Oak Street UNCLASSIFIED Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Alternates https://archive.org/details/furtherconsideraOOdonn FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC OATH, IN A LETTER TO EDWARD BLOUNT, Esq. LATELY SECRETARY TO THE ENGLISH CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION. BY ENEAS MAC DONNELL, Esq., BARRISTER AT LAtV, AGENT TO THE ROMAN CATHOLICS OF IRELAND, FROM NOVEM- BER, 1824, TILL THE PASSING OF THE (i ACT FOR TIIE RELIEF OF HIS MAJESTY'S ROMAN CATHOLIC SUBJECTS, IN APRIL, 1829. LONDON: EDWARD CHURTON, LIBRARY, HOLLES STREET, CAVENDISH SQUARE. 1835. LONDON: Printed by William Clowes and Sons, Stamford Street. QjuMLla TO EDWARD BLOUNT, Esq. fyc. 8, Manor Terrace , Kings Road, Chelsea , May mh, 1835. My dear Sir — I have read in the “ Morning Chronicle” of this day, your letter upon the Roman Catholic Oath, and, although it gives me some pain to find, contrary to what I had considered well-grounded expectations, that your views are not in accordance with my own, I am, neverthe- less, much cheered by the reflection, that you do not ques- tion a single statement, controvert a single conclusion, or answer a single query in my pamphlet upon the same important question, which had been in your hands for three weeks previous to the publication of your letter. You appear to have preferred, and perhaps not unwisely, the course pursued by another distinguished Roman Catho- lic gentleman, Mr. Sheil, who has also published a letter on the same subject, in the same paper, without deeming it advisable to come into collision with my positions or argu- ments. But, at the same time that you decline bestowing the favour of your notice upon my publication, you do not hesitate to make a confident profession of sentiments di- rectly opposed to those which it conveys. I apprehend that you will, upon more mature consideration, be inclined A 2 4 to think> that it was not wise, on your part, to incur the risk of being exposed to the suspicion, that you abstained from noticing it, because you entertained something more than doubt of your ability to answer it. If such difficulties did not restrain your course, it would have been only kind and charitable towards me and others, if any, whom you may consider me to have misled, to have exposed my errors and corrected the evil tendency of my doctrines. I pray you to feel assured that, so far from my entertain- ing any jealousy for your adoption of such a course, there is not a single individual in the country more anxious than myself for an unrestricted discussion, with a view to a cor- rect settlement of this most important question ; and, there- fore, I should not only admit but approve the most unlimited latitude of commentary upon my late and present publica- tion. I have read your letter in that spirit of attention and sincere respect which is due from me to every opinion sanctioned by your choice. I dwelt upon it the more anxiously because I knew that, if right were on the side of the cause which you now advocate, no person could be found more competent to sustain it, or so well qualified by peculiarity of circumstances, to bring to its aid the advan- tages of comprehensive information, and of long personal experience in all the details of Roman Catholic affairs. Assuredly, thought I, if he should fail in the endeavour, no other man will succeed. And yet, my dear Sir, you must pardon the avowal of my conscientious, unqualified impression, that you have, indeed, failed, yes, entirely failed to justify your views. You are too liberal a disputant to require that I should overlook the extraordinary fact,— that you . the secretary of the British Roman Catholics, during the whole period of my agency for the Roman Catholics of Ireland, in this city, have not only abstained from intimating a denial or a doubt D of any one of my numerous statements or constructions ; but, now,, after avowedly devoting much care and considera- tion to the subject, whose importance you recognise, and whose urgency you proclaim, you find yourself unable to draw from those stores of knowledge which you so eminently possess, one single fact, argument, or suggestion in main- tenance of your own views, or in disproof of mine ; and you are compelled to rest your case, entirely and exclusively, upon two short, isolated extracts from the speeches of Sir Robert Peel and Sir Charles Wetherell, after they had al- ready gone the rounds of the periodicals of the day; at the same time that you admit, with your accustomed can- dour, that the interpretation to which I adhere, for I do ad- here to it, is in accordance with the ^intentions” which you declare you entertained in common, with other Roman Catholics ! This declaration, on your own behalf, appears marvellously strange, if not comically inconsistent, when we bear in mind the occasion upon which it is announced. You state the fact thus : — “ That when Mr. Wilmot Horton made a pro- posal, that they (the Catholics) should be so restricted, Mr. Secretary Peel met it with a direct negative, though the proposal was sanctioned, to a certain extent, by some Ca- tholics, of whom I was one , who wished to give every pos- sible proof of their intentions.” What intentions , my good friend ? Obviously, intentions to be “ so restricted !” Now, although I do not feel that you prove Mr. Secretary Peel to have been such a cruel man as to have desired to mar your benevolent 66 intentions ” of virtuous self-denial ; yet, I cannot withhold my acknow- ledgments for the admissions which your statement implies, — 1st, that such restrictions might, in your opinion, have been proposed by him, and accepted by Roman Catholic members of Parliament, without prejudice to the honour. 6 efficiency, or just interests of either ; — 2ndly, That my con- struction of the Oath may be approved and acted upon without incurring the charge of imposing any unreasonable restraint upon Roman Catholics ; — and 3rdly, That your avowed intentions are in perfect concordance with my con- struction of the Oath, and my estimate of the concurrence of Roman Catholics. The most suitable return that I can make for such admissions is the comfort which I feel my- self enabled to impart, by declaring that, according to my views of Mr. Secretary Peel’s speeches, there will not be found much difficulty in obtaining his assent to the exercise of such abstinence by Catholic members. It appears to me that you form an erroneous opinion of the passages in Mr. Secretary Peel’s speech, to which you referred ; although I am aware that the same sentiments, respecting it, had been previously expressed upon the very same extract, by the Honourable Charles Langdale, in his letter published in the “ Catholic Magazine” of last February. There is one, simple, unquestionable answer to all you say about the intention of Mr. Secretary Peel to assimilate the position of the Catholic member to that of the Dissenter ; namely, that the Catholic member is required to take the Oath, and that the Oath is by the statute required especially from him, and from him alone, as a member of Parliament; whereas no such oath, nor any oath whatever, is required from the Dissenter, as such, and he takes precisely the same parliamentary oath as the most zealous professor of the creed of the established church. Surely, if it had been in- tended to place the Catholic and the Dissenter in the same position, the same oath, or some such oath, would have been provided for Dissenters. Mr. Secretary Peel, ob- viously, and in my mind successfully, desired to inform Parliament and the public that, with the exception^ oj ' the Oath , Catholics and Dissenters would be on the same foot- 7 ing ; that is to say, that the Catholic should not be sub- jected to the direction of any other person or persons, as to the occasions when he should be excluded from voting or speaking in either House, but should be constrained by the oath ; and Mr. Horton’s proposition, to which you refer, was rejected by Mr. Secretary Peel, expressly because it could not be practically enforced, without subjecting the Catholic member to the control of some other authority, whose powers and duties it would be very difficult so to fix or limit as to guard against the constant recurrence of con- troversies, painful, if not offensive to Catholic members. It was so understood, and stated at the time, and the obliga- tion of the Oath upon the conscience of the Catholic was considered equally valid security, and was substituted as such, in the place of all offensive or obnoxious external con- trol or coercion. To suppose that the Dissenters and Ca- tholics were intended to be placed in the same position, otherwise than as here stated, would be to suppose the minister and the Parliament to be deliberately and inten- tionally guilty of the gross deceit and absurdity of professing to make no difference between Dissenters and Catholics, and, at the very same moment, making a most serious dif- ference between them, by requiring an Oath from one which was not required from the other ; a supposition which I am confident you would be the last person to sanction. It is, scarcely necessary to add, that the Act for the repeal of the Test Acts, (passed in 1828,) has no reference whatsoever to members of Parliament. It is intituled “ An Act for repealing so much of several Acts as imposes the necessity of receiving the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper as a Qualification for certain Offices and Employments .” The offices particularly specified are those of “ mayor, alderman, recorder, bailiff, town-clerk, or com- mon councilman, or any office of magistracy, or place. 8 ' trust, or employment relating to the government of any city, corporation, borough, or cinque port, within England and Wales, or the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed.” The following is the form of Declaration required to be taken from Dissenters filling such offices : — “ I, A. B., do’solemnly and sincerely, in the presence of God, profess, testify, and declare, upon the true faith of a Christian, that I will never exercise any power, authority, or influence which I may possess, by virtue of the office of — — — , to injure or weaken the Protestant Church as it is by law established in England, or to disturb the said Church, or the bishops and clergy of the said Church, in the possession of any rights or privileges to which such Church, or the said bishops and clergy, are or may be by law en- titled” Here are provisions made, by the security of oaths, to guard the Establishment; and surely, when such are raised against the adverse exercise of powers or privileges at- tached to such comparatively uninfluential offices, it is not f contrary to reason or consistency, that similar terms of security should be introduced into the oaths of persons ex- ercising the dominant privileges of legislators. I do not feel called upon to reconcile the apparent inconsistency of re- quiring such securities from Dissenters in inferior offices, and not requiring them from Dissenters on entering Parlia- ment. I have nothing to do with this point; the question now before us refers solely to Catholics, and we find the same spirit of caution pervade our Relief Bill, whether affecting members of the Legislature, or other persons holding high offices of trust and honour, or offices of inferior rank. But as you, and Mr. Langdale, before you, estimate so highly the value of Sir Robert Peel’s declarations, as to re- quire for your construction of his reported language a go- verning influence over our judgment, it is reasonable to sup- pose that you would receive with gratitude any reference to other passages in his speeches upon the Bill, or on any other 9 occasion when his mind was specially directed to the point, in order that you may be enabled to deduce from them such an illustration of his sentiments as may remove your doubts, if any, as to his intention. Allow me to assist your desires by one or two such references : I consider them conclusive upon you, after your admission, nay, proclamation of his authority. In the first place, I shall advert to some extracts from his speeches on the 5th and 23rd March, 1829, pub- lished in my former pamphlet. These are his words : — “ We have to reconcile two great objects — the restoration of civil and political privileges to the Roman Catholics, with the fall pjid perfect security of the rights of the Established. Church.^ “ So far as Oaths can give security , this Oath gives us all the security which we can expect” “ If the Honourable Member deems the ecclesiastical, as well as the lay property of the Church not sufficiently se- cured fopthe declaration^ let him go a little further, and he will find the words ‘ and I do hereby disclaim, disavow, and solemnly abjure any intention to subvert the present Church Establishment, as settled bylaw within this realm.’ ” “ As far as words go, these afford ample security “ According to the form as it stands, the Roman Catholic declares that he will defend, to the utmost of his power, the settlement of pro perty as e stablished bv law : so that the. words include eccte^astical^andolhepprqperty. In the next clause He is called upon solemnly to swear that he never will exercise any privilege to which he may be entitled, to disturb or weaken the Protestant religion or government of this kingdom. It seems to me that, coupling the declara- tion he first makes, with the Oath he afterwards takes, it is sufficient.” I beg to ask whether the Oath , as it now stands, is not sufficient, recollecting that, it is to be taken by Members of Parliament , for we are now only speaking of it in that vieu) ?” u To call on the Roman Catholics to swear, as I propose, is going to the extreme point to which I think that we can 10 go with a person who is not of our religion. . . . we are now speaking of the Oath to he tendered to Roman Catholics claiming seats in Parliament .” This language does not appear to me to admit of any doubt. It meets all your difficulties as to the intent of the speaker, on whose authority you rest your case. But if any doubt should still exist, the Honourable Charles Langdale is precisely the gentleman to whom, above all other men, I should refer you to remove it, if I could feel assured that his memory kept pace, in strength and vigour, with his un- doubted honour and integrity. He could have told you, as a matter of historical record, that upon the 1 Lth day of the month of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four, a motion was brought forward, after due notice, in the House of Commons of the united kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, by Mr. O’Connell, touching this very subject: whereupon, one Honourable Charles Langdale delivered his sentiments. And he could have informed you further, that the said Honourable Charles Langdale was immediately followed, in debate, by one Sir Robert Peel, Baronet, who also made a statement well calculated to settle all your doubts. Now, inasmuch as he does not appear to have given you this information, I beg leave to supply the deficiency, by an extract from the Report given by your friendly publisher, the “ Morning Chronicle” of the I2th of March, 1834. You will perceive that Mr. O’Connell concurs with you and Mr. Langdale that, in cases of doubt as to the obligation of an oath, it should be construed in the sense of the party imposing it. I cannot permit myself to hesitate in antici- pating that the extract which I am now about to lay before you, coupled with that which I have copied, above, from my former pamphlet, will relieve you from any further doubt 1L as to the views and intentions of Sir Robert Peel, when framing and proposing the Oath. I implore your most serious attention to this point:— “ Mr. O’Connell rose to bring forward his motion for a Committee to consider of the oaths now by law imposed upon Members of that House, and to report their observa- tions thereupon, with a view either of altering the present oaths, or of abolishing them altogether He would appeal to the House whether there ought to be any doubt or difference of construction of so solemn an obligation as that of a man’s calling the living God to witness the sin- cerity of his statement and intentions. It was , certainly, a rule of morals that whenever there was any doubt as to the obligation of an oath , it should be construed in the sense of the party imposing it. . . . There was a Catholic publica- tion, not much known in this country, in which a contro- versy had been for some time carried on as to whether Roman Catholics ought to sit there or not. In so solemn an engagement, every thing ought to be stated with perfect clearness and distinctness. He should conclude by assur- ing the House that he had been induced to bring the sub- ject before the House from a strong and conscientious con- viction of the necessity of a final construction being put upon that oath — a construction of so marked and emphatic a character, that no man could hereafter have any doubt re- specting it.” “ Lord Altiiorp. — Seeing that the question had been dealt with so late as five years ago, and that the Oath more particularly alluded to had been enacted in the light of a safeguard — wrongly so in his opinion — a safeguard which by many was still considered as essential, he did not see there would be any wisdom in interfering with it.” “ Mr. Langdale fully agreed with the Honourable and Learned Member for Dublin, that a clear and distinct inter- pretation should be put upon every Act of Parliament in which there was an oath.” “ Sir Robert Peel felt bound also to express his great regret that this question had been agitated at all. He did think, not having forgotten what took place in a former year, that if the House of Commons had anticipated that in the short space of five years after the passing of the UNIVERSITY 0 UBRA 12 Catholic Relief Bill, by which every disability was removed, the Roman Catholics would have agitated the question of the oath which was specifically framed and agreed to as a Security, many influential Members would have taken a very different course to what they did. He thought nothing could be so unwise, after the people had consented to the wishes of the Catholic body, and a majority of the Lords had decided on concession — when both Lords and people gave in full what had been anxiously sought-after, and taken these oaths , as it was understood they should he taken , as Valid Securities against any danger, real or supposed. He did think that a more unwise motion than the present one could not have been made, or one more calculated to stop the course of liberal concession hereafter (Hear, hear). A compact had been entered into , which, though not upheld by legal technicalities, was, to all intents and purposes, morally binding upon all parties. He (Sir R. Peel) put it to the House whether it would not have been more just and proper, as the Bill was for such a length of time before both Houses of Parliament, to have started those objections before it had passed, and not five years after the compact had been made ? (Hear, hear). Was it not said that they were ready to give this oath, or any other that could satisfy the scruples of those who were fearful of the consequences of the Relief Bill P He (Sir R. Peel) considered if there had been any objection to the present Oath, it ought to have been stated on that occasion, and for these reasons he could not con- sent, five years after a solemn compact had been entered into , to any motion which could by any possibility result in in- fringing it (hear, hear.)” “ Dr. Lushington, Sir Robert Inglis, Mr. Stanley, Mr. H. L. Bulwer, Mr. Sheil, Mr. Methuen, Mr. Cobbett, Mr. C. Ferguson, Mr. O’Dwyer, Mr. Lambert, Mr. A. John- stone, Mr. O’Reilly, Mr. P. H. Howard, and Mr. Leech having spoken, — “ Mr. O’Connell rose to reply. A controversy had arisen as to the construction to be put upon that Oath, which had given him much uneasiness ; and he now pledged himself not to let the matter rest till he had it definitively settled , one way or other. He pledged himself that the question being now fairly raised , he should not abandon it till it was fairly set at rest," 13 " After a few words from Mr. Brotherton, the motion was withdrawn.” I do here seriously declare that I should consider myself wanting in that deference which I most cordially entertain towards your good sense,, impartiality, and uprightness, were I to add one word more in support of this illustration — nay, this positive proof of the intent of Sir Robert Peel in pro- posing the Oath, and of his present interpretation of that solemn obligation. Mark, my friend, it is the intent of the party imposing it,” in whose sense of its obligation Mr. O’Connell has stated it should be construed,” the intent of him to whom the Honourable Charles Langdale referred, expressly and by name, in his letter, with his sig- nature affixed thereto, published in the “ Catholic Maga- zine” for February, 1835, (page 73), in which he writes thus : — “ I suppose it will be conceded by all parties, that the Legislature that passed the Relief Bill containing the Oath in question would be a fair umpire to decide between my assertion and your correspondent’s denial. It will also, 1 suppose, be conceded, that as the Leyislature adopted the Bill proposed to the House of Commons by Mr. Peel, it did adopt it in the sense in which that Bill was explained by its original proposer Need I say more in reference to this point ? As you have so particularly invited public attention to the language and conduct of Mr. Wilmot Horton in 1829, I feel that I keep within the bounds of honourable controversy when I advert to some matters, not so specifically noticed by you, connected with that gentleman. Well do 1 remember the extreme jealousy and dissatisfaction excited by his pub- lished letter to the Duke of Norfolk, in which he called upon us to make proffer of the securities to which you refer. He did more ; he delivered a speech at Newcastle, which was so highly approved by yourself and your British 14 Catholic friends, that you thought it right to print and cir- culate not less than 10,000 copies of that document, con- taining the following passages : — “ Do not suppose, however, for one moment, that I am prepared to support any general system of emancipation, which does not call upon every individual partaking of its benefits to give the most unequivocal assurance that he is prepared to exercise every duty of loyalty and fidelity to his country that can or ought to be imposed upon a subject. I would permit no man to escape from the impediments which the existing tests offer to his admission into Parlia- ment, or into exercise of civil office. . . . Who would not swear that he disclaimed, disavowed, and solemnly abjured any attempt to subvert the Protestant Church Establish- ment ; who would not equally swear never to exercise any privilege to which he might become entitled, for the disturb- ance of the Protestant religion or Protestant Government in this kingdom ; or who would hesitate to swear that he made all these declarations in the plain and ordinary sense of the w'ords which conveyed them, without any evasion, equivo- cation, or mental reservation whatever. . . . Above all, under- stand me when I repeat, that if any Catholic he not pre- pared to go this length , I am not prepared to extend any emancipation to that Catholic , be he who he may.” Mr. Horton did not stop here ; but, on the contrary, he actually referred to you, by name, in his place in Parlia- ment as a Catholic holding sentiments in accordance with the obligations of the Oath as now construed by me. I derive my information, again, from the f ‘ Morning Chronicle,” in which I find (March 19th, 1829) the report of his Speech deli- vered on the preceding day. He stated his having received a letter from an Irish Roman Catholic Peer, to the following effect, and at the same time announced your concurrence with the sentiments contained in that letter, thus : — That Noble Lord, he said, observed to him in that letter — “ That in prohibiting the Catholics from legislating upon the affairs of the Established Church, he (Mr. Horton) would exact no sacrifice, but, on the contrary, afford them 15 a relief from a most disagreeable and irksome duty ; were it possible, indeed (continued the writer) to suppose that the Catholics should be admitted to Parliament unfettered by any restrictions or disqualifications, 1 should feel it my duty to act under the influence of such an opinion, and abstain from taking any part in the discussion , when the subject of the privileges of the Established Church came under con- sideration” (Hear, hear.) This too was the opinion of a very distinguished Roman Catholic, Mr. Blount, the Secretary to the English Catholic Association. This was the language and feeling of men of high honour and principle, &c.” This circumstance becomes most seriously and gravely important when we refer to dates. The speech of Mr. Wilmot Horton, which I extract from the “ Morning Chro- nicle ” report, was delivered on the 18th of March, 1829, being four or five days before the House of Commons went into committee on that clause of the Bill which provided that Catholic members should take the Oath embodied in that clause, and now under our consideration. Mr. Horton had proposed certain restrictions, which he abandoned upon the declared ground of his placing perfect reliance on the Oath, as a valid and sufficient security. He quoted you, and he pledged you to Parliament, not only by name, as Mr. Blount, but also by office, as Secretary to the English Catholics; and the pledge by which he thus solemnly bound you, was to this plain and full extent, that you concurred with the sen- timents expressed in the letter of the Irish Roman Catholic Peer, which he then read ; that is to say, that Catholics would not consider that any sacrifice would be exacted from them by their being “ prohibited from legislating upon the affairs of the Established Church,” and that “were it possible to suppose that the Catholics should be admitted to Parliament unfettered by any restrictions or disqualifica- tions, you and they should feel it a duty to act under the influence of such an opinion, and abstain from taking any 16 part in the discussion, when the subject of the privileges of the Established Church came under consideration.” To this declaration you stand pledged at this moment, so far as any man can be pledged by the language of another, stated with the knowledge of the person whom he pledges, and ac- quiesced in. by him. It cannot be questioned, but that legislating upon the property of the Established Church is “legislating upon the affairs of the Established Church;” and it is equally clear that the right to the possession of that property forms one of the most important “privileges of the Established Church.” Here, indeed, is proof incon- trovertible of your concurrence 'with those very sentiments of mine to which you are now, by some strange fatality, placed in opposition ; and you will not fail to bear in mind, that this declaration, on your behalf, was made under the most peculiar circumstances, and at a most peculiar mo- ment and crisis, when it was desirable that it should obtain the confidence of Parliament and the public, and was, obviously, and, no doubt, successfully, put forth for that purpose. You are the more involved, personally, in this obligation, because, according to my recollection, you were the only individual, then quoted in Parliament, by name, as an assurance for the reality and sincerity of that pledge. 1, for one, did en- tirely agree with you then, and the only difference between us now, arises from my continued adherence to the same sentiment, to which you were so pledged at that time. The English Catholic Association were fully informed of your pledges; yet, they did not state, or suggest, or hint, or whisper any dissent from the feelings to which you had so publicly pledged them, as well as yourself, before Parliament. The Irish Catholic leaders, who were equally informed on the subject, did not, either in London or in Dublin, intimate any wish to be disconnected from your sentiments on that occasion ; although you and I well know how desperately 17 anxious they were, only two or three months previously, so far at least as the public were informed , to disconnect themselves from you, in reference to a matter growing out of this very same subject of securities. All this took place on the 18th of March, and the discus- sion in the Committee on the Oath followed on the 23rd of that month, upon which occasion Mr. Secretary Peel Thomas Riddell Charles Conolly Henry Robinson, jun. William Plowden George Silvertop Henry Englefield Marlow Sidney Peregrine Edw. Towneley John Jones William Jones Richard Huddleston Thomas Stapelton Charles Gregory Fairfax R. Berkeley of Sketchley Robert Berkeley, jun. John Cavering of Callaly Thomas Mollyneux Seel Thomas Fitzherbert Robert Selby Henry Arundell Edward Blount So important was this Address considered, that you are represented to have noticed it in the following terms in your published speech at an open meeting of the Committee of the British Catholic Association, 26th July, 1826: — 4 Anthony Donellan David Henchy Wexford J John Hartney James Barron 46 Fingall Ken mare Gormanstown Southwell Trimlestown Robert Plunkett Thomas Barnewall Thomas Ffrench, Bt. Edward Bellew, Bt. Francis Goold, Bt. Thomas Ryan Dennis Scully James Nangle A. Donel, M.D. Thomas Warren John Duffy Richard Sause Bartholomew Taylor Joseph Taylor Charles Ryan Francis Cruise Nicholas Gannon Valentine O’Connor Walter Dowdall James Ryan Edward Moore J. Purcell, M.D. Thomas Egan, M.D. Ambrose O’Farrell Richard Bolger Rand. M‘Donnell Jeremiah W. Bagot O’Donoghue of the G Hugh O’Connor P. O’Brien Butler John O’Reily Thomas O’Connor John Rorke James Nowlan, Jun. Nich. Fleming Denis T. O’Brien Robert Caddell Thomas Barry M. F. Lynch Christopher Taylor Charles Roche John Taafe Richard Strange George Goold William Bellew Maurice O’Connell Daniel O’Mahony Gerrald Aylmer John White Thomas Redington J. M. Grainger R. S. Keating James Scully Francis Coleman Lewis Ward James P. Ward V. O'Connor, Jun. Edward Ryan . John Burke Edward Burke James Byrne John Brennan Jeremiah Ryan Pierce Barron William Barron Charles Byrne Dominick Rice Ambrose Moore R. P. M‘Donnell Eneas Macdonne John Byrne Daniel O’Connell John Lalor Thomas Dillon Philip Roche Elias Corbally Thomas Fitzgerald Dorn. W. O’Reilly Malachy Donelan Robert French Daniel Cronin James Ryan Thomas Galway John Roche E. Burke H. Trant No. 5. Official Instructions to Eneas Macdonnell, Esq., Agent to the Roman Catholics of Ireland, and assurances of approval and gratitude addressed to him. Extract from the Original Letter of Appointment and Instructions. “ No. 4, Capel Street, Nov. 3, 1824. “ Sir — I beg leave to inform you that the Catholic Association have unanimously chosen you as their Agent in London ; it is my pleasing duty to transmit the intelligence, and to request in the name of the Association that you will accept the appointment. It is right to inform you that the duties of such agent are very numerous and most im - 47 portant ; they will, it is believed, require constant attendance and undi- vided attention. They relate, principally, to the following objects : — “ From the commencement to the termination of the sittings of Par- liament, it will be your duty to be in constant communication with all the Members of both Houses who may be favourable to our claims. You will have to give them accurate information as to all important facts bearing on our cause, and to furnish explanations upon all points of difficulty that may occur in the progress of the debates ; and, in par- ticular, to discover the most respectful manner of controverting the mis- taken notions of Members of Parliament respecting the Catholic religion and Catholic people. “ Signed by F. W. Conway, Esq. “ Acting Secretary to the Irish Catholic Association.” Copy of Proceedings as forwarded to Mr. Macdonnell. “Mr. Eneas Macdonnell, — Mr. O’Connell presented the following report, and moved, seconded by Mr. Richard O’Gorman, * That the report be received, and be inserted on the minutes.’ Passed unani- mously. “ Committee, November 19, 1824. “ Resolved unanimously, — That we recommend it as a general rule, that all petitions be transmitted to, and all correspondence, as far as practi- cable, be carried on with the members of Parliament through the secre- tary to the Catholics of Ireland. “ 2nd, — That the following letter be written to Eneas Macdonnell, Esq., in case he shall finally accept the situation of our agent : — “ Sir, — Some differences of opinion having occurred with respect to the letter written to you on the 3rd day of November, 1824, it is determined that you should be informed, that it is the unanimous sense of the Asso- ciation, that you will, as our agent, be bound to keep up a constant communication with the Association, so as to act on all occasions under their immediate sanction ; it appearing to us that the only desirable course is, that there should be no discretionary power vested otherwise than in the Association. “ I have the honour to be, &c. &c. “ Nicholas Purcell O’Gorman, “ Secretary to the Catholics of Ireland. “ 3rd,-— That the said letter of the 3rd of November was intended to describe the duties of our agent, and not to confer power ; and that the same is not to be construed into any concession of power, and that this resolution do accompany the foregoing letter. “ 4th, — That in thus yielding to the sentiments of several respectable members of the Association upon the subject of our former letter, we yet deem it a duty to state our decided conviction , that the appointment , 48 which the Association has unanimously made of Mr. Macdonnell is one most likely to be eminently useful to the Catholic body. “ 5th, — That the foregoing resolution be respectfully submitted to the Association as our report. “4, Capel Street, December 2, 1824. “ Sir, — In reply to yours, under date of November 30th, acceding to the propositions as transmitted from the Committee of the Catholic Asso- ciation, in my letter, of the 27th of November, to you, I now enclose you the subsequent report of the Committee received and adopted by the As- sociation, and have the honour to remain, “ Yours faithfully, “ Nicholas Purcell O’Gorman, “ Eneas Macdonnell, Esq/’ “ Secretary C. I. (1825.) At an aggregate meeting of the Roman Catholics of Ireland, held, pursuant to requisition, this day, 14th April, 1825, The Lord Viscount Gormanstown in the Chair, the following resolutions were unanimously agreed to : — “ That the marked and grateful thanks of the Catholics of Ireland were due, and that the thanks of this meeting be given to Eneas Mac- donnell, Esq. for his zealous and most efficient discharge, upon all occa- sions, of his duty, as Agent to the Catholics of Ireland, in London.” (1826-7.) Extract of a Letter addressed to Eneas Macdonnell , Esq. “ Corn Exchange Hotel, Dublin, 20th January, 1827. “ Dear Sir, — In consequence of Mr. O'Gorman’s protracted absence, I think it better to send you the statement of duties pointed out for your government , &c. &c. (Signed) “ Edward Dwyer.” {Enclosure.) “ Duties pointed out to Mr. Macdonnell, as Agent to the Catholics of Ireland. “ Firstly, — To watch carefully over the diurnal press of London, and as much as possible over that of the provincial towns, in order imme- diately, and from authority, to contradict the various falsehoods which are circulated throughout England respecting the Catholic clergy and laity in Ireland — to refute the calumnious imputations which are so fre- quently thrown out, even by those who call themselves our political friends, against our religious tenets and principles — to explain what these principles really and truly are — and to show to the people of England that we have ever rejected and do abhor any opinions inconsistent with pure morality, genuine fidelity, and sincere attachment to constitutional 49 liberty. In thus vindicating the character and religious opinions of the Catholics of Ireland , you will be bound not only to superintend our interests, with relation to the daily press, but also to bestow much atten- tion on the progress of the unchristian slander which the ‘ Quarterly Review,’ and other periodical publications, pour upon us. “ Secondly, — It will be your duty to open a communication with the Catholic Association in England, by becoming a member of that body, and to transmit to them official and regular details of the Catholic. pro- ceedings in Ireland. And it is desired that you will, in the first instance, and as speedily as possible, communicate to them our determination to bring on the discussion of our question during the ensuing month of Fe- bruary, and as early in that month as possible. “Thirdly, — It will be necessary for you to enter into immediate commu- nication with Sir Francis Burdett, and our other friends in Parliament, respecting our views and wishes as to the management of our petitions during the next sessions, and to concert with him the best means of having that petition presented on the first day of the next meeting of Parliament. “ Fourthly, — From the commencement to the termination of the sittings of Parliament, it will be your duty to be in constant communication with all the members of both Houses who may be favourable to our claims. You will have to give them accurate information as to all important facts bearing on our case, and to furnish explanations upon all points of diffi- culty that may occur in the progress of the debates ; and in particular to discover the most respectful manner of controverting the mistaken no- tions of the members of Parliament respecting the Catholic religion and Catholic people. “ Fifthly, — It will be a relief to your mind to learn, that although the CATHOLIC BODY ARE UNANIMOUS IN THEIR APPROBATION OF YOUR conduct hitherto, yet, that under the existing law which prevents the continuance of any controlling society or association in Ireland, it is not in the power of any individual, nor can it, therefore, be within the scope of your authority, to commit, or to pledge, or to bind the Catholics of Ire- land, or any portion of them, by any contract or stipulation, or in any negociation whatsoever. “ Sixthly, — That all communications on Catholic affairs should be made through the Secretary for the Catholics of Ireland, Nicholas Pur- cell O’ Gorman, Esq. “Dublin, 30th December, 1826. “Lord Killeen, Chairman.” D ( 1829 .) Letters from Roman Catholic Archbishops and Bishops of Ire- land, to Eneas Macdonnell, Esq., expressive of their sentiments upon his discharge of the duties of Agent to the Catholics of Ireland. From the Most Rev. Dr. Murray (Dublin). “ Dublin, 18th April, 1829. “ My dear Sir, — It was only last night that I had the pleasure of receiving your obliging letter of the 13th instant, announcing the happy termination of the great affair which has engaged our attention so in- tensely and so long. “ I hasten to express my acknowledgments for the great kindness with which you favoured me with your two excellent Pamphlets, with copies of the Relief Bill in its original and amended form, and the reports of the Parliamentary debates to which it gave rise, including the Mirror of Parliament for the 5th and 6th of March. It was to me a subject of much consolation to have early and authentic reports of what was going forward, at a moment of such paramount importance. “ With respect to your conduct, as Agent for the Catholics of Ireland, I can safely say, that, as far as it fell under my observation, it appeared to ine to have been marked throughout with great talent, great zeal, and great fidelity. “ The prospect of happier days which now opens upon Ireland, must afford much consolation to all who have contributed to prepare the way for a result so truly auspicious. Accept my congratulations on this exhi- larating subject, together with the assurance of my sincere regal'd. “ I remain, my dear Sir, yours most faithfully, “ 4. D. Murray.” From the Most Rev. Dr. Laffan (Cashel). “ Thurles, 20th April, 1829. “ My dear Sir, — I have received the Papers you mention to have for- warded, viz., reports of debates, Parliamentary Bills, Mirror of Parliament, and copies of two Pamphlets. “ I acknowledge myself much indebted for your kindness in transmit- ting these documents, as also for various other instances of friendly atten- tion ; and it gives me great pleasure to find, that your conduct, as Agent to the Catholics of Ireland, has given very general satisfaction, and justly entitles you to hold that high rank you do in the estimation of your coun- tryme . “ I have the honour to remain, my dear Sir, “ Your obedient humble servant, “ 4* Robert Laffan.” 51 From the Right Rev. Dr. Burke ( Elphin ). “ Sligo, 20th April, 1829. “ Dear Sir, — I have had the honour of receiving the several Papers you had the goodness to send me, viz., reports of debates, Parliamentary Bills, Mirror of Parliament, and copies of two small Pamphlets, distributed among the Members of both Houses of Parliament. “ Accept my warmest thanks for the trouble you have taken in trans- mitting them to me. Allow me to assure you, that your conduct in the concluding scene of the Catholic Question has met with the approbation of every individual with whom I have conversed on the subject, and has been, in my opinion, in perfect unison with your uniform, active, zealous, and useful exertions during the five years you have acted as the accredited Agent of the Catholics of Ireland. — You deserve to be addressed by ‘ Fuge serve bone." I indulge a hope that Ireland will give you sub- stantial proof of her gratitude. “ I have the honour to remain, dear Sir, “ Most faithfully and sincerely yours, “ 4* Patrick Burke.” From the Most Rev. Dr. Kelly ( Dromore ). “ Newry, 20th April, 1 829^ “ My dear Sir, — 1 have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th, and beg in reply to say, that I received the several papers you kindly promised to send me, with the exception of the second Mirror of Parliament, which has not reached nr*. “ I have further great pleasure in offering it as my opinion, tha* in the discharge of your duties, as Agent of the Catholics of Ireland, your conduct has been marked by a strict fidelity to the instructions received, and an efficient zeal in the cause of your country. “ I have the honour to remain, my dear Sir, “ Your faithful and obedient servant, “ * J. Kelly.” From the Right Rev. Dr. McLaughlin {Derry). “ Derry, 20th April, 1829. “ My dear Sir, — Your kind communication of the 13th instant, came to hand only last night. I regularly received the different papers you mentioned, for which I return you my most grateful thanks. Since jour name was first enrolled in the Association list, I considered you one of its most efficient and working Members ; and now that matters have been brought to so happy a conclusion, l am satisfied that the future historian will transmit your name to the latest posterity, embalmed in the memory of your grateful Countrymen. “ I have the honour to remain, your most faithful servant, “ -p P. M‘Laughlin.” d 2 52 From the Right Rev. Dr. Ryan {Limerick). “ Limerick, April 20, 1829. 4 ‘ My dear Sir, — I have received the Papers and other communications to which you allude, and for which I feel extremely thankful. I think it incumbent on me, now that the struggle in which we have been so long engaged is brought to a happy termination, to declare that your zeal and efficiency in the discharge of the arduous duties allotted to you by the Catholics of this country, are above all praise, and that I hope a grateful country will not leave unrequited such laudable exertions. “ I have the honour to remain, my dear Sir, “ Your obliged and faithful servant, “ + J. Ryan.” From the Right Rev. Dr. Coppinger ( Cloyne ). “ Cove, April 21, 1829. “ My dear Sir, — In answer to your inquiry of the 13th inst., I hasten to acknowledge, and thankfully, the punctual receipt of the several papers you were so kind as to forward me. “ Concerning your conduct during the progress of the late important question, and as a zealous agent in London of the Irish Roman Catholics, during the last five years, I am confident that when I say you gave very general satisfaction in both capacities, I speak in perfect unison with what I believeJo.be the general sentiment of your countrymen. “ With most respectful esteem, “ I am, very sincerely, your faithful humble servant, “ W. Coppinger.” From the Right Rev. Dr. Murphy {Cork). “ Cork, April 21, 1829. “ Dear Sir, — Until your kind favour of the 14th instant reached me, I was not aware to whom I was indebted for reports of debates, Parliamentary Bills, and a number of the Mirror of Parliament. The two little pamphlets alluded to, I have no consciousness of having received. “ Your courtesy to me in this concluding scene claims my sincere thanks* I am not a politician — I have never mixed myself up with any party in the Catholic Body — I have never hazarded a public opinion upon the leading members ; but, without a reference to others, or to every indi- vidual act which you have had to perform, as Agent to the Catholics of Ireland, I can fairly state that your conduct, as such, has been influenced by conscience, and your duties discharged with zeal and integrity. “ I remain, dear Sir, yours most faithfully, “ John Murphy.” From the Right Rev . Dr. Egan ( Ardfert ). “ Killarney, April 21, 1829. “ My dear Sir, — Your circular of the 13th, which you did me the honour to direct to me, I received this morning. Accept my grateful acknowledgments for the several papers and various documents which you kindly transmitted ; all of which arrived safe, and in due course. It is generally allowed, that to talent, industry, and zeal, you have combined activity, vigilance, and integrity. In the times that passed by, inestimable must be the benefit to Ireland from such a combination, when tempered with your prudence and discretion. I trust you will live long to enjoy the great satisfaction of thinking that you have con- ferred great benefits on your country, and of feeling that that country is not insensible to your deserts. “ I remain, my dear Sir, your very faithful and obedient servant, “ + Cor. Egan.’* From the Right Rev. Dr. Collins ( Cloyne ). “ Skibbereen, April 21, 1829. “ My dear Sir, — I had the honour, yesterday, of receiving your letter of the 13th instant, and I beg you to accept my very thankful acknowledg- ment of the receipt of the interesting documents which you had the kindness, from time to time, to send me, pending the progress of the Catholic Relief Bill through Parliament. I request, particularly, your acceptance of my thanks for your own two pamphlets, the seasonable circulation of which, at the juncture when it was of such vital import- ance to our cause that error should be dispelled, and ignorance and prejudice enlightened and conciliated, must have had a powerful effect in correcting the errors and mitigating the hostility of many, on whose opinions the fate of the question hung. “ I, therefore, feel myself bound, in justice to your meritorious labours, under many trying difficulties, in promoting the attainment of that great object, for which the Catholics of Ireland so long struggled, and which they have, at last, in common with the Catholics of the empire, happily attained, to express my deep and grateful sense of the zeal, ability, prudence, and courage with which, in discharge of the important trust confided to you by the Catholics of Ireland, you have watched over their interests, and availed yourself of every opportunity to promote the final success of their cause. “ I cannot avoid saying that I shall feel much surprised and disap- pointed, if, in enumerating the friends and fellow-labourers, whose talents, zeal, and constancy have been most usefully employed in the liberation of Ireland, and of the empire, from the yoke of Civil Servitude, on account of Religion, and who are, therefore, entitled to an expression 54 of national acknowledgment, the Catholics of Ireland do not enrol your name among the foremost. “ I lemain, my dear Sir, with sincere esteem and regard, “ Your very faithful servant, “ 4- M. Collins.” From the Right Rev. Dr. Kernan {Clogher). “ Carrickrnacross, April 21, 1829. “ My dear S ; r, — I had the honour of receiving your kind letter of the 13th instant, and also the different papers you were so good as to send me from time to time, viz., reports of debates, Parliamentary Bills, Mirror of Parliament, and two small pamphlets, distributed to the Members of both Houses of Parliament; for which favours I shall ever retain a grateful recollection. “ And, now, my dear friend, that our labours are terminated, allow me to congratulate you, in particular, for having faithfully discharged your duty to your country. You may, with truth, say, with the Apostle of Nations, ‘ certamen certavi, fidem servavi, et in reliquo reposita est mihi,' fyc. §c. “ 1 have the honour to remain, my dear Sir, “ With the greatest esteem and respect, “ Your ever obliged and faithful servant, “ Hh E. Kernan.” From the Right Rev . Dr. Coen (Coadjutor in Clonfert). “ Loughrea, April 22, 1829. “ My dear Friend, — Your kind favour of the 13th instant came to hand this day ; this evening’s post shall bring back my answer. From your inquiries whether 1 received the several papers which you so obligingly sent me, I perceive that you did not receive a letter which I sent you about eight or ten days ago. As to your conduct, in the dis- charge of the arduous duties imposed on you as Agent to the Roman Catholics of Ireland, I believe there is not a second opinion on the subject throughout the kingdom among Catholics or liberal Protestants, that no man could acquit himself with more talent , prudence , and firm- ness. This, I assure you, is my candid, my unalterable opinion. “ I have the honour to remain, my ever dear Friend, “ Your much obliged and grateful servant, “ -f* Thomas Coen.” From the Right Rev. Dr. Keating (Ferns). “ Enniscorthy, April 24, 1829. “Dear Sir, — The newspapers and other documents which you were pleased to send me arrived safe, and were very acceptable, as they con- tained the earliest intelligence op the progress and final settlement of the Catholic Question. That settlement, I presume, will relieve you from the arduous duties which you had to perform in the situation of Agent to the Catholics of Ireland — a situation which, in my opinion, you have uniformly filled with zeal, ability, and effect. “ Accept my best thanks, and believe me to be, my dear Sir, “ Your obliged and faithful servant, “ 4" James Keating.” From the Right Rev. Dr. O' Shaughnessy ( Killaloe ). “ Newmarket-on-Fergus, April 24, 1829. “Dear Sir, — I have been favoured with yours of the 13th only this day. I am now almost totally confined, and feeble in mind and body — the effect of old age and its consequent infirmities. “ I have received the two small pamphlets, and recollect no others. As to my individual part, I approve highly of your conduct and fidelity while in the station of Agent to the Catholics of Ireland; nor have I heard or known any thing that was not creditable to you as such. “ I have the honour to be, faithfully yours, “ -4* J- Q’Shaughnessy.” From the Right Rev. Dr. M‘ Gettigan ( Raphoe ). “ Letterkenny, April 26, 1829. “ My dear Sir, — Your very kind and obliging letter of the 13th instant only reached this place last evening. I had the pleasure of receiving all the Newspapers, Parliamentary Debates, Pamphlets, &c., which you were kind enough to send me. “ 1 avail myself of this opportunity of congratulating you on the happy termination of your arduous labours ; and allow me also to return you my most sincere thanks for your strenuous exertions and valuable services in the discharge of your duties as Agent for the Catho- lics of Ireland, who, I hope, will not be so destitute of gratitude as not to remember them in a proper manner. “ I have the honour to be, my dear Sir, “ Your most obedient humble servant, “ 4- Patrick M‘Gettigan.” From the Right Rev. Dr. M‘Nicholas ( Achonry ). “ Ballahderrin, 27th April, 1829. “ My dear Friend, — I received, in due course, the Parliamentary Reports and other publications which you had the kindness to forward to me during the late discussion of our question, and for your very obliging 5G attention on this, as well as many other occasions, I take leave to offer you my warmest acknowledgments. “ Allow me to congratulate you, in a particular manner, on the suc- cessful and glorious termination of the labours in which you have been unremittingly engaged during the best period of your life. The ardent zeal and incorruptible fidelity which you evinced as agent to the Catho- lics of Ireland — the great personal and pecuniary sacrifices which you made in opposing the common enemy — the various and important services you have rendered by your talents and your writings, have long since established a firm claim on the gratitude of your country, and entitle you to a distinguished place among the most devoted friends of Civil and Religious Freedom. “ As the country has now a debt to discharge to those patriots who have been prominently conspicuous in raising her from slavery to freedom, I confidently anticipate that your name will appear on the list of the few chosen sons who were mainly instrumental in achieving this splendid triumph. “ Though the clergy, as a body, have gained nothing, but have been rather visited with new penalties, they, however, feel grateful for the benefits conferred on the laity, and will not fail to evince their gratitude in a suitable manner. “ I remain, my dear Friend, with the most sincere esteem, “ Very faithfully yours, “ 4- P. M‘Nicholas.” From the Right Rev. Dr. Logan (Meath). “ Dublin, April 29, 1829. “ Dear Sir, — Being from home for some days past, I was not honoured with your communication of the 13th instant before this day. I received the several papers, &c., you transmitted to me during the interesting period of the Parliamentary discussions on the Catholic Question. Accept my best thanks for them, and be assured of the deep sense of gratitude I entertain for your many kind favours. “ I can have no hesitation in giving it as my opinion that you dis- charged the arduous duties of your office ably, zealously, and effectively. “ I have the honour to remain, dear Sir, “ With great respect and esteem, “ Your most obedient, humble servant, “ -p Robert Logan.” From the Right Rev. Dr. Ffrench ( Kilfenora and Kilmacduagh ). “ Galway, May 2, 1829. “ My dear Friend, — I have been regularly favoured, from time to time, with all the Papers, Reports of Debates, Parliamentary Bills, and the two pamphlets, &c. &c. 57 “Allow me first to apologize for not answering you sooner on this subject, and next to thank you for the documents which you were so kind as to send me. I have been from home on my visitation during the last fortnight, and have only to say, in justice to your zealous exer- tions, arduous struggles, and sufferings for the cause of Civil and Reli- gious Liberty — that you have not only met with my warmest appro- bation, but also with that of the Catholic Hierarchy and People of Ireland. “ Believe me, my dear Sir, that I am not induced to give this opinion as a mere matter of compliment, but I feel called on unequivocally to bear testimony to the valuable services rendered by you to our common country. “ I have the honour to remain, your very faithful friend, “ -f- Edmd. Ffrench.” From the Right Rev. Dr. Kelly ( Waterford ). “ Waterford, May 2, 1829. “ My dear Sir, — Your kind favour of April 13th reached me on Easter Monday, when I was just setting off from home ; since that time I have been but little here, and this must plead my apology for not writing to you sooner. “ I received, I believe in due course, all the papers and tracts you were kind enough to address to me, and which you mention in your letter ; and, indeed, for them I conceive myself much obliged to you. “ I cannot help saying, that your official conduct in the concluding scene of our drama, as well as throughout the piece, for the last five years, has my warmest approbation, and is, I think, entitled to the admi- ration of every well-meaning Catholic. “ I have the honour to be, very sincerely, “ Your obedient, humble servant, “ 4- Patrick Kelly.” From the Right Rev. Dr. Macmahon Killaloe). “ Wellpark, May 4, 1829. “ Dear Sir, — Your circular of the 13th ultimo did not reach my house until the 23d, when I was absent ; otherwise I should have been earlier in acknowledging the receipt of it. I did receive the papers and pam- phlets you mention. In my humble opinion you have acted your part most ably, with great honour to yourself, and benefit to the cause you had in hand. “ I have the honour to be, dear Sir, “ Your humble and obedient servant, “ 4- P. Ma f MAHON.” E 5S From the Right Rev. Dr. M'Hale (Coadjutor in Killatla). “ Ardnaree, May 5, 1829. . “ My dear Sir, — Through some unaccountable delay your last favour has not reached me until within the course of this week. I have received regularly the different papers to which you have alluded, and have to express to you my sincere and warm acknowledgments for your kindness in forwarding the earliest intelligence regarding the Catholic Question during every stage of the debate. “ It is scarcely necessary for me to add my humble attestation to the universal approval which the whole couni ry has so often expressed of your zeal and fidelity. The patient industry with which you collected every document that was fraught with calumnies on our country and religion, has fully evinced your disposition to labour for the public good; and the powerful exposure of such libels through the means of facts and documents, that were beyond the reach of contradiction, affords full evidence of the success with which that disposition was crowned. u He who has to represent a body composed of a number of indi- viduals whose views are sometimes conflicting, must often find it difficult to meet the wishes while he labours to promote the interests of all. About such an individual there must be a firmness of resolution that will not easily give way to every sudden change of sentiment that may be hastily adopted, and as hastily laid aside. Besides his other qualities of unceasing vigilance and perseverance, there was one that peculiarly fitted the Agent of the Catholics of Ireland for his office, — the inflexible integrity with which he maintained those sound opinions which have ever distinguished the Catholics of Ireland. “• Fortunately for the minister s fame, as well as the happiness of the empire, no unhallowed contact between our hierarchy and the crown has been essayed as a barter for our emancipation ; yet our Agent is not, on that account, the less entitled to our gratitude for exhibiting the repeated resolutions of the bishops on that subject, and from which there was no danger of their receding. “ In common with the rest of our countrymen, accept my feeble thanks for your zeal, your fidelity, and your uncompromising firmness in the discharge of your duties as Agent to the Catholics of Ireland ; and, wishing, you long life to enjoy the blessings of freedom, “ I remain, very faithfully yours, “ -£■ John Machale.” From the Right Rev. Dr. Crolly (Down and Co7inor). “ Belfast, May 12, 1829. “ My dear Sir, — 1 have to acknowledge the receipt of your very kind and much esteemed letters, together with several interesting parlia- 59 mentary papers, which you had the goodness to transmit to me during the late important discussion of our question. “ My absence from Belfast, and the indispensable duties of visiting my diocese, will, I trust, be taken as an apology for the delay of my answer. “ I feel no hesitation in stating that I had always full coniidence in your abilities and integrity, and that your diligence and fidelity in dis- charging the arduous duties of your situation, as Agent of the Catholics of Ireland, have afforded me unfeigned satisfaction. “ I have the honour to be, my dear Sir, “ Your obedient and faithful servant, “ 4* William Crolly.” From the Right Rev. Dr. Magauran ( Ardagh ). “ Ballymahon, May 22, 1829. “ My dear Sir, — I was obligingly favoured, during the discussion on the Catholic question, with newspapers and other documents apper- taining to that important subject ; many of those I believe to have been kindly forwarded by you, for which I now thank you. “ I have much gratification in saying that in my very humble opinion your exertions in various ways powerfully contributed to have brought our long agitated question to its late happy termination ; your zeal and perseverance were unremitting; I am sure your judgment and vigilance were equally conspicuous. “ You have the hearty and sincere thanks of your obedient humble servant, “ 4* James Magauran.” From the Most Rev. Dr. Kelly ( Tuam ). “ Rome, July 9, 1829. “ My dear Friend, — Few know better than I do, and no one appre- ciates more highly, the great value and importance of your indefatigable exertions in obtaining for the Catholics a relaxation from those civil disabilities under which they laboured. Whilst others, by their language and their measures, were attracting public notice, and fixing public attention upon their proceedings, you, in my judgment, were more usefully, though not so conspicuously engaged, in removing from the minds of influential persons those prejudices which were the principal bar to our emancipation, and proving by solid argument, and illus- trating by incontrovertible facts, that there was nothing in the Catholic religion incompatible with civil allegiance, or with the stability of the State. You pursued the prudent course of representing to those in 60 power the dangers that did really exist,, and urged the expediency as well as the necessity of averting the impending evils, by the speedy appli- cation of the only effectual remedy, namely, the removal of those odious distinctions which divided the empire into two contending parties, arrayed in dreadful hostility, the one against the other. “ If the course pursued by you was not the most popular, it was, however, the most beneficial to the community, the most advantageous to the State, and the most honourable to yourself. “ I remain, my dear Friend, most faithfully yours, “ 4- Oliver Kelly/ London : William Clowes and Sons, Stamford Street.