cause why no such Meeting has been held and not because the people were agreeable to the Veto. On the contrary, ninetenths of them detest the very name of it; it conveys to their minds a dread of something that would cheat them out of the comforts and consolations of their Religion, which three hundred years of persecution and privation has in vain attempted to do. But the greatest misfortune the English Catholics have laboured under since the reformation down to the present hour, has been the continual division that has existed among them, that narrow minded jealousy which they too often exhibit towards one another; this division has and will continually work against them. We trust we may without intrusion on our readers notice the calumnies which have been raised against THE CATHOLIC GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, by a party of individuals, who would not suffer any one but themselves to give their opinions to the public, or offer a publication for the use of their fellow citi zens. 6 It has been frequently asserted that this Magazine is under the influence of a party of individuals, who from their rank in society, are undoubtedly the first among our body. To this assertion we answer, that it is not true. The title too has been objected to; the title was adopted in consequence of the Editor's intention of following the same plan, as the "GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE," viz. of admitting whatever communications our correspondents might favour us with, whether they agreed with our opinions or not, and of preserving a strict neutrality, should any controversy arise between the writers; which conduct has been adhered to, and always will. We felt no motive for noticing the Question of the Veto till the Petitions for the Emancipation were presented to the Parliament; but as we stated in a former number, when occasion called, we should not be afraid of giving our opinion upon that or any other subject that seemed to demand it. We shall pursue the same line of conduct now, that has hitherto guided us; we shall always be thankful for any communication our friends may favour us with, and such communications will be inserted without any remarks or comments by the Editor. Should there be any expression which the Editor feels a reluctance to insert in his work, it will be stated in writing to the author, and then be left for him to decide, whether he will make the alteration suggested or not. To our fellowlabourers we have no hostile feelings, but we shall never be afraid of repelling any scurrilities they may think fit to throw out against us. And, lastly, we beg to observe, that we never mean to pollute our pages with abuse instead of argument, the Suaviter in modo fortiter in ré, is the line of conduct which shall always guide us. P. S. Since the above article went to press we have been informed that a Meeting of the Catholics (which we suggested in our last number) will take place at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, Strand, on Monday, April 5, for the purpose of petitioning for UNQUALIFIED EMANCIPATION. We have no doubt but that it will be numerously attended. THE CATHOLIC GENTLEMAN'S Magazine. APRIL, 1819. Memoirs of the Vicars (Continued from No. XIV. Vol. 2.) Southern or London District.* I. Bp. Leyburn, see Vol. I. page 632, ob. 9-20th June, 1702. II. Bp. Giffard, see Vol. II. page 41, ob. 12th March, 1733-4. III. that truly great and good man, Dr. Richard Challoner. Bp. Petre died on the 22nd December 1758, and was interred near his predecessor in St. Pancras Church-Yard, London. When the same vault was opened for the interment of Bp. Douglass in May 1812, the plate that had been fixed to Bp. Petre's coffin was thrown up by the sexton; but no one, as far as I can learn, took any trouble to preserve the inscription. IV. RICHARD CHALLONER was born at Lewes, in Sussex, on the 29th September, 1691. His parents were Protestants, and of low condition of life. Whilst an infant, he lost his father; but, by the good providence of God, he and his poor mother found a refuge in the families, first of Sir John Gage, and secondly of Mr. Holman. At Warkworth, in Northamptonshire, the seat of the latter gentleman, Challoner had the singular happiness of meeting a friend in the celebrated Mr. Gother, who was then the family chaplain. Under such auspices, he could not fail of becoming conversant in the belief and practice of the Catholic religion and the venera R ble missionary, discovering in Bp. of Prusa, charmed with his zeal, talents, and discretion, chose him, with the consent of the See Apostolic, for his coadjutor; and consecrated him in his private chapel at Hammersmith, on the 29th of January 1741, by the title of Bishop of Debra. From this time till the day of his death, his exertions in the cause of religion knew no relaxation, and will ever entitle him to the respect and gratitude of every friend to virtue and religion. His time was always usefully employed; and his life, though certainly a long one, is a standing proof of what may be accomplished by a regular and perseverant system. The saintly Bishop had the his episcopacy. His precious 66 a very pious and good man, of great learning and extensive abilities." The following are his principal Works: 1. Think Well On't; translated from P. Pinnamonti, S. J. 2. The Grounds of the Catholic Doctrine A. D. 1728 1732 3. A short View of the Beginning and Progress of the Protestant Religion 4. A Roman Catholic's Reasons why he cannot Conform to the Protestant Religion 5. The Touchstone of the New Religion A. D. 1733 1734 1734 1735 7. *The Unerring Authority of the Catholic Church matters of Faith in 1735 8. A Specimen of the Spirit of Dissenting Teachers 9. The Catholic Christian Instructed, &c. 1736 10. Memoirs of Missionary Priests 1741 11. A Letter to a Friend concerning the Infallibility of the Church of Christ 1743 12. A new Translation of the Imitation of Christ 13. Britannia Sancta, 2 vols. 4to. 1744 1745 14. The Douay Bible and Testament, with Annotations 15. Remarks on Two Letters against Popery 23. A new Translation of an Introduction to a Devout Life, by St. Francis de Sales 1762 24. The Devotion of Catholics to the Blessed Virgin truly stated 1764 25. Occupation of the Soul with God alone:-God every where present: a translation from the French 26. The Rules of a Holy Life 27. Abstract of the Historical Part of the Old and New 31. Instructions for Lent-Exhortations to Paschal Communion 32: Folio edition of the Rheims Testament, with Annotations, in conjunction with F. Blythe Interesting lives of this venerable prelate have been presented to the public by Dr. Milner and the Rev. James Barnard. N. B. The biographical sketch by the Abbé Feller, in his Dictionnaire Historique, is very imperfect and inaccurate. V. 1768 HON. JAMES TALBOT was the fourth son of George, fourteenth Earl of Shrewsbury, and of Mary, his wife, daughter of Thomas Viscount Fitzwilliam, of Merion, in Ireland. After a suitable education at Douay College, he and his younger bro * In this catalogue we have relied on the authority of Mr. Barnard, but I think this work appeared in 1732. ther Thomas, had the advantage of making a continental tour with the learned Alban Butler. On their return from their travels, both the brothers decided on embracing the ecclesiastical state and the venerable Bp. Challoner, charmed with the piety, zeal, and charity of the elder brother, James, chose him for his eoadjutor, and consecrated him on the 24th August 1759, by the title of Bishop of Birtha. Bp. Talbot was of all men the most charitable. He frequently denied himself the comforts and even the decencies of life, in order to relieve his indigent fellow creatures. To pride he was a perfect stranger. Naturally diffident, and always anxious to conciliate, he was once surprised to approve, in a certain degree, of the oath framed by the Cisalpine committee; but, on better information, he united with his colleagues in formally condemning it; and is known to have held it, till his death, in the greatest detestation. Worn out with cares and infirmities, he died at Hammersmith, January 26th, 1790, aged sixty-four, and was buried in Mr. Baynard's vault, in the church-yard of that place. VI. JOHN DOUGLASS was born at Yarum, in the County of York, in 1743. At the age of thirteen he was sent to the Secular College of Douay, and afterwards to St. Alban's College, at Valladolid, where he professed philosophy. The first theatre of his missionary labours was in the neighbourhood of York; he was afterwards stationed in York itself, and his indefatigable attention to every priestly duty, recommended him to the Holy See, as a proper person for the episcopal station. He was accordingly appointed to the charge of the London District in 1790, and was consécrated in Lullworth Chapel, Dorset, by Dr. William Gibson, by the title of Bp. of Centuriæ, on the 19th of December that year. The Rev. Charles Plowden preached a Discourse on the occasion, that was published by Coghlan. During a period of twentytwo years, and in very difficult times, Bp. D. enjoyed the public esteem and admiration for his apostolical disinterestedness and zeal, and for his active charity and exertions in favour of the. poor, and especially the French emigrants. Of St. Edmund's College in Herts, he may deservedly be considered the founder. This revered prelate was rewarded with a happy death on the 8th of May, 1812, and was buried on the 15th, in Bp. Giffard's vault, St. Pancras. -The Rev. Lewis Havard delivered his funeral oration. VII. WILLIAM POYNTER, the present respected Bishop of the London District, was born at Petersfield, in Hampshire, on the 20th of May, 1762. On the emigration of the clergy from Douay in 1793, Dr. Poynter took an active part in the organization of St. Edmund's College, and after Bp. Douglass may be reputed its founder. His diocesan, conscious of the treasure he possessed in his virtues and talents, entrusted him with the government of that useful establishment; and with the approbation of the Holy See, asso |