to give some explanation of the business, as he believed it was in his power to throw considerable light on this most extraordinary affair.

Mr. Clinch stated, that he had on the preceding day been sent for by Dr. Troy, who informed him that he had a second copy of the answer from the Pope: the office copy, that had been transmitted by Cardinal Litta, who requested that it should be compared with that read by the Board, in order to ascertain that it was correctly read. That he, Mr. Clinch, attended with the office copy, at the request of Dr. Troy, for that purpose, as that minister had also heard that the authenticity of the document would be objected to by Mr O'Connell and other individuals at the Board. Cardinal Litta also requested an answer as to its reception to be forwarded to him; a request was made to have this document published in some of the newspapers, but Cardinal Litta, expressed a desire to have as little introduced into the papers, relative to the Rev. Mr. Hayes, as possible. "I have in my possession," said Mr. Clinch, "that office copy, I have compared it with what has just been read, and I can state that no deception has been practised, he begged leave to add, that he mentioned to Dr. Troy, that not having of late attended the Board, he should not remain after having ascertained that the two copies were exact duplicates of each other

Mr. O'Connell now observed, in that sarcastic manner, for which he was so peculiarly distinguished, that the management would soon be developed.

Mr. Clinch in answer to this insinuation declared, that he would discharge his duty, and if any gentleman had observations to make of a piece with those just hinted at, all he could say was, that he would not be present to listen to them, and immediately retired.

Mr. O'Connell then withdrew that part of his motion relative to the authenticity of the document, and a committee was appointed to prepare a translation of the answers received from his holiness the Pope

The committee having been appointed, of which Mr. O'Connell was a member, he then moved that the subcommittee just appointed should also be empowered to require from Dr. Troy, a copy of the letter to Cardinal Litta, part of the contents of which, Mr. Clinch had communicated, he trusted that Dr. Troy would communicate this letter, as the communication cast a stigma upon the gentlemen of the board, by appearing to suppose that they would be so base as to suppress or altar any of the meaning or language of the document. The board were never known to suppress any part of their proceedings; they were always open and candid, ready to meet the attacks of their enemies, or the reproaches of those, who falsely termed themselves their friends with respect to the passage in the document, relative to the Rev. Mr. Hayes, he disclaimed any wish to avoid the most ample discussion upon it, if necessary, but the most material feature of the document was, that which implied a concession to the crown of dominion over the Catholic religion, this was the subject he should particularly dwell upon when the document was translated, and its general merits discussed.

Mr. O'Gorman considered this motion as not couched in terms sufficiently respectful to Dr. Troy, and therefore moved as an amendment that the sub-committe be directed respectfully to request the inspection of the letter received by his grace the Archbishop, from Cardinal Litta, or at least such part of it as relates to the communication made by Mr. Clinch. On the amendment being agreed to, Mr. O'Connell gave notice that he should at the next meeting bring forward a motion relative to the mode proper and advisable to be pursued by the Catholics at the approaching general election for representatives in Parliament, and he should also move a vote of thanks to Sir Francis Burdett, for his just representation of the Irish Catholics, as expressed by the worthy and patriotic baronet, at a dinner recently given in London.

The meeting was then adjourned to the following Wednesday.

On that day the adjourned meeting took place, at which Mr. O'Connell read a letter signed, J. Bernard Clinch, in which that gentleman denied having attended at the meeting on the preceding Monday with "the office copy" of the duplicate answer of the pope, and other matters stated in the report of their proceedings. Mr. O'Connell contended that the report which appeared, expressed his opinions of what fell from Mr. Clinch, but in order to obviate any doubt upon the subject of the communication he should move the following resolution.

"Resolved, that the sub-committee be authorised respectfully to solicit from his grace Dr. Troy, the precise communication which he directed Mr. Clinch to make to the Catholic board.

This resolution being agreed to, Mr. O'Connell then stated the necessity of the Catholic freeholders exercising rigidly their right of votes at the approaching election with a just attention to those candidates who had exercised their talent and influence in favour of civil and religious liberty, and concluded by moving a resolution to which Mr. Hughes proposed an addition, and after some discussion both propositions were agreed to in the following form.

"Resolved, that we most earnestly recommend to the Catholics of Ireland, as a sacred and solemn duty, which they owe to their country and their God, to use their most strenuous exertions to secure the returns of such persons only at the approaching election, as have proved themselves the true friends of civil and religious liberty, and particularly that we recommend to them the support of those members of Parliament, who have assisted in promoting the measures of unqualified emancipation.

Mr. O'Connell then pronounced a very eloquent and animated eulogy upon the patriotism and talents of Sir Francis Burdett, particularly in reference to the very liberal observations made by the worthy baronet, at a recent dinner in London, upon the character of the Irish Catholics. He concluded by

moving the following resolution, which was carried with very general acclamation.

"Resolved, that we have seen with pride and pleasure, the testimony borne by Sir Francis Burdett, bart. on a late occasion to the purity of the political principles of the Catholics of Ireland; we cherish that testimony, coming as it does from so distinguished a patriot, and we offer him our most fervent thanks.

Mr. O'Connell also moved the following resolution, which. was unanimously agreed to.

Resolved, that the foregoing resolution be transmitted to Sir Francis Burdett with an appropriate letter.

The meeting then adjourned till the following Saturday, when it again assembled, and Mr. O'Connell was again called to the chair.

Mr. Hay, the Secretary then read the proceedings of the previous meeting, which directed them to apply to Dr. Troy for a copy or extracts from the letter sent by Cardinal Litta, enclosing a duplicate copy of the answer of the Pope, in consequence of which, Dr. Troy had furnished the following communication to Mr. Hay.

Dear Sir,

Having dined abroad yesterday, I was not honoured with your letter of that date until after nine o'clock at night.

I promised to give not only extracts from Cardinal Litta's official letter signed by his Eminence, as Prefect of Propaganda and by the prelate secretary of the same, but the whole of it, which is very short, not exceeding twelve lines, in very legible characters, and merely verifies the transmission of the Pope's letters to the Catholic laity of Ireland. It probably may have been written also to enable me to correct any misrepresentation or misconstruction of the document, which might appear in the public prints here. The letter has been read by several clergymen, particularly by Drs. Murray, and Hamill, who can certify its entire contents. I thought to have sent it to you on Tuesday last, but not finding it after much

search and inquiry, I must conclude it is lost or mislaid by some unaccountable accident or mistake. I regret the circumstance more than I can adequately express, as it may excite suspicions of my withholding it designedly.

I know by experience that similar accidental occurences have been ascribed to similar motives, which in the present instance I most solemnly disclaim,

And have the honour to remain

Dear Sir,

Your most humble and obedient Servant,

To Edward Hay Esq.

J. T. TROY.

Mr. O'Connell now stated, that as chairman of the subcommittee, the duty of reporting their proceedings devolved upon him. As to the letter of Cardinal Litta being lost, every reliance should be placed on the statement of Dr. Troy upon that subject, at the same time, the disappearance of a public document of this nature, was rather strange and unaccountable, unless that some person about Dr. Troy had purposely destroyed it.

In order to put our readers in full possession of all the facts bearing upon these very important proceedings, which not only form an interesting portion of the history of Ireland, but also display the subject of these memoirs in that prominent light, in which he has exhibited himself on all occasions, in which the exercise of his gigantic talents could be called into action, we shall here insert a detailed and authentic copy of the remonstrance transmitted to the Pope by the Board, but even this we should perhaps have hesitated to do, inasmuch as official documents are dull and tiresome to the general reader, but when it is stated that the document itself is the composition of a particular individual, and that individual the subject of our present exhibition and inquiry, we should then consider ourselves as committing a dereliction of our duty, were we to omit it.

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