Now, as the New Catholic Association cannot interfere in any way to procure redress from parliament or the courts of law; and as the Catholics certainly suffer the cruellest oppressions, and the most unjust exclusions from the undoubted rights of British subjects, it is incumbent on them to adopt other means altogether unconnected with the New Association, of preparing and presenting petitions to parliament, and also for preventing and punishing acts of individual oppression and of party insolence.

The petitions to parliament must of course be altogether unconnected with the New Catholic Association, and must originate with and be conducted by general or aggregate meetings; which, as the law now stands, may be continued by adjournment for fourteen days and no longer.

It is obvious that it would be impossible to arrange all the petitions necessary to be presented to parliament in the ensuing sessions, in one space of fourteen days. It is advisable to have a petition presented from every parish in Ireland.

The country should be therefore taken separately by counties. There can, in point of law, be fourteen days given to each county, separately and distinctly; but the business of petitioning for each county must be conducted by general or aggregate meetings, unconnected with the New Catholic Association; and such general or aggregate meetings can continue to sit for the petitions of each county during fourteen days, according to the provisions of the statute.

Thus the New Catholic Association will have to

attend to details in Catholic affairs, consistent with the duration of our present grievances, and with an acquiescence in our present sufferings.

The separate or aggregate meetings must and will seek for the redress of grievances, and the alteration of those matters in church and state by which we are oppressed.

The committee further very earnestly recommend to the Irish people, to make the repeal of the said statute of the 6th Geo. IVth, chap. 4th, the first object of a petition to the legislature; and that such petition do state to the legislature the unconstitutional and oppressive nature of that statute, and expose to parliament the falsehood of the pretexts on which it was enacted.

The committee further beg leave to suggest, that in the management of the further petitions of the Catholics of Ireland, care be taken to have our claims for relief brought before parliament, and kept free from any extraneous matter or any details on subjects of any other description, we being convinced that the simple and single object of obtaining unconditional and unqualified relief from our disabilities, should be solely attended to, as well by the Catholics themselves as by their friends in parliament.

The committee have further agreed to the following resolution:

Resolved, that the committee of twenty-one gladly avail themselves of the present opportunity to return to Daniel O'Connell their marked thanks for the undiminished zeal and talent with which he has prepared the plan of a report for the formation of a new association.

No. XVI.

NEW CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION.

Dublin, Saturday, July 23.

DOWELL O'REILLY, Esq. in the Chair.

Mr. Conway was appointed Secretary to the meeting.

Mr. John Dillon presented the Report of the Committee of twenty-one, and proceeded to read the document, of which the following is a copy :

REPORT.

The committee appointed to report upon rules and regulations to govern the New Catholic Association do report as follows:

1st. That the Report of the Committee of twentyone, agreed to at the late aggregate meeting, be inserted on the minutes of this Association.

2d. That in pursuance of the suggestions in the said report, we are a society formed and acting merely for the several purposes not prohibited by the 6th Geo. IVth, cap. 4th; and that our proceedings be governed by the following rules and regulations :

3rd. That such individuals as shall give in their names to the secretary on or before the first of Nov. next, and pay an annual subscription of one pound, be members of this Association; and that after that day, each person paying one pound, and proposed by one member and seconded by another, shall also be a member.

4th. That a new subscription be payable on every first day of January in every year; and that any gentleman who shall be one month in arrear of his subscription, shall cease to be a member.

5th. That no person (a gentleman of the press excepted) shall be allowed to be present at any meeting of this Association, without having paid the sum of one pound, as above required.

6th. That all gentlemen of the press be at liberty to attend the meetings of this Association, on leaving their names with the secretary and obtaining tickets.

7th. That no motion shall be debated at any meeting of this Association without one week's previous notice.

8th. That be appointed joint Treasurers to the Association.

9th. That a committee of twenty-one be appointed a committee of finance and accounts.

10th. That the Secretary do call an extraordinary meeting of the Association whenever required by a requisition, signed by at least twenty mem

bers.

11th. That a Secretary and two honorary assistant Secretaries be appointed.

12th. That every requisition for an extraordinary meeting, with the original signatures, be posted in the meeting room of the Association, and be entered in the book of proceedings, prior to the meeting convened.

13th. That the purpose of each extraordinary meeting be signified in the requisition, and in the notice calling such meeting.

14th. That the rules and regulations be posted in the meeting room of the Association.

15th. That no expense on account of the Association be incurred, without an order of the Association expressive of the purpose; and that no money be paid by the Treasurer, save on an order signed by the acting Secretary, and at least three members of the committee of accounts.

16th. That the proceedings of the Association, as well as the notices of motions, be entered in a book always open for inspection and reference, and that a book be also kept, containing the name and the address of each member, to be always open for inspection.

17th. That the chairman do not receive any motion

VOL. 11.

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