To this gentleman sir James Mackintosh made an eloquent reply. Mr. Charles Grant supported the motion in a speech replete with wisdom. At the close of it he implored the house to consider that the fate of Ireland was at stake-to look at the state of the population of that country-to reflect on its present misery-and on what the parliament of Great Britain had already done for that country, under the auspices of our late sovereign. Let it no longer be said of Ireland, that having performed the duties which the constitution exacted, she was still excluded from the privileges to which she had a constitutional right. Mr. Grant called on the house to ratify that night, the solemn contract of the union, and to make that great measure an union in reality what it was as yet only in name. What did Mr. Pitt, who had projected that measure, conceive to be its nature? He asked the house what meaning that great statesman attached to the following lines, which he had applied to the union of the two countries; 66 "Non ego, nec Teucris Italos parere jubebo, "Nec mihi regna peto: paribus se legibus amba VIRGIL. What," he asked, "did Mr. Pitt understand by the eternal laws of confederacy, which were "in future to bind the two nations? Not in the "relations of conqueror and conquered? but in "equality of laws? We profess," continued the right honourable gentleman, "to follow the policy 66 66 "of that enlightened statesman in our intercourse "and relations with foreign countries; but on his "system of domestic policy, we have not yet acted; "nor will the maxims, on which that system was "founded, be reduced to practice, till the inscrip❝tion on his tomb records the liberation of Ireland. "Look at the state of education in that country, "and view its natives pursuing every means of acquiring knowledge. These are securities springing up, where they were least expected, as if "sent by Providence to remove a base and illiberal pretext. Let us not take advantage of them to "continue the present system of injustice! but let "us rather avail ourselves of them, as raised up by "that Providence, which I believe to be the peculiar protection of national faith and national justice." The debate was concluded by lord Castlereagh. He observed, that "the only one question, upon which the congress of Vienna were unanimous, was that of doing away with distinctions "and preferences on account of religion. We ought therefore not to be the power, which "alone should continue such distinctions; particu 66 66 66 66 larly as, thank God, our religion was not one, "which in any degree sanctioned intolerance to "those who differed from it.-When I apply," continued his lordship, "this principle to Ireland, "I see the strongest reasons for supporting it. I "would not have it understood that the question of "catholic emancipation was ever held out to Ireland as a pledge for the union of that country with "England. It was distinctly understood, that "that question was to be left entirely to the discre"tion of the legislature. Looking, however, to "the situation of Ireland, I maintain that the only practical mode of effectually putting an end to "the embarrassments, which are met in the govern"ment of Ireland, would be, by removing the "discontents arising from the present situation of the roman-catholics. I do declare, that we never 66 can expect to settle the differences which exist "in Ireland, and to apply to it the remedies which "its internal condition requires, until this ques"tion is finally and amicably adjusted." The house then divided, ayes 227,-noes 221, so that the motion was carried by a majority of six votes. 2d March. On the 2d of March, Mr. Plunkett attended at the bar of the house, with the bills, which he had obtained leave to bring in. They were ordered to be brought up, and read a first time; then ordered to be printed, and to be read a second time, on Friday the 16th of March. He then moved for the order of the day for the house to resolve itself into a committee to consider the case of the catholics. He said, that, with a view to afford still further means for such consideration, he wished to have the object of those, who were friendly to the catholic claims, distinctly understood; and therefore he should propose the following resolutions. 1. "That it appears to this committee, that by "certain acts passed in the parliaments of Great "Britain and Ireland respectively, certain declaTM "rations and affirmations are required to be made, 66 as qualifications for the enjoyment of certain "offices, franchises, and civil rights therein men❝tioned. 2. "That such parts of the said oaths, as require a declaration to be made against the belief of "transubstantiation, or that the invocation or ado"ration of the Virgin Mary, or any other saint, "and the sacrifice of the mass, as used in the church "of Rome, are superstitious and idolatrous, appear "to this committee to relate to opinions merely "speculative and dogmatical, not affecting the allegiance or civil duty of the subject, and that "the same may therefore safely be repealed. 3. "That it appears to this committee, that in "several acts passed in the parliaments of Great "Britain and Ireland respectively, a certain oath, "commonly called the oath of supremacy, is required "to be taken, as a qualification for the enjoyment "of certain offices, franchises, and civil rights "therein contained. 4. "That, in the said oath, a declaration is "contained, that no foreign prince, person, prelate, "state or potentate, ought to have any jurisdiction, power, superiority, pre-eminence, or authority, "ecclesiastical or spiritual, within these realms. 66 5. "That it appears to this committee, that "scruples are entertained by his majesty's roman"catholic subjects, with respect to taking the said "oath, merely on account of the word spiritual' being inserted therein; and that, for the purpose "of removing such scruples, it would be expedient "to declare the sense, in which the said word is "used, according to the injunction issued by queen "Elizabeth, in the first year of her reign, and re cognized in the act of the fifth of her reign; and "which, as explained by the thirty-seventh of the "articles of the church of England, imports merely, "that the kings of this realm should govern all their states and degrees committed to their charge by "God, whether they be ecclesiastical or temporal, "and restrain with the civil sword the stubborn and " evil doer. 6. "That it is the opinion of this committee, "that such act of repeal and explanation should be "accompanied with such exceptions and regula❝tions, as may be found necessary for preserving "unalterably the protestant succession to the crown, "according to the act for the further limitation of "the crown, and better securing the rights and "liberties of the subject, and for maintaining in"violate the protestant episcopal church of England "and Ireland, and the doctrine, government and discipline thereof, and the church of Scotland, " and the doctrine, worship, government and dis"cipline thereof, as the same are by law respectively "established." The house then went into a committee, and the resolutions were agreed to and reported :-leave was given to bring in a bill, and the following inembers were appointed to prepare and bring it in; Mr. Plunkett, lord Castlereagh, Mr. Charles Grant, Mr. Tierney, lord Milton, Mr. Charles William |