Copies of the questions proposed to the univer sities, and of their answers, and translations of them, are inserted in the Appendix to the first volume of these Memoirs *.

LXXXII. 5.

Draft of a Bill for repealing the Laws against the
Roman-catholics.

Ar a meeting of the catholic committee at Mr. Butler's chambers, in Lincoln's-Inn, on the 19th of April 1788, at which lord Stourton, lord Petre, lord Clifford, sir Henry Englefield, sir William Jerningham, Mr. Throckmorton, Mr. Towneley, and Mr. Hornyold, were present, it was resolved,

"That Mr. Butler should prepare the draft of "a bill for the repeal of the laws against the English catholics."

The draft of such a bill was accordingly prepared by him.

With the approbation of the committee, it was afterwards laid before Mr. Hargrave, and professionally approved by him.

It consisted of several distinct clauses,―repealing all the laws which placed the English catholics in a worse situation than the protestant dissenters; so that, if it had passed in this form, the English catholics would, in respect to all civil rights, have been on a complete level with the protestant dissenters.

It contained no oath or declaration of any kind,

except that, in some instances, the benefits which it conferred, were extended to those only who had taken, or who should take, the oath contained in the act passed in 1778, for the relief of the catholics.

LXXXII. 6.

The Protestation.

Ar the time, to which our subject has now led us, a general attempt was making to procure a modification of the statutes of uniformity.

They operate, but in a very different degree, on three distinct denominations of christians,-roman-catholics,-protestant dissenters, and members of the established church.

All were then applying to the legislature for relief. At the head of the first was the catholic committee;-at the head of the second, Mr. Beaufoy; -at the head of the third, lord Stanhope.

The dissenters had recently published a pamphlet, intituled, "The Right of Protestant Dissenters to "complete Toleration," a standard work among them. They expressed in it, the warmest wishes for the success of the roman-catholics, and called on them to publish their creed.

One express object of lord Stanhope's bill was to give relief to the non-conformists of the established church; but the medium, through which he proposed to effect this, was,-by liberating persons of every description from the penalties of non-conformity. The effect of this bill would, therefore,

have extended equally to catholics, to protestant dissenters, and to members of the established church; but it would not have been beneficial to all in an equal degree-as it would have been much more beneficial, in its consequences, to the catholics, than it would have been either to the protestant dissenters, or to the members of the established church, inasmuch as the penalties of non-conformity, to which a catholic is subject, are heavier than the penalties to which a protestant dissenter, or a member of the established church, is subject.

As there was a prejudice against the catholics, which did not exist, at least in the same degree, against any other dissenters, his lordship thought that, in their regard, it would be advisable to use a method of recommendation to the public, which the others did not appear to him to want.

This was, that the roman-catholics should solemnly disclaim some of the tenets falsely imputed to them.

For this reason, with long consideration, and after perusing the works of some of the best catholic writers, and conferring with the ministers of other churches, and some of the leading men of all other parties, but without the slightest communication with any roman-catholic*,-his lordship framed the protestation; transmitted it to lord Petre, and recommended that it should be gene

This was most explicitly declared at the time, both by lord Stanhope and the members of the committee,and then never contradicted: the contrary has since been asserted, but without the slightest proof.

rally signed. On the receipt of it, lord Petre instantly forwarded it to the secretary of the committee, with directions to send copies of it immediately to the four vicars-apostolic.

Such was the origin of the protestation.

At a meeting of the committee on the 17th of December 1788,

Present,

Lord Petre,

Sir H. C. Englefield,

Mr. Throckmorton,

Mr. Towneley,

Mr. Berington,

Mr. Wilks:

A letter from Mr. Walmesley on the subject of the protestation was read.

Mr. Berington acquainted the committee with the sentiments of Mr. Thomas Talbot upon it.

The secretary acquainted the committee with the sentiments of Mr. James Talbot upon it.

In consequence of which, some alterations were made in it; and, with these alterations, it was approved of.

It was resolved, that, with these alterations," it "should be immediately transmitted to the vicars"apostolic, accompanied by a letter to them from "the secretary, requesting their sentiments upon it.

At a meeting of the committee on the 18th of the same month, at which lord Petre, Mr. Throckmorton, Mr. Berington, and Mr. Wilks, were present, it was resolved, that "as soon as the protestation "was approved of by the vicars-apostolic, the "secretary should take such measures as he should "think advisable, to procure the general signatures "of the catholics to it."

Mr. Mitford was requested to undertake the moving, and Mr. Windham the seconding of the bill in the house of commons.

Both agreed to comply with the request.

In pursuance of the resolutions of the committee, the secretary transmitted copies of the protestation to the four vicars-apostolic,-Dr. James Talbot, Dr. Thomas Talbot, Dr. Walmesley, and Dr. Matthew Gibson.

ALL signed it-the three first with their own hands, Dr. Gibson, by Dr. James Talbot, whom he authorized to sign it for him.

It is expressed in the following terms:

"We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, "catholics of England, do freely, voluntarily, and " of our own accord, make the following solemn "declaration and protestation.

"Whereas sentiments unfavourable to us, as citi"zens and subjects, have been entertained by Eng"lish protestants, on account of principles which

are asserted to be maintained by us, and other "catholics, and which principles are dangerous "to society, and totally repugnant to political and "civil liberty;-it is a duty that we, the English

catholics, owe to our country, as well as to our"selves, to protest, in a formal and solemn manner, "against doctrines that we condemn, and that con"stitute no part whatever of our principles, religion, " or belief.

"We are the more anxious to free ourselves "from such imputations, because divers protestants, "who profess themselves to be real friends to