The Sun. — London, England, 1817-12-29 00:00:00

I'HE CATHOLIC 'CLAIMS. FOR THE SUN. [LETTER V.] Alr.4l.DFrolt, -,-- 1 1 was myintelition filled' the pled. , 4e by whieb . l felt myself bound to -expOse'tlie - fdls'e statements and 'inconclusive rea- Vorriogs cootained ifl t h e professed it 11$ Wer to Mr. PEEL'S late speech upon the Claims of the Roman C;lLholics ; but alth6ugh I am reatly"to that there are some points which stmt require to be noticed itt the Nit-1 1 )11kt, lesssfrotn tire strength of the writer's arguments, than the itibtilty of collocation by %ehleh they are attempted to be posed upon the Public, %re have now sprung game of -so much higher a cast, that it woul►i; in the Sportsman's phrase, shot" to pursue this inferior sport.-, " be wasting powder and " THE AD- f ( -DRESS AND APPEAL OF THE ROMAN CATHOLICS " OF IRELAND TO THEIR PROTFSTANT BRETHREN " OF TO UNITED EIN'GDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN " AND IRELAND," is a public document, which I have no hesitation in affirming to be The - most important, and the most iuteretiting, that has oc cctrc4 in the political History of this Country since the, period of thy Revolution in 10S8. It is au official and .tangible declaration of die rin eiples and views entertained by tl►e Roman Ca tholics of the Empire; equally remarkable for the bold and unconstitutional assumption of Chims, .as it is for the prudent and guarded omission of all which might be supposed to tate against them. It is a Masterpiece cY Monkish Casuistry, and if it do not actually pro, seed front, is truly worthy and illustrative of, the style, character, and talents of the now re-edified College of Jesuits. We have, I repeat here, some thing tangible; we have the grounds upon which the supposid Claims of the Roman Catholics are raised, and the object (which partial disclaimers have no power to obscure) of their ultimate ex pectation and hopes. We have the solemnly re corded opinion of tire Papists of the British Em pire upon the Constitution, as it was established at the Revolution, and of its administration up to the present day. But we have in addition to these New Lights officially brought to bear upon this most important question, the extraordinary eccessiou of evidence to substantiate the fact, be yond the possibility of any fiotire dispute, of the Immutability of PopiSh Principles and Doctrines, by a direct and regular avowal and defence of those prtacipies ntra duet, every di,gc amd period of English History. - I -I) a v e sofficiently ex- plitined myself as to the channel through which these lights are conveyed to us, by a reference to 'the School in which I consider the document be 'fore us to have ot:ginated. I t will be my duty to 'tear aside the Veil which is intended to obscure from the view of the British Public the real end and object of the Appeal, and I shall but ill ful fil that duty if I do not expose in its true colours, 'the most systematic and traitorous attempt to under . mine the Constitution of these Realms, and to be guile the People into becoming accessories to their • owe undoing, that the tehole record of their His tory can produce. Fur this purpose, Sir, I must trespass upon you and your readers for a much larger and longer share of attention than I had anticipated in my endeavours to expose the shal low artifices of a single Pamphleteer. I could not - so soon have expected the impolitic dis closure of the latent designs of the Roman *Ca- Alone Body, which nothing, be assured, but the confidence of success could have thus prematurely disclosed. They have found Ad vocates and Supporters among men whose political characters have hitherto been un impeached; they have ranked among their friends, .Statesmen, who. have identified them selves with their Cause, for the purpose of Party and Faction ; and others who, in the spirit of real liberality, have espotised their interests in the face of history and experience, because they considered them as deprived of Rights—the exercise of which could bear with it, no danger or hazard of the Public Weal. Nothing appeared Wanting,- but a Manifesto to.the Country at large, where a plau sible appeal 'to iastice and humanity might be made to a People proverbially open to thearts of flat tery, and prone to give credit to general profes sions. As so many of the higher orders of the community had, from a variety of motives, been • lawn into concession, it was inferred that the Mass of The Public might be still more easily duped into following their example, by the affec tation of popular appeal !—They appear, how ever, in the hurry and impetuosity of their zeal, to have forgotten, that fortunately for the Interests of this Country, there is a vast body OF W3BII AND REFLECTING MEN, more especially among the Middle Classes of Society, who blend neither with . the intrigues of faction among the higher—nor with the ignorant clamours of the lower orders ; men who reflect—and compare, and combine ob 03, and abide by their own conviclitsn - oit ;neat Questions .01 moral and political t't utli They Aid:nt l it, 1 'their itattc and eagerness to seizelke prey which appeared ready liar their calcolate the effect which 4 public avowal of principles, however obscured or adorned for The purposes of deception, %void& have upon-this description of persons, and in 'thy views of the -subject, which I conscientiously believe, as a man of honour, to be induced by no single piejudiee beyond that which n►ay he so stigmatized in the pure love )(lid veneration I entertain for the Laws and Constirtoion of thy "Country-, there is not a dispassionate or conscientious man in the Unfired Kingdom, who can read this ADDRESS AND PEAL from `ruts ItotVIAN CATHOLICS, without the conviction irresistibly fastening itself on ,his mind, that it is nothing short of a Declaration of War against the PROTESTANT ASCENDANCY, and the de nzand of Succour to realize their hopes of success in the prosecution of it ! I shall now, then, Sir, proceed to analyie this extraordinary production for the benefit of those who are too apt to skim.the surface of thingsyand to commit themselves to opinions which they will not take the trouble to form for themselves. There is - something so soothing to the indolent vanity of mankind,. in being persuLded that the adoptiOn of a certain system of notions will rank them among the liberal acd enlightened portion of the community, that rather than be at the pains of ascertaining the truth, they become the 13t- GOTS of a clamour % and the victims of a name.— A .few cant terms and phrases are substitute(' for principles, and the tools of a Faction are self• directed into a Body of Illumines !—With sncli men it may be supposed, that it is_ in vain to reason—but as the enemies of the Consti. tutibn• estimate the justice of thtiir opinions by the numbers which may be induced to support them, it would be very impolitic iu those who are devoted to it, to lose any opportunity of throw tug truth in the way of men, who, though they never take the pains to seek it, may chance to be attracted by it, when it stares them in the face I premised.that I might be tedious, and you will further infer this, when I stave it to be my inten tion to notice every particular clause of the Ap peal, where.auv'siguity is found to even to the turn of an expression, for where Mental Re siztwation makes an essential part of an Opponent's el( -d, a particle may have its object, and even punctuation be - employedto mislead. To, begin, tkervi4ire, with, tho E,tordiam, the Appeal - opens with two assertions, • one of which 'has been an hundred iimes confuted, and the other rendered equivocal by the very mode•of its being introduced, namely :---That this "Address " and Appeal against an unjust and unwise Code of " Laws" is made " on behalf of Six Mtt.t.toNs of " LOYAL subjects." The Loyalty (in its - strict or accepted sense) of , men who stigmatize the Laws of their Country as " unjust and unwise," and are in the act of labouring to overturn them, must, to say the least of it, be problematical ; but that there are Six Millions of these Loyal 'Roman Catholies in Ireland, by which it is intended to render the Cause formidable by the number of its adherents, and which, in the general Language of these Persons, and their advocates, appears to authorize the assumption that the Roman Catho lics are THE PEOPLE OF IRELAND, is utterly un true and unfounded, upon any Census or Calcu tion of the Population of that Country. This may appear a trifling objection, but if any man will take the trouble to observe the artful pur poses to which it has been, and may be rendered subservient, he will at once perceive, that .it has not been carelessly or accidentally introduced in the Outset of the Appeal. The best authority we possess to guide us in the estimate of the Irish population (Cleticus Dromorensis) states the whole to be about fire millions and a- half,- and -the auto her of Protestants are at least two millions, which in point of 'timbers will 'educe. the Roman Ca tholics to little more than one-half their asserted superiority. " I am, therefore (this writer adds), borne out by facts, in saying, that taking together Numbers, Property, and Station, the great causes of influence and ascendancy, the Protestants of Ireland are at least equal to the Roman Catholics, who Have been emphatically styled " The Pao ' PLE of Ireland." Bot do the Roman Catholic Advocates suppose that, were we even inclined to pass over this solemnly reiterated, Untruth, the statements would operate to any effectual advan— tage on their Claims ? If their numbers enter in to anypart of the calculation, it cannot be relatively to the Population of Ireland alone, but to that of the whole Empire ; if they assume a right found ed-upon the relatiVe proportion of 'timbers in Ireland, they negative the right, whet, it is brought to bear upon the . United. Kingdom, of which , they do not form a sixth part. They can not have Ihe•advantage in both cases, and it 'will be recollected that this " Appeal" 'is made to the People of 'THE WHOLE Empire. So much for the simplicity and candour of the O t ii:iimg Appeal to t'ite 'Protest:tot brethren of e United hiogdont, the pot'pose of which is stated to he to iniog Protestant - professions of at tachment to the Cctuse . trf Cibil and Religious Liberty to the Test. Now, Sir, I do . Verily believe, that so insidious an attempt to pervert ttrms and to render them favourable to principles ) which, in . their original application they were expressly advted,to contemn and reprobate, is without pa rallel, unless in the Manila Secreta,, inscribed on the 'ocnerable pillars of the School of Loyola !—What, let me ask, is the sense conveyed to the mind . of an Englishman by the term Mil and Religious, Liberty ? Is it not the direct rejection of arbitrary Principles and the Popish Creed! Whence did it arise, and how was it first introduced ? As the WAR CRY of Englishmen against foreign influence and Papal usurpation, as the SHOUT OE VICTORY, when JAMES was driven from the Throne, for attempting to re-establish there in'these Realms; as the CONY,TIT TUTIONAL RALLY oftheWinGs when they completed the work of the REFORMATION at the REvoLy- TION, by seeuriag the Civil and Religious Rights of the People against POPERY as well as against Tile Yore ! Well may these appellants " offer their sincere as " surances of grateful recollection to those Mem " bets of the (present) Honourable Houses Of " Parliament who have, by their votes Qf advocacy, " (Whig votes, be it recol!ected) contributed to " the advancement of LIBERALITY." Such Li berality is cheaply purchased at the expense of a little flattery on one side, and self-complacency on the other ; but shall Englishmen barter away their Birth-right, because some men arc bold enough to assert, and others silly enough.to be lieve, that black is white ? Shall men redeemed from bondage, and restored to the full and perfect enjoyment of Liberty, resume their Chains, or at'teast. replace them in the hands of their lonizer Task-Masters, because these Task Masters assure them, that they are 'opt, nor erer were, Bodges of Slavery, but Emblems of Good-will and Christian Charity? 14 is preposterously insulting to the understandings of Mankind, to ground the expec tation of success upon such a plea. I know no term in the English Language sufficiently expres sive of abhorrence and contempt of so insidious an endeavour to confound right and wrong—or of indignation at the insolence of the attempt •to ground upon it a Claim on the part of the Appel- ants. indeed, Sir, it is difficult to subdue those feelings which this most daring and extraor dinary Mamifesto excites in the breasts of Con s titinional Englishmen, or to lower them to .the tone of sober discussion. That there should be found men who even profess ,an attachment to the Principles of the Revolution, or who partahe, in common with foreivers, of that admiration, which has constantly accompanied the Cor-sti lotion, since its perfect establishment at that Great Epoch, capable of espOnsing and advocating the cause of the Roman Catholics, after the peru sal of this their laboured and official Appeal, ap- . pears to Me impossible. Already has it produced its influence—already do men, within the range of my own observation, begin to draw back from the Precipice towards which 'they had incautious ly been led ; Quell] Deus vult pe - rdere, pries dementat. It appears almost like the interferrnee . of Provi dence to rescue an ungrateful people from im pending destruction; the ebullitions olhope seem to have clouded the perception of the Appellants, and, like BALAAM, they have blessed where they meant to curse. They hare opened the eyes of the People, and it will be the crime and scandal of Constitutional Englishmen, if they suffer them again to be closed upon the fate anticipated in the successful issue of the RoinavCathelic•Claims. shall shortly resume" the subject. I am, Sit, your's, LANFRANC. CORN-EXCHANGE, 'DEC. 29.—Our Market was well supplied with all kinds of Grain this.morning. Fine Wheat sold on the same terms as this day week ; but there was no demand for infJrior ; - having a goOd supply of Barley, it may be noted from Is. to 2s-. per quarter lower ; Grey Pease and 'Pick Beaus have each declined 2s. per quarter ; the Oat Trade is rather dull, and from Is. to 1 - 4 s. per gnarter low in other Articles no altera Foreign Wheat - 41 s. 51s. I - • - 9Si, 1084. cr than this day week 6011. English Wheat - 525. Fide ditto - - -84 s. 90s. Old ditto - -113 i: Rye . 325. Fine ditto - - -40 s. —s. Barley - - SOs. 375. Fine alto • - - 445. —s New ditto - - -55 c. —S. Malt Filo. ditto - - - SO5. 83s. Whitel'eOse (boilers) Ali. 58s. Fine ditto - -60 s. —s. iotel, Elitiburgh—The :SS u lIUNTLY, and the s of TwEEDDALE. Grey Pease - - - 323. 40s. rnic ;try Pease - 445. —s. Tick I.kcaus - - -80 s. 40, Old ditto - - 445. —s. Small Beans 80:. 40S. Old ditto - - -44 g. fpls. Feed 4 tans-- - 123. 20s. Fine ditto - 245. 4; s. Poland ditto - .• 17% , . 193. Fine ditto - - 304. 393. Pntatoe ditto - :Ws. 41s. Rape Seed 481. SGI. per hit. Fine Flour - - - 7`)s. 803. Seconds - - Ms. 755. Arrived at (),mall's [ Marquis and Ala? cbione Alatquis awl 11.1arcLiorif;s' _...~ ~.._ _. ~t 'l'o (11MI Itj:,SVON DENT::, As ()Ll*, BA ittislr.a to the lloNourt Socr;n - f.f INN', and Pno-,.-IN'ci.u..JoultNALl, tITE :1 It 1 C rt. l'elforntell 'Oa Sat iercht THEATRE Doty Orfienul<o, :%Tr• Wallack ; Mrs. Rubinson. A-wer winch, quip's lloyAi., Coy Enr-GA ti Mt.unoring ; Ina"' Bcrt rain, Mr. ; Lucy Bertram, After which, harlequin MAILS. A Rrttvrn-1 France, 1 Flanders, 1 Cnt•rnsey and JerseF'• 62 Dublin, '2 Wat erford. I 2 Gottetiburgb. PRICE O. STOCKS THIS DAY AT I'' 'WELVE ii.el.t•CK. 3 per Cent.Rtd.:.... 8t SBl India 80nd5..... I , ! *. 4 per Cents 98“ Exch. Bilk 7tus. Bank L. Ann.....M) - Cons. fn' Account... 91; HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE TO-NIORROW. Mum*, 22 - minutes after 6. 1 Evening, 47 minutes after 6' THE SUN. SOLEM (LUIS DICERE FALSUM AUDEAT ? LONDON, MONDAY, DECEMBgH 29; 1817. We received last night the Paris Papers of Thursday last, Thursday being Chtistmas-dayt the offices. ot..t.h.c.Jottroals were closed, and there was no pablicarion on }Friday. We give from them, in 'our first page; an ale. !tract of the. proceedings of the Chamber of De puties on Wednesday, which finishes the disco' iou on the Projet respecting the Press. M Amendment was agreed to, rendering the depos► i of a work so far a publication as to give a riOl i of civil action to a party calumniated in it. TO of course takes greatly from the effect of tile former Amendment, by which a W . t . y k was not i° be considered as published, unless either whoa or in part circulated. Another Amendment was also agreed upon, t ° the purport that the Projet should•not take a t,VOI nom the effect of the former laws concerning songs, pamphlets, fiptres, or images, contrail to good morals. Attempts I.vere made by MM. Boni and DF, BouLAYE to introduce Articles pledging the 60' vernment to present a Projet for the application <4 the Trial by Jury to offeneeg of the Press, - 11 01 they failed, being got rid of by the previod s question. • The Chamber then proccedcd to a scrutiny 0° the whole Projet, when the numbers appeare;V Fur it 122—LAgainst it 111—leaving 3 in sjorif y "f oily 11. During the whole of the stro4gle, the parties in the Chamber appear to have been nearlf equally balanced, except upon the question re' specting the introduction of Trial by Jury, urP ll which no division was , attempted. So mach , however, has been said in the Chamber, ;toi l with considerable ability, and which has goo` forth to the world in favor of the application of Trial by Jury to offences of the P; ess, t'lat ti .c question is, as it were, before the people d France, and if they at all desire it, their wisbe f must ultimately influence their Representatives iy the Chamber.. • The Coor Royale of Dona's , has declared i t sel f competeo *the affair of MAUBaEUIL, and tl l trial is fixed for the 2(1 of March. FIVE PER CENTS. IVednrsday 64 f. 10c, • Since writing the above, the Gazette de Frano of Thursday, which did -not arrive last night, li os come to . band. It contains the following artic le froM Algiers, giving more correctly the portico' lays of the last insurrection there : . • "' ALGIERS, Nov. 24.—The privateers of tb' s Regency have brought in siucc the 28th of S tember only one French ship and three Spaniarf"' The cargo of one of the latter hai been declared good prize, the others have been set at liberty , " The scarcity h felt here more and more eyed day. Wheat is distribnted in small quantitie" and oil in bottles. It has been for some time remarked, that the projects of the Dey were very extensive, and t l3°, he was successively developing them. They NO) .an epoch in the history of Algiers. On the Ist it l4 ' be took a gigantic step to secure his existenc e ' and the execution of his projects. Doting pe preceding night he conveyed hi s numerous tante all the arms, the principal articles of furnito°' anti .the wealth of the Deys which were in th ° Palace, to the Fort of Alcazabi, situated ou t 1)6 .. most elevated point ot the town. On the first this moniii a salvo of 'artillery announced I°'; change of residenee. The fOrt was well provid, with artillery, ammunition, and .prO,isions, ap there was every reason to believe that the gat- son were devoted to the Pacha. " The Turks seeing that they had lost th‘ l ' preponderance, revolted At tweak of the day oil 2d, without refleeting on , the difference: Gu the bVr tin nte (Id i •II" tIVO (I t o giv or 0, Aka. Itte( 4 ut e3tal ihii