of the errors of the present day: on the contrary, indifference has assumed the honourable name of liberality, and it has become the fashion to listen to those who contend for an equality of all modes of worship.

Mr. Grattan certainly does not go the full length with those persons who would make the Irish catholics entirely independent of government, and who would leave the sovereign no controul over the nomination of bishops; but something more might be expected from his liberal and enlightened mind. He should resist what he will not support, and what would be attended with no little danger were it to be granted.

It was reserved for the catholics of Ireland to contrive a church establishment where the altar should be entirely independent of the throne, as if it were not necessary, even for the sake of public tranquillity, that such a connexion should exist, and as if it had not always been so in every well regulated state.

The head of the church of Rome has been reduced to a situation that commands pity, and the private virtues and known piety of the Roman pontiff naturally disarm those who would criticise his conduct; but nevertheless, it is right to observe,

that he has wanted firmness, and has but offered a feeble and equivocal resistance to the despot under whose power he is; and as that despot is the greatest enemy of England, and the leading Ireland to revolt is one of his favourite objects, the Roman catholics should consider that their situation is such as intitles the sovereign to be upon his guard.

Toleration is preached up with rather a bad grace from a Roman catholic pulpit, since it is well known that in every Roman catholic country there was no toleration. There was no toleration in France till the revolution*, and after that there was

* Previous to the revolution the protestants in the south of France were fain to go amongst the rocks and the mountains to attend divine service. Rabaut de St. Etienne, one of their ministers, was a deputy to the first assembly, and, as was natural enough, was one of the most strenuous in putting all religions in France upon an equality. That same Rabaut soon repented, however, of the error he committed: for he found, as always will be found, that where religions are all put on the same footing, there will soon cease to be any religion, and he was guilotined by the atheists, the worshippers of nature, and of the goddess of reason.

The French priests who came over emigrants to this country, notwithstanding the manner in which they were received, could not comprehend that the protestants were Christians. A priest who held in great abhorrence the Duke of Orleans, and who was greatly in

not much religion of any sort. There is no toleration in Italy or Spain, or any Roman catholic country to this day; for France is not to be reckoned on at present as any example.

The Roman catholics of Ireland may say they are not French, nor Spaniards, nor Italians, and it is very easy to comprehend that they are neither, and to admit that they are not answerable for what is done in those countries; but, speaking of them as catholics, having the same universal and immutable tenets, held from a source that they conceive to be infallible, we must consider, that in matters of religion they would act on the same principles if they had the same power.

It is well known, that if all the demands of the catholics were granted, still they would not be contented; and, indeed, it would not ameliorate their situation

debted to an English gentleman, a man of great virtue, who died at the time that Orleans was guilotined, was asked by a friend whether he thought his benefactor or Orleans was the surest of going to heaven? The priest held down his head, and, after a short pause, answered, Ah, monsieur le duc etait catholic,"-" Ab, Sir, the duke was a catholic-That is, he, the wickedest of mortals, would go to heaven because he was a Roman catholic, and the good man. would not.

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much, and would only lead to further demands. Mr. Grattan cannot be ignorant of this; and again, it must be mentioned as a subject of much regret, that so well-informed a gentleman does not command his party, instead of being led by it. He is by much the most able of the Irish members on his opposition side, and his reputation and known integrity would enable him to do more than any other man in regard to settling Ireland.

The impatience of the Irish nation will not let the union have a fair trial*; and it appears in this case plainly, that the same party that opposed the union, considers it as a duty to condemn it still, and to render it unpopular.

That men of ordinary minds, imitators, abettors, and the underlings of party, should act in this manner, is not surprising—It is natural that such men should make up in zeal for what they want in talents, and, not having the power of discriminating between opposition to a measure intended, and misrepresentation of a measure irrevocably adopted, they persevere; but Mr. Grattan is in every respect

* An Irish gentleman being lately asked, whether Ireland did not thrive better since the union, said, "No, but the truth is, Ireland thrives in spite of the union!”

a first-rate man, and his talents would be most use→ fully and most becomingly exerted in making the union as popular in Ireland as he has it in his power to do. Whether or not the union was a good measure or not, a true friend of his country, whether Irish or English, ought to make the best of it: but the true state of the case appears to be, that the union was the best measure that could be adopted for Ireland, and that when brought to greater perfection, by degrees it will do away many of those grievances of which Ireland has complained.

There have always been a number of speakers and writers who have stirred up discontent in Ireland; and when the union with Scotland took place, Dean Swift, in his obscene and unfair mischiefmaking allegory of "The Two Sisters," persuaded the people of Ireland that Scotland had got an unmerited preference. Now that Ireland has been united on far better terms than Scotland was, discontent is excited; so that there is no method of pleasing Irish patriots, who seem to think it their duty to make their countrymen discontented with their situation*.

* The Irish nation, lively, and easily excited, but little given to reflection, think that all those who assist them to complain, are