The Express.
London, England, 1851-09-29 00:00:00

IRELAND.

Drams. Sari.. 27.
As I informed you yesterday in a telegraphic des-
patch, the " general committee " chosen to organise the
new Catholic Defence Association have at length
carried their labours so far as to have issued their
address "to the catholics of the United Kingdom."
The rules of the association have not yet, it appears,
been finally agreed upon, and the public have yet to
learn whether the proceedings of the body are to bo
carried on by regular meetings for spouting and de-
clamation, after the old fashion, or by a committee
acting as a silent nucleus of agitation. The latter, it
is thought, will most probably he the mode adopted.
The committee, presided over by Dr. Cullen, and
aided in its counsels by Drs. MeHale and Cantwell,
decided last evening, after a two days deliberation,
on giving their address to the world, but that docu-
ment after all is very much like tho produce of
the mountain in labour. It is as follows:

TO TIIM CATHOLICS OF TIIB ustrct) KISUDONI.

Fe.low.catholics,—lly the net passed in the last session of
parliament, declaring unlawful anal void every exercise of
turiailiction and authority, even of a mere spiritual cha-
racter, on the part of the bishops of one-third of the people
of these realms, it has been sought virtually to abrogate the
legal existence of the catholic religion in the United King-
dom, mid place us, no to the free exercise of our faith,
without the pale of the constitution. To speak of till: act
of parliament as aimed at the assumption of titles alone is
a delusion. The act is aimed at the very vitality of our
faith, and not only declares the performance lay our hie-
rarchy of any ecclesiastical duty to he unlawful and void,
hut also renders it punishable by fine and imprisonment.
Of this we arc well assured by most eminent lawyers M
both countries, protestant as well as catholic. Under these
circumstances, it was thought fitting that an aggregate
meeting of time catholic, of the United Kingdom should be
held, to deride on the best means for the preservation of
any liberty which is still left us, fur the repeal of this in-
sulting and tyrannical enactment, the abolition of all those
acts and practices which have fielded to members of the
catholic church that perfect equality which they are en-
titled to enjoy, in common wi•.tt their protestant fellow-
subjects, and for the prevention of similar measures in
future. _

The address then describes the aggregate meeting
of the notundo; and having set forth in full the re-
solutions adopted on that occasion, proceeds as
follows:

The objects of the Catholic Defence Association nre to se-
cure Or the catty:ilia church perfect freedom M the profes-
sion of her doctrine, the maintenance of her discipline and
the exercise other rights. To adopt all volistitutional in,ans
to ensure the repeal of the Ecclesiastical Titles Act, and all
laws restricting the religious liberties of the catholic," of the
empire. To relieve the catholic people of Irelabd from the

intolerable burden of bol-taining an ecclesiastical

ment Crain which they not only derive no beuefit, but the
funds and ample resources of which are expended in
persevering efforts to subvert the faith and over-
throw the religion of the country. To protect
our poor from the odious and lie:artless system of
pecuniary proselytism to which they are at preseut so
much reposed. To obtain and secure for all clussei of ca-
tholic, sound catholic instruction and education. To con-
tribute to the moral and intellectual training of the people,
and to the improvement of their social condition. To assist
catholic institution., and protect catholic endowments, es-
pecially those established for educational and charitable
objects, and upon all occasions to promote the removal and
slieviatiun of the prevailing social misfortunes of the people.
The association is founded on purely catholic princiales.
It is essentially catholic, in which word is expressed its
love of true liberty, and its relation to the supreme load of
the church, the episcopate, and the whole body of the clergy.
The association will inculcate strict allegiance to the throne
and the maintenance of peace and good will among all her
Majesty's subjects. Whilst resolutely resisting any aggres-
sion on catholic freedom, it will not only nowt scrupu-
lously avoid invading, but be ever ready to assist in pro-
tecting the just rights of others. All the proceedings of
the Association will be conducted with the strictest regard
to truth, charity, and justice, and in the true spirit of the
catholic church it will manifest its sympathy on all occa-
sions with the most distant members of that body through-
out the world. In aid of this great work we shall have on
our side Cie prayers and counsel of our venerated hierarchy
and clergy, who, without travelling out of their own avoca-
tion., will continue to spread sound instruction amongst the
peopie, and hr fultiltnent of their important duties will in-
culcate the strict and religious obligation of selecting as re-
presentatives of the people those men who are best fitted from
integrity, ability, and zeal to support iu the imperial parlia-
ment our religious rights, and to remove the ?WWI griev-
ances under which the catholic' of the United Kingdom
still continue to labour. The lay members of the
Association will have their peculiar sphere of ac-
tion. 'they never can sufficiently impress on the
minds of the people the gr, at fact, that all our hopes of
redress, under Divine providence, are centered iu the crea-
tion and sustainment of a parliamentary party, ready to
defend at all hazard, with an independent spirit, our civil
and religious liberties. To the neconiplisliment of this
great means of carrying out the objects of the Catholic De-
fence Association the energies of the laity will be incessantly
directed. It will become an imperative duty to organise
anti marshal the elective power of each constituent hotly so
as to ensure a right direction being given to every available
vote, and thereby to evince in the moat solemn manner un-
alterable attachment to their civil and religious freedom in
all its practical reality. Finally, it is manliest that if penal
laws are to be repealed ; if the perfect freedom of the
catholic church is to be secured if our bishop, are to be
allowed to exercise any jurisdiction or authority
even of a spiritual character within these king-
dolma without being liable to heavy penalties for
so doing ; if an extensive system of organised
pecuiary proselytism is to be counteracted ; if a
sound system of catholic education is to be diffused
amongst the people ; if catholicism is to be fully and faith-
fully represented in the imperial parliament, and the ca.
tholie people of Ireland relieved from the intolerable bur-
dim of the Irish protestant church establishment, those
great objects cannot be accomplished without combined ex-
ertion, great personal sacrifices, and the command of large
funds. We therefore call upon you to enrol yourselves as
members of the Catholic Defence Association, and appeal
with confidence not only to the catholic* of the British em-
pire, but to our brethren in every country and every clime
to contribute to this great enterprise to which we have been
prompted by our unwavering attachment to the faith
banded down to us from the apostles, and which, as catho-
lies, we deem more precious than our lives.
Signed on behalf of the general committee, al PAUL,
Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of all Ireland, Chairman ;
WM. KEOGH, Secretary.
The general committee arc to meet again on the
16th of next month, having in the meantime, it is to
be presumed, settled all about the rules of the asso-
ciation, and the first meeting of the association will
be held on the following day.
Tho Right Dom Denis St. George, Baron Dun-
simile and Clanconal, has been chosen by a majority
of votes to be the peer to sit in the House of Lords
of the United Kingdom, in the room of Charles Wil-
liam Earl of Charlevillo, deceased.
_ _

The following summary of the proceedings in the
Encumbered Estates Court since its foundation ap-
pears in the Freeman's Journal, and will be read
with interest. The facts stated may be relied on, as
they are derived, we are assured, after minute in-
quiry, from the published reports of the court, and
from other sources of information less available :
Summary of proceedings in the above court from the com-
mencement of the sittings, 25th November, 1849, to the
23rd September, 18.31:—Number of petitions presented by
creditors to 23rd September, 1851, 1,318 ; numbers lodged
by owners of estates to same period, 385; number dismissed
by the comniisioners, 212 ; total number of petitions presented,
1,945. Total amount of incumbranees, as stated in the schedule
to said petitions, t 2,458,576/. 7s. Net annual rental of the
estates sought to be sold by said petitions, and ap-
plicable to pay said incambrances, 1,141,0901. 10s. Bd.
Namber of estates sold in court to the last auction day,
17th July, 1861, 333; number sold in the provinces to 13th
August, 1851,61 ; number wild by private contract, 46; total
number of estates sold, 440. Amount realised by sale of
said 333 estates in the court, 2,322,9531. Os. 6d. ; ditto
by private sales, 236,9161. Ils. ; ditto by provincial auctions,
1,091,6311. Os. 6d. ; total amount of tales, 3,651,500/. 12s.
Total amount distributed to creditors up to 23rd
September, 18.31, 1,798,0001. Total number of con-
ditional orders made to 23rd September, 1851, 1,150 •
Total number of absolute orders to same day, 1,253; total
number of miscellaneous do., 3,383. 'total number of titled
persons for the sale of whose estates petitions have been
presented to the commissioners:—One marquis, thirteen
earls, three vis..munts, four barons, one lord, five honour-
ables, twenty baronets, five knights, seven members of par-
liament, five es-members of parliament.
The very great difference appearing on the above return
between the amount realised by the sales, and the sums
allocated to claimants is accounted for in this manner :
Firstly, that a very great portion of the sum is produced by
the sales immediately preceding the vacation, and which,
consequently, cannot be distributed until the resumption of
the business of the court. The distribution is also contin-
I gent on a formal notificatiost to claimants, that each
Jar estate has been sold, and Sufficient time given to enable
them to lodge and prove their claims on the settling of the
final schedule of incumbrances sail distribution of the
• fund. Secondly, in ascertaining the priority of each
particular claim—one of the most tedious and particular
duties of the commissioners, and the cause of great delay
and litigation. This occurs particularly in cases where the
fund is not ample for the payment of all the creditors; but
the commissioners have very wisely established the principle
of investing the purchase money, when lodged, whereby
the fund is multiplying fur the benefit of all the creditors.
In some cases where it was utterly impossible for the pur-
chase money to be allocated till November, the COlOlllO,
44:mere allowed the purchasers to lodge, say one-half
the amount—the other half to be retained by them till
November, they paying five per cent. for the same.
As an yeample of the very moderate sum for which an
estate can be sold in this court we may int ntion the ca-e of
Samuel bopping, owner, which estate wag sold, and the
amount, 76,22.51. distributed for the small sum of 3211. Is. sd.
Another in the matter of Arthur Robinson, owner, sold for
9,2001., the costs of which, including survey, printing rentals,
and distribution of the fund, amounted to but 1971. Is. lid.
We understand the commissioners will sit for general
business about the 10th of October.