all the English prelates, including doctor Milner, and all their coadjutors; and by all the Scottish prelates and their coadjutors. In other respects, the memorial was highly injurious to the bill; and the right reverend prelate assumed to himself the merit of having contributed largely to its defeat.

The board took this conduct of doctor Milner into their consideration at this meeting, and resolved, that a paper, intituled, "A brief Memorial "on the Catholic Bill," and "signed John Milner, "D. D., having been distributed to members of the "house of commons, during the discussion of the "bill brought forward for the removal of the civil "and military disqualifications, under which his

majesty's-roman catholic subjects then laboured, "and containing assertions derogatory to the ho"nour and the loyalty of the roman-catholic laity, "and inferring consequences from the bill, if car"ried into execution, not warranted by its proposed "enactments, and highly injurious to the political

integrity and wisdom of the framers and sup"porters of the bill, and directly opposite to their "declared intentions, as stated in the preamble to "the bill,-the board declared, that the above " mentioned paper, signed John Milner, D. D. and "intituled, 'A brief Memorial on the Catholic "Bill,' called for, and had, their most marked dis

approbation." It having been moreover publicly stated, that the catholic board were and had been influenced in their political conduct by the right reverend doctor Milner, this board declared, that

"the members of it felt themselves called upon to republish the following resolution, passed by them "on the 29th of May 1810; viz. That we do not consider ourselves as implicated in, or any ways "responsible for, the political opinions, conduct or writings, of the right reverend doctor Milner, "vicar-apostolic of the midland district.” ”

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Doctor Milner being then called upon by the board to state, whom he meant to designate, by the expression of" false brethren," in his paper, intituled, "A brief Memorial on the Catholic Bill," declared to the board, that " he had referred to "Mr. Butler." Upon this, the following resolutions were immediately passed:-1st. "That Charles "Butler, esq. was entitled to the thanks and gra❝titude of the general board of British catholics, "for his great exertions in support of the catholic "cause, and that the charge just made by the right "reverend doctor Milner, against Mr. Butler, was "a gross calumny."

2dly. "That, under the present circumstances, "it was highly expedient that the right reverend "doctor Milner should cease to be a member of the "private board or select committee, appointed by "the general board of British catholics, on Thurs"day, May 11th 1813."

LXXXVII. 3.

Further Petitions of the British and Irish Catholics, and Proceedings upon them.

1814.

On the 17th of February, a general meeting of the English catholics was held at the house of the earl of Shrewsbury in Stanhope-street, and a form of a petition to both houses of parliament resolved upon. It referred to their former petitions, and prayed the house to take into "consideration the

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many pains and disabilities, under which they “laboured, and to adopt measures for their relief.” It was also resolved, that a deputation should wait on earl Grey and the right honourable William Elliot, and request that they would present the petition of the catholics to the respective houses of parliament, and express to them "the wish of "the board, that they should have the advantage "of a separate and distinct discussion."

At a subsequent meeting, it was resolved, that "our parliamentary friends should be requested to obtain, if possible, the repeal of all remaining "restrictions on our religious observances, particu"larly with respect to our marriages."

On the 28th of the following June, the British catholic petition was presented to the house of lords; and, on the 1st of the following July, a similar petition was presented to the house of commons by Mr. Elliot.

1815.

On the 30th of May, sir Henry Parnell's motion on the Irish catholic petition was negatived, in the house of commons, by a majority of 81; the ayes being 147, and the noes 228: on the 8th of June, earl Donoughmore's motion in the house of lords, on a similar petition, was negatived by a majority of 26; the contents being 60, the non-contents 86.

On the 24th of June, the board unanimously resolved to present to his royal highness the Prince Regent, a loyal and dutiful address, on the triumph of his majesty's arms at Waterloo: it was accordingly presented on the 29th of the same month, and most graciously received.

1816.

In January, another form of a petition was agreed upon by the British catholics, and presented by Mr. Elliot to the house of commons: the question of emancipation, so far as it regarded the Irish cacholics, was afterwards brought forward by Mr. Grattan unsuccessfully, being negatived by a majority of 31; the ayes being 141, and the noes 172.

On the 28th of the following May, sir John Hippisley moved, that "several official papers rela"tive to the regulation of the roman-catholics in

"the several states of Europe and the Colonies, "which had been laid before the house in the "course of the present session, should be referred "to a select committee: that it should be an in"struction to the said committee, to report on the "laws and ordinances existing in foreign states respecting the regulations of their roman-catholic "subjects, and their intercourse with the see of "Rome, or any other foreign jurisdiction." His motion was agreed to, and a committee appointed acccordingly.

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Sir Henry Parnell afterwards gave notice of a motion for a partial emancipation.-The writer must take this opportunity of mentioning the great obligations, which both the British and the Irish catholics have to this excellent person. Manly, discreet, firm and conciliating, he always advocated their cause on the genuine principles of civil and religious liberty, and with a full knowledge of their case, both in its general and minutest bearings. His regular attendance on parliament, and his perfect acquaintance with its forms, enabled him to render the catholics the most important services. On some occasions, he stood almost single,-in some, first; and in all, he took a distinguished part.

On the 21st of June, the earl of Donoughmore presented to the house of lords, a petition from certain of the protestant nobility, gentry and freeholders of the county of Galway, in favour of the catholic claims, and moved that," early in the "next sessions of parliament, the house should