The Sun.
London, England, 1852-10-05 00:00:00

IRELAND.
porAncir. HARANGUES FROM THE ALTAR.

DUBLIN, SUNDAY.— Ebe TUCIM Herald publishes a
lengthened correspondence which has passed between
the Rev. Peter Conway, the Roman Catholic curate
of Ballinrobe, and the Lieutenant• General command-
ing the forces in Ireland, arising out of circumstances
which, unhappily for the peace of the country, are
but of too frequent occurrence of late years to invest
them even with the poor charm of novelty. It appears
that on some Sunday in the month of August last a
detachment of the 9 h Regiment of Infantry, under
the command of Ensign Taylor, attended Divine ser-
vice in the chapel of Ballinrobe, where the Rev. Mr.
Conway officiated; and the latter having incidentally
touched upon the recent election for the county of
Mayo, Mr. Taylor withdrew his men, under the
natural impression that the priest was about to favour
his auditory with a political harangue. Forthwith
Mr. Conway wrote a long letter of complaint to Sir
Edward Blakeney, the tone and -Christianlike temper
of which may be judged by the following paesages :
" St. Mary's, Ballinrobe, Sunday,
Aug. 29, 1852.
" Sir,—Durinee the celebration of the lloly Sacrifice of
the Miss, and immediately before reading the gospel of
the day, I proceeded as usual to announce the parochial
arrangements for the ensuing week; while doing so, En-
sign Taylor, 9th Foot Regiment, stood up at the far end
of the church from where his men were placed, and
swaggered in the most unbecoming manner through the
people, and ordered out the soldiers, thereby cresting
great disturbance and confusion. Being obliged to sus-
pend my discourse until the noise had ceased, I expressed
in a few words dissatisfaction at the extreme impropriety
which had been observed by this stripling, without, how-
ever, alluding to the men, who manifested every reve-
rence, and remained some time in their places on ac-
count of their seeing no cause or grounds for his ex-
traordinary conduct. Still he continued to disturb,
confuse, and annoy the entire congregation. Sir,
were' this the first and only occurrence of this nature
which had taken place here, I should feel in-
clined
to overlook it, but coupling this with
repeated instances of the same character which have
occurred, I feel it is high time to put an end to the
abuses, and to .call attention to them in the pro-
per quarter, and in the name of the Catholic soldiers
stationed here, who feel they have been insulted, and in
the name of the parishioners and myself to request your
earnest and immediate attention to the matter, and in
the present case to demand a full investigation. The
instances to which I allude are—first, when my respected
pastor was interrupted, and on another occasion when
I myself officiated. When I compare, Sir, the conduct
observed upon this occasion with me gentlemanly, the
decorous, and reverential demeanour observed by other
officers in her Majesty's service in the like circum-
stances, I must conclude that it is not seal in their pro-
fession which inspires those malignant, sectarian, end
anti• Christian demonstrations in those ill-mannered and
offensive jackanapes. I forbear to characterise their con-
duct further, but I must again complain that on this oc-
casion the officer in command has practised, not against
me, but against the religious feelings of a well conducted
community—against the conscientious convictions of
an orderly portion of her Majesty's subjects, and,
above all, against the majesty of God, an unpro-
voked insult and an unwarrantable outrage;
it would appear that in the Catholic Church
alone, and towards Catholics, such conduct could be
tolerated with impunity. I will, in conclusion, say,
should any repetition of such conduct ensue, I shall feel
it my duty to comply with the wishes of the parishioners,
and close the door of the chapel against any officer
who will not conduct himself in a proper manner. The
chapels, thank God, are our property, and not that of
any stamping official. I would regret much to have re-
course to any such unpleasant alternative; but, Sir,
there are at present stationed here about 60 Catholic
men of the very best conduct, and they feel they
have been insulted. It is too bad that Catholic soldiers,
who have fought your battles and devoted their lives to
the services of the Crown, should not at least have their
religious feelings respected; even some of the Protestant
soldiers have told me they feel grieved when they hear
of such conduct as was pursued by Mr. Taylor in our
church."

The postscript, like that to a lady's letter, contains
the marrow of the communication :
" P.S.—Pending this investigation, and until I have
the honour of hearing your decision, the officer who
may accompany the men to mass cannot get the usual
accommodation. He will remain standing inside the
door on the ground-floor. `• P. C."
To this Rookite notice Sir Edward mildly re-
plies :

. .
" Royal Hospital, Dublin, Sept. 2, 1852.
"Rev. Sir,-1 am directed by Sir E. Blakeney to ac-
knowledge the receipt of your letter of the 29th ult.,
and to inform you that Sir E. Blakeney has sent your
letter and the report of the officer commanding the
troops on the occasion referred to to the Major-General
commanding the district for investigation and report.
And, with reference to the postscript of your letter, I
am desired by the Lieutenant-General commanding to
add that he trusts the.usuat accommodation will be given
both to the officer and men in your chapel.
"I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,

" R. GREAVES, Mil. Sec.
" The Rev. P. Conway."
Upon receipt of this, Mr. Conway addresses a letter
to Captain Fenton, the officer commanding the
detachment in Ballinrobe, repeating his complaint
against Ensign Taylor, the "ill-mannered and
offensive stripling," and stating that, in compliance
with Sir Edward Blakeney's expressed desire, the
officer, pending the promised inquiry, should get his
usual accommodation in the chaFel. Some further
letters follow between the priest and the military au-
thorities, and the correspondence thus closes :

Cavalry Barrack, Sept. 10.
'; Major Borten held the investigation, and at the end
of the Rev. Mr. Conway's examination he replied, that
the second repon of Ensign Taylor agreed precisely with
the letter of Mr. Conway to Sir E. Blakeuey, and that
he saw no necessity for calling in any further testimony
from either the military or civilians. He said that he
wished that the Rev. Mr. Conway should understand
that the °facers were most anxious to live on terms of
kind feelings with the Catholic priesthood of Ireland;
and that he regretted that any such unpleasant eircum-
stancets as the present should occur; that Mr. Taylor
was deaf,' and he thought the service was over; and he
(Mr. Taylor) thought when he (Mr. Conway) announced
to the congregation, that if there should be any dying
calls during the ensuing week from the poor house or
the town, the people should call early in the day, as he
the country portion of the flock getting
--gan d when he (Mr. Conway) said he twhoPuir l dashffe
eraimogo
re-
gretted much he could not accept any offering from those
few persona who voted at the last election against their
religion and country,he thought that Mr. Conway was
commencing a political discussion."

46 AgBIILT OF THE INVESTIGATION.
On the 20J) of September Captain Fenton called at
St. Mary's on the Rev. Mr. Conway, and read for him
the following communication:—
,c Assistant Adjutant-General's-office, Limerick,
17th of Sept., 1852.
" Memorandum.

" The annexed copy of a latter, received from the
Deputy Adjutant-General,is transmitted for the infer-
Illation of the officer commanding the detachment of the
9th Regiment of Foot stationed at Ballinrebe, who will
be pleased to communicate Sir Edward Blakeney's do-
cision to the Rev. V. conway, by personally calling upon
him and reading to him the Deputy Adjutant-General's
letter herewith annexed.
"By order, 66R. N. DOUGLAS,
"Lieut.-Colonel, Assist. Adjt.=General.
"The Officer commanding the detachment
9th Foot, gallinrob,,,."
(Copy.)
66 Adjutant-General's-offico, Dublin,
16th of Sept., 1852.

"ir,—l have had the honour to submit your letter
of the 13th inst. to the Lieutenant-General commanding,
who has directed mo to re
quest that you will inform
the Rev. P. Conway, It‘rmen
Catholic curate' of Bailin-
'
robe, that after a careful perusal of the minutes of the
investigation made at Ballinrobe on the 10th inst., Sir
Edward Blakeney concurs in opinion with Major Borten,
9th Foot, that although Ensign Taylor may have been
somewhat indiscreet and hasty' in withdrawing the
Roman Catholic soldiers from the chapel on the 29th
ult., there can be no reason to suppose- that he was
actuated by any other motive than a desire to conform
with the instructions contained in the circular, dated
Adjutant-General's office, Dublin, September 14, 1843.
In making this communication, the Lieutenant-General
thinks it desirable that you should acquaint the Rev.
Mr. Conway with the substance of those instructions,
and at the same time inform him that when the Roman
Catholic soldiers wero withdrawn from the chapel on
the 29th ult., Ensign Taylor was under the impression
that the services were concluded, as was distinctly
stated in the report he made on tho subject on the
same day.—l have, &c.,

Si i jowl EDEN, D.A.G.'

" R. N. Douglas, L.O .A.G.'
" EXTRACT FROM THE DISTRICT STANDING ORDERS
GIVEN TO TILE REV. MR. CONWAY 3Y CAPTAIN FENTON.
" The soldiers, however, are not to remain after the
conclusion of the service to listen to exhortations on any
subject not of a religious tendency. When the priest
preaches in Irish it is not a sufficient reason for with-
drawing the soldiers, unless the officer is aware that the
clergyman introduces other subjects unconnected with
religion, and of a political or party nature."