The Sun.
London, England, 1828-12-06 00:00:00

BRITISH CATHOLIC PETITION.

(From the Catholic Journal.)
The following interesting correspondence has
taken place between Edward Blount, Esq. and Lord
Nugent, upon the petition which was agreed to at
the last meeting of the British Catholic Association :
"London, Nov. 30, 1828.
"MY DEAR LORD-.:-I have mach pleasure in obey ing
the instructions I have received from the British Catholic
Association, to convey to you a copy of the petition of the
British Catholics to the Legislature.
"As their chosen, and s►ntdy, and talented advocate,
they request you to present their petition to the House of
Commons; and they entrust it to you, with gratitude for
your past, and confidence in your future exertions.
" I beg to call your particular attention to the senti-
ments contained in it, and shall be happy to be favoured
with your opinion upon them, as well es on the expediency
of bringing it before Parliament es early ma possible in the
approaching Session.—Believe me, my dear Lord, with
sentiments of sincere regard, to be ever yours,
" EDWARD BLOUNT.
" To the Right Hon. Lord Nugent,
Dropmoro Lodge, Bucks."

" Dropmore Lodge, D. 3, 1828.
" Mr DEAR SIR--I beg to acknowledge the honour
done me by the British Roman Ct tholic Association, in
again intruating me with their Petition t.) the House of
Commons, of which you have sent me a draft, and b ex-
press my concurrence in the opinion, that it should be
prevented as early as possible after the opening of the Ses-
sion. With respect to the points to which you desire my
attention, I have only to state generally my entire agree-
ment in the spirit and reasoning of the petition:tbroughout,
and allow me to say, especially in the substance of the
prayer with which it concludes, for a total and un-
conditional repeal of 'the penal laws now in force
against you. Feeling as I do, that no state hrs any right
to limit the religious freedom of its subjects, unless under
some immediate and proveable necessity for its own preserva-
tion, and convinced es I am that no such necessity is .now
proveable against you, I must maintain that the right re-
turns to you to enjoy all the privileges which are enjoyed
by your fellow-subjects; and, if this be true, to enjoy
them without further condition or qualification. You have,
then, no reason to ask any thing short of unconditional,
unlimited, and unqualifief justice; those who think you
entitled to it, have no right to demand less; nor can they
propose less, without injustice and prejudice to your cause;
nor ought they or you to entertain, by anticipation, any
question touching what some persons are pleased to term
securities, to provide against dangers which we say do not
exist, and to compromise privileges, to which we say you
have a clear and absolute title.
" At the same time, however, that I state this, without
any reservation, I cannot but see, that seldom has so great
a practical good, so long contested, been at last gained un-
accompanied by some important modification of what, in
the abstract, is to be contended for or. principle, and with-
out abatement ; and I am obliged to say, that I can easily
conceive modifications, practically harmless, and if proposed
by those persons who have hitherto been your opponents,
not useless, as furnishing them with an excuse to them-
selves for at length consenting to an act of tardy policy
and justice. Of this We had a strong instance last
year, in the Act repealing the Sacramental test. Believ-
ing too, as I do, and as the general failure of the attempt
to revive a senseless and unprincipled rancour against
you in this country, has shown me, that the minds
of Protestant England is not unfavourable to a friendly
settlement of your claims ; but doubting, as I do, that
it is prepared for such a settlement, without some accom-
panying arrangement, which might satisfy long-cherished
prejudices, and, at the same time, not impair the substan-
tial benefit, I confess, for one, that I could not regret the
seeing Catholic Emancipation won in the manner (short
of any abatement in the franchises contended for) that
would reconcile and unite in support of the measure, the
feelings and opinions of all your Protestant brethren,
whose feelings and opinions are worth consulting. I ant
aware that this is an admission which has already incurred
the animadversion of one, whose concurrence. in any
views to be entertained by you in this matter, is most im-
portant; and to n-hose influence, in directing the minds
of his countrymen in the furtherance of their great cause,
that cause owes much of its present power. I think it
unadvisable to perplex our efforts with the anticipating ar-
rangements, of the nature of which we know nothing ;
which, if proposed at all, may he either offensive and in-
jurious to the character of the whole measure, or entirely
harmless and inoperative ; but I think that Mr. O'Con-
nell has misapprehended some of the most illustrious of
your body, in thinking them fairly chargeable with the
inconsistency of petitioning for one thing, and being pre-
pared to accept a different one. They do not petition for
one thing, and profess a readiness to accept a different one.
Substantial justice, simple and entire, is what you claim.
But substantial justice, accompanied by harmless or inope-
rative provisions, is not fairly to be called a different thing.
It s the same thing, done in a less frank and less conci-
liating spirit; and again I instance the repeal of the sacra-
mental test. But, even were it a different thing, there
would be no inconsistency in accepting a payment in part
of a jest debt. The only inconsistency in that case would
be, in giving a receipt in cull of all demands.
" I cannot, however, but take the liberty, which your
letter gives me, of imploring you, and the British Catholic
Association, not to be betrayed into any act or word which
could render you justly liable to the reproach of having put
to hazard that union which ought to exist between two of
the most important bodies in the empire, engaged in the
most important struggle for their common rights; at a
time, too, when union of purpose and feeling must ensure
success, and difference might delay it. Shun any heated
discussion with those who are your partners in the struggle,
pursue your own course resolutely, and reserve for your.
selves the glory of having strengthened your great common
cause by forbearance.
" Forgive the freedom of this advice from one who has
not another public object so near his heart as your suc-
cess. When the fit time shall arrive for the discussion, see
what may be proposed by those who have hitherto
been your adversaries. Watch what may be proposed with
the utmost jealousy, but with the utmost calmness. Em-
brace it, if it shall be such es neither to conflict with
your honour rs subjects, or your duty to your religion.
If it shall conflict with either, reject it. But, mean-
while, ask for nothing less than what you feel to be your
right; discuss only what you fed to be your right—tots
and unconditional justice.
" Believe me, my dear Sir,
" Always yours very truly,
" To Edward Blount, Esq., Secretary " IVUGEiti T.
to the British Catholic Association.

FASHIONABLE DIRECTORY.—A little pub.
lication, entitled the Royal Blue Book, being a Guide to
the Town and Country Residences of the Nobility and
Gentry, has been sent us for an opinion on its merits.
Upon inspection, it appears to be an improvement on the
" Court Guide," for with all the information contained in
that well-known book of Reference, it possesses the addi-
tional advantage of classification, which, to a stranger in
London, cannot fdil to he of great benefit. The squares
and principal streets in the West End are all given with
respect to the position and numbers of houses, with the
names of their occupano, exactly as they exist in the
locality. ' This obvious improvement must save a great
deal of time to people Who have, on: some occasions, lost
half a day in hunting out a particular house. The book
contains besides all the usual lists of Bankers, &c. and win
be found generally serviceable.

A Brunswick Meeting was held on Thursday
last, at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich, at which Colonel
Harvey presided. The Meeting possessed no oue feature of
particular importance.
LIBERAL ANTI-BRUNSWICK UN-CON-
STITUTIONAL CLUB or IRELAND —The
1k seeedersMembers
frometa
Kildare-street have been taken up by the leading
the Association; and there is actually some
a Club. The Marquess of Westmeath, Lords
Bective,
.Cloneurty, Roasmore, and Clantmirris, have sent
in their adhesion ; and the splendid residence in -Copper_
alley, late in the occupancy of the Mendicity Committee,
is spoken of as likely to be the " house" of the new society.
Dublin Evening Mail.
Mr. O'Connell has signified, that the Com.
mittee appointed for that purpose have agreed to recom-
mend to the Association, not to express any opinion favour-
able to the system of exclusive dealing.
- -

A vacancy occurs in the representation for the
borough of East Grinstead, by the succession of Mr. C.
Jenkinson to the Peerage.

PROTESTANT LIBERALITY.—Lord Viscount
Duncannon, that spirited and liberal landlord, has forgiven
a year's rent to all his tenantry on the Leitrim estate ; and
has just given twenty pounds towards finishing the Catholic
chapel at Drumshambo, part of his Lordship's estate,
through the hands of his much respected agent, Major
Currey.—Dublin Morning Register.

TRADE OF LEITH.--On Sunday forenoon,
no less than 40 vessels entered Leith harbour from various
ports, and a very considerable number of them were loaded
with grain.— &ohm in.