HISTORY OF EUROPE. 



133 



House, but ascertained that, with a 

 view to the independence of par- 

 liament, persons holding offices 

 without responsibility should not 

 be suffered to have seats in that 

 House. On these grounds he 

 brought forward his present mo- 

 tion ; and he trusted the House 

 would give it all the attention it 

 deserved. Of one thing he was 

 sure, that they must either have a 

 temperate reform, or a military go- 

 vernment. — However partial he 

 might be to his own plan, his in- 

 tention was, in the first instance, 

 to move for a committee, in whicii 

 it might undergo a vigilant revi- 

 sion, and he would have an oppor- 

 tunity of adopting any amend- 

 ments that might be recommend- 

 ed. — He concluded by moving, 

 " That a Committee be appointed 

 to inquire into the state of the re- 

 presentation of the people in par- 

 liament, and of the most effica- 

 cious means of rendering it more 

 complete, and to report the same, 

 with their observations thereupon, 

 to the House." 



After a long debate, in which 

 the usual arguments were urged 

 j)ro and con, the motion was lost 

 by a great majority. 



Ayes 115 ; Noes 234. 



Before the question was put, 

 Mr. Brand, after replying to cer- 

 tain arguments against his plan, 

 declared, that whatever the fate of 

 his motion might be, on the pre- 

 sent occasion, he should think it 

 his duty to bring it forward again 

 and again. 



Anothergreat standing question 

 was submitted to the House of 

 Commons on the 13th of May ; 

 when a motion was made by Mr. 

 (jrattan, for a committee to consi- 

 der the Roman Catholic petitions. 



He stated his intention to rest his 

 motion on two grounds, the do- 

 mestic nomination of Catholic 

 bishops, and the civil cnpacities 

 ofthelrishCatholics. — Mr.Grattan 

 on this, as on former occasions of 

 discussingthesame, or other great 

 questions, displayed the utmost 

 precision and subtlety of argu- 

 ment, energy of language, and 

 sublimity of eloquence. He is the- 

 most accomplished English orator 

 within the memory of the present 

 age : the great earl of Chatham 

 not excepted. He is clear, con- 

 cise, fervent, and rapid. He gives 

 edge to his speeches by metaphy- 

 sical acumen, and sublimity by 

 the stores of learning; and above 

 all by connecting the affairs of 

 earth with the laws and provi- 

 dence of heaven. His speech, on 

 the present occasion, was well ar- 

 ranged, and animated throughout; 

 the following are a few specimens. 

 The charges against Catholics, 

 that the}' hold the doctrine of no 

 faith with heretics ; that the Pope 

 is infallible, and has a power to 

 absolve from moral obligation, &c. 

 &c. &c. he refuted by three argu- 

 ments, the last of which was, that 

 the truth of the charges was im- 

 possible. " For," said Mr. Grat- 

 tan, " they amount to a criminal- 

 ity whicli would have rendered 

 the Catholic incapable of civil 

 government, or foreign relation- 

 ship. It amounts to a transfer of 

 allegiance, and a dissolution of the 

 elements of human society. The 

 existence of society and of go- 

 vernment in Catholic nations, is 

 the practical answer. But there 

 is another answer more authorita- 

 tive and conclusive. The charge 

 is irreconcileable to the truth of 

 the Christian religion. It supposes 



