The Sun.
London, England, 1822-05-11 00:00:00

FOR THE SUN.

MR. EDITOR—I was born a Roman Catholic,
my ancestors were all Roman Catholics, and I
only seceded from that sect when I was of an
age, by observation and reason, to judge for my-
self upon religious subjects.
Now I declare most solemnly that I do be-
lieve the admission of Roman Catholics into our
Legislature to be pregnant with mischief, not
perhaps immediate, but not the less certain at a
future day. It may be said that as I write
anonymously, no credence need be attached to
my declaration of having belonged to that Sect ;
but though I renounced its distinctive tenets, I
did not renounce the belief in an omniscient
Creator, and while I am putting pen to this paper,
I make an appeal to God for the truth of what I
assert, and for the purity of my motives. 1 wish
well to the Establishments of this country as they
now exist, and I think their safety committed by
taking off the restrictions to which the Roman
Catholics are now subject. I agree, in toto, with
your argument in your leading article upon this
question in THE SUN just received (of the Ist
instant), but I would particularly call the pub-
lic attention to your observations where the para-
graph commences from" The moment," until the
subsequent senntence, " Mr. Canning had unfor-
tunatelypledged himself,"w hich Ihope you will re-
print as addenda to my letter. The grave and impor-
tant objects being placed so conspicuously to view,
I will not here dwell upon them ; but I would ask,
are the Protestants of this realm prepared for
the minutiae that are necessarily to follow this
work of Emancipation? As we are now quite free,
(the Roman Catholics will say), our importance
in the State must be marked by the arrival of

G rand Dignitaries from Rome ? One Cardinal, a
the least, with the hat and red stockings, welcomed
by a public procession, the chaunting of Latin
psalms, &c. by a good body of Priests. Next,
as our religion is recognised by the Legislature,
we must no longer put up with the scandal of
having the Host conveyed secretly to the sick and
the dying in the pocket of the priest. It must be
carried under a Dais while the Clergy and Sacris-
tans officiate, and the people kneel.
Now, supposing the Government, foreseeing
riots and mischief from this, interdict the proces-
sions and the arrival of Cardinals, what then ?
Why, Petition upon Petition would be presented
to satiety, until every point should be gained, or,
if any one were withheld, just as much dissatisfac-
tion would be expressed as if the privilege of seats
in Parliament had never been obtained. We will
now, however, conclude that the Cardinal is
granted ; he must, of course, go to Court, for the
Roman Catholics are so punctilious on the score
of honours for this Dignatory, that they would
rather do without that personage than see him
excluded from the Royal presence. Well; he
is admitted at Court ; he gets intimate with the
Sovereign ; for it cannot be doubted that the Ro-
man Catholic Prelates have a peculiar fascination
of manners : not a word for a long time on reli-
gious subjects; but it is, I affirm, absolutely im-
possible that the desire of conversion should not
exist in the Prelate's mind,---his education, and
his creed, oblige him to the attempt, not to men-
tion the very possible, nay the very probable, case
that his secret instructions from the Holy Father
may direct him to have ever that object even-
tually in view.
Now though the attack, direct or insidious,
on the principles of our gracious Sovereign would
doubtless prove of no avail, what might not hap-
pen at a future day, when it might be the question
with a young heir apparent, or a sovereign just of
age ? I speak with positive knowledge of the
fact of one universal system of proselytism exist-
ing in the very essence of Catholicity, and that
the approaches are so insidious that it is impos-
sible for the young and the ignorant to be suffi-
ciently on their guard ; a she w of the greatest libe-
rality takes place where a point is to be gained ;
witness the apparently generous declarations of
the better orders of Roman Catholics at the pre-
sent time : but I would put it to the oath or the
honour of Lord Fingal, Lord Petre, and the
Irish and English Catholic Bishops, whether they
could contradict what I aver, and whether they
do not profess and believe that out of the Church
of Rome there is no salvation ; it may be said,
however, that even admitting this, it does not
follow that the Roman Catholics would con-
spire to overthrow a Protestant Government
—No ;—but those who entertain such sentiments
can have no inherent respect for a Protestant Le-
gislature, and, on being admitted Members of it,
can never cordially co-operate for its perpetual

security.
Amidst numerous instances which might be
adduced of proselytism, I will only mention
two, because they relate to a country where the
Roman Catholics are supposed to be more liberal
than in any other : An English lady at Geneva
had occasion fur a nurse-maid for her very young
children ; after several interviews with a young
woman, and inquiries respecting her' charac-
ter, she was hired, when it occurrd to the
lady to say, 44 I presume you are a Protestant ?"
No," said the girl with great agitation, " I
am now a Catholic, I was born a Protestant, and
continued so whilst my father lived, but after his
death my mother and the priest so persecuted me,
that I could' do no less than become Catholic as
they wished; but you may depend, Madam, that
I will serve you faithfully," and it is but justice
to add, she proved a very good servant. Previ-
ously to the knowledge of this circumstance, I
had been praising the liberality of the Rolnan
Catholic Clergy, in the Canton de Vaud, who
could so far conquer their prejudices as to offi-
ciate with their mass in the Protestant Church,
serving alternately for both persuasions : one
Roman Catholi* Clergyman, in particular, was
thettheme of my praise, as I had long known
him to mix generally in society,and never to intro-
duce religious subjects for the purpose of 'com-
parison—a magistrate of the Canton de Vaud, to
whom I addressed myself, made me remember an
old axiom, "fronti nulls fides," and he knew
that that very priest was removed from a former
curacy for his inveterate practise of attempting
proselytism—one instance of his success is some-
what curious, having succeeded only afew years
jsince in gaining over a peasant, the triumph was

to be rendered complete, the man engaged to go
to the neighbouring Catholic Canton, and to an-
nounce publicly his new faith. Arrived there, he
was tutored for his morning's work—the cere-
mony commenced by his exhibition of himself as
a Protestant ; this was typified by his covering
himself with a beast's skin, going upon all fours,
and imitating the noise of the animal, amidst the
mixed laughter and hisses of the spectators; at
length he was conducted to the church porch and
stripped of his beastly Protestant trappings; and
when he had put on decent garment he was con-
ducted into the church, holy water purified him,
and upon the formal acknowledgement of his new
faith, the bells were set ringing, and he was com-
plimented on every side. This anecdote was
given to me as a positive fact by the magistrate in
question, and having been myself in the neigh-
bourhood of the scene, I inquired of a respectable
farmer, if the matter happened as represented,
and he confirmed it to me in every particular.
Should any of your Readers be curious enough
to verify it, I will give them the clue, that the--
peasant, whose name is Gaulis, lives, I believe,
to this day in the village of Vallorbes, Canton
de Vaud, and that Fribourg was the Catho-
lic Canton where the disgraceful scene took place.
From what I have written, will it not be con-
sidered that I am myself intolerant ? Perhaps
the very contrary is the fact. I might wish
that there were no State Religion, but that all
classes, whose tenets were not unsociable, should
be equally protected, and equally entitled to
arrive at the highest honours; but as this is a
chimera, and the Protestants in possession and
exercising their just rights with proper tolera-
tion, I would advise them to make a stand where
they are at present, and grant nothing more.—
The Religion of the State must be dominant in
principle, and enjoy some exclusive honours and
emoluments. Universal freedom and equality, in
every respect, are incompatible with such an esta-
blishment—if the Roman Catholics are prepared
to shew that this is the moment for universal free-
dom, let them petition to that extent, and the
question be fairly tried.

I must apologize for so long a letter, " not
aving time to make it shorter."

- I am, Sir,
Your obedient humble Servant,
Stainmoor, May 3, 1822. W. W.

P. S. My 'old friends would have a right to
complain of me if I did not render them justice
on points which I consider much in their favour
on this question. The Roman Catholics are very
sincere Christians, decided Trinitarians to a man,
and thus assimilate in creed with the members of
the Established Church—no trivial affair in this
age of increasing infidelity. They are Monar-
chical, though perhaps to a fault, and would sub-
mit to absolute Monarchy under a King of their
own persuasion ; they are no enemies to tithes.
" Have you paid tithes to your pastor ?" is a
question for the examination of conscience pre..
vious to auricular confession. I leave out of this
account the Paris Revolutionists, for they are of
no religion, while Catholicity in England-and its
Ireland is just what it was many years ago, in
principle and practice.
*** In compliance with the desire of our
Correspondent, we reprint the Passage to which
he alludes :
" The moment that Papists, however few their number, could
obtain a share of Legislative Power, that moment would they
begin to endeavour to demolish Protestantism, and to build
Popery upon its ruins. It may fairly be questioned, whether
the Papists do not view Protestants with as much hnrror as the
Mahometans do Christians altogether : And it may also be
questioned, whether, from erroneous motives of piety, they
would not resort to all measurss of horrible severity, if they had
power to do so, in order to rescue Protestants from eternal
damnation !"

LOUlthE OF EXCFIAL\(E, May 10.
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At Kew Green, on Thursdpar last, die Lady of John 13i6111'
Esq., of a son.
On Wednesday last, the Lady of Christopher Cookson, 14.54..
of Cowslip -Green, in the county of Sotheiset, of a son. ~.0"

- - .
MARRIED. • had'
On the 6th inst. at Dittisham, Devon, by the Rev. Ric lip
Newman, Kelynge €'reenway, of Warwick; Esq., to Lets
eldest daughter of the hte'Charles Durnford; Esq. s•
On Thursday, the 9th inst.-at Bray, laTthe Rev. E. Tong,,
hend, Mr. George Welton, of Maidenhead, to Anna , ":„r
only surviving daughter of Lawrence. Norman, Esq., ..,,
that Corporation.

1)1.bll. .4,
On the Bth of January, aged 44, at CaPe Town, on his r-of
sage from India,' Lieut -Celt lel JOIEN, ST IJART JERIVIt'o,
the 10th Regiment Bombay. Infantry; and of .Kelso, ill bod
burghshire.—After twenty-six years of important services, oe,
ing earned the repeated thinks of the Governor-General, ' ~00. v
dais, and other distinctions, :his career, closed where Iti, be
mericed, with military honour. As' a: Cadet entering lbecare
was the first in the fleet to volunteer on the attack-a the 05
of Good Hope ; ,as a Field
Field its ending, his corps,,e_„;til
there carried to the grave by Officeis,- and btiriedriri,y
the ceremonies due to his rank, with the regrets paid, eve esti,
strangers, to his character as a gallant officer, and a raas!sier et
mable man.—The departed Officer was, we believe, brou
the Gentleman who conducts The Literarp Gazette. , of'
At Bombay, on the 13th Oethlrer, 1821, at the hVorris
Alexander Bell, Esq 4, -Member of Council, Thornas_,, aiia
Keate, -Esq. Judge and Magistrate of Surat, after a I°T,oly
painful illness-, which he bore with freat patience and T"Joroo
tion. In the death of this Gentleman the Honourable s_ o
cl
pany has lost an able and urright servant, and his rela
aa.tivie p w,
connexions a warm-hearted and sincere friend.--(MIG
lora. ) - ~ ,
the
On Thursday last, in the 23d year of his age, Get.ar‘vest
eldest son of Mr. Woodfall; of Great Dean
• minster. al.
ar 0
Mr. Thady Doorlay, a respectable farmer, residing h!blet
Hill, of Allen, County of Kildare, aged 126! He wa,,';„, tlic.
take , the pleasures of any sort of field amusements within
last sit months of his life. . At the age of 107, he was '
to a woman aged 31. 'a-yard,

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