282 
te modify the bill as to reconcile it to his Ma- 
zefty’s wifhes. But after a good deal of deli- 
Beration we found that it could not-be modifi- 
edas to obviate his objeftions, without de- 
froying the vital eflence’ of the meafure— 
without doing away that which would be fa- 
tisfactory to the Catholics, or likely to pro- 
duce any of.the i important confequences which 
we had in view upon its original intredu@tion ; 
we therefore propofed to abandon’ it altoge- 
_ ther, in deference to the feelings of his Ma- 
jefty.. Any man who has‘a juit mind cannot 
but beware that it muft have been’a painful 
facrifice of perfonal yeelings to public duty. 
But | truft thet wherever that. kind of facri- 
fice becomes neceflary for fuch an cbject, no 
rian will be found more willing to fubmit to 
it than I fhall. 
Having :azreed to give up this bill altoge~ 
ther, we did at the iame time feel it néceflary 3 
forthe-vinceication of our character, to infert 3 
minute in the proceedings: of the Cabinet, 
fating che ‘grounds upon “which we were in- 
duced to give up the meafure—that we would 
not prefs any preceeding which might appear to 
be hottile to his Majefty’s feelin ga; but that 
from the opinions,and principles we ‘bad on 
many occafions exprefied in Parliament, -and 
frem a juit folicitude for the interef of this 
Empire, we muft confiftently referve to our- 
felves the right of fubmitting at all times for 
his decifion, fach meaiures as we might deem 
advilable and ‘expedient for the benefit of Ire- 
land. 
With: regard to the propriety of ‘inferting 
this minute, i weuldappeal to any man of right 
Seeling, whether in juftice te the King and to 
ourfelves, we could abftain from recording the 
ground. upon which we ated. One courfe 
only remained fur myfelf and my celleagues 
in‘the fituation in which we {tood, after w th- 
drawing a.meafure of great public moment, 
throngh refpect ior the feelings of the King, 
ghat is, to infert the minute referred to, thus 
recording the ground upon wh.ch we had fo 
agted, and exprefling our. intentions for the 
future, Looking to our own reputation— 
looking. to the maintenance of our confiftency 
=~lecking to the probable introduction of a 
petition from the Catholics, could we, with 
any fenie we owed to ourfelves; hefitate to 
record'that which meant ae to exprefs are- 
fervation of that right, which, if we had-con- 
fested toabandon, we mutt have rendered vur- 
{elves unworthy the eficera even of ourfelves ? 
To this minute I would reter for the vindica- 
tion of our view and conduét both with regard 
Foour Sovercigm and our Country, and partic 
cularky ugainik: the advanced again 
us, which can only be fupporteu by an invidi- 
extract irom that very rainute. 
But fuppofing we had omitted altcgetuer to 
infert this minvte, with which fome perfons 
afect to find tault, how fhould we ftand in a 
certain event? Letus take it the other way 
awe At Tshad come-down to this Houfe sand 
withdiawn thig Bil, without making any 
fej Few at 
Cigree 
oully garbes 
A 
State of Public Affairs in March. 
* fént to ; 
[Aprill, 
fatément whatever of the grounds npon which 
I was induced to adopt fuch a proceeding== 
and that afterwards, upon the introduction of 
the Catholic Petition, my colleagues and t 
thould declare our opinion in favour ‘Of j it with- 
out any previous intimation of our intention 
to the King—What would his Majefty be dif- 
pofed to think of us, and what fort ibe oS 
would this Houfe be warranted in making 
againft us? ‘I fay, ‘therefore, nothing: can 
more ftrongly manifeft our deference, for ‘the 
King’s opinion, and our difpolition te ‘at with 
frankne fs and candour toward sohis Majefty, 
than ‘this precife minute—-which only meaiis 
to referve to ourfelves the right which belongs 
to any individual: member ar parliament, of 
bringing forward any meafure which he may 
think neceffary for the public intereft. “But 
what will the Houfe chiak of a propofition be- 
ing diftinly made to us tantamount to an abe 
‘folute furrender of that right? Not contented 
with the facrifice which I have fo often men- 
tioned te the feelings of the King, it was ac- 
tually propofed to us, not only that we fhould 
withdraw the latter part of the minute, but 
alfo, fubftitute in its place’ writren obligation 
of a directly oppofite nature, pledging our- 
{elves never to’ bring forward again the meas 
fure we liad abandohed:; 3 hay More, never to 
propofe any thing connected with. tiie Catho- 
hic Queftian, 
Mich as this propofition may aftonith the 
Houfe, I feel fully fatisfied from the opportu- 
nity which my official communication has af- 
forded me of judging of the nature of his 
opinions, that he is a¢tuated! by the pureft mo- 
tives. Of the benevolent intentiuns of his 
Majefty for the interefts of his people in this 
te aniaction, fo far as he is perfonally concern- 
ed, I entertain not the fighteft doubt, but of 
his advifers I can fay nothing. But Fwillap- 
peal to this Houfe and the country whether 
fuch n obligation could be patiently difcnfled, 
much lefs fubicribed, by any man who ever 
entertained. a correc notion of public duty, 
or‘who was unfufceptivle of a feeling worthy 
of a refpectable puplic ftation. Need Tadd 
that this ptopofition was fuchas my colleagues 
and mylelf found it utterly impoflible to af. 
and having refpectinlly communi- 
cated our diffent trom it to the King, we‘on 
the next day received an intimation from’ ‘hig 
Majefty that he muft lock out for other Mi- 
nfters. Thele’Minifera he has according ty 
fucceeded in finding, and og Wetinelday laft 
my colleagues and I delivered up the feals: of 
office to his Majefty. 
i cru that, in the Statement I have made, 
Thave eftablifhed a faflicicnt guard againftany 
further mifiepretentation. (have hewn L 
hope to the tatisfaction of the floufe, thefe 
thired important fa@s—1ft, ‘That the Bill re- 
férved to was not propoféd in this Houfe until 
his Majefty was fully appiized of it ;—2dly, 
rT bat whatever mifunderitanding might have 
rilén,-the fault’ was not with us, ‘as “his Nia. 
Fi fy was afiorded ample opportunity, ‘in the 
documents 
