cal institutions for the Bedouin Arabs, the degraded Chinese, and the yeomanry of England? Could any thing but anarchy and wretchedness be anticipated from so total a departure from the lessons of experience; so blind a forgetfulness of the difference between such different races and situations of mankind? Yet this is precisely what the Whigs have done. They have given the same Sovereign powers to the impassioned Catholic cottar, guided by his priest, and execrating the Protestants, as to the sober English yeoman, inheriting from a long line of ancestors attachment to his King and country. They have swept away the old bulwarks equally in Popish Ireland as Protestant England. There never was such infatuation. Supposing it to be all true what they have so long and so strenuously maintained, as to the degradation in which the Irish were kept by the Catholic code, that only makes their conduct the more inexcusable, in so suddenlyinvesting them with irresistible sway. If it be true, that they have only ceased within these few years to be slaves, it was surely the height of madness to invest them at once, while still burning with servile passions, with the last and highest privileges of free men. The consequences have already developed themselves, and they have struck with dismay the very authors of the Reform Bill. The Globe tells us that there are sixty-seven members supported by O'Connell, standing for the Irish cities and counties, and that a great majority of them will to all appearance be returned. Mr Sheil boasts that the repealers are already forty strong, and daily receiving accessions of strength; a force quite sufficient, by throwing itself into the scale when nearly balanced, to subvert the empire. The Ministerial papers are daily firing signal guns of distress for the effects of their own healing measure. On their darling allies, the Radicals, they have opened with unexampled fierceness: for them, in gratitude for their past services, they have invented the epithet of "the Destructives," which Tory malignity never yet thought of; and on these their leading journal has lately opened those floodgates of slang and abuse, which a few months ago were bestowed exclusively on the Conservative party. It is Ireland which has produced this consternation in the Ministerial ranks. They were fully warned, a hundred times over, during the progress of the Reform Bill, that this consequence would infallibly result from sweeping away all the barriers of the constitution in Ireland; but to all these warnings they were utterly deaf; with obstinate resolution they forced through the whole dangerous clauses of the revolutionary measure, and they now confess that the empire in consequence is on the verge of dissolution. So absurd, vacillating, contradictory, and yet obstinate, has been the conduct of Ministers in Ireland, that they have contrived to accomplish what would a priori have been deemed impossible, viz. the union of Catholics and Orangemen in one common opinion. That common opinion is detestation of them and their measures. The Protestants, with reason, look upon them as the worst enemies Ireland ever saw; as the original authors of the fatal admission of Catholic influence into the House of Commons; as the patrons and rewarders of the greatest enemy to the peace of Ireland that time has ever produced. The Catholics regard them as men who have betrayed them into measures which they now punish them for pursuing; as having set the country on fire by the promised extinction of tithes, which they are now supporting with the whole military force of the empire. In the universal obloquy which they have acquired, the supporters of the Union itself have rapidly and alarmingly decreased, and a portentous union of Catholics and Protestants taken place, to support the severance of the island from British dominion. O'Connell has treated the Government, as all men deserve to be treated who, for party purposes and the maintenance of power, surrender the independence and spirit of freemen he has turned upon them with indignation. Loaded with their honours, he has spurned them with contumely; rising from their caresses, he has turned from them with loathing. The English newspapers have been for the most part afraid to print, even in these days of general license, the volley of abuse with which he has assailed those who lately loaded him e e 3, Conservative party. It is Ireland ey measures. ex- as ee ve So absurd, vacillating, contradict ks ory, and yet obstinate, has been the st- conduct of Ministers in Ireland, that ch they have contrived to accomplish all what would a priori have been deemso ed impossible, viz. the union of he Catholics and Orangemen in one common opinion. That common opialy nion is detestation of them and their The Protestants, with reason, look upon them as the worst e, enemies Ireland ever saw; as the in original authors of the fatal admis sion of Catholic influence into the in- House of Commons; as the patrons n- and rewarders of the greatest enemy The to the peace of Ireland that time has ever produced. The Catholics regard them as men who have betray dy ed them into measures which they now punish them for pursuing; as ors having set the country on fire by the lls promised extinction of tithes, which ers they are now supporting with the For whole military force of the empire. at In the universal obloquy which they all have acquired, the supporters of the eil Union itself have rapidly and alarmdy ingly decreased, and a portentous union of Catholics and Protestants te taken place, to support the severance he of the island from British dominion. O'Connell has treated the Govern bal ment, as all men deserve to be treat of ed who, for party purposes and the maintenance of power, surrender the independence and spirit of freemen 1 he has turned upon them with indignation. Loaded with their ho nours, he has spurned them with con tumely; rising from their caresses, he has turned from them with loathing. The English newspapers have been for the most part afraid to print, C n S f even in these days of general license, ere with honours. The leading feature, But the matter does not rest here. "Mr Sheil's conviction, as to the necessity of repeal, was produced by the conduct of the British Parliament; and the administration of Lord Anglesea, Stanley, and the Attorney-General, shewed that, without repeal, it was impossible to do any service to Ireland. (Hear, and cheers.) He was proud to think that the enemies of Ireland were no longer to be patriots were to be found men of persuasion, while the vilest and mos vile, the veriest 'lickspittle'-(it w unpleasant word to use, and whic should not pronounce in a public as bly, if he could find one equally expre of the class he was describing)—but filthy word particularly applied to Catholic portion of the herd of slaves were the most bitter and malignant mies of Ireland. (Hear, and cheers In these circumstances, the sa tion of the empire hangs upo thread. If the Irish members rally support the repeal of the U there is no concealing the fact, in the present distracted and div state of parties in this country, may soon be able to dictate it to administration. One only resource remains to together the falling members of empire. The great and noble Ora party of Ireland are still firm to t duty, and the integrity of the Br dominions. Calumniated, malt ed, injured as they have been by liberal measures, both of the pre and the preceding Cabinet, they yet firm in their allegiance both to British crown and the British 1 lature. But let us not throw a our last chance. This brave and triotic body may be driven to peration; a drop may make the overflow. They are assailed reckless and desperate Catholic tion, strong in numbers, able guidance, reckless in intention; whom no bloodshed or conflagra will intimidate, no public suffe deter; who will pursue their ambition, careless though the r of the empire were to overwh them in the attempt. This ter body has been headed, patroni and flattered by the governmen England, during the whole stru on the Reform Bill, and nothing cooled the alliance, or made t the triumph of that measure sensible of the desperate da which they ran in the attempt. S combination, a little longer per ed in, would have led to the memberment of the empire. Bu us not be mistaken; the least re val of it would lead to an union a This is exactly what the French say with truth of Louis Philippe's govern as compared with the fifteen years of the restoration. all parties against the British union, and infallibly sever from England the right arm of her strength. It is by supporting, with all the might of England, the Orange party of Ireland, and by such a measure alone, that the crown of Ireland can be kept on the head of the British sove--which I consider full of danger to reign, or the independence of the the country-but for the purpose of British empire maintained. The Ca- pointing out, soberly and advisedly, tholics will never cease to desire a what I deem the only hope of safety severance, because it would lead, for our much-loved country; namely, they hope, to a Catholic Prince and a union, on moderate principles, of a Catholic government, and the re- all men of all parties who have really sumption of the whole estates, both the welfare of the nation at heart; civil and ecclesiastical, to the Catholic and I shall endeavour to illustrate proprietors. Her Revolutionists will this by a brief reference to a former never cease to desire it, because it will part of our history, respecting which at once occasion the formation of an I cannot wonder that some of the Hibernian Republic, in close alliance wise and wily politicians of the day with the great parent democracy, would fain have us to consider it an and place the agitators at the head old almanack-I allude to the period of affairs. Her Protestants alone are when the Cabal of the Second Charles prompted by every motive, human laid their schemes for the destrucand divine, by kindred interest, reli- tion of the British constitution. It gion, and loyalty, to resist the con- is not a little remarkable, that the vulsion; and hitherto, through evil measures they resolved upon to efreport and good report, through sup- fect this object, were, first, the report and injury, they have stood firm lief of the Romanists from all disain their faith. What madness if the bilities-and, secondly, the levelling affections of this great body, the sole of all distinctions between religious remaining link which holds together sects and parties; and the grand pothe empire, is lost in the flattery of litical step they deemed necessary revolutionary passions! But that for that purpose, was, forming an must be the consequence if the pre- alliance with France, and provoking sent vacillating system is persisted a war with Holland-(hear.) Yes, in, and the tried support of the Pro- Gentlemen, they were jealous of the testant union is lost in the vain at- existence of a consistent Protestant tempt to conciliate its Catholic ene- neighbour-(hear.) If, however, the mies. inglorious issue of that war were the only result, we should not now refer to their disgrace; the poison of their principles worked at home-the seed sown by them sprang up, and in the ensuing reign drove the unfortunate Stuart line from the throne of England-(hear, hear.) But, my Lord, what then saved the country? A union of Whig and Tory upon sound Conservative and Protestant principles. To this re-acting power-to the Conservative society of that day, we owe the glorious settlement of 1688-(hear, and loud cheers.) Let us then seek the same result nowlet every man in the country, who loves our unrivalled constitution, unite to preserve its blessings-and while we are equally removed from indifference in our moderation, and from violence in our firmness, let our grand leading principle be, 'Hold fast that which is good-and as far changes, and if I just allude to the passing of the Relief Bill-to the repeal of the Test Acts-to the remodelling of the Constituency of the Country, believe me I do it not now to cast a needless censure on any of those who advocated these measures In a succeeding Number we shall pursue this subject, and lay before our readers, in support of the same views, some quotations from the splendid speeches, with which, in the midst of the vacillation and revolutionary measures of Government, the Protestant leaders have supported the common cause of the British empire and the Protestant religion. But we cannot resist the satisfaction of adorning our pages with one extract from a brilliant speech lately delivered at Cork by Mr Cummins, at a great meeting of Conservative gentlemen; which places in a striking point of view the close analogy, on which we have often enlarged, between the proceedings of the Cabal Administration in the time of Charles II., and our present infatuated rulers. "My Lord, we have passed through most important land. No. I. ion, changes, and if I just allude to the and passing of the Relief Bill-to the It is repeal of the Test Acts-to the ret of modelling of the Constituency of the Ire- Country, believe me I do it not now one, to cast a needless censure on any of a be those who advocated these measures ove--which I consider full of danger to the the country-but for the purpose of Ca- pointing out, soberly and advisedly, re a what I deem the only hope of safety lead, for our much-loved country; namely, and a union, on moderate principles, of e re- all men of all parties who have really both the welfare of the nation at heart; holic and I shall endeavour to illustrate will this by a brief reference to a former t will part of our history, respecting which of an I cannot wonder that some of the ance wise and wily politicians of the day racy, would fain have us to consider it an head old almanack-I allude to the period e are when the Cabal of the Second Charles uman laid their schemes for the destruc reli- tion of the British constitution. It con- is not a little remarkable, that the evil measures they resolved upon to ef sup- fect this object, were, first, the refirm lief of the Romanists from all disaF the bilities-and, secondly, the levelling sole of all distinctions between religious ether sects and parties; and the grand po ry of litical step they deemed necessary that for that purpose, was, forming an pre- alliance with France, and provoking isted a war with Holland-(hear.) Yes, Pro- Gentlemen, they were jealous of the n at- existence of a consistent Protestant ene- neighbour-(hear.) If, however, the inglorious issue of that war were the shall only result, we should not now refer efore to their disgrace; the poison of their same principles worked at home-the seed sown by them sprang up, and in the the the ensuing reign drove the unfortunate Stuart line from the throne of Eng ent, land-(hear, hear.) But, my Lord, port- what then saved the country? A itish union of Whig and Tory upon sound ion. Conservative and Protestant princi tion ples. To this re-acting power-to the Conservative society of that day, we owe the glorious settlement of ely ins, 1688-(hear, and loud cheers.) Let us then seek the same result nowlet every man in the country, who se loves our unrivalled constitution, en- unite to preserve its blessings-and of while we are equally removed from indifference in our moderation, and in- from violence in our firmness, let grand leading principle be, Hold good-and as far evo ex vaI a me as that principle will lead us, let our ( We promise our readers ample gratification from a continuance of these extracts, and a narrative of the able and vigorous proceedings of the Conservative Society of Ireland; and we rejoice at having an oppor AN IRISH GARLAND. YE gentlemen of Ireland, YE GENTLEMEN OF IRELAND. Where it waves on their graves The glories of your fathers And the golden Harp, shall soar tunity of drawing closer the bond union between the great Conser tive party in this country and th intrepid supporters on the other s of the Channel; an union pregn with the happiest effects to both, by which alone the maintenance our religion or our independe can be secured. I. eight, Now flout our skies again; While your dust is on the wing, Down, down with State and King!" You need no College pedants You need no frantic orators, Your strength is in the sacred might With lessons from God's living Word From traitors by the score; II. YE JACKASSES OF IRELAND. Did not your flag of honour And skies of blue return! To the manly hearts who bore Ye jackasses of Ireland, The gibbets of your fathers Whose ears, though cropp'd in ninety- (For worthily they played their pa (And the Newgate birds shall si "Ee-eeh, ee-eeh, ee-eeh, ee-aw! Down, down with Law and Ki Your brains are in your free-born heels, (And the chapel bells shall ring,) Down, down with Church and King!" The divine voice of Freedom From east to west shall sound, Till neither Parson, Judge, nor Lo In Ireland shall be found :Then, then, ye long-eared lawgive How College Green shall ring, As ye bray, night and day, (And Dan shall be the King,) "Ee-eeh, ee-eeh, ee-eeh, ee-aw! Down, down with every thing III. SONG TO BE SUNG AT THE LIFTING OF THE CONSERVATIVE STANDARD. COME shake forth the Banner, let loyal breath fan her; -- See, see, where the rags of the Tricolor brave us; But up with the banner, let loyal breath fan her, Through the Broad Stone of Honour, the flagstaff is founded It stood when rebellion's wild tempest resounded, 'Twill stand, by God's will, though again it should blow! Then up with the Banner! the ensign of honour! IV. SONG TO BE SUNG AT THE LIFTING OF THE REVOLUTIONARY STANDARD. BRAY, Asses, bray for the pride of the levellers; Stretch your long jaws to the Tricolor's praiseOh for a chief of Parisian revellers 'Mong us the standard in earnest to raise! Onward to lead us 'gainst order and law! Plunder and pillage for ever!-ee-aw ! Rooted in sin and lust, Deep in our hearts, it must Flourish, while strength from a vice it can draw; Pine oe'r the poison'd ground, While we sing Reason for ever!-ee-aw. Ee-aw! Reason and rapine for ever!-ee-aw ! When last to the banquet we gather'd around her, The Seine for three days with our feasting was dyed; Up with her here, my sons, Britain's old Lion who values a straw? If the poor brute should roar, Ee-aw! |