rendered it a measure of expediency, or, to speak the truth, of necessity, that Parliament should be possessed of the most accurate information of the practical regulations and ordinances of other states, respecting the first head of inquiry; though, indeed, in the breast of the most conscientious Catholic, all scruples on this head might be presumed to be now at rest, after the distinct Pontifical declaration, made by His Holiness, through the high official organ of the Cardinal Prefect of the congregation of Propaganda Fide, dated Genoa, 26th April, 1815. This declaration is, as respects the first head of inquiry, essentially, in conformity to that previously made by the eminent Prelate, since elevated to the Cardinalate, who stated in his official letter, or rescript, addressed to the British Catholic Bishop Poynter, that, in the absence of the supreme Pastor, "He was placed over "the concerns of the sacred missions, and invested "with full Pontifical powers*."

To the British statesman and legislator it, nevertheless, became an object of high concern to be apprised of the institutes, which obtained, in other states, of every Christian communion-for the popular clamour had rather increased than diminished, by the appearance of these successive Rescripts, and the most contemptuous language was held by the factious opposers of any and every intervention of the crown,

* [Letter of Monsignor, now Cardinal Quarantotti, datedEx Edibus de Propaganda Fide, 16th Feb. 1814.]

however necessary, and however modified-denouncing, in the most irreverent terms, both the Rescript of the Pro-Prefect of Propaganda Fide, of the year 1814, and that likewise, resting on the more immediate authority of His Holiness himself, in the following year.

To convey to His Holiness, or his Ministers, any adequate idea of the vacillations, to say the least, of those who have originated or influenced the proceedings in Ireland, as connected with the interpositions of the prerogative of the Sovereign, respecting the appointment of the Catholic Prelates of the United Kingdom, however qualified, is not within the competency of this limited communication. But, as the subject is of much importance, and, as it intimately concerns the feelings and good order of a large proportion of British subjects, in communion with His Holiness, Sir J. H. deems it expedient to annex to this Statement, some further documents, which, he trusts, will tend to place the matter in a clear light— not to be overshadowed by any misrepresentations opposed to it.

The principal document was compiled under the authority of the late Honourable Robert Clifford*,

Mr. Clifford was the brother of Lord Clifford, one of the most ancient Catholic Peers of England, whose deservedly high character, and devotion to his religion, cannot be unknown to the principal Ministers of his Holiness;-Lord Clifford is also nearly allied, in blood, to the Prince Giustiniani of Rome.

and is entitled "The Origin and Progress of the "Veto;"-it contains the Resolutions of the four Metropolitan, and six senior Catholic Bishops of Ireland, in the year 1799, which Resolutions had been immediately communicated to the Viscount Castlereagh, then Secretary of State in that kingdom: they had also, subsequently, been transmitted, by the Archbishop Troy, to Sir J. H.-by whom they were carefully collated, in the presence of Lord Castlereagh, with the originals in his Lordship's possession, and are accurately given to the public, by Mr. Clifford, in his pamphlet. This collection also contains the Letters and Statements of Bishop Milner, in the year 1808, addressed to the late Right Honourable George Ponsonby, - heretofore Lord Chancellor of Ireland; together with other letters of the same Prelate, to the editors of the various public journals; and, above all, his memorable, detailed Letter to a "Parish Priest," maintaining the strict propriety and expediency of that very measure, of which he is now become so strenuous an opponent, and insisting on the recognised, practical authority of every other state, as holding out, in that respect, most salutary examples of imitation. The subsequent Resolutions of the Catholic Prelates of Ireland, are also given by Mr. Clifford ;—and some surprise must necessarily be excited in the mind of His Holiness, in perceiving, that, in reference to that measure, now so strongly urged by the Catholics of Ireland, under the constrained adoption (for such only it can be) of their National Prelates, termed "Domestic Nomina

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tion," or, the appointment of Bishops by " Chapters.". -A solemn Resolution of twenty-five Roman Catholic Prelates of Ireland, assembled in Synod, in the year 1810, is recorded, in the following words :"That the idea of making elections of Bishops, entirely national, by confining the election to Chapters alone, or to Chapters and Metropolitans, "would, in the present circumstances of the Irish "Catholics, subject our religion to the most serious "and unseemly disadvantages; and, in our judgment, would probably lapse into the sole and positive appointment of the crown."

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Bishop Milner, at that time, in Dublin, seems fully to have participated in the feelings of the Irish Catholic Prelacy, on this subject, as, in a letter addressed to Sir J. Hippisley, he observes, that " the

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Prelacy had rejected the Democratic plan, which "had been proposed to them."-Such is the epithet by which that Prelate then designated the now favorite measure of " Domestic Nomination*."

Another printed Paper, respecting this part of the subject, will also be annexed, having been drawn up, in the year 1809, by Sir J. H.-entitled, " A Sketch

* [Sir J. H. has never attempted to invalidate the eligibility of Capitular elections, as recognised by the ancient pragmatic sanction, in countries where Chapters actually exist, and are recognised by the State,-nor, even as now contended for,provided the negative of the Crown be duly secured.]

"of proposed Regulations, concurrent with the esta"blishment of a State Provision for the Roman "Catholic Clergy."-This sketch was perused by the exemplary Bishop Moylan, of Cork, in the presence of Mr. Weld, a Roman Catholic gentleman of high and just consideration,-by that Prelate, it was declared to be unexceptionable, and, to use his own words, "truly a peace-offering to the Members of "his own Communion." It was likewise approved by the majority of the British Roman Catholic Prelates (it having been communicated to all of them), and was brought to Rome, by the Bishop Poynter, as the basis of the arrangement, which that Prelate was commissioned to endeavour to effect with the See of Rome;-nevertheless, it had early excited the clamour and denunciation of the leaders of a Lay Association in Dublin, who, by their Secretary, demanded its surrender of the Archbishop Troy, to whom it had been communicated by Sir J. H. It was then little to be expected, in a rational view, that, connected with a question of ecclesiastical discipline, what the Prelacy had examined and sanctioned, the laity* would, with so much violence, have rejected

* In a sermon, preached on the 15th of February, 1815, at the Consecration of the Roman Catholic Bishops Plunket and Waldran, and published at the desire of the Prelates assembledMr. Ryan, the preacher, speaking of those Lay Assemblies in Dublin, observes," You must have witnessed with pain, the "discussions of spiritual concerns by persons not recognised as judges in faith and discipline. You have seen meetings of "mere laymen, assuming an authority which the Church cannot