To the parental solicitude of his Majesty for the general happiness of his people, to the sound counsel of his ministers, and, finally, to the liberality and wisdom of parliament, the empire is indebted for this glorious act of true policy, grace, and justice. The whole British constitution is now, for the first time, extended to the whole people of Ireland. As they enjoy the same liberties, so may they derive the same benefits from it-the same peace, prosperity, and happiness, which it has so long conferred upon Great Britain. To secure those blessings to Ireland, it is only necessary that her people act in the spirit which brought you so auspiciously together; and that they should continue to practise that forbearance and good-will towards each other, which distinguished their conduct through the whole of the late proceedings in Ireland, and which so mainly contributed to bring them the desired result. Allow me, in conclusion, to assure you, that I shall ever feel the sincerest devotion to the interests of Ireland, and the deepest gratitude for all the kindness I have experienced from her. I have the honour to be, ANGLESEY. To his Grace the Duke of Leinster, &c. No. XXXII. Formation of the Society of the Friends of Civil and Religious Liberty. Royal Hotel, College Green, Dublin, Wednesday, 21st January, 1829--William Sharman Crawford, Esquire, in the chair; It was unanimously Resolved, That in pursuance of the twentieth resolution, agreed to at the meeting of the Friends of Civil and Religious Liberty, held yesterday, we recommend that a committee of forty persons, twenty Protestants and twenty Catholics, be now appointed, and be selected from the list of nobility and gentry of both persuasions, who concurred in those proceedings, for the purpose of considering the most effectual means for establishing a permanent junction of Catholics and Protestants, in order to insure a continuance of their exertions for the success of the cause in which we are all engaged, "the religious peace of Ireland." Resolved, That the following noblemen and gentlemen, together with the chairman, be the members of the committee. The Duke of Leinster Lord Riversdale Lord Rossmore Rt. Hon. Sir John Newport Charles D.O. Jephson, Esq. M.P. James Sinclair, Esq. John D. La Touche, Esq. William Sharman Crawford, Esq. Lord Gormanstown William Murphy, Esq. Nicholas P. O'Gorman, Esq. James O'Gorman Mahon, Esq. Richard Moore O'Ferrall, Esq. Moved by Lord Killeen, seconded by Earl Bective, and Resolved, That the Rev. Edward Groves be requested to give his most valuable services as secretary; also, That the committee do make a report on Saturday. Adjourned at five o'clock. Royal Hotel, College Green, Dublin, Thursday, 22nd January, 1829-The Right Hon. Lord Rossmore in the chair; Resolved, That no proceedings are to have publicity until they shall have received the sanction of the committee. Resolved, That the following gentlemen be added to the committee, Joseph Stone, Esq. Richard P. Leader, Esq. Edward Berwick, Esq. Pierce Mahony, Esq. Resolved, That the committee do stand as at present constituted, without further addition. Resolved, That the committee is of opinion, that for the sake of our common country, as well as of the empire at large, all party and sectarian distinctions and jealousies should be buried in oblivion, and that all persons should be invited to advance and uphold the great cause of civil and religious freedom. Resolved, That it is the universal sentiment of this meeting, that no member of the committee is or shall be deemed to be bound by any resolution or proceeding to which he does not personally assent. Resolved, That no question be decided on its first mention, but that notice be inserted in the summons for a subsequent meeting that such a measure would be considered. Resolved, That it is expressly understood, that the proceedings of this committee are to have no publicity, farther than what may be sanctioned by a resolution of the committee. Resolved, That our secretary be requested to write to the absent noblemen and gentlemen named on the committee, enclosing a copy of the resolution passed yesterday, and intimating the names of those noblemen and gentlemen who have signified their consent to act, and to beg that they will intimate with as little delay as possible their concurrence. Resolved, That the secretary be requested to call a meeting of the committee appointed on the 20th instant by the 19th resolution, and to report to them that we have consented to take their commission into consideration, and that we recommend them to proceed in the mean time to provide for the financial and other details necessary to the furtherance of the great end of their assembling. Resolved, That this committee adjourn from day to day at one o'clock till further notice. ROSSMORE. Friday, 23rd January, 1829-The Right Hon. Lord Rossmore in the chair; The minutes of the last meeting having been read, it was Resolved, That it is our opinion that a society should be formed, to be called "The Society of the Friends of Civil and Religious Liberty of all religious Denominations," for the sole purpose of promoting the principles contained in the resolutions of the late meeting at the Rotunda; and that our secretary be requested to communicate the present resolution to the noblemen and gentlemen who have signed the Protestant Declaration and the requisition for the said meeting, and to others, in order to ascertain as speedily as possible their concurrence to the same. Moved by Thos. Wyse, Esq. Seconded by T. L. Naper, Esq. Resolved, That this committee do take immediate steps to convene the friends of civil and religious freedom in London, before the discussion of the great question of Catholic emancipation in Parliament. Moved by P. Mahony, Esq. Seconded by John Latouche, Esq. Resolved, That this committee do adjourn till Wednesday the fourth day of February next, on its rising. Moved by Sir Charles Morgan. Seconded by Barth. Corballis, Esq. Resolved, That the following noblemen and gentlemen do form a sub-committee, for the purpose of con |