murders, and the like abominable crimes; as being contrary to the laws of God and nature, destructive of civil society, condemned by our most holy church; which, so far from justifying them on the score of religion, or any other pretext whatsoever, delivers the unrepenting authors of such criminal practices over to Satan.

We are no less zealous than ever in exhorting you to abstain from cursing, swearing, and blaspheming; detestable vices, to which the poorer sort of our people are most unhappily addicted, and which must at one time or other bring down the vengeance of heaven upon you in some visible punishment, unless you absolutely refrain from them. It is probable that, from hence, some people have taken occasion to brand us with this infamous calumny, that we need not fear to take false oaths, and, consequently, to perjure ourselves; as if we believed that any power upon earth could authorise such damnable practices, or grant dispensations for this purpose. How unjust and cruel this charge is, you know by our instructions to you, both in public and private, in which we have ever condemned such doctrines, as false and impious. Others, likewise, may easily know it from the constant behaviour of numbers of Roman catholics, who have given the strongest proofs of their abhorrence to those tenets, by refusing to take oaths, which, however conducive to their temporal interest, appeared to them utterly repugnant to the principles of their religion.

We must now entreat you, dear christians, to offer up your most fervent prayers to the Almighty

some

very

God, who holds in his hands the hearts of kings and princes; beseech him to direct the counsels of our rulers, to inspire them with sentiments of moderation and compassion towards us. We ought to be more earnest, at this juncture, in our supplications to heaven; as honorable personages have encouraged us to hope for a mitigation of the penal laws. Pray, then, the Almighty to give blessing to these their generous designs, and to aid their counsels, in such a manner, that, whilst they intend to assist us, like kind-benefactors, they may not, contrary to their intentions, by mistaking the means, most irre trievably destroy us.

To conclude; be just in your dealings, sober in your conduct, religious in your practice; avoid riots, quarrels and tumults; and thus you will approve yourselves good citizens, peaceable subjects, and pious christians.

Some of the most leading catholics in spirit and ability, of whom the most prominent were Charles O'Connor, of Baliuagar, and Dr. Curry, met, consulted, and laid the plan of a catholic committee, for managing the catholic interest; and of literary publications, for wiping off the foul aspersions thrown on their body by malevolence and prejudice. Their first meeting, at the Globe tavern, Essex-street, Dublin, consisted only of seven

At the recommendation of Dr. Curry and Mr. O'Connor, it resolved to employ eminent literary men, in support of catholic claims.

* From the Dublin Journal, October 4, 1757. VOL. IV.

H

In October, 1759, the duke of Bedford sent a message to the house of commons, acquainting them with certain intelligence, sent him by Mr. Pitt, of a design on the part of the French to invade Ireland. The bad success of their arms, in every quarter of the world, prompted them to this desperate attempt; to which they were encouraged by hopes, held out by Irish exiles, of their being joined, in case of invasion, by the majority of the population. The parliament, of course, answered the message with an address of loyalty, and the usual proffer of support; but the alarm caused such a run on the banks, that public credit was endangered, had not the landed and mercantile interests associated for its support.

The catholics neglected not to testify their allegiance, and offer their hearty support, at this critical period of alarm, by the following address to the lord lieutenant, signed by three hundred merchants and citizens.

May it please your grace, we, his majesty's dutiful and faithful subjects, the Roman Catholic gentlemen, merchants, and citizens of the city of Dublin, do, with the greatest respect, approach your grace, the illustrious representative of the best of kings, with our hearty congratulations on those glorious successes, by sea and land, which have attended his majesty's arms, in the prosecution of this just and necessary war.

We gratefully acknowledge the lenity extended to us by his most sacred majesty, and by his royal father, of happy memory. Our allegiance, may it please your grace, is confirmed by affection and

gratitude; our religion commands it; and it shall be our invariable rule firmly and inviolably to adhere to it.

We are called to this duty, at the present time in particular, when a foreign enemy is meditating desperate attempts to interrupt the happiness and disturb the repose, which these kingdoms have so long enjoyed, under a monarch who places his chief glory in approving himself the common father of his people; and we sincerely assure your grace, that we are ready and willing, to the utmost of our abilities, to assist in supporting his majesty's government against all hostile attempts whatsoever.

Whenever, my lord, it shall please the Almighty, that the legislative power of this realm shall deem the peaceable conduct of his majesty's Roman catholic subjects of Ireland, for many years past, an object worthy of its favourable attention, we humbly hope means may then be devised, to render so numerous a body more useful members to the community, and more strengthening friends to the state, than they could possibly have hitherto been, under the restraint of the many penal laws against them.

We most humbly beseech your grace to represent to his majesty these sentimeħts and resolu tions of his majesty's faithful subjects, the Roman catholics of this metropolis; who sincerely wish, that a peace, honourable to his majesty, and advantageous to his kingdoms, may be the issue of the present war; and that the people of Ireland, may be long governed by your grace, a

viceroy, in whom wisdom, moderation, and justice are so eminently conspicuous. Dec. 1, 1759. The answer of his excellency was sent to the Rt. Hon. John Ponsonby, speaker of the house of commons.

Sir, I beg the favour of you, to return my most sincere thanks to the gentlemen, the Roman catholics of Dublin, for the address which you brought me from them this morning, and for the good opinion which they have therein. expressed of me.

The zeal and attachment, which they profess for his majesty's person and government, can never be more seasonably manifested, than in the present conjuncture,

It gives me the greatest pleasure to find that they are so fully sensible of the lenity, which hath been extended to them, during the whole course of his majesty's reign; and they may be assured, that, so long as they conduct themselves with duty and affection to the king, they will not fail to receive his majesty's protection. I am, with great truth and regard, sir, your most obedient humble servant, Bedford.

This first manifestation of a lenient disposition towards Irish catholics, was grounded on the most obvious policy. The fate of Conflans's expedition was as yet undetermined. It was wise to publish, that he could hope for no co-operation in Ireland; nor could any thing more effectually deter a disaffected party from joining the invader, than the unanimous declaration of loyalty, ad'dressed to government from all parts of the king