The Sun.
London, England, 1824-12-16 00:00:00

[TIIE TIMES.]

We stated yesterday, on what we believe to
be good information, the objects of the recent
series of Cabinet meetings. Of all the questions
which can come before the Ministry and the
Parliament, the most pressing and important un-
doubtedly is, " What shall we do with Ireland ?"
it has been said in high quarters, that the violent
language of the Catholic demagogues and priests
" are serious obstacles in the way of any
" concession to the general body of the Ca-
tholics." Why should any practical serious-
ness be attached to things in reality so trilling?
For the priests, we shall say nothing—
it will be easy hereafter to lay them and
their anger on the shelf ; but with respect to
the lay part of the Association, we assert our firm
belief, that they have not entertained, from the
outset of their exhibition, and do not at this mo-
ment meditate, any one scheme or hope whatever
of the slightest evil consequence to the State' it-
self, or to any ono interest, protected by the
State, except it be the old Orange monopoly of
place and power in Ireland. A rebellion! 'What
would such men as O'Connell and his friends,
consisting, as they do chiefly, of barristers, ner-
chants,and countrygentlemen,what could such men
look for in the course of a civil conflict, but broken
heads, or at the best of it, rags and hunger, banish-
ment and confiscation of their properties ? They
know their weakness better ; but, what is as much
to the purpose, they know what they already en-
joy, and what they may by fair means pretend
to, without a fatal risk• to themselves, or confu-
sion and wretchedness to their country.—The
Associators who make speeches, have been try-
ing an experiment on the nerves of English-
men, and have rather overacted their part.—
They have been puerile enough to league with
the French newspapers, as well as with their
own priests, for an assault upon the mind of Eng-
land. Now, considering them as men who have
reasonable ground for the complaint,
we could
have allowed for their intemperate remonstrances
—their honest indignation—their impetuous abuse
of those to whom they ascribe their grievances
(for there may very well be a negative grievance),
but we must subjoin, that they ought not to have
thriatened their English fellow-subjects, because
the English are not a nation to be bullied.
We consider the Catholic leaders, therefore, as
any thing but a dangerous body of statesmeu :
they have, an far no nu 44641nri dor aft (lc J gone near
to spoil a fine and promising game. There is,
however, another circumstance to be looked at in

this Association—we 11161111 its combining within
itself the great bulk of property and character
which (over and above what has been assumed
for themselves by the agitators) is to be found
among the Catholics. This union of the respect-
able Nobility, Aristocracy, and. Catholic Gent►y
of Ireland, with the 66 Association," is an addi-
tional ►argument against fearing the secret designs
of that body, and in favour of admitting its
avowed pretensions. Do Lords Kenmore and
Fingal seek to bring about a revolution ! The
Catholics have a right to union among themselves,
and to whatever moral influence upon the Govern-
ment and on public opinion can lob derived from
such an evidence of their general harmony and
sincerity. If, therefore, we conceive that
there would he political danger Land such un-
questionably is our strong impression) in now re-
fusing their claims, the danger strikes us to be
that of withholding a constitut►onal right from

the sober, the moderate, and well-conducted
majority of the Catholics—not that of exasperat-
ing the violent and factious, whose confidence iu
their own cause might well be distrusted were
we to make their measures only the bases on
which to reason.

.I.II3TRUCTIVE liuttrttemt.E.—A. letter received
in Greenock, dated Frederica, St. Slmeon's Island, (ieorgie, Sept.
00, states that the hurricane had proved very destructive. 11any
of the .planters were en tirely.rumed ; the cotton end corn crops
being destroyed, and the houses, fences,.and cattle swept away.
Many of the poor negroes saved themselves by ,floating on pieces
of wood: One planter had sustained a loss of sixty thousand
dollars. Another hits lost about twenty houses and his cotton.
crop, 1,000 bands of rice, and 100 heads of sheep. The roads
were rendered impassable by fallen trees, and from the bridges
being all washed away which has almost entirely cut oflthe com-
munication between plantations, towns, &c. About one hundred
persons .had lost their lives. A Mr. Snow, lost his daughter,
his sister.in.law, two brothers-in-law, together with a gen-
tleman, Mr: Merril; who was paying his addresses to his
were all in. the Same house, and were washed
away. Air. they
Snow and his wife unveil themselves by float-
ing on trees nr log for oor 11 hours. The body of Mr. Merril
had since been fclUnd, and in one of his hands he had a piece, of
the gown of tiro young lady, whom he had perhaps attempted
to sure, and to whom he was to have been wedded.

DuEt.s.— m
On Sunday last, a meeting took. place
at Calais between
Mr. KEMP and Mr. NATII4-
Nirr: RoNALno, the latter (:elitiemait being one
of the parties who had heel, lately conipelled_ to
enter into recogoizauces to keep7he peace. Oil
the word
being given; Mr. Knit. fired his
,pistol in Ilse Air, en which the seconds interfer•
ed, and Mr. Kamp haviii ,
g in the presence of
their respective friends, ic exonerated Mr. Ros.Lns
m
fro all knowledge or participation in the pro-
ceedinp which, led to the interference of the
police on the former occdsion; Matteis were TO -
eahly adjusted.—A meeting took place hi a field
near Blackness, between 'a Mr. it -----s and Mr.
M`K---v. The parties fired by signal, when
%%M.'s hall passed through Mr. it.'s arm. The
seconds immediately interfered, and Mr. R. was
conveyed to a house, where surgical aid was
promptly procured. he wound was considered
. slight.