Mr. Hay is so good as to take over to you some books of your late dear friend,* to be presented as memorials of the deceased to the new college, or to that of Carlow, as you think best. I have the honour to be, &c. &c. Beaconsfield, June 9th, 1798. EDMUND BURKE. To the Rev. Doctor Hussey, Catholic College. No, CX. ADDRESS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLICS OF IRELAND....PAGE 335. The address of the Roman Catholics of Ireland, presented to his excellency the lord lieutenant, on Wednesday, May the 30th, 1798. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY, WE, the undersigned, his majesty's most loyal subjects the Roman Catholics of Ireland, think it necessary at this moment publicly to declare our firm attachment to his majesty's royal person, and to the constitution, under which we have the happiness to live; we feel, in common with the rest of his majesty's subjects, the danger to which both are exposed from an implacable and enterprising enemy menacing invasion from abroad, and from the machinations of evil and disaffected men conspiring treason within his majesty's kingdom; under these impressions, we deem it necessary to remove, by an open and explicit declaration, every idea of countenance afforded on our part to a conduct bearing even the appearance of indifference and indiscretion, much more to a conduct holding forth symptoms of disaffection and hostility to the established order of government in this kingdom, in the preservation of which, though we differ from it in some points of spiritual concern, we feel too deeply interested to look with an indifferent eye at its overthrow. Allow us then to assure your excellency, that we contemplate with horror the evils of every description, which the conduct of the French republic has produced on every nation hitherto weak enough to be deluded with its promises of liberty, and offers of His son the late Richard Burke. fraternity; we anticipate similar misfortunes as awaiting this his majesty's kingdom, in the deprecated event of successful invasion; with confidence we date our determination not to be outdone by any description of our fellow-subjects, in zealous endeavours for averting that calamity: and that although anxious to enjoy, free of every restriction, the full benefit of our constitution, we reject with indignation any idea of removing the restrictions, under which we still labour, by means of foreign invasion, or by any other step inconsistent with the known laws of the land; we prefer, without hesitation, our present state to any alteration thus obtained; and with gratitude to the best of kings, and to our enlightened legislature, we acknowledge such a share of political liberty and advantage, already in our possession, as leaves us nothing to expect from foreign aid, nor any motive to look elsewhere, than to the tried benignity of our sovereign, and the unbiassed determination of the legislature, as the source of future advantage. We cannot avoid expressing to your excellency our regret at seeing, amid the general delusion, many, particularly of the lower orders, of our religious persuasion engaged in unlawful associations and practices. Yet we trust that your excellency's discernment will lead you to make every just allowance for the facility, with which men, open to delusion from their situation in life, are led astray from their political duty: it shall be our endeavour to call such men to a sense of that duty, by pointing out to them, how inconsistent their conduct is with their real interest, and how contrary to the maxims of religion which they profess; nor shall we less endeavour, by our conduct, to convince all descriptions of our fellow-subjects, how much we are impressed with the necessity of laying aside all considerations. of religious distinctions, and joining in one common effort for the preservation of our constitution, of social order, and of the Christian religion, against a nation whose avowed principles aim at the destruction of them all. We request your excellency will make these our sentiments known to his majesty, and we rely with confidence on your excellency's acknowledged candour and generosity, that you will represent us in that light, to which we venture to hope our conduct and principles have given us a just claim. FINGAL, SOUTHWELL, With seventy-two baronets, gentlemen of distinction, and professors of divinity, together with the Rev. Peter Hood, D. D. president of the Royal College of Maynooth, for himself and the professors and students of said college, and above 2000 whose names are too numerous to be inserted. The following address was presented to his excellency the lord lieutenant by the earl of Fingall, viscounts Gormanstown, Southwell, and Kenmare, the rev. dr. Troy, the hon. Mr. Barnewall, Denis Thomas O'Brien, Hugh Hamil, and George Goold, esqrs. and signed by great numbers of Roman Catholics of Dublin, and of other parts of the kingdom: MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY, WE, the undersigned Roman Catholics, his majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, beg leave to approach your excellency with our warmest congratulations on your excellency's appointment to the government of this kingdom. Firmly attached to his majesty's royal person and family, and to the principles of our excellent constitution, we cannot omit this opportunity of expressing to your excellency our deep concern and regret, at seeing in this kingdom the existence of a rebellion, threatening the destruction of each. We beg leave to assure your excellency, that we are determined to spare no exertion in our power for stopping its progress; and that, however our religious tenets may prevent us from subscribing some of the tests, which, by some of the existing laws, are required as qualifications in certain instances, yet none of these tenets militate against the princi ples of our happy constitution. Our religious principles lead us to resist all rebellious conduct, as well as every species of turbulence and insubordination, and our individual attachment to his majesty and the constitution further invites us to such resistance; by these principles your excellency will find our conduct ever guided, and led by them to a zealous co-operation with all others of his majesty's loyal subjects. We anticipate with confidence, under the direction of your excellency's acknowledged military and political talents, a speedy determination of the present unhappy state of this his majesty's kingdom, and an early restoration of the blessings of internal peace and tranquillity. THE LORD LIEUTENANT'S ANSWER. I HAVE the highest satisfaction in receiving your address. The loyalty of the principles you profess will, I doubt not, be fully evinced by your public and effectual exertions. The present unhappy conjuncture calls equally upon men of all religious persuasions to mark their attachment to their sovereign and our constitution, by counteracting the spirit of anarchy and rebelli on, which had disgraced the country. The influence of your example and authority may be of essential service, and you may be assured of my determination to do justice to your efforts, in repressing every species of turbulence and insubordination. No. CXI. PAGE 344. The following declaration and address have been transmitted by James Stewart, esq. of Killymoon, and laid before the lord lieutenant : WE, the dissenting congregation of Cookestown, in the county of Tyrone, assembled at our meeting house, on the 27th of May, 1798, feel ourselves called upon, at this important and alarming period, to come forward and express our attachment and loyalty in this public manner to our king and the constitution, and pledge ourselves, to the utmost of our power, to preserve the peace and good order of the community, and prevent, as far as our influence shall extend, that anarchy and confusion, which are so lamentably disgracing other parts of the kingdom. Signed, by order of the session, JOHN DAVIS, Minister. And we do also request that James Stewart, esq. of Killymoon, will present these our sentiments to his excellency the lord lieu tenant. The address of the Roman Catholics of the parish of Desartcreat and Derryloran, in the county of Tyrone, unanimously agreed to at their respective chapels, on Sunday the 3d day of June, 1798, to be presented to his excellency the lord lieutenant. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY, WE, the Roman Catholic inhabitants of the parish of Desartcreat and Derryloran, understanding with the utmost concern that most daring outrages have, for some time past, disgraced our unfortunate country, and which, in some parts of the kingdom, seem as yet disturbing the public peace, do think it necessary at this moment of alarm, (when many of our unfortunate countrymen, and, amidst the general delusion, many of our religi ous persuasion, are engaged in those unlawful practices, publicly to declare our firm attachment to his gracious majesty's royal person, and the constitution under which we have the happiness to live. Under these impressions, we also think it necessary to remove, by an explicit declaration, every idea which may be entertained of our assisting or even countenancing the conduct of these misguided people, who are attempting to introduce into our country anarchy and confusion: and we pledge ourselves, solemnly and without hesitation, to protect, at the hazard of all we hold most dear, the person of our most gracious sovereign king George the third, and the constitution of this kingdom, against all enemies foreign or domestic, who are now or may hereafter disturb the public peace or tranquillity. Signed by upwards of 1000 of the inhabitants of said parishes in the presence of ARTHUR TEGART, Parish Priest. N. B. The signatures may be seen with Mr. Tegart. END OF APPENDIX TO VOL. IV. Printed and Published by W. F. M'Laughlin, and Bartholomew Graves, Philadelphia. |