The father of Joey Grimaldi, the famous clown, was an Italian,
who bore the name Delpini and followed the avocation of a
dentist, in London, where it was his lot to reside in 1780, the
year of Lord George Gordon's "No Popery" riots. All foreigners
then fell under suspicion as Papists and cut-throats, and the
harmless tooth-drawer, when the infuriated mob were firing
the dwellings of known or suspected Romanists on all sides of
him, followed a custom which obtained in those days of terror,
of labelling your house with an inscription signifying either
devotion to Protestantism or hatred of Popery. So Delpini
chalked upon his door, in the best English he could command,
"Good people all take notice, dis house is a true Protestant."
Mr. Pakington hoists the same signal, and makes proclamation,
"Good people all, Electors of East Worcestershire, take
notice, dis house"--_videlicet_, the Pakington house--"is a
true Protestant, and don't believe any insinuations to the
contrary." Delpini's label, it is related, saved his premises
from conflagration; Mr. Pakington's will not, I imagine
save him from defeat. I propose to offer a few remarks in
illustration of what Mr. Pakington's true Protestantism means,
and what it has led to in his instance.
Mr. Pakington says, "Having reason to esteem the excellent
private character and charitable exertions of Mr. Liddell,
and consequently disapproving the abuse of which he has been
the object, I could not do otherwise than vote against Mr.
Westerton's election." I esteem the excellent private character
and the charitable exertions of Mr. Pakington for the promotion
of education and morality, but I shall certainly do otherwise
than vote for him at the coming Election. The Pope of Rome
bears an excellent private character, and is well reputed for
charitable exertions. He has also been, I dare say, improperly
and undeservedly abused. Recognising all this, does it furnish
any reason why I should tender my adhesion to the Pope, or any
excuse for my adhering to him, or favouring his religion? Mr.
Westerton was put forward as Churchwarden by the party in the
Church who were adverse to Mr. Liddell's Romanising practices.
As a candidate he represented the true and wholesome Protestant
element in religion, as opposed to the representative of the
doctrines of Auricular Confession and a Semi-Popish form of
worship, just as Mr. Calthorpe represents the Liberal element
in politics--the principle of progress; and Mr. Pakington the
Conservative, or rather the Tory element--the principle of
keeping in office by being the "humble servants to command" of
the House of Commons. The contest between Mr. Westerton and Mr.
Davidson was a contest between Protestantism and the Romanistic
party. It was watched throughout Great Britain with the deepest
interest, for it was felt that the result would be to ensure
the victory of religious truth, or give a disastrous triumph to
the defiled and adulterated pseudo-Protestantism--the "mongrel
church," as the Hon. and Rev. F. Baring truly called it--of
Mr. Liddell and his backers. At that election the fate of the
Protestant Church in England was weighed in the scales against
the false doctrine, heresy, and schism of the Tractarians. Most
happily for the country, most fortunately for the interests of
mankind, the good cause preponderated. Tractarians kicked the
beam, and all of us felt that a great mercy had been vouchsafed
to the afflicted Church. But no thanks to Mr. Pakington.
He flung his weight into the scale along with auricular
confession, crosses, flowers, candles, images, and other
play-things of Puseyism, and so far as by his voice he could,
comforted and favoured the partisans of Romish observance as
opposed to the purity and simplicity of Protestant Worship.
In that day--the day when Mr. Westerton was doing battle for
Protestant interests with spirit and resolution worthy of a
martyr--where was Mr. Pakington? Every one felt that a great
crisis was impending in the history of the Church, and never
was the Scriptural adage, "He that is not with me is against
me," brought more closely home to Protestant breasts than at
that moment. But where was Mr. Pakington? Not merely was he not
with us; he was arrayed openly against us, and it might have
been his vote, for aught he knew,--for the numerical difference
between the candidates was trifling--that would have given a
heavy blow and serious discouragement to Protestantism, by
placing in the ascendent that party in the Church, whose sole
end and aim is to bring back England to the bosom of the Roman
fold, from which, as they conceive, she has ignorantly and
perversely strayed.
And what is the excuse Mr. Packington offers--for he feels
bound to make some apology--for having thus turned his back
upon Protestantism? By alleging Mr. Liddell's excellent private
character, his charitable exertions, and the abuse of which he
has been the object. In the same way any good and charitable
and abused individual, though of Red Republican principles,
might obtain Mr. Pakington's vote, the consideration with
him being, not whether he agrees or differs with a man's
principles, but that a man--to entitle him to support--should
be of excellent private character, and equally distinguished
for charitable exertions and immense obloquy. When the vital
interests of Protestantism are at stake, it is not the time
to allow minor considerations to influence the mind and to
sacrifice them to the private character of any individual,
however excellent or however improperly abused. When the enemy
is in front and the battle joined, it would be base to slink
out of the ranks from consideration for a private friend
engaged with the opposite party.
The vote for or against Mr. Westerton I am disposed to
make a touchstone of sincerity, as regards attachment to
Protestantism, or the reverse. Mr. Pakington may write up
and call out as much as he pleases, "Good people all, take
notice dis house is a true Protestant;" but he must excuse
my saying that, after his vote against Mr. Westerton for
the churchwardenship of Knightsbridge, I can attach no
confidence to his professions. True Protestantism may have
his lip-service, but false Protestantism, with its depraved
doctrines and soul-sinking mummeries, had his countenance and
his vote.
On the other hand, Lord Calthorpe--the father of the Liberal
candidate--has uniformly and signally distinguished himself
by his zeal on behalf of evangelical religion, and his
steadfast resistance to the insidious aggressions of the
Tractarian faction. His son--early trained in the same
principles--is animated with the same feelings and convictions,
which will produce the same fruit; and, when such a man
invites my suffrage, as a candidate for the Legislature, I
cannot doubt--even without regard to politics--that I ought
unhesitatingly to prefer him to Mr. Pakington, or I feel that I
should have small claim to subscribe myself