The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-05-09 00:00:00

COLLEGE (k ,iI.IY.NOOTII.

The following is an extract from a letter read by
Sir John Newport, in the debate, on Thnrsiluy
night, in the House of Commons, upon the grant
to the College of Maynooth. The letter is that of Dr.
Power, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Waterford,
a man of exemplary morals and considerable infor-
mation. Doctor Power says, ." 1 beg leave to ob-
serve, that as vet it remains for some friend of
Ireland, in the Douse, is plate in its true light the
injustice of charging our people with ignorance, and
our priesthood with wilful cud studious neglect of
instructing theta ; whilst on one hand the common
people of Irel•ind have been, and are still, for the
most part, deprived of the opportunity of learning
even to read ; and, on the other, the Alinisters of
our church are so few in proportion to the multi-
tudes committed to their care. tin reading some
of the publications daily issuing from the press,
whenever the state of Ireland is the main or inci-
dental subject, I am equally astonished and con-
cerned to find in several of them great illiberality,
much falsehood, and gross ignorance of Irish
*Gies. Some affect to lament our want of knew-
ledge, and to ascribe all the misfortunes of our
country to a wicked priesthood, who, from principle,
keep people blindfolded, to lead then where they
will. Perhaps they are afraid lest the Legislature
should think of remedying dk evils complained
of, by providtug for an adequate supply of Catho-
lic Priests, and therefore they endeavour to chew
them as unworthy of being entrusted with the in-
struction of the people. It is a fact to prove the
injustice of the allegation against us, that in the
diocese of Waterford and Lismore there is scarcely
a parish, I mean a district under one pastor, where
there are not from three to live thousand souls,
Catholics, having but two clergymen to officiate
for them. The town of Cloinnell. with wear ten
thousand Catholics, has but two Clergymen, with
the occasional assistance of two Regulars, or Friars,
who reside there, to through the incredible la-
bour and hardship of administering. a very ritual
religion to such a multitude. Carrick and Dinh
Barron are nearly in the saute predicament; and
there is actually near Dungarvon, a parish with ut
!eel four thousand souls, where we have only one
Clergyman.
" It will be asked why these parishes are not better
served? because we have not Clergymen for them.
Undoubtedly these poor people cannot be well
instructed ; hut must the pastor be charged ‘‘itli
indolence, or say thing worse, because he cannot
miraculously feed the four thousand; or they be
charged with ignorance, when they have sot the
means or opportunity of instruction ? Let justice
be done, and liberality extended to the Irish peo-
ple and to their priests. Let there be schools for
the poor, on a fair and enlarged plan,and the neces-
sary aid and encouragement given to the candidates
for the Catholic priesthood, se as to secure a num-
ber sufficient for the exigency of the country. In-
deed, Sir, we are much wronged when we are
charged with keeping the people in the dark for
bad and interested purposes. Vl'e see no benefit
_ _

which could arise frOm this line of conduct, but
mach serious evil. I shall conclude with saying,
that if the LeOnlature shall act wisely and fairly
toward" the Irish people, clergy and laity, the pus
pulition of this country will become as good men
and good subjects on Europe can boast, and a toner
of strength Mike United Empire."

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.