From the experience I have had of the disposition of the house of commons to be just and liberal towards Ireland, I am convinced, that if the lead ing catholics take a proper advantage are within their reach, for advancing their own cause, the present application to parliament will be productive of the long sought for measure of emancipation. For this reason I hope the committee, and those for whom they immediately act, will not be offended with me, if, instead of at once complying with their wishes, by moving upon the general merits of the petition, I take the opportunity which their letter affords me of recommending them to employ the interval which must necessarily elapse, (in consequence of the approaching assizes, and the Easter recess) before a discussion upon the petition taking place, in continuing their endeavours to establish themselves by the removal of all dissension in the good will and affections of those to whom it belongs to determine whether they and the whole roman catholic population of the united kingdom, are to remain oppressed by grievous exclusions, or to be admitted into the full enjoy. ment of the British constitution. I have the honour to be, your obedient HENRY PARNELL.” of all the several circumstances which servant. "To Sir Thomas Esmonde, Bart." The letters having been read, Mr. Mahon and several other gentlemen were for putting off the aggregate meeting until further notice, as they did not see there was any business to be done at such meeting. Mr. O'Connell said he thought he could convince the committee that it would be unwise, nay culpa. ble, to adjourn the meeting under the present circumstances. He intreated one moment's patience to hear one single fact, and one single reasoning on that fact; it was this: there was now, for the first time, an avowal of the veto, directly and of ficially communicated to the catholic body. In Lord Grenville's letter it had come circuitously, but here was a letter from Mr. Grattan to their chairman, which letter declarORTHOD. Jour. Vol. V. ed in express words that he preferred emancipation with the veto to our present situation. Lord Grenville's letter, though not directed to the body, met a prompt reply. The veto was instantly and contemptuously rejected, as the price of their un doubted rights; but what was to become of Mr Grattan's letter?→→ Was it to remain unanswered ?—If it did remain unanswered, the proverb would apply, that "silence gives consent;". but the consent would not rest upon that ground alone, for Mr Grattan would be bound to think, and, therefore, warranted to say this: The catholics resolved to hold an aggregate meeting-they wrote to know my sentiments with respect to the veto-I replied, and gave them my decided opinion in favour. of that measurewhat was the consequence-the mo ment they got my letter, they ac quiesed in my advice-they adjourned the aggregate meeting-they se parated they dissolved, lest any busy agitators should revive the opposition to the veto. This is what Mr. Grattan would have a right to think and to say-this is what your conduct would prove to him, and to the people of England. Are you really for the veto-you certainly are not. There is, therefore, but one course to be pursued-reply to Mr. Grattan's letter, from the ag gregate meeting-tell him there, respectfully but decidedly, that you never will consent to the veto -that you infinitely prefer your present degradation to any relief accompanied by the veto; if you are silent you are ruined. -- Mr. Mahon said, he had not seen the matter in that point of view, and acknowledged that Mr. O'Connell's arguments had changed his opinion; and he felt that to leave Mr. Grattons letter unanswered would be to accede to its terms. The aggregate meeting was accord ingly ordered to be advertised, and I guard their venerable religion from the next day, the committee having met, Mr. O'Connell submitted several resolutions, which he thought proper to be proposed for the adoption of the meeting, to which the committee unanimously agreed. Mr O'Connell then adverted to the letter which was received from the Rev. Mr. Hayes, from Rome. He declared he did not intend to take any notice whatever of that letter in any observation he would make at the aggregate meeting. He pledged himself he would not give his sanction to its being introduced, as there was such a diversity of opinion upon it. He would discountenance, in every possible way, its being touched upon: but if, contrary to his wish, it should be introduced, in that event he would not pledge himself not to deliver his sentiments. Dr. Burke said, the letter created more sensation in that city than any thing that had occurred within his recollection. He said he was connected with three or four public institutions, and attended them since that letter got publicity, where he heard every person connected with them expressed surprise at it; and, having met some of the members of those institutions this day, their minds were greatly relieved by his informing them, that the committee had come yesterday to a determination, that it should not be noticed at the aggregate meeting. -Adjourned the contagion of corruption. About one o'clock, Sir Thomas Esmonde, baronet, was called to the chair. Mr. O'Connell then moved the following resolution : "Resolved, that Edward Hay, esq. be particularly requested to continue his invaluable services as secretary to the catholics of Ireland." Mr. Dowell seconded this motion, which was passed unanimously. Mr. Hay then rose and read the requisition convening the late meeting at Townsend-street chapel, and the resolutions adopted by that meeting-1st. Thanking Mr. Hay for his exertions in promoting unanimity : 2nd. Appointing a committee for the purpose of conciliation; and, 3rd. Determining that an aggregate meeting should be called to receive the report of that committee. Mr. Mahon said, that in the absence of the gentlemen of the subcommittee, he would undertake to report to the meeting the exertions which had been made to banish dissensions from amongst the catholie body, to unite its members, and, if possible, procure their co-operation in the common pursuit of catholic emancipation. The conciliating committee had left nothing in their power undone to effect the great object for which they had been nominated; and, though he was sorry to be obliged to state, that their efforts had not been crowned with as complete and ample success as the catholic people desired, he felt himself justified in declaring, that considerable benefit had resulted from their labours. He On Thursday, the 6th instant, one of the most numerous and respect- then requested Mr. Hay to read the circular letter, with which the cọmassemblies of the catholics ever witnessed was held in Clarendon-mittee had commenced the perforinance of their duties. street chapel, Dublin, That extensive building was literally crowded to excess with an anxious auditory, who, in this crisis of the catholic cause, pressed forward to deliberate on the measures best calculated to forward their civil liberties, and to able THE AGGREGATE MEETING. Mr. Hay accordingly read the letter, and stated that about one hun. dred copies of it had been circulated, and fourteen letters in reply been received. He had spoken to several of the gentlemen to whom the cir cular had been sent, but who had not returned answers, and they bad informed him that they never would bave signed the Trimbleston petition, if they had supposed that it went the length of conceding the veto. Indeed, some individuals had added, that they would as soon have put their right hands into the fire, as make use of them to sign a consent to that measure. From this circumstance, as well as the general information which Mr. Hay had collected upon the subject, he felt himself warranted in concluding, that the number of vetoists was now, indeed, extremely limited, and that the most solid advantages had resulted to the catholic cause from the formation of the conciliating committee, and from the zeal and ability with which they had discharged their duties. Mr. Taylor then proposed the following resolutions:- "Resolved, that we duly appreciate the value of unanimity amongst the catholics, and approve of the measures lately resorted to, in order to produce that desirable result. But we cannot recognize any basis for such unanimity, save such as shall exclude any species of vetoistical arrangement whatever. "Resolved, that the people of Ireland in former times sustained the loss not only of civil liberty, but of their properties, and many of them their lives rather than relinquish the faith and discipline of the ancient catholic church of Ireland; and that we, their descendants, are equally determined to adhere thereto, notwithstanding any temporal disadvantages, penalties, pains, or privations. "Resolved, that the catholic prelates of Ireland, assembled in solemn synod, did unanimously enter into the follow ing resolution:That it is our decided and conscientious conviction, that any power granted to the crown of Great Britain, of interfering directly or indi. rectly, in the appointment of bishops for the Roman catholic church of Ireland, must essentially injure, and may eventually subvert, the Roman catholic religion in this country," 66 Resolved, That the concurrence of all classes of catholics, in the measure of domestic nomination, ought to pre vail unanimously amongst ourselves, and to obviate the alarms, however unfounded, of the enemies of our emanci pation. lutions be communicated by our chair"Resolved, That the foregoing reso man to the Earl of Donoughmore, to Sir Henry Parnell, hart. and the right hon. Henry Grattan; and that we do most earnestly solicit them, individually, to oppose any measure in parliament, inconsistent with these our unalterable sentiments. " Resolved, That these resolutions be respectfully communicated to all our friends in both houses of parliament. Mr. Mahon seconded these resolutions, which passed unanimously, and, after some minor business, the meeting broke up. IMPORTANT CORRESPONDENCE. Conformably to one of the resolutions adopted at the above aggregate meeting, Sir Thomas Esmonde addressed letters to Lord Donoughmore, Sir Henry Parnell, and Mr. Grattan, copies of which we subjoin, together with the answers of those distinguished characters. If we feel indignant at the cold and vapid reply of Mr. Grattan, we are cheered and delighted with the declarations of the other two illustrious statesmen, but more especially with the firm and resolute condemnation of vetoism by the noble lord.-Were it in our power, every word contained in Lord Donoughmore's answer should be printed in letters of gold; to mark, however, our gratitude and admiration of this nobleman's constitutional sentiments, we have inserted them in an extra-sized type, and we do most fervently and earnestly recommend to the clerical and laical favourers of vetoism in the catholic body, to study and reflect on the just and conclusive objections to temporal influence in spiritual affairs, so explicitly yet temperately defined by this long-tried, honest and consistent protestant advocate for the rights of his catholic country men. "4, Capel-street, 8th March. "SIR, I have the honour to inclose you the resolutions of the catholics of Ireland, determined on at their aggregate meeting, held on the 6th inst. "The catholics of Ireland know and appreciate your exertions, both in their cause in particular, and in the cause of their country in general; they, with gratitude remember you as the great advocate of their present political liberty; and, with the rest of their country men, remember the period of 1782, and revere you as the successful asserter of their country's rights. "Impressed, therefore, with the deep est gratitude for these many services, I beg leave most respectfully to submit to you the dread the Irish catholic people entertain of the veto, and their decided preference to remain as they are, to obtain their emancipation, if connected with this measure. It is neither passion nor prejudice which fixes them to this opinion, but the conscientious conviction, that it might ultimately injure the religion they profess, with out giving any additional security to the state, against influence which do-mestic nomination is so well calculated 'amply to effect. Such being their decided sentiments, they fondly trust to have the good fortune of your power ful advocacy, and that opinion arising from principle may be respected, particularly by you, sir, whose long and tried services in their cause, and that of their country, (pardon me the repetition,) prompt all to place every confi dence in a name so interwoven with the best interests of your country. "I have the honour to be, sir, "With great respect and esteem, "Your obedient humble servant, "THOMAS ESMONDE." "4, Capel-street, 8th March, "MY LORD,-I have the honour to erclose the resolutions, adopted at the meeting of the catholics of Ireland, held on the 6th instant. "It is with peculiar gratification that I undertake this communication to your lordship, as your coincidence of opinion with the tenor of these resolutions, and wishes of the catholic people and clergy of Ireland, command their utmost gratitude. "The enlightened view your lordship has taken of domestic nomination, which, whilst it quiets all alarm respecting the danger of foreign influence, will, I trust, be deemed to unite a perfectly constitutional system of civil and religious liberty. "I have the honour to be, my lord, with true esteem and respect, your lordship's obedient servant, "THOMAS ESMONDE." "Knocklofty, 12th March, 1817. "SIR,-On the subject of that resolution, in which as the organ of that great body of my catholic countrymen, you desire the concurrence and support of their parliamentary advocates, my answer is easy and explicit. No consideration shall ever induce me to purchase for them civil privileges, by the concession of a veto to the ministers of the crown. “To remove every possible apprehension, upon the score of that silly and fantastic sophism of foreign influence, to which expiring bigotry delights to cling, I have so often and so earnestly, in my place in parliament, and port of which the state contrielsewhere, endeavoured to en-buted nothing. They will not, force the necessity of restoring the second order of the catholic clergy, to their ancient and undoubted rights, that I have nothing to add, but to express my perfect concurrence with those sentiments, which you have done me the honour of communicating to me, on that important part of question. however, make a less favourable "I have the honour to be, sir, "To the veto I have an unconquerable repugnance, as entirely uncalled for, and, therefore, an unjustifiable innovation; and because I am sure that it would work ill, and introduce court intrigue into the sanctuary of that church, from which it has been as yet excluded. I would resist it also on another account, because I am fully persuaded that by making them, on whom it would be inflicted, less pure and uninfluenced in the selection of their own moral and re- "Permit me, sir, respectfully to add to ligious instructors, it would not the sentiments expressed in those resolube calculated on that account to lic people and clergy of Ireland, respecttions,that the determination of the cathoimprove them much in the rela-ing any species of vetoistical arrangetions in which they stand, as subjects to the protestant state. "Of that portion of your communion, so well entitled, on every account, to the highest consideration and respect, who thought it their duty to approach parlia. ment, during the last session, by a petition separate and distinct from that of their own general body, and who did me the honour of placing that petition in my hands, there are, I am well aware, some who do not view with the same apprehensions, which I have avowed, the projected interposition of the ministers of the crown, in those ecclesiastical arrangements, towards the sup "Dublin, March 8, 1817. "SIR,-I have the honour to enclose the resolutions adopted by the meeting of the catholics of Ireland, on the 6th instant. ment, is such, as precludes the slight est hope of any theoretical speculation of reconciling the people to a measure clergy, which must injure, and might that would practically degrade their eventually, subvert the catholic religion in this country. While they, therefore, take every opportunity to exthe subject of the veto, they are the press their unalterable sentiments on more anxious to declare their desire for domestic nomination, a measure which they conceive to be such as must preclude any alarm of foreign influence, even in the minds of the most timo rous, and best calculated to secure the support of all friends to civil and reli gious liberty. "I have the honour to be, sir, with every sentiment of respect and esteem, your most obedient humble servant, "THOMAS ESMONDE." "To Sir Henry Parnell, &c. &c. &c.] |