The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-01-17 00:00:00

perties should Le directed. We know that butchers, bakers,
and several other tradesmen of small means, are investing
money in these shares—are withdrawing from the calls of
their business, sums which their neccssitiea cannot for any
length pf time dispense with, and who, as they cannot
afford to wait the time that must elapse before their hopes
can be realised, must be certain losers, let the prospect of
ultimate gain be ever so well warranted. These arc in the
condition of necessitous ticket-holders, who, however
favourable may be their eventual chance of a prize, cannot
afford to wait the drawing of the lottery. It behoves the
class of persons we are alluding to, to turn their thoughts
I from all such modes of gain. We would earnestly entreat
them to do so. Mining transactions are not for them.
Their gold and silver mines are their industry and honest
labour. These are the sources of profit to which their little
accumulations of capital should, at all times, be turned ;
in these mines the returns are eatsin, and the gains wear
well.
The emancipation of South Americo' will throw open a
boundless market to manufacturing and commercial in-
dustry ; the recognition of her independence on the part of
Great Britain must open that market to British capital
and manufactures, to an extent incalculable. The increased
quantity of specie which this extensive intercourse will
require, when considered in connection with all those
prospects which open themselves to political and commercial
foresight, may, in a use, juasify the spirit of specu-
lation, on the part of individuals r•ho have embarked in
the working of particular mines, whose names are a voucher
for the stability of their undertakings, and the probable
success of their views. 'The Bus's duty from the mines,
which was one-fifth of the metal taken out of them, will
be now no longer payable. The great improvements in
the art of mining and metallurgy, that may be now for the
first time applied in any new undertaking—these, and
other advantages, arising from superior skill and the spirit
of enterprise, may make such speculations profitable ; but
these are calculations into which we cannot enter, and
which do not interfere with the warning voice which we
have raised against the almost daily appearance of some
new scheme, and the infatuation of the crowd that seem to
contend whose folly shall be foremost.
Now that the old Colonial system, and the despotic and
selfish policy to which the South American possessions
were sacrificed is at an end, we trust that the Rulers of
those fine and fertile kingdoms will apply her treasures
to the setting up and encouraging proper manufactures,
and in fostering the speed of science and civilization. Had
the Monarchs of Spain turned their thoughts this way ;
had they employed the infinite resources which their rich
possessions gave them, in fostering the spirit of indtistry
throughout their Colonies, anti—in the guidance of en-
lightened policy—laid open the whole of their extensive
int•rcourse to all her subjects, Spain would have taken
rank at this day with the first Powers of Europe, instead
of being, as ski is—the feeblest, the most degenerate, and
the moat degraded.

It will be remembered, that when Mr. O'Corrieau. was
held to bail at the instance of the Irish Arroaittv-Goes-
Rex, he expressed his regret that he would be prevented,
by his expected trial, from-coming to this country on a
mission, in which we believe be was to be associated with
his learned Mends, Mr. Sum and Mr. Bate. If we are
iiot mistaken, Mr. O'CsigNll.l. isori than initiated that
the prosecalion had been commenced with a view to keep
him in Ireland. The absurdity of the imputation could only
raise a smile at the learned gentleman's expense on this side
of the Channel. 0:i the other it was heard with undisturbed
gravity, and by a large part of his auditory probably re-
wired as true. He has wrought such wonders among his
countrymen in persuading them that all the opinions they
bold with respect to themselvu are quite right, that it is not
surprising they should, by a kind of logic peculiar to them,
conclude that he would succeed in convincing the people
of England that their notions as to Irishmen and things
are completely wrong. We see, however, by a Dublin
paper, that it was intended to bring forward a motion
at the Catholic Association on Thursday, that " Messrs.
O'CosIs'ELL and SHEIL be deputed to attend the opening
of the Session of Parliament, on the 3d of February,
and that they be instructed to pray to be heard at the
bar of that Ilonourable House, on the merits of the general
Question of E:nancipation." To *his course there can be
no reasonable objection. We feel no apprehensions for
the safety of the Protestant Establishment from the
speeches of these Learned Deputies, should they be admit-
ted to the Bar of the House of Commons, however impas-
sioned or even violent the style of their intended address
may be. We can foresee no possible harm from the sound
of a Catholic voice pleading before Parliament in support
of claims advanced by the members of the persuasion to
which he belongs, and-by whom he is specially sent to ad-
vocate them. This display we are sure need not " fright the
isle from its propriety." It is desirable that we should know
what the Catholics have to say on their own behalf. They
are numerous, and they are discontented. Let us learn
from them how far they carry their expectations of relief,
and what arguments they can furnish for the changes they
propose. All this would be well. Explanation would
in this case, as in most others, tend to the production of a
better state of feeling between the parties to the controversy,'
who at present are fast falling into ill-humour and hatred
towards each other. So far therefore as relates to this part of
the object of the inteaasladptiseigW no_ reflective Protestant
can or will regard it with disfavour ; but we are sorry to
perceive that it was contemplated also to drag into this
measure the same mischievous dead weight which has lat-
terly sunk the Catholic question lower than it has been at
any previous time since it has occupied the public atten-
tion in this country. We allude to the design of instruct-
ing the Deputies to " co-operate with the various branch
Associations in the North of England, in explaining their
principles and vindicating their belief" Why is there this
incessant attempt to identify the progress of the Catholic
faith with the 'lumen of the Catholic claims? The ques-
tions are wholly distinct, and nothing but the grossest
folly and fanaticism can induce the Catholics to mix them
up together. Certainly it is not as Catholics that they
would be admitted to the full enjoyment of their civil
rights, but imply as
.fellow-subjects. If the test of their
admission was to be the reasonableness of their belief, we
suspect that until they could convert us we should continue
for ever to exclude them from rank and office. Instead of
founding their application on the general principle of the
right of admissibility inherent in all the KINU'S subjects
to public honours and employments, they urge their pre-
tensions on the score of their belief, which they cherish
the more, they tell us, because it is an hereditary
creed—in itself a reason truly net worth much. But when
they array themselves as Catholics, and assert the supe-
riority of their faith, and in that character demand en-
trance into the sanctuary of the Constitution, they natu-
rally reuse against.theniselves an overwhelming host of le-