The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-03-14 00:00:00

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part disposed of in due most be endoteed me the
invoice, with a certificate frost the Custom House at
the Island that the competent datin have ben paid,
otherwise in entering the net port, if the cargo on
board does not eorre•pend with the invoice thus ea-
dorsed, the vessel and cargo are subject to seizure.
I am, sir, your most obedient sercint,

3A311 :11L HODGCII, hill.
To the Collector of the Customs, New Ye*.

(IPROOf THE NEW TOES ETEKING POST.]

Our port Isaace more fairly open, and free from
obstructions by ice. The following vessels are the
first that have been enabled to pet to sea for the last
ten or twelve days :--Ship Zodiac, Barnes, for Newry ;
ship Lucy, Elkins, for New Orleans; ship Alexander
Mansfield, Hamilton, for Londonderry ; British brig
Commerce for New Orleans, brig Edward Foster, for
do. and several coasters.

The sadden change in the weather last Saturday,
from severe cold to a temperatnre not far helow sum-
mer heat, continues to this day. Last night we bad
a heavy and warm rain, which has melted away the
snow and ice, so as to make the walking quite to-
lerable.

The House of Commons yesterday made but little
progress in business. More than one important mo-
tion was postponed, in consequence, it may be pre-
sumed, of the late hour to which they had been kept
by the debate of the preceding night. The Minis-
terial prints this morning are very loud in their out-
cries on what they term " the vexatious proceedings'.
of that occasion. But let them be comforted. We
do not entertain a doubt that the supplies will pass,
and to as large an extent as they ran wi•h ; though
we do not yet expect that the Minister's motions in a
British Parliament, will he carried in the same brief
quiet form as a French King's edicts had hero used to
be registered in the Parliament of Paris. Le•t English-
men have the liberty at least of grumbling, when
their money is voted away.

The University of Cambridge, res are informed, has
joined its sister of Oxford in resolving to petition
against the Catholic Claims. These two venerable
establishments, like the sisterhood of old maids, seen:
to grow more superstitious and childish as they ad-
vance in years. A County Meeting also, it appears,
is to be convened on Friday next, at Exeter, to con-
eider the expediency of petitioning Parliament against
any alteration of the laws, as they now exist relating
to his Majesty's Homan Catholic Subjects. To the
credit of these wise men of the west, the county of Devon
is the only one in England that conceives the Church
to be in danger from the agitation of the Catholic
Question. One would have thought that the Geode-
men, Clergy, and Yeomanry Freeholders of that large
and suffering county, might have easily found some lit-
ter subject for their consideration at the present season.
But Devonshire is almost one of the extremities of
England, and the success of Mr. Prebendary DENNIS
there is worthy of the ages past. In our paper of yesterday,
we gave a sketch of the spirit that prevails in Dublin
against the Emancipation of the Catholics. Where
" Protestant Ascendancy" has become the watchword
of a party, and the principle of its local rulers, no
wonder that some pretended Protestants in Ireland
may take alarm at the appearance of any encroachment
on the exercise of their monopoly of political power.
Where the minority govern the majority, the jealousy
of their authority will always he proportional to its
unfairness. But jealous as a Dublin Orangeman may
be allowed to feel on the occasion, what evil can
any enlightened English Protestant dread ? To
fear that the Catholic religion will again be the
reigning religion of England, is to be terrified by an
event that never will occur. The warmest admirer of
the Protestant Church ought not to wish to see it pro-
tected by persecutions, penalties, and unjust restric-
tions. What injury would arise to that Church, if a
Catholic should become a Legislator or a judge, would
poszle an alarmist to pouring. To diminish the ter-
rors, absurd as they are, of the enemies of the Catlio-
lks, let the situations which a Catholic shall not at-
tain to be defined: say at once, he shall not sway the
sceptre, nr hold any office in the Church, or be Chan-
cellor, Chief Justice of either bench, Commander-in
Chief of the army or navy, Privy Councellor, Speaker
of the Commons, or Prime Minister; and the
exclusion from these offices will be quite punishment
'enough! As it has been strongly asserted that no
pledge was ever held out by Mr. PITT to the Catho-
lics, and that he was not friendly to their views, it is
necessary to recur to the declaration transmitted by
him to the Marquis CORNU•LLIS, in ISOI, and
widely circulated in Ireland. Purr says—" The
Catholics may be assured, that Mr. PITT will do his
utmost to establish their cause in the public favour, and
prepare the way for their finally attaining their objects;i
and the Catholics will feel, that, as Mr. PITT could
not concur in an hopeless attempt to force it now, he
must at all times repress, with the same decision as if
he held an adverse opinion, any unconstitutional con-
duct in the Catholic body." And he desires them " not
to suffer themselves to be led into measures which
can, by any unconstruction, give a handle to the opposers
of their wishes, either to misrepresent their principles,
ores raise an argument for resisting their claims on proper
occasions, until their object shall be finally and advan-
tageously attained." Yet, among the most unrelent-
ing foes of the Catholics are many of the most staunch
disciples of Mr. PITT; admirers of principles and
actions which disgraced that Statesman ; detesters of
the principles that reflected honour on his name.

It is stated 'that the sum deposited by the Queen, on
account of the purchase of Cambridge-house, was six,
sot fifteen thousand pounds ; and that some difficulties
have since arisen, which may probably prevent the
agreement being completed.
111 r. Canning is expected I'l=oll.loly to rotors
to England.