design in all he writes,—and the effect he produces An unfair critic is like a judge that has taken a bribe. When an individual opens a work with the sole view of discovering error and of ment, which is supposed to be the voice of this Protestant nation. Surely, then, it would be more consistent in Protestants to remain silent on the subject of religious persecution. At least, I would recommend to the cant-catching a writer, there is not a seners and whiners of the present day, before they charitably put forward their hands to remove the mote from the eye of the Catholic body, to have a strong pull at the beam which is so firmly fixed in their own. Perhaps it would be as well if the Bible Society were to order that sentence in the 6th chapter of St. Luke, verse 42, which contains an excellent piece of advice for Protestants on this subject, to be printed in large letters, "Thou hypocrite, cast first the beam out of thy own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to take out the mote from thy brother's eye." I remain, Mr. Editor, with sincere respect, your's &c. FRS. MARTYN. St. Thomas's, Bloxwich, Dec. 21. For the Orthodox Journal. MR. EDITOR,As we have approached so very near to the end of the month, I fear this letter will arrive too late for an insertion in your Jourual of next month; if it should so happen, I request it may find a place in the following number of your periodical work. As an author who has lately published four volumes of Seraions, which have been very widely spread through England even to IreJand, I may be excused if I feel some anxiety as to the opinion of them which the public may express; particularly as they principally refer to dogmatical subjects, and questions of controversy. Dogmatical divinity is at all times difficult to be treated with clearness; and most especially when we are engaged in dis cussing it with an adversary, whose objections derange the natural course of our own reasoning. In the exercise of fair criticism on a work of this description, I conceive the critic should enquire, the object of the writer,-his tence which may not furnish him with an opportunity. The frank and unsuspicious author, pursuing his adversary with warmth, is often checked by an idle bye-stander, who suddenly starting forward, asks him, what is his intention. Another wakes out of his slumbers to complain that he has not pierced his enemy through the heart in the rectilineal direction of mathematical precision. In fine, an itching for criticism is both troublesome and mischievous to the community. An irritable critic might pretend that in repeating the Our Father we disavow the Trinity because no mention is there made of the Son and Holy Ghost. The orthodoxy of almost every text of Scripture might be called in question in the same way, if persons can be allowed to explain a passage without the context. I trust then I may be excused for presenting you these remarks, after printing four volumes of controversial sermons with a great body of notes, and permitting Mr. Belcher of Birmingham to reprint my Exposition of Liturgy, with many additional notes and prayers. I do not, however, by this explanation intend to cover or sanction any error in these or any of my writings. I am Catholic in my heart and all my desires; and as I lately told a superior, Nothing is nearer my heart than to banish from these works every error, and at the same time rectify every inaccuracy into which I may have inadvertently fallen. As my object has only been to impart the Catholic faith to others, so my only desire is to profess it myself."Oblige me by inserting this letter in your Journal, and believe me to be your obedient humble servant, 66 PETER GANDOLPHY. London, Nov. 26, 1815. in the Midland district to know that all my works are sold by Messrs. Belcher and Co. Birmingham. To the Rev. Mr. MARTYN. - the Tract Society, established in the Midland district, has desired me to state, through the medium of your Journal, that he wishes so much of the 2d and 5th Resolutions as relates to the sale of books at reduced prices to be expunged. The whole, thereREV. SIR, AS I consider the sub-fore, of the books that will be pub. ject upon which I feel impelled to ad-lished by the Tract Society are to be dress you, to be one of much import- distributed gratis. This alteration is ance to the Catholic body, I trust adopted in order to avoid all appear. your candour and liberality will rea- ance of a wish to convert the Society dily excuse the liberty I take in trou into a trading or money-getting conbling you, through the medium of the cern:" Orthodox Journal, with a few observations on your letter in the last number of that publication, in which you announced an intended alteration of one of the principal regulations of the Tract Society, recently instituted in the Midland district. This, Rev. Sir, appears to me to be the precise measure which a concealed enemy to the Society would try to ef fect, after failing in an attempt to subvert it altogether; and, in plain truth, I do most strongly suspect that some foe to the infant establishment has been playing upon the generous and nobly-disinterested disposition of its illustrious head, under the mask of from the imputation of being formed on a money-getting principle, for the purpose of retarding the splendid good which would otherwise result from the institution. No one, I believe, rejoiced more than the individual who now addresses you, at the formation of the Society no one, perhaps, more ardently wish-preserving the character of the Society ed for its prosperity; and referring to the names of its President and Treasurer, no one, I am sure, felt a more thorough conviction, that, after a lapse of time, the Society would, to a very considerable extent, realize the hopes The alteration in question, if car and accomplish the expectations for ried into effect, will be exactly simi which it was founded, viz. "To dif-lar to a traveller taking the wheels off fuse more widely a knowledge of the his carriage, to facilitate his journey; real tenets of the Catholic Church, and I seriously and sincerely hope the to render those who are already ini- subject will be reconsidered, before it tiated in its doctrines, more fully sen- is finally adopted. sible of the blessing which they enjoy, and to cultivate and bring to maturity the seeds of virtue which the labours of the Pastor have sown in the breasts of his flock." But, I must confess, the appearance of your letter alluded to, quite astonishes me at the determination conveyed in it, and, in my humble opinion, goes very near, if not totally, to destroy the possibility of accomplishing the benefits promised by the establishment of the Society. Your words are, "The Venerable President of I trust, therefore, you will not consider it as improper or impertinent in me, to solicit for the satisfaction of those persons in the metropolis who approved of the original resolutions of the Society, such information as causes which led to the announced al teration, as may be prudent to meet the public eye. the With the highest respect, I remain, Rev. Sir, your most obedient servant, A SINCERE FRIEND TO TRUE RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE London, Nov. 21, 1815. EPITOME OF INTELLIGENCE. FROM THE FRENCH PAPERS. LETTERS from Rome state, that his Holiness lately presided at a Congregation of the Principals of the Orders, at which, it is said, a note was read, in which the Holy Father reclaims from the Catholic Sovereigns the re-establishment of several religious Orders in their dominions. The Holy Office bas published a notice renewing the prohibition to speak politics in the pulpit.-It specially delegates the Bishops to suppress this kind of offence. The Jews at Rome have offered to pay an extraordinary contribution to the wants of the State. M. Hercolani, the Apostolic Treasurer, thanked them, and gave them an assurance that his Holiness would never depart from the principles of toleration adopted by his predecessors, with regard to the Jews. lendal, Peer of France, Minister of State; Count O'Mahony, Lieutenant General of the armies of the King, Commander of the Order of St. Louis; and eight ordinary members, viz. Messrs. Benoit, Counsellor of State; Poitevin, Counsellor of the Royal Court; Clement, formerly a deputy; Landigeois and Desprez, Royal Notaries; Ferris, formerly Administrator-General of all these collective Establishments, and M'Mahon, Doctor of Medicine of the Faculty of Paris. The President is M. Mourte, Attorney-General of the Court of Cassation. This Board is charged with examining definitively the rights of claimants, and reconciling them, if possible, with the ordinances of our kings, statutes, letters patent, and regula tions previously made for these establishments, without, however, injuring A letter, dated Arau, Nov. 15, says the rights of the Crown. It is to his that accounts from Ronte state as fol- Excellency, the Minister of the Inlows:-" They have been at work interior, or to the office of this Board, the Propaganda for three days with locked doors. It is supposed that they have been employed on religious Constitutions for the Catholic States. They also speak of a formal declaration respecting the Constitution of the Church of Germany." No. 22, Rue de Postes, that all claims on these establishments, of what nature soever they may be, are to be addressed. ECCLESIASTICAL MISSION TO ROME. The intelligence received from Paris, Dec. 3.-The King, to give Rome during the present month, rea mark of his kindness and special pro-garding the concerns of the Church, fection to the Catholic subjects of the as affecting the Catholics of this united kingdom of Great Britain, and united empire, is of the most heartto put an end definitively to all appli- cheering and consolatory kind. The cations on the subject of the respec- following extract of a letter, dated tive claims of the parties, has formed Nov. 4, from the Very Rev. Archdea by his ordinance of the 30th of Octo- con Blake, who accompanied the epis ber last, a gratuitous Board for the copal deputation in the quality of semanagement of their establishments cretary, has been published in the and colleges founded in France. This Irish papers: "Prejudice, policy Board consists of four honorary mem- and powerful influence have had full bers, viz. their excellencies Marshal time to mature their plans, and every the Duke of Tarente, the Duke de advantage has been taken which the Fitz James, the Count de Lally Tol- most indefatigable diligence could obe tain; we do not, however, despair of success. The providence of God is sufficient to avert the causes of apprehension. He, who by his grace has rendered Ireland the most faithful of nations He, who animates her with a fortitude, which to foreigners seems almost incredible --He, who has watched over her as a father, will not cease at present to be propitious to her prayers; prayers which, I trust, are prompted by his own spirit,-He will do for her what exceeds the capability of human agents. In the meanwhile, nothing is neglected by my venerable companions that can in any manner lead to success; from morning till night it is the grand object of every visit, every conversation, and every movement. They have had several interviews with some of the leading Cardinals; at each of these I was present, and have no occasion to regret, that on these occasions I did not consider myself entitled to take any active part in their discussions.Every thing was said by them that could be said; and in such a manner, with so much of feeling and of strength, that they have very considerably diminished the prejudice that had been excited against the cause of the Peti tioners, and must have raised themselves very high in the opinion of these personages. On Monday next we expect to be admitted to his Holiness, for the purpose of presenting to him the Address of the Irish Prelates." Another letter from the same very reverend gentleman, dated the 11th ult. states, that he was present when the Bishops had an audience to his Holiness, and that after presenting their papers, the Most Rev. Dr. Murray, with great energy and emphasis, addressed a few words to the Holy Father, in support of the remonstrance, and was followed, at greater length, by the Right Rev. Dr Murphy, who, in an affecting strain, conjured the Pontiff not to sanction any measure destructive to religion, and shewed the evil tendency of the arrangements which were sought for. CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION. On the 25th ult. this body met at their rooms in Capel-street, Dublin. -About twenty gentlemen attended, and Owen O'Conor, Esq. was called to the Chair.-Mr. O'Connell said, he felt it his duty to call the attention of the meeting to the subjects which now exclusively commanded their care.The first of these in rank and order, was their Petition to Parliament. It was the opinion of many that there ought to be more than one discussion in Parliament every Session until Emancipation should be obtained; and that he confessed was his own opi nion. These discussions could not be procured, unless the Petition shall be placed on the table the very first week of the Sessions; and, in his humble judgment, it ought to be presented to the House of Commons in that week But as Sir Henry Parnell was in town, it would be, perhaps, the best course to consult with him on the subject. It was a duty they owed that most valuable advocate of religious liberty, to pay him the tribute of respectful gra titude in every mode that they could devise; and it appeared to be a respect due to the zeal and the sincerity with which Sir Henry Parnell advocated their cause, to be guided by his judg ment as to the time and mode of petitioning the House of Commons. Sir Henry did not wrap himself up in any mysterious silence. Sir Henry had declared himself always ready to confer with the Catholics on their griev ances; and the Catholics ought to avail themselves of all the advantages that must result from the conference. He would, therefore, move, that a deputation should be appointed to wait on Sir Henry Parnell, and re quest his advice on the subject of the presentation of their Petition to the House, of which he was a Member. The second topic to which their at tention was demanded, was, the Ad dress to his Highness the Regent. The last aggregate meeting had directed, that such Address should be prepared; and it would therefore be necessary to pose. appoint a Sub-Committee for that pur- purpose of discharging the debts of the Board, and those of the Association. After some other routine business, the meeting adjourned. This Address would afford the Catholics of Ireland a precious opportunity of respectfully, but most earnestly conjuring his Royal Highness to use his influence, wherever it could be extended, to stop the progress of religious persecution, whether that persecution raged in the British Empire or beyond it, within the sphere of the influence of the British Government. We ought upon principle to solicit every exertion that could retard its progress, and totally and universally extinguish it. Whether it was exercised on Catholics or Pro On Saturday the 9th, Mr. O'Connell attended at the rooms of the Association, but owing to some misunderstanding as to the period of adjournment, there were not more than ten or twelve members present, and therefore the Chair was not taken. Mr. O'Connell, however, read to the gentlemen present the following very interesting extracts from a letter which that gentleman had received from the Rev. Mr. Hayes: Rome, Nov. 11th, 1815. "Dear Sir,-I arrived here on the 25th of October, after a journey of five weeks; the suppression of mail coaches, diligences, &c. in the Italian states obliged me to travel post from Chambery to Rome. The Prelates who had started from Dublin a fortnight before me, were in Rome only two days when I arrived. whom I was introduced by the Superior "I waited upon Cardinal Litta, to of St. Isidores, shewed my credentials, the remonstrance and translation, of all which he approved, adding, however, that it contained some bold expressions, as he termed them. "After several conferences with his testants, it was equally unjust, equally odious, equally abhorred by the Catholics of Ireland; nay, he trusted, that there was a greater warmth of indignation in the mind of the Irish Catholics against persecutors, who called themselves Catholics, than against the Protestants who lent themselves to the purposes of persecution. Let us, in the strongest terms consistent with due respect, implore the Regent to become the Champion of Freedom of Conscience. Let us conjure him to extend the protection of his influence over persecuted Protest- Eminence, he announced my arrival, and ants, and the arms of his controulingness, of whom I had on yesterday my first the object of my mission, to his Holi power over oppressed and degraded audience, having been introduced by the Catholics. Let us put upon record, General of my Order, accompanied by our deep and lasting abhorrence of the Superior of St. Isidores. After kissthat proud impiety, which constitutes ing feet, I presented my credentials from man the arbiter of divine wrongs, the the Aggregate Meeting, the Remot ruler of human consciences, the judge strance and a translation of it, together of that which belongs to the Deity alone to punish or to pardon. Let us respectfully submit our claim to Freedom of Conscience upon this only solid and rational ground, that we desire to obtain for and concede to all others that which we require for ourselves, perfect liberty of religious be lief, the native and unrestricted right of worshipping God according to the dictates of our reason and conscience. Mr. O'Connell then briefly alluded to the state of their funds, and the necessity of making a combined exertion to procure subscriptions for the with a compendium, all in Italian, and an answer. "His Holiness entered into a detailed conversation with me on the subject, in which the Guardian and the General joined me in deprecating the Veto; his Holiness said, there was no occasion for the great alarm among his good children in Ireland; that nothing had yet been done in the business; that the letter from Genoa, besides being merely conditional, was by no means preceptive upon the Ca. tholics; that it contained nothing more than a permission of submitting to the pleased so to do,) the ordinary list of candiGovernment, (if the usual Electors dates presented to a vacant See, in order that one or more might, if necessary, be re. |