CLERICAL CANVASSERS.
THE Tories are extremely annoyed by the interference of the Catholic priests in the Irish Elections. The Times says- " In Clare, these precious teachers of morality and ministers of the Gospel, half-bullied, half-cheated a number of the freehold voters to break the solemn promises which they had given to the Conservative candidate; pronouncing that they were no more bound to keep their word with a Tory than with a high- wayman ! "
The Standard thinks fine and imprisonment would be a proper punishment for such conduct, and quotes two precedents for the guidance of the house of Commons in the matter.
This is very amusing. Protestant parsons, on both sides of the Channel, may busy themselves from morn to night in behalf of the Tory candelates, and be lauded for their pious exertions in the
good cause ; but the meddling of Catholic priests in elections is intolerable. Were the priests the tools of Lord RODEN or Lord
BERESFORD, we should never hear enough of their piety and loyalty : the deadly sin consists in their exhortations to the Catho- lics to stand up for their country and their faith, and not to per- jure themselves in aid of their Orange oppressors. Were the secret history of the Elections published, we suspect that tire most unscrupulous agents of' the Duke and his set would
be found to be the Clergy. From all parts of the country there are accounts of their active hostility to Liberal principles and candidates. A correspondent of our own has furnished us with a sample of the manner in which the Tory parsons in Bucking hamshire used their influence against the Liberals. It is a can- vassing letter; and, though a sort of literary curiosity, we doubt not that many thousands of a sham- kind are in existence.
" Mr. Weighell's compliments to Mr. Norris, and is very glad to find that ha has got a vote fur the county of Bucks. Mr. Weighell will be happy if Mr. Norris would favour the Mu-finis of Chandos, Young, and Praed, with his vote next Wednesday ; and Mr. W. will be glad to see Mr. Norris to breakfast at Russell's, at Stacking's End, and to dinner at Pickering's, IN CASE Mr Norris wilt vote for the Conservative party." " Marsworth. 1201 January 1535."
This letter happened to be addressed to one who had indepen- dence enough to refuse the pressing invitation of the Tory parson, and to vote 1hr the Liberal candidates. It proves the active zeal of the reverend gentleman, who was about to give a tavern break- feet and dinner to all who would poll under his auspices. At a Tory dinner in Chester the other day, in honour of Sir PHILIP EGERTON'S return, another clergyman distinguished him- self by his electioneering zeal. This gentleman was the Reverend
JOSHUA KING, Rector of St. Matthew, Bethnal Green, and in the enjoyment of other good pieces of Church preferment. He declared that the times called for Churchmen not to cry " Peace, peace, when there is no peace, but to buckle on their armour and go forth to conflict in the name of the Lord." The greater part of the speech of this furious partisan was Made up of slanderous abuse of the Dissenters, and railing at the MELBOURNE Ministry.
In Carmarthenshire, the Liberal candidate, Sir JAMES WIL- LIAMS, had to contend—we rejoice to say successfully—not only
with the squirearchy, but, to use his own phrase, with the " par- sonocracy." In Liticolushire, Sir WILLIAM 1NGILHY owes his defeat mainly to the zealous exertions of the Clergy. In War-
wickshire, South Lancashire, and Norfolk, they were also active on the Tory side; and Mr. HUME can tell a story of their Chris- tian-like and pious achievements in Middlesex.
And yet, forsooth, with these facts staring them in the face, the Tories have the assurance to exclaim against the unholy exertions of the Catholic Clergy in behalf of their li-cks, and against those
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