the Catholic Committee was not appointed in any manner to represent any persons or place, neither have they assumed the right to represent any persons or place, and 2dly, that they have not assembled under any pretence of petitioning Parliament, but for THE VERY PURPOSE OF doing so.

These are matters of fact, and to be proved in the usual way that every allegation of a fact ought to be, namely, by producing the evidence to support it; and upon these facts the evidence is quite satisfactory and conclusive. The present Committee was formed on the 24th of May, 1809, at a public meeting held in Dublin, at which the Earl of Fin gal presided. The resolutions adopted at that meeting were published in the Dublin and London newspaperscertaintly not a very discreet method of keeping the se cret of an illegal association!!!–

Nothing in these resolutions is left for inference or conclusion. The representative capacity is, one would have supposed, a superfluous precaution, expressly negatived, and any attempt to assume that capacity is expressly prohibited. Compare these resolutions with the Act, and see whether there can be found a being so stupid or so profligate as to assert that the Act is violated thereby. But further, this Committee was appointed, not under pretence of petitioning, but it was actually imperative on them to petition. They accordingly petitioned in the last sessions, and that petition having been disposed of, the Catholics again met in the same public manner. They again resolved to petition Parliament; they again declared their confidence in the same Committee, and they again made it imperative on that Committee to have the Petition presented to Parliament within a month of the period at which it was then supposed that Parliament would meet. Their resolutions, too, were published in the Dublin and London Newspapers.

The Committee thus constituted and thus continued, and thus expressly constrained to petition, is styled “unlasful," under the provisions of an Act, which prohibits either representation, or the assumption of representation, under the pretence of petitioning.-What an admirable lawyer is W. W. Pole!!! The office which he holds in the Court of Exchequer, and by which, it is said, that near 20,000l. per annum are levied on the Irish People, renders his name well known to the Profession; but his talents, in expounding the Statute Law, remain useless,

like a lamp in a sepulchre. The light, however, has now burst forth, and we bless the goodly illumination.

We should be wanting in gratitude did we not laud his talents. The "consummate skill and prudence" of Lord Talavera was nothing to this-that merely converted retreat into victory-this changes, by magic power, those who obey and observe the law, into delinquents-or frames and promulgates new law, without the tedious process of Parliamentary Proceeding or Royal Assent.

The Catholic Committee are imperatively directed to present a Petition immediately to Parliament. That Petition is framed-several signatures are already affixed to ita Noble Lord and most illustrious Commoner have undertaken to present it. It only remains to determine who shall take it to England. Will W. W. Pole prevent-will he venture to impede its transmission?

To answer those questions we have only to refer to his Circular Letter. For the present we content ourselves with thus holding up to public view the total falsehood.-We beg pardon for the expression, but there is none other suitable of the assertion, that the Catholic Committee is "an unlawful Assembly."

THE ENGLISH MINISTRY

AND

Mr. POLE's Letter.

Through the medium of our valuable private correspondence, we are enabled to anticipate the Parliamentary intelligence, which, by the ordinary channels of communication, could only arrive by to-morrow's Mail. This intelligence IS IMPORTANT-look to it Mr. Pole!-It now appears that the impolitic, and truly inconsiderate, CIRCULAR LETTER of this gentleman is not the act of the English Ministry!Dub. Even. Post.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-Feb. 18th.

Irish Convention Act.

Mr. PONSONBY rose, and spoke as follows:-" I rise to put a question to the Right Hon. Gentleman on the other

side, on a subject of the greatest moment to the safety of this country. I have seen, and I suppose every other Gerztleman in the House has seen, a paper which purports to be the copy of a letter signed by the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, addressed to the Sheriffs and Chief Magistrates of the counties and towns of that country. The question I wish to put is, whether before that step was taken by the Irish Government, the pleasure of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent was requested upon it, and whether the Cabinet did communicate to the Regent that the Irish Government thought itself compelled or justified in issuing that letter so signed by Mr. W. Pole?— (Hear, hear!)-I do not wish to trespass on the indulgence of the House, and shall rest here, waiting a reply."

Mr. PERCEVAL answered in these words: "The question put to me, I can have no manner of difficulty and certainly no disinclination to answer. The subject to which the Right Hon. Gentleman alluded is one which was as new to me till Thursday night, as it was to the Right Hon. Gentleman on Saturday; till Thursday night last, which brought to town the letter in question, it was perfectly unknown to his Majesty's servants that such a measure was in contemplation, or that there was any idea, that the Meetings with which it is connected had assumed the character or appearance necessary to authorise such a step.-Having stated thus much, I think it is hardly necessary for me to proceed further and to mention, that, when we did receive the intelligence, we much regretted that it had been thought expedient to carry the Convention Act into execution; but from the communication we have had with the Irish Government, although it has not been at all in detail, we feel the most perfect confidence that the Lord Lieutenant has acted with a wise and prudent discretion on the subject. It is not necessary for me to go more into particulars, or to introduce a distinct answer-since it is to be implied, at least, that NO PLEASURE OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS could by possibility be taken, and his Royal Highness's Ministers had no opportunity therefore to make any previous communication relative to it--but as soon as the information was received in the course of Friday morning, it was transmitted to the Prince.

Mr. WARD-"I wish to be informed if it be the intention of Government to submit to the House any documents or papers to illustrate the transaction-I mean particularly the letter of Mr. W. W. Pole."

Mr. PERCEVAL-"For myself I should answer, that I do not think it would be necessary-but such information as his Majesty's Government can with propriety produce we shall concede; taking the opportunity, however, of considering the subject when the motion is made."

CATHOLIC COMMITTEE.
Saturday-Feb. 23.

At a Meeting of the Catholic Committee, on the 9th instant, a motion of Adjournment till THIS DAY, at two o'clock, was put and carried. Mr. Pole's letter of the 12th is before the public. The determination of the Members of the Committee to meet at the appointed hour was generaly known, and about one o'clock some highly respected Catholics of rank and independant fortune entered the room, but the Chair could not be taken before two. At half past one, when the Members were in the act of Assembling, Alderman Darley and Babington, Esq. arrived, and in their magisterial capacity addressed Lord Ffrench and the Gentlemen present in the following words : Alderman DARLEY.-My Lord, we are come as Magis trates of this District, to enquire whether the persons present compose the Catholic Committee?

[Here Lord Ffrench was called to the Chair.-His Lordship complied.]

Lord FFRENCH.-I beg leave to ask, on what account, or how you are justified in obtruding to ask the question? Alderman DARLEY.-We are really justified by the Go

vernment.

Lord FFRENCH.-I beg it to be understood, that though I feel the highest respect for the laws of my country, that while I feel it to be your duty to obey those laws, yet I feel it my duty to enquire, FOR THE SATISFACTION OF THE CATHOLICS OF IRELAND, how you are authorised to act for the dispersion of this Meeting?

Alderman DARLEY.-We are directed by the Government of the country, and we trust you will be so good as to quietly disperse

[Here Mr. LIDWELL. A PROTESTANT GENTLEMAN of great respectability, said, "I feel myself here on such loyal and constitutional grounds, that I WILL NOT LEAVE THIS ROOM, UNLESS REMOVED BY THE STRONG HAND OF POWER."]

Lord FFRENCH.-It is right I should warn you of the danger of your thus approaching this Meeting under this summary authority-you may be the first person to disturb the public peace.

Alderman DARLEY.-We sincerely regret that it has fallen to our lot to discharge this painful duty. You see we are come alone-we are unattended, even by a single Constable. We feel we have many friends persent, I repeat again, that we regret it has fallan to our lot, but our duty must be done.

Lord FFRENCH.-I feel a high respect for the laws of my country, and I have only this favor to ask-Let me not be disgraced LET ME HAVE THE HONOR OF BEING THE LAST

MAN TO LEAVE THIS ROOM.

Mr. BABINGTON.-We feel the highest respect for the Gentlemen of the Committee-we highly respect your Lordship. If your sole object in remaining here be to try the legal question, we will do any thing to facilitate the question, any thing like force is repugnant to our feelingswe therefore hope that you will quietly submit. Bring your action against us in the legal and constitutional way.

Lord FFRENCH.--Begin, Gentlemen, at that end of the room. I shall go the last. I have got my night cap in my pocket, and am regardless whither you lead me.

Counsellor O'CONNELL.-It is impossible that from any man in this room the laws should meet with the least resistance, BUT WE CANNOT COMPROMISE OUR COUNTRY'S AND OUR CHILDREN'S RIGHTS.-If you Gentlemen, think it necessary to require further force, I beg to assure you that every Member of this Meeting is ready and willing to submit themselves to the laws.

Counsellor HUSSEY.-Alderman Darley, have you any informations on oath against any one here present? Alderman DARLEY.-I have not.

Sir EDWARD BELLEW.-I wish to ask the magistrates two questions. First-Whether you have received any orders from Government to disperse any Meeting of Roman Catholics?

Aldeman DARLEY.-I am ordered and directed by Government to request them to disperse, be their business what it may.

Mr. O'CONNELL.-You have stated that you were ordered to request; were you directed to disperse the meeting? Alderman DARLEY.-The fact is, that I am directed not only to request, but to ORDER the Meeting to disperse !

B