The Clerical Agitators have encountered a signal defeat at Brighton.
Notice was given some time ago, that on Tuesday last the redoubt- able Mortimer O'Sullivan would " make known the real character and purposes of Popery " to the people of that town. The usual efforts were not wanting to inflame the religious prejudices of the inhabitants; and among them was the distribution of a most atrocious handbill, in which the Oath taken by Catholic Members of Parliament was con- spicuously printed, and a list of the names of several, headed by Lord Surry's, appended to it. Then followed a declaration that, according to the decrees of Popes Gregory the Ninth and Innocent the Third, Catholics were bound to disregard all oaths taken contrary to the interests of the Church of Rome, and not to consider them as oaths, bat perjuries. The National Church was declared to be in danger ; and Englishmen were asked whether they would "submit to have the land of their forefathers again made the property of the Papist ?" All this was printed in a variety of large and striking type ; but not content with this, the pious, peace-loving Orangemen, exhibited an engraving of the Death's-bead and cross-bones, with the inscription—" Look at O'Connell's canvassing arms and threats." The knowledge that the story of the Death's-head, 8,:c. being drawn upon the voter's door was a Se, palmed upon the Times by its Irish correspondent, did not prevent these godly men from making use of it. Some more stuff about " O'Connell's Influence," and O'Connell's dictation," made up the contents of the Orange handbill. Relying probably on the effect which they supposed this handbill would produce on the ignorant, the managers of the intended meeting did not take sufficient precaution to pub I. Their opponents put forth a handbill headed " Ratbcormac versus O'Sullivan," to remind the men of Biighton of Parson Ryder's tithe-slaughter,—not forgetting to mention the recent expulsion of 900 Catholics from the estates of the Beresfords and other Protestant landlords. The inhabitants were called upon to attend the meeting, and elect their own Chairman. The hour of assembling was suddenly altered from twelve to eleven ; but the room at the Old Ship Inn was filled as soon as the doors were opened, by a large body of the Liberals. Every person was admitted by ticket ; all who were not furnished with tickets were turned back by a strong party of Police, stationed at the front of the stairs leading to the room.
At twelve o'clock, Mr. Sharood proposed that Mr. Churchwarden Goode should take the chair ; his motion was carried by the acclama- tions of the majority ; but now the other party, headed by Lord Teign- mouth, Mr. West, and the Reverend Mr. Elliott, appeared on the plat-
form, to defend the vacant seat. A violent scuffle ensued ; Lord
Teignmouth and Mr. Goode fought in front of the platform ; similar contests were carried on at the back ; the combatants rolled over and over on the floor; chairs and tables were overturned; the ladies shrieked, and fled in affright; in short, there was "a regular row." No serious personal injury, however, was inflicted ; and the battle re- sulted in Mr. Goode's taking the chair, to which be had been elected by the majority of the meeting.
Order being restored, a burly-looking personage stepped on one of the benches, and asked Mr. Goode, as an impartial Chairman, to ob- tain for him a fair hearing. Mr. Goode promised that he would; and then the stranger announced himself as "the much-calumniated Mr. O'Sullivan." This declaration called forth shouts of laughter, and
cries of " Oh !" but the majority of the meeting quietly seated themselves; and the victim of calumny was permitted to revile the faith of the majority of the Christian world, in a speech of three hours' dura- tion. We cannot even give an outline of his harangue ; which, how- ever, is the less necessary as it was merely a repetition of the old stuff about Dens, abuse of the Catholics, and praise of Orangemen. We should add, that he positively denied being in receipt of 2000/. a year from the Orange. Toryparty. While Mr. O'Sullivan was in the midst of his abuse of the Catholics, charging them with disallowing the reading of the Scriptures, consider- ing all but Catholics as heretics, and all heretics as worthy of being burnt, a gentleman from the body of the meeting said that such were not the doctrines of the Catholics. O'Sullivan challenged him to make good his denial, on the next or on some future day. The gentle- man mounted the platform, and said he was ready then to disprove the bath of the charges against the Catholics. He was recognized to be Mr. Carew O'Dwyer, lately the Liberal Member for Drogheda. After O'Sullivan had concluded his harangue, Mr. O'Dwyer delivered a long speech in reply. He relied on the acts and declarations of liv- ing Catholics, in opposition to the decrees of informal Councils, and the atrocities of that mad old Flemish priest Peter Dens. He proved that the reading of the Bible was not only permitted, but commanded by Catholic divines ; and quoted a beautiful passage from a sermon by Dr. Murray, in which the duty, not of burning heretics, but of doing good to all, .vas powerfully enforced. He retorted upon O'Sullivan the crimes of Protestant bigots, as a set-off against Catholic atrocities ; and defended himself and the Catholic Members from the charge of voting for the destruction of the Protestant Church in supporting the Irish Church Bill, by reminding the meeting that the King him- self sanctioned the introduction of that measure,—which therefore could not be one to injure the Church of which he was the head. As for establishing Popery in Ireland, Mr. O'Dwyer declared his determi- nation strenuously to resist it. To the connexion of the Church with the State he attributed almost all the crimes which disgraced religion.
There is but a very imperfect account given of the proceedings after the close of Mr. O'Dwyer's speech. We have taken the following from the Brighton Guardian. "Mr. Colquboun, (late Member for Dumbartonshire,) after declaring himself a liberal, intimated that he bad applied for the use of the Town. hall for the meeting; which was refused him ; an assertion which called up Mr. Slight, who in a judi- cious speech refuted the assertion of Mr. Colquhoun, showing that as the latter gentleman wished the Town-hall for a close meeting, he had dissuaded him from applying for it, because the Town-hall being public property it would have been unjust and even impracticable to refuse the Inhabitants admission. Mr. Slight then entreated the meeting not to be led away by the statements of itinerant lecturers, but to keep clear faun polemical and religious animosity. He was followed by Mr. Mott; who adverted to his haying known. Mr. O'Sullivan when a boy au Ireland ; and produced a strong impression on the mind of the audi- tory by a description of some of the horrors which he witnessed during the Rebellion in Ireland." He concluded by moving a resolution.
"That it is inexpedient to entertain the question of religious differences be- tween the Protestants and Catholics, or to interfere in the plan of adjustment of the Church question proposed by his Majesty's Ministers."
This motion was carried by acclamation, and without opposition ; and the meeting separated, with three cheers for the Chairman.
There were no fewer than 2000 persons present. Among them, besides Lord Teignmouth, and Mr. Colquboun, and Major Fancourt, Member for Barnstaple, were Prince George of Cambridge, and his tutor, Mr. Wood. Mr. O'Sullivan went away before the resolution of Mr. Mott was put from the chair ; pretending he had "a sick friend" to visit. Thus ended the eventful day.
So sure were the Orangemen of victory, that they had engaged the room at the Ship Inn for another meeting on Monday evening. If they persevere in their intention to hold it, they must take cure that it is a select party of gentlemen of "one class of opinions."
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