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honourable acquittal of Mr. Fay, and the public exposure of the attempts of the junto, to criminate by the like means, Mr. Dowdal of Clown, Mr. Bird of Drogheda, and some other Catholic gentlemen of the first commercial consequence, upon whom the most ferocious severity had been exercised whilst under the control of the magistrates, cast such disgrace and infamy upon the perpetrators of this dark conspiracy, that for a time the Catholics were no longer molested by this species of persecution. The Catholics in these parts of the country most infested by the Defenders, had from their numbers suffered more from those depredators than the Protestants, and although it evidently were a plebeian league against property, yet it is to be remarked, that in every assize for the county of Meath since the Defenders first appeared there, no Roman Catholic was admitted on juries on the crown side, although formerly those juries had generally consisted of Catholics. The malice, prejudice, falshood, and infamy, that appeared at the assizes at Trim upon the trial of Mr. Fay, were too rank for the most sanguinary bigot. The judge was shocked: every honest man cried shame: the junto were confounded at the failure of their own schemes.†

In order to counteract these attempts to calumniate and criminate the body of the Catholics by identifying the causes of Roman Catholics, United Irishmen, Defenders, French levellers, and sworn enemies to the constitution, the Catholic bishops presented an humble address to his excellency on the 17th of December, 1793, to be transmitted to his majesty, expressive of their unshaken loyalty and grateful affection to his majesty's person and government, which was most graciously received by his majesty. Similar efforts, prejudicial to the body of the

* The most active instrument in harrassing and attempting by various arts and stratagems to criminate the Catholics of Navan, was a young relative of a man of consequence in the county of Louth, who wantonly jested about his expeditions to Navan, by saying, that he had been buck hunting.

Of these trials Mr. Curran thus spoke in a debate in the Commons (17 P. D. p. 31.) "Of the trials of Mr. Fay, and of the principal Catholic mer"chants of Drogheda, he said he could speak as an eye witness, and he de"clared them to be scenes of more atrocity and horror than he had ever seen "exhibited in a court of justice; it was, he said, what the Catholics might "have expected when they found their avowed enemies continued in autho"rity, and the malice of an implacable government left to indemnify itself by 66 vengeance what it had lost by law."

66 The humble Address of the Prelates of the Roman Catholic Communion "in Ireland, to the King's most excellent Majesty.

"MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN,

"WE your majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects the "undersigned, for ourselves, and on behalf of the other prelates of the Roman "Catholic Communion in Ireland, impressed with the lively sentiments of "inviolable attachment to your majesty's sacred person and government,

Catholics, were about the same time attempted in different parts of the kingdom; but neither so openly, nor so virulently, as at Navan and Drogheda. As the whole combination of that party in parliament, which had monopolized the political power of the

"which, we trust, will ever distinguish those of our order in this kingdom, are happy on this occasion, the earliest that has offered, of humbly adding "the tribute of our acknowledgments to the general voice of a grateful "people.

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The recollection of our past, and the contemplation of our present con"dition, will best illustrate the character of a patriot king, impartially attending to the wants and deserts of his people. Under your majesty's auspicious "reign, and particularly through your late paternal recommendation to parlia"ment, heavy penalties to which we are subject, have been removed. We were "patient under disabilities; we are thankful for the happy change. Ministers "of a gospel, which enjoins meekness in adversity, and submission to those "who are constituted in authority over us, we have not at any time omitted "to inculcate the lesson of obedience and loyalty. The favours we have "received add private feeling to public obligation; we shall continue with "unremitting zeal to discharge that indispensable duty.

"We have never ceased to admire the many eminent virtues, which adorn "your royal character, and attract the applause of every lover of morality; "a brilliant example in your elevated rank, and in an age too prone to neglect "the impulse of truth, and the sacred injunctions of religion.

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"Whilst we lament the necessity that inflicts the calamities of war upon any, even the most depraved of our fellow-creatures, we incessantly suppli"cate the Almighty Disposer of events, that, blessing your majesty's arms "with success, he may crown you with the glory of stopping the progress of "that atheistical faction, which aims at the subversion of every religious and "moral principle.

"We look towards that unhappy nation, which is the object of hostility, "and acknowledge with humble thanksgiving the goodness of Divine Provi"dence, which, under the best of constitutions, has bestowed on the land we "live in, freedom exempt from anarchy, protection guarded against oppression, "and a prince calculated by his wisdom and virtue to preserve that happy con"dition of society.

"If, Sire, in our peculiar situation we presume to approach your majesty, "it is, but that we may bless that royal goodness, to which we are so deeply "indebted. May the God of truth and harmony, to whom your pious en"deavours to unite your subjects cannot fail to be acceptable, cement and "strengthen their union. May he grant to your majesty long to reign over a "people, whose happiness you have effectually laboured to promote. May "your wisdom long continue to give energy to the counsels, your benevolence "to form the character of the kingdoms committed to your charge, and may "your descendants, to the latest posterity, filling the throne of these realms, possess, like your majesty, the affections and approbation of their subjects.

66 JOHN THOMAS TROY, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin.
"RICHARD O'REILLY, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh.
"THOMAS BRAY, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cashel.
"Bos. EAGAN, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Tuam.
"FRANCIS MOYLAN, Roman Catholic Bishop of Cork.
"P. J. PLUNKETT, Roman Catholic Bishop of Meath.

JAMES CAULFIELD, Roman Catholic Bishop of Ferns.
"DOMINICK BELLEW, Roman Catholic Bishop of Killala.
"GERALD TEAHAN, Roman Catholic Bishop of Kerry."

country, was inadequate to resist the forcible recommendation of a benign sovereign to unchain three millions of his loyal subjects, so did their masked batteries fail out of parliament, from which they played upon the credulous bigotry and antiquated prejudices "To his Excellency John Earl of Westmoreland, Lord Lieutenant General. "and Governor General of Ireland.

"The humble Address of the Prelates of the Roman Catholic Communion "in Ireland.

"MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY.

"We the undersigned, for ourselves, and on behalf of "the other prelates of the Roman Catholic Communion in Ireland, laying at "the foot of the throne the solemn assurance of those sentiments of allegiance "and gratitude, which are cherished in the breast of every individual of our "order, beg leave to express our feelings to your excellency, by whom our "gracious sovereign is represented with so much honour to yourself, and ad"vantage to this kingdom.

"We have submitted patiently to the restrictions, which the legislature "thought it expedient to impose, and we do now most thankfully receive the "relaxation of these laws, the boon of a more enlightened age, and a milder "temper. With emotions of the most lively gratitude we acknowledge the "wisdom and benignity of your excellency's administration, by which, under "Divine Providence, such favourable dispositions have been promoted in our "Protestant fellow-subjects.

"We have observed, with deep regret, that your excellency's government, "although conciliatory and conceding, has not been entirely exempt from "some outrages of the misguided and unreflecting poor, deviating equally " from the dictates of law, reason, and of religion. The Roman Catholic "clergy have never ceased, though sometimes with great hazard to them"selves, to represent the wickedness of tumult, to explain the advantages, "which every rank derives from subordination, and to exhort their flocks to "practise that obedience to established authority, which our religion ordains, "and which is indispensable to the existence of society. Bound by feeling " and inclination, as well as by a more sacred duty, we shall ever continue to "instil into those committed to our care, every sentiment of loyalty and affec"tion to our good king, every principle of submission to the laws, and of "veneration for that happy constitution, which has produced so much good "to these realms, and of which the benefits have been of late so liberally imparted to the Roman Catholics of this kingdom.

"And we earnestly beseech Almighty God, to bless your excellency, and "prolong your days, that you may live to see that land flourish, in which the "seeds of prosperity have been sown under your auspices.

"We humbly request, that your excellency will be pleased to transmit our "dutiful address to our most gracious sovereign."

HIS EXCELLENCY's ANSWER.

"I RETURN you my sincere thanks for this dutiful address. "Your declarations of loyalty and gratitude are highly becoming and honour"able; and your determination to instil into the persons committed to your "spiritual care, the principles of duty to the king, of submission to the laws, "and veneration of the established constitution, prove your attention to their "welfare and happiness.

"I will immediately transmit your dutiful and loyal address to be laid be"fore his majesty."

"Dublin Castle, 13th January, 1794.

"SIR, "I HAVE the honour to acquaint you, by command of the lord "lieutenant, that his excellency has received a letter from the right honour,

of the unenlightened or self-interested part of the community. Individually, the asperities of religious rancour were daily wearing out: though it be to be lamented, that a certain party, which very soon after this time shewed itself openly under the appellation of Orangemen, was prominently active in renovating and extending the flame of religious feuds, discord, and animosity. The spirit and end of which combinations emphatically counteracted that union of affection and interest, so strongly recommended to the people by the parental tenderness of their sovereign. Since the passing of the act of the last session, the Catholics began to feel themselves admitted into the bosom of their country, and to busy themselves about forming settlements in it, as if they no longer looked to foreign aid or protection for the benefits of improving their minds or morals. Their prelates, on the 14th of February, 1794, presented a very impressive memorial to the earl of Westmoreland, to obtain his majesty's license to found and endow seminaries for the education of their clergy within their own native kingdom.*

"able Henry Dundas, one of his majesty's principal secretaries of state, dated "the 8th instant, signifying, that he had laid before the king the address to "his majesty from the prelates of the Roman Catholic Communion in Ireland, "expressing their inviolable attachment to his majesty's person and govern"ment, and that his majesty was pleased to receive the same in the most "gracious manner.

"Rev. Dr. Troy."

"I have the honour to be, Sir,

"Your most obedient humble servant,
"S. HAMILTON.

***To his Excellency John Earl of Westmoreland, Lord Lieutenant General, "and General Governor of Ireland.

"The humble Memorial of the Prelates of the Roman Catholic Communion in "Ireland.

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“MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY,

"YOUR memorialists beg leave, with the greatest deference, to represent to your excellency,

"That a great number of his majesty's subjects in this kingdom are attached "to the Roman Catholic religion, insomuch that they have submitted to legal "penalties rather than abandon it.

"That the duties of morality have been taught, and religious rites adminis"tered in the manner most acceptable to this portion of his majesty's subjects, "by a body of clergymen educated according to the discipline of the Roman "Catholic church. The conduct of these clergymen has never suffered the "reproach of disaffection or irregularity; on the contrary, they have been com"plimented on many occasions, for assiduously instructing their respective "flocks in the sacred precepts of Christianity, and for inculcating obedience "to the laws, and veneration for his majesty's royal person and government. "Memorialists humbly apprehend, that the labours of a body of men thus oc"cupied are useful to the state, and that considerable detriment would ensue "to the cause of religion, and to that of good order, which is connected with "it, if the public were to be deprived of their services.

"Under the laws which formerly existed, your excellency's memorialists "were obliged to resort to foreign countries for education, particularly to the

The confidence, and boldness with which the popular societies had lately expressed their political sentiments had become very obnoxious to government, and in order to check the pruriency of civil liberty, which now was considered as a mere cloak for

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"kingdom of France, where they had procured many valuable establishments; "four hundred persons were constantly maintained and educated therein, for "the ministry of the Roman Catholic religion in Ireland. In the anarchy "which at present afflicts that kingdom, these establishments have been necesIsarily destroyed; and, even although lawful authority should be restored, "memorialists conceive the loss to be irreparable; for the revenues would not "easily be recovered; and as the profligate principles of rebellion and atheism, "propagated by the faction which now rules that kingdom, may not be speedily "effaced, they would expose their youth to the contagion of sedition and infi"delity, and their country to the danger of thus introducing the pernicious "maxims of a licentious philosophy. Memorialists therefore are appre"hensive, that it may be found difficult to supply the ministry of the Roman "Catholic church in Ireland with proper clergymen, unless seminaries, schools, "or academies be instituted, for educating the youth destined to receive holy "orders according to the discipline of their own church, and under ecclesiasti"cal superiors of their own communion; and they beg leave further to repre"sent, with all due respect and deference to your excellency's wisdom, that "said institution would prove of advantage to the nation at large, and be a "matter of great indulgence to his majesty's subjects professing the Roman "Catholic religion in Ireland.

"Whilst sentiments unfavourable to the members of their communion pre"vailed, your excellency's memorialists were discouraged from seeking the "means of education in their native country; but conceiving that the demeanor "of the Roman Catholics has removed such ill opinion, they humbly hope that "the moral instruction of a people who have been legally authorized to acquire "landed property in this kingdom, and upon whom many other valuable privi"leges have been conferred under your excellency's administration and auspi"ces, may appear to his majesty's ministers a subject not unworthy his royal "consideration and bounty. Your excellency's memorialists are confirmed in this hope, by the opinion often and publicly expressed by respectable individuals "of their Protestant fellow-subjects, that it would conduce to the public good "to educate the Irish ecclesiastics of the Roman Catholic religion within his "majesty's dominions.

"Your excellency's memorialists also beg leave humbly to represent, that "although the mode of education practised in the university of Dublin, may "be well adaped to form men for the various departments of public business, "yet it is not alike applicable to the ecclesiastics of a very ritual religion, and by no means calculated to impress upon the mind those habits of austere discipline, so indispensable in the character of a Roman Catholic clergyman, "that without them he might become a very dangerous member of society.

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"That a distinct place of education is also necessary, because the regulations "of the Roman Catholic church enjoin, that candidates for holy orders shall "be proficients in certain branches of learning which are not included in the "exercises of the university of Dublin

"That even where the Roman Catholic is the established religion, candidates "for holy orders are obliged to receive the most important part of their educa"tion in seminaries, distinct from the public universities.

"That many persons who destine themselves to the ministry of the Roman "Catholic religion in Ireland, are not sufficiently opulent to bear the expense "of education in the university of Dublin, and of constant residence in the "metropolis: it is therefore the more necessary to provide literary instruction "for them on more easy conditions; and although the liberality of the present "heads of the university might induce them to receive persons on the founda

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