CHAP. III.]

CATHOLIC RESOLUTIONS.

55

selves from misrepresentation, and disclaimed every thing that tended to interrupt public tranquillity, and expressed confidence in the liberality of Parliament. He stated that this was a subject he had taken up in his youth, and that he would not cast off in his old age. He wished that Catholic and Protestant should become one people, which they would do in time, unless intemperance retarded their progress, and revived the prejudices which so long kept them asunder.

The Bill opened to them the profession of the law as far as the rank of King's Counsel, on their taking the oath of the 13th and 14th of the King; it allowed their intermarriage with Protestants; repealing the Act of William the Third, and Second of Anne; it removed the obstructions to art and manufactures from limiting the number of apprentices, and it restored to them education, repealing the seventh of William III., and permitting teaching schools without asking leave of the ordinary of the diocese.

Sir Hercules Langrishe deserved the highest praise for his conduct on this occasion, but he did not receive justice, nor was he thanked as he merited. He attempted the most difficult thing in politics; he opposed the court, and he opposed the

Catholic farmers and the peasantry of Ireland; and that they do not, in any degree, endanger either Church or State, or endanger the security of the Protestant ascendancy.

That we never had an idea or thought so extravagant as that of menacing or intimidating our Protestant brethren, much less the legislature; and that we disclaim the violent and turbulent intentions imputed to us in some of the public prints, and circulated in private conversation.

That we refer to the known disposition of the Roman Catholics of this kingdom, to our dutiful behaviour during a long series of years, and particularly to the whole tenor of our late proceedings for a full refutation of every charge of sedition and disloyalty.

That for the more ample and detailed exposure of all the evil reports and calumnies circulated against us, an Address to our Protestant fellow subjects, and to the Public in general, be printed by the order, and in the name of, the general committee.

[CHAP. III. Situated

country, and he did both with success. as Ireland was, the object he gained was of great importance.

Nevertheless, limited as the relief was, and inadequate as a national measure to meet the wants and wishes of the people, there was a strong party in the House opposed to the question; for it was very easy to excite angry passions and kindle the spirit of discord in an assembly among whose members the old leaven of Protestant ascendancy had not yet subsided. Accordingly, Mr. Cuffe, member for Mayo, expressed his determination to defend the establishment in Church and State, and to uphold the principles of the Revolution. He praised the conduct of Lord Kenmare, and the sixty-eight individuals who had signed the petition addressed to the Lord Lieutenant; he censured the Catholics who had appointed delegates to attend the committee; he censured their English agent, (Mr. Burke,) and stated that House should not be intimidated by either.

This seemed to be the signal to the high church party, and was an index of their intention. Mr. O'Hara then presented a petition on behalf of the Catholics, which had been prepared by Mr. Richard Burke; and with a view perhaps of complimenting this individual or his composition, he represented it as his petition rather than that of the Catholics, of which advantage was immediately taken, the proceeding being quite unparliamentary; and the petition was accordingly withdrawn.*

Mr. Richard Burke, who was behind the Speaker's chair, now came forward into the body of the House, on which a cry arose of "Take him into

* Mr. Gifford, in his Life of Pitt, states, that the petition was so improper, and couched in such offensive language, that it would not be received. He is quite in error here, as in many other of his invidious allusions to Ireland.

CHAP. III.]

MR. RICHARD BURKE.

57

custody!" He got off, however, and avoided the Sergeant-at-Arms; on which Mr. Toler humorously observed," that he had read in the English papers of some foolish petitioners who had flocked to St. James's with a statement of their grievances, and that a most violent petition was presented to the House of Commons, but it luckily missed fire, and the villains made off."

Another circumstance connected with this petition was rather humorous :-Mr. Richard Burke had acted as agent to the Catholic committee during the year 1791 and to July 1792. For these services it was stated that he received upwards of 2,000 guineas from the Catholics. His father's name and advice, and the influence he had in England, were the son's best recommendations. He had been spoiled by Mr. Burke, who greatly overrated his abilities; for he was vain and conceited, and wanted temper and modesty. It was said that he governed his father most despotically, a singular circumstance, but which happens sometimes where men of talent are found to give way to feelings of relationship, and sacrifice to weaker understandings. He used to attend the meetings of the Opposition at Leinster House, and one evening, coming in late, and rather flushed after dinner, he gave the party a long string of resolutions, which he did not take the trouble of reading to the meeting, but in an authoritative manner desired, that they should be presented to the House; but he had only one request to make, which was that Mr. Egan might not be allowed to open his lips on the subject, or interfere at all in the business. Mr. Egan was present; he was a good natured, honest, warm-hearted man,-rough in manner and grotesque in appearance; a courageous character, very hot, and full of anger. His brains (so to speak) lay in his veins. He loved even the man

58

PETITION IN FAVOUR

[CHAP. III. whom he attacked; and though he said coarse things, he did not in reality mean them, or intend either injury or insult: with him abuse had become a habit,-almost his dialect.

"If he call rogue or rascal from a garret,

He means you no more mischief than a parrot."

On this occasion he behaved exceedingly well, and very drolly. Incensed at Mr. Burke's conduct, he stepped forward opposite to him, and said, Sir, with the highest reverence for your derivation, I entertain none whatever for the modesty of your vocation," at the same time making him a very low bow. The party laughed heartily, and sided with Mr. Egan. It did not end, however, so well for Mr. Burke, who was so wedded to his resolutions, that he merely changed their form to that of an essay, making an argumentative and oratorical composition, certainly clever, but by no means fit for a petition to Parliament; it accordingly met with the fate before mentioned, and was rejected by the House.*

On the 8th of February, (1792) the Right Hon. John O'Neil, member for Antrim, a Protestant county, he himself being of a high Protestant family, and one of the oldest in the country, presented a petition from 600 of the Protestant inhabitants of the town of Belfast, praying the House to repeal all the penal laws, and place Roman Catholics on the same footing as Protestants. This was received with only a single negative from Sir Boyle Roche, who stated that it ought to be "tossed over the bar, and kicked into the lobby."

On the 18th another petition was presented by Mr. O'Neil from the Protestants of the county of Antrim, in favour of concession to the Roman Catholics, but not to grant the elective franchise.

*The document will be found in the Appendix, No. III., it is long, but an able production; said to have been revised by Edmund Burke.

СНАР. III.] OF CATHOLICS REJECTED.

59

On the same day Mr. Egan presented a petition from the Roman Catholic committee, as well on their own behalf, as on that of the Roman Catholics of Ireland, praying for a relaxation of the penal laws, and a restoration of some share of the elective franchise, which they had enjoyed long after the revolution.* This petition was received, and Sir Hercules Langrishe's Bill was brought on; and here was the beginning of that religious war which the weakness and the folly of both parties has prolonged for upwards of forty years. The measure was supported by Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Denis Browne, Mr. Michael Smith, (afterwards Master of the Rolls,) Mr. Ponsonby, Mr. Egan, Mr. George Knox, Mr. Curran, and Mr. Grattan: it was opposed by Mr. Ogle, Mr. Cuffe, Mr. Staples, Mr. Ruxton. The House then went into committee without a division, and on the 24th the Bill, with very few alterations, was passed.

On this subject Mr. Grattan was peculiarly circumstanced. His constituents were in a great degree opposed to the measure, and the Corporation of Dublin, in an address, had requested him to oppose all relief to the Catholics, and to support Protestant ascendancy. Mr. Grattan replied that it was the ministers who had attacked the ascendancy, by their attempts to corrupt the Parliamentary constitution, and establish a ministerial ascendancy in its place. He added a statement, which was, unfortunately, disregarded. "The Roman Catholics, whom I love, and the Protestants, whom I prefer, are both, I hope, too enlightened to revive religious animosities." In the debate he describes the real meaning of Protestant ascendancy, and gives a most interesting view of the two sects. The remarks are sublime

* The Roman Catholics enjoyed this right till the year 1727.