a

5

sion of the Government themselves, an inctease of £55 a year; bat as the Government refused to pay Mr. Ball, it avg- mented the expenses of the Councils by £155, beyond what they were last Session, ‘They had added £50 to the Colo- nial Secretary's salary, and he had an Assistant in the per- son of the Road Cerrespondert.

Ilion. Mr. LONG WORTHL replied, showing that the Gov- erament had reduced the Cost of the Public Departments very materially; and that the addition of £55, caused by the adoption of the Bilt, bore no proportion to the amounts saved by the expenditure of the late Government.

Afier a few brief whservations, the purport of which bas been already given, Mr. Coles’ smendment was. seconded by Mr. SINChAIR, who epposed the Bill, as creating new offices, a1 an unnecessary expense. Firecutive and Legislative Councils was paid by statute £125

et atnam;: and now it was proposed to pay £300 for the Crectehip of the Executive alone. The Government might ely that the only increase wus £55, but the hegislative Coencil had paid extra for the preparation of the ludices for their Journals; but what security had the [louse that they would not contines the practice after the passage of the Bill! Oue of the principal complaints ayainst the late Governme:t had heen that they Crested new offices, and increased the salaries. Last year the present Government did practise a lite economy, bat they were now adding to the public ex- penditure, and increasing the evils of which, while in oppo- sition, they had so londly complained.

Ms MONTGOMERY.—The som formerly paid wes, with- jn a trifle,as large as that provided-by the Bill. He eupport- ed the Bull as being a.fair and honest mode of voting the pub- lit money, by which the secret and underhanded practice which had hitherto been pursued would be done away, and the efficiency of the public service acreased without increasing the public burdens.

Two or three members having reiterated some of the argu- | ments already reported, the report was received on the fol- |

lowing division :—

Fer Mr. Coles’ amendment—Messrs. Coles, Kelly, Cooper, Sutherland, Sinclair and Deyle—7.

Against it—Mesers. Haviland, Laird, Hewat, Holm, Davies, Perry, Thornton, Grav, Pope, Longworth, Douse, Montgomery, Ramsay, Beer, J. Yeo, McNeill, Wightman, MeAulay, Owen, aud Cunrey—20.

W. M. fMows, Reporter. — anno

DECIMAL CURRENCY BILL. Turspay Arrenxooy, 28th February.

Mr. McNEILL,—I rise, Mr. Speaker, to move the first ‘reading of the Bill of which I have given notice, to authorise | the keeping of the public accoun's in dollars and cents. The Bill will not have the effect which has been attributed to it, of changing the currency.

ject. In Nova Scotia, last year, the Hon. Mr. Young. then the leader of the Opposition, introduced a similar measure, which was supported by the Government, without reference to party differcnces. Canada had adopted the decimal system some years since, and New Brunswick two years ago passed such a law, which is to go into operation tis year. The Bill, I may state, is brought in by myself, as an independent member, without previous consultation with bon. members, either of the Government or Opposition le will have the effect of saving a great amount of labor, and its application to the public accounts will gradually induce mercantile men to adopt the system of keeping their accounts in dollars anj cents. The decimal system ob‘ains over nearly the whole of North America; it is in practice in Franee, and has been strenuous!y agitated, and, [ believe, that the time is not remote, when its advantages will be recognised by the British public. ‘Ihe Bill, I consider, will be a great boon to the people of the Island. Our trade with the United States is already very large, and is constantly increasing; and by assimilating cur mode of accountiug to theirs, our people would readily understand their currency, sud their intercourse would be greatly facilitated. I leave the Bill, however, to the action <f the House.

It does not in'erfere with that

Hon. Mr. COLES,—The ado; tion of the currency of the

United States will aot increase our traffic with them. The ‘Americans know well enovgh what the value of our currency is in dollars and cents; but the bulk ef the people of the Island would be subjected to great inconvenience in making their calculations in American money. The hon. member says that the Bill proposes the adoption of the system in keeping the public accounts; but that would impose upon all parcies through whose hands public money is disbursed to make up their returns in the same manner, of such an innovation must be perceptible to any exe th- reflects upon the subject for # moment. adhere to the good old Briti-h prasiice. have not acted upon the system, but have found it expedi- ent to keep to the old mode. the results of the experience of the decimal system, it wil. be time enough for us to adopt or reject it. we have extensive Ceaiings with the United States, but we also trale leegely with Great Britain; and when the Rail- tay shall be completed berween Shedise and St. John, | believe that New Bruaswick wi!l be the best and largest market fur our produce. people of the [.land would become accustomed to the change, aud nothing but confusion would ensue from the public ac. counts being kept in dollars and cents, and the accounts of mercantile men and others in povnds, shillings and pence.

The difficulty

The other Co!on‘es When we shal] have scer,

lt is true taar

It would be a long time before the

Hoo. Mr. YEO.—The propose alteration in the currency

would be attended with great difficulty. When I was is Kogland, about ten years sinee, great efforts were being made to introluce the decimal s stem there, but it has no: been alopted yet. The great bulk of the people are tenants, and their leases spee fy the rents to be paid io our present currescy cr in Sterling. The Bill would be productive of no good, but a great deal of anroyance aud confusion. Sime would be the case with Merchants, and others who had to pay duties on their importations. As to the alleged increased facility in keeping accounts, | have never found any difficulty in that respect. Jia. ton, New York, aad other parts of the States, as well as with Britain and the neighbouring Colonies ; and although some of my accounts are male out in dollars and cents, and others in venience from the difference.

The

{ have large dealings in

«, shillings and peoee, | experience no incon-

Hon. Mr. LONG WORTH.-~It is, I believe, quite true,

as the bon. member who introduced tbe Bill, bas stated, thar he has not applied to any member of the Governm-nt on the subj oct. sod while { give him eredit for a sincere belief that the | measure will be of benefit to the country, I must say, that, after a very carsory glance at the Bill, 1 am not prepared to aupport it. It is time, as that hon. member stated, that the decima! system has been recogni-ed by legislation in other Colonies ; but in Canada the law bas remained for five year- a deal letter on the Statute Book. —i may be the result of some ceop rooted prejudice agains: any deviation from long established British usage. Branswick, a Colony which pridcs itself upon its adherence to British institutions, it bas not been adopted in practice. In Nova Scotia the system only came into operation on the first of January last, conssquen'ly we have no means of knowing how its working will affect tue people of that Pro- vince. ix quite suffi-ient a guide for us in dea’ing with so momeu- tous a ques‘ion as the currency. appoin ed a Committee to examine and report as to the ex- pediency of introducing the decivial system. Committee, chosen from both sides of the House, and repre- renting all interests, was appointed. Their report, which wis of considerable length, and which reviewed the question is al! its bearings, was adverse to the proposed change; and really { cannot see what benefits can be expected to result to the [<!and, when the change was not considered an im- ‘provement in Great Britain, where all the aecounts of her ‘g ést monetary instituti ns and establishments, public and ‘private, dre kept in pounds, shillings and pence. that in the United States, Mexico and Texas the computation is by Jdllars and cents; but there is no reason why we should deviate from Our system to conciliate the people of foreign eduntries. As to the argament ‘hat the B.1i would have the effect of indacing Americans to open accounts with us, they biave already all tair and legitimate inducements to do so, and they manifest no reluctance to avail themselves of them. The Bill might, indeed, to’a certain extent, facili- ‘tate the dealings between the Isligd afd the United States, bat such facility would not justify us in deviating frum long ‘established usage and unsetiling our financial syst m. The Biil strikes ut the root of our preseat mode of computation. It spevifices the value of foreign «oins relating to dollurs and cents; tor, by the existi aud American do lar is fixed at 6s 3d, bu ‘the Committee gives the value of \be sovereign at five dollars, thes makiog sible that such « Bill cau go into operation without a thorough ‘change in oar preseat currettty act. If the measnro is in

He has t it in on his own responsibility ;

1 know not the reason,

lo New

But [ think that the example of the mother country The Imperial Parliament

An influential

It is true

staiute, the value of the Mextean Biil before

the latter ovina worth £1 lls 31. It is impo:

In 1858 the Clerk of the |

Whelan, |

We hed better |

the Evaminer.

> — +

METI aa en =— ==

tended to assimilate our currency to that of Nova Scotia ‘it will have the effect of adding 20 per cent. to the present ‘value of our money, and will consequently affect all existing ‘contracts to that extent. This sspect of the question, alone. is entitled to grave consideration ; and I am satisfied that ‘hon. members have not had time to give to the subject that | deliberation which its importance demands. The time may, and probably will, come when the neighbouring Colonies, having tried the decimal system, their experience may infla- ‘ence us to edopt it; but we may safely rest content with a | mode which has stood the test of centuries, until older coun- ‘tries shall have shown us an improvement realized in practice.

( To be continued.\

———_— —

SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS.

‘Taeeday afternoon, Feb. 28.

Hon. Mr. Kelly moved for the addition of two members to the commi:tee appointed to report upon the best mode of giving Shipbuilders a lien for their wages on vessels on which they have been employed—lflons. Messrs. Longworth and Pope were appointed.

Hon. Mr. Wightman presented a Post Office petition from Murray dlarbour—Rele:red to Post Office Committee.

Mr. MeN:ili moved the first reading of a Bill authorising the keeping of the public accounts in dollars and cents,— after a long debate which will appear in its proper order— bon. Mr. Coles’ motion that it be read this day 3 months was carried. The principle of the measure was generally acknowledged, but the objection to its passage was based on the inconvenience and confusion which would arise from its immediate adoption, and the fact that the decimal sys- temestablished by Law in the neighboring Colonies had | mot yet heen carried into practice. llon. Mr. Thornton presented a road petition. cI Hon. Mr. Coles then asked who was to be considered as | Leader of the Government—the gentleman who last year held that position in the House Laving taken a seat in the Legislative Council~and it being usual that seme one member of the Government should be recognized as the

party from whom answers to questions asked of the Go- vernment might be expected.

Hon. Col. Gray trusted that the hon. member would be satisfied by his stating that, as senior member of the Coun- cil, nolding a seat in the House, he would be prepared to answer questions which might be put to the Government; he would not, however, pledge himself or colleagues to reply to questions of go extraordinary a nature as some that were occusionally put. In his absence some one or other of his colleagues would furnish the necessary answers.

Hon. Mr. Coles then asked when the Government woul] submit the correspondence on the subject of the Commis- sicn. A member of the Government, some days since, stated that a copy of the despatch was in the desk of a mem- ber of the Executive in the Llouse.

Ilon. Col. Gray was not aware that any particular des- patch had been referred to, bat he would reply, with re- erence to any despatches or correapondence on the subject, that while the preliminaries are being arranged, it was not usual or generally convenient to produce the papers con- nected with a negotiation still pending. When the busi-

-ness should be completed he presumel the despatches would be submitted. Their production at present might embarrass the proceedings and retard the organization of the Commission. Suppose, for instance, that parties resi- ding in England or the Colonies had been named as Com- missioners, and they should decline, and others had to be substituted, who might also object tu act, the production of corresponder ce on those particulars would be uoncecessary and inconvenient.

Hon. Mr. Phornton—Are we to have the despatelics or not!

Hon. Mr. Coles gave notice of an address to the Lieut. Governor praying for the despatches on the Comumossion, and then put a similar question us to the correspondence on the subject of the Legislative Council.

Hon. Mr. Longworth—According to parliamentary rale the Government was entitled to 24 hours notice of a ques tion. A verbal notice was sufficient, but a notice of some kind was as necessary as in the case of the introduction of a Bill.

Ilon. Mr Coles observed that, in the Imperial Parlia- ment questions were put to Government on the first day of the session. The Government Were not bound to answer immediately, but they could name the particular time when they would be prepered. He then gave nutice that he should ask the question to-morrow.

Wepyespay Arrernoon, Feb. 29.

Hon. Col. Grey, by command of [is Excellency, bronght down a message on the subject of the correspondence eun- cerning the Legislative Council. A desultory and some- what violent discussion touk place, which will be given at length hereafter.

The Hlouse in committee on Dill to authorize Americans from the United States to build and employ fishing vessels in the Istand, under licence, which was agreed to without amendment.

Tuvrspay, Marcel 1.

The following petitions were presented—By Mr. McNeill from certain inhabitants of Lot 61, praying for a grant to enable them to purchase seed grain the coming spring. By hon. Col. Gray, from inhabitants of Lots 50 and 57, praying a grant in aid of individual subscriptions for build- ing a wharf at Orwell Point. By Mr. Conroy from Robert Kennedy, Lot 1, praying a grant equal tu a eum of money which he had to pay as expenses for prosecuting an asgault- er. By Mr Sutherland, from Uenry Anderson, Teacher, praying for balance of salary. By Mr. Knight, from Micbael Morrison, Lot 54. By Me. sutherland, from inha- bitants of Lot 4u¥. By Mr. Conroy, from inhabitants of Cascumpee,—all relating to roads or bridges.

Hon. Mr. Haviland, as a member of the Executive, pre- sented a Bill to authorise the Government to open a cash account with the Bauk of P. E. Island, which was read a first time.

lion. Mr. Haviland moved the secund reading of the Bill to amend the Act relating to the office of Sheriffs.

Hon. Mr. Coles, after some remarks, moved in amendment, that the Bill be read tmis day three months.

A number of the members having expressed their views with respect to the Biil, the question was put, when the amendment was negatived on the tullowing division :

Yeas—tHons. Messrs. Coles, Whelan, Kelly, Wightman, Perry; Messrs. Sinclair, Sutherland, Courvy, Doyle, Knight, Cooper—1 g.

Nays—tHon. Messrs. Longworth, Gray, Yeo, Pope, Laird, Haviland; Messrs. Davies, Holm, Howat, McNeill, Beer, Montgomery, Douse, Ramsay—14.

‘Lhe Bill was then read, commitied, and progress reported, | when the House adjourned.

| i

AFTERNOON SITTING.

The Bill to revest the appointment of Sheriffs in the Chief Justice and the Master of the Rulls, was committed and agreed to without amendment.

Fripay, March 2.

Iion. Mr. MeAulay presented a petition from C. Bolten- house, Sackville, N. B., owner of the Steamer ‘* Lord Sea- forth,’ praying for a grant to enable him to include the Port of Georgetown in her route next Summer, thus form- ing a weekly communication between that Port and Pictou.

Ion. Col. Gray presented a petition from inhabitants of Lots 50 and 57; and another from certain inhabitants of Lot 50, both praying for improvement in ruad comuunica- tion.

Mr Conroy presented a petition from inhabitants of Cas- cunpee praying a grant for the erection of a Commissicn- er’s Court Llouse and Lock-up at that place. He strongly urged the prayer of the petition.

Mr. Montgomery presented a petition from in‘abitants of Mill River praying for the establishment of a Post Office.

A message was received from the Legislative Council re- questing that a Committee might be appointed to confer with a Committee of that body on the Bill fur separating the offices of Clerk of Executive and Legislative Councils, &e. On motion of Hon. Mr Haviland the request was granted, and Messrs. Haviland, Pope, Davis, J. Yeo, Mont- gomery and Howat appointed said Committee The Com- wittee having repaired tu the conference ruom, immediat ly returned, whereupon a discussion ensued with closed doors.

Hon. Mr. Haviland introduced a Bill tu repeal certain parts of the Act consolidating the Election Law, which was read a first time.

AFTERNOON SITTING.

The Bill authorizing the Government to open un account with the Bank was committed and agreed to without awend- - ment.

Satounpay, March 3.

The following petitions were presented—By Mr, Mont- gowery from inhabitants of Grauam'’s Road, &e., praying for alteration in a line of road. By Mr. Conroy from inha- bitants of Kildare, praying for the erection of a Lighthouse on the North Cape, and another on the East Point of this Island ; aleo, from Francis Buote, Teacher, praying fur aid. By Mr. J. Yeo frow certain inhabitants of Prince County, praying a grant in aid of individual subseription tu build a wharf a. New Bideford, Lot 12.

On motion of Mr. Haviland the House went into Com- mitree on the Bill toumend the Election Law.

* When the first clause was read, whieh specifies the sec- tiuns to be repealed, hun. Mr. Coles moved that so much

(Vv | ration. troversy.”’ | |ments it devolves on him to refute them.

that any member holding an office may resign it and accept another without vacating his seat, be struck out—motion negatived by a division of 13 to 7. : 5

On the second clause being read which specifies: the quali- fication of Electors, a discussion arose which occupied the time of the Louse until the hour of adjournment.

AYTERNWON ‘SITTING.

The Honse occupied in Committee on the Bill to alter the Election Law. The clause specifying the qualifeation of votes was the subject of a protracted antl angry debate, the detailed Report of which will appear in due course. The clause passed.

‘The section requiring a certificate that statute labor has been performed and the commutation paid, was also curried alter an aaimated discussion. Progress reported.

Moenpbay, March 5.

House did not meet in the forenoon.

Monpay Arrernoon, March 5.

A Bill introduced by the Hon, Mr. Haviland to amend the Registration Act, was read first time. It previded for the recording of deeds on proof of the handwriting of the grantor or Witnesses, in case of their death orabsence from the Island; and it gave a judgment creditor his prior claim from the date of the jadgment, against transfers subsequently recorded.

The amended Election Law wes recommitted, and a long

discussion ensued, the principal part uf which arose from the fullowing resolution, introduced by the Hon. Mr. Pope, based on seme observations whieh bad fallea trom Me. Sivelair in a previous debate on the Bill:— W nereas one of the members of this House representing Let 18, and Princetown and Royalty, is of opinion that a great number of holders of Towa Lots in sal Town should not be allowed to vote, unless the said Town Lots be of the yearly value of Forty Shillings; and is also of opinion that there is no prospect of Princetown ever be- coming a place of any importanee: Aud whereas Lot 17, comprising Summerside and St. Mleanor’s, is a place of more importance, and containg a greater number of votes than Lot 18, Princetown and Rovalty—Thercfore Re- solvid, that so much of the Act of XIX Vie. cap. 21 as relates to the ‘Towns, Rovalties, Common, and to the division of the Electoral District in this Island, be so amended that Lot 17 be taken off the Third Electoral District of Prince County, and be ao Electoral District entitled to return two members to this Llouse; and that in lieu of Lot i7, Lot 18, Princetown and Royalty be added to the said Utird Mlectoral District of Prince County.

Tvespay, March 6.

Mr. Ilolm presented a petition from inhabitants of Lots 29 and 30; and Mr. J. Yeo a petition from Thomas Boyd—boih relating to reads.

Mr. Beer presented a petition from inhabitants of Lots 35, 36 and 37, praying for a grant to build a wharf at Cramberry Point.

flon. Mr. Haviland introduced a Bill for the protection of the Salmon Fishery. It provides that those fish shall not be caught betweea the 3lst of August and the Ist of April.

Hon. Mr. Llaviland introduced a Bill to protect the real and personal property of marred femafes. He explained that as the law now stands the property of married women is liable for the debts of their husbands. This was almost a disgrace to an enlightened country. [t was altogether unfair that women who might have a litle property when married, and who might be industrious and economical, should be made liable for the debts of thetr extravagant and drunken husbands. ‘The Bull is to provide a remedy in such cases.

Turspay Arrernoon, Marcel: 6. Hon. Me Elaviland, as a member of the Goverument, laid on the table the detailed statement of ihe public accounts for the past year. The Bill to amend the Registry Act was read a second time, and agreed to with an ameodinent.

Weosrsoar, Marcel 7.

A latge number of road petitions were “presented; also the following :—By Mr. Koight from inhablian's of Lots 46 and 47, praying for a grant to builda wharf; by Mr Couroy from inhabitants of Cascumpec, praying for the erection of a Light- honse on the North Cape, and another en the Hast Point; by Mr. Sinclair from inhabitants of Princetown, praying for the same ; also a petition from inhabitants of Princetown and Lot 18, praying a grant to build a block to Princetown whart; by Hon. Mr Coles, from Joho Hughes, contractor of the east- ern mail, praying a grant to remdnerate him for Joss sustain- ed in running said mail; by Mr. J. Yeo from iuhabitants of Lot 13, praying an alteration in the Small Debt Act; by Mr. Davies, ‘rom J.5. Bremner, assistant Controller of Customs, praying for an increase of salary; by Hon. Mr. Whelan trom inhabitants of King’s County, praying for a Lighthouse on East Point.

Hoa Mr. ITaviland, by command of His Excellency, laid before the House a copy of a Despateh in anewer to the Ad- dress sent Liome by the Legielainve Council, in reference to the exclusion of salaried officers from the Legislature.

Wepseeday Arrernoon, March 7.

Some ordinary Petitions were presented.

Hon, Mr. Haviland moved that a supply be grauted to [er Na’ sty.

ihe Bill to protect the Salmon Fishery, by prohibiting the catching of those fish during certain months, was read a se- cond time and agreed to.

Post Office Bill was read a third time and passed, as was the Bill authorizing the liceasing of Americons tu build Fist- ing Vessels on the Island.

Several Petitions were received.

— t

Correspondence.

THE ISLANDER ON CATHOLIC PROSCRIPTION. To rue Epitor or rae Exaxutner. Sirn—The editor of the Js’anider, in the last issue of that

paper, commenting on the letters of ‘* Lector,”’ says, that he | dovs not ** fura moment suppose that they were written by the same person.’’ In this, as in many other things, he is quite mistaken. son that 1 have ever been; | have never undergone any meta- morp iosis, nor co I believe in the doctrine of metempsychosis. The editor adds: ** Although we do not admit the soundness ‘of the arguments of ‘* Lector,’’ we cannot deny him the credit

1 beg to assure him that I am the same per-

f having enforced his views with ability, and also with mode- It is not, however, our intention to continue the cun- If he does not admit the soundness of my argu- In my former

‘letters I showed the extremely unjust consequences of the |mischievous policy whic the editor of the Is’ander recom-

| mends to the Protestants of this Island.

I demonstrated the

latter futility of the arguments by which he endeavoured to sustain his untruthful assertion, that the Catholics of this

|

|

ip v , declines answering, for he says, that it is not his ++ imtention Tetract them. I beg to inform the editor of the Is/ander t!

| to continue the cuntroversy.”

Island are determined to place éhemselves in power, and I pro-

| ing stock of the discerning portion of the community. ‘again what have the continual complaints of * child-murder, | poisoning, and the grossest moral corruption,” er the ‘* worse ‘than heathen ignorance’’ in England and Wales, to do with the Government of this Island ? | Perhaps, however, the intention of the editor of the Island- ‘er, in giving the extract from Dr Cullen's lette?, was to give ‘a gentle hint to his clerical and Galnaro-biblical friends, by ‘directing their attention to the dep orable state of morality in England, and at the same time indirectly suggest to them the | propriety of acting on the pringiple, ‘* Cuarity begins at nome,’’ and of turning their overflowing missionary zeal in | the direction of England, in order t» conyert the heathens of /that country, instead of making collections for the poor apus- tate Chiniquy. or for ** the reclaiming of the poor benighted Irish from the errors of Poyery!’’ The following extract taken from the Js/ander of the Sd inst. may, perhaps, tend to strengthen the opinion that such, indeed, was the editor's motive. ‘ The question has lately been asked by the British press—‘ Is London heathen or Christian?’ It was answered by a statement made ata meeting of the Congregational Union of England and Wales to the following effect; ++ Of all the placesin the land, London is the most heathenish Chere are sume 900,000 persons living in London who never entered a place of worship. If such a state of things was re- ported of an [sland in the South Seas, we should speedily send missionaries to preach the Gospel to them. And it is a fact that in Raratonga there are only ten per cent of the population absent from divine worship on the Sabbath. In London, 40 per cent. are present, and in Raratonga 99 per eent. are present. Of all the seats provided for pone worship in England, the Congregationalists have only provided 6 per cent. of the total amount. And what is worse, on the census Sabbath, only one-tiird of these sittings are filled.” If the vbject which the editor bad in view was that which we have above intimated, 1t was, indeed, a laudable one, and I trust that the hint will not be thrown away on his friends.

\of the ancient Catholic city of Taam, says that © although } strewn with the venerable ruirs of seven Cathol.e Churenes | whieh flourished and gladdened the peoyle with the blessings | of charity aad education long before the witle ing breath o! | Protestantism blighted our land, scenes of such barbarous bigotry are now enacted in striving to extinguish Catholic | schoo 8 as would appear to be the congenial doings of Massul- 'mans in former times.’’ Now, 1 think that the editor, | since he took the trouble of giving the above extract, should | have informed his readers of the particular case to which the | illustrious Archbishop referred. It 1s this: the Bishop land- | lord of Partry, the Right Rey. Lord Plunket, is now ejecting | a large number of tcnants from the farms which they tilled in \thear youth and manhood, and which their furelathers held | fer generations past ; and he is doing this, it appears, not be- | cause they have futled to perform any contract into which they had entered with their landlord, but because they have set at | naught the will of their lord and master in one point, they | have refused to let their children be rifled, in his proselytizing | schools, of the sacred pearl of the faith. The following extract | is taken from a letter addressed to the Rt. Hon. E. W. Card- | well, Secretary of State for Ireland: ‘ Lord Plunket is only landlord since yesterday. The people are tenants, good and | solvent, for generations past. Is it not a cruel law that en- ables him to banish and ruin them for ever—to drive many of them to death for the very thing which ought to raise them in | the estimation of an honorable man—their conscientious ad- | herenee to their own faith, and their care for that of thei ‘children? Idefy any spot in the world where there is a remnant of liberty ieft to furnish a parallel. Were a Catholic | Bishop to attempt such a course in England, what would be 'th result? Yet here isa Bishop of the Church Extablis‘ment. | who enjoys a lordly revenue out of the Catholic charities of |our ancestry, driving to destruction a whole country side of Catholic tenants, for no other crime before God but tat o! | their faith ** Who will not say,when he has become acquainted | with the facts of the case, that the proceedings of Bishop Plunket resem'1]: very much ** the congenial doings of Mus- | sulmans in former tim.s.”’ The editor of the Is/under considers the language which he | made use of, when speaking of the Church which declarce} j certain people ‘out of the true fold,’’ and comzares them ‘*ty the forlorn mariner tossed withoat chart or compass on | the stormy ‘ozean,’’ very moderate when compared with the extracts which he gave. Lam unable to perceive what any particular dogma of the Chareh, or any lanzuage used by | Bishops in denouncing error, has to do with the untruthfui | assertion that Catholics are determined to place themselves n ‘power, and to suljeet the [sland to ecclesiastical rule : jalthough the editor of the /s/and-r, in his erratic peregrina- ‘tions frow this Island to Newfoundland, and thence across the | Atlantic tu the south, east and west of [reland, and his flight | from Dr. McHale to William the Third, may very justly be | said tu bear a pretty close resemblance to one ** tossed wi bout | chart ur compass on the stormy oeean."’ He knew full weil. iong befure he read Dr. Cullen's letter, that the Catholic i hurch teaches, that as there is but * one Lor], one Faith. | ind one Baptism.” so there is but ome trae Charch: he must lalso have known that the sam Chuareh commands her ehildren it» love their neiyhdours as th mselyes. Catholics, indeed, | syhor the doctrine which is contrary to the teaching of Hin | who ia Truth itself, bat they must love the prefessors of that | doctrine ; for all mankind, even our enemies, and thos? who | dider from us in our religion, we include amongst our acigh- jévurs. Lemsid-r, then, that the Islander acted very im- | properly and sal apropos in b-inging forward any dogma ot ithe Church when discussing 4 political subject. Catholics know well that their Church is called, by some Protestants ithe ** searlet w—,’” * Babylon,’’ &c., and themselves ** idola- | turs.”? I myself have heerd a minister of the Gospel now in | Charlottetown say that Catholics were worse than idolators | —we know that our, Holy Father the Popo is called ** Anti- j christ,” the ** horned beast,” &e; but would it not be highly | indecorous on our part to upbraid Protestants for using these | expressions, and to bandy these sheice epithets when disceuss- ‘ing a subject of a purely political nature? I think it would, jand therefore, a fortiori, is it unbecomi g for any Protestant | ‘secular journal to meddle with any of the doctrines of the | Catholic Church. The editor says: ‘‘ Surely Bishops are equa ly bound with gentlemen to avoid the use of * olfensive epithets,” insulting |to Her most gracious Majesty, to whom they owe allegiance.”’ The abeve extract insinuates that Dr. Callen and Dr. MeHale, ‘or some other Catholic Bishops, called our good Queen offen- sive epithets, and the Js/ander, apparently obtaining his in- | formation on those matters from that notorious calumniator | of everything Catholic—the TJ unes—throws cut insinuations ‘regarding the loyalty of the Irish Bishops. To eaeh of these | insinuations we give the most unqua'ified contradiction. It is false, grossly and wickedly false, that the Lrish Catholic | Bishops, or any of them have, or has at any time, or under ‘any circumstances, or in any form, vituperated Mer Majesty, ‘or spoken of her offensively or disparagingly ,or otherwise than 'with the profound respect which her public and private vir- | tues, as much as their own loyal feelings and sense of duty, cave her a rightful title to claim from them. If the Islander

The Islander has the following: “ Dr. McHale, in speaking |

Gage, Bart , Sir William Codrington, Bart., Sir Clifford Con- stable, Bart., Sir Huwplrey de Trafford, Bart., Sir William

Lask | Landed Proprictors, Professional Gentlemen, Mayors, and

Town Councillors. : | It may here be asked why did not the editor of the Islander ‘say that the Catholic population of England and Seotland 1s | alo * worked up to a high pitch of excitement?” Le cannot be ignorant of the feet that throughout the whole of Great | Britain meetings have been held at which the ®ectch ang | English Catholics have also expressed their affectionate sympa- thy for the Pope, and have protested against his being sacri- legiously despoiled. A meeting of this kind was lately held |at Neweastle-on-Tyne, at which were present ho fewer than | 4000 Catholics. The Catholie nobility and gentry of Great | Britain—to whom Her Majesty will undoubtedly give credit fur as sincere loyalty as the Times, or Islander, or any otber | Protestant paper prulesses—have expressed their feelings and | opinions, on the question of the Romagna, by the issue of a declaration, to which is attached the names of some of the most historic families of England—the Stourtons, Langdales, Gages, Traflords and Blounts. As this is an important docu- ment, and will be interesting to the public at large, we will give it entire. Dectaration or THE Catuonic Larry or Great DBritarw.

“We, the undersigned Roman Catholits of England and Seotland, mindfal of that inviolable fidelity to the Holy Father and Apostolic See, which we have inherited frow our forefathers together with a devoted loyalty to our gracious Sovereign, and a sincere attachment to the cunstitation of our courtry,—

‘- Moved, also, by the wrongs already inflicted on the Holy Father, and the dangers which still threaten him,—

‘* Seeing that a portion of bis subjects have risen in unjusti- fiab'e rebellion against his authority, and at the instigation, and by the assistance of foreigners and invaders, have deprived him of certain provinces which are still kept from him,—

‘* Sceing that certain European Governments, by the em- p'oyment of money and, troops, as well as by open encourage- ment and secret intrigues, have assisted this usurpation ; while other Governments, through fear or hostility, have wit- nessed the spoliation of the Holy Father without protest or | Opposition ,—

‘¢ Sesing that, in our own country, the person, the charae- ter, afd the acts of the Holy Father have been assailed and calumniated, while his rights have been denied and his Gu- vernment denounced,—-

‘* Seeing that these denunciations and hostile manifestations have been so general on the part of the Protestant press, of many leading statesm-n, and of other public characters in our country, that our silence might expose us to tue imputation of complicity with such proceedings, or of indifference to the uly Father, or of timidity in the exercise of our right to make known to the Government, the Legislature, and the public, our views and feelings on matters of public coneern- ment,—

‘* Have resolved, in discharge of our duty to the Holy Father, to our country, and to ourselves, on publisuing the following Declaration :— | ** Firstly, we declare, that while we have no doubt of the | perm nency, so long as time shall endure, of the Mead of the Catholic Church, as the successor of St. Peter and the Vicar |o° Christ upon earth, it is not to be endured by Catholics that | the Sovereign Pontiff should be the subject of any temporal potentate ; and further, that the preservation of the temporal | sovereignty of the Lloly Father is of the highest importance | to secure the independent ex reise of his Supreme Spiritual

Power | Secondly, we declare, that the forcible abstraction from ithe Holy Father of a portion of his dominions is, in principle, an assumption of the right to deprive him of the whole, and would afford a pretext and a precedent for the entire abvlition of his temporal power.

‘* Thirdly, we declare, that, by reeognising the discontent and disaffection ofa portion of the population ot the Romagna, encouraged, as it has been, by foreign influence and aid, as a sifficient justification for depriving the Holy Father of those provine 8,a principle is sanctioned, subversive of al! order, authority and government, and destructive of peace, religion and society.

** Fourthly, we declare, that among the cases in whieh the tyranny, oppression, or misgovernment of any Suvereign has ever, at any time, been deemed to justify his subjects in re- nouncing their allegiance, nothing ean be found on whieh to base a justification of the present rebellion in the Romagna.

« Fifthly. we declare, that, on the evidence of tacts, and on the testimony of all competent and impartial witnesses, we believe that, among living Sovereigns there is nove who has deserved more than the [loly Father the character of a be- nizgnant, enlightened, and paternal ruler, and that his bene- yolent enteayours and intentions to promote improvements .n the administration of his States have been, a:d are, impeded, hy the eonduct of those very persons, both within and with- out his dominions, who attempt to justify the present rebelliva by the allegation of misgovernment,

‘« Finally, therefore, and for the above reasons, — ‘« We protest against the wrong done to the Lloly Father

wrong done to all Catholics by the attompt to compromise the independent exercise of the Pope's spiri ual power, of which his temporal sovereign y is the safezuard,— we protest against the rebellion of a portion of his subjects in he Romagaa as unjustifiable ; and against the aid given to them by ioreign — incendiaries, and by invaders from neigibouring states, as weil as by European statesinon and rulers, as injurious to religion, aad dangerous to the peace of the world and to the security of all governments. Farther,—we prot.st against every intrac- tion of the Iloly Father's rights as an independent Dovereign, —we protest against any assumption on the part of any other state or raler, or of any Congress of States, to dispose of the Holy Father's territories, or to impose upon him any condi- tions against his own will, being persuaded that both justice and expediency dictate that any changes in the laws or ad- ministration of his Dominions should de left to his own un- fettered julgment and unquestioned benevolence. Especially, —we protest against the power or infcenee of our country being used, - whether in a Congress of European States, or separately,—in favour of the Holy Father's rebol subjects ; or to despoil him of his dominions; or to interfere with his independent sovereignty, by imposing any conditions upon him. And we hereby make known our determination to re- sist and resent, in the spirit of the Constitution, any such course on the vart of the responsible advisers of the Crown, to whatever party in the state they may belong.”’