The Sun.
London, England, 1812-02-01 00:00:00

drroro they bad seleaed every possible topic off' et. -
asperation. The themes on which they had di-
lated were the miseonduEt of the Irish Govern-
ment--the discontents in Ireland—the causes of
those discontents—and, in their opinion, the cure
for them. With respect to the conduct of Govern
-
meet in Ireland, all t hat related to the temper and
conciliation which hael been shewn was the•merit of
the Irish Government exelusively ; bin in the ge-
neral conduct,. his Majesty's Government at home
-must claim their full share. It was the object of the
framers of the Convention Act not to interfere with
the right of the subject to petition,
.but so-prevent
any individuals from speaking for others,- or being
the organ. of any class of people. It was possible that
the Catholic Committee had for some time, before
it was applied to them, come within the meaning of
the Convention Act. But surely it was not to be
imputed as .a crime to the Irish Government to look
too closely_at the proceedings of this Committee
until they assumed a more dangerous. charaetm
About the end of 1810, it. was discovered that the
Catholicp Committee meant to increase their num-
bers, and to assume a representative shape. As
soon as this was known to the L i.rd Lieutenant asd
Government of Ireland, they remonstrated with
the Committee, and stated to the well-disposed the
evils that would arise if they persevered in their (!e-
-termination. -The Committee resolved. ,to proceed.
Nothing considerable, however, was • ,4one, until
after the discussion of the Petition of last year. On
the oth of July, the Committee thought fit to call
an assemblage of a larger extent, and formed in the
nature of a Representation of the Catholic body.;
and this under the pretence of framing a Petition.
He appealed to all ,who now heard him, whether
it was not the duty of the Irish Government to con-
sult :he Law Servants of the Crown on the subject ?
'lle opinion of the Law Servants of the Crown was,
that such an assetnbry came within the provisions of
the Converaien Act, and that-opinion had since been
confirmed by the Court of -King's Bench.. That the
Assembly was illegal appeared to him to be evident.
It was self-elected; it met when it pleased; it con=
tinned assembled at pleasure; it raised money ; it
voted thanks. With respect to the cause of the
disturbed state of Ireland, at that late boor of the
night he would not go into a minute investigation of
it. In his opinion it was' owing to ancient feuds
and ancient jealousies ; to the mingling of two dif-
ferent nations ;speaking different languages, .and
having differen't habits ; to a double clergy; per-
haps to an oppressive state of the tubes ; hut roost
of all (a cause- which he was surprised the Noble
Marquis bad forgotuen)'to the great proportion of ab-
sentee landlords. He was fully persuaded that th,f
residence of great men on their estates in Ireland
would do more towards rendering the population
of that country tranquil and pbedient to the law,
than all the motions and speeches that , could be.
brought forward and uttered, even •were !hey as
comprehensive, and as eloquent as those which had
been heard and spoken that evening. That the
concession of the Catholic claims would not at all
strea the great mass of Catholic population in Ire-
land, be was persuaded ; such was the opinion of all
the respeaable.persolis who had serv,ed his Majesty
in Ireland for many years ; such was also the opi-
nion of Mr. Tone, Mr. O'Connor, and every rebel
and traitor that had been apprehended in Irelatid for
many years. A very great change of opinion also
must have taken place in the minds of the Noble
Lords opposite on this subject. '• When a Right
Hon. Gentleman, now unfortunately no more (Mr.
Fox), was in office, they thought that the state and
temper of. the times were not fir for a discussion of
the Catholic claims. After the death of that Right
Hon. Gentleman, the Session passed away, and no
mention _ was made of , the claims. The Nsble
Lordi opposite were subsequently willing to decline
bringing them forward, in order to effect the great
purpose of their staying -in his Majesty's Councils.
If he were asked what was the cause of the general
joy on the Noble Lsrd's quitting office, he might
perhaps saithat it was the general sense of their
inefficiency. But if the Noble Lords themselves
were examined on the rack, trrey must declare, that
it was the satisfaction telt at the establishment of an
administration determined not to agitate a subject
which the people of England th-.ught mischievous
in the extreme.

The Earl of MotRA strongly supported the mo-
tion, and defended the conduct of the Catholics.—
Their condu6l, he contended, luid been most exem-
plary. In their applica:ious to the English Parlia-
ment they bad not. sought to practise on its fear,-
nor-to extort from its necessities. They approached
as supplicants in the vestmctits of s,btnission, and
implored that as the boon of' British liberality which
they bad a right to demand of its justice. He re-
minded- their Lordships of the mighty conflict in
which the nation was at present engaged, aud, ad-
verting to the character of the French Ruler, de-
picted in strong language the danger of alienating
Ireland. The attlfctions of the Irish people concili-
ated, they would form a shield for England against
all the attack sof its most int eterate foe; and" would
you," said his Lordship, " throw away your breast-
plate, you arc about to descend to cuter the ltts
with. such an enemy to tight for your existence ?" In
conclusion, he secommended it to their Lordships
to concur with the motion, as by assenting to the
appointment of a Committee, they would satisfy
the people of Ireland that they were alive to their
distresses, and anxious to find out a way to relieve
them.

Lord MULGRAVB opposed the appointment of a
Committee.

Lord ERSKINS supported it.
Lord DARNLEY spoke on the same side.
Lord BUCKINGHAMSHIRE oppoSed the motion.

Earl GRUY said, he rose under circumstances of
the greatest embarrassment, in consequence of the
total want of argument which had been evinced in
the speeches of the Noble Lords who were against
the motion. He could not retire, however, to lest,
without offering his sentiments at this moment, per-
haps the last -which would be afforded him before
the fate not only of the Union., but of the Sister
Kingdom, would be decided, if [licit Lordships
were not prevailed upon to consent. to the appo'nt-
meta of a Committee. The Nuble Earl then, with
reference to the observations made by the Noble
Earl who last spoke, as to the intervention of the
disqualifying Statutes, and the Coronation Oath;
asked, how.came his Majesty to recommend to the