The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-02-17 00:00:00

SUPPRESSIONof the CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION.

DUBLIN PARISH MEETINGS.
[From the Freeman's Journal of 9londay.l
On Satunlay, the pariah of St. Audeon's, and the united one of
St. Mary's, St. Thomas's, and St. George's, assembled. fester.
day, those of St. 11l is haws and St. Patti a ; and this day, St. Ca-
therine's and Si. Andrew's, are to meet.
ST. AUDEON'S.
The Rcv. Moe GAN VA ICY, P. P. was called to the Chair,
and Mr. FORDE requested to act as Secretary.
Mr. NICHOLAS MAHON, in proposing the first Resolution, ob-
served, that it was a melancholy reflection to think of the Meeting
being called, upon the opening of a new Session of Parliament—nut
to express their gratitude for relief—but to protest against the enact-
ment of a new Penal Code, and the suppression of an Association
whose object was the promotion of peace and good order, and whose
infloence had effected tranquillity when turbulence stud lawless out.
nese spread over the country. let for this service the Association
Was the object of vengeance with a portion of the Ministry ; and
while it wits not considered au offence for other societies to receive
subscriptions for purposes opposed to the rights and prosperity of
the people, the Catholic Association is to be punished for applying
its funds to the constitutional protection of the lower ant poorer
orders against magisterial oppression, delinquency, and factious
violence.
Mr. CORNELIUS M'Loouatw observed, that however it might
be attempted to be disguised, Orange associations are fostered and
protected, and had a general licence for doing what they pleased,
while a constitutional society, assembled for beneficeat purposes,
was to be crushed by legislative penalties.
Several Resolutions were moved and seconded by Messret.
M•Donnell, Thomas Byrne, Dwyer, Dunne, O'Brien Mahon,
Hogan, abedM•Loghlin ; the last tour of whom, with are Chair-
man and Secretary, were appointed a Committee to prepare a pen.
non to both Houses of Parliament, to be presented by Lord Clifton
and Sir John Newport.
ST. M Alt V 'S.
Sir Tamales ESMONDR, Hurt. in the Chair.
Mr. Ft • ZS I MON ( Barrister) addressed the meetirg, and hoped
that the example of the parishes of Dublin, in thus coining forward
to declare their indignation against the intended arbitrary enactment,
would by followed by every county, city, and parish in the king.
slum; that they would protest with limitless, but temperance,
against a precipitate measure intended to annihilate one of the
most sacred rights which the founders of the British Constitu-
tion wrested from the hands of tyranny, and which the people have
enjoyed undisturbed from the time of their Catholic forefathers till
the present enlightened day, when it ;.s thought too great an enjoy-
ment fur those who steadfastly adhered to the ancient religion of the
empire. that they should have a privilege not denied even by
Turkish despots—the melancholy consolation of complaining. It
was the duty at the present moment for every man to come forward,
who WWI anxious for the peace and welfare of Ireland, to raise his
voice against any additional injustice, besides the infraction of the
solemn treaty of Limerick, and the numerous and disgraceful penal
enactments that followed it, and at present stain the Statute-book.
The Catholics require superiority to none—but they seek en
equality with all. The learned Gentleman then proceeded to read
some Resolutions he had prepared, and which lie moved to be sub-
mitted to a Committee, for the purpose of reeising and preparing a
petition in accordance with them. The Committee, consisting of
Messrs. Finsimon, 1). Lynch, Hugh O'Connor, James Moore,
Simpson, George Smith, A. Browne, John M`Donnell,
Bonham, and Cul. Nelly.
The Committee, after having retired, returned with several Re-
solutions, which were unanimously adopted. The Petition, moved
by Mr. Hugh O'Connor, seconded by Colonel Nelly, was also read
and unanimously adopted ; and upon the motion of Mr. Hugh
O'Connor, seconded by Mr. Bonham, it was resolved that the Pe-
rhino to the Lords should be presented by the Marquis of Lans-
down, and to the Commons by Mr. James Grattan, Member for
Wicklow.
Mr. I i UGH OTOS Non, in moving the Petition, observed, that
the moment chosen by Ministers for the suppression of the Catholic
Association was peculiarly infelicitous, for, without partaking of.
any of the faculties of a representative body, yet the Catholic As-
sociation was a moral mirror, reflecting the wants, wishes, and
opinions of Catholic Ireland, and its sole object was to forwardn the
cause of Catholic Emancipation, and of Ireland's amelioration, by
every means which the established Law sanctioned, and that they
had not exceeded those limits, was obvious, by the necessity of
creating a ruse law (great applause). No assertion was more desti.
tote of foundation than the charge of levyini a tax upon the people
—the contributions to the Catholic Association were no more levied
or nuanced than the voluntary subscription which Irishmen with
such heartfelt pleasure contributed to—the memorial of the King's
visit to Ireland (loud cheers)—and although lie (Mr. O'Connor)
did not mean to say that extraneous matter had not sometimes oc-
cupied die attention of the Catholic Association, yet it could not be
maintained upon any principle of fair dealing, or an impartial con-
sideration of their preceedings, that they had exceeded those irre-
levancies incidental to a popular assembly, discussing the means of
obtaining a redress of monstrous grievances, neither could it be sup-
posed that the Catholic Association was to be free from mistakes in
Its deliberations, when Ministers themselves frequently take erro-
neous views of important matters (cheers)-And was not the Mi-
nisters' hostility peculiarly ungracious, at a moment when, althouh
they declare the country to be perfectly tranquil, they do not hold
out the slightest prospect of acceding to the people, those rights
which reason and justice proclaim as too long withheld (loud ap-

plause).
Mr. Joni( M`DosteELL suggested, that as it was reported is
the newspapers that a Minister of the Crown, availing himself of a
figurative phrase in a document which proceeded from the Catholic
Association, had construed it into a meaning neither warranted by
the terms or application of the phrase, it was necessary that the
Catholics should, in justice to themselves, and in gratitude to the
liberality of their l'rotestant brethren, adopt a Resolution, de.
nying, in the strongest terms, that they identified On:wirer with
Protesiontirat.
Mr. BONHAM coincided with Mr. Illi‘Donnell, and moved a Re-
solution to that effect, which was seconded by Mr. M.`Donnell, and
passed with acclamation.
Mr. Itienawn 31onettssois (a. Protestant Gentleman of great
respectability) requested to know it it were permitted to any but
Catholics to sign the Petition ? because, it it were, he would be
anxious to avail himself of the opportunity of doing so, for it was
his sincere conviction as a Protestant, that the tranquillity of Ire-
land grew with the growth, and strengthened with the strength, of
the Catholic Association (great applause).
Mr. Fix zst3loSl replied, that the Requisition for calling the
meeting was got up in an (tour; that it was signed by some Pro-
testants—that there was not time to call upon Mr. Morrisson and
other Protestant Gentlemen who would sign it.—but the Requisition
was rated to be a meeting of the parishioners centrally.
Mr. Moawissote assured Mr. Fitzsimon that opinion was not
general.
Sir THOMAS ESMONDE having quitted the Chair,
Mr. 51onaissox was called thereto, and
All;. FITZ SIMON, in proposing the thanks of the meeting to Sir
Thomas Esmonde, said, he should avail himself of that opportunity
to say that the liberality evinced that day by Mr. Morn:two, was
quite in accordance with his conduct in a part of the country not
many miles from Dublin, where he endeavoured to stem the tor.
rent of bigoted illiberality, and where (with perhaps a single ex-
ception) the distinction of title produced nothing noble in semi.
merit, and the clerical functions any thing but an endeavour to
promote peace, good will, or brotherly love.
After thanks to Sir T. Esmond, the meeting adjourned.
ST. PAM'S.
CIIIIISTOPUTR RAFFERTY, Esq. in the Chair.
A Committee sous appointed to prelims Resolutions and a
Petition.
Mr. HOPKIXS addressed the Meeting in energetic and impres-
sive terms.
The Rev. Dr. RUSSELL, P.P. objected to the word " Indigna-
tion," in the first resolution, and moved that it be omitted.
Mr. CIILLINAN could not conceive what less angry sentiment
the intended Bill could excite than " Indignation."
Mr. DOGHERTY said it was impossible for any Irishman to
read the hated and monstrous Penal Code without feeling indig-
nant ; and how niuch more reason had he to feel so when it was at-
tempted to re-enact it in the present times.
Dr. Russell's amendment not having been seconded, the Resolu-
tion, in its original form, passed unanimously.
ST. BIICHAN'S.
A Meeting of the Catholics of this parish was held in North
Anne-street Chapel vestenlay.
At two o'clock LionEstur CARTON, Esq. was called to the
Chair.
Mr. HicxEr then rose, and, in a speech of considerable length;
proposed a series of resolutions.
The draft of a petition, grounded on the resolutions, was then
read, and after being revised by a Committee of live, was finally 1,
agreed to.
It was resolved that the petition be entrusted to Lord King in the
Lords, and to Sir J. Mackintosh in the Commons.
ST. JAMES'S.
Yesterday also, the parishioners of St. James's assembled, pur-
suant to requisition. The Meeting was held in the Chapel, imme-
diately after Divine Worship ; the immense building was crowded
to excesa.
The Rev. Mr. Lone was called to the Chair.
The CHAIRMAN, in a speech fraught with paternal solicitude
for the well-being of his fl ick, opened the business of die day. Be
said, they were assembled that day to petition against the Penal
Code—against a Bill which, if passed into a law, must deprive the
Catholics of Ireland of the last political luxury they possess—the
luxury of complaining. We meet, continued the Rev. Gentleman,
to petition, while yet we can, against the Bill now about to be in-
troduced into the House of Commons. We meet for the purpose
of identifying ourselves with the Catholic Association, and what-
ever penalties we may be destined to endure, let us preserve our
temper and our moderation—for, without both, nothing great or
good can be achieved. Let us submit to the laws--but never, ne-
ver let us refrain from proclaiming aloud in the face of Europe,
and the world, the privations under which we labour, and the hard..
ships which we endure for adhering to the religion of an Alfred and
a More.
Hr. Ltrur sat dawn amidst enthusiastic cheering.
. The resolutions against the suppression of the Association were
then read, moved, and agreed to.

MINING INIELLIG EbIL E.--Copper Ores BOW at Redruth,
Fet. 10, 2,014 tons ; average produce, 81. Quantity of
fine copper, 172 tons 11 cwt. Amount of sale, 17,7521.
19s. ; average standard, 195!. 10s. Copper Ores fur sale
at Redruth, nest week, 1,457 tons.