Offer your prayers, dearest brethren, to the Father of mercy, that he may inspire thefe deluded people with fentiments becoming Chriftians and good fubjects; fupplicate the Almighty Ruler and Difpofer of empires, by whom kings rule and legiflators determine what is juft, to direct hist Majefty's councils, and forward his benevolent intentions to unite all his Irish subjects in bonds of common interest, and common endeavours for the preservation of peace and good order, and for every purpose tending to encreafe and secure national profperity. Befeech the throne of Mercy alfo, to affift both Houses of Parliament in their important deliberations; that they may be diftinguished by confummate wifdom and liberality, for the advantage of the kingdom, and the relief and happinefs of his Majefty's fubjects. Under the pleafing expectations of your cheerful compliance with these our earnest folicitations, we most fincerely wish you every blefling in this life, and everlasting happiness in the next; through our Lord Jefus Chrift. Amen. At the close of the feffions of Parliament, Lord Westmorland began his speech from the throne with these words, "The wisdom and liberality "with which you attended to his Majesty's royal "recommendation in favour of his Roman Catho"lic fubjects, are highly pleafing to the King." Did, then, Mr. Pitt put into the mouth of the Viceroy what was not true; or does his Majesty not confider that policy to be wife and liberal in 1808, 1808, which he thought fo wife and liberal in 1793? It will be well for those who run away with an opinion, that the King is and always has been severely adverse to conceffions to the Catho lics of Ireland, to examine the various documents of this kind which are to be found in the history of the conceffions which have been made during his reign. Let them compare the opinions contained in these documents with thofe which are now imputed to his Majefty; and let them compare the conceffions which have been granted with those which remain to be granted, and the conclufion which they muft draw from fuch a comparison is this, that it is abfolutely impoffible that there can be any foundation whatever for thofe afsertions which have been of late fo loudly reechoed from one end of the empire to the other, that his Majesty entertains a conscientious objection to the complete emancipation of the Catholics. But to fay, that it is impoffible to believe them, is to fay but little; it amounts to no lefs than a libel upon his Majefty's character to maintain doctrines fo entirely irreconcileable with the whole tenor of his reign. In the fummer of 1794, Mr. Pitt formed his memorable coalition with the Rockingham party; and though the ground of this tranfaction was a concurrence of opinion concerning the war with France," if the general management and super"intendance of Ireland had not been offered to "the Duke of Portland, that coalition could "never have taken place: The fentiments that "he had entertained, and the language he had "held fo publicly for years back on the subject, "rendered the fuperintendance of Irish affairs a "point that could not be difpenfed with by ❝ him.”* It having thus become a point that could not be dispensed with by the Duke of Portlandt to grant the Catholics of Ireland complete emancipation, the first measure of his Grace, immediately upon the coalition being arranged, was to folicit Lord Fitzwilliam to accept of the office of Lord Lieutenant, and to propose to him to carry this measure inftantly into effect. This measure was decided upon by the Cabinet on the day *Letter from Lord Fitzwilliam to Lord Carlisle. The reader may possibly suppose that this Duke of Portland is not the Duke of Portland now at the head of the present Administration. He may, however, rely upon it, that the fact is fo. Lord Fitzwilliam's letter to Lord Carlisle. day the Duke of Portland kissed hands, after frequent confultations between Mr. Pitt, the Duke of Portland, Lord Fitzwilliam, Mr. Grattan, and Mr. Ponsonby.* Lord Fitzwilliam having acceded to the preffing folicitations of the Duke of Portland, to undertake to carry this favourite and indifpenfable measure into effect, landed in Dublin on the 2d of January. He had confented not to bring the question forward on the part of government, but rather to endeavour to keep it back until a period of more general tranquillity; "but it had been refolved by "the Cabinet, that, if the Catholics should appear "determined to stir the business, and bring it before Parliament, then he was to give it a handSome fupport on the part of government." But no fooner was Lord Fitzwilliam landed than he found this determination had been taken by the Catholics. The Catholics of Dublin had held a meeting on the 23d of December, and agreed to a petition to Parliament, claiming the repeal of all the penal laws. Similar petitions had been agreed to * Lord Fitzwilliam's letter to Lord Carlifle. throughout + Ibid. throughout the whole kingdom, the natural confequences of its being known for fome months, that so steady and strenuous a friend to emancipation as the Duke of Portland had become one of his Majefty's Ministers. Lord Fitzwilliam finding, therefore, that the question would force itself upon his immediate confideration, communicated his opinion and intentions to the English government, on the third day after his arrival, in the following terms: "That, not to grant chear"fully, on the part of government, all the Catholics wifhed for, would not only be exceedingly impolitic, but perhaps dangerous; that in doing "this no time was to be loft; that the business "would prefently be at hand; and that, if he "received no very peremptory directions to the con < trary, he would acquiefce to the wishes of the "Catholics."* 66 Parliament met on the 22d of January, and on the 12th of February, no peremptory directions "to the contrary having arrived," though fo much time had elapfed fince Lord Fitzwilliam had communicated his intentions to the English government, Mr. Grattan, with the confent of C C *Lord Fitzwilliam's letter to Lord CarliЛle. Lord |