Star.
London, England, 1827-03-20 00:00:00

1

• s •••

BRITISH CATHOLIC MEETING.

Yesterday. a Meeting of the British C.atholici was
held at The Crown and Anchor, Taverp, Strand, for the
purpose of taking into consideration the resent state
of their affairs.—The Meetiag was announced for one
o'clock, but long before that hour the smaller room
was nearly filled.
Soon after one o'clock, thy: Duke of Norfolk entered the mom,
and was greeted with loud cheering. His Grace was accompanied
by Lord Stourten, Lord' Dillon, the Hon. E. Perre, Sir John
Burke, Mr. Canning, of Fozcote ; Mr. Eyston, of Hendred; Mr.
G. Eynon, Mr. Blount, Mr. Ileneage, Mr. Tunille, of Bosworth;
George Burke Kelly, of Acton; Mr. Charles Butler, Colonel
Stonor, the Rev. Dr. Collins, Mr. Wheble, of Wallow; Mr.
Atexander Dawson, M.P. Mr. nns MacdonntU, Mr.French,&c.
The Meeting was graced by the attendance of the
two Mines TA plOT„ and other respectable females.
On the motion of Sir J. Boasts, the Duke of NOREOLK
was called to the Chair.
His GRACE addressed the Meeting to the following
effect :—Gentlemen, about two years ago, I had the
honour of being in the Chair in this House, and at that
time our affairs were in a somewhat different state to
what they are at present. Our claims had then been
conceded by the House of Commons, and rejected
by the Lords. But though we may appear to be in
a worse state now than we were then, yet I think
that if the state of the minority in the House of
Commons is considered, we might rather congratu-
late ourselves than. otherwise—(Hear, hear.) For I
believe if the whole House could have voted, we
should have had a majority—(Hear, hear.) Including
those who were favourable to us, many of whom staid
awls-, and others who did not vote, who might have
had inducements with a bich I shall not trouble you,
for neither voting one way nor the other ; if they had
voted, we should have had a very great majority in
the House of Commons. Gentlemen, that puts usinto
a better state than we were before; and certainly, in
the more populous pat ts—the manufacturing towns—it
may be observed that we have made great progress—
(Hear, bear).—Perhaps, in the agricultural parts of the
country, we may not have made so much; but there it
must be considered, that whatever the .Parson says is
law. The Parson has only to talk of bloody Queen
Mary, of burning Smithfield, of hobgoblins, and that is
enough to disgust people, and confirm their prejudices.
But even there, I trust, we ate gaining ground; so
much so, that in a short time it will be impossible to
resist the English rights of British subjects—(Hear,
bear).—Not only the rights of Catholics, but of Pro-
testants—the civil rights of all mankind—and I trust
that without considering a man's faith (for that is be-
tween himself and Gon); the civil liberty of British sub-
jects will be what all will consider we ought to have the
free exercise of. Considering that in the minority there
is all the talent, and a great part of the property of the
country united, 1 think that those who oppose such a
minority as that must soon degenerate into a sort of
faction that will hardly dare to drive our, Catholic
countrymen in Ireland to extremes, by withholding the
claims of six millions of men. Gentlemen, it is not
my intention to occupy the Meeting long, but I can-
not help adverting to one circumstance that took place
in the late debates, as reported in the Newspapers. It
is, that Mr. Peel, whom we might have considered at
length as a generous enemy, on this occasion has acted
quite otherwise—(Hear). He has -endeavoured to fix
on es the stamp of idolatry, from our not acknowledg-
ing, the second Commandment. (Seth an argument
Arts founded merely on this, that 134 "bas taker up an
Irish Catechism, abridged in several parts, for the sake
of lounger' persons, being the more able to learn it ;
an'd that Commandment, being patily omitted in that
abridgment, be has grounded on that an imputation cf
idolatry on our whole body.—l will read that part cf
the Catechism to you ; it was printed in 1774, and is a
proposal for Catholic Communion—for the uniting the
two Churches. In one of the sets of Catechisms, the Com-
mandments that are of any length are set down.—(His
Grace then read the different forms in which the Cate-
chisms are printed, proving that the parts left out in
the abridgment are inserted fully in the other Cate.
chism).—Now, I think, that the Secretary of the Home
Department should, before he attempted to fix on us
so abominable an imputation, have examined the whole
of our Catechisms, and seen how our tenets were ex-
plained. I think what he did was below what we have
seen of him at other times, that of an honourable op-
ponent. However, I was anxious to explain this, as I
felt it to be necessary; and having done so, shall leave
the Resolutions to be discussed.

Lard STOUBTON then moved the thanks of the Asso-
ciation to their Secretary. Edwatd Blount., Esq. whose
conduct he highly eulogised, and requested him again
to undertake that office.

The motion was can ied unanimously.
Mr. BLOUNT said, the cause for which they were as-
sembled was that of civil and religioussliberty. Although
no crime was attributed to them, they were deprived of
that liberty which confers dignity on human nature.—
He would tell them, that the ancestors of the Noblemen
and Gentlemen who were now around him, had fought
and shed their blood for the liberties of Englishmen,
and that the Protestant's liberty rested on a very in-
secure foundation when the Catholics are deprived of
theirs for such trifling reasons. It was said. that
the Catholics wanted political power, and wished
to overthrow the Established Church. But it was
not the object of the Catholic, to obtain political power,
but relief from political degradation.—(Hears hear 1)—
What danger could arise from the passing of this Bill?
Only eight Noble Lords would be admitted to the
House of Peers, while they had a whole Bench of Pro-
testant Bishops and a host of Protestant Peers, to rise
up and protect the Established Church. To the Houle
of Commons, for half a century, not half a dozen Ca-
tholic Members would be admitted ; and how was it
possible for so small a number to command a majority ?
It was not the wish of any person present to overturn
the Established Church ; but he could not say much
for the value of the Establishment, if it were political,
doctrines that it taught, instead of thitye of charity and
peace. No Catholics would wish their pulpits to echo
anything but the doctrines of charity.
The Hon. Mr. PETRE said, that since they had last
met, a debase on the Catholic Question had taken place
in the House of Commons, and though the result was
not of that eviiiirating kind that could be wished, yet
he, ac an Enos!' Catliol-t, saw no reason to despond,
when dal conociereil the sharnelul canvassing resorted
to, and, above all, the underhand influence used for in•
suf* the maknity. The Hon. Gentle•mait concluded
by entreating the Roman Catholics of Ireland to bear
their defeat with .temper, as the English Catholics did.

Mr. Rosatx observed, that the cause of the Catho-
lics was gaming additional strength eve!), vine it
was agitated. Their cause was sacred, from the fir
,iren they had lighted their totches, and he

• .j-1

[trusted soon to tee it.bwn .in every British breast with
la fervour that would chew the firmness of an injured
patty, and die justice of an opposing one, in granting
their rights. Nearly all the junior branches of the No-
bi:ity in the Universities had expressed their abhorrence
of that bigotry which had so long fired the breasts of
their opponents. Mr. Peel had asked, what was to be
gained by Catholic Emancipation? It was well known
that he (Mr. Peel)'had gained everything by his rippo•
sition to it.'He had gained his Secretaryship by his op-
position to it, and it now appeared that he a fished to gain
more. The earned Gentleman concluded by expressing
his certainty that by firmness and constancy an injured
people would it length recover their rights.
Mr. E. MiDousteL said, all the evils of Ireland were
owing to England. His first feeling, upon hearing of
the defeat of the Catholic Bill, was disappointment, and
his second, discontent ; for Sir F. Burdett asked for
no boon to the Catholics, but for their admission within
the walls of that Constitution. The majority of the
Irish Members voted in favour of freedom, the majority
of the Scotch Members also voted in favour of free-
dom ; and it was England alone, the admiration of sur-
rounding nations, that declared herself, by her Repre-
sentatives, opposed to freedom. But the Catholics must
now look to their own exertions—they had too long
been on the defensive, they must now assume the offen-
sive—(Applause).—They must use all those exertions
which the law sanctioned to obtain for themselves
those civil rights which a free man must value more
than his life. He could hardly find words sufficiently
strong to express his disgust at the unworthy means
resorted to for the purpose of procuring the majority.
Had Lord Liverpool been in the possession of his ener-
gies, he would have been shocked that a cause which
he advocated should have been disgraced by such prac-
tices. Immediately after the last debate, he wrote to
Doctor Doyle, to request of him an explanation on
some of the doctrines imputed to the Catholics by Mr.
Peel. Is his answer, the kind Prelate expressed
his astonishment that ifr. Peel should have departed
from his high station, of an open and candid op•
ponent, and have descended to such arguments as,
those now attributed to him. If the Right Honour-
able Gentleman had turned to his (Dr. Doyle's)
evidence before the Irish Committee, he would have
there found a refutation of the unfair charges which he
brought against the Catholics, founded on their mutila-
tion of the second Commandment. The Catholics had,

in fact, preserved the terms as well as the spirit of the
Commandments,-although the form in which they were
given did not correspond with that obtained in the Pro-
testant Church. All that we knew of the Ten Com-
mandments was this, that ten precepts had been deli.
*red, but no one could say in what order.
Counsellor FRENCII made a most eloquent speech, iu
which he severely animadverted on the speech of the
Master of the Rolls, in the House of Commons, and
was continually cheered during the delivery of it; and
we regret that our limits will not permit us going into
it at length. After which,
Alexander DAWBOII, Esq. M.P. next addressed the
Meeting, and strongly impressed upon it the neces-
sity of a firm, temperate, and constitutional line of
conduct, and he bad no doubt but the justice of the
cause would triumph over all the obstacles which pre-
judice and bigotry could array against it—.(He sat
down amidst immense cheering).

Dr: ftor.razi and several other Gentlemen, addressed
the Meeting, when a series of Resolutions passed ; after
which Lord Stourton being called to the Chair, thanks
were voted to the Duke of Norfolk, the Meeting give
three cheers for Enghad, and three for Ireland, and then
separated.

ROYAL HUMANI Socurrv.—The Anniversary Sa-
moa of this excellent Institution was preached on Sunday in the
Church of St. Martin in the Yields, by the Rev. Mr. ()guy, A.M.
Prebendary of Durham. Previous to the Sermon an Anthem was
exquisitely sung by Miss Ga.tnison. There was a very full con-
gregation. Of the numerous persons restored by the means
recommended by the Society, several attended Divine Service on
this occasion. We understand that (luting the present winter no
fewer than 251 accidents have occurred at the Serpentine River
and St. Jameis Canal, of which number 22$ individuals ban been
restored.

BIUTISH SPIRIT/S.—From Returns which have been
just laid before Parliament, an immense increase of the total quan-
tity of spirits distilled in Great Britain and Ireland appears to have
taken place within the last three years. The whole quantity dis.
filled in the year 1924 was, In round numbers, fifteen million
gallons, imperial measure, and in the year 1826 the whole quantity
was twenty millions of gallass, being an increase of five million
gallons within this short period. Of this increase, about half •
million belong to England, about two millions to Ireland, and about
two and a half to Scotland; 'so that the increase in the quantity of
spirits distilled in Scotland amounts to the whole Ancrease of Eng-
land and Ireland. The quantity of spirits imported into England
from Scotland was, in the year 1824, about a million gallons, and
in 1826 nearly three millions and • quarter ; so that the increased
importation into England nearly miters the whole inctease of dis-
tillation in Scotland. The whole quantity imported from Ireland
was, in 1824, about half a million gallons ; and in the year 1826,
this quantity had not increased by more than a quarter of a mil-
lion. It is obvlous, therefore, that Scotch whiskey is a much
greater favourite in this country than Irish. If the quantity of
spirits distilled in England, together with the quantity Imported
from Scotland and Ireland into England, may be taken as a fair
measure of the quantity of gin and whiskey drank in England due.'!
log a year,—as the quantity was for the year 1824, about four mil.
lion gallons. and fur the year 1828, about seven million,—it would
appear that within the period of two years the number or capacity
of gin-drinkers in England has nearly doubled !
CONVICT HULK EaTAIILISHMENTe—F/0121 'MUMS
ordered to be laid before the House of Commons, by Mr. Cams, I
Superintendant of the Convict Hulk Establishment, it appears that
It consists of ten ships, stationed at Plymouth, Portsmouth. Sheer-11
nets, Chatham, Woolwkh, and Deptford, together with two ships
stationed at Bermuda. For the half year ending the 51st Decem-
ber, 1826. it appears that the total number of convicts employed on
board these ships was about 5,700, that the expense of the establish- I
ment was 44,3281. that the earnings of the ships were 52,5511. and,
consequently, the clear cost to the country was about three guineas
for each convict. This is exclusive of the establishment at Bermuda,
where there are 700 convicts, and where the ge expenses and
earnings are in about the same proportion as at the borne establish-
ments. The convicts are employed in the Royal Dock-yards, and
in the construction of public works, with the exception of the boys
in the Euryalus hulk at Chatham, who are employed in making
clothes and other articles for the prisoners. It appears, that on one
ortwo occasions these boys have been very refractory, in conse-
quence of the ship being too small to effect a due classification—a
measure which Mr. Ca tates to be absolutely necessary to
keep them in a proper state of discipline.

Wednesday night, the house of Mr. CAULDON, to
Paula-place, Walworth, was broken into, and the bottom part of
it completely ransacked, and stripped of plate and clothes to a con-
siderable amount.

The name of the GeAleman, whe,se performance of
Othello excited so much interest at Drury-lane, last
week. is SMITH, and he is said to be the son of a British
Admiral. The sum which he paid to the lessee for
liberty to enact the Mot r was 150/. according to the
terms of his engagement with Mr. Placa. They were,
1001. for permission to play, and it the receipts, ins.
eluding that snm did not amount to 3001. the debutant
was to make good the deficiency. The mother of the
young histrio was in the b 'set. and was very vehement
in the plaudits she bt stow cd upon her son.

of He