the Pope's bull, because it was fubverfive of the rights of the people. It was therefore declared, that England was independent of all foreign power, particularly of the Court of Rome. Are we not then to fuppofe, that if fuch was the conduct of Catholics in fuch ignorant ftages of fociety, that the accumulated light of centuries fhall have ftill more encreased their liberality and information ? — That no partial application for a reform of Parliament can ever fucceed; that the only effectual one must refult from the united and determined voice of the whole people of Ireland,- -no man can deny who takes a retrofpect of a few years, and the treatment which the Protestant prayers of the people for reforms of every kind have experienced, and daily experience. It was further argued that by the conceflion of the elective fuffrage to the Catholics, in the fame degree as Proteftants already enjoy it, an addition of 2 or 300,000 electors to the present number, would be attended with the happieft effects on the freedom of election, by enlarging the bafis of it. In answer to thofe who are well inclined to their emancipation, but allege that at prefent it would be premature, on account of their want of information and knowledge, it was faid that the most certain means of difpelling that ignorance, and rooting out the fubjection which their priests would with to keep them in, would be the exercife of elective franchife; which by giving them an intercourfe with their fellow electors, and a communication of fentiment, would foon difpel the mift of ignorance, make them feel their own dignity, improve their understandings, and give them a relish for the enjoy ment of every civil right.

THE hiftory of elections convinces us that the 40 fhilling freeholder is more under the undue influence of his landlord, than the menial fervant is of his mafter; that therefore votes fhould be given to every description of people, as the best means of rendering bribery, corruption, and undue influence, impotlible or of little avail.

THAT the argument refpecting the recovery of forfeited lands, had little weight, confidering the diftant period when they were loft-few of them lefs than a century and an half back; fince which time they have paffed from hand to hand, and many of them again become, by purchafe, the property of Roman Catholics. That the Catholics themselves would perceive fuch infuperable obftacles to the fuccefs of thefe claims, that those descendants of the proprietors of forfeited eftates, who could prove their title, would be fo few, that the general body would never fuffer them to be gone into; in order to prevent confufion in the ftate, and the interruption of national tranquility, then become fo much their intereft to maintain. Let it be remembered what a fmall proportion the forfeited eftates bear to the whole landed intereft of Ireland-and it will be granted, that they do not deferve all the regard which is often paid to them, in confidering the fubject of this day's difcuffion. The difficulties in the

way to a reverfion of the forfeitures, are many and great; among others, a bill for that purpofe would have to be brought into Parliament-pafs both houfes and receive the Royal affent.

ON THE OTHER HAND,

THE friends of the original motion profeffed as warm an attachment to their Roman Catholic fellowfubjects as the other fide, and as ardent a with for their complete emancipation; but they thought, that this would be best effected by degrees.

THE expunging of the words from time to time, &c. had been fupported on this principle, that the rights of man are indefeasible, and that they cannot rightfully be withheld even for a moment.-This was admitted, but ftill it was contended, that no Government had ever been conftituted upon the ftria theory of these principles; that the French legiflators themfelves had thought it neceffary to reftrict the right of fuffrage; and that when a country had fallen into the prefent circumstances of Ireland, it muft extricate itfelf from them by degrees. That

all fudden reverfes of fortune are dangerous to the virtue or moderation of the wifeft individual, and ftill more fo to that of a multitude-circumstanced like the Irish Catholics.

THAT the Roman Catholics of this country are not, in their present state, as well informed or as capable of exercising government as the Proteftants.

THAT the Roman Catholics muft feel resentment and ill humour in confequence of ancient injuries, recent infults, and continued oppreffion.

THAT these will require time to fubfide, and will be best removed by a gradual extenfion of immunities and privileges; which at the fame time would have another happy effect, in gradually eradicating prejudices from the minds of Proteftants, and preparing them to grant what the others are willing to receive.

THAT the Roman Catholics having formerly loft their poffeffions, fighting for the liberty of their country, against a foreign power, mutt think that they have a right to refume them when they can, and to abrogate any laws paffed during what they confider as an ufurpation, that may ftand in their way. That on the principle of immediate liberation, and unlimited communication of the rights of man, this would be in their power;-and that a moderate exercise of abfolute power in fuch circumftances, could not be expected even from the most enlightened people.

THAT that the mafs of the Catholics are fubject to the influence of their priests in an undue degree; and that under their direction the lower orders would, in cafe of a fudden revolution, compel their more enlightened fuperiors to yield to their defires; and among other alterations, to reftore their hierarchy to its former fplendour and power, as the established religion of the land.

THAT for thefe reafons, though they longed for an entire abolition of invidious and oppreffive diftinctions, for the general exercife of every franchize,

they could not vote for the accomplishment of this object, otherwife than from time to time-commencing at prefent with fome effential conceffions, and progreffively encreafing, as the circumftances of the country and the welfare of the whole kingdom would permit.

THAT those who infit on the propriety of admitting every denomination of men to elective fuffrage, on the principle that perfons not property fhould be reprefented, and that it should go to the admiffion of menial fervants, or, according to the Duke of Richmond's plan, even to paupers themselves-fhould recollect, that the most enlightened affembly the world ever faw, the French conftituting affembly, with every due attention to the rights of man, made property one of the bafes of elective franchife.

Unanimity, as far as it could be effected without a violation of principle, was ardently recommended.That as the whole affembly appeared to be of one mind touching the general principle, it was for the intereft of the Roman Catholic caufe that Belfast fhould come to fuch a decifion that day as would embrace every liberal man's ideas in its favour.That many of the most refpectable members of the town; of those whofe names were long known as the encouragers of every principle of freedom, civil and religious, could not go the whole length of the prayer of the petition, were it to declare a wish that the emancipation fhould be inftantaneous and univerfal. That the advice of a prudent Catholic divine, whatever his dignity in that church, from the Curatę of Belfast, to the Titular Primate of Ireland-would be" let our friends of the North beware of divid ing a town of fuch confequence, of fuch liberality as this one. Let them remember that every declaration in our favour is a point gained; and must eventually lead to matters of higher confequence.That generous fentiments unanimously declared by fuch a body, will do more to banish prejudice on both fides, than the moft forcible refolution carried

against a refpectable minority. That the repeal of a great part of the penal code was the offspring of the divine fpirit of toleration exemplified at the volunteer affembly in Dungannon, in 1782; that had more been then attempted, lefs perhaps had been obtained; that we have fince that period experienced the decay of more religious prejudice than any equal portion of the hiftory of man can find a parallel to. That there is a natural progress in human affairs, a flight attention must convince every man; and that, as one favourable step is the parent of another, in gradual meafures we have the beft chance for fuccefs."

HAVING now gone thro' most of the arguments which we at prefent can recollect, with fome trifling additions, for the purpofe of connection, we shall conclude by mentioning the iffue of the day's proceedings and reminding our readers, inhabitants of Belfast, of the falutary advice which fell with fo much propriety from a divine of the Proteftant Diffenting Church (Dr. Bruce): that we were met on a glorious principle, the relief of our Catholic brethren; that every allowance fhould be made for the unavoidable fhades of difference, which in a queftion of fuch magnitude muit occur between the moft enlightened minds ;-that being all of one opinion regarding the general fubject, it was our duty to preferve the most perfect harmony, let the iffue of the day's bufinefs be what it may; and that any afperity which the ardour of debate may poffibly induce, should be forgotten with the moment.

THE queftion for expunging was then put, and carried by a very confiderable majority.

THE petition, as amended, and forwarded to Mr. O'Neill for presentation, is annexed.

A motion was made by Mr. Joy, that the refolution which fucceeds the petition thould pafs, refpecting the clergy and laity of the Roman Catholic perfuafion coming forward with a declaration of their