pears to have aroused all the base pas- | ber, letters were read to the Board, sions of the bigotted and intolerant from the Earl of Donoughmore and party, which they have poured forth Mr. Grattan, in answer to applications with so much fury and rancour, by the made to them on the 6th, declining the means of that ready instrument, a pro- communication which the Board refligate and hireling press, that the Ge- quested, on a Bill to be formed for the neral Board, in whom the Irish Catho- Legislature, or on any proceeding like lics had placed their confidence, seems a dictation to Parliament. The deto have been struck with fear and dis- termination of these personages, and may. For to what other cause can we the high tone adopted by them, seems attribute their childish and cowardly to have been neither pleasing nor saconduct on the 24th of December last? tisfactory to the assembly, and Mr. That my readers may be in full pos- O'Connell moved, that the Board do session of the subject, I shall give a respectfully reply to the letters, in orconcise detail of the previous transac- der to explain the mistakes which the tions of the Board, when they will be writers appear to have fallen into, and able to form their own judgment of what were the views of the Board in the causes which led to the disgraceful wishing for the communication. At proceedings in question.-At a meet- the succeeding meeting (the 27th), a ing of the Board on the 13th of No- Committee was appointed to prepare vember, Mr. O'Connell brought for- the answers, and on the 4th of Decemward a motion, declaratory of the opi- ber, they were approved of, and ornions of the Catholics, that no speci- dered to be forwarded to the Noble fic measures, affecting the discipline of Earl and the Right Hon. Gentleman the Catholic Church, ought to be by the Chairman.-On the 8th of the brought forward or advocated in their same month, Dr. Dromgoole, after a name, without having received the pre- speech replete with learning, argument, vious sanction of the Catholic Prelates and (which makes it more valuable) of Ireland. This was opposed by Dr. SOUND PRINCIPLE, moved his promised Dromgoole, Counsellors Finn and Resolution, which, after a very interO'Gorman, &c. with great earnestness, esting debate, was passed without a principally upon the grounds, and very division. This explicit and unanimous just ones they were, that such a reso- declaration of one of the fullest meetlution would be construed as an indi-ings of the Board this season, crushed rect approbation of Parliamentary in- the hopes of the interested and selfish terference with ecclesiastical disci- politician, who, under pretence of be pline, and that, by such a construc-ing friendly to Catholic Emancipa tion, it would cast the entire odium of refusal upon the Prelates. Mr. O'Connell denied having any such intention, and conceived his motion to be misunderstood; but perceiving the assembly averse to it, he withdrew it. Dr. Dromgoole immediately gave notice of a motion for the next meeting, expressive of the determination of the Irish Catholics to oppose all parliamentary interference with ecclesiastical discipline, with a view of putting an end to this dangerous controversy. This motion was put off by the learned Doctor, from time to time, till the 8th of the month following. In the mean time, that is, on the 20th of Noyem

tion, wished to enslave the Clergy, in order to make them the tools of an intriguing Ministry, and raised the fury of the fiery bigot to the highest degree. But great as they felt their anger and disappointment, they dared not openly to attack the Board, which contained a great part of the most disinterested and best-informed men in the kingdom. They therefore poured out their vengeance against the mover of the Resolution, and the learned Doctor found himself assailed by a torrent of calumny and abuse. Of this he complained at a meeting of the Board, on the 18th, and stated, that the misrepresentations were not con

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were so numerous, so undefined, not 66 one charge being reduced to any "thing like a distinct head-a neglect,

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"guished religious zeal of his assail"ants-that he felt it impossible to "enter upon the task, so as to give "satisfaction. The subject was of "too much importance to take it up "rashly, and without sufficient preparation. This importance it had borrowed, not so much from any thing to be found in that speech, as " from the mutilation of the paragraphs, the false constructions of meanings, and the misinterpreta"tion of words-that, in itself, it contained no doctrine, no opinion,

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fined to the notoriously hired prints, "tention to take an early opportunity
but that they were to be found in the "of replying to the animadversions
leading paragraph of a morning paper," made on his speech-but really they
which professed itself friendly, nay
claimed to be a fellow labourer in the
⚫ cause of Emancipation. The Doctor
also declared, that he was not prepared" no doubt, arising from the undistin-
to recede from any one point which he
had advanced; on the contrary, he
meant to support the whole and every
part of it, which he knew he could do
in such a way, as to give complete sa-
tisfaction, not only to any member of
the Board who differed with him, but
to every dispassionate and enlightened
Protestant in the kingdom. Previous
to this declaration, however, the let-
ters from Lord Donoughmore and Mr.
Grattan, in answer to those of the
Board, sent on the 4th, were read to
the assembly. These letters, dictated"
in a very lofty stile, contained a strong" no one point, that any candid and
animadversion on the conduct of the
Board. It was evident, from Mr.
Grattan's statement of his views, that"
the adoption of Dr. Dromgoole's reso-
lution by the Board, which laid the
question of Ecclesiastical Securities to
rest, was not pleasing even to this pa-
triotic statesman of Whig principles."
The members thus found themselves
placed in rather ar awkward situation;
they must either retrace back their hi-
therto firm and laudable steps, or they
must expect to lose, for a time, the
support of some of their former advo-
cates. The first they could not do
with honour, and the latter they were
not willing to encounter; they there-
fore, most unfortunately for them-
selves, adopted a middle course of
proceeding, and, acting upon the sys-
tem of Conciliation, they determined
to give up the learned mover of the ob-
noxious resolution, as a peace-offering"
to the offended parties. Accordingly,"
at the next meeting, (Christmas-eve)"
the following scene took place, the ac-
count of which I copy from that excel-
lent paper, The Dublin Evening Post.
many blows were made together,
"Immediately after the chair was tak- "that the weapons aimed at him seem-
66 en, Dr. Dromgoole rose and said, "ed to be entangled in one another,
"that on the last day of their meeting," or the first to serve as a defence
“he had intimated that it was his in- " against those that followed-so that

well-informed Catholic, nay, that any of the respectable Dissenters from the Church of England, who choose to make a fair avowal of principles, would refuse to sign."As yet, it was impossible to know "what the objections were-Fury seemed to have its ordinary effect upon the public writers-they could "not articulate; or, if they meant

"

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any thing, they could not be under"stood that the confusion of ideas, "created by this Babel of sounds, had "really reduced him to the situation "of not being able to reply to any "thing distinctly, because there was nothing in the form of a charge, that he, as yet, distinctly understood. "Besides, the assailants were so numerous, that he had not, as yet, been "able to single out any of them, so as "either to strike at him, or to ward off his blows. To this circumstance, however, and to the unreflecting eagerness to strike, with which they "all seemed to be actuated, he really "believed his safety was due.

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So

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"intended to urge. He was inter"rupted, when beginning to speak, by "Mr. O'Connell and others, who urg"ed the propriety of granting the delay desired. That it was an indul gence never refused-that here there were the strongest reasons for granting it. The importance of the sub"ject-the want of an accurate report, "where the utmost accuracy was necessary, and where the slightest ty"pographical error might give a new "and mischievous meaning to a whole "sentence-that the single circumstance of ill health, or the want of preparation, should alone be impe❝rative. Besides, although Doctor "Dromgoole had been indulged with 66 a hearing, which went merely to "state his reasons for postponement, "it was against all order, when there

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was no motion before the Board, for "the gentleman to enter upon the me"rits of the question. Those reasons

none of them had as yet any effect, | "per, containing, as we suppose, the ❝and he felt himself without a wound," heads of the objections which he 66 or even a scratch. Under such cir ❝stances, he trusted that the Catholic "Board would not force him into the 66 arena-that they would not put him "to the trial of his strength, in this confusion of his powers, before he "knew either the weapons 66 or the "number of his opponents. He had "besides to state, that his health had very little improved since he had "last appeared before them-and that 66 on this score only, he might claim, "without presuming too much, the "indulgence of a short time.-The 66 speech, which had so fearfully trans66 gressed, and which had excited this "warlike clamour, and this hubbub "of rumours of concerted plots, of "schemes and machinations to over"throw the State and the Establish66 ment, none of which, by the bye, "he could see in it, had not yet been 66 accurately printed. The substance "and the whole matter of what had "appeared in The Evening Post he "acknowledged to his-some typo66 graphical errors, of consequence, 66 had, however, happened; these "should be immediately corrected, "and the whole, as he expected, print"ed before Saturday next, in an accurate form. He meant that it should "be accompanied with a vindication "of his statements and opinions. He meant to shew, that these were ei"ther matter of fact, or common to every body of Christians, differing "from the Established Church. If, "after he had done so, any member of "that Board, or any gentleman, either "Catholic or Protestant, should lay "hold of any one point that he consi"dered exceptionable, and state it distinctly, he should endeavour to give "him satisfaction. Until then, however, he begged the benefit of a short "respite of opinion. Mr. O'Gor"man immediately got up, with The "Dublin Evening Post in his hand, containing Dr. Dromgoole's speech, "which was scored almost from one end to the other, and a sheet of pa

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had no weight with Mr. O'Gorman. "He would be heard-he would re"cord his opinions, &c." Mr. O'Gorman then began to address the Chairman, when he was called to order by Mr. Lawless, who insisted, that as there was no question before the Board, the gentleman was altogether unwarranted in the introduction of his topics. A general cry for Mr. O'Gorman to proceed ensued, and the Chairman having coincided, the gentleman proceeded in his oration, in which he was by no means deficient in his abuse of the learned Doctor's sentiments, frequently terming them "base and unprincipled," nor slack in the praise of his own loyalty; and concluded with disclaiming, both on his own part and that of the Catholic body, doctrines so unwise, so injurious, so dangerous, so unjust, and so unchristianlike, and trusting that the disclaimer would be unanimously adopted by the meeting. At the conclusion of this speech, we are told, there was loud cheering. Counsellor O'Connell made a speech in vindication of the

"such be the case, to make a solemn "disavowal of your principles? And "if you do, will you be believed? Is "there a Protestant, of any descrip

prepared, like slaves before their of"fended masters, to get upon your "knees, and say that indeed you " meant no offence-that the Protest“ant Church is not in danger-that

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you have no objection to the tenets "it holds that you, for your part, "don't think that it is novel, or that ❝ it will have an end? If you do this, "you will be disgraced and laughed "at-your Fellow Catholics will be "ashamed of you, and Protestants "will hold you in contempt." Doctor sat down amidst the acclamations of the meeting; and yet this assembly, who received the above sentiments with such tokens of approbation, immediately passed the following "Resolv Resolution unanimously:

The

Doctor, but voted against him.-Dr. Dromgoole, however, notwithstanding his ill health, and the unprepared state of his mind, defended his sentiments with such a manly firmness, a strength" tion, in any of these kingdoms, that "does not know that you have objecof reasoning, and so powerful an eloquence, that he was frequently inter- "tions to the Religion of the State? rupted by the audience with shouts of "And if you say the contrary, how Are you applause, and concluded his admira- "can they believe you? ble reply with the following words:"It is upon such grounds, then, that, ❝ in his extreme alarm and anxiety, he "(Mr. O'Gorman) calls upon you, "by an expurgatory Resolution, to "acquit yourself of all suspicion of "participation in the sentiments con❝tained in this speech. For my part, I "Sir, I avow those sentiments. "have not uttered them rashly, nor ❝ with a view to insult. There was a "necessity, sufficient, in my mind, to call for their honest and open dis"closure. I do not wish, nor did I "ever intend, that this Board should "adopt them as their own; and if they "think fit, they may, by the adoption "of this Resolution, disclaim them. "If you are determined, I shall make "no opposition. I shall not divide "this meeting; nor shall my single "No be heard against it. My opi❝nions, as I have given them, I would "declare before the Privy Council, or I desire no "the Bench of Bishops. "man to adopt them, and, in their re"jection, for myself I shall feel nothing, but I shall feel a great deal "for the character of this Board."Recollect, Gentlemen, that those are "the opinions of a Catholic-that they "are yours, if you be Catholic, and "that they are notoriously the opinions "of every well-informed Catholic up"on the face of the earth. I have ven"tured, in order to prevent an Oath "from being enacted, which could "not, in its present form, be taken, "to state one of the religious objec❝tions which we have to the Protest-ginations! and how eager their desires "ant Church-and because a few hir"ed papers have made a noise in the "city, and a few ragged Orangemen ❝in Derry or Belfast, have come to"gether in consequence-are you, if

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ed, That the sentiments expressed in a speech imputed to Dr. Dromgoole, " aud published in the newspapers, are "not the opinions or sentiments enter"tained by the Catholic Board.”And now, reader, having arrived at the close of this cowardly and hypocritical transaction, let me ask you, if, in all your readings, you can recollect seeing such another act, as is here recorded, committed by a body of men who call themselves enlightened, and whose professed object is-THE FREECan you call to DOM OF OPINION? mind such another instance of a total disregard of common sense, of candour, of humanity, or of justice, in a public body? Oh! how flimsy, how empty, how weak, must their ideas of our cause be! how terrified their ima

to sooth the prejudices of their friends, and still the ravings of their bigotted enemies, that they unblushingly refuse to one of their most talented, incorruptible, and disinterested members,

"upon the sentiments of one of their "members."-What a picture is here drawn of that Board in whom CATHO LIC Ireland had placed her confidence! and that too by the disinterested part of her more favoured sons, whose good opinion ought never to have been forfeited. By the fears and intrigues of those who act under the "the spirit of accommodation and conciliation," the Catholic Board of Ireland stands accused of having, by a solemn Resolution, belied the Creed of its members! Can this Board then continue any longer to possess the confidence of Catho lics? I think not: at least, not until the more spirited and independent part of the members come forward and rescue its character, by wholly erasing this disgraceful Resolution from the Journals. And, indeed, unless they do this, they cannot, for the future, in my opinion, be considered as a CATHOLIC Board.