The Sun.
London, England, 1828-09-02 00:00:00

CATHOLIC MEETING.

A body of persons, composing a Society called
"The Friends of Civil and Religious Liberty," as-
sembled yesterday evening at the Theatre of the
Mechanics' Institution. At a quarter past eight,
(the meeting having been advertised for seven), the
persons assembled manifested such signs of impa-
tience that Mr. French and a few friends entered
the Theatre, and proceeded to business. Mr.
French at once took the chair, and went on to bring
a charge of tergiversation against Mr.. O'Connell,
for having abandoned the use of the expression of
" Radical Reform," to substitute that of "Consti-
tutional Reform." At the same time he observed,
that Robert Dawson, the Secretary, had recently
declared himself an advocate for Catholic Emancipa-
tion, and so far, had become an enlightened patriot.
But their business, on the present occasion, was
'with Mr. O'Connell, whose conduct was one of the
many proofs that they were living in an age of
strange rapid political manoeuvring. Amongst those
who had altered their Views for the better he should
say, with the approbation of the meeting, and cer-
tainly without fear of contradiction, they might
number Robert Dawson.—(Cheers.)—,-But where
was the radical in that assembly who would maintain
that Daniel O'Connell, in admitting the name of a
Constitutional Reformer, had mot made a selection
for the worse ? (Cheers.) His change from Ra-
dical to Constitutional Reform was deeply to be de-
plored. It was in the ears of English and Irish
Radicals a harsh and dissonant expression.—
(Cheers.) He concluded by observing, that in his
estimation Mr. O'Connell, by retracting his-solemn
pledge to support Radical Reform (cheers), had
stripped himself of the dignity and splendour of his
character. (Loud sheeting.)
Mr. SPOONER should be a coward to his own
principles' and unworthy of the admiration he felt
for Daniel O'Connell—(Cheers)—if he did not make
some observations in answer to what bad fallen from
the Chairman. It had been said that Daniel
O'Connell had retracted.—(Hear, hear.)—He de-
nied it.—(Cheers and hisses, which continued for
some time.)
Mr. FRENCH, in the midst of the uproar, ob-
served, with much emphasis, that'the applauses of
the Meeting might induce the gentleman to lengthen
his speech; but that 'hissing was ungentlemanly.—
(Loud laughter.)
Mr. SPOONER continued—Daniel O'Connell was
a radical reformer still, By calling himself a Con-
stitutional Reformer, he only meant that he would
rather see the abuses of the Government of England
run on as they were, than attempt, by violent mea-
sures, to change them. (This new description of
what a Constitutional Radical, or Radical Constitu-
tional, Reformer meant, excited much laughter.)
Mr. Spooner then proposed a Resolution declara-
tory of the right of every man to serve his Maker
acoording to the dictates of his conscience, without
being subject to any restrictive laws or penal en-
actments.

Mr. FRENCH objected, that while one subject was
on the tapis, no gentleman was warranted in intro-
ducing another.
Mr. Muumit, who throughout the Chairman's
speech had been uttering interjectional interruptions,
here rose to insist that there was no subject before
the Meeting.
Mr. FRENCH vociferated that he would support
the dignity of the Chair; (Laughter, cheers, and
hisses,) and insisted that Mr. Murphy should not
proceed. Mr. Murphy declared he would not be
put down. Each was supported by the cheers of
his own party, and assailed by the hisses el that of
his opponent. Mr. Murphy during the contest stood
with the coolness, but not with the submissiveness,
of Patience, and instead of " smiling at Grief,"
smiled—and that, too, in no pleasing manner, at the
Meeting.
Sonic more uproar then took place, in which every
body (after the fashion of public-house guests) called
for what he liked best, some being for Mr. French,
others for Mr. Murphy, while a third party wished
for a second edition of Mr. Spooner and his Resolu-
tion.

Something that had a faint resemblance to a pause
having taken place, we were enabled to hear Mr.
French exclaim, " Gentlemen, you have a Chairman
---" which demi•sentence Mr. Murphy obligingly
finished with " who does not know his business."
—(A laugh and a row.)
Mr. SPOONER—I beg—(The uproar victorious.)
The CIIAIRNAN—I wish to put it to the meeting
—(The whole meeting in an uproar.)
Mr. Speoner, Mr. Murphy, and Mr. French, now
spoke ail three together, but were so equally ener-
getic, that we could not hear one prevail over the
other. Very shortly, however, the riot prevailed
over all three.
A small squeaking voice in the gallery—Sit down
—chair. (Much laughter, but more confusion.)
The Chairman sat down. (Reiterated thunders
of applause.)
Mr. SPOONER then obtained an. audience for at
least two minutes and a half, and took that opportu-
nity of reading his resolution again. (Hisses.) In
his opinion some men ought not to be tied down by
the laws.

One of the mob—What do you say then to some
men being tied up by the laws. (A loud chuckle.)
Another of the mob—ln the reign of King George
IV. measures were brought forward under the pa-
tronage of Mr. Fox (a loud laugh), on which occa-
sion Sir F. Burdett stood alone ut making a motion
--(reiterated laughter, during which the ingenious
confounder of Mr. Fox, King George IV. and Sir
F. Burdett, sat down.)
Confusion now again reigned with increased effect
in the meeting, and it very speedily resolved itself
into a conclave of all talkers and no listeners. Mr.
Murphy, however, was in possession of the Chair,
and keep it he would in spite of them ; if anybody
wished to speak to order ! that, of course, was quite
another affair.

This " other affair" induced nineteen gentlemen
to rise all at once, exclusive of the Chairman, who
speedily joined the orderly troop, and made up the
score.

The CHAIRMAN said something we could not hear.
Mr. MURPHY—I am ready to reply to any gen-
tleman. _

--
The CHAIRMAN—I am sure your language is not
that of a gentleman.
Mr. MURPHY--Well, then, we'll exchange no
compliments.

The CHAIRMAN---Gentlemen, he sets your power
at defiance. (Tremendous uproar among the Ple-
nipotentiaries.)
The CHAtumAN---Gentlemen. (The conc:usion
of the Learned Barrister's address was lost by one