STATE PAPERS. 
ter be delayed fora time of greater 
tranquillity; but the expediency of 
giving support to it was a matter 
left to his discretion, as, in the na- 
ture of things, it necessarily would 
be, on any subjeét, the principle of 
which was admitted, the fitness of 
the time being the only point of 
doubt, and which could only be 
decided by existing circumstances. 
1sth, Because it is offered in 
proof, that the late lord-lieutenant 
was diligent in the search, and 
prompt .in the communication to 
ministers, of every information on 
the subject. That he soon found, 
that all hopes of putting of the 
question was impracticable; that 
he had reason to think the present 
time for carrying the principles of 
the acts of 1792 and 1793 to their 
full object, to be, of all others, most 
favourable; that he found the 
relief to be ardently desired. by 
the catholics ; to be asked for by 
very many protestants, and to be 
cheerfully acquiesced in by almost 
all ; that this circumstance removed 
the difficulties, on which the post- 
poning the question could alone 
be desired; that he found the 
delays had created much suspicion 
and uneasiness amongst the catho- 
lic petitioners, who were numer- 
ous almost beyond all example ; 
that he found a bill on those peti- 
tions would infaliibly and speedily 
be brought into parliament, and 
that many members were desirous 
to introduce it; and if. this were 
the case, the measure might come 
into hands with which neither he 
nor the king’s ministers had any 
connexion, which would leave 
with governmert only the disagree-, 
able part ofaltering or of modifying, 
if any alteration or modification 
had beew thought necessary by the 
149 
British government, depriving his 
majesty thereby of the whole grace. 
and effect of what was done: that. 
in this unpleasant situation he sent 
‘for Mr. Grattan, and desired him 
as a person in his confidence, and 
who would aé& on the occasion ac- 
cording to what he and the minis- 
ters, in their prudence, might sug- 
gest. That Mr. Grattan did con- 
sent, and did, at his desire, move 
for leave to bring in a bill for the 
further relief of the Roman catho- 
lics. That the motion for leave 
was received with little discussion, 
and without any division. That 
no bill on the subject was in fact 
brought in—and that ministry were 
informed, that none would be 
brought in without their know- 
ledge; nor untilof late, and after 
Jord Fitzwilliam’s departure, was 
such a thing attempted. That’ the 
then lord lieutenant communicated 
largely all his ideas on the subject.’ 
That whilst the proposed bill was 
not yet introduced into the house 
of commons, and whilst he was 
obeying their instructions with re- 
gard to informations and opinions, 
he was suddeniy removed, with the 
strongest marks of displeasure and 
disgrace, That on this state of 
things, no sufficient reason appears 
to exist iu this measure, any more 
than in ‘the business of arrange. 
ments, for the unusual and alarm. 
ing step of disgracing a lord-lieu- 
tenant in the middle of a session of 
arliament, in which the business 
of his majesty, andof the whole em, 
pire (as far as that kingdom could 
operate in it), was carried on with 
unusual unanimity and success, and 
with a very great concurrence with- 
out doors ofall orders and descrip- 
tions of men. It is a step ’for 
which, on the debate, nothing was 
L 3 said 
