The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-12-11 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL SEEDS, &e.

THOMAS GIBBS and Co. NuasEar AliN, SEEDSMEN C.
to the Hon. Boards of Agriculture of England and • den,
beg to call the attentiou of Landed Proprietors to t. r Selec-
tion of Natural GRASS SEEDS, for laying La to period-
hent Grass, and for improving old Meadows an. • astures, as
also to their GENERAL ASSORTMEN AGRICUL-
TURAL, KITCHEN GARDEN, and F 1 VER. SEEDS.
Dried Specimens of the Grasses, Samples o he Seed, together
with Sample Routs of Mangel Wurtzel, Hungarian Turnip,
Carrots, Parsnips, and a new Beet (used the same at Seakail)
were exhibited by them at tne LiverpOol Agricultural Society's
Show on the Ist October.
T. G. and Co. have been honoured with the above Institutions'
Silver Medals for their exertion in this lateral Branch of Agri•
culture.

T. G. and Co. beg to notify that they have no connection
with another house of the'saine name, and therefore solicit those
who may wish to favour them with their orders to be particular
in the address viz., " Mocks Glees and Co., Corner of Hals,
1110 On-street, Piccadilly, London.

•
MANCHESTER. BOLTON, AND BURY RA VAY.
CONTRACTS FOR WORKS.
rrHE Comin'ttee of Management of the M chester, Bol-
ton, and Bury Railway Company, will o et at the Rail-
way Office, No.l • Harrington-street, Liv• mol, on Wednes-
day, the 16th December next, to receive 'l' DERS for CON-
TR ACTS for the-following WORKS, flat ely
-The construction of. Bridges, Viaducts, Culverts. and various
lithe*MAsonry, &c., needful iii completing the Line from Ir-
well-street, in Salford, to Bolton.
Plans, Sections, and Specifications for the same, may be-
seen at the Raillay Office, Salford, from the 25th instant to
14th December next.

The Putties whose Tenders are accepted will be required to
enter into bond, with two sureties, for the due performance of
their Contracts, iu a penalty of not less than 10 per Cent.. on
the gross stun contracted for ; and the names of the proposed
sureties are to be specified in the Tender. The Committee will
not bind themselves to accept the lowest Tender. The Tenders
must be delivered, sealed, and sent in on the lrith. December,
marked, Tenders for Contracts." The parties tendering must
attend in person, or some one duly authorized on their behalf,
at the time of Meeting.
Liverpool, I lth Nov., 1835.

JAMES ItITSON, Secretary.

CIVET CAT,
../.
61, Loap-stitliF.T, LIVERPOOL. ~."
HZ Proprietors, KENDALL and SON, tesßocifully an-
ez nzAince. that, in order to complete alteratio ;their Esta-
blishment as above will be CLOSED THIS AY, the Bth
instant, and REOPENED on SATURDAY eat, from which
ibty the etailTrade will be continued at 61k ORD-STREET,
awl the. Wholesale renioved to No. 3, Cl-STREET.
. _.

By this arrangement Kendall and Son hope to extend the
Novelty and Variety of the Retail Department, and thus render
it more worthy of the distinguished and uui .ersal Patronage
which they have so long enjoyed.
To their 'Wholesale Friends, Kendall and Son offer their sin.
cere acknowledgments, fur the great increase which they have
experienced; and they trust, by carrviug ou that departaient.in
distinct premises, to be enabled- to devote that attention which
will ensure them a continuation of those favours which t y
have received.
December 4, 1835: •

ITIHAMES HAVEN RAILWAY, front LON D
1 EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY to R
and train thence by 1101INCHURCH, UPMIN '
KENDON, ORAETT, and HORNDON,
HAVEN, about midway between TILBUR
SOUTHEND, Essex, with a TIDE DOCK
V EN.
Capital £450,000, 9,0G0 Shares of £5O •
per Share.
PROVISIONAL COMMIT E.
11.:-.bert Child, Esq. Alfred I earson, Esq.
Thomas Haviside, Esq. Geo. Pemberton, Esq. PALS
Jas. Stiimirez Jephson, Esq. Samuel Pett,
Donald M' Lean, Esq., za.p. I Edward Vuux,
John Martin. Esq. Thus. Wood, Esq. Alderman.
With power to add to their number.
Bankers.
London—Messrs. Glyn, Halifax, Mills, and Co.
Roinforil—Messrs. Johnson and Co,
Counsel for the Bill—Mr. Sergeant Merewether.
Solicitors—Messrs. Vaux and Fennell.

by the
;WORD,

7ER,- OC:
.o SHELL

FORT, and
SHELL HA-

—Deposit £2 105

Engineers.—Alfred Giles, Esq; Beaicke Blackburn, Esq.
Secretary—Henry A msinek, Esq.
A direct communication between the Metropolis and the en-
trance of the Thames, where a safe and commodious tide-dock
accessible at all times of tide, may be constructed fur steam ves-
sels, whether bound to foreign ports, coastwise, or to the water-
ing places on the opposite shores of the coast of Kent, with a
landing-piace for fish, at an hour's distance from the market of
London, is a desideratum attainable only by means of a Rail-
way. From a careful survey it ham been ascertaiued that Shell
Haven (proposed to be called Thames Haven) offers such a
situation, with a depth of water sufficient for the largest ships.
and presenting advantages for the coustruction of (leeks not to
In? found -in any other part of the river. As the itic.inatious of
the Railway will be peculiarly favourable, it has been calcu-
tted that coals way be brought into London at a considerable
diminntiun of the present prices.
It is proposed that the Company should .avail themselves of
the Eastern Counties Railway as far as Rumford, from thence
the Thames Haven Railway will proceed through a rich and
highly-cultivated country within an easy distance-of Southend,
and the fertile Hundred of Rochford to its terminus, but no
charge of Conveyance will be requisite from-London to Shell
Haven.

Although the extent of the probable income cannot be stated
witu accuracy, the basis of the calculation is sufficient to justify
the conclusion that will be large and liberal, as will be seen by
considering that the returns will be derived.
1. From the conveyance of passengers to and from all parts
of the Line, exclusive of Steam-boat passengers.
2. From the conveyauec.of Goods and Parcels.
3. -From the conveyance of Agricultural Supplies, Meat, and
generally the pro•lece of the country in all the varieties required
by the greatt. Market of Loudon, and of the Supplies required iu
return.

4. From the conveyance of Fish to the London Market.
5. From the conveyance of Passengers to and from Steam-
boats, a distance of twenty-six miles by land, in little more than
one hour, at a moderate charge, the distance by water being
thirty -tive miles; •

Arid, eventually, from the carriage of Coals, particularly
f.ir the consumption of ►he Metropolis.
The annual nuinuer of Passengers to:and passing Gravesend
by Steam-vessels is calculated at 1.700,000, of whom about one-
hAf proceed below Gravesend. This calculation is exclusive
of the Scotch, Irish, and Foreign Boats; and it may be fairly
.considered that the advantages which this Station will afford of
perfect security under any weather and at period of the tide, us'
well as the facilities of lauding the Passengers and Goods, will
be speedily appreciated, and consequently may reasonably be
contemplated as a source of great revenue to the undertaking.
A Railway us projected from Herne Bay by Canterbury to.
Dover•wuul+ complete the chain of communication by Steam-
power between London and those places by a direct route,
and, when completed, cannot but add materially to the use of
the Thames Haven Railway.

It is intended to make application to Parliament for an Avt
of Incorporation in the ensuing Session, the requisite Notices
having been given, and the Plan, Section, and Book of Reference
lodged with the proper authorities. The Provisional Committee
will now proceed forwith iu the appropriation of Shares.
All measures deemed necessary preparatory and previous to
the passing of the Act will be conducted by the Provisional
Committee, who are to have the control and disposition of the
Fund constituted by the Deposits. -
Applications for Shares to he made (if by letter, post paid) to
Messrs. VAUX and FENNELL, Solicitors, 32, Bedford-row,
or to the Secretary, at the Office, where plans and particulars
may be obtained.
Thames Haven Railway Office, 34, Alichurch-lane.

ADVERTISEMENT.

Mardian Society,
!es rendered Ly
!Opportunity pass
r thanks for those
ind and courteous
eived our commit:lA-

TO WILLIAM E\VART, ESQ.,
SIR,—We, the Committee of the Liverpool G
feeling deeply sensible of the important ser
you to our society, cannot let the presen
without laying before you an expression of
services, heightened as they are by the
manner in which you at all times have 31
cations; by the prompt attention which
and by the zealous and talented exerti
all occasions displayed in futwardin
natter.

have paid to them

,
Kris which. )ou have un
lie wishes of the earn.

• We feel that to your zeal and 'Menton, we, in common with
'the inhabitants of liverpotd at large, are especially indebted
fur the attainment •of that touch-desired and long-sought ob-
ject, the removal of the assizes to Liverpool. To the various
petitions sent; by the committee on this subject you ever paid
the most zealpu, attention, and you did not relax in your efforts,
tuna.. you •,ba4,4•tully- succeeded great beitetit for
Liverpool, the good effects of which hive been already felt by
its inhabitants; and we feel assuird that it will always be a
sourye of proud gratification to you to know that you have been
instrumental to ouuterriug so great a benefit upon sour native
town.

We cannot avoid noticing also your attentions and exertions
in aiding our endeavours to obtain a repeal of the receipt stamp
duty on mercantile and,trading transactions. by which we have
been successful iu gaining ,at least a partial relief from that
vexation.; and obnoxious tax.

Your unwearied and valuable exertions in pressing on the
House of Qom moms, and on the several committees, our views
end wishei on the subject of tion-imprisOnwent for debt bill,
demand our most grateful acknowledgments. We feel pleasure
in stating that to your exertions we are indebted for obtaining,
un our suggestions, several amendments iu the bill, more par-
ticularly for the amendment of one clause, which would other-
wise, had the bi.l passed, have especially affected Liverpool.
The various reports and proceedings which you so kindly
took the earliest opportunity of presenting to us from time to
time, unsolicited, have been of valuable service to the society.
Such kindness proves to us hole much you desire to aid us iu
our exertions, and fur which we beg to return yuu our warmest
thanks.

Wishing that you play long continue in a situation to ad-
vance our objects, and so render us services so valuable to the
society, We have the honour to remain, Sir,
Your very obliged and obedient.Set4ants,
(Signed on behalf of the committee) J. ORANGE, President.
Liverpool, Deceinher 5, 1535.

A foreigner is said to have remarked that "on entering a
public place in England you observe such a t,ettled nielancho:y
on many faces about you, that if you were in any other collo-
tiy you would be tempted to go up w the persuua and ask thew
what was the matter with thew."

EXTHAOHllitiAlti FALL OF THE SSA AT MONTH VthEo.—
Advices float &bine Video state thatan extraordinary pheno-
menon had occurred there on the 15th and ltith Sept. The sea
suddenly fell so as to leave the mole empty and the vessels so
dry that the anchors wet e visible. Such all occurrence had net
taken place within the tnemory of man, it being 12 feet lower
than its ordinary. elevation. ft remained in this state 30 hours,
when it gradually rose to its ordinary height. The crews of
many of the vessels had deserted in such numbers that several
of them were unable to depart from the want of mariners to ua-
vigate them. Even vessels of war were not exempt from this,
eight or ten men having deserted from the .lirench corvette
there. Tile commandant jointly with the consul had employed
all the means iu their power to preveut this, but hitherto iu
vain.

MEETING FOR THE RELIEF OF THE IRISH
CLERGY.

On Tuesday morning, according to- previous a onouncement.
a meeting was held at the Music Hall, Bold-street. 'The meet-
ing was convened fur the purpose of taking into consideration
the distressed state ofthe Irish clergy, and to call upon the pub-
lic to afford the means of alleviating that distress. The meet-
ing was announced to take place at twelve o'clock, at a little
before which time the room was tolerably well filled, a large pro-
portion of the audience consisting of ladies. Shortly after, the
e4ev. Gentlemen conducting the meeting ascended the platforin,
and the Rev. A. Campbell opened the proceedings with au
ap-
propria,e prayer.
The Rev. J. Bitooks then took the chair. lie said,—ln
opening the present meeting, I would first state the great readi-
ness with which I have accepted the office of chairman, at the
wish of the committee who have bad the management of this
meeting. Ido it, however, with a full knowledge ofmy own in-
adequacy; yet Idu it with willingness. Ido it, but with mixed
feelings both of regret and satisfaction. Of regret, and of very
deep regret, at the existence of those,eircumstances which have
now called us together—the destitute and deplorable state of
the protestant clrgy of Ireland. Ido it also with satisfaction,
when I had the interest created on their behalf, and the re-
spectable and numerous meeting that has assembled together
this day, in order testae their endeavours to relieve that distress.
1 do not feel called upon, on the present occasion, to enter into
any justification of the Motives which have influenced those who
have exerted themselves to call you together, because the ex-
istence of that most unparalleled extent of misery in which the
body of the clergy of Ireland are iaVolved, is far too well and
too widely known to require the necessity of such vindication.
It will be in the recollection of you all, that this is not the first
call that has been made on the behalf of that class of individu-
als whom we are now assembled to assist. A large sum of money
has, on a former occasiou, been collected throughout the coup-
' try ; and I regret to say, that the whole of it has been neces-
sarily expended to supply the wants of the clergy. We are now
assembling on the present occasion—arid in doing so, are only
following the example of the rest of the country—for from one
part of the country to the other the same feeling seems to ex-
tend itself, and the metropolis itsell has given us a noble ex-
ample at the head—to do our part in following up that feeling.
(Applause.) I shalluot attempt to lay before you the distresses
of the Irish clergy, because I am not sufficiently acquainted
with them to do justice to that part of the subject. There are
gentlemen who will address you on that subject, who have the
means, and more than sufficient, to convince you of their destitu-
thin. To them I shall leave that portion of the subject; and
shall only state generally, and 1 do it as it comes within the
sphere of my own knowjedge, that the distress is, .I may hay,
unexampled. That great as was the distress on a former occa-
sion when we Met, it has Since that time been considerably in-
creased, and the distress has approached in many cases to
starvation itself. That those who have been used to enjoy the
comforts of life, have, in many instances, beeu deprived of the
necessaries of life; and iu many instances the separation of
families—of children from their parents-4as become necessary
frorn the inadequacy of funds to maintain them in their own
habitations. These are strong proofs of what must he the
amount of that distress. Arid when we consider who that class
Of persons are, who are now requiring our assistance—that they
are men of character and education—of talent of great extent
in the field iu which the duties of their profession lie ; that after
haying been used to enjoy all the necessaries, and many of the
comforts of life, they are left wit huut the means of common suste-
nance ; that they themselves who have been used to contribute
largely from their own means, are now compelled to be suitors
for their own necessities: sailors did I say? I ought to recall
" the expression—they are no suitors; they 'have borne with un-
flinching fortitude those misfortunes, and those ills, with which
they have been visited ; and in most instances, they have shown
a delicacy, too fastidious, in hiding from the public the extent of
their misery. (Cheers.) I shall not, therefore, longer detain
you in opening the business of the meeting. leaving it to others
better qualified to give you the details, but by expressing my
hope and conviction, that those who may address you on this
subject, will confine themselves strictly to the object fur which
we are met. It has beetle the wish of the committee that we
should confine ourselves to'ihat purpose which ought to be up-
permost in the minds of us all ; and I should indeed regret, if
this room should be made (now sanctified by the object fur
which we are met) the arena for the discussion of topics which
have no connexion with the objects of the meeting. And Ido
hope we shall not sully our Christian purity, by introducing
auything like political feeling. (General applause.) i shall
then conclude what I have to say to you, by calling on Mr.
Campbell, who has kindly undertaken to propose the first reso-
lution. (Applause.)
The Rev. Rector CAMPBELL then spoke nearly as follows
lthough altogether unused and most reluctant to intrude
mvself un meetings like the present, still I have felt myself
railed upon by the position I hoist in the town, to yield to the
request, which has in am:tuner been forced upon rise, by the im-
portunity of influential friends, that I would take a pert in the
proceedings of this 'day, and propose the first of those resolu-
tions which will be submitted to the acceptance of the meeting.
And I am willing or cuuless that my reluctance to undertake
thiretask has been in some measure diminished by the nature of
the resolutiau I shall have to propose, which I am sure will re-
co nmend itself with such au irresistible appeal to the sympa-
thies and feelings of those who hear me, that very little ability
wilt he required on my part to insure its acceptance, and that
the weakn. ss of the advocate will be tnote than compensated by
the strength of the cause. The resolution is this :—" That the
distress of the Irish clergy at fife present is such as to claim ge-
neral sympathy, and to call for tile help of public benevolence."
And it will be perceived that this resolution will resolve itself
into two propositions. First, that there is distress, and second,
that that distress is such as to claim general sympathy, and calls
for the help of public benevolence. (Hear.) And with respect
to the first of those propositions, namely, that there is distress, I
shall not think it necessary to go into very minute details. The
distress is so generally and fully known, that few present will be
disposed to deny or to doubt its existence. The only requisite
will be to prove its afflicting extent and appalling magnitude,
and that I shall leave to two gentlemen locally connected with
Ireland, who will be far better qualified for the task than. I can
possibly pretend to be. It will, however, be necessary for
ins to say a few words as to this particular, iii order
to establish the existence of distress generally—that I may
proceed from thence to argue upon the duty of afford-
lug 'it 'relief; ande_ the first. evidence I shall adduce to this
effect,is,ao extract from a report of. a committee of the House
of Cumulous, to inquire into the ewe of the Irish tithes;
—"The nature of the opposition is.stich, as to elude the ao-
plicatiouof physical force; and it appears that the clergy, un-
wink* to risk the effusion of blood, have latterly so
.far ac-
quiesced in the total cessation of their income, as to abstain
from taking active steps, and to await with patience the deci-
sion of parliament. In making, however, this temporary sub-
mission to the'dictates of an imperious necessity, it is evident
that messy of them have been reduced to a state of the deepest
pecuniary distress ; and that several clergymen, with large
nominal incomes, are in actual want of the ordinary comforts
of life." To this 1 will add the testimuoy of Mr. Little-
ton, then secretary for Ireland, and now a member of the,
House of Peers :—" From the repreeetitations which have been
made to me, I believe that many clergymen of the Established
Church in Ireland, are at the present moment removed but
in a short degree from the necessity of begging for their daily
subsistence " From this I will proceed to an extract from a
speech of Mr. Frederick Shaw, member for Dublin Univer-
sity, during the last session of parliament:— "It is quite
true that the Irish clergy are suffering all the distress alluded
to by Lord Morpeth. 1 will not harrow the feelings of the
house by the long and melancholy enumeration of their suf-
ferings. They and their families 'have been bereaved of the
common comforts almost the necessaries of life. The
education of their children is suspended; and their prospect of
provision cut off by the forfeiture of life insurances on which
they eau no longer pay the premiums. Mao), are driven as ex-
iles from their homes, while the widows and orphans of others
are left to deplore the loss of their only protectors, who have
fallen victims to atrocious murder and cold blooded assassina-
tion. Their patience has been unexampled. Their meekness
such as woulu not have been oisplaved by any other body iu the
community." In addition to the foregoing testimonies I will
read to you some extracts from a letter which has been put into
uty hands by one of our clericalbrethren in this town, who is
of too ietirmg a disposition to take part in the proceedings him-
self. The letter was received by him train a relative of his own,
a dignitary in the Irish church, who is no less distinguished by
his station in that church, than by the niauy excellent qualities
which adorn his character; who knows the truth by. personal
observation, and who, uu that knowledge, may be implicitly
believed. The extra acts are as follows "It gives me great plea-
sure and hope, to lead that iu SO many quarters of England a
spirit of sympathy with their Irish clerical brethren has at
length arisen, mid is making steady progress. It is a pecu-
liarly gratifying feature, that the laity come forward to take up
a prominent position, as indeed, they well may. Be aware,
however, that neither you, nor even 1, will ever know the full
amount of suffering from destitution. Scores of men will nut
conies*, nor suffer tolioze out, the privations endured by them-
selves and families. I can give pretty shrewd guesses, (not in-
deed enough for a court of justice,) nu alsundauce of instances
and those even unsung the higher grades of the profession. I
know two deans, who have not wherewithal to keep their fami-
lies. I know the brother of au sail, ho is glad to receive any
donation which the liberality of friends may atlut to his share
another earl's brother, whose living is just now seenestered, for
a debt of £100! 1 told you, (1 think,) betome, ot a clergyman
who lately came into a market town, and offered for sale his
silver watch, the only thing on which he could raise-money for
his family's food. '1 he nominal amoi.ut of livings now goes
for nothing: there is one dead level of general non-payment.
Judge for y ourself what must be the situation of men without pri-
vate means or wealthy friends, men whose credit is now exhausted
by protracted use; when I myself, one of the ueMinally r best
preferred men in Ireland, do not receive, fruns.tscsolarge }iv-
iuge, haft my fainily; and I believe you-know
that 1 have no particular extravagance, living for some years
past far below my station rather than above it. My curates alone
take I.;3ooyear ; and these I have never curtailed (nor will I) of
one single ehilliug—(cheers)---whatever missy come the rector
shall bear the brunt of it. Nor (be sure) if I, or any other re-
lative of the
lected in England, would he give us a sixpence. You wonder
that there still is money in baud: and visibly blame it. And
now, to the reluctant delicacy which I have mentioned above,
the facts, that the primate wishes every discretion to be used in
distribution; that we neither know how much he may have at
his command; nor how long our distress may last ; or how fear-
fully it may possibly be aggravated yet; and sou may find tea-
sun to be satisfied on this point. Every care is taken to secure
assurances on lives as a prominent point; and here I hope we
have generally succeeded. 1 aims this day sending down
to the diocese of 'Waterford and Usti-lore £SW, the last of
the funds within toy reach" I think I need not trouble you
with any further extracts. I think of have said enough' to
prove what is how my first object that distress exists generally.
Ile details, as I said before, I will leave to those who are better
able to give them than I can be. I now, therefore, proceed to
the second position, to the statement that that distress is Such
as to claim general sympathy. And in doing this I shall feel
myself called ou to abide y the ditections which have been ju-
diciously given by the chairman, and abstain from making any
allusion to party politics or religious controversies. We have
enough of these timings elsewhere. Here, therefore, at least, we
may consider ourselves ha the chidren of one great common
Father; the disciples of one merciful Redeemer; the worship-
pers of one Almighty Gest, assenableci•to promote a cause upon
which it is scarcely possible there should be any division—the
sacred cause of christiau charity. (Loud applause.) Here
we may at least consider ourselves as placed on neutral ground,
and under the influence of a serene atmospheits, where we may
exercise our christian sympathies in harmony and peace. But,
in order to prove the proposition which is now befoie me, 1
can hardly express the emotion I feel when called on to prove
that which, under other circumstances, would, I should have
thought. have been admitted as a self-evident truth. We are
here culled together to consider whether we should give food
to time hungry, drink to the thirsty, or clothes to the naked; and
cuts we doubt the course we shall ensue. We have before us
a body of christian gentletimen, accustomed from early youth to
sit the indulgences of civilized society, obliged to undergo
the gm cutest privations, anti almost reduced to actual star-
vation; we bud their children*dCprived of educatiouril
ad-
vantages;. we hear of them rOmliged to perform the menial
offices of. time households to which they tieioirie; and we find
where men have attempted to secure a provision for their
wives and fellatio: by a life insurance—binding. an addition to

the present miseries which oppress them—they are agonized
with the distracting and heart-rending thought that, when they
are called front this troubled scene, their wives and children
will be left to destitution and poverty because they cannot pay
the premiums of their life insurances. And, more than this,
we see a body of christian' ministers who are appointed to
preach the gospel, upon whom a solemn dispensation is laid to
preach the gospel in a mantle! which we consider to be the
christian truth, and who yet are subjected to persecutions which
almost equal the worst persecutions of ancient times; so that
they would be reduced almost to desperation and despair if they
'were not able to contemplate the prospect of brighter worlds
beyond the grave—to look at -the bright star of redemption
which beams on the forehead of Hint who suffered a crown of.
thorns and bore the cross fur their sakes, and will cause
those light afflictions, which are but for a moment, to work out
for them, we trust, a far more exreediug weight of glory. We
find men in this situation and yet we doubt whether their dis-
tress is to be relieved, and this doubt is expressed and felt, I
Must confess, by benevolent, and honourable, and conscientious
men. It is said by them,—and in what lam now going to say
I must be clearly understood us not expressing any sentiments
of my own, but merely expressing the sentiments of others as a
reason why they do not think fit to relieve this distress,—it is
said; by relieving this distress we are Duly playing the game of
their enemies, mid enabliug the government to encourage the
present rulers of that unhappy country to persist in the policy
which they have hitherto pursued—a policy which leads to the
merciless persecutiop, by their religious adversaries, of a body
of christian ministers will are appointed by the law to preac[i
the gospel to the pour--a line of policy which permits a body of
proprietors to be robhed and spoiled of their property by a con-
spiracy, in direct violation of the law, and which yields to deeds
of outrage and acts of violence, a body of peosceable and unuf-
fending subjects. This, sir, is said by them, but I maintain that
this argument can hardly be considered conclusive in whatever
way we view it: In the first place this argument leaves out of
view the peculiar difficulties which surround this most perplex-
tug questi,)n—difficulties which we know have -perplexed the
wisdom of the wisest statesmen, and baffled the kindness of the
kindest friends. I should, therefore, maintain, it' it were ever
so true, that the Irish clergy were left unprotected, still it can-
not be our duty to leave them to starve. (Applause.) • What-
ever may be the, faults of others—l do not mean to say there is
any fault anywhere, because that is a question quite foreign to
the subject we have in hand—whatever may be the faults of
others, I do think in that christian point of view, we shall be iu
fault if we permit the Irish clergy to suffer under the miseries
that we know they endure. We have only to inquire whether
they are in distress, and whether that distress deserves relief.
That they are in distress I think can need but very little proof;
and that that distress deserves relief i think is a clear fact. But
here, 1 'arts sorry to say, another objection arises. It is said by
many, that the sufferings of the Irish clergy are self sought,
and, therefore, that their miseries are deserved ; an merciful
heaven, what a plea is this ! Shall we, the worshippers of that
God who makes the sun to rise on the evil and the good--1-Shall
we, the disciples of that Redeemer who reconciled himself to ns
while we were yet enemies to him—shall we withhold charity
until it is deserved—shall we talk of merit who can only sue for
mercy ! Forbid it mercy,—forbid it, charity. But with
regard to this accusation against the Irish clergy, I should wish
uo longer to maintain reserve—l should wish no longer to
speak with the language of timidity—l should wish to speak
with my tongue boldly as I ought to speak, and to declare,
standing, as I do, iu the presence of the God of truth, that I
meet that accusation with a direct, and I will add indignant
denial. (Cheers.) Ido firmly believe it to Le a cruel and un-
founded calumny. I believe, on the testimony of, men who
would not deceive, that a more faithful, conscientious, exem-
plary body of christian ministers than the Irish clergy now are
does not exist on the face of the earth. (Cheers.) I have nothing
to do with former political abuses of the Irish church ; we have
only to deal now with things as they are; and I do believe I have
not said a single word more than the truth, and I think, when
1 have been able to lay before you the evidence on which 1
ground my own opinion, that you will entertain that opinion also.
And the first testimony is from one with whom the whole na-
tion is acquainted, and who will be here well known from his
local connexion with the town—l mean Lord Stanley. He
says:—" If the same exertion that has been employed to heap
calumnies ou the Irish clergy had beeh employed in publish-
ing the splendid instances of individual merit which have been
found amongst its members, that ehurch would stand at the

present moment far above the reach of calumny. The cases
of abuse are exceptiuns. The establishment nut only ought
to be, but is superior to any other equally numerous body in all
the highest duties imposed upon mankind." So says Lord
Stanley. It may, perhaps be said that he is a partial witness,
and I hope I may be permitted to glory in his partiality. He
is a partial witness; he has proved his partiality by the sacri-
fice of that which is the noblest prize of a public man—the sa-
crifice of power. But in proving his partiality he has proved
his sincerity also; he knows that he is to be believed. The next
testimony is that of the late amiable and pious Bishop Jebb,
who, whilst in the full exercise ut his ministerial functions, suc-
ceeded in securing the affections of his Roman catholic neigh-
bouts. He is gone to his account, but being dead he yet speaks
of his persecuted brethren in the following terms In that
very province from whence I had adduced a -melancholy in-
stauce of absentee penury, it pleased providence' to raise up au
instrument of good, and that instrument a churchman. If the
London committee were asked who, at that period, stood fore-
most iu every act of beueliceuce and love, they *mad with one
voice pronounce the Archbishop of Tuam; from morn to night,
front extremity to extremity of his province at once the main-
spring, the regulator, the minute hand of the whole chatitable
system. He proved 4iiinself worthy to rank with Marseilles'
lrood bishop, and bend in hand with him to go down to the
atest posterity. But such exertions were not confined to the
highest orders of the church; from, experience of facts I can
testify that the clergy in general were constant, in season and
out of season, to meet every emergency. By their exertions the
Irish peasantry of these deserted districts (under. providence)
were rescued from famine and its attendant, pestilence. Nor
did their labours cease with the emergency of 1822. 1 can lay
my finger on districts in Muuster where the judicious exertions
of the parochial clergy are absolutely creating manufactories
and giving new spring and alacrity to the people.. Missionaries
of civilization, they are in this way preparing' for the social,
moral. and ultimately the religious improvement of a must im-
provable population." Sir, I Could read a large portion of this
book (holding out a'large voitone of parliamentat y evidence) if
1 were not afraid of trespassing too long on the time of my
bearers. What I have read is sufficient. I should only wish to
read from this book the testimony of Major Woodward, inspec-
tor of prisons in irela tot I must, as a public-officer whose du-
ties call site into contact with the lush clergy,declare in com-
mon justice that were it not tor the residence of the parochial
clergy every trace of refinement & civilization would disappear."
To this testimony, sir, I would wish to add that of Sir William
Parker Carrul, a military man and a Boman catholic, and there-
fere not likely to have any particular bias in favourof the clergy.
He says, in his evidence before the House of Commons, which,
though not on oath, was given with the solemnity canal to an
oath !—" The character of the Irish clergy is most benevolent
and amiable, must eminently so; they are, many of them, mild
unassuming men, never meddling with politics, and never throw-
ing a reproach on WA; religious." Dr. Doyle says that " many
of them are extremely 'kind as to acts of benevolence, and their
wives and children not leas well disposed, but their means are
small." I really don't know, sir, whether it will be necessary for
me to go at greater length into this part of mv subject; but at the
sante time I should wish to advert to one thing which may per-
haps be said on the present occasion. It may be asked if the
clemgy are as I have described them, what becomes of the nu-
merous cases of delinquency which are reported in the public
prints? To this I am constrained to answer, that I believe a
great many of those cases are utterly untrue, and that others are
gross exaggerations and misstatements of the
.truth; and I
ground that belief on some facts which came out iu evidence:
before the House of Commons. The same individual whom I
have last quoted adduced a great many instances when before
the House of Contusions against the clergy, and particularly of
cruelty and oppression in the collection of tithes. One of those
instances was alleged to have been committed by the Rev. T.
Vigors, in the parish of Old Lcighlin. One was that Edward
Kavanagh was made to pay ss. tithe for five acres of a barren
marshy mountain. On inquiry it was proved that no such man
lived iu the parish at all. The next was the case of one Kin •
seta, who was obliged to carry a sack of potatoes on his back
four utiles to sell them in order to pay the amount of tithes and
distrainer's fees, and who had been reduced to misery eversince..
Mr. Vigors denied the fact altogether, and his tithe agent swore
that there had only been tour sales to enforce payment of tithes
during eleven years, and that he had orders from the rector
never in one single instance to enforce it under circumstances
of hardship or severity. Again, Mr. Vigors was accused of
having ruined one Michael Neill by a distress for tithes.. It turned
out on sworn testimony that Neill had ruined himself by his
own indolence and extravagance; that his landlord and civil
bill clauses were coining on him; that he was about to emigrate
to America, and that he had been six years in debt to the par-
son, who took no proceedings till other creditors had -begun.
There were two other important misrepresentations which I
must allude to in order to refute the so oft repeated charge of
general delinquency, and then conclude. The first is one made
by Mr. Sergeant Perrin, (then, I believe, Irish Attorney-Gene-
ral,) iu his place in the House of Commons. He mentioned a
parish, in the county of Monaghan, Magheracloomy, where the
Income of the rector was £556 a-year, the said rector residing in
Bath, and never visiting his parishioners. This statemeut, from
such high authority, was received with thundering cheers. But
what were the facts ? The resident curate, W. Ilea-sou, wrote
a letter commencing as follows :—" I believe I never read a
more untrue statement, and it is surprising that men of rank and
education should give utterance to such ungracious statements
without due inquiry. I have known the incumbent above twenty
years; he has been vicar eighteen, residing constantly for the I
first ten. He built and endowed a school, annexing an Irish
acre of glebe to it, and spending £5O out of his own pocket.
He got a church built, and coutributed £6O. ...klaviustsimpaireaL
-his health, he-was ordered to do no duty for two years, and I
became his curate. His wife and one daughter died of con-
sumption, and other daughters being delicate he is forced to visit
a warm climate fur their benefit. But still lie always resides six
- months every year,- and has nut been in Bath for six or seven
years. He pays me my full salary, and gives me a house hand-
somely furnished, with garden, orchard. &e. I believe I ant the
best otiof the two. His tithes are reduced to £332 a year, and
he has not, I believe, got above £3OO fram his parish for the
last three years." So much for this tissue of untruths, exagge-
rations, and misstatements. The next is as follows :—Mr.
O'Cunuor, adverting to the non-residence of the Irish clergy,
said, he had never seen the rector of his own parish ; that the
cnt ate lived out of it ; the clerk fiats teen miles if; and that the
sexton sold spirits without a license it) the churchyard. Mr. Hall,
the curate,!answers as follows :—" I have beeu constantly resi-
dent iu the parish fur serer years, with the exception of four
months. The clerk has beeneonstandy resident six years. The
sexton never at any period of his life sold spirits, either with
or without a license. Anti this is the way in which the
Irish clergy are treated—this is the was in which, in addition
to the miseries they suffer, they are calumniated. I feel that
it will be unadvisahle for me to trespass longer tom your time; I
think I may have said enengh ; 1 will therefore bring my ob-
servations to a close, entreating you to ponder well what I have
said. I eau only beseech you, by the love of Christ, to have
pity on those your distressed brethren, accoiding to your abili-
ty, and in the name of him who has said fur as much as you
have dune it unto one of the least of these my brethren you
have done it uuto applause.)
The Rey. JOHN LYONS, of All Saints' Church, came forward
to second the resolution. He said—Being an !tisk clergyman,
and having for several sears discharged toy ministerial oilice
that country, the duty devolves on use this day of laying before
this respectable meeting evidence as to the nature and extent of
the distress mow actually existing amongst ray brethren there.
In speaking on this question, We should bear in mind that the
distress which afflicts the protestant clergy of Ireland does not
end with themselves or their families, it extends not oulyahrough
their families and amongst their protestant, but also amongst
their Roman Catholic parishioners. It twist be well known to
all persons acquainted with the social condition of Iceland, that
the hinse of the clergyman has ever been the source front a hence
relief has been administered to the sick, to the infirm, to the
aged. and to the poor; that there ail his parishioners,..without
regard to religious denomination, have uniformly come to seek
for the relief of their temporal wants. Therefore whatever dis•
tress falls on the clergyman of the parish it must necessarily tell
on the Roman Cattodics as well as on the protestants of the dis-
trict. In relieving then the distresses of our Irish protestant
brethren, we are not only relieving them, but we are also ena-
bling them still to extend the hand of charitable kindnesi to
those who are living atutaud them. In former years the pa-_r