The National Register.
London, England, 1814-05-15 00:00:00

CAT lIOLICS.

The following extracts from the Trish papers will give our
readers some idea of the sensation excited by the recent
communication from Rome.
"W e are icaily glad that Quarantotti has afforded to the people
of Ireland An opportunity of repelling the charge of passive obedi-
ence and mean übservielicy to the See of St. Peter.—They will not
obey this Decree."
Atid an 6. his,' Priest," in the same paper, expresses himself in
the following c'egast manner upon the subject :--" Mr. Quarantotti,
ant his most teamed Prelates, were undoubtedly pour at the time ;
the arguments/. ed metros is very strong every where, and particu-
lads ut tome."
He then proceeds to call the Pope's Vicar " a consummate block.

MAY 15

head," and concludes thus :•--Je Every attempt to weaken the Ca-
tholic Church in Ireland shall in the end prove fruitless; and as
long as the Shamrock so green' shall adorn our island. so lone shall
the Faith delivered to us by St. Patrick prevail, in spite of Kings,
Parliament, Orangemen, and Quarantottis."
" On Sunday, many pathetic adraotions against the Papal Rescript
were pronounced from the Altars of the diffekent Chapels of the
City. The Clergymen exhorted their flocks to be patient ; to re.
main tranquil under so severe a visitation ; but to be prepared, if
necessary. to sacrifice their lives rather than surrender the freedom
of their Church, to Prelate,. or to Pope. The exhortations sere
heard with deep emotions of indignation ; vnd it was easy to see
that the resistance will be universal."

COURT IOF KING's BENCH,

SATURDAY, MAY 14.

LIBERTY OF THE SUBJECT.
The Attorney General said, he had on a former day obtaiped a rule
for an attachment against a person of the name of Berestis for a con-
tempt in not having obeyed a writ of habeas corpus issued by-one of
'heir Lordships calling on him to produce the body of a man named
Haffman, the master of a trading vessel. Mr. Abbott had since ob-
tained n rule, calling on him to alley, cause why that attachment and
liaheati'should not both be discharged, and against that rule he had now
to shew Cause. Berestis was the captain of a Spani.sh armed vessel,
and had, it appeared, fallen in with II uffinates vessel as she was pro-
ceeding to a French pert under a British licence. Notwithstanding her
licence he detained and bought her into Portsmouth. Huffman, on
cutnieg on shore, ,had proceeded to London, and obtained an order for
landing and warehouseing the goods till the question of condemnation
should be decided ; with this order he returned to Portsmouth, but
had no sooner arrived there than •he was seised by Berestis, sent on
board the Spanish vessel, put in irons, and treated with the utmost ri-
gour. Upon this proceeding, a habeas had been applied for, and ob-
tained for his discharge, but Berestis refused to obey it, saying that
Huffman was a prisoner of war, and he would not release him except
in compliance with an order from the Spanish Ambassador. The
Attorney-General now contended, that Huffman was not a prisoner
of war, and that, even if he had btcn so, would not have justified has
being treated with such severity, and even craelty.
Mr. Abbot said he had no opposition to make, except what was
stated in Berestis's affidavit, namely, that Huffman was a prisoner of
war, and had escaped, and, therefore, that in regaining his person, he
was justified in confining him.
Lord Ellenborough did not consider Huffman as ever having been a
prisoner of war, but even if he had, the conduct of Berestis was not to
be justified. Such conduct could not be toltrated, even towards a ne-
gro slave. It would he well that this Gentleman should obey the Ha-
bees, discharge Huffman, and pay all expellees. The attachment
would be made absolute, hat would remain in the Mastet's hands for a
' short period, to allow of his doing so.
Mr. Abbott undertook that Huffman should be immediately dis-
charged, and that all expellees should be paid by his client.