"force it now, that he must at all times repress, "with the same decision as if he held an adverse "opinion, any unconstitutional conduct in the "catholic body. 66 "Under these circumstances, it cannot be doubted "that the catholics will take the most loyal, duti"ful, and patient line of conduct; that they will "not suffer themselves to be led into measures "which can, by any construction, give a handle "to the opposers of their wishes, either to misinterpret their principles, or to raise an argument "for resisting their claims; but that by their pru"dent and exemplary demeanour, they will afford "additional grounds to the growing number of "their advocates to enforce their claims on proper "occasions, until their objects can be finally and "advantageously attained." 66 5. "The sentiments of a sincere friend, (i. e. Marquis Cornwallis), to the catholic "claims. "If the catholics should now proceed to violence, or entertain any ideas of gaining their object by "convulsive measures, or forming associations with "men of jacobinical principles, they must of course "lose the support and aid of those who have "sacrificed their own situations in their cause, but "who would at the same time feel it to be their indispensable duty to oppose every thing tending "to confusion. "On the other hand, should the catholics be "sensible of the benefit they possess, by having so 66 "in the service of government, except on the terms of the catholic privileges being obtained, it is to be hoped, that, on balancing the advantages and "disadvantages of their situation, they would pre“fer a quiet and peaceable demeanour to any line "of conduct of an opposite description." 6. In the debate in the house of commons on the petition of the Irish catholics, on Wednesday the 25th of May 1808, Mr. Elliot thus expressed himself: 66 "I do not rise for the purpose of entering into "any discussion on the general topic; but, in consequence of what has fallen from my noble "friend opposite, (lord Castlereagh), merely to "advert to the circumstance of the union, of which "I may be supposed to have some official know'ledge; and the nature of the expectation held out "to the catholics, in order to conciliate their acqui“escence in that measure. My noble friend has "said that no pledge was given to the catholics, " that their full emancipation was to be the imme"diate consequence of this measure, in considera"tion of their support. It is true, indeed, that no "bond was given to the catholics on that point; "but there were certainly expectations, and something like promises held out to them, which, in my "mind, ought to be more binding than a bond. And 66 so strongly was this idea felt by my noble friend, " and my right honourable friend (Mr. Canning), "and by a right honourable gentleman now no "more (Mr. Pitt), that they quitted office because "they could not carry the measure; and when, 66 upon Mr. Pitt's return to office, he opposed the going into the committee, it was not from any objection to the measure, but to the time." 7. Finally, lord Castlereagh in his admirable speech on the motion made by Mr. Grattan, in the year 1819, a large extract from which we shall soon have the pleasure of presenting to our readers, notices "the political incorporation of catholics and "protestants, which, upon certain principles, was "in contemplation by Mr. Pitt, and those who "acted with him at the time of the union*."." We shall not add a single remark: we trust the conclusion wholly to our readers. Such then, as it appears from our preceding pages, is the situation of the Irish catholics. It is little understood: no publication describes it so well as "The Statement of the Penal Laws, which "aggrieve the Catholics of Ireland." 66 That things should remain long in this state is impossible. "In numbers," says the intelligent writer of The Statement," the Irish catholics have "prodigiously increased; and they are continually increasing, beyond example in any other coun "try. Already, they compose the far greater part " of the trading and manufacturing interests. The agricultural class, so powerful and influential "throughout Ireland, the land-holders, farmers, "peasantry, are almost universally catholics. They occupy the most valuable positions, whether for commercial or for military purposes; the boldest 66 "coasts, most navigable rivers, and most tenable passes; the most fertile districts, the richest supplies of forage, the readiest means of attack or de"fence.-Numerically, the catholics constitute full "five sixths of the Irish population; and, compared "with the members of the established church, they 66 are in the proportion of at least ten to one. In 66 every city, town, or village, their numbers more or "less preponderate. The open country is in almost "their exclusive occupation. The gross popula❝tion of Ireland, at this day, is moderately esti"mated, by the most competent judges, at five "millions of inhabitants. Of this number, we may, without exaggeration, state the catholics "as amounting to four millions two hundred thou"sand; that is,-equal to one half of the united "population of England and Wales." Imposing as is this view of the strength of the Irish catholics,—a strength too that hourly increases,—their attachment to their religion adds to its power. This attachment is unparalleled in history:-In every circumstance of life, the religion of an Irish catholic is the nearest and dearest affection of his heart; in the midst of the oppression which surrounds him, it elevates him, in his own feelings, far above his oppressors. CHAP. LXXXV. HISTORICAL MINUTES RESPECTING THE SCOTTISH CATHOLICS SINCE THE REFORMATION. IT was also the wish of the writer of these pages, to present his readers with a short historical account of the Scottish catholics since the reformation; but his endeavours to procure materials for it have absolutely failed*. Greatly is it to be wished that some gentleman, possessed of necessary talents and leisure, would give his attention * The antient glories of the illustrious kingdom have been celebrated by Buchanan, in verses of uncommon splendor and energy, in the epithalamium which he composed on the marriage of Francis the second of France, with the unfortunate Mary of Scotland. "Illa pharetratis est propria gloria SCOTIS, "Cingere venatu saltus, superare natando "Flumina, ferre famem, contemnere frigora et æstus; "Et spretâ incolumem vitâ defendere famam : "Artibus his, totum fremerent cum bella per orbem, "Externo subjecta jugo;—gens una vetustis "Sedibus antiquis sub libertate resedit. "Substitit hic Gothi furor, hîc gravis impetus hæsit 66 Præcipitem Romana gradum :-quem non gravis auster "Reppulit, incultis non squallens Parthia campis, "Non æstu Meroë, non frigore Rhenus et Albis |