Star.
London, England, 1826-01-07 00:00:00

CA.TIIOLIC ASSOCtATIO:

11i, Grace the Duke of /sioarout has returned the fol-
.
ansirez to Mr. o.Goamiss's letter, inviting him.
,o take the Chair at the Meeting of the Roman Catho-
lic Association in Dublin, on the 10th inst.

Fornham, Dec. 20. 1825.
Sts—l hag you will assure the Catholics of Ireland, that I
Lig!.ly prize the honour they have conferred upon me, by inviting
roc to fill the chair, at•the meeting of the Catholic Association, on
thr 10th of January nett. It is with unfeigned regret that I feel
c:;!!esi upon to decline a station of such high Importance. Possessing
o pmperty, and being distinguished by no title, connecting me lo-
HI). with Ireland, I should consider it a presumption to take a
Chair, which, in my opinion, would be more suitably SUM by an
Irish Catholic Nobleman of eminent private virtue, and long-
tried worth. _ _

The Trish Catholics will do me the justice to believe, that T tate
o'e most lively interest in their welfue, and appreciate as I ought
•. b opine elate, the value of the entire cordiality which subsists be-
tween them and the English Catholics, bound together as we are
the same views, interests, and duties, by a common faith and
common wrongs.

The Irish Catholics will find me, in all seasons, the active pro-
e'Wer of every measure calculated to relieve Ireland from the dis-
raceful remnauts of a partial code, which has so long oppressed
;-d disfigured tbat fair portion of the British Empire, condemned
sterility her fertile soil, and sunk in abject misery her active,
Tardy, and sagacious people.
The injtidous effects brought upon the whole community, by
•i!e unjust anti impolitic coercion of a portion of it, are now clearly
vide/stood, and t am fully convinced the day cannot be far dis-
tart, when the Catholics of Ireland will enjoy the protection and
hnppiness they deserve, under the mild administration of just and
equal laws.
To you, Sir, personally, and to Mr. Shiel, I return my sincere
etanks, for the Battering expression of your good opinion.
I have the honour to be, Sir, your faithful, obedient. and hum-
ble servant, NOR FOLK.

\wholas Purcell O'Gorman, r4q.
Secretary to the Catholics of Ireland.

KENT ASSIZES.

MAIDSTONE, JANUARY 3.

Joseph Blundell and Samuel Knight were indicted
nailer L rd EllenboroiNh's Act, for maliciously cutting
George Pearson, with intent to murder him, at East
larleigh, on the 22,101 November last. The prisoners'
/Lid been committed under the Poacl.ing Act, 57 Geo 111.
It appealed in evidence that the prosecutor, who is a
servant in the employment of a Gentleman of fortune,
named Charlton, at East Farleigh, was out in one of
his master's woods, on the night of the 22d of Novem-
ber, for the purpose of protecting the game, and whilst
in the act of preventing some pheasants from settling
on the tree, the prisoner Blundell came up and struck
him. A violent scuffle ensued, and the prosecutor re-
ceived several blows from a gun which the prisoner
had in his hand, the butt end of which broke off.
There was another man in the prisoner's company, who
could not be identified. The prisoner and his corn.
onion, after the scuffle, ran off, leaving the prosecutor
senseless on the ground. An assistant of the prosecutor
J,ad left him when the affray commenced, for the pur.
pose of procuring assitance. When the prosecutor
came to himself he found he was desperately wounded
in hi. left thigh, with a knife, or some sharp instru-
ment. The wound penetrated to the bone. On the
scene of action were left a clasp knife, and the frag-
ments of a gun, the latter of which formed part of a
gun which the prisoner Knight had got repaired at
Mai4stone on the 23d of November. Posi ive evidence
was given of Blundell's identity, but the case against
Knight rested only upon circumstances of strong sus-
picion. A surgeon who had examined the prosecutor's
Wounds proved, that the wound on his thigh must have
been inflicted with it shaip instrument. He had sus-
tained other bodily injuries.
The prisoners denied their guilt, but the Jury, antler the
Learned Judge's directions, found Knight Net Getilty, and Blundell
Gediliy, against whom sentence of Doak was recorded.

Ge orie Lawrence was indicted for assaulting John
Hawley, an infabt of the tender age of two years, at
iiiavescid. on the 5 h of November, with intent to
murder him.

The prisoner, by trade a shoe-maker, had married
1: le mother of the little boy, and lived with her at
Gravesend. In the course of O.tober and November,
the next-door neighbours had theZr attention aroused
tin several occasions by the brutal ill-treatment of the
child by the prisoner. 'I her remonstrat 11 with him
upon his misconduct, but he reproached them for inter-
fering with him in the minasemernt of his own family.
Oa the night of the sth of November, Mrs. Armstrong,
a next•door neighbour, heard the violent cries of the
child, and the splashing of some water in the pi isnner's-
sitting room. She looked out at the window, and saw
the private' immersing the child in a tub of water, its
♦oice being nearly Stifled in its struggles for life. Upon
calling to the pi is,,ner, he abused her in violent tei ms.
and told her that he had a right to do what he pleased
v.ith his own. lie said that the child was ditty in its
habits, and that he only wanted to cure them. Next
day the prisoner was taken up, and on examining the
child's body, it was found marked in several- places
with severe bruises, from the blade-bones to the legs.
When taken before the- Magistrates the prisoner ad.
netted that he had struck the child once in a passion,
and put him into the water once, merely to cure bias
ct certain offensive habits.
The prisoner now declared that he had no Intention of injuring
'l child beyond moderate correction.
The Jury, under the Learned Judge's direction, acquitted the
frlsoner of the intention to murder the child, but convicted him
nt an assault, and he was sentenced to three months imprisonment
in the county gaol.

Daring the first anxiety experienced at Falmouth,
uith reference to the Bank of Messrs. Calm and C".
In old woman, who had one of their notes, hastened to
,e cute herself from loss by exchanging ir. On reaching
tie bowie, hos*ever, and perceiving the unusual bustle
:it the entrance, she turned back and pock, ted the note,
fissuring a companion that it was quite safe, " lor they
%ere doing more business than in all their lives before."
Wednesday the 28th ult. a Grand Dinner was given
by upwards of one hundred and fifty Gentlemen of the
county of Londonderry, to Mr. DAWSON, in compliment
dminguished services as Member for the County;
and ass proof of the high regard which•allshis consti-
tpeuts have both for his public and his private conduct.
liter tie usual toasts had been drank, together with
e health of Mr. Dawson, that Gentleman returned
in an eloquent speech, in which he took a most
"nrehensive view of the conduct of the mischievous
Catholic agitators—nilicing with infinite point the
afferent tactics adopted as well in England as in Ire-
land, and commenting with just severity on the shame-
less perversion of facts attempted to be imposed upon
the world by designing men. • Towards the conclusion
of his speech, he gave a most admirable and forcible
criticism on the insidious expedients of the leiding
144mb, particularly that of Mr. O'CouNet.t., which
Ih'skesq been characterized a hspi y specimen of well-
directed lathe, but of saute strictly in conformity
sith truth,