XLI. CHAP. and of the exifting fyftem of government, and the protection of all perfons who behaved with loyalty, without any regard to differences of religion. They made the most folemn proteftation that to injure any perfon on account of his religious opinions never entered their hearts. I firmly believe that. their declaration was true, and that the improved system, as it then stood, and afterwards continued, was purely defenfive. But from the outrages of the original orangemen in the north, the behaviour of the vulgar fort elfe where, and the deceptions practifed by the propagators of difaffection, thefe pacific proteftations gained not the least credit with the lower claffes of catholics.. Paftoral letter of Huffey. 1797. The bigotry of the catholics was fanctioned and encouraged by the publication of a pastoral letter to the clergy of his diocefe from Doctor Huf. fey, Romish bishop of Waterford. In this the proteftants were treated with great infolence, as a contemptible fect, which muft foon have an end. He charged them with practices, of which they were and are quite innocent; and exhorted the Romish clergy to interdict, under pain of excom. munication, the children of their parishioners from mixing with proteftants in places of education. As the religious inftruction of children of the different fects at all proteftant fchools had been as completely diftinct as if they had been taught in diftinct feminaries, this prohibition was useless for its oftenfible end, and must have had a more mo mentous mentous aim. The immediate effect was an augmented display of religious prejudice among the Romanists, the withdrawing of their children from proteflant fchools to avoid the contamination of heresy, and a general feparation of the two fects. The clergy of this communion appear to have acted, at leaft fince that time, unremittinglyon a plan, by which they might hope for the ultimate attainment of the exclufive establishment of their system of worship in this iland. From the letters of Edmund Burke to Doctor Huf-fey on this occafion, two of which are given in Mr. Plowden's historical view of Ireland, the ardent wish of that orator, for the establishment of the Roman catholic religion in this country is evident, with his exortation to its prelates to be firmly united in its fupport against the proteftant adminiftration. CHAP. XLI. The parliament, which had affembled this year Parliamen ceedings. on the fixth of January, was, after feveral fittings tary proand adjournments, prorogued on the third of July, 1797. and diffolved by proclamation on the eleventh.: On the nineteenth of April a fecret committee of the commons was ordered to examine the papers of United Irifhmen, of whom two committees had been arrested in Belfaft. The report of this examination was made to the houfe on the tenth of May, and ordered to be published for the undeceiving of thofe members of the Irish union, who, though really loyal, had been feduced into the confederacy XLI. CHAP Confederacy by the idea of its ultimate object being a parliamentary reform. A motion for a temperate reform, including a political equalization of catholics with proteftants, was made on the fifteenth of the fame month by William Brabazon Ponsonby, which was negatived by a majority of nearly fix to one. Conceffion in these two points was recommended by the minority, as a measure efficacious for the overthrow of the Irish union, fince the two fubjects of discontent would thus be removed by which the conductors of that system had been enabled to work fo fuccefsfully on the minds of the people. Henry Grattan, defpairing of any fuccefs in his efforts, determined on a total feceffion from parliament, and ended his fpeech in the following words. "We have offered you our meafure you will reject it. We deprecate yours! you will perfevere. Having no hopes left to perfuade or diffuade, and having discharged our duty, we shall trouble you no more, and after this day fhall not attend the house of commons." for addref minifters. 1797. Attempts Attempts had been made elsewhere against the ses against fyftem of coercion. Sheriffs and other legal officers had been requested to hold affemblies of the people in counties, towns, and districts, that addreffes to the king might be prepared for the removal of his prefent minifters from his councils for ever. The meetings were prevented by the refufal of the officers, or by threats of military violence, or, where the inhabitants actually affembled, were dispersed XLI. dispersed by the army. The plotters of democratic CHAP. revolution and political feparation fecretly rejoiced at the growing difcontents, when men of more loyal fentiments were heard to declare, that "the minister, who determines to enflave the people, must renounce his project, or wade through their blood." CHAP. CH.A P. XLII. XLII. Motion of Earl Moira--Newspapers " -Seditious inftructions by hand-bills-Negociation with France Members of the Irish directory——O'ConnorLord Edward Fitzgerald-Information of Reynolds --Arrest of the Leinster delegates——Armstrong's information-Henry and John Shears--Violences of the United Irish--General proclamation―― --Abercrombie- -Military execution-Irregular violences--The term Croppy--Miferable confequences of efpionage -Arreft of Lord Edward Fitzgerald-Arrest of Sheares-Plan of the infurrection--Proceedings of administration—— Proceedings of parliament. CHAP. THE coercive system, maintained by a numerous army, and feconded by great numbers from various ra's motion. motives of intereft, fear, or fashion, was condemned 1798. as cruel, unjuft, and dangerous, by many reflecting Earl Moi men substantially loyal, too timid or too weak to attempt oppofition to the torrent. With a nobility of mind, fuitable to his rank, but rare in every flation, Francis-Rawdon Haftings, earl of Moira, made repeated exertions in favour of his fuffering country. |