The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-01-20 00:00:00

I HE IRISH CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION.

(room the DO Preerreen'a Joeireel.]
The sittings of a Catholic Association for fourteen days, for the
sear IttN, commenced yesterday In the Catholic Boothe, Burgh.
sur.y. Shortly after twelve o'clock, the Ladies' gallery was tilled
with elegantly.threesad females, and the assembly of members was
roneiderable, 'mistiest whom we observed Imrds Gormanston,
Killeen. and Drench ; Sin John Burke, Tim*. Esmonde„ and Ed-
ward Bellew, Baronets • the Hon. 3lesers. Preston and French.
/sc. Mr. O'Connell moved that Lord Gormanston should take the
Ohs
The Noble hued then came forward, and inquired of slr.
O'Connell it' the statement in 'metal of the Newspapers was ear-
ner, which announced that the Peer taking the Chair on the tint
day was to continue to preside doting the entire sittings.
•
lily. Olt. . repheil is the negative, and said the error was
ore of these mistake* that an frequently appear in Newspaper re-
ports. The regulation which had been suggested was, however,
correctly stated in some of the papers, and it wee, that the next
senior Peer to the one that had preceded him. should, if present at
thrkour for taking the Chair, preside fin. the tiny.
UORMAN STOW having then taken the Chair, addressed the
Ikleeting, and said he was very sensible of the honour the gentle.
men present conferred upon him, in calling him to preside at eo
respectable an assembly. He knew not what measures were to be
proposed ; but as the Aseociation would have but fourteen days to
assemble, he begged of them to make the hest use they could of
their time, and not fritter it away in useless diacamion. His I,,wd,
ship, in continuation. obsetynl that he had heard it said there was a
difference of opinion prevailing in Catholic councils ; but he felt
confident theft was at all events no disunion amongst them, and he
hoped that spirit would continue its influence while ever it should
be necessary tar the Catholics to assemble, in order to devise the
most tionstitationalty effective measures for obtaining their emend.
potion.
Ctottsrortira FITZSIMON, Esq. haring been appointed
Secretary to the Association, immediately rose and announced,
that a letter from Mr. O'Gorman, Secretary to the Catholics of
Ireland, was handed to him to read ; and previous to his doing so
he begged to he allowed the opportunity of thanking his fellow.
countrymen tor the honourable eimation in which they had placed
him ; and be assured the meeting that he would be always found
at his post, ready to do his duty with attention to their interests.
It would, the Learned Gentleman said, be presumptuous in him
were he to oceopy the valuable time of the meeting in observing
upon the importance and the occasion of the present assembly ;
but he could not avoid expressing his satisfaction at the glorious
eight of Irishmen representing, in numbers, rank, talents, rind
feeling, the interests, the objects, and the wishes of the Irish
catlemes, who, he trusted, would never cease to manifest their
determination of exercising every constitutional means to obtain
the cammon birthright of every man—liberty of conscience!
The Learned Secretary then proceeded to read the following

letter :...-

...... _
(corr.)
" To the Chairman of the Catholic Association, Corn-Exchange

Rooms.

"flu.lty Park, Jan. 14..

My Lord,—l beg, through you, as Chair Man of the Catholic
Association, to apologise for my absence on the Pith instant: it
was my intention to bare, with the permission of the Meeting,
acted as their Secretary ; inevitable cite unotauces preclude me the
possibility of volunteering that honour. 1 should not, however,
obtrude my humble name un the .Sleeting, even though it were to
account for or excuse my absence, but I perceive my friend, Mr.
Al`Donnell, adilvesses an official letter to me, in which, though he
starts some doubts and alleged difficulties, as to the policy of pe.
titioning at present, and which difficulties Penn to be ably an.
ewered, as well by himself as by an Honourable and brained
Centleman of the Association, with whom I entirely concur in his
doctrine of continued petitioning, even if alone, yet Mr. 31414 m.
cell closes with a query, which has startled the not a little. as it
would seem to imply a possibility of a departure from those prin.
ciples and rules of conduct which, during my experience in
Catholic affairs, have governed my proceedings. Ile asks, whether
it would not be more advisable to have the question submitted,
in the first instance, to the House of Lords. a course of proceeding
which some would esteem the moat prudent on the present occa-
sion under any circumstances. Who the some are, 31r. Chair.
nun, I don't kooe ; I never heard of such persons, but whoever
they may be, this I am sure of, that the Catholics of Ireland
ought, in my humble judgment, to disregard the opinions of those
some, and proceed in their usual plan straightforward constito.
tional course. namely, that of laying their dutiful loyal petitions,
for the redress of their grivanses, on the tables of both Houses,
and procuring a discussion on them (whatever may be the result)
in both Houses, as we have bernotore been accustomed to do;
but to submit our question, in the first Instance, to the house of
Lords, where we are almost certain of defeat, and nut to the Com-
mons, where (judging from the past) we are as certain of victory,
seems to be an abandonment of advantage-ground, and the taking
of an essentially false position. i would therefore, Mr. Chairman,
in the precise weeds of my friend Mr, 3l'Dooriell, in the porn.
graph immediately preceding this oracular one, beg leave to urge
the necessity of framing and forwarding petitions to both Houses
of Pertrament, from all quarters of Ireland, with sufficient de-
spatch to ensure the attention of the Legislature to our claims
Iron the opening day of the Session. I beg to be excused for
this inttusion on you and die Meeting. I write (as the Diploma.
tists say) at full gallop, and am yours, most faithfully.
" N. P. CrUORMAN."

t from the nt
this intrusioi
tilts say ) at
Lori Kill
meeting the
• present the
cularly the
titles' situni
The Sect(
" Dear !
obliged to i
Secretary to
sleep and vii
of a Catholi
Nobody cat
• every ma.
—fur I sly
deavouring
to those thi
1
destroyed.
" These,
the inhabita
of course, a
" Althoug
of the waves
in Dublin. I
not chilled
fur their yes
" This h
and not a ti
those sentin
the support
persrveranc
happiness a
habitants nI
the blessing
• 4.
, •- .
~
.40 . 3
" To ?
Secretary u
(hi the n
ir be in
Mr. OT
wards cadet
11 "Mr de
my trifling
objects wee
were of the
" In the
dissolving t
letting the
property, ll
religious pe
name and 1
" Daniel
1
" My de
ticket to thi
being enab
and we arc
give unreal
"To A.
I
Lord li;
I ii2ti was ri
iri addreasii
cation l not
cause be ft
whole env!
enemies, at
union, temp
anxiously et
in their tout
guard them
destructive i
appointinen.
proreedinga
"Pethent.
raldiaticalli
'lying 11. i
ith any to
!wary to at
atholies. tl
el 'Quid ,
arty never
lion of it
ad the re
• the appc
sh. 4ye(
.....y sou
bitua re
1
4 / . .