CHAP. III.] ROMAN CATHOLIC DECLARATION.

67

this, the Roman Catholics, adopting the suggestion thrown out by their Protestant friends at the meeting in Belfast, and following the example of a large portion of the English Roman Catholics, published a formal declaration* of their opinions

* Declaration of the Catholics of Ireland in a General Committee. Dublin, March 17th, 1792.

Whereas certain opinions and principles, inimical to good order and government, have been attributed to the Catholics, the existence of which we utterly deny; and, whereas, it is at this time peculiarly necessary to renounce such imputations, and to give the most full and ample satisfaction to our Protestant brethren, that we hold no principle whatsoever, incompatible with our duty as men or as subjects, or repugnant to liberty, whether political, civil, or religious.

Now, we, the Catholics of Ireland, for the removal of all such imputations, and in deference to the opinion of many respectable bodies of men, and individuals among our Protestant brethren, do hereby, in the face of our country, of all Europe, and before God, make this our deliberate and solemn declaration :

1. We abjure, disavow, and condemn the opinion, that princes, excommunicated by the Pope and Council, or by any ecclesiastical authority whatsoever, may therefore be deposed or murdered by their subjects, of any other persons. We hold such doctrine in detestation, as wicked and impious; and we declare we do not believe, that either the Pope, with or without a general Council, or any prelate or priest, or any ecclesiastical power whatsoever, can absolve the subjects of this kingdom, or any of them, from their allegiance to his Majesty King George the Third, who is, by authority of Parliament, the lawful King of this realm.

2. We abjure, condemn, and detest, as unchristian and impious, the principle, that it is lawful to murder, destroy, or any ways injure any person whatsoever, for or under the pretence of their being heretics;and we declare solemnly before God, that we believe that no act in itself, unjust, immoral, or wicked, can ever be justified or excused by, or under pretence or colour, that it was done either for the good of the church, or in obedience to any ecclesiastical power whatsoever.

3. We further declare, that we hold it as an unchristian and impious principle, that "no faith is to be kept with heretics." This doctrine we detest and reprobate, not only as contrary to our religion, but as destructive of morality, of society, and even of common honesty; and it is our firm belief that an oath made to any person, not of the Catholic religion, is equally binding, as if it were made to any Catholic what

soever.

4. We have been charged with holding as an article of our belief, that the Pope, with or without the authority of a general council, or that certain ecclesiastical powers can acquit and absolve us, before God, from our oath of allegiance, or even from the just oaths and contracts entered into between man and man:

Now, we do utterly renounce, abjure, and deny that we hold or maintain any such belief, as being contrary to the peace and happiness of society, inconsistent with morality, and above all, repugnant to the true spirit of the Catholic religion.

and principles as connected with the civil and religious liberty of the subject.

The General Committee shortly after issued a circular letter to the Catholics of Ireland,

5. We do further declare, that we do not believe that the Pope of Rome, or any other foreign prince, prelate, state, or potentate, hath, or ought to have, any temporal or civil jurisdiction, power, superiority, or pre-eminence, directly or indirectly, within this realm.

6. After what we have renounced, it is immaterial, in a political light, what may be our opinion or faith in other points respecting the Pope. However, for greater satisfaction, we declare, that it is not an article of the Catholic faith, neither are we thereby required to believe or profess" that the Pope is infallible," or that we are bound to obey any order, in its own nature immoral, though the Pope, or any ecclesiastical power, should issue or direct such order; but, on the contrary, we hold, that it would be sinful in us to pay any respect or obedience thereto.

7. We further declare, that we do not believe that any sin whatsoever committed by us can be forgiven at the mere will of any Pope, or of any priest, or of any person or persons whatsoever; but that sincere sorrow for past sins, a firm and sincere resolution, as far as may be in our power, to restore our neighbour's property or character, if we have trespassed on, or unjustly injured either; a firm and sincere resolution to avoid future guilt, and to atone to God, are previous and indispensable requisites to establish a well-founded expectation of forgiveness; and that any person who receives absolution without these previous requisites, so far from obtaining thereby any remission of his sins, incurs the additional guilt of violating a sacrament.

8. We do hereby solemnly disclaim, and for ever renounce all interest in, and title to, all forfeited lands resulting from any rights, or supposed rights of our ancestors, or any claim, title, or interest therein; nor do we admit any title, as a foundation of right, which is not established and acknowledged by the laws of the realm, as they now stand. We desire, further, that whenever the patriotism, liberality, and justice of our countrymen, shall restore to us a participation in the elective franchise, no Catholic shall be permitted to vote at any election for members to serve in parliament, unless he shall previously take an oath to defend, to the utmost of his power, the arrangement of property in this country, as established by the different acts of attainder and settlement.

9. It has been objected to us, that we wish to subvert the present church establishment for the purpose of substituting a Catholic establishment in its stead. Now we do here disclaim, disavow, and solemnly abjure any such intention; and further, if we shall be admitted into any share of the constitution, by our being restored to the right of elective franchise, we are ready, in the most solemn manner to declare, that we will not exercise that privilege to disturb and weaken the establishment of the Protestant religion, or Protestant Government in this country.

Signed by order and on behalf of the General Committee of the Catholics of Ireland,

EDWARD BYRNE, Chairman.
RICHARD M'CORMICK, Secretary.

CHAP. III.]

ANTI-CATHOLIC ADDRESSES.

69

calling upon them to appoint delegates from each county, and all the great cities, to form an enlarged committee, directing them as to the mode of appointment, and recommending that they should be instructed to petition the King, and ask for the elective franchise, and equal participation in the benefits of the trial by jury.

This letter roused the feelings of the ascendancy party, and every exertion was made by Government to oppose the project. The Corporations and the grand juries were appealed to; Lord Clare's party in Limerick; Mr. Foster and his family in Lowth; the Beresfords in Londonderry-all co-operated with the grand juries in passing resolutions against the Catholics and their projected plan of delegation. Carlow,

Mayo, Monaghan, Longford, Cork, Limerick, Wexford, Cavan, Fermanagh, Roscommon, Leitrim, Meath, Londonderry, Armagh, Louth, were the chief counties from whence grand jury addresses were forwarded; but it was Limerick that gave the tone to the rest.

In consequence of these proceedings, the subcommittee of the Catholics drew up a case for counsel,* who gave it as their opinion that the proposed plan was perfectly legal and constitutional. The Committee also published a declaration in reply to the grand jury addresses, and voted thanks to their Protestant friends for their support. The addresses were, in general, violent, illiberal, and intemperate; fatal to the peace of the country, and injurious to the character of the Government, who by these sinister and unworthy arts excited the people, just as they were disposed to coalesce, and to forget past animosities; they set both parties - Protestant and Catholicat war against each other, and shewed that they * See Appendix IV,

+ See Appendix V.

could only command their divisions, but not their allegiance.

The body that sprung from these proceedings was the celebrated Catholic Convention of 1793. Mr. Grattan considered it advisable, and strongly recommended it, knowing also that if the Catholics had been admitted to Parliament, a reform would soon have followed. It was a necessary, but a strong measure; for conventions, like revolutions, should be resorted to sparingly; and it is necessity alone that can justify them. This one originated at a meeting held at Mr. Forbes's, in Kildarestreet. Mr. George Ponsonby, Mr. Hutchinson, (Lord Donoughmore), Mr. Grattan, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Keogh, Mr. Edmund Byrne, and some others, were present. The Catholics were frightened at the proposed measure, and would hardly attempt it. Hutchinson was very bold; Forbes was decided; Keogh was timid. The party had some trouble in persuading them to come forward but the opinion of the meeting was so strong in favour of holding a convention, that at length the Catholics were brought to agree to it.

Shortly afterwards Mr. Grattan went to England, and was fortunate enough to be in London at the time the Delegates from the Convention arrived there. He had then an opportunity of removing some false impressions, and unjust charges which had been brought against his countrymen, in order to prejudice the mind of the British Government, and of the King-a course of proceeding which was practised with too much success a few years afterwards.

MR. GRATTAN TO THE REV. MR. BERWICK.

MY DEAR SIR,

Bray, 14th Aug. 1792.

I am very happy at your arrival, and more so at the pro

СНАР. III.] MR. GRATTAN'S LETTERS.

*

71

mise you have made me, but don't forget to accomplish it. Persuade Hardy he is indolent, and we'll rouse him. Mrs. Grattan has not been well, but I hope is getting better. I see the truth of your observation on Burke's last book. From the extract he seems much wounded, much inflamed,-beset,-forsaken. 'Tis a pity. "Twas difficult not to foresee such a situation. Yours, most truly, H. GRATTAN.

MR. GRATTAN TO MR. BERWICK.

MY DEAR SIR,

Harrowgate, Oct. 13th, 1792.

I hope soon to see you, I think, much better than when we left Ireland. Mrs. Grattan has not yet recovered her strength, but is so much better that I have no fears about her. She is much obliged to you for your kind enquiries. In your letter you mention an event which I began to despair of the amendment of Mrs. Hardy; it is to him spirit and exertion, and to the House of Commons good speeches, which I hope he will make next session, otherwise we shall go wild instead of Mrs. Hardy. I hear no Irish politics but from the papers, which contain not much. The parade of the Volunteers on the acceptance of the French constitution must annoy the Government very much they brought it on themselves. We are to meet the 4th, I hope in numbers, at the Whig Club, whose button attracts the observation of some here, being very large, and they think mysterious, where more is meant than meets the eye.

Here I get very little of politics. Peace and submission towards Russia. Expense and anxiety in the Mysore. The accounts about the latter are not so favourable as the former were, or the next must be, otherwise 'twill be for England, 'tis thought, a bad war.

I know nothing about home, not having heard from them these three weeks; but I hope that all are alive and well. I have heard nothing about Forbes,-where is he? or how is he? But M'Can wrote to me from Ireland some time ago, and gave no bad account; from thence I argue he is well; but the existence of him and our chil* To visit him, and confer on some public matter. † Letters on the French Revolution.

-

Mr. Grattan generally wore the Whig Club dress blue and buff, with a large gilt button having on it the harp surmounted by the Irish

crown,