and, that it devolved upon himfelf on that occafion to move an amendment to the refolution of rejection, to guard against the houfe concluding or furrendering its deliberative faculties on the Catholic queftion, which he then foretold that the circumftances of this country, the liberality of the times, and the wifdom of parliament might make it wife to adopt, although the temper of the day was not fuited to receive it. I was always of opinion, that although it would be wife to conciliate the Catholics, I will never fubmit to any measure that fhould affront the feelings or the fpirit of the Protestants.

Gentlemen had argued as if there had been a fpirit of perfecution peculiar to the policy of Ireland, though the truth is, that there is no country on earth that at present is fo little liable to the imputation. Bigotry and fanaticifm had been fo foothed to reft, that fedition was induftrious to rouze them, and make the Catholics forget, that scarcely a feffion has paffed that has not conferred a fubftantial favour from a Proteftant parliament with that liberal and enlightened fpirit, that had first reared the temple of civil liberty, which I hope the Catholics will approach with reverence and refpect. I have every reafon to believe, that fuch was their difpofition. I long had an opportunity of knowing them, and particularly in the provinces of Munfter and Connaught; in the latter of which I found amongst the Catholics as high a fenfe of honor and loyalty amongst the gentry, and as amenable a difpofition amongst the lower order, as could be found in any country in the world. Now, Sir, I do not wish to

fhut

leave those men under an opinion, that they are fhut out as dangerous aliens, and in an aptitude to be negociated upon by every contemptible agitator that would trade upon thofe good people, as he may have done on bad poplins, and pretend that he has a power to traffic on their loyalty as he might do on changeable luftrings.

The magnanimity of parliament will put an end to the mischief, and teach them where to look for protection, at the fame time that it will enlarge the base on which you ftand, and give more fecurity and fymmetry to that pyramidical perfection which is the admiration of the world, it will make discreet ufe of thofe folid materials, which though the caution of builders rejected, and although you will not place them at the headftone in the corner, as not fuited for the polifhed ornaments of the structure, will.yet contribute to its ftrength, if not left loofe and fcattered fo as to be ready for every defperate hand that wishes to affail you. In the progress of this great work, I could wish to look up to the opinion of the experienced and the wife, and would lament if I were to differ in fentiment from any of those whom I have ever revered, or to throw my arrow o'er the house and wound my brother; but I would inculcate the great and divine principle of peace on earth, and good will towards men.

con.

Mr. Grattan's amendment at length paffed nem.

Lord

Lord Tyrone gave notice that he did not hold himself pledged in the Catholic business further than difcuffion.-Adjourned.

FEBRUARY 4.

MR.

R. SECRETARY HOBART rose to present to the house the petition of certain Roman Catholic Bishops of Ireland and others, on behalf of themfelves and their fellow-fubjects of the fame perfuafion. Though I am happy in having the opportunity of laying this petition before the houfe; yet, nevertheless, I do not confider myself pledged to agree with the petitioners in the fulleft extent of their defire; when the fubject comes regularly before the house, I will state my fentiments more at large; at present I will not trouble the house any further than requesting that the petition might be read.

The petition was then read as follows:

"The petition of John Thomas Troy, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin; Dominick Bellew, Roman Catholic Bishop of Killala; Richard O'Reilly, Roman Catholic Bishop of Ulfter; Thomas Bray, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cafhel; Richard M'Cormick, Thomas Fitzgerald, Edward Byrne, Thomas Warren, Denis Thomas

O'Brien

O'Brien, Valentine O'Connor, Hugh Hamill, Chriftopher Bellew, and feveral others whofe names are thereunto fubfcribed, on behalf of themselves and the reft of the Catholics of Ireland; fetting forth, that the petitioners are fubject to a variety of fevere and oppreffive laws, inflicting on them inabilities and disqualifications unknown to any other defcription of his majefty's fubjects, the further continuation of which they humbly conceive their dutiful demeanor and unremitting loyalty for above one hundred years, muft evince to be equally impolitic and unneceffary; that this fyftem of injurious exclufion has operated not lefs to the particular depreffion of the Catholics of Ireland, than to the general obftruction of the true and manifeft interefts of the country; the petitioners therefore humbly pray, that the house may be pleafed to take the whole of their cafe into confideration, and in conformity to the benign wifhes of his majefty, for the union of all his people in fentiment, affection, and intereft, to reftore the petitioners to the rights and privileges of the conftitution of the country.

Right Hon. Sir Henry Cavendish.-I rife to obferve as to the fignatures, that I with the word titular had been prefixed to the word Bifhop; I fubmit it to the friends of the Roman Catholics, to all thofe who wish to extend privileges to them, whether thefe fignatures fhould ftand as they were ?-They affumed a title which did not belong to them, a title which the laws of the country could by no means recognize; nor do I think the words Roman Catholic do away my objection. However, if this objection could be done away, I will not be adverfe to having the petition laid on the table.

1

Nothing was faid in fupport of the objection urged by Sir Henry, of course it fell to the ground.

The petition was received and ordered to lie on the table.

Right Hon. Mr. Hobart.-Sir, in venturing to obtrude my fentiments on the house, in a fubject of fuch magnitude, I feel the neceffity of foliciting from the house, a degree of indulgence which I have no right to expect. I will, however, attempt to discharge what I feel to be my duty, and, in doing fo, I hope gentlemen will believe that I am acting in fuch a manner as appears most likely to me to confult and to promote the intereft of the kingdom.

On the first day of the feffion I explained my conduct with respect to the Roman Catholics. I will not now repeat what I then faid-I will only fay, that at all times I acquiefced in whatever measures the houfe thought proper to adopt.-It was on that account, that when the Catholics had before applied to me, I was unwilling to hold out to them a vain hope, left that hope fruftrated fhould produce an agitation in the public mind, which could not but be mischievous to the public

peace.

I am aware that what I have to propose to the house respecting thofe people to night, might not poffibly meet the general concurrence of gentlemen. It is not my wifh or my intention to press any thing upon the houfe that would not meet general approbation; it is my wifh to acquiefce in whatever gentlemen may think the intereft of the

country;