The Sun.
London, England, 1823-08-27 00:00:00

LITERARY NOTICE.

LETTERS BY SIDNEY.
Our Readers will recollect that a series of
letters, with the signature of SIDNEY, appeared
in this Paper. They were obviously the produc-
tion of good sense, learning, general know ledge,
And a firm, but not bigotted, zeal, for the Consti-
tUtion in Church and State. The particular ob.
ject of the Author was to point out the gross
errors,. the ensnaring allurements, and the dange-
rous tendency of the Roman Catholic Religion.
The arguments of the Writer are solid and ir-
refragable. lie illustrated his reasoning by facts
of irresistible authority, drawn from the history,
as well as the principles, of POPERY, in all ages,,
and which principles its advocates declare to be
unchanged and unchangeable. We are glad to
find that the loyal and patriotic Author has col-
lected the Letters with which he at first favoured
Tun SUN, and has published them, together with
such further illustrations and annotations as he
deemed necessary for the complete elucidation of
a subject of so much importance to the religion,
the morals, and the peace and security of the Bri-
.tish Empire.. We have copied the following ar-
ticle from The Antidote, a weekly paper publish-
ed in Dublin, instituted and patronized by Sir
HARCOURT LEES, Bart., one of the most able,
zealous, learned, and indefatigable champions for
the support of our pure and happy Establishment
in Church and State :
" At a time like the present, when the Roman Catholics are
using every effort to carry their object, it is the bounden duty
of every Protestant to exercise a most vigilant attention to this
most vital subject ; and, to the utmost of his abilities, to coun-
teract those &Oro, for the subversion of our glorious Consti-
tution in Church and State, as settled at the Revolution in
16811." Such is the manner in which the Author of " Letters
by Sidney" addresses the Public—we coincide most fully with
him in opinion ; never were the Papists more active in their
endeavours to extend their doctrines, and strengthen the
pillars of their anti-Christian and exterminating Church,
than in the present days ; • and never, though some are
actively alive to their real situation, did the mass of
the Protestant. population sleep in more unsuspicious se-
curity. It is " the bounded duty" of every Protestant to bestir
the lagging energies of his too credulous brother, and rouse
front a state of fatal apathy the victim of credulity : would that
we had many such publications as that "before us ! It is now
some years since, under the signature of " Sidney," our Author,
through the Sun Newspaper, first addressed the Public, and
called their attention to this vital subject ; a native of Ireland,
he saw the body of his countrymen enthralled in the mists of
delusion and ignorance, and the dupes of a number of crafty
anti designing men, whb, goaded by ambition, sought to over-
turn our Protestant Constitution, and re-establish thodontinion
of Popery he has with infinite labour, persevering research,
and soundness of jUdgment, drawn together such a body of
facts and illustrations, as must carry conviction to the minds of
every candid unprejudiced reader.
popery has always sought to unite temporal with spiritual
jurisdiction, and in this unfortunate country its power has ex-
tended, and in innumerable instances shewn itself stronger than
the laws; a power which,
.as our author distinctly points Out,
cannot exist without the knowledge, nay the sanction of the
Priests ; a power which is in direct hostility
to the allegiance,
which, as subjects, we all owe.to our Sovereign. As illustra-
tive of these points he marks rite conduct of Priest
who refused to drag forward to public justice the murderer of
tha'Unfortunate Brunton : and makes the following pointed
observations •
" But this reciprocation of confidence, so strenuously sup-
ported between this .Priest and this " infatuated multitude,"
and so pertinaciously adhered to by him, in violation and de-
fiance of the laws of this country, seems to me to imply more
than meets the eye, and more than the Priest wishes to be
known ; however, time may " bring 'to light the hidden things
of darkness." I have heard of misprison of treason ; which,
according to my interpretation, meals a conceulthent, involv-
ing the person concealing the treason against the State in
guilt to a certain degree : nor, ignorant of the laws as I pro-
fess myself to be, can 1 see any reason why there should not
be the same as to murder:. in which case, the Rev. Sylvester
O'Sullivan is, in my opinion, guilty,of misprison of treason, or

felony." . •
And again, alluding to the influence of the Tries: over the
minds 01 the people, as manifested at some late elections, be
puts the following question
" But I -ask, why have . the Romish Bishops and Priests
been, in a manner, pitesive ; the former, too, so very ver.
hose in •professions of attachment to his Majesty's person
and Government, and in promises inculcating upon the
minds of those committeu to their care, implicit obedience
to the laws of the country ? Why was not the greater ex-
-communication resorted. to, which can be called into action
for private motives, or to promote the interest of their
church, when remonstrance and warning failed, to prevent
the unfortunate and infatuated individuals' front rising in re-
bellion against their Sovereign ; from committing every species
of crime against their unprotected neighbours ; and from
bringing ruin upon themselvi and families ? Their Reverences
cannot plead ignOrance, that, • a bloody Insurrection was on.
the eve of breaking out,' six or seven months before publicly
mentioned by Mr. 'Connell;O for, as auricular confession had
been appointed to be observed as a sacrament, after the church
became Popish, I presume no penitent would venture to con.
teal any thing from his ghostly father. Was sot that lauxt,
therefore, hound by his duty as a subject, by his duty as a
citizen, and by his duty as a christian minister, to reveal to
Government a deep laid plot against the public peace, which
would have saved the effusion of much blood, and many of his
communion from the punishment due to their crimes ?"
" Away, then, with these high sounding compliments,.
which cannot deceive any man in Ireland of common discern.-
ment, though they may mislead a few in England ; and which
serve only .as encouragement, where no encouragement is want-
ed, attway.be seen by Doctor Cappinger's late address to his
Priestita composition replete with priestly arrog ace, under
the mask olhumility, and with a Jesuitical sophistry, softening
down the crimes of Rebellion, murder, rape, robbery, and the
destruction of property, to the gentle term of confmion.' "
The remarks of" Sidney" upon the Prophecies of Pastorini
are extended and judicious; he testifies that cheap editions of
this infamous work, mentioned by the Bishops and Priests,
have not only been itidastrinusly circulated, but that in Cork
and other towns its has been hired out at one penny per week
to such as could not afford to purenase it. In introducing this
subject, he adds—
' But -if blind superstitious zeal and hatred of Protes-
tants be nut the prevailing sentiments among the Roman
Catholics of Ireland of the present day, as they were at the -.
periods of history alluded to, why has Pastorini's pretended
history of the Christian Church been raked from the dust,
and republished, as the seventh edition, consisting of several
thousand copies, sanctioned too by some, if not the whole
conclave of Romish Bishops ? Why, also, is a cheap edition
now issuing from the press, in numbers, at sevenpence each to
accommodate purchasers of the lowest and poorest class ? Why
was such a time as the present chosen, to disseminate this ea.
venomed composition, fraught with bigotry, virulence, calum- -
nies, and falSehoods, if not to keep alive that hatred and that
intolerant spirit,. and to rouse Into action all the sternly, malig-
nant passions of the mind ?"
Were we at liberty to indulge our inclinations, our extrays
from this interesting publication would be much more extend-
ed ; we must, however, refrain; recommending the work itself
to Our readers, as one of authority and research, and which
cannot fail in producing a conviction of the impohcy, and
danger to our constitution in Church and State, of any further
concessions, or extension of principles to the Papists. The e
principles of the Rotnish Church are unchanged and unchange-
able, temper code; ."