The Sun.
London, England, 1828-06-28 00:00:00

office of BiShop, so. often AS such office became I
vacant in,the:,Ctitholiv Church in Ireland—reserving
to himself the.serne right only of rejection, as is re-
served
to him with regard to the Bishops-elect of
France, Beigium, or Germany—such an arrange-
ment as this, simple and precise as it might be,
would ansWer every purpose which would be rea-
sonably deiired. The question then above proposed,
which appears to many so difficult and intricate, is
'in fact simple and easy of solution. By the arrange-
ment, the outline of which has just been sketched,
the right of electing the Catholic Bishops in Ireland
would belransferred from Foreigners to some body
of electors, natives of the country, subjects of the
King, to men bound by their. allegiance, by their
oaths, their interests, and their duty. The inter-
course With Rome mould be diminished, and almost
cease, if the extensive powers, relating to cases of
conscience and matters of discipline before alluded
to, were vested in some Irish Bishop or Bishops, Vie.
lected by the Pope, and approved of by the Govern-
ment. , Any remaining correspondence on spiritnal
or ecclesiastical matters might be made- to, pasS
through the hands or office of such Bishop or Bishops,
and be subjected to such rules and regulations as
would he agreed upon, and specified in the arrange-
ment with the See of Rome. , .

In treating of this subject, two reflections natu-
rally suggest themselves—the first is, that if the Go-
vernment thought it advisable to imitate the conduct
of other States, by entering into an arrangement with
tlf Pope for the regulation of the Catholic Church
in Ireland, it should not proceed on the principles of
distrust, but of confidence in its own subjects; for, to
depend more on papal aid; to adjust our civil rela-
tions, than on the tried fidelity; loyalty, and interests
of the Irish Catholics, would be, in rny opinion, not
only tin oversight in policy, an infringement of our
rights as British- subjects, and a disparagement to
our Government and country ; .but it would give an
advantage in the disenssion to, the Court of Rome
which.she ought.bot to thave. For what has:Roane
to lose by the rejection of a proposal to which the Ca-
tholics of Ireland are not a party ? •
The second reflection is, that a proposal made to
Rome by the Government, acting in'concert with
the Irish Catholic Clergy and people, would not'only
be irresistible, if well conducted; but would', at the
same time operate , most beneficially . on the public
mind and feeling at home, and ensure a favourable
reception to an arrangement, which, if entered into
under suspected circumstances,might be looked upon
with indignation or treated with contempt.
I have- said thus much upon securities,,,not, be-
cause I consider them necessary, for danger to the
Constitution is as likely to proceed from Mecca as
from. the .Vatican; but because I think an arrange-
ment such as I have mentioned would: be useful to
Ireland, and would serve to allay the apprehensions
of those whom your Grace is, perhaps, obliged to
satisfy. Were I a Minister of the King, I would
say to lti. Majesty—" Sire, if you govern Ireland
justly, and give to your Catholic subjects the full
benefit of equal law, they will be contented, faithful,
and loyal, and among the foremost to resist. all en-
croachments on the Constitution of the country, or
prerogatives of the Crown. But, should they act
otherwise ; should they become forgetful of their
allegiance—regardless of their oaths and interests—
traitors to their King and country, which I deem int-
possible,—then your Majesty can earn the applause
of mankind, and the approbation of your own con-
science, by restraining and punishing them—even as
mach, as you now do by extending to them all the
constitutional blessings to which they aspire.
To Mr -colleagues :in office I would say—" The
Papal influence which is feared may be considered as
it has been found to operate since the gradual but
general,' and now universally acknowledged, extinc-
tion of that power in the civil concerns of the Euro-
pean States. If, then,. in the first place, this power
were to continue such as it now is, and such as the
present notions of mankind doom it to be hereafter,
no security beyond those which we. possess is at all
necessary.. For. a disposition to revive a power
which would not be respected, but condemned, can-
not exist on the part of the Pope, unless, hebe totally
destitute of common sense, and to suppose that the
--Catholic Bishops in Ireland would be induced, by
such a Pope, to violate their oaths, and become hos-
tile to a government and country which cherishes
and protects them, is to suppose them not only capa-
ble.of the most atrocious crimes, but equally desti-
tute as the Pope himself of common sense and
common prudence."
• The other light in which thiS Papal power may be
considered is—by supposing that Europe may retro-
grade to that state of feudalism and barbarity from
which she has been advancing for the last. four
hundred years. Supposing that this may happen,
and that the temporal power of the Pope may ad-
vance even more rapidly than it has declined; •and
diet in its progress it may attempt to .influence the
Irish Catholic Clergy to become disaffected to the
state ;—we ought to reflect that in this country the
Pepe can have no means of exercising this influence,
unless such as are purely spiritual, and is it credible
that, with such auxiliaries, he can persuade any body
of intelligent men to adopt his interpretation about
the two swords of Peter, or persuade them that the
kingdom of Christ is other than the Redeemer has
described it. . But admitting the worst that can be
imagined, is this nation and government to be also
blindfolded, and the 'Legislature rendered incapable
of providing for the safety of the State—endangered,
as you suppose it may be, by those ecclesiastical
traitors, and their fanatical adherents ?
I have done, my Lord Duke, with this subject—at
least for the pre::ent;, I shotild not ;have noticed it,
but for the purpose of proclaiming,_ that as firr as
my sentiments prevail, there is in the Catholic body,
combined with the most firm determination.to per-
severe in their Constitutional pursuits, a disposition
to concur, earnestly and zealously, with the King's
Government, in settling this great national Question,
on the bi..iis of preserving and securing every exist-
ing institution, whether Catholic or Protestant, in all
their integrity. I have the honour to be,
My Lord Duke,.
Your Grace's most obedient, humble servant,
Carlow, June 19, 1828. -1- J. DOYLE.

CLARE ELEc,TioN.—Yesterday we stated
that Major MACNAMARA had declined offering himself for
the repreentation of Clare. The Free Electors there,
however, are in no want of a liberal candidate. Mr.
O'CONNELL has offered Liinsolf to their consideration. We
cannot doubt of his success. We think it even more cer-
tain than that of Major MACNAMARA, %MO be.--Dublin
Morning Register.

RUSSIAN CONSULATE GENERAL, JUNE
--Sir, I have the pleasure of informing you, that I have
received from my-Government an official notification, inti-
naatirig that beacons with the red flags, placed in the Gulph
of Fiftliad, along the northern side of the channel front
Crontuadt to
•Hochland, will be replaced this summer by
landmarks fixed on the top of a pole. I beg you will com-
municate this information to the British eaptsins and mer-
chants trading in those seas.
(Sigurd) G. BENKHAUSEN,
John Bennett, Esq. Sec. Russian Consul-Genersi.

.
FINANCE C OMNIITTEE.—On 'Flinn(lay night
Sir HENitY ELAN ru., the Chairman' of the Finance Com-
mittee, presented the third report upon the income and
expenditure- of. the-kingdom. This report relates exclu-
sively (as 'WS have already stated by anticipation) to
pensions and diuperanntutioni. It is, .like the preceding
one from this Committee, a bulky document, from its com-
prehending a variety of details, both of calculati,n and re-
ference to evidence. But, in substance, it, proposes to bring
hack the principle of the pensions for widows to its fru met
plan (that acted upon in the year 1822, and subsequently
repealed,)—viz. that widows ure to forfeit their pensions, if
they contract fresh marriages, or if they derive from any
source an income double the . amount of dig peusion.
That the different clerks and officers ,the service of
Government are to contribute out of their salaries to their
superannuation fund; but thatit distinction is to be drawn
between the clerks now in office and their successors—the
former are to contribute upon a graduated scale, beginning
at per cent., and ascending to 51. 101. and higher, ac-
cording to the amount of their respective salaries, while
the latter are not to have the same advantages upon similar
terms. This report, like those which have preceded it,
exhibits a degree of labour and research to which the
Fi-
stance Committee have devoted thews4lves,.." Times.