The Sun.
London, England, 1829-02-07 00:00:00

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t.idy and ttn.:arying oppottrntg, w 1 i e the Minister
who mind been, office and out of it, most de-
etetid in his eagernes,, and most distinguiAed 1;),
his splendid and powerful el npieure the support
of that great cause, should have expiry," without
In -log a xvitness of that triurtrApol which he must
Avnas cot,idefcd a prieiNtpr. Mr.
son% remark tipom the prsu4t::re de4;l) of Mr. Can-
c.rtheeted. que,t;un,
appear., to have revived-I he sympa! hi: s of. the i on'se,
to..have drawn. do;yn. the wal:tnest approbation.
• - .

•
We are ingest certain that the Duke of Welling-
ton would -not have ventured to make the settle-
ment of the Catholic Qiestion•the subject of a re-
commendation from the Throne to Pa rliameoto if
he had not before hand satisfied himself with respect
to the extetit of support lie should reCeive ht the
House of Peers. We are, therectsro, Titre easy as
to the result. It is not as Peers, but as Proprietor.
Boi mighso that certain Members of the Upper
House, the Neweastles, Beauforts, tic. are formideo
(bible. But in the Lower House there has long
been a majority in favour of concession ; and in the
Upper House one Peer counts for no more than
ay:oilier. We cannot doubt, then, that when the in-
tleence of the Crown is excrteo, as it will be in that
House, which is ideolys supposed to be most idol-
ttitieil with the Crown, a large majority will be a-
ttained. We are by no means alarmed at the ap-
peal to the passions and prejudices of the mien-,
baliteeed part of the !Topic! of this country made on
I.7horsday night by 'Lord Eldon. As little are we
apprehensive oss to the effects likely to be produced
on his Majesty by that part of his Lordship's speech
which had more particularly for object the lilting
his Majesty wit alarm. The ambitions, the
well-informed part of the community, those wl:o
cad public opinion, the inhabitants of great towns,
tire all favourable to concession ; and if there are stir
largo bodies of Englishmen dispersed throughout
Various parts of the country foil of antiquated pre-
.titlices, this is because they are placed in circutm
stances which do not allow them the same opportu-
nities of obtaining information with others. But
these very eircurastanees, while they keep them in
arrear of the age, prevent them at the same erne
exercising any influence on the-community at large.
They am inert masses, without leaders, and with.
snit the means • of making themselves be directly
felt. Where is the central fire of th's opaque body
What an idea mast we have of England, if we
could suppose that such men as the Duke of New.
castle, Lords Eldon, Winchelsee, Kenyon, and Ge-
neral Gascoigne, &c. &e.) could marshal its mental
and material forty against the Government, and all
the Metottess of the Legislature whose names pos-
Gees any weight with the nation ! And with re-
apect to the minatory language held towards the
King—it is not very likely that he should deem a
succession of ne 1.50 years in much danger from
the King of Sardinia or Duke trAngouleme, on
account of his yielding to the same voice of the na-
tion which formerly called his ancestor to the
Throne, the safety of the nation then demanding
the exclusion of a Popish Sovereign, as it now
demands the repeal of Catholic disabilities.—
The same principle which produced the Protestant
Revolution now produces the admission of Catho-
lics into the Constitution. The Sovereign exists for
the welfare of the people—that welfare demanded at
the Revolution a Protestant Sovereign—it now de-
mands that Protestants should not be the only citi-
zens. Lord Eldon's language was an insult to his
Majesty's understanding, But it was ouly a repeti-
tion of his language during the progress of the Bill
for the Repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts.
Lord Eldon is no statesman, and his speech of
Thursday last points to no one intelligible course, by
following which the welfare of the country could be
more effectually promoted than by the course re-
commended
by Ministers. What do all the gen-
tlemen best acquainted with Ireland say ? That the
safety of the country is threatened by a continuance
of the present state of things. This even Sir
"Thomas Lethbridge has been enabled to see. Last
night, he observed that " he was quite aware that
the settlement of the question, even though it
should be settled in a manner contrary to his wish,
Was much more desirable than to leave it in a state
of agitation." What did
.Mr. Leslie Foster say
last night ? " Hedid not hesitate to say that things
were, as nearly as possible, ripe for a civil war, and
it was difficult to tell where the first flames of it might
buret out." A civil war ready to burst out is surely
not a consummation Which any man who has any
regard for his country would wish. for. What did
Mr. Dawson say last night 7 " I beg to statefully
and firmly, hoping that I shall receive full credit for
what 1 am going to state, that I went last year to
Ireland, in perfect ignorance of what were the in-
tentions of Government in respect to the Catholic
Claims. But when 1 got there, what was it that I
saw ? I saw the country on the eve of convulsion
saw its institutions ready to give way—l saw
that every one was in a manner opposed to the very
members of their own family—l saw that every
thing was gradually creeping towards the brink of de-
struction; that party feeling was raging in every di-
rection; that Grand Juries and Magistrates, and ln
short, every one partook of the same spirit ; and -
that it was impossible for things to go on as they
were any longer. When I arrived in the city of the
county which I represent, I found -.hat the annual
celebration in honour of the siege was about to take
place, and I was called on to attend it. Bus when
I heard the sentiments of those who entertained
strong Protestant feelings ; when I heard them
about to go the length of dwelling upon the destruc-
tion of the Catholics as a necessary step, I could
not as an honest man attend at that meeting, and en-
courage them to persevere in such persecution, or
in the entertainment of feelings which I conceived
must lead to the destruction of the country. I could
see nothing in such a course but the element of a civil
war, which only required some bold mischievous than
to spring up, to foster into an ardent blaze." What
did Mr. Peel say on Thursday night ? That the
law is at present inoperative; that the tribunals are,
in the hands of those who possess them for the time,
means of making war on their opponents. This is
surely a state of things which Weil justifies those who
are responsible for the safety of the country, to pause..
It may be that Mr. Peel's belief is well founded—
" that if any attempt at carrying the threat of intimi-
dation into effect had been persevered in, the naked
energies of the King's subjects, unsupported by a
single soldier, would have defeated and crushed the
attempt ;" but civil strife is incompatible with the
pursuits of industry. -What a blow would'any in-
terruption to the commerce with such a large por-
tion of our empire as Ireland, give. to the I rosperity
of England. Would the English manufacturers and
merchants not feel it ? Would the revenue not feel
it—to say nothing of the seeds of lasting hostility,
.which would thereby be sown, and the -opening
which vindictive feelings might give to a foreign
enemy. Mr-. Huskisson thought it " was almost
impossible to ascribe to any natural causes the very
extraordinary, numerous and important conversions
which had taken place during the last week."
Natural or non-natural, thank God, they are conver-
sions ; and there is little danger of re-conversion by
other miracles. We think that conversions may be
too long delayed, but they never can be too late.
Besides, we are willing to accept Lord John Russell's
apology for the late conversions, as far its it goes.
" He thought it extremely creditable to those who
entertained unfavourable sentiments to this question
formerly, to avow their altered conviction of its ex-
pediency, when they saw the State menaced, and
the tranquillity of the country disturbed." We
anticipate a triumphant majority in both Houses.
Indeed we see nothing like an indication of vigorous
opposition. The Duke of Wellington is lauded to
the skies by all parties.—Morning Chronicle.
The situation to which England is at the present
moment reduced is melancholy and awful. The
Legislature is about to decide a question of tremen-
dous importance, introduced to it tinder auspices
the most likely to produce a decision in the affirma-
tive—a question which, stripped of the flimsy
plausibilitiee in which it is enveloped by the in-

gennitY of one class of Ntatestiten habitually the
enemies of the -British Constitution and of the glory
And powik of the ctnnory; and of another, whom
we "must still consider the better of the two,
whow ingenuity upon this queation has come sud-
denly upon them, as a shield to their own unex-
pected timidity and tergiversation, r:solves itself
into these—Shall the Protestant Church in Ireland
be overthrown ? Shall the Protestant Church in
England be endangered ? Shall the nation in the
course of a few years be involved in sanguinary
and inretenkte domestic War for the preservation of
its pure religion, its -chartered liberties, its exalted
name, its character; its happiness; and itt strthgth ?
--Such are the high and pei•Manent interests of this
reetioil that are now exposed to a fear-
ful issue, and likely to be offered up as a sacrifice
upon the altars of timidity, tergiversation, and in-
trigue. We indulge in no fantastic apprehensions
when we say that the consequences we have de-
scribed are the natnrul and iiiizivOidable effects of
such t measure as that which is now understood
to be in contemplation. The steps which in-

terpose between this ill-omened co-mmencement
and the dire termination we have pointed out are
but few, and they are as inevitable as they are
fearfully parable end dittinet. Men without prin-
ciple themselves are always ready to assume the
absence of principle in others. So did not argue
the immortal Pitt, whose character is nowsplaced,
if possible, upon a loftier and more conspicumis
pinnacle than ever. But he was a man of prim
cipic. He said, and never tested in contradictiOn
to 'his words, that whoever knew any thing Of
human nature must believe that the Catholics would
employ whatever political power should be granted
them for the overthrow of our Protestant establish-
ments; and the sentiment must be re-echoed in-.
stinctively from every honest heart. The politicians
of the present day unfortunately think otherwise.
They do not perceive, and what is much worse,
they do riot feel, the absurdity of assuming the ab-
"Sence of principle in a whole nation. We assert,:
and every man who lino,ss the meaning of the word
conscience must agree with us, the impossibility of
the Roman Catholics of this Empire possessing fdr
any considerable period a share of the Legisladie
Power without atteMptingg. to obtain for their own
( !lurch an establishment and an ascendancy, at
least in Ireland; and we further assert, without the
fear of being contradicted by any man who is not
utterly ignorant of the nature and history of his spe-
cies, the impossibility of the Roman Catholics mak-
ing such an attempt, with the means in their hand-
which a share in the legislative power will bestow,
without producing the most intense and sanovistary
civil strife, together with all the national confusion,
misery, and weakness' of which civil strife is the
never-failing source. These calamities impend over
our country, and silence now would be a crime. We
. upon the nation to arouse itself, for it is upon
itself only that it can now depend. If the men of
England be true to their faith—if they exert them-
selves as their welfare and happiness, and the wel-
fare and happiness of their children demand; all may
yet be well. But one instant, and strenuous, and
universal effort, is required. Nothing less than the
most fervent zeal, the most devout enthusiasm in
the cause of the Constitution, a zeal and an enthu-
siasm agitating the country from its centre to its
circumference, can avert the tremendous evil that is
now suspended over us. Let not the nation, there-
fore, sink into the torpid sluggishness of dopair, at
this moment, when their dearest interests—when
every social, domestic, patriotic, sad religious feel-
ing excites them to exertion. Let diem overwhelM
the Legislature with their firm but respectful
petitions; and while they do so, let their fer-
vent prayers ascend to Heaven, beseeching that
Divine Providence, which has elevated Great
Britain to the highest pitch of huiman great-
ness and felicity, that it may not desert her
now—that it may not permit her Rulers to be
so darkened in their understandings, and hardened
in their hearts, as to undermine and subvert those
Protestant Institutions which have beers the instru-
ments in its hands of rendering the nation so happy
and so great. We scarcely know how to descend
from a subject so important and engrossing as that
of which we have been speaking, to advert to the
character, conduct, or destiny of any set of Mini-
sters, be they whoni they may. The country knows
the feelings of respect and confidence which we
have hitherto cherished towards the Administration
of the DUke of Wellington. The sentiment of
gratitude for the past services scudded to their
country by that Illustrious Man and some of his
colleagues, is to be obliterated by no circum-
stances, from the heart of any Englishman
who deserves the lame. It never can be
obliterated from ours. We need not express
the unfeigned pain with which we call upon the
country to oppose a measure sanctioned by such
men. Upon this question, however, we must op-
pose them, for it is a duty so sacred ss to be parer-
mount to every other obligation. Upon this ques
tion the country also will firmly oppose them ; but it
will do so with the pain which in such circumstances
is inseparable from a recollection of the eminent ser-
vices they have heretofore rendered to the State.—
General hostility to the present administration must
be as foreign to our minds as we believe a desire for
its overthrow will still continue remote from the
minds of the people of England. Never, in the rno-
merits of their most strenuous struggle for the pre-
servation of a Constitution they justly hold most deer
twill-the British people forget the serviees.which ",
title the leading Members of his Majesty's present
'Government to the Nation's gratitude. Never, we
venture to say, will they forget for an instant by
what description of statesmen the present Ministers
of the Crown would probably be succeeded in the
event of their removal from office. We sec by the
proceedings in the Roman Catholic Association, a
report of which we have inserted elsewhere, that
the demagogues of Popery say they will reject with
disdain any thing shot tof an onqualified and 'mum- ;
ditional admission to political power. They already ,
begin to take to themselves the credit of magnani-
mous condescension and forbearance, on the ground
that they claim as yet no more than an equality
with Protestants. How long, if the insensine pro-
jeet now in contemplation should be carried into
effect, will they rennin' so very moderate ?—iUorn-
in; Pod.

The important communication which his Majesty
has made to Parliament respecting his Roman Ca-
tholic subjects—the most important in every point
of view that was ever made to any Parliament, or
by any King sitting on the throne of these realms
still rings in the ears of every class of the comma-
airy, is uppermost in their thoughts, and nearest to
their hearts. Every tongue is eloquent in praise of
the Chief who, after having defeated the common
enemy of &II:one, has achieved a still greater vic-
tory over himself and his colleagues--who has had
the wisdom to counsel his Majesty, once for all,
to remove the penal enactments which disqualify
his Roman Catholic subjects from holding the
higher offices of State--and the firmness to brave
the sneers, the contempt, and the accusations of
those who, from following such a course, might cc-
case him of ineon,istency and timidity. The vic-
tory is, indeed, splendid beyond all precedent ; and
if less dazzling, in the eyes of those who are not
aware of the difficulties which he bad to encounter,
than that of Waterloo, promises to be crowned with
results more useful, and more beneficial, not only to
the British empire, but to the world at large. The
magnanimous examp!e, not of tolerating only, but
of admitting Roman. Catholics to all the rights and
privileges of British subjects, - cannot fail to pro-
duce its proper effect on the Governments of other
countries, and to induce a corresponding remission
of disqualifications, wherever they may still exist, or
be enforced, against our Protestant brethren; while
the direct influence which it cannot fail to procure to
this country, in her relations with foreign Princes and
States, is too obvious not to occur to every one as
one of the first and best fruits of the concession.
That there should be still some who see in any
• further concessions to the Roman Catholics, only
ruin and disgrace, is not to be wondered at: The