Went this Morning to Exeter Hall, where one of the May Meetings that do
regularly take Place at this Time of the Season, and serve in Lieu of
Concerts and Shows to a Sort of People that call themselves serious.
This, one of the Meetings of a Protestant Association, which I had heard
much of and did long to go to, expecting to hear some good Argument
against the Roman Catholiques. But instead of Argument, I did hear
Nothing but Abuse, which do always go in at one Ear and out at the
other. No new Point brought forward to confute Popery; but only an
Iteration of the Old Charges of Superstition and so forth, urged with no
greater Power than mere Strength of Lungs. The Commotions on the
Continent last Year laid much Stress on, and the Turmoils in Catholique
and Quiet in Protestant States contrasted, as though there had been no
Disturbance or Trouble in Prussia or Denmark, or any Tumult or
Revolution in Belgium or Portugal. I did note two chief Speakers, whom,
on their rising, the Assembly did applaud as if they had been Actors,
and to be sure, they ranted more frantically than I did ever see HICKS.
Yet at Times they stooped to Drollery in the Height of their Passion,
and one of them did make such Sport of the Roman Catholique Religion as
would not have been suffered in the Adelphi Theatre. But I do find that
some who would not be seen in a Play-House can enjoy their laugh at
Exeter Hall. This Orator was a Clergyman of some Kind, for he was called
Reverend in the Hand-bill, and dressed in a clerical Habit, but his Eyes
and Face blazing with Wrath, did storm like a Madman against the
Maynooth Grant and the POPE OF ROME; and howled as fierce as a Hyaena.
The other a Clergyman too, and looked as much like one, with his
sneering angry Visage, and did vehemently harangue, crying bitterly out
on some of my Lords and the Members of the Commons' House that had voted
for Popish Endowment. His Oration a medley of Sarcasm, Invective, and
Buffoonery, and wound up with a Flourish of Patriotism and Loyalty. The
Speeches received with Applause and Laughter, but also with
Interruptions and crying to turn Somebody out. The Speakers on a
Platform, whereon they bounced backwards and forwards, having Rails in
Front as if to hinder them from breaking loose on the Audience. Behind
them a Crowd of dainty smooth Gentlemen in Black, with white
Neckerchiefs, and to see how demure they looked, as if Butter would not
melt in their Mouths! In the Body of the Hall a goodly Number of Heads,
but by far the Most of them in Bonnets. The two chief Speeches lasted an
Hour and a Half each, and the Chairman leaving his Seat, I away, my Head
aching through the Raving. Such Violence, methinks, do only prove that
there are other Bigots besides Papists; and is the worst Means of
enforcing any Truth; for they that speak in Anger and Passion are
commonly concluded by indifferent People to be in the Wrong. The Society
complaining of want of Funds, which I do not wonder at, for I fear me
the Subscribers have but few Catholiques converted for their Money.
[Illustration: _YE EXHYBITYON AT YE ROYAL ACADEMYE._