NEWS OF THE WEEK.
DR. CURTIS has published the following answer to the Duke of Wellington's letter on the difficulties of the Catholic question. It will be seen that the reverend prelate does not think the difficulties so insuperable as the Duke imagines—if the Premier be in earnest. " Drogheda, Dec. 19, 1828. " My Lord Duke,—I have never been more agreeably surprised in my life than by the unexpected honour of receiving your Grace's very kind and even friendly letter of the Ilth instant ; which, coming from so high a quarter, Ithould naturally wish to reserve if possible; but RS it was franked by yourself, the news of its arrival was known all this town (as might be expected from a provincial post-office) be- fore the letter remitted my hands : so that I was obliged, in your Grace's defence and my own, to communicate its contents to a few chosen friends, for the satisfac- tion of the multitude, who might otherwise fabricate in its stead some foolish, or perhaps, mischievous, nonsense of their own. But, fortunately, your Grace's letter contained only such liberal and penevolent sentiments as all parties must eulogize, and none could posiibly malign. Besides, it very seasonably strengthens the testi- mony, that I, as a faithful witness, have on all occasioris given of your generous, upright, and impartial disposition. • It would be somewhat worse than ridiculous in me, to offer any. thing in the shape of political advice to a consummate statesman, at the head of the first Cabinet In or out of Europe; but as your Grace has so humanely condescended to mention' some of the difficulties tending to paralyze your efforts to settle the Roman Catholic .3...etion. h.wipave to submit to soar superior judgment a few reflections, made to ate by some well-informed and unbiassed friends, as well rroresrants ageatholics, who certainly understand the subject much better than I can pretend to do. Ti,cy have read with great pleasure and gratitude, the noble declaration in which your Grace so strongly expresses your sincere anxiety to witness the settlement of the Roman Catholic question; which, you are convinced, would, by benefiting the state, confer a benefit on every individual of society ; and you regret that you see no pros- pect of such a settlement, because violent party feelings are mixed up. with that question, and pervade every discussion of it to such a degree, as to preclude the pos- sibility of prevailing upon men to consider it dispassionately. But that if it could he buried in oblivion for a short time, and if that time were diligently employed in the consideration of the question, you would not despair of seeing a satisfactory remedy. "These humane and statesman-like sentiments (as far as they go) do great honour to your Grace's head and heart; and might appear sufficient if you were a private nobleman, but not in your present exalted station, with power to wield, when neces- sary, all the resources of Government: for it would be a slur on the unrivalled and far famed British constitution to assert, that even when well administered it does not possess or supply means for establishing any thing kno;vn to be essential for the peace, welfare, and tranquillity of the empire at large, and for pulling down or re- moving any intrigue or party spirit that might wantonly attempt to oppose so great a blessing. " My friends allow that such momentous exertions may be sometimes unsuccess- ful when Government is conducted by weak or unsupported heads or hands, and that they require such a Prime Minister as the nation has now, and, I hope, will long have, the happiness to enjoy; who, after an uninterrupted serieg of the greatest victories, and a successful arrangement of the most important interests that perhaps ever yet occurred, has been placed at the head of Government by the entire and well-earned confidence of our most gracious Sovereign, and with the universal ap- plause of the whole empire, and, indeed, of all other nations. Under such a chief, exerting his legitimate prerogative, they say that no party would dare to oppose the general goad; and that if your Grace would intimate your serious resolution to settle the Roman Catholic question, its opponents would instantly fly and appear no more; and if the settlement were once carried, it would in a few days be no more spoken or thought of than the concessions now are that were lately made to the Dis- senters; for the enemies of such arrangement are not half so angry in reality as they now appear to be, in order by that bugbear to carry their point. But my friends have no hesitation in declaring that the project mentioned by your Grace, of burying the Catholic question in oblivion, for the purpose of considering it more at leisure, Is totally inadmissible, and would exasperate in the highest degree those who are already too much excited, and would only consider that measure as a repetition of the same old pretext so otter( employed to elude and disappoint their hopes of re- dress; but that if it even were adopted, it could only serve to augment the difficul- ties by allowing the contending parties, and particularly the enemies of all conces- sion, the opportunities they seek for preparing their means of resistance and vio- lence, which they have latterly carried to the most alarming lengths, which they have avowed and publicly announced in atrocious and, sanguinary terms, to which, however, I should not here allude for I never wish to be an accuser, but that I am certain your Grace must have read those horrible threats, often repeated in the Brunswick and Orange public prints; and to this latter subject at least I must beg leave to call your Grace's attention, and to implore your powerful protection, hum- bly praying that you will not suffer public peace and concord to be violated or dis- turbed under any pretext whatever. An effectual remedy would cost your Grace but one word. I do not, however, hereby mean to meddle in temporal affairs; but I consider it my bounden duty to labour incessantly, in concurrence with all my venerable confreres, to impress upon the minds and hearts of all those committed to our spiritual care, sentiments of true Christian charity, moderation, and kind forbearance, towards all men without exception. "I beg your Grace will excuse the length of this letter, and vouchsafe to consider It as a proof of my unfeigned regard, and of the sincere respect with which I have the honour to remain, my Lord Duke, your Grace's most obedient and most humble !fit. CURTIS." There has been a mighty controversy between the partizans of the two factions, touching the purity of the text of his Grace's letter. What is called the " Popish version" of the letter by the papers opposed to the Catholics, made the Duke say that he was sincerely anxious for " the settlement" of the Catholic question ; while the Protestant reading is, that he is only anxious "to witness a settlement" of it.
This controversy will now be swallowed up in a greater : the Marquis of Anglesey is no longer the King's Lieutenant and repre- sentative in Ireland ! The causes and manner of the retirement of this popular nobleman will he discussed hereafter : at present we only know the bare fact, which is communicated by the Times this Morning, in a manner that can leave no doubt of its truth.
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