The Sun.
London, England, 1829-03-17 00:00:00

EDINBURGH.

MEETING IN SUPPORT OF THE CA-
THOLIC CLAIMS-(THIS DAY).

'From the Second Edition of the Caledonian Mercury of
Saturday.)

It is with feelings of no ordinary pride and satisfaction
that we lay before our readers an ample, and, notwith-
standing the shortness of the time, we will say accurate
and faithful report of the proceedings and speeches at the
great Meeting held this day in lie Assembly-room, George-
street, for the purpose of petitioning both Houses of Par-
liament in favour of the measures now in progress for the
removal of all civil disabilities from our Catholic fellow-
subjects. In point of numbers, rank, respectability, and
talent, no meeting of equal weight and importance was
ever, perhaps, convened in this city. The speech of
Dr. Chalmers formed one of the most striking features
of this meeting. That celebrated man rose above him-
self, and above all his former efforts upon this occasion, •
exemplifying, in the effects produced by his address upon
the minds and feelings of his auditory, all the wonders
which are related of the great ancient masters of oratory.
At the conclusion the whole assembly, amounting to little
short of two thousand person, simultaneously rose, and
waving their hats in the air, raised deafening shouts and
huzzas, which continued for a number of minutes, and
would have been prolonged but for the necessity of pro-
ceeding with the remaining business of the meeting. Nor •
was Dr. Chalmers the only member of the Learned Body
to which be belongs present upon this occasion. To the
eternal honour of our great Metropolitan University no less
than ten of her Professors, including the most distin-
guished names of which she can boast, attended the raeei- '
ing ; for, besides Dr. Chalmers, we observed Professors
Leslie, Wallace, Jameson, Bell, Napier, Pillans, Alison, •
Russell,- and Sir Win. Hamilton. Among the other die-
tinguished persons present were, Sir- James WI )Aoss-
creiff, Baronet, Dean of Faculty, Sir William Fettes,
Baronet, Sir William Arbuthnot, Baronet, Sir Roberi
Liston, Bart., the Solicitor-General, Francis Jeffrey, Esj., '
Thos. Thomson, Esq., J. A. Murray, Esq., James Fer-
guson, Esq., Robert Jamieson, Esq., Thomas Maitland,
Esq., Archibald Alison, Esq., A. D., Alexander Wood,
Esq., A.D., A. E. Monteith, Esq., Alexander Fletcher,
Esq., the Hon. Charles Hope, J. J. Hope Johnstone, Esq.
R. Clerk Rattray, Esq., D. Carnegie, Esq., of Craigo ;
Francis Walker Drummond, Esq., of Hawthornden ; Mr.
James Mackay, jeweller; Mr. Adam Black, bookseller;
the Rev. Dr. Morehead, the Rev. Dr. Ritchie, Potterrow,
the Rev. Dr. Hunter, the Rev. John Browne, Rose-
street ; the Rev. Henry Grey, St. Mary's, &c. &c.—
The room was crowded to excess in every part, and, with
the exception of a momentary and accidental interruptions
the greatest order prevailed. At five o'clock P.m., that is
two hours after the Meeting separated, upwards of 1,500
gentlemen had signed the petitions.
On the Chair being taken, Sir WILLIAM Aantrratttar
explained the object of the Meeting, after which
Sir JAMES MONCREIFF rose, and was received by loud
cheering. He addressed the meeting nearly as follows:--
Sir William Arbuthnot--Gentlemen—Having been long
thoroughly convinced that the removal of the disabilities
from our Roman Catholic brethren was not merely an act
of justice now imperiously demanded—or, lest any gentle-
man should not like that term, let me say an act of gene-
rosity, which no man of a generous spirit can refusee—but
also an object of the deepest and most vital importance to
the welfare and prosperity, to the dearest interests, and most
precious rights of all the inhabitants of these islands-- •
(Cheers)—and being still convinced that the true interests
and honour, the true greatness, strength, and security of the
Protestant'Establishment and faith, will be best promoted
by the removal of those trammels which the zealous efforts ,
of some have hitherto resisted. Having these convictions,.
I say, it is impossible for me not to feel a glow of warm
satisfaction and gratitude, when I now see this mighty sub-
ject, this great and important question, recommended by
his most gracious Majesty himself, and firmly pursued by
the Ministers who now wield the power of the Government.
It is—it would be idle and uncandid to disguise the feet. -
that there is, still a difference of opinion in the country on '
this subject ; though I will not readily admit that its
extent is to be estimated by the popular clamour, end by '
the unfair means which have been taken to raise that
clamour, by those who have either misunderstood or wil-
fully misrepresented the true question at issue. It was the
opinion of many of those gentlemen who were iu favour
of the measure of Government, considering the position .
which the question had assumed is the hands of thelli-
nisters of the Crown, that it was not either necessary or -
expedient to agitate the minds of the public of Edinburgh
on the subject. But the proceedings adopted by others ,•
rendered it impossible to allow the matter to stand. When •
we see a petition against all concessions to _Roman Cathoe
lies advertised as the petition of the citizens of Edinburgh., I!,
without thinking of the manner in which it wee got up, Vie "
the conduct of those who have prepared it, we never can '
permit that the petition to go to Parliament was expres-
sing the sense of the people of Edinburgh, knowing and
believing, as we sincerely do, that a large majority of the
intelligence, of all those Scotsmen in. Edinburgh who
are capable of estimating the question of civil rights, •
are in favour of the removal of the Catholic Disa-
bilities,--(liear, bear, hear.)-..We therefore came to the
resolution of desiring a meeting to propose resolutions in
favour of the measure, never doubting that this was. the
only way to prepare men's minds to consider the ~.•;‘,lO, •
and that it can only be fairly done by 1-Vt'olffillt the subject •
prsvioualy before theta at a pudic; Pealng. (Cheers.)
This is no question aliaut the errors of the Roman Catholic,
religion, This is no question concerning the truth of the
Protestant religion, as the true doctrines of the Holy
Scriptures, will stand its ground without the aid of Mini.
sters, or petitions to Parlioreent, or any resolution of Par-
liament itself. (Loud cheers.) lam a friend to the re-
moval of Vey disabilities that oppress the Roman Catholics, '
pet because I think lightly of the difference which, accord-
ing to my best informaticia, subsists between their religion ,
and Protestaotism—zvat because I think lightly of the
crcc.n.i'nf the goniap, Catholic faith, but for the very oppo-• '
site reason. desire to grant to the Roman Catholic the .
free eaereise of hie religion, according to his conscience,
and the free declaration of his opinions, because I think I
am entitled to claim the same pi ivilege I would grant to,
him. I have' therefore no hesitation in declaring 14
opinion against the errors of the Roman Catheko rAgion,
In the doctrines, observances, and copititutiOn of the
Roman Catholic Church, th3.ke i 3 4 wide, a dangerous, '
and perhaps, I may say, a false departure from the truth of .'
}he revealed religion of Jesus Christ. But because I think
so, am I to impose civil disabilities upon them, or continue .•
those to which they are liable, when the necessity for doing
so has long since departed ? Quite the reverse ! The
more earnestly and fervently I think of the truths of Pro—
nistantism, the more do I desire to see all disabilities for r
conscience sake removed, from our Roman Catholic fel-

Ify opinion rests on three distinct grounds;
rst, the great principle of religious toleration ; secondly,
he true interests of the Protestant Church and Faith ; and,
hirdly, the peace of the empire in the tranquillity of Ire-
":"1---(Hear, hear.)—And first, as to religious tolera-
ion, it is not necessary to explain to a meeting like this,
hat principle which grew up in this country by the Re-
ormation and the Revolution—which forms the basis of
cur civil rights and our religious constitution—and by
Chieb alone men are permitted to worship God according
o their conscience. Any thing that imposes a burden on
"en for their religious belief is a violation of the principle
if toleration, and in some sort or degree a persecution for
!onscience sake. I know there is a distinction taken

'Y some Own between toleration in religious opinions, and
he giving political power. But, for my part, I cannot
iee the difference between punishing a man for his religion
iy burning, by torture, by banishment, or by depriva-
:ion of office, and punishing him by declaring him in-
'apable to hold office.—(Hear.)—lt is the same thing.
N° roan can deny it; and the question must come to this
••••.-15 there or is there not a necessity to justify a degree
'if violation of the great principle of toleration ? Such
° necessity may exist. • I do not deny it. It did exist
Probably when those laws were enacted. It did exist to
i(nrie extent, in the terror of the power of the Roman Catlio-
-1
,k, King--of officers of State Roman Catholics, at a time
when yet the Pope had such power that he looked forward
t" and expected to regain his sway over these islands. But
how different does the case stand now !—(Hear.)—After
centuries that the Protestant religion had been established—
and through centuries recommended itself to the affections
of the people, strengthened by long possession—it is im-
possible to say that there is sot a wide difference ; and the
question now is, whether we will continue the disabilities
when the necessity is gone—in short, whether we will con-
tinue st,ll to violate the principles of justice, and deny their
rights to our fellow citizens—(Hear.)—l have heard it
stated that these statutes are the bulwarks of our Protestant
Faith. I say, our Protestant Faith needs no such bulwarks.
But truly they are bulwarks ; they are bulwarks against the
Protestant Faith bulwarks for the continuance and pre-
&ovation of the Roman Catholics religion—(Hear.)—They
are barriers which shut out the light of truth, and close
the avenues to the power of reason—strongholds and for-
tresses which guard the entrance to the territory of Papal
error. Can any man deny that these laws produce this
effect? Let him look at the state of society in Ire-
land. Look at the position of many of the Noble Peers
and gentlemen who profess the Roman Catholic religion !
Independent altogether of religious tenets, consider the po-
sition of these gentlemen, who must consider it a point of
honour as gentlemen to adhere to the party persecuted.—
With them argument and reason can have no weight. They
will not give ear to you. They know that they cannot
change their religion without abandoning the ties of honour
and the daily intercourse of friendship. Look also at the
lower classes. So long as you continue to persecute their
religion, you place them entirely in the hands of the Roman
Catholic priests. They also feel strongly the ties of clan-
ship and honour. So long as their masters are of the
tame religion, they will not dissent from them, else they
would lore their caste in society. Remove their disabilities
'and what is the consequence ? The powers of argument
and tenon will have fair play, and Catholic and Protestant
will mingle together without jealousy, when the birth-right
of the former is restored to them. Therefore, on my
second ground, I desire the removal of the disabilities.—
But if any man object to these grounds, or does not think
them sufficient, then I desire him to look to my third
ground. I desire the disabilities to be removed, to insure
the safety of the empire in the tranquillity of Ireland. I
Will not go into minute particular. ; but I ask, can any one
who has paid any attention to the matter, and who has
considered the condition tif Ireland during the last 10 or 20
Years, doubt that there is a necessity of doing something to
restore tranquillity to that country ?—(Hear.)--I say we
are bound to give credit to his Majesty's Ministers—l say
Peculiarly to the present Ministers—when they tell us that
they know there is some necessity for taking decisive rnea-
"tea to restore tranquillity to Ireland. They have told us
°O, and surely we must give them credit for honesty in
telling us so. Surely we must believe that something is
eeeteary, when we know that those very Ministers, when
ZY last year they did not see any necessity, who were
~ear Of opinion that it would be dangerous to remove the
alabilities, now yield to the conviction of circumstances,
int to their honour changed their opinion.—(Hear.)--
And
st.
~.h uPon what ground have they done so, but upon a
soorou
.1,1 5 and honest conviction, knowing, as it is said they
i. 4, that the counsel which they gave to his Majesty was
i• untin accordance with his or their preconceived opinions.
-- (Cileere.)—Hoii, then, can this change of opinion have
O(Hne, but from the evidence of facts, bringing the force of
L.4'lokm to their minds. They saw that the time was come,
Iv,,i7na in larder to preserve. the empire from the calamity of
~;11 :war and bloodshed, something must be done to Iran-
-I"'se Ireland. I may assume then that the necessity
Mats for something being done. And the question has
n asked in Parliament and elsewhere, what do you
Propose to do? I say remove the disabilities of the Catho-
ea, or nothing is done; or if you will not do this, and
Yet you admit that something must be done, I ask what
then do.you propose to do ?—and I have never heard any
thing like an answer to this question. One party say,
educate .the people ; but in making this proposal they for-
get that• the danger is imminent, impending—that there is
no time fOr such a case to work—for we know not what
another year may produce. Another set of men propose
another remedy. They tell us they are ready to subscribe
money, to give their services, if necessary, in defence of the
r4otestant Establishment against the violence of the Catho-
4, of Ireland. 0 ! vain and weak, I had almost said
Bitched
boasting—to think to strengthen the Government
,y much means. They would glory in triumphing over
!heir Roman Catholic brethren—a kiugdom divided against
Wlf.• Would they glory in arming brother against bro •
r-
ill arming the eon against the father—in seeing the
teen fields in which they hailed witl, enthusiasm their
Lvereign's presence, in the honest, warm, light-hearted
71,e, that it was the harbinger of peace, and trill-
laillity, :and conciliation.—would they glory in seeing
these green fields drenched in the blood that so
tPara lewd, and cheered, and welcomed him to their
o.res ?.....(Loud cheering.)—And will they glory to
think, that after all this is done, they will come hack in
Uworse condition than they set out? You will find the
ttitl desolated and devastated—you will find, if you tri-
t4b-sfor I will'not speak of the opposite alternative—
!? Will then find yourselves surrounded by a death-like
aleence-a-by faction and by peril, when no man will be
th..° to leek his brother in the face, without the suspicion
:it he may prove his murderer.--(Loud cheers.)—They
-oust have stout hearts, indeed, who Would venture to pro-
Pose such remedies. For myself I have not the courage
t 4 look at them. I turn my eyes with horror from them
ii:•and turn to the glory and majesty of true valour, en-
(Zeid in the heart of the great Captain of the age—
Casi ''heer'')--to the majesty of conquering the Roman
p(lobes of Ireland by giving them peace and freedom.—
eCranheenrsin.)--nY man may
.differ from that distinguished
t, olitics or otherwise; but he will be little wor-
e, "Y of being esteemed as a lover of liberty or true patri-
-1
OTl! q he withhold his acknowledgment of gratitude
e t e diatingoished seryiee he is now doing to the state,
--(lfear, hear.)—l pray (,hod that he may be preserved
o-finish what he has so well begun, and that lie may
rig live to enjoy its fruits—(hear, hear, and cheers)—the
Ilit°4 glorious of all his well won fields.—(Loud cheers. )
has been said in Parliament by persons who are not ac-
-1 Illainted with the knowledge and experience of the people
I ; Scotland, that the opinion of all Scotland is adverse to
4"eessions. I deny the proposition. I firmly and sin-
I ti.elY believe that the Scots too well know how to value
1 tritigious liberty—they have had too much experience in
I, lihistory of their country of the dreadful oppression of
Int dens upon the religious conscience, to think for a mo-
Ilt that it is reasonable, without absolute necessity, to
'"ireinue such burdens on their Roman Catholic fellow-
-1144'ir,14,--(Cheers.)—Another statement I have heard,
11, tiiq *to p; c,.:1:0;,,r1. eFed adverse to concessions. _ I
tinder at such a atziteinent ; hot 4 need net viod!Fate t1.,.e
-4411 of Saotlantl, when I see my Reverend Friend near
tee (Dr.
•
to ka'r. Chalmers)—(trempendous cheering)—Wboi I trust,
tAid himself tell you how far he thiuks it will be dangerous
sa- the Church of Scotland to admit Catholics to oivil
gulte,°. I. will also read to you a letter from a distin-
-1 i,:iled minister, who is prevented from attending here—
h." Reverend Dr. Thompson, of St. George's.—(Great
eb-i'ezni.)—And are there not many others of the same
Gai'll'in ? I believe there are, even within these walls
.4. this moment. But whether here or not, they
ki: 'it the knowledge or in the memory a the gentle-
ae;,ll,Present lergymen who have shown the greatest
eft. In defence of the Church of Scotland, and against the
04'bi,of Popery. I will tell you a little more on this
.
t1'45,,t0 In the year 1513, this subject was taken up by
Cd4-reabitery of dinburgh, where x petition was car-
' 441%,'Ittainst-conrceasions; tut 'a dissent w'as entered by two
Z's...-"eritof the church on that occasion, and nobody has
r-m that period made a single attempt to propose a simi-
Q Petition. In the same year it was proposed in the
ftetal Assembly of the Church of Scotland to petition
del.'l, concessions ; but it was met by a counter petition,
Ai Ling the great principle of religious to eration, but at
I
sue time desiring that Parliament would take mea-
-1 seuente guard the Protestant interests from any evil con-
)1
sett k eel This was the resolution of the General As-
Passed,7 not unanimonsly, but by such a decided
Ini"ritY •of opinion, that no one proposed to bring

the question to a vote. lam entitled to say, there-
fore,
that the opinion of the Church of Scotland stands
otherwise than what has been stated.—(Cheers.)—
If any man sUppOse that I think the removal of the dis-
abilities will work a magical cure of all the evils that affect
Ireland, I will swear that I think no such thing. I never
thought such a thing. These evils are too great to he
cured in an instant. But I say, till you remove the dis-
abilities, you do nothing to etf,ct a cure ; and when you
do so, I believe you will lay the basis of a system which
will be productive of union, of conciliation, of illumina-
tion, and of peace and tranquillty in Ireland. In my
conscience I believe, that the blessing of the Almighty will
rest on this great work of peace, and charity, and true
wisdom.—(Loud and continued cheering.)
The DEAN of FACULTY then read a letter from the Rev.
Dr. Andrew Thomson, expressing his regret, that owing
to particular circumstances, he was unable to attend the
meeting, but intimating his entire concurrence in its ob-
' jeet.—The Reverend Doctor explained at considerable
length his views of the measures in progress, as tending to
promote religious liberty—and concluded by moving the

following resolution
" That every attempt to abolish religious errors, by im-
posing civil disabilities, or other temporal penalties on those
by whom they are conscientiously cherished has been found
merely to foster and perpetuate such errors, an 1 that the
present state of Popery in Ireland is to be ascribed mainly
to this cause."
Mr. A. SMITH, banker, seconded the resolution.
Dr. M‘LAcaN rose to move the second resolution, and
began to address the meeting, but a great commotion and
noise arose, which for some time interrupted entirely the

proceedings.
A number of persons in the remoter parts of the room
pressed towards the platform, calling out " gallery, gallery,
intimating, it should seem, that the speakers should have
the platform at one end of the room, and take their place
in the music gallery, which is in the middle of it.
Mr. JEFFREY attempted to speak to order, but could
not be heard.

After farther uproar,
Dr. M‘Lanast then proceeded—l should ill requite the
honour that has been conferred on me, were Ito dwell long
on the topic suggested by the resolution I have to propose,
viz.—The benefit and security which would accrue to the
State, were the talents and energies of every class of its
subjects made available for this service, topics on which
others around will bring to bear all the force and eloquence
and weight of authority. But, Sir, having been a wit-
ness during my military service, of many of these glorious
contests from which, happily for the honour and safety of
this country, and it may be, happily for the destinies of
Europe, the energies of our Catholic brethren were not
excluded, I may be allowed to bear my humble testi-
mony to the debt of gratitude and justice, which, under
their then great commander, and now their atilt more il-
lustrious advocate, they have established in their country.
Sir, it is my conviction, that the same result would follow
the admission of Catholics into every department in which
they may be qualified to excel. Give them a like interest
in the State; lay open to them the paths of honour and
ambition ; and instead of hunted Irishmen and Catholic
Associations, you will have a united Empire, and a
combined people. But where, I may be asked, are
your securities? Liberty of conscience and equality
of civil rights is the answer. In these consist the
moral grandeur, the political strength, and the re-
ligious security of the Duke of Wellington's measure.
And with all my admiration of those achievements by
which the Duke of Wellington has been so pre-eminently
distinguished, in my mind they sink into utter insignifi-
cance with the glorious conquest which he is now, I trust,
accomplishing over violence and injustice, and persecution
and turbulent resistance—the first and the only true con-
quest of Ireland, and the first and only sure foundation for
a real and permanent union with Great Britain. Mr.
APLagan concluded by moving the following resolution:—
" That it would obviously conduce to the prosperity and
glory of the State, that the talents and energies of every
class of its subjects should be available for its service, in
every department in which they may be qualified to excel ;
and that the continued exclusion of one great class of Dis-
senters from the Established Church from stations for
which they may be eminently fitted, while these are left
open to the ambition of other Dissenters, is not only in-
jurious to • the public interest, but must beget a sense of
injustice in those who are thus excluded, which can scarcely
fail, in the long run, to endanger the public peace."
Sir A. MaxTLastn GIBSON seconded the resolution.
Mr. JEFFREY next rose to address the meeting. I
greatly fear that, owing to an indisposition under which I
have been for some time labouring, it will be difficult for
me to make myself heard, even for the very few words I
intend to address to the meeting. I cannot, however, re-
sist the temptation to say, that I never entered or rose to
address a public meeting in this place, with more unmin-
gled satisfaction and more intense delight than I entered
the present. And this is not only because I never came
into one with the greatness of the object of which I was
so deeply impressed, but also because of the near and cer-
tain prospect of good afforded by the measures to which
it is called to give its support ; and also because I
never before had the pleasure of seeing around me thosa
with whotn it was formerly my lot to differ, but with
whom from a change of opinion alike honourable to all
parties, I on the present occasion, most cordially agree.
The greatness and urgency of the oecasion has banished
those differences of opinion which, nn public matters,
always exists in a free state. I trust that wheofwer we are
called upon to consolidate our strength in support of mea-
sures like the present, we will always be ready to forget
who are Whigs and who are Tories. Indeed, unless I
much misread the signs of the times, I believe that the pe •
riod is near at hand when all that has been called party po-
litics will be of much less consequence—when the differ-
ences of faction, with all its watchwords, will dwindle
into insignificance ; and it shall be the aim and wish
of all to unite for the common good. At the same time I
have still its me so much of the taint of the ancient leaven
-so much of the indelible inherent mammon of Whiggery
—that I wish the glory of perfecting the great work bad
been reserved for a Whig Ministry, or at least that the
glory should have been theirs who have been all along
consistent in the support of it. But while I make this
disclosure of the infirmity of my heart, I do not grudge to
the noble and high-minded originators of the concessions
about to be granted, that glory which is so justly due to
them. It is with no cold heart and niggardly hand that I
come forward to thank and to venerate them. I must
further subdue the remnants of my inherent Whiggery, by
confessing that, in the present state of affairs, this measure
could not possibly have been carried by a Whig Adininis-
tra4ou : not without the co-operation of those who were
long and conscientiously opposed to it, but have now, by
the force of circumstances, been induced to become,
in equal truth and honesty, its supporters. Such blind
and short-sighted creatures we are in all that lies
within the province in which our interests and affec-
tions move—and so wonderfully does Providence work
by means which to us might seem the most unlikely,
As to the measure itself, I do not think it necessary, after
what has been so well and so eloquently said. It is at
once wise and just, and it is inevitably necessary—desirable
.alike for the good that it will bring about and for the ill it
will keep off—the peril which it alone can avert. I will
not advert to those topics on which my Learned Friend
addressed you, or bring again under your view the cheer-
ing changes to which this measure will lead. But I will
recal in one word a not less tangible benefit, which consists
in the gaining the affections of those ardent and aspiring
spirits in another kingdom, and in the consequent moral
improvement. It is among the worst consequences of in-
justice, to communicate to its victims the very vices which
it imputes to them. They who are not trusted will soon
cease to be trustworthy—they against whom the law is,
will soon be against the law—they who are ruled by force,
will soon require force to rule them. Those who are mis-
trusted, will uniformly iu the end learn to deceive—those
suspected by the
,law will deserve it—and those who are
sought to be governed by force will require it. There is
less need for my rectirrinG to, the, impressive and frightful
chapter which 'refers to, the dreadfol.consequences of re-
fusal ; and I will only advert in one word to the counter-
vttiliog dangers which have been alleged by some. With
all diligent listening after these topics, I have been at a
loss to discover to what tangible dangers these fervid ora-
tors point. The question at issue is simply this—shall BO
or 60 Roman Catholics be admitted to Parliament or ex-
cluded? Now, what .harm can so small a sprinkling do
by their votes? Who that is acquainted with the simplest
elements of Cocker can for a moment suppose that
Phis gnjdll nttniber should lie able to convert the Mem-
bers of our Senate, or overawe, outspeak, or outvote the
other Members. In every other respect their powers are
exactly the same now as if they were in Parliament. They
have the same union among themselves, the same powers Of
controversy, and the ewe ttrdour of prpselytiarn that is at-
tributed them. 'The only difference is, that so long as
they remain excluded they will naturally turn those powers
against an Establishment which they conceive to be hostile
and oppressive to them. Whereas their admission to all
the rights of citizenship—the removal of the bulwarks and
harriers we hear spoken of, will remove their hostility.
They will look upon Protestantism afterwards with less ani-
mosity than they do now. Their minds will be opened to
fair. argument and example—to the influence emanating
from the pure and exemplary lives which we all process to
believe to be led, and which I from my heart do believe to
be, led by our Protestant divines. A way will be opened

to convert in time the whole of the erring family of Chris-
tians, and to bring them back into the bosom of that Church
whose doctrines flow from the pure and unadulterated source
of genuine revelation alone. It is upon thes,! principles I
from my earliest time have had a firm and decided view of
the merits of this question. In addition to thin, an imme-
diate and urgent necessity has been forced upon my notice
by late events, and by the numerous conversions which have
been the consequence of them. I beg leave to propose as
the third resolution—

" That for these, and fer other reasons, we have received
with the most lively joy and gratitude the accounts of that
great act of wisdom, generosity, and justice, by which his
Majesty's Ministers now propose to effect the final relief of
his Roman Catholic subjects from their remaining disabili-
ties, and by which they will at the same time terminate
the unseemly struggles which have so long agitated the
empire, and deliver us for ever from our only serious
hazard of national disunion or disaster."

Mr. WALKER Daummosn seconded the resolution.
Mr. JOHN A uCHIBALD MoRRAY—I know that there is,
on the part of many pure and honourable-minded men, a
fair,and honest conviction of opinions the very contrary of
those which we have met to advocate. I respect such men
for their uprightness, and I regret that, in the late pro-
ceedings in this town, persons animated by very different
feelings have attempted to promote their cause by means
which they must depise and abhor as much as I do. Ob-
serve the placards and notices which have been plastered up
and handed about. I saw a placard affixed yesterday in the
most populous part of the town. Ido not allude at present
to the trash about " Idolators," and that equally con-
, temptable warning against " Popish Lords of Session."—
The placard ran, as nearly as I can remember thus—
" Pi otestants, you have already been warned of the danger
of admitting idolitors into Parliament ! Further, think
of the danger that would result from their having a Popish
Treasurer of the Edinburgh Charity Workhouse," &c.—
Gentlemen, I know well that to those whom lam now
addressing, this placard can be only matter of laughter.—
They cannot believe it serious. It will, I trust, soon be
matter of laughter even to the lowest. But the: eis here
an attempt to touch the sorest points of the minds of the
populace—(Cries of " It is a hoax." " Who put it up?)—
There is an allusion in it to those topics on which the mind
of the citizens have been most fearfully agitated. It has
been suggested that it is all a joke : if so, I can only say
it is a very bad one.. I beg leave to read the fourth reso-
lution. .

" That, though we entertain no doubt that the firmness
and prudence of the distinguishe.l Statesmen who have
united to support this great measure will speedily carry it
ii to effect, without any considerable impediment, and that
the partial clamours which have been excited against it,
will soon subside in general and permanent satisfaction, we
think it right not only to offer our humble tribute of thanks

for the good we believe it will effect, but earnestly to pray
for its speedy and entire consummation, and to express cur

conviction that its abandonment, if such a thing were pos-
sible after the hopes that have been raised and the pledges
that have been given, would be the greatest of all national
calamities, and would aggravate tenfold all the evils and
dangers from which it promised to deliver us."
Dr. CHALMERS—I understand that the prent meeting
would not have been called, had it not been for certain an-
terior efforts made in this city, and the object of which
was to obtain signatures for a petition against the Catholic
emancipation. We should have remained quiet, and, this
perhaps would have been as significant an expression as we
could have given of our confidence in the measures pro-
posed by his Majesty's Government. Had there been no
public exhibition on their part, I understand that there
would have been no public exhibition upon ours. And I

advert to this simply for the purpose of remarking, how
delusive the indication often is of the state of public sen-
timent, in as far as it is grounded either on the majority
of petitions or in the majority of signatures. The truth
is, that they are the non-contents, the alarmists, who are
in motion. And the contents scarcely ever think of

moving but in the capacity of counter-alarmists. Mean,
while, if arithmetical deduction were to be made of al

the petitioners on both sides of the question, it would be
found that the great body of the public, the great body of
the population, were in a state of rest—(Cheers)—and
they count with us, not with our opponents.—(Loud
cheers.)—We have read of expressive silence ; and this is
what their silence expiess —(Cbeers.)—There may have
been a local effervescence here and there, but mainly and
throughout the land, there is a general at'itude of

quiescence, perhaps the strongest demonstration that
'could be given of the reliance which the people of Scot-
land have on the wisdom and the sgfety of the measures
now in agitation.
But I would scarcely have adverted to the existence of
another petition, and of other petitioners, had it not been
fir the designation which they have assumed of Anti-
Catholic, leaving to us, then, it might appear, the goodly

designation of Pro-Catholic. Never was a grosser impo-
sition practised on the public, and the popular mind, than
by means of these two words. We are not Pro-Catholic.
We are not hostile, neither are we indifferent, to the holy

cause of Protestantism.—(Cheers.)—l cannot answer for
others, but in vindication of myself, I can at least say, it
is in the spirit of devotedness to that cause that I come
here, and because in this:emancipation of Papists I see for
Protestants a still greater and more glorious ernhncipation.
—(lmmense cheering.)—The truth is, that these disabi-

;ies have hung as a dead-weight around the Protestant

cause for more than a century. They have enlisted in op-
position to it some of the most unconquerable principles of
nature; resentment because of injury, and the pride of ad-
herents to a suffering cause.—(lmmense and prolonged
cheering.)—They have transformed the whole nature of
the contest, and by so doing, they have rooted and given
tenfold obstinacy to error.—(Loud cheers.)—They have
given to our side the hateful aspect of tyranny, while on
theirs we behold a generous and high. minded resistance to
what they deem to be oppression.(Tremendous cheer-
ing. ) They have transformed a nation of heretics into a
nation of heroes: We could have refuted and shamed the
heretic out of his errors, but we cannot bring down the
hero from his altitude; and thus it is, that from the first
introduction of this heterogenous element into the ques-
tion, the cause of truth has gone backward.----(Loud
cheers.)—lt has ever since been met by the unyielding
defiance of a people irritated but not crushed, under a
sense of indignity, and this notable expedient for keeping
down the Popery of Ireland, has only compressed it into a
firmness, and closed it into a phalanx, which, till opened
up by emancipation, we shall find to be impenetrable.
Gentlemen would draw arguments from history against us,
but there is one passage in history which they never can
dispose of. How comes it that Protestantism made such
triumphant progress in these realms when it had pains and
penalties to struggle with, and how came this progress to
be arrested from the moment it laid on these pains and pc.
nalties in turn ?—(Enthusiastic cheering,)—What have
all the enactments of the statute-book done for the cause of
Protestantism in Ireland?—(Cheers)—and how is it that
when single-handed truth walked through our Wand with
the might and prowess of a conqueror, so soon as propped
by the authority of the State, and the armour of intolerance
was given to her, the brilliant career of her victories was
ended? (Enthusiastic cheering for several seconds.) It
was when she took up the carnal and laid down the spi-
ritual weapon; it was then that strength went out of her.
She was struck -with impotency (cheers) on the instant,
that from a warfare of principle it became A warfare of
politics.—(Loud applause.)--There are gentlemen op-
posed to us profound in the documents of history, hut she
has really nothing to offer half so instructive as the living
history that is now before our eyes. With the pains and
penalties to fight against, the cause of Reformation did al-
most everything in Britain ; with the pains and penal-
tier on its side, it has done nothing, and worse than no-
thing, in Ireland.—(Loud cheers.)
But after all, it is a question which does not require
the evidence of history for its elucidation. There shines
upon it an immediate light from the known laws and prin-
cip:es of human nature. When truth and falsehood enter
into collision upon equal terms, and do so with their own ap-
propriate weapons, the result is infallible. Magna est ve-
ritas et prcevalebit. But if to strength the cause of
truth, you put the forces of the statute-book under her
command, there instantly starts up on the side of falsehood,
an auxiliary far more formidable. (Cheers.) You may
lay an incapacity on the persons, or you may put restraint
and limitation on the property, of Catholics ; but the Ca-
tholic mind becomes tenfold more impregnable than before.
We know the purpose of these disabilities. They were
meant to serve as a barrier of defence for Protestants
againat the encroachments of Popery ; and thdy have
turne3. mit a barrier of defence for Papists against the en-
croachments of Protestantism. They were intended as a
line of circumvallation round the strong holds of the Pro-
testant Faith, and in effect they have been a line of cir-
Rinvallation around the strong holds of the Catholic Faith.
it is to force these now difficult and inaccessible strong
holds, that I want this wall of separation taken down.
(Cheers.) When I speak of force, it is the combined flee
of truth and charity that I mean---(;rumense cheering)—
and it is becausepreciselyancipat
ionisltt precisely b
believe tobenri oLipaouse
tent i
agree thatree I
withm thean EuiDuke of trellington'in thinking that, ;f t.lla
political distinction were done away, the re§filt would be
the spread of Protestantism in Ilvelaud,(Loud applause.)
—Had we beets suffered to mingle more extensively with
oar 'Catholic fellow-subjects, and to company with them
in the walks of civil and political business, there would at
this day have been the transfusion of another feeling, the

breath of another spirit amongst them; hor should we
have beheld as now the impracticable countenance, the re-

solute and unyielding attitude, of an aggrieved and out.
cast population.—(Loud applause. )—I am sensible of one
advantage which our opponents have against us, and that
is a certain command over the religious feeling of the

population. And yet lam not aware of. any publie topic
on which the popular and prevailing cry ever ran so come-
ter as it does at present to the whole drift and spirit of
Christianity. What other instruments du we read of in
the New 'I e-stament for the defence and propagation of the

Faith, but the Word of God, and the Spirit of God ?
How does the Apostle explain the principle of its triumphs
in that age when truth was so mighty to the pulling down
of strong holds? It was because the weapons of his war-
fare were not carnal. He confined himself to the use of

spiritual weapons, the only ones by which to assail the
strongholds either of Popery or Paganism.—(Cheers )
The kingdom of God, which is not of this world, refuses
to be indebted for its advancement to any other. Reason,

and scripture, and prayer—these compose, or ought to com-
pose, the whole armoury of Protestantism ; and it is by
these alone that the battles of the Faith can be successfully

Fought.—(Cheers.)—lt is since the admission of into..
lerance, that unseemly associate, within our camp, that the

cause of the Reformation has come down from its vantage

ground ; and from the moment it wrested this engine from
the Lands of its adversaries, andsbegan to wield and brandish

it itself, from that m3ment it has been at a dead stand.—
(Applau,e.)—We want to be disencumbered of this weight
and to be restored thereby to our own free and proper

energies. We want truth and force to be dissevered from
each other—(cheers)—the moral and spiritual to be no
longer implicated with th.! grossly physical ; for never
shall we prosper, and never shall we prevail in Ireland,
till our cause be delivered from the outrage and the conta-

mination of so unholy an alliance.
It is not because I hold Popery to be innocent that
I want the removal of these disabilities; but because I
hold, that if these were taken out of the way, she would
be tenfold' more assailable.—(Cheers.)—lt is not because
I am indifferent to the good of Protestantism that I want
to displace these artificial crutches from under her—
(laughter)—but because I want that, freed from ever sym-
p;om of decrepitude and decay, she should stand forth in
her own native strength, and make manifest to all men
how firm a support she has on the goodness of her cause,
and on the basis of her orderly and well laid arguments—
(Loud cheers.)—lt is because I count so much, (and will
any Prc•testant here present say that I count too much ?)
on her Bible, and her evidences, and the blessing of God
upon her churches, and the force of her resistless appeals
to the conscience and the understandings of men ; it is be..

cause of her strength and sufficiency in tht Li that I would
disclaim the aids of the Statute-book, and own no de-

pendence or obligation whatever on a system of into-
lerance.—(Cheers.)--These were enough for her in the
days of her sufferings, and should he more than enough for
her in the days of her comparative safety.—(Loud cheers.)
—lt is not by our fears and our false alarms that we do
honour to Protestantism. A far more befitting honour to

the great cause is the homage of our confidence; for, what
Sheridan said of the liberty of the press, adin't4 of moss

emphatic application to this religion of truth and liberty.
" Give," says that orator, " give to Ministers a corrup
House of Commons ; give them a pliant and a servile
House of Lords ; give them the keys of the Treasury, and
the patronage of the Crown ; and give me the liberty of
the press; and with this mighty engine I will overthrow
the fabric of corruption, and establish upon its ruins the
rights and privileges of the people." In like manner, give
the Catholics of Ireland their emancipation ; give them a
seat in the Parliament of their country ; give them a free
and equal participation in the politics of the realm; give
them a place at the right ear of Majesty, and a voice in
his Counsels; and give me the circulation of the Bible,
and with this mighty engine I will overthrow the tyranny
of Anti-Christ, and establish the fair and original form of
Christianity on its ruins. (The delivery of this splendid
passage, which was given with prodigious energy, elicited
the most rapturous and deafening shouts of approbation,
which were thrice renewed. )
The politics of the question I have left to other and
abler hands. I view it only in its religious bearings, and
I give it as my honest conviction, and 1 believe the convic
tion of every true-hearted Protestant who knows wherein
it is that the great strength of his cause lies, that we have
every thing to hope from this proposed emancipation, and
that we have nothing to fear. (The conclusion of the
Rev. Doctor's speech was greeted with renewed shouts of
rapturous applaus4 which lasted for several minutes.)
Mr. COCKBURN rose to move the petition to both
Houses of Parliament, founded on the Resolutions which
had now been adopted, and in doing so he would not
trouble them with one word.—(Loud cheering, and calls
to hear Mr. Cockburn.)—The gentlemen who hail drawn
up the petition which he was about to submit to time meet-
ing, had addressed it solely to the sense of the intelligent,
and not to the prejudices of time ignorant. If the taste of
any present had been corrupted by the perusal of other pe-
titions of a different description in other places, they
would be disappointed with the style of that which he was
now about to submit to the meeting. Mr. Cockburn then
read the petition, which was to the following effect, and
which was received with great cheering :
That in order, in some measure, to express these senti-
ments to the Legislature, an humble Petition be presented
to each of the Houses of Parliament, and that the tenor of
such Petition be as follows :
The petition stated in substance, that the petitioners
have heard, with the deepest interest and most cordial sa-
tisfactions of the measures which have been recently pro-
posed by his Majesty's Government for the relief of their
Roman Catholic fellow-subjects; and feel assured that no
other proceeding would have struck so effectually at the
root of intestine discord, or so powerfully promoted the
consolidation of our national strength : that at the same
time these pleasing anticipations are not mingled in their
minds with any disquietude or alarm for the interests of
the Reformed Religion, as connected with the great
measure now alluded uo ; but, on the contrary, they look
forward to its results, in relation to these interests also,
with the highest and most confident hopes of advan-
tage, being firmly persuaded that Protestantism
has suffered, in credit and in moral strength, un-
der a system which has annexed penalties to error, and
armed against the cause of truth the high-minded resist-
ance of a people only made more resolute in their princi-
ples by a sense of their wrongs: That the petitioners are
stedfastly attached to the Doctrines of the Reformation,
but are, at the same time, convinced that, for their pre-
' valence in Britain, and their eventual triumph in Ireland,
they must rely mainly on their own native evidence and
force. They are therefore, the more anxious that, by the
removal of all intolerance from the one aide, and all sense
of oppression from the other, this great controversy may
be freed from the provocations and heats of political
asperity, and the question between Protestant and Roman
Catholic reduced to a pure contest of opinion. The pe-
titioners therefore prayed Parliament to proceed with the
aforesaid measures without delay.
The Petition to the House of Lords is conceived in pre-
cisely similar terms.
The StawciToa-GENERAL said, it was with the utmost
possible pleasure that he seconded the motion of his Learn-
ed Friend to adopt the petition whtch had been now read ;
for no man looking to the best interests of the country
could contemplate the great measure now in progress, to
which the petition referred, without the highest and most
perfect satisfaction. Well might a Learned Friend near
him say, that it recalled pleasing recollections to his mind ;
that it recalled the names and the memories of many emi-
nent and illustrious men who had advocated this cause,
and who had ardently longed for its success. It was a
great addition, however, to the delight afforded by such re-
collections, to consider ttat, neither in former times nor
now, was the advocacy of that cause confined to men of
any party in the State. Great men of all parties had
been its supporters. The cause of Catholic Emancipation
had been pleaded by all the great men of our native land ;
Ale. Fox, Mr. Pitt, Lord Melville, Mr. Sheridan, Grat-
tan, Plunkett, and Canning; and he asked, "Can there
be any dread for the safety of Protestantism, or for the
Constitution of our country, when all these agreed in
urging the measures of Emancipation now brought for-
ward by his Majesty's Government? Those illustrious
men were rivals in life; but they are now brothers in the
page of history." He did not refer to those statesmen as mere-
ly implying the authority of great names ; but he referred to
them, because the danger which had now arisen had been
predicted by them all. It is near 29 years since Mr. Pitt told
his Royal Master, in language too impressive ever to be
forgotten, that if the measure of emancipation were not
carried, the peace and the safety and the tranquillity of the
empire would be endangered. Has this prediction not
been verified ? It was not for the purpose of e.f.Jengthening
the convictions of those who were present, but in order to
guard the minds of some of his friends With Whom he
general c?kncided in political sentiments that be polntef,i,
put these great names.' 'Those distinguishedpatriots were,
many of theM gathered to their fatheea--and high as our
feelings may be, in the jrosnect of the successful Imecom-
plislunent Of their patrmotic objects) it could not but be
patter of deep and painful rcgret, that some of their
number had net been spared to witness the triumph of the
cause to which they had devoted their strentuals anti
splendid exertions. To one, indeed, the approaching
triumph was the noblest monument that could be raised
to his memory—and his friends would now loot' on the ac-
-1 coroplisinneut of hi,s wislivs as Borne consolation; and they

would rejoice that his principles had triumphed, and that
party contests had passed away. The Learned Gentleman
seconded the resolution, and concluded his speech amidst
much cheering. •
The petition was then unanimously approved of, amidst
loud and continued cheering.
Mr. COCKBURN said, that some persons must he named
to take charge of the petitions, and to transmit them to
Parliament. He had further to say, that it was wished
that the petition to the House of Commons should be put
into the hands of Sir James Mackintosh, and that the
petition to the House of Lords be entrusted to the Earl of
Haddington and Lord Melville. The meeting approved of
these proposals.
Captain BASIL HALL-I am just returned from America
(some one called out Captain Hall.) Exactly. In that
country there is far less freedom than in Britain—less free-
dom of the press--less freedom of speech—less freedom of
thought. And this I ascribe to the principle of their go-
vernment—universal suffrage, and the want of an esta-
blishedchurch. But I nave written my observations on
the subject, and will tell you all about it by and bye. I
concur in the present petition because the measure which
it supports is calculated to secure the blessing of an Esta-
blished Church—and because it is to be accompanied
with the abolition of the forty-shilling freeholders—and
thereby to restrain the greatest curse in any country, a
democracy. .

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL stated that he had been re-
quested by Sir Walter Scott, who had put a written autho-
rty into his hand, to state that he regretted being pre-
vented from attending this meeting, in the object of which
be cordially concurred.
On the motion of Mr.WALICER DRUMMOND the thanks
of the meeting were given to Sir Wm. Arbuthnot for pre-
siding on this occasion, amidst loud applause. Sir William
returned his thanks for the honour done him ; and the
meeting broke up at three o'clock, when a nnmber of per-
sona present went into the smaller rooms to sign copies of
the petition.

FOREIGN EXCHANGES ON LONDON.
AMSTERDAM, MARCH 13.-12. o.—Two months, 11. 19 5-10.
HAMBURGII, MARCH 10.-13. 934.—Tw0 months, 13. BU.
BERLIN, MARC!! '7.—Three months, 6. 22.
CHRISTIAN lA, FEB. 25.—Three months, 6. 18
ST. BETERSBURGH, FEB. 27.—Three months, 10 13-16.