The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-03-26 00:00:00

promotion

This bright example has evidently .captivated the
imagination of our neighbour the Rector of Wallasey;
and, as it is usual with men to imitate what they ad-
mire, we see him evidently treading in the steps of
his distinguished and successful predecessor. Doctor
Byrth has now also started in the "blessed cause of
Christian charity," and if bishoprics are to be had for
toadying Popery and denouncing "Protestant Associa-

tions," we see no reason why, if he be as "

unflinch-

ing" and as little squeamish, he should not be as suc-
cessful as others who have moved in the same lino, and
obtained their reward.

Hamlet says, " why may not imagination trace the
noble dust of Alexander till he find it stopping a bung-
hole ?"—and he is answered, that 66 'twere to consider

too curiously to consider so ;" but it would surely not
be considering too curiously at this day, to ask, why
"imagination might not trace out the elevation of
Church of England clergymen to the episcopal bench—
to a conclave of Popish priests or an Irish dema-
gogue ?" It would be easily made out, and " like-
lihood to lead it" too. It strikes us that the Doctor

is just in the track. He has shown us by his pub-
lished letter which of the bishops he would prefer
for a model; and, that there may be no mistake
on this point, he is particular and specific, as
,well
as general in his statements. Having intimated how
averse be is to disturb the equanimity of Popery
by controverting its errors, he proceeds next to show
how much he deprecates the existence of " Protestant
Associations." His language on this head i 3 fervid
and flowing : •

" Cordially
bishop, agreeing with the general statements of the
1.), and, more especially, with that in which his lordship
asserts his conviction—a conviction which, I believe, is ra-
pidly prevailing among the wea-infornzed classes of the
country of all parties—of the injurious influence of the pro-
ceedings of Protestant Associations, I shall feel indebted to
you, if, by publishing this letter, you will allow one the op-
portunity of stating to the public," &c.
After so explicit a declaration, we think it scarcely
possible that Daniel O'Connell will overlook the sin-
gular merits of this new candidate for the mitre. No
controversy, no Protestant Associations should there be
in his diocese, if they would only have the kindness to
give him one ; all should be peace and amity—" blessed
Christian charity"—and shaking of hands with good
old Popery.
The Rev. Doctor has much sophistication on the
subject of the " injurious influence" of Protestant As-
sociations ; but we must leave the disentanglement of
this curious web to another occasion. We need
scarcely, say, in the meantime, that the condemna-
tion of Protestant Associations by candidates for Po-
pish favour and Whig preferment, is one of the strong-
est testimonials in their favour.

The speech with which General Harrison has opened
his presidential reign, though far from being an inte-
resting one to us, was, on the whole, a very suitable
one to the good people of the States, who have evi-
dently got more sail than ballast on board of late, and
want nothing so much as " something heavy" to steady
them. 'With this view, we take it, this inaugural ad,
dress was framed ; and whoever will take the trouble
to examine the contents, will find that it was tolerably
well composed to effect this object. Every exciting
topic is carefully avoided. There is not a word in it
about M‘Leod, or the boundary question; and what-
ever is said on any subject of interest is so carefully
enclosed in generalities, that we defy the most ardent
republican not to be cooled down, rather than calori-
fiqd, by the reference. We give the General great
credit for this his first essay. His dulness is, to our
mind, whatever others may think, a satisfactory proof
of his discernment and ingenuity; and we sincerely
hope that his mercurial and too buoyant subjects will
be improved by the pains he bestows upon them.

Their attention is wisely directed, in the first in-
stance, from the dangerous practices of piracy, mur-
der, and robbery, to theoretical speculations on the
nature of governments in general, and on that of the
United States in particular. The greater part of the
address, indeed, is occupied by these abstract and dry,
but doubtless instructive and, as we have said, appro-
priate inquiries. It partakes, therefore, of the charac-
ter of a lecture at a mechanics' institute, and is head-.
ifying, if not amusing. It is a sort of Benthamiad,
with a sprinkling of classical allusions, which the Ge-
neral had carefully picked up in his study of Gold-
smith's histories of Greece and Rome, recently under-
taken by him with this particular view; and it is, at
all events, on the whole, quite as good as an anti-corn-
law lecture by our townsman Mr. Duffey.
The General, it would seem, is indisposed to mag-
nify his office, and will seek to abridge, rather than
increase its privileges. Whether he be sincere in this
declaration, or otherwise, time only can tell ; but if he
be so, we think he labours under a great mistake. The
executive government is far too weak, and wants forti-
fying much more than the seaboard boundary of the
States themselves. He thinks it a radical error that
the same individual should be eligible to a second term
of the presidency, and for himself solemnly declares
" that under no circumstances will he consent to serve
a second term." He thinks that the keeping of the
public purse (the heavy purse of the States, by the
way), along with the entire patronage of the army and
navy, is an instrumentality of too much power, and
too great temptation, to be left in the hands of a single
magistrate; and he strongly recommends a repeal of
the " unhallowed union of the treasury with the exe-
cutive department." Well, we should tot think there