to collect, or to convey the general sense of our grievances, than this of a self-created society. We mean not to interfere with the harmony now happily subsisting through the nation: if the applications on our behalf are complied with, we can never have occasion: if rejected, we cannot have an interest to interrupt it. Engaged for the most part in the various departments of commerce, we are concerned not less than any other class of citizens, to cultivate the blessings of tranquillity; individually, we have more at stake than some, who presume to falsify our motives, and calumniate our actions. The Roman Catholic body measured strength with the power of the state, and was vanquished, when it possessed a force that never can be exerted, and was opposed to enemies far less numerous than it now should encounter. The confiscations of that period are confirmed to the present occupiers by immemorial possessions, by the utter impossibility of ascertaining the original proprietors, by the personal and pecuniary interest of almost every Roman Catholic in the land to maintain the settlement. Many of our communion already have, and still more are likely to expend their property on titles derived under these forfeitures. It is not from the wealthy, attached to their present enjoyment, that commotion is to be apprehended. It is not from the industrious; a single year of anarchy must prove fatal to their competence. It is not from the poor, a wretched band of slaves, mouldering under these bad laws, and only made use of to degrade the Irish Catholics to a rabble, when it is convenient to despise them. We are willing to forget that any beside the present race ever existed in this island. We long have been willing to forget it, if our recollection were not kept alive by what we suffer, and by the celebration of festivals, memorable only as they denote the æra and the events, from whence we date our bondage.

We will endeavour by temperate, by unremitting assiduity, to procure the benefit of that constitution, which, of our fellowsubjects, is denied alone to those of our persuasion. We are amenable to all the decress of the state; we contribute to all its exigencies we are still to be informed upon what grounds its advantages are made a monopoly to our exclusion. We challenge an investigation of our principles and conduct; we feel not ourselves; we know not that there is in our brethren a deficiency of manly spirit, of capacity or virtue; which ought to assign to the Irish Roman Catholics an inferior rank among the creatures of our common Father. If we have a crime, it is to have slept over our chains; our cause is the cause of justice, and our country. We solicit counsel and assistance from all to whom these sacred names do not present themselves unheeded.

To the patronage of the lettered we peculiarly recommend ourselves; where talents have arisen among us, they have been compelled to seek refuge in a foreign country, or they have perished in their infancy, robbed of the hope that animates; curtailed of the education that invigorates them. We claim as of right, the benefit of open trial and candid discussion; even amidst the cares of legislating for an extensive empire, the British senate did not refuse its attention to the unfortunate exiles of Africa. If in this enlightened age it is still our doom to suffer, we submit; but at least let us learn what imputation of crimes can instigate, or what motives of expedience can account for the denunciation of that heavy judgment. That if loyalty, which strong temptations could never alienate; if exemplary good conduct under the most trying circumstances; if reverence to a constitution which in our native land we are forbidden to approach, be insufficient to remove unjust aspersions, and entitle us to the kindness and confidence of our brethren, we may be at least instructed how we should atone for what we cannot deem inexpiable, the political errors or misfortunes of

our ancestors.

By order of the Society,

THEOBALD M'KENNA.

No. LXXXV.

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED IRISHMEN IN 1791.

[P. 304.]

1st. THIS Society is constituted for the purpose of forwarding a brotherhood of affection, a communion of rights, and an union of power among Irishmen of every religious persuasion, and thereby to obtain a complete reform in the legislature, founded on the principles of civil, political, and religious liberty.

2d. The members of this society shall either be ordinary or honorary, and shall not be limited to any description of men, but to extend to all persons who may be deemed eligible.

3d. Every candidate for admission into this society shall be proposed by one member, and seconded by another, both of whom shall vouch for his character and principles, and whose name shall be entered on the books of the society; the candidate to be ballotted for on the society's subsequent meeting, and if one of the beans be black, he shall stand rejected.

4th. As a fund is necessary the better to carry into effect the purpose of this association, each member, on his admission, shall pay to the society the sum of

per month while he shall continue a member.

and

5th. The officers of this society shall be a secretary and treasurer, who shall be appointed by ballot every three months, viz. on every first meeting in November, February, May, and August.

6th. This society, in manner aforesaid, shall appoint two members, who with the secretary shall act for the society in a baronial committee, which members shall receive night of their attendance on said committee.

on each

7th. This society shall in manner aforesaid appoint members, who, with the treasurer, shall form a committee of fi nance, &c.

8th. At the request of either committee, or any members signing a requisition, the secretary, or if he should be absent, the treasurer shall call an extra meeting of the society.

9th. This society shall meet in ordinary every evening at o'clock; the president to be chosen by the majority of the members present, of whom shall be a quorum.

10th. Every respect and deference shall be paid to the chairman. On his rising from his seat and taking off his hat, there shall be silence, and the members seated. He shall be judge of order and propriety; shall grant leave of absence at pleasure; shall not enter into debate. If any member behave improperly, he is impowered to direct an apology; or if refractory, fine him in any sum not exceeding and on refusal to do as directed, he shall therefore be expelled the society for 11th. No member shall speak more than twice to a question, without leave from the chairman.

12th. Every person elected a member of this society, whether ordinary or honorary, shall, previous to his admission, take the following test in a separate apartment, in the presence of the persons who proposed and seconded him, and one member appointed by the chairman; or in case of absence of one of the two persons, the chairman shall appoint another member to act for the absentee; after which the new member shall be brought into the body of the society, and there take the test in the usual form.

TEST.

In the awful presence of God.

"I, A. B. do voluntarily declare, that I will persevere in en"deavouring to form a brotherhood of affection among Irish"men of every religious persuasion; and that I will also per"severe in my endeavours to obtain an equal, full, and adequate representation of all the people of Ireland.

"I do further declare that neither hope, fears, rewards, or punishments, shall ever induce me, directly or indirectly, to "inform on, or give evidence against any member of this or "similar societies, for any act or expression of theirs done or "made collectively or individually, in or out of this society, in (6 pursuance of the spirit of this obligation."

13th. A member of any other acknowledged society, being introduced to this society by a member, shall, upon producing a certificate signed by the secretary, and sealed with the seal of the society to which he may belong, and taking the foregoing test be admitted to attend the sittings of this society.

14th. No member shall have a certificate but by applying to the committee, who shall grant it, unless the member is leaving his place of residence, which certificate shall be lodged with the secretary on his return.

15th. When this society shall amount to the number of thirtysix members, it shall be equally divided by lot, that is, the names of all the members shall be put into a hat or box, the secretary or treasurer shall draw out eighteen individually, which eighteen shall be considered the senior society, and the remaining eighteen the junior, who shall apply to the Baronial Committee, through the delegates of the senior society, for a num. ber; and that this division shall only take place in the months of October, January, April, and July. The fund shall also be equally divided.

16th. That no society shall be recognized by any committee, unless approved of and taking the test, and amounting in num ber to seven members.

END OF APPENDIX TO VOL. III.

Printed and Published by W. F. M'Laughlin, and Bartholomew Graves, Philadelphia.