Star.
London, England, 1825-02-12 00:00:00

canal pen to suppress the feelings and spirit of
sic millions of men, all of them confessedly united:'
and was not that a fearful subject to legislate upon?'
The House might now adopt measures which mr9rt
scur the minds of the whole people Plunkett).-eland—
The Right Honourable Gentleman, (Mr.
the contrary, hoped that the measures proposed would
affor d tranquillity to Ireland ; and he had stated, that
an immense number of the subscribers to the Catholic
Association had int their names down from fear and
compulsion. If this were really the case, he should
like to know what the state of Ireland could be? All
that he had seen or heard of Ireland had not led him to
entertain any idea that the Catholics had any views
hostile to the Empire, or any wish or intention to violate
the laws. But great alarm had been expressed at their
assuming the right of instituting legal proceedin_gs,
although the public authorities had thanked Mr.
O'Gorman for the temperate manner in which he had
conducted the prosecutions—(Hear, hear, hear I)—
The Right Honourable Gentleman bad said, that the
Catholics had an army of thirty thousand meat now
thce were armed, as far as he could make it out, with
nothing but a small leathern bag to hold their subscrip-
tions, and a slate to take down names ; and they were
beaded-by what? Why, they were headed by 2,500
Priests—(Laughter). He should be glad to hear from
Gentlemen opposite, why the Catholics should not
collect their subscriptions, when it could not be said
that they applied the sums collected to any improper
purposes? This was a miserable subscription, obtained
by pence, and the only outcry against it was, that it
was a general collection ; and what did this general
collection amount to ? why, about £lO,OOO. But did the
House believe they could put a stop to this collection ?
The Priests collected for other purposes ; and how
would it be possible to separate the sums collected for
different objects ? and if the three-halfpence of a two-
pence were ascertained to have been collected for one
object, who could discover what had become of the
other halfpenny ? The only differetice would be, that
sitter the proposed Bill, the collection would be a con-
cealed, instead of an open collection. No man could
think it was contrary to the present Constitution,abat
six millions of men, having heavy grievances to com-
plain of, should attempt to get rid of them in the best
manner they could. Why were the Catholics led on to
believe that their cause was the cause -of all the most
enlightened men in this country? • Why were Honour-
able Gentleman in this House so eloquent in their be-
half? Why did the Honourable Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs continue from time to time to hold
out those hopes to the Catholics, if they were to be new
told that they should not have relief, and that if they said anything
snore upon the subject, they should be put into jail ?-.--(Hear, hear,
hear). He asked Gentlemen to look back, not to the year 1813,
but to the year 1821, when Ireland was a wreck upon the breakers
—the Honourable Gentleman would behold his own handyworks,
perhaps to admire them, and might add a new stanza to his oM
song, of a new " pilot that weather'd the storni"—(A laugh.)
Mr. PLUNKETT—I said, Ireland wag on the breakers when
the Marquis of Wellesley went over.
Mr. TIRMINY continued.—The country owed all her prosperity-
to Lord Wellesley, and the Right Honourable Gentleman. Its
1881, the Right Honourable Gentleman's exertions in the Catholic
cause brought him to a triumphant majority. In another place,
where they wore white sleeves, there was a majority against him of
thirteen; but was it impossible to believe that if the Government
bad espoused the question, the sleeves might not have been turned
the other way ? Without the assistance of Government, the Right
Honourable Gentleman achieved a victory, but after that, nothing
could be dune. The Right Honourable Secretary then made a
stride across the House, became Attorney-General—changed his
opinion ; hut why change it in prosperity? The Right Honourable
Gentleman made no terms with the Catholics. He was vacillating.
He sat on their side the 'louse, but he was moving ; as the sailors say,
his anchor was peok—(Laughter).— In consequence of the war he
took alarm. Then in consequence of the Sia Acts, a panic seized him,
and he took a place—(Laughter). Mr. Tierney here adverted to the
difference of opinion in the Cabinet upon the Catholic Claims, six out
of thirteen were for it. The key of the Opposition would not
give way ; there was hearing and re-hearing—lnokirg out the
papers, and an order to mention it again next Tuesday—( A laugh).
Be had Po doubt the thing might be done if the Hon. Gentlemen on
the opposite side would insist on it. His Majesty's opinion on the
subject was known by the late liberal act in another kingdom ; but
Isis Majesty was the only Sovereign in Europe who could not ob.
taro advice on the subject. It was lamentable that-a question which
Would restore quiet to Ireland,could not be fairly brought forward. It
was only necessary for the liberal part of the Cabinet to assert its
right to legislate upon the question, and the thing would be done.—
The Catholics not being satisfied with this mode of conducting their
gbh', took them into their own hands; and where was the harm
of this, or what was there surprising in it? In this prudent course,
too, they would go on ; and Ireland would go on in her present
progressive increase of wealth, intelligence, and povfer, until she
demanded that as a• conquest which they now sought as a boon.
The Right Hon. Gentleman who had just spoken, said he had too
good an opinion of the Catholics to believe they would ever throw
themselves into the hands of a foreign connexion. If they could
not find friends at home why should the Right lion. Gentleman
indulge in such a hope? At the present moment 25,000 men could
march through Ireland, notwithstanding the 2,500 Priests and
the army of 30,000 Collectors. • But if war should arrive the case
would be different. Did they suppose the enemies of this coun-
try would not find out the vulnerable point of Ireland?—
He asked the Right Hon. Secretary for Foreign Affairs, if France
and Spain were among our enemies, whether he thought they would
tsot seize the opportunity to return the compliment they owed us,
by acknowledging the independence of Ireland? lie knew that
Ireland taimately came back to us; but why were 'we to wait?
because six Gentlemen out of thirteen would not do what they were
declaring every day of their lives they ought to do? 'They were
driven to cabals and deeds of darkness to obtain these their recog-
nised rights. A minority he was convinced, could be formed on the
Catholic side of the question ; but he believed the personage he had
before alluded to could as soon raise the dead as supply the place of
the six that must go out in the other event. lie sincerely hoped
that they would have recourse to such a measure, which would at
once prove a remedy, instead of having a fresh grievance, u on the
present occasion, to complain of.
Mr. BROUGHAM then rose, and moved that the House should
adjourn until Monday, for the further consideration of this question.
'The lion. 11. G. BENNET seconded the motion.
The House then divided—Ayes, 70; Noes, 252.—0 n a second
division, the result of a similar motion, there were—Ayes, 76;
Noes, 231.—Before strangers were readmitted to the gallery, the
Howe agreed to the adjournment, and rose at ii•El4Atit Chat, af-
ter disposing of the Orders of the Day.
•••••••••••MMIMINIMEIMO

yesterday, the Lords Committee to continue the in-
mirky of last Session regarding the State of Ire Lind, met for the
Ara tine in one of the Committee-rooms. They assembled at one
o'clock. There was a full attendance of members. The Marquis
of Lasseown was appointed Chairman. They adjourned to Wed.
nesday next, after baying made arrangement* as to the form of pro-
ceedings, and ordered the attendance of witnesses.
Upwards of 1,000/•
have been subscribed for the
family of the Rev. Mr. MATUSIL
True Bills, for wilful and corrupt perjury have been
found by the Grand Jury, against Michael Corcoran, Margaret
Aids, and Sarah Taylor, three principal witnesses to support the
prosecution of the Marquis of Westmeath against Connell and
others, at the late Commission, for a conspiracy.—Dublin Paper.
The Proprietors of the Levant Company assembled
yesterday. The President, Lord GRENVILLE, took the
Chair, and addressed the members at some length on
the dissolution of the Company. His Lordship returned
them thanks for the honour they had so long conferred
upon him, as Pi e,ident of their Body; and expressed
his gratification that, in dissolving the Company, Go-
vernment entertained no feeling of hostility towards
them, but that the liberal policy of his Majesty's Mi-
nisters, in widely extending trade, bad alone led to the
dissoluticts of the Company.

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