"founded in the grossest error, nothing is so easy "as to dissipate it, by exposing the true state of "facts in opposition to newspaper falsehoods, and "by explaining, in its several parts, the true system "of canonical elections."

Dr. Milner then proceeds as follows," Should "the prelacy recede from the resolutions, which they entered into at Dublin, in 1799, I hope they "will be able to vindicate their proceedings and "character, against the numerous and able oppo"nents of each communion, who will not fail to "attack them on the subject, and harass them for -66 many years to come. I hope they will provide "answers, and such answers, as may be defended

against men of talents, to the following ques"tions, which will incessantly be put to them, as "they have in part been already frequently put to

1. "The head of the church has allowed a direct "interference and power in the appointment of

bishops, throughout the greater part of the chris"tian continent, to a man who has apostatized to "mahometanism; and shall it be deemed unlawful "for our monarch to interfere, in this business, just

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so far as it is necessary to ascertain the loyalty "of men, who are to possess such great influence "over his subjects?

2. "The schismatical sovereign of Russia, and "the heretical king of Prussia, have always been "consulted, in the choice of catholic prelates, for "the vacancies within their respective dominions; "what then hinders the sovereign of the united

kingdom from enjoying the same privilege? He "actually possesses more in his American domi"nions; is that unlawful here, which is lawful in "Canada?

3. "But you have already declared, after three days solemn deliberation on the subject, that such "interference of government, in the appointment " of prelates, as may enable it to be satisfied of the loyalty of the person to be appointed, is just, and ought to be agreed to; and that, therefore, the "candidate elected is to be presented to govern"ment; and that, if government has any proper objection against him, the president will convene "the electors and proceed to the election of another "candidate. Such were your decisions, delivered "to government nine years ago, and which have "remained with it ever since, to be acted upon, "whenever circumstances should permit. Do you "break faith with it?

4. "Or, is that become false and unlawful now, "which was true, and lawful, then?

5. "In a word, will you reject these resolutions, "for the purpose of quieting the alarms of the "nation, and promoting the emancipation, which you heretofore voluntarily made, in order to "obtain a provision for yourself?"

"Such are the objections in part," (says Dr. Milner)" which I am confident will be thus held "out against the prelates on every side, should they "retract their decisions. It is wise, sir, to antici

pate mischief of every kind, in order to guard

"should abide by what they have solemnly resolved upon, they will have nothing more to do, than what "is within their sphere, and what is comparatively

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easy to be done; namely, to enlighten their people, "and show them how grossly they have been imposed σε upon, as to facts and reasoning."

measure

Dr. Milner has intimated in some of his publications, that his "Letter to a Parish Priest," was merely a mooting essay;-and that the " "of a royal veto was precipitately brought forward by Mr. Ponsonby in 1808, as an experiment to effect the emancipation."

Now, whatever might have been the intention of Dr. Milner, that his "Letter to a Parish Priest," should have the nature of a mooting essay, it certainly does not contain a single expression, or a single intimation to this effect: there is nothing of the mooting kind in its tone, its style, its general import, or its particular phraseology. It has all the vehemence of argument, all the fervor of oratory, all the lofty indignation that announces conviction, and an earnest wish to convince.

Fervet immensusque ruit.—HOR.

His Letters to a Prebendary do not sound, either the conviction of the writer, or the wish to convince, in a higher key.

LXXXVI. 12.

14 September 1808.

The Declaration of the Irish Prelates, that the Veto was inexpedient.—The Explanation given by the Primate O'Reilly of that Declaration.

ON the 14th of September 1808, a convention of the Irish prelates met at Dublin, and came to the following resolution:

1. "It is the decided opinion of the roman-ca"tholic prelates of Ireland, that it is inexpedient to "introduce any alteration in the canonical mode, "hitherto observed in the nomination of the Irish "roman-catholic bishops; which mode long expe"rience has proved to be unexceptionable, wise, "and salutary.

"That the roman-catholic prelates pledge them"selves to adhere to the rules, by which they "have hitherto been uniformly guided; namely, "to recommend to his holiness only such persons "as are of unimpeached loyalty, and peaceable "conduct."

2. A short time after the prelates passed this resolution, the roman-catholic gentlemen of the county of Louth having addressed a letter to the most reverend Dr. O'Reilly, roman-catholic archbishop of Armagh, requesting to know his opinion of the resolution entered into by the roman-catholic bishops lately assembled at Dublin, respecting the negative, proposed to be given to the crown, in the appointment of roman-catholic bishops; Dr.

O'Reilly returned an answer, (addressed to viscount Southwell and sir Edward Bellew, as representatives of the roman-catholics in the county of Louth), in which he says, "I think, and am certain, that, "in forming their resolution, the prelates did not "mean to decide, that the admission of a veto, or ne

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gative on the part of the crown, with the consent of "the holy see, in the election of roman-catholic bishops, "would be contrary to the doctrine of the roman"catholic church, or to any practice or usage essen

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tially and indispensably connected with the roman"catholic religion. Candour, however, and truth, oblige me to say, that the declaration, made by the bishops on the above occasion, was dictated by what "I long conceived to be a well-founded apprehension, "that the concession in question might eventually "be attended with consequences dangerous to the "roman-catholic religion: Such danger in my mind, and in the opinion of several other pre"lates, is of a temporary nature, resulting from existing circumstances, though many persons suppose it to arise from the nature of the measure, thus giving to the resolution of the bishops,--a meaning "it does not deserve."

It must be added, that, some time after the Irish prelates had published their resolution, that the veto was inexpedient, Dr. Milner, their agent, also declared against it: and that, in a letter bearing his signature, and published by him in the Orthodox Journal*, the right reverend prelate pronounced it a most infamous bill, the like of which was never

* Orthodox Journal for March 1819.