The following lines are cut on a stone over the entrance of a summer-house at Charborough, Dorset, the seat of Drax Grosvenor, Esq. : A UNDER THIS ROOF, IN THE YEAR MDCLXXXVI. NEIGH SET OF PATRIOTIC GENTLEMEN, OF THIS WITH THE IMMORTAL KING WILLIAM, TO WHOM WE OWE OUR DELIVERANCE FROM POPERY, AND SLAVERY, THE EXPULSION OF THE TYRANT RACE OF STUARTS, THE RESTORATION OF OUR LIBERTIES, SECURITY OF OUR PROPERTIES, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL HONOUR AND WEALTH. REMEMBER ENGLISHMEN! THIS GLORIOUS ERA, AND CONSIDER THAT YOUR LIBERTIES, PROCURED BY THE VIRTUE of YOUR ANCESTORS, MUST BE MAINTAINED BY YOURSELVES. PREFACE. As every person's mind appears to be engrossed by the serious measure now before Farliament, of admitting Catholics to share in the legislation of this Protestant nation, the Editor of this Collection of Historic Facts could not remain indifferent on the subject; and although feeling much respect for many individuals of that persuasion, and believing that many excellent characters exist among them in this country*, yet, having had some opportunities of witnessing the spirit of their priesthood, he found himself constrained to assist in the many well-meant endeavours to guard his Protestant brethren against * If, however, it be thought, by the praises here bestowed on certain meritorious Catholic families, that we mean to insinuate that the Catholic religion is as favourable to the production of moral virtue as the religion of the Protestants, we maintain that nothing is more untrue. The instances of a few families living in a Protestant country, surrounded by Protestants with whom they associate, and by whom they are influenced, and aware that their difference of religion renders them conspicuous, is no criterion of the general spirit of their religion, and no rule by which we may calculate the conduct of b the dangers of Catholic tenets, and to prove, by undeniable facts, that the same cruel and intolerant spirit-which kindled the fires in Smithfield-enacted the masque of gaiety and murder on St. Bartholomew's day—and, as a climax, in 1640, exhibited to an astonished world the horrible massacre in Ireland, where it is computed (by the best authorities) that there perished, by unheard-of cruelties, no less than 36,000-still pervades, and will for ever pervade that body. It has been urged by the Catholic advocates, that though it might happen, that, in some remote places and times, the Catholic religion was somewhat dangerous to intellectual improvement and civil liberty, yet that in England, in the Nineteenth Century, there is really nothing to apprehend-the Pope's edicts are nothing-and the Catholic, instead of being the credulous bigot which he was heretofore, has become the advocate of every thing enlightened and liberal! But there is no arguing the Catholics in districts where they form the majority. We see the genuine influence of their religion in Portugal, Spain, or Italy, where it exclusively prevails; and there we find laziness, beggary, frequent assassinations, and conjugal infidelity, succeeding each other so rapidly, as to be looked upon as a matter of course. Charity is wasted on the support of the laziness of monks, and humanity misapplied in donaticas to enrich priests, for imaginary assistance afforded to the dead. Such are the blessings of Catholicism! |