"keeping schools, for educating their children in "their own religious principles at home; and they "are also subject to heavy punishments for sending their children for education abroad:

They are made incapable of serving in his "majesty's armies and navies :

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They are restrained from practising the law, as barristers, advocates, solicitors, attorneys, or proctors:

They are obliged, on every occasion, to expose "the most secret transactions of their families, by "reason of the expensive and perplexing obliga"tion of enrolling their deeds:

They are subject, by annual acts of the legislature, to the ignominious fine of the double "land-tax :

They are deprived of that constitutional right "of English freeholders, voting for county mem"bers: They are not allowed to vote at the elec"tion of any other member :-They are therefore "absolutely unrepresented in parliament:

"They are excluded from all places civil and "military:

"They are disqualified from being chosen to a "seat in the house of commons :

"Their peers are deprived of their hereditary "seat in parliament; and their clergy, for exer"cising their functions, are exposed to the heaviest "penalties and punishments, and, in some cases, "to death:

"That the laws, which subject them to these dis

"abilities, penalties, and punishments, were passed "against them in times of intolerance, for crimes "of which they were not guilty, and for principles "which they do not profess:

"That, if any motives of policy ever existed, which, in any point of view, or by the opinions "of any set of men, could justify the general necessity or expediency of these laws, they have long since entirely ceased :-To continue them, "must therefore be unjust, as it withholds from

so many subjects, the first rights and comforts of "society; unwise, as it produces disunion among "the people; and impolitic, as it deprives the state "of the labours and services of so many of its loyal "subjects:

"That, by the gracious and salutary act passed "in the twentieth year of his present majesty, that "one particular law, which most prevented their "safely and quietly enjoying their landed pro

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perty, was formally repealed, and an oath pre"scribed to them, by which, in the most solemn, "most explicit, and most unequivocal terms, they "disclaim the belief that there exists in any foreign prince, prelate, state, or potentate, either "directly or indirectly, any civil jurisdiction, power, superiority, or pre-eminence whatsoever, within "this realm,'-and, by which, in terms equally "solemn, equally explicit, and equally unequi"vocal, they avow their absolute and unreserved "allegiance and fidelity to his majesty's person and "government, the succession of the crown in his family, and the British constitution:

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"That the English catholics have universally "taken this oath :

"That their general conduct has been blameless "and inoffensive:

"That they hold no principle, which can be con"strued to extend to the subversion, disturbance, or disquiet of the civil or ecclesiastical government "of this country:

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"That they live in the completest harmony with "their fellow-subjects:-only separated from them by a difference of opinion in matters of religion, " and only prevented from falling into the general "mass of the community, by the distinctions pro"duced and kept alive by the laws still remaining " in force against them :

"That the British government and the nation at ❝large have long been sensible of this; and there"fore, (with an humanity, for which the English "catholics are truly grateful) have not permitted "the laws against them to be executed in their ut"most extent:

Hence, for a considerable time, none of the "laws, which affect their lives, have been carried "into execution, and there have not been many "instances, where those laws, which affect their "fortunes or their liberties, have been enforced. "Prosecutions against them have received no aid "from the legislature, no countenance from the "courts of justice, no encouragement from the

magistracy, and no favour from the people. In"formers against them have been universally de

"of the age chave been their advocates; the nation "is their friend;-the letter of the law their only 66 enemy. To this, it is owing, that they languish "under disabilities, which cramp their industry, "prevent their providing for their families, drive "them from their own country for education, ob"trude them on foreigners for subsistence, and "make them, as it were, aliens amongt their fellowsubjects:

"That the doctrine of general toleration uni"versally prevails :

"And that no plea can be urged for tolerating, "in foreign countries, the dissenters from the mode "of worship established there, which may not, "with as great propriety, be urged, for tolerating "in England those of the catholic persuasion.

"Upon these grounds, your memorialists hope "for your concurrence and support in their "intended application for redress of their grievances."

LXXXII. 4.

The Opinions of the Foreign Universities.

At a meeting of the catholic committee on the

Mr. Fermor, informed the committee, that they had, that morning, had a conference with Mr. Pitt, and read the following minute of what was said by him:

"That government will make no objection to "the business relating to the relief of the English "roman-catholics, being brought before parliament "early next sessions:

"But, he observed, if moved this session, it "will be impossible to carry the measure to a "conclusion; and, of course, it must lie over to "next year:

“ This, Mr. Pitt is of opinion, will not be a "favourable circumstance to the catholic cause, as "it will prevent government from preparing the "minds of some of the leading interests in this country, previous to the bringing on of a measure ❝ of such importance:

"He also desired the catholics to furnish him "with authentic evidence of the opinion of the "catholic clergy and catholic universities, with "respect to the existence or extent of the pope's dispensing power:

"That, though the relief prayed for appeared "simple and clear, yet many parts of it involved

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great and weighty considerations for government "to determine upon :

"He observed, that whatever was conceded to "the roman-catholics, the protestant dissenters "must also enjoy:

"He concluded by saying, that though govern