Εικόνες σελίδας
PDF
Ηλεκτρ. έκδοση

deep laid schemes of machiavelian policy which was ever held forth for public deception: most of your readers are doubtless aware that it has been repeatedly asserted, and, I believe, never openly denied, that the fifth resolution was absolutely drawn up with the concurrence, both of Lord Grenville and Lord Grey, by the master shewman, who moves the wires of the ill-assorted and incongruous machine, whose movements have occasioned such general disgust among the Catholic body, "yclepd the "Board of British Catholics," certain however it is, that a very close similarity may be discovered between them.

The fifth resolution says, "they are firmly persuaded, that adequate provision for the maintenance of the civil and religious establishments of this kingdom, may be made, consistently with the strictest adherence on their part, to the tenets and discipline of the Roman Catholic Religion."

Lord Grenville says, that among other measures, he had "pointed out the proposal of vesting in the crown, an effectual negative, on the appointment of our bishops," and subsequently professes his conviction, that arrangements may be made for this measure, "consistently with the strictest adherence on our part to our religious tenets."

morable 1st of Feb. 1810, his " unabated zeal" prompted him to use a mere subterfuge for the purpose of "jockeying" his Vicars Apostolic, though unfortunately for his " distinguished prudence," his " persevering assiduity" led him afterwards to boast of it, which enables me to enumerate one service at least included among those for which he thus received the thanks of the English Roman Catholics.

Now as to the effect which it was intended my Lord G.'s Letter should produce upon the mind of the Catholic body. Having already stated the circumstances under which it was first proposed in Parliament, the universal condemnation of the measure by the Irish nation, and the explicit and truly orthodox reprobation of it by the Rt. Rev. Prelates of that country in the year 1808, it is needless to retrace my observations on those points, but proceed to state the fact, that in the beginning of the year 1810 a struggle was to be made to obtain, by some means or other, the effectual negative for the Crown. Accordingly, at the mement when the Catholics of Ireland were looking forward with ardent hope and eager expectation to the forthcoming discussion of their claims, his Lordship pounces down upon them like an eagle, thinking at once to scatThis is not the place to discuss ter their forces, disorder their operawhether Lord Grenville is more con- tions, and frustrate their hopes; and versant with the tenets and discipline so well laid was the plan, that while of our church, than the Catholic bi- the painful sensations excited by his shops of Ireland. I must, for the Lordship's letter were yet strong in present, take my farewell of his Lord- their minds, they were doomed to exship, and return to the resolutions perience the still greater mortification of the Board of British Catholics. By of hearing that a few of the Roman the sixth resolution they say, "the Catholics of England had, in a Tathanks of the English Roman Catho- vern Meeting, decided in favour of the lics are given to our Secretary for his measure; thus shewing that the persons unabated zeal, persevering assiduity, composing the assembly in question and distinguished prudence, in the were totally unfit and unworthy, both management of our cause." It will as Catholics and as Englishmen, to rebe well, I think, for the English Ro-ceive the benefits for which they man Catholics to be informed for what services rendered to them this Gentleman has received their thanks. To select one instance, then; on the meORTHOD JOUR. VOL. III.

prayed; first, as Catholics, because they had shamefully and unwarrantably taken upon themselves as laymen to decide in a tavern upon an ecclesi

K

[ocr errors]

Though foes should combine, and false

friends deceive them,"

The Irish

they were not to be cajoled or threatnation again with one voice unani

ened into the measure.

astical measure; and secondly, as, behaviour shewed that, Englishmen, because they thereby evinced an unworthy spirit of timeserving meanness, which, until they have retraced their steps, must ever shew them to be undeserving the approbation or confidence of their Catholic fellow-subjects. What, how-mously rejected the measure with inever, was the behaviour of our fel- dignation; but to the conduct of the Prelates on this momentous occasion, I shall beg leave to call the particular attention of your readers in the suc

low-Catholics of Ireland? Their conduct on this trying occasion was such as must insure to them the approbation of every honest English Catho-ceeding letter, and remain, yours, &c, lic, of every virtuous citizen; their HIBERN-ANGLUS,

EPITOME OF INTELLIGENCE.

AFTER Lord Fingall had retired from the aggregate meeting of the 24th Jan. Mr. Hay was voted, as usual, into the secretaryship,and a letter from Lord Dononghmore was read, in which his Lordship declared, that in defending the cause of the Catholics, he could have no possible object, but a sincere and ardent desire, to deserve well of that importaut class of his fellow-subjects, for whose complete admission into every constitutional privilege, unrestricted by any jealous reserve, unencumbered by any degrading stipula tions, he had never ceased to raise his feeble voice. The reading of this letter was followed by loud acclamations.

Mr. Lidwill, a protestant gentleman, then rose, and in a most able, luminous, and argumentative speech, entered into the merits of the question, and produced a number of strong and irrefutable circumstances to shew how the penal laws bore upon the Catholic body, and the necessity which there existed for their repeal.

Let us recollect, that our pursuit is real, not a fictitious freedom-that our objects are not the paltry and personal emoluments of place and power, but liberty for our country and our posterity. Let us ask this blessing as Catholics, and spurn it, if offered in any other form. Dissensions which weaken our strength, should increase our zeal and exertions. I now confidently call on every man, who refuses to enter into a base traffic of his religion for place or power to come forward in this cause; and I feel and know, that throughout the land, the voice of the people will be heard; the compromisers will sink into insignifiance; and we shall have the glory of achieving our liberties, without forsaking the worship of our fathers."

Mr. Phillips, another Protestant gentleman, then offered himself to the meeting, and was received with an enthusiasm which has seldom, if ever been surpassed. He delivered an eloquent and brilliant speech, in a stile of language the most flowery and captiMr. O'Connell then came forward, vating, and concluded in the following and addressed the meeting at length. beautiful and impressive words: He concluded as follows:-" Apathy "There is but one concession which I and indifference can alone injure a never would advise, and which, if I cause sustained by the wants and were a Catholic, I would never make; wishes of a people. Indifference, in no, not for all the wealth of England's this case, is a crime-apathy is sa- commerce, or all the monopoly of crilege. There exists abroad, a con- England's privileges. You will perspiracy against your religion and liber-ceive that I allude to any interference ties; at home beware of treachery. with your Clergy. That was the

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

crime of Mr. Grattan's Security Bill. It made the patronage of your religion the ransom of your liberties, and bought the favour of the Crown by the surrender of the Church. It is a vicious principle; it is the cause of all your sorrows: if there had not been a stateestablishment, there would not have been a Catholic bondage. By that in cestuous compact between the altar and the throne, infidelity has achieved a more extended dominion than by all the sophisms of her philosophy, or all the terrors of her persecution; it makes God's apostle a court appendage, and God himself a court purveyor; it carves the cross into a chain of state, where, with grace on his brow and gold in his hand, the little perishable puppet of this world's vanity makes omnipotence a menial to its power, and eternity a pander to its projects.

'Man, proud man, dress'd in a little brief authority,

'Plays such fantastic tricks before high Heaven,

'As make the angels weep.'

"Be not a party to it ; as you have spurned the temporal interference of the Pope, resist the spiritual jurisdiction of the Crown. Render unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, and unto God the things that are God's.' They are the words of him, from whom the embroidered minister of this day takes his title.

Ill does his wealth the simple tenet prove 'Of him whose only wealth was placed

above;

'Ill does his rank the holy martyr shew, 'Whose sad sublime distinction was his woe.'

"But what pretence has England for interference with your religion? It was the religion of the most glorious ata; it was the religion of her most enobled patriots; it was the religion of the wisdom that framed her Constitution; it was the religion of the valour that achieved it; it would have been to this day the religion of her empire, had it not been for the lawless lust of a murderous adulterer. What right has she to suspect your church? When her thousand sects were brandishing the fragments of their faith

against each other, and Christ saw his garment without a seam, a piece of patch-work, for every mountebank who figured in the pantomime, when her Babel temple rocked at every breath blown against it by the caprices of her Priestleys or her Paines, Ireland, proof against the menace of her power, was proof also against the perilous impiety of her example. But if, as Catholics, you should guard it, the palladium of your creed, not less as Irishmen should you prize it, the relic of your country: deluge after deluge has desolated her provinces; the monuments of art which escaped the barbarism of one invader, fell beneath the more savage civilization of another.

Alone, amid the ruins of the solitude, your temple stood, rich in the virtue of her saints, cemented by the blood of her martyrs, pouring forth for ages the unbroken series of her ve nerable Hierarchy, and streaming the mild glories of a Christian galaxy through the starless winter of the national midnight.-Preserve it inviolate; its light is light from Heaven. Follow it through all the perils of your journey, and, like the fiery pillar of the captive Israel, it will light the desert of your bondage, and guide to the land of your liberation!"

Mr. O'Gorman began by offering a few words on Catholic concerns for the last ten years. He expressed himself favourable to Unqualified Emancipation; but there not appearing a disposition to hear him in the assembly, he stopped abruptly, and Mr. Eneas M'Donnell commenced an argumentative speech, which he concluded by submitting the following resolutions to the considerations of the meeting:

Resolved. That we deem it necessary at and unalterable determination, never to asthis particular crisis, to declare our unaltered sent to any modification of our grievances which shall enable the servants of the Crown to interfere, directly or indirectly, in the appointment of the Prelates of our Church; because we are perfectly convinced that their enjoyment of such a privilege would be im mediately productive of consequences most dangerons to our Religion, and most injurious to the Civil Rights of ourselves and our fellow-subjects, of every religious denomina tion.

Resolved, therefore, that we must necessarily consider any such modification of our grievances rather as an increase than a miti.

gation of our persecation, and the Promo

"

ters and Abettors of it as the worst enemies of Civil and Religious Liberty.

Resolved. That our most grateful thanks and pious attachment are due to our venerafed Hierarchy, and Clergy of every order and rank, and that we solemnly and earnestly

solicit their further active and immediate cooperation with our exertions to persevere, un

corrupted and uninjured, our holy religion; and, in return. we pledge our inalterable Faith, that the Pastors who adhere to their flocks shall never be deceived or deserted by them.

These Resolutions were cheered from all quarters of the house.

Mr. O'Connell most heartily approved of every word of the Resolutions, and felt much pleasure in seconding them. It was afterwards agreed to postpone the consideration of them to the next meeting.

of Knockloftiness, but expressed himself willing to undertake the advocacy of the cause of his Catholic countrymen in the following words :

[ocr errors]

Being satisfied that without the intentional abandonment of what you owe to your countrymen of all religious persuasions, as well as to yourselves, the present Session should not be suffered to pass away without a full dis. cussion of your manifold grievances and legitimate claims upon the justice of Parliament, and no endeavour having been made to limit or direct the free exercise of my own judgement and discretion, as to what propositions I may think it expedient to submit to that House, of which I am a member, or in which to acquiesce on your behalf, I can have no hesitation in accepting this last unequivocal proof of your renewed confidence, and by which I cannot too strongly express how truly I feel gratified and distinguished."

After Lord Donoughmore's letters were read, the Right Hon. Henry Grattan's letter was produced. The substance of Mr. Grattan's letter was, that he would be happy to present the petition, and advocate the claims of the Catholics of Ireland, but that it was totally impossible for him to make any previous declaration, as a stipula tion for obtaining the petition. Yet if the Catholic. Body choose to place their petition in other hands, as far as he could support it, he would use every ability that he possessed in the furtherance of the cause.

On the 16th of February, the second Aggregate Meeting of the Catholics of Ireland took place at Clarendon-street Chapel. A more numerous or respectable assembly has ne ver been witnessed in Dublin. The galleries were graced with females of the highest respectability, fashion, and beauty. The Chapel (which we believe is as large as any public place of congregation in Dublin) was filled almost to suffocation. At about halfpast one, Daniel O'Connell, Esq. entered. His presence excited a burst of applause, which continued for near a quarter of an hour. It had not indeed ceased until it became so appressive to the feelings of that gentle- Mr. O'Connell rose, and begged man that he was sinking under it. leave to read to the meeting, a second It was a scene which language cannot time, the letter from the Chairman to describe. The reader should have Mr. Grattan, and the reply of Mr. been present to have any idea of the Grattan. He then spoke to the foleffect. As soon as the agitation of lowing effect:-I have, said he, a painthe assembly had in some degree sub-ful duty to perform-but it is my duty, sided, Mr. O'Connell rose and moved and I shall not shrink from the perthat Owen O'Conor should take the formance of it, however painful. The chair. Again the building rung with course to be pursued is sufficiently obapplauses. The resolutions of the vious; and it is necessary to recapitudast meeting, together with several let-late the facts, merely to place beyond ters from Lord Donoughmore, were then read. In the letters produced, the Noble Earl exhibited a great deal

auy cavil the propriety of those measures which the honour, as well as the interests, of the Catholic Board de

mand. Mr. Grattan took charge of and for ever disclaimed any commuour Petition last year; he presented nion with Mr. Grattan.. But, no; the it to the House, but he refused to dis- iron has worn into our very souls, and cuss its merits. No reason was given there are so many amongst us who seek for this refusal, other than the reason for pretexts of dissention, that, bethat silences, though it cannot satisfy, tween the prostrate minds of some, the slaves of despots. It consisted and the anxiety for unanimity of singly of the phrase, "Stat pro ra- others, Mr. Grattan was again selected tione voluntas." We were deeply im- to the high honour of being the advopressed with the conviction, that the cate of five millions of Irishmen. We discussion of our grievances and claims sacrificed our feelings-we trod down in the last session, indeed every ses- our resentments-and we again se sion, could produce nothing but ad-lected him as our champion; but, if vantages. Our cause is, founded on we possessed one particle of common eternal justice and plain right; there- sense, this selection could not be unfore, so long as there remains one conditional. Reason, and whatever particle of common sense amongst remained of soiled dignity, required men, discussion must advance that that we should not leave our cause for cause. The Catholic Board called on another year to the caprice of any inMr. Grattan to bring forward our dividual. We therefore added to the question. He again refused. The request, that Lord Donoughmore and Board, a second time, entreated of Mr. Grattan would present our petihim to do so. He once more refused. tion, an entreaty that they would reWe then called another Aggregateject it, unless they agreed with us in Meeting, and that meeting requested from Mr. Grattan a discussion. Strange to say, he still persevered in his refusal a perseverance unexampled in the history of parliament.

opinion that this session was a fit season for the discussion of our claims.Perhaps so modest and so humble an entreaty never yet was made by a people. So help me God, we deserve to continue slaves; for we have all the mental poverty that qualifies persons for perpetual thraldom. And now behold the answers to our low entreaty: Lord Donoughmore distinctly answers it, and emphatically concurs with us in opinion-Mr. Grattan tells us it is

It must be recollected, that this unrelenting refusal on the part of Mr. Grattan to move on our petition, was one adopted without any consultation or concert with our best friends. Lord Donoughmore was in London, and yet he was not consulted. It was determined by Mr. Grattan to post-impossible he should give us any repone, as long as he could, for one session, any chance of relief; and he came to this resolution without the advice or even the knowledge of our other chosen advocate, Lord Donoughmore. Thus, without concert, with-currence, and yet he feels no difficulty out co-operation, we were doomed, by Mr. Grattan, to another year of slavery, and also without the poor pleasure of rattling our chains in the hearing of our oppressors.

After this pertinacious rejection of our request-after refusing the Board twice, and the Aggregate Meeting three times, it might have been expected that the Catholics would have felt the indignity they had sustained,

ply. Lord Donoughmore is not our Representative-he is a Peer of Parliament in his own right he does not owe his seat to us-he will continue to hold it, without our consent or con

in replying to our request, and accepting our petition on our terms. But Mr. Grattan, the Representative, the Agent of the People,-who sits in Parliament, by them and for them-whom we had a right to refuse, and may yet reject; Mr. Grattan, whom we send to Parliament to do our business, tells us, that it is impossible-impossible to inform us, whether he be or not of opinion, that our grievances ought to

« ΠροηγούμενηΣυνέχεια »