The Sun. — 1804-02-07 (London, England)

LETTER VII.  TROM THE RIGHT HON. THE LORD CHANCELLOR TO THE EARL OF FINGALL. MY LORD, Ely Sept 6, 1803. I find myself as little qualified as your Lordship represents yourself to be, to discuss with the persons to whom you refer me the points you mention. I can only say, that the impression made on the minds of those of the lower orders, certainly does not correspond with the dodrines which your Lordship' represents to he the doctrines of the religion you profess. I have no doubt that your Lordship heartily and conscientiously embraces and ads upon those doctrines ; the whole tenor of your life shews that you have done so : but the whole tenor of the conduct of the lower orders of the people of the Romish persuasion shews, that such dodrines are not effeequally taught to them; and if I am to judge from the writings, as well as the conduit, of some of the higher orders of the Laity as well as of the Clergy, I cannot believe that they are thoroughly impressed with the feelings which appear to guide your Lordship's liberal arid beneficent mind. Oreelie contrary, in many instances it appears 'o me, that :he conduit of some high amongst the Priesthood, is calculated to excite in the minis of those under their care, hatred to their Protestant fellow-subjeds, and disloyalty to their Government. lam assured, from very high and very respedable authority, that (at least in one distrid) the Priests who were instrumental in saving the lives of the loyalists in the late Rebellion, are universally di-countenanced by their Superior* : and that a Priest proved to have been guilty of sandioning the murderers in 1798, transported to Botany Bay, and since pardoned by the mercy of Government, has beets brought back in triumph by the same Superior, to what in defiance of the law he calls HIS parish, and there placed as a martyr, in a manner the most iusulting to the feel. ings of the Protestants; vete!! justice of the coun. try ; and to that Government, to whose lenity he owes his redemption from the punishment due to his crimes f. It is strongly reported, that the successor to Dr. HUSSEY (whose disaffedion was so manifest, that perhaps Government consulted its disposition to lenity much more than its duty, when it permitted him to re urn to Ireland) is to be a man also notoriously disaffected. If the appointment is to be made in the usual manner, at the recommendation of the higher order of your Clergy, I cannot think that much of loyalty is to be expeded from those who recommended such a mans.• If the authority of the See of Rome supersedes the ordinary recommendation, it must be recollected that that authority is now in the hands of France ; indeed it cannot be forgotten, that your whole Priesthood acknowledge obedience to one who is the vassal of France, who exists as a temporal Prince at least only by the permission of France, the avowed enemy of the Government under which we live : under such circumstances, it cannot he believed, that any honest and conscientious means have been or will be taken by the Priests of the Romish persuasion to make the lower orders of the people, composing their congregations, loyal Subjects of the Protestant Government of this Country. I have the Honour to be, with the sincerest re. sped and esteem, My Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient And humble Servant,