The Sun.
London, England, 1825-11-11 00:00:00

BRITISH CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION.

Yesterday, at two o'clock, an Open Meeting of the Com-
mittee of the British Catholic Association was held at the
Crown and Anchor Tavern, in the Strand—Cmas. I.3trrtEn,
Esq. in the Chair.
The Secretary (E. BLOUNT, Esq.) read the Report of the
proceedings of the Committee since the 7th of June, from which
tt appeared that the Committee had been active in the distri-
bution of Tracts, &c. in order to remove the prejudices which
existed in the public mind-against theCetholic Religion—that
their funds were limited, but that they had been as active as
their means would permit them—and that a Society was formed
for the purpose of repelling unfounded charges against the Ca-
tholics, under the title of " The Catholic Metropoitan Defence
Society."
Mr. SYDNEY moved that the minutes be confirmed, which
was agreed to neat con.
Mr. BLOUNT now called the attention of the Meeting to the
business of the day. The pritNary object for consideration was
the finances-of the Association, and these, he regretted, were
not in the most flourishing condition. In the month of June
last there' was a balance against the Association of 2361.75. sd.
Since then there had been an excess of expenditure of 69!.
7s. 3d. making a total of upwards of 3001. To meet this,
there were subscriptions due to the amount of 177/. which
would still leave an excess of expenditure amounting to up-
wards of 100!. He, exceedingly regretted that the proceedings
of the Association must terminate, unless the Catholics came
forward to assist them. He thought it best to be explicit, and
at once to declare that 100/. per month would be necessary, to
enable the Committee to act with effect; and unless the Catho-
lics would come forward, he (Mr. B.) would resign his situa-
tion. He, in conjunction with the Committee, had used every
exertion; and taken every means to rouse the Catholics, and
had signally failed ; and it therefore became him to resign and
let others exert themselves, if possible, with more efficiency.
—He knew that Gentlemen in some parts of England said
that the Association did nothing, and he could say, if the
Committee relied upon the aid of those Gentlemen they could
have done nothing. In the course of last year, however,
the Association had circulated no less than ninety thou-
sand tracts, which tracts even Protestants approved of,
and bore testimony to the correct light in which the Ca-
tholic Religion was placed before the people of England in
those little publioations. In the cause in which they were
embarked expence ought not to be considered—it was the
cause of humanity and justice.—Mr. Blount next alluded to
the Address of John Wilks, Esq. to the Electors of the Bo-
rough of Sudbury, which he said violated all common decency"
He boldly asserted that the Catholic religion was subversive of
good order, and in the same breath avowed himself the friend
of the Dissenters, because lie knew that they were likely to serve
his interest. Such truckling to prejudices would be despised in
any part of Europe except England. Mr. B. next alluded to-a
recent meeting of the IVesleyan Missionary Society, at which
Joseph Butterworth, Esq. M.P. presided, and at which the
Secretary, in adverting to the state of Ireland, said that a
Pagan idolatry, under the name of Popery, existed in that
ill fated Island, ten-fold worse than the idolatry of
the Heathens.—He (Mr. Blount) could not help regret-
ting the opposition which Catholic Emancipation had met
with from a high quarter. He was very sorry the Duke
of York should consider that abuse of the Catholics was a pass-
port to present as well as future popularity, and he sincerely
hoped he would not doom to despair millions of his fellow citi-
zens, who, in the common course,ofnature, might one day be his
subjects. He hoped his countrymen would judge of the Catholics
not from prejud ice, nor from the artful representations of in teres t_
ed persons, but according to their real principles. He felt happy
in stating that a Subscription had been opened amongst the
Catholic Ladies, and that 1001. had already been subscribed.
Before he sat down, he wished to state a circumstance which he
knew would be gratifying to the Meeting. The Bishop of
Norwich had called upon him the preceding day, and he (Mr.
B.) not being at home, lie saw his family, and his last words
on leaving them were, that while living he would advocate
their cause, and lie would die with the Catholic Question in his
mouth.

Mr. ROssom, in giving an account of the progress of the
Association in Lancashire, stated, that in Manchester subscrip-
tions were actively going forward, and he had no doubt but
that twelve months hence he should be able to congratulate
the Association upon the funds in hand. In Preston 1,250
members had been enrolled in one day in the New Catholic
Association, and in Preston also it seemed to prosper beyond
all expectation. Mr. Rosson then moved a Resolution of
thanks to the Peers who passed the Resolutions at Bucking-
ham House.

Colonel STolio a seconded the Resolution, which was carried
unanimously._

The Rev. Dr. COLLINS proposed the second Resolution,
which he regretted to say, was one rather of lamentation than
of thanks. Since their last Meeting they had lost a friend, who
had been called, and justly called, the hereditary advocate of
the Catholics—the Earl of Donoughmore. He had stood for-
ward in their defence at a time when no man dared to do so
without danger to his person, and to his property. The Rev.
Gentleman then eulogised the services which the late Earl of
Donoughmore had rendered to the Catholic cause, and con-
cluded by moving a Resolution to the effect, that the Meeting
deeply lamented his loss as a calamity to the Catholic cause;
also that a letter of condolence should be sent to the present
Earl of Donoughmore, together with the resolution, and that
the Rev. Dr. Collins be requested to write the address.
Mr. Quiar, in moving the third Resolution, said. that the
Catholics wished to be tried by the doctrines they professed, and
not by those which had been fabricated for them. They might,
however, consider the battle as won in Ireland, and in the
House of Commons in England. The English Bar, and he
hoped, also, the English people, were favourable to emancipa-
tion. They had then only the House of Lords to combat--the
House of Lords, which was the last entrenchment of bigotry,
and there also he hoped that, ere long, the victory might be
obtained. The Learned Gentleman concluded by moving a
Resolution to the effect that it was incumbent on the Catholics
of England to contribute, according to their means, to the funds
of the Association.

Mr. FRENCH next addressed the Meeting, commenting se-
verely on the bigotry and intolerance of the Lord Chancellor,
and the Bench of Bishops. He also charged the Priesthood of
Ireland with too much loyalty, but it was useless stating his
opinion there. He wished he had the opportunity of doing so
in his native land, where he would be listened to by kindred
spirits.
Several other Gentlemen addressed the Meeting, after which
a resolution of thanks was passed to the Chairman aad Com-
mittee, and the fleeting, dissolved.

In the annals of elegant and useful invention,
ROWLAND'S MACASSAR OIL has attained the mast
distinguished celebrity. Patronised by the re-
spective Monarchs of the three greatest Empires
in the Universe, Russia, China, and Persia, this
Oil is est 9 Wished in use and reputation with the
civilized and discriminating of all nations, from
the Arctic to the Antarctic regions ; and," though
last, not least in our esteem," our gracious Sove-
reign, his illustrious family, and the beauteous
and the brave, of our ' surpassing Islands," have
long honoured Rowland's invaluable preparation
wi h preferable distinction. These are facts
which (mutton) in parvo) prove the universality,
utility, and high pre-eminence of Rowland and
Son's Macassar Oil—facts, which render them
invulnerable to the futile machinations of envy,
and supersede the necessity of lengthened pane-
gyric. To those, however, who have not hitherto
used this preparation, a succinct account of its
extraordinary qualities may he requisite. The
Macassar Oil acts in the double capacity of pre-
ventive and restorative. Its balsamic properties
are nutritive and fertilising, bestowing a healthy
vigour that resists decay ; and, in cases even of
entire baldness, creating tresses of silken and
luxuriant redundancy.

WESTERN LITERARY AND SCIENTIPIC INSTI.

TUTION.

Last night a Meeting was held at Freemasons' Halle for the
purpose of considering the propriety of establishing a Literary
and Scientific Institution, for the accommodation of persons en-.
gaged in commercial and professional pursuits in the western
parts of the Metropolis.
At eight o'clock the Chair was taken by HEtene' DRUM-
MOND, Esq., supported by Mr. Biougham, Mr. Hobhouse,
Mr. Thomas Campbell, Sir John Paul, Mr. Peter Moore, the
Hon. Douglas Kinnaird, Dr. Birkbeck, Dr. Gilchrist, Dr.
Golding, Mr. Wright, Mr. Grote, Mr. Basil Montagu, and
several bankers and merchants of Westminster.
The Cuatll3lAN congratulated the Meeting on the co-opera-
tion which they were likely to receive in the pursuit of their
great object, which was the establishment of an Institution to
afford to clerks and others who were employed throughout the
day an opportunity of spending their evenings in the attain-
ment of intellectual instruction. He pointed out that the ad-
vantages intended to be offered by this institution were—first,
a library and reading-room, as a place of rational recreation
and instruction for persons whose attendance in business was
not required during the evening. 2dly. The procuring lec-
tures to be delivered on various branches of science and lite-
rature, and the formation of classes for teaching languages,
and generally to provide facilities for the acquisition of valua-
ble instruction at a moderate expence. The Chairman then
forcibly impressed upon the meeting the admitted truth, that
idleness was the parent of vice, and the value of an institution
which was calculated to diffuse information and virtue in so- •
ciety. He believed that they would receive a donation of 300
books in the course of the evening, and lie knew that many
distinguished characters intended to give the institution their
support.
Sir Jottsr Nun moved the first resolution, which was de-
claralory of the value of a Western Literary and Scientific In-
stitution. He urged that self-interest, as well ass duty, ought
to induce the proprietors of large commercial concerns to assist
those whom they employed in the cultivation of their minds;
for, as the expansion of intellect must be attended with the
diffusion of virtuous principles, the principals had a stronger
assurance of the integrity of those under them.—(Hear, hear !)
The best assistance which could, he thought, be afforded to the
new institution, was in donations of books.
Mr. THOMAS CAMPBELL, in seconding this motion, said,
that he should be wanting in his duty as a citizen, as a lover of
letters, as an orthodox believer in the high value of institu-
tions for the dissemination of knowledge, were he not a cordial
supporter of the object they were assembled to promote.—
Their's was a purpose as commendable in its motives as it was
attainable in its objects. It was delightful to see that this in-
tended institution had originated with the young men who
were themselves to derive the principal advantage from its esta-
blishment. This opening gave a vernal prospect of that intel-
lectual harvest which was soon destined to overrun the whole
dominion of society.—( Hear !)—His ardent good wishes, he was
glad to find, corresponded with these of the eminent bankers who
surrounded him, who were ready to give their best assistance
to promote the intellectual endowment of those who were em-
ployed in their establishments. He gloried in having been
one of the original founders of the London University*, not that
these institutions were necessarily connected, or could be made
substitutes for the University ; but, nevertheless, they had his
approbation, because they tended to give an impulse to literary
acquirements, and to the expansion of thought. There were,
he regretted to know, prejudicesafloat against education, which
it became those who thought as he did to expose and refute ;
indeed their presence showed how much they despised these
prejudices. But as they spoke in the presence of the public,
and glad lie was they did so, they ought to show the futility of
the objections which had been promulgated against the diffu-
sion of general education.—(l-Tear !)_-Were these objections
confined to the scandalous part of the public press—to the
nightmen and scavengers of the periodical portion of it—he
would be disposed to treat them with the utmost contempt;
but they were found, unfortunately, to exist to other quarters,
and to be harboured by well-meaning, though mistaken men.
Mr. Campbell then proceeded, at some length, to ridicule and
refute a work of Dr. Whittaker, in which that person had as.
serted, that the institution of public libraries threatened to cor-
rupt public morals, and to depress alike the learned professions,
and learned men. Ile boldly asked, how it was possible in
these times to have learned men living in society, with dark.
ness around them ? If they could so abide, they would appear ;
like giants among a race of dwarfs—like Cyclops among the
blind.—(A laugh.)—The rapid rise of public institutions for
the dissemination of knowledge, was one of the proud features
of the present times—it was in the course of things that the
spread of intellectual acquirements should.produce some opposi.
tion. There were those who hated any great improvement
merely for novelty sake, and who resembled the antiquary
Johannes Fuscus, who could not abide to hear Heaven desig-
nated the New Jerusalem.—(A laugh.)—He then contrasted
the nobler occupation of intellectual pleasures with any of those
frivolous, if not vicious pursuits, with w;.ich too many young
men were prone from want of others to employ themselves in
their hours of leisure, and urged how fitter the culture of mind
was for the genius and station of Englishmen, who ought to
eojoy, not kill their time, in a manner worthy of freemen, and
who ought to seek, in the cultivation of their minds, the sweet
oblivion of their daily care.—(Applause.)—This ought to be
the intent and purpose of man, to show himself worthy of hav-
ing received at his birth the impress and image of his creator.
—(Hear !)—When last in Prussia, lie had almost felt sensa-
tions of envy for Royal power,when he saw the magnificent en-
dowments for education provided by Frederick William 111. In
beholding them, he had felt those sensations which freemen
seldom give to the possessors of absolute power. In alluding
to the King of Prussia's endowments for education, he wished
not to devote praise to a foreign potentate•at the expence of his
own liege sovereign ; were he to do so, he should add the mean-
ness of disloyalty to personal ingratitude.—( Hear I)—The
august personage of whom he was the subject had not
the same power as an arbitrary monarch to apply re-
venues to such purposes ; he, no more than the Pre-
sident of the United States of America, could apply public
money by his own authority. All he could do he had done.
in patronizing the arts and sciences, and giving the highest
example for their encourageMent. But the King aef Prussia
applied the great means at his disposal as he pleased ; and it
was delightful to find that it pleased him to diffuse education
among his people.—(Hear !)—True, he was a member of the
Holy Alliance; he was sorry he was so; but perhaps he could
not help it.—(A laugh.)—lf, however, they compared with
London alone the wealth of all Prussia, the former would
preponderate : it was gratifying, then, to see their fellow-citi-
zens voluntarily corning forward to promote this great spirit of
moral and intellectual improvement, in which they would ulti-
mately shine as pre-eminent in the eyes of the world as they had
hitherto done by the glory of their arts and their arms.—(Ap-
plause.)—Let them go on and prosper. In conclusion, he
should only exhort them to bear in mind the poet's striking
recommendation that they should
" On reason build resolve,
"'That column of true dignity in man."—(Applause.)
Mr. NV moire (the banker), in proposing the second resolu-
tion, alluded to the circumstance of his being a Catholic, which
forty years ago would have prevented his being called upon, as
he was now, to assist in this great work; but the growth of
knowledge had dispersed prejudice, and all men were delighted
to co-operate for a public benefit. He declared himself a cor-
dial friend of the new institution.—(Applause.)
Mr. HOBHOUSE, in seconding this resolution, had to apo-
logize for the absence of his worthy colleague, Sir Francis
Burdett, who was unexpectedly prevented by a most severe
sudden fit of illness from doing himself that honour, which
he (Mr. Hohhouse) felt he was receiving by attending such a
meeting as this.—(Applause.)—It was a new era, not indeed
in the history of the world, but in modern times, to find great
commercial men coming forward to advance the culture of
intellect among those who were employed by them ; hut this
naturally followed the growth of commercial wealth, a part of
which was thus liberally applied in the way most useful for
commerce itself. He thought, in these bright prospects, he
saw the days of the Medici restored, when the wealth of trade
was bartered for books, and when these vestiges and symbols,
as well as future seeds of science and literature, were held in the
high estimation they deserved by a commercial people. (Hear !)
He regretted that his excellent friend /11 r.Campbell had deigned
to bring into notice some Dr. Whittaker, by refuting his ob-
jections to the general diffusion of education. He was sorry
that, in an unguarded moment, his eloquent friend had drawn
forth these objections from the obscurity in which they ough
to have remained: If knowledge was not, as has been said,
power, it was at least virtue, and ignorance was vice. The
converse of the proposition was equally good, that with know-
ledge they understood what they gained by virtue, and *hat
they lost by pursuing a contrary course.—{Hear, hear !)

KnoWledge without virtue was calculated to make a fiend or a
'demon capable of prostrating mankind, " breathing pestilence
and death, 'arid blighting and blasting the fairest hopes of the-
world.—(Applause.)—Without knowledge, what was even re-
ligion? Religion was given 'that mius 'might look' above and
around Lim, might pierce " throtigh the valley and the stns.,
dow of death:" but without the illumination of knowledge; it
became baneful superstition, and sunk the possessor into the
lowest scale of iris species. It made man like the beast that
perisheth, and he lost that divine impress with which he was
originally dignified by his Maker. Lttckily for the present
generation, they had fallen upon better times. In the pro-,
gress of knowledge, they had the co-operation of men of all
ranks and sects, and the best of men of each, to co-operate'
for one common purpose—the advancement of , science 'and
literature, and to strive for the noblest of all objects, the'
improvement of their species, " unmixed with baser mate
ter."—(Hear, hear I )—lt was delightful to contemplate till
general taste for literature, and the desire for reading bisolEirt
which pervaded the community. An ingenious person had
well said, that books were " the dead friends who net ek
flattered nor deceived." They comforted them in affliction,
they consoled in despair. It was said by a- gear itran'or
ancient times, Cicero, when speaking of literature, " These
studies are the food of our youth ; they are the comma
lation of our age ; they form the charms of private 11fN
they add grace to public society ; they accompany us' when
we travel abroad, they associate with us when we remain aft
home—they assist our labours hy day, they beguile our repose'
at night." He had spoiled the language of this great man by
his quotation - but the more they cultivated the desire of read.
ing the standard works of literature, the more satisfied will
they be of the gratifying -truth of Cicero's eulogium. liiii
eloquent friend's praise of the King of Prussia's patronage or
letters was a singular tribute to a despotic sovereign, for liters-
ture and liberty were hand-maids—(applause)—they could not
be severed ; for however gratifying to know 'that one despotic
monarch cultivated a taste for intellectual information, it was
more consolatory still to reflect, that where free play was given
to the energies of the human mind, despotism could not long
preserve its influence.—(Applause.)—When they referred to
the actions of great men, he was glad to refer to ose of gieatie
mind than even the King of Prussia, who had failed in a glo-,
rious struggle for the liberties of his country—he meant the
illustrious General Paoli, who had bequeathed, by his will, the
little property of which he died possessed for the foundation.
of a university in Corsica.—(Applause.)—The Honourable
Member concluded by declaring his cordial assent to the busi-
ness which the meeting had deter Mined to promote, and by as.
suring them that they should have his warmest good wishes
and support..—(Applause.)
The second resolution was then put, when
Dr. GrecuarsT objected to the words " engaged in corn,
mercial and professional pursuits" in the resolution, and
wished the word commercial to be omitted, for it tended to
limit the object of an institution which was meant to be
general.
Dr. MITCHELL, and one or two other gentlemen, explain
ed away the force of Dr. Gilchrist's objection, and the resolu-
tion was adopted by the Meeting in its original form.
Mr. BROUGHAM came forward to propose the third resolu-
tion, and was loudly cheered. He said that he looked upon
this institution as one in its nature general, and which com-
prehended persons .of 'all political parties, of every religious sect,
indeed, of all descriptions of persons, who, whether imperfectly
educated already, or tolerably well educated themselves, were
nevertheles anxious to establish a place of resort, during their'
evening's leisure, where they could cultivate and improve a
taste for literary studies. The greatest importance, however, of
this undertaking was, that it was to all intents arid purposes a
clerk's institution.—(Hear !)—lt was intended to be peculiarly
adapted to that most useful, and numerous and worthy class of
men in Westminster, whose days were usefully spent in com-
merce, whose evenings were mostly very much unoccupied, and
therefore liable to be ill occupied. It was very desirable they
should have the means of forming an institution like that stow
proposed ; and it was peculiarly gratifying to find that the prin-
cipal comthercial men themselves were ready and anxious to en-
courage and promote these beneficial establishmen ts.—( Hear !)
It was well said of idleness, that it opened the door to mischief
and misery ; but if he added that idleness itself was misery, he
should not express one iota beyond the truth—(Hear, hear 1)
—Upon the general advantage derivable by the community
from these establishments, all he could say had been most elo-
quently anticipated by his Honourable Friends who had pre-
ceded him ' • but there was still one view in which lie thought
they would prove eminently advantageous—they would stimu-
late the highest ranks to make the most of that valuable leisure
which they enjoyed in the improvement of their own education,
so as tp set an example to those under them, for the more they
improved themselves, the better able would they be to improve
others ; and this stimulus would, lie had no doubt, eventually
pervade all classes in society, from the highest to the lowest.—
The great assistance which the higher orders could give insti-
tutions like these was by their advice, their counsel, their eat:
ample; pecuniary assistance was of course necessary at the
establishment, but afterwards, above all things, these institu-
tions ought to be maintained by the classes which more parti-
cularly derived a benefit from them.—(Hear, hear !)—And
these likewise should have their substantial management. He
was as much gratified as his Honourable Friends at the manner
in which so many of the commercial Men of Westminster came
forward to support the present institution.
Mr. GEORGE GR OTE seconded the resolution..

Dr. BIRKBECK, in proposing the 4th resolution, reviewed
the recent progress of education in this country, and congra-
tulated the meeting on its auspicious result.
Mr. DOUGLAS KINNAIRD, in seconding this resolution,
declared his intention of ,:Hording the young men of his esta-
blishment the means of becoming members of this institution,
the value of which he highly appreciated.
Mr. PETER MoonE also praised the institution, and pro-
mised to give their library a present of books which were once
intended for the private collection of his late friend Richard
Brinsley Sheridan.
_ _ _

Several other Gentlemen addressed the Meeting in proposing
the remaining resolutions for the practical management of the
institution.—Thankg were then voted to the Chairman, and the
meeting broke up at ten o'clock.

ANTIQUI'T'IES.
ARLES, Nov. B.—The Disroveriin regarding
the ancient amphitheatre of this town continue with unabated
vigour. anti those which have lately been made have thrown
quite a different light upon the opinions hitherto held respect-
ing this ancient building. A third range of arcades, of
which the bare existence was not hitherto imagined, have
lately been traced, and have given rise to the probable
notion that the facade of the building was ornamented, with a
triple row of porticoes. The subterranean galleries had been
intercepted at several points by the proprietors of the houses con-
tiguous, and formed into cellars ; in other places they were bu-
ried with earth evidently placed there subsequently, which filled
the space of the vaults, and these subterraneous buildings were
formed to give solidity to the building, and probably served as
places of retreat during the different sieges to which Arles
has been exposed, which was the case in the seventh and
eight century, when the Vicegoths, attacked by the
Franks, fled to the arenas of Aries'and Nismes, and converted
them into places of war. Several towers were erected at the four
principal gates of the town, which still exist, and by their
Gothic architecture form a singular contrast with the other Ro-
man monuments. By following with care the turnings and
angles of these subterraneous labyrinths, a gallery, which had
not hitherto even been dreamt of, has been discovered, and
which fowls the centre of the arena. The existence of these
subterraneous vaults presents a circumstance not elsewhere to
be met with. The Colyseum, the amphitheatre of Verona, of
Nismes, &c. are without them ; and Arles is the only city
where the amphitheatre comprises also a subterranean edifice,
the extent of which gives a grand idea of the labour the Romans
took in constructing it.

EXTRAORDINARY MORTALITY. -- Yesterday
the remains of Mr. GEORGE"; aged 75, and his
sister, aged 70, who died within a few hours of
each other, were conveyed in two hearses from
he house of his son, Mr. It. GEORGE,. Great
Queen-street, Lincoln's-inn-fields, 'coachmaker,
for interment in Bloomsbury church-yard. It is
but a few months since the wife of the latter lost
her life by her clothes catching tire, previous to
which her sister was killed by the falling of a
workshop.