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town of Preston there were many Catholics, all of whom lived upon the most friendly terms with their Protestant neighbours, who subscribed liberally to the support of some Catholic charities. The letter then proceeded to state, that there were several Catholics of rank in the neighbourhood; and the writer regretted the apathy that seemed to exist amongst thein, and that it was only the working and middling classes that felt particularly anxious on the subject of Catholic grievances. The society approved of the plan suggested by him (Mr. O'Connell) for increasing the funds of the Association. They were about to adopt it in Preston, and had every hope of its success. "The Morning Chronicle," continues the writer, "has well deserved the censures of the Catholic body. The press, by a judicious and vigorous exercise of its powers, could remove the accumulated prejudices of centuries against the Catholics, and convince the credulous that they have been imposed upon by ignorance and malicious bigotry; but the Morning Chronicle, since its change of proprietors, has taken an opposite course, and its efforts appear directed to strengthen and perpetuate the ancient, though now fading prejudices of the English Protestants against Catholic Emancipation."

Mr. O'Connell then proceeded to read the report of the finance committee; after which he moved that it should lie on the table, in order to be submitted to the consideration of the Association on Wednesday next.

The report recommended the several allocations proposed by Mr. O'Connell, when he submitted the plan to the Association, viz. :

For parliamentary expenses

For the services of the press

For law proceedings, in preserving the legal privileges of the

Catholics, and prosecuting Orange aggressors

For the purpose of education for the Catholic poor
For educating Catholic priests for the service of America

£5,000

15,000

15,000

5,000

5,000

£45,000

The surplus sum of five thousand pounds should be suffered to accumulate, in order to repair and build Catholic chapels and schools, to procure accommodation for the Catholic clergy, and facilitate their efforts in every way towards improving their parishes, to meet contingencies, &c.

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'The report also recommended the appointment of treasurers and trustees, with whom the subscriptions should be lodged,

and that he (Mr. O'Connell) should be appointed secretary for correspondence with the several parishes in Ireland, upon the subject of subscriptions, and Mr. James Sugrue his assistantsecretary; and that no grant of money should be paid out of the fund, without having been first considered by the finance committee, and duly sanctioned by the Association.

The subscription to be called "the Monthly Catholic Rent," for which no greater sum should be expected than one farthing per week, nor higher expected than sixpence per week, to be paid by the several Catholics of the different parishes, whose names should be entered in the subscription books, and an account of them weekly transmitted to the Association.

Mr. O'Connell added, that the members of the Association would not be required to subscribe, in addition to their annual payment of one guinea. They would be required to allocate their guinea to the subscriptions of some parish; that to which they individually belonged, or any other they might choose to fix upon.

He (Mr. O'Connell) entertained not the slightest doubt of the plan succeeding, where the individual sacrifice would be so trifling, and the advantages to be obtained' so important. The collection would be the only difficulty-but that obstacle, it was hoped, would be overcome by the arrangements of the committee.

Mr. O'Connell then proceeded to detail the purposes to which the subscription should be applied, namely, to enable the Association to lay before the parliament an authenticated and detailed history of all the Catholic grievances; to bring before the legal tribunals cases of Orange outrage and magisterial oppression; to maintain and preserve those legal privileges to which the Catholics have been entitled for the last two-andthirty years, but of which they have enjoyed very few indeed : and finally, to inspire the Catholic peasantry with a confidence in the protection of the laws, by showing him, and making him practically know that an institution had arisen, whose object was, that no village despot, no magisterial tyrant, nor sectarian bigot, shall be longer permitted to make the law subservient to the purposes of persecution and oppression, instead of to the administration of justice, and the preservation of the peace.

The mere certainty that such a body existed, would render this assistance unnecessary, their enemies speedily becoming aware, that they could not any longer offend with impunity.

MR. FITZSIMON seconded the motion, and it passed as usual.

MR. PLUNKET objected to the allocation of Irish Catholic rent to the educacation of priests for America.

MR. KIRWAN defended the conduct of the Editor of the Morning Chronick, without approving of the late politics of that paper.

MR. CONWAY deprecated abuse of the press.

MR. O'GORMAN protested against impunity to calumny, in the press.

MR. SHEIL apprehended the conductors of the London press had made a mistake respecting Mr. O'Connell's proposed allocation of money to newspapers. MR. O'CONNELL reiterated the opinions he had before avowed, respecting the editor and proprietor of the Morning Chronicle.

After which, and some unimportant business being gone through, the meeting adjourned.

The attacks upon Mr. O'Connell for his new, and yet scarce developed plan of the small subscriptions to the "Catholic rent," were by no means confined to the Orange press. A great number amongst the Catholics scouted the idea as childish and ridiculous. Boys will catch up, and reflect the opinions of men, and the writer well recollects that he himself was for some time much jeered at by several of his schoolfellows, for his fatlier's ‘penny-a-month plan for liberating Ireland.”

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH, 1824.

FREDERICK WILLIAM CONWAY, Esq., in the Chair.

MR. O'GORMAN read a report from the burial committee, stating that several advantageous offers of sites had been made to them, none, of course, being accepted until the arrangements should be forward for raising and supplying the necessary funds.

The report of the committee for devising the best means to increase the funds of the Association, having been read

MR. NICHOLAS MAHON objected to its being adopted—accusing it of indiscretion and rashness. He proposed its postponement until after the aggregate meeting.

Various opinions having been expressed on this subject, MR. O'CONNELL, who came in during the discussion, said, that from the length of the report, and the variety of its topics, he thought it very proper to postpone the consideration of the report, but wished to move the adoption of the resolution for setting the subscription on foot.

MR. N. MAHON could have no objection to that course, as there was nothing objectionable in the resolution.

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MR. O'CONNELL, in reply to the observation, that the report contained angry expressions, assured the meeting that it was drawn up more in sorrow than in anger," for never was there so unfavourable a prospect for the Catholic cause as at the present moment. Never was there so slight a pretence for resisting their claims, and never so formidable a combination to oppose them. Mr. O'Connell then moved several resolutions, which originally formed part o the report.

"The following is the substance of those agreed to:--

"That a plan of subscription be adopted, to be called The Monthly Emancipation Rent.'

"That a secretary and assistant-secretary be appointed to collect the subscriptions.

"That the secretary do immediately open an account, and enter the amount of money paid by each parish.

"That collectors for each parish be appointed to receive subscriptions, and that no greater number than twelve, nor less than three, be appointed for each parish.

"That a monthly report be laid before the Association of the mount and progress of subscription in each parish.

"That the names of the subscribers be published, unless such as wish to be unknown.

"That the amount of subscriptions, debtor and creditor, be published annually.

"That all subscriptions received by the secretary be immediately paid over to the treasurer.

"That a committee of twenty-one be appointed to manage the subscriptions, to be called a committee of accounts.

"That no money be paid without having been first recommended by the committee, and afterwards sanctioned by the Association.

"That the amount of subscription be one penny per month from each person, and not to exceed two shillings.

"That the subscription of one guinea to the Association, be deemed a part of the contribution.

"That Mr. O'Connell be appointed secretary, and Mr. James Sugrue, assistant-secretary, for collecting subscriptions.

A discussion then took place as to the necessity of adjourning the aggregate meeting t some future day, in consequence of the resolutions and petitions intended to be submitte to the meeting not being ready.

After which the Association adjourned.

Upon the 21st February, their next meeting-

MR. O'CONNELL stated, that some of the London papert had said that Mr. Sheil accused him of entertaining the opi nions of Tom Paine! Of course, this was unfounded. Mr. Sheil never did so.

As to himself, he could not-although the miserable calumny was scarce worth his while-bring himself to forego the opportunity of once for all giving the most public denial to this malignant and most contemptible insinuation.

He declared that no man had, or could possibly have, a

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nore thorough and entire conviction of the divine truths of Christianity, and the abominable falsehood of Paine's impious doctrines.

It was quite well known to him who was the author of the lliberal observations upon him in the British press. He knew the connexion with the Marquis Wellesley, the connexion with the British Stamp Office, through which the paragraph came. He knew the individual who, for writing a pamphlet in favour of Lord Melville, gained the situation he now holds; and it was from a point of Christian forbearance, that he refrained from mentioning his name, and observing upon him as he merited.

That individual had been able to discover that he (Mr. O'Connell) was devoid of talent. That important discovery, however, came, fortunately for him (Mr. O'Connell), a little too late. It reminded him of a gentleman, who, after he was made a judge, congratulated himself, that the government had not discovered, until after his elevation, that he was no lawyer.

So, as to himself, the discovery was not made until he had attained that station in his profession which rendered that discovery of no avail. (Laughter and cheers.)

Mr. O'Connell next moved upon his notice, for changing the hour when the Association should adjourn from want of a sufficient number of members present to authorize the chair being taken.

He then proposed the following resolution which was agreed

to :

"That in future the chair be taken at any time between the hours of three and five o'clock, as soon as ten members be present

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Mr. O'Connell again rose and said, that though various homicides had been committed during the last year by the Orangemen, no trial of the perpetrators had taken place; the effect of which had been, that Orangemen considered they might shed Catholic blood with impunity, and the Catholics thought them protected from punishment.

The late atrocious outrage in the North, where Orangemen deliberately took their stations upon the road, in order to shoot Catholics, was brought home to the parties, by the vigilance and honesty of a magistrate, Mr. Hamilton. A coroner's jury had declared it wilful murder; and yet it may happen, that if the parties are not properly prosecuted, they may be acquittoá by an Orange jury, and the Orange body may thank them, and declare them deserving of a reward.

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