The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-06-27
LETTER vi.
DEAR ABRAHAM,

LETTER VI.
DEAR ABRAHAM,
WHAT amuses me the most
is, to hear of the induigenccs which the
Catholics have received and their exorbi-
lance in not being satisfied with those indul-
gcrces now iif you complain TO me that a
man is obtrusive, and shameless in his re-
quests, and that it is impossible to bring him
to reason, must first of all hear the whole
of your conduct towards him for you may
have taken from him so much, in the first
instance, that, in spite of long series of res
titution, a vast latitude for petition may still
remain behind.
There is a village (no matter where) in
which the inhabitants, on one day in the year,
sit down to a dinner prepared at the common
expence by an extraordinary piece of ty-
rannv (Which Lord Hawkesbury would call
tEe wisdom of the village ancestors), the in
habitants of three of the streets, about an
hundred years ago, seized upon the inhabi-
tants of the fourth street, bound them hand
and foot, laid them upon their backs, and
compelled them to look on while the rest
were stufnng themselves with beef and
beer; the next year, the inhabitants of the
prosecuted street (though they contributed
an equal quota OF the eXpeDce) were treated
precisely in the same manner The tyran.
ny grew into a custom and las the manner
at chr nature iS) II was considered as the
most sacred of all Duties to keep these poor
fellows without their annual dinner: the viii
lage was so tenacious OF this practice, that
nothing could induce them to resign it eve
ry eneny To il was looked upon as disbe-
]ever in divine providence, and apv nefarious
chu,Chwarden WHO wished to succeed in his
election had noIhing to do but to represent
his antagonist as an abottionist, in order to
Illustrate his ambition, eIidanser his life, and
throw the village into state OF the most
dreadful commotjpii. Ey degrees, however,
the obnoxious street grew to be so well peo-
pied, and its inhabitants. SO frmly united.
that, their oppressorS more afraid Of injus-
tice, were more disposed TO be just. At the
next dinner they are un6ornd, the year after
allowed to sit upright, then q bit of bread,
and glass of water; till at last, after
long series of concessions, they are embol-
dened to ask in pretty plain terms, that they
may be allowed to sit down at the bottom of
the table. and to fill their bellies as well as
the rest. Forthwith, general cry of shame
and scandal: "Ten years ago. were YOU
not laid upon vow sacks, Don't you re-
member what great thing you thought it
to get a piece Of bread ? How thankful
you were for cheese parings Have you
forgotten that memorable ara, when the lord
OF the manor intertered to obtain for YOU a
slice of the public pudding, And now, with
m audacity only cQualied by your ingrattudc,
yon have the impudence to ask for knives
and forks. and to request, in terms too plain
40 be mistaken, that You may sit down to
Iabic with the rest, ahd be INDUCED even
with beet and beer: there are not more than
half dozen dishes which we have reserved
Tor ourselves the rest has been thrown o.
pen to you in the utmost profusoa you have
potatoes, and carrots, suet dumplins, sops
IN the pan, and delicious toast and water, in
incredible quantities. Beef mutton, lamb,
Pc and veal are ours (; and If you were
iiot the most restless, and dissatisfied of hui
man beings, you would never think of aspi.
ring to enjoy them"
Is not this, my dainty Abraham, the very
nonsense. and the very insult which is talked
to, and practised upon the Catholics You
are surprised that men who have tasted of
partial justice, should ask for perfect justice
that he who has been robbed of coat, and
CLOAK, viii not be contented with the resti-
tuition OF one of his garments. He would
pc very lazy blockhead if he were content.
sand J., (who, though an inhabitant of the viii
sage, hive preserved, thank Cod some sense
of yastce) mes. earnestly counsel these half
seu claimants to persevere in their Just de-
nahtts, I'LL they are admitted to . more
Complete share Of dinner for which they
i'1l % btuAp 80 VIC OtieTS ana II tney see
a little attenuated lawyer squabbling at the
mead Of their opponents, Jet them desire him
to empty his pockets, and to pull out all the
pieces of duck. fowl. and pudding, which he
has filched from the phhic feast, to carry
home TO his wife and chitiren.
YOU parade a great fesi upon the vast
concessions made by titis-country to the Irish
before the Union. deny that any volun-
tary concession was ever made by England
TO ireland. What did ireland ever ask that
was granted! What did she ever demand
that was refuscd! How did she get mu-
tiny bill--a limited parliament-a repeal Of
Poyning's Lava constitution Not by the
concessions at England, but by her fears.
When Ireland asked for all these things up
Oh her knees, her petitions were rejected
with PerceYalism and contempt: when she
demanded them with the voice of 60, GOO
armed men, they were granted with every
mark Of conservation, and dismay. Ask
Ut Lord Auckland the fatal consequences Of
trliling With such people as the Irish. He
himself was the organ Of these refusals. AS
secretary to the Lord Ijeutenant, the inso
fence and the tyranny OF this country passed
through his hands. Ask him ii ne re men.-
er5 the consequences. Ask him if he has
i"rSonra that memorable evening. when I've