The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-02-15 00:00:00

CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION.

DUBLIN, Fed. 10.
At throe o'clock, Lord tiorroanston having taken the chair, the
Secretary laid before the Meetiti a letter from Mr. 31.130nne11, the
agent ot the Association, in London, in which, after stating that
he had received fruit, Sir Francis Burdett an assurance that I.e was
prepared to move the petition of the Association, Mr. APDontiell
ruentions having addressed a letter to the Earl ot Liverpool, to
ascertain whether his Majesty's Government would object to the
Aaacctation offering evidence, and by appearing, by themselves or
counsel, at the bar of each House of Parliament, against the pro.
posed BilL
The reply of the Earl of Liverpool, which was contained in Mr.
31• Donnell s knew, was then read as follows:
" Fite House, 6th Feb. 1d25.
" Sta.—l have received your letter of the 4th inst., and I am
under the necessity of informing you, in reply to it, that I cannot
, enter into any communication with the agent of the Roman Catho-
lic Agave:3dpi' of Ireland.
" I am, Sir, your very faithful and humble servant,
" Eneaa 31• Donnell, Esq. " LIVERPOOL."
! After mane routine business, Mr. Lawtris rose to propose a
vote of thanks to the Duke of Hamilton, and those who celebrated
the birth-day of Mr. Fox, at the late dinner in Edinturgh.
Mr. Lswless's motion was unanimously carried.
Mr. Leo tEss then moved, " that Mr. 01.'onnell and Mr.
Shell should be requested to proceed with all convenient despatch to
London, and to supplicate to be heard on behalf of the Catholics
of Ireland, at the Bar of both Houses of Parliament."
Mr. Lawless's motion, which .was seconded by Lord Killeen, '
was then put, and carried with acclamation.
Mr. 0"Cow seal. expressed his acknowledgments for the
honour conferred upon him, and his readinna to undertake the
trust proposed to be confided to him. Ile had, however, one feel-
ing of regret un the occasion, which arose from the consciousness
of his inabil:ty to render his country tie services which he would
desire. This inability, he said. was occasioned not oily by his de-
ficiency in the necessary qualifications but was augmented by the
restrictions imposed by the forms of the Houses of Parliament,
where a discretionary power was vested in every India idual mem-
ber, of rising to order and turning out the legal obtruder who should
touch too feelingly upon Ireland's wrongs, or expose too clearly the
nipolicy of oppressing those who were struggling with no other
view than to give stability to the throne and strength to the Consti-
tatioa, by the junction of a nation of faithful allies. (Cheers.)
lie was happy, however, to feel, that any deficiency of his would
be amply compensated fur by the splendid talents of his friend, '
Mr. Shell. (Cheers.)
Mr. SHELL said, the task imposed upon toe amounts to in ob-
ligation. It is not in my power to decline it. My friend Mr.
0 Connell has pronounced an encomium upon me to which any
humble merit of mine is wholly disproportioned, Praise so lavish
verges upon irony; but I will not give myself leave to indulge for
a nu-anent in the supposition that his panegyric is the mask of
satire. The bar of the House of Commons (if we shall be per.
nutted to approach it) will afford little opportunity for general ex-
patiation upon the national wrongs. It is not a stage for popular
harangue, but I am sufficiently vain.to think that 1 shall maintain
that demeanour which becomes the assembly you will have de-
puted me to address, and which will befit the professional capacity
in which it is your pleasure, and not my choice, that I should ap-
pear. But, iny.Loid, there are other objects to be attained in this
national delegation. We may have opportunities, in the midst of
large convocations of the English people, to elucidate the condition of
Ireland. IVe shall enter into great public assemblies' and put it to the
justice, to the honour, and to the magnanimity of British citizens,
whether it is meet or generous to perpetuate the dissensions, and
minister to the calamities of Ireland. We shall throw light upon
the misfortunes of our country, and put the English people in full
possession of our wrongs. They see not yet petfeetly masters of
them. They are not acquainted with the full extent of the injuries
that have been inflicted upon us. They are ignorant of the fright-
ful results of the misgoiertiment of Ireland; and so far from being
disposed to indulgent any acrimonious sentiment towards that great,
that powerful, and matchless nation, however harsh and cruel the
system which they have adopted with respect to Ireland, we should
exclaim—" Forgive them, for they know nut what they do."
(Loud slid continued cheering,) Yes, my Lord, their ignorance of
the amount of their injustice furnishes its extenuation; laying
aside all considerations of abstract justice, the part which they pur-
sue is at variance with their manifest tnterests. The oppression
of Ireland is a most expensive indulgence. The system of penalty
exposes them to enormous cost. It is right that they should be ap-
pris'ed of the danger to which their great empire is exposed in this
most vulnerable member of their vast dominions. A superstitious
politician would be disposed to ascribe the misrule of Ireland to an
insanity which Providence had predestined, and which may lead at
last to ruin. There appears to be a kind of destiny in the nsal-ad-
tninistration of Ireland, which illustrates the scriptural denunciation
—" Quern dens volt pealere, rims demensit." England is now at
the summit of her prosperity ; but, in contemplating the gorgeous
and magnificent spectacle which is displayed in her almost tuna-
ampled glory, I cannot refrain from reverting to u tine passage in
the poetry. of Gray, in which the illusionary splendor of a POWs.
kingdom is depicted t—
" Fair laughs the moon, and soft the zephyr blows,
%While proudly riding o'er the azure realist,
In gilded trim the gallant sestet goys,
Youth at the prow and pleasure at the helm,
Regardless of the sweeping whirlwind's sway,
That, hush'd in grim repose, expects its evening prey."
The present prospects of England are magnificent and splendid ;
but even in the midst of the brilliant serenity with which she is sur-
rounded, it is not difficult to perceive a speck in the west, which
may gradually gather to a cloud, and burst at last in a " sweeping
whirlwind" upon her bead. If something be not done for the con-
ciliation of seven millions of British subjects, whose wealth, whom
' spirit, and *base intelligence are rapidly progressive, the results
cannot fail to be terrible. What interest have the Irish people in
the prosperity of the British Empire ? We are compelled to seek
for hope in disaster. Perpetual excitements to discontent are ap-
plied to the national mind. A torch is ostentatiously waved in the
midst of a gunpowder magazine. What is the true principle of
national strength ? It is in the interest which every man feels in the
prosperity of the State of which he is a member. This position
has been nobly illustrated by Mr. Fox, in a speech in which he
exemplifies the glorious results of pure and perfect freedom. "It
! incorporates"—these are the words of the lofty patriot—" every
man with the State ; it makes every man feel that he is fighting for
himself, and not for another; that at is his own cause, his own con-
cern, his own dignity upon the face of the earth—his own interest
en the identical soil on which he stands, that he has to maintain ;
and accordingly we find, that the nations of antiquity who were
animated by iota exalted principle, have won front the universal
suffrage of mankind the palm of heroic strength and vigour.
U'here is the man that rods the history of the Persian war—what
boy whose heart is warmed by the great and sublime actions
which the spirit of liberty produced, duce not find in this principle
the key to all the wonders that were achieved at Thermopylae ? He
sees that nothing but the love of freedom could produce the grand
and irresistible emotion; and even from the illustration which our
' own times have given, it is in vain to deny that the principle is
atonal, and that it belongs to the heart of man." (Loud cheers)
I Yes, it belongs to the heart of man, and where is the Statute that
I *all put it down ? It is from that high and instinctive sentiment
that this great Association, which comprises the most influential
members of our vast community, has derived its influence and
poorer. It is sure to re-appear in another shape; out of its ruins
another institution will arise; there is a Protean quality in the
spirit of freedom upon which no Act of Parliament can lay its hold.
But, toy Lord, whatever may be the result of our present embar-
rassing condition, let us, at all events, be firm, and calm, and
unite:l; let us be true to ourselves, and we " cannot be false to any
man ;" let us persevere in our honourable exertions, and (I repeat
the words of Alr. Fox) give additional proof that the love of tree.
dun is eternal, and that it belongs to the heart of man. (Loud
chzers.)
After which Mr. O'CoggEnt submitted the following Resolu-
dens which were passed with acclamation :
" That, in consideration of the respect and veneration in which
we bold the Earl of Fingall, he be requested to act as head of the
Deputation of the Catholics of Ireland in London.
That the four Catholic Archbishops, and the Catholic Peers,
be requested to constitute a part of this Deputation.
" That the Catholic Bishops of Ireland, or as many of them as
can conveniently du so, be tequoted to form a part ot that Depu-
tation.
That the Sons of the Catholic Peers of Ireland, and the Ca-
tholic Baronets, be requested also to fern' a part of such Depu-
tstian.
Chat as many of the merchants and professional gentry of Ire-
land, members of the Association, as can possibly attend, be re-
quested to form part of such Deputation."

It is generally rumoured that Mr. Plunkett, Attorney-
, General, will be created a Peen—Sl:Alin Paper.
The Limerick Observer mentions, that letters from se-
veral of the Chief Constables of Police in this county, state,
that their districts never enjoyed more perfect tranquillity
(which is likely to be permanent) than at the present mo-
ment.
A melancholy occurrence took place in the neighbour-
hood of Bray on Tuesday last. Mr. James Fox being out
shooting, and in the act of passing through a hedge, lie
applied the butt-end of his fowling-piece to put back the
bushes, when, by accident, the piece sent off, and lodged
the contents in his body; he almost immediately expired.
Mr. Moore, the Coroner for the county, held an inquest on
the body, when, of course, a verdict of Accidental Death
was returned.
For the last week or ten days, a report, highly prejudi-
cial to the moral character and reputation of one of those
gentlemen who, to use the language of the poet, are
Set span for the fane and its service divine,"
lately resident in the southern part of this county, and
heretofore of this city, has bcen very generally circulated
in this neighbourhood. We know not whether the story is
true OT false ; but from its being so generally talked of, we
fear it cannot he entirely without foundation. If, how-
ever, the reverend individual alluded to be innocent, we,
as friends, would advise him to come forward and com-
bat his enemies. If he be guilty, the farther he flies
from this part of the country the better.--Durhom Ciro-
sick.