Address From The Rer. Dr. M'Ennery Roman Catholic Vicar-General Of Kerry. "TO The Poorer Ciassls Of The Roman Catholic's of The Parish Of Tralec.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 243, 27 September 1848, Page 3

Address From T he Rer. Dr. M'Ennery Roman Catholic Vicar-General Of Kerry. "TO The Poorer Ciassls Of The Roman Catholic's of The Parish Of Tralec.

" My dear Friends, — It has been my duty to offer you my udvicc often during the last twenty threo years. I have never given you an advice impelled by coriupt motiyei— l have never given you counsel without being convinced that such counicl wa» for your good ; and it has been my good fortune never to huvc recommended aught that eventuated in the loss or disgrace of my beloved flock, either collectively or individually. My advice may be like a distasteful medicine : yet, though bitter, to the taste, it will bo found beneficial to the general heiilth. I not alone believe you to be as moral, as peaceable, and aa practically religious a people as anym the Biitish Empire, but I know that you are 6uch. I would, in truth, consider the following earnest recommendation quite unnecessary if I were not certain that you would be tampered with. But 1 dread that the apostles of anarchy may tempt you — that the writing, or leported speeches, of false teachcis may icduce yo into a course of action as foolish us it would be ciiminal. I pledge myself to you as solemnly as man cm engage himself to his fellow-man, that if you literally aliidc by my counsel in the present instance, you will hereafter congratulate yourselves on the wisdom you displayed in following the advice of your pastor, and pouring- a blessing on the head of the humble individual who gave that adv cr. Here, then, ii my recommendation, counsel, and earnest entreaty— make no attempt, give no aid, affjrd no countenance to those who would pretend to repeal the legislative union be« tween Great Britain and Ireland by violent moans. — The attempt would be foolish, criminal, ruinous to the country, and pregnant with long and incalculable misery to our native land. It would be foolish— for, if the Repealers of Ireland weie to unfurl the banner of re» bellion aguinst their Sovereign, a bloody defeat would be their certain lot. They are devoid of provisions, small arms, ammunition, artillery, cavalry, military discipline, officers, experienced generals, and of all things indispensable for cairying on successful w»r against a poweii'ul empire. This powerful empire cm command promptly and cxtenwvely all those necessary requisites enumerated above. It is true that the rebel force may erect barricades, overpower the military in nun ow streets, and become, for the moment, masters of a city or a town, liut, duiing" the occupation of that doomed town, they would be formidable to the wealthy, industiioiis, and peaceable inhabitants alone. Spoliation of property, waste of food deidncd for the support of man, inebiiety, insults to female virtue, violence and anarchy, would maik thiir career. If they could hold possession for a few weeks, they would be inevitably diiven by hunger into the very nets of a victorious, and probably unsparing enemy. You may be told that in the ranks of the forcei of the Queen many would bo found prepared to fiatcrnile with the rebel host. Never was delusion more complete than this. The military force which the Government would bring forward to suppress a rebellion would probably comprehend the revenue police, ( oast guards, the constabulary, marines, and the regulur ai my, consisting of cavalry and infantry. Now all these parties are by habit, training, and constitution families within themselves, and widely separated from the mere civilian. Besides, I believe and fervently hope, that few Roman Catholics in her Majesty's service would be found so base or so wicked as to sell their names to shame, their religion to contempt, and their immortal souls to God's enduring anger by committing the hideous crime of perjury. There is no power on earth capable of dispensing the oaths t takcn by any of these parlies, able to abiolvc the soldier from his sworn allegiance, or to exempt him from falling into a damnable sin, by deserting from the caiuc which he was solemnly sworn to defend. Should the deserting soldier be as free from every other sin as one of those pure spirits who stand before the throne of God, and die with that single sin of peijury on his soul, never would he enter into the kingdom of God, or enjoy a moments exemption from unspeakable suffering. Cold, hunger, and utter destitution would be the portion of the misguided people engaged in rebellion—extensive shughter in the opnn countryagriculture would be neglected — the crops burned in the field, or trampled under the hoof of the war hone —myriads of orphans and widows would roam through the desolate land, and seeking that food which did not exist— the sacred edifice consecrated to the service «J the most High would become a smouldering ruin— the unobtrusive retieat of piety, purity, and education would become' the barracks of a licentious soldiery — property would be squandured by the most reckless miscreant* in thoughtless riot— the banks would become insolvent — the hclplesi inmates of poor hotuei would crawl out from their aiylums, seeking that sustenance which could not be afforded to them, and dying by thousands on the roadsides — the ear of man would be closed against the cries of his suffering fellow* man — morality would perish, and selfishness, cruelty, a.id violence woul I reign universally— and the overwhelming power ,of union, wealth, and disciplined strength would extinguish the ilames of abortive rebellion in the blood of the misguided people. The picture is not overcharged It would become im awful reality. Then would not the attempt, by the instruments iiy of a rebellion, be foolish in the extreme ? No man in his senses — no man with a heart of flesh in his bosom —at least no irishman living in Ireland, can deny the unexampled suffering, the mci edible destitution of millions of the Irish poor, their poverty only equalled by their patience, The fault and the guilt lie ou many heads. The governing powers in England, since the days of Henry 11. to the piesent day, liavo never impartially extended that piotectiou, attention, and paternal care to tho lush people which they ou^lit, and to which the Irish people were entitled. The Irish wereeith r coldly neglected, rudely lepulaed, or treated as aliens. Their bodies were consigned to poverty, and their minds to ignorance by penal enactments. Century after century Ireland was governed through the lords of the soil — laws were unsparingly enacted to extend ami ptotect the rights of tUoic iuMgr,i ot tUc

soil— they were generally strangers to the country ; they knew the people little, they cared for tlitrn Jess. The people felt that they were neglected, find often oppressed—the natural conscqu'TH 1 ", a inuiunl distiust and estrangement ensued. Tuibulence, elotli, ignorance, and idleneis were forced on the most improvable and moral people under the canopy at' haavon. This is not the Bin of one trign, or of any one ministry — if. has been the unvarying rule for cent uric 1 -. T!ip jh-ojiKj foolishly and universally attempted to redi^s their wrongß by insnnc rebellions, in winch the mjans wt-m clearly inadequate to procure the proposed ends — nil the countless mis"ries inseparable fiom mi unsuiGcssfiiL nivil wai fell on the country, and caused iUo rctrogade for many dark and tedious yeais. An irnaginMiivo mid ardent people thus neglected, and destitute ct self roliance, listened to every political rinpyrie, and over* looked the menus by which their condition rmy hv gradually but infallibly impiovcd. i M.iy be askrd, are the people to fold their anni in listless npathy, and to make no manly exertion to raise the rrwnrry from her present prostrate and degraded cl.itf ? No, that man does not tread the liish aoil who ii more anxious for agitation than I am, nor moic sensible thai. a wise, steady, ardent, and unceasing agit'iiion should continue. Nut let tins national movement bo foi leally useful purposes, for mensuies which the legislature can giant. Let the electors in evoiy boiau^h. city, and county in 1 1 Hand form clubs, discuss, &nd ascertain, what measures me useful and necegbaiy, and in thu mean time practicable. Let them insist that their representatives form a strong and united liiah party , that they will attend in their places, that they will, at least for the present, abstain moit scrupously fiom seeking or receiving any place, pension, or situation, for themselves, their relutives, oi dependents— let them make known to the minister of the day, that they will not obstruct the granting of supplies foi working Use machine of the state, but that they will infallibly unite with the opposition on one of those incidental and minor questions which occur in every session, unless he lend his influence to carry those useful and legitimate measures which th<ir countiy stands in need ot. Let the representative who will not do this, be sternly required, as a disgraceful defaulter, tore-stoic the tins* committed to hit keeping, Let the legiilaUue cnar-i comprehensive l.iws that will teach the, landlord* of Ireland that their rights and duties are (orrelative terms. Let the people feel that the laws arc not enacted for the rich alone. Let packet stations, i'ailiond«, navy depots, deep sea fisheries, the cultiv ition of flax, the improvement of waite lands, lacility for thn sale of encumbered estates, become subjects of real and lionet legislation. Such are the measures that would truly bring prosperity to Ireland. Then, would not an utinatuial outbreak, that muit interrupt the attainment of all those blessings, and perpetuate the migcucs of our dear native country, be deeply criminal ? "There is no measure of more vital importance to Ireland than that which would i educe the qualification of electors, and considerably increase the number of representatives. It is truly strange that the qualified - tion should be higher in the poor country, and much lower in the more wealthy. Still that anamoty exists. If the amount of population and cnntiibution to support Iht buidens of the stale were honestly adopted as a basis, we should have over 50 additional members in the Impprial Parliament. But let me suppose that a rising of the people against the. Sovereign were to take place on a large scale, how and wh n would Uk* most desirable improvement tnko place ? The pioscnfgeneratioii would pass away before the Innh would cren presume to entertain tlie question iip,<im. 'the population would b • cut down by the edges i.i i he sword, by famine, the constant companion of civil war, and by pestilence, the twin sister of f.unine. The lo.s of human life would be found to exceed by iiiany thovs i>r?>; any calculations made, even by the gieakbt nlai mist. It would be o civil war, thcrefoie a htm^l' 1 abounding in horrors, and these horrors would lie ngpr ivated n hundredfold, for it would become a religions wai. I am satisfied that the English arc at the present time more estranged from the Irish people dun they hare been for many ycais, The English, as individuals, have acted nobly by us for the last two years; but ;> few Irish journals, and a smalt number of restless and vain men, pandering to the woist passions of the low* est and most ignorant of the people, hnve taken on themselves to return contumely, ingiatitude, and hatred for the ben ficent acn of those noble-minded individuals. The wreckers of the North, whose iinndn have with difficulty for years been kept from the throats of their Roman Catholic neighbours, would chcerfu ly enter on a crusade to the South ; naw would 1 cug.iu;o for the observance of ihe laws of war between civil izcrt nations. The whota power and sticnglhof iho Enttsb nation would be put in requisition, and a blow sufficiently heavy struck to crush the Irish people for thenext fifty yean. I may be told th'it the. lib lal journals, the watchful sentinels of the Irish uulion— thai. the glorioui and eloquent orators, who stand foi ward. to denounce the cruel Saxon, and to hhed ll'cw InM 1 blood for fatherland— speak with hope, cncoui.ijcmuil, and confidence of the issue of the contest. My doav friends, attach no credit to their an>eitinnß— roufHu. not in their promises-— be not fao helphs 1)' « i editions as to imagine that they arc in earnest. The j iitrnalisl who would urge on you to embnile on an in.sane and ruinous and unequal struggle, wishes to continue and increase the circulation of his journal — he looks for praise and profit— and these are his fathei i.md. Tlirs orator who would encourage you in the path of ruin, seeks, with a craving appetite, for applause. Let Una, however evanescent, he conferred on hint— he seldom cares what evils i«.iy befull hii deluded he.ircis. An outbreak would inevitably prevent for u lorn. 1 , period the enactment of those lalutaryjmeabuies. It would consign, very proha ly, hundreds of thousands, of diflcreut jigct, to a premature giave. It would k'ndle anew theunhallowed fires of leligious ranoom— it would pir* petuate distrust, estraugemont, and natural avei^um between both countries, and it would leave, Ireland in her misery and degradation. Wnl any m.in, then, 1m io weak us to doubt- that a rebellion would be turnout; to the country ? Wh.\t is our present condition ? Many of our best farmers arc emigrating, taking their families, and no small portion of wealth with them. Their only strong feeling appeals to be an extiaoidmary impatience to quit the land of their birth, as it il weic u locality infested with the plague. A consiilciahlc nuru ber of able-bodied labourers are confined to our pooi houses, consuming much of the means of the rouutiy, and without any fault on their part, giving no valuable return. The visilaliou of the two lust yours has fallen peculiarly heavy on the fathers of lamilie.H ; hence, the numbers ot orphans and widows is marly iuciediblt'. Large numbers of the labouring pjor cm no longer bott the "con" or " score" acie. Hence, miles'-, work b: afforded outside, they must separate from family and friends, they must become cold and sellislt, they must suppicss the best feelings ot otu nature, and become morose, and discontented, and unsoci.it utnti. The recipients of out door relief must nec<ssarily lose sell-relianco, self icspcct, and mdefiendeuce of spirit. Thi*y must havciecourt.c to nnmyial means, to falsehood, to obtain that which the law awards them. They will inevitably acquuc slo hful habiti, and imbibe the spirit of nieiulic<iucy. On the la»dlord« • very he^vy icspuusibility devolves. By

' Discovery or Wesley's Journal in Dr. Holmi-'s Legacy to Uxiveusitv CoLLncn, — The twenty thousand pounds legacy of Dr. Holme to the medical .department of Univeisity College, is likely to receive considerable augmentation. Upon further investigation of the affairs of the deceased physician, it had been found that Dr. Holme had invested in tbc stocks a sum ot nearly £9,000, which was not at all named in his will. Taking the amount of legacies pnd bequests at £17,000, and the duties theieon at £3,000 more, we believe there will lemain (exclusive of the libraiy) certainly not less th.vi j£2J,OOO, but probably not much less than £"iO 000, to eniich the funds of the medical department of the Gower btieet College. The Doctor's library is found moiv extensive than had been anticipated. Amongbt its numerous tomes, all the depaitments of natural hi^ioiy aie woilhily represented, especially zoology, ornithology, entomology, and botany. A great mass of i\ISS., consisting of essays, notes, papeis, &c, in Dr. Holme's writing, have been discovered, as well as much eoiicspondcnce with the eminent men of his time. Amongst the letters arc everal from Dr. Parr. One unique collection of MSS., infinity small quai to volumes, lnis been discoveied in i's concealment, and bi ought to the light, covered with the dust of at le?~t a quarter of a century. The fhst half of the fiist volume seems to he a sort of diary oi journal Kept bj John Wesley, in which are recoided vaiious incident 1 ; of his journeyings. It is conjectuicd that this poition of the collection — which is in a different Inndwrumg to the remainder of that volume, and the whole of the other thiity-nine volumes — is from the pen of Wesley himself The remainder of MSS., which are ssiid to be in a very neat caligraphy, appear to have been the production of a diffeient hand. They are written in various languages, Gicek, Latin, German, and English.— Examiner, Jan. 29. Borrowing Newspapers. — It is wonderful how much people think, in all countries, of buying 1 a newspaper. A man who will w».,ste hundreds of pounds on lidiculous trifles will submit to w.iit for hours for bis newspaper, to have Jt taken from him in the very midst of an interesting article, to care, perhaps, a mere matter of a few halfpence per day. For ourselves, we are like Pierre Lescoup ; we read our newspaper with z. j st only when it is our own property, and we can enjoy it— one of the greatest of modern luxu- — by our own n y eside ; at times, too, when any other reading would be wearisome and distasteful. We like a borrowed paper as little as a borrowed night-cap.-—Percy (Si, John Minor),