The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-01-16 00:00:00

BATH CITY BANK.

We have much pleasure in noticing that the bank of
Messrs. Sinith, Moger, and Evans has re-opened, and wo
congratulate our fellow-citiaans on an event which we fully
anticipated would take place, from the known respectability
and integrity of the parties. We arc well aware that it
was owing to their very liberal accommodation to their
friends and the public, and not to any deficiency of real
capital, that they were unable to meet the sudden and un-
expected pressure of the times, so universally experienced by
the oldest and most established batiks in all parts of the
country, and which, we are happy to find, has now so ge-
nerally subsided. The re-opening of the Bath City Bank
must, we will be bold to assert, he a source of great satis-
faction to the commercial and other inhabitants of this city
and its vicinity.—Bralt Herald.

On Thursday last a fire broke out in the carding-room I
of Messrs. Marshall and Co.'s manufactory, owing to the
friction of a machine called a dent; but by. the exertions
of the workmen the flames were extinguished without
extending beyond the precincts of their santanic origin.—
Leeds Mercury.
Lire LOST nv FIRE.—A dreadful event happened on
Monday. Mrs. Brine, an aged lady, who resided in Car-
leton, Sherhorne (and widow of the late Mr. Robert Brine,
of Temple Coombe), was accidently burnt to death in con-
sequence of a spark of fire alighting upon her dress, whilst
sitting in her parlour. On discovering her perilous situa-
ation the deceased rang her bell, in hopes that the servant
maid would have come to her assistance ; but not hasten-
ing, she again rang violently, and was proceeding from her
room when she was met by the woman. The maid at-
tempted in vain to extinguish the fire, and was very much
burnt in her endeavours; she then flew affrighted into the
street for help. which instantly brought several of the
neighbours to the scene, where they beheld the suffering
lady standing in the passage, exposed to the draughts of
the door, with her arms extended, completely enveloped in
flames. In the absence of any other expedient, one man
proceeded to empty a bucket of water over the awful spec-
tacle which stood before him; but the fatal work hail,
proceeded too far, her numerous vestments were now re-
duced to ashes, and even her parched flesh parted from the
bones on being handled. The best medical assistance was
administered without delay, but to no avail. The event
happened between nine and ten in the morning, and by
four in the afternoon the unfortunate lady had breathed
her last.—Sherhorne Mere:iris.
An inquest was held on Wednesday at Stockport on the
body of a young man who met his death by gating. en.
tangled in the machinery of the Lipper Carr factory ; both
his legs were torn off, and the rest of his frame wu as
dreadfully lacerated, that when the machiocry Was stopped;
all that approved to remain what. the words.or an eye.
wiumas, 1.1-,111:e a bundle of tags. A Tlrditl .4 sedihntal
I death was returned. • •

IRISII C.4THOLIC IfEETING.

On Wednesday, pursuant to requfsithm, a 31 feting df the
.Ca:
tholics of Dublin was befit at the Catholic Rooms, Bergh-quay.

On the tuotion of Mr. (Mo w NELL:-
MICHAEL GALWAY, Esq. was called to the Chair, and Joux
LAWLF.FS, Esq. appointed Seeremity to the Meeting.
Alit haw Less having read the requisition—
Mr. O't !ow ELI. tone, and stated that the purpose of the Sleet-
ing was to make arrangements for the proceedings of a Cdthelid
Association to be held in Dublin on Monday next. In allusiOn to
a rumour respecting the legality of an Annie,Aion assembling for
fourteen days, the lehrned gentleman *aid that, having repeatedly
and most diligently looked into the Act, in order to secure the Ca-
tholics against their hollow friends and determined enemies, he
could assure the Meeting that the sittings of the /11SOCIRIIIIIII for
fourteen clays would be periectly consistent with tie lasr, which the
Catholics were at all times disposed to respect ; when he said re-
spect, he merely meant that they wouM not Violate a law, which
could not be otherwise considered than as an additional penal code.
and of which he would only further say, that if the liberty of
speech existed in Algiers, " so help me God." he did not believe
the Dey would have.decreed such an ordinance against it. This
outragsmus statute effected the political avd civil rights of every
member of every sect in the kingdom ; and the people of England
should never think themselves secure while the Ministers have such
a precedent, which they say has been so salutary in its effects upon
Ireland ; and though the Catholics will not violate, yet they never
can acquiesce in the statute. The learned gentleman, in continua-
tion, said that. although the Association was designated Catholic,
yet it was intended to embrace, like the old Association, every de-
scription of Chgistian ; and, in proof he had to state, that he (Mr.
O'Connell) having paid for his own ticket, the second had been
filled up for Hamilton Rowan, (cheers) a most respectable Pro-
tenant, and who, notwithstanding what had been said of him in
another place, nothing could have happened to lessen the respect,
admiratim, and regard which the people of Ireland must always
feel for that excellent man ; and it any errors of life could at any
time be imputed to him, his domestic and public virtues have so
compensated for them, and are so higlilv estimated, as to make
Mr. Rowan respected by Government and beloved by the people.
The first point of detail which he (Mr. O'Connell) would propose
respected the hour of meeting; and Ire then moved that • Catholic
Association should assemble at twelve o'clock on Monday, at the

Catholic Know. Agreed to neat. con.
Mr. O'Con NELL next moved, that Lord Fingal], or in his ati.
settee, the neat senior Catholic Peer prevent, should take the Chair.

Passed unanimously.
AIL LAWLESS suggested that the Meeting should he called
an Assembly of the Friends of Cicil and Religious Liberty,
thereby leaving not a doubt of its comprising members of all reli-
gious persuasions.
Mr. 012oNsEta. said, that in the old Association the term
" Catholic" was discussed very fully ; and that the members of
that body had resolved on retaining it ; and certainly, that Asa°.
niation contained most excell:nt friends of civil and religions

. .
betty. The Association, though styled Catholic, was hie a so.
ciety in London, termed " The Political Protestants." and which
contained many Catholics. But supposing the Meeting was even
disposed to change the title of the Association. he (Mr. O'Connell)
would object to their doing away with a term so dear to the people

of Ireland.
Mr. LAWLESS said, that in order to secure a good attendance,
and not to destroy the hopes of those who looked forward to the
Meeting being respectable, from its comprising; men of all classes
of society, so that the public mind shall be faithfully represented ;
and in order that no man shall be excluded from the Meeting,
owing to his inability to pay a pound, he should move that all
persons paying one shilling at each sitting should be. admitted ;
and he would say that it was only amongst the tradesman's portion
of the community that lie had always tound the real honest !the-
relny and purity of pa•riotieni. (Loud laughter.) He (Mr.
Lawless) did not mean any reflection on the present aristocracy ;
but it was only by the tradesmen that honesty was manifested in
1793, when they, by their firm, manly spirit, and when aban-
doned by the demagqgues of the day, they with a steady and de-
termined hand, guided and retained the aristocracy in theroad
of propriety, and the gentry have since approximated more
to the general feeling And views of the great body of the people.
Mr. LUKE PLUNKETT approved of the principle of Mr.
Isawless's suggestion, and if he would make it five shillings for
the entire fourteen days, he (Mr. Plunkett) would second the
motion,
Mr. ()Tot:KELL hoped Mr. Lawless was not intent on haring
the proceedings of the Catholics made a subject of laughter. The
amount of subscription to the Association was determined on after
very full deliberation, and it was no additional charge upon the
members; for if it were the old Association that was about to
meet, they should each pay their subscription falling due in the
present month, in order to be eligible to admission. The mode of
payment suggested by Mr. Lawless would take from it the charac-
ter and spirit of the intended Association, which it was meant should
go as close as the statute would permit to its great prototype, the
old Association; and he (Mr. O'Connell) felt no anxiety to see
other moons in the new Association than the members of the old
one. Besides, they required funds for the necessary expenses of
sending forward their petitions, and which could only be procured
by means of a political Meeting, as the funds of the present Asso-
ciation are only applicable to the .purposes of education and other
charitable objects. But Mr. Lawless wronged the working people
if lie thought they had not the disposition and means to pay a
pound to the Association; for out of seven tickets that he (Mr.
O'Connell) had been paid for, two of them were for working me-
chanics.
A person who said he was a working mechanic expressed his con-
viction that the proceedings of the Aseociation would, he said, be
those of the aristocracy meter than of the people, should not Mr.
Lawlese's suggestions be attended to.
Mr. LAWLESS asked if the people Would have an opportunity at
an Aggregate Meeting of expressing their opinion on such petitions
as should be agreed to in the Avociation.
Mr. O'CONNELL replied, necessarily the petitions should have
the Sanction of Aggregate Meetings previous to their being for-
warded to Parliament.
Mr. PLUNKETT pressed Mr. Lawless to propose his motion,
and which Mr. Lawless haring agreed to, Mr. Plunkett seamed
the motion.
• Mr. A. C. O'Dw'rra approved of the principle of Mr. Lawless's
motion; but as it would be found to be Impracticable, he should

oppose it.
The CHAIRMAN having put the question, it was negatived by a
large majority.
Mr. 14.1:N/LETT required a (Milton, and on tellers being
appointed, the learned Gentleman called on the friends of the
perinie to come to his side of the MOM
The Rev. Mr. L'Esrusuos observed upon the impropriety of
that call, and assured Mr. Plunkett that, on the opposite side
there were persons (amongst them himself. Mr. L'Estrange) who
had the interests of the people as much at heart, and had la-
boured longer and more effectually for their good, than be (Mr.
Plunkett).
Mr. PLUNK.ETT hoped Mr. L'Estrange would continue to do
so; but he doubted if he had done as math for the people as he
(Mr. P.) had.
On counting the numbers for and against Mr. Lawless's motion
for admitting members to the Association on payment of five shil-
lings instead of ono pound, there appeared for the motion four, and
against it forty.four.
Mr. O'Cow NELL said that as this interlude would cause much
laughter elsewhere, it was bet fair they should have a little of the
fun to themselves, and as the laughter was now over, they would
proceed to business. The find object that should employ. the Asso-
ciation would be determining the proper form of a petition to Par-
liament for emancipation , arid of considering the propriety of urg-
ing on a debate on the Catholle question in the next Session, and
of petitioning both Houses; for they should not be told there were
matters of equal importance with theirs ; the Catholic question was
one of paramount imperial moment, and the Catholics should never
suffer a Session to pass without having their question brought be.
fore Parliament. There was no possibility of any difference of opi-
nion in preparing the petition to Parliament, as all were agreed
that it should seek for unqualified and unconditional emancipation
only. The next subject et importance would be preparing the de.
tails for the parochial meetings; and it win because he (Mr. O'Con-
nell) knew that those meetings could be held with the most perfect
good order and observance of the peace, that he was anxious they
should take place ; in order to negative the so-often-told story by
Catholic opponents, that the people take no interest in the
Catholic question. At those meetings the voice, the feelings,
and the wishes of the people would be declared, and then
would be the time for those who are opposed to the wings to
dissect the body, to pluck the feather', wings and all, if it
should suit their taste; hut if there were three successive simul-
taneous peaceable meeting of all the parishes in Ireland, there
would be thereby exhibited such a moral farce as should (he
would not say terrify) convince the Ministry that it is not wise
that people who feel their degradation intensely, should continue
to be shut out from an equal participation with their fellow-
subjects in the bounties of the Constitution. The subject that
should next follow would be preparing a petition for the repeal of
the Act for the suppression of the Association. Although they
could not but reprobate the folly
.of that portion of the Ad-
ministration that was instrumental in procuring that unconstitu-
tional statute, yet they should also do them the justice to acknow-
ledge that by the same Act the holding of Orange lirodie was ,
rendered illegal, and since its passing, not one of those has
dared to signify its existence, though heretofore they hid news
then to be held under the protection of Magistrates; there tap
however, a circumstance made known to him, and authenticated
in such a way as left no doubt of its truth, and he should there-
fore bring it forward in the Association ; it related to the holding
of an Orange Lodge in a regiment quartered in Kilkenny, but
which it appears bad its warrant loom an English authority 3 and
it was, of impotence the matter should be brought before the taro-
per aE.horities, otherwise the example would soon spread. if the
statute Gould be evaded by obtaining the warrants from English
Masters. There would be no ocateMn to dread the revival of
Orange bodges, as a consequence of the repeal of the Act by which
they were suppressed ; for If Emancipation sae granted, the lodges
would moon di/intik away cot want of that factitious hem diet had
so long nourished them. and they would became se as
any other vipers to the Irish soil There was also the lap Bill
brought in by Mr. Peel, by which fortpeight names were obtained
by ballot in the fairest and meat unobjectioemble mode imaginable ; 1
i
gh Mere was a, portion that requited amendment, portico-
larly If applied to this countryt- namely,.. where the eMeer pf
the Court is jetntitted to guilt, the twelve Jurymen wet of the 4B;
god. ;hut Mho Bill. of ea& ponaiderable itameement to the trial
14 Jury in Ea,ol. should torn twee witbkaM frees this enemy,
mai only be acianuned far by supposing that some pawn
teemed with InMging it Mb Tarliadient wis In esphstidoe of a

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