mittee, in the first instance, to the regulations existing in foreign States:-Had it been extended, as originally proposed, the work of adequate and efficient legislation might, at this hour have been more readily and successfully attempted. The latter motion was made on the 28th of May, 1816, and "the Report" brought up and ordered to be printed on the 15th of the succeeding month-such was the Herculean labour which the House shrunk from in 1813.— If Mr. Butler "is not satisfied with the result"-let him advert to the testimony of those Statesmen whose eulogy he has so justly pronounced.-Whether "he will feel com"punction" in the contemplation of their recorded sentiments is beyond the divination of these pages.

Extracts from Hansard's Parliamentary Debates.

* On 28th May, 1816, (vol. xxxiv. p. 876,) Sir J. C. Hippisley moved for the appointment of a Select Committee "to report "the nature and substance of the Laws and Ordinances, existing "in foreign States, respecting the regulation of their Roman Catho"lic subjects, in ecclesiastical matters," &c. &c.

Lord Castlereagh observed,-" that the nature and extent of "the securities could not be better ascertained, than by looking "at the practice of foreign governments, at all times, and under "all changes,"" he thought the inquiry would be extremely "interesting,". '—"there were two distinct questions for the con"sideration of the Legislature, the one, what the nature of intercourse should be ;-the other, what the extent of the privileges to “be granted ;”—" he felt it his duty to support the motion." On 25th June, 1816, (vol. xxxiv. p. 1255.) Sir J. C. Hippisley, brought up

the report of the Select Committee.—

Mr. Canning observed,-" that having been one of the majo"rity, which, on a former occasion, prevented the purpose of "the Hon. Baronet from being carried into execution, he was "desirous of shewing the difference which existed between that

Whatever may be the fate of the approaching parliamentary discussion, there are some considerations, intimately

"period and the present. Then, the measure would have had "the effect of impeding the progress of a Bill before the House, "and rather than delay a Bill of such consequence, he had no " hesitation in declining the information which the Honourable "Baronet had in his power to give. But, on the present occasion, "the Honourable Baronet could not have a warmer supporter than "himself: nor had he the least hesitation in saying farther, that "the information contained in the Report, was necessary to the "having the question fully understood."

"The Catholics of Ireland had not only objected to the modi"fications and conditions, which the House might wish to

annex to the boon sought for by the Catholics, but it had been "argued by them, that the proposing such conditions, was a "singular proceeding in this country, and that Catholics were sub"jected to such conditions in no other country on earth.”—“The "documents annexed to the Report,' would shew, that the "conditions which had been proposed in this country, fall far "short of what every other country, whether Catholic or Protes"tant, thought it necessary to adopt for its safety.". "In the "final settlement- the Report' of the Honourable Baronet could "not fail greatly to contribute."

Lord Castlereagh observed,-" that he conceived the House were greatly indebted to the Honourable Baronet, for the "pains he had taken in collecting the information contained in "the Report,' and with respect to which he had given the "Honourable Baronet every facility in his power. The body of "information was so extensive, that the labours of the Committee "were likely to be attended with success-they would carry con"viction into every mind, that the British Legislature never con"templated the proposing any regulations which were not thought necessary both in Protestant and Catholic States-This infor"mation could not fail to do good, in the case of those whose "minds had been led away and disturbed by false statements

connected with the question, which may reasonably occupy the most serious attention of those who are to determine it; -in finally closing these protracted notes*, it may not be unopportune to advert to such as are of primary regard.

The anomalies of the law, respecting this subject, are as multiplied, as the several legislative acts which constitute. the rule of government-various and even contradictory, in many respects, as affect the construction of the acts themselves, as well as in relation to the several distinct parts of the Empire where they are intended to operate. In England -where there is no diocesan Government among the Catho

"on this subject-those who hereafter oppose the conditions, "must do it from an indisposition to a liberal connexion with "the State. He was extremely happy to see that they were "likely to have on their table a Report' founded on so many "documents of the greatest authority."

The Report was brought up, and ordered to be printed.On May 9th, 1817-vol. xxxvi.-Mr. Grattan said,-"I have "read the Report' which my honourable and most useful "friend has presented to the House, which has clearly shewn "you that in all the great countries of Europe, there are a civil "and military toleration, incorporation, and qualification for all "religious sects-that there is in, nearly, every State of Europe, " a certain connexion between the Clergy and the Government, "so as to preclude the danger of foreign influence, and that England is almost the only country where such an arrange"ment has not yet been made."

• Some repetitions and typographical inaccuracies will probably occur in these pages, especially in the latter notes-which are sent to the press from a great distance, and as the time presses forward, when it is desirable that they should reach their destination, the proof sheets could not be corrected by the writer.

lics, but the four provincial districts are presided, each by an Apostolic Vicar-the Episcopal character of the Roman communion, may be assumed under the protection of the law. In Ireland,-where there is a distinct Catholic Hierarchy, and where the Prelates, under their several diocesan designations, sit, avowedly, in Synod, and send forth to the press their mandatory resolutions, and "Pastorals" for the ecclesiastical and spiritual government of a fourth of the population of the United Empire-and, not unfrequently, in animadversion of measures pending in Parliament-the Roman Catholic Prelates thus avowing themselves—in the character of titular Bishops, (having taken the prescribed oaths,) are so far from being protected by the law, that they are actually excluded from the benefit of the modern provisions which have been enacted in favour of those professing their own communion-inasmuch, as the Irish Act of 21 and 22 Geo. III. contains an express exception of persons using any marks of ecclesiastical dignity, or assuming any ecclesiastical rank or title-nor does any subsequent Act invalidate this law.-In North Britain no obstacle exists against such assumption, nor is there any restriction whatever-ecclesiastical, civil or military, imposed upon persons holding communion with the see of Rome:-and here it may be observed, that it was in the contemplation of those who drew, and of those who conducted the bill of 1793 through Parliament-respecting Scotland-to provide the same limited toleration, as that regulated by the antecedent act in favor of the English Catholics,-but the unqualified latitude of the Act was not observed till after it had passed a fact which was intimated to the writer of this note, by those who took the leading part in bringing forward the Act in question.

In Ireland, the profession of the Army and Navy, (with limitation as to the staff,) had been long established. By

I

the 57th of Geo. III. ch. 92, every rank in those services, even that of Commander-in-Chief, and Lord High Admiral, (if any such existed,) is now as open to the Catholic as to the member of the Church of England;-"but the doubts "stated" to have been entertained-though cleared up, as regards the Army, the Navy, the Ordnance, and the Marines, still press upon the Yeomanry, if not on the Militia, as a military corps-though the memorable question, unfortunately raised, at a most critical moment of a former war, when the combined fleets menaced our coast, respecting the Volunteer Corps, so liberally and patriotically raised by the late Lord Petre, might have been sufficient to have left no existing doubt as to the interpretation of the law in favour of that most useful resource of national security.—Thus again, while all these doubts obtained respecting those of our countrymen who were qualified, or otherwise, to bear arms in defence of their country, and when we heard so much of the construction of the Coronation Oath, the Gazette, from to time, announced the Commissions of Roman Catholic Priests, under the King's sign manual, to teach and preach the tenets, doctrine, and discipline of the Church of Rome, in regiments raised both in Great Britain* and Ireland. As to the last Act, that of the 57th of the King—as it was well known not to have been introduced wholly for a general purpose-instead of meeting, therefore, with a general approval, it has been stigmatised, by a Catholic writer, in a periodical publication, with the greatest severity.

Then, with respect to the great Franchise-of sitting and ooting in Parliament-this concession, as applies to Catholics, has been invariably and successfully opposed-and the

*In four regiments of Irish Brigade.-The Glengary Fencibles, &c.