The Sun.
London, England, 1821-05-18 00:00:00

PROVINCIAL JOURNALS.

SIR HARCOTJAT LEES.—We this day submit to
the serious attention of our numerous readers the
twelfth letter* of probably one of the ablestand
most enlightened men at this day existing in the
British Empire ; we need scarcely mention the
name of Sir Harcourt Lees, the indefatigable, the
inflexible, and all-powerful supporter and never-
sleeping guardian of our Protestant Establish-
ments in both Church and State. This great man
early saw the dangers that threatened both the
Altar and the Throne from the systematic and
persevering attempts of Whigs and Radicals, and
for two years past has his energetic mind and
commanding talents been engaged in the defence
of every thing that ought to be dear to a British
subject or a Christian, and with great and con-
clusive effect.—We have it from the declaration
of a Gentleman of the first consequence, within
these two last days, just arrived from a tour
through England, that the enthusiasm excited in all
parts of the country, as well as in the Metropolis,
in favour of both Church and King, in consequence
of Sir Harcourt Lees's unremitting exertions, is
unexampled ;• and letters from numerous Corres-
pondents all agree with this most gratifying

• The letter in question deserves indeed all the praise which
the Editor of The Hibernian Journal applies to it. It is
written with spirit, vigour, learning, and irrefragable reasoning ;
and'the patriotic Baronet has conferred an import-ant obligation
on the paper in whiCh he has permitted the whole series of
his animated productions to appear. We sincerely regret that
we have not had room for the insertion of so admirable a de-
fence of our Constitution in Church and State, the BULWARK
•of the CIVILIZED WORLD. Nothing could exceed the
anxiety with which they were received by tile loyal people of
the Sister Island, but particularly in its loyal metropolis.

statement—lU fact his arguments, his authorities,.
his reasonings, are neither to be contradicted or
replied to. Sir Harcourt always grapples not
only with the ablest and most popular adversaries
of the day, but at once assails them in their
strongest positions, which he bears down and
carries by a force quite irresistible ; (for, as to
the trading Parliamentary patriots, he appears to
consider them much as the King of the Forest
does the Reptiles ; in his progress he crushes
them.) Lord Grey was afraid even to attempt a
speech on the 'Catholic Question, and the
Corporation of London are silent for some
time past, reflecting on the good advice
he gave them three months ago. There are
two striking features in the character of this en-
lightened scholar, which must have struck even
the most superficial observer ; one is that
undaunted firmness of mind which always
supporte him in every difficulty or danger ;
the other that profound- veneration with which
he contemplates and speaks of the Church
establishment, and its dignified and pious Hier-
archy ; and whilst he neither desponds like Mr.
Peel, or quotes ribald verses like Mr. Canning,
he yields to neither in point of talent, and rises
far superior to both in respect of information and
deep and profound research. We call on Roman
Catholics to answer his observations respecting
the Council of Constance in the latter part of the
letter ; and until they can, never to allude to the
opinions of foreign Universities, on the subject of
Popish Faith, and allegiance to a Protestant
King and Government. We will venture to as-
sert, the question was never put in such a point
of view before, and we recommend it to the Most
serious attention of the Legislature.—(Hibernian
Journal, May 14.)

RIO DE JANEIRO
ROYAL DECREE.

Divine Providence having vouchsafed to
grant, after a most destructive war, the much
wished for blessing of a general peace to all the
States of Europe, and to permit a commence-
ment to be made in laying the foundation of the
happiness of the Portuguese Monarchy through
the medium of the General and Extraordinary
Cortes, assembled in my most noble and loyal
City of Lisbon, for the purpose of giving to the
whole United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil,
and Algarves, a political Constitution, conform-
able to those liberal principles which, in con-
sequence of the increase of knowledge, have
been generally received by all nations ; and it
having been made manifest in my presence by
learned persons, zealous in the performance of
their duty to heaven and to me, that the minds
of my faithful subjects, more particularly of those
inhabiting this kingdom of Brazil, anxious for
the maintenance of the union and integrity of
the Monarchy, were fluctuating in a painful state
of uncertainty, because I had not declared in a
solemn manner my express, absolute, and deci-
sive approbation of the said Constitution, in order
to its being generally completed and executed
without alteration or difference in all the States
under my Royal Sceptre therefore thought
fit to make the declaration contained in my De-
cree of the 24th of February last, taking a so-
lemn oath, in concert with all my Royal Family,
the people and troops of this city, to observe,
maintain, and preserve the said Constitution in
this and the other dominions of the Monarchy, such
as it shall be prepared, framed, and adopted by
the before-mentioned General Cortes of the
kingdom. I moreover ordered the Governors,
Captains-General, and all authorities, civil, mili-
tary, and ecclesiastical, throughout all the other
provinces, to take themselves, and to administer
to all persons under their command or jurisdic-
tion, the like oath, as anew pledge and bond, cal-
, culated to assure the union and integrity of the
Monarchy. But it being the first and most es-
sential condition of the Social Compact, thus ac-
cepted and sworn to by the whole nation, that
the Sovereign shall fix his residence in the
place where the Cortes meet, in order that the
laws which shall be discussed may be prompt-
ly presented to him, and receive without de-
lay his indispensible sanction, the religious
fidelity with which it becomes me' to fulfil
the arduous duties imposed upon me by the
oath I have sworn, requires that I should make,
for the general good of all my people, one of the
most painful sacrifices of which my paternal and
royal heart is capable, by separating myself from
subjects whose memory shall be ever dear to me,
and whose prosperity, wherever I may be, will
constantly form one of the most anxious cares of
my paternal government. It is then fit, in com-
pliance with the duty which Providence has
assigned to me, of sacrificing every thing
for the felicity of the nation, that I should
resolve, as in fact I have resolved, to trans-
fer my Court to the City of Lisbon, the an-
cient seat and cradle of the Monarchy, in order
there to co-operate with the representatives of
the people in the glorious work of restoring the
gallant Portuguese nation to that high degree of
splendour which distinguished our country in
ancient times. But I shall leave here my dearly
beloved and highly esteemed son, the Prince
Royal of the United Kingdom, charged with the
Provisional Government of this Kingdom of
Brazil, until the general Constitution of the nation
be established therein. And in order that my peo-
ple of this kingdom of Brazil may the sooner
participate in the advantages of the national re-
presentation, by sending an adequate number of
Deputies to the General Cortes of the United
Kingdom, I have, in another Decree of this
date, given precise directions for the immediate
election in all the provinces of the said Deputies,
according to the form of the instructions adopted
for that purpose in the kingdom of Portugal.
The Deputies for this province will without delay
repair, successively as they are elected, to this
city, in order that those who shall arrive before
my departure, may accompany me. I have other-
wise provided for the conveyance of those of this
or of the northern provinces, who may, after that
period, have to undertake the same voyage.
From the Palace of Rio de Janeiro, March 7, 11121.

A young lady and gentleman passed through Grantham, in a
post chaise and four, last week, on their way to Gretna-green.
It has since been ascertained that the fugitives eloped- from
Huntingdon, and that the young lady's name WAS Wu., and
the gentleman's name is i\EDUAM.

FOR THE SUN.

ROMAN CATHOLICS,

Mr. toiron--ATyO7Wicier has long . been
distinguished. for a firm adherence to the prin-
ciples of the Constitution in C!...'-rch and• State,
and more particularly by a rooted attachment to
our Protestant Establishment, I flatter myself
that it will give yott sincere pleasure to learn
that some hardy assertions respecting the em-
ployment of Catholics in former times are entire-
ly unfounded. It was asserted by the Marquis
of BucKlNc.n.tm, in the most positive manner,
that Lord How Attn of Effingham, the Cornman,
der-in-Chief against the Spanish Armada, was a
Papist, and this assertion called down repeated
exclamations of " Hear, .hear !" in the House .of
Lords. Now, Sir, it ought to be universally
known that the Marquis of BUCKINGHAM was
mistaken.i and that there is no foundation what-
ever for this assertion. Lord CHARLESZOWARD,
the High Admiral of Queen ELIZABETH, was a very
determined and distinguished Protestant, So much
so, that he was thought to be a favourer of. the
Puritans, and it is to -him that we owe the detec-
tion of the Popish Nag's Head Plot, which was
intended to set aside the validity of our Ordi-
nations.

So it was asserted by the same Nobleman,
that the QUEEN'S Governor of Dover Castle at
that critical period was a Papist. This Noble-
man was BROOKE, Lord COBHAM (not Lord
PEMBROKE, as has been erroneously stated,) and
this Lord COBHAM was also a most determined
Protestant.

When it is considered, ':'tt few men are able
or willing to give themselves the trouble to detect
such historical blunders, I leave you to judge
of the mischief which they may occasion. But
to know how little Queen 'ELIZABETH was a fa-
vourer of the Papists, you need only remember
that, during her reign, 62 Popish Priests were exe-
cuted and 55 banished.
Bath, May 10, 1821. A PLAIN ENGLISHMAN.