The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-11-26 00:00:00

THE CATHOLIC QUESTION.

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I.
The London Journalists have lately advanced fags,
importantly relating to this country ; some with 4
temperate liberality, and others with zealous dis-
couragement. It is asserted that the state of His
Majesty's Roman Catholic subjects is about to be
laid before the wisdom of Parliament, on the ensu-
ing Sessions ; and it is expeded that some large
plans of national amelioratioa, promised at the time
of the Union, and thought to be e•sentially inter-
woven with that measure, are to engage the deliber-
ations of the Legislature. As no political changes
within the public expeftoney, car be so great as
that very measure itself, of which they are now said
to be the natural offspring, it may be reasonably
expeCted, that any intended alteration of our politi.
cal circnmstancos, eff-Eted by th- law, ought not
to disturb as with inquietude, merely because it was
a change. Of great national arrangements, justice
and policy ought to be the animating principles 1
and where these are rot sacrificed to narrow and il-
liberal expeasencies, we may see, without agitation
or frisdireaed re...lament, the deliberative wisdom
! of Parliament employed upon our most affelling
concerns. Every thinking man must see, with re-
gret, a sobjett of ; übli.• magnitude way-laid is its
progress, and dragged from enlightened and compe-
tent di,ciission, into the pages of party journals ;
reprobated without argument, condemned without
enquiry, reviled with asperity, and proscribed, as it
were, from human reflation, by the mischievous
energy of maledietion and ahnse. It is not decent
to cry down what the accumulated understanding
of the empire may think proper to entertain—it is
ae loud, let zeal and prejudice rave as they may.
to assume a pretence to restrul the judgment of the
Legislature ; to forestall their determination, and to
heap virulent condemnation upon what the opinion
of that Legisiatore may probably cinCtion with con-
clusive approbation. When we refleet upon the no-
r tor: of our own times, when we rec.-Men that, upon
6 theevent of this war. we must stand orfail, per!laph
for ever, as the British Empire. we are Inst in won.
der at the insane hardihood with which individuals
will sometimes endeavour to disable our real means
of safety (those means by which alone we are sure
• t a sncceed, and without which the presumption of
hrpc cannot look for ;cif iin success), by disuniting
the peopleof this cowry r, and fomenting the revival
of animosities, which the public feelings abhor, and
of which the remembrance excites disgust and aver-
sion. If we could, we would persuade all orders
and distinaions of our countrymen to cultivate their
growing good-will, to put aside all those abominable
animosities. which have brought their country to
stadia staters(' degradation, that it has become almost
a bye-word for contempt in every region of the
world ; and from which the choraeteristic bravery
and talent of its inhabitants have not been able to
redeem it. Disavowing all their parties, and ac
knowledging them only in the comptchenslve regard
of Irishmen, we consult but their own common ho-
sour, peace, and interest, when we implore them to
wage no angry or exasperating controversy ; but if
their concerns should Interest the deliberations of

the Legislature; if well-iotendcd arrangements for
their advantage should engage the great Council of
the Empire, there to commit the matter, in tempe-
rate and obedient resignation to such event, as that
paramount intelligence mar determine upon.
We hold no apprehension of foreign force or of
domestic dis rder, if the people of this country be
conciliated into a mutual spirit of t, :anima; —in
that we in ty repose our sifcte, and in that enly ;
and therefore it is that we sn impnrtunitely pre., it
neon the consideration of r.ur colntr) men ; there.
fore it is that we are incric..lnt ia urging it; and
therefore it is that we adopt the language of divine
inspiration in again repeating it:
..e.hold how moorland iinfel a thine .tit, brethren, So dwell
vienier in carry. It i. like the precious onitTe.ent time the
he-..d that ran down upon It.. bear': ern rata A %eon's bewel,
and neat down the ►kirts of his clothing Like the dew of
I term." whit+ MI up- n the hilt of Sion, for mere the Lard
prAstsed his blueing ".e.(Gerh Zumwalt arrosicro.

JRAIT. •

GENER NI. ORDERS,
I$T TUC COMMANDER IN CHIEF, 111.AD-4NARTERS,
CAMP NEAR FF‘ANAH, ;AN. 19.
(Coutingert fun orr Paixr uE s..t

ZIOLITIIIITH NATIVE 1t01,4111T.
First Battalion...Lieutetrants K.sinett and Ravelße.
Second Battalion—Major Rind, Captain Hay, Captsin
Lieu-
tenant Leadb.•ater, Lieutenants Bannerman, and Paton,
Acgutant, Lieutenant