The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-04-11 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

A Letter to Cusarits BumEn, Esq. of Lincoln's Inn, in •in-
dication of English Protestants, from his Attack upon their
Sincerity, in the " Book of the Roman Catholic Church." By
C. J. BtoostriELD, D.D. Bishop of Chester.

It is refreshing to those who are familiar with matters
of theological controversy, to remark thegradual ascendancy
of that candid and manly spirit which extends the influence
of Christian charity, while it upholds the interests of re-
ligious truth. Our attention was drawn to the letter before
us, not only from the knz,.iin talents of the writer and his
I distinguished station in the church, but from the equally
eminent ability and high professional eminence of the indi-
vidual to whom it is addressed. We admire the acuteness
which it displays; but we are pleased, still more, with
the exemplary tone which pervades it. It is a vindication
conducted without the least alloy of bitterness, and while
it defends the Church as a body against the aspersions cast
upon it, it at the same time pays a willing tribute to the
virtues of the individual from whom it proceeded:—
" Having frequently," says the Bishop, " had the pleasure of
meeting you in society, and of profiting by your instructive and
agreeable conversation, it is not without reluctance that I address
you in this letter of expostulation • nor should I do so at all, but
that toy station in the Church enables me, and therefore, I think,
requires me, to oppose the evidence of actual observation and ex-
perience to an unfounded, and, 1 believe, an unguarded state.
ment, in which you have severely reflected upon the Clergy of the
Established Church. In doing this I hops 1 shall not employ any
argument, nor use any expression, which may justly give offence tom
person, whose Went' and learning entitle him to respect, and whose
general candour and moderation deserve that a single deviation front
them should be met with remonstrance rather than rebuke." _

The insinuation thrown out against the clergy of the
establishment by Mr. linri.ta, in his " Book of the
Roman Catholic Church," is, that they have no serious
and sincere belief in the Articles to which they subscribe.
It is from this grave imputation that the Bishop of Chester
defends the English clergy, it being not merely unjusti-
fiable, but one of those illiberal and common-place accusa-
tions which any adversary, of whatever sect, may, at any
time, bring againsthis opponent.
“ I know not what answer can be given to such Insinuations as
these, except a positive and indignant denial. What other answer
could your own Clergy give, supposing we were to retort upon them
the same charge ?'
It is quite clear that any general charge of this kind
can only be met by a general denial. It is, from its very
nature, incapable of proof, and is th.;refore out of the reach
of reasoning. Nothing would be easier, for instance, than
to accuse the Catholic Clergy with obtaining an ascendancy
over their flock by keeping their minds in bondage, and
training them—not in the broad day-light of religious free-
dom—but in the darkness of an abject and slavish super-
stition. But what would such an a:cusation prove
And if it proved nothing, what would it be worth? As a
general position, it may truly enough be asserted, that as
long as the Catholic priesthood can keep their votaries in
such a state of ignorance as to work upon their faith by
any forged miracles, or upon their credulity by any gross
imposture, so long they must be the enemies of a free Go-
vernment—of ajree press—in a word, of freedom in every
shape; because the effect of public discussion would be
to enlighten the multitude, and their craft, with all its
gain, would then soon come to an end. In all this, the
kingdoms of the Continent, in which the papal hierarchy
prevails, have a deep interest, and should look well to it.
If the question with as, were as to the supremacy of the
Catholic Church, we should urge these truths against it
most strenuously, and all the fair inferences deduceable
from them. IVe should urge them, too, were we contend-
ing against the temporal claims of the Vatican. But in
a discussion as to the justice and policy of putting all
British subjects on a level with respect to those rights
to which they are born under the Constitution, argu-
tnents of this kind do not apply. The question is,
how, with reference to the Catholic Claims, can the
Government be best administered with equity as to them,
and with sale& to itself: It is to be lamented that
so able an advocate of the Catholic cause as Mr. Berrcea
should have gone out of his way to make an attack so un-
called for, and so unwarranted, on the Clergy of the Esta-
blishment ; but it is an error which we need not dwell
upon, since it has been the means of producing this tem-
perate and effectual vindication.

The Duke of York arrived at his temporary residence,
Audley House, on Saturday, from Newmarket.
Yesterday the Duke of York and the Princess Augusta
atttnded Divine Service at the Chapel Royal, St. James's.
The Duchess of Gloucester anti the Princess Sophia
vl-
sited the Princess Augusta yesterday.
Yesterday the Duchess of Gloucester and the Princess
Augusta rode out together in the Park.
Divine Service was performed as usual, yesterday, at the
King's Household, at his Palace in Pall-mall, by the Re-
verend Dr. Blomberg.
Mr. Secretary Canning was so much recovered on Satur-
day afternoon, as to leave Gloucester Lodge, Brompton, on
a visit to the Earl and Countess of Clanricarde, who are
staying at Sudbrooke, the seat of Mr. IVilmot Horton.

Mrs—. Canning left her residence at Bromptoa on Friday,
for the residence of the Duke of Portland, where Mrs. ('.
is expected to remain fur a few days.
Mr. Meates, a King's Messenger, was despatched from
the Foreign Office. Downing-street, on Friday night, to
Brussels.

On Wednesday last the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of
Peterborough arrived at the Diocesan Palace from London.

Madatne—Ronzi and Signor De ilegnis are engaged for
the grand Musical Meeting at Hertford, in September.
It is said that Miss Tree and Mist; Love will, ere long, be
married; and that Miss Chester retires from Covent-garden
at the end of this season.

There will be a Masquerade at the Argyll Rooms
to-morrow.

We congratulate our townsmen upon the probability of
having a Mechanics' Institute speedily established in Li-
vtrpool.—Gcre's Liverruul Altert;ser (f Sufi!: tlJ.c.