The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-10-22 00:00:00

'MS!! ItoMAN CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION.

The open fleeting of this respectable body took place yesterday,
at the Freemaaona"f &vein. The meeting derived additional im-
portance from the establishment of Provincial Branch Asso-
ciations in the prir.c.pel loans of England, as well ns from thereat
and rapid mums which has attended a similar institution in the
sista county. At one o'clock.
FRANCIS CANNING. EM. was called to the Chair.
Previously to the eimimeneement of the hi:silica% for which the
meeting was convened.
Tin. Se.t RETART llr. Blount) called the attention of the Aro-
eiation to the institution of a London Catholic Library, to which
the anention and sat ..; sect of the English Catholics were solicited.
It wan not intalanthei for the purposes of rivalry with any other
pre-existing society of a similar description, but for very useful and
laudable Purposes. Its object, as appeared fman a r
i
med
roil-
peers, are, " to distribute many works calculated to nourish true
relimon, and soften down the asperities that frequently impede so.
enrinterasurne between l'huistians : it has aided their exertions to
lend its the poor, works of morality and genuine history ; to wen
them from public-houses and idleness ; to give them * relish for
home and its enslearments; and to now in their hearts the mikl and
domestic virtues that become the followers of the Gospel, and the
subjects of a happy state."
Mr. Benren ptoceekd to read the transactions of the Com-
mittee of Management since the last General Meeting of the As.
sociaticm in June. In adverting to the proceedings of the Cotta.
miner since that period, he was particularly anxious to correct a
misapprehension which had gone abroad with respect to the (haps)-
, sition of the English Roman Catholics towards their brethren in
!relent!. It had been stated that the English t'utholies were deter.
mined to net independent of them, and evinced an unwillingness to
co-tonere with them. Now he was happy to state that no such
hostile feeling existed (hear, hear); but that the strongest dispo-
sition and desire prevailed to act in concert with the Catholics of
Itelard, to establish a junction with that people, who were dear to
them, and to fonn a close communication with whom must be pro.
ducting of the most important advantages to both. (Applause )
It was true they might not be entitled to assume so high a tone and
station as the Catholics of Ireland. who, by the extended means
',lnch they possessed, and the indefatigable zeal they evinced. had
trade a rapid anti a glorious progress in advancing that cause in
which the Catholic% of both countries had a common interest. But
althotiah they could not, like the Irish Catholics, boast of their
' great/numbers—although the Catholics of England did not amount
as in Ireland, to seven millions of persot:!, which entitled
them to speak with " a voice of thunder. yet they could
boast of continued and unbroken loyalty through a succession
of centuries—they could bout of the services which in former ages,
as Well as in modern times, they had rendered to their country—of
the blood they shed in her sicklier —and of having largely cumin.
hotel to augment her glory and her power. And yet did the
English Catholics present to the world the astonishing spectacle of
the descendants of those men to whom their &now-countrymen
were indebted fur the greatest boon one man could confer upon
another.—civil liberty without critic, and without even the impute.
ban of it.—exchided from the blessings of that Constitution which
they had established by their valour and their virtues. (Cheers.) '
Nor was the injury thee sustained by this exclusion from the Con-
stitution to be considered ; they were compelled to carry in their
bosoms a painful sense of inferiority to their fellow-countrymen, '
which embittered their enjoyments. They were obliged to feel as
aliens in their native country, and were made the hapless victims
of persecution in that land, which, with unaffected devotion, they
called their own. (Applause.) Ile was happy to feel. liewever, that
thepre;udires with whim they had been assailed, were daily diapers-
ieg—thst their enemies were diminishing whilst their friends were
O. the increase, and they might yet be permitted to hope for
the attainment of their rights, fur which, with their fellow-ea/ho-
les in Ireland, they had so long been making such anxious and
eanest exertion. In speaking of the Irish Cathelien he had said
that they were entitled to speak with „a voice of thunder." He
1,..4v,i that he might not be misunderstood in the meaning he
w.sinsl to convey by that expression. It was far fruit his intea.
tint to suggest or to sanction intemperance or violence on their part,
which nneht amount either to an infraction of the laws, or be dia-
.:iv:mine to the general inters:3o3ot their body: he meant only that
many and independent assertion of their rights, and by peaceable and
einstnuti.mal means, which their numbers and consideration entitled
them to Adept. (Much applause.)
'Thee minutes of the C 'nee were then read through, and a
lener :ion: the Hon. H. Clifford. expressive of regret at his inabi-
lity to attend the Meeting, and of his perfect acquiescence in the
proceedings of the Association.
Mr. ROSSO,e said that he appeared before the Association, after
Amore visited the principal cities and towns in Lancashire, where
.associations were established for furthering the common cause in
which they were engaged, which recognised the Parent Society of
fie Metropolis, and which was desirous of keeping up a eommuni.
titian with it. Such was the general union and activity that pre-
vailed amongst the Catholics in those districts which he visited,
and throughout the country, that since the paining of the Tolera-
tion Act, in the 31st year of the reign of George 111., there was
no period which prftented so strong a cause for general congratula.
ten as the present. It might be said, that a new cm had arisen,
Impicious to their interests. From the late proceedings of the
Whelks in the North of England. he anticipated the most itn-
pliant consequences. He would detail to them the progress of
it route. On the 15th of August he visited Manchester, in which
tine was a large Catholic population; there he found an Amain-
:m formed. acknowledging the Association of the metropolis. wt.
mining the natural lead they were entitled to take in their affairs,
applauding their proceedings, and in active communication with
Mena. A similar Asaneistion was formal in the important town of
Preston, militated by the same aentinients, and united also with
us; and in Blackburn, where he had also been, the formation of
another branch Association had been successfully undertaken; and
m the important city of Liverpool corresponding exertions were
made, with corresponding success, in furtherance of their cause.
At Blackburn a circumstance occurred which was a matte of con-
gratulaami. The person who spoke after him at the meeting there
was an Unitarian clergyman (hear, hear), and who made one of
the most eloquent speeches he had ever heard, in favour of the
cause which the meeting had assembled to support. Again, when
the subscriptions were entered into, so anxious were many of their
. Protestant fellow-countrymen to tender their assistance and sup-
-71, that they pressed round the table, and forty signatures of
'
k
TWIT' dim:ming brethren were attached to the subscription list,
before a angle Catholic could approach the table to put down his
name. (Hear, hear, hear.) Everywhere their dissenting fellow.
eouatrynien evinced a gratifying pre-eminence, in a desire to serve
them. It had been well saii by a speaker on one of these occasions,
" Now that the Roman Catholics are seeking their tights, on the
pnimples of civil and religious liberty, it is our duty, as Prates.
tarts, to aid and to cheer them on their way to the Temple of the
Consitution." (Applause.) The ndnit perfect harmony of semi.
went prevailed, and the fullest confidence was manifested in the As.
aviation ; the unanimity indeed that prevailed, read an important
end useful lesson to those who had endeavoured to sow dissen.
stun in their body, and who, by the principle of divide et imperil,
would fain endeavour to build their private fortunes on their dis.
union. At Wigan another Branch Association was commenced_
some legal objections (merely technical) stood in the way of its
completion, and of other societies, which had been removed by a
rest legal light--a member of their own body—(we believe he
:newt Mr. 'toiler), by whose ability and learning they had been
able, in all their chain, to keep clear of all difficulties, and to
suffer no obstruction or inconvenience from the law. Of him it
night be truly said " Te duce sit desperandurn." Having stated
tie, promising asyect of affairs in the provinces, and congratulated
nen on the increased activity that ptevails there, he begged to call
".'t attention to a rectsnimendation of the Private Committee, to
tomtit fifty pounds from their funds to the Association entitled ,
lin "Self-defence Society of Preston," for the purpose of aiding
in the establishment of a newspaper on " purely liberal and purely
lathine principles." Some thaiaence of opinion, he knew, was
c:,n,.m
tenained on the propriety of such a measure. This resolution,
t,.,..,' r. came rceoinnientled by their Committee; it obtained
, ..,._,,w,:ialescen_ ce in
hconsequence of a wish expressed by the
'ir.'“i"hZunt th: Non fur the establishment of such a paper,
it as found necessary fur the preservation of that per-
-1-..a union which at t prevailed in the body, and which it was
twh_d_e'mus to cl'enslTendn continue. (Hear, hear.) In addition to
'''''l"st to the Self-defence Society of Preston, he had his own
3ecPL"Atiinamen"hkee
of the
1-forn. which he could assure them, that the'
ptheii ieunctdion Aasociation with that request less essential to
adlnmethre body shish they so much desired. Of the pro.
~,., aid ...„.__
hue's from
of such a paper he was himself satisfied; it
in rye, ";ti 74.''I'Ld'" notirepresentation—it would advocate the'
o, ig, imaa 1,. and furnish those, who, either from prejudice
ti
°en,
tines .
f, ii!ere. still hostile to us, with the means of convincing
um integritf of their principles and the justice of their
rein's. (Her. (tlttleear.. hea,aers
bele would conclude be moving—
, . requested to transmit the rum of 504 re.
tten.isiseemieyto by thoe,
thfo:erng reti7:insendation. to Joseph Bushell,
Sir. BUTLER h lie Association."
n, %emitted the resolution.
oat the
3.1 r. R.een'ATtllNe Toyed an amendment, to the effect
,:gion7;Zieuaglito
be Mr. Andrews, who, it was well known,
entrusted with editing the paper for which
.I'3 "PP"" wu solicited. Ile was active in their service ; he had
'side considerable exertion to advance their cause by his previous
venerates; and was, in his opinion, well suited fur the duty he had
tif L"
•.T. *ALLY On
.idergbk doubt we understood) seconded the amendment. ('on-
e nett_
_s 7istedteata_to the expediency of establishing a Ca-
,.,c,„ametwozotocin e
before if wliich he himself entertained. This
topien of the embolinsthin fur adoption, principally at the
. u the Nonli, and with a view to conciliate
urn In all the opinions said principles of Mr. Andrews he did
r'se Wee: but un '
fi,:lt. enip ~,,- - • que""'"l'ir he had actively, and often use.
. _
and s
his pen in their behalf, and therefore merited sp.
!..7i's 47._
energies
. Tett. : They had entered into a resolution to exert
ia7117
_PT
I.thet piens" in their favour, and this was a par-
t'w
anid .Z7l «__. revolution. lie hoped that increased means
ailnntni'WetTneTt
_Re" resources, ard enable them to acquire
aintttenhediedr sufrpiZti;imiingham,
to
The It", 31r. Do7nave"sw",llweehoee
,I:ireishearsitthlltelt,lmlemineeting of the Association that day, was of opi.
enurse
at,i.othlosaet ;it:coin:ll_ and
__..
would. be to transmit 561. to the Am.
not to give the money to Mr. Andrews,
m inann..„..dr c,'' 7 opinions very general disapprobation had
1
,17. it
etoold by respectable portion of the Roman Catholic
nproptianon of the mime eligible to leave the responsibility of
y to the Preston Association than by a
, ___..w. ..
t.. . by which the association would, in
,an",i'nsoointool..sten identify itself in the public opinion with his writ.
heId:COLLINS felt an unwill'
subjese of s grant „t Hire's and delicacy to speak 'upon
'adverted upon is to 7 • Andrews. as he had been severely
of his writings. It was a principle.,

however, on which he Invariably acted, to saaiflce all personal
feelings to a generalgood. (Hear, hear.) The Association should,
however, Nor in mind, that on a former occasn they had agreed
in the inexpediency of having an exclusivelv Catholic newisPoPer•
and the effect of carrying the present amendment would he to re-
scind that residuum). Resides, he was apprehensive, if this amend-
ment were carried, the Catholic aristocracy, to litany of whom
Mr. .Indrews's roitieiples and opinions were highly objectionable,
would seces'e from the Association. They wouls: thereby lase
that weight and influence which the Nobility gave to their pro-
ceedings, and he like a headless trunk." without the natural
leaders of their body. By sending the money to the Society at
Preston, it would be returned to 31r. Andrews, and the responsili.
lity of its apprispriation would he removed from the Metropolitan
Society to the Society there. He would, therefore, withhold his
assent fmm the amendment.
_

Mr. BLOUNT agreed in the substance of the observations of
his Rev. Friend (Dr. (:ollins), but owned that it was not from
any apprehension of displeasing the ariatocracy ; the sense of
duty should alone actuate them sir influence their conduct (Bear,
hear,) and no' any apprehension of giving pleasure or dispirit-
sire to particular persons, however respectable they might be.
(Hear, bear, hear.)
A young Gentleman, whose name we could not learn, next
addressed the meeting at considerable length ; he enforced the ex-
pediencv of having a Catholic newspaper, and eulogised the writ-
ings Alla services of Mr. Andrews.
A long and desultory conversation now took place, in which Mr.
Shea. Mr. Ronson. Mr. Quin, and 3lr. Kelly, took a part, in
the course of which an amendment was moved, fur recommitting
the recommendation of the Secret Committee. but tie ally both
amendments were negatived, and the original resolution of Mr.
Howson was carried almost unanimously.
Mr. C. flonesttiast, jun. said, that he had been directed by
the Committee of Management, to convey the Right Rev. l)octor
Baines their thanks fur his late excellent work in defence and ex-
llanation of Catholic principles. lie had received the billowing
tter from that Right Hey. Gentleman, which, with their permis-
sion, he would read to them. (Cries of " Read, read.")
" iVardour Castle. Sept. 28. 1821
" Mx DrAll SlR—four kind favour of the 2lth La.% been for-
warded to me here, and I hasten to return you my sincere thanks
for it. It would argue a stoicism which, I believe. is not required
in a Christian, were Ito feel insensible to the approbation of those
to whose opinions I look up with respect, and whose esteem Iso
highly value. It gives me also great pleasure to think that I have
been able to do something to second :he views of the Roman ('a.
tholic .Issociationa the object, and (as far as I am acquainted with
it) the conduct of which Iso entirely approve. I hope that neither
the apathy of the indolent, nor the sneers of the self-conceited, or
of those who have just sense enough to snarl at everything that is
done by ethers, hut not enough to do anything themselves, will
deter the Catholic Association from pursuing their steady course.
Every day will add to their strength and importance, and after a
time the fools who condemn will sneak into your ranks, or retro-
grade into approbation. Vint will oblige me. on the first opportu-
nity, by presenting my thanks to the Association for the honour
they have conferred upon me, assuring them that they have my
best wishes, and shall continue to have my best efforts.
" Believe me, my dear Sir,
" Yours faithfully,
"R. Balsas."