The Sun.
London, England, 1821-06-14 00:00:00

BANK OF IRELAND BILL.

On the Motion that the house go into a Committee on this
Bill,
Sir J. NEWPORT said, that it was his wish to move that
it be an instruction to the Committee to provide by a clause that
Roman Catholics should be eligible to hold the office of Gover-
nor or Director to the Bank of -Ireland. It was merely to place
the matter beyond doubt that he wished for such a Clause, as it
was a matter on which much difference of opinion existed among
legal men. He hoped, therefore, the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer would not oppose him.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that he
should feel it his duty to object to the clause of the Honourable
Baronet, because he thought it unnecessary, as a Roman Ca-
tholic might become eligible by conforming to the provisions of
the ;let of 1793 on this subject. He thought there could be no
doubt on this matter, as there was high legal authority to that
effect.
Sir J. NEWPORT and the CHANCELLOR of the Ex-
CHEQUER mutually explained.
Mr. GRENFELL complained that the Chancellor of the
Exchequer should oppose the admission of the clause, at the
same time that he acknowledged the'zight it went to enact.
Sir J. NEWPORT then moved, that it be an instruction to
the Committee to introduce a clause to provide for the eligibi-
lity of Roman Catholics to hold the situation of Governor or
Director, or any other office of trust and profit in the Bank of
Ireland, any.bye-laws to the contrary.
The House then divided—
For the Motion - - . 13
Against it - - - - 35
Majority
- —22
PACKET REGULATION BILL.

Upon our re-admission into the gallery, we found
Mr. BRIGHT calling the attention of the _House to the im-
policy of this Bill, and objecting to its being read a second
time. It want to force every packet boat, from a Margate hoy
to a Leith smack, to take out a license for selling spirits, whilst
it endowed excise officers with unlimited powers to harass. He
moved, as an amendment, that the Bill should be read a se-
cond time on that day six months.
Mr. LUSH INGTON defended the'Bill as a measure of re-
gulation, And as necessary to maintain the Irish Excise system ;
and, in point of fact, to protect the masters of steam vessels from
risk of confiscation.

Sir J.VIEWPORT opposed the Bill, and contended that to
justify (Measure of this kind, it ought to be clearly proved
that some great practical evil had been sustained from the
existing law, which demanded a remedy.
Mr. BERNAL contended that the provisions of the Bill
would extend not only to packets sailing
.between this Country
and Ireland, but to all the small vessels employed as coasters.
Its operation would extend to numerous'cases to which it was
not meant to apply. He wished to know if the Chancellor of
the Exchequer had consulted the Law Officers of the Crown on
this subject.
Sir I. COFFIN thought the operation of the Bill ought to
be confined to vessels navigated by steam.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said there
would be no objection to limit the operation of the Bill to vessels
carrying passengers, whether navigated by steam or by sails.
After further conversation between Sir .J. Newport, Mr. Ilus-
kisson, Mr. Sykes, and 3lr. 'Wilson,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated that he
was willing, in the Committee, to alter the Bill so as to give
every party the option of taking a license or not, leaving them
to take the consequences of omitting to do so.
Mr. 11. BRIGHT said, they enjoyed that option at present.
The House divided, when the numbers were—
, For the Second Reading - - - 36
For the Amendment - - 14
Majority - - - —22
The Bill was then read a second time.

The Report of the East India Private Trade Bill was
brought up, and ordered to bu taken into further consideration
on Monday, and the Bill to be printed.
The-Prize Money Appropriation Bill, and the Justices of
Peace Regulation Bill, were read a third time, and passed.
The other Orders of the Day were disposed of, and the House
adjourned.

CHESTER KING AND CONSTITUTIONAL ASSO-
CIATION CLUB.—It is understood, that this pa-
triotic Society intend to dine together on the day
on ivh!ch his MAJESTY'S Coronation takes place.
(Ciesler Courant, June 12)

FOREIGN LITtRATVRE.

[No: IXVI.]

On the INFLTJE7.4.!E of CHRISTIANITY on the CON-
DITION of W0.;),1AN.,.hy M. GREGOIRE; formerly
Bishop of BLois. • j
Christiatkity kds- tlti.pe web forWorneb\that
putting aside all other and higher considerations, they ought to
become Christians out of gratitude. The heart never augurs.
It is easy and pleasant to believe what we are obliged to foie j
and is it possible for women not to love a religion to which
alone they are indebted for the honourable rank which they now
occupy in society ?
Some ancient nations, it is true, had a great respect for wo-
men, but these exceptions are very few ; and M. Gregoire
proves beyond a doubt, that almost every where, the weaker
sex has been oppressed and degraded by brutal force, over
which the spirit of Christianity alone has been able to triumph.
Their condition was indeed miserable, and I blush at it not
for them, but for ourselves. _ _

Even the Jews, from whom I expected better things, held
their women in little estimation ; and to my mind, if it were
only on that account, they richly deserve the punishments de-
nounced against them, and under which they are now suffer-
ing. Woe to them who despise women. !
Who would believe that one of their writers has dared to say
that " woman is but an imperfect male," without adding, at
the same time, that the sketch was at least equal to the paint-
ing What do you suppose is the morning prayer of the Jew ?
Toe dissertation of M. Grgoire informs us, that the Jew re-
turn thanks to God, not for having made him aJew, which might
perhaps be worth an acknowledgment, but " for not having
made him a woman," and you know what he gains by it. The
.Jewess on the contrary says, resigning herself to her lot,
" Blessed be thou who bast in thy will and wisdom made.me
what I am," an act of humility which must be very grating to
their self-love. Is it more necessary to chew the little respect which
the Jews entertained, and still entertain for women ? Besides I
am only the faithful echo of M. Gregoire • and if these remarks
offend the Synagogue, of him only have they a right to complain.
Has he calumniated them ? Let them be revenged of him.
I will throw no obstacles in their way--quite the contrary. I
desire nothing better than to see M. Gr4goire engaged in a con-
test witllthe Rabbi, touching the honor of the sex.
Some persons speak of the homage paid to women by the
Greeks, .especially the Athenians. 66 Was not Aspasia,", they
ask, "at the same time Minister and Secretary of State at
Athens ?" I admit it ; and I will also acknowledge, if required,
that this Minister was equal to many others whom we have
lately seen ; but by what means did she attain the power of
Premier, and to what causes is she indebted for her Secretary-
ship ? ,M. Or4goire leaves you in the dark on these points ; for
an ex-bishop ought not to speak of Aspasia but witli great re-
serve. But what we learn from other sources authorizes us in
believing that affairs of State were not the only subjects which
were discussed in her boudoir. The public, who know well
the appellation given in this country to women of this descrip-
tion, renders it unnecessary that I should repeat it.

It was not, then, to women in general, Ah. ut only to some
women of kind dispositions, and of. easy and agreeable man-
ners, that the Athenians paid their homage, which is not to be
envied when we know what it cost. We certainly would not
wish far it Est the same price. The consideration is no doubt
very desirable, but virtue is far more valuable ' - and there are
certain sacrifices to which a virtuous woman would never resign
herself, though it might procure for her honors and distinction.
I will not here repeat the impertinences uttered against
the female sex by the Greek philosophers, who have
been praised beyond their merits, beginning with Aristo-
tle, the niost impertinent of all, who had the hardihool
to say that women formed the first link in the chain of
DEGENERA,TION. It must, however, be admitted with
M. Gregoire that the usages and laws of the Greeks sanctioned
the opinions of these pretended philosophers. In violation of
all the principles of justice and propriety, women were bought
and sold in Greece, and at a much later period in Rome : they
were also hired for a limited time, and were exposed for sale in
the market place like any other commodity. Then woman was
regarded less in the light of a PERSON than a ,THING ; and
with grief do I remark, that the thing which was called woman
was of little worth in those days.
We do not like to lend our neighbour an article of great
value; but history informs us that in Athens, and at Rome,
men lent their wives without any scruple • and if you imagine
that this occurred only among ihe lower classes of society, you
are in error, • for the greatest personages contracted this bad
habit. Can you believe that Socrates, Cato, and many others
were guilty of this practice, persons whose names are always
cited when some people wish to humble us ?
As -to Socrates, his case is to be commiserated. He bad a
wife—a woman— * * * —in short it was Xantippe.
But it seems to me that the wife of Cato, so amiable, so virtu-
ous, and moreover a woman of quality, should not have suffered
such an humiliation ; nevertheless this respectable lady was
forced to submit to it. Cato, who is notwithstanding called the
wise, Cato lent her to Ilortensius, the celebrated orator, whose
speeches have been lost ; a misfortune with which, thanks to
printing, those delivered in the present day are not threatened.
What a treasure they will prove to posterity! . It is proper to
observe that these infamous bargains did not occasion any scan-
dal. The Roman laws obliged the borrower to return the
woman who had been lent to him before the expiration of
twelve months ; in default of which, he was bound to keep her.
The money paid on these occasions was appropriated to his
own uses by the husband.
The condition of women was .elsewhere still more deplorable.
How grateful then ought they to feel at the introduction of
Christianity. They were all but slaves : it has set them free.
It has doubly enfranchised them, for the spirit of Christianity
admits of neither freeman nor slave, neither man nor woman,
and treats all alike.

The language of ecclesiastical writers is, therefore, very dif-
ferent from that of the philosophers of antiquity : but some o'
them, I may venture to say, go rather too far. It is very well,
no doubt, to talk to women of their rights, but then their li-
mits should at the same time be marked out with precision ; for
women have a great propensity to go. beyond them. The wri-
ters to whom I here allude, seem sometimes to have forgotten
the existence of this propensity.
We should also, in so delicate a question, carefully avoid
those equivocal expressions which vanity always interprets to
its own advantage. We read in St. Chrysostom, in St. Gre-
gory of Nyssus, and even in 31. Gregoire, that " woman be-
ing equal to man in rank, there ought to be between them an
equality of honors." Yes, certainly, but not an equality of
power ; and this remark cannot be repeated too often, nor can
it be too earnestly inculcated on women, that the equality here
adverted to does not absolve them from the duty of respectful
submission; for Christianity, which enjoins you to honour
them, at the same time commands them to obey you : and how
otherwise could it be? The domestic throne is too narrow to
be occupied by two : there is only room for man ; but, thanks
to Christianity, woman now fills a very honourable place near
this throne (at the foot of which she was formerly humbly
prostrate, not daring even to look up towards it), a faithful re-
presentation of monarchy. Hence civilians have not failed to
draw this conclusion, that of all forms of government, the mo—
narchical is the most natural, and I am inclined to think that
M. Grego re is not of a different opinion.
Two heads in a family would introduce the disorders of anar-
chy. Yet, as is remarked by M. Gregoire," if to command is
the right of man, it is too often the taste of the wife ;" and
how are we to prevent the taste of the one from overturning the
right of the other ? It is a secret which weakness will never
lea n. It is not enough to be the legitimate chief of the family ;
a poor legitimacy, which has neither beak nor talons, would
quickly he in jeopardy : but the conjugal throne belongs to
you, and you must defend it ; otherwise you will soon see
your Government DE JURE supplanted by a Government
DE FACTO, to which you will be the first obliged to sub-
mit: and if you should atteinpt to complain of it, you will
be told, it is your own fault ; obey since you know not how
to command. Violent means, however, are contrary to the
spirit of Christianity, which is moreover particularly favourable
towards women. It is disgraceful to remark that Civilians
have, not at a very distant period, discussed this strange ques-
tion, whether it is lawful for a husband to beat his wife ? No,
I say, a hundred times, no. A plague take those who answer
in the affirmative ; but if these thing,s are so arranged by mutual
consent, if she says, like Martine in the Medecin malgre lui,
" yes, I wish him to beat me," what then is he to do ? It is
a case of conscience not easy to resolve. I send him to M. Gre-
goire, provided they have not yet abrogated his authority.
Thus, too long disgraced and degraded by stupid and barba-
rous laws women are indebted to the establishment of Christia-
nity for the full and entire enjoyment of their rights. Their
restoration dates from that period. Let them examine all the
known religions, not one of them is so favourable. I-suppose
them to have little inclination for Judaism, for it is not very
allu,ing. Will the Law of NI ahomet please them better?—
What ! Queens at London and Path' by virtue of our homage,
would they consent to live slaves at Constantinople under the
surveillance of those vile Eunuchs, who treat with so much in-
civility their unfortunate recluses ? And Polygamy ? Can I
forget it ? Mahomet allows four wives to his followers ; and
what is this but the quarter of a husband for one affectionate
wife who knows not how to share with others his caresses,
and whose heart is indivisible. It makes us shudder to
think of it. If from Constantinople we pass into Asia, we
there see women, unfortunately victims of a barbarous custom,
obliged to burn themselves to death on the funeral pile
which consumes the remains of their deceased husbands.
Gregoire reckons at more than ten thousand the number of wi-
dows who pay this affecting tribute, more to superstition than to
conjugal love. But Christianity having abolished human sa-
crifices among us, grief does not reach that degree of ferocity,

and hoivever rrtuth the husband is to be regretted, the *gee con-
sents at least to tiirvive him,

The design of N. Gregoire not being to strengthen the attach,
ment of women only to Clgktianity, but also to liberty, he af-
firms that their condition is re happy in free states,.because
these states are more in unison kt'th the Virit of the. Gospel ;
and, in support of this assertion citesNie English, Eng
lanOo" he says, "is the paratlisuit wonign." IThvieNrer, in
this paradise a mrtain custom is aMo'lled, which reflects little
credit on us. Db we not permit a husband who is dissatisfied
with his wife to put'a hater round her neck, take her to the
market-place, employ the cryer to announce her for sale, and at
length dispose of her if an amateur should offer. What„! sell
one's wife ! sell her in public ! its the market-place ! with is-
halter round her neck ! The sex, in the most barbarous coun-
tries, is not subjected to greater humiliation. •
The author then cites the Swiss, the Dutch, and the Anglo-
Americans. That these people are very affectionate to their
wives, I willingly admit ; but how came M. Gregoire to omit
the French, among whom women are treated with the greatest
respect. Is it because they have not quite so free a cOnstini.
Lion One thing, however, must be mentioned to thei: honour,
that if a husband in France is dissatisfied with his wife, which
sometimes happens even in the best regulated state, neither
laws nor custom permit him to sell her in the market-place to
the highest bidder. I will, however, in spite of the imposing
authority of 11. Gregoire, leave this point to be settled by the
fair part of the creation, as best qualified, I imagine, to decide
which is their paradise. C.

best spirit, and they themselves ready to follow
and exterminate the rebels with their troops.—
Another favourable circumstance was, that the
Archbishop, the Conde de La-Cortina, the Muni-
cipality, &c, delivered to the Viceroy the letters
and proclamations which Iturizde had sent to
them, at the same time testifying to his Excel-
lency their desire to contribute every thing in
their power to the restoration of order and tran-
quillity in this Kingdom.
" The Dependent of Iturizde Mier y Villa-
gomez, who went to Mexico to distribute letters
and proclamations, was taken before lie delivered
to the Viceroy those which he had for him,
which his Excellency would not open, treating
them with merited contempt. The first news re-
ceived from Mexico and Puebla disposed the
minds of the few troops of the country, and of
the populace, in favour of independence, so as to
Le publicly shewn and to cause us some uneasi-
ness ; but an ceased when they saw GOO Euro-
pean inhabitants enrolled in the National Mi-
litia,well armed, and resolved to maintain order,
which' we have hitherto done, by means of pa-
trolles, &c., and we may affirm that Vera Cruz
will be the last place in this hemisphere to sepa-
rate from the Peninsula.

CC MARCH 14.—Yesterday the Cinco Hermanos
and the Ramoncito happily arrived here with
news that his Majesty has appointed General
Juan O'Donaju Viceroy of this Kingdom, and
that he is to come on board the Asia. The let-
ters which we have received from Puebla come
down to the 6th inst., and state, that Iturizde,
with the insurgent Guerrero, remained at
Aquala, with the intention of retiring on board
an American vessel (which was then there), be-
cause he had been deserted by a great part of
the troops whom he commanded, and the
force of the two Chiefs was reduced to 3000 men.
Senor Marquez left Puebla on the sth with
2000 soldiers, and Senor Linan was to do the
same at Mexico with 4000 men, both in the di-
rection of Acapulco, to pursue and exterminate
them, and recover the convoy of treasure and
effects plundered by that infamous Colonel.—
Various other regiments have marched, so that it
may be safely affirmed that the force proceeding
against Iturizde and Guerrero amounts to 10,000
men, composed of the best troops of the kingdom."

New York Papers, to the 19th of May, ar-
ri‘ed this morning. The following is the only
article worthy of notice

" CAPE HAYTIEN, Aran. 6.
'TUN BOYER, President of Hayti, to Brigadier THOMAS,

at Port-au-Prince.

" You are not ignorant, General, that General
ItoltAlN has been distinguished among the re-
bels of Genives as the soul of the conspiracy
formed against the Government. From St. Marks
to this place I have continued to receive accounts
of fresh machinations on his part, to urge the
troops of the North to a revolt. I was within
three leagues of Plaisance when I received from
General MAGNY the intelligence of General Ro-
iTAIN having declared himself openly. I has-
tened on, and arrived here yesterday morning
lime enough to counteract his scheme. I re-
united in Council all the Generals, and caused
General ROMAIN to be arraigned, who was con-
liicted of the crime of which he was accused.
I have judged proper to give a new proof of
rny clemency, by decreeing that Gen. ROMAIN
Shall be sent to Leogone, as his presence in the
North would always create difficulties. There
his sentence was executed this morning, and in
less than two hours after he had embarked, the
first and second regiments, deluded by that Ge-
neral, took up arms, and demanded his liberty.
As I never treat with rebels, I assembled a suffi-
clet't force, and reduced the disaffected to the
necessity of laying down their arms : they are in
confinement. Public tranquillity was only dis-
turbed for a few hours.

" BOY ER."

Quebec and Montreal Papers arrived this
corning to the 13th of May. Since the open-
ing of the navigation several small craft have ar-
rived from Calloa, but there are as yet no fo-
reign arrivals, only the regular trading ships.
The ship Venus, from New York, is arrived at
the Isle of Wight : left Sandy Hook the 19th
nit. With a full cargo, and 317,0001. in gold on
hoard.

It was yesterday reported in the city that an
account of the death of BONAPA RTE had been re-
ceived ; but we could not trace the rumour to
any authentic source.—(Morning Paper.)
A messenger was sent off from Chandos House,
on Tuesday night, with dispatches for the Court
of Vienna.

Last night his MAJESTY gave a Ball to the
juvenile branches of the Nobility and Gentry.
His Exellency Don Louis D'ONis, Minister
Plenipotentiary from Spain to this Court, arrived
at the house of the Embassy, in Portland-place,
on Saturday last, from Madrid.