rose, according to notice, to bring forward some resolutions in favour of the catholics. This gentleman acted, very considerably, in concert with Edmund Burke, between whom a strict correspondence existed. upon political subjects. On this one, of catholic relief, there is an admirable epistle from Burke to Sir Hercules, in the ninth volume, (8vo.) of his posthumous works recently published. The speech with which the worthy baronet prefaced his motion on the present occasion, wanted neither eloquence nor argument. He assumed however a tone of greater moderation than had usually been observed, and the cause was frankly stated by Sir Hercules to be the unadvised and foolish connection which had been made, by some, of democratic principles with the genuine cause of the suffering catholics. He asserted, however, that not a single sentiment of that tendency was really entertained by the catholic body, but that they renounced and utterly disclaimed them. There was not any class of his majesty's subjects more truly attached than they were to the monarchy and hereditary succession; more obedient to the laws or more devoted to the king and constitution as by law established. He recapitulated the various concessions that had, at different times, been made to the catholics, and argued, from these, as to the policy of extending those concessions. To what extent they should be carried, appeared to him the only subject that

could divide the opinion of the house, for he apprehended there must be a unanimity of opinion as to the principle itself. His own view of the case was comprehended in the following propositions:

1st. He would give the practice and profession of the law, as a reasonable provision, and application of their talents to their own country.

2dly. He would restore to them education, entire and unrestrained; because a state of ignorance was a state of barbarity: that would be accomplished by taking off the necessity for a license as enjoined by the act of 1782.

3dly. He would draw closer the bonds of intercourse and affection, by allowing intermarriage; repealing that cruel statute, which served to betray female credulity, and bastardize the children of a virtuous mother.

4thly. He would remove those obstructions to arts and manufactures, that limited the number of apprentices, which were so necessary to assist and promote trade. He then moved, "that leave be given to bring in a bill for removing certain restraints and disabilities, under which his majesty's Roman catholic subjects labour from statutes already in force." The motion was seconded by Mr. Hobart, without any observations. Leave was given, and a committee appointed accordingly, to preface the same, without one dissentient voice.

As soon as this measure was thus disposed of

Mr. O'Hara rose, and having expressed his entire approbation of what had been done, suggested that it would be a prudent course to pursue, if the house were to endeavour to ascertain what it was precisely that the catholics wished in the way of concession. He believed it would enable them to legislate upon a more secure basis, and for that reason he had acceded to the request of a particular friend, (Mr. R. Burke), who was not a Roman catholic, that he would lay a petition before the house, containing that precise statement. He (Mr. O'Hara) did not know the petitioners, but he knew the integrity of his friend, and he had his assurance that they were, altogether, worth upwards of a million; a fact which he mentioned to shew their respectability. The petitioners, after stating the particulars in which they hoped for relief, promised to acquiesce in whatever relief parliament might think proper to give them. The solicitor general said the petition, in its present state of abandonment, could be no object of notice, and he should therefore move the question of adjournment. Mr. Grattan supported the receiving the petition, and closed an able speech with the following words, stimulated by the uncourteous treatment which, a petition signed by so numerous, and so respectable a part of the community, was likely to experience. "Whatever" said he, " you give to Roman catholics, give it liberally; whatever you refuse, refuse decently; whatever you do, do it

with discretion; whatever you say, let it be the language of decency and good manners." Mr. O'Hara withdrew the petition, on account of its alleged informality, and promised to present a similar one, but without any informality attached to it, on a future day.

The general committee of Roman catholics was anxious to co-operate effectually with Sir Hercules Langrishe, who was known to act with the immediate approbation of government. Accordingly, on the 4th February, 1792, they entered unanimously into the following resolutions, calculated to counteract misrepresentation and calumny.

"Resolved, That this committee has been informed, that reports have been circulated, that the application of catholics for relief extends to unlimited and total emancipation; and that attempts have been made wickedly and falsely to instil into the minds of the protestants of this kingdom an opinion that our applications were preferred in a tone of menace.

"Resolved, That several protestant gentlemen have expressed great satisfaction on being individually informed of the real extent and respectful manner of the applications for relief; have assured us that nothing could have excited jealousy, or apparent opposition to us, from our protestant countrymen but the abovementioned misapprehensions.

Resolved, That we therefore deem it necesçary to declare, that the whole of our late appli

cations, whether to his majesty's ministers, to men in power, or to private members of the legislature, as well as our intended petition, neither did nor does contain any thing, or extend further, either in substance or in principle, than the four following objects:

1. Admission to the profession and practice of the law.

2. Capacity to serve in county magis

tracies:

3. A right to be summoned and to serve on grand and petty juries.

4. The right of voting in counties only for protestant members of parliament, in such a manner, however, as that a Roman catholic freeholder should not vote, unless he either rented and cultivated a farm of twenty pounds per annum, in addition to his forty-shillings freehold, or else possessed a freehold to the amount of 201. a year.

Resolved, That in our opinion, these applications, not extending to any other objects than the above, are moderate, and absolutely necessary for our general alleviation, and more particularly for the protection of the catholic farmers and the peasantry of Ireland; and that they do not, in any degree, endanger either church or state, or endanger the security of the protestant interest.

"Resolved, That we never had an idea or thought so extravagant as that of menacing or