CHAP. III.] REception of deLEGATES IN LONDON. 77 own body. Bearing in mind, probably, the conduct of the Marquis of Buckingham in 1789, and unwilling to trust another Lord-lieutenant, they appointed five delegates on the 7th of December, with instructions to present the petition to the King, stating the disabilities under which they laboured, and praying to be restored to the rights and privileges of the Constitution. No mention, however, was specifically made of seats in Parliament; but the instructions were that in any conference with the King's Ministers, they were fully to apprise them that it was the expectation as well as the wish of the Catholics of Ireland, that the penal and restrictive laws still affecting them be totally removed, and that nothing short of such total removal would satisfy the doubts and anxieties which agitated the public mind, or carry into effect his Majesty's gracious wish for the union of all his subjects in sentiment, interest, and affection. They arrived in London a few days after Mr. Grattan had the interview with the Prince and Mr. Dundas. The latter delayed giving a direct answer to their request of a personal interview with the King. The delegates, however, evinced a determination which does them great credit, and in which they were supported by their Parliamentary friends, Messrs. Grattan, Hutchinson, Forbes, Curran, and Doyle, (afterwards Sir John Doyle,) all of whom happened fortunately to be then in London, and in particular by Lord Rawdon, (afterward Moira,) who received them with that hospitality* for which he was famed, and *Lord Rawdon's reception (almost his support) of the French refugees, was princely, but his generosity cost him not only his fortune, but his independence. It was from the mother's side this family derived their good qualities. She was a woman of a noble mind, and possessed not only good, but great sentiments. Her notions were those not of family, but of royal consequence. She, however, had some that were which, unfortunately, on other occasions, cost him so very dear. In case of a refusal by the minister, Lord Rawdon meant to avail himself of his privilege as a peer, and to have demanded an audience of His Majesty to express his opinion. The letters of the delegates were judicious and well-advised; but, unfortunately for both countries, the suggestions they contained were not followed up, and the long-agitated and vexatious question of Catholic emancipation was left open for an indefinite time, and under circumstances most critical to the empire. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DELEGATES TO THE RIGHT HON. HENRY DUNDAS, SECRETARY OF STATE. SIR, We have the honour to inform you, that the Catholics of Ireland have delegated us to present their humble petition to our most gracious Sovereign. We request to know at what time we may be allowed the honour of waiting on you with a copy of the petition which we wish to be submitted to His Majesty's inspection. We have the honour to be, with the greatest respect, Sir, your most obedient and very humble servants, Grevier's Hotel, Jermyn Street, EDWARD BYRNE. MR. DUNDAS TO THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DELEGATES. GENTLEMEN, Somerset Place, 19th December, 1792. I have received your letter, and shall be at the Secretary false, and those she entertained on the subject of the reform in Parliament were quite aristocratic. The generosity of the family may be known by the following circumstance. On one occasion three bills came from the Prince to Lord Moira for 1,500l., 5,000l., and 15,000l.; Lord Moira endorsed them, sent them to a friend, and got the money for the Prince. His Royal Highness's letter which was read on the occasion, made great protestations of regard, and added, "If ever I forget your kindness, may God forget me" on which Lady Moira made the following prophetic remark: "If ever that man comes to the throne, he will deceive his friends.” CHAP. III.] CATHOLIC DELEGATES. 79 of State's office to-morrow at one o'clock, ready to receive the copy of the petition you propose to submit to my perusal. I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your most obedient and humble servant, H. DUNDAS. THE ROMAN CATHOLICS TO MR. DUNDAS. SIR, In justice to His Majesty, with a sense of whose paternal goodness to all his people we are thoroughly impressed, and to the Catholic people of Ireland who sent us hither, we think it our indispensable duty to state, that the unanimous sentiment of that body, after a long and solemn discussion of their affairs, was, that no measure short of an abolition of all distinctions between them and their fellow-subjects of other religious persuasions would be either just or satisfactory. We were sent here to support that opinion, and with instructions to state it fully on all occasions where it might be necessary to do so. We do therefore now, in conformity with those instructions, unanimously declare that no measure of partial relief will be esteemed satisfactory by the Catholics of Ireland; and we further declare it as our opinion, that independent of the justice of our claims-a total abolition of all distinctions now existing between the Catholics and others, His Majesty's subjects of Ireland-will be experimentally found to be the only measure capable of removing the anxieties which now exist-of insuring a permanent tranquillity to that kingdom, and of perpetuating the connexion with England, the benefits of which we deeply feel, and whose existence we are peculiarly anxious to promote. We have also the honour to enclose for your perusal a copy of the signatures affixed to the petition of the Catholics of Ireland. We have the honour to be, &c. &c. &c. EDWARD BYRNE, &c. December 20th, 1792. SIR,-In consequence of the interviews with which you honoured us on the 20th and 24th of this month, we presumed to entertain a hope that we should have been favoured by this with your determination as to the time when we should wait on you to learn the proper mode and season of presenting to his Majesty the humble petition of his loyal subjects the Catholics of Ireland, a copy of which we had the honour to leave for your inspection. We feel it our duty respectfully to apprise you, that on again referring to our instructions, we do not conceive ourselves entrusted with any discretion or latitude, but are limited to presenting the petition to our Sovereign in person. We therefore humbly request to know at what time it may please his Majesty graciously to permit us to approach his presence, and lay at his feet the petition with which we are entrusted. And we are persuaded, sir, that you will not consider us as too urgent in requesting an immediate answer. When we suggest that ten days have now elapsed since our first application, and that we are responsible to those by whom we are deputed for our using all due diligence in endeavouring to obtain the object of our mission. We have the honour, &c., December 29, 1792. E. B., &c. were introduced at They delivered the received them very At length on the 2nd of January, after a fortnight's delay, the delegates St. James's by Mr. Dundas. petition to his Majesty, who graciously, and was extremely polite on the occasion. The delegates had an interview subsequently with the British Minister, who, according to their account,* seemed convinced of the necessity of emancipating, as it was termed, or satisfying the Catholics, and who desired them to judge of the British Ministry by the conduct of their friends in Ireland. The impression on the minds of the delegates was that Mr. Dundas would not have any objection to a full bill of relief, though they found it difficult to bring him to any thing specific, on account, as he said, of the independence of the Irish Parliament and Government. Lord Abercorn and Sir Evan Nepean were present at the interview. Sir Evan's opinion was decidedly in favour of the Catholics, and of their asserting in strong language their claims for relief. Of the persons who composed the delegation, * Private report to the Convention. CHAP. III.] MR. KEOGH. 18 the first in point of talent was Mr. Keogh. He was the ablest man of the Catholic body; he had a powerful understanding, and few men of that class were superior in intellect, or even equal to him. His mind was strong and his head was clear; he possessed judgment and discretion, and had the art to unite and bring men forward on a hazardous enterprize, and at a critical moment. He did more for the Roman Catholics than any other individual of that body. To his exertions the meeting of the Convention was principally owing, and their success in procuring the elective franchise. He had the merit of raising a party, and bringing out the Catholic people. Before his time they were nothing; their Bishops were servile, and Doctor Troy, Archbishop of Dublin, though an excellent man, was under the influence of the Castle. The Catholic clergy possessed at that time great weight, and could easily get up addresses among the people; and it is very probable that even then the Government interfered in the appointment of their bishops. Keogh had the merit of breaking down that system, as subsequent events have proved; for since that time the people have gone along with their clergy, so far as interests agree, but they do not follow them if they differ. Keogh prevented the junction of the Catholic prelates with the upper orders, who to a certain extent (as in the Kenmare address, and that of the Sixty-eight) had seceded from the people. He was the first of the Catholics who formed the plan of an extended committee (for committees had existed among the Catholics of Ireland for upwards of eighty years.) At the outset of life he had been in business, and began as a humble tradesman. He continued to get into the Catholic committee, and |