The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-07-28

catholic question to remain unchanged, and
that was not aware that those of my col
leagues had undergone any change.
| With respect to myself individually, !
must protest against its being inferred from
any declaration of mine, that it's, or ever
has been. my opinion, that under no circum-
stances it would be possible TO make any alte
ration in the laws respecting the Roman
| Catholics.
| Upon the last occasion on which the sub
lIect was discussed in Parliament, express
| ~ stated, that circumstances might arise,
IN which. in ny judgement, some alterati-
on in those laws would be advisable.
have always been DESTROYS of hearing tho
specific proposition which should explain
distinctly, what part of the existing securi-
ties 1t was intended 10 repeal what part
| Il was intended to preserve, and what were
the rev securities which it has been so Of !.
| ten declared, must be, constituted in the
Iplacc of some of those which are ut present
i'll force.
/ have never heard any satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION on this point.
| j will fairly own, than in the pre:ent state
of the opinion. and feelings Of the Roman
Catholics, do not believe such project to
be practicable, consistently with the attain
meht OF the avowed objects of really satisfy
ing the Roman Catholics, and of afFording
an adequate security to the Established
Church and Constitution
Entert hiring the opinion, / have felt it to be
my duty to Continue to resist a Parliamen-
tary Inquiry on that subject, which, in my
judgement would be productive of no other
effect than that of alarming the Protestants
on the one h:nd and of deluding and deceiv-
ing the Roman Catholics on the other.
! With respect to the opinions of my Col
leagues, there are some who entirely agree
with me in the view which / have taken of
this question bat l am sure it must be
known to you, from discussions at which you
| have been present, that there are others
who have always entertained and avoned
different opinions from those professed by
me upon some parts of this subject.
You must reCollcct that considerations of
a very high importance, but which might
be only temporary in their nature, induced
us all. up to very late period, to be de
cidedly ofopinion that it was not proper that
under such circumstances the measure
should be entertained
! You may be of opinion that since the
month OF February last, these considerati-
ons have ceased to be in force. But thew
are still regarded by others as not having
lost their weight. Besides the considera-
tons to which have referred, the conduct
and temper which the Roman Catholic.
have been induced to manifest, the princi-
| pie upon which the question has been bro't
forward, the circumstances of Europe at this
time, gave rise to objections which are felt
IN greater of less degree by different per-
sons.
have thought this explanation due to
my Colleagues and to myself.
In one point we are all agreed, that this
is not the moment at which the question
ought to be entertained, with a view to any
immediate practical consequence. / am a
ware, that in this sense Of our duty, our o.
pinions may be at variance with yours but
1t is material that these opinions should not
be misunderstood, or subject tothe interprc-
tation to which my silence might render
them liable, if had not returned some an
swer to that part of your paper.
Upon the subject of the manner in which
the war IN the Peninsula has been managed,
| forbear entering into any particulars at
present but think 1t material to observe
with respect to my declaration, that since
your resignation it had been found practi-
cable to make some extension Of the militia
ry efforts in the Peninsula, that il ha. not
arisen from any means which were in exis-
tence at the time when you were in Office,
and in which there had been then any in
disposition or objection TO direct to that OBJ
Ject, but that it has grown out of events
which subsequently, occurred and which
may place at the disposal OF Government
means which were at that time unavoidably
| applied to another service.
| Ar this letter is merely explanatory, I
will not give you the trouble of returning
any answer to it but am sure you viii
see the justice and propriety of considerin.
it an a part ofthe correspondence which has
passed between us Oh the subject TO yhics
| it relates.
| am, &c.
{Signcd) LIVERPOOL.
Marquis Wellesley, K. G..
No. VI.
Copy of Lord WsLLEsLEr's Reply 10 Lord
LIvERrooL's Explanatory Letter of the
18th May, 1912.
COPY.
Apsley-House, May II, 1919.
My DEAR LoRD-Although YOU have
had the goodness to dispense with my retur-
ming any answer to your letter Of the 10Th IN
slant, some further observations on my uart
may perhaps contribute to promote the pro.
fessed object of that letter, by exr,aininp
and correcting whatever may appear doubt
fui or erroneous in the course of our recent
correspondence.
Wien YOU Informed me, that your opin-
ion upon the claims Of the Roman Catholics
remained Unchanged, and that You were
not aware Of any change in til. opinion Of
your Colleagues on that subject, / certain
~ concluded, that the policy, which ha.
been pursued, during the present Session
OF PdriiVr1ent, would be Continued hi, u,s