as far as it regards the Catholics? Can | ly Mr. C. will not deny but His allpowerful arm could have raised some other means. Why then does he continue to be so angry, and to vent his spleen upon the Holy Father and the Jesuits? Why does he continue to asperse and calumniate those who never did him any injury, and whose intentions to contribute to the happiness of mankind are equally as pure as Mr. Cobbett's, and whose exertions I am confident will be productive of far more beneficial effects.-Mr. C. may write upon the necessity of Reform, and he may expose the corruptions of the press, with as much zeal and ar he produce an equal number of victims that have been immolated under the Inquisition in any country in the globe, solely for differing in matters of religion, that is, for the mere profession of a religious creed, as can be named to have suffered in these islands for NO OTHER CAUSE? It has been stated as a fact, that not one individual can be proved to have suffered death under that tribunal in the Papal States-and if there have been victims under it in Spain and Portugal, let it be recollected that many of them were Catholics, who suffered either for civil crimes, or were the vic-dour as he pleases; but unless he also tims of state intrigues, which latter was the case with the incorruptible and meritorious order of the Jesuits, many of whose venerable members suffered under that monster of iniquity, and disciple of modern philosophy, De Pombal, in the last mentioned kingdom. Whereas the records of history will prove, and Mr. Cobbett has sufficient means of knowing the truth of the assertion, by referring to his own collection of State Trials, that the Catholics who suffered in this country were punished expressly for their adhering to that faith, and in consequence of laws passed after the Reformation, by which it was made HIGH TREASON for any one to be converted to Popery (Catholicity); and the like crime was attached to those who should assist in reconciling him to the ancient faith. (See act of 3 Jas. I. c. 4. s. 22, 23, 24.)—Mr. Cobbett may rave against the British Ministers for the part they took in the overthrow of Napoleon, and the restoration of the Pope; but of what use can these frantic declamations be to the country or to his readers? Do they not rather tend to expose the peevishness of his mind under disappointment? It was the will of that Supreme Being who rules the universe that it should be so, and if He had not chosen to make our Ministry, in some measure, the humble, but I believe unwitting, instruments of his all-wise intentions, sure devises some method of instilling the principles of morality and religion into the minds of the multitude, reform will only produce anarchy and a repetition of those dreadful evils which we have lately witnessed in a neighbouring kingdom, and which have more or less convulsed the different states in the world. But Mr. Cobbett is one of those who think they are promoting the happiness of mankind, by sarcastically reviling religious ceremonies and institutions, and particularly those of the Catholic church, and hence his stupid and ignorant vituperations against the sacred order of the priesthood and religious institutions, which he calls Monkery. But does not Mr. Cobbett know that to monkery England is not only in debted for the knowledge of true religion, but also for the preservation of literature, science, and the fine arts. To whom was the great Alfred indebted for his wise and beneficent measures of justice and legislation, but to his intercourse with learned and enlightened monks at Rome, and in this country? Who preserved the remnant of learning and the arts, when the nation was harassed by the Danes and other barbarians, but the monks? Nor were these venerable men less useful to the poor and industrious ; it being customary for them to lend out money to the latter at a low interest, and to assist them by every means to stated, that after the people renounced Popery, they knew nothing but how to get all to themselves, by exaction, PILLAGE, THEFT, &c. And are we better off at this day? Let the public prints solve this question. At the Old Bailey Sessions, on the 31st of October last, the Recorder of London is stated to have said, that he was sorry to observe "that the greater number of depredations, for some young persons, insomuch that he had thought it necessary last sessions to give notice, that for this reason, the Prince Regent was determined to make an example of some of those young ones. He (the Recorder) had this day made an enquiry into the number of young persons contained in the present calendar, and, dreadful to think, he had been informed there were no less than FIFTY-ONE, who were under the age of TWENTY-ONE!!! rise to comfortable ease, while the former were fed and attended with spiritual and medical assistance. In the dark ages of monkery and superstition the poor were well educated, though they knew not how to read and spell, and consequently were not able to use the Bible according to the plan now in fashion. Then but few laws were necessary to maintain peace and order in the nation; but is such the case now? Then the taxes were light, and stand-time past, had been committed by very ing armies were unknown- the laws were lenient and public executions seldom resorted to; but is such the case now? Then the people were virtuous, but are they so now? These questions the intelligent reader will find no difficulty to answer in the negative. It is impossible for any one not to perceive that the present times present a picture equally as frightful as that drawn by the apostles of the Reformation, which I have before quoted. Zanchius complained that his col-The Morning Chronicle of the 17th leagues' familiar practice was to calumniate, to abuse, to deceive. What has been the theme of Mr. Cobbett's labours, but to expose the political calumnies, the abuse, and the deceptions of the prostituted press of this country; in which guilt he has himself become a participator in traducing the tenets of the Catholic religion, and vilifying the principles of his Catholic brethren. Calvin observed that the greater part of mankind shook off the yoke of superstition only to give themselves more liberty, and to plunge into every kind of lasciviousness. And does not debauchery, luxury, and every degree of immorality surround us in this metropolis-Look at the proceedings of the Court of Common Council of London regarding a regulation for clearing the streets of common prostitutes look at the naked and indecent form of dress now adopted by the female sex-look at the reports of the trials for crim. con. at the King's Bench-look at the gaminghouses-and say if this country has much to boast of in point of virtuous examples among the great? Luther Nov. last, contained the following paragraph: Queen-square.-Yesterday, John Hill, a lad apparently about ten years of age, servant of Capt. J. A. Edwards, was charged with having stolen from his master eight silk handkerchiefs and several other articles. As the boy gave certain information which might lead to the detection of much more culpable persons, Mr. Fielding ordered him to be committed for further examination, lamenting at the same time that the events of every day should give so many new proofs of the extensive depravity that existed in the minds of the rising youth. Except some plan could be devised to clear the town of the idle and dissipated lads that were known to exist by THEIVING, What THOUSANDS OF DESPERATE THIEVES would in a few years be added to the present frightful list.” The same paper on the 26th of the said month, also states, that "formerly persons travelling or residing at any considerable distance from the metropolis, considered themselves as very little liable to the attacks of the highwayman, or the depredations of the housebreaker. It is, however, far otherwise now. On the contrary, every week, nay almost every day, we to this expedient: they bore holes in the stoutest of the stakes, which sustain their hedges; put gunpowder into those tightly upon the powder; so that the holes; then drive in a piece of wood very stolen hedge, in place of performing its office of boiling the kettle, dashes it and all around it to pieces. This mode of preserving fences I first heard of at Alresford, a town at about twelve miles distance from Botley; and though it cer tainly does appear, at first sight, a very cruel one, what is a man to do? The thieves are so expert as to set detection at defiance; and there is nothing but his fences between him and ruin. I have known a man, who assured me, that by the stealing of his hedge, in the month of March, and letting into his wheat land the flocks from the commons, he lost more than 300l. in one night and part of the ensuing day. A few weeks ago I my self had a fire, by which I lost a couple of barns and some other buildings. At this fire a numerous crowd was assembled, many of whom came for the purpose of hear of murders and robberies committed by desperate gangs of villains, in all parts of the kingdom, and accompanied with circumstances of great violence and atrocity. The evil, it is to be feared, will increase, rather than diminish, as the nights lengthen." To the foregoing dishonourable and lamentable accounts of the vicious state of the juvenile class in the metropolis, I shall add the testimony of the very man who calumniates the principles of Catholics, as to the degree of honesty existing amongst the English peasantry. From Mr. Cobbett's Register of the 19th of November last, only nine weeks after the illiberal and besotted attack which I have noticed, the following extract is taken under his own signature. Ad-rendering assistance; but one man was dressing a Correspondent in America on the relative situation of that country compared with this, when treating on our criminal code, Mr. C. says: detected, while the fire was yet raging, stealing the lead and iron work of a pump. fulfilling the old saying, that nothing is too hot or too heavy for a thief; and it required the utmost of my resolution and "Here we have laws to guard our tur- exertion, aided by three sons and half a nip-fields from robbery, and very neces dozen resolute and faithful servants, to sary they are; for without them there is preserve, during the night and the next no man, in any part of the country, who day (which was Sunday), the imperishable could depend on having the use of his and portable part of the property from crop even of that coarse and bulky arti- being carried away. I will just add upon cle. To steal corn out of a field, after it this subject, as an instance of the base.. is cut, is punished with death by our ness of our press, that the Times newspalaws; and if we had fields of Indian corn, per published, upon this occasion, a paraas you have, which is a delightful food graph, stating, that I had most ungrate for several weeks before it be ripe, I can- fully driven away "the honest rustics," not form an idea of the means that would who had kindly come to my assistance, be necessary to preserve it from being It is very true, that I did drive the "hocarried away. As to poultry, no man in nest rustics" away; but I succeeded in Eugland has the smallest expectation of putting a stop to their thefts, which would, being able ever to taste what he raises, unless he carefully locks it up in the night, and has dogs to guard the approaches to the hen-roost. In America, at within ten or twelve miles of Philadelphia, it is the common practice of the farmers to turn the flocks of turkeys into the woods, in the latter end of August, there to remain until towards winter, when they return half fat. A farmer in England would no more think of doing this, than he would think of depositing his purse in any of the public foot-paths across his fields. In order to preserve their fences, the farmers sometimes resort verily believe, have been nearly as injurious as the fire. Since the fire happened upon my premises, a gentleman, who had a similar accident some years ago, has assured me, that almost every article of iron was stolen from his premises. It is notorious, that, in London, the thieving forms a very considerable part of every such calamity. But the thing which, better than any other, be speaks the nature of our situation, in this respect, is the exhibition of notices on the top of garden walls and of other fences, menacing those who enter with the dan ger of death from man-traps and spring guns. Peter Pindar has immortalised | tle, which he found to be full of wheat. soever cause that evil is to be ascribed. Those writers on rural affairs, who have urged the employing of threshing machines for corn, have counted, amongst the greatest of their advantages, that they protected the farmer against the thefts of the thresher. Various are the ways, in which corn is stolen by those who thresh it; but I will content myself with one, the information with regard to which I derive from a very respectable neighbour. He perceived that his thresher brought a large wooden bottle with him to work every day. Being winter time, he could not conceive what should make the man so very thirsty. He watched him. Never saw him drink. At last he accosted him in his way home, and, after some altercation, insisted upon examining the bot In this latter observation I perfectly agree with Mr. Cobbett, for sure enough we do not want for laws to make folks honest, we only stand in need of religious PRINCIPLES. I have not the means of ascertainingthe exact number of public statutes passed since the Reformation, but from the circumstance of their multiplying so rapidly of late times, we may suppose that they are sufficiently numerous, though insufficient for the purpose for which they were enacted. Indeed there is only one instance in which they have proved effectual, namely, in excluding Catholics from their birthright. Mr. C. tells his friend that he does not think himself competent to speak of the causes which have led to this deplorable state of the morals of his countrymen. But why should he not? Why should he not be as competent for this task, as he is. to combat the errors of his political opponents? The truth is, he cannot do it without entering upon a religious discussion, a topic which seems to be distasteful to him, because it would probably lead him to discover the defects of his present deistical principles, if principles they can be called, and expose to his view the divine truths of the Catholic faith. That the cause does not arise from the inactivity of our penal code is evident from the accounts laid before the House of Commons, on the motion of that able and humane lawyer and senator, Sir Samuel Romilly. From these accounts it appear, that in the year 1809, there were 2721 persons committed for trial, of whom 1573 were convicted, 372 sentenced to death, 401 to be trans- | enemy during the late war have demonstrated beyond contradiction.That they are equally as inclined to follow the dictates of virtue and good order, as members of society, I shall now endeavour to prove, by a comparison of the conduct of the Catholic people of Ireland with those of Pro ported, and 800 to be imprisoned, whipped, fined, &c. Of those condemned to death, FIFTY-SEVEN actually suffered in England and Wales only. This account, it is to be observed, does not include those tried at the Quarter Sessions, and whether the Old Bailey Sessions are also omit-testant England. Notwithstanding ted I am not able to say.-This may however be considered as a pretty good specimen of the activity of our criminal code; and I believe it will be found, upon enquiry, that the public executions in this nation exceed those of all other civilized countries com-ed as aliens in their native land, and bined, in the same space of time. have to bear with an ignorant but Now, if the laws of the state, innu- vain-boasting Protestant ascendancy; merable as they are, are unable to re- notwithstanding the base intrigues and strain the licentious propensities of the vile endeavours of the Hibernian Somultitude, in these enlightened days, cieties to allure and detach the lower what progress can we be said to have class of people from the guidance of made in promoting the happiness of their spiritual pastors-Ireland-CAmankind; and what becomes of all THOLIC Ireland, presents the glorious our vain-boasting and bloated conceit and heart-cheering spectacle of moral over the other nations of Europe?-improvement, in contradistinction to We boast of our being the land of the depravity of her sister-country. In freedom, and yet the number of our corroboration of this assertion I shall laws to keep us in restraint, far ex-bring forward a witness, fully compeceed those of the most despotic natent to vouch for its veracity. Mr. tion. We boast of being the most en- Justice Day, in his address to the lightened people upon earth, of pos- Dublin Grand Juries, on the first day sessing the purest religion, refined of last Michaelmas term, stated as from the dross and superstition of Po- follows:-"I have had the grateful pery; and yet, strange to tell, not- task, FOR SOME YEARS, of observing withstanding the possession of this im- to the Grand Juries, and drawing the maculate rule, which consists in al- attention of the public to the gradual lowing every one to believe what he DECREASE of offences in the city pleases, if any are foolish enough and county of Dublin. That gratifyto adhere to or embrace the ancient ing observation I am happy to be able faith, he is legally proscribed, and de- to repeat this day....I take not my imbarred the exercise of his temporal pression of your civil state merely privileges, in the land of civil and re- from the fallacious criterion of calenligious liberty! And why is he so dars, crown books, and the untenanted treated? Is it because he is less vir- state of your criminal prisons, but tuous than his dissenting neighbour? also from the reports of your Sheriffs Is it because his religious principles and Magistrates-all concurrently dangerous to the happiness vouching that the most settled tranof society? Or is it because he is less quillity, and an UNUSUAL security of zealous in promoting the welfare and persons and property (considering our independence of his country? I an- great population) prevail through both swer, No. That Catholics have proved these districts. This, gentlemen, is themselves active and courageous in the proud fact; and the more so, if the field, the various combats with the we compare our condition with that of ORTHOD. JOUR. VOL. III. the still oppressive tendency of the remaining proscriptive laws to produce irritation and discontent; notwithstanding the unfeeling prejudice and taunts of the favoured orange faction; notwithstanding they are treat are more C |