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    institution indeed of man partakes oi the weakness of the individual or individuals , by whom it is formed : and this is to be kept continually in mind , . when we reason upon the constitution of any society . If a set of men meet together to legislate for another set , with whom there is not a strict community of interests , such is the frailty of human nature , that we cannot expect , that the interests of the ruled should be consulted when they come in competition with the interests of the rulers . Hence

    the great art in all human institutions is to make the rulers feel as much as possible for the ruled , and in nothing was the policy of the church of Rome more manifest , than when by preventing its priests from marrying , it formed a separate society of rulers , as much removed as human nature allowed , from the class subjected to its spiritual

    authority . The superiority of the church of England to that of Rome is greatly owing to the priests of the former being by marriage connected with the governed , ^ but still they form a separate body , acting under determinate laws . The church of Scotland is superior to the church of England , in that their clergy

    are not only united by marriage to the party governed ; but also the party governed has its delegates in the general assembly of the church , whose affairs are thus managed by the joint voices f what are called clergy and laity .

    The superiority of the church of Christ i « manifest , in that it admits of no such distinction as that of clergy and laity , and in its regulations , for all its rules have been previously laid down by its threat Author , every member of the community is consulted *

    Tbe catholic question has been managed chiefly by the laity in both islands , and this in England has been attended witlu a singular occurrence . In the English Committee was a Romish bish-* pi who threw out very severe insinuations against one of his colleague ** , * man at justly celebrated for his talents and integrity as beloved for his

    urbanity of manners and general benevolence . This language suited rather * h « priestly character of the fourteenth than of the nineteenth century , agd the committee shewed , that they stood no longer in dread of an episcopal tmtro ^ for they voted the bi » hcp out of their body . In fact the catholics of England are no more in blind subjec-

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    tion to the see of Rome , than the churchmen of England are to that of Canterbury . The age of priestly delusion is gone by , and the meeting together of the catholics for the discussion of their civil rights necessarily opens their mind to a variety of topics connected with religion . In Ireland however , the body of delegates does not seem to have acted with ail the prudence , which the situation of their affairs de *

    mands . They have entered into a question , which might well have been avoided , and voted an address to the Princess of Wales on her escape frorn the attacks of her enemies . In this it does not seem to have had the

    concurrence of its chief members , for they were not at the meeting upon this occasion , and it can no longer be concealed , that they were not likely by this step to heal the breach , which so unaccountably subsists between them , and the high character , in whom their hopes were at one time so fondly centred .

    As delegates came over from Ireland to transact , the business of the Irish catholics in this country , many of the friends of civil and religious liberty united to give them a dinner on their departure . A very large list of stewards appeared upon this occasion , consisting , with very few exceptions , of members

    of the two houses of the legislature * The chair was filled by the Duke of Bedford , who was supported by the Royal Dukes of Kent and Sussex . A display of oratory took place , such as might be expected , when the speakers were those , who are most distinguished for their talents in parliament , and one

    feeling prevailed over all , that of an enlarged and liberal way of thinking with respect to all men , vf ** atever may be their religious denomination * A circumstance that must excite grief in every liberal mind , was alluded to by his royal highness the Duke of Sussex ;

    namely , that the spirit of the Orange faction in Ireland had been caught by some unhappy men , in thi ' 9 country , who are forming Orange-lodges , and administering : illegal oaths of secrecy , by way of perpetuating religious animosity amongst us We cannot think that , Englishmen will degrade themselves to become instruments of so contemptible a party spirit .

    The question of religion in India * haa been frequently alluded to in the House

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    State of Public Affairs . 4 , 21

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    VO * . . VIII . 3 I

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1813, page 421, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2429/page/65/