CHA P. III.

Opening of the feffion of 1786—Lord Lieutenant's fpeech-difturbances by the Right-boys-proceedings of the Roman Catholic Clergy-bill for better execution of the law-debates thereon— petition against it-proposal for a national fyftem of education— State of the national debt in 1786—Speaker's speech on presenting the money bills-principal acts paffed-conclufion of the feffion.

THE

HE defeat which Mr. Orde's commercial bill thus met with, appear'd to give general fatisfaction to the greater part of both countries:-And on the 19th January, 1786, parliament again affembled, when his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant addrefsed both houfes as follows.

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

"It is with great fatisfaction, that, in obedience to his Majefty's commands, I meet you again in Parliament. You will, I am perfuaded, give your utmost attention to the various objects of public concern which require your confideration. Your natural folicitude for the welfare of Ireland, and a just sense of her real interefts, will direct all your deliberations, and point out to you the line of conduct which may be most conducive to the public advantage, and to that lasting connection between the fifter kingdoms, fo effential to the profperity of both.

"Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

"I have ordered the public accounts and other neceffary papers to be laid before you. The principle which you for wifely

*Comm. Journ. Vol. XXIII.

wifely established, of preventing the accumulation of the national debt, will, I hope, appear already to have proved fuccefsful; and I entertain no doubt that your wisdom will perfevere in measures which in their operation promife fuch beneficial effects. His Majefty relies with confidence upon • your grant of such supplies as are neceffary for the public fervice, and for the honourable fupport of his govern

"A fyftematic improvement of the police, and a vigorous execution of the laws, are effential not only to the due collection of the public revenue, but to the fecurity of private property, and indeed to the protection of fociety. The frequent outrages which have been committed in fome parts of the kingdom, will particularly call your attention to this important object.

"It is unneceffary for me to recommend the Protestant Charter-Schools to your protection, or to enumerate the happy effects which may be derived from your continued attention to the Linen and other Manufactures, to the Agriculture, and to the Fisheries of the kingdom, and to fuch measures as may animate the induftry, extend the education, and improve the morals of the people.

"It will ever be my ambition to promote the real interests of Ireland, and to contribute, by all the means in my power, towards establishing its future profperity on the fureft and moft lafting foundation."

The fpeech particularly recommends attention to frequent outrages which had been committed in fome parts of the kingdom, and to a fyftematic improvement of police, and vigorous execution of the laws.

The

The outrages here attended to, were committed by a mif guided fet of people, who were guilty of many atrocious. offences, particularly in and about the County of Kilkenny, and who denominated themselves Right Boys.-On this occafion, the Roman Catholic clergy exerted themselves, as on fimilar occafions, to fupprefs the fpirit of licentioufnefs. and depredation which had fpread thro' the lower rank of people, and the following inftructions were fent by Dr. Troy, then R. C. Bishop of Offory, to the clergy of his diocefs.

To the Roman Catholic Clergy of the Diocefs of Offory.

Ven. Brethren in Chrift Jefus,

"Notwithstanding the uniform Doctrine of the Catholic Church concerning the invalidity of combination-Oaths in general, and of the late one administered by persons, calling themfelves Right-Boys in particular, has been frequently explained, I am extremely concerned to hear, that some of our deluded People who have taken faid wicked Oath, think or feem to think themselves obliged to observe it. In order to remove this great Error, equally prejudicial to the interests of Society and Religion, I think it neceffary to require each and every one of You (as I do hereby) to declare in the name of God and our holy Church, from your respective Altars, that the aforesaid right-Boy-Oath is so far from being binding in Confcience, that whoever obftinately adheres to the contrary Opinion, is unworthy of Catholic Communion, because he acts in direct, and fcandalous oppofition to the exprefs Command of God, the Laws of the Church, and Statutes of the Realm. You are not therefore to administer any Sacrament to such persons, even when dying, as have taken faid Oath, unless they fhall abjure it entirely, and promise to hold and regard it, as null, and void, and of no Effect. If after this our folemn declaration, any perfon calling himself a Roman Catholic, who has already taken, or

may

may hereafter take faid Oath, shall depart this Life after refufing to make the above mentioned Abjuration and Promife, he is to be deprived of all the Rites, and Suffrages of our holy Church, and to be looked upon in every refpect as separated from the Communion of Saints. I confide much in your zealous and prudent Endeavours to reclaim thefe misguided poor creatures; and hope our Efforts to procure their Happinefs, and promote public Peace will, by the Mercy of God, prove fuccessful."

I am very fincerely,

Ven. Brethren,

Your affectionate and moft

humble Servant in Chrift,

JOHN TROY,

Thefe efforts however were ineffectual, and it was thought peceffary that parliament should interpofe, and prevent the growing mifchief by fome reftrictive ftatute.-Accordingly during the course of this feffion (20 Mar. 1786,) the folicitor General prefented a bill for the better execution of the law.

The SOLICITOR GENERAL prefented a bill for the better execution of the law within the city of Dublin, and certain parts adjacent thereto, for quieting and protecting poffeffions within this kingdom, for the more expeditious transportati on of felons, for reviving, continuing and amending certain ftatutes therein mentioned, and for repealing an act paffed in the feventeenth and eighteenth years of the reign of his prefent Majefty, entitled an act for improving the police of the city of Dublin; which was received and read the first time.

He faid, I fhall now move that this bill be read a fecond time to-morrow. It is my intention to move you, when this motion is carried, that the bill be printed, and that its committal be on Friday next.

Mr. STEWART.

Mr. STEWART (of Killamoon) intreated the gentlemen in administration not to prefs forward a matter of fuch importance in fo thin a Houfe, when many gentlemen were gone to attend the affizes in their different counties, and in the abfence of many others who did not expect this bill would. have been brought forward this day, but give time for confidering a bill of fuch confequence; which was not only to affect the city of Dublin, but every county in the king

dom.

Mr. GREEN faid he confidered the difturbances which had fome time fince taken place in Dublin, and the spirit of difobedience to the laws which at this day prevailed in many parts of Ireland, as calling loudly for the interference of parliament. As to the bill propofed for remedying those evils, it was fo plain that he thought any man of common understanding might comprehend it at firft fight, and there fore he would not confent to delay.

Mr. CONOLLY.-It feems it would be urged that no perfon has a fufpicion of the bill: I suspect the principles of it because I fufpect administration-I fufpect its intention, because I fufpect administration—I suspect an administration that promises this country trade, in lieu of which, she gives us 140,000l.in taxes-I fufpect an adminiftration, that when we ask for bread gives us a stone.-And though I wifh for order and regulation, ftill I am convinced the profits arifing from that bill may be purchased too dearly-I fee by one claufe you intend to take the arms out of the hands of the volunteers. When I reflect on the memorable propofitions of 1785, and the fenfible measures propofed in 1786, it staggers my faith, and induces me to fay, that furely the people ought to be confulted when you go to alter the conftitution. A bill of fuch magnitude, to infift to hurry it be

fore

Parliam. Reg. VÓL. VI,