"Mr. Hussey will be pleased to insist, if necessary, upon this principle, that what has been "done, cannot be undone; and to explain, that "the protestation was not intended to hurt religion, "but to serve it; not to infringe the communion "of English catholics with the holy apostolical see, "but to render that communion less odious,-not "to prejudice the character of the first pastor of the "church, but to rescue it from obloquy and abuse. "If the oath is called for, Mr. Hussey will represent, that the catholics of the present times, "are only responsible for the protestation, the "oath of allegiance and adjuration having been unequivocally taken in 1778; and, of course, "the deposing doctrine having been solemnly re"nounced and abjured, we could not hesitate to

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adopt the qualifying terms, especially as the "Sorbonne in 1680, and again in 1695, had in"formed us that we might safely declare it impious "and heretical.

"If any scruple be raised about the act of settle"ment, and limiting the succession of the crown "to the protestant line, Mr. Hussey will not permit "that subject to be discussed; because we acknow"ledge no authority to interfere with the succession "of our kings, but the law of the land; the authority of which law we have already solemnly acknowledged by our oath of allegiance.

"Mr. Hussey will bear an honourable testimony "to the character of Mr. Berington, and insinuate "that any doubts about his character, must reflect "on the secular clergy, who elected,—the regular

"clergy, who expressed their satisfaction on hear❝ing of that choice, and on the nobility and gentry, who ardently desired that election to be "confirmed.

"Mr. Hussey will endeavour to pave the way " for having bishops in ordinary elected by their clergy, on two grounds; 1st, On account of the great utility of the change in the present circum"stances of the English catholics; 2d, On the supposition that the legislature may soon require "that change to be made."

The intended deputation of Dr. Hussey did not take place. He was chaplain to the Spanish embassy, and, in consequence of it, could not engage in the proposed journey without the leave of the ambassador; and this leave, his excellency refused.

In addition to what the writer has said respecting Dr. Hussey's designed mission to Rome, he begs leave to observe, that no reason was ever given by that eminent prelate for declining it, than the refusal of the Spanish ambassador, whose chaplain he was, to permit him to undertake it. To the last, Dr. Hussey adhered to the principles of the committee on the discussion for depositing the protestation at the Museum, he not only voted for the measure; but, with his usual animation and eloquence, advocated and eulogized the conduct of the committee.

Dr. Hussey was also present at a meeting held in Castle-street, on the 21st of February 1799, at

rev. Mr. Brown, the rev. Mr. Strickland, the rev. Mr. Wilks, the rev. Mr. Barnard, (the vicar-general of Mr. Douglas), the rev. Dr. O'Leary, the rev. Mr. Meynel, the rev. Dr. Rigby, the rev. Dr. Belasyse, and the rev. Mr. Archer attended.-The five following questions, among others, were put by Dr. Berington:-" 1st. Did all persons present "sign the protestation? 2d. Did all sign it as a "civil test merely, without meaning to infringe on "the pope's spiritual power, or the spiritual power "of the church? 3d. Do any persons here present "think themselves obliged in conscience to recede "from it? 4th. Can the catholic clergy, gentry, "&c. who have deliberately signed it, recede from "it now, consistently with their characters as men "of honour, and without bringing odium on religion. 5th. Whether any public receding from "the protestation at present will not tend to con"firm the stigmas and odious imputations with "which the catholics have hitherto been aspersed." All the persons present answered the first, second and fifth questions unanimously in the affirmative, and the third and fourth unanimously in the negative. The high respectability of all the clergymen present at this meeting is unquestionable.

LXXXII. 8.

The Act passed in 1791, for the Relief of the English Catholics.

THE Committee thus persisting in their refusal to take any active part in procuring an alteration of

the oath, it remained in the form in which it stood in the bill brought into the house of commons. It passed that house without a dissenting voice. After it reached the lords, the vicars-apostolic applied to several peers, to obtain the alteration in it which they had solicited, and succeeded in the application: the clause, which gave rise to the objection, was altogether omitted: thus altered, it was returned to the house of commons, and afterwards passed unanimously through both houses.

The oath is expressed in the following terms: "I, A. B. do hereby declare, that I do profess "the roman-catholic religion.

"I, A. B. do sincerely promise and swear, that "I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to his "majesty, king George the third; and him will “defend to the utmost of my power, against all "conspiracies and attempts whatever, that shall "be made against his person, crown, or dignity; "and I will do my utmost endeavour to disclose "and make known to his majesty, his heirs, and "successors, all treasons and traitorous conspira"cies which may be formed against him or them: " and I do faithfully promise to maintain, support, "and defend, to the utmost of my power, the "succession of the crown; which succession by an act, intituled, An Act for the further limi"tation of the crown, and better securing the rights and liberties of the subject, is and stands limited "to the princess Sophia, electress and duchess dowager of Hanover, and the heirs of her body,

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abjuring any obedience or allegiance unto any "other person claiming or pretending a right to "the crown of these realms: and I do swear, that "I do reject and detest, as an unchristian and impious position, that it is lawful to murder or destroy any person or persons whatsoever, for or under pretence of their being heretics or infidels; and "also that unchristian and impious principle, that "faith is not to be kept with heretics or infidels : and I further declare, that it is not an article of my "faith, and that I do renounce, reject, and abjure "the opinion, that princes excommunicated by the pope and council, or any authority of the see of "Rome, or by any authority whatsoever, may be deposed or murdered by their subjects, or any person whatsoever and I do promise that I will "not hold, maintain, or abet any such opinion, or

any other opinions contrary to what is expressed "in this declaration: and I do declare, that I do "not believe that the pope of Rome, or any other "foreign prince, prelate, state, or potentate, hath "or ought to have any temporal or civil jurisdic"tion, power, superiority, or pre-eminence, directly "or indirectly, within this realm: and I do solemnly, "in the presence of God, profess, testify, and de

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clare, that I do make this declaration, and every part thereof, in the plain and ordinary sense of "the words of this oath, without any evasion, equivocation, or mental reservation whatever; "and without any dispensation already granted by "the pope, or any authority of the see of Rome, "or any person whatever; and without thinking