A give admission to this communication in your journal, in order, if it should meet the eye of Mr. L. he may give me some satisfaction on this ticklish point; which he can do by sending his remarks to you, as I shall be sure to see them, if you give them a place in your useful miscellany. I want to be informed whether his anathema extends likewise to the use of Hunt's breakfast powder and vegetable tea, which deprive the exchequer of some considerable receipts; and whether his doctrine, like some others I could name, is confined to the London dis of the island. In asking for this information, I beg that neither he nor any of your readers will conclude that I am desirous of bringing religion into ridicule and contempt, because such command all men, children, and grown up persons, weak and strong, sick and healthy, to fast alike in lent, the law would be unjust or if he should decree that only noble and rich men should be promoted to the dignity of bishops, to the exclusion of the poor and plebeians, though more worthy and learned, the law in its full extent would be unjust, though, on account of particular circumstances, in some places such a law might be just. An unjust law is no law, nor has it of its own na. ture ex vi sua a power of binding the conscience."-(Lib. 4, de Rom.trict, or reaches me in the extremity Pont. cap. 15.) By this rule, continued my neighbour, laid down by a theologian of our church of the highest pre-eminence, and in the very heart of Rome, you will be able to discover whether any of the proposi-is not my wish; I am actuated by tions apply to your case. If such other motives. No, sir, I am a cona divine as Bellarmine deny a conscientious professor of the catholic scientious obligation to arise even faith, and an ardent admirer of its from church laws, which are not sublime precepts; my desire is to agreeable to justice, we may conshield it from the scandal which temclude there is no conscientious obli-porizing men are casting upon it, by gation to bear an imposition on our their pretended liberal principles, and pockets, which makes no distinction a study to please those who are its between the poor and the rich.-bitterest enemies. I see it daily and You are liable, to be sure, to the hourly attacked by infidels, by deists, penalties of the civil law, in case of by biblemongers, by reformers, and detection, and subject yourself to by anti-reformers, in publications of fine and imprisonment; but I think every description, for they reach here it is too much to say, if you escape as well as your journal. I am therefalling into the hands of the tempo- fore desirous that her beauties should power, that you must submit to become the more conspicuous, and ecclesiastical censures, or be con- that they should not be clouded by the demned to the prison of the repro-vanity and folly of some few of her bate for all eternity. The revenue ministers, who appear, unhappily, to laws of this country are very intri-be getting into a train of conduct and cate, and, in some instances, bear very hard on various classes of the community; they are a subject of much contention, and therefore are very unfit to be made the theme of a pulpit discourse. ral Notwithstanding the able manner in which I consider my neighbour treated the case, I am still unhinged upon the subject, and beg you will laxity of principle which will contribute, if not timely stopped, to thicken the ranks of deism, instead of increasing the one-fold of the one Shepherd, their Divine Lord and Master. I have read your letter to the vicar-general in Lancashire, which I think must have some effect upon our clergy. What can Mr. Gradwell, the agent for the vicars-apostolic at better informed, I might have come to the same conclusion. In the midst of this reign of irreligion and scepticism, how careful should the conduct of the catholic clergy be. Free from party bias, their actions should be marked by the pure spirit of the gospel, and thus their lives would be a complete refutation of the calumnies circulated by their enemies, and a tending to introduce division where unanimity should reside, and excite disgust where veneration should dwell. I could say a deal more on this sub Rome, expect to gain for religion here, by endeavouring to shew that the inquisition in that capital has power over British catholics in their own country? And what can his abettors here be dreaming of, in publishing and endeavouring to enforce his doctrine, when they know there is nothing more hateful to the English people than the tribunal of the inquisition and the secrecy of its proceed-source of exultation and example to ings? Is this the way they seek to ad- their flocks. In their dissertations vance the principles of our faith, and from the pulpit they should confine remove popular prejudices? Again, themselves to facts, and not introduce what benefit can arise to religion by matter on which diversity of opinion such discourses as that I had the mis- is allowed to exist, especially regardfortune to listen to when in town?ing politics; because this is only Does the preacher think that his hearers are in the least edified by such politico-theologico barangues as he delivered? There can be no doubt but it had the same effect up-ject, but I fear I have trespassed too on others as it had upon me. It might raise scruples, but could not convince -it might, and I know it did, excite derision, but it could not improve. But what must be the effect produced on the mind of an infidel or a deist, who might be and probably were listening to the eloquence of the reverend preacher. It is well known, that the opinions of these misguided men lead them to consider the priest-religion, and induce them to make a hood as useless, and that they are retraction of their error, I shall feel only paid for the purpose of support- happy in having addressed you; and ing the state. And would not the I am sure, Mr. Editor, you will not discourse alluded to tend to confirm have occasion to repent the publicity them in their mistaken notions? To given to my sentiments. me it is clear it would, because I felt, and now feel, that, if I had not been THE 1 much on your pages already; I will therefore conclude with fervently wishing this effusion may have that effect upon those whom it may concern which it is intended to produce; and should it succeed in making a certain party, which I understand you have in London, or even one of that party, sensible of the very great scandal they are giving to our holy PECCATIS OBNOXIUS. Land's End, April 15, 1820. EPITOME OF INTELLIGENCE. HE information we have to convey to our readers at the close of the month is of the most ludicrous and disgusting kind, so far as relates to the conduct of the managers of the Stone-buildings con clave. It will be recollected, that, at the end of our February number, we gave a copy of the circular of the secretary to this club, dated the 16th of that month, containing the address of condolence and congratula tion was made to us on the subject> we did not consider it a circumstance of much importance, or worthy the notice of our readers. On the day after we published our last number, however, we were favoured with the subjoined letter, which threw a new light on the affair : Liverpool, March 28, 1820. other proceedings, connected with that intelligence as to the cause, nature, and meeting, may not be unacceptable to some of your readers, In consequence of several gentlemen here, having received circulars from the secretary of the London catholic board, requesting their authority to affix their names, and that of others, whom they could procure, to an address which had been voted at a meeting of the board, a few individuals, some of whom had been recently elected members, had a private meeting, to consider of the request, and the best manner how to proceed; at which, they determined to call a public meeting, "to take into consideration the propriety of affixing their names to the address of the British ca tholic board"-The meeting was adver. tion to his majesty, agreed to by a select few, which he sent to particular individuals throughout the country, with a request that they would furnish him with an early authority to affix their names to this address, and also that they would "procure a similar sanction from the PRINCIPAL members of our body," in their respective neighbourSIR, AS you will no doubt have seen hoods. We also inserted in that in the public papers, an account of a same Journal a very spirited and public meeting we have had here, for excellent letter by a correspondent, the purpose of voting an address of condated from Mockbeggar's Farm, de-dolence to his majesty, perhaps some precating the indecent and insulting conduct of the officious marplots to wards the general body, by assuming to themselves the exclusive right of approaching the throne, as if the lower order of catholics were not equally as loyal as themselves, and as much entitled to give a public manifestation of their attachment to the person of the sovereign, as the aristocracy and more wealthy classes. For our part, we expressed our sentimente, as to what should have been the conduct of the catholic aristocracy, in our number for February; and our disgust has been so often raised at the silly and childish proceedings of the would-be-lead-tised in the public papers, notices post. ers, that we contented ourselves ed at the chapel doors, and circulars with making a few passing remarks distributed in all directions.-The in the last Journal on the gross in- sequence was, that one of the most nuconsistency and false propositions nessed in Liverpool, assembled at the merous catholic meetings I ever wit contained in the instrument drawn time and place appointed.-There up, and submitted to the "principal" considerable alarm amongst us, lest the members of the catholic body for Liverpool catholics should connect themtheir signatures. We had seen a selves with the board in London, which slight notice in a Dublin paper, that caused the meeting to be much the catholics of Liverpool had connumerous than it otherwise would have been; the alarm was certainly Warrantvened a meeting on the subject of an ed by the pains taken to give it notorieaddress to his majesty, but as the ty. I attended, as did several others, affairs of the aristocracy are con- prepared with resolutions to counteract fined to The British Press, a very any such connection; but, happily, it respectable Whig paper, but not was not attempted, as those who were much read in town, or to that vile most instrumental in calling the meetand infamous Tory print, The New ing, were equally averse with myself Times, we were not acquainted with the particulars, as we never read those prints; and as no communica ORTHOD. JOUR. VOL. VIII. con was a more of the address of the board was adoptto any connection whatever. The words ed, making such alterations as the locality of the Liverpool catholics required; Y *162 Further Account of the Proceedings of the Board rited and independent conduct, in restraining the arrogance and presumption of the self-appointed mapagers, and their disavowal of being in any ways connected with them.This praiseworthy behaviour we hope will soon be followed by the catholics in every town and city, and of every country congregation in the kingdom. Thus disowned and re the address being then entitled, The Humble Address of the Roman Catholic Gentry, Clergy, &c. of Liverpool and its vicinity, &c. It was resolved also, that his grace the duke of Norfolk should be requested to present it when signed. To this proceeding there could be no objection, and it was most distinctly understood, that the meeting had no connection with, and was quite independent of the London board or any other. The meeting was therefore unanimous, their proceedings were publish-jected by the Liverpool catholics, whose number is estimated at 18,000, and who will no doubt be joined by many congregations in its vicinity, the poor scorned directors found it necessary to order their secretary to pursue other measures to procure names; and those who, but a few days before, thought it would be beneath them to be joined by an honest christian with a ragged coat in an act of loyalty, were not only compelled to apply for their signatures, but, in some instances, begged A letter now ed, and measures immediately adopted *bléman. and craved for them. Another letter from Leicester assures! "The A Dress Lies for signeters us that the address was not very popular there, notwithstanding it came recommended by the clergy. Our correspondent writes, "As far as I am able to judge, we yield not in disposition to address the throne in sentiments of loyalty, to any of our fellow-catholics in London, upon this or any other occasion that may offer; but we detest their assumption to speak for us, either directly or indirectly.......Though all was done that could be done, but very few names could be obtained to it. The parties that exhibited it at one of our chapels were those who were active in forwarding our last counter petition. As soon as I told them the authors of it, they transferred it to the place from whence it was received.” in the Seacristy of this Chapel. EDW. JERNINGHAM." The signature is in the secretary's own hand writing; and though we must acquit him of being ignorant of the art of spelling his mother tongue, yet the fact demonstratively proves, that, however averse he might previously have felt to appear in any other company than "the principal members of our body," he here stands connected with one who is not of the most learned, nor of the most respectable class amongst us, so far as education goes. Alas! how are the mighty fallen! Whether the rest of the chapels were graced with similar specimens of learning and respectability on that day, we have not heard, nor did we observe any further indications of acBut the most ludicrous part of the tivity to obtain signatures on the story remains yet to be described. next Sunday. But, concluding by It was on the 27th of March the Li- the accouuts sent us from the counverpool committee acquainted thetry, that the communications to learned secretary of the Stone-build-Stone-buildings were not more fa ings club, that he might cease to vourable, we were not surprised on trouble them with any more commu-learning that a grand effort was to nications, as the body for which they acted were resolved to have no connection whatever with his masters; when, behold, the redoubtable directors of the self-named board of British catholics-these wise men of Gotham, who, on the 16th of Fe-sick, the lame, and even the blind, bruary, resolved not to be associated with the lower orders, but that only the principal members of the body should be permitted to sign their loyal address, found themselves under the necessity of changing their tone. Accordingly, they ordered their secretary to withdraw the original decree; and on Low Sunday, only ten days after receiving the determination of the Liverpool catho-ers were absolutely stationed at the lics, a placard, containing the address, was stuck up in a conspicuous part of one of the chapels in this metropolis, with the following written notice at the bottom, which we copy literally: be made on the 23d inst. to get the skins of parchment filled, and that printer's devils, bookseller's shopmen, sacristans, and some of the clergy, were put in requisition to procure the names of the poor, the if they were able to write, to cast as good a face upon the deceitful and lying bantling of the junto as circumstances would admit. Large placards were therefore stuck up at almost all, if not every one, of the chapels in the city; and so anxious were the abettors of the measures of the managers to secure their favour, that at more than one chapel bark entrance, the same as jew-brokers employ at Rag-fair to decoy purchasers, to announce the wonderful works of the address-makers, and beg the signatures of all who felt inclined to honour the precious do |