X. I do not know whether the Roman Catholics of England collectively are faithfully represented in been circulated with most malignant zeal. I shall, with your permission, notice some of its peculiarities; and first of all, let us see who and what the gentleman is and was. (Mr. Macdonnell here produced a small book). I shall take his story from his own book; I will not diminish its influence by communicating to you any information that may have reached me from other quarters. 'Tis true, the story of his migration from Seville was not precisely the same as he gives us; for I had heard, that so far from flying from his native city to avoid an enemy, he marched out, like a good recruit in a good cause, to the tune of the Girl I left behind me" (laughter). The title of his book is The Poor Man's Preservative against Popery, addressed to the lower classes of Great Britain and Ireland. Oh, what a chance he has in Ireland! (loud cheers and laughter.) By the Rev. Joseph Blanco White.' Now, before we go farther, I beg to know where he borrowed the title of Reverend? As Popery is so hideous a thing, it surely could not confer such a title; or if, on the contrary, the title was conferred by Popery, and is still held under that license, then it follows that Popery is not so hideous a thing after all. Let him tell the world by their British Catholic Association. If they be, I confidently appeal to those, who, free from the whom he was ordained or dubbed a Reverend, and then we shall have one proof of the sincerity of his present opinions as to Popery. He says, that the author makes no profit by this pamplet;' and I can assure you that neither will the reader (loud laughter). His modesty will not allow him to put forth all his titles on this occasion, but I find a small number of them appended to his venerable name in a similar production. As he announces his title and dignities as M. A. and B. B., I do not know exactly what B. B. means, unless, perhaps, Beautiful Blanco; but so it is Joseph Blanco White, M. A. and B. B. in the University of Seville; Licentiate of Divinity in the University of Osuna; formerly Chap→ lain Magistral Preacher to the King of Spain, in the Royal Chapel at Seville; Fellow, and once Rector, of the College of St. Mary a Jesu, of the same town; Synodal Examiner of the Diocese of Cadiz; Member of the Royal Academy of Belles Lettres of Seville.' Verily, Sir, by his own account, my friend Blanco appears to have been the Caleb Quotem of all Spain, and Paul Pry of Seville (loud laughter). But let us hear his own story from himself, and his qualifications for the mission he has undertaken. He begins by informing us, that his family left Ireland. I should be glad to learn from him why they left Ireland? Oh, unhappy man, were they not banished from their native land by that infernal code which you now seek to perpetuate (hear, hear)? He says that he religious and political feelings of that party, have read the fragment at the bottom of these pages, had excellent parents: that is more than they can say for their son, even by his own account. At the age of fourteen, he pressed his parents to educate him for the priesthood, and they performed his desires with the most tender, diligent, and affectionately parental solicitude. He praises those poor parents as the best of creatures, and particularly his mother, as the most charitable of women. He was ordained a priest at the age of twenty-five. He enters upon the discharge of all the duties of the ministry: he got into the enjoyment of several offices in the church, of which we have already seen some specimens; on each of those occasions he renewed, I believe upon oath, his vows of attachment to the Catholic religion; and yet this man, who is to convert our poor people to Christianity, admits that, for ten years of the time, he was a false double-dealer and an infidel, and that he continued, from interested motives, to discharge the ministry of a religion which he believed to be a false religion! These are his avowals; perhaps they are intended for boastings; but, after such declarations, the man deserves to be deceived who chooses thee, Blanco, for his religious director. He tells us, that when he ceased to be a Catholic, he became an infidel. This was quite according to precedent; for when angels fell, they became devils. Well, Sir, he quits Seville, and finds his way to a vessel, and sets sail for England. Really, Sir, these Spanish friars, whom our roving missionaries whether the spirit that actuated their ancestors round the Smithfield fires, is not still alive under pick up, are strange fellows. I recollect reading, a year or two ago, an account of another Spanish friar, who had been decoyed to Gibraltar, and was shipped for England, consigned to Mr. Joseph Butterworth. The story was told in one of the speeches of a Bible meeting. This poor friar, on coming into your river, was annoyed by your foggy atmosphere. The fable is given just as if it were a Jamaica turtle, instead of a Spanish friar that was the subject. The poor animal was delivered over to his consignee, who, full of benevolence, sent him to one of the hospitals of your city, where he died in two days; and there was an end of the friar done over' (laughter). But to return to Blanco: he tells us a cock and bull story about his being converted by humming a hymn in some church in this city; and it happened most fortunately, but quite accidentally, of course, that the system of Protestantism which he preferred was that of the established church. Well, Sir, he goes forth, qualified, as he declares, for this Christian mission, in the extraordinary manner to which I have adverted. He afflicted both his parents, he broke his poor mother's heart, he violated all his vows of attachment to his religion and this man, who is by himself represented to have been an infidel to his country, an infidel to his king, an infidel to his religion, an infidel to his parents, and an infidel to his God, now assumes the office of religious director of the "Lower classes of Great Britain and Ireland " another form in their breasts? No: let no man whose unfortunate lot has been to be born within - (hear, hear). This Christian Crusader does not preach doctrines of charity among us; oh, no, in the outset of his career he unfurls his blood-red banner of persecution, with his most Christian motto of ~ "hate one another," inscribed upon its scroll. Oh, most amiable Christian missionary! most admirable guide for a Christian people! most admirable ally of a Christian hierarchy (hear, hear)! The most comical part of all is, that this man, who had been an infidel for so many years, now tenders himself to be examined upon oath Blanco's oath (laughter)! He charges us with a fixed belief in the infallibility of the pope. Now, to that I answer, that I have sworn, as all of you have done, that I do not believe any such thing; and without claiming any extra measure of credit for myself, I think my oath is as good as Blanco's (loud laughter). Next, he charges us with not keeping faith with persons of a different communion. That comes well from Blanco, who, by his own account, kept faith with neither God nor man for ten years of his life (hear!). Besides, who can tell whether he is not playing the same game with the established church of England, as he played with the established church of Spain? Who can tell what is Blanco's religion this day; or, though you may be quite sure of it today, who can promise what it will be to-morrow? (hear, hear!) But, Sir, it is not to be endured, that these vile calumnies should be circulated against a portion of his ma |