Star.
London, England, 1830-04-17 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.

Eurrott,—l do not regret that my letter of the
1:1: inst. has given you an opportunity of re-stating
5.,-ur opinions as to the character and designs of Mr.
:D2uSi SI gm.: it is not my purpose to trouble you by
tnv opposition to them. lam unknown to Mr. O'Cou-
FLL; of a differout profession of Faith; an enemy to
'Oiiestcraft, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Presbyterian,
and Dissenting, in all its forms ; and quite convinced,
..hat until it is placed on its proper level, the earth will
ever know rest. I incline, hov-ever. to think, that Mr.
YCONNELL'S controversial and business habits are such
vs to make hi.; religion of comparatively little moment,
4xcept as he maybe deemed the professed leader of a
powerful sect. But from some cause or causes, Mr.
O'CONNELL has acquired a mural influence out of the
Jeers of Parliament, which must make him quite sick of!
the twaddle within it: he cannot be expected, therefore, to
risk the popularity which he has acquired against all forms
of opposition. In idle declamation and effort in Parlia-
ment, as at present constituted, he has a larger number
of constituents than any ten County Members, although
those constituents have never actually _riven him a vote,
and are dispersed over the entire United kinp;donm. Ho is,
t present, the only efficient man of the people ; for, to
use the language of 110DERT OR EN in his address of
April 12th-4‘ the BROUGHAMS', the BLANDTOILDSP,
Hu miss', Hositouses', Russet es', are at present ex-
erting, all their great powers in directing the public mind
to contend about saving pence and farthings," &c. Mr.
OWEN, indeed, includes O'CONNELL in this enumera-
tion of wasted talent : I cannot agree with him, because
i voluntary Association for the Improvement of Ireland
may include in its projects attention " to those means by
which hundreds of millions of new property might be
created and applied to support, educate, and improve, the
condition of the ignorant, starving, population of the
Kingdom, who arc now without a sufficiency of food, in-
struction, or employment ; or most uselessly employed to
camper those who are already deeply injured by luxuries."
I think that the Marquis of BLA N prom-) deserves, also,
a more distinct approbation than Mr. OWEN has given
him, his efforts being conceived in a spirit of bold sin-
cerity which would make him the zealous friend of every
national improvement. But I have occupied your time
in a defence of Mr. : my letter of the I Ith
had not, however, immediate reference to him, but to
Mr. IlusKissoN, Mr. GRANT, Lord PALMERSTON,
Lord DUDLEY—more especially to Mr. Grant, who
may be esteemed to have been the leader of the Catholic
Question after the death of Mr. CANNING. It is quite
clear that Mr. GRANT conceded the disfranchisement
rather than run the risk of losing the greater question ;
and in so far as Mr. GRANT and those who agreed with
him, were neglected in the WELLINGTON Administra-
tion, from a view to conciliate the aristocracy, either Pro-
testant or Roman Catholic, Mr. Grant and the people
have been betrayed. I always thought Mr. O'C. sincere
in his repentance as to the "wings, and he being out of
Parliament could do little in opposing the disfranchisement,
and was more helpless than even Mr. GRANT in this re-
spect. I think that he might act with an unprincipled
administration on the recognised law, " get what you
can, and demand more afterwards ;" and that this accounts
for his submitting to the " deterioration of the poor man's
rights." Ho could not know his own influence in the
house until he tried it, and if he saw no objection to en-
ter Parliament under present shackles, it would, I think,
have been truly quixotic to have refused a second election
for Clare. I sincerely hope we may yet have an adminis-
tration feinted, which shall not be afraid to lead with
christian intelligence, instead of being goaded and driven
like beasts; an administration who may not be afraid to
'ledge the national resources to purposes of internal int-
w.,vement, with as much prodigality as others have hi-
therto been:accustomed to pledge the national resources for
aurposes of the most wasteful of all profligacy—namely,
ear ; and the indirect maintenance of a pampered Aria-
Jrracy. I remain your obliged