The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-01-30 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD

the old English constitution. It was time enough to call
for a new one when they found the old one was not good,
but, first of all, they should see that the old one was
thoroughly worked, which it had not yet been. The union
of church and state had not been properly carried out, for
if
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what
England was during the reigns of popish monarchs, what
she is now, contrasted her state with that of Ireland and
other popish countries, and showed that even in Ireland
the free expression of opinion could not he exercised as it
was in England. This he illustrated by what had occur-
red at two recent meetings in Dublin, wherein, although
liberal Protestants were present, vet, popery was fostered,
encouraged, and supported, and Protestantism put down.
pen(Asescoolfl
After the collection, the Rev. T. D. GiarGG again etchteiomn
eweatisntgh.en7 made to defray the necessary
ad-
dressedex-
the meeting at considerable length. He had, he
said, before endeavoured to impress upon them the evil
influence of popery, and the saving effects of Protestan-
tism as a system ; that the latter was consistent with
rational liberty, and the enjoyment of its privileges, and
that the former could not exist in the atmosphere of liberty.
He desired to address to them an exhortation to respect
and protect their own rights. For example, even in the
matter of public assemblies and the free dissemination of
truth, there was a spirit of intolerance in popery which
did not spring out of Protestantism. He and his friends
had, the other night, a glorious meeting in Dublin, to re-
ceive their friend, Mr. Ferrand (cheers), the first meet-
ing, he believed, that had been called through an English-
man, in Ireland, in an English cause. It was in the cause
of a worthy and respected Englishman, Mr. Oastler, and
he was glad to say, that they would be enabled to send
.E5O (after all expenses were defrayed), collected at that
meeting, which, he thought, was, under the present cir-
cumstances in that country, no inconsiderable donation
towards the fund. (Loud cheers.) One individual only
had risen to oppose the object of the meeting, and had
endeavoured to cast a slur upon the character: of Mr.
Oastler : but they had patiently heard him out, and put
hint down with a simple question without gagging him.
It was not so at popish meetings. (Cheers.) The putting
of a man down by clamour was most unworthy. He had
himself attended a meeting convened by the Lord Mayor,
at which he had been so treated. He had complained of
the violence he had met with in a memorial to the Lord
Lieut., and if need were he would complain to the Gov-
ernment. Protestant citizens had a right to attend meet-
ings so convened, and he should found his complaint on
not being allowed to exercise his rights. No meeting
ought to put down a speaker by force, or to crush the
expression of public sentiment. (Cheers.) If there were
a majority at the meeting they were in the right to gain
the day, by a show of bands, but not to prevent others
from freely expressing their opinions. With regard to
popery, it was in truth, a mind-undermining, a soul-en-
slaving, and a liberty-opposing system. (Cheers. Was
there, he would ask, no deliverance from it for Ireland?
(Yes.) He himself was banded against it, and his protes-
tant friends were banded to eradicate it out of Ireland.
He had attended the meeting alluded to, the other day,
in the knowledge that he might fall a sacrifice to his ar-
dour in the cause; but, he said to himself, Englishmen
have fallen in the same cause ; they have endured even
the fire itself, in its behalf, and their blood had become the
seed from which sprung religion and truth. (Cheers.) It
was this sacrifice that gave the Englishman a home, and
all the privileges he enjoyed ; and until Irishmen submit-
ted to an equal sacrifice, his country would remain in her
present state of prostration. He went to that meeting in
the premeditation that he might lose his life ; but what
was the lossof one life to the eternal salvation of thousands.
(Loud cheers.) Jesus had himself become a sacrifice, and
our church would never have been established without the
testimony of martyred churchman to be her foundation.
O'Connell was at the first of these meetings, and through-
out hillooed the hounds on to their prey, with a view to
quench the voice of truth. Were they to remain for ever
thus fettered? No! The principles embodied in the
resolution, if fully carried out, would for ever eradicate
popery in Ireland. (Cheers.) Had popery died, when
it was rampant, with all the concession; made to it?
Nov the devil never died ! (Cheers, and jlaughter.) It
was put out: it was thrust out. Cromwell (as he was
just reminded by a by-stander) had found the people
snuiffing after the flesh- pots of the monks - and he col-
lected their mock tears, the wires with which they worked
their puppets, and their relics. He showed them to the
people, and said, "these are their idols." They trampled
upon them, and repudiated both their priests and their
idolatry. The parliament was then more careful of the
morals and religion of the people than now. They circu-
lated controversial sermons—and what else were the ex-
cellent homilies of the Church of England? They also
published Fox's Book of Martyrs ; and popery was thrust
out of England by the exposure of its errors, its ab-
surdities, and its enslaving doctrines. (Cheers.) He
believed the Catholics themselves were ripe for a change,
and would snap the chains that bound them on the first
favourable apportunity. They did not now even resort to
arguments in their controversies. They merely looked
to the concessions made to them, in evil hour, and urged
from them that their religion was getting up and not re-
trograding. Let, then, the country at large have scriptural
education ; let them (the Protestants) withdraw the
Maynooth grant, and all the support to catholic chaplains
in workhouses and elsewhere, and popery would soon
sink. What they (the Protestants) declared was, that the
mass was a blasphemous deceit, and could they do any-
thing, therefore, more foul than support it in any shape ?
(Cheers.) Was it not, he would ask them, most foul.)
(Yes ! and great cheering.) He rejoiced in the enthu-
siasm, for the moment an assent was given nationally to
such a proposition, such a corruption could not stand.
If anything were more forbidden in scripture than another,
it was surely idolatry. When they trampled the com-
mandments of God under foot by supporting it, to His
dishonour, He would withdraw His goodness to them,
in their bread, and in the blessing of their homes,
and their firesides. If they obeyed his precepts,
every enemy would be vanquished, and they would
enjoy every comfort that man could enjoy on earth.. He
here quoted what had been said by the Warder. Were
they to extinguish the light of reason and of science, to
go back to the darkness of ignoranuce and superstition.
No, (said he,) the man who did so was a traitor to
his God and his country, and his proper treatment
was to lop off his head. (Repeated cheering.) He j
He would that that shout went heard throughout
the length and breadth of the /Ind, for it would
show their enemies the irresistible force of pub-
lic opinion. A course might be taken that would
do away with popery in Ireland. (Hear.) If the
Protestants would but all act on principle, and be
united, they would hear no more talk of the repeal of
the union. (Cheers.) The two countries had but to
unite in an indisoluble bond of truth, and if England and
Ireland were so united they might defy the world. All
was to be attained by scriptural law, and Protestant legis-
lation. All their wants and miseries arose from that
principle not being carried out. Were it carried out sel-
fishness and covetousness would be rooted out. They
wanted not novelty or revolution : all that was needed
was a return to the constitutional principles of their fore-
fathers. This was what Mr. Oastler contended for.
(Cheers.) It would heal all their wrongs, for the grand
point was scriptural legislation. But how were they to
obtain that, seeing they bad papists in parliament ? What
was to be done ? (Cries of Repeal the Emancipation
Act," and tremendous cheers.) He really thought from
the enthusiasm shown, that the object was all eady ac-
complished. The rev. gentleman then related a conversa-
tion-he had with a popish alderman who happened to be
his own tenant, and adduced from it, that if the Catho-
lics were pushed and reasoned with, they would them-
selves admit that they had no right to sit in parliament in
this country. The grand duty of parliament was to ele-
vate the public by morality and truth. After several other
Powerful remarks, he concluded by impressing upon the
meeting the necessity of having the constitution fully car-
ried out. Then would God's blessing again fall upon the
empire • then would England again become the envy of
surrounding nations, and the glory of the world. (The
rev, speaker sat down amidst prolonged, and enthusiastic
cheering.)
Mr. DAVIES, a Protestant operative from Dublin, then
addressed the meeting with great spirit and effect, alluding
to William 111. and hailing the kindred spirit which be
found amongst tile English Protestants. He was warmly
received.

THE CHAIRMAN put the motion, which was unaui
mousiy carried.

Mr. WILKINSON moved the thanks of the meeting to
the Rev. Mr. Gregg for his visit, and his excellent ad-
dress, which was seconded by Mr. Irvine, and carried by
acclamation.
The Rev. Mr. Gregg returned thanks in feeling terms ;
but we are precluded from want of space from entering
into further details.
'Thanks were voted to the Chairman, who returned his
acknowledgments, reminding the meeting of the Soire'e
of this evening, and the Doxology being sung, the im-
mense assemblage quietly dispersed.

POPULATION OF LANCASHIRE.—It is not generally
known that Lancashire has become the most populous
county in the kingdom, such however is the fact ; and
Middlesex which a short time since stood at the head, in
point of numbers, is now only rated third.
MORALS AND EDUCATION.—Under this head, the first
number of The Municipal and Poor Law Gazette and
Local Functionary, published on Saturday last, says that
the number of people married in the three years ending
Midsummer 1841 were 367,849, and that of those 112,405
males and 180,260 females, making a total of 301,665
signed the marriage registry with marks. We do not be-
lieve that the statement affords a fair index of the educa-
tion of the parties to whom it refers, for we have known
many instances of parties who could write well having
been so overpowered with trepidation at the time of per-
fecting the Register of the Marriage Ceremony, that they
have been glad to get over the effort required of them by
making a mark, when, under other circumstances they
would have been able to write beautiful signatures.

Loan WELLESLEY.—Lord Wellesley was a perfect
specimen of the Irish gentleman of the old school ; with
a beautiful form, and of the most polished manners and
exquisitely refined taste; thoroughly master of his own
language, and of the highest classic attainments ; abound-
ing in pathos, rich in anecdote, and sparkling with wit ;
quickly perceptive, and yet deeply reflective ; of high
comprehensive resolves; prompt, vigorous, and effective
in action ; quickly discriminating character, and well
adapting instruments for the purposes designed; yielding
confidence most fully, and, with the power that alone be-
longs to genius, pouring into his subordinates the spirit
and energy of a large, vigorous, and well-stored mind ;
kindly considerate to inferiors ; gay, animated, instructive
with equals ; deferential, but proud, to superiors ; ardently
attached to constitutional liberty ; conscious of the re-
sponsibility of political power ; despising wealth ; embued
with pure patriotism ; and, when full of years and honours.
descending into the grave, breathing forth his dying
thoughts for the welfare and perpetuity of the United
British Empires—Montgomery ltlartin's Ireland.