The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-02-01 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRtSS.

with relikious liberty, and the examnle was likely to he followed
in South America. The lion. Gentleman then contemned, In
strong terms, the conduct of the House of Pei" and in particular
alluded to the conduct of the Prelates, which Ii considered most

intemperate and blameable. Hs multi not but recollect the anec-
dote told by Lingard of Richard ("tent de Leon and Poilip, Bishop
of Rouen. Richard took the Bishop prisoner, and the Bishop ap-
plied to the Pope to release him. The Pope wrote to Richard,
who sent back to the Pops his Bishop's coat of mail, with the fol-
lowing laconic placard :—`• ft this your eon's coat or no." The
Pope •aid it was the coat of the son of Mars, and that therefore
the Bishop must apply to Mars to liberate him. De hoped that it
might be so with the Bishop of Chester. that he would be tokl that
he had worn a mat of dims, and that Mare might translate him to
Durham if he could.

The lion. EDWARD PET It next addressed the meeting; but
we regret that our limits willl not allow us to fitilow the Hon. (en.
Remelt. Ile concluded by requiring the meeting to be firm but
moderate, rot to allow any petty differences to interfere where they
hod but one common object in slew. viz. that all disqualification
should he done sway with as respected every sect and denomination.
Mr. 31• Do NN I. I. was quite certain whatever determination the
meeting might come to, no essential difference of opinion would
remain on either aide. If any position was more entitled to con-
sisteration than another, it was the concluding observation of the
hot speaker. Any appearance of division must be detrimental to
their cause. They must not expect a Eutopian union, but that
internal union which is sufficient to give strength to their body.
Disunion they must carefully avoid--any disunion which might
prove fatally prejudicial to their cause. He would swat:est a course
as an adjustment between those gentlemen who differed as to the
course to be pursued by the Catholics. Ue once heard of a Rev.
Bishop to whom a choice of two dioceses was offered ; he intended
to have said the hest, but was understood to have said both, and
the sees were united. We can adopt such a course as will

effect the object of both parties. The Dissentera have nothing I
to do with imputations cast upon us as Catholics, and so far
it may be necessary for Catholics to act separately from other
Diesenters, and for this purpose the petition of Mr. Quin was ap-
plicable. The other petition joined with the Dissenters in claiming
the right of universal emancipation; now by adopting the petition
of Mr. Quin, it would be perfectly open to them to Join the Dis-
senters in a general claim for then rights. ilk countrymen were
called by distinguished persons barbarians ; now the barbarity with
Bishops and l'eers riding in coaches and eating untie soup was
not an evidence of civilisation. Was it a mark of civilisation to
proscribe one.third of his Majesty's subjects? Was it Christian
charity or civilised polity to Mate *taut among the subjetti of
the empire? The Noble Chairman has been obliged to go 00 busi-
ness to Weatminster, will he be admitted to his proper place on the
day after to-morrow ? (Hear. bear.) If lie but call upon God, and
swear he is qualified, the Bishops will admit him. I repeat it. the
barbarity is with those who pursue such a syatem. It is confined
to the (louse of Lords. An alarming ejaculation was made in that
House, which thrilled through the country. It would appear that
&melt', nor/ was to be performed, and l'rcalerirk was to act the
principal part. In Russia they have a l'rince yielding up his right
to the throne to his younger brother ; here we have a Prince
reiging by anticipation. This day he saw the Russian oath of
allegiance; those who call die Russians barbarians would do well
to peruse that document; it required no proof but allegiance to the
Sovereign ; merely a test of civil obedience, without inquiry Into
religious opinions. What would the Eliglish Ambassador to Pa.
name reply to the South American Ministers there assembled, if
they should say—" Sir, when you conic here do you expect us to
keep faith with you " If he answer in the affirmative, they may
say—" Then why not keep faith with those who fought for yeti r
And if he answer in the negative, then they mutt say—" Why
give yousell the trouble of Coming:" What answer can Lord Li.
verpool supply him with ? It is a monstrous absurdity that
Bishops or Lords talk of Catholic prejudices when they are open
to such observations. They talk of the priest.ridden Catholics,
but here is a parson.rithlen Parliament. (Hear, hear.) Why,
were the venerable Irish Bishops examined if they were not to be
believed ? lie never meta Catholic who did not feel those indig.
cities. He declared he was near using a royal phrase; he never
knew the Irish so united en at this ntuinent. There was a hearty
Irish good.natured cordiality prevailing through the country. Let
not the enemies of emancipation flatter themselves with the idea
of any serious annimosity existing amongst the Catholics, but
rather let them not increase their discontent. Those who charged
tite frith Catholics with breach of faith, would do well to re.
member that faith was never kept with them. This country owed
much to Irishmen. The two English Universities were founded
by Irishmen. The Bishopric+, of Chester, Durham, Litchfield.
and others, owed their origin to Irishmen, and those who enjoyed
their splendour now, should nut be so hostile to Catholic cler-
gymen.
Lord PETRE reminded Mr. M`Donnell that the Dishor of
Litchfield voted for the English Catholics.
Mr. fil`DossEt.t. said he liked him the lass for not voting
for his countrymen. He. Mr. fil•Donnell, hail experienced in-
civility and unkindness from him upon one occasion, when he
attempted to deliver his sentiments at a meeting where his
Lordship presided. With respect to keeping flith, what had
become of the promises of Pitt and the Marquis Cornwallis. It
is true no bonds were signed ; but to the credit of the present
Marquis of Londonderry he attested the pledge; and notwith.
standing what was ashl by that animated falcon. Doctor Duig•
ran, it was the promise of emancipation which induced the Irish
to convent to the Union. If that measure had not passed the
sixty-nine Peers, and the great majority of Irish ntennbera who are
. now favourable to Catholic claims, would secure 'emancipation in
r an Irish Parliament. Committees have sat at Westminster two

years. and now they tell us that ours is a question of psearoottet
importance, as if we did not know that ourselves ; and that's all
they tell us. Let it not be thought that discontent in Ireland is
created to answer the object of certain individuals. There are a
certain class of persons who wish this discontent to break out into
open violence ; but he hoped they might be disappointed. He had
reason to know a communication had been received in England
from an Irish Prelate, who expresses in it a hope to see the Irish
break nut, and the military force called upon to settle the busi-
netts ; but he'll lee no wild exhibitions ; they know their only
chance is in prudence and discretion ; and although thirty rep-
ments and an armed police were kept up in that country the King's
visit proved that kind treatment would govern the country without
the aid of a single soldier. His Majesty gave them an Irish benefit.
He (Mr. 3PDonald) could not forbear relating an anecdote of the
delight and loyalty evinced by two poor Iridtmen on that occasion.
They were two men who earned their bread by driving small ve.
hicks called jingles. On hearing of his Majesty's arrival they re-
fused all hire, disengaged the horses from their jingles. threw aside
the harness, and rode alongside his Majesty into Dublin. It was
due to his Majesty to say that his deportment was most gracious;
his reception of the Catholic prelates was condescending. The same
good feeling was manifest from his landing to his encouraging let-
ter of departure. In consequence or that visit, and other circum-
stances, the Catholics abstained three years from petitioning, and
what did they get by their silence? Did any Member getup in
Parliament? It is Idle to refrain from petitioning. There were
only forty-one regiments in the United Kingdoms, and of these
thirty were stationed in Ireland, besides a police placed at every
ten miles or a lesser distance. If justice were done, not a soldier
would be necessary. At this very time the army is recruiting
them, and at the period when a certain pious ejaculation was nottle
to heaven against them, an order was issued to note the religion of
each recruit (hear, hear,)—all of course for their benefit. Among
the many calumniators of the Catholics was a Mr. Joseph Blanco
White, formerly, as lie says, Chaplain to the King of Spain, A, B,
C. D, &c. due. Rte. and author of a book called " 'The Poor Man's
Catechism." The author professes to make no profit by his book ;
neither did the reader either. It wall not stated In it why he left
Seville, but he (Mr. MiDonnelli believed the Rev. Gentleman
left it to the tone of " The girl I left behind me." He says his
family were Irish, but he does not tell us why they left their native
country. Perhaps it was the penal code that drove them out of it.
As a test of this gentleman's sincerity, he remains, according to
himself, ten years an infidel.acti swears repeatedly to the truth of a
doctrine which he now tells as he did not believe, and ends his con.
nexion with it by breaking his mother's heart. He comes to Eng-
land, not as a Christian but as an infidel, with a blood-red Wig, on
which is stained. " /late one another." And this is the conduct of
Dun Blanco. (Hear, hear.) lie offers to be examined on oath as
to the truth of his assertions respecting the Pope's
assertions which he must know to be false if ever he filled any of
thilse stations which he says he did. Ile will swear to the doctrine
.of divided allegiance--he who violated his oath of ordination—he
who was ungrateful to his King. his parents, and his God. Which
is to have more weight in deciding the question—Joseph Blanco
White, or the field of Waterloo! The only witness Mr. Al'Don-
nett would call is bis patios* Alajesty George the Fourth. His
Majesty could decide whether the Irish offered him a divided alle-
giance. With respect to auricular confession he would say very
little, but those who complain of the practice should recollect that
1 there is such a person as Confessor to his Majesty's household.
The Rev. H. Fly, D.D., Rector of Trinity Mictorus, and Wills-
den, Middlesex, filled the situation. What would the Poet Lau-
rent say to that ? ~Dear Duff, I pray thee contradict thyself, and
say it. is not so." The present was a momentous period in Catholic
politics, and unanimity was desirable. There were circumstances
connected with the Catholics which rendered it necessary for them
to enter into resolutions separate from their dissenting fellow-sub-
jects, but there was nothing to prevent their joining in a general
petition for civil rights. This country is now at peace with all
Catholic States, and he could well imagine his Majesty saying—
" I am now at peace with all Catholic countries, I will be at peace
with my own subjects." The Calholics ask for nothing but justice,
and, until that is granted, they will be discontented.
Mr. Qum wished to draw the attention of the meeting to the
necessity of unanimity. %Whatever might he t;te final determination
of the Meeting their proceedings should be stamped with union.
Division would .destroy their cause. The petition which be vo-
moted derived its importance from the sanction of the commute,
who were not de,erving of distrust; their experience quali-
fied them to judge of the most prudent courxe to be pursued.
There is no point of difference between the two petitions, they run
in parallel lines, but he did not think this meeting competent to die-
VIPs what related to other Dissenters. There are two parties,
and only one here ; the meeting have no evidence of the Dissenter!,
wilhogness to join in this petition. Let there be a general meeting
to discuss the subject, and he for one would cordially join in any
prayer for univiresl emancipation. The peti:ion which be sup-
ported had the sanction of his Rev. and Learned Friend Dr. Collins.
Ile implored the meeting not to yield to a popular impulse, but
to adopt such course as prudence and experience dictated. Ile
would readily consent to modify or expunge any word which might
be thought objectionable in his pettnon, but he did not think a
Ca Is lie meeting competent to discuss the rights of Dissenters.
Dr. Cord.rse. when he moved the original petition, was
aware of the omission. The reason was plain—they did.not repre-
sent the Dissenters. lie, fur one, would think emenciiratiou