eyes of his fellow Catholics and Pro- | this embryo document of supplication. On the suggestion, however, of some of their parliamentary friends, it was subsequently agreed not to press the petition which was presented to the Lords by Earl Grey on the 29th of June. This vacillating conduct appeared at the time rather inexplicable, but a circumstance soon occurred which shewed that the plans of the leaders had been deeply laid; and this was nothing less than the publication of the famous rescript, signed M. Quarantotti, which first appeared in the public papers on the 4th of May. The intrigues of these men were immediately apparent on a slight perusal of this disgraceful document. Mr. Silvertop, at the February meeting, expressed the childish hope that the English little cock-boat would tow the Irish stately vessel into the testant countrymen, by passing a resolution, on the motion of Mr. George Silvertop, to exclude him from their private Board, and disavowing his political opinions; on that day did the Irish Prelates, headed by their venerable Primate, again assemble, and pass an unanimous vote of thanks and gratitude to this same Dr. Milner, for the very same conduct which these lay noblemen and gentlemen took upon themselves to censure; in which vote they conferred upon him a title far more honourable and gratifying than kings or emperors can give. Yes, reader, whilst laymen were excluding the illustrious prelate from their meetings, because he had assisted to disappoint their temporal views, but preserved to them their religion; the Guardians of an unspotted and unbroken national Church, dignified him with the glori-harbour of the Constitution, and this ous title of "THE POWERFUL AND UNWEARIED CHAMPION OF THE CATHOLIC RELIGION."-The Catholic laity of Ireland seconded the example of their Prelates by multiplied votes of thanks to the good Bishop; suc-vanced, and this accounts for the adcessive meetings were held for the purpose of condemning and execrating the detestable bill, and thus passed the year 1813. On the 17th of February, 1814, the before-mentioned Board again met, on which occasion it is stated in the public prints, Mr. Silvertop, with the most shameless temerity, took upon himself to reprobate the conduct of those Catholics who had stopped the progress of the late bill, although it had been solemnly condemned by the spiritual guardians of his church; and it was moved and carried that a petition should be presented to Parliament, and that Lord Grey and Mr. Elliot, on presenting it, should endeavour to get it discussed separately from that of the Irish Catholics. At another meeting on the 3d of March following, it was agreed that the Petition should not be published until it was about to be presented, but that signatures should in the interim be procured to rescript was to act as the talisman by which this surprizing adventure was to be accomplished. But it fortunately arrived too late for the purpose intended; the session was too far ad pur vice given by the friends of veto-se- integrity, hoped to subdue the hostility of the Catholic body to a darling project which they had espoused, by means of the influence of the Apostolic See, although the Legislature compels us to swear that the Pope ought not to have any influence over our political opinions. But shortlived was their triumph, if such it may be called. On the promulgation of the rescript in Ireland, the indignation of both clergy and laity was expressed in such strong and unequivocal language, that the advocates for veto arrangements were stultified, and knew not how to proceed. In a word, so completely were our parliamentary friends astonished at the determined opposition of the people of Ireland to this decree of the Apostolic see, which they had been led to believe Catholics were always obliged to pay a blind obedience, that when they were urged to bring forward the subject of the Irish petition, not one of them could be induced to bring on the question, and the claims of five millions of people were for that session disregarded. Another happy event also occurred to render the baneful efforts of this little band of intriguers abortive. The success of the allied arms most fortunately obliged the tyrant Napoleon, who had long kept the Head of the Catholic Church in the closest state of confinement, to release the illustrious prisoner from his cruel captivity; the news of which arrived in this country at the same instant with the rescript. This unlooked-for circumstance rendered it necessary that the document should be sanctioned with his authority, be fore it could be considered binding on the Catholics. In the mean time, the Irish Prelates met in synod on the 25th of May, and resolved to open à communication with the Holy See on the subject matters contained in the rescript, aud deputies were appointed to proceed to Rome for that purpose, and to deliver a congratulatory letter from the Irish Catholic church to his Holiness on his happy liberation from captivity.Nor were the intriguers less inactive; on the 17th of June, a general Board was held, at which Lord Clifford was in the chair, when it was proposed to address his Holi ness on his release from prison, which proposition was of course adopted.— In this document the addressers enter into a long and laboured vindication of their own conduct, not very creditable to themselves, nor charitable towards those who differed in opinion from them, whom they stile their “bosom enemies,” and they inform the Holy Father of "their satisfaction" at the contents of Quarantotti's rescript in the following words:"We have lately with unspeakable joy received from those venerable men, tò whom your Holiness had in your absence delegated the power of inquiring into, and, sanctioning by their ap probation, the conduct of the faithful, a rescript, in which, after a full examination, they declare their de cided sense of the blamelessness of OUR conduct, and use the most cordial expressions of respect and thanks to the Legislators of our country, who bad by the bill, proposed last year in Parliament, intended to remove all impediments to the union of British hearts and hands in the common cause, and for the common good of our native land. To the SENTIMENTS Contained in this rescript We have GIVEN OUR FULLEST AND MOST UNEQUIVOCAL ASSURANCES OF ADHERENCE AND RESPECT; and we have exhibited the document to our countrymen [Protestants] as containing the most decided proof, that no part of our submission to, and union with, the Apostolic See, can be construed to interfere with our loyalty to our coun try and our allegiance to our sove reign; confident that, on the return of your Holiness to the free exercise of your Apostolic functions, we shall receive the assurance, that these ve nerable depositaries of your authority, during your captivity, have spoken the genuine and full sentiments of obtained upwards of six thousand sig natures, among which were those of several eminent clergymen, gentlemen of independent property, and most respectable merchants and tradesmen. This number, which exceeded any ever procured to a petition emanating from the Board, sufficiently proved that the public mind was averse to any veto arrangements, and in opposition to the sentiments of this junto. This petition was presented to both Houses of Parliament, and together with those from Ireland, were taken into consideration by the Commons on the 30th of May, and by the Lords on the 8th of June. In both Houses the claims of the petitioners, as usual, were re your Holiness's paternal heart, to- | wards the faithful of these countries." -Poor souls! how much are they to be pitied. Surely they must have felt the most acute twitches of conscience; surely they must have thought themselves the most miserable of sinners, that they thus seek to be absolved by the Holy Father to obtain comfort and relief. This must certainly be the case; for had their public conduct been marked by honourable motives and strict integrity, the approbation of their Catholic countrymen would have been the most gratifying pleasure they could enjoy; and as to their private transactions, their spiritual directors, supposing them to have been provided with such, would have sup-jected; but a circumstance of some plied whatever advice they might be in need of. Thus stood matters with respect to Rome, and the rest of the year was spent in calling meetings throughout Ireland, at which the presumptuous assumption of political interference contained in Quarantotti's rescript was unanimously condemned and execrated, the most determined resolutions against vetoistical arrangements were entered into, and petitions for unqualified and unrestricted emancipation were agreed to. We come now to the occurrences of the last twelve months, and more important or more interesting ones, to the Catholic body at large, have never been recorded. At the commencement of the year, a few English Catholics, highly indignant and disgusted at the servile and deceitful conduct of the self-named Board, resolved to offer their fellow-Catholics an opportu. nity to give a public testimony of their disapprobation of the proceedings of the would-be leaders of our affairs in this country, and a petition, couched in firm and unequivocal language, praying for unconditional and unrestricted emancipation, was laid before them for their signatures. Unaided by the influence of wealth or power, this document, notwithstanding its managers were unable from local circumstances to circulate it generally, moment was announced by Mr. Maurice Fitzgerald to the Members of the Lower House, which again raised the hopes of our security-men, and excited the general attention of the Catholics. The Hon. Gentleman said, "that he understood a person was now coming from Rome, who was the bearer of a document, which, he thought, would prove extremely gra tifying when known to the BritishGovernment." The first official notice of the arrival of this important instrument was communicated to us in the British Press of the 30th of June, which published a "Minute of the proceedings of the British Catholic Board," from May 29th to June 27th. On the 24th of the latter month, "the Chairman (Lord Stourton) stated to the Board, that having had a communication with the Right Rev. the Vicar Apostolic of the London district, respecting a document lately brought by him from Rome, he found that it consisted of private instructions from his Holiness; and he apprehended, therefore, that it rested with the venerable personages alone, whom this document immediately concerned, to make the same public whenever they might judge it expedient.His Lordship, however, added, that he felt particular satisfaction in assuring the Board, that he understood consider ourselves as betraying the dearest interests of that portion of the Church which the Holy Ghost has con the document was of a nature calculated EFFECTUALLY to remove those difficulties, under which the Catholics had hitherto especially la-fided to OUR CARE, did we not deboured."-Subsequent accounts, however, conveyed to us through the Irish papers, completely contradict the assertion of the noble Lord, and state that both his Holiness and Cardinal Litta were surprised, nay that the Holy Father was displeased, on finding that the document was not made public; and the Cardinal afterwards gave a copy of the letter to the Rev. Mr. Hayes, who was the bearer of an Address to his Holiness from the Irish Laity, for the express purpose that it should be published, in order that the nation might judge of its merits or demerits. This letter I laid before my readers in the last number. Of its contents I shall have occasion to speak hereafter; it is sufficient here to observe, that the curiosity and anxiety of the people were wrought up to the greatest pitch of agitation, from the mystery which was attached to it; and the general understanding that the Pope was not averse to the Veto, which has since proved to be the ease, was met by declaratory resolutions entered into by the Irish laity at parochial and aggregate meetings, expressive of their utter abhorrence of any interference of the government with the appointment of the Pastors of their church. On the 23d and 24th of August, the disinterested and highly venerated Patriarchs of the Irish Catholic Church again met in Synod in Dublin, and there invoking the assistance of the Holy Spirit, they unauimously resolved, "that it is their deeided and conscientious conviction, that ANY power granted to the Crown of Great Britain of interfering, directly or indirectly, in the appointment of Bishops for the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland, must essentially injure, and may eventually subvert, the Roman Catholic religion in this country." They also farther declare, "That with this conviction, deeply and unalterably impressed on our minds, we should clare most unequivocally, that we will, at all times, and under all circumstances, deprecate and OPPOSE, in every canonical and constitutional way, any such interference." Here then the question of the Veto was put to rest, if not for ever, at least, for the present generation, so far as the see of Rome was concerned; and the Prelates, following up their firm and admirable resolutions, presented through the Lord-Lieutenant a dutiful and sublimely dignified Address to the Regent, a copy of which is given in the epitome, in which they protest, in the most solemn manner, against any legislative arrangements to compel them to submit to the interference of persons of a different religious persuasion in the appointment of the principal Ministers of their church, as being in "DIRECT OPPOSITION TO THE DICTATES OF THEIR CONSCIENCES." Thus the matter is finally decisive on the part of those who alone are the judges in the case; for it were a folly to expect that the Pope would engage in a measure which a whole national church has declared to be dangerous to that religion over which he is appointed to preside, but in the discipline of which, as to Ireland, he can make no alteration, with out the consent of the guardians. of that church. This is expressly stated in the subsequent resolutions of the Irish prelates, in which they say, that though they venerate the supreme Pontiff as visible Head of the Church, yet they do not conceive that their apprehensions for the safety of the Catholic Church in Ireland can or ought to be removed by ANY determination of his Holiness adopted, or intended to be adopted, not only without THEIR CONCURRENCE, but in direct opposition to their repeated resolutions. Such being the case, one cannot help smiling to see the means which the friends of Vetoism have recourse to, for the purpose of deluding the igno- | another, to make it penal for any rant and alarming the timid. One Catholic Bishop to exercise his func day we are told that the mission to tions in Great Britain and Ireland, Rome has failed; that the decision of without the previous assent of the the Pope is to be conveyed to us Crown. A very consoling way of through the "British Parliament." relief truly so the laity are to be A very likely thing indeed! Another relieved, and the clergy persecated. time we are informed that Cardinal The laity are to be released from that Litta, who is an avowed enemy to Ve- state of bondage under which they toism, and Prefect of the Propaganda, now suffer, and the clergy are to be is sent out of the way, and that Cardi- placed in a state of vassalage, from nal Gonsalvi, who is the political Mi- which they are at present free. This nister at the Court of Rome, is placed is a most excellent specimen of liberal in his stead. These tales may do very and tolerant legislation, and worthy well to deceive those who know no of the abilities of its imputed author. better; for my part, as matters now But is there a Catholic in these islands stand, I do not expect his Holiness who do not feel indignant at the inwill give any further decision. The sult thus offered them? Is there a Irish prelates have most nobly and he- Catholic in these realms who would roically decided for themselves, and if accept of his emancipation at such a the Court of Rome should decide price? Is there a Catholic so void against them, which I feel confident it of comprehension as not to perceive will not, it will be unable to enforce the effect intended by the proposed the point, because the whole collective measure? It is not the loyalty of the and unbroken body of the Bishops are clergy which the Government wish pledged canonically to oppose the de- to secure; on that they know they can cision. The Catholic Church of Ire- already depend. Experience has land being thus secured from any proved that a more faithful or loyal alteration in her discipline, so far as body of men do not exist in the kingthe spiritual authority is concerned, dom than the Irish and British Catho little apprehension need be entertained lic clergy; but they hate the princifor the small portion of the flock in ples of their religion-they swear it England, which is undoubtedly placed is superstitious and idolatrous, and in a very different situation. If Go- they want to subdue it. This they vernment cannot obtain an influence cannot do while the pastors of that over the great body of the Irish cler- church are zealous and independent; gy, that of the English is too diminu- let us then, say they, endeavour to tive to demand their attention; and gain an influence over these men. Let thus, I trust, we shall be spared the us weaken that attachment, that tię mortification of knowing that our of confidence which now subsists beVicars Apostolic have passed the tween the Catholic pastors and their scrutiny of a lay INQUISITION on people; and if we cannot make the their loyalty, before their spiritual latter good Protestants, we shall at qualifications were submitted to the least make them negligent and perHead of the Church, previous to be- haps rebellious members of their own ing invested with the pastoral func-Church; and thus our ends will be tions. In this state of things, however, a demi-official article was published in the papers in December, stating, that it was rumoured that Lord Castlereagh intended to introduce a bill into Parliament for the relief of the Catholics without restrictions ; and afterwards to originate gained. Catholics, beware! the circumstances of your case are com pletely changed. The question now to be decided is, not whether the Pope will grant the Veto; but whether a Protestant Parliament is to circumscribe the divine rights of your holy religion? Not whether the Court of |