (From th• Plymouth Journal.) On Thursday Captain Simeon (Commander in 11316) took the command of his Majesty's ship Alligator, of PS guns.—Lieu tenant John Townshend is appointed to, and has joined the same ship, which is fitting at this port, for foreign service. The Netley tender arrived on Saturday from Cork, with new raised men. The Starling cutter, Lieut. Robert Stuart, arrived on Satur day from Portsmouth, with money for the Dock Yard, and re turned again on Tuesday. The Redpole packet, Mr. Bullock. commander, Game in on Friday night, having left Falmouth on the II th instant, with the North American mails. She was driven in here by stress of weather, and to repair the damages she sustained in the gales since she left Falmouth. She sailed on Tuesday for that port. The Skylark, 10, was commissioned on Saturday by Lieut. B. Aplin, for the packet service. The Ringdove, 18, Capt. E. L. Thornbrough, sailed on Mon day for Bermuda. In Hamone.—Britannia, Thetis, Alligator, Satellite, Rifleman, Vigilant, Skylark. At the Island.—Royalist, Netley. In the Sound.—Leveret tender, and Lord Cochrane and John Bushman transports, with troops for Lisbon. Lieut. George Hales is appointed to the Preventive service at Weymouth ; Lieut. W. F. Young to the Raleigh ; Mr. Porteous, Surgeon, to the Sapphire. The appointment of Admiralty Midshipmen, which has here tofore been confined to petty officers who passed for Lieutenants, prior to the year 1822, has recently been extended, and young gentlemen who passed in 1822 are now eligible. Mr. Charles Clayton M'Lean has been proinoteno the rank of Lieutenant. This gentleman was one of the individuals saved from his Majesty's schooner Magpie, which was lost some months since off the Island of Cuba, in the West Indies. His Majesty's ship Espeigle, Capt. Yates, has met with very boisterous weather off the Havannah. Between the 16th and 22d of Nov. Capt. Yates fell in with several American vessels in great distress, which he relieved as far as was in his power. PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 18.—Wind N.E.—At neon sailed his Majesty's ship Aracime, for Carthagena and Vera Cruz. his Majesty's ship Asia bent sails yesterday, and it is believed will go out of harbour to-morrow. It is reported here, that a squadron of ships of the line (supposed to be those which lately conveyed the troops to Lisbon), were yesterday seen beating up Channel, by a steam vessel ; and they are of course hourly expected at Spithead. The Wellesley is ordered to be paid off—all standing for recom missioning, on her arrival at this Port, from Lisbon. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. LLOYD'S.--(THis DAY.) DEAL, JAN. 18.—Wind E.S.E. Fine.—Arrived the British Tar, from Shields and Sunderland, for Jamaica. The Britannia brig passed from the westward, apparently bound for the River. The Netherlands brig of war Zualuso, from Curacoa fur Helvoet, remains. PORTSDIOUTii, JAN. 18.—Wind E.—Arrived the General Palmer, Truscott, for Madras and Bengal ; Leonidas, Anderson, for Malta; Marshal, Burch, Duke of Richmond, Metcalf, Eclipse, Cummins, and Malta, for ditto. Passed by, the Zealander Dutch man of war, for Batavia. Sailed the Christiana, Whyte, for Jamaica ; and his Majesty's ship Arachne, from Vera Cruz. LIVERPOOL, JAN. 17.—Wind S. to S.S.E.—His Majesty's brigs Nimrod and Parthia, from New York, are lost at Holy head, crews saved. Arrived the Higginson, Banks, at Barba does ; Atlantic, Black, at Vera Cruz, sailed Nov. 27; the Sophia, Wright, at St. Andrews, New Brunswick ; the Derne r:eurat,f Courier,re Leghorn;Gev e n the a t Active Clrto . and A F r Arrived the c ßro e th u e 2b r ,s s t , Hh G od i gb h- son, Sicily, all traders, from St. Michal's ; the Lavinia, from Demerara, is lost near Troo n e , c rew saved. F ALU OUTH, JAN. 17.—Wind N. no more breezes and cloudy— Arrived the Venus, Poland, from Ancona in 6 4 days , with loss of on bohearts, beam m wa e r n k ds bulwarks, sails,twic twice, during .&c &c. very leaky,passaze ;spokehr having been thrown De cember, off Cape de Gort, the Flora of Poole, from Leghorn, and intended to put into Gibraltar, having met with damage; and i n lat. 45. long. 46. the ship Broom, of Greenock, for New York, and chip Frederick, Duke, eight days from Liverpool, for New York. Sailed the Flushing, Kemp, for Lisbon. PLYMOUTH, JAN. 17.—Wind E.N.E.—The outward bound vessels that put back yesterday sailed again to-day, together with the Ifaytian, Ifezlagin, for Port-au-Prince. MARGATE, JAN. 18.-Landed last night an anchor and cable, marked 7 cwt. on the shank, and with remark - ably large wood blocks to it. DOVER, JAN. N.N. W. and blowing.—Arrived His 3laje6ty's packets King George, from Wm.; ; Henry IV. and Fury, from Calais. GaayasaNn.—Arrived the Effort, Wood, from Teneriffe ; the John, Dale, from Honduras ; the Speculation, Hart, from Saint Michael, Mangrove Bay, and Demerara ; the Margaret, Hall, from ditto; the Lynx, Hiern ; the La Guayra, London packet, Mackie, from Antwerp. MARY's, Arnica, DEC. 14.—The Enterprise, Payne, arrived on the 2d instant, and the Gambia on the 3d, both from JeHev, and detained for smuggling. ASSAULT ON MR. O'CONNELL. The Magistrates in attendance were, Alderman Fleming and Sir Garrett Neville. After some preliminary matters were adjusted, Mr. O'Connell came forward, and, after being sworn, detailed the circumstances of the assault, as stated in our yesterday's paper. Mr. Sheehan said Mr. O'Connell had stated, iu a speech of his ! last 'Saturday, what was false and slanderous--aye, he would say f a lse, for be said he was a renegade. lie never was a renegade, nor his brother either, who owned the Evening Mail. They were both Protestants. Mr. O'Connell—Aye ; but although you are a Protestant, as you sa y, you are not to beat U 9 poor Papists.—(Laughter.)—l submit there ha* been an assault committed without legal provo cation. Mr. Sheehan—Aye, I did it with all my heart and soul, and I would do it again under the same circumstances. (Here Mr. O'Connell looked down very significantly at his as sailant, who is not of Brobdinagian stature, although he valorously made this threat.) Mr. Sheehan resumed, and entered into a drienCe. of Ilk act. Mr. O'Connell wished that Mr. Sheehan should be bound ge nerally to keep the peace, as well as to abide his trial. The Magistrates din not think themselves called upon to require general recognizances to keep the peace, and Mr. O'Connell at length having waved the point, his informations were taken, he being hound over to prosecute at the Sessions. —Dublin Morning Register. FOREIGN INTELLI GENCE. FRENCH PAPERS. (From the Etoile, dated Wednesday, Jan. 11.) LIES OF TUE DAY. " THE COURRIER FRANCAIS.—Th e Cabinet of Madrid has followed the counsels of that of the Tuilleries ; the latter has given to the Spanish Government the most formal assurance, that the smallest aggression made by the Anglo-Portuguese troops on the Spanish territory, would be considered as a violation of the treaties, and that France would declare war against England. The Cabi nets of the great Powers have adhered to this declaration. " THE COURRIER AGAIN.--M. de Villele experienced a check on Saturday, in the Chamber of Deputies 4 . " THE JOURNAL DES DERATS.--Mr. Lamb has demanded im mediate explanations respecting the march of the Spanish troops towards the frontiers of Portugal. It was believed that the Eng lish Ambassador would demand his passports. " THE JOURNAL DES DEBATS AGAIN. —The English Govern ment has been officially informed by Mr. Lamb, that the Court of France has acted the principal part in the invasion of Portugal. " THE CONSTITUTIONNEL.—Fifty thousand men are going to be assembled on the frontiers of Portugal. It is affirmed that the Government of the Apostolic party has just despatched three Ex traordinary Couriers, one to Mont Rouge, St. Petersburgh, and Rome. "TEE QUOTIDIENNE.—Mr. Lamb and the Charge d'Affaires of France have sent to King Ferdinand Gen. d'Arhaud Jonques, who is much esteemed by his Majesty. It is said that the Ge neral, in acquitting himself of his mission, chiefly insisted that the troops sent to the frontiers of Portugal should be ieduced to 4,000 men. "THE JOURNAL Ds CO3I3IERCR. —The reasons assigned for the abrupt departure of Prince Polignac from London, acquire greater probability. " France will then be reduced to exhaust its blood and its re sources to maintain in Spain the system of the Spanish Govern ment. THE JOURNAL TIE COMMERCE AGAIN.—" M. Lamb has in tercepted a correspondence which proved that M. de Polignac and M. de Moustiers obeyed the secret instructions. These docu ments having been transmitted to Mr. Canning, that Minister required an explanation from the French Ambassador, who, in stead of giving it, set off for Paris. It is in contemplation to give M. de Polignac either a great office at Court, or as extraordi nary embassy to Madrid." say—" Two English S a ' great number of trawl ,lanjulandding of the troops commen cedp s hips or ‘ o c n c h o o t ha f u v n ee t t h: a Is e trf already a e ty , h L isbon, several v a licore arrived. I a frig a T t htde: " The Portuguese Government has placed garrisons in Goora monte, Estremos, Portalepe, and Santo Combadzo. " General Azeredo was, on the 29th of December, at Ne/las, and had beaten the insurgents at the bridge of Alcafache, on the Duo (Duero ?). " The Count de Villa Flor was at Poldatrosa, pursuing the Marquess de Chaves, who was retreating on Celorico. The in surgents occupied Cea and Pinbacos." The Swiss brigade, which was at Madrid, was to set out on the 11th, to return to France. The Service for Louis XVI. and 11aria Antoinette will he ce lebrated at St. Denis on Saturday the 20th instant. (From the Quotidienne of Wednesday, Jan. 17.) ive ~ i reL h i rsa l iv o e N r , e c j e lz d s f . r_om T lsb l i e i Q on the f o llowing ueeni‘iot iier et is l s t t e r r i • ( .. ; guarded ( Gardee ci vue) by the English ; and th e R oya li s t s o f Li s b on , closely watched by the Constitutionalists, and t rea t e d w ith gre at rigour. The English have also a police ; and thi s , as y ou m ay believe, is insupportable to all parties. On the I s t o f J anua ry several persons were arrested. The distrust of th e ConstituCon alias and of the English is so much the greater, as they are certain that the major part of the troops of the garrison are only waiting for a favourable opportunity to declare in favour of the King Don Miguel. The discontent is general, and already several Liberals, out of hatred to the English, have joined the Royalists. " The only partisans that England retains here are in the mid dling class, among the ardent Liberals, whose number is very li mited ; and in the higher Nobility, among those who fear the Queen Mother. Among the latter are reckoned the Souza.. Be sides, there are among these Nobles, persons who affect to appear Constitutionalists only because they have larger estates in Brazil. There are few families in this situation. " Every body is concerned here that M. de Palmella exerts all his efforts at London to oppress his country ; but those members of his family who are here, are hastening to send to England their moat valuable effects, which proves that they do not expect a fa• vourable result of their projects. " The ladies of Lisbon are remarked for an implacable hatred to the English, especially since the severity sliewn towards the Queen Mother. In spite of the efforts of the police to conceal it, it is known that five English have already been attacked by assassins; two are dead, and three dangerously wounded. " In general it is not known at Lisbon where the Royal Army is ; but to judge by the measures of the Anglo-Portuguese police/ it cannot be very far from the capital. tt P ARIS , Jr.A 16.—We hasten to lay before our readers further details which have been sent us from Madrid respecting the extraordinary movement of troops which is taking place in Spain, and on the composition and force of the army which is as sembling iu the provinces adjacent to Portugal. " The regiments which have arrived on the frontier, or which were on the march on the 6th of January to proceed thither, are the sth of light infantry, which left Madrid on the sth ; the Ist of the line (which odri go ), t h e Ist reg i ment of cavalry of t i ns a nd t'he 3d of infantry l anh i a n ds e a4 ( r w trhi h v i led c ig h ha h tt a in s in n Ciu da a t r rd c y h h ed from Benevente), the 2d ditto (which marched from Logrogno.) .6 The lancers of the guard were to leave Madrid from the stb to the 7th of Jan., to proceed to Talaveira de la Reim. The chasseurs, on horseback, of the Guard, have already arrived in Extremadura, coming lancers, c so o t d h at regiment his brigade g of a de i nfan will t r b y e o c f o n t t h p e l e te Tii . The n from Medina-del-Campo. General Sextir who commands thi s b r i ga d e o f l i g h t cava l ry , was to set out w i t b the Guard stationed at Ballecas has taken the road to Talaveira tle la Reins, except one battalion, which is going to Andalusia, probably to the camp o f St. Roch. " The Brigade of provincial Grenadiers of the Guard is c ony mended by Major General Rodil, and that of the infantry o f the Guard by General O'Neill. " A battery of light Artillery of the Guard had received °E dell on the 4th to set out for Talaveira. Two companies of Field At' tillery set out from Seville on the 24th December, for Badajos.-"" Several carriages with ammunitiou and muskets were sent ft-0 the same city to the same destination. " In all parts of the Peninsula troops have been set in motion/ and are approaching the frontiers. The active army will for!' a total of 33,000 infantry, and 3,000 cavalry, besides the ree site artillery. " The General who is to command in chief is not yet appointe d, but it is nearly certain that his Majesty's choice will fall up o9 General Sarsfield or General Espana. o It is affirmed that the General of Engineers, Don Gaspor t !' Goicotchea, will have the post of Chief of the General Staff. The troops which are assembling at Talaveira de Is Reins will form, it is said, a corps of reserve, the command of which The in Municipalityortiet tn facilitate of the speedy departure will be given to the Infant D on C ar l os. I t i s certain that M. dr Zambrano has had several con f erences w i t h t h at Prince. , Madridha has furnished o f the op ae n t i o der : b sum{or the frontiers. The regiments which have marched from Nt iv ' drid, and th ose w hi c h have passed through it--for instance, tb s' sth of light infantry—have received their pay and their expenc e. on the road. " Letters from Valladolid, received at Madrid on 'the sth .10 4 , announce that General Longs had just arrived there. Ile 04% that the affairs of the Portuguese Royalists were in the be' possible state, and that, before long, a result very favotrable their cause Would he seen. "M. D'Ofalia, having received an autograph note from King, has determined to accept the Embassy to London, in WI room of M. Alcudia. _ _ (From the Etoile, of Thursday, Jan. ls.) PARIS. JAN. 17.--7 Yesterday, before Mass, hie Excellea,4 Viscount Granville, Ambass•tdor Extraordinary from his Maier', the King of Great Britain , presented to the King, in a prifil: audience, the letter of his Sovereign, announcing the death of I ) ; Royal Highness Frederick Duke of York, brother of his Britanti l • Majesty. The French Academy, in his sitting yesterday, decided a respectful petition should be presented to the Ki ng , accordi°4 to the proposal made in a previous sitting, by M. Lacretelle. This proposal was carried by a majority of eighteen. (From the Courrier Francais, Jan. 17.) " PARIS, JAN. 16.--The Funds have continued to fall to-d4' it was said that the news from Spain was of an unfavourable Pt tare. What most struck the speculators was, the refusal said have bean made by the English Legation to be present at th e diplomatic dinner given yesterday by M. de Damas. " In general a great discouragement is observed, which r ear„. • from the uncertain course that our Cabinet follows, and the r e " i that it is excited by the intrigues of our Apostolic party—intrig ° . , which cannot fail to drag France into a war, from which to ll ' merce has every thing to fear." 4. • A strange dheck for a Minister of Finance t o be expos ea" receive more money than he asked.—Note of the Etoile.