The Sun. — London, England, 1817-12-16 00:00:00

THE CATHOLIC CLAIMS. FOR THE. SUN. [LETTER 117.] EDITOR,—It is no easy matter to follow the Ausnerer of Mr. PEEL through the maze of extraneous rubbish with which be has blocked up the avenues to truth and sober investigation. lie enumerates all the disativi;ntages under which Irciaml has laboured for the last century, and tlim very ingeniously attributes them in toto to the [lxtow, and because the Irish Secretary con., cedes to his Padiautentary Opponent that Ireland turfy hire been oiisraded 5 but denies the efficacy of the Roman Catholic Par ACZA ; this Gentleman exclaims, in a torte of high indignatioo, " It is too much to hear it stated upon authority, that " the question now to be discussed is this (quot " inr, Mr. PEEL'S words), circumstanced as fre t' land now is, by what course of policy shall we ‘e best promote the interests of the Empire at large,"--1 would ask this Gentleman, if lie were accessible, why it is too much to have it scat eel upon.authoritg, that the first axiom of sound le : &Entire policy should be adopted is Ole considera tiod of this RS well as every other great national einetioni—Does the ingenious Writer mean to infer that any Legislature cast exercise a right to . make Laws„ or to repeal Laws irrespectively of their influence ypon the whole body of the State ? It is really curious to observe, amidst all the af- fectatiott of popular terms, how the narrow and partial views of an EXCLUSIVE CREED, betray them selves in this their most unnatural association with professions of liberal policy. Everything is to bend beflae the interests of THE CtiURCH CATHOLIC---• the COnstitttion, the General Interests of the Commuuity, are dust in the scale against it.— The Answerer, indeed, tells us, that he could prove `the . measure proposed by the Catholic Relievers to be of " imperial concern ;" but this he does not cio ;—be, however, insists, without any such Con sideration, " that Ireland, for her own sake, singly a.od separately, ought to engage the at " tension and mercy of Government," which, in plaits English, is as mach as to say, Ireland is in . a situation that ,requires every aid and assistance from England, because (I quote his expressions) hermisery is manifest " is the Bankroptcy'of her " Exchequer, the decay of her Commerce, the de " solation and beggary of her Capital, and the 4 . Prostration of the 'middle classes of society, under the lash of Taxes ;" and this aid and as- tistance are not to be given in such manner as „c r sigtent with the Interests of the Empire 4 but in the form (specifically prescribed by this Gentleman and his friends) of acquiescence in the Claims of the Roman Catholics !—We might, upon the same principle, chip a plaister upon a man's leg to en able hint to pay his tailor's bill; shall we give ,hint a stone who asked* for bread ?—Stich notions are altogether too absurd to arrest our attention, if they did not occur in a thousand shaPes, and under various modifications, in all the principal arguments biought forward by those who call themselves the Advocates of Catho lic Entancipation ; and that obviously and pur posely to stare off public obseriation from the RUM. NArune of the object in view. The Great Irish Landholder lives in England ; his Agent lets to a Middle Man ; he underlets to Sub-Tenants, and they parcel out the property in single acres, perhaps to - the OCCUPIER, the sweat of whose brow supplies a retrograde chain of op pressors with the means of luxury and indepen dence, whilst ne is.left, as one of the clods. of the earth to be turned up with his 'common mother, for the next year's produce !—Here Common Sense points directly at the root of the evil.— Ask a thorough-bred Emancipator for a remedy to this crying oppression; and he will coolly an swer, concession to the Catholic Claims!—Arc there ..ten. heads broken at the fair of Ballynamore, more than Ole average of the last seven years, Catholic Grievances present us with the cause, and Catho lic Emancipation with the cure, and so on of any grievance that want of patriotism, and inter nal bad policy, induce upon the people of Ireland. But we must not lose sight of our Pamphleteer, who favours us with a simile, by way of illus trating the political Panacea he would thus prescribe. "If a ship's crew (he says) were to " observe a sailor drowning, the honest souls " would think of saving hint for his own sake, " and for the sake of humanity ; not on a:eaten " Winn of the relief he might give them in navi- " gating the vesscl."—Thii is vastly pretty, though perhaps not sufficiently lofty for the occa sion, when we consider who is represented under the type of the drenched sailor. But as political truth is often elicited more readily from what is implied, than from what is diectliasserted, we will amuse ourselves by reducing said simile to plain mutter of . fact, and thereby ascertain to what view of the case it really and substantially applies. Xlie are to presume that the ingenious writer intends the ship to represent the State— and the poor SAlor, alas! the Irish Catholics! So: tar,. so - good. That " the honest sofas" on board, that.is die Good People of England, .would endea vour . to save the drowning sailor for his . own sake, ata for the sake of humanity, we:will not for a moment dispute ;—saving to ourselves the right, however, of devising the best possible means of so duitig ; among which, by the way, it would scarcely occur to us ou this side of the Vessel, at least to , throw out to him a loaf of bread, merely because it is the staf of life, though We might 'cast hint a rope -- (sOnietiines, indeed, the finisher ,of it) as the most effectual means of present salvation. But to pnrsine our illustration of this ingenious figure of-speech. Does this - Gen- Hennas) menu us to infer, that the crew would risk the safety of the Vessel to effect this object of hu manity —or that " the honest Souls" playful reflecti(lll upon John provvrhially easy na ture). would Ist...justified in putting the Vessel about, if a shoal or sand-bank threatened them with des sisoetion by so doing ! I doubt very much wine titer-this ingenious advocate on the side of mercy, would not find as strong an argument, even front the sources of humanity, were he one of the " hottest souls" on board, for keeping the VeSsel on her coarse! - But here, like the Proteins of-Alot; dem Reform, our Author has assumed a newshape, and whilst be asserts a claim, .and insists upon a right from the Government, he appeals for a boon to the 'mercy of the people. The Pilot, from his kno - wledge and experience, may be sturdy in his determination to avoid the daugers by which the Vessel is snrryunded ;-s—an application, therefore, to the humanity of the "- good souls," who know nothing about the matter, is more likely to an swer the purpose of theMvocates•of the drowning sailor! But it will be well for those of tine crew (to continue our Author's happy mode of illustration) wino listen to this man in the water, to ascertain how he came there ; and though they be denied by our Pamphleteer the right "'of calculating rise relief. he might give them in navigating the " Vessel," they may, perhaps, be permitted to calculate the danger his admisSion would incur, and for their . own sakes to ask, whether he fell overboard by accident, or was sent adrift for mal practices-1 The result of their iniquity will not in either wholly exclude the influence of humanity upon their decision,' but it may certainly operate to quality the mode in which relief shall be af forded. For. Example, if it be found that this same figure of straw in a jacket and trowsers had been a mutineer, had disputed the authority (!)? his • Captain, had contemned his regulations, obtruded upon his discipline, and even entered into corre- -spondenee with the Enemy to deliver up the Vessel to FoitEIGN CoNimANDERS—Might not the honest souls" hesitate as to the propriety of giving him the puwer to repeat his Offence! They might allow him a boat to follow in tie ship's wake, but they mnst be something more. or something less than " kinest souls,'' if they restored hint to his birth on boat d ! . But a further - consideration of the case might be necessary on the part of the crew to assure themselves that, the man was • actually drowning, and that he was therefore really an object of hu manity. The Gentleman who has made the has nhu contlcaccmicd to make the case ; we have, therefore, a right to suppose one which might be equally illustrative o' the subject. Should then the " good souls," when they come to look this case of humanity in the face, discover it to be a very old acquaintance, they might he induced to re consider ail that they had already done for him. They might refer to their log, or their purser's ledger, and they might there find, that this same well known and experienced Drowner hail many years ago first attracted their attention by ,calling out in a %cry retrial kable dialect, " I will be drowned, I " will be drowned—and nobody shall save the,"-- that they had saved hitt) against his own declara tion,—but that after he bad been saved and che rished and protected, he, continued the same cry, and would not be appeased till they had repur chased for him many things which he had forfeited before his plunge;--that in a short time afterwards his voice was again heard, 'far above water, still crying murder however, and claiming rights and privileges, which after some hesitation were yield ed to his importunities —that again, without any further affectation of drowning, he demanded that he might send on board those who should take charge of the property he had left s behind him, and other chattels, of which, iu point of fact, he had by law been deprived.' Still for " his sake, " and for the sake of humanity," that the boon had been granted, and that in this as in each pro gressive prayer, cry, petition, or clamour, as it was advanced, a solemn declaration was made by the Appellant, that after all this concession nothing further should be demanded ! If to the,stock of ex perience thus accumulated _they should find that concession was but the parent of concession, and that nothing short of delivering.up the vessel into his hands would ultimately satisfy him, it. is but reason able,to suppose, that here the " good souls" would resolve to make their stand ! We. will suppose that upon reference they found that this resolution had been taken. What Oleo would be their sur prise on being called upon by a well-dressed Gen tleman, ivit - the form and semblance of an Author and Advocate, beseeching them to come forth and save a drowning wretch who was a real object of humanity; what, I say, would be their surprise to find their old !fiend stripped to the skin, and plunging about in the water-just as he was in the first instance,. uttering. the same well-known cries, and supplicating for mercy as if he 'were on the point of sinking ! Surely the first irnpres sion.upon the minds of " the good souls," would be, that the man was an impostor, and something more than aid and assistance was required by their importunate petitioner. But if their hesitation, were to be imputed to them as wanton barbarity, if this amphibious appellant were to vilify and _subsequently to threaten them in case' of non compliance with his demanols, if making their former bounty a ground of reproach, and spurning and rejecting all further proffered aid, unless he were immediately taken on board, re-instated in authority, admitted to power, and put in full pos session of all the means whereby ire had , for- tnerly enslaVed the crew, and proposed to make; them over to a foreign Counander, would THE SUN. lOLEM QUIS DICERE FALSUM AUDEAT ? LONDON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1817, Montreal Papers to the 10th of November arrived this tnorning-; and New York, but not of a later date than those of yesterday . (From the Neil:York Commercial Advertiser of Nov. 18.) NEW ORLEANS, Om 30.—The sickness still continues so violent that the Planters have not yet ventured into the City. In consequence of this circumstance, there is very little cotton or tobacco sent to market ; the latter, article is selling at 8 dollars per cwt. and very-scarce. A Letter from New York, dated Nov. 21st, states 'tba: at St. Bartholomews, on 0ct.23, there was no sale for flour ; sugar was at 8 dollars ; and at Barbadoes flour was 10 dollars. About the 18th ult. American produce was ge nerajly in demand in all the ports of Jamaica, and the produce of the Island scarce and high. At St. Jago de Cuba, on the 20th ult. the mar kets were dull for American produce, and the Island produce very scarce and high. The Papers received from Montreal state, that there had been a great fall of snow for several weeks, which had the appearance of a severe win ter, though the frost had been but very little in comparison to the former ; it has done great ci 'nage amongst the potatoes, oats, &c. &c. FROM BERMUDA.—Captain WAYNE, o.f schooner Enterprise, who arrived on the 6th in it ' at Savannah, in 10 days, from Bermuda, stai d ' that American produce of all kinds was very 1O Floor was at 30 dollars, and no sale at that t'r'ice' Sugars, payable in Barter, at 12 dollars, as i Molasses at 50 cents. The Paris Papers of Saturday last, which %Ol t due.this morning, have not come to hand. It is confidently reported that a Negociation likely to be carried into effect between Spain an' her revolted colonies, and that the former is rea& to make such concessions as may be reasonalA required by the Insurgents, and which- the por gress of time, and the diffusion of political knott ledge,. may render 'necessary. Spain, we kno 4 ' was willing to make such concessions i n the year 1812, - on the suggestion, of the MarquP WELLESLEY. As a proof of this favourable dis' position on the part of the Spanish Governments British Commissioners were actually appointed 1 1 the time, and were on the eve of, departing frog; this Country, in order, if possible, to accomplist the desirable object of a restoration of liar' mony between the Parties. So far Spain entitled to commendation and respect for the amicable arrangements which she was really die'' posed cordially to entertain. But some revolt!" tionary Agents from France and other Countrieli the refuse and outcasts of Europe, contrived to get into the Colonies, and to dispose them to resist all amicable overtures, and to raise the stand' and of revolt. These revolutionary Agents have , unhappily, succeeded too well in their iniquitous designs, and have heaped fuel on the fire of dis sention. There can, however, be little doubt that the chief part of the Colonists,whatever may besaid to the contrary, are anxious for a restoration of harmony-with the Parent' State, and caltnlq disposed to wait for INDEPENDENCE in the gradual progress of time, if the future conduct of Sp - aio should induce them hereafter to wish finally to throw off all allegiance. For our part, as roe have waited' the course of events, and not suffered ourselves to be misled by the vaunting acounts of revolutionary successes on the one hand, or to wish that Spain should exercise a harsh system of Colonial -Government on the other, We lincereli hope that the Colonists may be rescued from the incitements of evil spirits, wino seek nothing but. their own advantage, and would embroil the whole world if they could raise . thetuselvto into the possession of wealth avid sothority are persuaded that nothing will be wanting on CV part'of the British Gove rnmen t to g i ve an effective Support to so desir a bl e an d so i mportant a meg ' sure, and we heartily h o p e , th at b y t h e i r me di a ' tion and assista nce th e o bj ect i n v i ew may De happily accomplished. EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THE AGENT TO LLOYD'S AT POOLE, DATED 15TH DEC. HAL/ PAST THREE, P. M. " Within this hour we have been visited by I most tremendous storm of wind, rain, hail, Ulna. der and lightning—the latter awful in the extreme• It is now breaking a little away to the West• . ward." The Letter of LANFRANC, in our Paper of.tbil day, speaks so emphatically, by its inherent me rits, in its own favour, that 'it would; be pre sumptuous officiousness in us to recommend it to the particular attention of our Readers. A bar pier mixture of sound reasoning and unaffecte4 humour, fully consistent with the dignity and importaiice of the subject, has rarely been seen, and we are sure that the whole PROTESTANT COMMUNITY will rejoice with us, that so able CHAMPION of our happy Establishment in Chur ci and State has entered the lists against POPERY, anti we feel no small degree of pride that be WO chosen THE SUN as the medium through which he endeavours to enlighten the Empire to a due know ledge of the blessings which it enjoys, and a doe sense of the danger which woulq attend any con cession Of POLITICAL POWER to those who possess the fullest latitude of RELIGIOUS TOLERATION. The valuable article which appeared in ou t Paper of the Bth, ON MODERN INNOVATIONS it THE PRACTICE OF THE LAW, was copied yesterday into The Leeds Intelligencer ; a Paper which we have often bad occasion to praise for the loyalty of its principles, and the ability with which it supports the best interests of the Country. We hope, for the honour of the legal profession, that the article alluded to will be taken into the Pro vincial Journals in general, as it is of the utmost importance to our Country that that profession should be cleared from the contamination of fraud, the errors' of ignorance, and the ititrusions of Empireeism. The Secretary of State for the Home Depart , ueut gave an elegant entertainment tin Saturday ;.ist, at his villa at Richmond. not " the 'good. souls," think you, be ins . tified in turning with contempt front the plausible adiocate, and shutting their hearts and their ports against his ungrateful and insatiable client in the water ! Let us, however, go a step farther, and suppose that a partial schism among the Crew had tended to create' a party in favour of this man, and .that the false plea cif ; huma nity had prevailed with many to blind them selves to these consequences, that a strong desire had been expressed to take hint on board, but that even these rash partisans admitted that so dan gerous a mess-mate should give some pledge of future quiet and peaceable conduct. Suppose fur ther,- that the Rogue himself, laughing in his sleeve at the presumptuous folly of his advocates, should on a sudden assume a new tone, and pro fess his willingness to give the security required, and absolutely propose to place in the hands of the Commander A DEPostr,of no real intrinsic value per haps; but still one'with which many of the " good souls" had agreed to be satisfied ; suppose them in the act of lowering the accommodation ladder . for his reception on board, when this promised DEPOSIT should be snatched front their hands with a declaration that it was already in pawn, would the " honest souls" be .so very simple, as to believe that any credit could in future be given to his professions, or that he really meant to deal fairly . by them. But if even after this, fresh proposi tions, fresh..securities, were : to: be brought for ward, and that some of rhecrew were still mad enough to second his protestations and vouch for; his character, he were to come alongside and man fully declare that his opinions were unchanged, that his principles were founded on a rock unchangeable and immoveable, that he gloried in his former ex 'ct'sses, and that his allegiance was still due to foreign Commander, "WHOSE law was as the word of Gob TO 11151, does' our simile-factor really be lieve, or in his heart think it possible that the most honest (by which . he, no doubt facetiously means most silly) s ou l s among the sober and ho nest part of the crew, could he satisfied to receive this drowning sailor on board on . arty terms, invest him with power, and plant the ladder for his old ambition to attain the summit from which the exertions of the whole crew had previously been- necessary to hurl him. Why, Sir, the spirit of folly and fatuicy must first have pervaded 'every breast on board, and then indeed this happy simile might receive the stamp of literal authority, and. the commonwealth ol'England be identified with " ' Inc SHIP OF FOOLS:' This simile has, 1 find, occupied more space than I had anticipated.; and I tremble under the impending lash of our Respondent's Champion in The British Press, who has already fallen so no mercifully upon the length of my communica tions. Perhaps he speaks figuratively, and trolly means that they only go a little too far for his' and his client s ' v i ews : b e t h at as it may, I can not conclude without adverting in - two words to the very curious but characteristic manner in which our Pamphleteer infers the oppression of IRELAND, in consequence of the Union, tioni the circumstance of ENGLAND haviug taken upon her self the whole Earthen of the Irish .Debt ! .1 am, Sir, your's, LANFRANC. ONLY ONE DAY TO DRAW—NEXT SATURDAY.— FOUR PRIZES OF TWENTY THOUSAND POUNDS, &c. IN THE WHEEL. TO CORRESPONDENTS. ANDREA Connor, and AN OLD BARRISTER, Letter.the Second, To morrow; and AN ATTORNEY, tl4e following day. THEATRICAL REGISTER. Performed Last Night. THEATRE ROYAL, DR URT- LlNE.—King Richard the Third : Duke of Gloucester, Mr. Kean.; Lady Anne, Miss Boyce. After which, The Man in the Moon. THEATRE ROYAL, CGIVENT-GARDEN.—Borneo and Juliet : Ro meo, Mr. Macready ; Juliet, • Miss O'Neill. After which, Husbands and Wives. To which was added, Mora's Love. MAILS. ARRIVEDI Lisbon, 1 Dublin. DUE-1 France, 1 Lisbon, I Hawburgb, 2 Guernsey and Jersey, 1 Dublin, 4 Water ford. PRICE 01 THIS DAY AT T STOCKS ELVF. &CLOCK. Bank Stock ..294 Indiaßonds....loos. 102 s. pr. 3 per Cent. Red...........83i Exch. Bills llits 23s pr. 4 per Cents. . ' ...... ....9n-ii Cons. for Account* 34L4 Bank L. Ann.... 21 1-IGth g HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE TO•NIORROW. Morning, 25 minutes after 9. Evening, 50 minutes after 9.