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INTRODUCTION.

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decision upon this subject; for though the Catholics have failed now of success, yet some even of their zealous opponents have admitted, that a time and circumstances may arise, when their claims may be admissible, and their success less objectionable to a Protestant Legislature and their Protestant Fellow-subjects. The Catholics have, however, derived this great advantage from the discussion-their civil and religious character has been brought to fair trial before the Grand Inquest of the Nation. Many of the odious imputations against them have been openly brought forward by their accusers, and as fully disproved, upon the testimony not only of their advo cates, but of many of their most able and strenuous opponents. The whole evidence is now laid before the British Nation; and His Majesty's Protestant subjects, at the same time that they will look up with veneration and gratitude to the Imperial Parliament for that vigilance and tenacity so eminently manifested towards their peculiar privileges, must also henceforward be taught to view their Catholic Fellow-subjects in a light very different indeed from that odious aspect in which they must have stood, under misimputed tenets and alleged principles subversive of every idea of religion and social order, and which must now stand solemnly abjured and disproved for ever. That deference to the opinions, and tenderness toward even the prejudices, of the Protestant people of England, in great matters of legislation, avowed in the course of the discussion by many of the Members

of both Houses, while they reflect the highest honour upon the characters and principles of British senators, will, it is presumed, strongly operate to the vindication of certain of those senators who have been long supposed to entertain quite opposite sentiments. But however unripe this great measure may be now for adoption; whatever be the measure of deference due to the opinions, the prejudices, or the jealousies of any particular class of His Majesty's subjects, on this ground; and however highly we are bound to venerate the maxim, Nolumus leges Angliæ mutari; yet surely it will be allowed, by all who view the new situation in which the British Empire now stands, however averse they may be to such a measure at this moment, that the arrival of that time, and those circumstances under which it may be thought wise, safe, and expedient to unite in common feelings, interests, and privileges, every class of His Majesty's natural-born subjects,

"Is a consummation most devoutly to be wished."

COMPREHENSIVE DETAIL

OF THE

INTERESTING DEBATES,

IN BOTH HOUSES

OF THE

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT,

IN THE SESSION OF 1805,

UPON THE

CATHOLIC QUESTION.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

MONDAY, MARCH 25.

LORD GRENVILLE." My Lords, I rise for the purpose of presenting the: Petition of certain of his Majesty's subjects in Ireland, professing the Catholic Religion, which I move may now be read."

The Petition was then read by the clerk as follows:"To the Right Honourable and Honourable the KNIGHTS, CITIZENS, and BURGESSES, of the UNITED KINGDOM of GREAT BRITAIN and IRELAND, in Parliament assembled,

"The humble Petition of the Roman Catholics of Ireland, whose Names are hereunto subscribed, on Behalf of themselves and of others his Majesty's Subjects, professing the Roman Catholic Religion,

"SHEWETH,

"THAT your Petitioners are stedfastly attached to the Person, Family and Government, of their most gracious Sovereign; that they are impressed with sentiments

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sentiments of affectionate gratitude for the benignant laws which have been enacted for meliorating their condition during his paternal reign, and that they contemplate, with rational and decided predilection, the admirable principles of the British Constitution.

"Your Petitioners most humbly state, that they have, solemnly and publicly, taken the oaths by law prescribed to his Majesty's Roman Catholic Subjects, as tests of political and moral principles; and they confidently appeal to the sufferings which they have long endured, and the sacrifices which they still make, rather than violate their consciences (by taking oaths of a religious or spiritual import contrary to their belief,) as decisive proofs of their profound and scrupulous reverence for the sacred obligation of an oath.

Your Petitioners beg leave to represent, that by those awful tests they bind themselves, in the presence of the All-seeing Deity, whom all classes of Christians adore, " to be faithful, and bear true allegiance to their most gracious Sovereign Lord King George the Third, and him to defend to the utmost of their power against all conspiracies and attempts whatsoever that shall be made against his Person, Crown or Dignity; to do their utmost endeavours to disclose and make known to his Majesty and his Heirs, all treasons, and traitorous conspiracies which may be formed against him or them, and faithfully to maintain, support, and defend, to the utmost of their power, the succession to the Crown in his Majesty's family, against any person or persons whatsoever."-" That, by those oaths, they renounce and abjure obedience and allegiance `unto any other person claiming or pretending a right to the Crown of this realm:-that they reject and détest, as unchristian and impious to believe, that it is lawful in any ways to injure any person or persons whatsoever under pretence of their being Heretics ; and also that unchristian and impious principle,

that