The Sun.
London, England, 1818-07-11 00:00:00

FOR TI-Itt SUN.

DR. TROY AND THE BRITISH CRITIC.

MR. EDITOR,-4( has appeared tai the friends of
oni Con oitotion in Church and State a most in-
d tnt aul reprehensible circumstance, that the
Roman Catholics of the Empire, while they
are endeavonting to obtain the gratification
of their most ambitions wishes, through the
concessions of their Protestant brett,ren, have
never had the 'prudence or the decency to
ph.tain from the most irritating attacks 'against
th,,se, 'brethren. In Ireland, particularly, they
have indolged themselves in the republication of
-the works ‘vhich are known to be most atro-
riously hostile to the Protestant Cause. Works,
in their opinion, pejhaps, conchisive and unan-
swerable ; but which, having been often answer-
'Rd and refuted, to the satisfaction of Prjtestant
Leaders, can only now he brought forward again
for the purpose of inflaming the one party and
insulting the other. One of these works, already
pointed out by you for its offensiveness, is
" Ward's Errata of the Protestant Bible ;"
production of the 16th Century, and althost,for-
gotten, till reproduced by a printer of the name
of Coyne, at Dublin, under the warm and zealous
patronage of the whole Roman Catholic Interest
-of Ireland. This was only part of a series of simi-
larpnblications intended to be brought forward,
with the same conciliatory and :fraternal deign.—
Another link in the. chain is the Rhenzish Testa-
ment, with its Preface and Notes; in which the
mo,t odious sentences of condenination and re-
probation are liberally dealt out against the faith
and doctrines of Protestants... •

This publication thus sent forth, was with just
severity pointed out in that excellent and most
constitutional publication, the British Critic for
September 1817; .in which it was, with great
reason, urged as a thing peculiarly offensive, not
Qtay that such a work 'should be republished at
this juncture, but still more that it should appear
under the sanction 'and with the approbation of
Dr. Troy, a Bishop of great power and estima-
tion iu Ireland, and the no,mitial or titular pos-
sessor of one of its most exalted Sees. This volt
striking and well-merited remonstrance prodt►cetl
a very singular effect, namely, a disavowal and
disapprobation of the work in question from Dr.
Troy hiMself ; the circumstances of which are 'SO
remarkable, that I must beg you to lay them be-
fore your Readers, in the words of the soi-disant
Bishop himsilf ; with the observations sub-
joined to his letter in the British Critic for Feb-
ruary 1.818:

" DECLARATION OF DR TROY o.

" Having seen a new edition of the Rhemish Testament,
Kith Annotations, published by Coyne, Dublin, and Keating,
&c. London, 181 G, sa,l to he revised., corrected, and improv-
ed by' me, I think it necessary to declare, that I never ap-
proved, nor meant to approve, of any edition of the Old or
New Testament, which was not entirely conformable, as well
in the notes as in the text, to that which was edited by 11.
Cross, Dublin, 1791, containing the usual and...prescribed
formula of Tiny approbation, and which has served as an ex-
emplar to the several editions that have. since been published
with my sanction.
" As in the said new notes-Vary essentially
front those of the last•mentioned editions, which exclusively
I have sanctioned for publication, I should think Thai
emustance atone fully saliTeient to induce me to withhold
every Lind of approbation from it; but having read, and-m. 4,
for, the first tone, cousidet ed these notes, I not only do nit
satiftion tlietu, but solemnly declare,.that 1 utterly reject
newt generally, as harsh and irritating in expression, sonic of
theft as false and absurd in' reasoning, and many of them as
uncharitable in Sentiment. They further appear to counte-
nance opinions and doctrines, which, in common with the
other Rojnan Catholics of the Empire, I have solemnly dis-
claimed upon oath.
Uouterthese circumstances, and with these impressions
on toy mind, I feel it an imperious duty to admonish that
poi-tion of the Catholic Body which is entrusted to my-charge,
of 'the' danger of reading. or paying .any attention to the
notes or enthments of said new edition of the Testament ;
ana I -enjoin the Roman Catholic Clergy of this Diocese to
dist:storage and prevent, by every means in their power, the
circulation, amongst Catholics, of a'work trusting to lead the
faithful astray, and much better fitted to engender and pro-
mote, ainswg Ghristiansi hostility, bitterness and strife, than
(what should.be the object of every such production) to cul-
tivate the genuine spirit. of the Gospel—that is, the spirit of
meekness,,eharity and peace.
" Dtibliu,-14th Oct. 1817.

J. T. TROY.'

We are happy t, find that the opinion.of Dr. Troy so
exactly coincides with ours. We cannot indeed have the
vattity to suppose that any observations Of ours could bars
sufficient weight with Dr. Troy to produce from his high an-
thority so explicit, unequivocal, and waim disavowal of the
offensive volume. Yet it will certainly appear, that some
days before this declaration was publishedat be number of the
British Critic, iii which the anitnadvosions on the Rheruish
Testament were contained, had found its way into the hands
of Dr: Troy. It is certainly, however, a circumstance worthy
of remark, that from the day-of its publication, to the 24th
of October,lBl7,t he -book should have been entirely WI npticed
by• Dr. Troy, or any other member of the Catholic hierarchy.
The volume now lies before us, bearing in its title-page the
date of MG, making an interval of a year between the pub-
Lent and the disavowal. But there i•ra circtunstauce still
more extraordinary, to which we would call the attention of
the public. The volume, though it assumes an udiform ap-
pearance, and hears the date of appeared originally iu
numhers.• We-have now lying before us, Number X. of the
-tidy Caerone Bible, patronized be ail the Catholic Bishops,.
and actually containing theishole 'Preface, in width we have
already- sliewn so much objectionable matter to exist, and
promising that in future numbers-the-whole of tbe.Rltentish
notes should also- appear. Thus then, from lala to ISI7,
during a period of finer !rears, was this Bible in ell-ciliation,
wit houaany.animadversion on the part of Dr. Troy. Now in
the title-page to this number, we find the name of Dr.. Troy,
not only among the general supporters of the work, but- as
the peculiar patron and protector of the publication.
" By permission of
.the most Rev. Dr. Troy, this work is
carefully revising by the Rev. P. A. Walsh, .
" Now.we are all well acquainted with the strict eccle-
siastical discipline which the. Catholic hierarchy in Ireland,
evcroise over, their dioceses, and we know that with respect
to religious hooks their superintendence is peculiarly active
and rigid. We really know not in what light we can put tile
question.- Shall we suppose the affairs of his diocese to be
'so far neglected by Dr. Troy, as that be should be ignorant
of the nature and tendency of a BiblA with annotations, Inc
the, publication of which its editor professed that he- had the
sanction of his diocesan ? Can we again suppose, tikat Dr.
Troy is sir little acquainted with the .theology of his Chnrch,
as only since last September "to breve rend, and now, for the
first time emnsiilered" thea very celebrated mites upon the
Rheniipb:Testaluent.? We helievet that we shall pay a merited
complimensao the Tituiar Archbishop of Dublin, in which his
clergy and laity-will cordially join us, in saying that there is no
Cttholic prelate more active in the drabs of his diocese, or'
more deeply versed in -the theology of his Church, than Dr.
Troy. Nor was the publication itself, either front its.pri-
vacy,,or from itsaill success,' below'bis notice. We find an
advertisenteot attached ti the . number befOro•us, in'which
the la ropriet4; informs the public, that:sincethe work 'com-
menced printing, two thousand more subscribers had been
added to the original number, and that therefore he was under
the necessity of having all the numbers from!. to X. reprinted.
'ibis will give the Oldie sours tuition of the magnitude of the
work, and of its extended circulation. It is extraordinary
indeed that any religious pnblication should appear in the
diacese'of Dr. Troy Without his previous examination • it is
niore,yeatraordinary still, that any Catholic priest shon1:1 have
forged the sanction of sod) a diocesan, and it is the'Most
traerdinai y of all, that Dr. Troy "should suffer this forgery to
he eh cuiated through Ireland for four years, without entering •
any protest; not only against the forgery, but against the
opinions which that forgery was designed to recommend.
" Not many days, however, after this protest of Dr. Troy