The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1807-04-10 00:00:00

nation. -
from the interest and stanch I have in every
thing aff.eting that couotty. be tine ot the first to
give ti eAlin there, and re echo it o the furthest
part of the Empire. But what n wit be the vino-
's:Any of thou, who beedles,ly spread the
and distraft the public mind, wht n it should he
roost attentisely std most itltuncusly bud on
one ohjeß, t. at of repelling the common and
avowed foe of our Inc h ;vino% a,,dbotisti-
tun, nal welfare They are Intl of crime. They
are our unlit inveterate enemies. They are ur.fi to
be entrusted wit,' the reins of Eropite. But, Sir,
permit ma to call your attention. for a very few
Moments, to thti AR of 1; 9), upon which so morn
.. I:ernen on the

_ .
stress has been laid by tile Hon. (Imo: ,den on _
opposite side. This measure wan net intended to
apply • xclusively to the Irish Catholics, but to all
Catoolies who should hold Commissions in Ire
land. By toe Aft of U.iu a, this Aa received a•
implied general sanaion ; as no pe,ultar establish-
virus was made for Ireland, aid the two touotries
thus becoming one by the adoption of this measure,
it appears to me that. the Kit g WAS CnlSlrtert to
grant to the Catholics generally, what he had already
granted to those of Ireland. The present outc: y Its
favour of the Es.ablished Religion not only goea
against the law as intend-el by the Parliament of
Ireland, but also against the very xi-ting law
which had received the sanftion of R Authority.
But the arguments of ii.e opponents of the Catholic
claims are equally singulat as tbei• prejudices ; they
perceive no possihie danger in admitting the Ca-
tholics to posts of responsibility, both in the civil
stud military establishments, in Ireland, %lime
danger is admitted to exist, from the overweening
influence of the Catholic population ; but they
behold :t surrounded with innumerable difficulties
and dangerous consequences to the Empise, it the
principle be adopted in this county, wherr t.e
proportion of Cathelic interest arid povulation
dwindles into iesignificance. Now, Sit, I should
suppose the reverse of this proviso:ion would
he exaSly that which would strike any rational
inquirer. But I should have been content, if
the meastire had no other effea than that of rais-
ing the piejtielices of the u..enlighteutel and the
vtogar ; 1 should have been content, had the en•
deavours of the enemies of the Catholic claims been
conf.nel to the posting up of placards on the walls
of this Metropolis, deelaistory if the blondiness
of
Pori y ; or had they only introduced r, gtl euloires
into the eltinu-ses of ancient music ; but when an
attertql LAS been made to trcjudice and pervert the
,jodginent of the only lush Seminary of Literature,
when an attempt has been made by a Noble and
ltogal Duke, its Chancellor, to obtain a petition
from that Univetsity, against the Bill lately pre-
sented to Patliam.nt ; which, failing in the
test Insuslos, was irillow.d by a second, tharirg,
in espreia terms, that the only poasthle means
of Sharing the Royal favour was by presentieg
such a petition ; when letters from such exalted
personages lave been circulated, and a fermentot-
ation excited, what evil may not be supposed
flow from this combination of power and prejudice
Far be it horn me to weaken the faith of the ina:s
of the pOpulation io the Established Faith ; I knew
too well the political and moral purposes of an
established religion in a state ; but notwithstanding
these advantages, resulting from a community of
faith, we should As on the broad principles of
ns Chap-
hris.
tian chanty, when these religious distinetio
pen to mat. As to the pledge which has M:en at-
tempted to be extorted from the late Ministry, I
consider it nut only criminal, as being (to aged by
•
some secret underhand adviser of the Clown, but
d • highly impolitic mid uoconstitutional, that the King
should be collimated to the guidance ;and couasel