The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-11-09 00:00:00

Ni. W CA THOM ASSOCIATION.

From the Dublin Ewing Post of Saturday.]
This hods met to-day, pursuant to adjournment, st the Corn
Exchange tiooms.

_age It.
The linnuurable GO NC I LLC Frnexc II in the Chair.
On the motion of Mr. t Mom NELL several new member& were
admitted; one of whom was Mr. G. Blood, &respectable Protestant
Gentleman.

firs O'CONNELL gave notice of a motion for the next day of
meeting, originating from a speech or siitiresa reported in the
Aforeirto Chrintick of the 27th ult. to have been delivered on the
24th of the seine month, by a Mr. John Wilkes, to the electors
of the Borough of Sudbury, in England. which 'peed' he (Mr.
O'Connell), without 'naming any disrespect to Mr. Wilkes, de-
clared to contain the falsest and foulest charges ever uttered againat
the Catholics. He contrasted the conduct of Mr. Wilkes with that
of the Pmestant nobility, gentry, and clergy, on the same day (the
24th). at the alunatet Provincial Meeting, and declared that it
struck Idol with astonishment and honor, that any portion of their
fellow-subjects could be so bcsottedly ignorant as to believe the
charges alleged by Mr. Wilkes against then) (the Catholics of the
Empire), or that they could be courted by the assertion of false-
hoods so glaringly impudent as those attributed to the candidate
tor Sudbury. Any one who was capable of so speaking of his fel.
low men, was not a Christian ; he was, in his opinion, worse than
the Infidel. Such bigotry was, he thanked Got not to be found
in Ireland. (Cheers.) They (the Catholics) never attributed to
Protestants tenets which they disavowed, and which those attri-
buting them must know to be false. The assertions to which lie
(Mr. O'Connell) alluded, were not uttered in the privacy of
conversation, but for the express purpose of winning the con-
fidence of a people to intrust—to Mr. Wilkes, the noblest con.
faience that could be reposed in man. Mr. O'Connell alluded to
the inconsistency of the British Government regarding the dis.
missal some time since of en artillery officer in Malta, for re-
fusing to fire a signal in honour of some public ceremony of
the Catholic Church. That officer might have said to the Cont.
mantler-in-Chief when he was deprived of his commission, "sou
made me, when taking that commission, swear that the sacrifice of the
Mass was damnable and idolatrous, and yet you punish me because
I refuse to pay honour to an idolatrous ceremony." (Hear.) Such
a proceeding he considered one of the most curious anomalies con-
nected with the entire conduct of the Government towards the
Catholics. He then adveitid to the charges made by Mr. Wilkes—_
first, that of " divided allegiance," which he repelled in the
strongest manner. if the Pope (said he) offered any opposition to
the powers or prerogative of the King, they would not only disobey
him, but would shed the last drop of their blood in opposing his
authority. (Loud Cheers.) The next charge was, that the
Catholic Church claimed the power of absolving town the obliga.
ton of an oath." To this he would only reply, that but for the
conscientious regard of the Catholics for their oaths they could sit
in that House, to obtain a seat in which Mr. Wilkes scrupled not to
utter those false calumnies. Another charge brought by the Can-
didate for Sudbury was, that " Catholics kept no faith with here.
ties." Ile (Mr. O'Connell) did believe that there was not a man
in England mad enough to utter such at, assertion in the face of
high Heaven. (Cries of " ),ear, hear.") Why should rot
bigotry niche progress in England when such assertions were not
only allowed to be made in silence, but met in this country a sort
of tacit approbation ? (Hear) Mr. O'Connell concluded by giving
notice of a motion " to appoint a Committee, to dmw up a letter to
Alr. John Wilkes, remonstrating with hitn en the unfounded
statements respecting the Catholics, attributed to him in the public
prints." (Applause.)
Mr. O'llotestaw wished to make one observation on what had
fallen from Mr. O'Connell. On the night of the memorable defeat
of the Catholic Bill in the Lord', he hail met the great, the good
Lord Fitewilliam (Cheera ) ; a Nobleman whose name ought never
to be uttered in Ireland without eliciting sentiments of the most
ardent respect and attachment. (Repeated cheers.) It was at a
late hour that he met him. and he (31r. O'Gorman) advised his
Lordship not to remain in the House longer, but retire, leaving his
proxy for the Catholic Cause. His Lordship replied, it was, pro.
bably, the last time he should ever have it in his power to vote on
that question, and God forbid that he should not give it his tiro
ewe support, and that he would that night be the last to speak for
the Catholics. (baud applause.) Next day he again saw his
Lordship, and when lie (Mr. O'Gorman) expressed his wonder at
the allegations made by Lord Liverpool in the House, he replied
that Lord Liverpool and those who supported hint had nothing now
but misrepresentation to have recourse to—and declared that the
Catholic Cease would be carried if the English mind were once
disabused. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. O'REILLY thought the Association did Mr. Wilkes too
much honour to notice him at all.

Dlr. Cow WAY was convinced that every member of the Associ-
ation well knew that it was nut with ref:Truce to the individual
that the motion was proposed it was for the purpose of disabusing
those •Ito had beard or read Mr. Wilkes's address.

Mr. O'Coxirci.e. gave notice of a motion, for publishing to
the British nation an accurate account of the persecutions which
the Catholics of the Netherlands were at present suffering. In
so doing, he alluded to the misrepresentations which the Eng-
lish press copied from the French Jacobin papers, the Cuatrrier
Francois and Constikaionna, and gave a detail of the conduct
of the King of the Netherlands to the Catholics of his kingdom.
Mr. (PREtI.LY made some observations regarding the Educa-
tion Committee, appointed at the last meeting of the Association,
and apologised for their not having prepared a Report to be sub-
mitted to the general body.
Mr. CONWAY said, that on Sattirday last he had explained to
the Association the reasons which prevented the Comnitkee from
reporting. Ills explanation was such an apology as the Report
which had been made on the state of Irish affairs by the Committees
of the Houses of lords and Commons. (Rear, hear.)
Mr. O'CoN tee t.t. spoke at some length to a motion of which
he had last week given notice, respecting the publication of docu-
ments repelling the allegations contained in the Anti-Catholic
petitions presented during the last Session of Parliament. All
that the Catholics dented was discussion and investigation. During
the last three years not less than thirty additional Roman Catholic
chapels had been built in Engiand, and he had reason to know
that there were now in progress of erection there at least eight
more. But he looked not to the religious effect which that
discussion might produce; it would at least have the beat effects
as to the chip cause of tha Catholics. . .

Mr. LUKE PLUSXLTT seconded the motion, which was carried
unanimously.
O'Co Ng t.t. gave notice of a motion that the Doll,: French
paper should be taken in by the Association.
Mr. Coriolis' said, that having hail occasion to look into the
!toile lately, he had seen articles in its columns as minutely
conversant with Irish stairs as those in any Irish journal could
possibly be.
Mr. Cuanaw brought forward his motion for the publication
of the names of the inernbm of the Association. in the Dublin
Et'lllilte Pail, Frremnn'iJourncl, and Morning Itrisler.
Mr. O'CoNNILL seconded the motion.

An amendment moved by Mr. Critr.rtLy, that the names be
also insetted in the Dublin Morning l'ov, was negaiieed without
a division.

Mr. } HANOI 3l'Dotextt.s. srs4 called to the Chair. thanks
returned to the Honourable 13. Fe nExcii, and the Meeting sepa-
rated.

A fellow, named Joseph be Petite, was convicted lately
at Dublin, for vending indecent prints, and justly sen-
tenced to twelve months' imprisonment. A few prosecu-
tions of this kind arc needed at this moment in London.
It is In the highest degree disgraceful to the police that
works of the most obscene description are publicly dis-
played in the windows of a( veal shops in the leading tho-
ro•Thfares of the iretroputs

THE BRITISH PRESS.

DREADFUL FIRE AND HURRICANE AT
MIRAMICIII.

11'e have received the Ha!flax Joirrnal of October 17th,
and the Halifax Free Press of October 18th. They bring
news of a most awful calamity. On the 7th ult. a fire,
which had been burning in the woods, communicated with
the neighbouring dwellings. " More than a hundred miles
of the shores of Miramichi arc laid waste, independent of
the north-west branch, the Ballibog, and the Nappan
Settlements." From one to two hundred people have
perished " within immediate observation," and two thousand
persons are left without the means of subsistence. To
describe the misery resulting from this tremendous visita-
tion is impossible. The total sum of it cannot yet be
known.

The local Government bad adopted immediate measures
for providing every possible relief for the sufferers. A
Committee had been formed, consisting of the Hon. the
Attorney-General, Judge HiMurton, and Enos Collins, to
superintend the necessary measures.
The following are the details of this dreadful and exten-
sive mischief:—

[From the Halifax Joimial, October 17.1
Amidst confusion and aistress, the inevitable consequences
of the dreadful dispensation of Providence which has just
befallen our devoted colony, it is altogether impossible to
calculate or descrilt its destructive effects ; but to awaken
the sympathy of those who, under the protection of Al-
mighty God, have escaped the awful calamity, it will be
sufficient thus briefly to state, that more than one hundred
miles of the shores of Miramichi are laid waste, independ-
ent of the north-west branch, the iUibog and aseNappan
settlements From one to two hundred people have pe-
rished within immediate observation, and thrice that num-
ber are miserably burnt or otherwise wounded ; and at least
two thousand of our fellow-creatures arc left destitute of
subsistence, and thrown at present on the humanity of the
province of New Brunswick. _

The number of lives that have been lost in the woods
among the lumbering patties cannot be ascertained for
some time to come, for it is feared that few are left to tell
the talc.

It ie not in the power of language to describe the unpa-
ralleled sc'ne of devastation which the parish of Newcastle
at this moment presents. Out of upwards of two hundred
and fifty houses and stores, fourteen of the least consider-
able only remain. The court-house, gaol, church, and
barracks; Messrs. Gilmore, Rankin, and Co.'s; and Messrs.
iVilliam Abrams and Co.'s establishments, are reduced to
ashes.

The loss of property is incalculable, for the fire, borne
upon the wings of a hurricane, rushed upon the inhabit tuts
with such inconceivable rapidity, that the preservation of
their lives could be their only care.
The ships Concord and Canada, and brig Jane, were
burnt to the water's edge. and many others took fire, but
by great exertions were saved. Two vessels on the stocks,
belonging to William Abrams and Co., were entirely con-
sumed.

About three hundred of the sufferers are already in Chat-
ham, and numbers of men, women, and children, are hourly
pouring in, and throwing themselves upon the bounty of
its inhabitants.

Extract of a letter to a gentleman in this town, elated
Miramichi, Oct. Ili:
" In the midst of the utmost confusion, and the greatest destruc-
tion of life and property ever recorded, I write you those few lines,
to solicit your aid, and that of all friends to humanity, to assist
those of us who hare partially reaped from total ruin, to support
the numerous distressed :ndividunie *rho are thrown upon us for
fold, shelter, raiment, and modleaLessistanee, at a most unfortu-
nate season, with the prospect of a long and severe winter before
us, and an unprecedented scarcity of provisious. The extent of
destruction on the fatal night of the 7th inst. is unknown and inde-
scribable: nearly the whole of the parish and town of Newcastle
lies in smoking ruins. The settlements of liallibog, Nappan. and
back settlements of Chatham and Newcastle, are nut only nearly
all destroyed, but few souls survive to tell the doleful tale.
" It would melt the heart of the most unfeeling to see the nume-
rous iadielduals wbe have just mole- total destructioil by this
fire, and many now perishlisg froult-Sheir wounds. Chatham has
miraculously escaped destruction is a great measure; many of the
shipping have sulTered much, and three loaded ships fell a sacrifice
to the flames. Rankin and Co. have saved their dwelling-house
only from its being situated so high that the hurricane blew the
flames past and over it, which i,owever destroyed every other build-
ing belonging to them ; they saved their books and papers. Abrams
saved nothing but what he and his family stood in, merely night
clothes. It is mere mockery to try to describe the horrors this scene
presents, and the abject distress that everywhere presents itself."
- -

Extract of a letter from a gentleman to It's brother dated
Miramichi, Oct. 10 :

" It is with sorrow that I make known .o you, that our late flou-
rishing settlement is laid in ashen. On the evening of the 7th cur-
rent, tire communicated from the woods, whic:i came with such
dreadful violence, accompanied with a I urric me, that it literally
showered down fire and sand, so that It it cs w. It the greatest ditE.
cult), we escaped Ishii our lives poor V imam made his retreat
with Caroline to the house of Mr. 11. which escaped
being burnt ; he got his right hand much burnt in getting out of
the house ; Caroline is as well as can be expected. 1 staid behind
at the store, endeavouring to sore our books, papers, &c., but it
came so fast that I had to run for my life, and leave all behind—l
took to the river, front whence I was take.i up by aship's boat, and
carried on board. I bless God that our lives are saved, although
our property is gone. The only thing we have saved is our timber,
and a few things in Ledden's store; fortunately, this morning,
some pork and flour have arrived from Liverpool tor us:; at precut
we are getting a meal of victuals where we can find it. Those few
persons who have their houses saved are kind to the distressed the
tire commenced, it is said, somewhere about Bartibogue, and came
up the bank of the river with a rapidity Impossible to be conceived,
destroying all as it came. The people of Newcastle hail no ide. of
the tire being so near, the smoke having been so great all day, that
none could see where the flames were until they came down upon
them. Many people have lost their lives; whole families hare
been burnt to ashes round their. dwellings. The Chatham side of
the river has escaped the destruction ; but the Newcastle side is en.
tircly destroyed, with the exception of a house here and there in
low situations, so that the fire passed over thew.
" Mr. and Mrs. Robson have taken passage in the same ship
they came out in (which happens to be the ship Lune, for Liver-
pool) to lay a statement of our losses and miser before our agents.
The Governments of thole two Provinces will surely take into con.
sideration our deplorable condition ! Last night I had to take my
turn to watch a store with provisions which had been threatened by
the hungry poor to be broken open. The 31agistrates, and others,
are doing the best they can to feed them for the present ; but there
are so many that it cannot last long without something else being
done: numbers have expired with cold and hunger ; and many
poor sick people, just rescued from the fever, have perished from
the effect,' of fatigue, after having escaped the fire.
" God only knows what is to become of this place, for the only
article of expoit we have to depend upon fs, I fear, completely
destroyed ; ter it seems, even now, its though the whole country
is in flames. The make is so great that, in truth, the place
seems buried in ruins and suffocation ; it has, indeed, a most aw-
tul appearance.
" You may publish the particulars of the above, if you think
proper, so that the distrrsa of the poor and miserable may be taken
into consideration. God bless you all, and preserve you from the
like calamity."

[From the Halifax J'rec Press of October 18.)
DREADFUL. FIRE AT MIRAMICHI.

A most painful duty this day devolves on us—that of
recording an astonishing and dire calamity which has be-
fallen the province of New Brunswick, involved multitudes
in death or ruin, and visited a large extent of country with
unsparing desolation.
On Thursday last a verbal account was received of the
conflagration which has taken place at Fredericton, by
which 30 houses and 39 barns were consumed, caused by a
fire in the woods adjacent to that town; and a rumour at
that time prevailed that some of the back settlements near
Miramicht had experienced a similar fate.
But while anxiety was on the stretch for correct infor-
mation from Fredericton, the intelligence of the disaster
at Miramichi arrived, and for a time the calamity that bad
been expected at the one place was lost in the contempla-
tion of that which had befallen the other.

It seems that the woods in that part of the country had
been for some time on tire, but without exciting any appre-
hension of the catastrophe which was about to involve in
ruin a large proportion of the population of the province.
On the ith inst. the flames acquired an ascendancy,
which rendered flight in some instances impracticable, and
resistance unavailing. .

The alarming progress of this destructive element hail
been concealed by the state of the atmosphere, which it
occasioned, until the night of that day, when, aided by
a hurricane which increased its violence and rapidity, it
burnt with uncostrolable fury upon the heads of its de-
voted victims. All the accounts that have been received
describe the rapidity of the flames to have been such as to
have precluded the possibility of saving property to any

extent. In most cases, the unsuspecting beings, suddenly
aroused from their slumbers, were unable to dress them-
selves, and immediate destruction was the consequence of
a moment's delay. So instantaneous were the effects of the
fire, that many persons who were saved owe their preserva-
tion to the vicinity of the river, into which they threw
themselves, and were taken up by boats, or escaped on rafts
of timber. In that part of Miramichi called Newcastle,
out of 2.50 houses but 14 escaped ; and, indeed, the cir-
cumstance of any properey being saved is considered as a
miraculous interference.
Were we to give vent to the feetings that actuate us
upon this occasion, we might depict a scene at which the
heart of the most indifferent would sicken ; and even then
we probably should fall short in description of the sad
reality. It cannot be possible to conceive the picture which
the devoted country that has been the scene of this visita-
tion now presents. Near two hundred persons in the vi-
cinity of Miramichi alone perished in the flames; and the
loss of lives in the interior of the forests, where escape was
impossible, must have been immense. What renders the
event still more afflicting is the circumstance that the sur-
vivors are many of them dreadfully mutilated ; and the
sick and several of the dying can no longer obtain the
slightest shelter from the severity of the weather.
An event so replete with horror is probably of rare oc-
currence, and the tidings of it have been met in Halifax
with that promptitude and compassionate feeling which
they must universally excite. Sentiments of sorrow, and
a desire to render assistance, have been everywhere mani-
fested, and have not been confined to age, rank, or sex, and
we feel a satisfaction in stating, that the exertions which
have been made in this town, although not calculated to
afford permanent relief, will be extensively beneficial in
assuaging ate pangs of hunger, for famine has followed the
course of the destructive element ;—and that the supplies
of clothing that have been forwarded must, on their ar-
rival, render the situation of the survivors, in that respect,
comparatively comfortable.
Upon the receipt of the mail with the intelligence, on
Saturday afternoon, gloom and anxiety were everywhere
manifested; and on Sunday morning at nine o'clock a
meeting of the inhabitants took place, when the following
Resolutions were passed :
•' That provisions and other articles for the relief of the sufferers
be sent to the store of Messrs. Deblois and Mitchell.
" That letters be written to different parts of the Province, re-
questing the aid of their inhabitants.
`• That n Committee be appointed to request that collections
may be made in the different places of worship in this town, on
Sunday next, for this charitable purpose."
A subscription was opened at the meeting, and before it
broke up 1200/. were subscribed. A Committee of Ma-
nagement and a Sub-Committee to collect subscriptions
throughout the town were also appointed, and, notwith-
standing the inclemency of the weather (luring the after-
noon of that day and the forenoon of yesterday, that sum
was increased to 20001. Vessels were despatched with pro-
visions, others were laden in like manlier, and a large sup.
ply of clothing and other necessaries were shipped on board
of the Orestes sloop of war, which vessel sailed this fore-
noon for Miramichi. Where all have acted so generously
it would be wrong to particularise, satisfied as we are that
the reflection of having performed a benevolent action must
afford the highest gratification to every virtuous mind.
Melancholy as are the descriptions contained in the let-
ters received, we fear more heart-rending accounts arc yet
to be received. Numbers must have perished of whom no
accounts will probably be ever obtained, and many persons
who have been mutilated and otherwise personally injured,
will continue from time to time to be discovered in remote
situations, or will perish through want in distant and re-
tired parts of the country.

FURTHER PARTICULARS.
A gentleman arrived in town yesterday from Miramichi,
which place he left on Thursday ; he states generally that
the fire continued to rage near tic scene of the recent con-
flagration, and that from the lumbermen who had come in,
accounts had been received of the loss of several lives. One
instance 44znentions where, of a party of 16 persona, but
three of them had escaped.

THE' AUNT.
We lament to state, that letters, dated the 4th October. were re.
ceived yesterday at the Colonial Office, from Fredericton, New
Brunswick, which announce the melancholy loss of the right wing
of the 1.16t1t regiment of foot, in going from Halifax to Bermuda.
Lieutenant-Colonel Berries fortunately had not embarked with the
right wing.

The 39th and 79th regiments of infantry have completed their
augmentation establishment.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

HUNTING APPOINTMENTS.

The Warwirkshire foz hounds trill tieet to-morrow at Tch.
ington-henth, Saturday at Win:piton-bridge, and Monday, Nov.
11. rit —each day at a quarter betore eleven.
'she Worcestershire fox hounds on Friday at Croome Perry
‘Vood at ten.

Mr. Montgomery, of Wartield, Berks, undertook on Monday
to kill sixty head of game in eight hours with a double barrelled
gun, to hunt and to pick up his own game. The number killed
was as follows, on the Oxfordshire bills to the westward of Henley.
upon. Thames. Mr. Montgomery breakfasted at Shtplake, three
miles from where he started, having bagged in three hours sixteen
hares, nine pheasants, a•rd eight partridges--Total 33. At four
o'clock in the afternoon, the shooter having finished at Playltatch,
three miles from Reading, the whole produce was twenty-six hares,
twenty.two pheasunts, and fourteen partridges, winning the match
of fifty sovereigns by two head. Partridges were scarce and wild.
The pigeon shooting match at eleven birds each, for 100 rove.
reigns aside, took place yesterday morning on Finchley Common,
between Messrs. Osborne and Knutsford, of Kent and Surrey ce.
lebrity. It was well attended, and was won by Mr. Osborne kill.
ing nine birds, and his opponent eight. Mr. Knutaford lost two
birds within a few yards of the bounds, or he would have won the
match.

The house of M. Rousseau, a restaurateur, near the
Palais de Justice, war, the slay before Yesterday, the scene
of a fatal event. About eight o'clock a loud report was
heard in the kitchen ; the master of the house immediately
repaired to the spot, where )m11)1111(1 one of his servant boys
stretched in a disfigured state upon the ground. The un-
fortunate youth had that moment fired a pistol at his head.
He was not quite dead, but was perfectly senseless ; he
expired in a few minutes. The motive for this act of
despair is unknown. This young man was of Rheims ;he
had been in M. Rousseau's service about a month, and had
behaved exceedingly well. It is merely known that he
frequently went to the theatres, which bad more than once
drawn down a reproof from 1 is master.—Paris Paper.
In consequence of the continual state of danger and 1
alarm experienced as well by the passengers themselves as
by persons using the same line of road as the Paddington
stages, we hear it is intended to ertablish a permanent day
patrol to watch their proceeding,s, and to bring to justice any
coachman or cad offending in future.—Evening Paper.
CtiRIOUS DISCOVERY.—A short time ago, a search hav-
ing been made among some ancient papears in Ileriot's
Hospital, Edinburgh, there was discovered a challenge to
mortal combat, addressed by the famous R tb Roy to the
Duke of Montrose. It is in excellent preservation, and not
a doubt can be entertained of its authenticity. It is at
present in the hands of one of the sub-librarians of the
Advocate's Library.
. _

A LITTLE SINGULAR.—. C have been favoured with
the following rather curious circumstance by • cotre-
spondent ; of course we cannot take upon ourselves to
vouch for its accuracy :—" On cutting up a fowl which
I had roasted for my dinner a few days since, you will be
able to judge of my surprise on beholding, completely em-
bedded in the gizzard, a silver penny-piece of the reign of
George the First, with a hole &Wet% through; through it
was appended a piece of wire about five inches long.
What renders this circumstance rather remarkable is, that
the external part of the gizzard assumed the usual appear-
ance, although it was much larger than they usually are,
and the fowl altogether was extremely fine in taste, and
fat in appearance. —Cheltenham Journal.

An iniMense cavern has recently been discovered in the
Sxondary Limestone of the high Peak, Derbyshire, and
is regarded by geologists as the grandest continuation of
caverns hitherto explored. The access to and through it is
perfectly easy, and after traversing various windings, there
to a beautiful archway, from which a passage is made
through to day-light, where the subterraneous visters ar-
rite at an elevated terrace, nearly on the summit of the
mountain in which the cavern is situated, commanding the'
finest views of the neighbouring romantic scenery. Outor
compliment to his (:race, it has beer named the D,:vonslitre
Cavern.