1806.

First ResoIntion of

the aggre

the city, to oppose themselves to what appeared to them a base attempt of certain individuals to ride over the Catholic body, and to lay hold of the question of their rights, and their claims, to trade and to barter upon, for their own lucre and in

terest.

66

1st. "Resolved, that the holding of meetings at any private house for the general concerns of gate Meet the Catholic body is unfavourable to the freedom "of discussion, and inadequate to the collection "of public sentiment."

ing.

After an over-heated debate, this first resolution was carried unanimously, though in the absence of Mr. Ryan, who had left the meeting, in order to bring thither the whole of his correspondence with Mr. Fox, which Mr. Keogh* particularly

It is not the intent of this work to publish the debates of the Catholic meetings, which may be uninteresting to the nation at large. We lay before the reader a part of Mr. Keogh's speech, on voting for this first resolution, as a valuable document of the rising consequence of the Catholic body, and of the nature of the late Dublin committee, of which so much bas since been said both in the Catholic meetings and in the Imperial Parliament. It will let in much day light upon the conduct of Mr. W. W. Pole in publishing his late circular letter to prevent further meetings of the Catholic body; which is an event of high national impor tance, though not falling within the chronological scope of this history. Mr. Keogh knows more of the true interests of the Catholic body, and has by his personal exertions procured them more real advantage, than any other individual now in being. The following part of his speech is an instructive and faithful pourtrait of the Catholic body, at the periods, to which he refers.

Mr. Keogh supported the resolution; he went into a concise and accurate statement of the mode of proceeding, adopted by

urged, had become the property of the Catholic

the Catholics at a period of abject servitude, and the vilest de-
gradation, when the Catholics would scarce dare to look a Pro-
testant in the face; when they had not courage to walk upright
and erect as other men, and were marked by the caution and ti-
midity of their gait and demeanour; when the meanest Protes
tant, that crawled in the streets, considered himself a divinity
compared with a Catholic. Even at that calamitous period, the
mode of Catholic proceedings was dignified and honorable.
The householders of Dublin then met in their respective parishes.
They appointed four of their body from each parish to form their
committee. The large towns and counties were invited to send
members to this committee so appointed, to speak their senti-
ments, and consult their interests. This committee fixed upon
a sub-committee of seven or more to deliberate, and report the
result of their deliberations; and before any determination was
resolved on, the sentiments of our fellow citizens of every per-
suasion were consulted, and the proceedings became then the re-
sult of experience, wisdom, and mature deliberation. They
kept regular books, and registers, and the utmost harmony, or-
der, and regularity prevailed in all their discussions. If he were
rightly informed, for he had not the honor of being at, nor had
he received any invitation to attend the late meetings, every step
they had taken was irregular. They assembled without autho-
rity. They voted themselves the Catholic body, and appointed
committees and delegates, as they thought fit. He enquired, if
they kept books, papers, or registers; if they had had a Secre-
tary, or if any documents of their proceedings could be pro-
duced. (Mr. Edward Moore then declared, he had acted some-
times as Secretary; in general they had no Secretary at all; and
Mr. Ryan added, that any papers or documents of those pro-
ceedings that existed, were in the hands of Lord Fingall). Mr.
Keogh proceeding, said it was clear, that nothing but confusion,
disorder, and irregularity could prevail at these meetings. The
person too, who had convened them, had assumed an high and
important character; the first in dignity and importance, that
the Catholics could confer. As plenipotentiary for the Catho
lics, he had commenced a correspondence with his Majesty's

1806.

1806. body, and ought to be deposited with the Chairman for further consideration.

Debate on

Resolution

The 2d resolution* produced a most intempethe second rate debate, which lasted for two days of very stormy discussion. This prevented the other resolutions from being brought forward. They all tended to secure the Catholic body from being dictated to, and managed by any man or men likely to be actuated by motives or views of ambition or interest as manifestly appeared by the speech of Mr. Lynch on that occasion.

"I must, however, again earnestly beseech this meeting not to confound the Catholic cause with that of an individual. The Catholic committee in 1792, emancipated themselves from the thraldom of some of the most respectable members of our

ministers; a correspondence, that was become the general topic of conversation in the metropolis, and would, as the assizes were approaching, become the table chat of every society in the country. The substance of the correspondence had crept into the public prints; part of it had been laid before one of those meetings, which was held at Mr. Ryan's, and public rumour had coupled it with a promise of a very lucrative employment. He submitted, that those letters were now become the property of the Catholic body, and begged to know, if they were in the hands of the Secretary to the meeting held at Mr. Ryan's, or whether they were then forthwith coming."

"RESOLVED, That the last meeting at Malborough Street, "stands accused of having been brought about, by private invi"tation and partial selection, at once degrading to the honor"able course of our proceedings, derogatory from the dignity,

and injurious to the interests of the Catholics of Ireland; and "that it is the right of Roman Catholics to enquire, and deter"mine, whether, or how far, they have been deluded, or be"trayed."

pro

body, who though distinguished by rank and for-
tune, were unable to stand up against the weight
of the Catholic cause; and were crushed under its
magnitude. You all, or most of you, remember
it. Will you now tamely submit to be held in
leading strings, to be moved backwards or for-
wards according to the views and conceptions of
one, two, or three individuals?
Are you un-
equal to the perception of your own interests, and
is the capacity of managing them vested alone in
those one, two, or three individuals? I do
test, I believe these gentlemen to be in many
points respectable, but I cannot subscribe to the
doctrine, that to them solely we should trust the
management of our concerns; or on their wisdom,
integrity, and experience so perfectly rely, as to
repose upon our pillows without fear or suspicion
as to the event. What is it we call for?
it we propose to you? I'll tell you.
to take you out of the hands of any
any set of men; and redeliver to the exercise" of
your own judgments, the superintendance of your
highest interests. We propose to you to form a
committee from your aggregate body, taken by
your own choice from the most respectable of your
clergy, your landed proprietors, your merchants
and traders, and your several learned professions,
(your Peers being standing members thereof.)

What is

We propose

man, or of

"We propose by this measure to render it impossible for any man, or set of men, Peer, or Commoner, to go up in your name to the minister, and to anticipate the movements of the Catholic body.

1835.

1806.

Mr. Ryan's correspon

We propose your committee should act, should think, should speak for you; because such a committee, being the trustees of your own appoint. ment, would then think, act, and speak as your selves. In a word, we propose to render it mo rally impossible, that any party small in number or otherwise, should have undue weight or sway among you; and above all impossible, that you should be the tool of any party."

On this occasion Mr. Ryan having desired to dence with read to the meeting the copies of his letters to Mr. deposited Fox, which at a former meeting he had said, he Chairman. must write to Mr. Fox to procure, was charged

Mr. Fox

with the

with want of memory or candor. The lecture of them was resisted, and they were deposited in the hands of Mr. O'Connor the Chairman at that meeting, as appears by. Mr. Ryan's letter published in his narrative, which also tends to open spirit and effect of this meeting at tlie Repository.

*

From the Freeman's Journal of the 11th August, 1810, "Dear Sir,

the

" Being informed this evening, that it is likely some persons, "who held a meeting this day in Essex-street may demand of

you the letters, which I deposited in your hands some time "ago at a Catholic Meeting held at the Repository in Stephen's "Green, I have to repeat what I formerly communicated ver

bally to you, that I shall not consent to have the letters in question delivered to those persons, and, therefore, I have < to insist, that you will retain them. The two reasons, that in"duce me to object to the production of the letters, are these; "First, that the present Committee is not authorised to enter

into any investigation of them, as such authority was denied. "to the Members of it in every parish in Dublin except two, namely, Francis-street, and Arran Quay. And besides, this