The Sun.
London, England, 1812-02-04 00:00:00

And read to the House their resolutious of the 9th
J9ly, which announced their intention to persevere
in their plan of adding to their numbers ten persons
from each county; five from each parish in Dublin,
and for the first time the Catholic Prelates, and the
eldest sons of Earls were named as members of the
Convention, making in tilt- whole a body of about
477 persons. When the Lord Lieutenant saw this,
he was struck in various ways. 'He .thought it a
most lamentable thing that Lord Fingal should lend
himself to a body, which, if allowed to act as a Con-
vention, would eventually annul tit,. Government.
If such a body met, however legal, and however con-
stitutional their objea, there was no answering for
the consequences. He would put it to the Speaker,
what would be the feeling ih that Rouse, if a Con-
vention of five hundred were to assemble in one of
the theatres, in the Haymarket, and as the repre-
sentatives of four millions at people, using all the
forms 91 Parliament, and appointing their Commit-
. tees, Sub-Committees, Committees Of Inquiry, &c.
He was certain, that in such.a case, every Gentle-
tnan in that House would indignantly riseand say
such an assembly ought to be put down. Things
were in the situation he had described on the 20th
July, when the Lord Lieutenant sent dispatches to
ELgland on the subjetct. On the e2d, by direciion
Of the Lord Lietitenant, he wrote a note to Lord
Fingal, requesting to see him. On the 25th, his
Lordship came, and he informed him, that if the
Convention met purstiant to the Resolution which
appeared with his name, it would •be proceeded
'against as an unlawful assembly. He; however,
could not convince Lord Fingal- of the impropriety
of its meeting, and they parted with an assurance
from him (Mr. W. Pole) that it would be proceeded
against by Government ; hut telling him this, he
prothised to inform him of the steps which elii.
rnately it might be judged expelient to take. On
the 2g, h, dispatches Were received from England
approving of the condua of the Irish Govern-
ment, but reconl:nending it to them •to proceed
by proclamation. He saw Lord Fingal on the ,
50th, with whom he had a long conversation, at -\
tlle close of which they were accidentally join.

ed by the Lord Lieutenant and the Lord Chaneel-
lor, who joined with him in advising his Lordship to have
nothing to do with the proposed Convention In the end
Lord Fingall desired a letter from him,which he gave him, to
lay bettoe the Catholic Body; The next day, however, the
Catholic Coin:adore, though they had adjourned it them-
selves to the loth of ()aober, thought it necessary to call an
extraordinary meeting on the following day, 3 rst July. The
meeting took place accordingly, at which it was resolved to
persevere in the course they had previously determined to
pursue. The Rr. lion. Gentleman then peiceeded to notice
the delusions pradised by the Catholics to make. it believed
that the elections of Delegates were going on in defiance of
Government, in the most open manner, while they were so
concluded that the officers of Government could not discover
when and where they took place. The notice of Major Bryan
he next react to the Heuse, which excited much laughter.
He went on to show that the Lord Lieutenant, supported as
he was by the law authorities, wham it was his duty to con.
salt -- by the Cabinet cf Ireland—and by the Attorney and
Solicitor-General of England, and by the English Govern-
ment, was not only justirred in acting as he had acted, but
that'had he not pursued the line of condo& so recommended
to him, he would have tailed in his duty. He vindicated
the Lori Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench in
I retard; aid denied that he, or any other Member of the
Irish G,vernmeitt had seen him on the subje& of the war-
rant issued, or that any contrivance or unworthy action bast
been resorted to to gain it. It had been procured on the re-
cdnunendatiren of the La w*Officers, for he (Mr. W. Pole} had
never, presumed to decide on a legarqu:stion. The Right
Hon. Gentleinau placed in a luminous point of view the im-
proprieties which might possibly have been complained of,
if they had negleded to suppress the Convention. He then
noticed the thitrent occurrences at the Meeting of the 23d
tha. and he mentioned the conduct of Lord Fingall, which
to him appeared a proof that both he amid the Catholics
were aware their proceedings were not lawful. The Peti-
tion, which it was pretended an assembly of five hundred
were to he called to fraoie, he, from happening to get an op-
portunity to peep behind rite curtain, knew, was in reality
drawn up by a Committee, consisting of twenty-one Gen.
clement: It was their object to submit the substance of -it
pro /srrns, to the Convention, have an inflammatory dis-
cussion, and 'then adjourn themselves front day to day,
from week to week, tee. Under these circumstances the
Irish Government were bound to at with reference nut to
what they were told was the intent of the Catholic proceed-
Sings, but to that which appeared to be their' real ohjed.
The Kight Hun. Secretary continued to read a great variety
of extrads from addresses voted by the Aggregate Meeting in
Dublin at different times, to the Duke of Richmond ; from
• Gazettes for nearly ten years back, from a pamphlet entitled
" Statement oldie Grievances ill the Roman Catholics," from
the tone and temper of all which publications he proved the
inconsistency and unreasonableness of the Roman Catholic
Ilody—t heir gratitude and affection most strongly expressed
at one time to the Noble Duke (Richinood) now at the head
GI the Irt.at Government ; at anodic:, their violent charges
against the same chstiuguished Nobleman. of intolerance, in_
justice and oppression. Yet was lie bold to say, that he might
defy any man, either in that House or any where else, to stand
up and single one instance in the condua of the Noble Duke
which could alfard the least colour and countenance in justi-
fication of such a charge. On the great question of the Catholic
Claims, which had been so much insisted upon in the course
of that night's debate, he must beg leave, even at that late
hour, to say a word or two. It was true that he had uni-
formly voted against the prayer of the Catholic Petition, but
be had as studiously avoided delivering any opinion upon its
merits. The motive for such conduct was a desire to avoid
saying any thing either to irritate the prejudices of the Catho-
lics, or raise and flatter their expectations. He had turned the
matter often and seriously in his mind, and he felt no small
anxiety that something might be done to meet the wishes
and to tranquillize the minds of that large description of
Ids Majesty's Irish subjects. He never was the man to say,
that no consideration of times and circumstances should
ever dispose him to admit their claims. Neither had lie
ever said, nor was now prepared to say, that the Legisla-
ture should not attempt some arrangement to grant the
prayer of their petition, as far as the granting of that
prayer should continue to be consistent with the security
of our Establishments in Church and State. He should
never at the same time ever go to that length, if they
continued to maintain the tone and autisuale which they
lately had assumed. Before he would consent at all to en.
tertain their Petition, he should observe toeir conductand
the manner in which they should present it to Parliament.
I f that manner tad any thing in it which announced turbu-
lence, insubordination, or resistance, in any shape to the
laws of the land, he would be among the first most strenu-
ously to rejea it. But if, on the contrary, their behaviour
anti temper bespoke moderation, forbiarance, and a due sub.
mission to the law, he would be as forward as any man to
promote its success, and rejoice as sincerely as any man in the
accompalishment of their wishes, as far as those wishes could
be gratified without danger or detriment to Church .and
State.

Mr. SIIHRIDAN said, the 7iw.;ht Hon. Gentleman
had repeatedly appealed to bun, although he had
not uttered one word during the course of the de-
bate. But as he had so appealed to him, he must
beg leave to say a word or two on the manner and
matter of the Right Hon. Gentl,2rlitn, whom be
shou:d be proud to call his friend. lie really had a
high opinion of the mind and comprehension of the
Right Honourable Gentlerrfan but he had made no
(3,splav on the present occasion of those talents for
which he was willing to give him credit. On the
the contrary, he had taken a narrow and pitiful
view of so great and important a question, and
stuffed his speech with endless extracts of the
fliO3t miserable -minutiae, the most paltry and
contemptible traib, and that in the discussion