The National Register.
London, England, 1811-12-01 00:00:00

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1811.

POLITICAL DISQUISITION.

No. 192. •

TRIAL OF THE IRISH DELEGATES.

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The public eye is once more turned with anxiety
towards Ireland. The result of the trial of Dr. SHE-
RIDAN, one of the Catholic Delegates, has revived a
popular feeling which, as it is a blind impulse, ought
at all times to be allowed quickly to subside.—
Reflection will lead to cool examination ; and the
latter will show that what is deemed a triumph at
the moment of party exultation, is,.in fact, a decided
discomfiture. To men in general, who are accus-
tomed to be carried away by the example of the
multitude, this assertion may appear singular and
unfounded, we shall therefore endeavour to lay
open the merits of the case with the strictest impar-
tiality.
The great point at issue between the Irish. Cath-
olics and the Government, was the legality of the

measure adopted by l * imp maiisi establish a house
at Delegates empowered to discuss their claims and
prepare a Petition, praying the repeal of all disqua-
lification whatever. No objection was started against
the avowed intent of the Catholic Assembly, but
against its formation in that particular manner ; as
both, in opposition to an Act of Parliament, and
likely to afford an opportunity to the evil-disposed
and designing of boldly re-ascending the political
stage, and perverting the ends of the meeting. As
in many counties, and in most country parishes, the
appointment of Delegates would depend on the
choice of unlettered persons, a class whom every
impostor may deceive and lead astray ; and as the
existence of many traitors, clad in the garb of pa-
triotism, but in the pay of NAPOLEON, cannot be
doubted, it was certainly very probable that such
men would exert all their skill, means, and influ-
ence, to become Members of an Assembly, which;
if allowed to be established and to act, would, by
its acknowledged authority, sanction their proceed-
ings, favour the execution of their secret designs,
and screen them from discovery, and their heads
from danger. As the activity of the wicked in
compassing their ends has generally been found
greater than that of the good, duplicity and treach-
ery would, in many instances, triumph aye,
and truth and, to the exclusioA of the
VOL /11: No. CCV.

spectable and loyal Catholics, would many rebels
or ,spies obtain a share in the delegation of the peo.
pie. An Assembly so composed, would, it is true,
not be able to preserve the esteem of the enlightened
Catholic classes LIT ; but in consequence of the
discredit into which it would speedily fall, the se-
cession of all its honest and honourable Members
would naturally take place, and thus treason would
remain alone and embodied in the State ; authorised
by the forbearance of Government in-not preventing
the formation of a house of Delegates, and to be
annihilated only by one of those explosions which
.always endanger the safety, and have sometimes
occasioned the ruin, of empires.

That such might be the consequences of allowing
delegation in Ireland, in the present unenlightened
state of the greatest part of her population, and for
the purpose of discussing a question which brings
into play all the wild passions and rooted preju-
dices of the lower Irish classes, it would be unrea-
sonable to deny. To repel the possibilitZ of such
dangers, must therefore, by every impartial man,
be deemed an act of foresight and prudence. The
manner of avoiding it can alone become matter for
a difference of opinion ; and whether the measures
adopted by Government to 'ecure so important an,
object, have been such as best suited the case, and
were likely to be effective without being unjust, forms •
the sole ground on which its conduct can be praised
or blamed.
Investigation alone can enable us to ascertain,
whether we ought to censure or to commend.
What was most likely zo induce men of sense and
sincere patriots to desist from any course which they
may have adopted ? A conviction that their con-
duct was illegal. What have been the means
which Government hits employed ? Those most cal-
culated to produce that conviction. Were they
measures of harshness and severity ? No sooner had
the system of Delegation been put into execution,
When bills of indictment were preferred against the
first Delegates, in the hope the public notice thus
given, would have the effect of suspending further
elections, until their legality should have been de.
cided by the approaching trial. This attempt at
preventing r;:e extension of criminality, should it
afterwards he found to have been such; does not
wear the character of severity ; but seems
to soothe and comiliate, whilst it fulfils all

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