The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-10-22 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS.

finned. After the decease of Sigismund 11. without issue, all the
Poles assembled in tl.e. Diet held In 1573 foe the election of a new
Sovereign, protested that they would not choose any man fin King,
who would no: Swear to the inviolable observance of the above con-
vention. Ilt rri tle Valois, the first elective King of Poland, se.
cordingly hesitated rot to swear by Almighty God, that he would
maintain the rights of the dissenters.
The reading of this extinct was interrupted by frequent expres.
aims of spprohation by the meeting.
Mr. Kt:l. LY seconded the Resolution, which he efiviiadeeed one
of the mint important measures the Catholics of this country had
for n lung time entered into. It was to the following elfect r—
•• That a Select Committee be appointed to consult on the pro.
prlety, and if deemed expedient, to prepare a draft of a petition,
to be rrotented to the Legislature rally in the next Session of Paz-
Lament."

This itcsolution wart carried unanimously, and it was understood
the draft of the Petition is to be submitted to the next Quarterly
Meeting of the Association, in January.

MR. COIIETT.

Mr. Wnv.wxr begged to rani the attention et the meeting to a
subject which he thought woetily idiot attention. It was well known
them that Mr. Cobbett, one of the ablest men and most powerful
writers of this or any other age, had lately exercised his pen with
his accustomed ability, In advocating their cause. Although he
shelved such Ltd in their =nye, yet he (Mr. W.) had been inform-
ed, that Mr. Cobbett complained of a shyness on the part of the
Roman t'atholics towards him. Although he felt this, yet
he was determined to continue his advocacy on their behalf
with the sante zeal. and the same attention to truth, which
had hitherto distinguished his writings on the subject. 11Ir. Cob-
bet was acquainted with many ( 'atholic authors and writers of emi-
nence, and, amongst others, he had read part of Lingarirs
History of England. lie was now engaged in writing a tract on
the Itsiormation, and, as a small mark of approbation and of gra-
titude for the services he had rendered to their cause, he would beg
ro propose that a copy of that work he presented him from the
Roman Catholic Association. He had reason to believe that such
a manifestation of the Association's sense of his services, would be
very acceptable to him ; and when they considered how powerfully
lie had contributed to remove the prejudices that prevailed against
them, and to conciliate friends for them, he was satistied they would
cheerfully accede to the proposition of making, at least, this trilling
manifestation of thanks for his important services. lie con-
cluded by proposing a resolution, the substance of which is con-
tained in his speech.
r. SuLLIVAX seconded the resolution.

Mr. BUTLER. after a few words (mm Mr. Wyrstart, recom-
mending the withdrawal of the resolution (which was not
acceded to by the mover), addressed the Meeting with much
warmth. He had attended Roman Catholic Meetings for forty
four years, and in the whole of that experience, he did not re.
memy a resolution of a more mischievous tendency to have been
proposed at any of their Meetings. Hs would entreat, if neces-
sary he would go upon his knees, and beseech the mover and
seconder to withdraw it. It was not that lie did not think Mr.
Cobbett entitled to their thanks for the advocacy of their cause—of
his great and powerful abilities no man entertained a higher opi-
nion than himself; neither war it that he thought the resolution
as expreative of too strong a sense of the gratitude which they
owed him, or as proposing a mark of approbation beyond or equal
to his services. But the effect of this measure on the public
mind was to be attended to. (Cries of " Hear, hear, hear.")
They might easily satistj themselves of the propriety of this resolu-
tion, and explain to one another its reasonableness; but on the
public mind the effect of such a resolution would i'evitably be to
identify this association with Mr. Cobbett. and to connect it with
his political principles, with many of which it was their duty and
their interest not to interfere, and not to espouse. Besides, there
were many of their very best and wannest friends, in and out of
Parliament, whose feelings Mr. Cobbett in his writings had cruelly
wounded, and who would look upon a resolution of this kind with
great suspicion. Again, it was stated that this book was to be pre-
sented to him, for the purpose of writing s tract on the Reforms-
tina. Of that tract the Association knew nothing—they did not
know that the book would be written, and the subject discussed on
principles which they as Catholics could approve of, and he saw no
business which this Association had to come to any resolution re-
specting it. The important services which Mr. Cobbett had Ten-
dered, he admitted, and was grateful for them. He would feel great
reluctance, therefore. to negative such a motion as the present; but
he owned he would feel great reluctance also in acceding to it. This
was • feeling which he believed he shared with many persons pre.
sent. (Hear.) He would therefore renew earnestly his request to
have it withdrawal. The introduction of it at all was to be de.
plored, and a division upon it still more so. He again depre-
cated a discussion of so mischievous a tendency, and again ha-
plored the mover and seconder to withdraw it. (Much applause.)
Mr. Wheble and Mr. Sullivan consented to withdraw the
motion, as the meeting seemed desirous that it should not be
pressed ; it was accordingly withdrawn.
Several Resolutions were also passed, which related to the in-
ternal arrangements of the Association.
A vote of thanks was passed, oo the motion of Mr. Butler, to
the Hon. Hugh Clifford, for the able and judicious manner In
which he presided In the Committee of the 20th inst.; sod similar
votes were passed to the Chairman for his able conduct In the
Chair, and to the Rev. Mr. Honowan, who had coins from Bir-
mingham, and attended the Meeting at much personal lawn-
•etllenCe.
The Chairman and Rev. Gentleman respectively returned thanks,
after which the Meeting broke up at AR o'clock.

[Although a desire had been intimated by a few persons who
were present at the meeting to suppress in the public prints the dis-
cussion which took place relative to Mr.Cobbett—yet as that request
was not general, and mare especially as we are not swam that any
consequence disserviceable to the interests of the Roman Catholics
can result from its publication, and for the purpose of preventing
misrepresentation, we have been disposed to exercise our own dis-
cretion, which induces us not to accedes to the partial request for its
suppression.]