The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-04-20 00:00:00

they would only Attond a little more to tho reform of

thoir own Ilat4tg,

ink% a triple io Yfttlor vulva.

nions in the halide of one whose Itsino.c it is to flat.
ter the prejudices, and exalt the majesty of the people,
and tells them too plainly to look at home for the re-
medy of grievances which it is much more agreeable
to, and congenial with the weakness of human nature,
to look for abroad. They quote Scripture too, but
their quotations are usually made, like those of Sir
Joshua Walrnsley, with a talent only for the most lu-

dicrous perversion. There are some Scriptures, how-
ever, to which they seldom allude—such as that which
declares that man shall " eat bread bread by the sweat
of his brow," and that which tells him to " seek first
the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and

that all other things shall be added unto him." Eng-
land, however, will not yield to the mad and mischiev-
ous stage-lecturings of these free-trade monomaniasts.

Of all countries she would he most inexcusable in so
doing, because if we regaid their attempt as a conse-
quence resulting from an excess in her population, no
country possesses greater facilities than she does for
draining off that excess by colonisation.

Our Hibernian sister is at this moment quite a trou-
bled sea of movements. We will not undertake the
part of seers, and presume to say what may be the re-
sult of ell this agitation ; or whether it be for
good or harm. Storms and hurricanes purify the
air, and though portentous, and big with alarm while
they last, are succeeded, in general, by a calm and
freshful stillness, which is conducive to health. Arguing
from such an analogy, we might hope that the moral
and social state of Ireland would be improved by the
violent heavings with which it is at present troubled

from centre to circumference. The conflict between
light and darkness rages through every part of the
land, and in a variety of forms—and considering the
natural proneness of man to evil, and the stupendous
force which it commands, we are astonished at the
glorious battle which the opposing power, so much
weaker in numbers, and so much more fastigious in
the use of means, is able to maintain.

In the first place, if we hear a great deal in this
country (and we can scarely hear too much) of May-
nooth and its priesthood—of the progress made by
Popery, and the fearfully evil influence which it exerts
over the people, we are reminded also—less ostenta-
tiously indeed, but by the most unquestionable evi-
dence,—that the national church, and its efficient mi-
nisters, are not idle on the opposite side—not only in
defending themselves against the enemy, but in re-
ducing his numbers, by gaining them over to his own
side. The anniversary meetings of the religious socie-
ties which take place at this season in Dublin, bring
to light a good deal of information on this point, and
shew hoW completely alive the clergy are to the critical
position of the church, as well as the various means
which they put in exercise to meet its difficulties. In
opposition to that niis-named national, but truly anti-
national system of education which the government
supports, they have established a comprehensive sys-
tem, on strictly church principles—supported entirely
by voluntary contributions. In order to meet other
wants of the country, vanous other societies have been
established, such as Bible Societies, Sunday School
Societies, and numerous others not unknown to many of
our readers. All these are now in full and vigorous
operation, and it is satisfactory to know that in spite
of every discouragement, a large and gratifying amount
of success has attended their labours during the past
year.

But this is only one form of the antagonism that ex-
ists, though doubtless, the most direct and important;
there are numerous others, but of less defined and
more questionable shape. Some of them are such,
that we scarcely know on which side to range them.
There is, for instance, Priest Matthew's Teetotal So-
ciety. That society, we have heard from a gentleman
who has lately travelled through all parts of Ireland,
has made, and is yet making, astonishing progress.
All strong drinks are abjured, and exorcised like the
venemous reptiles expelled by St. Patrick. Whiskey
is only manufactured for the English, and other "out-
side barbarians;" no Rechabite of the Saint's school
will touch a drop of it. The members of this society,
it is said,. now amount to more than two millions ; and
there can be no question on this point, that very many
of the members have been raised from the lowest de-
gradation to circumstances of comparative respectabi-
lity and comfort. But there is a reverse of the pic-
ture—a per contra side to the account. O'Connell
has joined the brotherhood, and from being, as at first,
a society of mere superstition, or really for the reform
of intemperate habits, it is now as much a political
repeal association, as if it had been originally founded
for this express object.
Again, there is a society, with branches throughout
the entire country, whose professed intent, is the pro-
motion of Irish manufactures ; but th;s, also, is liable
to a similar objection—it has been " O'Connel&d"---
and consequently converted into an engine for forward-
ing that honest patriot, and loyal subject's particular
views and designs.
As to the arch-fiend himself, he is ever at work
boldly and busily in what we must call—for it is too
manifestly such—the cause of absolute treason. He
has been unceasingly energetic and active in his fa-
vourite vocation since the adjournment of parliament,
and has now got, in addition to all his other adjuncts,
a society of "repeal volunteers,"—which, if it do not
mean a company or army of " fighting men," enlisted
for this particular service, we really know not what is
to be understood by it.
There has been recently formed, under favourable
auspices and high patronage, an Agricultural Society
for Ireland, in imitation of the great societies of this
country and Scotland, and gentlemen of various poli-
tical sentiments have joined it, as the exclusion of po-
litics is a fundamental principle of its constitution.
Mr. O'Connell, however, hss not given in his adhe-
sion. No; his mind is too intently fixed on one grand
object—the regeneration of his country through the
medium of repeal—and her entire redemption from
English " chains and slavery." He has no heart—no
mind for any lesser instrumentalities of good ; and he
has condemned this society, because, he says, it has a
tendency to draw away men's attention from that grand
object never to be lost sight of—Repeal. An enemy
to every thing that is good, his touch seems to impart
bitterness, and poison wherever it reaches. The cup
that temperance would substitute for the maddening
bowl, this watchful enemy of his country's peace, con-,
verts into a mystic pledge of treason. His breath is
a blight that blasts every wholesome fruit, and proves
destruction to every thing that is not poisonous and
destructive in itself. He will encourage no industry
unless it be devoted to some unlawful service—no re-
form in the habits of his countrymen, unless the devil
is to reap all the benefit. His dark soul revels in no-
thing but " treasons, stratagems, and spoils ;" and as-
sisted as he is by the surpliced janissiaries of Popery,
the question still remains to be decided, whether the
powers of light, or darkness, are in the end to obtain
the victory. We conclude for the present with this
question—is it right that Protestant England should
be a passive and inactive spectator of the contest ?

It has been stated that the gallant Commodore—
who was yesterday most enthusiastically received by
our fellow-townsmen—and into their feelings on the
subject we heartily enter—is charged with a commis-
sion from the Pasha of Egypt, to exert his good offices
for him touching the affair that still remains unsettled
between him and his re-instated master of the Sublime
Porte. If the talents of this breve officer in diplomacy
be equal to his justly-earned reputation as a naval and
military hero, we should conclude that Mehemet Ali
could not have entrusted his interests into better hands ;
but we have some doubt as to the exact truth of the
statement referred to. It is certain, indeed, after_ all
that British valour and military science have accom-
plished, that the eastern question is not yet brought to
that satisfactory termination which we might have ex-
pected. Why this should be the case, we cannot con-
•ceive, since the question now remaining undetermined
is one which the conference in London, or Lord Pal-
merston himself, if he were disposed to deal hand-
somely by a fallen foe, might settle at once without
difficulty. It is ridiculous to suppose that the boy
Sultan Nyould, be so mad as to insist—in his own
strength—on the terms of his firman, which, by saving
to himself the power to select the heir who shall suc-
ceed to the Egyptian Pashalic, would deprive the here-
ditary title to that government of all its value. In
setting up such a claim, we may argue either that he

tufa a promise .of direct support to mako It good, or

an amauranoo that there Rlu i 1 be no intorforanoo with

him In any attempt he may essay to establish it, on
the part of the allied powers. Now either of these'
suppositions, if founded on fact, is in our mind dis-
graceful to the conference, and to our Foreign Secre-
tary in particular.

The Pasha has fulfilled the terms of the con-'
vention on his part. He has, amongst other sub-'
missions enjoined upon him, restored the Turkish fleet,
and we have read amongst the latest dates from Con-
stantinople, a grand description of the Sultan's visit to
inspect for the first time his long lost possession. It
is one of the fruits of those battles so well fought for
him by our distinguished guest, Sir Charles. Napier ;
but it remains to be seen whether the Pasha will sub-
mit to the indignity put,Upon him by the firman, and
be content to hold a government agreed to be given
him as an hereditary possession, clogged with this Sul-
tanic after-thought—this hard, nay monstrous condi-
tion, that the Sultan shall have the selection of the heir
to succeed.

Since writing the foregoing, we perceive that a Paris
correspondent of the London Morning Post of yester-
day states, on the authority of a letter from Vienna of
the 11th instant, that the Eastern question may be re-
garded as settled, for that Reschid Pacha, who had
been only the creature of Lord Ponsonby, has been
dismissed through the united efforts of the Russian
and Austrian ambassadors, and has been replaced by
Rifaat Bey, who was formerly ambassador at Vienna,
and who, since that period, has been in close connec-
tion with Prince Metternich. At Rifaat Bey's first
conference with Baron Sturmer, the new minister for
foreign affairs solemnly promised that within a few days
the Porte would publish a new haul scherifir, with the
modifications urged by Austria, namely, the direct
succession to the pachalic of Egypt. This news is said
to have produced a great sensation in the diplomatic
circles at Paris, not only because of the defeat of Lord
Ponsonby, and his probable recall, but on account of
the complete fall of the systein. of reforms and changes
into which Reschid Pacha had embarked. The abdi-
cation of Mehemet Ali in favour of Ibrahim Pacha is
looked upon as a probable event. •