The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-07-27 00:00:00

EAST INDIA HOUSE.

Yesterday a Special General Court of Proprietors of Ewe Irwlis
Stock was held at their !mum iu Leadenlitill.street, purqtant to it ee.
quisition of nine Honourable Proprietors. for the purpose of taki
into consideration the two following motions:— eg

" Ist. That, adverting to the A-ct of Parliament recently pavg,
which contains the following clauses :—"Fhat at any time within
three years from the passing of the Act, it shall and may be tow.
ful for the Court of Directors of the said United Company to „mi.
nate and appoint, and to send to the Presidencies of Fort {ti' Am,
Fort Sr. George, or Bombay, in the capacity of a Writer, any per:
son who shall produce such teatimoriials of his character and con.
duct, and ;met such an examination as by rules and regulations to
be framed and established shall be required. That the said cowl
of Directors shall, ai.d they are hereby required, with all convent",
speed, to frame and establish proper Rules and Regulations re.
apecting the due ;rid necessary quiilitications of Writers; and utit
it shall and may be lawful to alter and vary such Rules and Rego,
laions from time to time, as circumstances may appear to requite.
This Court, therefore, requests the Court of Directors now to sub.
mit their intended Rules and Regulations, that the same may be
deliberately discussed by the General Court of Proprietors also,
iq
order to obviate every attempt to establish any unfair nionopoi-
.
Oriental education, while the College Suspension Act is to fore,
like the one lately made by a regulation of the Court of ihreeton,
I which, though published in their Court Ctlendar, or Rea &HA,
has since, on mature reflection, been rescinded.
" 2d. That, considering the manifold advantage; of rrrenciling
the feelings and interests of the vari..us Public Deparments and
Official I;oinmunities at the different Presqlencie; in Griciii 'no*
with each other, in every branch of the Service, this Court recant.
mends, that the Executive Governmenis there be instructed to alio.
lish immediately the odious practice of paying tae civil servants
ir. sicca rupees, and the army in a less valuable currency, called
aonat rupees; to prevent all discontent from the continuance of that
unreasonable distinction among the King's or Company's civil,
military, and naval functionaries, in future, by the whole receiving
their respective allowances in the same species ur equitable rata of
the local coins, where such payments are made."
After the usual routine business of the Court had been gone
through, the Secretary read the requisition, in consequence of
which the Court had been called.

LORD AMHERST.
Colonel Le TCESTEIt STANHOPE said that, previously to their
enterirg upon the immediate business of the day, he wished to ask
a question of the Honourable Chairman relative to a subject which
he conceived to be of vital importance, as well to the interest' of
this country as to the safety and welfare of British India. lie had
lately learned from a very high authority, connected with the Go-
vernment of India. that the expenditure for carrying on the ino,
mem war amnuntod to the enormous sum of one million of guineas
a month. What he was therefore anxious to ask was, whether his
al 'jetty's Minimises, who in all other respects formed the what
and greatest Administration that ever governed this country._
(heir, heer, hear)—whether those enlightened Steteiemen were ob.
etinate in one praticolar only, ands in opposition to the universal
reeling of the public, were determined to persevere in upholding
Lord Amherst in the Supreme Government of India, and thereby
' suffer not Only India, but also this country, to be at the mercy of
that person, whose incapacity was ao notorious? That this bogs
expenditure did materially affect the people of England be would
maintain, because the debt of the Company was in fact neither
more nor less than the debt of tee petite,.
TheCHAIRMAN (Sir G. Robinson, Hart.) begged to sate, is
answer to the question of the Gallant Colonel. that in the first
place this Court had been summoned for a special purpose, sod
therefore, if he had it in his power to state what were the sentiments
of his Majesty's Ministers with regard to the subject to which the
Gallant Colonel's question referred. still it would not be regular for
hint to do so at this stage of their proceedings; though he wculd
declare that he was utterly ignorant of what those sentiments were.
Alter the business of the day had been disposed of, it would be
quite connetent for the Gallant Colonel to make what observant ns
lie pleased ; but until then lie °mug's° any discussion on the sub-
ject would be irregular and impreper.
Colonel L. STANHOPE was extremely grateful for the courtesy
of the Honourable Chaimun,und he could only repeat his extreme
regret at the circumstance of an expenditure taking place in Intel
to the extent of one million of money a month, while the nia.
nufacturers in England were actually in a state of starvation.
(Hear, hear.)
PAY OF THE ARMY IN INDIA.
Dr. GILCHRIST rose pursuant to a notice he had given, to moye
a resolution regarding the practice of paying the Company's civil
servants in India, ins species of coin oh' one denomination, anti the
army in a species of another denonieation and of less intrinsic
value. He hoped he should meet with a fair and patient hearing,
especially from those Gentlemen behind the bar. It had been toe
much the fashion for the Proprietors to forget the powet which
they possessed, and to bow acquiescently to eves► thing which was
suggested by the Court of Direc:ors. But lie was not one of those pti.
sons; and he therefore begged to remind the Court that they were
the creators of those lionottrehle Directors. It had been coesithred
that an opposition mar was destroying the establishment to attire
he belonged. But he denied the truth of such a proposition. be
knew of many instances where the opposition, so far from retarding
good tneasui es which might emenete from the men in power, they
joined in supponieg them. So far from an opposition ruernbee
being an enemy to those in power, he was oftentimes the r best sup.
porter. Satan had been considered an enemy of the Church tat
upwards of 1,800 years ; and the Church had to be grateful to him
fur it; for let him but once be taken out of the system, as the Cni.
'Arians had done with him, and the Church would instantly fail to
the ground. (Laughter.) After attending to an affront, which the
Honourable Proprietor said had been offered to hint by 31o3larjori.
banks, when Director, he referred to a book which had been pub-
lished by an Honourable Proprietor, then present, and from which
he had made an extract that concerned them all. The Honourable
Proprietor then reed the extract, which stated that the Proprietors
of Stock, to the WOolltit of 50u1., possessed the power of calling a
Court to dieplace y Director on account of mismanagement, and
might hear any complaints against such Director, anti also hold a
Coete for the despatch of any business relating to the affairs of the
Company. Such a law did not (observed the Honourable Plopri-
etor ) treat this Court as a parcel of people that had co rights, co
authority, and no power.
A PaoPanEToa rose to call the Honourable Proprietor to ender.
half en haste had been consumed in a speech which was no more
relative to the subject to be cite day discussed, than any other ques
Lion that was now agitaring on the Royal Exchange.
The CHAIRMAN said he certainly had felt but very little (lino.
position to interrupt the Ilon. Proerietor In the exordium which he
had given them with respect to the relative power proposed by the
Court of Proprietors and the Court of Directors, especially vo far as
regarded the power of the fernier to retrieve the Directors fro.n
olhce; and he iiket.iee had not felt any disposition to interrupt the
Hon. Proprietor when he talked of nn insult he had received from
their Chairman. betanse, although he was much astonished at the
accusation, yet he did suppose at the time that the observations of
the lion. Proprietor were directed to himself (the Chairman).
Therefore until the lien. Gentleman had better explained himself,
he was not diepesed to el! him to order; but lie should now most
earnestly request the lion. Gentleman to enter upon that which
was peculiarly the business of the day.
Dr. Oteetioi sr said he was just about to proceed to the sub.
jest, and in bringing it fors tad he tad not mean to deny that the
civil servants shouldhave an authority over the military in belie.
Ile admitted also .list it was tie they should have Welter aliew-
tutees than the military. The latter enjoyed prize-money, and
had honours confarred upon them which the civil servants had
not. But the evil of which he compleined woos this—that the
civil servant received his ply in a more valuable coin titan
the military. This gave rise to a great deal of heartburnieg.
There had been aye y clever publication sent fo th lately by a mi-
litary other, respecting his Jl j me's service in India, which cur..
. mined much (Istria ; though he was sorry to learn,
Isom this ptutl sh r, that rot one copy had been sal of the emit.
This circumstance showed how little interest the public felt in
what concerned the efladis of India. (Hear, hear.) In that work
the umber stated that, whatever might be the current value
of a sicca rupee, it was rated at the sum of two shillings and se-
ver pare. to the officers and soldiers, when paid to them, yet, should
they wish to ntake a remittance to England, they leund to their
surprise that the Governmeet would allow them only Is. Ithe for
each rupee. In a Moir which he had recently received from
Bengal, it was stated that the pay,to the army was in a species of
rupees which were 4.1 per cent. of less value than that in which the
civil service were paid. The latter were r it'd in what were callid
sieca rupees. while the military were paid in what was termed
moat rupees, though the former kind constituted the currency of
the whole of the Presidency of Bengal ; wages and provisions were
consequently mid for in that coin. So that while Government pro-
. teemed to pay them 1011 rupees, they in point oh' fact paid them no
more thee 9al. The (ME ranee would pay the wages ef one servant.
This, however, though a severe hardship, was not to be compared
with that which the military man experienced, when he wished to
make remittances home to his family in England. He was com-
pelled to take bills of exchaege at the rate of the day, which had
been belie es., while he was at the same moment foretd to receive
his money front Government at the rate of 2e. ed. the rupee. At
any time this would be hard; but at present, when the prices of
provisions were high, it was peculiarly so. Ile would not trouble
' the Court with any further observations, but would conclude by
moving the second 1L solution, to which only he had applied his
' arguments, as being, in his judgment, a subject of greater import-
.' /ince than that which was embraced by the other Resolution eon-
ta }
al Ithl:t.t,Sree
lieved i •
o. eseconded the
there
t,(.re persons
present motion,
whoand
considered(l ie t ra,!!
he anti his Honourable Friend (Dr. Gilehriet) were testing

dsngtrous ground. when talking about the pay of distant partns,
who were engaged in war, with armour on, with a pest prevailing
in their camp, and with Lord Amherst directing their councils. It
was moat true; but then, by discussion they should terse the Cou:t
of Directors to look into these oppressions, and either from a motive
of shame, or from a motive of fear, or from the more noble impulse
of a desire to do justice, eventually do away the existence-of the
evils complained of. If were blind to the page of history, we could
not be blind to those momentous events which were now paining
b?fore us. We had seen, in cur own times, the army taking the
field in rebellion against us. But besides this, we hal wen
France. Spain, Italy, Naples, Sicily and of late we had
seen Russia—we had seen South America, Greece, Toikev,
all shake by a military rebellion ; while in America. In Enclatas
and in Switzerland, where the voice of the press was free, se
seen none of those commotions. Standing upon the sound grounds
of experience, he should call upon the Court of Directors who had
the good fortune to exercise power and dominion, and to be lirgely
pat fa It, not, it Was true; ut money, but each of them to the

amount of Ino.oo/. s.year in patronage; he should call upon them
to do justice to their civil and military service, and also to his
Majesty's service. He was the more anxious to call their attentioff
to that service, in which he hail the honour to hold a station, be-
cattle the interest of that service had no representative behind the
bar. He contended that wherever an increase of the army in Bri-
tish India took place, that increase should het made upon a fair
and equitable scale, and that favouritism should nut prevail in the
Bengal Presidency, to the prejudice of the army at Madras and
Bombay. And here he had the pleasure of stating that he under-
stood it was the intension of his lisicsts's worthy Ministers to
establish this system from the year 1824. Ile begged to suggest what
he conceived would tend to the pmnunion of good discipline among
the troops, which wis the introduction into each company of •
norscommissioned British officer. With regard to the pay. he
thought oho arty of British lonia 'should be paid at the saute rate
and in the same coin, instead of according to the present system of
being divided into lour casts. At present the Bengal civil service
was paid in sicca rupees; the Bengal rainy in sonat rupees; the
Madras in Arcot rupees; anti the Bombay in Surat rupees. The
system of casts might be very agreeable in what was called the
wisdom of our ancestors, but lie understood it was quite contrary
to the wisdom of Mr. liuskisson. 3lr. Canning, and 3lr. Wynn,
and that they had en intent on of forming one standard of currency,
and had been actually negotiating with the native princes of India
for establishing that wise measure. Instead of the army being
placed on a similar footing, the Bengal army was at present placed
upon full buts, while the Madras army was upon half baits, and
which was also the case with the Bombay army. Nothing could
h more absurd than this system ; and it was at the same time the
height of injustice the prices of provisions being dearer at Madras
thenin Bengal.lfe would not dwell upon these incongruities,
but should merely stare that so long as they lasted they would
create discontent in the military mind, as it had always done in
the minds of the soldiery In every part of the world. The Gallant
l'olonel then proceeded to remark upon the partiality and preference
shown to the native troops, to the prejudice of the Kings troops.
He observed that the objection against the latter was, that they
were not efficient. This be denied. They remained in India
twenty years, and had opportunities both of acquiring a knowledge
of the language and of the regulations of the native troops. The
Indlant l'oloral then appealed to the Court of Directors to treat
the army liberally, to discipline them like the excellent Sepoys, to
plice them on an equal looting, and treat them with humanity, and
then there would be no discontent, no commotion, no unwise con-
cessions required to be made, but the troops would ever remain
trite to their standards.
The Coate MAX did not think that the present Court would
very materiallyidiffir from him in the opinion that it was impossible
to introduce into public discussion a question of this delicate nature
witbeut its being attended with material inconvenience to the pub-
lic service. He contended that such was the drift end tendency of
this motion. lie was quite satisfied that it would, be very prat.
ticaMe to go into such • detail of the origin of that distinction
which existed, and which was complained of. as would clearly
establish that, in point of f ,ct, no injustice and no breath of e 1-
trust had taken place, in regard to the te:ms upon which the mili-
tary entered into the Company's eery and upo t which they were
not pail. The lion. Chairman then strere,l tato an histioieel dc.
tail, in order to slioW that :he I a; of the troops was originally in a
saecien of mare of less value than the sicca rupee which was alter
wards stiabisshed as the a t d ird in th • proviticc of Bengal, and
that therefore, when the troops were paid in the latter coin, It was
no injustice to deduct the difference between the value of the sicca
rupee and of the naive in which the payment was originally made.
ith regard to the iliff.r r. e of value, when the rupee was changed
into' bill on this country for remittance, that was a circums, soca
over which the Directors had no control. It was entir.ly dependent
on commercial events ; and no government could insure a regular
rate of exchange. He had so strong an impression on his mind
that this discussion would produce incalculable injury, that lie
should content himself ou the present occasion by moving the pre-
vious questior.
A De ar.evort seconded the motion.
Mr. Heim underdood, when he came into the Court, that the
first question for their consideration would have been. whether the
military establishments thnoNhout India could not be placed upon
one general ant uniform system. Every one conversant with the
mem+ of India must know how great was the inconvenience that
r-.sulied from the present system. lie would advert only to what
huh occurred I itely at Chittagong. There the troops from Madras
were serving with the Borilay troops, the latter receiving a full
double bans, be-ides rations, whilst the Madras troops received only
single bads, amt no rations at all. 11 Itenever the troops served
together, the same allowance ought to be made. Ile regtetted to
say great cause of discontent existed in India, and whilst a man
was stliwed to remain as Greversov-General there who 'laud re-
corded as having lost the confidence of the Court of Director., dis-
content would continue to exist. Either gnat injustice had been
done to the Noble Lord, or else there was great supineness and rie-
Shgenee on the part of the Court of Directots, to allow things to
reniain on they were. With regard to the motion before the Court,
if to taro the Court of Directors disposed to take op the subject, he
thowll advise his Honourable Friend to leave the question with
them; but if he persisted in putting it, tie (31r. would sup.
tort it, upon the ground that the Warty of the picas did not exist
iii lad* sed,ilsersioes these eoliplainta could nut reach the Go-
vestment of the country.
The Cif 41SW sn said, with respect to what had fallen from the
ilonourahle Gentleman *lto had just sat down, he felt it absolutely
necessary that the advaionge possessed by troops of one Presidency
over that of another, while serving together, should be done away
with; and he ci old positively assert, from experience, ever since he
bad been in the Direction, that there had been the most anxious
desire, and that the most positive orders and instructions hsd been
sent nut to the Government oh' India to effect that object. Consi-
derable advances had been made towards It. He wished nor so be
misunderstood. He spoke with reference to regimental allowances
only. There might be • difference with respect to the staff' allow-
:maws, which depended opal circumstances, peculiar to the different
Pier. tencica With regard to assimilating the coin they had made
considerable progress. They had brought the Bombay rupee and
the Madras rupee not only very close together in their intrinsic
value, but also very near to the sonat. There was nothing more
desirableble than the establishment of a general cusenty throughout
all the Presidencies. (Hear, hear.) The advantages of it would
be incskaloble ; but gentlemen must, at the same time, see the
dr:cattiest that exist in effecting so important • change.
('apt. 31AXIVgai. entered itito a statement with regard to the es-
penditure at Use different Presidencies. lie said that the snpeadi-
titre per annum was—

•
o- Civil. ',Military.
he Of Ikng•il - .01.01.10,090 Xe 000,000
he Ilodras 2.170.000 3,108 149
as Bombay - 618,232 1,840,114
Ln After Some further discussion, in which Mr. TRAP: T, Mr.
he Di z ON, and hlr. PAT Eit sox, took part,
on 14. tirt.c H HIST replied, and dually consented to withdraw his
lie r.m, n.
.... . .. _ .. .

3).
if.
Dot
ch

The motion was accordingly withdrawn.
Mr. 111.31 E .3iti, pechaps it would save the time of the Court if.
b:iore his friend We. Gilchrist) entered upon the consideration of
the first ltesolution, the Hon. Chairman would state in what situa-
tion the sut.irct regarding the n Kulationn to be adopted in conne-
cane, of the recent Act of Parliament rc,pecting the qualifications
ut Cadets stone.

ta.
w.
rd
ad

The Cleat 'INAS( was only prepared to state. that the subject was
tow in the course or adjustment bc.ween the Board of Control and
t!,e Court or liirett-ra, and when that took place it would be his
d..ty to make The subject as public as posaible.
pen its being understood from the Chairman that no young
u-rn would be r.linned to go out to India until the regulations had
been promulgated, Dr. Wichita' declined making his intended
❑ mien.

an
)n.

:11r. Roll,: hoped it was not intended by the Court of Directors
r.oonnoend their own establishment in preference to any other.
The CHAIRMAN said the Resolution to that effect had been
r-.e.odett, lest too much importance should be attached to it. It
w from their widish to monopolize education at the Company's
Cu:lege.

THE ROYAL GEORGE.
The CHAIRMAN then submitted the following Resolution of the
court of Directota to the Court, and upon which it was necessary a
ballot'atiould be had, pursuant to the 58 Geo. 11l e.
That it it the opinion of this Court, that the Commend,* oral
I loners of the ship Moral George are fully acquitted from all int.
putivion of neglect or misconduct in respect to the loos of that

'ighe ballot was appointed to take place on Friday, the 4th of
Amour.

Court adjourned at three o'Lloek.

BRITISH CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION.

11).
11141
iv
.1t

Voqcrday an open Meeting of the British Catholic Association
•• at held at No. 1, Thorney.street, Bloomsbury. .C. BUTLER,
1.1 the Chair.
A.s 41 the Chair was taken,
Mr. R• of NT said, that they had then met accrrding to the rules
.! :he Asy ichttiin, and not for any particular purpose, and therefore
Livy dil nut expect a luge attendance upon that occasion. The
ts.,i.son of the year rreclutled the attendance of Catholics of rank
i..0l irfuence, and the hour of the thy was equally opposed to the
"rdonce of the tradespeople of that persuasion. Ile would,
I—trerer, read to them mach transact;oris as had taken place since
,tte list meeting of the Association.
fhe following Report was then read to the Meeting by Mr.

ly.
hat
on
IcY,

urt
ive
Ilse
the

In
the
reit
usd

eV,
lA,
had
nds
had

" Stnea we hst met, events of infinite importance have occurred
•t general electior, has taken place. Our opponents had directed
11. their efforts to inflame the public mind against us, and had
only imagined that under the delusion of an unprincipled war.
i• "T• the voice of juuira. honour and humanity, and liberality,
w,u4l have been extinguished. They reckoned wi•bout their host..
Ll the whole range of the country hardly a solitary instance, to the
hi mortal ho:'our Maur countrymen be it spoken, can be discovered
v•iere this appeal to larejodice and passion has been /111Crem,fitl.
I.' Ireland. the cause of humanity and of public right has been
triumphant still; and the bout is come when we arc most
Lip-natively called upon to exert ourselves as one men, to scrum-
-I".'h our liheratiao. If we are true to ourselves at the present
.I'leulre, our sus ss emnat be doubtful. We hear it frequently
tit the English Catholics are few in number, and insigne.
boss, 11l the scale of na.ional importance. Nothing can he more
roe. Nearly a millon of men. spread through the various
7'4°4 te adorning the very highest, many poorsing
,0410:1°Pirr lel. and all, in their relative situations, deserving of
hemselves.
-"" "teem, never can be unimportant unless they ft.rget
tin highly their importance;
At the present juncture, it is impossible to estimate
:bey are strong in their cause—it

belongs to truth and justice—in their numbers, and in their cha-
racter. It is idle to suppose that the virulence iisplayed by certain
persons against us is really aimed at our religious tenets. We
have disclaimed almost to satiety, and to the conviction of every
candid mind, all obnoxious principles that malevolence or pre-
judice has imputed to us. in practice, certainly, our principles
are innoxious, as our long-tried obedience to the laws amply tes.
tifies ; and were they dangerous in abstract reamoning, the power
of reducing such principles to practice is happily gone tier ever.
Had Popery been the nionstrr she is idly represented, she would
now be harmless; for her power is spent. In the contempt with
which the despicable exciters to religious rancour have been gene.
rally received by a discriminating public, at the late elections, we
have ample proof that the rant of bigots, which some contories ago
would have been dangerous, is now only d'sgusting. It is not our
religious principles that are aimed at ; it is the prine•ple of exclusion
that is sought to be maintained, the march of knowledge that is
to be arrested; and the battle is not en much against as,
as against every liberal principle of legislation, and all that
dignifies human existene:. Every Englishman, who values the
blessings est3:d by our i pampa ancestors, is as much interested
in the success of our cause as we are ourselves. Can it be doubted
for a moment that the infuriated being who rails at the bigotry of
the Ili h century, while he invites to the imitation of it In the Ifith,
wants nut the will, but the power, to be a persecutor ; anti would
light tires in Smithfield, could he find executioners as well as vic-
tims? In fact, the distinctive tenets of such individuals have little
to do with their comber : we must search in the qualities of their
hearts, and in the constitution of their minds, for the springs that
regulate their actions. The real Papist is the gloomy bigot of
every faith, who would mould men's minds to the dimensions of
his own, and, by pains, penalties, and privations, substitute coer-
cion for conviction. If the English Catholics choose to pronounce
themselves insignificant, no doubt they may become so; but if
each individual, in the station in society which Providence has as-
signed him, will exert himself to undeceive his neighbour, and to
point out to him the reasons why it is sought to prolong our huini-
liation—if, as a body, we are united, filled yids sail and clergy,
tempered with discretion—soon will our opponents find that the
Engiish Catholics are not incompetent. The battle against Eng.
lish prejudice is to be fought on Eaglish ground ; and our cause is
so strong, that we have ourselves alone to blame if it he not tri-
umphantly fought. The Irish Catholics are united as one man ;
their Clergy, their country gentry, the inhabitants of their towns
their members of the learned professions, and their people. are all
Indissolubly bound in one exceed bond. Our stake is not less than
theirs, nor are our means inferior to theirs. They have the advan-
tage f numbers, no doubt; but we are at the seat of Government,
intermixed with every class of society in England, and poasesa
facility of grappling with the public mind, which they do not.
But if we mean to move the machine from the slough, we must put
our shoulders to the wheel, aU sad each of us, and by a manly
effort extricate it.

" The British Catholic Association has been formed three years,
anti their Committees have been indefatigable in their endeavours
to rouse the whole body to a simultaneous elfin t. Three hundred
thousand publications have been gratuitously distributed, and the
effect has been great ; but our means are exhausted, with an im-
mense field still before us ; and we regret to say that a large por-
tion of the Catholic hotly have hithrtto been listless spectators.
The cause of their apparent indifference is best known to them.
selves. Is it want of confidence? The Committees deserve all
your confidence. By their devotedness to the common cause,
and the r disinterested exertions, they have honestly earned it.
Do they stand on forms and punctilios, waiting for personal
solicitation ? Their zeal in the cause, and the tnne of their nume.
rous appeals to the public, all prove beyond doubt that they would
not intentionally wound the feelings of any individual; and it
would be lamentable indaed could any Catholic so far forget him-
self as to abandon his sacred cause, because some unimportant
punctilio had been unintentionally omitted in his regard. Will
you suffer our cause to languish for trifles such as these ? Do some
really believe that inactivity, ind:fference, and the absence of all
explanation or expostulation, is the proper mode to correct misre.
presentation, and to remove the confirmed prejudices of ages? Is
is possible that even one can be bidiffermt to the diameter of his
religion, to the prospects of his children, to the state of humiliation
to which we are hourly subjec:ed, every enviable distinction, and
to the calls of honour or ambition ?

" Early in the approaching Sea-ion of Parliament, a petition to
the Legislature, for a perfect equally of civil rights, will no doubt
be presented by the Irish people. It is imperiously called for in
the present circumstances of the United Kingdom ; and a similar
one will, it is hoped, be presented, signed by every English Ca-
tholic ; and if the public mind b.: properly propitiated, it will re-
ceive the hearty good wishes of every man, whatever be his faith,
who values the happiness or the safety of the empire.
" We will now proceed to what is more peculiarly the business
of the present nieethlg. In obedience to the instrsetiona of the
Committee, I forwarded copies of the Declaration and Address to
the Royal Family, to all the members of the Cabinet, to the Bench
of Bishops, to the Speaker of the Douse of Commons, and to the
Heads of the Universities in England and Scotland. From most of
these distinguished persons we hire been honoured with polite re-
plies. "%With the view also of extending the circulation of the above
valuable document, in quarters where it would probably excite at-
tention, we hare procured its distribution, attached to the various
periodical publications that issue regularly from the public press:
and the whole number distributed amounts to more than 80,000
copies. As far as it has been in our power, we have endeavoured
to place them in the hands of judicious distributors.

4 I will now read to you in detail our proceedings since the last
General Meeting, and what has been done in the view of improving
the funds of the Association, by personal application to the London
resident Catholics. lam happy to say that we have met with great
seal and readiness on the part of litany most respectable individuals,
to lend their active assistance to this object, by calling on their
neighbours, and collecting subscriptions :min them, in aid of the
general cause.
" We have not entered, in this stage of the business, inns any
minute and detailed arrangements, being of opinion that suitable
mica and regulations will be best adopted, as circumstances ma,
paint out the necessity for them. AVe only propose to put into the
hands of the gentlemen, who kindly undertake to collect, books in
which they will enter the subscriptions received, and which will
tont/tin an author y for them to receive the same.
•` It will, perhaps, be desirable that a petition be early prepared,
and copies of it sent into every quarter of the kingdom, that the
signatures may be as numerous as possible, and full time be
affintled to collect them. Our petition against the continuance of
partial, huiniliating, and unjust laws, should penetrate into every
cottage in England. Every Englishman should know the real po-
sition in which we stand; and every Englishman so informed, float
the Land's End to John o'Groas a house, will be the friend of
Catholic emancipation, because every unsophisticated Englishman
has an innate horror of oppression and Injustice.
" I would likewise suggest, for the consideration of the Com-
mittee, whether they may not think it desirable that an address be
presented from the Catholics, to the great body of Dissenters. At
a former meeting of the Association, we passed a Resolution ex-
pressive of our cordial desire to join them, its petitioning for the re-
moval of all tests by which any class of men are incapacitated front
enjoying a perfect equality of civil rights. The propriety of acting
upon this Resolution, at the present moment, I leave to the decision
of this fleeting."
A Gentleman said that he thought the proceedings of the Asso-
ciation were erroneous; for instead of addressing the Legislature as
a club or association, the whole of the Catholic people should be
convened for that purpose.
Mr. BLOUNT said that that was a general meeting of the Bri-
tish Catholic Association, which aimed Mon had been appointed by
a general meeting of the Catholics, held on the 21 of June, 1823.
The lien:lonian replied, that the six or seem persons then as-
sembled could not he considered as the Catholics of England, and
any petition sent by them could only be considered as the petition
of those who sig... d it.
The Rev. 3lr. T noes!. said that the Assotiation had been
established by the Catholics of l'Agland generally, and ,according
to is rules, a meeting of the Committee was called once a mouth;
and in calling that Meeting they were only doing their duty, and
if the Catholics did not attend, the Committee were certainly no: to
blame. _ _

The Gentleman Raid that he was not a member of the A sloth.
tion, nor never would be, for the reasons he had stated.
After some further conversation, the Gentleman, who seemed as
if he was determined not to understand the explanations which
were offered, withdrew, asserting that he had no right to be present,
although repeatedly informed that it was an open meeting of the
Committee, at which he had a right to be present and to speak,
but not to vote, as not being a Member.
Alr. Itossow read the minutes of the proceedings of the Com-
mittee since the last Meeting ; after which
Al r. BLouSIT read the fol owing Address from the Committee
to the Catholics of London.
" THE COMMITTEE or TIIE BRITISH CATHOLIC ♦SSOCIA-