The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-02-13 00:00:00

tan be "see illiberal.. soli
=ter the
immil=patigisoihilliNVOiso
ll e
civil adesinisatralshiow,i I si .s.gl .ho the
44 But it is sot iismalreslltillrwhieh the
Catholic feels. Heosteit *WSW • the taunts
and impieties ',hide*, mote 104ellefled Proles.
teetotal seldom fails at, eurcise, under the equi.
vocal distinction of Orangemen, or • friend' to Go.
vernaient ! Although these badges of distinction
among the lower orders may appear individually
trilling, they are, collectively, prodoctive of great
asischief and disorder among the people of Ire.
land, and prolaibly not beneath the consideration
of an enlightened administration.
" la the event of the question of Catholic
Emancipation being again brought under the con-
sideration of Parliament during the present Session,
I should with great deference suggest to your
Lordship, and the other • Friends- of Ireland,'
that a ' Bill to remove the present disabilities
of the Roman Catholics,' unaccompanied 11 any
collateral measures, in the nature of a revisal of
the civil adMinistration, would avail little in tran-
quillising the present distracted state of the coun-
try. The Measure cannot be productive of any
Winne. benefit to the state, without taking it up
on a more extended bogie than merely relieving
the disabilities of the Roman Catholics. The
enlightened statesmau cannot fail to view the
improvement of the moral and social habits of
the people at large, as a paramount question to the
enjoyment of certain privileges by one person iii
feu thousand I shall not presume to point out
the collateral measures which would he hest adapt-
ed to this desirable end. It would far exceed the
ability of any individual, even the moat highly
gifted ; and can only be properly and effectively
isoodertaken by the united councils of men of great
sagacity sad intregrity. As the measure of Cr-
Enianeipation would, however, form the first
consideration with the friends of Ireland, in the
legislature, I shall eonclode by respectfully offer-
ing • few suggestions for the more effectual ac-
complishment of the ostensible object of any such
Bill. ' The relief of the people of Ireland.'
" If auy immediate relief can he expected from
the passing of the Catholic Bill, it must arise
from thi conciliatory nature of the measure, in
pacifying the tutu& of the people at large, rather
than from any positive or tangible relief. And in
this point of view much will necessarily depend
on the character and influence of the agents
employed. Now it is well known that no class
of men possess tKe cootidence sad respect of the
masa of the Irish population in any degree equal
to the Catholic Clergy. It is, therefore, worthy
of inquiry whether this important body of men be
not on every ground entitled to the liberal coital-
&ration of the Parliament, iu the eveut of the
measure passing into a law.
•• It is too general among the English public to
entertain a contemptible opinion of the Irish
Catholic priesthood, which arises from their total
ignorance of the duties imposed upon, and usually
performed by that class of men. There may be
sante instances in which their personal habits, and
intemperate zeal. may be productive of disadvats.
tags to Society ; bar the great inejority of their
body are not only irreproachable in their moral
habits, but they discharge their important duties
in a manner highly creditable to their sacred
office ; and u worthy examples to some of their
brethren of the " Establishment !"
" The entire and implicit confidence reposed in
the Catholic Clergy by . the lower classes, invests
them with a degree of mild 'Authority unknowat in
oily other department of society. The advice
and direction of the Priest is invariably the law
with all good Catholics ; as many proofs can
testify, in which plunder has been restored, or
restitution made in many cues of outrage, by the
admonition or intercession of the parish Priest,
From the intimate knowledge of the persons and
moral habits of their parishioner'', the Catholic
Clergy ere peculiarly qualified for Commissioners
of the Peace. They are usually superior to the
levee-holder Magistrate, not only in learning, but
in the institutions of civil life which immediately
relate to the utainteinitsce of good order and peaceful
babas among the lower iehisieut'
" Neither itseriddvihees be any more danger in
depositing power, to a limited extent, in the hands
of the respectable parish priest, than in admitting.
the Catholic aristocracy to situations of trust,
which is the avowed object of all the Emancipation
Bills that have hitherto been' proposed. Indeed
the relative duties of the Pastor and the Magistrate
are so blended, that the due execution of the for-
mer department renders the latter almost nominal,
except where coercion may be required, in aid of
admonition.
•' if the duties of the !Magistrate and the Di-
vine are foetid advantageously united in the bene-
ficed Clergy of the Protestant persuasion, there is
additional argument for investing the regular, or
parochial Clergy of the Roman Catholics with si-
milar authority, from 'the decided advantages they
possess both- in the local knowledge of their pa-
rishioners. and in the superior respect sod confi-
dence which they never fail to inspire, by their
constant intercourse with those commuted to their
charge.

" But shOold the Legislature not consider the
Catholic Clergy as eligible persons to be intrusted
with coy temporal or civil authority ; there can
be no doubt that it would he sound policy to secure
their attachment and good offices, by rendering
them not totally depenibust on the gratuity of their
parishionerk fur subsistence.
" In most instances they are very inadequately
recompeused fur the luborioug duties they per-
form. And a small permanent addition to their
present uncertain provision, would not only be
honourable to the liberality of the legislature,
but would secure their powerful support to the
Goveroment, and coutribute, 'probably more than
all
,oglrr means united, to die pacification of the
minds of .14 great twos of the Inch population.
" I shall conclude by al/ earliest appeal to your
Lordship, to stand forward boldly as the friend of
your country, and demonstrate to the people that
they hove at least one friend, both able and willing
to render them every practicable relief. Tem-
porary or partial measures can effect but little
for the ultimate benefit of the people et forge ;
yet even partial measures are, perhaps. at the
Present period not to be neglected. It is