The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-13 00:00:00

THE ROMAN CATBOLIC ADDRESS TO
LORD PALMERSTON.

The following letter from the Rev. Dr. Cullen is
publishtd in y( sterday's Freeman :
My dear Mr. Russell,—Whilst Catholicity is
assailed by so many enemies and such dangers from
without, the necessity of avoiding everything cal-
culated to occasion internal divisions and dissen-
sions must be evident to all. Impressed with this
conviction, I cannot refrain from offering a few ob-
servations on the subject of a letter signed "Pope
Hennessy, M.P.," which appeared in to-day's Free-
man, animadverting on the address to Lord Pal-
merston, to which your name and that of Mr.
Ebrington, jun., are attached as secretaries.
Having had nothing whatsoever to do, as you
are aware, with the preparation of that "declara-
tion," I do not at all feel canal upon to undertake
its defence. However, I must express my humble
opinion that the strictures of Mr. Hennessy on the
document itself, and much more the censures cast
upon those who signed it, are evidently cal-
culated to create distrust, awaken dissension, and
finally to break up that union now happily prevail-
ing amongst us. United in principle and object—,
and more cannot be reasonably expected—we must,
in the employment of means to effect our purpose,
leave room for, and wisely tolerate, differences of
opinion. All catholics, with so few exceptions,
rail nantes in gurgite vasto, as scarcely to require
any notice, are agreed on the importance of pre-
serving the Pope in possession of his temporal do-
minions, and of discountenancing the violence and
treason of which he has been made the victim.
The address substantially agrees in ail this. It
states :
Firstly—That it is expedient for the general in-
terests of Europe that the head of the church, which
comprises the great majority of the Christian
world, should, by his position as an independent
Sovereign, be free to exercise his spiritual authority
over catholics of all nations, unfettered by the
feeling of dependence upon any particular state.
Secondly—That the wisdom of this policy has
been acknowledged by sovereigns and statesmen of
various creeds, and has been solemnly sanctioned
by treaty.
Thirdly—ln their anxiety to maintain unim-
paired the temporal authority of the Pope, the per-
sons signed to the address advocate opinions in
accordance with the interests of the British empire,
which contains so many millions who venerate his
Holiness as the spirantl head of their church, and
whose contentment is not unworthy of the serious
attention of British statesmen:
Fourthly—A wish is expressed that the blessings
of good government should be everywhere ex-
tended, and that the reforms commenced by his
Holiness in the States of the Church should be soon
completed.
Fifthly—lt is stated to be unjust to hold the Pope
responsible for the misgovernment of which he has
been accused.
Sixthly—That the Pope, by his act on his acces-
sion to the papacy, proved his earnest attachment
to the cause of nationality and improvement.
Seventhly—That his efforts were unhappily frus-
trated by the machinations of foreign adventurers
who worked by terror and intrigue on the feelings
of a volatile population, and employed the reforms
already effected by his Holiness as instrnments for
the subversion of his throne.
Eightly,—That her Majesty's Government be
called on to promote or concur in such settlement of
the affairs of Italy as, while it provides for the
liberties of the Italian people, will secure the inte-
grity, independence, and neutralily of the Holy See.
These several propositions, taken in a great part
word for word from your 'declaration,' are not at
all at variance with the resolutions adopted at our
several meetings, nor with the sentiments expressed
by our most eloquent and zealous speakers. It is
true that expediency is put forward very promi-
nently in the ' declaration,' and that no reference is
made to the injustice and sacrilegious character of
the attempts directed against the patrimony of St.
Peter. But the just and sacred rights of the Pope
are not in any way impugned or denied, they are
rather supposed and admitted, and perhaps they
were passod over in silence; because it might seem
useless and out of place to speak of justice and reli-
gion in addressing a statesman, whose policy is ap-
parently regulated by mere motives of expediency
and temporal considerations.

But why address Lord Palmerston at all ? Why
address a man who does not conceal his hostility to
the Pope? Why should he be allowed to interfere
in tho settlement of the patrimony of St. Peter?
In reply, I say that it would be most desirable that
no Protestant statesman should be allowed to in-
terfere in matters which so nearly concern our re-
ligion and the liberty and free action of our church.
It is not to be wished for that either Whig or Tory,
Protestant, or Presbyterian, should be allowed to
intrude into the domain of ecclesiastical affairs.
But, unhappily, if a congress should be held, not
only English Protestants, but Greek schismatics
and Prussian evangelicals, will consider it their
right to vote on the various questions now
pending, which are so closely connected with
the independence of the holy See. If this be
the case, why not remind the Primo Minister of
England that he will lose the confidence of se:
veral millions of her Majesty's subjects, if ho
takes any part against the rights of the Pope,
and that it is, consequently, expedient for him to
support the independence, integrity, and neutrality
of the dominions of the Pope? But, perhaps,
greater confidence could be placed in a Conserva-
tive Minister in regulating such questions. It may
be so, but I doubt very much whether we have any-
thing to expect from a party that has for its leaders
most bitter opponents of catholicity, and rests in
Ireland for its support on the Orange lodges of this
country. Whilst Lord Derby proclaims the Pope's
territory a plague spot, and Lord Malmesbury and
Mr. Disraeli call for its dismemberment, and Lord
Ellenborough subscribes money for the purchase of
a million muskets to arm the rebels of the Pope's
states, I must confess that I find myself embarrassed
to make a choice between the aid of Lord Palmer-
ston and Lord John Russell, and that I cannot but
pray that his Holiness may be preserved from the
affectionate care and protection of both parties.
As to the censures passed on the gentlemen
whose names have been attached. to your "decla-
ration," it is not necessary for me to speak in their
defence. All I shall say is, that from au acquaint-
ance with several of them, who are connected with
this diocese, I am able to affirm that they aro the
supporters of every Catholic charity, and sincerely
devoted to the cause of our Holy Father the Pope.
Many of them ou the occasion of some of our
late meetings came forward, or were ready to
come forward to join in defending him against
the assaults of his enemies. Indeed, I must
say, that all the respectability, the wealth, the
station of this great city united most cordially
in this holy cause with the industrial and work-
ing classes, and it would be impossible to deter-
mine what class was most zealous in defending the
rights and independence of the successor of St.
Peter. Whilst wo are thus united in principle, let
no difference of opinion in regard to the manner of
expressing our principles be allowed to dissolve so
happy a union. Some will not go so far as others
some will not speak as strongly as we would wish ;
but whilst all agree in demanding the freedom and
independence of the patrimony of th
e Holy See,
there is no reason why we should split into parties
and condemn the proceedings of others who agree
with us in principle and are with us in heart. Ex-
cuse this long letter, and allow me to assure you
that I fully appreciate the great services you and
Mr. Errington render to public charities in Dublin,
and I remain, your obedient servant,
" PAUL CULLEN."

BURSTING OF A CULVERT AT THE BIRRENHEAD
DOCK Woiucs.—At the meeting of the Mersey Dock Board
yesterday it was stated that a culvert, which drained the
whole of the low lands at -Wallasey' near the Birkenhead
Dock Works, had burst and done so much damage that the
opening of tho Great Float would be delayed till August.
The financial agents of Canada state, with regard
to the new loan of £2,800,0J0 now about to be issued, that
so numerous have been the applications on the part of the
public that they regret it will not only be out of their power
to meet the demands upon them, but also to reply separately
to each individual request.