74 EPITOME OF INTELLIGENCE. IIE following intelligence relative to the situation of our truly heroic and apostolic Sovereign Pontiff, Pius VII. is copied from the foreign papers: Rotterdam, Feb. 18.-Accounts received from Paris state, that his Holiness the Pope, not being considered by the French Government in sufficient security at Fontainbleau, has, notwithstanding his age and infirmities, been removed to Limages, formerly the capital of Limasin. On Thursday, Feb. 3d, Mr. Magee was tried, in the Court of King's Bench, Dublin, for publishing in The Dublin Evening Post, the Resolutions entered into at a meeting of the Catholics of Kilkenny, on the 4th of August last. It was proved, in defence of Mr. Magee, that the Resolutions were inserted as an advertisement in the usual way of business, that Mr. Magee was not privy to their insertion, he being then in Kilmainham goal, a considerable distance from his office, and that they had been inserted, two days previous to their appearance in the Evening Post, in The Correspondent, a Government paper.-Mr. O'Connell, therefore, in a most judicious address to the Jury, claimed a verdict for his client, on the impossibility, as he thought, of inferring that Mr. Magee published with a malicious intention, which it is necessary to presume to constitute a Libel. The Jury, however, were of a different opinion, and gave a verdict of Guilty. On the 10th, Mr. Magee was brought up to receive the sentence of the Court, which was as follows: "That you, John Magee, shall pay a fine to the King of £1000, and be imprisoned for six months, to commence from the expiration of your former sentence; and that you continue in imprisonment until that fine be paid, and you give security to keep the peace, yourself in £1000, and two sureties in £500 each," Bryan, who presided at the Kilkenny meeting, and signed the Resolutions, was summoned on the part of Mr. Magee, but declined to answer the question, Whether he was present? under the opinion, that it might criminate himself. This conduct on the part of Capt. Bryan drew forth some severe sarcasms from the Solicitor-General, in his reply, and has caused a sensation throughout Ireland, that will not be forgotten by the Captain during the remainder of his life. On the 29th of Jan. the General Irish Catholic Board held a meeting at the Shakespeare Gallery, Dublin, when Mr. O'Connell read the following Address to Gen. Hope, late Commander in Chief in Ireland: SIR-The General Board of the Catholics of Ireland but seek an opportunity to gratify themselves, when they assure you of the deep impression which your wise and benevolent conduct in this Country has left on the minds of its Catholic Inhabitants.-We heard of your appointment to Ireland with joy-we witnessed your departure with sorrow.With joy we heard that the Pupil of Aber crombie and Associate of Moore, was deputed to the Chief Military Command in this Island. and both by their lives, that real military The first had instructed you by his precept, glory should be sought for by victories over the ENEMIES, rather than the SUBJECTS of this Empire.-Ever formidable to a Foreign Foe-ever merciful to the misguided Citizenas Warriors, their courage drove back danger abroad; as Heroes, their clemency restored tranquillity at home.-We hoped that their conduct would be to you an example; therefore we received you with joy. We found that their conduct was to you an example; therefore we parted from you in sorrow. when you landed on our shores, you sheathed the Sword-it was the best way of averting all necessity for using it. The Sword is the worst, perhaps the weakest instrument by which Irishmen could be governed-you governed without it, and therefore left us in peace. In our struggles to repress Faction, you secured the esteem of those whom you controuled. In a Couutry divided and distract ed like ours, the dispensation of justice de pends on the equality of its distribution. You wished to extinguish Party, and your endea Your was equal to extinguish BоTH. Where you could not suppress, you protected each against the other-and where you failed to avert aggression, you healed the injury, and obstructed the retaliation. Your mind could comprehend the magnanimous policy, that kindness towards Ireland was wisdom in her Rulers. May it be the boast, as it is the duty of your Successor, to extinguish Faction by applying your remedy. To you, as to many of the Heroes of your Country, Ireland owes, and offers her gratitude. If Heaven respects the Prayers of our People, a long train of glory lies before you, The Eagle of France now see the Lion of England, not rushing to the Tagus, but dashing through the Nive. In the perils of the conflict, may Providence defend you, and turn death from you with a guardian arm-but, should it be otherwise ordained, as you emulated in life, may you resemble in your death, the two illustrious Heroes, whom Scotland, and you, and we, deplore. Like them may your tomb be on the FIELD OF BATTLE, and IMMORTALITY receive you from the arms of VICTORY! GENERAL-The Soldiers of Ireland, who follow you to the Field, participate in the sentiments which we have endeavoured to express-they will thank you in another and a better way. Select for them the post of danger, to storm the breach, or break the line-point to peril, and bid them meet itwe dare promise you, on their behalf, that they will follow, though they cannot lead; and that their valour will express our gratitude to you, midst the TUMULT of the BATTLE, and the THUNDERS of ARTILLERY. [During the reading of the Address, Mr. O'C. was frequently interrupted by enthusiastic plaudits, which were thrice repeated after the conclusion.] Mr. O'Connell then laid before the Board the suggestions which he would recommend to be made to their Parliamentary friends, touching the grounds upon which a Bill calculated to satisfy the Catholics should be framed; he prefaced the several suggestions with the most appropriate remarks, and shewed, in the clearest manner, numbers of gross imperfections and omissions in the late Relief Bill, which some Catholics in Cork had been pleased to call the long wished for Charter of Emancipation. He vindicated the right of liberty of conscience, and gave as the first suggestion, the principle That the Bill should extend relief to all classes of his Majesty's subjects, who suffered privation for Religion's sake. Mr. O'Gorman observed, that he would not quarrel about Universal Religious Liberty-but he would take whatever he could get as a Catholic; if the Catholic was to be relieved, should he refuse that relief if the Dis senter was neglected? He requested that the prayer of the Petition might be read, and when it was done, he made some observations, endeavouring to shew the impolicy of making the first suggestion, as the Dissenters did not petition for themselves. Mr. O'Connell, in reply, hoped that Mr. O'G. was not an enemy to the principle;-trusted he would be consistent, and either withdraw his name from the Petition, or support the suggestion; he said the Dissenters did petition; he spoke of Mr. Wilberforce's declaration, that until he saw the Statement of the Penal Laws refuted, he would vote for Catholic Emancipation; although some great men now at this side of the water, claimed the credit of his conversation for themselves-let us shew him and our other friends, that we deserve to be free. "I declare to God," said Mr. O'C. "I would not be content with the emancipation of one part of my Countrymen, and leave others in thraldom. I have an ulterior object in view-the Freedom of all my Fellow-Countrymen--the principle upon which I wish to act is, to do for all what I would do for myself; and I would, as a Catholic, tell the Government of Britain, that they may command the hands of millions in the country, but they shall not command our Hearts; at least they shall not command mine, unless they give me the Religious Liberty of Every Inhabitant of Ireland. The suggestions were then put, and carried singly. On the 5th of Feb. the Board met, and Mr. O'Connell moved that Captain Bryan should take the chair.-Ile then called the attention of the meeting to a continuation of the suggestions of the Board to the Parliamentary Friends of the Catholics. Mr. Mahon objected to an immediate adoption of the suggestions, and recommended a select Committee to revise them. Mr. Lawless made some spirited remarks in defence of Mr. Magee, and the Liberty of the Press. Mr. O'Connell then moved, and the Board passed, the following Vote of Thanks : "That the PARTICULAR Thanks of this Meeting be given to George Bryan, for his On the 12th of February the BoardRoom was filled at an early hour. Mr. Lawless, amidst reiterated acclamations, moved that Dr. Sheridan should take the Chair. After a warm con Mr. Finn supported Mr. Mahon with great warmth. "I shall never (said Mr. F.) silently submit to the adoption of any Resolutions in this Board, which are not the result of due and solemn deliberation of a Select Committee, who will debate and inquire at their leisure, their policy and good sense-particularly when the Resolutions are of such a nature as involve the greatest interests of our Body. To individual suggestions, however high, I will never submit, while I have a seat in this Assembly."-Mr Finnversation, in which it was urged that immediately sat down, but, unfor- Captain Bryan should take the Chair, tunately, his seat happened to be the as it was probable he would enter into floor, the form having been thought- a further justification of his conduct, lessly removed by some other Mem- Dr. Sheridan was called to preside.ber. This incident, of course, created Mr.Lawless, after a most animated and a laugh; and Mr. Finn, with much eloquent speech, in which he declared good humour, joined the general his object was to restore the character of the Board which had fallen, and re meriment. it had been deposed, gave notice that at the next Meeting he should move the two following Resolutions, which he read amidst the loud and enthusiastic plaudits of the most crowded Meeting ever held at the Shakespeare gallery: After some further debate, the sug-place it in the public heart from which gestions were referred to a Committee. Mr. O'Connell read a most forcible and excellent address to the Catholic People of Ireland, urging them in the strongest language not to engage in any illegal associations, and pointing out to them the various laws and penalties now in force against secret combinations. "Resolved, That we are of opinion that the Chairman of any Meeting of Irish Catholics, assembled for the purpose of obtaining the abolition of those political disabilities, and that political dishonour by which they are now stigmatized in their native land, is himself responsible for the Resolutions to which he had affixed his name, and which had been solemnly determined upon by the Assembly over which he has the honour to preside. Capt. Bryan then entered into an explanation of his conduct at the trial of Mr. Magee, and defended himself up-bound by his duty, as Chairman, to consider on the ground, that as he never saw the Resolutions until he read them from the Chair, and as he was not the writer of the Resolutions, but put them from the Chair, in performance of the duty which he owed the meeting over which he presided, he did not consider himself responsible for those Resolutions, and therefore refused to answer the Attorney-General such questions as, in his mind, tended to Griminate himself. For this conduct, he said, he had been held up by The Dublin Evening Post as abandoning the Cause of Catholic Freedom, and shrinking from a responsibility, which he ought to have embraced, Resolved, That the late independent Proprietor of The Dublin Evening Post is peculiarly deserving of the warmest and sinthat the Board shall proceed forthwith to cerest sympathy of every Irish heart; and take such steps as will secure Mr. Magee full indemnification, for the full amount of the Fine and Costs imposed on that highly es teemed Gentleman, for his unconquerable fi delity to the Catholic cause." At the meeting on the 19th, Mr. O'Connell reported from the Committee appointed to consider on the Suggestions. Mr. O'C. previous to reading them, remarked, that it was well grant some participation in the Repre sentation. He then proceeded to read the following Suggestions: First, That it be refpectfully suggested to Parliament, that, in framing a bill for the rethe persons who shall present our petitions in dress of our grievances, attention should be paid to frame it upon a principle that should extend equal relief to all classes of his Ma the established Church. jesty's subjects, who dissent or differ from Secondly, That it be respectfully suggest. ed, as matter of information to our friends in Parliament, that the following Resolution Board, on the 8th of December, 1813, viz :--was adopted at a Meeting of the Catholie known to Catholic Landholders, that considerable sums of money were levied off the people of this country, for the use of building and rebuilding Churches; yet they, the Catholics, were totally excluded from any interference either in the mode of expenditure, or arrangement of this fund. The people cheerfully pay this tax, but it is fitting they should be permitted to enquire how their money was expended. He had known rather a ludicrous instance of levying money in this way, which he begged leave to mention.— "Resolved, that we think it necessary, at By the order of a certain Parish Ves- this particular time, to adopt our Resolution try, several sums of of the year 1810, that, as Irishmen and Ca. had for money tholics, we never can, or will consent to any years been collected, in a country interference on the part of the Crown, or where there did not happen to be a Servants of the Crown, in the appointment of single Protestant resident, for the reBishops; and, with every disposition to meet, as far as can be done, the wishes of every pairs, building, and rebuilding of a part of our Parliamentary friends and ProCHURCH, which never had existence testant fellow-subjects, we feel ourselves but in the mind's eye" of the bound to declare, that no settlement can be Collector-4 general Laugh. final or satisfactory, which has for its basis, or at all involves any innovation or alteration, currence of the Board with the Prelates, and in the sentiments of the Catholic Body at large, as publicly and repeatedly expressed at the several Meetings held during the last three years in every part of the kingdom." Thirdly, That it be respectfully suggested to our Friends in Parliament, not to consent to the introduction of any clause, in any bill for our relief, which may alter or affect the Doctrine or Discipline of the Catholic Church in Ireland. Roman Catholic Schools and Churches in Ire Here money continued to be a long to be made by authority of Parliament in the time levied, which had never been Doctrine or Discipline of the Catholic Church applied to the very proper and reli- in Ireland. That this Declaration is not gious purpose of repairing or build-lightly made, but is grounded upon the con ing Churches. It was for the wisdom of the Legislature to redress their grievance, by giving the Party aggrieved the right of Traverse, either at the Quarter Sessions of the Peace, or at the Assizes. He was aware, that even the noticing of this grievance by the Board would excite illiberal observations from the Alarmists. It would Fourthly, That it be respectfully suggested not surprise him if their High Migh- to our Friends in Parliament, to make protinesses, the Orange Boven of London-vision, in any bill for our relief, to place the derry, would falsely accuse the Board, and the Catholic Landholders of Ireland, with interfering in the Rights of the Established Church, but our intention was quite the reverse-it was not to interfere with the Church, but to protect our property from "build"ing Churches in the air," and what is called, repairing Churches that never had existence. In this instance, he thought the laws required some amendment. It was but justice that the Catholics should know how their money was expended-& it was not too much to expect, that where there was so much Taxation, the Legislature would land, upon the same footing with the Schools and Churches of Persons of other persuasions. Fifth, That it be respectfully suggested to our Friends in Parliament, to introduce a re peal of the law, that makes it a capital felony, in a Roman Catholic clergyman to marry a Protestant and Catholic; and also for the repeal of the other provisions of the said act. Sixth, That it be respectfully suggested to our Friends in Parliament, to repeal, or alter for Roman Catholics, so much of the Act of the 40th of the King, ch. 29, as makes it necessary for Peers of Ireland, before the return of the Writ upon the Election of any Representative Peer of Ireland, to take the Oaths and subscribe Declarations inconsist ent with the Roman Catholic Religion. Seventh, That it be respectfully suggested to our Friends in Parliament, to extend, by express words, the Provisions of any such Ninth, That it be respectfully suggested to our Friends in Parliament, to repeal, or al ter in express terms, so much of the Law touching Corporations, called the New Rules and Regulations, as shall be found inconsistent with perfect Freedom and Conscience, Tenth, That it be respectfully suggested to our Friends in Parliament to attend, in fram ing any bill for our relief, particularly to the Law as it relates to Property in Lands and Houses, as such property stands affected by the casual omission of taking certain Oaths. Eleventh, That it be respectfully suggested to our Friends in Parliament, to attend to the alteration of the Law as it affects Trial by Jury. Mr. O'Connell then read the following Letter from the Chairman of the Board, addressed to the Earl of Donoughmore and Mr. Grattan : I have the honour of inclosing you several suggestions, respectfully submitted to your consideration by the General Board of the Catholics of Ireland. The Board has been anxious to point your attention to those matters, in which the Bill introduced into the House of Commons last Sessions for our Relief, appeared to the Board to have been particularly defective, convinced that their respective suggestions will receive from your well known zeal, and patriotic devotion to the Cause of your Suffering Coun. trymen, all the consideration which they may, in your judgment, intrinsically merit. I have the honour to be, &c. &c, The Suggestions and Letter were agreed to: Mr. O'Connell then made some very shrewd remarks on the Londondery Address. Mr. O'C. on reading the following extract from the address:"But this Body, unknown to the constitution, assuming with Jesuistical humility the name of petitioners, yet exercising the authority of Dictators, possess an influence incredible,”thanked God that the Catholic Board did possess an immense influencé over the people. Mr. O'Connell proceeded to read the remainder of the following extract. "In the height of their assumption they have dared to exercise the right of taxation."-What a formidable charge, continued Mr. O'Connell, and yet, said he, the whole of the dreadful taxation on the poor Catholics of Londonderry, who are the object of such sympathy, amounts to just 67. 10s. Mr. O'Connell continued to read-" The pittance of the poor has been forced to swell their Exchequer, and the hard earnings of indigent industry"-Here, said Mr. O'Connell, it is admitted that Papists can earn money-" the hard earnings of indigent industry have been made. to contribute to the personal aggrandizement of self elected demagogues" Conceding again, says Mr. O'Con nell, the law to us on the point—“ and partly have been reserved for purposes, we know not what." The gentlemen in Derry were very compassionate and very eloquent, and he (Mr. O'Connell) knew not one instance where the climax of their eloquence, in the ex tract which he read, had been equalled, He (Mr. O'Connell) once knew a very fine spoken gentleman who had been giving evidence in a Court of Law, sing his audience with an opinion of and who was very desirous of impreshis refinements, he accordingly intro, duced the well known phrase-je ne scais quoi-which he pronounced in such a manner as to be neither more or less than Jenny Cack ka the climax of the compassion of the gentlemen of Derry! Mr. Lawless afterwards called the attention of the Board to the Resolu last day of meeting. He observed, tions of which he gave notice on the that the Resolutions, of which he had the honour to give notice, and which he was glad to find had attracted such universal attention, were of such a nature, that he conceived he would be acting unfairly by the individual most concerned in the discussion, and by the Catholic People, whose character, he might say, was at stake on the issue, if he brought forward a question of such high importance in the Roman Catholic Board at au hour so advanced, and in a meeting so exhausted. "My object (said Mr. Law - |