The Sun. — 1824-12-07 (London, England)

PROTESTANVISM AND THE RENT. A letter was read at the Meeting of the " Association" on Wednesday, from a Roman Catholic Bishop who dates from Letterkenny. In this communication, the Reverend, or Right Reverend Gentleman (for we are not versed in the language of titular courtesy) asserts, that " he had been irequently urged, and most earnestly solicited," by certain " beral and enlightened Protestants and Presbyterians" of his, diocess, to give his public sanction to the collection of the Rent. We do not intend to cast a shadow of doubt on the assertion of the Bishop of Letterkenny,—or by whatever name his diocess may be designated—but we most certainly should wish to be informed what advantages the " liberal and enlightened " persons alluded to, can prose to themselves, and to their fellow-profetssors of 'Protestantpoism, or of Presbyterianism, from the objects contemplated by the Rent Faction. We should like to know, of what grievances and oppressions they complain, to which the Rent is to be applied as the engine of deliverance. In the name of Heaven, can any Protestant, or Presbyterian, who is really such by conviction, he blind to the views of the Faction now struggling for political and religious ascendancy ? Cin they be so besotted as not to understand the more than hints which have been so bountifully thrown out at Bible discussions,-at aggregate meetings, and at every sitting of the Association P. Are they callous to the aspersions cast upon their Religion—are they deaf to the charges of Protestant oppression, and blind to the crime of Proselytism, with which they, in common with their brethren, are accused ? Are they ignorant that, in the language of these regenerators of Ireland, Protestant, Orangeman, and Murderer are synonymous ! The persons alluded to, if the fact be correctly stated, must either be grossly ignorant of the most ordinary transactions now of every day occurrence in Ireland ; they must be in a state of intimidation ; or they must have been most egregiously imposed upon by the smooth chicanery of the holy plyfers of the Rent system ! The politicalintriguers of the Association are determined to avail themselves of the acknowledged talents of Mr. Macdonnell, as their London agent—but is it not obvious that, on a religious score, lie is viewed with suspicion ? Mr. O'Reilly, still, at the last Meeting, opposed that person's appointment—Mr. O'Reilley is an orator, and stood up to state the grounds of his opposition; but it is the extreme of' filly to suppose that the opposition was confined to himself. Father Keogh, would appear, attended the Wednesday's meeting for the express pisspose of giving his opinion that it was a crane in Mr. Alacdonnell to have married a Protestant wife ! His appointment, was, nevertheless, carried on the grounds of his present usefulness. Let, however, the Romisli Church get the ascendancy for which it is striving, and we should then see what would be the reward of these Protestants and Presbyterians of Letterkenny, " liberal and enlightened" as they are now stated to be, and we should be much deceived if the Protestant taint of Mr. E. Maetionnell tended to enhance the merit of his services !