Star.
London, England, 1812-02-27 00:00:00

CATHOLIC QUESTION.

the STAR of last Monday the infcrmed the pub-
lit, that a Message had been communicated from
the PRINCE REGENT to Mr. PONSONBY, through Mr.
seSIDAN, respecting the Catholic Question, amount-
ijeg io substance to this :--that the discussions and
decisions on this subject should not, in future, be
sagged as an ordinary Government question, but
lei& to the uninfluenced deliberation of Parliament;
tope added, that Mr. SHERIDAN, to prevent mis-
roteption respecting the purport of the Message, had
requested, and was permitted to make the communi.
(Ilion in the presence of a third person, Mr. ADANf.
from the various colourings since attempted to be
liven to this transaction by the Ministerial and Op-
position prints, it is evident that Mr. SHERIDAN judg-
ed wisely in requesting to have a witness. The for-
ma maintain, that 46 no change of sentiment on this
question has taken place in the minds of Ministers."
This we believe to be certainly trues nor was it ever
id that there had.

The same papers maintain, that the substance of
the Message has not been correctly stated, and that
e,e fact is simply this :—that " the Government cer-
tilly du not think it right to refuse the assistance of
isr person in office whc may agree with them upon
their general system of policy, merely because he
my differ from them in opinion upon the Catholic
Question; and that in this respect the question is to
be considered as an open one, and will, of course,
be decided purely and impartially upon its own
merits."

The same papers state the fact with a little varia-
tion theseee It has been thou ht desirable that those
who have already pledged themselves on the Cathcklic
Question, should be allowed to express the same opi-
nion, and to vote in conformity to that opinion, even
may hold office under the present Go-
though they
emiment. It will however be expected, that those
Ow in office have voted against the Catholic claims
should still hold the same line ; and this being cote
settle the tact, it is of course erroneous to suppose
that the Catholic will no longer be considered,a Go-
vernment question."
Another Paper says, that " as the PRINCE RE••
uNt's Government revidently meaning his Minis-
Km] are decidedly of opinion, that concession to the
Catholics cannot be made at present, the question
must gill be considered as a Cabinet measure, and
supported in Parliament as such."
The Opposition papers assert, that these statements,
if they me4n any thing, amount simply to this—that
Ministers are wiring to allow old friend: to vote
against Ministers on that single'question, if they sup-
port them on every other ; and also to admit new con-
awe into their phalanx with the same licence.
From the statements we have given we think it
impossible for any persons to draw a wrong conclusion
le their own mind, whatever they may foolishly en-
deavour to impress upon others. Let the circumstan-
ces and the time of the message be recollected. The
PRINCE REGENT, only a few days before, had ex-
pressed a wish to receive, as associates in the Mini-
stry, some of the leading Members of the Opposition
—the fiends of his early life. The profer was se-
jected becaire they found themselves engaged by
principle and stout pledged to favour the lintanci-
pation of the Catholics. Can any one doubt then
the intention 'of the second message ?—Could it be
hoped to be of any avail as to its object, if it was
to be understood that these men on coming into the
Administration were to submit to allow their col-
leagues to use Treasury influence against their fa-
vourite question—a question which they conceive to
be connected with the vital interests of the empire?—
We cannot conceive a grosser insult than this would
have been to such men. We cannot for a moment
believe that the PRINCE REGENT could be brought
to ofer such an affront. Nay more we cannot
be persuaded that any of his present Ministers
would have advised or countenanced a message
capable of bearing the construction contended for
11 some cf the Daily Papers. And therefore we
kelstrongyincliueel to believe, could Lords GREY
atelGneeeteele and their friends be brought to agree
pith the present Ministers en some other important
51lettions, that the one relating to the Catholics would
be left, lona fide, to the uninfluenced decision of Par-
e
•'3asent.

la are not all questions brought before the Houses
of Parliament left to their uninfluenced decision ?—lf
"may credit the reasonings to which the late mes-
"gt has given rise, it would appear not.

The TiV4 SOW OW, just published as relating to the
'IItOLIC QUESTION, were written, as appears in their
:e-page, at Boston, in America, and roz no other-
wise connected with the Catholic Question than as
they shew it to be the duty of a Christian, as st.ch,
tolook with an impartial and beneficent eye on his
brethren of all denominations. They breathe a spirit
oleacommon liberality; are written in a pleasing
stile; and, not having hems intended for publication,
teillfurnish to the curious an 'agreeable soccimen of
elequence of Oa' American pulpit. There is in
the prci.a.se an anecdote of the Author and his Pro.
retraat neighbours, which indicates a commendable
spirit: the f were at the cxrence, it seems, of build-
"lßA church for their Catholic brethren, who were
not in a condition to afford it themselves. If Arne-
6,cahs t:1 general are of this description; they are not
e People for us to quarrel with. They are sold by
'ears. GALE and CURTIS, 14011d011. Pri,:e 2s. 6d.