hament to the laws in force exclusively against the British catholics. Their condition seemed entitled to particular notice, as they are liable to several penalties and disabilities, from which the Irish members of their communion are exempt. It may be added, that the real merits of the catholic cause were so great, that it gained, at least in public opinion, on every discussion: this circumstance was often urged as an argument for multiplying the discussions of it.

In these reasons for agitating their case, there was weight; but the objections to it were serious. Most of the leading advocates of their cause thought, that no application for partial relief would succeed, and that, if it did succeed, it would not materially ameliorate their situation. They also observed, that no relief would ever be granted to the English catholics, without granting the same degree of relief to the Irish ;—and this, it was said, could not be expected, unless the Irish question should be brought fully before the house. It was also observed, that the catholic question, if brought on separately, must either precede or follow the Irish discussion: if it preceded, its discomfiture,

(which was always too probable),—would prejudice the Irish cause ;-if it followed, then, if the Irish application had succeeded, its success would have rendered an application from the British catholics unnecessary; and if the Irish had been defeated, it would be impossible to expect that the British should succeed.

discussion,-it was admitted to be true, that the general cause had gained on every discussion: but it was remarked, that the repetition must at length weary; and that it would prove fatal to the catholic cause to bring it before the house so often, as to bereave it of its interest, and make it disposed of as a matter of course, without a division.

These observations weighed with the catholic boards, and withheld their proceeding: still, they availed themselves of every opportunity which offered, of bringing the cause of their constituents favourably before the public, and the houses of parliament; and, without obtruding themselves on persons in power, they took frequent occasion to wait upon them, to expose their case, and to dispose them favourably towards it. It may be truly said, that the conduct of the boards gained them the approbation both of his majesty's ministers, and the leaders of opposition. The friends of each frequently mentioned it in the highest terms of commendation; in what light the board has been considered, and in what terms it has been mentioned by the supreme pontiff, will appear in some of the documents inserted in the Appendix *.

The writer feels it honourable to him to have combated in these ranks :

Ω πέπον, ει μεν γαρ πολεμον περί λονδε φυγονίες,

Αιεί δη μέλλοιμεν αγήρω τ' αθανάτω τε

Εσσεσθ', ΟΥΤΕ ΚΕΝ ΑΥΤΟΣ ΕΝΙ ΠΡΩΤΟΙΣΙ ΜΑΧΟΙΜΕΝ,
Ούτε κι σε σελλοιμι μαχην ες κυδιανειραν

Νυν δ' εμπης γαρ κηρες εφεςασιν θανάποιο

Μυρίαι, ας εκ εςι φυγειν βρύλον, εδ' υπαλύξαι,
Τομεν.

Il. xii. 322-328.

The speeches delivered by the respectable persons who presented the petitions of the British catholics to the houses of parliament, were perfect models of senatorial oratory, and alike calculated to conciliate their protestant, and to gratify their catholic hearers.-What protestant was not propitiated, what catholic was not dearer to himself, after he had heard the dignified and generous exposition,―(inserted by us in a former page),—from Mr. Wyndham, on presenting the petition of the English roman-catholics in 1810, to the honourable house of which he was so bright an ornament?

When lord Grey presented the petition of the English catholics to the house of lords, in the year 1810, he mentioned generally the penal infliction upon the catholics, and then thus expressed himself: "The petitioners, in stating their complaints, "assert with no unbecoming confidence, that their "conduct has not been such as justly to subject "them to a punishment of so severe a nature.

66

Upon this head, I think I may appeal to the per"sonal knowledge of many of your lordships, whe"ther you are not convinced that there do not "exist men, whose conduct has uniformly been "more exemplary as loyal subjects of the king, "and zealous supporters of the government, than "the English catholics? I have some knowledge "of persons of that profession in the county to "which I belong: they are persons as distinguished "for their loyalty and good conduct as for their "great opulence; and I will venture to assert,

"in saying, that, as friends and neighbours, as landlords, as fathers of families, as persons filling "all the relations of life, there do not exist men "who have established more just claims to the "universal esteem of all mankind."

Such were the testimonies rendered in parliament to the public and private characters of the catholics, by the two illustrious personages, whom we have mentioned. The board took care to have their speeches printed and extensively circulated *.

* Dr. Milner, alluding to a part of this speech of lord Grey, in which his lordship referred to the fifth resolution of the English catholics, declared that the board had falsified his lordship's speech;--and he made this the subject of an article in his "Supplemental Memoirs," with the title, in large capitals, of "FALSIFICATION OF LORD GREY'S SPEECH.

It is scarcely worth while to notice such a charge; but as the right reverend prelate has repeatedly circulated it at home and abroad, in every form of publication by which defamation can be conveyed, and the accusation affects the characters of several of the most respectable members of the roman-catholic portion of the community,-and particularly the character of the gentleman who kindly acts as secretary to the board,the few following lines are inserted to repel the charge. If it were true, it would certainly deserve all the expressions of abuse and contumely, which Dr. Milner has applied to it; if it be false,-!

Lord Grey's speech appeared, for the first time, in the "British Press," from the notes of the reporter of that newspaper; and afterwards in "The Globe," an evening paper.

It being thought by the board, that a general circulation of it would essentially serve the catholic cause; it was resolved, (as is usual in such cases), that an application should be made to lord Grey for his leave to print it. This resolution was transmitted to his lordship, with a request that he would

CHAP. XCII.

SUBSEQUENT PROCEEDINGS OF THE BRITISH

CATHOLICS.

1820.

SUCH, as we have described, was the situation of the British catholics, when the proceedings for their complete and final relief were begun.

On the 15th of February 1820, a full meeting was held of the British catholic board: his grace the duke of Norfolk was in the chair. An address to his majesty on his accession to the throne was unanimously agreed to: such an address was afterwards presented and graciously received.

On the 7th day of the following June, a petition from the catholics was presented to his majesty at the levee; it was expressed in the following terms: "To the King's most excellent Majesty :

"The humble petition of the undersigned persons, professing the roman-catholic religion in Great Britain,

"Showeth,-That your petitioners approach your majesty's presence, ever entertaining the deepest

revise it, and supply any omissions or inaccuracies of the reporter. His lordship obligingly acceded to this request, and with his own hand, corrected the speech in some places, and made some additions to it in others. The copy, thus altered, is now in the hands of Mr. Edward Jerningham, the secretary; and from this copy, the two neat folio editions to which Dr. Milner refers, in his Supplemental Memoirs, were made.