The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-06-14 00:00:00

THE MOCK CONSTITUTIONAL sociErr.

The soi-disant " Constitutional Association"
boasts that it has received an increase to the outs.
her of its subscribers, and this the Committee of
Management, with singular modesty, represent m
" a gratifying proof of the continued estimalion M
which their efforts are held by the loyal mud well-
disposed part of their fellow-subjects." From
this expression the necessary inference, at levet the
inference desired by the Committee, to be drown is,
that all who do out subsciibe their money are dis-
loyal and ill-disposed persons. There ilia class or
sect of religionists, who ill haranguing their fol-
lowers. represent the payment of money to the
preachers as the most acceptable sacrifice that cam
be made to the Almighty. " Put money in the
plate if you are a true believer," says the false
I,,meber. "subscribe to the Constitutional As-
sociation if you are a loyal subject," say the Bridge.
street Coin 333 I t lee. " Toisidone," says the preacher.
" can uphold your character as a pious Chrunian,
and secure to you the blessings of immortality."
" Subscribe." exclaim the Committee, " and you
will instantly be ranked among the only loyal and
' respectable portion of society. You will be known
as a friend to the Government, which will not
only • cover a multitude of sins.' but likewise en-
able you to accuse your neighbours of blasphemy
and sedition." The sensible part of tnatiknid ore
indignant at the pretender who degrades the dignity
of religion, said abuses the majesty of its name for
Ins owe( vile purposes. What then will they
think of a set of political nitruutelMlits. who
trick out • plianton of loyalty, sod denounce
as traitors slid impious all who will out pay them
for keeping op the delusion The Committee Roy
" it is not for them to imitate the conduct of pet-
sans who, fur purposes out to be ontsuoderstood, have
eudeavoured to exile so violent a elainctur against
the Association ;" but " firm in their proseiples they
will rot sutler themselves to be turned sink from
their duly." Now, really, the Committee ought to
have explained to the public what is meant by the
words " their dirty." The word dray, as we under-
stand it, always implies that the performance or
omission of ally particular act is prescribed by a
law or usage entimatti:g iron, some superior power,
or sanctioned by the retognition and approval of the
majority of society. The dray of a subject in this
couatry 15 empluitically to obey the laws, wild it is the
ditty of the (;overnimera to put ihoae kits into force
for the protection and well-being of the community.
Now by what law or usage of this country the
Bridge-street Association find themselves cow-
pelted to prefer indictments for political offeocts,
we are at is loss to discover. We canuot very
clearly imagine bow any number of the Ktuu's
subjects
,in this country can conceive it to be
their particular duty. and felling upon them ex-
clusively, to institute prosecutions against any other
body of their fellow-subjects at their own will and
caprice. It seems to us that they are assuming
what is properly the duty of the Government, and
that thereby they impose me additional duty upon
the Ministers of the Crown, which is to cause
them all to be prosecuted by the ATTOMIZY-
GENERAL. In the republic of Athens it was •
crime punishable with death for soy, primate parson
to assume without proper authority the functions
of a magistrate, and the sentesices 'lately pro.'
nounced by the Court of King's illknch upon
persons who, without sufficient righti.urlferMok
act the parts of electors of a Mesabi): of Paillis-,
mew, sheer that iii this country too the lair looks
with jealousy mid displeasure upon any. persons who
shall assume political duties shat do not liclobg
them. In the case of the Bridge-street Society,.
the associators arrogate the functions -of the Mi-
nisters of the Crown without their reruisiibility,
and in controlling the public press of the country:
the Society's Attorney divides empire 'with the •
Kt PIG'S Attorney. The erection of such a power
in the country, with no defined authority but with
unlimited means, selecting at its caprice'ilie victims
of its power, is calculated to do far greater miss
chief than if the farce of the Birobiughisai electives
were • Isandied times repeated.
.•

The Gazelle of Tuesday Mita contains an Order'
of Council for furiher suspending the ballot and eri.
'violent of the Locallialitur fur mother year, from
the 27th instant.. ,t •• •
A shocking intitamie af.self:destructitin occurred
on Monday sesinight. 11r. WOrTISIDES, a traveller
is the carpet line, after spewing decided oymptonie
of derangement et the Crown Inn, in Lynn, ordered
his gig about six iu the evening, and drove to Mal.
dieters, a village about four miles lima Lynn. where
IM'elighted and retired down a lane, and cut his
throat • with a razor in so dreadful a trimmer as nearly
Jo sever Isis herd from his body. He was alKurt
forty years of age, a hue gentleman in Prerits,4eud
Pore a respectable character. 'I 1.: :4.)s.rt

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