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tentment. They are not allowed the free exercise of their religion in the regular army; the Catholic soldier cannot absent himself from the service of the Protestant clergyman, and unless he is quar

too late to cavil on doctrinal points, when we must unite in defence of things more important than the mere ceremonies of religion. It is indeed singular, that we are called together to deliberate, not on the God we adore, for in that we are agreed; nottered in Ireland, or in Spain, where can he find about the king we obey, for to him we are loyal; but how far a difference in the ceremonials of worship, how far believing not too little, but too much (the worst that can be imputed to the Catholics), how far too much devotion to their God may incapacitate our fellow-subjects from effectually serving their king.

eligible opportunities of attending his own? The permission of Catholic chaplains to the Irish militia regiments was conceded as a special favour, and not till after years of remonstrance, although an act, passed in 1793, established it as a right. But are the Catholics properly protected in Ireland? Can the church purchase a rood of land whereon Much has been said, within and without doors, to erect a chapel? No! all the places of worship of church and state; and although those venerable are built on leases of trust or sufferance from the words have been too often prostituted to the most | laity, easily broken and often betrayed. The modespicable of party purposes, we cannot hear them ment any irregular wish, any casual caprice, of the too often; all, I presume are the advocates of church benevolent landlord meets with opposition, the and state, the church of Christ, and the state of doors are barred against the congregation. This Great Britain; but not a state of exclusion and has happened continually, but in no instance more despotism, not an intolerant church, not a church | glaringly than at the town of Newton-Barry, in the militant, which renders itself liable to the very county of Wexford. The Catholics, enjoying no objection urged against the Romish communion, regular chapel, as a temporary expedient hired and in a greater degree, for the Catholic merely two barns, which, being thrown into one, served withholds its spiritual benediction (and even that for public worship. At this time, there was quaris doubtful), but our church, or rather our church- tered opposite to the spot an officer whose mind men, not only refuse to the Catholic their spiritual appears to have been deeply imbued with those grace, but all temporal blessings whatsoever. It prejudices which the Protestant petitions now wasan observation of the great Lord Peterborough, on the table prove to have been fortunately eramade within those walls, or within the walls where dicated from the more rational portion of the the Lords then assembled, that he was for a "par-people; and when the Catholics were assembled liamentary king and a parliamentary constitution, on the Sabbath as usual, in peace and good-will but not a parliamentary God and a parliamentary towards men, for the worship of their God and religion." The interval of a century has not weak-yours, they found the chapel door closed, and ened the force of the remark. It is indeed time that we should leave off these petty cavils on frivolous points, these Lilliputian sophistries, whether our eggs are best broken at the broad or narrow end."

The opponents of the Catholics may be divided into two classes; those who assert that the Catholics have too much already, and those who allege that the lower orders, at least, have nothing more to require. We are told by the former, that the Catholics never will be contented: by the latter, that they are already too happy. The last paradox is sufficiently refuted by the present as by all past petitions; it might as well be said, that the negroes did not desire to be emancipated: but this is an unfortunate camparison, for you have already delivered them out of the house of bondage without any petition on their part, but many from their task-masters to a contrary effect; and for myself, when I consider this, I pity the Catholic peasantry for not having the good fortune to be born black. But the Catholics are contented, or at least ought to be, as we are told: I shall, therefore, proceed to touch on a few of those circumstances which so marvellously contribute to their exceeding con

were told that if they did not immediately retire (and they were told this by a ycoman officer and a magistrate), the riot act should be read, and the assembly dispersed at the point of the bayonet! This was complained of to the middle-man of government, the secretary at the Castle, in 1806, and the answer was (in lieu of redress), that he would cause a letter to be written to the colonel, to prevent, if possible, the recurrence of similar disturbances. Upon this fact, no very great stress need be laid; but it tends to prove that while the Catholic church has not power to purchase land for its chapels to stand upon, the laws for its protection are of no avail. In the mean time, the Catholics are at the mercy of every "pelting petty officer," who may choose to play his "fantastic tricks before high heaven," to insult his God, and injure his fellow-creatures.

Every school-boy, any foot-boy (such have held commissions in our service), any foot-boy who can exchange his shoulder-knot for an epaulette, may perform all this and more against the Catholic, by virtue of that very authority delegated to him by his sovereign, for the express purpose of defending his fellow-subjects to the last drop of his blood,

without discrimination or distinction between Catholic and Protestant.

In the conduct pursued towards Maynooth college, every thing is done to irritate and perplex-every thing is done to efface the slightest impression of gratitude from the Catholic mind; the very hay made upon the lawn, the fat and tallow of the beef and mutton allowed, must be paid for and accounted upon oath. It is true, this economy in miniature cannot sufficiently be commended, particularly at a time when only the insect defaulters of the Treasury, your Hunts and your Chinnerys, when only those "gilded bugs" can escape the microscopic eye of ministers. But when you come forward, session after session, as your paltry pittance is wrung from you with wrangling and reluctance, to boast of your liberality, well might the

Have the Irish Catholics the full benefit of trial by jury? They have not; they never can have, until they are permitted to share the privilege of serving as sheriffs and under-sheriffs. Of this a striking example occurred at the last Enniskillen assizes. A yeoman was arraigned for the murder of a Catholic named Macvournagh: three respectable uncontradicted witnesses deposed that they saw the prisoner load, take aim, fire at, and kill the said Macvournagh. This was properly commented on by the judge: but to the astonishment of the bar, and indignation of the court, the Protestant jury acquitted the accused. So glaring was the partiality, that Mr. Justice Osborne felt it his duty to bind | Catholic exclaim, in the words of Prior :over the acquitted, but not absolved, assassin in large recognizances; thus for a time taking away his license to kill Catholics.

"To John I owe some obligation,

But John unluckily thinks fit
To publish it to all the nation,

So John and I are more than quit."

Are the very laws passed in their favour observed? They are rendered nugatory in trivial as Some persons have compared the Catholics to in serious cases. By a late act, Catholic chaplains the beggar in Gil Blas: who made them beggars? are permitted in gaols, but in Fermanagh county Who are enriched with the spoils of their ancesthe grand jury lately persisted in presenting a sus-tors? And cannot you relieve the beggar, when pended clergyman for the office, thereby evading your fathers have made him such? If you are the statute, notwithstanding the most pressing re-disposed to relieve him at all, cannot you do it monstrances of a most respectable magistrate, without flinging your farthings in his face ? As a named Fletcher, to the contrary. Such is law, contrast, however, to this beggarly benevolence, such is justice, for the happy, free, contented Ca- let us look at the Protestant Charter Schools; to tholic! them you have lately granted 41,000l.: thus are It has been asked, in another place, Why do not they supported, and how are they recruited? Monthe rich Catholics endow foundations for the edu-tesquieu observes on the English constitution, that cation of the priesthood? Why do you not permit the model may be found in Tacitus, where the them to do so? Why are all such bequests sub-historian describes the policy of the Germans, and ject to the interference, the vexatious, arbitrary, adds, "This beautiful system was taken from the peculating interference of the Orange commis- woods;" so, speaking of the charter schools, it may sioners for charitable donations? be observed, that this beautiful system was taken from the gipsies. These schools are recruited in the same manner as the Janissaries at the time of their enrolment under Amurath, and as the gipsies of the present day, with stolen children, with children decoyed and kidnapped from their Catholic connections by their rich and powerful Protestant neighbours: this is notorious, and one instance may suffice to show in what manner:-The sister of a Mr. Carthy (a Catholic gentleman of very considerable property) died, leaving two girls, who were immediately marked out as proselytes, and conveyed to the charter school of Coolgreny; their uncle, on being apprised of the fact, which took place during his absence, applied for the restitution of his nieces, offering to settle an independence on these his relations; his request was refused, and not till after five years' struggle, and the interference of very high authority, could this Catholic gentleman obtain back his nearest of kindred from a charity charter school. In this manner are proselytes obtained, and mingled with the offspring of

As to Maynooth college, in no instance, except at the time of its foundation, when a noble Lord Camden), at the head of the Irish administration, did appear to interest himself in its advancement; and during the government of a noble Duke (Bedford), who, like his ancestors, has ever been the friend of freedom and mankind, and who has not so far adopted the selfish policy of the day as to exclude the Catholics from the number of his fellow-creatures; with these exceptions, in no instance has that institution been properly encouraged. There was indeed a time when the Catholic clergy were conciliated, while the Union was pending, that Union which could not be carried without them, while their assistance was requisite in procuring addresses from the Catholic counties; then they were cajoled and caressed, feared and flattered, and given to understand that "the Union would do every thing;" but the moment it was passed, they were driven back with contempt into their former obscurity.

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such Protestants as may avail themselves of the in-worthy to be any thing but the slaves you have stitution. And how are they taught? A catechism made them. The facts stated are from most resis put into their hands, consisting of, I believe, pectable authority, or I should not have dared in forty-five pages, in which are three questions rela- this place, or any place, to hazard this avowal. If tive to the Protestant religion; one of these queries | exaggerated, there are plenty as willing, as I beis, "Where was the Protestant religion before Lu-lieve them to be unable, to disprove them. Should ther?" Answer, "In the Gospel." The remain- it be objected that I never was in Ireland, I beg ing forty-four pages and a half regard the damn-leave to observe, that it is as easy to know someable idolatry of Papists! thing of Ireland without having been there, as it appears with some to have been born, bred, and cherished there, and yet remain ignorant of its best interests.

Allow me to ask our spiritual pastors and masters, is this training up a child in the way which he should go? Is this the religion of the Gospel before the time of Luther? that religion which preaches "Peace on earth, and glory to God?" Is it bringing up infants to be men or devils? Better would it be to send them any where, than teach | them such doctrines; better send them to those islands in the South Seas, where they might more humanely learn to become cannibals; it would be less disgusting that they were brought up to devour the dead, than persecute the living. Schools do you call them ? call them rather dunghills, where the viper of intolerance deposits her young, that when their teeth are cut and their poison is mature, they may issue forth, filthy and venomous, to sting the Catholic. But are these the doctrines of the Church of England, or of churchmen? No! the most enlightened churchmen are of a different opinion. What says Paley? "I perceive no reason why men of different religious persuasions should not sit upon the same bench, deliberate in the same council, or fight in the same ranks, as well as men of various religious opinions, upon any controverted topic of natural history, philosophy, or ethics." It may be answered, that Paley was not strictly orthodox; I know nothing of his orthodoxy, but who will deny that he was an ornament to the church, to human nature, to Christianity?

I shall not dwell upon the grievance of tithes, so severely felt by the peasantry; but it may be proper to observe, that there is an addition to the burden, a per centage to the gatherer, whose interest it thus becomes to rate them as highly as possible; and we know that in many large livings in Ireland the only resident Protestants are the tithe proctor and his family.

But there are who assert that the Catholics have already been too much indulged. See (cry they) what has been done: we have given them one entire college, we allow them food and raiment, the full enjoyment of the elements, and leave to fight for us as long as they have limbs and lives to offer, and yet they are never to be satisfied!-Generous and just declaimers! To this, and to this only, amount the whole of your arguments, when stripped of their sophistry. Those personages remind me of a story of a certain drummer, who, being called upon in the course of duty to administer punishment to a friend tied to the halberts, was requested to flog high, he did, to flog low, he did-to flog in the middle, he did,-high, low, down the middle, and up again, but all in vain; the patient continued his complaints with the most provoking pertinacity, until the drummer, exhausted and angry, flung down his scourge, exclaiming, "The devil burn you, there's no pleasing you, flog where one will!" Thus it is, you have flogged the Catholic high, low, here, there, and every where, and then you wonder he is not pleased. It is true that time, experience, and that weariness which attends even the exercise of barbarity, have taught you to flog a little more gently; but still you continue to lay on the lash, and will so continue, till perhaps the rod may be wrested from your hands, and applied to the backs of yourselves and your posterity.

It was said by somebody in a former debate (1 forget by whom, and am not very anxious to remember), if the Catholics are emancipated, why not the Jews? If this sentiment was dictated by compassion for the Jews, it might deserve attention; but as a sneer against the Catholic, what is it but the language of Shylock transferred from his daughter's marriage to Catholic emancipation—

"Would any of the tribe of Barabbas

Should have it rather than a Christian."

Amongst many causes of irritation, too numerous for recapitulation, there is one in the militia not to be passed over, I mean the existence of Orange lodges amongst the privates. Can the officers deny this? And if such lodges do exist, do they, can they, tend to promote harmony amongst the men, who are thus individually separated in society, although mingled in the ranks? And is this general system of persecution to be permitted; or is it to be believed that, with such a system, the Catholics can or ought to be contented? If they are, they It is a remark often quoted of Dr. Johnson (whom belie human nature; they are then, indeed, un-I take to be almost as good authority as the gentle

I presume a Catholic is a Christian, even in the opinion of him whose taste only can be called in question for his preference of the Jews.

apostle of intolerance, Dr. Duigenan), that he who But while he is fighting the battles of the Cathocould entertain serious apprehensions of danger to lies abroad, his noble brother has this night advothe church in these times, would have “cried fire cated their cause, with an eloquence which I shall in the Deluge." This is more than a metaphor; for not depreciate by the humble tribute of my panea remnant of these antediluvians appear actually to gyric; whilst a third of his kindred, as unlike as have come down to us, with fire in their mouths unequal, has been combating against his Catholic and water in their brains, to disturb and perplex brethren in Dublin, with circular letters, edicts, mankind with their whimsical outcries. And as proclamations, arrests, and dispersions;-all the it is an infallible symptom of that distressing ma- vexatious implements of petty warfare that could lady with which I conceive them to be afflicted (so be wielded by the mercenary guerillas of governany doctor will inform your Lordships), for the un-ment, clad in the rusty armour of their obsolete happy invalids to perceive a flame perpetually flashing before their eyes, particularly when their eyes are shut (as those of the persons to whom I allude have long been), it is impossible to convince these poor creatures, that the fire against which they are perpetually warning us and themselves is nothing but an ignis fatuus of their own drivelling imaginations. What rhubarb, senna, or "what purgative drug can scour that fancy thence?"-It is impossible! they are given over: theirs is the

true.

"Caput insanabile tribus Anticyris." These are your true Protestants. Like Bayle, who protested against all sects whatsoever, so do they protest against Catholic petitions, Protestant petitions, all redress, all that reason, humanity, policy, justice, and common sense, can urge against the delusions of their absurd delirium. These are the persons who reverse the fable of the mountain that brought forth a mouse; they are the mice who conceive themselves in labour with mountains.

statutes. Your Lordships will, doubtless, divide
new honours between the Saviour of Portugal, and
the Dispenser of Delegates.
the Dispenser of Delegates. It is singular, indeed,
to observe the difference between our foreign and
domestic policy; if Catholic Spain, faithful Por-
tugal, or the no less Catholic and faithful king of
the one Sicily (of which, by the by, you have lately
deprived him), stand in need of succour, away goes
a fleet and an army, an ambassador and a subsidy,
sometimes to fight pretty hardly, generally to ne-
gotiate very badly, and always to pay very dearly
for our Popish allies. But let four millions of fel-
low-subjects pray for relief, who fight and pay and
labour in your behalf, they must be treated as
aliens; and although their "father's house has
many mansions," there is no resting-place for
them. Allow me to ask, are you not fighting for
the emancipation of Ferdinand VII., who certainly
is a fool, and, consequently, in all probability, a
bigot? and have you more regard for a foreign so-
vereign than your own fellow-subjects: who are
not fools, for they know your interest better than
you know your own; who are not bigots, for they
return you good for evil; but who are in worse

the fetters of the mind are more galling than those of the body?

To return to the Catholics; suppose the Irish were actually contented under their disabilities; suppose them capable of such a bull as not to desire deliverance, ought we not to wish it, for our-durance than the prison of a usurper, inasmuch as selves? Have we nothing to gain by their emancipation? What resources have been wasted! What talents have been lost by the selfish system of exclusion! You already know the value of Irish aid; at this moment the defence of England is intrusted to the Irish militia; at this moment, while the starving people are rising in the fierceness of despair, the Irish are faithful to their trust. But till equal energy is imparted throughout by the extension of freedom, you cannot enjoy the full benefit of the strength which you are glad to interpose between you and destruction. Ireland has done much, but will do more. At this moment the only triumph obtained through long years of continental disaster has been achieved by an Irish general: it is true he is not a Catholic; had he been so, we should have been deprived of his exertions: but I presume no one will assert that his religion would have impaired his talents or diminished his patriotism; though, in that case, he must have conquered in the ranks-for he never could have commanded an army.

Upon the consequences of your not acceding to the claims of the petitioners, I shall not expatiate; you know them, you will feel them, and your children's children when you are passed away. Adieu to that Union, so called as “lucus a non lucendo;" a Union from never uniting, which in its first operation gave a death-blow to the independence of Ireland, and in its last may be the cause of her eternal separation from this country. If it must be called a Union, it is the union of the shark with his prey; the spoiler swallows up his victim, and thus they become one and indivisible. Thus has Great Britain swallowed up the parliament, the constitution, the independence of Ireland, and refuses to disgorge even a single privilege, although for the relief of her swollen and distempered body politic.

And now, my Lords, before I sit down, will his Majesty's ministers permit me to say a few words, not on their merits, for that would be superfluous,

but on the degree of estimation in which they are not limited to the narrow bounds of an island; held by the people of these realms? The esteem there are other countries where their measures, in which they are held has been boasted of in a and above all, their conduct to the Catholics, must triumphant tone on a late occasion within these render them pre-eminently popular. If they are walls, and a comparison instituted between their beloved here, in France they must be adored. conduct and that of noble lords on this side of the There is no measure more repugnant to the designs House. and feelings of Bonaparte than Catholic emanciWhat portion of popularity may have fallen to pation; no line of conduct more propitious to his the share of my noble friends (if such I may pre-projects, than that which has been pursued, is pursume to call them), I shall not pretend to ascertain; suing, and, I fear, will be pursued, towards Irebut that of his Majesty's ministers it were vain to land. What is England without Ireland, and what deny. It is, to be sure, a little like the wind, is Ireland without the Catholics? It is on the basis "no one knows whence it cometh or whither it of your tyranny Napoleon hopes to build his own. goeth;" but they feel it, they enjoy it, they boast of So grateful must oppression of the Catholics be to it. Indeed, modest and unostentatious as they are, his mind, that doubtless (as he has lately permitted to what part of the kingdom, even the most remote, some renewal of intercourse) the next cartel will can they flee to avoid the triumph which pursues convey to this country cargoes of Sèvres china and them? If they plunge into the midland counties, blue ribands (things in great request, and of equal there will they be greeted by the manufacturers, value at this moment), blue ribands of the Legion with spurned petitions in their hands, and those of Honour for Dr. Duigenan and his ministerial halters round their necks recently voted in their disciples. Such is that well-earned popularity, the behalf, imploring blessings on the heads of those result of those extraordinary expeditions, so exwho so simply, yet ingeniously, contrived to re- pensive to ourselves, and so useless to our allies; move them from their miseries in this to a better of those singular inquiries, so exculpatory to the world. If they journey on to Scotland, from accused and so dissatisfactory to the people; of Glasgow to Johnny Groats, every where will they those paradoxical victories, so honourable, as we receive similar marks of approbation. If they take are told, to the British name, and so destructive to a trip from Portpatrick to Donaghadee, there will the best interests of the British nation: above all, they rush at once into the embraces of four Catholic such is the reward of a conduct pursued by minismillions, to whom their vote of this night is about ters towards the Catholics. to endear them for ever. When they return to the metropolis, if they can pass under Temple Bar without unpleasant sensations at the sight of the greedy niches over that ominous gateway, they cannot escape the acclamations of the livery, and the more tremulous, but not less sincere, applause, the blessings, "not loud but deep," of bankrupt merchants and doubting stock-holders. If they look to the army, what wreaths, not of laurel, but of nightshade, are preparing for the heroes of Walcheren! It is true, there are few living deponents My Lords, The petition which I now hold, for loft to testify to their merits on that occasion; but the purpose of presenting to the House, is one a "cloud of witnesses" are gone above from that which I humbly conceive requires the particular gallant army which they so generously and piously attention of your Lordships, inasmuch as, though despatched, to recruit the "noble army of mar-signed but by a single individual, it contains statetyrs."

What if, in the course of this triumphal career (in which they will gather as many pebbles as Caligula's army did on a similar triumph, the prototype of their own), they do not perceive any of those memorials which a grateful people erect in honour of their benefactors; what although not even a sign-post will condescend to depose the Saracen's head in favour of the likeness of the conquerors of Walcheren, they will not want a picture who can always have a caricature; or regret the omission of a statue who will so often see themselves exalted in effigy! But their popularity is

I have to apologise to the House, who will, I trust pardon one, not often in the habit of intruding upon their indulgence, for so long attempting to engage their attention. My most decided opinion is, as my vote will be, in favour of the motion.

DEBATE ON MAJOR CARTWRIGHT'S PETITION,
JUNE 1, 1813.

Lord BYRON rose and said:-
:-

ments which (if not disproved) demand most serious investigation. The grievance of which the petitioner complains is neither selfish nor imaginary. It is not his own only, for it has been, and is still, felt by numbers. No one without these walls, nor indeed within, but may to-morrow be made liable to the same insult and obstruction, in the discharge of an imperious duty for the restoration of the true constitution of these realms, by petitioning for reform in parliament. The petitioner, my Lords, is a man whose long life has been spent in one unceasing struggle for the liberty of the subject, against that undue influence which has increased,

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