XCI. 3.

Further Petitions of the British and Irish Catholics, and Proceedings upon them.

1814.

On the 17th of February, a general meeting of the English catholics was held at the house of the earl of Shrewsbury in Stanhope-street, and a form of a petition to both houses of parliament resolved upon. It referred to their former petitions, and prayed the house to take into "consideration the many pains and disabilities, under which they "laboured, and to adopt measures for their relief.” It was also resolved, that a deputation should wait on earl Grey and the right honourable William Elliot, and request that they would present the petition of the catholics to the respective houses of parliament, and express to them "the wish of "the board, that they should have the advantage "of a separate and distinct discussion."

At a subsequent meeting, it was resolved, that "their parliamentary friends should be requested "to obtain, if possible, the repeal of all remaining "restrictions on the religious observances of the "catholics, particularly with respect to their marriages."

On the 28th of the following June, the British catholic petition was presented to the house of lords; and, on the 1st of the following July, a similar petition was presented to the house of commons by Mr. Elliot.

1815.

On the 30th of May, sir Henry Parnell's motion on the Irish catholic petition was negatived, in the house of commons, by a majority of 81; the ayes being 147, and the noes 228: on the 8th of June, earl Donoughmore's motion in the house of lords, on a similar petition, was negatived by a majority of 26; the contents being 60, the non-contents 86.

On the 24th of June, the board unanimously resolved to present to his royal highness the Prince Regent, a loyal and dutiful address, on the triumph of his majesty's arms at Waterloo: it was accordingly presented on the 29th of the same month, and most graciously received.

1816.

In January, another form of a petition was agreed upon by the British catholics, and presented by Mr. Elliot to the house of commons: the question of emancipation, so far as it regarded the Irish catholics, was afterwards brought forward by Mr. Grattan unsuccessfully, being negatived by a majority of 31; the ayes being 141, and the noes 172.

On the 28th of the following May, sir John Hippisley moved, that "several official papers "relative to the regulation of the roman-catholics "in the several states of Europe and the colonies, "which had been laid before the house in the

course of the present session, should be referred "to a select committee: that it should be an in"struction to the said committee, to report on the

"laws and ordinances existing in foreign states "respecting the regulations of their roman-catholic subjects, and their intercourse with the see of "Rome, or any other foreign jurisdiction." His motion was agreed to, and a committee appointed accordingly.

Sir Henry Parnell afterwards gave notice of a motion for a partial emancipation.-The writer must take this opportunity of mentioning the great obligations, which both the British and the Irish catholics have to this excellent person. Manly, discreet, firm and conciliating, he always advocated their cause on the genuine principles of civil and religious liberty, and with a full knowledge of their case, both in its general and minutest bearings. His regular attendance on parliament, and his perfect acquaintance with its forms, enabled him to render the catholics the most important services. On some occasions, he stood almost single,-in some, first; and in all, he took a distinguished part.

On the 21st of June, the earl of Donoughmore presented to the house of lords, a petition from certain of the protestant nobility, gentry and freeholders of the county of Galway, in favour of the catholic claims, and moved that," early in the "next sessions of parliament, the house should "take into its early and serious consideration, those disabling statutes, which still continued to

press upon his majesty's roman-catholic subjects." His lordship was supported by the duke of Sussex, and opposed by the lord chancellor. This noble and learned lord having intimated, in the course

of his speech, that it was the particular duty of the bishops to resist the resolution,-"I do not know," said the bishop of Norwich in reply, "what the "opinion of the noble and learned lord may be, as "to the duty of bishops; but I beg leave to say, "that it is their duty, as it is the criterion of an "English bishop, to conciliate, not to divide; to "allay, not to exasperate religious differences. The only way to secure permanently the existence of

any establishment, civil or ecclesiastical, is, to " evince liberal and conciliatory conduct to those, "who differ from us, and to lay its foundation in "the love, affection and esteem of all within its "influence. To use the words of my favourite "author, Carum esse principem, benè de republicâ “mereri, laudari, coli, diligi, gloriosum est: metui

vero et in odio esse, invidiosum, detestabile.' The "most enlarged principles of toleration, while they "tend in their operation to reconcile all sects, to

bring all dissents of faith within the pale of "charity, and to smooth the asperity of religious "differences, never yet disturbed the tranquillity "of any state, or shook the security of any church. "A CHRISTIAN SPIRIT CAN NEVER ENDANGER CC A CHRISTIAN ESTABLISHMENT.

"I will," concluded his lordship, "trouble the "house no longer;-but I hope I may be pardoned "for saying that the sentiments, which I have de"livered, deserve the serious consideration of his majesty's ministers. Having obstinately per"sisted in opposing the claims of four millions of "his majesty's subjects, and having raised the dan

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gerous cry of no popery,' when concessions to "them were proposed, they may, unless they adopt

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a more conciliating conduct, be compelled to "hear from the other side of the water, the more "dangerous cry of no union."

The house then divided,-69 votes in favour of earl Donoughmore's motion, 73 against it; so that it was rejected by a majority of four votes only.

No words can express the gratitude and veneration, which, from this time, every catholic of the united empire, has felt for the prelate, who thus advocated their cause.

"We attend his reverend length of days,
"With benediction and with praise;

"And hail him in our public ways,

"As some bless'd spirit fam'd in ages old."

AKENSIDE.

On the 25th of June, sir John Hippisley brought up "the report of the select committee appointed to inquire into the laws and ordinances of foreign "states, regulating the intercourse between their "roman-catholic subjects and the see of Rome." He took occasion to observe, that "had such a report "as he had then the honour to present, appeared "at an earlier period, he felt the strongest con"viction that much of the disorders, by which "Ireland was agitated, would have been prevented. "Such a mass of evidence, as the report contained, "would have rendered it impossible for any self"interested persons, who entertained but little re"gard for the honour of their religion, to impose "on so large a class of his majesty's subjects." He