The Express.
London, England, 1851-08-21 00:00:00

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IRELAND.

TIIE .tGGREGATE MEETING.

MELTN, AVG VAT 20.
Considering the extraordinary public excitement
ith which the proceedings of yesterday had been
ushered in, and the antouut of religious fanaticism
which funned the chief element of that excitement,

the people of Dublin may well congratulate them-
'styes upon the comitarutively peaceable and orderly
manner in which the long-threatened aggregate
meeting has passed away. Yesterday morning the
streets of Dublin presented an unusual bustle from a
very carp- hour. and the footpaths in the vicinity-
of the itotundo soon became almost impassable
from the crowds eolleet,d. For some hours

before the time fixed for the meeting, the
doors of the Rotondo were assailed by persons
seeking admission, end although 11 o'clock was the
hour at which the chair was to be taken, the great I
round room was densely crowded at a few minutes
past ten. A great portion of the reserved scats was
occupied by ladies, and the body of the meeting, to
which admission was obtained 'hr tickets distributed
gratuitously, was thronged with the working elwees.
Several hundred (sad porters marched in a body to
the meeting, and a great number of them were ad-
mitted inside, the remainder forming themselves into
groups in the neighbourhood of the ltotundo, and as-
suming the appearance of co-operating with the police
in keeping order. The police authorities had
taken active steps to insure the preservation of
the peace, and a body consisting of several hundred
men of their excellently organised force was on duty
in and around the place of meeting. Patrols of
horse and foot polite paraded the streets; a number
of mounted police were stationed near the Rotund°
to aid those on foot in dispersing the crowd, and a
large body in reserve was held in readiness in the
Rotund° gardens. The military were also kept in
their barracks prepared to act if necessary.

A few minutes after 11, the Rev. T. 1). Gregg,
accoinpunied by Mr. 11. Cooke, and two other friends,
drove up in a close carriage to the Itotundo, and
claimed udini.sion at the entrance. This was, how-

ever, raustsl; and emphatically denouncing the
meeting as one of papists and not of catholies, they
re-entered the carriage, and drove off rapidly
along Great Britain-street, pursued by a mob,
who pelted the carriage with mud ; a few
mounted pollee who followed, having been unable
to prevent the violence until the coach got beyond
the reach of the ragamuffins who pursued it. Some
of Mr. Gregg's placards denouncing the meeting
were exhibited at the windows of the Priests' l'ro-
teetion Society, which is close to the Itutundo, but
the placards were torn down by the mob and the
indows broken ; Mr. I'. Dixon Hardy, the pro-
prietor of the house, expostulating to no purpose
with the rabble. A young man, a protestant, also
drew upon himself the indignation of the mob, and
was severely handled by them, his life probably
being saved by the police, who rescued 1 ; but
with the exception of these the day was not marked
by any outrages, the usual iucidents of pick pocket
rows, ,kc., being excepted.
Besides Archbishop Cullen and Archbishop Mae
Hale, there were several other Roman catholic pre-
lates at the meeting. They are enumerated in the
following style by the Fretleas :—" His Grace the
Archbishop of Cashel, the Lord Bishop of Clogher,l
the Lord Bishop of Birmingham, the Lord Bishop
of Edinburgh, the Lord Bishop of Elphin, the 1,m4
Bishop of Killaloe, the Lord Bishop of Clonfcrt, the
Lord Bishop of Savannah, the Lord Bishop of Cloyne,
the Lord Bishop of 11yderalxid, the Lord Bishop of
Saldes." The prelates occupied arm-chairs iu front
of the platform, that of the chairman being raised
behind. The Irish human catholic aristocracy was
only represented by Lord Gormanston, and that of
England by Sir Piers 31ostyn. The Earl of Arundel
and Surrey was expected but did not attend, and no
letter of apology from him was produced. The fol-
lowing Irish members were present :—G. 11. Moore,
31. P., John Itesnolds, 11. P., William Keogh,
31. P., A. OTlltherty, M.l'., 0. Higgins, M.l'.,
Martin Joseph Blake 31.1'., John Sadleir, 31.1'.,
Francis Scully, Robert Keating, 31.1'.,
Thu attendance of Roman catholic clergy was
very large, mane hundreds of their names appearing
in the list published this morning in the freenion ;
but the muster of the Roman catholic laity did not
comprise SO many distinguished tames as were ex-
pected.
LortlGormanaton opened the proceedingsby mov-
ing Archbishop f'ulleet to the chair, by the style of
" The Must Rev. 1/r. Cullen, Archbishop of Armagh,
and l'rimate of all Ireland." The motion was
seconded in similar terms by Mr. Reynolds, 31.1%,
and the chair was taken amidst the vociferous cheers
of the meeting, which also greeted the first appear-
ance of the bishops upon the platform, with enthu-
siastic rounds of applause.
Archbishop CUILLEN then addressed the meeting. Ile
said it was out without reluctance and doing violence to
his own feelings, that be was determined to occupy the
high position to which he had the high honour of being in-
vat, al by so gnat an assembly of the catholies of the United
Kingdom. ("L hear, hear," and cheers.) The catholic* of
the empire had done nothing to bring about the present
state of things; the) hail been forced into the attitude which
they assuatted. (Ilear, hear.) What had their catholic bre-
thren iu Scotland dune Absolutely nothing. They had
out moved in any direction, nor had they been pronounced
to have committed the slightest aggravation or given the
slightest off, nee. (Hear, hear.) In the meantime, what had
been our condition in Deland ? This pour country had been
visited by famine and pestilence in a way in which no other
country had been visited before. Our talc of ruin had reached
to all the regions of the earth. (Hear) The Ilindon, the
Mahommeilan, the disciple of Confucius, had shed a tear
over our naiscry, mid stretched out a hand in oar relief.
It was ever to be regretted that any of those men to whom
the destinies of this empire had been committed should have
chosen that moment to add to their misfortunes, anal ag-
gravate the burdens under which they laboured. it was
unnecessary to refer to the Durham controversy. (Groans.)
It iscited the embers of discord, and stirred up all that was
base and filthy in the depths of bigotry and intolerance.
(Cries of Hear, hear.") if they were united, and their
proceedings guided by charity, they would be a strong and
powerful body. (Hear, hear.) Ile trusted the institution of
the l'atholic Defence Association would tend to promote
that great object. (hear, hear.) It would be one of the first
duties of that hasty to cement a union of the catholies of the
empire, a union so clearly neixssary for their welfare and
existence. It would he too long to enumerate all their
grievances. By the labours of the association they trusted
that they should he remedied, and put on a perfect footingof
equality with every other class of her alsjesty's subjects.
(Cheers.) All they asked fur was a full and free exercise of
their religion. Our poor ant to be protected from a heartier
proselytism—the faith of the children of the soldier and dr
sailor is to be preserved—the state of our workhouses to be
examined—a catholic education is to be obtained for Mr
people. In a catholic country like this there is a great
and perfectly organised system of protestant distraction.
Hundreds of thousands are expended in promoting a
purely protestant education, while the sums given
to catholic schools (with out: exception) are given only
on the couditiam that the system of the schools which are
filled with catholic children shall he suited to the education
of a hildren of every sect who do nit frequent such schools,
and we are left without any catholic university. (Herr,
ha or.) But it would be too long to enumerate all our
grievances. By the labours of the association let us trust
that they will be removed, and that we shall be put on al
footing of equality with every either class of her Majesty's
subjects. (Hear, hear.) It was unnecessary for him to
nmintl those who were around hint that the eyes of the
world were upon them, and that they should take care that,
whatever nroposations they made, they should be in accord-
ance with the laws of the country. Anything but moderate
and becoming language would only damage their cause and
their holy religion. He trusted he had expresses' his sen-
timents with all that liberality and charitableness which a
catholic should use when speaking of his religion ; but he
world not sit down without using another privilege of his
order : he would pray that God might give them wisdom
sail grace, and teach them how to act, and that the Most
Holy Queen of Heaven, and their own great St. Patrick,
might bless and fructify everything which they undertook.
(Cheers.)
The Very Rev. Bishop Baowss then moved, and Mr.
V. sect CV, M.P., seconded, the appointment of Mr Ous-
ley Higgins, M.l'., Mr. J. Saillsir, M.l'., and Mr. J.
Burke, as secretaries.
Mr. SADLLIIL read the requisition convening the meet-
ing. which be stated had been signed by 3.5 prelates, 31
peers anal sons of peers, 10 baronets, 33 members of parlia-
ment, 1./0 justices of the peace, and several thousands of
iiittuential clergymen anal laymen of the United Kingdom.
Ile then read the following letter addressed to the chair-
man by Cardinal Wittman, amid loud cheers and waving,
of hats and handkerchiefs :
" London' Aug. IG, IS5l.—My dear Lord and Brother in
have received a letter from Messrs. Reynolds
and Keogh, inviting me to attend the aggregate meeting
of the Catholic Defence Society, at which your grace will
Preside ou Tuesday next. As this is quite impossible I take
the liberty of addressing your grace on the TOOPOISdIISSOCOL-
tion. Although. as yet, its specific objects and plan of orga-
nisation have nut been published it is impossible not to feel
that some such institution Is absolutely necessary. We have
Saw seen ranged on the side of majorities for our penal bill
mimes with which the catholic mind had ever identified the
idea of generous zeal for civil and religious liberty, as com-
pletely as it had in former ages associated the thought of

chivalrous deeds with the titles of our olden aristocracies.
And they whose word would a few months ago have been
in our eyes as safe a security as a bond signed and sealed,
have made light of pledges given te us, and feel no shame
in withdrawing them. These betrayals of trusts unreser-
vedly regarded through a whole generation by the catholic
body, have served to convince us that, after God, we must
mainly rely on our own honest and enduring exertions
for the preservation of our common rights. The noble, the
able, and the earnest support which, amidst se much
defection from principle, was given to our cause by several
, members of both houses, independent of party, de•
. serves, indeed, our warmest acknowledgment'. But such
, generous advocacy has nut proved sufficient for our pro-
tection. 1 trust, therefore, that the Catholic Defence Asso-
ciation by giving a clear and definite aim to catholic 'ger-
lion, will concentrate all its powers on legitimate subjects;
that these will not be visionary, nor hopeless, hut plainly
intelligible and justly attainable. I feel confident that all
appears to the passions—all efforts to arouse anger or hatred,,
or even uncharitable feeling, will be effectually excluded, so
that our adversary may have nothing to say against us.
Your grace's superintendence will, I know, secure to the
I society • character strictly moral and even religious, and a
steady adhesion to such principles as will defy the cavils of
the most malignant; for, after all, we must seek to draw
I clown the blessing of the Gusl of justice upon our under-
dertakings, more than rely upon human effort. While,
Itherefore, I shall sineerdy sympathise with shore who have
undertaken the mere serubr duties of a society so bated
and conducted, I shall be happy to co-operate in any of its
I duties more immediately connected with those of the cede-
eilistical state. —I am, ever, my dear Lord Primate, your
atfictionate brother in Christ, N. CARD. WI "
Mr. SADLEIR also read letters of apology from the
Ilon. Wm. Sturton ; Lord Arundel of Wardour, whose
letter enclosed a cheque for towards the necessary ex-
penses of the meeting ; and Irons two Roman catholic
bishop..
Mr. Illocitss, the other honorary secretary, then read
letters of apolody from Lords Stourtmi and Kenmare, Lord
, and two ltoman catholic bishops ; also addresses
from the Roman catholic, of Liverpool. congratulating the
messing on the position which they had assumed against
• the infamous MU of pains and penalties, promising to join
with them in every constitutional effort, and forwarding a
contribution of 10'.

The Most Rev. Dr. SLATTERY, Roman catholic arch-
bishop, then came forward amid loud cheers to move the
first resolution : " That we declare au act lately passed by
the imperial parliament, commonly culled the Ecclesiastical
Titles Act, to be a violation of tile compact contained iu the
Catholic Relief Act of 1829, and subversive of the great
principle of religious liberty as established in this empire."
Ile apologised fur not addressing the meeting in conse-
quence of the delicate state of his -health, but said he would
hare considered it a direliction of his duty to be absent on
that occasion. (Cheers)
Sir PIERS MOST YD. ,Bart., of Lancashire, seconded the
tesolutiun. lk should tell them why he, a stranger, occu-
pied so prominent a position there. Ile hail come over at
the solicitation and on the invitation which the committee
had sent throughout the United Kingdom, to say that the
catholicsof England joined with them in protesting against
the enactment of penal measures—against a retrogade
Ppolicy—and, above all, against the conduct of the Whig
rime Minister. (liims.) Let them lie united in orde r
to secure fur themselves an equality of religious rights and
privileges with their protestant fellow-countrymen.
The resolution was put, and carted unanimously„

The Most ltev. WIIALE, Roman catholic archbishop,
came forward to move the next resolution, and was ru-
e, ived with tremendous cheers, and waving of hats and
handkerchiefs. When silence was restored, the reverend
archbishop read the resolution, which was as follows:—
"That we unhesitatingly declare that the present ministers
have betrayed the cause of civil and religious freedom, and
forfeited the confidence of the cathulies of the United King-
dom." He did not anticipate that there would be any divert.-
. pancy of opinion regarding the adoption of the resolution,
though he confessed there might be numbers who indulged the
private opinion that ministers had never betrayed the cause
of civil and religious freedom because they had never
been entrusted with it—(cheers and laughter)—or
the confidence of the eatholits of the United King-
dom because they had never possessed it. (!tear, hear.)
He rejoiced that this distinction hail been made, because it
would enable the country to distinguish Iwtween its true
ep:scopary and those spiritual titles (ruin baronial baubles
which the world might confer upon human vanity. (Cheers )
Hail the Prime Minister understood the nature of the link
which bound the laity and their priesthood to.rether, he
never would in the plenitude of his folly, have attempted
to sever what God had joined. The reverend speaker,
iu conclusion, said that he would now resign his
place to those champions of Ireland whose sinews wrest-
ling for her in parliament had gained the admiration
of their catholic fellow-countrymen—men who there re•
crised on shields of scorn the burning shafts of rage and
bigotry, that continually buzzed around them—and whose
ears were constantly assailed by personal abuse and bias-
plainly of the mysteries of their religion.
Mr. KEOGII, M.P., seconded the resolution—lle said
his friend, the member for Dublin, had told them that his
excellent friend, Mr. Scully, was a Queen's counsel, learned
iu the law. Ile too had the honour of being one of her
Majesty's counsel ; but if he hail forgotten that little in-
cident, he was reminded of it on a late occasion by a lead-
ing journal of that city, which mentioned it as a thing to
he anathematised, that one who, by his professional exer-
tions unit not of intrigues with any minister, had attained
the position perfectly unhought by him of being one
of her Majesty's counsel—had departed from his high po-
sition, and that he deserved to be stripped of his gown
because he gave a title which no act of parliament could
destriy. (Cheers.) Ile (Mr. Keogh) now, as one of her
Majesty's counsel, whether learned or unlearned in the
' law, holding the net of parliament in his hand, unhesi-
tatingly gave his proper title to the Lord Archbishop of
Armagh.
The resolution was then carried.

The Right Ike. Dr. GILLIS, of Edinburgh, moved the
next resolution :—" That we hereby solemnly pledge our.
selves to use every legitimate means within the constitution
to obtain a total repeal of that act, and every other statute
which imposes upon the catholics of this empire any civil
or religious disability whatsoever, or precludes them from
the enjoyment of their religion." lk (Rev. Dr. Gillis)
said, wishing to agree in everything with the members
of that meeting, he was very sorry to bo obliged to
begin with a protest. Ile had been announced to them as
the Lord Bishop of Edinburgh, but he was sorry to say that
there was not in the world such a person even for Lord John
Russell to protest against. (Hisses.) What under the canopy
of heaven could they now do but humbly and confidently ap-
peal to a higher triiunal, of which the judgment seat was
shove the sky. (Hear, hear.) Let them unite at once and
take a bold and open stand in the face of the oppressors.
(Hear, hear.) They should never rest satisfied unto they
had swept away, not only that act which disgraced the
statute book, but also every other which precluded the
catholic, of the United Kingdom from the enjoyment of
perfect equality with every class of their fellow-subjects.
((sheers.) It required them to but will the deed and it
should be done. Press on together towards the stronghold
of religious freedom, and it would be carried by storm.
(Hear, hear.) Depend upon it, whoever said nay they still
would have the privilege of saying, Dr. Cullen, Archbishop
of Armagh. (Cheers.) There was not much to be done iu
Scotland, as they have been completely settled there ; but
they would make the best use of their tongues. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. G. MOORE, M.P. for Mayo, seconded the resolu-
tion. Having entered into the history of the Ecclesiastical
Titles Bill in its progress through the House of Commons,
and criticised the votes and speeches of the members who
supported or opposed its enactment, the honourable gentle-
man proceeded to allude to the civil and religious disabili-
ties to which the Roman catholics of Ireland were obliged
to submit in former times, and for which they were in-
debted, as he alleged, to " the persecuting spirit of pro-
testantism." Now, however, that the penal laws were
well nigh dead, and the wounds of centuries had begun to
be healed by rational legislation, protestantism again atept
in with its little petty acts of persecution, its dull decoction
of unmitigated vanity and spite, not enough indeed to cre-
ate a real wound, but just enough to stimulate the old sores
and excite in a fevered frame and additional sense of exas-
peration. (Hear, hear.) This was what the govern-
ment termed resistance to papal aggression to lay them-
selves prostrate before those whom they termed " popish
priests," and rely on their forbearance, their rnoderation,their
compassion, not to expose their weakness, but to allow the
counterfeit to pass current, that half a dozen men in Eng-
land were able to impede or annul the religions worship of
the Irish people. (Hear, and cheers.) They defied, spit
upon, and scorned their enactments. (Cheers.) Their pre-
lates would continue to be the bishops of their Irish sees,
all statutes of this country to the contrary notwithstanding.
(Loud cheers.) On the whole, therefore, he did not regret
the passing of this bill. If they brought to an issue an old
question of right and wrong ; if they opened an old ulcer
that had long required the aid of the surgeon, and hastened
on a great crisis, it would ultimately necessitate the adop-
tion of a great policy. The speaker concluded by express-
ing a conviction, that the religious policy of England to-
wards this country was the root of every evil—social,
moral, political, and material, which had contributed to
make Ireland a dangerous exception to the peace and pros-
perity of the empire, and an unexampled anomaly in the
history of legislation. (Cheers.
The resolution was then put from the chair, and carried
unanimously.
The Very Rev. Dr. 1.-LLATHORNE, Roman catholic
bishop, next came forward. He said that the resolution
which he was honoured by having entrusted to his care was
to the following effect :—" That for the above objects we
deem it necessary to establish a Catholic Defence Associa-
tion, and that the same be and is hereby established." Ile
said when he contemplated the constitution of that meeting
there was one thing which he could not doubt; every
hour that he oat there had confirmed his conviction that
the objects contemplated by that meeting and embodied in
the resolution would be accomplished—and accomplished be- I
fore the society now established had reached anything like an
advanced age. In England, whose church he had the honour,
however unworthily, to represent in that great assembly,
this question was now asked by the laity rind the clergy—'
what would become of the eatholics of England, were it not
for the catholies of Ireland ? (Hear.) They would be swallowed
up in an abyss of excitement. Their basis was in Ireland ;
their strength was in Ireland—(hear, hear); their torce in
England consisted in uniting their strengh to that of Ire-
land—in looking to Dublin as the great catholic capital of
the British empire, and iu seeking to make their voice heard
—so difficult in England—through meetings in Ireland and
the press of Ireland. There were one or two facts of ex-
planation which it was well he should take that occasion of
putting forward. It had been industriously and laboriously
put forward over and over again that the origin of this
laggression upon their liberty was the way in which the
hierarchy of England had been established; that but for
the putting forward of the apostolical letter, in a way