The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-09-25 00:00:00

TIIE BRITISH PRESS.

ciple of integrity—who will ruin his friends, his family,
his tuother--deserves not to have his guilt palliated by
soft words, in supposed deference to his feelings, who
never forbore from a single enjoyment, however criminal,
for the sake of the feelings of others. Much better would
it be that we all preserved a respectful silence until the
law bad pronounced its doom ; but if sickly sentimentalists
will endeavour to gloss over crime, and talk only of the
" misfurtunt s" of men who wage war on public safety
and private happiness, it becomes us not to sit by silent,
and sutler triumphant imposture to best off its prize un-
ldisputed. When we hear of the " gallantry "of the ree-
.
ttsed swindlers of foil:Ile honour, and of the" generosity" of
the abandoned associates of costly prostitutes, on whom
they squander the fortunes of their confiding friends, our
disgust and indignation rise together, and compel us, in the
name of public morality, to protest agaikt so shameful an
abuse of words!

Our Correspondent at Dublin alludes with high feelings
of gratification to the rapid progress of the Catholic Rent, a
plan devised, we believe, by Mr. O'Cos NELL, to provide a
fund for the defence of the rights and interests of die Ca.„
similes of Ireland. The plan is now in full operation, and
seems likely to furnish the Catholic Association with a
large and powerful revenue. We have generally a strong
objection to all associations which arrogate in any degree
the functions of Government. We care nut whether they
profess to uphold, or aim to subvert, the laws. This !Wit of
imperinn, in imperil) west to be tolerated only under very
peculiar cftumstances. It is clearly an exception to the
ordinary and healthful course of public affairs. In a
well-governed State there should be only one repository
of power. We readily admit, however, that the condi-
tion of Ireland furnishes an excuse for a departure
from the soutal rules of politics. It bas been the fate
of that unfortunate country, never until lately to have
had a national Govettoncut. Since ate commencement

of her connection with England, but more particularly
since the Revolution, she has been under The absolute
away of an odious oligarchy. Now that the KING'S
Government hat•c manifested their determination to govern
Ireland on a fair and liberal system, the Orange faction
openly opposes itself to the Luau LIEUTE NA NT. and insults
his administration. The oppressed Catholics were for-

tnerly not suffered to combine in self-defence. They
have now organised themselves into an extensive associa-
tion, and supplied themselves with • regular income.
It is quite natural that they should tlo so, and in the
present state of things they can hardly be blamed for
using all lawful means to secure to themselves the equal
benefit and protection of the law. If the Orange Associa-
tion were extinct, we should wish to sec the Catholic
Association dissolved ; of course we recoil by their own act ;
but it would be expecting front them a base and voluntary
submission to outrage, if we were to counsel them to sepa-
rate, while their Orange enemies are confederated to injure
and trample upon them. The Orange Association, how-
ever, is evidently sinkiug under the weight of public cen-
sure. The principal persons whose names stood on the list
of the " Grand Committee" are withdrawing themselves
from the fraternity, and disclaiming all future connexion
with it. Some time ago Colonel I/LACIER resigned his
dignity of Deputy Grand Master, and we have already
communicated the refusal of Lord BLATVRY to suffer his
name to remain enrolled on the Grand Committee.
We have now to add, that the Earl of Coe 'frown
and Lord Lottros; have also publicly renounced thy
intended !amours which tho deserted Orangemen were
anxious to thrust upon them. These Noble Lords have
both declared that they never belonged to any Orange I
Lodge; and they must consequently have viewed with feel-
ings
of surprise, not unmixed with indignation, the impu-
dent likrty taken with their moues. The shifts of the
Orange Association to conceal its utter want of importance
and respectability, arc thus laid bare, and its approaching
(all more rapidly accelerated. We rejoice at these occur-
rences, because we ate convinced that the peace and safety
of Ireland depend upon the entire extinction of the Orange
fac • . We know that even then much will remain to be
done ; but we know also, that till then nothing can be
done for the permanent tranquillization of the country.
With all our jealousy of political clubs and conventions, we
are nut sorry to see the Catholic Assoefmation thrive, at least
while its antagonist body continuos in existence, and while
it uses its mural influence, and administers its pecuniary
resources strictly, for those lawful purposes which it pro-
fesses to have exclusively in view. The week before last.
the officers of this,Asaociation announced, that upwards
of .2001. were paid into the hands of the treasurer, and
last week it appears :13'21. were received. The letters front
all parts of Ireland speck of the activity and zeal of the
population its the cause. The Catholic Clergy are fore-
most in their efforts, and the Dublin (:'coning Post asserts
that several Protestant Gentlemen have lent the measure of
the Catholic rent the sanction of their authority. Front
the same paper we learn that the Catholics of England are
making common cause with the Irissls. The following is
its statement .

" We shall have an official communication between the
English and Irish Association iu the course of the ensuing
month. The Irish Catholics are all unitcol now ; and
before Christina, the union will be complete between them
and their English brethren. We shall conclude our °beer.
rations on this subject by sulmiittinp the following Circular
Letter, of his Grace the Catholic Bishop of Meath, to the
Glespy of his Dimas on the sultlecs. it is delightful to
see this venerable Prelate crowning a long life of Christian
labour, by seconding the view, and object of the Catholic
people, fur obtaining their just rights, as Freemen and
Citizens:—

Rev. dear Sir,—lt being the desire of the Catholic Body of
Ireland. that the Catholic Kent should be raised and collected, I
request you will signify to the Parton of your district that it is
my wish that this important measure be forwarded regularly and
constantly 11 ithin their respective puristic..
I mu. IL's. dear Sir, your sincere end faithful servant,

t P.l. PLUNKETT.

Fir r. eaa et:Nrs, 171.7.—1 t may be as well to remind
the holders of swt•k in Ibis fund, that wilt a'S they send in
a notice to the Bank of England, MI or before the 9th of
October next, of their intention to accept 1331. Gs. ►td. titre:
per cent. COll4Olll, in lieu of eerie loot. smelt. they will be
/mid off at par in April next. '1 hest. we hare understood,
are the terms of the Act of Parliament, but we eannot learn
that the knowledge thereof has ls•en promul,;:ited by any
public notice ; the reason why is apparent.
lly the last scannas from 31aranhant we learn that
things were still in a most unsitisfactory slam. The
trooim which had been collected to turn out the !Resident,
after hav!ng been in sight of the town several days, *treated
in all unaccountable wannet, as half the number assembled
would hare been sufficient for the pnrpose ; con•equent'y
it was tarried that a misunderstanding bad : :sett amongst
the officers, or that bribery had been resorted to with
success. The supplies from the Main of cotton and cattle
were still interrupted. The President of Mar:oilmen is sai►l
to he strongly attacked to a republican form of tlorerw.
menu, and to he eery unpopular with all the ropeetable
Brasitians the Wand.