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

EARL OF FINGALL,

Lord Killeen. in handing to Secretary ; letter, assured the
meeting that the writer of it felt as keenly as any individual
present the wrongs and degradation of the lush Catholics, peril-
cularly the Catholic Peers, who were placed in a much worse po-
litical situation than the poorest forty-shilling freeholder. (Hear.)
The Secretary then mad the following letter
No. 117, High-street. Cheltenham,
Jan. 13, DM.

" Dear Sir.—lt is with pain and mortification I see myself
obliged to avail myself of your services in your official capacity as
Secretary to the Catholics of Irchuid, of troubling you to state my
deep and sincere regret at my nut being able to attend the meeting
of a Catholic Association, to be held in Dublin on Monday next.
Nobody can feel more stronkly than I do that at this moment; that
every man should do his duty' by his country, I will say
—for I always connived I was best doing that duty, when en-
deavouring by. my humble, though feeble efforts, to put as (lid
to those divisions and dissensions by which she is disturbed and
destroyed.
" These, I will say, moat continue, while so large a portion of
the inhabitants of the United Kingdom remain an excluded, and,
of course, a degraded people.
" Although advanced years and delicate health, with the severity
of the anus, present my being with my Catholic fellow-subjects
in Dublin, they will, I trust, do me the justice to believe they hive
not chilled the warmest or most anxious desire I ever entertained
fur their res'oration to their civil rights and privileges.
This has l,een too lung delayed ; perhaps, at some future day,
and not a distant one, our most decided opponents will agree in
those sentiments. But under the auspices and advice, and with
the support of our so highly valued friends, aided by our exertions,
perseverance. nod unanimity, it cannot, at all events, be long till
happiness and prosperity shall be equally enjoyed by all the in-
habitants of this great empire—all possessing alike a Cull share of
the blessings of a really free Constitution.
" I have the honour to be, dear Sir,
" With sincere regard and esteem,
" Your humble mid obedient servant,
"To N. P. O'Gorman. Eeq., " FIN GAL L."
Seattsty to the Catholics of Ireland."

On the motion of 31r. O'ComarLi., the letter was ordered to
be inserted on the minutes.
MR. HAMILTON ROWAN.

Mr. O'CONNELL read the following letters, which were niter-
wards ordeal to be inserted ea the minutes

" Lcinster.strtet. Jan. 9, 11{26.
" INv dear Sir.—When I offered my insignificant name and
my trifling subscription to the Catholic Rent, it was because its
objects Weft nut only legal and praiseworthy in my opinion, but
were of the highest importance to the community at large.
" In the same spirit. and in compliance with the law, which, in
dissolving that Association, has pointed out another mode for col-
lecting the voice of the people on a measure which concerns the
property, the safety, and also the happiness of Irishmen of every
religious persuasion, I take the liberty of troubling you with my
name and subscription.
" I am, dear Sir, yours, faithfully,
ARCHIBALD 11. ROWAN."

" Daniel O'Connell. Esq."
o'coatmEres LT.TTEII IN ANSWER.
" My dear bare the pleasure to enclose your admislion
ticket to the Ay /imitation, which meets this day. We are proud of
being enabled tuttrol your rettpected name antongst our members,
anti we are grateful fur the patriotic and Christian sentiments which
give increased value to your subscription.
•' 1 hare the honour to be, very respectfully,
" Your faithful and obedient servant.
"DANIEL O'Cotait.t.i.."

" To A. B. Bowan, Esq."
RULES OF TIIF. ASSOCIATION.
Lord Kil.t.Eou ruse. A Catholic Association for the year
(42.; was now formed, sod he confessed he felt greater difficulty
addressing its first meeting than he ever did on any similar oc-
casion ; not bemuse he was less practised in speaking, but be-
cause he felt that their Association commands the eyes of the
whole empire—ot their friends, and they ate powerful—of their
enemies, and they are watchful; the former confiding in the
union, temperance, and firmness of the Catholics; the latter
anxiously expecting discord, intemperance, and want of firmness
in their councils and their conduct. It was therefore necessary to
guard themselves against throe irregularities that might prove
destructive to their interests ; and therefore lie would propose the
a7,puiatment of a Committee, to prepare such regulations fur the
-oreedings and sittings of the Association as might be deemed
at. Before siting down, he could take leave to say most
.atically, that the present Association was formed of persons
mg IL fur their admission, anti having no connexion whatever
any forma or existing Association ; and which it was ne.
ry to avid, in order td conform to a law that, as oppressed
Alms. they could not but condemn, but. as faithful subjects,
would obey. Theis menu obt.ervante that law was portico-
necessary, is order to avoid coming into collision with any
o of the Otivernmer.t. The Noble Lord then proceeded to
the regulations he intended to propose in the Committee ;
the appointment of which he then moved.
O'l owwwtt. seconded the motion, and said that in eon.
with the univevsal wsage of Irish Catholics, and their
ttsPe't for the law, the Association would obey the

statute, even in its spirit ; but their respect ror that Algerine law
should be limited to ohedieice. They would not, es u matter of
prudence. violate it, because they wished to avoid iovolving that
portion of administration favourable to religious liberty, and not to
give them occasion to reproach the Catholics with bringing them
in contact with les. liberal colleagues; for the administration of
those countries k composed of very discordant meterials ; there are
blacks and whites amongst iis members ; and though many of them
affect great tenderness rot the black slaves of the West Indies,
they are desirous to prolong the bondage and load with addi.
tional fetters the white slaves of another western portion
of the empire. Ile would also add, that if Mr. Peers Jim/ Bill
was extended to Ireland, and that the clause nothorisine the officer
of the Court to select the jury front those names hallooed for. were
modified, so that each party should have the making op of the jury
from the lot, he would not hesitate in putting himself forward as
the object of a prosecution, for the re-assembling of the original
Catholic Association in name, substance, and reality ; but he gave
up his owh opinion as a lawyer on that point 1n order to avoid- the
possibility of embarrassing their friends in administration. The
Learned Gentleman, In conclusion, said that he hoped the meetings
of the Association would be distinguished for that manliness, firm.
tins, and vigour of expressitm and thought that should become the
virtual, though not the real representatives of • high-minded, but
degraded people : that the children of the present generation may
look back to this day as a new and glorious en in the history of
this country; arid that the Catholic Association for 114% was the
means of establishing British security and Irish tranquillity ; and
that it should be no longer said that England was the only eoun-
try hying claim to the character of constitutional government,
where the exercise of a conscientious worship of the Deity was pu-
nished as a crime. (Hear, bear.)
The following wen then named on the Committee—Sir Edward
Bellew, Sir Thomas Esmonde, the Hum. tile. Preston, Hon. 31r.
Ffrench, Messrs. Russell, Granger, Coppinger, and Lawless, to-
gether with the noble mover and learned seconder.