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1806. him, though sure to fail, and sacrifice his situa

Mr. Fox's Jetter to Mr. Ryan.

tion to their cause. That invaluable monument of Mr. Fox's candor, sincerity and wisdom is expressed in the following words:

66

"Downing-street, Feb. 18, 1806.

"DEAR SIR,

"I owe you many apologies for not having sooner written, as I promised you to do in a "short letter from St. Anne's Hill, or answered your last. With regard to your last, I have given it to Lord Henry Petty,* who has pro"mised to attend to it, and who will, I have no

The sequel of this negociation for the appointment of state broker, or money remitter will be most faithfully represented by Mr. Ryan himself. It abounds with docunient, as to the principles and Spirit of the Irish administration under the Duke of Bedford. Soon after this letter of Mr. Fox, Lord Henry Petty wrote to Mr. Ryan the following letter.

"SIR,

"London, March 1, 1806.

"It gave me the greatest pleasure, both from personal regard "for yourself, as well as from respect for the interest and cause, "with which you are connected, to concur with Mr. Fox, in

46

recommending you for the appointment you desire; the no“mination to it must lay with the Irish Treasury; but Mr. Fox "and I have both spoken to Sir John Newport on the subject, "in the strongest térms, and I have no doubt of his 'disposition "to serve you. I am, Sir,

"With the greatest regard,

"Your faithful humble servant,

" HENRY PETTY."

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"doubt (unless unforeseen difficulties should arise) be happy to comply with your wishes. "With respect to the question you put to me

After some stormy meetings of Catholics in Dublin, which turned upon the conduct of Mr. Ryan, in soliciting the appointment for himself, and the effects of Mr. Fox's letter, with reference to the Catholic cause in general, Mr. Ryan thus winds up the narrative of his ultimate disappointment, through the countervailing influence of Mr. Ponsonby, and the predominating sympathies of the new managers of the system in Ireland with their predecessors. "Relieved in a great measure from the persecution of iny enemies, the reputed patriots of the day, I "went over to England to ascertain Sir John Newport's inten"tions respecting the employment in question; I had an inter"view with him at his public office in Whitehall. He told me "he was sorry he was precluded from complying with the soli"citations of Mr. Fox and Lord Henry Petty, to nominate me "to the agency of drawing for the money raised in England for "Irish account. That he had been perfectly willing to do so, "if it was consistent with an impartial performance of his pub"lic duty. He said, he had been willing to remove Mr. Raw"lins, provided he found his political principles and conduct "were not of the most liberal kind. That he had resorted in to"tal ignorance of Mr. Rawlins to the authorities, which, he hoped, I would consider to be the most suitable to apply to, "namely to the Lord Chancellor Ponsonby and Mr. Henry "Grattan. He said, they replied to his enquiry, by stating "there was no man in this country, who was a more strict ad"herent to all the liberal principles, which they professed, than "Mr. Rawlins. He concluded by hoping, I would be convinced " he acted upon the occasion with perfect impartiality. I took "my departure, after expressing my obligation for the honour"able part he had acted, and assuring him, that Mr. Grattan " and Lord Chancellor Ponsonby would not find many in Dub"lin to agree with them in the report, they gave of Mr. Raw"lins's political principles.".

VOL. II.

1806.

1806. gentlemen in Dublin (about 80 in all) the following circular notice:

Catholic
Meeting in

Street.

"77, Marlborough-street, Feb. 26, 1806.

"SIR,

"I have to beg the favor of your attendance here on Saturday next at half past two o'clock, in or der, that I may lay before you and other members of the Catholic body a letter, which I have received from Mr. Fox on the subject of their quëstion. I am very truly, your's, &c. ..

"JAMES RYAN."

Indefatigable pains were privately taken to induce the Lords and some of the leading Catholics of fortune in Dublin to attend this meeting, and give sanction to what proposals might be made at it.

A meeting of Catholics was holden on the 1st of Marlborogh March 1806, at the usual place in Marlboroughstreet, consisting of nearly of one hundred per sons, mostly relatives and dependants of Mr. M'Donnell and Mr. Ryan; yet several uninvited Catholics of rank and respectability attended. Lord French, who had hitherto supported Mr. Ryan, became disgusted at an unwarranted assumption of power over the body: and when Lord Southwell was called to the chair, he opposed it with great energy. He said, that in the present state of the Empire, he would oppose the agitation of any question, that could tend to create ferments, alarms, or disunion amongst his Majesty's

subjects he was a friend to the present administra-
tion; every Catholic in the land, who had a prin-
ciple of gratitude in his heart, should be friendly
to it. The present ministers were the most sted-
fast, zealous advocates, that ever supported the
Catholic cause.
From what had appeared to the
public, and from communication of high and un-
questionable authority, he was convinced, Mr.
Fox, and his friends could not during the present
session with any prospect of success, and without
the country's being deprived of the benefit of their
great and splendid abilities, bring forward the dis-
cussion of the Catholic question. It would there-
fore be impolitic and ungrateful to agitate a mea-
sure, the result of which would be ruinous to their
cause, injurious to their friends, and disgraceful to
themselves. He would therefore oppose any per-
son's taking the chair. Thereupon great tumult
arose, which ended in Lord Southwell's taking
the chair. Mr. M'Donnell then moved, that a let-
ter written by Mr. Fox to Mr. Ryan on the sub-
'ject of Catholic claims, should be read, which was
objected to with great vehemence by a gentleman
of the law, who insisted, that Mr. Ryan had
without any authority assumed the character of
agent for the Irish Catholics, and acted as their
organ in corresponding with the minister. Such
conduct he would not. mark by any term of aspe-
rity, but would call it assumption. He felt him-
self bounden to reprobate it, as unwarrantable,
and establishing a precedent, derogatory from the
dignity, and injurious to the interests of the Ca-

1806.

1806 gentlemen in Dublin (about 80 in all) the following circular notice:

'77, Marlborough-street, Feb. 26, 1806.

" SIR,

"I have to beg the favor of your attendance here on Saturday next at half past two o'clock, in order, that I may lay before you and other members of the Catholic body a letter, which I have received from Mr. Fox on the subject of their quëstion. I am very truly, your's, &c.

"JAMES RYAN."

Indefatigable pains were privately taken to induce the Lords and some of the leading Catholics of fortune in Dublin to attend this meeting, and give

sanction to what proposals might be made at it. Catholic A meeting of Catholics was holden on the 1st of Mariborogh March 1806, at the usual place in Marlborough

Meeting in

Street.

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street, consisting of nearly of one hundred persons, mostly relatives and dependants of Mr. M'Donnell and Mr. Ryan; yet several uninvited Catholics of rank and respectability attended. Lord French, who had hitherto supported Mr. Ryan, became disgusted at an unwarranted assumption of power over the body: and when Lord Southwell was called to the chair, he opposed it with great energy. He said, that in the present state of the Empire, he would oppose the agitation of any question, that could tend to create ferments, alarms, or disunion amongst his Majesty's

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