The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-08 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TABLET.

Sir,--Had Mr. O'Connell, Mr. Sheil, and other
Catholic gentlemen who, 36 years ago, rendered
such good services to the Catholic cause as regards
Great Britain, but :helped so much, under the fatal
delusions of the time,
in injuring it in Portugal, by
believing all the views of the Freemason party,
against the really constitutional Portuguese Govern-
ment and lawful Portuguese Sovereign—yes, had
the Catholic members who so strongly supported
the Whigs in imposing on my country the Free-
mason Government been allowed to see the fatal
consequences of their error, we can imagine how
how little their feelings would be pleasant on such
account, and how much they would wish to repair
the former fault, and to help for such purpose.
In 1829, a most dear friend of mine (now dead)
—a man of the most powerful mind, and the most
upright heart as I ever have known—a most learned
Vendeen, the Baron de Bordign6, sent me a copy of
a magnificent book he had written and caused to be
printed at his own expense, with the title " Legi-
timite Portugaise"—that it might be delivered to
the great Liberator, with a view to show him how
grievously he was in error concerning the Portu-
guese question. In that work, a large and very
thick volume, the Baron demonstrated by the
clearest evidence, On all the genuine and authentic
documents—the original constitution of the Portu-
guese monarchy, the Cortes of Lamego (the Magna
Charta of Portugal), and the other, subsequent,
constitutional acts and laws of the legitimate Cortes
or national Parliament, the lawfulness of King
Don Miguel's title to his throne and crown. The
Catholic Legitimists, generally, on the con-
tinent could not conceive how the great assertors of
Catholic right and just interest in Great Britain
could be so bitterly hostile to the true representa-
tives of the same principle in Portugal ; and they
thought nothing more was necessary than to place
before the eyes of Mr. O'Connell, and other Catho-
lics, the proofs of their mistake, to turn them into
supporters of truth and justice in reference to Por-
tugal. This idea made the good Baron de Bordigne
to send me his book for Mr. O'Connell, who was
regarded by Continental Catholics as the un-
compromising defender of all right and justice.
Sad experience had taught me better, and so I
never attempted to offer the book to the Liberator ;
knowing
that, probably,
such present then would
only provoke
more obloquy upon my
se me
cause, king, and party. Several conclusive
demonstrations of our right, and justifications of
our conduct, written and printed in English (which
would make, in all, good six or eight volumes), had
already been published here by us, and duly
distributed to all the members of Parliament,
Commons and Peers, to the editors of the principal
newspapers, to the ministers, of course, and to most
of all the remarkable political men in England. All
in vain, nothing was read, nothing was examined,
or even refuted, and all the foulest and most groun-
less accusations continued to pour upon us, in the
Press, in the Parliament, everywhere. Curiously
enough, at that time, the Catholics both in England
and Ireland, were the most bitter against us—such
was the influence of Mr. O'Connell's words and
example. Of all our clergy at the time, the only
members I knew who did us justice were Bishop
Bramston and the Rev. Mr. Scott, then the Pro-
vincial of the Jesuits in England. The Bishop, who
had studied in the English College at Lisbon, speak-
ing Portuguese, and being correctly informed
from Portugal by the members of the college ; Mr.
Scott being also acquainted with the truth, by the
Jesuits then in my country, where I myself had
been the principal promoter of their re-admission in
1829. The French priests in the French chapel
sympathised also with us, because, having them-
selves been victims of the French Revolution, whereof
the Portuguese one was but the legitimate daughter,
they did not allow themselves to be deceived by
the misrepresentations of its votaries and sup
porters.

As for the Protestant public in general it is some-
what remarkable that it was among the Tories alone
that we met with some impartiality, with a hearing
at first, and then with some sympathy and favour.
As to the great and noisy Liberals, they were all
for oppressing us with their " liberty" at any cost,
to make us swallow it by% all means, foul or fair.
Any file of the Times, the Morning Herald, the Morn-
ing Chronicle, the Courier, or the Globe, from 1826
to 1836, and Hansard and the Mirror of Parliament
will amply confirm, if necessary, the truth of what
I have said.

Now, further to show what sad 'results came out
Cf the grievous mistake thus committed by the Bri-
tish Catholics who supported and helped our Liberals
in imposing upon my country their Freemason Go-
vernment, I will here copy the following letter just
received from " Covilhan" (the Portuguese Leeds),
illustrating in the most striking manner the beauty
of the fruits produced by the Masonic tree, which
formerly British Catholics were so zealous in help-
ing to plant in their most faithful kingdom. Better
to make the letter understood, it will be required
to .preface that two good priests, brothers of inde-
pendent fortune, and most excellent character,
after having been studying at our University of
Coimbra, and attained the degrees of doctors,
retired to Covilhan, their native place, and there
began to teach and promote, by word and ex- ,
example, the doctrine and practice of religion, de-
votion, and Christian morals. Their zeal was soon
rewarded by most happy fruits ; they had the con-
solation to see the people flock to their instructions
and devotions, which effected in the town a most
edifying revival of the practices of religion, piety,
and charity. Thereby they incurred the bitterest
hatred of the Freemasons, and they began to be
fiercely attacked in the Revolutionary press, de-
nounced as " fanatics," "reactionists," " Jesuits,"
enemies of the " Liberal" and " Constitutional"
system, &c., &c. They nevertheless continued un-
daunted in their pious and most meritorious
work ; but the more they prospered, the fiercer
grew the hatred and fury of the Revolutionists
and Freemasons against the Rev. Doctors. On the
occasion of the last elections in Portugal, these
priests gave their opinion and advice to the people
on the necessity of voting for persons of good prin-
ciple and morals, and shunning Freemasons as
enemies of religion; and then one of the brothers
paid a visit to Rome. When there, the Freemasons
in Portugal accused him of having unduly influenced
people on the occasion of the elections; and an order
was issued for his arrest. This was written to him
at Rome, and as soon as he heard of it, he hastened
his return home, in order to answer the charges
brought against him, and submit to the conse-
quences. The rest I will now let the letter relate.
" Covilhan, March 20, 1865.
" Very disagreeable occurrences have taken place in
this town early this year, the principal one being the
iniquitous arrest of Dr. the Rev. Francisco Grainha, who
is still kept in prison at Castello Branco. If you see the
Portuguese papers, they will have acquainted you with the
whole affair, which, in short, is this Dr. Grainha, pre-
vious to the elections, preached, and advised the people not
to vote for Freemasons, and saying, that by voting for
them Catholics incurred excommunication.' [This was, no
doubt, in reference to the censures. of the Popes against the
secret societies.] It would be better for ecclesiastics not
to allude to politics, and even that they should not mention
Freemasons at all; as they (the Freemasons) are now do-
minant—they reign and govern—and aro most intolerant
against anybody whom they consider to'bo their adversary.
They wish freely to say, and write, and publish by the
press, anything they please against the Church and against
the clergy ; but will not admit to allow the latter to per-
form their duty by preaching and giving advice to the
people.

" The new Minister of Justice has declared, that he
will protect the Church and the clergy, and defend the
Government against the invasion of the latter, on their
interference in the business of the state. That his prin-
ciple and motto shall be a free Church in a free State.' It
is Cavour's doctrine, but (if sincere) it would be preferable
to the present state of things ; lot them have as many
masonic lodges as they like, lot them have mosques, and
synagogues, but lot them at the same time allow convents
to be established, sisters of charity to be admitted, &o. Let
the liberty be equal to all. Lot them in reality protect and
not persecute Catholicity ; which, even according to their
charter, is the religion of the state."

I shall avail myself of tho first opportunity and leisure
moment, to seek one of tho fashionable spirit-evocators,
that he may bring me up the spirits of O'Connell and
Sheil ; as I shall be very glad to know what they now
think of such results as I have described, of the strenuous