1830.] Stale of Ireland. 149 



sects, is a lesson that should not be despised ! Prior to the Duke of 

 Wellington's " Protestant- Security Bill," such unanimity against any 

 ministerial measure whatever could not have been effected. The asperity 

 of language with which the " disastrous connexion" is attacked, and 

 absenteeism held up to public execration, should be taken to heart by 

 those aristocrats most immediately interested in the political condition 

 of Ireland, who, if they be not altogether blind, cannot fail to discover 

 therein the elements of general dissatisfaction, if not disaffection, and 

 ominous indication of future convulsion. 



Certain resolutions passed at a vestry, held at Patrick's church, in 

 the city of Waterford, on the 25th of May last, " For the purpose of 

 examining and confirming the applotment book for the assessments 

 made on Easter Monday and Tuesday," (the Protestant Rector of the 

 parish in the chair) are so confirmatory of what we have advanced 

 respecting the disposition of the Irish Roman Catholics, and such 

 conclusive evidence of the insanity of permitting persons with such 

 feelings to legislate in any way for the established church, that we 

 cannot refrain from quoting them; premising, that they are by no 

 means a solitary instance, and that it is fully understood to be in- 

 tended by the Roman Catholics throughout Ireland, to follow the 

 precedent, next year, in all cases where they muster in sufficient 

 numbers, or create sufficient intimidation, to obtain a majority of votes : 

 " Resolved That the items for providing coffins, and for the support 

 of foundlings and deserted children, be separated from the general 

 assessments of last Easter. That the other items named in the fore- 

 going resolution be applotted generally on all the parishioners, accord- 

 ing to valuation. That all other items of the several assessments be 

 applotted upon the Church of England Protestants, and that the applot- 

 ment of the Roman Catholics and Protestant Dissenters be reduced to 

 one farthing on each individual for the same." 



A local journalist offers the following remarks on this affectionate pro- 

 ceeding towards the " Law Church" as the Roman Catholics contemp- 

 tuously style the Church of England : " Much merriment existed, and 

 many jokes passed, at the idea of the Protestants not only having to 

 pay their share of the foundling tax and coffin money, which last is 

 almost exclusively given to Roman Catholic paupers ; but also that the 

 vestry were enabled to tax the Protestants at the rate of seven-pence per 

 pound on the value of houses and lands, whilst the Roman Catholics had 

 to pay but three halfpence. Others rejoiced that it would induce one-half 

 of the Protestants to deny their religion, whilst those who would not abjure 

 should bear all the burden. Suffice it to say, that some do not conceal 

 their intentions of entirely doing away with the Church Establishment of 

 Ireland; and that, in consequence of their (the Protestants) small num- 

 bers, they will in a short time be scarcely recognised even as a sect." 



The paper which offers this comment on the conciliatory deeds and 

 " merriment" of the Waterford Roman Catholics was established, and 

 still continues, under the patronage of the Beresford family, and advo- 

 cated the policy of the " healing measure," in conformity with the wishes 

 of its patrons. It is therefore good evidence in such a case, which can 

 hardly be admitted to reflect much lustre on the wisdom or protes- 

 tantism of the Wellingtonian converts. 



Behold the benefits which " emancipation" has conferred upon Ireland ! 

 We request the whigs, in whose ranks the most inveterate absentees are 



