The Sun.
London, England, 1821-07-11 00:00:00

for our religion but even for our lives--His " End of Religious
Controversy," not long since published, must convince you all,
if my numerous writings in defence of the Established Church
have not already done so, that the same intolerant, merciless
spint of persecution exists at the present hour in the breasts of,
I- trust for the honour of human nature, only a few desperate
Papists, which characterized the bloody and remorseless officials
of the Itomish Inquisition in the dark and terrible ages of pro-
found superstition and worse than Pagan barbarity. What the
imme.liate object of this Right Rev. Prelate's visit to Ireland at
this precise moment of presumed loyalty and authorised expec-
tation, may contemplate, 1 have not vet ascertained; the
ever watchful guardians of our Constitution in England,
as else the Proprietor of the Hibernian Journal, gave the
early information of his intention, and in a communication
with sonic Roman Catholics of known attachment to the State,
three weeks back, 1 pointed out the probability of:the, patriots
forcing on an Aggregate Meeting; I forewarned them of the
ca isequences, and I earnestly requested their interference to
pr event it. I told them, (and I was authorised to do so from
no ignoble authority) that the slightest appearance of popular
commotion " to be dreaded from any increased irritation on
the subject of Emancipation," would deprive my country of
the presence of an injured and venerated Sovereign, and my
native city of an influx of rank, respectability and wealth,
hitherto unexampled in the annals of Ireland. I was returned
for answer, that I had nothing to dread upon the subject; -that
the steady allegiance and the good sense of the Catholic Body
at large would prevent it ; and that the demagogues, if they
could not be resisted, should be deserted and exposed. God
grant it may be so, or our Capital will be ruined. The zealous
and able Editor of " The Dublin Morning Post," has this day
nobly stood forward to present his fervent protest against this
most indecent and most iniquitous proceeding; and to him the
thanks of this unfortunately disorganised country are eminently
due. Ile is the consistent and powerful advocate of Roman Ca-
tholic Emancipation on principle, without a particle of faction,
and I earnestly entreat my brethren of every religious persua-
sion, to cherish his advice, and attend to the unbiassed, the
praiseworthy exertions he is so laudablymakingin this instance,
to secure the public tranquillity of ,his country, and to conso-
lidate and-confirm the national happiness of Ireland.. lam sa-
tisfied he will be supported in his efforts by " The Evening
Post" of this night; the Learned Editors of both Papers are at
variance with that system of policy and religion which I advo.
cate and defend, but the opposition of such men, whilst it never
can offend, forms the legitimate source of my exertion, and
constitutes, if not my unbounded satisfaction, at least a reason-
able apology for my zeal, and above all for my apprehensions.
To their remonstrances and exhortations on this disgraceful
subject, I again invoke the undivided attention of my
countrymen : what they counsel must be for the real
interests of that Body, whose cause they so power-
fully support. I can only assure, you Gentlemen, that if
through the exertions of the Right Rev. Vicar Apostolic, and
the Right Loyal Counsellor O'Connel, an Aggregate Meeting
should be held, and any petition for the redress of Roman Ca-
tholic grievances, as they are falsely styled, be founded on the
measure for the purpose of harrassing or insulting the Sove-
reign, the chances are, these over loyal and orthodox Worthies
never will have an opportunity of presenting it to the King in
person on the Throne in Ireland, not from any apprehension of
not or insurrection, which would be suppressed in a moment,
but from a conviction in the Royal Breast of an insult being in-
tended to his already deeply injured feelings. Whatever in-
fluence my unremitting, and thank God successful efforts to
protect the dignity of the Throne and the sanctity of the Church
may have given me in England, it shall be alone exerted for
the true interests of Ireland; no selfish motives, Gentlemen,
ever did or ever shall influence me ; men in power equally as
well as Patriots in opposition are alike and indiscriminately the
objects of my reprobation when their political acts are at en-
mity with the religious and established privileges of the Church ;
you must be all aware of this fact, no time serving sycophancy
characterises my writings, I pursue the undeviating course dic-
tated by integrity and truth, and no office however exalted, no
rank however dignified (which to a mind constituted as mine is,
appears to be so much gilt fringe, without talents and virtue)
shall shield the possessor from my attacks, exposure and ridi-
cule, who shall presume under the garb of ministerial inviola-
bility to trample on the bulwarks of the Constitution and to
undei mine the National Establishments erected and hallowed
for the support and protection of the true interpretation of the
Gospel of my blessed Redeemer. Gentlemen, it is peculiarly
necessary at the present awful period for every man sincerely
attached to the King and Constitution of his country to keep
his eye steadily fixed upon the proceedings of a few ambi-
tious demagogues, aided and assisted as they may be by the
Right Rev.VicarApostolic, Doc. Milner. This holy and learned
Papist has asserted in a former work of his " that the Roman
" Church by the ordinance of God has the supremacy of
" power, and that the Pope has a right of addressing his doc-
trinal instructions and ecclesiastical mandates to every portion
" of the Church, and that they are to be received as coming
" from Christ." Whether, Gentleman, this Orthodox Apostle
has paid us the honour of a visit for the purpose of delivering
the Pope's instructions on the subject of Mr. O'Connell's Ultra
Loyal Counter Orange Association, or his present intended
Aggregate meeting, I cannot yet inform you, but I believe this
Holy and Right Rev. Friar has come over chiefly with a view
to beat up for recruits against the concession of a Veto, to the
Crown, in the nomination of Popish Bishops. If this should he
the case he might have avoided the sea sickness ofa steam boat,
had he consulted me instead of Mr. George Canning, for I could
have informed him that under no circumstances whatever can a
British Sovereign hold connnunion with, or acknowledge the
Church or See of Rome, and of course cannot sanction
schism in the Church by approving of, much less nomi-
nating Popish Bishops to their Sees—for if his Corona-
tion Oath binds him on a principle of conscience . the
Constitutional Statutes of his Empire as securely bind him on
a principle of law.—This subject I have already explained, I
think in page 35 of my Crisis.—One thing I hope, however,
will be commented on by the Learned and tolerant Doctor, I
mean the validity of those works of mine in defence of Chris-
tianity, which have shaken Popery to its centre in Ireland ; I
have already called upon this learned controversialist to refute
one sentence I ever wrote, I call upon him again now in the midst
of this counter Orange Association, or under the auspices of
the intended Aggregate Meeting, for the Redress of Roman
Catholic grievances. I have silenced, and humbled, and ex-
posed every Milesian antagonist who has encountered me yet.
I request now to break one lance before he retires with this
great English Chieftain. He cannot want attendant Knights, I
am certain, at the tournament, for such a combination of Irish
Princes, and Irish Rabble have come up to the meeting " as so
admirably grouped by the invaluable Editor of the Patriot Jour-
nal this night," that if some of them do not break his head from '
a principle of chivalry, let him look sharp to the others that
they do not pick his pockets from a principle of knavery—Since
the days of Robespierre 1 never saw such a collection of Nobility,
(except a few of them most respectable certainly) as have now
called upon the Catholics of Ireland to assemble, for the purpose
of preventing our injured and beloved Monarch from coming
here among us. Insulted, cruelly insulted, as his Majesty has
been in England, our Gracious and Noble Prince turned his
benignant eye upon Ireland—. that land of exalted honour and
genuine hospitality and decency ; and in the arms of his' yet
faithful and affectionate subjects he wished to relax his afflicted
mind from the oppressive cares of his Kingly office, as also to
convince his English subjects he had a place of refuge in his
dominions, where he would be free from future ingratitude and
daring outrage. And will you, Gentleinen, I ask, permit a
set of violent incendiaries, with some few unthinking dupes, to
disappoint this wish—to desolate your chief City, and to ruin
your Citizens--I am certain, and I hope you will not. Have
done, I implore you, with politics, and public Meetings for the
present, except you express and confine yourselves alone to an
Address of Congratulation and of Thanma—reserve yourselves
solely for that Meeting which is promised you, and now imme-
diate ; and when you attend upon the beach, to welcome to
your shores the best and most enlightened Prince in Europe,
keep your eyes fixed upon my signal-, who first stood forward in
front of the British Empire to support my injured Sovereign ;
and on the testimony of the English writers, " first roused the
loyalty of the Empire, and overwhelmed and confounded the
enemies of your King." And when I raise my hat, then, Gen-
tlemen, let the assembled loyalty and pride of Ireland, raise
their cheer of gratitude and exultation, which may be heard, I
hope, even in England; and should an Almighty Providence,
who watches over the safety of both Empires and Sovereigns,
waft it there, it will perhaps have the effect of causing, for the
first time in his chaste life, a blush in the countenance of the
grateful Lord Erskine, and the rest of a basely deserted Mo-
narch7s steady and attached friends, in the houses of Lords
and Commons, of the United Kingdom.
I have the honour to subscribe myself,
Previous to retiring- to my rest,
Gentlemen, your Countryman and Friend,
HARCOURT LEES.