The Sun.
London, England, 1829-03-10 00:00:00

Mr. Sheriff BOOTH in the Chair.

The intentions of this charity are, first, to afford
professional assistance to poor women at their own
habitations during their confinement in child-bed;
and, next, to render pecuniary assistance to such of
them, as from misfortunes, or their situation in life,
are unable to procure •the necessary nourishment,
medicine, and comforts required at this critical
period, an%l, consequently, cannot be too warmly
recommended to the notice of the public. It was
founded principally by the active exertions cf Messrs.
Waller and Doubleday, the present consulting ac-
coucheurs, and by whom it was carried on for seve-
ral years; the applications, however, for relief be-
came so numerous that it was impossible to proceed
in this way without materially circumscribing its
beneficent operations, and accordingly at the com-
mencement of last year it was thrown open, and the
public invited to co-operate with those two gentle-
men to support the Institution as a public charity.
The objects of the Institution were stated from the
chair,and a powerful appeal made to the pockets of the
benevolent, followed up by a handsome contribution
from the Sheriff himself, and as munificently met by
numerous others present. As all the offices of the
Institution are filled gratuitously, the whole of the
money collected is really applied to the relief of poor
females; and therefore every annual subscriber, to
the amount of a guinea, is entitled to recommend
ten patients within the year. The anniversary was
celebrated at this house, in consequence of many of
the most respectable inhabitants of the parish of
Clerke►nvell having been hitherto warm sup-
porters of the Institution, and its benefits having
been very principally diffused throughout that dense
district ; the sphere of its usefulness is now extend-
ing daily,-however, throughout the City, Borough,
and various parts of the metropolis. Several
speeches were made in the course of the evening by
different gentlemen, and by the relation of cases the
usefulness of the Institution abundantly elucidated.
One grand point agreed upon among them was the pro-
priety and necessity of endeavouring to obtain a more 1.
extensive degreeof femalepatronage, the humane ob-
jects of the Charity being confined solely to that sex,
and the warmest anticipation entertained that their in-
fluential patronage would he secured. It was also
suggested that with this view ladies should be per-
mined to partake of the next anniversary dinner,
some applications having actually been made by
ladies for tickets to have joined the dinner party on
'Thursday last. About 70 gentlemen sat down to
dinner, and which unfortunately seemed to hare
been many more than the host expected, if we may
judge from the weight of the table, though the
superior flavour and quality of the wines might by
some be considered as an amendment for the rather
scanty repast.
The King, his Majesty's Ministers, and many
other loyal toasts, together with the healths of the
different Officers of the Institution, were drank en-
thusiastically. Numerous songs by professional
singers enlivened the evening, and the whole of it
was passed with the utmost conviviality and good
humour.

MEETING OF IRISH CATHOLICS IN

LONDON.

There was a very numerous meeting of the Irish
Catholics at the Thatched-house Tavern yesterday
afternoon, for the purpose of receiving the Report
of the Committee appointed on Saturday last to
draw up a petition to Parliament, which, whilst it
expressed the gratitude of the Meeting for the boon
that was to be extended to the Roman Catholics,
yet prayed that that part of the measure of Govern-
ment which related to the disfranchisement of the
forty-shilling freeholders should not pass into a law.
Mr. Steele was called to the Chair.
Mr. O'CONNELL said it was his duty to present to
the Meeting the Report of the Committee appointed
to prepare the petition. Before be read the peti-
tion, however, he begged to state that he did riot in
any way recognize the sentiments attributed to him
in a letter to one of the Morning Papers by Mr.
Lawless. Mr. O'Connell then proceeded to read
the petition. It expressed the gratitude of the
petitioners for the relief about to be afforded the
Roman Catholics by the intended Bill for the
repeal of their Civil disabilities ; but expressed their
regret that a measure so fraught with conciliation,
and calculated to be of such essential benefit to the
empire at large, should have any principle in it that
would tend to disturb the unanimity existing
amongst the Catholics. The petitioners deny that
they desire to have any supremacy in reference to
religious matters. They humbly beg the Hon.
House to reconsider the Clause in the intended
Bill that relates to the disfranchising of the forty-
shilling freeholders of Ireland, and express their
unanimous opinion that no ground exists that could
justify such a measure; and that, on the contrary,
its passing into a law would he an act of injustice
towards that immense body of people, and produc-
tive of unusual evil. The petitioners trust, how-
ever, that should the measure for disfranchising the
forty-shilling freeholders pass into a law, the Pro-
testant forty-shilling freeholders will have their fran-
chise preserved to them : this point the petitioners
earnestly implore the House to accede to. The pe-
titioners respectfully declare, that the Legislative
Union between Great Britain and Ireland was
founded on a similarity of the elective franchises in
each;" that the Hon. House cannot deprive the Irish
forty-shilling freeholders of their rights without
disturbing, the privileges of the inhabitants of both
countries. The petitioners declare that the forty-
shilling freeholders have not been guilty of any of-
fence calling for either punishment or degradation,
and that the petitions got up against them (as hav-
ing voted at elections under the influence of their
priests) have not been the petition of the people of
Ireland, but of a small party of hostile individuals; and
the petitioners positively deny the charge of spiritual
irifluenca brought forward in such petitions, arid de-
elaia itto be utterly. unfounded; antifthe petitioners
beg, to deelare, in support of such assertion, that,
most of the petitions against the forty-shilling free-
holders from the counties of Clare, Louth, Alo-
nagbau, Westmeath, Armagh, Dublin, &c. which
were got up on that ground, were either abandoned
without any inquiry, or after the first stages were
given up. The petitioners declare that there are at
this moment 200,000 registered forty-shilling free-
holders in Ireland, most of whom have been put to
much trouble, and, to them, much expense, in re-
gistetirg themselves ; and that it Would he an act
of Marked injustice to deprive them of those privi-
leges they had laboured to obtain, and which they
consider themselves justly entitled to enjoy, under
the sanction of the laws. Finally, the petitioners
having solemnly pledged themselves to protect the
forty-shilling freeholders in the preservation of their
elective franchise, feel themselves bound firmly but
humbly to intreat the Hon. House not to pass into a
law any measure tending to abridge the elective fran-
chise of Ireland, or to destroy the forty-shilling free-
holders.—The petition was much approved of.
Mr. O'CONNELL said the Meeting was not called
now to.discws the principle of the Bill—that had
been decided on Saturday last. They had now only
to adopt the petition or rejent it, or take a midile
course and agree to a part only.
Lord KILLEEN rose with much pleasure to move
that the petition read be adopted.
Mr. WISE seconded the motion.
Some conversation then arose between Mr. Law-
less and Mr. O'Connell, relative to the letter re-
ferred to; but the discussion was put an end to by
Mr. Donnell, who called Mr. Lawless to
order.t
Lucas
Several of the gentlemen expressed their opinions
'relative to the clause in the petition, which prayed
Parliament to preserve the franchise of the Pros
testant forty-shilling freeholders entire, should it be

deemed advisable to carry into a law such a mea-
sure against the Catholic forty-shilling freeholders.
Mr. O'GousrAN MArtoN did not approve of the
disfranchisement of the forty-shilling freeholders.
He was adverse to it on the broad principle of civil
liberty, yet he was inclined to believe that the rais-
ing the qualification to 10/. would strengthen Ca-
tholic influence.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. LAWLESS exclaimed loudly against the mea-
sure. It was not by finely rounded periods, or set
speeches, that the Catholics of Ireland had induced
the Duke or Mr. Peel to attend to their claims. It
was their numerical strength that had produced the
change—it was the sinews of the numerous free-
holders of Ireland loudly knocking at the doors of
the House of Parliament that had induced attention.
—(Cheers.)—He could not consent to any measure
for the disfranchisement of the forty-shilling free-
holders, for whom they were now bound to stand
up. Would any one say that if the forty-shilling
freeholders were abolished, Mr. O'Connell, in the
event of another election, would come off so trium-
phantly ?—(Cries of yes.)—He did not believe that
such would be the case.

Mr. O'DWYER objected to a passage in the peti-
tion which prayed that even if the Roman Catholic
forty-shilling freeholders were disfranchised, the Pro-
testant forty-shilling freeholders might not. This
was a chivalrous liberality, for which, he thought,
they would obtain very little credit, especially as it
was well known that the Protestant forty-shilling
freeholders were for the most part created by
Orangemen in the North of Ireland.
Mr. O'CONNELL—No, no; the Roman Catholic
freeholders preponderate.
. . _

Mr. M‘DEniroTT concurred in the opinion of Mr.
O'Dwyer. TIOs passage of the petition was most
ungracious and unnecessary.
Mr. M. O'CONNELL vindicated the passage of the
petition, on the ground that if they could not secure
the rights of the Members of their own persuasion,
they were bound to do what they could to maintain
the rights of others.
Mr. O'GORMAN MAHON concurred in this opinion.
Mr. THERur dissented from the two last speakers.
If it were advisable to present a petition at all upon
the subject, it was at least exceedingly inexpe-
dient to retain such a passage in it as the clause
tinder discussion. To retain a passage in the
petition which prayed that whatever might In-
come of the Roman Catholic forty-shilling free-
holders, the Protestant forty-shilling freeholders at
least might not be disfranchised, admitted of this
construction, that there were grounds for disfranchi-
sing the members of their own persuasion, which did
not exist for the disfranchisement of those of another.
This was in effect to adopt and to admit that delin-
quency of conduct on the part of the Catholics a
which, in another part of the petition, they declared
that they were innocent—(hear, hear.)—Another
and a stronger objection with him to this passage of
the petition was, that it prayed for inequality of
rights, which was the very thing they were all anxi-
ous to destroy—and, moreover, it should be consi-
dered that no stronger inducement could be held out
to reconcile the Catholics to the measure than the
consideration that it affected Catholics and Pro-
testants equally,—that it contained no undue prefer-
ence, and promoted no political ascendancy.
Mr. O'CONNELL defended the clause in the peti-
tion which prayed that the Protestant forty-shilling.
freeholders might be protected, and answered some
of the objections made by Mr. M'Dermott and Mr.
Therry.

Mr. RossoN hoped the clause would be preserved;
it was a most important one; and he expressed his
belief that it would be productive of the most bene-
ficial results on the Protestants at large.
After some other gentlemen had spoken for and
against the clause,
Mr. O'CONNELL observed that they ought to do
all in their power to preserve the Protestant forty-
shilling freeholders. They are not liable to the
charge made so unjustly against the Catholics of
being swayed by the influence of the Priests. It was
better to save half than lose the whole, and he was
sure the Protestants would soon join in the petition
for the restoration of the rights of the Catholics. He
would never cease his exertions until the right were
restored. It was absurd to think, as had been stat-
ed, if the law contempled came into effect, that a
general appeal from Protestants and Catholics could
restore their privileges—great injury would be in-
flicted on Ireland. If (said Mr. O'Connell) two
gentlemen were travelling, each with 40/. in his
pocket, and they were met by a highwayman, would
it not be politic and christian-like, if the robbers
would be satisfied with 401., to give the money, and
save the other half.—(Cheers.)—So it was with
the Catholic forty-shilling freeholders. They must
consent to be robbed of their franchise, and they
were bound to petition that the Protestant forty-
shilling freeholders' elective franchise might be
preserved.
After a few observations from the CHAIRMAN, the
petition was adopted, and it was ordered to be pre-
pared by to-morrow, and to be presented to the
Lords by Earl Grey.

Mr. Steele having left the Chair, it was occupied
by Lord Killeen, and a vote of thanks was passed to
Mr. Steele, after which the Meeting separated.

Alr. Roger O'Sullivan, nephew of Counsellor
o'cA'inneii, is sworn in Sub-Sheriff of Kerry, for the
current year. A protest, signed John Giles, was offered to
the appointment, as the gentleman is a Roman Catholic,
hut it arrived too late in Dublin.—Corlt Mercantile
Chronicle.

The mail-coach from Hereford to Brecon was
discontinued on Sunday last, to the serious inconvenience
and regret of the respectable and wealthy residents in the
line of country through which•it paned.—Cantbrian..
A FAMILY AT ONE BIRTH.---A German
paper cont tins an account of a birth of five children, three
boys and two girls, all of whom were born alive, but died
within three days. They were from fifteen to seventeen
inches in length, and weighed little more than half the
weight of healthy new-born children. The mother did not
suffer much during her pregnancy, and recovered rapidly
after delivery.

A midwife, residing in the Carse of Gowrie,
lately underwent here a judicial examination in. a case
wherein her evidence became necessary. Being interro-
gated as to her practice and experience, she d*Poneti that
she had hem 36 years in the profession, during which pe-
riod she had assisted in ushering into this world of woe no
fewer than 1176 'individuals !—Scotsman.

A diabolical practice prevails with some
wretches, supposed to be gipsies, of destroying sheep by
forcing wool down their throats, whereby inflammation
speedily ensues, which terminatessinniedgeaiptlsii.eB Ahanviiiingstbaeneen
desired instance
has occurred within the last few days, supposed to have
been
r to
from
quitmmn the spottivesof nroeveaeie o
h they were encamped.
Hunts Hants Chronicle.

Leontinus, who was a stout man at 108 years
of age, and a proverb for strength and activity, said that
his rule had always been never to do any thin merely for
pleasure.

As Herdsfiehl, the Marsha!man was walking
through Paul-street, Finsbury, in company with White,
the city-officer, about 11 o'clock on Saturday forenoon,
they observed a porter carrying a basket on the opposite
side of the street, and the circumstance of a great coat
being 6: own over the contents attracted the notice of the
office: s. Flerdsfield stepped across, peeped under the coat,
and finding the basket contained a lawyer's blue hag, well
lat conjectured there was something amiss, and he
stopped and questioned the porter, The man said his
name ISMS John [Jaynes, and that as he was standing in
Spitslfieltla market that morning, a gentleman asked
him if he wanted a job. Ile answered that be did,
and the gentleman said, "It has made my arm ache,
you shall carry this to the City-road for me," and at the
same time placed a bundle, wrapped up in a great coat, in
his basket. The gentleman led the way, keeping about
a yard a-head, till the officer crossed the way, when he
disappeared. lie never saw the gentleman before. Upon
examining the bag. the Officers found a quantity of plate,
worth, probably, from 2001. to 250/., all :narked tc E.
M. 0." They took their prisoner to the Guildhall justice
room, where, after a short examination, he was remanded
till Tuesday. He persisted in the same statement, and
'said he should be able to produce another porter, who was
standing by his side wheu the gentleman hired him.