to parliament for redress. They appointed twelve gentlemen to take without delay such steps, as they should deem expedient for that purpose. These gentlemen accepted the trust; but after having repeatedly met, two of them differed in opinion, with regard to the propriety of coming forward at that particular period, and declined complying with the direction which they had received.

Although the petition, which was prepared for this purpose, never were actually presented to parliament, a copy of it is subjoined, in order to shew the nature and extent of the Catholics' expectations at that period. "To the Right Honourable and Honourable the Knights, Citizens, and Bur gesses, in Parliament assembled,

"The humble Petition of the Catholics of Ireland,

"SHEWETH,

"THAT a century has now nearly elapsed since several laws, highly penal in their effect, were passed by the legislature of this "country, excluding the Catholic inhabitants thereof from numberless privi"leges and advantages enjoyed by the rest of their fellow subjects.

"That whilst the consequences of those laws were felt in their severest "operation, the loyalty of the Catholics of Ireland was unshaken, and their conduct uniformly marked with that respect and submission due to legisla "tive authority.

"That your petitioners beg leave humbly to suggest to this honourable "house, the laws of which they complain were passed in a season of animosity, at the close of party contention, and as the penalty of political opinions, which it is universally admitted do not at this day exist; that they were " continued, as having been deemed necessary to secure the succession in the "august House of Brunswick, to which none of their fellow subjects are more warmly attached.

"That every danger to that succession is now removed, and that even if it "were otherwise, they have lately bound themselves to their beloved sove"reign, and their country, by the most awful and sacred obligation; an, obligation to which your petitioners refer with the greater confidence, as if "oaths were lightly estimated by Catholics, they might long since have enti"tled themselves to the full rights of citizens.

That some years since, the parliament of this kingdom was, in its wisdom -" and humanity, pleased to remove part of the restrictions, under which your "petitioners lay; and that this indulgence, far from producing any ill effects, "has only served to strengthen the loyalty of your petitioners, and contribute "to the growing prosperity of the empire.

"That by the laws still in force, the Catholics of Ireland, though entitled "through the benevolence of parliament to purchase lands, are precluded from "almost every opportunity of improving the natural advantages of talents and "connections; and that when inclination, or any other circumstances, has dis"qualified them from commercial pursuits, they are under the cruel necessity "of becoming exiles from their families and country, and seeking that situa"tion in foreign states which is denied them in their native land.

"That your petitioners feel a conscious pride in being able to offer their "past, as a pledge of their future good conduct, and humbly beg leave to insist, "that men sincerely and warmly attached to the constitution of their country, "even when they were the objects of its censure and severity, are not likely to "become less anxious for its preservation from being admitted to a fuller participation of its blessings.

Your petitioners, therefore, humbly pray, that this honourable house will "take the premises into consideration, and grant to your petitioners such re "lief as to its wisdom, justice, and humanity shall seem meet.

"And your petitioners will ever pray.”

From a desire of procuring unanimity, it was thought prudent to submit the subject again to the consideration of the general committee. At a meeting convened for that purpose, a gentleman who declared himself commissioned by Lord Kenmare to communicate his sentiments to the committee, gave notice of his lordship's disapprobation of the measure, and of his determination not to co-operate in it, although his lordship had never attended at any of the meetings, in which the measure had been discussed, and the Earl of Fingal, who, on that night filled the chair, appeared to acquiesce in Lord Ker mare's opinion. The reason, however, for laying before parliament the situation of the Catholics, and humbly soliciting a relief from some of the severe restrictions, under which they laboured, appeared conclusive to the meeting; and the former resolution of an immediate application to the legislature was again adopted by a very great majority.

On the 18th of April the committee met once more, and defivered in their report, which fully accounted for their reasons for suspending their application to parliament, and was to the following effect.

"In compliance with your instructions, the first object of the attention of your committee was, to prepare a petition to par"liament, expressive of those sentiments of loyalty and sub"mission to the laws of their country, so strongly marked in "the resolutions transmitted from different parts of the king"dom. We were aware of the unfavourable conclusions, which "those of our fellow subjects, whose minds, from political or (6 religious prejudices, were less prepared to meet our wishes, must naturally draw from the disunion of any of our mem"bers, however small their numbers might be, or inconsidera"ble their consequence, when compared with that of the Ca"tholic body at large. Anxious to obviate this inconvenience, we endeavoured, by every measure not inconsistent with the "line of conduct pointed out to us by this general committee, to "procure the co-operation of the two noble lords.

"For this purpose your committee employed the mediation "of our respectable prelate, whose virtues and amiable charac"ter entitled him to the confidence of all parties; and with "gratitude they acknowledge the kindness of his prompt and "zealous, though ineffectual interference.

"After consuming a considerable time in fruitless negocia"tions, your committee directed Mr. Edward Byrne to ac"quaint Mr. Secretary Hobart of the intention of the Catholics, "and to request to know when it would be agreeable to him to "be waited upon by a deputation from that body, for the pur"pose of laying before him a copy of the petition, and soliciting "the support of government on their behalf.

"Upon receiving Mr. Secretary Hobart's answer, your com*mittee, still desirous to conciliate, informed the Earl of Fin66 gal, and Lord Viscount Kenmare, in writing, that from the "respect which they bore to their lordships, they had deputed "Mr. Byrne and Mr. Rice to request their attendance at the "castle. This letter was forwarded by Mr. Byrne, and ac66 companied with a note, acquainting their lordships, that these "gentlemen would wait on them at their respective houses on "the following morning.

แ

"We are sorry to be obliged to observe, that these uncom"mon marks of deference and respectful attention, far from "gaining on the mind of the noble viscount, seemed to render "him more averse to conciliating measures. He suffered the "two gentlemen to come to his house at the appointed hour, "and even there refused to see them, though deputed in your name, and under the sanction of your authority. Several "conferences had taken place with the Earl of Fingal, whose "attachment to our cause was too sincere not to lament, that any difference of opinion should exist; but having hitherto "acted in conjunction with Lord Kenmare, he declared himself "reluctant to join in any measure without the concurrent ap"probation of the noble viscount. Nor was it till shortly be "fore the hour appointed by Mr. Secretary Hobart, that your "committee received information, that the noble lords would "meet them at the castle.

"In this interview with the minister, we delivered, through "the hands of the Earl of Fingal, a copy of the petition intend"ed to be presented to parliament. Here we beg leave to ar"rest your attention. A charge of a serious nature has been "made. We are far from imputing to any particular person "the indecorous assertions, injurious misrepresentations, and "unnatural triumphs, at every obstacle that did arise to damp "our exertions; had they been confined to our proceedings "whilst we were strictly and literally pursuing your instruc❝tions, we should have passed them unnoticed; but your com"mittee cannot remain silent under the imputation of having "trifled with your authority, and surprised the noble lords, by "presenting a copy of your resolutions without any previous "communication. That such a copy was presented without "communication, is true; but that the production of it was an object of indispensable necessity; that by withholding it your "committee would have proved themselves unworthy of your "confidence, and the interest of the Catholic cause received an "irreparable injury, is equally true. It is still fresh in your re"collection, that on the last night of the general meeting, one "nobleman, in person, and the other through the mouth of a "gentleman, who declared himself authorized to speak in his

66 name, refused to coincide in your measures. You have also "been informed of the repeated and unsuccessful attempts that 66 were made to prevail on them to sacrifice their private senti"ments to the general opinion of their fellow sufferers. Thus 66 deprived of the countenance of those, who were in the habit "of addressing administration in the name of the Catholics, it "became incumbent on your committee to produce some au"thentic document, to shew that in presenting themselves be"fore his majesty's ministers, they were not an obtruding, self"created deputation, nor even the delegates of a numerous body "of Catholics assembled in the metropolis; but that they were "authorized to act on behalf, and that their language was the "language of their brethren through the kingdom. The deter"mination of the noble lords to meet our committee at the eas"tle, rendered this expedient unnecessary. They, however, "deemed it not unadvisable to carry with them a copy of your "resolutions, in case any unforeseen circumstance should call "on them to make use of it. The event fully justified their "caution. After their chairmain had informed Mr. Secretary "Hobart of the purpose of this deputation, your committee, "with equal astonishment and regret, heard the noble viscount "declare, in the name of the Catholics, intentions different "from what they had resolved upon, and from what your com"mittee, in consequence of your resolution, had communicated "to the minister in writing. What views could have induced "the noble lord to make such a declaration, it is difficult to con"jecture. Had not your committee adopted the expedient al"luded to, they would have been reduced to the alternative of "entering, before Mr. Secretary Hobart, into a discussion "equally unpleasant in itself, and injurious in its consequences; "or of suffering the mis-statement of an individual, to obstruct "the wishes of the entire Catholic body. By presenting the copy of your resolutions they were relieved, to their complete "satisfaction, from the effects of so serious a mistake.

"Your committee having thus eluded the imprudence of the "noble lord, had still the mortification to find him counteracting "their measures; for on the day following their interview with "the minister, he wrote to the secretary to disavow those reso"lutions, which he had not then read, and which had received "the approbation of two general committees, at each of which "the Earl of Fingal had presided. Your committee, with defe"rence, submit how irregular and unwarrantable it is in any in"dividual, who has declined joining in your deliberations, to "take upon himself to condemn, even obliquely, proceedings, "with the nature of which, from his own indifference, or neglect, he must be totally unacquainted,

"An immediate application to parliament next engaged the attention of your committee. They addressed themselves to "several persons high in rank and consequence, equally respected "by administration, and endeared to their fellow subjects, by "their private and public virtues. Your committee are happy "to inform you, that every member of the legislature to whom "the intentions of the Catholics were made known, approved, "in the most unqualified terms, of the moderate and constitu"tional steps they had resolved to pursue, and expressed the "fullest conviction of their loyalty, and of the claim which an "uniform good conduct had given them to the liberality of par"liament. From the advanced period, however, of the session, "from the difficulty of communicating, in so short a time, with "their respective political connections, or of bestowing on the subject that attention which its importance required, your "sincerest well-wishers recommended to your committee to postpone the intended application.

66

"Satisfied, that by the public discussion of your situation, "the end had been in a great measure attained, for which you "wished that the petition had been presented this session, your "committee thought it prudent to comply with the advice of "their friends; and as a further mark of their respect to government, they gave immediate information of their intention to "Mr. Secretary Hobart.

"Under these circumstances, your committee beg leave to "resign into your hands the trust which you have delegated to "their care, with an humble hope, that their exertions may prove "not unacceptable. They mention to you, with pleasure, the "happy impression which has been made on the minds of your "fellow subjects by that spirit of moderation, which has hitherto "presided over your deliberations, and directed your measures. "The liberality of the times is favourable to your efforts. The prejudices entertained against you will subside in proportion as your principles and sentiments are made known and dis"cussed; and your committee may venture to assure you, that "submissive and constitutional applications are the only effectual means, by which you can hope to obtain a mitigation of the penal laws.

46

"Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to "our sub-committee, for their attention to our instructions, and "the zeal with which they discharged the trust reposed in "them.

"Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, to persevere in dutiful and submissive applications to parliament " for a mitigation of the penal laws; and that a committee of "twenty-one be now appointed for that purpose.'

The summer past over without any circumstance of notability relative to the Catholic body; though it appear highly proba.