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800018666V
^^Man,^ s «" co^'oji „, ^^j,^^^^^^^^.
m- dtfAe e/'^y f/'^A/ fint. ''"naneeMf^uf^-
HISTORICAJL LETTER
THE REV. CHARLES O'CONOK, D. D.
COLUMBANUS;
FIVE ADDRESSES OR LETTERS
FRANCIS PLOVVDEN, ESQ.
Rune la Romane Ci*eta. — Hor
a bensre. — 2 Col. p. 5.
Eagli^meu beware — 5 Col. p. 133.
SOLD BY HUGH FITZPATBICK,
4, CArii£.-STREET.'
i'-?/. c. 53A.
vr
\
cer, ;i27.— Historjr of, and reflections upon Colambamis^g sma^
theripg the Memoirs of his Grandfather and the History qf
Ireland in the Poddle : and a further antithesis of Grandfather
apd Grandson, 229.-^CoIumbanus abases his Hierarcy, 243*
His visionary eflects of Veto^ aqd wild atteippts to engage some
Statesmen to support it, 245. — T^ie real nature of f^<r/^ seen
and disciiiimed by Lords Grey and Grenville, ai|d Messrs. Pon*
sonby^and Grattan, 247. — Reflections upon the Fifth Resolu*
tiofi of the Board of English Catholics, BJ'ote, 249, 25P.— What
tke Author published conceriiiag the Supremacy of the Bishop
of Rome in his Church ^nd St^te, 255. Coqfusjon of Columba-
Tius's idea? of Qrder and jurisdiction, 257. — -Columbanus fa?
thers assertions on Doctor Eoynter^ wl)ich he never made ; and
>vhat conduct sincere Catholics expect from Qoctpr I'oynter now
he is the spiritual superior of Columbanus, Note, z6jo to 265*
The common law q( England r^cognize.d the uncontroulable
H^ht in the Pope to appoint and confirm Bishops, illustrated by
^Id cases. Note, 266 to 270.— Nature of the acts collating spi.
ritual power, upon which Columbanus is lamentably confused^
270. — Rev. Mr. Joseph Berrington's represent^tioq of Jansen-
ism, Note, 276 to 279. — Erroneoi^s practical Ideas of English-
men concerning the King's §upren|acy, 279.-«Tlie,ir real (uut
damental doctrines upon the ponuer of the kcysy and the conse-
quent acts qf election, institi^tion, order, and jurisdiction, 284.
CoIumbanus*s q,rro^ant assumptions, ignorant aberrations, and
insidious attempts to n^islead his countrymen about nomination^
confirmation, and negative of thp ciyil power, ^88.— Qis fals^
doctrines about Papz^l Supremacy, and (in note) his mjsrepre.
sentation of Grotius and Mel^^nchtqn upon the qeces^ity of %
supreme head to the church, 294. — He practices fraud upon his
countrymen by suppressing known^truths, 300. — Jurisdictional
authority of the Pope proved in the 4th century from St. Atha^
nasiu^ and others, 303. — Columbanus confutes himself, 30$.—.
(Note) the. special mission of the seventy •two disciples, (Luke
iph. X.) 3 10... Columbanus takes unfair adviiatage of ]E'l6ury tk^
Vlfi
Ecclesiastical ilistorian, 3i2..**FIeury contradicis Columbanvs
i^n Papa) Jurisdiction, 3 15. ...Further errojs of Columbanus
about Papal Jurisdictton and the Ijlierarch/, 319 (Note)
lingular contrast of Columbanus and his Grandfather, 323....
(Note^ the c^nras for Elphix^ elucidatpd by the application of
the Mother of the Soi^s of j^ebedee, 328 Columbauus^s tricjc
}n professing his ^bmission to the Pope in Latin |nd in Eng/.
lish, 33o....I][eniisrepresent3 the system of Coadjutorships,333.
JJis motives for opppsing Coa^utqrships, 336.... (a very inter-
esting Note^ Singular cppduc^of Sir John Cox Hippesley from
his Embassy to the coprt of Roipe, down to his heading tl^e
Yetpists, and his singular speech in the House of Comnipns qn
fhe ^2d June, J 81?. How pished upon by hi^ correspondeot*
from Ireland in 1796, and by (Joliimbanus and Mr. Butlei*! 11^
1 8 12, from 338 to 35^. ...Diocesan Election or Postulation not
absolutely necessary for the real appointment of Bishops by
tbe Pope, 34i....Bishopric$ npt deyisable as asserted by Co*
lumhanus, 357. ...Appointment of Cpacjjutors discretionary in
the Pope, 358....Indispensible duties of the Pope in providing
Bishops for the dispersed clturches, 36o....^Nole) Authority pf
ThoroassiQ aqd othe|3 for Coadjutorships in the yery earliest
days of Christianity, even under St. Peter, 362. Instances,
which Qa\[ upon the Pope to appoint Coadjutors, 366. The
qualifications requisite for a Bishop according to St. Paul> S67«
APPENDIX.
*- ' I — —
X^O. I. Lands granted to the Duke of Ormond by the Act
pf SettUncient and ^ourt of Claims, i to 2. ..No. II. The Oatk
p£ Allegiance frapied and proposed by James, i to 3. The oath
prescribed ^or t}ie British Catholips by the 39th G^o. III. p. 4.
The Oath and Declaration, by which Roman Catholics become
entitled to the benefits of the 33d Geo. UI. Irish Statute, 5....
No. III. Proofs of th; afsimjlarion of Father Peter Walsh and
che Rev. Doctor Charles Q'Copor asserted in the note, p 8lS»
of the 3d Vol. of the History of Ireland since tl^e Union, from
7 to 52, interspersed with reflections and illustrsitions. Form
pf the Oath for serving the Iiish missibn, taken by Doctor
O^Conor, 8. Something of the degree of a Ludoyisian Alum-
sus or Free Scholar, by Papal bounty, 9. Similar relations
i>etween Columbanus and Dodesley, as between Doctor Milner
and Coyne, 12. Queries put to Doctor Bodkin by Columbanus *
^d to Cfi^um^anus by the /Author, concerning costt of suits ac
tilt
^UdmeyiS. Growth and mischief of Jansemsm ; and some
particulars of their origin, spiriti doctrines, policy, zeal, and
characteristics, with some account of Richer, Launois, Ques-
iit\ Dtipin, and other J ansenistical leaders. Walsh calls Richer
truly Cat hoik and learned, and Doctor O'Conor terms the others
fir^t-rate French Catholic theologians, 28tQ48. Dr. O'Conoi's
rapid progrtsR into consequence ; and specimens of his sul>l<me
eloquence, 48 to $2 No. iV. Proofs ot the truth and appli-
cability of the Author's suggestion in the before- mentioned
note, p. 820, that Mr. Btitler au hor of the blue books, and Dr.
O^Conor 2Lrt duo Morantes in Unum s consisting Qfiniercstin^sj
extracts from the blue books, and particularly rhe protest of the
(Committee of nvould'be protesting Catholic Dissenters against their
J^ishopsy and observations thereon published by the Author in
his Case Stated in i79«, 52 to 82... .No. V. Doctor O'Conor 's
mutilated and distorted copy of the DcclarsKion of the Galil-
ean Clergy, in 1683. Then a true copy of the original in La-
tin,and a very literal translation of it into English, and some
observations upon it by the Author, 82 to 90 No. VI. Sy-
nodical Resolutions of Tullow ; or Declaration of the Romaa
Catholic Prelates of Ireland concerning certain opinions lately
published in England, 90 to 94.... No. VII. Rev. Dr. O'Co-
Tiot'8 drfiercnt professions of submission to Papal authority, in
liatin and English with observations upon the grossi infidelity
of the translation, and Jiis views in mistranslating it, 95 to 99.
No. VI} I. A Letter from the Archbishop of Baltimore and
his four Suffragan Bishpps in (he United States of North A me-
Tica, to the Archbishops and Bishops q\ Ireland, translated from
the Latin, 99. Aodress of the new American Hierarchy to
'their flocks concerning the present state of the Pope, 102. Ex-
tract of an Original Letter from the most Rev. Doctor Carroll
to the most Rev. Doctor IVoy, 106. Ditto from the Right
Kcv. J. O. Ple^sis, Bishop of Quebec, to the most Rev. Doc-
tor Troy, 107. (Note) about that Prelate's appointment to the
See of Quebec, after Father Kildea had been encouraged to
expect it^ io7, 8, 9. Pastoral of the Bishop of Quebec for
prayers, &c. on the captivity of the Pope, 109. ...No. IX. The
irish Remonstrance to the King, signed by Peter Walsh ^»nd
22 t>ihcr Regulars in 1666, p. 114,-. ..No. X. A Bull of Pope
<^aBgiineUi appointing a Coadjutor to the See of Water ford
from the oxiginal in the Author's possession translared from
the Latin, 118. Sir John Cox' Hippesley's account of the
change introduced into the consecration Oath. (NoteJ 123 ta
PREFACE
•f
1
T.iA*^
:«
k '
/
' 1 .
/ •
. :•;
.... .. , ; ~
^
' r
J
TO THE READJEiR.
. \ .■ .
JP ROM every^ tebiassed reader x>{ my 'cvef^g^^
publications concerning Irehthd^ li^claim. credit for^*^^^*
haying intended ta act up strictly to my motto^: f9r
corrupta ^^s nudaqui Veritas.' fti snch Jof tli^ ^
critiques ^nd cienstires upon any of those worlcs^
at have comf imder my eyes^ two persons only have
charged me with falsehood. Sir Richard Musgraye
has anoiiyniausly indulged his iiadve„ acquii;ed or
purchased anjtipatjhy, in the British Critic, the Antif
two former; <^1}$Kl5/ri^^/ 1^^ Plouidnfs Hisfthrkil
Rttiitwof the Sf0t» of Ireland. To that stipendiary
.^jcavenger of slanderous untrutht»I addressed iii 186ff ,
An Historical Letter^ printed smd published both in
London and Dublin^ in which I fixt him with each
,A of
j^. I
^•»
ii
of thtfse anonymous eflfusions of bile against tbd
Author of the Histinical Review^ the nation, which
was the subject' ot that Work, and the religion pro-*
fnsedby thegeodrsUity pfi(jj[itt N^ I bro\ight
home to his pen the nauseating adulation of the
Baronet's own productions, & hope, I failed not in ex-
posing some out of the numerous untryths, calumnies
and inconsistencies, with ...which he superabounds.
I confidently assert, that each of Iiis charges of
falsehood has been successfully refuted by conclusive
evidence, or'tlie^ezt>dsui*e of tite Baronet's gross mis
quotations of authorities • No reply has been hitherto
made to that letter. In writing it I intended to per->
' iform an important duty to Iij^brnd and mysel£
The next gentbq^n, who has in pnnt charged me
^th having filiified atiy:pArt of fcisk.JSisto.ry^ is th^t
Rev.^ Charies . 0'CQnor,^P JD« . und^r . the assumed
Anile olCchMbanufs /he has assailed mginpst fero-^
cioitety ID the 2iid of his. printed letters tQ. his CQuntry^
Dr.o'Coa- \t,r^^j^.-yoll6mng j^assages frbni' DrJ ©'Conors
Several jidffi-jmim bfoif^t togfitfcer to- shew the
S^^thT ifffi.^^ I ^ tmtfer <>f rep^ling the ag--
letter ^ri- j^€$sioiV ^ iQaYiled RcvefenoB has' tlicmgbt fit to open
Vips^ ineft ^*I haf e read Ohnbtid's History not only
'. » ■ • '?.. '- - , ^ . ^
'■■ *X^liiiiibaQUf ad Hybernoa 'Ho.^j or a secoi|d letter TVith
>Part I, of an Historical Addre^ dh iht calamities occaiioned
'by foreign infiuence in the nomlaation of Bishops to Irish Sees^
by the Rev. C. O'Conor D.D. Sseley Buckingham 1810.
+ Page 221, 2, 5.
HI
in the superficial and decliamatory pages of modern
compilers, who follow e^ch other^ gaggling in one
and the same note, like the Xvild Geese in our native
bogs^ 'but also in the fragments, that remain of our
own ori^nalCttholic Writers, who had the hpnpr
of being persoilidly acquainted with him: and. I
boldlj assert, that .never was ;the cliaracter of any
man more injured, or niore misrepresented, than
Ormondes is by Mrv'.Piowden. L do not mean, that
Mr. Piowdea is guilty of the, flagitious crime of
misrepretitatioil: but I have a right to complain,
diat he 'suffeci^ himtelf : to be 'misguided; by the
foreign influence meb, the Castabalas of our natire
country:', ibrldng .before. h$. pxiblished I warned him
against them. ;I dKotioned him. by a. letter, so ,hz
back as February- 18Q5, against v^ikng to. those
very partial and su^icious authorities, to which he
iy>peals: I ' iofomled \ims that be : must - read,
and cotbpare the oiigin&ls: and I indicated to liim,
where those originals were to be fouijd/*
<* Mow it appears from his own quotations, that
he has not re^d any of those Authorities : but is led
on blindly by- the''b)iild, whose paragraphs fiUIiis
voluminous compilad6n,^ even verhanmi vrith assgr^
iioni without proofs, and with calumnies, which every
man at all acquainted with Irish History, had read
^juead nauseatn before I had written to him on the
subject!'* •■ • • ....
K 2
iv
^* Surely if Mr* Plowden had not been to un-
fortunately misguided, he could never have been
guilty of abusing oiie of the greatest and most
honorable men our country has produced, vrith a
malignity and a coarseness of Language, which no
transaction of his vrliole life can possibly justify !
tie asserts, tliat the internal dissentions of the
Catholics at- this time' were most actively fomented
byOrmond; that to cover the turpitude oi his own
conduct, he imposed upon the Lord Mayor of
Dublin by a forged 6r a forced letter firom the King,
obKging him to surrender Dublin to the Puritans :
diat in surrendering Dublin he acted with interested
views to his own domestic cbncems ; having stipu«
ktted with the Mfitdnical Comnnssioners for a large
sihn of money, as the jme^ of his own base surrend*-
er : and that he thus infammsly betrayed the authority
etnd trust tf the King* Plowden's Hist. Rev, of
Ireland, Vol. 1. page 4ic 52.
^ •^^And yet our modem compilers of Historical
Reviews of the State of Ireland are not ashamed
to cbnfe^, that for very obvious reasons they have
chosen to follow Leland's, and Sir John Davies's
opinion^, both as to the natufe of Ireland* and the
dispositions, of its Inhabitants. (PJowden's Irish
Hist. vpl. 1« p. 452) Their reasons may be ver|^
obvious to themselves. We write history by the foot
square^ when from laziness, or incapacity, or from
impatience
* Page3G.
impatience to proceed without the labour of' enquiry^
we copy whole pages from quartos ti bigotry, of
ignorance and declamation/^
«
• • , " • .
In i^eaking of the transactions of 16411, ^, and 3,
lie says * ^PJowden dates the King's first commission
to treat with the confederates Jan. 14, 1642, (p.l41)
aad the subsequent meeting, of the Commissioners
at Casik-MartUu June 28, 1642 : and yet he makes
Ornioad vefer. in that meeting to the King^s letter of
the 2nd July in 1643. SeeHistor* Rev. 144.'*
^^ t Mr, Plowde n says, that t;he book called Cam'
bremis Eversuf was written by a very learned person,
Mr, Josiah Lyoch Titular Arch-3ishop of Tuam,
Hist, V. 1. p 6. Now. there never was a Mr.
Jo^h Lynch Titular Arcb-Bish^. or Bishop of
any diocese in Ireland/'
** I Grantcid then^ that Keating's Chronology is
inaccurate, so is O'Hallofan's, so is Leland's, so is
Plowden*s, so is every one, who has yet ventured
to dabble in Irish History, what then ? Is every
historical £ict to be rejected, because it has been
displaced. Are historical monuments to be destroyed,
becaute they have been disfigured by barbarism,
mutilated by time, or misquoted by ignorance?
Does it follow, that because Keating and Vallanccy
•rrfer to the tihies of Pope Urban II, transactions^
, wMch occurred in the days of his predecessors,
* therefore
* Page 4s &46.
+ Page 79,
X Page 82k
VI
therefore. those.trai^actioi\8 are to be utterly denied."
^ *\* If diea those qualitieSi whiph Ormond so emir
nently possessed, united with the conciliajting ac-
GO^ts I ard ahptit to relate, had no effect in bringing
the mas.5 of the people to any teritis for the defence
of the Wfonajchy, we must look for the cause of
theij: opposition to a source very different from
that implacable, malevolence of Ormond towards ibem^
which lyir. Plowmen arguing from the religious crj
of the nuncia and of l^'foreign influenced Bishops,
so unjustly assijgns. , With regard to the imputation
of hatred to the Catholics of Ireland.-^-^! have read
Ormondes letters, and all that has been written ort
that subject, from* N» French^ the Catholic Bishop
of Fern's unkind deserter^ dbwn to Plowden's decla-f
matory compilatiRi, entitled an Historical Review^
and I say distinctly, that it is a malicious falsehood
propagated b]^ the^/br^^ influenced m&tx of Ireland,
\>y the ultramontane Bishops,, and by the scurrilous
and • ignorant witers of ow times. . ;
..'."■■''■
' .*^tAnd/yetthis is the Oymon^t of whom Mr,
Plowden sayB> in liis usual dejqlamatory stile, that
he was of a sanguinary disposition towards the Catho-
lies (Histl Rev. p. 143) that his detestation of the Ca-
tholics {ib. 145) \Minveier4fcy towards them (ib. 147}
his wy»&;r^^ against diem (ib. 148) and his reluctance ^
/# (0% any of t^fi, K^ng^s commands favorable, to theip
* Page 226-7.
+ Page 259.
f • ,"-
I.
■*w
vn
{ib. 151) v/ere wflepcjble : and that few instances of
more machlavelian poHcy bcciir in history, than in
his conduct towards them, excepting, 'that he never
completely dissembled his execration of the CafboUcsl
(ib. 158) ' This sort of language can scarcely be
tolerated amongst civilised nations. It mdy pass in
the vulgar and bigotted pamphleteering jargon of a.
Castabala: but in history! and from a Lawyer!
from a man, who in every assertion ought to be gui-
ded by evidence, it is scanddous, it is quite ua*
pardonable— ^«rfc/ / A Gkotius would not have
written so! Never! I am ijorlry, that there are
blots in the maps of the niost liberal and enlightened
nations ! 'Mr. Plowdeh himself ouotiis a letter of
• . . ."..'''-
Ormondes," iii which be expresses Bis/ear^ that if hfe
protected the Catholics to the ex2tot tliey desired,
he should have been utterly deserted by all the Pro-
testahts of the kingdom.* Now'ilus alone would
be a sufficient justification ifi the mtnd of any one
but of a bigot^ without recurring to vile calumny :
and would suffice to unravel the. whole of Ormond'^
conduct towards the Catholics, in sufh bloody and
ietestaUe times !"
. Courteous
* Carte's Orm. * vol. 5. . p. 3M. " If sijs lie, I takt iht
'VcliftCge of this army upon me .(t eof the Catholic ahny)' or
^ denouqce immediatelj an offensive War against the Scots,
" aoi ten Protestants nui/i fiOow mey but rather rise as one man,
^^ and adhere to the Scots." Mr. Plowmen quotes this T^ry
letter p. 151.
VUl
TU letter CouTteous reader» whoever you are, I beg leave
I uim to once tor all to lay in my claim to bonor and honesty
honor and ■ * • ^ ^ , • • i
iiaoftty. in all, that I ever have published directly or indirectly
respecting Ireland : I shall endeavour not to travel
put of the charge, but that field affords an extensive
fange.. An honest or an honorable man cannot sit
passive and silent under the complicated accusation
pf having given to the world as true and authentic
history, a declamatory compilation of malignant and
coarse misrepresentation against authorities and
without authorities, of plagiarisms by the foot square
from quartos of bigotry, ignorance and declamati-
on, of falsehood, anachronism, calumny, bigotry and
scurrility^ fabricated for the purposes of deception
by a man of laiziness and incapacity,, impatient of
tjbe labour of .jqpquky, misguided and misguiding,
asserting without proof and traducing with conscious
malevolence, a vulgar pamphleteer, and disgracing
.}]i$. profession of the Law*
m!!^^'e^ * A part of this attack^ which was all I had n^ad of
fhuiilfer. y^ ^Iiilsf withig niy history since the Fnion, tailed
ibr that riotefVhich refers to it in theSdtdU But
in as much, as a regular and succinct hiMory will
not admit of investigations and disquisitions upon
particular points, however important to the nation,
of which the history is written, I have thought fH-oper
■' . tb
. ^ 66Pnmbaii!is ad Hybernos, Letter 3. p. ^1, &c.
+ Page S16 to p. 821.
i%
to addpt thl9 mode of throwing in falX^afTight upon
% particular subject, that will necessarily bring befoitf
the public, facts and circumstances developiug more
in detail a system, which yitally affects the religiom
government and happiness of Ireland. So harsh %n
impeachment bf the character and Tonicity of an
Ustorian challenges him to meet it in the most
.direct manner^ so ai to provoke itistant full laifiA
open discussion^ Barring personal grounds for court-
ing fair investigation^ I feel i^ an indispensible du^r
to support that credit for veracity, upon. which aloi^e
could have been bottomed the gratifying communir
cation made to me bjrhis Royal Highness the Prince
.of Wales, , wheit he graciously accepted the.presenta-
tion copy of my histoty of Ireland from its Invasion
to her Union with Great Britain, which by his Royal
permission was dedicated to hint t viz» That bis j^tjal
Highness proposes to himself^ much satisfaction In tjlfc
ferusal of iff not only from the conviction of tie authen^
ticitf of your researches^ but in as much, as they regard
a people^ for whose b^fpiness bis Royal Hiifiness feels
the deepest interest J* The specific task t noW ta^
in hand, is to lay before the public the authorities^
Upon which 1 h^ye said what I have cOncernmjr
Cobtmbanus and every subject, which affects him and
those, who have come forward before the public, ta
deny^ disguiae, suppress or misrepresent &cts, which
I have narrated or referred to, because I did and
ytill ^o consider them eminently conducive to the
B illustration
illtutradon of the vricked and dangerous policy of*
governing Ireland.
nmies of In the present overstretched efforts to silence the
an and **"* Constitutional liberty of the press, I am not insensi-
ic|wopic.bleof the scorching heat of the insidious embers,
upon which the cotemporary historian treads. If
the freedom of the press extend its influence to any
species of writing, it emiently does to that, which in-
structs the living generation in the nature, views and
consequences of its existing government. To render
the attempt as legal and constitutional to the indi*
vidual in the execution, as it is hazardous and im-
portant to the nation in its consequences,' I am free
to declare, that I liave attempted to follow ^ith punc-
tilious scrupulosity the golden .rules prescribed by
Cicero for writing history; a fragment of whicK
has been blunted by hacneyed repetition- Every
Sciolist has incessantly upon ' his tongue ne quid
fain dicer c audeai^ ni quidvere non audeatJ* The context
rarely falls under the eyes of ordinary readers ; and
the author, even at the hazard of the odious charge
' of pedantry, copies th^ entire passage as an impene-
trable iEgis against the little passions, the mcrcc*
' iiary asperity, and official zeal of bad governors and
'iheir venal hirelings. ** For who knows not, that it
' *' is the first rule of history, not to dare to say !any
fl
i ' . . ■ ■
. ♦ CIcdb Oratore, Lib. 1U«. 64;
xi
■* ff
^^ thing, that is false ^ then, not to dare to om^
«
^' any thing, that is true. Let there be no suspidon
^* of favor in writing : nor any personal malice.;
^* These foundations are known to alK But the
^* superstructure consists of things and words.
^* The aature of the first requires order of time,
^* description of places; also in great affairs worthy
** pf . renpieipbraiice^ first the designs^ then the ex-
^^ ecution,. and afterwards the results are expected
** to be handled. The writer must express what
^^ he himself approves of in the design : and as to
^^ the execution of it, he must not only declare
^^ what was said or done, but also in what manner*
^'And when the results (or consequeftces) are
** handled, that all the causes (or motives) whether
'^ of accident, wisdom or rashness be thoroughly
^^ explained : and that not only the exploits of the
*' actors theihselves beset forth;- but the general
^^ condutt and character of such of them, as have
^^ any pretensions Ip a naQ(ie or reputation in life«
*^ But the sdeciion of words, and ^1^ of writing,
*^ to be clear and easy^i flowing with a certain calm
^* and even current, eqilally void of jiidifeial asperity,
*^ and the pungency of forensic declamation."
I solemnly declare, that I attempted to write my
history according to these rules ; sensible, that by
fio doing I performed the awful duty I owed to the
illustrious pefsonagej to whom the work is dedicatee^
.B2 tq
't
• <
t§J^ I^igh ^rited and loyal people^ vrliose.
kJit and to the ua worthy individtudf vhp h^ *>4f^
t|l^f»rd|ipu$ tasl( fn hanf}/
t '
A postiintiitioui 'Pf'efa(^.'
The officionintsV of fome of Colunibanus' secret abofiors has
^OTvei from Mm s plenteouJ diicharglt 6f bile. , Resuming hi;
ronotrymni the comspbqdencC Wveeil fhc moit Rcr. Doctor
Troy aadhitrscrf, wfiich'ihc reader triTI iiaifaUhfuIlj/ set forlti
ill lliii postscript (o ttts IctTirr. It takes op Iitile,nioro ihan a
page. IKs adrertistoicttt, wWch is twice printed in front of his
work, annouiires, "that f ho has lately returned, to 'ihii klti^.
'* Avm for the pnriiose Ot collating, diulii£ the sumniir moiirhs,
"ffie MSS. cT ancient. In^ lijstofy,' trinscribtd liytii'ni
**from the Bodldan Library, vlili'.thosp deposltisl in Triiiity
" College," In ibrdcr (o afford his countrymen a spcrimcn of
liis accuracy and fide|i;ty iii collating and transcrlbini;, and ijuo-
iing, and.dealing'oUt original documents to his. countfyMtin, iq.
Ihat short corrt'spoiidcticc hfe has taken 'tho lilief ty of chunginp
■15 words, of »mitting Ts^ilnd inserting 180 !1 ', raatirjally altpriiig
<hc spiritand pti)'poHof,'ihf original). ' It is, lohd presumed^
-thatinWiragemessto convehcfoi* the pubfic on iiTs'tiilivVioil,
■iie had'iriwn ^ff the slicds containing ^fi oclltion of thai ciir'res-
pondencei andabore 50 pagc»ofthcirrelL\antma(U'r orifarbld,
■de Vocchiis, Dotrdif, &c. Vfbrc he saw a j.-riiiicilcopy "oT
TOY post3(rri|it,^'.KTloTvilig 'that to'gire liic ^Otunit-'nls C9rri'(tij-',
■Jic' caVsfifrly ?dils inMh<! contents to jiis pnir^phlct, //ic reiidij-
Kilt ob'serv_e, thattt^htfa second ctlif ion ojbolli (i. e.'oT Poctiif
Troy's tetter tofiWlajid of his to Doctor T^ojj ontf /jif*?| Doctor
^'Conor has added imc paragraph to his aicti:,'.!] As if giviiiig a
fecond ^lUlion of ordinal fcttm jostiijcfl llic yananri'|T C'oifi'-
jwrrfT. Compare (5 (JiT^'l 53 J " Read H j/i-' st^cDphunls—naii
■bliisji, ffaH^ slioh fuA'oftxpiring virliie 'as a blu.sh icii^hiiis.''^
Coiuintaiips'f'p.'Tr)'&yi'*''*i6 ""'y' '°'-? ^y v''ii=|i p'>S^o^
■" OiConor thiglit (i»f Jtiit^iilf 1)0und irt this ros|ifct U tiral of
*' the Hih session' 'of tW C^ifncU of Trent!" " HvAkih ut irr.c-
*' verentiaTitetMrsiog^Iii.in-sijis dioccsitjus intcrditant, nu .^cia
** Tcigo '«t dgnoto sacerilwi, ' lilibsjy Icel^brarc liccat; ncniineln
".praterea qui publice^ct notorid' Crftifiiiosifk^^Ttf ' ifiXi JiMctft
•' (illarT'ifiiillstraie,' aat sacris 'tWtcress^ pcrmittant*. Do^tw
*' O'Conor ■presume* 40 .hop6,/^thift he fs-ncjther a i;ff^'i«,\ti'pjf
*' 0T> igwotfti, noTtifilblide pd't)ptafiQcHititmsiiSf'andihi!^
" thcTfforc he coiifes not within/ tho' pirfTie* of this dtcrccj.a
" dccW*, which ho moit'sitficcreij" Ves^ecti, Mid most cordially
*• rcTcrea." ' ■ ■■ ■ -^ .",".\
I call upUB the RcT. add n(Wst TtartiiSl Di'etorfor.;(Tio dIspOh.
talion, rdeasc, or enfr3iSi!Hifi;trif'iH"citiier-Cf Doctor Trjpy or of
himsclf.from tho obligatiop of the ctt*fec'"of tSe 23d Sessio9;(if '
the »mc Council,' ch; x*?^" !^ill!iiB''^ra^('ere^/^criCuB ffei^egrir
•'BBS, sine comraenffaffti^^'iW o^dlrtiffi' lh'fcHj;/ab iillo cpisj.
*( copo ad divina celebrandn.'St Sa^^eoia slinTnisttan^ admit;
".tatnr." :pld l>r.«'e<itfoyjrf3i«ip7a.l)r:;t^ thfc IctlffJ
of r«oihmcndation frO^'-WsJ^rtdifij&J;. V'th'c Miitcncc , of Ws
intenJIo*? ' ' . - - ■■ "** '"'- '■' "-" [,- ''
He -wtio reads my Icttrr to Coluif l^nus. will npt call u|pon
me to'proM^ that I hrfc nolltintdy'^ oMfSftfitl Virjot flic
4nfamoui ioeirine 4{f ArMtrttjf'EphcqxIl Et^minnunicattom z
tibat I bare in no part of It called upon, at^ Statesmen to per^
Heute any maa. But I did and do agai]i.wsriLlK>th ovr spixi«*>
tnal and cttll gorernors to keep-et watchfui eye and m tBcll^
nerved a^m t^n each qf ih$ iRicherim School* I defy cren.
CoIumlMiiiu^ gigautic poweri of distortioD: anil niireprctentatton
fo point out a passage, a«enteoce, a word, a syllable through*
«ut the ivbole letter, which s^yt, iinports.or hinlB, that the illns.
trious Charles O* Conor was a stickler fof arbitrary Epiaeopaf
fiowcTy or ihat has^directly or indirectly a tendency to calvin*
iiiate or oven to depreciate his revered character. I ha^e sot
in a single instance assknUated him. to his clericid grandson* In
ipnbUsbing dr. M^Dermott^s letters, I do not consider mysdf
guilty of any bre^h of confidence : Columbanus by referring to
ihie correspondence about my writing the hbtorical reriew in fai^
attack i^n me (Pref. iiij created the necessity of brinj^g be*
fore the'pnblic the whole truth relating to that important .trans-
•action. Mutilated and garbled timth is often more dai^geronSy
than direct iaisehiiod. Justice to Ireland, to her reUglon, to her
history, to the great and good. Charles O'Connor^ and^(I€anfi•
dentiy ^dd) to his worthy, and estimable gimdion Ooctar &•
JM'-Dehnott required the publicatioii of what wlas not pviTate.
but pnj^lic and national matter. I nerer recetyed^ taw or heara
of any tetter written to me from or on behalf <if jur. M^llennott
foi im Mst 7 or .^ years : nor was 1 erer deslied. by him diraet^
or. in^lrectlyf to my recollection, not to pnblial^ his latters^ Md
•if he had desired It, I certainly should not have accedaJ to the^iVv
q^nest nnder M t^ existii^; droinistancas. Out *of rasptct and
■esteem to him did I publish, do I presem.>^nd will I leaTe bo»
Kind me those uninl^aK^hable docqmenfa ot4is gntodCiAeriP. vu^
•tue. i donbt not, but that in4efianoet>f'ColnQiban«a^ ^«fb to
warp the innate rectitude of his head mnd heui,: he wiHrnt thii
^ay, as^rdially adopt, as I kjiow be did in ,18Qlt, tlwt^^boafti.
ful seotinient of Qcero. Car4 sisniparentesj cari liberty gnfinm
^h Jfdmiliaree: sed omni$ -omnium carituici p^trlla um€
cofiwlexa est. Cic : de Off: L. i«
There' may be some trut^.in one of the alteged teaums^ whjr
tdie memoirs of the grandfather writtep tfy the gBandaon wefo
suppressed : nam^y, on -account 't{f H^s- chranoiogical isuspatrom '
cies and Statement qf.Jdeti* And what work written by tha
same perscm, ought not for the same reason to b€ aupptesaed I
but there is no truth whatever in the other alleged veaapn c vii*
partfy in compliance wOh ike if^ndions qf Dr^ Ttmi. tlio book
was not .snppressad by any Iqjunction from that pnSufli Qorilijr
his interference of any kln^.
This but ^^meti t>f CotnmtianQs* Anting amengat hiS:^;o«u
t^bien, angurs little confidence in th^ numbers of Jiii,follo««n.
But himaetf a host^ /qiif n^gm^n (^ Col. SO) Jie^wi^ggeriii |iiift
4nd yauiits (p. M| ^< Were.potum.bVinS'to sUmi atone 'on ^
*^ breach— <*«hr woiMd ho Mim(^X8a|;i^on8 trutam ! !) Won Un
^< hands to be cot off ih 4fiB contest, he wonid y«t fight with
<* hl» stomps/*
As Hiddriiiiton in d^^ duavs. Oiid* « Cant L* M. .
AS
JHStOmCAL J^EttER,
to T^C
Jiev^ CS4RIES a CONOR, DM
COLUMSANUS,
. • • ',
kiy.itiL 4 MM LEARNED DOCTOR^*
. (Jlll'E of the effects of a free press^ is to Mtos of
iiAy^forttk individual judgments and opinions upon*^'*®^"*
jmblic men aild measures. Every man> who pub*
lishes a vor^i is folly responsible (o the law and
the
* iThefe app^it thronghimt tke writingi of CplmiAanus ft
^aluir sense of Jiis own consequebee. - 1 wish tkoi to be deh^
imtii iti.jpijtoi; respect to it, where it clashes pot with truth 6r
duty* Iiltlie first of tu^tmblications, wUch came under mjeye^
in 180t, and of which I shati have occasion to speak hereafter^
(^bein^ its owii anticipated Critique of his then Intended and
siW «J[j;iected Latin work) tUrum ffjtgrnkarum tcript^n
MMti^.ifjg tl^iMiiU MSS i^c; ACatohOCouoryp.D^ tho
jidtia|&ili Latiii^ I presume, stand fotlkctor DoctistimUi. Thtt
. tttsalitiie of graduated .ti)eplo|;ians once waS| iair^i 7M^
the individual for every word of it : and meanly
yrill be be considered, who aflfects to evade personal
accounta^bility for what the exigency of the public
cause calls upon him to disclose or comment upon.
Not only public scenes affecting the interest of the
nation are to be faithfully represented, but the secret
mechanisn^, which cpmpleated th^ scenic exhibition
is to be developed, when the spectators are no longer
to be amused by deception, but to be benefited by
instruction* There are facts and circumstances
deeply affecting the character and welfare of a nation,
which not only may, but which ought to be fully
and distinctly set forth, so as to be thoroughly un«
derstood and efSciently acted upon by the people
interested in or affected by them. In my attempt to
bring under the public eye at portion of Irish history,
I renounced all discretion in selecting events^ which
had a tendency to disclose the spirit and means of
carrying on the government of that part of the
"United Kingdom. TTie same diity forbad sup-
pression, disguise and misrepresentation. Little
does it behove me to say any thing of my fitness to
attempt the Herculean toil. I have (perhaps too
adventurously) applied my shoulders; but have
hitherto fett no disposition to relax my efforts.
jnnt field To you Sir I am not accountable for the views and
couMxi to motives, which originally induced me to employ my
pen upon the subject of Irish history. By law it \»
common field, which every man has a right to
'■**■-.'■■ travel
travel oVer, provided he convert not bis journey io
the purposes of favor, malice or wanton trespass oft
private cliaracter. My , acrimonious accuser Sir
Richard Musgrave charged me with being a volunteer^
an eager volunteer : and it will appear hereafter, that
my volunteering in the cause, of Ireland was also
offensive to your Reverence, even before you had
seen a page of what I had written. Volunteer air
I am, I disclaim not discipline ; the first principle of
which is obedience to the voice of truth. Historical
truth can be no libel : it is an act of indispensible
justice to the governors and governed of the
people, who are the subject of the history. The in-
dividual, who has acted a part on the national theatre,
from that moment opens his conduct and character
to the observations and cridques of every maxij^ who
undertakes the public charge and duty of an hiatoriaa.
That duty is awfully severe in diligence of research*
impartiality of judgment and veracity, of assertion
according to the best evidence to be procured.
It frequently happens, that a very simple though An Vistori-
• % '• • % r ' « ••n often
miportant conclusion is drawn from a lon£[ andconciadet
complicated chain of evidence, which the sucdmct soins tim-
stile of annals or history will not permit the writer dence,
to enter into. The historian, who claims credit for poru th«
veracity, will make no assertion nor draw any con*
lusion, which he is not enabled to substantiate by
evidence, when called upon to refute a malicious or
groundless charge of falsehood or misrepresentation.
When
4
tVhen therefore a gentleman. Reverend Sir, of yotir
profession y acquirements, and rank in life comes
ibrward in so austere and authoritative a tone^ to
charge me with the guilt of abusing one of the greatest
snd mdst honorable men our country has produced^ with
a malignity and a coarseness of language^ i/uhicb no
transaction of his whole life can possibly justify^ ^e.
no man of honor and honesty will censure me for
supporting my credit f^ir Kstoricail veracity, for vin*
dicating the honor and^ rendering Justice to the
people of Ireland, for repelling the foul charge of
Xhp flagitious crime of wilful misrepresentation^ of which
you say in one paragraph Ido not mean^ that Mr. Plo^*
den is guilty^ though in the next you bluntly charge
him with doing it with malignity and coarseness of Ian*
Jguage. Now nothing but wilfulness can af&x malignity
to any misrepresentation. My readers will judge of
the coarseness of n^ language. From deference to them^
I endeavoured 10 render it clear, simple ard strong.
If I have failed, I reget the inability to effectuate my
.wish. Your assumption of a right to complain of
my being misguided by the foreign influence men^
because you had warned and cautioned me against
trusting to any of them, not only superadds to my
obEgdtion and duty of placing the whole transaction
before the public, but would render criminal any
suppresfion of the evidence, upon, which I have
written what has already appeared in print, which
remotely or proximatel/a&cts you*
5
It is necessary to premise, that every publication^
whether in newspapers or pamphlets, which tends
to question the veracity of what I have found it ne--
cessary to assert or refer to in my history concerning
you. Reverend and most learned Doctor, your be*
neficent patron of the present hour, or your bi-
fronted hero of the turbid days ofiCrom well and the
Stuarts, will be noticed in that manner, which shall
most distinctly expldn to your countrymen all the
causes^ or mofives^^ whether of accident toisdom or rash^
mssy that regiiiate your general conduct, or aflfeft
your public character- and* writings* In the note
before referred to, I ssaid, what gave rise to my
correspondence with you, was my wish to ren«
der as perfect, as possible, the historical review of
the State of Ireland, which I then liad in hand ; to
procure certain materials touching Catholic Irish
afiairs during the last century, which you alone
possest amongst your grandfathers papers. Out of
this circumstance arose a correspondence, which
from its nature was national, and therefore public
for every national purpose.
Whoever publishes bi3 thoughts, opens a corres- u^ery Aa-
pondence with every man, who chuses openly to pnWiStiitt
notice or censure the publication. I consequently oflFer ^oJ^S^
no particular reason, much less an apology, for the J^"^^
renuurks and observations, which I shall take the J^'^^JlJJJ^
liberty qf making upon \yhat you have said in print. ^*«^
As therefore you have in a printed letter to your
C country
, '
countrymen publickly claimed a right to complaui
of my not having followed or heeded your cautions
and warnings, but permitted myself to be led on
blindly by the blind, and having been guilty of
abusing one of the greatest and most honorable meii
of your country with malignity and coarseness of
language &c, I claim equal right to apprize your
countrymen what those cautions and warnings were,
how they came to be given, and why I so far rejec«
ted and despised them^ as to have excited your dis-
pleasure and offence. Though a simple Laic I
cannot sdlow you, Reverend and most learned Doc«
tor, the exclusive advantage of one of your mottos
from the learned Fleury* Flattery and servile com*
phisance
* The fbur different letters of Columbanus are not reprehen.^
ded, because they contain no truth ; but^ because the most
learned Doctor has endearonred to seduce his countrjcmen under
ike most splendid and glittering banners of truth, historical and
theological, into vital errors of policy and religion. He standi
forth, as the excIusiTe champion of veracity, having forced
into requisition every general axiom or adage upon truths (that
inflexible emanation of the Diyinity) from the councils, fathers,
and writers of the Church down to the modem philosophers of
France* ^^ Let us look up, says he, to that being, whose judg-
^^ meats hang suspended over our heads. Sursum Corda J Let
^* ns remember, that truth requires no quibbles of Casuistry
^* to be urged in her defence : that we can never impose upon
*' hearers or readers by partial representations ; that honesty
<< is the best policy &c.'* (Col. ad Hlb. p. 118) Here I join is.
sue: and am free to avow, that I cordially admit with Jno. Bayle,
that thiii wght to be promoted in atttUf^t^ against Varro, Origen^
pJoMOnce are tdiom vices. Freedom and eoun^e in
Easf bfiis, and St. Jerome, or irhomeyeT else Colmpbanvs may
quote for practising deception and falsehood to obtain a laudable
end* At the same time and npon the same principle will I sup-
]^rt every truth, though advanced for the wicked purpose
of masking, circulating or confirming error. It is fitting here
to arrest the readers attention to the ut made of his learning
\sf the accurate consistent and liberal Jy^* He asserts^ (4
Colum. p. 95) thai the nuncio and hit Bishopt heU^ that error and
fJsdtood nucrt aUonuable^ if they tended to promote their cause* To
prove which serious charge, he gives quotations from tho
heathen Varro, St. Jerome, St. Augustine, Origeq and
Eusebins; and informs his readers, that President Bhidshaw
had declared in open conrt, that he had corresponded with
Colonel Andrews by counterfeit letters in the King's name to
worm out secrets, which brought Colonel Andrews to the block;
Nay, so earnest is he in dealing out his learning, that in (p.lOQ)
he e^claiips iq an extraordinary strain against christen ere.
dulity in all ages, to prove against the Pope^s nuncio and the
confederate Catholics in the days of Charles the First, that
they actually act^d upon the unchristain principle of doing
harm, that good might come of it. ^^ It is vain to dissemble^ thai
in M ages of Christianity y men professing its' doctrines havq^ net
scrupled at any means to bring about a good andfaous end.** ^^It is
*^ necessary, says the learned Eusebius, to use falsehood as a
^^ medicine for the benefit of those, who will not be convinced
^^ without it." To shew his knowledge of the learned lan»
guages, he gives the w<M'ds of Eusebius in Greek: and as a
spedfflen of his correctness in quoting, he refers his reader to
(Prop, Evang. 1. »i, c. 31.) We are to presume, that by
these Latin abbreviations « are meant Eusebius' work, De prwr»
faratipne and demons trativne Evangelic^, Eusebius was certainly
a very learned man^ though ibdined to Arianism ; he knew
8
support of iruih are christian virtues f which are htgre^^
dients of piety. Imagine not, that I mean to enter
into the polemical lists with the most learned Doctor
upon theological matter. You have thought proper
openly, and not very tender! y> to attack me, as a
writer of Irish History : in that character alone I
now lay before the public the grounds and docu-
ments, upon which I have introduced your name
into my publications. In two separate characters
have you brought yourself forward at different times
'9^id under different circumstances, as claiming the
notice of your countrymen. First as their annalist
or historian ; then as a theologian combating the
synodical resolutions of your Hierarchy, defending
yourself from the charge of schism, and attempting
with niore than gratuitous zeal, to rivet division in
th^
eveiy thing -writteD before his own days. The saspicion of
his orthodoxy, probably, enhanced the weight of his authority
in the eyes of Columbanus, who so warmly espouses the
condemned errors of Aerius, Wickliffe and Calvin upon the
equality of Bishops and Priests, which equally contravene
the tenets of the Established Protestant Religion, as those
of the Roman Catholic Church. The reader is again reminded^
that all this ostentation of learned quotations is brought together-
to fix Rinucini and the confederated Catholics of Ireland in
1646 with holding, that error and falsehood were allonuabk to pr§m
mote their came, I must at all times hold with ^t, Bernard, as
I have heard him quoted, that melius est^ ut scattdftlum oriatur^.
jaam ut verum non dicatur. Still higher authority forbids the
commission of evil, that good may come from it^
e
the body of' your Catholic countrymen. As yoiji
have made one of your theological jeffusioQs the
vehicle of a most ferocious attack upon me, in ord^
' to discredit my history » I shall first, and indeed princi*
pally address you in the character of an historian^
by examining your credit for sincerity, patriotism*
fidelity, accuracy, candor, decency, consistency,
and truth.
In the year 1801 I proposed to Mr. Ad- Circmn-
dington (now Lord Viscount Sidmouth) the ex-dcr°^iS
pediency of haying a fair impa,rtial and authentic ricai r^
history of Ireland to counteract the baneful effects nnd^^'
of the gQVernment's holding out, considering and
dealing with the Irish nation, as if they were incor-
rigible rebels by disposidon, principle and religion :
an evil, then much encreased by the countenance and
forced circulation of Sir Richard Musgrave*s slande-
rous and mischievous memoir^.* I represented to
hitn, that the Irish nation was preeminently fond of
historical justice, and felt more sensibly, than any other
people the deprivation of it : and that it had there-
fore become a national object, that such a work
should be brought before the public. That Minis-
ter's accession to my proposal brought me to Dublin
in the autumn of the year 1801. It would be use-
less to prove to my reader, that I was anxious to
prociu'e information from every quarter, that was
likely to possess it: I then had the good fortune to
be
^ Vid. my PostlimiBlous preface published in London,
andDubUn 1804,
10
be bttrodaced to a gentlenan of a liberal and in-r
formed mind, of free and polished manners, a real
patriate and a qhristian philosopher, Dr» Hugh
M'Dermott of Coohvin, your worthy and near re*
lative.^ During my stay in Ireland I availed myself a&
cifienasl could, of his agreeable and instructive con*
Tersation.t After I left Ireland, I corresponded with
hirar
^ Thfs gentlenan U not only a maternal grandson of the
lale* Cbarles O'Conor of Balanagare, but is married to his^
0mn first cousin his paternal grandaugiiter, the sister of Colum*^
f It is proper once for all to notice, that of whateTer letters
Dr. CyConor has obliged me to refer to, I shall only publish
9He& parts, as- concern the subject at issue between us,,
wlicb could not otherwise be hrougbt ta decision ; pledging
n^self at the same time, that the parts omitted do not affect,
•via any manner alter the sense of the quotations* Some time
after my hrtrodaction to my highly valued and esteemed friend
]Ar. M'Dermott, I received from him the fbllowing^ ktter,
which IB proof of the adrantage and benefit it was to Ireland
and myself^ to have been introduced to that source of liberality
and knowledge..
SMUrsHvm^ Sit. 2^ ISOl,
HciJi Sift,
I am extremely sorry, that my being so far
i^Bmoved IVom my books and papers puts it out of my power ta
lie of any use to your present undertaking* I am irawinin'g
ta state facts from memory alone r and those (acts, which I
cottld BbsiXj^y I cannot autlienticate, as the proofs ace not now
w^lUa; my reach* A man^ who sits down as you do, and with
j[«ur(riacipleSy to write for posterity^ will write nothiog,bat
11
him for some time^ but on no other subject^ diaif
the
what he Icnows or believes to be true^ and his belief (wlieve
matters do noFt come within his own immediate knowledge)
will be founded on the best eVideiice. which the
nature of the case will admit of. That «ndenee I ha^e aot
here to bring forward, so as to satisfy either myself or yoa ;
and 1 think It better to suppress many useful facts, than hazard
one doubtful assertion, which might hereafter be disfiroved.
Your history will in this respect differ from your cotemporaiy
writers* They are the historians of a party, attd give «s onljr
•Be side of the picture* They heap facts upon facts; not isoA
as they know to be true, but as they wish to be true, Whtl
they wish, they are very ready to believe, or affect to believe ;
and it is a maxim of their morality, that a man may swear %m
his belief: therefore he may give it as history. On the other
hand, they are extremely unwilling to believe^ and still move
vnwilHngto relate any faet, which is disagreeable to themselves.
Onjsuch facts they are silent from design; and thos itmay Im
said, that they lie \xj their very silence. Thus their history ii
calumny, both in what it says, and in what it does not say«
It is like a two.edged sword ; it cuts either way.
It is a melancholy fact, that while some can publish falsehoods
with impunity, others cannot tell troth without danger. Those
amongst us, who would give a faithful narrative of our late
mhappy transactions, are silent from fear or from prudence :
we are tired of prosecution and persecution, of which we have
afl more or less witnessed the effects, either in ourselves^ or ia
our neighbours* The laws since the year 1795 have had but
a partial, a party operation ; as was but too plainly evinced
by tiie infliction of unmerited or unequal punishment, or
the Tefus^ of equal justice.
As to the resumption of ancient properties, on wlucli we
had some conversation the other day, I beg leave te mentie«y
12
the necessity and means of doing historical justice
what did not then occur to me, that in the year 1792 the Irish
Catholicks framed and took a public test, relinquishing all
such idle claims and imaginary pretensions. The test also^
extended to other points, or charges, which were urged
against them ; it was acceded to and signed by all the respecta^
jble Catholicks in the kingdom, whose names affixed to their
declaration on these points, were published in all the papers*
The measure at that time seemed to give very general satis*
faction ; and it either satisfied or silenced their enemies; As
I relate this from memory, and may be wrong, I do not desir«k
yon to give ample credit to this circumstance, until I can
establisii it by printed documedts.
In the historian it is perfectly fair and. right to mention, that
the charge of resumption was urged openly by one party ; but
then it will be but candid to mention also, that the charge was
denied or repelled by the other in the most ample and satisfactofjr
manner they could* It will then fest with the impartial reader
to say, whether he has more faith in the charge, than in tto
refutation. . *
I have applied to a. friend in DubUu to procure me soni0>
au then tick information on points, which it may be of conse*
quence to have cleared up for you. I have been promised* a
copy of the dissertations. If you have any doubts on particu*
)ar questions, perhaps I may bd able to solve the one, or to
answer the other. My means of serving you are very limited:
indeed, which I canuot sufficiently regret* I congratulate mj
country on this Work having fallen into your hands, whom
abilities and candour equally qualify for the undertaking.
Tour history will not be like that of Sir Richard Mu8graye>r-^
Tfcentihus odiis composita. You know with Livy, that an historian
is or onght to be— j|'»/ nilfatii diare oudeat^ nU vm diccrc mn^
audeat. . . j .... , i,-; ,.- ,;.,., . .. , ■ .. c, .
1 am wip great esteem^ Dear Sir,
ydur very assured bamble Serrant,
HUGH M>DERMOTT.
It
to ihe Irish nadon^ in which I still consider, him as
ajnipathi^dng with me, with the same ardor of a true
Indunan, which he ever manifested to me both by
word . and writing. I retxirned to London in the
month of November I8OI5 and Dr* M'Dermott»
did, as he had kindly undertaken, write to you in /
xnyfevor, to prepare mean introdu6lion, whenever
I should wish to have personal communication
vrithyou. '
Before I left Dublin, Dr. M'Dermott had the CK^tor M*
kindness to read over what manuscript I had prepared; opu^ of
To his ioiowledge, experience and judgment lodReVi^^
paid great deference upon matters of Irish history.
On the eve of my intended departure from Dublin,
he returned me the manuscript, with a letter con«
taining the following lines. ^* If, contrary to my
^ wish, I should be disappointed in seeing you again,
^ be kind enough to let me know your' address in
*' London. At present I can only say, that I have '
^ read your sheets with encreasing pleasure every
^ page,' and I can safely assert, that so candid and '
^ 13)eral a produ£tion relative to Irish history never
^^ issued from Ae pen of an Englishman.*'^ That
letter also contained j2l postcript to the following ef-
ftft. <^ I received this day a letter' from my friend
b «Dr.
* The reader is assured, that the originals of all th^ letters
<nio(ed are in the possession of^the author : and he conceires,
ttat h^ holds them as eridence, on behalf of the Irish natioo,
vbose histoiy he has written^ and iriach they tend to yerify.
..» % «
14 '
** Dr. O^Conor, who is still at Oxford, but goes ta
*• Stowe very shortly. He says, the Grenville party
*' all disapprove oi the peace : that it is doubtful^
" whether Pitt will support it, and that Mr. Adding-
^^ ton will have to encounter a formidably opposi-
^^tion.'^
foV' ^l^ During my sejour in Dublin, Dr. M'Dermott gave
pressed ^1^ ^ printed volumc in octavo, which had no title,
Tolume of * ^ , ' »
2^"j?|"*fsuid which he told me had never been published, or
•r fiunUy. had been suppressed by you at the suggestion, or
by tlie desire, or through the influence of your liberal
patron the Marquis of Buckingham. The Work
was intended to comprize the Memoirs of the 0*Con*
or family, and the second volume though prepared
for press, was kept back. The first volume is a loose
^nd ill digested compilation of several valuable and
interesting docuraaits and occurrences in Irish
liistory, particularly concerning your own ancestors,
who were real fri^ds to their country. It contains '
po matter, which ought not be published and circii-*
lated as widely as possible, for the information and
credit of your countrymen. But Alethephobia ever
has been been,and ever will be the unvarying symp*
Com of false friendship to Ireland.* When after the
' ^ lecture
' ^ ■ * The reader is requested^ not to suppose, that my Reverend
and most learned correspondent gare rise exclusively to this
obfl^nratton. Before I^as aware of the necessity of bringing
his most learned Relfexeiice tiejfbre the public, I had occasion
in 1604 to publish a postiiminious preface to' my Historical
16
I
lecture of that volume, I reflected, that you the author
D 2 tha
Review, in which (p. 69 of the Dublin Edt.) I said. " If
" Irelaiid after the Union be not emancipated, fitting it is,
^^ tlut the Irish shoald know the men aild jthe measures, that
'' keep them out of this long sighed for land of promise."
Oa which text X remarked in a note : . ** The irritation and -
" Tirulence of the British Critic and otjier anonymous writers,
" who are stimulated and hired to disgorge their venom at the
^< Historical Review, shew,, and it has become the author'g
'* doty, to unfold the conspiracy formed not merely against
^^Cotbolk Emancipation^ but against the publication of the truth
'^ of Irish history." Within fewer than six months from the
publication of that postliminious preface Dr. O'Conor had pro-
bably beard his {iberal Maecenas complain, as he often has,
of the author of the Historical ReTiew, who could not have
giTen such a distorted misrepresentation of the Buckingham
adiiiiiiiistration, unless it had been dictated to^him by Mr.
Giattan. The author had no communication direct or indirect
with that great man, whilst he was writing it. But some time
after its publication, when he had read it, he honoured the
author with a letter containing the following testimony of hii
Approbation in unison with that of Dr. M'Dermott, which is
presumed to be contrasted against the judgment of the Reverend
Gharies O'Conor D.D. upon the same work. ^^ Ton are one
*^ of the very few Irish historians, who have ventured to deal
^^ in the commodity called truth. You have done so like a
^^ man, with vigor and ability, against the tide of power ^nd
^* prejudice. You must look to the reward of merit, i. e. the
^^ censure of those, whose censure is panegyric. Some of
^^ those, who have attempted to write the history of Irelaud
^^ are men, who sold themselves and the country. Their his-
" tory is their apology, not the recitation of facts. They are
" bigots, and they are slaves, bonght and sold. Your historj^
'^ carries with it a characteristical ttamp, that it was lyrittea
** \ij ^ freemanJ''^ .
16
of k liad suppressed it^ that you bad quitted the otv
ligatory functions of your vocation in your own
country, to become the dependent and creature of
^the nobleman, >vho had procured that suppress
sbn, that you had transferred from Balanagare
the valuable collection of your grandfathers boolct
and papers to that nobleman's library at Stowe, as
much of your patron's political condud^ as he ever
dared to make public, rushed into my mind. I
reviewed him slinking from the back stairs at St.
James into the debate of the Peers, hudkstering a*
mongsi the Lords of the Bed chamber and others in
the pay of the court, the smuggled* influence of the
Royal closer, by which base tnanceuvre the secret
power behind the throne gained the ascendancy over
the constitutional exercise of the Royal will through
the
*.His Rojd Highness the Priace of Wales yoted in the
miooritj^ when by this back stairs manoeurre the King's
ministers were outvoted, and Mr. Fox's East India Bill waft
thrown out of the Lords : and the empire thenceforth plunged
into the unfathomable disasters of Mr. Pitt's system*. His R*
Highness has often declared, that he never gare a vote, which
he thought, at the time of giving it, more consonant with the
will of his Royal Father. Surely, if your liberal patron did
by any means during that debate know the real will and wishes
of his Sovereign, it would have been but decent in him, tQ
communicate them to his Royal Highness, to prevent a dif.
ference of opinion between the Sovereign and thi» Helt Apm
parent, or allow the tetter to retire, If he chose, without divid.
lag ev«Q against this equivocal and UD.constitatiqnaI com^
mun^catioQ of his Royal Father'^ wishes or feeliogt.
» \
17
t}ie^ legal and tespotisible nunisters of the crown : bjr
'bidi the enlightened councils of the incorruptible
ox were proscribed {t6m St. James's* and the despe-
and t3rrannical Pitt Was stiifulated by the back
stair sycoph^ts to open Pandora^s box upon the
«mphre. The contents of it are still operating their
€lestructive'l^lvoc upon us« I followed your patron
tlirough various efforts to support the Pitt system in
England and Ireland* to the national festival for the
King's
* A referenee to my history of Ireland ia 2 vols, octaro,
^bikt nnder an ioj auction^ might be misconstrued into a con^
tmpt of court, by presoming it to be in circulation in defianbe
rfitsordet: it iS/ moreover incumbent upon me to falsify the
dttrge of my being led on blindly by the blind) and gaggling
after tlie foreign influence men like a wild gocise, assertions
without proof and calumnies ad nauseam. I shall therefor^
present to my readers a compendious and faithful tableau of
your patron's administration of Ireland from the inimitable
kmd of Ireland's most faTOured model of talent, truth, and
patriotism'. If there be truth ia the trite saying, Uke master
ike nuMf this, exhibition will not be considered a A^rs d^auvre
(Spieech of Grattan in Par. Deb. 15) '' Such has been thm
*^ conduct of your Reformer* This was the man ; ^oa
<< remember his entry into the capital, trampling on the hears,
^^ of the Duke of Rutland, and seated in a triumphant Car,
'^ drawn hj public credulity. On one side fallacious hope,
^^ and on the other many mouthed profession : a figure with
'^ two faces ; one turned to the treasury ; and the other pre.
^^ sented to the people with a double tongue speakiogi con.
^' tradictory language. This minister alights : justice looks
^' up to him with ample hopes, and peculation faints with idle
^^ alarms. He finds the city a prey to an un«constitutional
V
18
King's recovery in 1789, where he toasted that ill-
fated minister, tf* the friend to Irclandyiiext to the King
and Queen, and to the exclusion of His R. Highness
the Prince of Wales. You, Reverend and most
learned Doctor, cannot have forgotten, however you
may now disapprove of the two Houses of the Irish
Parliament having prepared an address (your patron
refused to forward it) to His Royal Highness, to
take upon himself during his Royal Father's^ in-
disposition, the government of the Kingdom accord-
ing to its laws and constitution, with all regal powers
jurisdiction
•* police — he continues it. He finds the country over burthened
*' with a shameful pension list — ^he encreases iU He finds ih%
•^ House of Commons swarming with placemen — he raullipliei
** i)i^m. He finds the salary of the Secretary cncreased t»
** prevent a pension — ^he grants a pension. He finds the king-
*' dam drained by absentee employments, and by compensa.
*^ ttons to buy them home — he gives the best reversion in the
*^ country to an absentee — his brother. He finds the govern.
'* tnent at diiTerent times had disgraced itself by creating
*^ sinecures, to gratify corrupt affection — he makes two com-
*^ mtssioners of the rolls, and gives one of them to another
*^ breather. He finds the second council to the commissioners
** put down because useless — he renews it. Ue finds the
^^ boards of accounts and stamps annexed by public compact —
^' he divides them. He finds three resolutions^ declaring,
^^ that seven commissioners are sufficient— -he makes nine.—
^^ Ue finds the country has suffered by^somo peculations in
^^ the ordnance— he encreases the salaries of ofTices, and gWei
f^ the places to Members — to Members of Parliament.*'
ID
juridictiou aiuJ perdgatiyes theretd belonging. Heace~
tlievfa(al precedent for the late lin-coastitutional
restriftion of the Regent's powers by the avQwed
disciples of the Pitt school. I then anticipated the
horror and aversion of your new Maecenas, at the
prospeft of any independent unbiassed and faithful
history of that government, which he had twice ad-
BB&istered upon the principles of the Pitt system.
StiH however I would not expose myself to the im-
putation of having omitted any opportunity, which
lay before me, ot procuring ihformation an^ docu-
ment for authenticating my fiistorical researches*
I endeavoured through a common friend to secure
the longed for interview. The following letter,,
which I received after my return to London, bespeaks
the patriotic sympathy, with which Dr. M^Dermott
endeavoured to forwa|*d the success of my applrcatioa
to you.
N
- \ .
JSoeteritrvony Nw,Wf IBOl. Letter
I take the pen io inform you, that Mr. O'Conor's **"^
address is, Stowe, Buckingham. I have already acquainted
iiim with the nature of your undertaking, and of the objects
It embraces ; to promote which I have made tt a point with
iiiiDyth^he should furnish yau with all the materials within his
reach. I am sensible hqwever, that it must be extremely dlffi«
colt to communicate much historical information/ hy lett«r,
except a» to particular facts or dates, which may appear dulu*
001 to yon. If there be any such, and that you mention them
by letter to Mr. O'Conor, I have no doubt^ but that he will
be able either to elucidate those matters hipisQlf, or af^east,
tt^Jie will point oat the best sources of information to yo8.
so .
!niere is scarce any book on Irish history or antiqiiitias, whicK
yon may hare occasion for, that he cannot fmnish yon withf
if yon cannot procure it in London* I wish, however, that
tame chance may bring him to that city : as he might shew
you his second Tolnme, the manuscript of which he might
be unwilling to part with. On the whole, I have requested
him to render you every assistance in his. power, and I hope
yon will find him as liberal in his communications, as he ought
• lobe*
Mr. O'Leary must, I apprehend, have been misinformed :
Mr. O'Conor wrote no continuation of Curry's Historical
Review. He wrote an Introduction Xo it, at considerable .
length, which was prefixed Xxi the Quarto edition, but omitted
afiterwards in] the Octavo edition by an ill.jadged parsimony*
He nlso wrote a summary of Irish history in the article of
Ireland in Guthrie's Geography, which was published in
Dttbiin by Chambers about the year 1788 in Quarto ; at least a
great part of that article was furnished by Mr. O'Coopr.
It may not be amiss, that you should see both it and the Introb
dnction* The latter was highly spoken of hj the Monthly
Review*
The further researches of Mr. O'Conor into our history
are either scattered in pamphlets, which principally relate*
*
(o the penal laws, or are diffused amongst his manuscripts^
which are all in the hands of Df. Charles O'Conor at Stowe.
We purpose going do^n to Connaught in adout a fortnight.
I should be happy if a return to my books and papeis could
enable me to send you any timely communications. Tou may
at ali times freely command my best exertions; and yon may
be assured of my good wishes for the speedy completion of .
yonr Work. Last week I had a letter from Dr. O'Conor,
who was then at Brazen.nose, Oxford. He therein tells me^
that Cox is the greatest liar of all our historians, except
Morrison. He quotes to me the ibllowing passage from the ^
body of Cox'i Work.
^ "Oh
it ■
^^ Oh that they were the Irish papists, who cut off &in^
^^ Charles's head! Oh! that they had been the guilty regu
'^ddes! But alas, &c. &c."
I am, with great esteem and regard,
^ Dear Sir^
Your yery assured Servant,
HUGH M'DERMOTt.
As soon after the receipt of this letter as the pro- ^J^ilp^^,
gress I had made in the manuscript, and my profes- ^IJioS'to'''
sional engagements would ^^llow of, I wrote to you ^^^^^
on the 6th of February from Londop, to the fo!-^'
lowing effect •
Essex^Strea^ Londofh FeL 6, 1801,
touaSia,
"^ Although I have not the honor of being per.
sonaliy l^nown to you,, yet I trust, that the commiintcatioiis
nuide to yon concerning me, and the business^ which carried
ne orer to Ireland last autumn by Dr. M^Dermott, will apolo-
gize not only for the liberty I how take in troubling yon with
this letter, bnt also in entreating the favor of your letting m^
luiow, where you shall be on or about the 12th of fh^, mouthy
in order ^at I may have an opportunity of some conversation
with you. Should you be at Oxford, I will come thither:
if atStowe, I will come to the Inn near that place, which
I recollect many years, ago^ and I presume still subsists.
Should tilts find you at Oxford, I shall esteem an immediate
aosirer a very singular favor. I . have the honor to be with
great esteem and respect,
> Sir, your obedient humble Servant,
FRANCIS PLOWDEN.
To.the Rev. Dir. O'Conor,
Brazea^noie College, Oxford.
E In
\
Jr'f daims ^' '" *^ ^^^^^ vMzh I havc iiitroduced into the 3d
Doci«7o5 volume of my Post Union history (p. 820) I have
letters ^ laid in my claim to avail myself of your letters,
wliich you first made public mention ot . From them
you have endeavoured to fix me with an obligation
of attending to your counsels, direftions and warn-
ings: and yau sternly claim a right to complain of my
wilful, malignant, and obstinate inattention to your
demands and dictates. Now from the whole context
of your letter in answer, to my Application to ycru,
it is evident, that when you knew no more of my
Work, than what you had learnt from Dr. M'Der-
mott (for the mauifestation of the whole truth it
becomes necessary to set forth his letters) you were
predetermined to oppose, and strangle, if you could
in the birth, a Work, which your brother-in-law
commended as faithful, dispassionate, and in,depend*
ent. You favoured me with an answer in a very
short time, worked up, I am to presume, to the
\^ishes and sympathies of your noble patron, who*
prpbaly perused and approved, and certainly^ franked
it from the charge of postage. It held out every
imaginable discouragement to the undertaking ; re-
fused every thing applied for, which could be granted,
and oflfered every thing, that ^^as not wanted, and
was out of your power to grant.,
\Stoni3c,. FeL 11, 1802.
Doctor O' SiB; ^ ' . /
Conor's , / I sit (lown to exp^ess, as spee.dily as possibly,
to"thc a"!*^ rather my wish, thau my ability^ to contribute aid to the Work
*fcor. ' ^ you
23 .
V
ytm sre engaged in ; particularly as Dr. M'Dermott has In-
fomed me, that a manly contempt for certain prejudices ap.
pears to predominate in those passages, which you were so-
good, as to cnmmnnicate to him ; I mean Irish prejudices as
well as English ; for, though an Irishman myself, and one of
iiie old mere Irish, as you may see by my name, I am come
to a period of life, when those fooleries begin to we?tr their
natural complexion with regard to us. The rouge is washed
€ffy and the wrinkles are the more disgusting, the less they
were pereeired before.
Bat my good-Sir, you mistake in supposing, that I can
afford you any service worth purchasing at so dear a rate, as
9L joaraey to Oxford, or to Buckingham at this season of
the year.
I am engaged i if transcribing and translating into Latin /and
illustrating with notes and a glossary, the, ancient Chronicles
c^ Clone and of Ulster.'' Wo-'not think, that from a person
^ngsged in such pursuits you vrould derive that species df
information, which yon stand most in need ofi The chronicle
of Clone ends where you begin (the 12th century).
I travel down with a few ancient Celtic MSS. (he language
and characters of '>Krhich are almost^as obsolete and obscure,
as those of Persepolis. You travel dbwn- Vrith a qloud of
witnesses from Giraldus to my late grandfather. These witnes-
ses speak a language, which is intelligible ; you iiave only io ^
snake a proper selection.
If you Will ask what I mean hy a proper selection? — I
answer, that were I engaged in your task I would set out with
this priifciple, that ^^nota man of thetnis to he depended upon,**
TV hen I was younger, and had^less time to enquire than.
I have now, I thonght, that my grandfather's'' introduction.
to Cnrry was an exact historical painting, as far as it went,
of the times, jto which it relates. I do not think so now.
It is well written considering the time and the circumstances
E5 of
«.
[■
/
84
of the writer ; bat it is not all true^ and I prefer tmih ia
every species 6f elegance, and eloquence ^< Hon n'est heau fue
You may judge now what opinion I entertain of others^
Dr* M'Dermott iuforms me, that you take up some facts upon
the authority of Cox. Now who was Cox ? Take this
specimen ^' aad now how gladly would I draw a curtain OTor
^^ that dismal and unhappy 30th of January— wherein the
<^ royal father of our country suffered Martyrdom ! Oh that
^' I could say they were Irish men, who did that abominable
^^ fact, or that I could justly lay it at the door of the Papists !
^' but how much suevery they might obliquely or designedly
^^ contribute to it, 'tis certain, it was actually done bj
<« others/' - (p. 20C. toI. 2.)
You see. Sir', we are to take all writers t>n Irish History
** cum grano salis\^ else we shall leap into a volcano — for
Ireland has been nothing less for 60p years, and in giving i(s
history we must not go too close to the Crater, Horace says ^
of £mpedocIe&— Z)^2^/ immorta!U baheri dum cupit Empedocles^
' ardentem frigidus JEtnam insiluit. Sit Jus liceatque ferire poetis •
Such was the fate of Leland. Had he never meddled with'
Irish History, Philip of Macedon might have saved him from
the fate of Empedoclcs. But his Irish Qistory, is a 'dull
edition of Cox, somewI\at enlarged — but only enlarged by
common place political investigations*
In short— Sip — it requires uncommon application, and an
uncommon portion of health, of life, and of liaasure to write a
complete history, even of the period from tlie English Invasion
to our times. The rolls office, the surveyor general's office,
the council books — the Bodleian,' the British Museum, the
Lambeth Library, the Broderick collection in SO volumes MSS.=
« — Lord Clarendon's collection, Sir James Ware's, the late*
Mr. Harris's and the correspondence of 6ur jcliief Governors
for the space of six hundred y^ars are the sources to be con-
sulted — You could gain so little, so very little, by a conference
with
33
with me, that. I should deem myself highly eu1t)Able, if I did|>
notcandidly gave you my opinion, and state, how unqualified
lam ^ present for such a conference, as you seem to desire.
I have taken a large sheet of paper ai;id written a long letter,
in order to be as explicit ^s possible on a subject,which I should
be delighted to forward in any other way, that you may think
in my power* I have the honor to. be.
Sir, your Obedient Servant,
CHARLES O'CONOR.
My determination to eive as triie a portrait of '^'^f"*^*"'
^ ' - , ^ . . *■ not ^i8c<ni.
Anrfo-Ireland as I could proc^ire documents to '•^sed by
bear me out, was not to be removed by your refoiai.
picture of difficulties. j[^traced them to their source. '
The fate of Empedocles deterred me iftt from at)-
proaching the crater, notwithstanding the smoke,
fire and larva, with which you, aa well as other
enemies to the truth of Irish history, threathened to
overwhelm me. The refusal of Mr. Abbott, when
Secretaiy to Lord Hard wicke in 1801 to allow me
the inspecfBon of State papers notwithstanding Mr.
Addington's recommendation, prepared me for .
what I expressed to that Minister on the 29th of
September 1862, that / must conclude^ as I have hitherto
proceeded^ with the aid of the Shop and the Stall*
Under
* Vide Postl. Pref. Dub. Ed. 45 and 46; where may be seen
Mr. Hiley Addington's answer to that letter six weeks after it
had been redeived; during which period the Alethephohia came to
a crisis. It contains these words of redundant caution.-—^
*^ Tkere seems now no possibility of your now having access to Iks
State papers you mention.^^ The whole transaction of my piib-
HAhkg the Historical Review may be seen in that preface and
cannot be unintcxesting to the indagator of the truth of Irish
flistory. i
28
to Author; Yoa see Sir mj pretentions in begging an interi
-view and intercourse with you for some hours. I again reno^
my request, not from any personal views or considerations ;
but purely^ that I may omit nothing in my power to serve the
cause of a nation, 1 love and esteem^ and a religion I inffexi*
biy adhere to.
I am fully aware of the falsities of every Protestant histonant
that speaks of Ireland. I quote nothing from Cox but in
refutation of himself and his party. 1 conld not procure even
a sight of the first edition of Curry with your grandfather's
introduction, which I am very Curious to see. It is not pr^«
£xed to the octavo edition of 1792. Having said so mucfa^
I have but to add, that for the sake of my clients (I so call on
this occasion the Gftholics of IrelsUid) not my own, I repeat
my desire of a conference - and a .mutual communicatiou oC
manuscripts in your neighbourhood, to give you as little trouble
as possible ^ A little country air would afford me satisfaction
and health. If your objection be against my coming into
your ritighbourhood, and you should not object to come ta
London, I take the liberty, for the sake of my clients, to
offer to you' a bed in my house in town, and a hearty welcome
Xo our homely fare as long, as you will condescend to partake
of it, and will with pleasure pay the expences ,of your jour,
ney to and fro. I enti>eat an early answer to this^ and have' the
honor to be 'with great esteem.
Sir, your obedient humble Servant, >
FRANCIS PLOWDEN.
To the Rev. Charles O'Conor, \y.\>.
Stowe, Bucks.
Your reply put a close to our correspondance
in 1802.
Doctor O' Sir,
Conor's re- \ return many thaiiks for yonrkind invitation^
and more so for the very candid manner, in which you open to
me
St
anc yonr plan, and in which yon express sentiments towards '
mt, that are so personally flattering. It mak^s me feel^
with more regret, than I otherwise should, £h»t I ao^ not
qaalified to give you the information you desink^nd that
npon this principle, I cannot accept of an inyiCatiSfi, which
I could not be entitled to on any other.
It is tme^ that some years ago, at a period of extreme
political intemperance, and when the minds of all our body
were exceedingly agitated, I was induced to compile with
a haste, that coold only bo justified by my good intentions^
Ubi memoir/ JOM allude to. They nerer could be'supposcd to
be a regular temperate and studied system of history. They
Were.in fact little more, than liistorical anecdotes, rescued
from the libels of such writers as Cox and Borlase. They
irere scarsely printed, when they were suppressed : for though:
I laboured to pursue the truth, I was soon sorry, that any
copies had app^red. They Were never published, and, with
my consent they never ishall.
The second part of them I am very g^ad to hare witheld*
Isnutime iince gave them together nuUh ibe eriginalt to tha
Marquis of Buckingham, who is possessed of the greatest
part of my grandfather's papers, which consist chiefly of
letters relating to the transactions of the Catholic Committee
dariig a period of about 50 years.
Tiiey are now in his Lordship's library, together with the
1^ Irish MSS. annals of Cloan, compiled in the days of
Marianos Scotus. 2^ MSS. atinals of Innisfallen : a copy ■
from the original in the Bodleian. ^ Z^ MSS. annals qf Bpyle^
a copy from the / original in the British Museum. 4^ MSS.
annals of Ulster, a copy from the MSS. of Arch. Bishop Laud
in the Bodleian. 5^ the very autograph of the 4 masters-—*
with a number of Iri^h MSS. Historical poems of Coeman
Fhmuty Maimura and other Bards and Genealogists, who
F preserre^
, /
> —
30' ••
pi»?sf'rvf(1 the succession of our kings and cbieftains in the'
9th, 10th, nth and 12th centuries — also all the printed
books, that hare yet appeared upon this su? ject on the Conti-
nent, as ivA^ui in England and Ireland^— by f<>r the best cof-
lection iu Europe.
This collection. I conld not without his Lordship's permis.
sion make use of in favour of any object, but that, for ivhicli
it was collected, for it has cost him more trouble and expence
than any other person ever ^^t incurred, to save our antiquities^ '
from a general wreck : and I could not without ingratitude
and breach of trust meddle with his collection withont his
leave;
But- even with his leave, it would cost me some months to
give you the intelligence you require. I am ashamed to ack^
nbwledge, that even the most credited of our modem Irish
writers cannot be depended upon, even with regard to leading
facts. The more I examine, the morel find theDd guilty of -
the most perplexing anacronisms.
One should suppose, that Dr. Carpenter and the learned of
his clergy together with my graudfather. Editors of the Irish
edition of Butler's Lives, should have given accurately at least
the leading facts and dates of the lives of the most celebrated,
of their Christian Rings, Bishops, Abbots, &c. for example,
of such a celebrated Abbot va&Mantnmi. Now they da not state
even, when he became Abbot of Hyona.' Nor do I condemn
them for it. They had not leisure nor materials. They
found contradictory isseitions in all the printed books, and
they had not the orinals. ' .,
Ware says, that Adamnan became Abbot of HyQna 670
Usher says in^ ..- ,- 679
Colgan says in .^ 677
Possevin from Continental documents. : . : . . 690
Gesner from German documents . .........;.... 699 "
I could fill this sheet with such Chrdnological confusion.
~ Ooft
«1
One should suppose, that the above editors of Butler should
be rery clear ia stating^ i^hen he was appointed Am-
4)assador to Alfred king of Northumberland, and fop
>rhat object or purpose, and by nrhat King of Ireland, and
yet compare what they state with the statement of Colgan-—^
Tiiej say, that Adamnan was appointed Ambassador to
Alfred by Longsech king of Ireland 701 : Colgan saysrr-
^'Afino Domini 684, and Finactce regis Hybernise undecimo
Adamnanus Abbas Hiensis Legatus missus venit &c.
Colgan, Yol % p. 499.
Smith says in his notes to Bede, Cambridge edition, that it.
is oncer tain, when Adamnan was sent Ambassador to Alfred.
. NojirSir, if in such leading facts yon find such inconsistences
in* all the printed books, the consequence is plain » that we
nnst have recourse to the originals, wheneref. we can find
them— and try their merits, for this remains jef to h donty
■I I
by the same rul^s of criticisms, by which we judge of the
worlrabf other times and of other nations.
Upotf this principle Dr. Johnscyi and Mr. ISurke called
upon the Irish Academicians to publish their documents. ^
UpOD this principle at Lord Buckingham's request^ I am
endeavouring to connect from original and unpublished do-,
cnments the ancient History of Ireland, and upon the same
principles I took the liberty of referring you to documents
ceHunly unpublished; and I realy believe hitherto unexplo-
red, in the Museum, the Bodleian, the Lambeth libraries.
The documents in the State Paper Office will certainly be
worth your best attention : and without a strict examination ^
of these, and of many other original treasures of the same
natore, I feel, that I could not venture to offer opinions upon
our later Irish History, as connected with that of England :
and every hour, that I have dedicated to the examination of
pur early history has confirmed me in my* sense of the danger
of assuming facts^ without the matidtist. reflection, and the
most indefatigable research.
F2 I
m
4
\
Case of the Roman Catholicks 1755, ,bjr ditto.
Maxims relative to the State of Ireland 1757, by ditto.
*
' Counter Appeal to the Peoi^e of Ireland, Dublin 1741^/
by ditto.
The Protestant Interest' of Ireland considered, Dublla
, 1757, by ditto.
Lord Taafie's Observations on the Affairs of Ireland, Dub.
1767, by ditto.' — Lord Taaffe set his name to it.
Letter from JVIi** O'Conor to Mr. Uume on the Wat of
1641, (manuscript.)
Also several hundred of original letters on Irish History
and Irish Antiquities, which passed between Mr. O'Conor
and the following persons.
Letters to and from Mr. O^Conor, and
Lord Lyttleton, Ralph Ousley,
Dr. Johnson, ' Mrs. Soley, an English Lady^
Dr. Lei and. Dr. Waruer,
Colonel Vallancey, Mervyn Archdall,
Dr. Curry, Dr. Carpenter,
George Faulkner, Michael Reilly^
Chevalier O Gorman, James O Moore,
Joseph Cooper Walker^ Mr. Vesey,
Gorges Edmond Howard, Mr. Whitton, and many othersw
N. B. The originals are all in my possession.
One other letter. Reverend Sir and most learned
Doftor, I received from your worthy brother-in-law,
that inflexible patriot Dr. M'Dermott, which will
complete my evidence, to prove, that I have not per-
mitted myself to be misguidedby the foreign infiueme
meny the Castabalas of your native country^ of which
you claim a right to complain. Tour ' assumption of
that right imposes iipori me the indispensible ob-
ligation
» X
\ /
/ '
39
ligation of negativing your charge, which nothing
short of the unimpeachable authority of your brother
in-law could have convicted you, or convinced your
seduced proselytes of the flippant falsehoods and
dangerous errors, which it has becpme my duty to
«hew, are contained in your four, letters, under the^
signature Columbams. '
^ Cco/avWf jfugust 18, 1S02*
Dear Sir,
Yolir letfer of the 5 th Insf. reached me on
Saturday last. I find by it (what I expected) that you were
ditappohihd at the scantiness of the ]irtle parcel, which you
received. The letters and other n^anuscript papers were not
ntffropert^j tbey belonged ti Dr. O^Couor^ who left them in my
care; To part with them without his consent would be %
violation,of private l^nfidoncc. I ijriehtioncd to you, that if,
on a more ^enlarged prospect, you should ever come io Ireland,
aod favoured me with a visit ;. these and every other material
I coald command or collect, should be fully and U^^Vy at your
di>posaI. I can not, nor do I conceive myself warranted (o
do more. Of Dr. O' Honor's refusal to Supply you with the
veiy ample historical documents in his possession I have already
expressed my open disapprobation. But though I may censure,
I have no right to controul. ' Nor woi^ld the want of a becom-
ing liberality in hfm justify a breach of trust in me. From
several hundred letters and papers now in this house, to er*
tratt any thing material for yonr pifrj)ose would require more
time, than I can command, and more abilities, than I possess.
I could not discriminate properly. I feel myself unequal io
make a judicious seleiction. I often regretted and stilt regret,
that I had not those papers with me, T^hen I had the pleasure
%t seeing you at Booterstown.
G2 ^ In
I ' ' I
-T— — "-
40
The same
fubject
continned.
In your present important and arduous undertaking I aiik
soriy to find jou have had so few helps. "We do not desenre^
that you should labour for us. You are left to tug at thj» oar^
as well as to guide tjie helm : but your m^rit will be the
greater, in conquering difficulty by your own exertions* . Affv
for my part I must remind you, that the beggar can only giTe
his mite. ' He, who is poor himself cannot enrich his neighbour.
I regret haying had so little help to send you; but I cannot
reproac}i myself with having sent less, than I ought.
I am, Dear Sir, with great esteem,
and l^est wishes, yours most truly,
HUGH M'DEUMOTlk
No further correspondence was carried on
between Dr. M'Dermott and , me, until the
tiistoricat Review had made it's appearance
before the public ; and I then wrote to him a letter,
of which the following extraft will bespeak the
consistency of my views and the earnestness of
my efforts to serve your country.
Menex'-Street 22, August 180?,
My DAr Friend,.
The late interruption of our cor. '
respondence I know you will attribute to- the true caus^ on
my part; namely^ the labour of finishing my Work and the
subsequent application to dispatdi such things, as it had intej|^
ruptcd* You, who knew from the first conception -the nature
and spirit, in which it was engendered, will npt be astonished, "
that its birth has displeased the men in power, because it ha« .
heinously pfiended the Orangemen. T^ey have been loud ia
their complaints of the freedom, with which I have exhibited
tjjeir system, and Mr. Wickham told me the day before he left
London^
I
41
V
JjOndAfky that CrOTernment could not be ex|»ected to encourage
tlieoHTcalatiOB of a Work> that spoke so harshly of the persons,.
to whom thej looked up for the saWation of the country*
Yon maj remark, that the great influence of the presept
AdmioistratioQ is all Orange.
These docuinenrs, reasons and CTOunds existed Coiumb^n
' *^ Ui reprint
before 1803 for my Writing the Historical Re^fiew in noJsiey's
the spirit," and upon the authorities, wliich I did. in jsos.
You Reverend Doctor were not then, to my know-
ledge at least, before the public : and however I
reprobated and contemned your cbndaft, I wa§ not
called upon to notice you in any part of my pub^
lications. You recurred not seriously to my thoughts
until 1805, when a friend of yotirs put into my
hands a reprint of your Prosptctus, which had
without my having been aware of it, been published
in Dodsley*s Annual Register for 1803. I do not '
dissemble, that the lecture of it forced upon my
mind many extraordinary and painful impressions*
I reflefted on the time, at which you, Reverend
Dodor, (for from you it came) sent to Dodsley
for publication, as it appeared in 1802, that excel-
lent letter of the late Mr. Burke to Gen. Vallancey, ^ .
calling upon him to favor the world with a litteral
translation of some of the old Irish Annals ; Jn
which he says, ** Bui if any accident should happen
'^ io you and to Mr. (y Conor (your worthy grand-
% fether) what security ba'oe we^ that any other like
^^ ytnt should start up.** I considered, that it was
your
4»
your preparation of the public n\indy for that elabo--
rate and exquisitely precious Morceau of anticipated
Review and panegyric by the author of his own
unwritten Work, which appeared in the next number
of Dodsley's Annual Register for 1803. I com-
bined the times of those publicaticms with the cor-
responding dates of your correspondence with Dr# ,
M'Dermott in the autumn of 1801, and with me. in-
February 1802, I passed in my mind the laudable
views of your patriotic grandfather, in making
the best collection of materials of any in Europe for
writing Irish History : and constrasted them against ,
the degenerate grandson, who had entombed th^m
in the sepulchral library of Stowe. You Reverend
and most learned Doctor, have crammed your four
letters to your countrymen with a farraginous bat&h
of learning, some of which makes for you, much of
it against you ; some parts of which establish premis-
es, from which you draw unfair conclusions, other
parts of which falsify your assertions, defeat your
arguments, and stultify your boasts : and a very
considerable portion of which convicts you , of ar-
jrogahce to your spiritual superibr, malignity to youi*
opponents, and untruth to all men« I shall for the
sake of other readers of this letter besides the per-
son, to whom it is addressed, endeavour to proceed
with^ proper attention to the lucidus Ordo ; a
movement not frequently resorted to in your tactics* ^
After
I •
'43' ■
After I had, read in 1805,* what you had procured Doctor o?
to be inserted m the successive numbers of Dodsley*s longamici-
Annual Register for 1802 and 1803, I published ?rcws of
nothing concerning Ireland, till I brought forth the a^uwl?
history already mentioned to have been so graciously ™*°*
received by the Prince of Wales ; though now undef .
LordEIdon's injunction in England. I perceived you
preparing for battle from afar, against your country,
your kindred, and the religion of your countrymen.
You- were making yourself a public man by long
anticipation, laying in your pretensions to a n^me ^
and reputation in life, though at an interminable '
distance^* " Some time, you say, must necessarily
*^ elapse before this great national Work can be
** completed. 'Of the transcripts and latin trans-
*^ lations of the 5 first Articles, part is already in
** the press, and much progress has been made in
** decyphering, translating and collating several of \??
** the documents under the sixth. It is therefore to
*^ be hoped, that the period ia not far distant^ when
** Dr.O'Conor will be able^to look for the I'eward
^^ of his labours, in the gratification of having^con-
*^ tributed to that general mass of national informati*
•^ on, which yj?r succeeding centuries has been^ one of
<^ the most interesting and proudest ornaments of the
^« British Empire.^' Now Reverend and most learned
Doctor, maugre your early lust for unhybermf'zing
yourself *
^ Renun Hybcrukarum &c. apad Dodaley for 1803, sub. fia.
yoDrtelf,* tBe review of an tmwriiten Work^ arid tie
gratification in what has been the pridt-cf succeeding
generations f savour so strongly of what we English
(I admit very unwarrantably) call bybermcisms ^ that
you should repent having washed off the paint»
which might have still concealed these disgusting
wrinkles.
iiTO'"aiinJ?- I am here naturally induced to acknowledge my
Tp,IIJ**h^f obh'gations for your Reverence's having so kindly
**'^' forewarned me of the fate of the Sicilian poet*
Though my classical lamp be nearly exhausted, your
reference to Horace has fed the wick with a tuomen*
tary flame, that will probably be instantly extinguish-
ed for ever more. Surely the quotation fits the
quoter more appositely than Leland, or the author of
the Historical Review. No matter whom it fits :
a bibliothecarian, who could not quote might remain
for ever uninvigoraied and uncheered by the nvamt
beams of munificent paironagel Allow me, without
offence, to figure you most learned Dodor relaxing
from your graver pursuits, with a Horace in lieu of
Quesnell before you, recognizing in the strong etch-^
ing of that master of the art of poetry a charafter,
of which you fancied you did and ought to, know
much, and of which in reality you knew but little.
Then without judgment, reflection, or discrimination
you flippantly apply it Csicut tuus est mosj to xmcj of
which you were utterly ignorant. You Sir, are the -
Emphedocles
* The Author knows not how long before the llih of Feb.
180S, Columbanus gratified this strange passion.
4^
Empedocles, that wished Dm imnioriaiis hahe^h
jBiIt *why iiif siich precif>itati6n td immortalize 3roiir-
s^If upoa adraiiced credit ? Eren posthiimoiis
* £iitib should ikttsfy thef roan^ whos^ gratified peep
into ftihiritj^ remunerated the information be ha$
ghren (6 his country j and MilAcYi for Succeeding gene-*
rations bat been the pride (if the British Empire. Before
you had puUlished Cdtumbanusy I was at a loss fully
tb account for your writing at all. I had indeed
dbserved th€ indignity offered by. y6u to your grafnd-
Other's ashes. I had marked y6ur pro*fane removal
of consecrated boundaries^ 2 and since those pub-
liqitiotig it could. have esdaped the notice of feXv^
that you raved like a ferocious antoial broken loosef
from confinement.
■ Nee sM$ appa^ef j cdr Tertns factitet : ti'trum
m inxerit Id patrios cttftires,' ad triste bidental
Moveiit incestus 2 certe farit : ac velnt ursus
Objefctici^'caT^aef r^aiC si fitin^re* ckkthros.^
■ f
Nor is it plairi f6r what more horrid crime
The Gods have plagued him with the curse of rhynft^.,
"Whether his father's ulshes he disdaia^d,
Or haAow'd ground with sacrilege profaned.
Certain li^'s mad : and like a baited bear
if he liafd strength ^Rongh his den to tear,
Frafj. Har. Ati ofP^firy^
* Tlfef secluded Stkolar ik pursuit cf recondite km^led^ may
Jiof, p^rhapsf be- heedless 6f fitjmOn. This Utin word the
Romans bdrroire^ from the Greek MdvA clctifrai whence pro*
bably the Fresch Mtr^ and our ehytterj genen^lly applied to
Q places
'49
■ . . . ■. . ■ ' ■ f ' . ' - * : ■. r
Why Dr. Front the moment of your affeding a. pubBc
Hotic"d'in charader, by the rules of ; history , I was sjitfnmon^
iHmidut^" ^^ explain your general conduct ,an4 chmracter. Ypu
jii8"ory of h*^ ^^^ ^^'^ played the ib^lpgian, nor conjured
Ireland, ^^p ^^ shade of CoIuinbanu8,§ in order to niai:shal
your countrymen to fiercie resistance to the uruano^
nkal (as you term them) procef^hg^ rf Popes ^ apd
Synods. In my dissertation upon the antiquity of
Irish History^ 1 1 found it necessary to take notice of
■■.•.; ; you
pUceis of religious retireni<'nt ; And more 'largely to colfeget
and seminaries, where individiials Tire aird are'maintatDed'fn
comnmnUy^and bind themselTefl/'by tows and o«lfis to obedictac*
and nilc. I understand Dr. Colnmbauiia- was grataiK»qsly
educaftd atKoive on a Papal foundation for (he specific purpose
of servim: the Irish missidnl under sworo' Obedience to Iris
Spiritual Superior the Bishop of Elphin, • .«:
^ *' X« ; with the blftsiitg:«f<iiid;.the gnrat. Coloinbaniai. iIkiII not
** Imve appeared t9 us io vain. We shall yet have a Naliooal Church.**
4, Col, l;2, 13. ' ';ii : .. . , ,
Falsns honor jnVat 9t meadat inftiinta terret,
Quem nisi menrioiam ftmendaceia? ■
Hor. Ep. f.
Whom but the man of error and ontmtb, '
Doih borro^'d honor please^ d»th lying ihame appal?.'
Tiiik is my motto lo the Hittorical letter to Sir Rkbard Musgcave.
-f It would be disingenuous fo offer as reasons or proofs for
atsscrtions made by me hi 1809, facts or circumstancM,. of
which I only acquired the knowledge in 1810. It was tfei.
possible for me, not gifted alas ! With Mr. Dodshy^sj^rescicntim
dcfkturis contingentibui^ to anticipate the disgust) hatred and
indecency, with which throughout jodr four letters yon have
.^ treated
47
you and of your grandfather's collection of books
and manuscripts, and to make several assertions,
which It remains for me now to shew I have not, as
yoii charge, madejtvHbout proofs. . You certainly have
■ H 3 fortunately
■ ' ■■'.•■
fmted tfie diristaia Primat«) the Catholic Hierarchy of yont
^mflcotiitry^ .aad the geoeialify of the Catholic priesthood
^hrooghoiit tlie. British Empire. I certainly < raced symptoms
.of airy, petulance and little malice in your obscnutioiis upon
^i)r. Carpenter, (the late C. A. B. of Dablin) and the learned
of his dei^y, with your grandfather, whom you speak of (unwrfr*
^ntabjy I bellere) as the editOTS of the Irish ediiii)n of
BrUler*! lives of Saints. Ilow could the particular time, at
•vUchAdarananJbecame Abbot of ^yona^ or went as ambassador
to Alfred, interest me, who bad commenced a general historicai
i^vietf of Irish History from a period later by centuries, than
b's eilstence ? This wanton and spileful kick at the credit of
Dr. Carpenter and the learned of his clergy, and the base
second attack upon your graudifather's Kant of accuracy a >d
ffuth were not only irneloTAnt to the subject of jour letter (o
^i b^t fonlly stained by a frontiers and Senseless f^hehood.
^eaoly^ad unnaturally stri ring to raise an hatchment of self
^nse^uence upon ihe parricidal pyle of your grandfather' ^
B4o^ed fame for veracity, yoti unblushiugTy associate him
(Istill think onwan^ntably) with the editors of Butlei'i lives,
vtis'M hot the original matsriah fir accuracy^ when you tell us
utile fact was, that your grandfather then living had by fur
t&e best collection of original materials in Europe for writing
Irish History: and he w^s qne of the co.editors, as you say.
\M^^ however did yqnr revered ancestor's intuition into
.futority prefigure the degenerate hand, that was so soon t4
0licnat«r the invaluable treasure from His family, his country
#Bd the piitriotic pvrpose^, f<9r ^vhich he had calloi'^f d it.
48
fortunately for your country men, by your late pubr
lications disclosed more of your character^ ihan you
had by your review of a Work in erpbryo, apf)
therefore I said to them in my last history, Hunciu
liomane caveio : but nothing fix)m any of Column
barm' letters, the first of which came out in 1810,
could have influenced or authorized n>e to- make
assertions in my Historical Dissertation, which was
published ii> August 1809. I certainly did there
assert, that if the prospectus ( Review yQ\i callit^ smuld
pnly have come from your pen or instructimst that the
reprint of it In 1805 was the more to be relied upon^ as
proceeding from tie fountain bead of the best ittfarmatian
on the subject : •* that after the death of the grieat Mf.
0*Coi^<>r, Cyou) Dr. Cpnor his grandsph, becamiB
possessed of the valuable collection of njanuscriptS'
^^ and all the printed books upon this subject on th^
^^ Continent^ as well as in England and Ireland, by
^' far the best collection in Europe, Tbstt it ha4
passed (no matter to the public for wji^t conside-
ration) from Dr. 0*Co^px tc) the Marquis of Buck*f
ingfaam: and as Mr. Burke uys,. i^ no>y lurking
^* in the library of Stpwe ; and lying in t)ie hands qf
'^ an individual, who appears to enhiance the value
^* of his' purchase by rendering it inaccessible*'
That whatever I had added tq what you Reverend
Doctor, had thought fit to bring forvvard in the Review
of your embryo Work, was ** upon the avilhority of
?^ thogrzndson,ere yet vendsd^tiic^uropatriam* Tfe^t
according^
49
according to Lord Littleton, ^*Your grandfather
•^' with the noble bloody that flowed in his veins had
-^' naturally inherited a passionate love for the honor
•** of bis country, and therefore willingly assisted
-•* in any undertaking, that might render tiie history
-•'of it .more knowp and more complete.* Many
of the proofs of these assertions ^ppe^r on the face
of the letters alreandy submitted to the reader : to
any oile harbouring a doubt | re<;ommend an atten^9
jtiye rieyisal of them.
Besides the internal evidence of the contents of ^'>ct.)r o'
Conor ak-
ihc Review^ vbich cpuld pnly have proceeded from stmiianNi
' • • , . to Sir Kd.
the author of it (Who else could know his intentions Mus^rave,
or ascertain the plan and progress of a work more
in thought, than in hand ?) numerous and pregnant
^e the proofs of their having come from you. In
my Hjjstoric^l (.etter to Sir Rich?ird Musgrave (he
jBtrongly resembles you in traducing his countrymen
and abusing the author of the Hislorical Review) I
observed, as I now do to you, \x% cooperatqr in the
«ame cause, fpar nifbile fi*airtakyj that, the manner
^' spirit ^nd stile of .an author are to the close ob-
•* server fully as distingulshatile, as the character
" and manner of handwriting, to which evidence
^* upon oath is cpnstantJy taken in courts of Just-
• **ice,
* The reader 19 apprized, tl^^t so much of (he disscrtaliua
would Dot have been quote4; but (hat with the perpetu^
isjuoclien outstanding, the work can be but iu few hands :
perhaps not eTen in (hose Qf t{ie HeTerend and most learned
Poctor«
•
I
^* ioe,*'* Ope maiuier of . dictlqp. pervades your
private
* ^^Foar stvonjB^ly marked peculiarities distinguish Sir Ricbaxd
Musgrave's prpductio9s (page 6.) }^. Efifrontery in denjiug
;truth. 2^. Malignity in adopting falsehood. 3^. {latrcd to
his countrymen and execration of their religion, and 4^. Self
adulation to nauseating disgust.*' Few are the philosophers
a0 well known to themselves as to others ; the likeness betwee a
the most learned Doctor and .the truth huntioji Baronet, is
closer, thai^ either of tliem is perhaps aware of. One vein qt
ribaldry^ abuse and bufibonry flows from the \}eu of each^
Both are so surcharged with bilious acrimony, that they
scatter it indiscriminately on friend aqd foe. The h^me CSar^
latanerit ^gauchi has beguiled each of them into the besotted
consciousness of remaining- -undiscoTeited, -whilst under tfa^
masked battery of some creditable publication they, disgust
the reader, an4 disgrace the writer by jpTaising t|iemselyes and
a))using others. Columbanus, fighting under the same ban.
ners, (though in a priTate corps) with his sunergpj)r./p\x\^^
naQ and Sir Richard Musgraye« who wrote what the ReT^renid
compiler of the Anii^yacohin published, and who also is- lu
the pay of the same' foe to Ireland, forgot, that the real auihor
could be unmasked ; and .fondly fancied, that the respecmslo
name pf Mr. Dodsky woul4 ponceal.from notice the e&traordi-
nary assumptions of transcendent merit from jfiis. own pen. /
im particularly obliged to him for the sublime eflbrt of his
dignified charge upon ^tty antagonist ; for the bbjectionablf
passa'ftei in the Jnti-jMohin ai^ aimed -at t^' author of the
fihhriatl Rmemf* (1. CfiliunBa^uj ad Hybernh ^)'^ No. man
'^ has more grossly or more illiberally abused the Catholic
^^ religion, than this Tery Saint Cobbett^ except it should be
^^ that classical and polite countryman of ours Dr^ Duigenan,^
^^.^htoJ8S||idto be the son pf a Catholic pri^st^ or that most
M elpgai^t
61
fltivate letters and your pifbllc review, as will appear
by
'* elegant and most holy dWine, the icompiler of the Antim
*' 7«v^/v,who rails at the religion of the Jeromt^ theAugusiiaefy.
^'iiie BfJffj the Calmets^ the Montfaucoruj the Pefaviuses^
'' tbe Fiscally and the Mahillons with as much ease to him.
*^ lelf, as Punch does, when he pulla up the waistband of his-'
" breeches to prove, that Ne'zston d n hitn was a coxcomb,
"and Copernicus a fool ! Eccofo vero Ponecinetto !
Inl805 I certainljrdid charge Sir Richard Musf^rave wtth
being the writer and publisher under cover- of the British
Critic of the following stlfpuff.. " The author (i e Sir Richard
'^ Ha^aye) has completely snccedcd in detecting and expos.
'Mngthe insidious attempts of Mr. P. to arraign tbe wisdom,
" the justice and humanity of the British Government, and in
'* doing ihts he has displayed so profound a knowledge of the
'^ English and Irish history, so sound a judgment, and such
^* accuracy of discrimination, joined to great elegance of
*' style, that his very excellent Work must be considered as a
^^valaable addition to the libraries of persons of taste and
".nticnal curiosity/' With like' confidence in 1812, do I
tUxfffi the Reverend and most learned Doctor O' Conor
Mstait Columhanut with having written and published undet
corer of Dodsley's Annual Registi^r, - the following modest
"sketch of his own value and merit. ^^ That the warm beams
^' of munificent patronage^ happily in the present instance
'^We not been witheld, but have been employed with a
^generous profusion in calling forth the abilities of Doetor
'^0*Coiior into light an!d activity, thereby conferring on
'^ Ireland in particular, and the antiquarian and scholar of eve*
^' ly clime the most weighty obligations. He was fortunate
'* enough to find in the Rev. l)octor 0*Conor, the grandson
'^ of the late Charles O'Conor, Esq. of Balanagre in the
*' county of Roscommon, a gentleman qualified by his 8iK>erior
l^ Jkpowled(^e of the ^rlsh language aud indefatigable Jodnstryi^
' - ^«te
I
by cotnparisori. The same arrogant assuni|)tion e/
consequence, the same boast 6f science, the sailvi?
exclusive pretensions to venccityw The like ostenta-
tious display of biblical adraAtagesr (God knows boW
acquired !)^ tte like contemptuous defiance of thosey
who are excluded from them, fhe' Hkef poiff of pre-^
tension, the. like exuberance of profession, and
every where equal defeft of performance. Almost
ten years have elapsed, you say, since the Work
is gone to pfess ; and nothing has yet appeared.*
De non apparemibui t^ non existentibtu eadtrfi ratioi
The munificence, pride arid judgment of the marquis
of Buckingham in forming an Irish fibrary (^iit
most contfUte that exists J is the theme of your Heview^
as well as of your private letters^
To»
*t |p remore frotn A gweAt ajdd high spirited people theimpa-
*^ tation of being unacquainted wiih their own annals^ at
*^ a time^ when eren the Icelanders have published theirs^
*^ In the grandson of the latter has ^een lonnd, the moriftf
*' inheritor apd able representatifeof f)ie peculiar albunihiftaYS
** of his progenitor."' . ' *
Id I80i> .1 said fo the bashful ttumpBier of his o#n rendwtf^
/Let to Musg. 95) '^The Ostrich in ccmcealra^ Us foolish head(
^^ supposes its body ^nceaied . from view. Thus you Sfi^
'^ Richard behind the doubtlfrgs of your fivefold helnvef, fancy
1 ■
^* yonrself as secure from detectiotAf, a» was the aAonymoiis
** Gaul within the Iron^Mask. Yon may riow false up th<
f> visor. You are aii^distiiKgnlihable as the posteriori of the >
** ostrich. As I ktfow you, I address y6u.'^ In 18J2 I
liaf« little mor? io add^ to the unblushing Herald of Us owQ
|ftt»i$lM^^'» ipdustry aad exploits h be MidiitrNd.
68
7ou assured me, ^^ that in wiidngyour suppressed Proofs of
^ Tolume of Historical Anecdotes rescued from the conor^g
' ^' libels of such writers as Cox and Borlase, you A^utb^or of
« laboured to pursue the truth'* but you do not deny, nodiiey.
tht you found it. Why should good intentions
ether compell or justify haste ? The Work certainly
vas any thing but a regular and studied system of
history : but it bears no shade of iniejnperance\ and
it has the transcendent advantage over all your sub*
se^ent produ&ions ; the judgment of those, who
have read it, coincides with your avowal, tliat you
pursued the truth j[and not in vainj; Whereas in
every subsequent publication from the eulogized Re-
tiew of your plans and intentions in Dodsley to
the fourth letter of Columbanm ad Hybernos^ they
find much falsehood, notwithstanding you prefer truth
U every species ef elegance and eloquence : Rien nest
ieau que le vrai. We lament a deplorable dereliction
of truth, but discover not the elegance or eloquence^
to which she has been sacrificed. When I read in
your solitary Work 0/ truth the glowing and splendid
description of the flower of your grandfather's library^
followed by a partial rcpedtion of it in your private
letter to me in February 1802^ and soon aftet again
displayed in the anticipated Review of your projected
labours in Mr. Dodsley's honoured devfation from
Ik usual mode and established rulft dF re^siewing only
published articles^ was it possible to arrive at any
DCber conclusion, than that the three several specific
I cations
64
cations of materials came from one pen ? Sure I
wasj that the only man on earth, who knowing
your revered grandfather could have the hardy-
hood to decry his veracity, was he, who knowing any
thing of the grandson, could have had the modesty to
assure the public,* that in the grandson of the latter
has been found the worthy inheritor and able re-
presentative of the peculiar attainments of his pro-
ffcnitor : and that the munificent patronage (of the
Marquis of Buckingham) had been employed with
a generous profusion in calling forth the abilities
of C^^^J ^'*' O' Conor into light and activity:
thereby conferring on Ireland in particular , and the
antiquarian and scholar of every clime the most
weighty obligation.
Transfer of Alihough, Revcrend and most learned Dodor,
IrrcSicxtil b<^h in writing and reading tliis hyberbolical subli*
r!»imaught niation of your powers and virtues, the pulrahou
4n Sfowr* ^^^ j^^^j^ ^^ ^^^^ heart, f it was not so precisely
with him, whose historical duty it was, to weigh the
• comparative pretensions of grandsire and grandson
in that scale of even justice, experience and judg-
ment furnished by my valuable friend, the real
inheritor of his grandfather's virtue and veracity. I
certainly stood aghast, when I reflefted, that Ireland
bad been in a very mysterious manner despoiled of
that superb armoliry, whfch your patriotic grand*
father
* Dods- AnI. Rog. for 1803.
+ 4 LeK 90.
66
&dier.had spent his valuable life in collecting, as
Lord Lyttleton observed, from a passionate love for
the honor of his country, and his willing assistance
in.aay undertaking to render the history of it more
known or more complete, that they had been force J
into the impenetrability of Stowe, dragged like the
flower of Alcides*s herd bv the tail into Cacus* den,
that their progress from Conaught to Buckingham-
shire might be unobserved, and neither retraced nor
recovered even by Herculean power.
Atqiie iios, ne qiia forent pcdibus vestigia rectis,
Canda in SpeiuQcam tractos, Tersisque Tiarum
Indiciis raptos, saxo occultabat opaeo.
And lest the printed footsteps flight be seen,
He dragged them backwards to his rocky deo.
The tracks averse a lying notice gave,
And led the searcher backwards from the cave.
Dryd. Virg. VIII. JEn.
For some time indeed, that is, till I had been acci-
dentally referred to you for documents for recent
Irish. history, little was it suspected, ibai the greatest
pirt of your grandfather* s papers^ lobich consht cbiejly
of letters relating to the transactions of the Catholic Com-^
tfHttee during a period of about 60 years, were to be
traced to the inaccessible shelves of Stowe.
Qqsrentem nulla ad speluncam signa ferebant.
At last kind Providence brought to light the re-
pository of these interesting documents of the last
12 century
56
centory, little connected alas ! with the ancient Irish
annals, almost as obsolete and obscure^ as those of Perse^^
folis, as you described them to me in 1802, and in
your search after truth, (the suppressed volume,)
with more studied emphasis, so obscure^ that it would
seeniy as if time had forbidden « discovery.
Panditur extempio foribus domui atra revulsis
Abstracfsque boves, abjorataeque rapine
Cocio ostenduntar.
The doors unbarred receive the mshiDg day,
Ao4 tbproQ(;b lij^hU diiclose the ravibhed prey, &Cb
pr>d. Yirg. 8 JEa.
' I was then evidently authorized (rather obliged)
to inform the public,* that " Co-operaitors with Dr^
** O'Conor in the wish to elucidate Irish history,
^* have already found the access to his grandfather's
** collection impossible. Whatever light must in
" future be thrown. upon Irish literature and history
** from this collection, will be dealt out to the pqb-
** lie according to the liberality, opepness, and cohit
" municative dispo^ition of the Noble purchaser and
" bis representatives.'* In the genuine spirit of the
back-stairs juggle and the Pitt tactics, against the in-
vestigation, disclosure, and pursuit of truth, were
set up the private will and conscience of the great
man, as the subterfijg.e, justification, and indemnity^
for the misdeed? of the little one. I therefore must en-*
treaty that you will not condemn me for dedintng the task
yoH
+ 1 Hist, oflrcland, p«137-
37
you fi^ose to me^ as one^ that in conscience / cann»t ac^
(% because I have not the data for it* This collection
Icouldntfty without his Lordship's permission, make usi
ofin favor of any object, but that, for which it was col-
leetid. Now, Rev. and most learned Doctor, and
most observant of truth, allow for once what the
public will jbelieve to be the truth. Your tender
conscience was riot pressed to refuse me the sight of
j'our grandfather's papers relating to the transactions
of the Catholic Committee for want of data, but for
want of will. Did you not also warn Dr. M^Dermott
ro keep from me the few documents, that remained in
his custody, and which may perhaps have escaped
the general shipwreck? In these, I presume your
Maecenas claimed no property. They were not
amongst the data to him : though they were a part
cf the valuable documents, which your grandfather
had collected for the assistance of those, who wished
to render the history of the country more known and
more complete.*
I
* I mean not to ^upstlon or imp^saeli the Marquis of Buckiqg*
ham's legal right or property in this collection : but it is a
known troth, that whilst Mr. Charles O'Conor lived, many
persons^ who had in their possession curious books, papers or
docaments, either gare or sold them to him. It was the general
prepossession of his countrymen, that a collection in the hands
of a man of his ability and will to use it for the benefit of
his country, was really a national archive to be kept in the
country, and made accessible to all, who might wish to perfeot
its History. The O'Conor collection would perhaps never
3
c
.18
1 uiiquestloiisLbiy did, in 1809^ insett in my dii^
sertation
liave been made, c(.*rtainly not so enlarged by indmdaal
rontribUtions, hatl it been know n, that so soon after the death
of that wise> virluons, and patriotic collector it would have
been doomed to perpptoal exile, and buried in eternal darkness
to those, frhom it was formed to illumine, jolii inaceesiam raJUs,
Mr. O'Connor in the preface to the second edition of his Dis.
sertation on the History of Ireland, (Dub. 1766) informs US|
that he gave that second edition as toon at the maierialt luereptti
into his hands for additions and amendationt. Since the bloom of
youth has passed from the face of Columbanus, and he has noir
more time to enquire, than he then had, into the truth of his
grandfather^s dissertations, I roust presume his convenkHitD
be the effect of long, intense, and impartial iuTestigation: and
as he tells the public, (4 CoL 40) thai his ofittionj infrivutf t^rtt '
ivith hit printed books ^ I may fairly conclude, from liis frequently
quoting the Greek and Roman Poets, that he is more ambitious
of being thought conversant with them, than with Coleman
Flannus, Malmura, or any of his own country bards. It would-'
be impossible in those moments of impartial contemplation up.
on the original formation of this national treasnre, the object of
its collection, and the actual application of it after the collector's
death, that the lines of FJaccus should not, even in the closet
t»f the recondite scholar^ haie replaced the washed off paint for
some moments of conscious remorse and confusion.
Quid faciam h\ furtum fecerit, aul si
Prodiderit Commissa fidei, spoosumve Dcgarlt ?
Qneis paria esse fere placait peccata^ laboraol
Cum ventum ad verom est: Sensns moresquerepugoant:
IVbat if be robb'd me, or bit trust betrayed.
Or broke the eacrrd promise be bad made?
Who bold all crimes alike, arc deep dlstrest ^
AVhen Vie nppeal to trulii^s impartial jtest.
Sense, custom, social good, from whence arise
All forms of rieht and wrong, the fict denies.
Fra.IIor. Sat. 3. L. 1.
59
serttdbia upon the antiquity of Irish history, the fol- ProoRof
lowing note, p. 140. *' Having intimated in a tonner Conor's
^ note, th^t this collection is no\v inaccessible to coUectioiu
" tho e, who wish to authenticate and verify matters
" i& Irish history, it is fitting to inform the reader,
^^ that.vhatever is here said of it, is upon the autho*
" ritjr of the Rev. grandson, ere yet, Vendidit hie Auro
*^f0frimJ** These I admit to be hard words : and
the prooft, which authorized me to use them, are
obvious and conclusive. Where valuable property
is tnuijfenred for valuable consideration, a sale takes
place, whatever di^^guise, color or pretext may be
resorted to, in order to constitute the transaction,
any thing but a sale» I find you three times boast-
ing of the possession of the most valuable property
(of its nature) id Europe ; in your work of truth,
(the suppressed volume,) your letter to me, and your
review (under Dodsley^s name and prescience,) of a
work, hardly hatched in your brain. You ascertain
a legal (whether rightful or tortious I know not) pos« .
session in this collection, / sometime since gave
them toother with the originals to the Marquis of
Buckir^bam^ ** wiio is possessed of the greatest part
** of my grandfather's papers, which consist chiefly
•* of letters relating to the transactions of the Catho-
** lie Committee during a period of about 50 years,"
The boasted gift of the greatest pare of your grand-
fiither's papers, where you make no diversity in the
title to the rest, which are now in his Lordship^s L?-
brarv
60
brary, evidently proves the mode of acquisition,
legal purchase of undisputed property, by yoilr
tron, when you tell rlic it has cost more irmuh^^
(which I care not about) and cxpence^ thaln any oth^^
person ever yet incurred to save our antiquities frorf*
a general ^reck- You announce, under the nartii^
of Dodesley, to the public, that Lord Buckingham
has with a generous profusion ini)igorated and cheered
you, (Rev: and most learned Dr. O'Conor) iviib the
warm beams of munificent patronage. You redtindant-
ly repeat * that this English Nobleman has given (I
foregd
''^ I lay aside tlie consideration 6f the' trouble yen gite your '
patron credit for haying incurred in making the collection, the
only criterion of which could have been your firmness in resist-
ing the temptation to renounce your Irish prejudices, to decry
the veracity of your grandfather, to withdraw tiy the t9\\(^eatuU
h speiuncam tracfot) the patriotic fi'uits of his meritorious Kfe^ (o
abandoa the Evangelical lalbours in the vineyard of EtpMiif
■ which you by oath had engaged to serve for life* On that memff'^
raiic day to you the moit a'wftil of your li/cy the day of your wdinmm
lion in the Chunk of St, John Laieran{3 CoL 7) you received
Orders titulo m/sionisy which subjected you to a special oat& of
obedience to your diocesan Bishop. How could you expect any
rational man to belcive you, when you extolled the unprecc.
dented trouble of the Marquis of Buckingham in making A
ooHection, which was ready formed to his hand by youf grand.*
' father, and which you gave (actually joid) to him. The object,
for which I applied to you for your grandfather's papers ei
the proceedings of the Catholic committee for 50 years^ was
to give to the public a full fair and undisguised history of t£ase
bteffi liis motives,) more attention and ixpsnte to
toEoit from ^^ etery quarter in both Islands the ori*
K '* ginals
Gael. In 1909 ybn told me, yoxi conld not withoirt }ih Lord-
A i fP i ym ai Mion make use of this collection in fa?chir of atiy
, ii^Kf ktf ibdtj fir nMeh it nvsij cMeteJ^ ( i e by it// LordMpy
wkie tnmble and ezpence \vk collecting you so 'highly ap.
predaip) t does not your refusal on tbl$* gtound import an ob.
jectSkectfy the reverse ? Namely, ia give to the public ehher
iNmr,'or an inliierfect, biassed, and distortffd hlsfcfry d^ yon^
tomAxfi Sndh was the mandate of the new possessor of the
Inanre^ wbo, magud ae molt firetat. IMd not the jackall'^
pndiiUtion tb allow me the u^e of the offa'II pT the gredt prey
leftinConaught^ confirm diese tery tiews and intentions? They
Were agaift re^gniaed and acted upon* wbeni sdbn after your
ippdiaapent to be a private chaplain to your patron's lady in
Ikb&it^ the whole (as ydii ihdught) of thp impression of the
ftat rolai^, yyd ten sheets of the second t^^^Iiiniet were for tfae
direet pnrixito of ^[nressipg the imth of Irish blstdiy, thrust
inlb a priry^ f^hich comtfiutflcated with the Poddle in Dublin^
and were thence carri^ into thft Liffby under ^he Old Custom
flome. Thid #a8 washing 6tf th« paint nith a vengeance : thii
was the first trmi of your contersio'rf. Let foiit ^ounftryirieii
Jbmpajre this beitly purchased abeal of the grandson with the na.^
tite spirit t>f the gr^ridsire, who forseeing a ^Possibility elf sip.
preniBg and abusing what he had collected, lamented, tbiii M
m^tft ii tfrangeti }§ the nnhbh ihatter in anoihet' age. (Pi'ef. io Dlis. )
He sayft in his Dissertation, p. 7« Theie have hut a lad chance
i§mMveamtber generation. He anticipates even a less misfor-
tone, than that, which has actually befallen them. Lite tie
r ji e df C Hi of the ancient j in a tpjfat dr ma ry they wB barely remain ta
Jir Mted at J never to Be taken down fir use. (Pref, to Diss, six.)
JLfler hating completed th^ second amended editions of the Di$-
«f»ftiitit!^9 and added to it ^ A dissertation on the iirst emigra«
" 62
^
^' ginals and faithful transcripts of all the ksoiac^^
** most antieht documents tending to illustrate x ^^
" histoT-y
^' tions and final settlement of the Scots in North Britain^ -mtt f^
^* occasional obscTTations on the poems of Fingal afid Ttmtkffii^ *
Mrith the full weight of all^ that he had done for the honour aiM^
iitilitj of lijs country, and wliat he wished to be done^ yourTir^^
tqoas grandfather patriotically and wisely remarked (p. 64)«
^^ Much is still to be investigated on this subject, and by abler
^^ hands: not indeed from the low principle, which gratified uU
^< ]y curiosity, or a hillier vavity ; but from a desire todisco-
^^ ver as much as'can be cfiscovered of a people, who h^d arls-
^^ of civilization of their otvu^ and manners, which however
^^ barbarous to «/, yet inferred and produced also a ciiliivation
'^ of the human mind/'
• -
Behold the genuine, the admirable sentiments, the Irish feel.
Itgi of your patriotic grandsire. I will not, lyith the pagan .
poet grossly transplant the pleasures of tho stable Mid sports of
iha field into Elysium,
Qam gnUia CDmium
Annomnqae fait vlvis, qiuB cum oitentes
Poscf re equos, eadem scquitnr tellure rcpoitos.
The love of hones, which they had alive,
Aod care of chariot* after death sarvire
Dod*Virg. 6;£a«
. But I will address you, Reverend and most learned Doctor,
as a Roman Catholic Priest : and with my catechism I learnt to
pay profound respect to that dignified character, which I have
often heard described, so weigh tly, that angels might stagger
under ft, crmt Atigelicir humeris finnUandum. As a heathen
I might upbraid you with thwarting and persecuting the vumtt
of your ancestor, even to the seat of bliss. I hare no doubt,
but that you have often insructed your flock at Castlereagbj pa .
I have bcea lipijht elsewhere, that -the fundamental ground of
I -
63 '
^^\u8t6ry prior to its' connection jtvith England^ and
m
'^kviog formed an Irish Library, perhaps the most
^^ complete that exists, he was fortunate enough to
'* find in the Rev. Doctor O'Conor/' — ^What and
whom? The fall O'Conor collection, and the man»
who eiercised the right of giving away the greater
part of it (^ab actw ad potentiam valet comequentiaji
andvhoby his three times repeated, rehearsal, hai
shovfziithat bis grandfather's collection (and nothing
K 2 (else
■ ■ ...
btifief necessary to justify the Catholic usage of iDvoking the
- saints and angels in heaten to pray and interceide to God for
«<> b, that the blessed in hearen know what passes here oa
eartt. Although the Natiotui Church of England hold the bool^
of Tobias to bo one of the Apocrypha, (you of course hold it
to be canonleal) yet it recommends it to be read /or exampk qf
lifcf and instruction of manners^ (Cth Art. of llel.) and there we
read (Tob. xii. 15.) Raphael one of the seven^ <which assist he/ore
tk Lordf said unto Tebiasjivhcn thou didst pray ivith tears, and
ddtt hury the dead bj nighty I offered thy prayer to the Lord.'^ Now,
Her* Sir, allow me without offence to pick up and put on some
of your cast of Irish prejudices, and to suppose, that your vir.
tuous grand^ther is now in company with your national apostle
St. Patrick, and the holy Abbott of Hyona Mantnan, and your
peculiarly adopted patron, the great Columlanusy and that from
their blessed mansion they beheld you, Rev, and most learned
Doctor, in the act of casting into Lethe andCocytus^ the whole
impression of the Historical Anecdotes rescued from the iihek ofsu4>
writers as Cox and Borlace^ and as much as was printed (/. e. the
nrhole impression of 160 pages)^ the instructive and interest-
fag recotds of your blessed grandfather's efforts for about 410
jem yrith a committee to forward the tmancipation of your
eouotry. Did they, like Raphael, offer the d^ed tp the J-ord ?.
f '
the) fbltns the pride of the Irish Ubrary at Stoir^'
You, Rev. and most learned Doctor^ tell the ^faUe^JL
^' that of the transcripts, and Latin tratidatioiis <f^
** the five first articles (all of your grandfalblf*^^
^'^ collection) part is already in the press^^and fiMdl ^
^* progreas has been nude in decyphering and ffiBH*
^^ latihg severai of the documents^ that .ai*e claUM
*' under die sixth,** Now it appears Upoii the fkce ^
three documents, all from your own pen, vi2« thi
suppressed volume, your letters to me, and the pub*
lication in Dodsley, tliat the whole quid Sf pro gu$
passed before your reverence and your munificrat
patron. Not even a third person is introduced to
draw up or witness tiie secret treaty. Poor Mr.
Dodsley is, at the distance of five or sis years, clum*
sily introduced, and made to commit to the pfess
some unnatural and overstretched strains of flattery
to the two grand plenipotentiaries, who settled the
private articles, as if he bad been, through the fron-
idescension of those two autocrats, latterly admitted
to a general and cotifiised fcnovf^ledge of thegrMitds,
;aot of the particulars, of ^he fuysteridus tratisa^tion*
But,
l^e qua forcQt pedlbus restigia rectis.
Your reverence is cautipu9 not to introduce a fourth
person on the stage, >
Nee quarts loqui persona laboret*
You have however furnished me with irrefragable
prool^
f A. P. 940.
66 '
I
poofe of an actual sdle, viz. the valuable 0*Conor
ooBecdon^ by far tbe best in Europet pven by you t$
tbi.Mmrquis rf Buckingham^ the high price )>e paid
jm itf ii has cost him more expence than any oihet^
firm ever iKCurred.-^You^ the only person receiving
the liberal mu^fieeBce ; fof y6u remained not tinin*
vlgonted or bncheered* Away with die hackneyed
£Bte of covering, a sale with the modtery of a vO^
hmtirj donatiotit and gratuitous reward. It is the
JmoltiQg, corrupt jargon of borough*monging* The
poet used the-Wofd ji'uro for any valuable receipt by
the traitor ; money or money's worth : or even va-
bable medium of barter. What else could be ex--
•peiue incurred by Lord Buckingham i What else
•coakl invigorate or cheer you^ his venal Creature ? In
Sipplyi^g the f»0vd pairidm^ I did not avail myself of
the po^Ical licence of, pars pro Mo ; but in prosaic
Cruth and justice I intended to express every part,
Natfribute, and interest of your country, that you could
■ make ptofit of. The words, I admit^ are monitory,
'and^wful, as were those on the wall of Babylon:
' but the inspiration of a Daniel is not f'equisite to in-
terpret them.
After the evidence, . which you, Rev. and most Further
learned Doctor, had kindly furnished the against your- Doctor o<
self, before you commenced your theological career iieni^ iim
under the title of Columbanusy no reader of the slight- o«idij^yt
est inclination to candor will, I am confident, be sur* ^^*^^'
prised at, or question the propriety of the following
passage
4 ^
f
from the imroenSon of your labours m aanb rftrut^
in the Peddle, at Dublin, to^be publication of Cotunt^"^
tanut ad Hy^enm on St. Patrick's Day, in London^
1810 J they dMiId only judge of you by y^ur assu-
rances in Dodsley, that th^ knowledge and attain-)
ments of the great Mr. 0*Con6r, of Balanagare^ were
I more
'* chitrtb, yet iKdse great fathers of Utt vesterti wofTd Bball
<^ lire in their examples; netr energies shall eftmnate fhnn their
*^ tombs, and England— yes— ^Ten thou, O Ertgland, shall
^^ lend a helping haad to thy sister country, though differing
*^ from the^ in religion, and thou, who in Catholic times^ hatt
** so nobly resisted the encroachments of pretended spiritual
*^ dominion J shall not noir be the Brutus^ who would assassinate
<^ the liberties of those companions in arts and arms, who artf
^^ making with thee the last stand for the rational liberties of
^^ |ho globe ! Considering the Qi^elic religion io its essen-
^^ tials, and restraining its abuse, thou wilt rejoice in arrt/f^gm
^^ metiis andficilities produced by accident, unlooked for 9pd
^^ hitherto uncuItlTatedy which that religion supplies, fof ame<i
^^ liorating the condition of fire millions of people: thou wilt
^^ find amopj^t that people a strong^^njtf of fiare ndCoiitfami.«
^^ nated religion, derinng, aid from the senses, and ft wiU be
*' thy business not to unbioge their f^ith bT,netepiiysla(I ab*
^^ sjtractioDS, but to strengthf n and support it bj the whol^som^
*^ institutions pf Mw/' This lupraons a^ pa^th^tic apoatra. .
phe^.is enriched with poetic imagery^ scKoHuiii aud notes, iot
prove the rfdae of the (once> O'Cpnor collection-^ ^tnd the Jore*
of the JQibliothec^rian to its preseiM possessor. In ovdor tof
ixispire his countrymen with confidence in the resusdtatioapf lil
tufiioftal ckurch^ he classically d^p^ms himiBelf into- 3 demi^ody
mingUog tears with the ghost of Hector, «Ar^ Jkm ipit viMkr^-^
(I wept to see tlie Tisioeary aian. Diyd,^ Virg. ^ iGp.> Be
69
more than amply supplied in his Reverend and most
learned Grandson, D. D. and your still unperformed
promise of giving them a faithful translation into
LadOfOf the old Irish Annals down to the I2th cen-
tury. Now, that you have condescended to publish
somedyour opinions, to dole out some of your re^
L condite
alludes Bot fothe irreirtevable doom of his country, which that
ghiftteiiDe to aoDouoce.
Yenit summa dies, & ineluctabile tempoi
DardaDioSy fuimus Troes, fuit IlUui^-ft ingens
Gloria Teucrorum, Feius omaia Jupiter Argos
Traiistulit.
'troy is do more ; and tlium was a town !
The facal day, 1h' appointed hour is come,
When wrathful Jove^s irrevocable dooon
Tramferi the Trojan state to Orecian handf^
^ Dryd. Vii^. 2 -fin.
Ho iliafter liow the quotation fits. I will not disturb the slunl«
5ers,IjestI should curtail the pleasures etea of A classical dream
6f self-importance^
Si Pergama dextra
Defendi possont etfbm hacdefensa foissent*
If by a mortal hand m}' father's throne
Could be defended, 'twas by mine alone.
Dryd. lb.
Then the ailtiquarjr Infontis tis, that Tigernach^ A. D. t96y
preterred one of the most ancient poems, in which the Irish
Havp is mentioned^ where is mentioned the death of Columba*
£x TigernaM Codice sceculi Tin in BodUiano RawlIntoni^S./oL 8
^m Cobtm. % Un, 43. jInn. 596. Erf ex Annal i? Mag, ad Ann. 593.
CODEX STO WEN. He follows up this display of his grand-
lather's collection, now under a self appellatioo, by two Irish
condite know/edge^ and to impart some spiritual
struction to your countrymen, in virtue and ex^rcS^
of your cBvine rights of priesdiood, every one, who
can read may judge of you. Imagine not, tliat I un-
dertake to notice, much less to combat all your er-
rors,
verses, of which he has not descended to faror his English reacJ'-
er with any version. He has taken this opportunity of refer'-
ring (for the first time that I am aware of) to the progressed
his own printed labours ; but he deigns not to announce, a^^
fro ff ant venaiet. Coft^are^ says he, fny epistle prefatory to the Iris ^
jfnnalt, p. cxii. For the benefit of his English readers, whos^
country he so sublimely apostrophizes, he ininutely describe^
the spot, the materials, and the handy that erected the tombs
from which nem) Britsth energies are to epianate, ** The toqibfl o
*' Columhanus ViVid Cumian^ of white marble, erected by ii«'*^
*' prand king of the Lombards,- "are preserved at i?^^, aod
*^ were, visited in the middle ages by crowds of pilgrims from
^^ Ireland/' So far is the reader indebted to the erudite 8c]io«
Jiast Bu( his ignorant readers (one of whom I piofess myself
to be) will thank the most learned Doctor, if in his next editioa
he will explicit-ly inform them what are the arrangementi andjkm
€1 lit ies produced by accident^ unkoked for and hitherto uncultivated f
ivhich the Catholic religion suppliet^ for ameliorating the condithnof%
millions of people ? What are the metaphysical ahstractiont^ by
which Protestant England can unhinge the faith of Catholic Irish*
men ? Aud lastly, what are the institutions of la'w^ which are
I
necessary, or even capable oi supporting and strengthening divine
faith ? This (he learned Doctt^r can have no difficulty in doin^,
because, he has assured us (4 Col. 39) ^' I have avoided as
^^ much as possible pedantic, technical school 'tssords of undefined
'* meaning, ia order that my owa raeaning might be the mom
'* clear."
71
t
i
ef'
YorSt falsehoods, and inconftistencies. : Others better
qualified for the task, either have undertaken, or as
bx as may fefe necessary, will I am confident under*
take it/ I merely, as one of the simple lay gcntz. as
the lawyers once designated all, who were notclerir
cal,or ol the learned profession, shall avail myself of
the liberty of the press, to notice some few out of
numerous inaccuracies, untruths, and repugnancies,
contained in your four letters, under the fastidiously
assumed title of Columbanus. The, sum total of my
pretensions, views,, and wishes in vnriting this letter^
is to prove to the impartial reader not only, that your
want of accuracy, impartiality and independence will
for ever disqualify you from being an accredited hisiO'
rian of Ireland, but utterliy discredit you, when wan*
tonljr, unwarrantably>.and maliciously, you impeach
^e candour and -veracity of other writers. My de-
ttltqry remarks will correspond with your desultory
observations. I can trace neither reasoning, argu-
xneiit, nor conclusion in any one of them. But mis-
take me not. There is much truth in them. They
.comprize nearer i^eigRt, than seven hundred octavo
ipages :^and it would be passing strange, if the man,
who has ^the monopoly of the best collection of ma-
terials for Irish History in Europe, should not mix
up a predominant anc^e-fficient portion of their truth
in the birdlime, with which he attempts to entangle
.the more volatile and less steady of his countrymen
in taisehood, error and schism* I am far from being
•
L2 inattentive
72
Inattentive to die truths you have written ; and I sha!
by preferenee quote from. you, in order to shew th
more distinctly, how you have misapplied truth to th
most unworthy purposes. I shall often use your ov
words of truth to contradict your falsehoods, reful
your errors, and counteract your malice. Again
disclaim every idea of entering into a polemical con
test upon theofogicd matter. The subject cannc
be quite new to him, who from conviction sacrifice
Lis wordly interest in the election of a religion,whicl
excludes him him from the best rights of a citizen
and renders him discredited by his superiors, hatei
by his equals, and trampled on by his inferiors. I
remains for me to repel your attacks upon me, am
to account for and justify what I have said of you
since you have become a professed author, A. D
1810.
•fncriina- On the valuable shelves of Stowe your Reverenc
tnreof Co- / , . . ,
lumbanus's may Hot be at a loss to discover historical evidence
mission to ,., .,1-1 • 1 rn • n»
divide his which Will bear me out in the following reflectioti
country. ^ .
iDCB. upon your mission to evangelize your countrymen
under the assumed name of Columbanus. Since tl
reformatibn, the Catholic religion (or Popery as 5
the style of the court it is usually termed) has be€
the unceasing ground or pretext for oppressing zt
persecuting the population of Ireland. It long fa-
been an insidious (though now hacknied) art of h<
enemies to select some ambitious agitator and intrigue
from amongst the Catholics, in order to sow an
fee
/.
feed dissention In their body. Tlie more reli-*
^ion could be worked up with politics, the more
jwwerful the effects of schism, the more important
(he triumph. One spirit, one motive, one principle^
actuated a Strafford, an Ormond, and each of their
modern emalators. It is the peculiarity of the Ca-
tholic Church ^a badge of her unityj to require
liwneach of her children lAiequivocal submission to
every point essential to her faith and church govern*
nient. The obstinate rejection of one necessary arti-
de, or the open adoption of one heterodox opinion
' iJpon either, directly opens the door to schism. These
ifutfeus consequently use all the arts of fascination,
loudly to discant upon some favourite, popular, un-
controverted topic, or point of necessary faith or dis-
cipline, with zeal and enthusiam, that they may, by
Sensible gradation, lead their followers from truism,
' to doubt, obscurity, and error. The sublime func-
tions and exalted character of the Priest hooc^, to
which th^ Irish have, from time immemorial, paid
the most respectful deference, have, been generally
Resorted to by those enemies of Catholicity, as the
inostelScIent wedges for splitting and dividing their
body, Detection of the treachery, must be foliowed
by detestation of the traitor. Permit me. Rev. and
Diost erudite Doctor, twi for purposes of my oivn^ but
for the sal^e of yopr cpuntr^men, honestly and above
hoard J to repeat your own assertion, in which I la-
ment there is but too much truth: — ihe writer is a
ft
schismatic
ichismaiUj perhaps an occult heretic^ a degenerc
O^ Conor y and an Englishman in his hearU^ I cordia
ly also subscribe to youi avowal. I have too good i
opinion of the shrewdness of the Irish Clergy and Gen
ry^ tu imagine they can be long imposed on by hypocrisy.
^I^Jjf Now, Rev. Doctor of recondite knowledge, pe
**>»• mit a dabbler in Irish history to drag back your attei
tion to the turbulent times, the sanguinary scene
and the Dramatis Persona, from wiiich you ha\
selected your heroes, as examples of loyalty, cando
liberality, and patriotism, and imbibed your edifyin
principles of humility, purity, and docility to yoi
mother church. The Ormondian golden age ! 'C
that I could not join in singing redeuntSaturnia re^n
because I could not from his, or any of his imitatoi
conduct, trace the extinction of the Iron Age inli
land, nor the succession of Milienarian beatitude ov
the whole globe.
* Quo ferrea primum
Desinet, ac toto.surget gens aurea isundo.
Saturniaii times
Roll round again : and mighty years b<>guii
From their first orb in radiant circles run.
Tile base degeu'rate iron ofiTspring ends ;
A golden progeny from lieav'n descends.
Dryd. Virg. 4th Past.
* 2 Col. p. 87, Columbanus after all his boast of havi
washed off the paint, cried down the credit of his grandfalb
and cast his own well intentioneii labours in search of tr
into the poddle, is not altogether iadi£R3reDt to the judgment
>«l
.■?
Of Ormond and Ormondians w€ differ ioio calo. I coa-
rider the unfortunate days, which witnessed their un-
natural efforts to divorce their countrymen from their
rdigion
F^cunda rulpae stecula, nnptias
Primum inqninavero, & genus & domus ;
Hoc fonte derivata clades
In palriam populumque fluxit*
Fruitful of crimes, this age first stained
Their hapless offspring, and profaned
The nuptial bed, from whence the woes
That yarious and unnumbered rose
From this polluted fountain head
0*er Rome, and o'er the nation spread.
Francis's Horace, 3 Lib. Ode 6.
Little did I expect in my old age to be sent on a
WiW goose chase. But in throwing back my thoughts
to my juvenile observations, it recurs to my memo-
ry, that whenever that species of gagglers attempted
to soar into a more sublime element, than that of
their dabbling departments below, one forward bird
})eaded the tribe, and led and marshalled the flock
through their airy wanderings ; which after exposing
themselves to the view and dangers of the enemy,
generally
Bit conntrymen. (4 Col. 40). ^^ That base insinuations can
^^ ne?€r afiect me, except with those, with whom I have no
^^ personal acqoaintance, are matters of such notoriety, where.
^' Ter I am known, that I would scorn to allude to them, did
'< I not feel it an imperious duty to uphold my character with
f^ mj coiuitrjBion«"
/o
/
gHierally endefd in fhelr return, diminished by ma
losses, to their native bog. But you, most learn
Doctor, who set such a vakie upon yourself and u
on all you say and do ; surely all your geese must
swans. I plume myself on the metamorphose.-
Dropping the ^r^y goose* lowly ^trize
Into a swan's fair form f rise.
Fran.IIor. L. Ode xx«
jilhum mutor in alitem.
Ceu quondam nivci liquidsy inter nubila cycni
Cdm sese e pastn referant, & longa canoros
Dant per colla modos: sonat amuis^ 6c Asia lon^e
Ptilsa palus.
!Nec qiiiscfuam serafas acies ex agmine tanto
Misceii puf^t, aeriam sub gurgite tanto
Urgeri volucrum, & raucaruro ad littora nubenn
Like a long toam of snowy swans on high,
Which clap their wings and cleave the liquid sky.
When homeward from th* wat'ry pastures borne
They sing, and Asia's lakrs thtnr notes return*
^ot one, who heard the music from afar
Would think these troops an army trained to war^
But flocks of fowl, that when the tempests roar^
With their hoarse gabbling seek th& silent shore.
l^T\iS. Virg, 7. iEo-
Coiffinba. Now let mc commit to paper the srabbling note
h?reut of the leader of the Conau^ht flock. He at all event
i>rai»fs of '^
i»faeroe.s will not deny their truth. Nor would Ormond, no
will any of his emulators or followers upon readin]
. them, laijient, like Alexander at the slirine of Achil
73,
I^p. thdt be hid iiot a Homer to iMord his fame>
«
1 Ifhe best aincient po€U di^cov^red, that the most
I grateful inceDse to their pktrons, Vras their approxi-
imation and assimilation to Gods, demi-gods, and\
heroes. Your Reverence was too classical, n^t to
tread the sanie path, aind you have siTccessfuUy point-
ed out to your countrymen a modern Pollio, Maece-
lias, and Augustus* Siich awful reverence do you
pay to your munificent, cheering, and invigoftting,
patron, thfltt like some devout Jews, who dare not
^th uirhallovi^ed Tips pronounce the name of the' .
Deity,, therefore express ^our obligations, ob*equi-
oiBriess, and devotion in the following anonymous
rfusion of reverential worship.
" And thou kind reader, whoiever^thoii art, who
niayest chance to read this genuii^ account of the
greatest mian t my native country ever produced^
M <* recollect
* i Co]; %63.<40
^ Andtiott kind redder^ ^he*e^ thtU art^ nuh tfiMyest dance h
, ^fUt^efnUne Account' of the greatest man, my native country ever
hiifced^ Gf^., be pleased to pause, ere thou conclude it genu^
^' Larish not thy c/edit on men j * 'who tkim the surface / tsiho '
^^mmthfuiofevety things and a belly full of nothing, as Coluin.
ktttns elegantly expresses himsMf. (4 CoL 256.) ^^ We Irish^'^
^ he, <* ^ve eUr nUtionai vices ) hat ive have our national vir^
w/ also. Gi>e me Irish honesty^ and I will start with it against
all the^ffif virtues of ail the fine nations of the globe.'' Dr.
O'Conor teWs his readers. (2 Col. 226.) " I hare read Or-»
^aond's letters and all, that has been writteuon that subject^
* •2Let. ofColl ▼iii.
n
** recollect, that *th6 writer has ho connection
*' his family, and no motive of interest, which
« s
^* frcwi N. French, the Bishop of Ferns, unkind deserter
^^ to Plowden's declamatory compilation, entitled au Hi
^' Revie*m ; and I say distinctly , that it is a malicious fa]
^^ propagated by the foreign influenced men of Ireland,
*^ ultramontane Bishops, and by the scurrilous and igmr a
^^ ten of eur times •^^ Of one of these, he flippantly ass
gross falsehood. (2. Col. 237.) ^' But to return toth<
^^ of Ormond, his letters, which ^are published, and whi
^^ Plowden might have read, plainly shew, that he aboi
^' intrigues, &c."' I shall hare future occasion oi anim
ing on his heroes intrigues. But having read over th
ters, 1 cannot forbear calling your atteutiou, kind re:
ihe falsehood contained in these few lines of the monopo
the truth' of Irish histoiy, who misrepresents his hero f
\ery cradle. - Ormond, in 164^, wrote to Lord Val
counteract the falsity and malice of those, that for prii
traduced him^ and used art and aspersions to Keep him fron
vernment of the country y nuhicb (he squeamishly pveten
neither affected nor sought for* In that letter, which / ba
and which the Reverend, the most learned, the veraci
bonest Doctor may read^ (Orm. Let. 101.) are these ex
iiary words. ^'I am not only by birth, extraction, atids
^' but.likewise in my afiections, wholly and entirely an
\^ man^ and as true a lover of the religion and honor of
^' tion, as any that hath been born and educated th(
^' was." iThis I call intriguing with the Parliamefitai
pity, that in Tvushiiig oflfthe paint iome Irish honesty came off wit
prejudices. An honest, trile« and consistentlrishman would have gl:
«H Mmself of this proinindlltfeaturej (Carte says he was Aora atOle
pf Uis del>o, to perfect the comparison he was about to institute
him and the man^wBosx name hu dares hot uejutiov^ They boi
€d in the laoit diiaitrou^ times of the Ikiti^ih moofltrcby j one iv
\ '
^'•cduce him from the path of truth. He is bound
** by gratitude to one man in this world, but that
^ man, however differing from him i^ religious opi-
•^ nions, ♦ould scorn to impose upon him a yoke,
^^ which the principles of his head and of his^'fcelik
** roust for ever reject. He knows not enough of
" any other man, between whom and Onnond he could
** insiiiute a comparisM i-^sl man whose name he does
" not dare to mention j who, like Ormond, lo^H^he
" g9odand honourable men of all persuasions, withbut
** being a bigot to any : and who scorning intriguers^
"and despising calumniators, will capitulate only to
* the advantage of his Gountry, and to the principles
. - . M2 "of
I «
'mnti^y (be' pruriency of putitanical democracy ; the other, when it was
Mriy ipdersapt by a system of deceit, corruptiun, and oppression ; T^hi^h
hfe* from the backstairs canvass of the Lords iq the del^atei on Mr. Fo:|'s
hdta BUI.
. *'' Ambo florentes tetattbus. Arcades ambo.
As it is no part of my system to suppress or disguise the facta of the histo-
iy,wh1ch I TENTURfi TO DABBLV fiv, a duty devolves upon me to apprize my
leader, who this f^reat anonymous being is, that Colnmbanus finds exclu-
lifely irorthy to be compared with the greatest man his cncwTRT ever
taaoncco. He is, the most noble George Greoville Nugent Temple, Mar-
((011 of Buckingham, Earl Temple, Lord Lieutenant and Gustos Rotulorum
ef (he Coai>ty of Bucks, High Steward of Westminster, and a Teller of the
Exchequer (Karl Nugent in Ireland) Knight of the Garter, and Doctor of
Cifil Law. Andy (ns apnd Podsiey Inquisit. crlttca de foturis contingent
lib. Vol. XLV. pro. A. P. 1803), the muniticent patron to the secluded
scholar of recondite knowledge. Compare Tigernach ad Ann. 696 & var.
' mim. vetest. 8t illegib: necnon pfscipue v<ir.'^ms. recent. $asc. xviii. 'de
8ecret.Ooiiiitiitiis Papalinoroill't Serin, li. ad Serin. DXT. Codex. Siowen,
Compare aho that very rare tract de corona pavonica ab Urb. III. ad
9^ II. Rom^iss, A. D. 1085. with Alithinal. pt^. and ?. Cal/p. 89.
^^ ted with the Catholic question^ and one whicb w
*' ought never to lose sight of^ because it is a sourc
** of prejudice, which ought to make us somewha
<< suspicious of our own proceedings, is paired to ik
** Mhglhh name and nation^ hatred, deep, gloomy, inc
*♦ inveterate ! provoked no .doubt by the unprovoked
** aggression, aggravated by repeated Jnsults, by the
** plunder, the massacres, and above all, by the ba^
*^ barizing of our countrymen, and then by the inft-
*^ mous laws for shooting t;hem, because they were
** barbarized. All the?e provocations on the part
•* of England are candidly acknowledged. They
*^ are candidly acknowledged even with Mftdignadutt
•* by all the great and good jmen of the empire*"
ormwHi's * " A cessation for twelve months was accocdip^J
SUb^y^thc^* signed at Kilkenny, May 26, 1643, on conditia)»
cooim^ds^ ** to be afterwards arranged by Commi$sipnQr$ pw»
** perly authorised. Those Commissioners rp^/rt
** CastJemartyp on the 23d of June. Bvjt OriruNid
** knowing how severely his conduct would be scni-
** tinized by the Puritans t and hoping to gain some
^* advgiaUgfl
* 2 Col. 49, .i
+ N. B. The foIIowiDg is Dr. O'Coiior's note. <' On tlw
** day before he set oijt for Castlemartyr, he delivered a writ
♦' ten proposal to the principal citizens of Dublin, whom I^e h^
*' summoned before the Council Board, that if 10,0001. mig^
^^ be raised, the one.balf in money, the other in victnaU^ ^
^f to be brought in within a fortnight, he would, in that c^
*^ proceed in the war, and break off the treaty for a cessaii^
" aircadj signed I See Carte's Orm. Vol. 1. p. 437. Lela«i
^' says, <^ he was sensible bow odious this treaty must prOY? ^
** advantage over Preston, which might relieve him
'^fiom his embarrassment, adjourned the treaty,
^' marched against Presto^, was foiled in his attempt
'ito surprize him, desponded, and after the receipt of
\^ a fifth letter, from the King, Jul^c 2, and a sixtfa^Ju-
^* hj Wf m which his Majesty renews his earnest soli^
" citations for an immediate treaty, he at length re-
^«olircd to. comply. The conditions of cessation
" were formally signed at Sigginstown, on the 15th
^September, X64S;*
*« The
^^Ihe Parliamentarians. He therefere made the above ignoini*<
^oious proposal in breach of the public faith. Lei. Vol* III^
"p. 205. Compare Tichbourne's Hist, of the Siege of Dro-
** |li«la, and Carte, ib. and p. 4^7, 439."
Here reader joii have theaufhority of Protestant Carte, Pro-
ttftant Leland, Protestant Tichbourne, and gua}4 Protestant
O'Cooor, for my having applied seme of my coane epithet/ to
(k great .Dnke of Ormond : they might have authorized me to
tte others : treacherous^ ungrateful ^ disloyal^ ignominious, Co*
hmbanus charges me with the unwarrantable application of the
^ tangmnary^ (p. 143.) but he omitted to inform his reader,
tkathe, who in obedience to his lawful sovereign's sixth p^-
ttiDptory command, had reluctantly signed a treaty with hii
Majesty's loyal subjects, ^vished to break it, an^ spill more
^ood, must be of a sanguinary dispotition. The learned Doctor
*^Qld, like honest Sir H. Tichbourne, have represented Or.
^Qdthe petted and intriguing favourite of an abused and op-
V'wsed monarch, at the counci1> where twenty-one of the King's
^^Bemtes were present, each of them contributing ^001. which
would raise 6»3001. after he had, twice urged ihem to pay him
^OOOl; tat disobeying the Kinj^^ and spilling the blood of his
/
«!» Kii.g'i 4 u -ji^g. King's letters to Ormond, to Garte'i «oT-
Wbh for o . , '
ferfte <« lectiooi, a(re completely decxsTi^^, not only of h i^
hjtdrmciid. (c y^igh,' but cff Ws aiuious and eag^r ifoflatience ior si '
^* treaty^ and hot only for i cessatbn^ but also for a'
** /ASff^. ^ If I ain, driven out of England/* sayt he,
'^ ^ at least I will have a place of refiigc and safety^iii
^* ' Ireland.' ''f - *"
" In the postscript of a letter to Ormond, Daceni -
*^ ber, 1604, he again says,' * I have thought to giV^^
** you this further order, which I hope wiil pr6v^'
** needless, to seek to r^«^w the cessation for a year^
" for which you shall promise the Irish, if you cart
•• have it no cheaper, to join with them against thi^*
•• Scots arid Incbiquin'l He had even written a let-
«trf;-
Catholic subjects. For roen 'with that he (Ormond) tfffered fo
undertake the nxjork^ i. e. to proceed with the war, endeavonr id
take Wexford, and bieak off the treaty for the cessation. Tick*
bourne says, in the sincerity of viy heart the cessation 'ijug/ as muck'
hindered and delayed by rtfe, as ivcfs in viy po*wer\ The Uayrned Dr,
might perhaps have informed us, why his hero did not nndef/^
take the work for i\ie contributory wages of the ignominous 6CU
Tice as Leiand terms it. Carte says, Ormond'^ first di^mabd of
ten thousand pounds could not be raised in Dublin. TichbourUe
only says, this motion of mine finding no place. Perhaps this regU
cidc Council of 21 were readier to offer, than to pay down the! ^
contributions. Protestant and loyal Ormond said of them, ia
a letter to Sir Harry Vane. (Orm. Let. 53.) The persons ^tb§
inen^tbat govern here^ I profess 'with the faith of an honest man J lovt
and honour. Here I think is Protestant autliority, for addlof
the epithets, deceitful, base^ and mischievous.
*^ 2 Col. 51. + lb. 52. -" ' t lb* 53.
§5
** ter, cfkted lult 2, 1648, and addressed not only to
•* Onnond, but also to the Lords Justices, command*
^^kig them to assure the Irish in hh name^ that he
**wa8 gtaciouslyJncHned to dissolve the present par-
•* Hament, to call a new one, ^between that and' the
** 20th of November following, and to take a course^
**toput all those, who should be chosen members
^ into such a condition, as that they should not be
** prejudiced of-^ the liberty of assisting^ setling^ and
^ voiingj in the said Parliament/ * Having read al*
*most every thing on the subject of the Irish Catho-
^lics, from 1640 to 1648, that exists in print or ma-
*8crq)t, in the Cotton, in the Bodleian, and in the
* Stowe libraries, I feel not the least hesitation in
* Jaying, that no people ever were sincere, not even
•Mhe martyrs, in spilling their blood, if the Irish
^ clergy and gentry were not sincere in their cessation^
^and subsequent peace with the Duke of Ormond. t
I " Ormond was liable to mistakes, as all men are ;
^ and I think, that one of his great mistakes consisted
•*inhis not placing as much confidence in the su-
^ preme Council, as he well might, before he woiild
N •* conclude
' * 2 Col. 59.
+ " Carte, who often betrays his prejudices against the Ca-
** Hiolic Confederates, owns, that eren the vile conduct of the
^ Puritans did not suppress the desire/^ which the Roman Ca«
<^ dioltc Nitbility and Gentry in arms had of putting an end to
« the war. Orm. Vol, I. p. 390.'»
1 a Col. J28.
•9
in his Unkinde Desetter^ihsX Ormondes brotber-in-laia
Lord Muskerry, when on his death- bed^ declared to
himse
* The Rev. and most learned Doctor Columbaxlus tells m
(2 Col. 241j)— " Nor will any man, |who is at all acquaiote
'* with the character of N. French, Catholic Bishop of Ferni
^^ adopt any of the base imputations^wbich he throws out agaiofl
^^ Ormond in his Unkinde Dei erUr^ since French himself had s*
'^ often changed sides^ that no reliance could be placed on hi
^^ word." Wis to be wished, that Golumbanus would inforfi
the dabblers in Irish History, the precise quantum of credit
change of sides takes off from an author. However numerou
tnight have been the shiftings of this Prelate, referred to, bu
fiot proved by the roost learned Doctor, certain it is,that all hi
writings stropgly demonstrate an inflexible tenacity of principle
and an unvarying reprobation of the conduct of Ormond. Th
Unkinde Deserter was published only in 1676, when an interr^
of about 30 years, chequered with great variety of awful eveotiS
had afibrded the virtuous Prelate every advantage of allaying
irritation, maturing judgment, and availing himself of tjie inter
saediate most interesting expprience. He then holds a language
not very congenial, I will own, with the sympathies and senti
inents of the sot disant Columbanusj who tells his readers, (4 Col
m
84.) ^^ I proceed to an Important consideration, whicb claim
** the most serious attention of our Nobility and Gentry, am
*' calls for all the wisdom, and all the virtues of the first States
^^ man^; and the most honest and unsophisticated mind, that th<
^' British or the civilized world can bold out to the confideac
^^ of my country.
A
** Jiwtnin et trnaccra propositi virum
^ Nou civiuro ardor prava jubentiaiiL
*' Non vultus instantis tyranoi
'* M^otc quatit sulido."
ttmself " That the heaviest fear, that possessed h5$
" soul, then going into eternity, was his having confi-
♦' ded
As all Thy readers may not distinctly know, of whose most honett
tnd unsophisticated tnind^ all these fine things are said, whether of
the librarian, or his most noble masi^er ; add some of them maj
not understand the lines of Flaccus in the dead language, I suh.
join an English version ^ the more particularly, as I humbly
' _
coDceire them fully as applicable to Dr. French^ as to either of
those, for whom ihey were intended*
The man in conscious virtue bold
Who dares his secret purpose hold.
Unshaken hears the crowd's tumultuous crirg.
And the impetuous tyrant's angry hrow defies.
Fran. Hor. 3 L. 9 Ode.
(Unkinde Des. p. 23.) ** To be silent and honld my peace,
^ when ah open injury is done to my religion, countrie and pa-
** WBts, is neither wisdome, pietie, nor virtue to be coin-
'^ mended. This is, and hath been (as I perceave) tf^e long
* silence the Catholics of Ireland had with the Lord Duke of
** Ormonde, giving him both tyme and leisure, to work they re
^ royne and downfall, without preventing the same (in a just
* forme and seasonable tyme) by theyr instant addresses to the
^ King, Council, or any else.' And (p. 25) speaking of the
Bishops and clergy in Ormond's d^ySj he fiays, •' Th4*y m^r^
'* all silent like men in a fatal lethargy, Canes mutt non valenfes
^latrare* I did not see, nor hear of any in that nifmerous
^ congregation (amongst whom there have been several learned
^ and wise men) that have written any thing to this purpose in
''characterizing (as they should have done) this great man and
^ bis crafty designs to'the public ruyne.' And ** the rejection
** of the peace made and agreed in the kingdome's behalfe (by
^ certain commissioners) with Ormonde, in the year 1646, &c«
f^ This rejection oT that peace, Ormonde takes pro ]^*tra Kan,.
90
•^ ded so much in his Grace^ who had deceived the
** ally and ruined his poor a>untry and countrymen.^*
quote this from a foreign influence man^ not to refui
your^Charges against me, for having bespattered Oi
niond, as you term it^ but to shew the prevalence c
conviction, that he was a real enemy of Ireland, ]
remains for me to produce Protestant evidence, t
prove the truth of what I have said of Ormond in m
Historical Review^ with a malignity and coarseness 4
language us you charge, which no transaction of hi
whole life can possibly justify !
jw^cfcru ' On the 23d of December, 1611, Protestant Lor.
c*rfmiua"o1 Upp^^ Ossory wrote to Protestant Earl of Ormond,
th«..e whom ii, J j^^yg j^gg^ threatened as well by the Irish, as th
iMoccut. i< l^oxA President of Munster, who is so cruel am
** merciless, that he caused honest men and women t(
*' be most execrably executed : and apiongst the res
*' caused a woman great with child to be be ript\ip
" ani
\
^ d*»!i^ and as a dishonor (forsooth) to his person, soe that froi
** tiiat day to this hour he hath been and is still an open enen
** to the Bishops and cleargy.' " He then refers to a Tery wit
and seasonable work in manuscript, which was suppressed l
the cringing timidity of the exiled Bishop?, '* Ormonde gre
** daily more inexorublcy and fascinated theCatholic cleargy an
" Bishops to yield to him." Certainly that book was little sui
ed to the taste, spirit and principles of fae WQsthomst and i^tsi
fhisticatcd mind of the chiiized ivorld ///
f Ormond's Let. L,
91
%
•*and take three babes together out of her womb,
" and then to thrust every of the babes with weapon*
" through their little bodies. [This act of the Lord
"President's hath put many in a sort of despcra-
«tion."
On the 10th of February, 1641-2, the Earl of
Ormonde writes, as he says, by leave of the State,
to Lord Viscount Gormanstbwn,* ^* You say it is
" taken very ill by the countrie and the Irish armie,
"that I did make inroads into the countrie, and es-
" pecially that to the Naas, in which you say, I did
"bum and destroy much, and hanged some people.
"You may please to understand, that I am by the
**£ing honoured for the present with the command
" of his armie in this kingdom, &c. His Majesty
*' takes it very ill, that the countrie, contrary to their
^'duty, and contrary. to the example of their ances-
** tors, &c. should not have expressed their gratitude
** and faithfulness in manfully resisting the treachery
** plotted and perpetrated against his Crown and in-
**terests, and in repressing or revenging the uwheard
*' of inhumanities cqpimitted against his good sub-
** jects of the Irish nation and Protestant religion, to
" whose civility and industry, (next under tlie bles-
^ sing of God) in so gracious a work, v/e owe the
^* happiness we lately enjoyed; but that, on (he con-
** trary, many of English, and of unspotted extrac-
"" " tion,
♦ Ormond's Let. 59.
96
^' great misfortune of that unhappy country, to bj
♦* then governed by a man (Sir William Parsonsj,
^* that had not one qualification for such a post, at
** such a time ; and to these defects was added ^re^
** obliquity cf heart ioivards both the King and the Irisb^
A pretty soothing palliative for a traitor ^ rebels ad
exterminator. So overzealously did Ormond sympa^
thize with this obliquity of heart towards the King and
the Irish ^ that he even outberoded Herod. The nar-
row boundaries of Bethlehem were too contracted
fdl
^^ caluRiniated him in all his writings." Now be pleased i
compare Carte (uhi supra") with French, Unkinde Deserter ^ p
166. *^ It is affirmed, that he; got as many gentlemens' estates
<' upon the pretence of a grant of enjoying all lands^ thath
f* cpuld prove (by witnesses) to have paid him any chiefry, i
•* were worth at least 1^0,0001." Which of these two wr
ters vilified ? Which calumniated your unparagoned hero ?^
Your Reverence complains (2 Col. 233.) — " That H has tee
^* the curse of our country, that whenever an Irish (born s
*^ Clerkenwell) Protestant was eminent, either as a Statesmar
'^ or a military man, or an author, the Catholics vilified h
•* character and obscured his reputation." Was Lord Essex,
Catholic ? who said, (State J.et. p. 213. 4) *^ My Lord Dul
c*^of Ormonde has received above 300,0001. in this kingdon
^* besides all his great places and employmciits: and I am sa
^^ the losses in his private estate have not been equal to those
^ have suflfered (in the preceding civil' war), and yet he is
** happy, as no exception is taken to i^.*' The reader may al
(see Appendix, No. I) Carte's list or schedule of lands gran
ed to Ormond by the Act of Settlement and Court of Claims.-
(2 Orm.p. 134)^
I
^
97
for his capacious views of extirpation- Tfce R^vd.
Protestant Carte t has informed us, that in another
. order of the state, dated the 3d March, 1641, which
after reciiing the former order, and that it was
thought -fit, that the very good Lord the Earl of Or-
mood arKl Ossory should march with 3000 foot, and
500 horse towards the Boyne, " to prosecute with
'^ fire and sword fas h^ shall think Jit J the places,
^'towBS, and houses, where the rebels, their ad hc-
^^remfcs, or abettors are, or have been relieved and
♦* harboured, or now or lately (^mua/ly^) rjesidedl^
" yet soe, that the forces do not pass beyond the ri-
'*verof Boyne; but march in such places between
. •^the Boyne and the sea, as his Lordship shall think
^ fity and so as his Lordship take care, that no come,
*'%, or house be burnt within five miles of Dub^
**lia
* 8 Orm. Let. 62.
* To this word usuallf^ Carte, the professed Protestant enco*
miast of Ormond, annexes the following note, trhich argues
iome uneasy reflection, conscientious doubt, and intriguing
commanication with the Council about such an execution of
toeir Moody orders, as should palliate, justify, or conceal tis
Mquity of hart tonvar^s the King and the Irish y ** This* word was
** not originally in the order, but upon the lllarl of Ormond'*
** desiring an ex()lanation of their meaning, and refusing to let
^ SirSimoti Harcourt go upon this expedition, as elilef^onu
^ maoder in bis stead (which theLord Justices earnestly desired
** of him) it was interlined by Sir William Parsons, and yet im
<< the letter of the whole board to the said Earl, dated March
^ 15^ 1641, it is omitted,"
4<
»s
*• Kn. An4 it is* thought fit, that his Lordsliip shal
** not be absent from hence above eight daies, unlejJ
** during his absence we shall send him further dt-
** rection to that purpose." Six days after Ormond
had been playing the exterminating angel, he wrote
to the Lords Justices, on the 9th March, 1041, frorft
Donshoglan, that he and others were of opinion,**
that we, with such strength, as may be spared out
of Drogheda should prosecute the victory, and r^
" bels as far as the Newry, &c. ; and therefoi^e 1 do
♦* most humbly and earnestly beseech your Lordships,
*' that my authority may be to this end enlarged : and
** that I may receive such further instructions, as to
" your great wisdom shall be thought fit ; which
^* shall, with all possible diligence and faithfulness b«
** pursued by
^' Your Lordship's most
*' Humble Servant,
" ORMOND & OSSORY/
Can your most learned Reverence still continue t
be indignant at my having applied the epithet of so^
guinary, to this forward dilettante in Catholic Iri'^
blood J this bold, adventurous Apolluon^ this ke^'
though degraded, supplicant to the fanatical Parli-
meiuarians for arr enlarged range of Haceldama ?
was not from Dr, French, nor any other blind forei^
influerf^
♦ 3 Orm. Let. 36.
nci-manj that I was blindly led to form such a
lent of your pre-eminently just^ loyal-bearted^ and
)isticated hero,
ithe 10th March, 1641, Sir John Temple, anj^eof'
arate Protestant, in a private letter, evidently in-'"'"^^^
d jto have been kept secret, but luckily for Ire-
not consigned to the Poddle, nor immured at
5, thuswrites to Ormond what he would not have
lunicated but to a man of systematic intrigue.*
particular affection ^to your service makes me
y vigilant in any thing, that may concern your
dship here, and I must tell you in private, that
nd your proposition of going to the Newry ab-
utely disliked by all, that sit at this board, &c.
ne do sharply resent it, and think your Lord-
p rai^ht well have foreborne the making of that
Tture. Give me leave, as one highly valuing
ir person, to deal freely with you, and to be-
ch your Lordship to be very careful, how you
ry yourself in receiving such submissions, as
11 be tendered to you, &c. I am' here with
)ng affections to serve you, and think I cannot '
it better, than by dealing freely with you.-—
ke what use of it you please to yourself, aijd
ieve it proceeds from one, that is really
** Your Lordship's
blin Castle^ ** Most humble Servant,
10, 1641. ^^ J. TEMPLE/'t
Orm. Let. 64.
his coniidaat and friend of the intriirHlDg Ormond nr^is
100
\
2r^f/'' Within two days, (so eagerly did he overact h
f^i^Hnvu^^^ part with the rebeliious Puritans) repeated h
ri.iar-ed upgeiit solicitatioii to thc Lords Justices, backed b
the signatures of Sir Henry Tichbourne, and toothei
officers of his cast,* '» We do (as formerly) bescecl
♦* your Lordships, for an alteration of yodr Lord*
**shij«
Masfer of the RoUs and a Pnrj Councellor^against whom, is
, the ensuing year,' Lord Dillon, and four others of the PriTf
Council, pref<Tred a charge to the King, expressly alledging
(3. O. Let. 20.) '' That the said Sir John Temple did Jatkc
^ month of May last, write two traitorous and scaiidaI<Hift4et«
♦* tcrs against his Majesty; besides many other acts of Ug^
*• treason, of which he in common with Sir William Parsooif
•« Sir Robert Meredith, and Sir Aaron Loftus, was direcll/
•* accused. He was the man, of whom Protestant Dr. NafsM
said," (Intr. to 2 Vol. of Hisf. Col.) '' that Sir John T«*
•* pie, in writing his history of this rebellion, was bonnd ^
** confederacy, to assert the proceedings of these LordsVostjr
♦* crs : and I cannot find kirn highly in reputation with tilt
•' usurpers of the Parliamentarian faction, and by them eB«
•* powered as Commissioner to impose upon the Protestant
•* subjects of Ireland that traitorons, disloyal, and solcuiB
** league and covenant, which was a direct oath of cotifedera-
«* cy^ not only against, but purposely to ruin and destroy tB<
** King, the Church, and the loyal party ; I cannot observe
*^ his book to be printed at London, in 1646, by public allow
** dnce, a time when no books were licensed, but such asinad^
•« court to the prev^Iing factions of the usurpers, or whic'
*^ might be helpfUl to support their calumnies against his Ma
" jesty, especially ai» to the Irish Rebellion,' ^ithut too just
suipicion of his integrity*'*^
♦ S Oniu Let. 65.
«c
\
101
^ ship's instrudtions in two particuUrSi tiz« i)bth ht"
" enlarging our commission to liiarch further north -^
** ward in fresh pursuit of the said rebels, than ther
** Bbyne! and also to stay (odca^oh so rec^iririg) ati
** longer titne than waslimitted us from Dublin." la
a postscript to his first letter from Dunshoglan^ to
Ac Lords Justices, he said, ^> My Lords^ I humbljr
" deii)^, that I may be directed what I shall do, in
' ** case the Lords or Gentlemen come in to oflfer them-^
** selres tmto me :•' and whether I shall burn and de^-^*
^ 9ttoy the houses and goods of the Lords? I am
*' bold to. desire this particular direction concerning
• them in regard of their quality j and that ther6*
^came no direction concerning them forth of Eng-
•* \mii though desired by your Lordships/" When*
Ormond wrote to thank Lenthall the Speaker of rhe
fcigfisli Hoilsef of Commons for their voting him a
jhrel of the value of 5001. Tie artfully alluded td th6
loyalty of his ancestors, at all times the besti and nonxi'
Softly inheritance left me. This coveting Was kept up-
between Ormond and the Parliament. F*or LenthalU
when he was commanded to expi'ess theif* satisfaction
fc his good services performed by him againsf those
kicked and bloody rebels,- adds j * " These lines will'
* further assure your Lordship, that nomofe reporti'
^ or &lse scandals, which any maliciotxs tongue ma^
.^ have raused Concerning you j can make the least im*^
JP ^^pressioQ
* Orm. 93»
102
^ pMssioa in thmt, who can easily S(&e througl
<< empty clouds, and fasten a dear judgment
•* trae and honourable desert.** To which tl
Criguing Ormond replied, * << I must also ad
^ ledge the nobleness and justice of that bonoi
*^ House tinto me, ^ givuig a right judgrac
^ those false scandals, which malicious person
^f have endeavoured to cast upon me, who will
^* be wanting to the utmost of my power, chee
^^ to express my ardent zeal with the hazard c
*^ life and fortunes^ and whatsoever may be dea;
^ me in the world, for the suppressing of this w
** and unnatural rebelliouy andibr the advanci
*^ the Protestant religion/* In the. like ardor
^mmending his anti-catbolic zeal, when Ormon
forwarded to England the Petitions of several G
me^ of the Pale, who were imprisoned without i
in. Dublin, he admitted that they had surren
to him upqn honor,^ and that he knew nothing a|
thenoi; but added, with stimulative malice, as if
ful, that he should be thought even y^/ to Catl
he wrote to Lenthall f ^^ To enter into their 1
^^ ^Ujd search what is there, is only peculiar to
*^ &;c* The wisdom of that Great Council doti)
<^ kipw to advise his Majesty, when and where
*f tp whom» for the most advantage of the pi
** service to distribute ifeercy, and to their greai
.^> dom do I submit these petitions/]]
• lb. lOl* t Ubi, Supra..
103
On the 5th oF August, 1643, Ormond in a letter ormond^
td Lord Clabriclcarde copfesses, that he was well aware confessed
of the anti-basilican spirit and designs of that Parlia- ^ "™
mentarimi State, with which he had so basely coquet«-
ted.* ^ Mr. Brent landed lately here, and hath
^ brottghtletters, which have something changed the
••*6u:eaf this Government from what it was, when
^^ Parliament Pamphlets were received as oracles^
<< dieir commands obeyed as laws, and extirpation
^^ preached for gospel." During that time was it^
tbat the jusU loyaUheartedj and unsophisticated hero
vas boasting his sympathies, lavishing his confidence^
tod prostrating his obsequiousness to them. In proof
of the unsophisticated loyalty of Ormcmd^ he writes*
kNovember^ 1643, confidentially to rebellious In-
d|i|Qin, what he was little warranted in saying.f ^< I
^suppose it will be needless for me to let you know^*
^ the King would not buy the help, which those for«
^ Ges can give him in England at the price of this
^ Idngdom. This I take to be sufficient for me to
^say; positive advice at this distance being as dan-
^ gerous to the giver, as it would be troublesome to
^ the receiver.'*
The evidence of the motives for acts of notoriety, HitMarbia.
are only to be gathered from the confidential commu- bSMteHf.
Qcfttions of the actors, before or about the time of
tbdr taking place ; and more especially froin such,
as are not made with a view to publicaticm. Thus Or*
P 2 mond
5 Ubi. Supra. 170. t lb. JO^.
I I
104
mond just after his elevation to tbe Murquisate an<
the Government of Irel^nd,^ tells JLord. Dig^y, tbM
to bis bomur and nobleness he dares to Commit bis af^
hensions mtb secure freedonL^ Then after reeffprnendi
ang certain measures to be tiaken, hi boosts' of liu
Machiayelian power of thereby dividing ftba Caeholk
body-. " JBiy this means, I am persuaded, if tbM
^^ should .be any disturbance endeavoured by.i'dtf
<r worst affected, it may be possible so to divide tboi^
^^ .and engage some of them ag^st others, that maA
'^ safety will be thereby derived to his Majesty^s -ii^
y tei'ests and to his Protestant subjects liere.-^ . Sb
ad^uts, that he had employed all his skill tO'tto|i
the going over of the Scot's army, which iBa
hoped would prevail, &c« *' If these comideradoni
*^ l^ili I shall look out th^ fittest temptations I can dikd;
*; of/' To complete the Maichiavelian syst^n of itt^
sophisticated loyalty and sincerity to the Irisli, be
concludes, ♦* But if I be not unnecessarily. reprc*
*^ sented to tbemt a$ an binderer of their design^t 1
*' shall the better be able to serve the King in Yfhai
^^ he e^pects/^ fin a letter to Prince Rupert^ th<
Marquis accounts for his inability to procure aim:
«
and ammunition from the Catholics ; ** nor are they>'
says he, "much to be blamedf the Scots being ye
*f herein great numbers ; and fresh reports conmi]
^^ daily, that they. will not only. begin the warafresl
5* with thenj, but endeavour to impose. tlie taking o
«thei
^ 9 Orm, UU ?25* t l^^ ?«>•
105
♦* their cov^ant upon us by fotee of arms,'* A
fiffther confidential communication to Lord Digby^
laore , manifestly di^Iays the Macliiavelian principles
ni (ne umtpbisticated and loyal^bearted Governor. ^-^ ^
«* The plain truth is, the hatred they (I e. the Scots^
thorn Ormond had done all he could to prevent going
mfy) ** have contracted (upon intolerable provoca-
^tion) against the Irish, will not suffer the best af«
'^ftcted of them to consider, how far his Majesty is
• '^ Goocaned in the present quiet of the kingdom*
^ under the warrantable profession of this hatred
^Aose here, that affect not the King's cause, do so
^cunningly prepare this army and people to resist
*■ ** all accommodation with- the Irish, that they can^.
•* not be punished, but it will appear to ordinary
^Vo&derscandings, to be in justification of the Insh>
*^and in' countenance of their religion.*'
Permit me now. Rev. Sir, and most learned Doc- Hismismn*
4 rr 11 • • • !• • ''"c' to Ihe
lOr to oner some palliative to your mdignation, by catholics
justifying, on Protestant authority, the sort of language from the
^^aly to be tolerated amongst civilized nations ; and Pi otistant
to prove to my reldefs at least, that it is not the vul- ^"* ""'^'
pJ'' and bigotied pamphleteering jargon of a CastabaJaj
*ut drawn from the authorities of a Protestant King,
Ws Majesty's Protestant Viceroy, and his Excellen-
ce's Protectant Panegyrist.! **The impossibility of
^ preserving my Protestant subjects in Ireland by
*^ continuation of the war, having moved me to give
^* those
r 3 Orm. Let. p, 880. t lb. 387'
^' sity. In order ' to our preservation^ hatli becM c
'* will be used.**
•amits the Not very long after this abominator of intrlgm lot
ihc citbli- cited the King to promote Colonel Ghichestet to dk
looMce!" Earldom of Donegal, because he Ivas no longer dA
to serve his Majesty in Ulster^ dn account cfdnfim
general defection of the Northern army.* At this VW]
period Ormond was assured by Lord Clanrickirde
in whohi he always affected to place plenary (joi£-
dence, that if the impediments to the peace were iodei
. rentt)Ved, the Catholic confederates would f give hu
'^ Lordship satislaction, and make appear their vtf
^' earnest desire to be employed in his Majesty*? scif
, ^vice; and that the difficulty would be rather tc
^ keep, back the multitude of forward spiritSyllal
'^ would press into that expedition/ The wiiciiUbi
this i^as confirmed by the loyal- heartedi unsopUs^
led abominator cf intrigue f when his assuming the got
pf sincerity, even to his colleague Digby^ was to
late, viz. on the 22d of January, 1648;| *« The'peaoe
** is at length concluded, and tliat (I think) eleiil]|
^ within the powers I had, I must say for tiitt'pcd*
^* pie, that I observed in them great readihesJ tt
•* comply with what I was able to give them^ aad s
** very great sense of the King^s sad condition* l^sti
*^ most confident, if we can but receive modent*
f^ countenance and assistance from abroad the king
* 3 Orm. Let. 14^, t lb. 413w ^ Ib.r «00w -
Y
^ ddni \yilt very speedily be in absolute subjectioa
^to the King^s authority, and ready .powed^l^y to
^ atiitt any design, that may be for his restoration
** ia both, or either of the others." In a letter of tlie
pm date td the Prince of "^^slles, Ormond aittibtited
the omeoming of many difficulties^ that ccciired io
the tiiotaction^ ^< first, to the remarkable Cdnstaiicy
^ of the Lord President of Miinster on the one tide %
• ■
? and then to the *ueqf eminent loyalty of the dssembl^
^mtbe ether."
Lord Digbfi iii Juiyi 1(340} slrrived firtim t^arit in D«by>
Dublin, * << with full assurances," as hk says, «<newiy tS^'^l^
*" received there, frdm the King niy Mafterj^ that he ^l7^Ji^
'' had redoubled his positive orders unto the Mar^ w^dth^
^qois of Ormond, both immediately before his com* fo!^»^'
^ ing irom Oxford, aiid sincexhis bdng at Ne wcastle^
^ht the immediate perfisctlng df the peace in II^
^ famd acctirding td the articles agifeied on; and findidg
*? howevter oo his ariival, that a stop had been put to
^'itby occasioQ of a letter; dated firmil Nthifrcastfe^
*; llth Jiine^ sdperslgned Cbarlet ReXf and attested
"fLaneticki atld knowing by his Majesty's free
^ eqprassibh of his will and pleasure^ and of his re-
*^ioliitbns and design^ in the! inhale state oDiis af-^
^ fiiiSi ix>w ccfintrary to his frefe will such letter was^"
"^headdii *^ I do according to my duty as Seereta«
^lytif States upon certain knowledge of his Majes-
Q «ty's
! 3 Onn. Let. 491,
^10
^^ ty^g resolution, and as I will answer It with my £le^
*• dechtb uxMa hi< Excellency tfre Lord Lleulenint
" and Council of his Majesty's kingdom of Ireland ,
'^ that Ae said letter of the 11th of June, is dthtt a
^ sunrepdfidiiB letter, or a forced one frbm his Majei-
^ ty, procured upon some false information of the'
*' state^ of his afiairs, and most contrary to what 1
'* know to be his free resolution and unconstrained
*^ will and pleasure. And I do further declare tdtfa
^ the same solemi^ty and engagement of mfy fife; tfiat
*' if the peace of Ireland shall not be presently con-
^ eluded, the hinderers of it, are tlie occasion of sub-
*< verting and destroying the nnun ibtmdation re^
^* solved, and hid by his Majesty for the recovery of
'' his o\^n, his crown and posterity's rights/' . ■ '
orinond Within Very few momhs from this declaration of
the Pariia. Digby, the just, loyal-hearted, and unsophisticated
and ^^L in Ormond,* assured his Sovereign, ^' how much btt«
t^eir pow- ^j ^^ .^ .^ j^ ^jj pyQij^jjiiity fQr religion, your GtowdV
*' and faithful servants. here, that these places )>e given
^*^ to the Parliament^ rather than to the Irish' rebels.'*
I. am thoroughly convinced, most learned Doddrf
that had the great, onparagoned Orraond foreseen
that his atchievements would have been dignified by
your exalted eulogies^ he never would have so can-
didly unbosomed the gennice feelings of the moment
of humiHatioir as he did, to his friend and colleague
Lord BigbyJ* *^ I was yesterday summoned to leave
^^ the sword and castle within four days, &c« and so
. **muci
» a Orm. Let, 559.
lU
ch I am in their power^ that there was no* dSs^
mg of the matter. So that I was &in to «a«
vour to accommodate the business by consent^
to leave the securing the castle to.them, and
;r the ceremonial part of leaving the sword tilt
set time, which I hope will content them. Here
ir Lordship sees my sense and condition/*
nond boasted to the King of his Machiavelian prmood's
:s of division and command** ** I may not coa<« lianisau
[ from your Majestie^ that even upon th^ answer
ady given^ and the use to be made of one. 6f
bills now transmitted^ I conceive I am able t0
I ibeir supremacy by dividing ibeir party ; but in
t case> neither can your Majestie expect assise
ce from hence, nor I undertake, but that in the
'9 we here shall be all rooted out by the Scots,
siich as adhere to tliern*'* Carte however says
\ just and unsopbisiicQted abpminator of intrigue^
all not lessen the world's opinion of the Mar--
\ of Ormond's wisdom, and dexterity* that un-
Uie dbadvantage of having his treasures known*
notwithstanding the CQuncil was thus fore-
tied, he ^^et found means to divide tbem.'*
you 9 Rev. Doctor, I make Ho apology, whate- Omond'g
ay be due to my other readers, for dwelling so Jxtu^%\on^
ipon the unrivalled excellences of the greatest Thoiici from
your country (Clerkenwell) ever produced. I ^^**^**
a duty to point out the pages and authorities,
• one of the gaggling wild geese followed. I
Q c »1ian
Orm* Let. 503.
U2
shall end my gabble on this subject by Carte's mhme
display of the just and unsophhiicated mind of that man,
* who lavfid the good and honowrabk men of all pernor
sionSf witbqut being a bigot to any^ find tf/bo scormng
intrigues and despimg calumniators^ would capitulate.
only to the advantage of bis country^ and to the principles
rf bis convictions* The King (at Ormon4'^ request)
by warrant under his sigfiet, dated May 11, 1642,
empowered him fduripg the absence pF the Lord
Lieutenant, and ^s long as the rebellion lasted) to
appoint aU subordinate oncers both in ttje old standi
ing army and the new forces.f ** The Earl was at
*' that time well enough with fhe Lord Lieutenapti
f ^ (Earl of Leicester) and was much courted by the
^* Farliamept, ip order to engage him ui' their party*
^* (for which purpose their agents rppjresenced it ai
the way to greater honours and djgniue^ than any
of his iamily ever enjoyed), bt;t the King entire!]
^^ aatisfied of his Lordship^s fidelity and affections
^' thought ^t to give him this mark of Jiis confidence
^* though leither fqr fear of giving discontent to tb<
^^ Earl pf ^l^dcester, or jealousy to the Parliament
^^ or for some other reason, it was thought proper t(
^' keep this commission secret fpr a t jme." His Ma
jesty aftiprwards, by letters patent, dated 22d of Maj
1645^ mider the great se^I of Ireland^ authori^sed th
Marquis of Ormoi^d afber the copplusion of the p^c<
to sign spch commissions a^ he should think fit t fc
^ tl^e advancing of tl^e natives of that our kingdpn
"witl
* 9 Col. 904 -)- Ir Carte Omir 3;;4* X ^ Q™* l^t; ^l
113
I
^ (without exception of any) to places of comm^ncl,
*' Imowtf profit, and trust in our armies there, accord-
*' ing to their respective n^erits and abilities, a^d that
^^tberdn no diSerence be made by you between them
^ and our good subjects, according to the answer
^ made by you in our behalf (o the eighth proposition^
^ in which respective commissions you are to cause
^ such grants and non obiiantei to be inserted, as may
^ raooye all iippedimeqts and hindrance whatsoever,
** which do ox may disable ^ny of our subjects to e^^
f'ercise the said places.'' NoMif reader marie thQ
vorl^ings of the most jW and unsophisticated mnd uu?
deralltfa}8 discretion, duty and power.
• " Next to the insecurity of their estates^ there Griimnc^
^ was so gf i^ance,which before the troubles so much ^xciui
^^affscted (he Roman Catholics of Ireland as the
^'Qtter incapacity for preferment, and the exclusion
*' of them from all places qf honour and trust.
^ The Ik|ar{|U]$ pf Ormonde was satisfied, that it
^was thM grievance, which disposed them most
"^ cSectQally to fake up arms, and was perswaded,
-' that uivl^ss it was in some measure removed, it
.''would be the pointy on which they would break
''in a. treaty of peace : though in such case they
''vould (as they had done in the other) impute
*' dte breach to want of satisfiiction in matter of
*' Kligion, which was the only motive^ that weighed
** witlj the people. Men of spirit, such especially
*'»» by their dignity, families and estates, seem
*^ born
: 1 CftTt. Orm. 489.'4«
fta
i oui|ila<:r.
111
" born for power, can never bear to be in consUb*
» ■
^* a)blc in thdr own country, and to live exposed
continually to the insults and contempt of tlieir
equals and inferiors. Nothing therefore was more
<^ proper, than to give the principal leaders of tbQ
^' confederate Irtish some hopes in this respect : but
^^ it could not t>e done with success, if thdr persons
*^ were harshly received at court, or such discoun*
'* tenance shewn them as would make them, jusdy,
^^ apprehend, they should not be the better for any
« capacity, that was granted thtm. There were at
^^ this time many considerable posts either vacant|
'< or likely to be so^ by the impeachment of the fiw'
^' counsellors, and the open malignancy of disloyalty
^^ and disobedience of others ; which were alr£2idy
** devoured by persons about the court of Eiigland^
^ who sued for and expected them* The disposal
^* thereof in such a manner could not fail of reviving
" the heaAT' complaint, which ever had been, and
** it is to be feared (such is their unhappy fete) ever
^ will be made by the natives of Ireland; -that aU
*' their preferments are given to strangers, who hav*
" ing no natural affection for tlie country, nor an*;
** concern therein, but for the raising their privet
*^ fortunes, are little solicitous for its general wel
** fare. The keeping of these places vacant was
^ silent and inoffensive way of flattering the hope
^< of such^ as imagined themselves qualified to fil
** them, and therefore the Lord Lieutanant wished
*^ th^ might be so kept, or at Ifast, if it were nee^
115
\
( to dispose of them out of hand, that ilief
;ht be filled with such Irish Protestants, as had
: Been for the extirpation of the Popish natives;
^Sofe such there were): ** which was the like-
i method to give satisfaction to both sides^ and
lid hot be justly excepted against by either."
Ku. Rev. aitd most leartied Doctor have I, ac- Coinmu^
Dg;^to my humble means, and m part perfor- «p«n '^r a
»bf the task you iinp09i»ed upon me, endeavour- ^»«««^ v^^
Uirow down my mite at the shrine of your hero mond.
lerkenwell; yet he nuaibers among the brave
IS of your country, whom you lament as having
led at home aind abroad, without even a pro9^
of postbumouf renownJ*" Omnes illacbrymabiUs
f quia vaie saro. Cast off your squeamishness :
our hand, once more, at this extraordinary cha*
ractcr,
tin fopse and imperfect quotation from Horace imtrans^
may not satisfy some of my country readers : for their
it, therefore, Fsdhjoin the whole passage in my Ternacu**
igne. The lines will sublimate their ideas of Onmndth
Befbre f^'eat Agameuftion reignM
HeignM Rin^ as grmt as be ami bniTtf ,
WhoM huge ambifioa*f mm contaia^A
la the small compass of a graTfi
to tadless ni^bt tbej sleep, nn'wepf, inlcnov^ri,
If o bard ba<l they to iinke oH Utoe their own.
Ineartb,if it forgottealies, . .
What is the valoor of the brave ? '
Wbat dilfefenre, when..lbe coward diei
i|B4 ilakf ia tUeace !• tbe graTCi^
fron. ITor. 4 U 04e fC
iiii
Hcter^ though you profess not to derive satisfaetionfioM
those exhibiiiom of eloquence, however cUusicalf faikB
are styled characters. You cannot leaVe to the chaaci
of oblivion a line of that mdnty coufUenoHce, jobichesfl
pressed greatness ofsoul^ and was full tftvieetmss asd
modeitj^ and had most the air and dignity bfbis juaB^
of any man about the Courts Let posterity indulge in
contemplating that manliness and dignity rf apfearaktif
which once would have been so entbmiastieally /«/•
latued. Couple that with the rich harvest of bis No-
ble atchievements, which milsi inspire the bard,^ Oai
Is about to sing his' praise, Qrmonll res gestdl uberai]
laudum segeicm cufUis eas decantaturo subministrabtait^
Wot to treat posterity With a rich glowing portrn
from all the advantages you. Rev. Doctor, exclusive*
ly possess, would be laid to the account of inertneti^
(Paul urn scfpuhc distat ioertiss i
Celata WrtirS.
Virtue through indolence suppressed
Sur6 as the tomb puts fame iQ rest)
in the e7*udife Bibliothcdrian not uninvigorated pr fUMj
cheered by the warm beams of munificent patronage^ td '
the only man, between whom dnd Orttumd could be iih
ttititted a comparison. Althbugh most learned Doctori
you have referred me to Horace*s Ode to luollius, who
afterwards became notoriously covetous and rapad*
Ous^ i will not apply to you that stoical abstemicnn- ,
Hess from all-sediicing pelf^ which the Poet so beati^
tifully, through (perhaps) igncorance of liis real cha«
racter
* 2 CoL a4U f 2 Col. 334.
117
tpr^ perhaps through gross flattery, perhaps thro*
oaniy applied to Lollius.
Yiadex avaroe fraudis, & abstinens
Daceiiiis ad se cuncta psecunl^.
Avengio^miser^s itrands in boarding pelf '*
He sputDs that genVal tractor to itself*
le fciBxyo^ing adage is not beneath your Reveri^tice's
atidcKttion and adoption. Ut 'Oerd lata ornaU ita
fi* iafiigat. The keenest satire is inapplicable
ais^, ' My abuse of Ormond brought the weight of
ur heavy ordnance upon me. Your abuse of the
overnors and discipline of the Churchy and some,
tttts of the religion of your countrymen ^ forms the
$UL serious charge I have to urge against youjr Re-
sence. But it is a charge of most serious import,
sMial to* the religious freedom of five millions of
nir fellow subjects, and bringing to the severest
$t your Reverence's knowledge and belief, sinceri*
, fidelityj and correctness, as an histc^iail and theo-
rian* I shall endeavour to simplify, consolidate,
d counteract your efforts to divide and mislead
Df countrymen^ through the insidious^ lubricous,
1 dangerous bye^ways^ into which your five Let*
s or Addresses to them diverge. In the indefinite
ietf of matter * they^embrace^ it is impossible to
R attempt
^trColumbanus should hereafter attempt to give nsaneir
f 0tf, or compresson of the substance of his five numbers ;;
IbllowiDg title of a German work is submitted to his adop«
, Ue cmni bf fUoiiiei possibili cnte i^ quihusdam uHh^^ Of
and singular £)os^ble being and some others tP boot.
120
^^ interesting to the Irish people should foe snbmitted
^^ to their consideration on 5t. Patrick's day, has*'
^* occa-»
•
* The author of this Tetter unfortunately hki no snch apolo^
§7 for his misnomers and anachronisms. He has i|ot the assn*
ranee to lay them to the account of the annual recurrence oT
may one festiral in the ivhole Calendar of SaJnts. fli»
Inadrertent promotion pf Jo^lah Lynch to the Arch Dioceieoif
Tuam, in quoting the words of Dr. Nicholson, ought not to be I
figorously converted into ignorance, or a wilfulness to misfeod.
In the first place it is unfairly stated, that Mr. Piowdea iajs^ tht
Camhremis Eversus nuas nurittm hy a very learned pertw^ &c» . It
would have been true^ had he said, that Mr. Plowden In quot-
ing Dr. Nicholson had, instead of Deacon inserted the wori
Bishop : but that he did it not wilfully, ignorantly, or malici'
ously may be inferred from his Letter to Sir Richard Musgrave,
(p. 36,) which was published in 1805, where referring to the
same quotation, will be found the word Archdeacon. The most
learned Doctor has however followed up the weighty charge by
a negative certificate ; and that too gratis. Now there never noii
a Mr, Josiah Lynch Titular Archbishop or Bishop of any Diocese •• •
Ireland. How valuable is recondite knowledge I Without howe-
Ter haviog access to the data on the shelves of Stowe, I am bold
to retort, now therp is not and never was a Mr, Murphy devisee ^ ' i
Dr. Troy in the Arfhepiscopcal See of Dublin, It will not be ir- \
relevant to the misfortune of the most learned Doctor's having '
'been driven out of his- boasted accuracy of Chronology, by tlM
recurrence of St. Patrick's Festival in 1810, if we here notic«
some few of his other aberrationSf He fastidiously bo8Slf|
(Dodsley ubi supraJ'^'thsLf, he is studious to remove all fu-
*^ tpre occasion of controversy, by establishing leading events
'^ on the Immutable basis of astronomical calculation. Pro-
^ ceedlng on these principles, he bopes^ that he may have be^q
121
** ooaskmed some errors, as Murphy for Murray, af
'•p. 12, and 503 for 493, at p.. 51, for which he
" begs
i '. ■ •
^'4»letoIaj the foundation of. future enquiries into many
^' points of general and local knowledge^ and of a digDifiedi
I *^ and gQnuine erudition, and to save to future historians th^
^^ Itboar of constant reference to document, foreign ahd do«
^^ nestle for the accuracy of dates !^!" We before noticed hi|
Oflteatetioiis list of Anacropisms, as to the dates of the installa*
tioQ aqd embassy of the Abbot of Ilyona and his tirade against
I tbe Editors of Butler's Lives of Saints. He says, (2 Col. 28.)
I ^^ This document has been published by Plowden, (Vol.I.Ap.
[ '^ X.) bat so incorrectly, that it cannot be relied on, as pub.
^^< liafaed by him. He dates it in 1578, iHltead of 1574, and
[ ^^ yet he makes the subscribers refer to a transaction of 1 579,
' ^* in the text. There is," says he, (2 Col. 45) " a confusion
^^ of dates to be guarded against, owiug to the negligence of
^' some modern writers. Plowden dates, &c,'* (as in pref. v.)
It is strangely ungracious in the Rev^ and most learned Doctor,
who so inexorably denied me access to the best collection of
naterials^n Europe, to taunt me for haTing followed such do.
cmnents, as I could elsewhere collect. The dates of Desmond's
Awoments, which are copied in my Appendix, may have been
Inaccurate; could I have procured more correct copies, I should
Aave given them in my Historical Review. I would not liave
&at them into the Poddle • The commission from Charles for %^
cessation with the confederates, should have been dated the 1 Itii,
■ad not the 14th of January, 1642. It is not true, as the Rev*
Doctor charges, that I make Ormond at Castlemartyr refer U
*Jh KingU Letter of the %nd July^ in 1643. My words are, ^' lie
^ then took occasion to contest their title, and question the
^ facts presumed or referred to in the authority, and peremp-
h torily rejected th^ condition insisted upon \ij tl^e Confe^e-
is*
r
^ begs the indulgence of his readers.'^ ^^ set oul
with your discovery of *^^ violent rivalship wdm
" trigiies
<^ rates, of the dissolution of the present, and the calling of:
*^ now Parliament ; although (ia,y I, not Ormond) tho'JLiii|
*^ had in a letter of the 2d of July, 1043, (certainly misdated'
*^ to the Lords Justices and the Marquis of Ormond, astiior
'*' iztng them to conclude this cessation with the Confederatei;
^^ expressly commanded them to assure the Irfsh in his wms^.
^^ that he w^ graciously inclined to dissolve the preflnent Fir>
^^ liament, and call a new one betireeu that and the 10th o
^^ November following/' My accuser shows howererj that h*
<:onsiders this charge rather vonialy as he gracionsl^ says of me
as well as of my co-dabblers in Irish History, O'Halloran, attk
Leland. // every htsioricai fact t9 be rejected^ becaw€ k hatlHf
tUiplaced? The difference of five years between the real aBk
the narrated election of Pope Symmachns does net negative
the fact ; nor does your Reverence's assertion, that yen ca(Q«
tioned me by letter so far back as February, 1805, prove, thai
you did not honor me with two letters in February, 1802? 1
incline not to question the fact of some Irish prelates haviig
presented to Government in 1799, resolntions, which Coli0«
banus (3 Col. 18.) transposes by anachronism, to 1779* Nei«
thcr will his inaccuracy as to the time of his Grand Fathei'<
publishing his Dissertation render the fact less certain. Th^
reprint of that too was consigned to the Peddle. It would 1^
ungrateful of me, notwithstanding the severity of the strip*
from his Reverence, to pass over unheeded, the portion of t^
dulgence furnished to heal my sores* ^^ But shall we afgil^
*^ that because Keating*s Chronology is erroneous, ike m/d
^^ facts are hot true ? As well might we say, that the ^\o\
*' of Mr. Plowden's History is a fable, because we find hei
^^ and there chronological errors, misrepresentations of name
^l of places^ aud t)f fects.'^ (2 Gel, 79.} * i CoK ^
123
<Mtigue$> which disgtaced the candidates for thif
** vacant See of Tuiim, and that much rancour ha*
" prerailed on this subject, not only amongst the
*' leading ihen of the second order of our clergy,
^ but imongst the Bishops themselves," * *• The
*^ttaKtious spirit also, which betrays itself amongst
" us, whenever »an Episcq)al vacancy occurs, (he
*^q)*rit of ecclesiastical dominion, which broodC
'^atMayneoth over the exclmve patrotiageof 5 mil-
^^ fiaiis of pe6]^le sty ling that Sf initial independarue^
*^^ich IS in fact an uncontrouled teriiporal patro-
** nage of 200,0001. per annum, and a determination
* farmed at Maynoctb, to resist c#ry lay presen-
^ tation to .Catholic livings in Ireland have provoked
** minute enquiries int6 the Internal government of
'^our Church/'t ** I care not which of the rivals
** has given most scandal. The conduct 6f all, so ,
** jealous, so envious of each other, and their private
** lancor exerted in public recriminatipn disqualify
* thera/nntil they return to more Christian sentiments
*froYn performing the. duties of a Ministry, ¥/hich
* they have profaned by wordly passions and dis-
^'^ graced by uproar. The sanctuary of the meek
*'and the merciful, which has been invaded by
^ ambition, must be sanctified by reconciliation and
f'humiKty."
Let us now see Rev. and most learned Doctor, same sub-
ijowyou sqiKireyour conduct to your principles. mi^<i,
how
^ 1 Col. J. [r Ih. 7
124
You f'ui'niah tAh \irith full historical evidence^ tiiaf
while the disgr&ceful and scandaknu contest for the
vacant See of Tuain was going forward, a mwh
more irregular and shameful canvas was instituted on
your behalf for the reversion of the then -Ml Scci
of Elphin. Your third Letter on the liberties erf Ae
Irish Church must have been written immediatelf
ifter, and in consequence of the death of Dr#:Freo^i
which by your brothers circular to the Clergy, he
l?ecame acquainted with in Dublin on the 2Qd of
May 18 lU. You acknowledge it to your brother, to
whom you say, ^^ I observe in your kind letter (rf die
*' 2nd instant, diditional proofs of the constancy oi
^^ your affection, and of the goodness of your hearts
^^ But having paid this tribute of justice, and offered
^^ my most cordial thanks in return I must ray, that
'* I very much regret your having commenced anf
^^ canvas, on my behalf for the vacant diocese of
^' Elphin, ji year has elafsed, hixice you first wrote
^* to me, to assist your endeavours for my promotion
^^ to that See, as soon as it should be vacated bf
*' the expected death of Doctor French." Here yo^
admit the existence of a canvass for Elphin, aboV^
twelve months before the vacanc}', on your behalf
and in wj^ich you performed a part. You admit, tha.
you were privy to it ; for in consequence of itr you
tell us, you wrote to Doctor Troy, not that you de
clined-the canvass, « but that nothing under Heaven
should
^ix6\Ai induce you td avail yourtelf x>f iny mdliiif '
^trhatever for attaining thfe dbje<it ybiir Brt>ther'|*di
** posed, *ivhich were not sanctmedbj the Canons ofibe '
^ Catholic CiUrcb.*' To me. Rev* Doctor, yoti a()-
pear to annex n^ore cohsequtoce to tetters addri^^
t6ytHi, than the writers inteiided. I y^i ^Wayis at
a 1m (0 discover in my lettei* to yoU of the 15th of
R?taiaiy, li802, the sentiments, "^hich ih yOUr aifi*
twer of the i8th of Febniaj^, 1802, you frftifaffVi '
ftioimlly flattering iiMards yoia ^ow, what cotiltf *
Doctor Troy, Whom yoii- first addressed tipfon* itfifd
Wbject, have said more or Ies$, than what h^' did ^'
he must have befin edified at an^^ 6lftrgyiiriart*^8 j/ii- '
cw^pnrfessing^ Nolo E'piscopdri; but above all, Worfld.'
he approve of a Clergyman's attempting nothing
agaiilst the Canoris of the Church in forWarditig
his own promotion. Could he haVe totd you, 6r cdul'd!
yoil dul of the ^\\o\t Corpus juris cahonki hav^prOvfed
to any one, that i dtredl or indirect canvas by a Clergy^* '' \
dan for an Episcopal Se^ was canmitaU A gentle-
nud of yoiir experience, I will not believe assadi^efii
mnch credit for the e^cpressions of fashionable tJtift^sy '
«« \mt d^mie letire. 'Till your letter to Dr.Troy, and '
hit answer to you ilpon the cahVas for^ the See bf '
Biphlh b^ produced, no reasonable man will bdievd, '
that the fitst teter Was written to prevent or obsthrct '
yoor being forced into that See. You adtnit, tliat
Dr. Moylttii informed ybu by a letter from Bubliil)
tBatPr. Fi-^nch was then in a very bad state of health,
S and
328
iv))!cb is to- demonstrate* that it was not vitfacM
grpiindi orproo^'^tfaat ia tho sp often pientioai
^^ ilie mosi monstrous absurdities !!!" Tbc reader is apprize!
-that the foregoing sheets had been drawrt off^ before I reMivi
tlic ioraluable treasure of ^' An Historical Address on tiMCi
f Mamities occasioned by foreign influence in the nomiasiifl
.fc of Bishops to Irish Sees. Part I^ by thp ReT. CiMili
^^ O'CoDor, D. O." As his first address to his couiitiy^
vas ushered into public without his real name (he had not jt
felt the pulse of his instigators). Id the last boldly steps fotwai
wifhout his nom de guerre COLUMBANUS. Ilis ftet at
now fitted to the buskin, he treads the stage with vedoaUi
confidence, an drt ibU m ands his own appbiuse. "BjibetMn
(l^ffifiiiaftufjfou shall ^ar me. (5 Col. 138.)
Snme superbiam
Qaesitam meritis,
( Witk conicioDi pride, BNttt learn'd DlTiaey
.^ Jjtinme tbf hopors justly thine.
Francises Horace, L. S, Ode as&
He has droppc^J his ffiauvaiie hntcy as he fqrmerly washed
lis paint. He assumes a loftier tone, i^nd under the impoiin
'text from Isaiah (C. Ivili.) he announces his 5th Evangelica
Ephtola ad HyhernHf. ' Llama tie cesies^ quasi tuha exedta t«MS
Although his frieod, I/ord Redesdale, in 1805, informedhi
brother Peers in his fipeech oi| the Catholic Question, th
^^ the Rwian CatboUc Bishpt of Ireland were a hpdy^ ns}bo tjrn
** nized ever the rest (f the Catholics^ differing fram tie rest
f^ . Eurfipe : ner couUaAy peace he kept in Ireland^ so ht^ as li
^' remained unaholithed : fir to -their infiuence ^xfas onsting alt
^^^imseot^uctoftheirifiock*. Audihnt to the generality of the t
li fMfchffdy, the oMitim of the Hierarehy nsmldbe Mrem^gn^
120
note id the 3d volume of my last, history, I-macUi
■MmjAtervatiom 4eadms to indkaie 4be :pirt cat^
Tou,
^* ftt\ and that the native f of Ireland fiom the nature of their educa^
) ' ^* tkn are iveil acquainted mtith Latin.'^ <Hist. of Ireland since
; tlwU^n, 2 Vol. 97.) Yet I still believe, that most of your
" tottti^FiDeii know more of the Saxon, than of the Roman tongue,
•M'lalall therefore for their benefit pot the English [reniOii
^ffUsteit before thenu Cfy abud-^spare not-^-Hft up thy voice^
' UeaUimipet. Some of Columbanus^s (nojr the Rer. Charles
O'Conor's) countrymen have wondersi], that as the first vewe'of
ifcd l»Sth chapter of Isaiah raised his voice for their reform,
^tWaeoond verse did not suggest to him a striking likeness of
' Ml oonntxy. ^^ Yet they seek Hie daii|s")ftMl delight io know
^ my ways, as a nation, that did righteousness, and forsook ibot
^ the ordinance of their God : th^ ask of roe the ordinances
^ of justice ; they take delight in approaching io God," The
Rer, Seer, in the blaze of historical information, with which he
lias overwhelmed his readers, has nnfortumit#1y omitted to in«
fonn them on what occasion, at what time^ and from what altar,
tb Seraph laid the live coal upon his lips, that took away his
iniquity, purged his sin, and rendered him worthy of addressing
•thf very Great Many whose name he once durst not to mention^
' Be confidently dedicates his last evangelical labours to The most
' Vdde the Marquis of Buckingham. The first puff of inconse l|OW.
ever, which rises from the censer, is what is ever uppermost in
• tiie dedicator's thoughts. The mertts^ whatever there may k^ fn the
fiHetsung sheets^ ^c. (vide the dedication). He resumes the fa.
Torite theme. ^' They possess, however, one merits which from,
^^ the honour of a long acquaintance, I am sure roust recora.
*^ mend them to a mind such as your^s thi^t of very honestly ^^9^
^* Tj plainly^ and perhaps, rety forcibly^ submitting to a nation,
f ^ whom you always reilp^ted and esteemed, and cherished,
g|f tfutht 9f the greatest importaace to its prosperity i as t8od<,
/
ISO
jt^Rev. and most learned Doctor^ U perfbrfn in $k
ffiand CQtrfcdfracj tc alter the rsUgknund eminguiik'ri^
natura
^' ing to elucidate and confirm the severat relations, wMcfa tk
« NOBILITY, GENTliy, CLERGY, and PEOPLE tt
^^ Ireland mutually bear to each other, lo support of tbxt^Gm
^^ stUutional form of Governmeut to which, under Go»|'«<
^^S look for our national prosperity." The acquisitiaii' Ofl.ikJi
biTaluable thesaurus Venlatum^ which came to htiid 1MI|
days, after I had completed the manuscript of this letter, till
enable me to amend it, bjr enforcing seyeral of the obsenratiaiiii
vhieh I have made upon the very bonestt the veryflaittytMd the 11117
firdhUtsutki^ submitted by the ci-devant toidisant CobmkmmiA
his countrymen. Ajltf^v^ust be here remarked^ that thi9 eeiaiiUi
]Miri£cation has not only emboldened the Rev. Doctor to iM-
tiom the name of his munificent ^ invigof atinff^ and cbeefvig fatrm%
Imt nominally, and specifically to attribute ail the MERIT o(
liis Epistles ad Hiherms to that high patronage. Having iM
the p«apbetic trumpet blasted ipto confusion and flight the 1I1
tors and armour of nicknames and no.names, of dupltdty aid
disguise, he confidently advances to battle, putting off tiioM
cttmberous ornaments, and with redoubled ferocity a^sai^ Doc<
tor Milner, and all the host of his antagonists, in tfaeiMuatoi
CJkafki Q* Conor ; as David met Goliah with his sling and stonife*
]Iid stone has not yet sunk into the forehead of his oppdiiflit
Be kcks the faith of David ; and brings unto his aid and noto*
viety tlie indefatigable partner of his toils and battles; In de.
. fiance of {rish Statutes, he put3 upon the staff wlthoiit qui
lificatioD„ the director and superintendant^general of hisi corp
. ^ sappers, miners, and civH engineers. He brings him forwart
arrayed with that pomp of triumph, which iits the man^ nvt&
^kfJBfg delights t9 honor. (5 Col. 23.) ^' Would such a man,i
^ my learned friend MrXharle^ Butler, of Lincola^s Inn Fieldi
^ at any period of his life, lend lumself to such a prostitutio
t3i
noAmal spirit of ymr iouhtry. It fias been sliewn in
ewdeoce, that ia the years 1809/and 1810, an ex-
• tensive
" of his abilities ? Could h6 be tempted by a beggarly sub.
** scriptlon to set at defiance the most sacred Canons of the
" Caiholic Church ?»* He has in a word, assured us in his
postscrlpf to this last work, that DoctorMilner has heen repeatedly
pH'sstof the society atjd intercourse of theEnglish Catholics: and that
ie has menaced nvith excommunication his brethren the four Prtm
bttf of the English Catholic Church. 1 scrnple not here to charge
Doctor O^Conor, as he has now dropt the title of Columbanus,
^tt unwarrantably using the words of the English Catholics: I
tdmit and lament, that a very considerable portion of the hi^h*
w orders of the English Catholics have been seduced by the In-
sifions, disguised, half avowed, and half denied doctrines of blue
boob and their consequences; of which, were they thoroughly
*^are, they would, I am confident, renounce them, as Lord
Crenville, and others, have the Veto. The restless spirit of
^he managers of the quelnt conceit for metamorphosing Papistt^
^^oman Catholics (call them which you will, they are the same)
»iito protesting Catholic Dissenters ; a description of persons tvhoffj
*»fcww« to our lanvsy (vide Blue Book, signed by Mr, CharleB
Butler, Secretary), and the vindictive soreness, that followed
^be contemptuous rejection ot that lubricous whimsey, have
*^n constantly working under cover for these last twenty years,
^ bring abott those consequences,which were originally meant
^ be concealed from its advocates and supporters ; viz. an
Utrecht establishment of a National Church independent of the.
See of Rome. The bulk of English Catholics I aver to be sa*.
lisfied with their appellation, and their creed. The Rev*
Doctor O' Conor is not warranted in fixing the whole body of,
£oglbh Catholics with abetting and maintaining his doctrines.
Too many of my countrymen and brethren in f^iitb, I admit,
iave unguardedly been seduced: but wwe the treacherous
tensiver canvas was instituted during the life di H
Freneh to secure for Tcu the See of Elphin on Ii
deibis^
urapl^ers once fairly unfolded, tlicy would recoil with horror
the sight of the poiAon they contain. Awfully dreftdful WM t
judgment of Goo upon Arius in the 4th Century, who bj;.!^
tlious, subtle, and artful professions concealed his her^sjr^ h
posed upon the Emperor Coostantine and the Catholic Prelati
and made such progress with his errors^ as to liare threaten
tbb destruction of the U at versal Church*
Columbanus has both unwarrantably Had inconsistently l
serted^ (^ Col. 32) ^' Now if religion was not the cause of fl
** national hatred tit England, neither was it the cause of t
^^ penal laws/' To prove this, he goes on tti say, that ^^ Pet
^ Walsh, who was intimate with the Duke of Ormond, jii<
** ascribes the penal laws, since the Reformation, to oth
^ causes/' Then Columbanus gives by way of proving huoi
thesis, ^and therefore adopting) the words of Walsh ; ]UD0II|
which ar^ the following. ^' We have no caui^e to wonder at ll
** Protestant's jealousy of u^y when Oxey see the three seVtf
«^ tests hitherto made use of, for trying the alJection of RciM
*^ Catholics in these kingdoms, in relation to the Pafai^pi^
*' sious on one side, and the Royal rights of the other ; I nifl
** the Oath of Supremacy first, (I admit the lawfulness of tl
Oath of Allegiance ^ and of the Loyal Formulary^ and only ii
sibt upon the unlavi fulness of the Oath of Supremacy) ^i
*< three one after anotlier, to have been «tt;i/i( so much rashush^
*' 'wilfulfiessf and obstinacy f drcBncdt opposed^ traductd^ and njteU
^ albeit no authority or power, not even by the Oaii of ^
'* wacy itsclfi be attributed U> the King, save only civil, orti
*' of the sword; nor any spiritual o» ecclesiastical power bei
^* nied to the Pope, save only, that which the General Coun
^^ ofEpicjut^ and the next oi Chalcedony and the 217 Bishops
IH
\
demiite; that you ^Krere privy to it frOtli the beglfi*
Aiqg) that your brother \/^ote to you to assist JUs
T endeavours
^ Africa, whereof St. AQguatine was ooe^ both In their Ca«.
* 11008 aod letter$ too, in the fase of jfpiaritUy d^^hied ofn^o
^ lite Roman Bishops of their tinte.'* This oath of saptema*
tf Mil famished Colufnbanns ^hh a A afdmirable oppoHittuly
if 9Aici8ing his ^ffan hibi'ieity; It ha^ thfowd hint into 4
ttftmAdrt wfiggte : and he ifiay boast Hot 6n\f Of his haTiug
flidfld the gfipe of Doctor Potriter, Jivti H^'iniy pefha^s have
nason to plume himself v^ith the boHotfr of having sinctf j that
tine, (aseioated that Prelate, and Sotiie others with hisinsidi*
OM sophSstnsy atkd plausible qaotatio^s« jtrhs by* the ftrtfttl ap«
llieatbik of scriptnfai phrases cozened the Emperor Odnsfart^
litoe and the Catholic Prelates into a temporary belief of hk
^odOxy ; and in the y^ery crisis of the hereticat otatiOii^ tHe
Mttded cIyiI ijiagistrate most udWafTsntably ordeted the Bisbdt>
tf Catastaatibopleto admit jifitif without retractatioii Of Ms &^«
917 Into the bosom of the Charch* (His iiyddmpetefi6y to ei^«
CRMuii n.pon the spiritual power was precisely the ^ame,wh6thet
CMstian, Catholic, Bi^alhcn, of Arikn). On the ere of tfie
Staday^ on which he was' to hare been sotemnly admtttied into
tt» bosom of the Church, under the Imperial manda^p, he was
•kd about ia triumph by his arrogant aind Outragedus foliaihtky
vkn an awful tisitalion of 6on came upon him, iiV^sigilttof
tbtery church, in which the BiKhop waS, oil the beit da^, iu
kiTo . submitted to the usurping order of the cttif n&^glshaCe.
Se waif sudtdenly forced, by a call of tiaturei to quh the pro*
ceniofi^ an^ tike Judas, whom he had followed in treachei*oui*
iyhetfayirtg Just Divine Master, he instantly expired, in ap^a*
i«Bt impenitence, and ail hh ho^wcb gmbeivut. Now linkd^r mark
tfe working of Coiuftthanian honesty. Perhaps, tht last trror sMl
hvnncthan the fiat. (5 Col, 283.) \[ Do I then recoremend
134
endeavours for youv promotion h> that Seft» that yOK
were greatful to your brother * for the eager pam
hi
'* it to my countrjrmen to take tha Oath- of Supremacj j ]
** h&y already uQequirocally declared, that I do nof.^* Hmv,
ia a note he refers to 1 Col. 91. and adds, *^I leaTeittotke
^^ candor of my countrymen to judge what credit is due i9iM>
*^ Prckte^'mho has the efirontery to say, that / recommittdH Uwf
^^ countrymen to take the Oath of Supremacy. This is a delihenlt
^^ falsehood, and |he dishonesty of it is aggravated hy his um^
/^ tons false quotations of my words* What would history be,
4^ were it to rest on the asartions of a man so utterly insensible d
*^ the sacredness of truth ?" The passage, in which ColonbaaH
SAjTS, he ttnequiToeally declared, he did not recommend thetik*
log of the Oath of Supremacy, certainly contain* some of Hi
ambiguous praise of our ancestors, who refused to tak^ it n
'wordedi and so proposed^ nsshich the Government of that day attmfi*
ed to ram donvn their throats nsnth Mabomedan vioUnee* Is M r«
_Pereeval less of the Mahomedan Ramm er than CeeiiT *' Tet
^ he says, it must in common justice, be acknowledged, tbit
«< the title of the Head of the Churchy though odiovs t» a CtOii
** He, means no more in the acceptation of an Englishman, tbM
, ** temporal Head of the Churchy or Defender of the FaM.'' Tbii,
acc9r(iing to Columbanus, if an Englishman beaCn/M&^lK
ceases, to be, or to comprehend as an Englishman. He condoM:
*' This is the explanation^ which the English Divines gif^<^
** their own principles, and no one has a right to attribi^
** to them principles which they utterl'y disayow." Then A
. hallucinating Doctor, in order to decoy and deceire, refers ti
a note to the authority of King James, and at the end of i
abuses him, as he occasionally does erery one he namejr ^' Hi
» 3 CoM.
Ids
fe had taken in forwarding what he deemed most
ftdy to contribute to your happiness/ that yott
T 2 wrote
^ this file pedant been as conciliatorj ia his manners and an«
^^ swen to the Irish Delegates in 1613, as he was studious to
*^. skew his learning (this propensity frets Columbanus intiy
^^ freozjr) and to boast of his Protestantism^ of which, howe-
^ jery he was not a sincere advocate, the Irish would baw long
" erenomf acceded to a negative on the part of the civil ponaer HI But
^^ Dem fuot vult perdere demtntat. Masson explains the Oath
'^ fiJEtigtisbSupreTMcy at James does^^ Withold thine indignation
aad horror, reader,when thou findest the quotations made from
James, apply not to the Oath of Supremacy ^ which that Monarch
tknljr said, in the very work cited by Columbanus {^polog^ fir ,
tUOatb) ^' i^as devised for putting a difference between Pa*
^ pists and them of onr profession" ; but to the Oath xA Alte^
Xi«nr,which he had himself framed, and which Paul V. solemn* .
ijr declared by a bull, could mt he adnutted nuitb the integrity of Cam
tUk faith. J must (in common,! presume with the English and
Irkh Catholic Clergy and laitj, who with the consent andap*
luobation of their spiritual superiors have generally taken the
bglish Oath of the 31st of theI$:ing,Qr the IrishOath of the 33d
<if Us Majesty, differing little from it) consider myself to have
siibstaotially sworn King James's Oath. Now at the ifiegrity
tf Catholic faith Qannot vary with timet and circumstances ^ it followSg,
4uit every one, who has taken the English or Irish Oath orthe
pieient King, must hold the condemnation of James's Oath^
ivhich is of the same Import, to have been unwarraptable, and .
aa erroneous declaration or judgment. The different Oaths
ue given in the Appendix, No. II. in order, that the impartial '
riMder may satisfy his mind by comparison. (N. B« noi of
fSS. or unpublished works) The ^QssufSf, infidelity, aad
tnrote to Dr. Troy vpdn the subject? that an ^ppliea^
tion was made to Dr« Moylan upon it, and tha( tin
matter was strongly solicited to be forwarded by the
influence of the Marquis of Buckingham (the person
of high distinction I am to presume wb&se fmmijf99
dare net to mention^ that Dr. Troy and Dr. Moyha
cither di^plined or failed in their interference^ tbatidn
most JSfoble Marquis declined forwarding your vie«%
but expressed a willingness to co-operate in any otbel^
ro«(syre, which might be fitting for hirp, aptfl n^
inpildenee) (eum ^6rht esse line ^ naviUr imfudeutcm) i^ii^
whipH this deception is attempted to be impo-ed on his readeM
vi\\\ hardly be credited; I shall give in English, t^ j/hiii/hl inmi'
Nation of the irords of James, qaoted by Qolaipbaaus, which apf
ply entirely to his oath of ifUegiattce in contradistinettoii- to £Ui«?
beth'sOath ofSufrewfacy.-^^Wlih so mach attention, and somiill
'^ anjqety did I take care, that nothing should be contained ia
** this path beyond a profession of that loyalty and civil and<eiif
*^ poral obediencei ivhich~ nature Itself prescribes, It hashes*
^* thought proper, that I should publish an apology for tbisosA}'
** in "^l^iph I did undertake to prove, that there was nothing C(MW
^ taified in it, but what belonged to ^ere cm\ and tempftrsl
<' obedience, siich as is dt(e to Sovereign Princes, fromtbtii
'^ sdb^epts." Irishmen and Englishmen beware, . Catholics •n'
Protestants beware. History fronuns <f<ww op/V/f indignant cvntu^
w every ejjkrt to mitlead. (5 Col. ^83) Can the taking of an otd|
be n|ore strongly recommended, than by attempting to proi^f
that when tendered^ it had heen deeUned^ opposed, traduced^ «9f
rejeaed nmfb md rasfms^p amf nvilfylmsh and of^/^tuf^i
137:
mark the regard he entertained for you ;* th^t upon,
tbiwhole^ the first canvas failed : tl^t the second
caaras was begun the very day youi^ brother knew
ofDr.French's death, that you were made privy to it
by letter written on that same dzy; that it failed, .and
sostt time after it's failure, you regretted bts baviug
mrnne^ any canvas on your behalf for the vacanf"
dime if Elphin, Tbe mummery of a candidate
iwing put in nomination by a third person i9 played .
i)f OOL the corrupt hustings of every rotten bo»
mf[h in the Empire, The extent, ze^l and perseve*
mce in the c^vas negative the coexistence of any
idigious objection, conscientious difficulty, or honor-
able bar to your attainment of the object of the-
canvas, namely a See in the Catholic Hierarchy of
Ireland.
I have perceived in the irregular skirmishes be- Coiumba,
tween vou Rev.Doctor, and some of your antagonists, cent at-
fotidious efforts to falsify assertions, to refute argu-owniiicrT
Hrcliv
loents^ and to negative or establish facts, that affect
«^.Uie|i// of the case. Thus, the collection of
your
^ Such was the ////aw c^r/<r, vrfaich Columbanusieeinsfong
tB lave imbibed, concluding his letter to me of the lltYi of
Ichroary 1802 with a reference to the subject of it» witch h^
^9tUhdelig6tedUjbrHvanl inanycibernvay^ that I might think in
bfmofcr : and that of the ISth of the same month, which'
ends with a nnccre proffer ofjriendsbip in any other n»ay 1 mi^ht
M msistfnt tmth the frincifles of Hat fetter^
-•I
188
your grandfether's* books and papei^$ were plac^
on the inaccessible shelves of Stowe,whether the le-
ft
* How M'idely do the sentiments of that excellent persona^e^
and good Irishman, differ from those of his degenerate grand*
son. In tl^e preface to the ^ edition of his Dissertations^ xiUt
he allows great merit to Dr. Leland, to whose care it wa^oir-
ing, that these 9rsginal Chroniiles have mt again fallen inh pfM
hands • Compare thierefofe, and-fiilly weigh the-efiects of At.
words of the grandfi^t)ieP| speaking of hipiself in the same pif-
fape, Tp " Some wortfy persons howver, ifjhq have sufpUed hsmnxi^
new materials enabled him to renenu the suhject^^ with those ^tk
grandson in his letter to me, of the 18th Febmary, 1 809, ^^ f
•* sometime since- gave them together nvith the criginais, to the Mtir^
** fuis ef Buckingham, nvio is possessed of the greatest part of k}.
^f grandfather^ ps^pers.^^ (Vide what is said upon this suhjec^,
from 54 to 7i). From the last production of the cjdevant /rf
fiifant Qohtmianuf it seexns^ that the mysterious translation of
the O'Conor collection, from Balanagare to Stowe, still haubts
|he not uninvigorated or aw^wrf^ Librarian : -
• - • .
llaeret lateri lethalis Arundo.
Still the fatal dart
j^ticf^S in hi^ side and rankles in his hearf. . . .
Dryd. VIrg. 4 B»."^
I wished to hare roused the Rev. Charles O'Conor, to coi»*
fprward and explain to hi^ cpnntrymen, by what meaos^ ib«
patriotic wishes, the indefatigp,ble and costly labours, und tb^
laudable views of the great and virtuous Q^rA?/ 6*Cc*wr h*^'
l^een sd cruelly J^nd unnaturfilly thwarted and defeated. Litt*
iifill his countrymen rest satisfied, with what he says upon tlr^
apbject, (5 Col. 149). *^ The honest V. B. of Castabala, fin^
'* ing, that he cannot refute Columhanus (no very arduous iask^
f f fndjsavouTS by the most impudent falsehoods,* invcni'id^
N
189
^ right to them vested in your father and unele, as
a put of the personal estate of your intestate grand-
father,
^^iimelfi to blacken a character, tlfai stands in its nvay^ (how
A)?) ** and to level it down to the condition of his own ! Cuif.
*^ tjofa****, \^hich tio lajmdn of common edtf cation would
^*.. feature upon, he dares to assert, that / siok my grandfathet^s
^ UiS* Mnd sold them : an assertion ^ which tme t^ tbs greatest men
1' k^£^glafid kno*fji)s tq he faUe^^^ Why is the great roan still to
leBi^Q anonymous ? Columbanus^s lips have been purified, and
ilAer.tke flattering preface to the Mar(}uis of Buckingham^ it is
Ifardiy conceived, why delicacy should still shi5oud the great maft
JMijrstery. The recondite knowledge of an anonymous being^
kowercr great, goes but a little way in making out a legal title
^.property. Were not the nation injured by the amotidn (Co«
Ittmbanus may use a more appropriate term) of the grandfatber'A
collection, it would have been a private, a dark transactior^,
hdifferent to the public, between a vendor and a vendee,
with mutual covenants of indemnity, and perhaps some sub^
^equeot and not altogether voluntary confirmations from - those
^laimiog legalfy under the grandfather, and patrtetkal'j xya^x
the contributors to that valuable collection. Had it not al^
been a fact of notorious fiagrancy, that ^olumbanus had in his
fire Addresses both injured and insulted his countrymen, the
^eptance of a dedication of the 5th Address, froui Doctor
Ckarles O'Connor, D. D< by the Marquis of Buckinghanf^
Would to them, have been a natter of indifference orcroiitempt*
It pointedly negatives the adulatory averment of the Dedicatov^
^^^\k\& Lords hip^s name h justly respected ly every descriptht^ 9/
P<crtms in bis native country. It will add little to bis Lordship's
^tecenetic fame* For.no man, who does, or who may hereafter
^now the character and qualities of Coluinbanus, will adopt the
^ynpathies of Cicero. (12 E^. L. 5.) qui non tantum laudari te
*^ftir, sedaddit ftiamj a laudato viro^^* who not only rejoices ait
b«ing praised, but be adds also,' by a praise-werthy man.
■
AltlMif}! (kvf promise. Birapge aod gMff^
PUcQTflriai of ihiogs far kt; ,,. -.^^^ ,
They aire but idle dreams and iancies
And savoar strongly of the Ganzas !
You, Rer. and most learned Doctor, must ha?
been induced \^ a treble motlre to translate ioto
learned languages this sublime soar of the faceiltfc
Butler, 1^. To express more em[>hadcally yoor )i^
sense of the zimle. 2^. To propagate and perp
tuate it through nauons^ which are strangers lod
English, but may know something of the lati
tongue. &^. To convince your patron , tfaafc altfaouj
be could not be induced to o-operate in pudiingyoi
Reverence into the Sec of Elphin, yet that he (si
others) might be convinced of your, abilites to tnm
late into Latin verse the old metrical annals of yo
country : and therefore a fit Bibfiotheearian to d
great man, who alone is worthy to fM^ omnpsii
Ormond.
Sic hjpoeondriacis inclnsa meatibtfs attra
De&in^t in crepituni,* si fcrtur prona per alratt*
Sed 81 summapetat, mentisqae ferierit arcem^
DiTious furbr^st, and conscia flamma futnri.
Kay I repeat. Ifet tatU apfarci cur nferws fattUH &V»
Certifnnt isfc.
* It is presnifiedi that the Rev. and most learned Doctor i
^ot affect to' suit the palate, or flatter the taste of his pati
even in the bittehiess of invectite against gentfifceD, wboi
Im^urs with a nibck etfaonUation for having advoeatei
: I wish you Rev* and most learned Doctor^ to General
[ understand once for all^ that T go cordially with you gainst cJ^'
P in all, the explicit truths you have written in your *°* ^"^*
I five letters ;* but though I could not follow you
^ U2 step ^'
^ancipitioii of Ireland^ (9 S«iat Cobbett^ Saint Fioaerty, and
^U Saint Home Tooke) 1 Col. 27. <^ I litUe expected, that
^^ meii^ who but a fevr days ago». made Popery^ idolatij, and
^^ slaT^ij, synonjinouS) and spewed into each other's mouthg
^' all the rancid pirtrefiictjons of theological indigestion, which.
^ kt?6 be«n so often vomited, and to often licked up in the
^' coarse of the last century, would now affect the cotnc^round^
^' & be the advocates for that very Popery, which they so hearti«
^Vlj abhor. Perhaps those good men haye been on a pilgrimage
^^ to the Well of St, Winefred 1 Perhaps they are really con-
*^ verted to Popery. Saints ! Innocents !" This delicate sub«
bqation was worthy of an Arch Mitre. Et vitula tu digKut.
Hqv pond, reSoedi and rectified a spirit ! I{ow depurated^ how
ffttpletely Aefy^y^ frofn ai) earthly dross !!!
* The Rev. and most learned Columbanus must not imagine,^'
tbathe has an exclusive patent for investigating truth ; ' he has
Mainly the advantages of many, in the exclusive access to a
Teiy valuable collection of documentij' for the truth of Irish
Ustoiy; he is entrusted with the severe custody of the golden
hut of the western island, Sficerdos HespersdumtempU custos. B^t
I am bold to say^^ that if the Rev. and most learned Doctor will
Condescend to compare my Church and StatCy published in 1706,^ >
by Robinsons' Pater Noster Row, with his fife letters to his
pantrymen it will expand and rectify his ideas, which, from
is printed works bespeak a lamentable state of ignorance, ob-
»fky, confosion, and contradiction, upon the interesting subt
ct5 of spiritual and temporal power^ the rights and duties of
144
jjtfcp by step through 19 true propositions, it
■ . • . •
be unseemly to permit you to impose upo
coun
i^ cItiI magistrate and church |;oTemorSy the diJQTer
fween order and jurisdiction, the obligation or nnllitj
bulls and canon law, the established and gospel mni
of the minis trj, the competency and inability of allif
imjeen Chnrch and State, the Tariations of oaths from
on which they are ingrafted, the true and real mischic
tramontanism and the fair and sound sense and applicat
Galilean propo$ftions. He will find, that (he fair ani
dedi|ctions from a thorough, orderly, and impartial
into all these important, delicate, and inflammable subje
to demonstration the utter incompetency of the cii
- trate to gire, take away, or meddle with spiritual jni
the unlawfulness of any Roman Catholic taking the 0«
premapy, as it la worded, and the sinfulness of be
member of the established church, in any person coiis
]y holding the necessity of an nniversal Bishop, and o
tipeaking tribunal to settle all cbnt^oyiBrsl^s ifi the Ch'
preserve, her in truth and uiiity. (Columbanus, 1 Col
Grotius papi^OKj thought so)< I said, in 1796, what
peat, (Ch. & St. p. 519.) ^^ It ought to be seriously
'^ by all the Ronian Catholic subjects of his Majesty,
^^ obnoxious they wpuld be in the eyes of their Prote
^^ thren» if they always cQnfiped their submission i
** spiritual supremacy of the head of the hjerarchy
^^ of Rome, as by their religious |)elief they adinit i
*' and as they lately have by their oath, swop onlj
^' tain it.V With reference to that oath, in as muc
-virtual renuntia^ion of the Tory doctrine of ind^fe
jure divino right io the Mqnarchy, and of the ult]
, ^ ' • ■ " • ■ . ' ■ ' ' * • • ' ■ ■
doctrines of any direct Or indirect temporal pow^r b;
• I > i r 1 ' I ■ *
^ver Kings and Princes, I there said, (p. 96.) ^^Tl
fpintrymen fiirtively and maliciously a 20th feilse
praposidon, which would involve them in broad
pn^vocal schism from the Catholic Church, with
which they have communed with exemplary firmness
and fidelity through three centuries of lure^ menace
and persecution. Do not flatter yourself, that I
alW your verapky to preponderate in any such
jirtptwtion. You shall not lay to my account aiiy
iend» hesitation. From me you will not hear
wr leadj. No proposition in Oohmbanus^s works can
'a,
jte kid hold on ; yet ibey are novel.* It is not
i(Ujto discover bts meanings yet there is an oim^
fitmeaning.\ That obvious meaning I undertake
f^ Boman Catholics may therefore lie now properly styled
*' ivora Whigs and Cisalpines." I have perhaps urged some
tratb with more warmth, than either the Rev. Doctor, or
te prototype Peter Walsh ; but with very difilerent views,
joferences, and applications. N. B. In referring him to my
^kmh ais^ State^ | inform bim where it may be had) and how
\p^it has been before the public ; not as his I^everence does
te bb frologomena to the Irish Annals, (3 Coi. 60) to the epiSw
tolitory preface to the Irish Annals, (ib. 67) and compare my
^ttk Pre/at. to the Irish Apnals^p. cxii. (4 Col. 13). None of
which have to my knowledge yet appeared before the puDRt^
\^ These customs are more fully explained in a MSS* work of
^ mine, on tl^e Rcli^im of the Pagan Irish f>f the 5th Century^*
(3 Col. 82.)
r
* 4 Col. 7,
'+ The Rev. Doctor, mtist not imagine that I tver ttenAlei
Mtk tbt tribunal of manlyy rational^ and public iavettigatioff^ (^l
to dcvelope to ikou, wlio cannot discern ib
either any meaning at all> or who ar^^too uasoi
. ous to discover the deleterious poison Iv^rkk
your real and obvious, but by no means new ;
ing. I distinctly then charge you. Rev. Dr^ <
les O'Conor, D. D. heretofore (assuming the H
Guerre of ColujifbanusJ with wilfully misrepme
important historical facts, with broaching dfulg
doctrines, with distorting obvious truths, with ^
|ng false and malicious conclusions, with pro{
ing unfounded and scandabus slanders pf the
vernors of the Cathplip Church of Ireland# and
^ocks, with a deliberate, insidious, and wicked d
pf ^educing your countrymen from th^t Church
vemmenty to ivhich all their Christian ancestors
immemorially submitted, and to erect themselvei
a schismapcal nafjonaf Qburcb^ such ^s is th
England, which threw off all submission to thg
versal Bishop^^ ynder Henry VIIL and with re
jnending tlw taking of that Oath of Supremacy ,^
King James L said, was devised for putting a difft
betweeri Papists and them ofoi^r profession*"^ A\
Col. 10) My opinion is, that truth^courts investigation : •
nil veretur nisi abscondi. J3ut woe to those, who abuse, (
or misapply it.
* VicL History of Ireland since the Union 3 vol. p
\i caoDOt be too frequently repeated, that the m
nance of many truths justifies not the assertion of one fal64
Oi;[uiiae submission to the Christian revelation ^dnuU i
w
(tndmuch more) could tchargeyou withliaving pviiu
Inbed in Sprinted letters draddresses to your coun-*
trymen
ietiallon ft-om (t in a single point. It is not, becanse the orer*
itraioed doctrines of ul tram on tanism' hare heretofore produced
■ jmtttuschiefs, that Peter Walsh was justified in ristns^ gene^
TiBy igatnst his spiritual superiors^ and broaching unsound
iloctrines in religion, or Itecaiise Catholics ought to Ofdmit plb«
nitode of temporal pawipr in the Civil Ma^istrat^^ and renounce
Jt altogether in the Pope, therefore is it lawful for a Catholic to
swear, that no foreign PrsKce^ Person^ P relate ^ State ^ or Potentette^
hthf or ovght to have avy jurhdicthrty porjjcfy prememinsnce^ or au*
ikrity ecclesiastical or spiritual nvithin this reahn. According to
the import, and universal usage of the English language, froia
thedaya of Henry VIIT. (we are with humiliating redundancjr
compelled io swear in the plain and ordinary sense of the words)
to the present, it !s impossible so to construe this oath, that any
penoA admiftiug a supremacy of dignity and jurisdiction in th*;
Bishop of Rome brer alt Christendom, can take it with a safe
^'^nscience. For refusing it, Sir Thomas More, and Rishoiv
Fisher were executed ; and Lord'Grenville thought \i framed
*W a caplious deshe to exctuth Catholics. A genuine Catholic of
Ii^land belieTes in the 19ih century, as St. Ambrose did in the
^fe. Ubf Petrus^ Hi Ecclesia. Believing, that the charter, which
Christ left for the gOYemment of his church, reaches toeTery sp9t
^^fthe terraqueous globe, and that the supremacy of jurisdiction*
iy which bis kingdom is governed, is vested in the successor of
ot. Peter, he cannot swear, that by exemption, recunciation,
^xpnlsion, deprivation,"resumption, usurpation, or any act of
the ci¥ii magistrate^ the successor of Pt^ter, neither hath nor
^Q^ht to have any jurisdiction, or pre.eminence, ecclesiastical
pr spiritual^ wtbin this rcalru In the note of D7y history, which
iCoacerns Columbanns, I sBid, that ^' when the Prtteiting Cfl-
146
trymen^ since the unsuccesfiil canvass for advaQck)^'
i[ovL to the See of Elphin. I must not^ however leMe
pi
*^ tMc DIj tenters broached certain doctrines, wbich bore too
^' hard upon the spiritual supremacy of the head of the CMl«i
*^ tian hierarchy, I wrote (iu 1790) the Case thiied, which ooi
*^ pugncd them/' I also generally charged, ^' that Mr.'BiU
'" Icr, the writer of the famous blue books pablisiied at thit
^^ timp against the power & jurisdiction of the Bishop of R/om,
*^ audjColumbanus were duo lahorantes inUnutni^^ and 1 am fiestQ
say, that the introduction of such doctrines into the bodWiof
the IDnglish and IrishCatholiCsy must necessarily prodnceaddM;
a consequence to be dreaded by every true Catholic* I pfO"
ceed to clear myself of the impntation of making asserdotf
without proofs. The most learned Doctor hais^ by ^^otiiigPe*'
fer Walsh, and by frequently r^ferriug io lUs taiid,- lind ip*
|)]auding all he wrote, identified, ais far as he CQnld, their tut
•
caseiS. I have before remarked that he states (2 Col. S3) ^tbs
^^ oath of supremacy to have been with much rashness sil
^^ wilfulness, and obstinacy declined, opfiOtcd^ traduced, lit
^^ rejected." I do not dissemble, that I have ever coniiderrfi
that the views and object of the bine boQks, and Of those, wks
wrote or approved of them, were to withdraw the Catholic Br
d y from the Papal jurisdiction, and erect a schismatical ongif*
gation, or set of Christians independent of the See of RoQfi
answering ColumbaAus's idea of a national church, upon Ik
Jansenistical model of that of Utrecht. Against such attesfti
1 ever have, and whilst I have life, eier shall set my. t»0^ ,
Therefore in my Church and State (p. 568) after having ezpr
citly set forth the origin, nature, effects, inconsistency, ail
abuse of the oath of supremacy, I said^ ^^ For th^ne reasoai) j
^ I must essentially differ from an elegant modem writer npss '
« these subjects {^Mr. ^errington't Introductim to tie MemMnif
M9
jfOttgrouodsi for fancy ingi that you -ever ^bad^ or
■ * ■' •
sUl have reatoa to charge me Jruly and fairly with
X making
^ Cnggrl^ Panta/U^p. 11.) who attempts toprtmej that such bat
^ km tie legal aiceptatiQn of the Oath from itf inaction to the prc^^
^ iMi^i and who holding the lawfalness of the present oath^'
^ Ihu! interrogates his Roman Catholic C9untrjtnen« Wb^
* sMtw imp9rtwic Ctovimmnt fir a furibef redress ofgrievan*
^MHWcomplah^ that *we ar$ aggrieved^ if the femdjl be in our
^ mmkmdi ? One Md man^ bjf taiin^ the oath, maj dissipate the.
^ mUeckarm effrejudiee^ and restore us the most valuable privikgti
^^fMfitisA Citizens, I hope it will hate Appeared to my rea.derS|
^ kom what I have already said^ (htit the imposers of thi/i Oath
" of Snpremacy look upon the sabscriptioa to It as an actual
^ MDunCiatiDn of the Aoman Catholic failthi and that the plaia
^ tad necessary meauiiig of the words of it| imports an abso#
^ kte renUBciatioo of a religions tenet^ which is holden as aa
* tsfj^ntial term of tfommnnion ^ith her|»'' This sacerdotal tru
«iTinU# of hid men have thus puhfKcty annoumted their opinio
iiH| in ordf^*, It mwt be presunled^ to Induce others to taka
Ikit oath, palpably Unlawful for a Roman Catholic to take^
ttaghlnerer heard, that Friar Peter Walsh, theRev^Mr.
liifijrfi Berringtoai or the Rer4 Doctor Charles O'Conor, ever
ait the example by taking it themselves* The aiiti«papal doc«
of Walsh will mor^ fully appear 4a the parallel drauroi be«
his and those of Columbanus in the Appendix, No. IIL
of the opinions of Mr. Joseph Berrington becpma of mom
loasequence tQ the body of English Catholics, in as flinch, as
Ibjras one of the two Priests of the second ord6r, (the Ret*
Mr. Wilkes, a Benedictin Monk, was the other^ and is dead),
riom the Committee of the nsmJd'be Protfstis$gCa$6clie Dissetu
fr/ associated t^ th^ir board, in order to avail themsslt «s of thf
t86
ttiaking assetdons without proofsJ . I procted tWe^
fore still gaggling in monatony, whether it be in ite
gabble^
wisdom and etperi«tice of tdese two Jure dhtno judges of ftiiS
and discipline, who concorrcd in, and approved of bj sifnfiDj
4Iie blue books, and the protest against their Bishops contumd
In them. And tlrese two are the persons, of whom that Cms.
itaittee said to the Bishops, We ar$ convinced^ thai ^vife have nd
have been msUd by our Clergy* For this protest, and some other
tfatters tending to disclose the general nature of that contro*
Versy between the loou/d^ie Pretesting CatUk Dhi^teft^ arf
their hiwfal Bishops, so unseasonably revived and iiereelj'J^
gned by Colmnbanns, will be found in the Appendix^'^No. Vt»
It must be remarktd, that the necessary conse^enoe of tbi
doctrines of the blue boohs, and the views of the Committee tf
HnMrA/.Ar Protesthig Catholic Dissenters^ Sehkmy is irery iads^
trioosly kept by them out of sight. It also has been stadiooBly
thrown into the very dark back ground of the nforementsof tlfii
aelf.appolnted board of Brflish (Catholics, and the dtviMfs, fc*
bricators, and promoters of the mystical fifth resdatkni, orri*
der to the Petition of the English Roman Catfaolic9, notfesd is
ihe third volume of my Post Union History (p. 787.) Thst
unfortmiate difierence of the nmild.he Protestissg Ceahik Disset*
^trr from their brethren, who wished to retain their naase art
title with their creed, and submission to thehr Bishopa, wts t^
'iocfhoate schism,, which bad \t been persevered In, vronld hivs
,4Mally verified the aMertion of St. Ignatius in the first ceaHf
jry^ of the Christian £ra, 9uotfuot Dei \i Jesu CMsH smttU
Cum Episcopo twit. At tnofy as helong to God and yttm Chriti^
^re nsHth the Bishop. No man of sound intellects can be blind tc
•the identity of spirit, principles, doctrines, views, anil tenden.
r)r of the conduct ftnd publications of the ntmtkUh pHkf9if[
gabble of^ the Conangfat wildgoose> the Mantuan
tmn, or Hudibrastic ganza. - ,
I cannot fix the precise date to the birth of your nuJ wtu
Reyerence's antipathy to Papal Supremacy. In the p*'^^'
«pring of 1810, 1 find you asserting (a sound Divine
miglit say very unwarrantably as a Roman Catholic)?:
'* that neither the election of Bishops by the Pope/
X 2 «♦ nor
CaUc Ditientertj the Board of British CatholicSy the sedacers
cf Lords Grej^ Ad Greuville and Messrs. Ponsonbj, GnUtaii)
asd other political friends of Catholic Ireland into the Fcta^
(lAieh they have since renounced) and this anti-papal trinm?i*
itte. In Mr. Berrington's Stafe anJ hekmhur rf Englitb Gt«
Mb} (2d Ed. 153) he says, ^^ In Catholic countries must be
* looked for the proper display of the Pa^al p6wer : and it will
* be found, that its sphere of action is exceedingly bounded.
^Tbey acknowledge in him a /rifflM^r, of jurisdiction ; but it is
^ a^priniacy nbject to the controul of Canons, and to the "gene*
^ nl order of established laws* Uis power is in no sense ab«
^lolute. It is his duty to attend to the execution of estabUshf-
^^ laws, and to take care, that the Christian republic receive
^ no injury* This is the office of a first magistrate jn erery
f'well.regnlated state. And to shew, how limitted his author
'^ilfy really is; we maintain that each Pastor in his parish,
;^each'Bishop, in his Diocese, each Metropolitan in his pto-
^fince, and^each Patriarch in his nationis possessed 4>f a pri^
^ per and essential jurisdiction, wholly vnoontroulable by, and
^ iadependent of tl^e See of Rome. They irespect hisprimacy:
^ hot they ha^e their rights and liberties as ancient and as sa-
^cred, as are his own. Such was the order divinely establidied
^ by Christ."
# 1 Col. 80.
152
*«iior tfieir tonJirmaiRmhj him after elect ton j
^^ their nomination to any vacant See, nor
•^ Pope's consenf^ nor even his knowledge of the
** pointmenty is a necessary requisite to establish
f^ validity of any of these acts." And again,* *' '
'* Pope's supremacy consists in a power given by
** Saviour to Sr, Peter, of inspectingtbe conduct o
^ orders of the hierarchy, so as to take care,
*^ th?t they shall have such church discipline, a
< ^^^may think proper to impose ; not ib^ ^e sbflU
«f Btsbof^s of his nomination*^ Then you inform ]
countrymen that t<^ our ancestors suffered mar
" dom, not for the Pope's temporal power of no
^* nating to Irish ^jshopricks, or of transferring Irel
to a foreign Monarch, but for suprenUicy of S
right. They supposed -they were called npp.r
f^ the Government of England to renouwe thi»
^^ tide rftbfir faitbf v^hen Elizabeth declared be
** Head of the Church, &o.. You should hold t!
'' to have denied the faith, if they had acceded to
*^ Oath of Supremacy, so worded, and so propp
^^ They dcted heroically in resisting principles, wl
^^ the Government of the day attempted to ramd
^ their throat$ with Mahomedan violence / and i
^* trould not have deserved the name of Irishr
^* or of Christians, much less of martyrs, if in
f ^.gfous matters, they bad been gdverijed by any c
!^pr»cl
• 1 Col. 87. + lb, PO,
16&
^ principles, thaa those of that heavenly periuashn^^
^^ «bich chaiacterui^s the Gospel of Jesus . Christ/'
In
* I again arrest mj reader's attention to this passage, which
Dr^fkarles O'Conor refers to ia his last work (5 CoL 283) as
Mt ^^wicquivocal <bclafatton^ that he does mt reetmmend to hh
m i i ^' jmn to tako tie Oath 0/ Supremacy* Throughout the whole
atkj he certainly commends the aineerity of his ancestors, who
Jieniealljr resisted principles* which gOYernment attempted to
rutdown their throats with Mahomedan violence. But in no
pHt of this paaiige does he express his own adoption of the
Wef of- his ancestors : on the contrary, he says, ivAe^r tlkjf
mm f^ht or vjrtmg in this tufpositiont is another quatiom^- (1 Goi*
ny» Confident I am, that whoeter has noticed the shuffling
yinaricatioo, with which the iydevant m ditant Coiimhanm
Am ittempled to substitute the oath of allegiance proposed by
JmtSj (which we have all equivahitly taken, by surearing to an
Mtth iA exactly the same tendency) for the oath of supremacy,
lad to r^MT dtmm his readers throats with Arian duplicity and
Aoalerjr^ this mwarranled denial^ will know how to appreci*
ittUs cliarge of diUherate falsehood and dishonesty j and utter insen*
Mlj of the sapfednest of truth j against Doctor Milner. . They
irfO be at no loss to discover to whom, apply most forcibly,
As words of Doctor O'Conor, (5 Co). 277). <^ I detest false*
^ kod In every shape 'it assumes; in history particularly,
^'fvery deviation from truth, however apparently veniail,
^^ ought to be prosecuted with all the severity of literary cea-
*^ lure ; the utmost indignation of science is too mild a punish*
^^ nent for intentional misrepresentation* Perhaps there is no
^^ human propensity, no brutal passion, against which Chris*
^^ tianity has opposed such barriers, as against misregyresenta,
^' Hon." (-5 Col. 109). Elizabeth's Oath of SupremacylJames's
ipology for his own Oath. of Allegiance! Peter Walbh I Mas*
on \ HeVf Doctor Chsirles O'Connor }!!
Id asstimmg, that " the title Head ef the Chitrd
^^ though odious to a Catholic, means no more tbai
**. Temporal Head of the Church, and Defender of tb
^^ Faith, you ascribe to the whole English nation tb
^^ cjisgraceful barbarism of ypur pwn conQned ijeas
Fevir Englishman annex the in^port to the t^m 1^
fetter of the Faitb^ which yon may, who so \yell kooi
that it was conferred by a Pdpe upon Henry VlU^io
having written against Luther^ who denied his HoU
ness^s supreipacy of jurisdiction, as you also do. Bv
^ j^erious reference to the temporal power \
a Pope^ {qua Pope) is setting up a chimera In chns
luan theology, which would have disgr^ed j(h
extreme pruriency ol the most bigotted ultro-nKmta
nist. Yet you very consistently and cooly infoni
ps, that *' no Englishman ever yet for a momen
^^ supposed, that the King could administer Sacra
'^ i^ei^ts, pr4ain Priests, giye a missiont for preaduDj
f It becomes wearisome, io be constantly striDgiaf foil
beaiUrells o^ Columbanus's incongruitkes, contradictioDf^slI
falshoods. (t CoK 105.) ^^ Spiritual mission must be M^
*^ Ami tfth dvtt power.'* (1 Col. 91) <* No EogUshmM^eri
^^ supposed, th;it the King could give a migsioa for pr^aflbta
^^ or teaching, or be the source of $pirilu(dy as well JkS of^tepp^
^^ K^lpower.*' (3 Cd. 69.) **It is not enough to be ordalpei
^^ unl<>ss the person so ordained have also a mission fnm i
^' CkK^^.»» (4 Col. 90.) ^' Spiritual mission must bei|K^/A
«' dessi of the State.'' (1 Col. 105) <^ Thus, witbput a missH
^( from the Chuxch;^ there c^xk be «ra €ccleiiastiealjurisdictkn% <
1&&
'^ or teaching* or be the source of sfirtiiiaU ^ ^^ oS
^ifimforaipower^^ Before I proceed^ deign most
learned
f^.QOTaUd administration of sacraments.'' (I Col. 103) ^'For
^^ lids hfB must await the mission of the Churchy which is to in^
^' dicate to him his particular destination, whether to Ireland^
^^ to England, or to America, &o. j^udtfwdi pr^dicdhufa, nisi
** tuttiuUurV^ (4 Col. 39) 'V Bishops can no more giTe juris*
^ ^ictioa beyond the limits of their own dioceses, than priests
^^'Cao j^ejond the limits of their own parishes. All require a
!i'i^ttla|r mission, which is limitted by the Charch ; and majr
^ in t(mte case» be limitted by the state. Spiritual jurisdictioil
^^ is not like a jump of matter, which can be divided into bits
** and scraps." (I Col, 14) '* I feel the necessity trf recur*
^'ikgtothe Protection of Law.'' (1 CoK 24) '* Is the re-^
^^ ipoBsibily of La*w never to be known in that Church V^ (^
Col* 162) ^^ Such proposals (viz. of a Veto) tend to obstruct
^' foreign influence, and reduce undue exercise and abuse of
** episcopal ppwer under legal restraint.'^ (4 CoL.46) *' Th«
*^ Castabafa privciples are hostile to the safety of our religion^
*^ which cannot exist or keep pace with the rapid increase of
^^ <mr population, unless it is supported hy that canonical dis*
^ cipline^ ij^ithout which we may transmit a vile, intriguing^
^•iitrainontane, but y^ cannot transmit a legal national
*^Chiii€hto posterity." (4 Col. 41) ^^Jurisdiction only re-
^* q^KS the will of the superior." (4 Col. 90) <^ Ooes it fol-
^ low, becaUse the civil pow£r cannot ordain a Priest, that
^^ tterefore it cannot nominate a Priest to attend the convicts
'^ It Newgate, or the sick and wounded in a hospital, or in a
*^ camp, or in the field of battle ? The spiritual qualifications
^^ of ordination and tfiissicn^ must be independent x^f the
'^ state ; but those qualifications are not, in the present state
^ of Ireland^ suffident without some degree of temf^rtU pawr^^l
1^
learned aiid Reverend Doctor^ to ioform thei^
norant dabblers ia history, if the Kktg €Mmt gm
. Miisim
(^ Col. 125) ^^Fortunately there are Engliih StateaMy
*^ frUnds to Ireland, and to the national libertiet of naoUiii
*' who without touching a single article of Odr faltt| wtttir
^< deavour to hold the JEgh of tbt Iaw between the alraii df
<^ spiritual power and the liberties of the Irish people.^^
If any determinate meaning can be' collected from All Ml
of contrary and contradictory propositions^ it appem le'li
an inordinate aniiety in the roost learned Doctor ta iqpilvi
tbe christian Primate of any power of suspension, renonthi
or contfoul over Bishops, and of Bishops o?er their partMliiil
Clergjf : at all events, that It can not be executed wfflliil
the concurrence, judgment and sanction id tike CiffI Ml||l«
trate. Itis irkesome, perhaps not useless, forepeat^ that'flb
fight is not lo be exercised wantonly and arbitrarily; ImtirH
cause. Yet this cause is not of itself quesdodable beflMI
civil tribunal : that is in explanatory terms, ibitractfng ftoii
any civil estllblishment, without which the Univefsal CMick
subsisted for the three first, and the Church of Irelail^Ai
three last centuries, the Christian Primate as Viear of Clifcl
on earth cannot be questioned, contronled, compelled} tf
punished for withdrawing, revoking, sUsplending, or amndUijtf
the Spiritual jurisdiction or mission, which he had hjm
fid of institution or confirmation conferred upon a BitAHoi^ ^oMf
a particular diocese. In like manner the Bishop's tdStA ,
or derivative jurisdiction to the Priest over a particttlarlliiiia
within his diocese, or the sobstractSon, limitation, or suipMei
of It are not objects of civil jurisprudence. Wherever the ittate
annexes or appropriates land, money, ^or aAy ^ecies of p&
perly, or citH benefit to the person possessing sncK mtidlin tr
15?
m, as not bemg the source tf Spirituai ponkt'i
f ndihet deciUn^ confirmatUih . cms€nt cr know^
Y ied^e
ctloil, tlie Pojie 6t the Bishoi^ wdulct palpably exceed his
by judging or ordering any thing about sucli property^
tth^ permission or concurrence of the citH magistrate.
(kt deprivation^ or during the snapettsion of snch mtssfody
[I tights, or legal pwperty of the Bishop o^ Parish Priest
(Mredsely lis they were before, unless or until the civil
•
ate of the state, in which the property is srtulted| shall
pressed his will and directions about it Tha£ very re4
las happened a case in point; I will not call it a prece*^
consider it still pending; for I should he loath to sup«
lat an appeal from this judgment^ if so it can be called,
lot be made. It tends powerfully to elucidate the opa"|
nd eftcacy of spiritual power.
*
e last Fermanagh Assizes, a traverse was taken by some
i prisoners confined in the gaol at Enniskilleti, to the
Qent of the Xjr rand Jury for an interdicted Clergyman of
3lic religion, whom they had under the XLVII Section,
st Prison Act, passed on the 10th June, 1810, appoint*
lioraan Catholic Chaplain of that goal. The person sa
d was not only a Catholic Priest, but also a regulat
nd therefdre-besides the general submission to episc'o^
ority, which in church government every resident Priest
bis diocesan Bishop, he also ow^d special obedience Iti
: his religious vow to the superior of his own order,
le provincial. This man by having received Priest's
I the Roman Catholic Church, answered the descriptlop:
to, whom the supreme civil magistrate empowered the
appoint^ viz. a Priest or Clergyman of the Roman Cat ho m
6. For aome (doubtless valid) reasons both the Bishop
prOTiQci%l,hAd lAid this man under interdict, or prohLi
168
Udge of the Pope be requisite^ and that our Bii
are not of bis Holiniss* nomiMtiofh from what, s
bited him from exercising his sacerdotal functions* He
that state, of which Columbanus says : thai nuithout a
from th Churchy there ean he m ecclesiastical jurisdiction^ \
euitMimttratiw ef sacraments. The Act entitles the*Grai
to appoint annual salaries la country towns, from 50U
to such Chaplains, as shall duly and regularly execu
duties, Mr. Baron MXleland, a righ,t Columbaman
5sbarged the jury, and they found against the travers
was afi anxious as Columbanus for the state in some eases
the mission^ and to make the responsibility of the lana ino*im
Roman Catholic Church, It will be admitted on all ban
the Roman Catholic Bishop, or the ProTincial, had m
whatever orer the salary : but they could no| aband<
trust or surrender their duty, by granting jurisdictior
eultietf to the unfit or unworthy, or by not withdrawii
from tho8e,who had abused them, and for this were they
der an account to God. .This courtly Baron told th
that in lavs the interdict of the Chaplain was an arrega
m
an assumftion of power by the person, who called himself ,
ihat diocese* He announced a serious admonition, thi
he and the Provincial should be brought before a Court
tice, to be punished for their illegal arrogation and as:m
power* For thereby they not only usurped a power akb<
of the Grand Jury, but of the Legislature itself ;^'a
which he hoped to 6oci he never should see vested i
He observed, that it was the opinion of Catholics, that i
Priest might prevent any otherperson from exercising i
jurisdiction, or sacerdotal functforis, within his parish,
leave of the Bishop: a prison was of no parish, its inh
were generaHy of diverse and distant parishes* He a<
KiUh th6 Counsel for ^e traversers, that the Chaplaii
159
mm
do their Catholic Bi«hops cferive the mission or spirii
toal jurisdiction ?
Y2 - It
iotiie Catholic prisonors slionid be performed according to* the
disdpliQe of the Catholic Church ; aod ^e most ineptly fbllow*
edsptlutt '^mission, with referring. to the IrreleTaat testimony
of the Protestant Chaplain, that the. appointee of 'the Graa^
3^ hfiA discharged bit clerical functions in the goal miith pcrsevfi*
faaccj attention y a ftd as riduitj* Spiritual mission is no Tisibhe
CKterjial f>adge i but without it, even CoTumbaniis admfts, there
Is DO Talid adniinistration of Sacraments. It is hceclariuSy that
tins legislatiye provision for a Boman CathjoHc Chaplain, was
loade, in order, tb«t the Roman Cathollb prisoners plight in
tUtr captivity, or before their execution, have the consolation
aadbeneftt of receiving the sacraments according to the rites
tf their own Church; therefore when Mr. Baron M^Cleiandy
tkoBgh' ignorance, bigotry, or intolerance, so pointedly cbn*
tmened the intention of the supreme civil magistrate, he was
fkprtviog bis Catholic fellow-countrymen of that partial anH
copdilional toleration, which they have enjoyed since the year
1791, and throwing the poiver of the Ifeys^ which they hold^ (as
Irotestants also do) to be of divine institution, entirely under
tts controul of the civil magistrate. By siich false doctrines^
Hd the recommendation of a Veto^ has the grand effort been
iKtsiapted to mundanize the kingdom of Christ, by incorporating
« - . ^
't ivith, and subjecting it to the state, in order to verify Co«
'anbanns's vaunting proqfiises and predictions to his country.
^m. (4 CoL \%) ^< With the blessing of G oh the shade of the
"^ great C^umhoJius shall not have appeared to us in vain. We
^ shall yet have a NATIONAL CHURCH; onr ancient
' renown shall not ytt be annihilated." Thts incident not
ily falsifies the assumption of the magistrate's power to give
risdiction to a Chaplain to a campi prison, o^liospital (4 Co!.
100
t
Coidmba. It IS ia cvidencc, that before the ^Sd of May 1810
fiui' aoti- 11.
pathy to one Catholic Arch-Bishop, Dr. Trdy, oi^ Catrohc
Kome^Bub- , ^ ^
sequent to BishoD, Df. Movlon, oue Pfotestant English Noble-
the canvas -
for laijhin. man the Marquis of Buckingham wrote several
letters concerning your canvas for the See of Elphins
refusing or declining any interference or co^peratm
in advancing you to it. Had that canya%been suc-
cessful, you Revi Doctor, would probably ere thk
have been nominated or confirmed in that Siee by
his Holiness Pope Pius the VII, as Dr. FreKch and
his predecessors had been by preceding BishqHt of
the See of Rome. Then Colutnbanus's letters might
not have appeared, or the manuscript, or even printed
sheets might like your grandfather's memoirs have
been consigned to some other confluence of Lethe
and Cocytus. Lest however the failure in the con-
test for Elphin^ might by some be attributed toyouf
Want of powerful influence at the court of Rome, k
ifie stutumn of 1810, you assure your brother ,• diat
you might have been *• assisted in the object he had
** so much at heart, by some of the first recommen-
** dations^ if you had cliosen to have accepted ofibmi
l". and you might perhaps yery safely, that is vHtb^
^^ discover)
4\) but discreditg, either for truth, or relevancy, the foHowin;
asfiertion, (d Col, 6) ^^ The Bishops are indeed sogener&usj i
^^ to admk, ihhi the state may have a negative, in the Domioi
f^ tion of a Chaplain to. administer sacrament^ to felons
f^ Newgate.'* ':
^ 8 Col, ISt
161
^ discdviryi acquiesce in a bull obtakied through Dr.
^ Walsh at Par^s, or Cojrdins^ Maury^ at Kome/*
^^ But had you so bartered your principles of religi-
*' oug discipline and allegiance, you ought to change
^ ypu^ name and deny your family, rather than that
'^ it sbmdd be krumn* that you disgraced the one, or
^^ Violated the hereditary honours and dignity, and
^^ retigioii of the latter." It was not untill the nega^
tivCjOr apologetic letters from Doctor Troy, Doctor
Moylan, and Lord Buckingham, and the circulars to
the Clergy of the second order had (as we must pre-
sume several other such steps unknown to us^^ failed
IB thar object, that the Rev. and most learned Doc-
tor puUished the following solemn protest against the
lawfiilness or validity of it. t " I do most distinctly*
^* profess my fall and deliberate conviction, that no
-^ appointment to an Irish Bishoprick can be legiti-
** mate
' * There appears to me sometliing rather singular in Colom^
hanas^s boast of the ability to procure the See of Elphin, thro*
freneh influeace^ without fear of detection y and then argue, that
disgrace would haye fallen upon himself and his family should it be
known. I consider, that the<.three unsuccessful applications to
Bishops, not of the Province of Tuam, and a Nobleman not of
the Catholic Church, to be an nncanonical abuse of fiftign in"
fiiencfy as much as the application to Mr. Walsh and Cardinal
Maury. The repe&tca offers boasted of by the most learned
Doctor proye, at all eyents, the extent and duration of the can*
vas for advancing him to the See of Elphin, to haye been mucl|
more extensive, than is known to the public. But the French
^ay proverbially. Tout dentin tntne a Rome,
t ? Col. 3.
Ptts* impor-
tant viis^
rrprcsenta
162
** mixe in the present state of Ettrope, whhoat the
^* free election of the diocesan clergy, assembled k
^> chapter for that purpose, after the Bishop's death,
^' vacant e te'deS' Henceforward under such fuU and
deliberate canviciiorij your opposition and hostility to
the powers and jurisdiction of the Supreme Pontiff
were solemnly proclaimed, and urged in yoor Ai^
dresses to your countrymen, under the wilful, .iais«
chievous^ and malicious misrepresentations of several'
historical facts, and gross misconceptions of law. Oa
these ground^> I find it my duty to reply to them*
Let others point out your theological errors.
The important events, which you misreprent to
your countrymen with a view to your grand attack
^^^•^ upon the chair of St. Peter, are the civil constitutioa
of the French clergy, and the synodical resolutions
of the Irish Bishops at Tullow on the 6th of Jtme
180J>, approving of the concordat entered into by
Pope Pius the VII, with the ruling power of France.
These you basely make the vehicle of your personal
rancour and vindictive calumny against your oppo*
nent Bishop Milner, and your implacable and scan*
dalous abuse ^nd opposition to your own Hierarchy.
History may be falsified, as well by suppression of
truth, as by dispra3ring untruth. It fell to my lot in
writing the History of the BritisB Empire for the last 20
months* to have occasion to speak of the civil const!*
tutioa
* Poblished in 1794, by Eob^nson, ia LondcNi) and by J**
P^rne la Dablin.
163
I tutlon of tlie French tlergy which threw thatclxurtli
I iilto the schism, out of which that respectable portion
of the flock of Christ was taken by the Concordat |3e-
fore mentioned. It now becomes requisite to shew,
what were the .eflfects of that civil magistrate's interfe-
rttice with Church Gwernmenty by erecting, as you
80 frquently and ardently wish, 2l National Church
independent of the Papal supremacy. You will allow
me tp refer to what I said as an impartial and faithful
historian (a character I. never mean to forfeit) about
«ghtcen years ago, because on re-perusing it, I find
that your, and some other attempts to plunge Ireland
into ^ similar schism, have added strength and iacal-
colable imfiortance to tht truths contained in that pas*
sage..
After having (p. 104) stated, that the execution x>f French
the decree for banishing all the nonjuring clergymen ci<M«y.
to Guiana, who should not have quitted the kingdom
in fourteen d^ys from the passing of that decree,
pouted thousands of those venerable exiles from Nor*
*^dy,. Piccardy, and Britanny, upon our coasts of
£ent and Sussex,, t observed, that the naked plea of
Wretchedness, was a precept to British philantrpphy^
and it was but justice to that persecuted clergy to
apprize their benefactors of the motives and necessity
of their eadle^ I am free to say, that the same motives
and necessity exist for the {rish rejecting the doctrines,
and solicitations of you. Rev. Sir, and most learned
DoQtpr, if they .wish not to be plunged inj:o a simi-
lar
1G6
rope have emulated the constancy of the primitire
Christians^ in giving lustre and dignity to' the suffer*
ings they undergo for their faith. It will be well for
the niodem liberal deriders of fanatsLcism^ ^A s(iof-
» • ...
fers at Priestcraft to review impartially the horSS
imj&ties^ the blasphemous atrocities^ with wWch tlie
profane miscreants of France, since the expulsion'tf
their conscientious clergy, secrhed to have braved-tlic
vengeance of the Almighty. The qrimes and offen-
ces of the abandoned flocks proclaim the glorious
eulogies of their persecuted pastors. ■'
Their cifii <« In vaitt is this respectable clergy calumniated by
ivitb the their enemies^ for having resisted the dvU. power and
lawful constituted authorities of the State. It is no*
torious^ that they had peaceably submitted to a i;^*
duction of their livings, little ishort of. annihila^QiV
ihat they offered their unequivocal submi^sioA to eve*
xy change or alteration^ which tlie authorities fpF the
time being should chuse to make in the civil estaMisbf
7Hent of their religion, either by the abolition, or sultr
;5traction of tithes and other temporal ppssesdons, by
the repeal or azuiuUing of their temporal dignities afid
civil immunitjes, or othjerwise, provided, they. would
leave untouched and. inviolate that sacred deposit p(
faith, of which^with their spiritual jurisdiction, they had
received the guardianship and trust, which they coold
,oaly surf ettdefujto^ the hands> from which they, had
received
107
. r
received them» and which jdiey could not of them^.
selyies transfer nor abandon, but with their lives/*
• - • * . • • • ■ ■ _ . . ,«
Such, Rev. and most learned Doctor, was the Janseniiti.
cal antipa-
feithful Statement of the case of the French emigrant thy ngaimt
^^ ' the See of
clergy, which the lay historian or annalist felt -him- Home,
sdf called upon to transmit to posterity, with a par-
fioulir view of preventing the followers of F^eter
Walsh (not in his truths but in his errors) the com-
j^iers of : blue books, and such declaimers against an*
effident primacy ot dignity and jurisdiction in the
successor of St. Peter as Columbanus^ from mis-
representing their motives, and depriving them o^ the
pdma mariyrum* I always traced in their oppugner^ .
and revilcrs,^that sort of insidious antipathy against
the chair of St. Peter, which notoriously prevailed in
Queanel^* and the Jansenistical party in FranteJ
They were the unrelenting labourers to establish a
national churchy and self 'elected and civilly appointed
Bishops in France, as at Utrecht they had done, .by
way of experiment : but liad always, failed, until the
phibsophizing leaders of the French revolution re<*
Aiced to practice their AntF-CIm^tian speculation^^ in
|J» wicked establishment of the civil constitution oftbe
clergy.
irishmen beware. Watch closely and with live jea- ^/^^j^f"|,
Iqusy your countryman, who has so long ago washed »f ^'«i«m-
^ Doctor O'Conor openly boasts of his sympathies fvithhim
aiMtl other leaders of the Jaa^enists (who may aot improperly
1«8
pff the rouge of Irish prejudiccsr ^ • My goa4
f^ brother, says he neveithdess, I' have % character
*.*yet
*
be tehn/ed the Puritans of the Rom^n Catholic Chorch, C4Co\f.
Mj 7.) ^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^^ vilest tricks of the Court theologians, tsd
^' flatterers of the Pope's temporal dQmnion^ was tp coq^emni^
^^ gioboy as smeUiig of heresy and offending pkm earsf all 1iooki|
*' which are writteo againist the abases of their tipies. Itwai
^^ justly remarked of th^ bull agaiost Qnesnel's works, t|iat ia
f^ reality it prpposed not one qrtlcte to he believed,, aod that the
^^ accumulated quali^cations, of bereticqly iiUsoundingy ilU
^' smelling^ (S^c. whic|i are applied to all his works^ could notbjBi
9^ applied to any one proposition in the whole. It was a par-
^^ ty bull, of which the celebrated Cardioai Tencttty an4 the pif
.^^ ous Fitzjafft^u Bishop of Soisson, and brother U^ otor gallait
^^ coaatry]9^an the Duke of Berwick, and that it proposed la
V be belieyed with implicit faitfi ap indeterminate ciised,.Ql
f ^ which not one article could be defined. And are those dayr
^^. o^ undefined J technical^ theological word? to be continued ?"r^
Jrtsbmen beware I AU that the self-opiniaied Columbanof
eays, is neither to be believed nor admired. This Quesael, to
whom he 90 ostentatiously attefnpts to assimilate himself, spetit
his life chiefly in writing against the -authority pf his spiritHi
iupcjriors; he early in lifp, A. D. ]^684, quitted the cQngregftf
tion of the Oratorians from refusing to sign a formula of the Cat
tholic faith, which expressly renounced Jai^senisip, of which be
became the leader and head. One of the last of his many booki
namely, Befiectiom Morftles^ was publicly denounced as hereti?
^al and seditious : they >vere condemned by Pope CieineBtXIi
in 1708, suppreased by the Council in 1711, proscribed by
Cardinal de Noailles in 1713, and finally solemnly anathema^
^jsed by the bull or constitution £/S??jf^f7//irf published at Rome
* 3 Co!. 74*
100
/.
^ to lose/ flotwithstanding all thine Impijftationt.'
Have never yef misquoted Gilda« for the history
of King Arthur, I have never perverted the words
rf any pian, to ansvtrer my ovm purposes of ma-
• dignity or revenge. Wherever a passage is ob**
^ttHxt, I explain it by the author's context^
* nfeteyer it is clear, J give it's phint obvious and
• ' ^^adm'med
MfllBtb of September, 1713, accepted Jiy the French Bish«
Q|i|Bden^Ued at Paris pn the ^5th of January 1714, eoregU*
tend 10 the Sorbonne oa the 5th of March, aod afterwards
Feoei7e4 by the epispopal body. The phus Fitxjames^ was con.
nilered t^y the* JTansenists as the chief support of their party;
tottfe of his writings were condepoined at Rome, add by several
<^th^ {"renph Bishops. He was notBrottpfj but isoB of the
gifhnt Doke'of Berwick^and- he was no countryman of Colufm*
ham; he was a Diatural son of James II. by Arabella Churchill^
sitter to the Duke of JVIarlborough, and he was born in 1671, at
Ifonlins in ]P*rance, as his mother was coming from drinking the
Waters 6( Bonrbpn, 'After so edifying and correct ai piece of
Wstoy, r agaiji say, 'Irishmen henuare. The bull Unigenittts is
tMl^dby sdl Qatholics to be a fa\v test or criterion^ by which
^^Mnriif^iaate the Janjsenist from the CathoHc. No orthodox
Cft^^c wiU refuse, no real Jansenistwill subscribe to it, Yoi(l
hniijt therefore require some further authority, than the asserT
tioo of Cqluwhanusy that Cardinal Tencin eitlier thought or
i^e of that bull ill uuison with the Bishop of Soissoh. *thai'
Qfttb^nal, ^hen Arch-Bisrhop of Embrun, held that fsimous
Coinidl hi 1727, against Soanen, the then Jansenistlcal Bishop
i Senez, for which he was as warmly commended by the Ca*
bolics, as he was e^^e crated and traduced by the JansenisticaJ
CC
170
'< ddmtiied meaning. I can not diai^e my conso-
" ence with misrepresentation.'* *" / deieUfalsebm
*• in every 'shape it assumes : in histpry particularly,
** every deviation from truth, however i^pparen^y
'^ venial^ ought to be prosecuted with all t^a ^e^&fj-
*• of literary censure : the utmost icdigpatjon^of
^' science is too mild a punishment for inienfifml
*' misrepresentation^^^ No new test acts, such astbat«
** which has been framed in a secret exclusive syfloi
<^ of Apostolic Vicars, who if this system is toieralied^'
may introduce any profession of fmth^ they pkue^
and fetter every Catholic annalist, and every \ap
*^ torian by censures at will, and deprivation it
discretion, without any regard to the wisdom vA
sanctity of 1800 years.'' Now Rev. and most
learned Doctor, I am a Catholic annalist j and will
not let down my honoraiy degree of ^Doctor rfChA
Law in the University of Oxford, by squeamiidiiif
disclaiming the character of an historian. V^cfsA*,
dently claim that of a true one, maugre your pWfel
taunts, at my being a superficial and declaviatdrfix^'
filer J a plagiarist by tl^foot square^ a vulgar and i^
Wed' pamphleteer J a vile calumniator^ a malid^
falsifier J a coarse misrepresenter^ an ignorant preteiAfx
a scurrilous abuser of virtue and greatness 9 an imoMt,
tent and svperficial dreamer, a dabbler in Irish t6storj%
^i^gg^r Hie other wild geese in one and the same mHi
and
* 5 C(rt. 207. + 5 Col. 9%
CC
Vft
lAd a c^ht ^t^plytffg ym year after 'fear with the same
tteHial sing son^. . .» .
Stand forth thou mock patriot unrmgedy thou ^hited ^/**^ "*'*"
^w«//, blazon all the disgusting wrinkles on thy front ! IJl^^g^'oo^
let thy colintr ymen^ there read tliose Boeotian false-^ "/! ^}^ ,^""
' ' gush Vi-
hoodSj With which thou hast linblushingly insulted «^'^':*Ai)ofc-
X^l - •* ♦/ detest fakehood : and if / advance one
mtd tf ^untruth J I shalt niost gladly make amends by a \
fiiblic recantation. • Quasi tuba exalta vocem. Beydiir
rtcantfttion prompt, loud and full of the following
%raiii: historical tmtruth^;^ . ** fFour Vicars Apos^
**'t6Kc English^ assembled in synod' have framed
•^anew-test^ which implies personal infattibiltty 6ft
*" Ae part of the Pope^ and they* have imposed thu
■^^yoke on the neck' of tlie clergy, 'declaring, that
"* they will nqt admit alty to exercise the functions
*" of his ministry, unless he subscribe three propo-
*^tttton9,^ which no man can subseribe, unless he
-^ admits as a foundation for fais belief, the personal
■•^iiifellibility of Pope Pius VII.** You call itj ** A
-^bew test act in favor of the Pope's infallibility*'
Txm say § " it was framed in- a. ^^ir^ exclusive
'ifnodj to \9hich not one of ^the second orders ihc
fertohs principally concerned/ was adttiitted/' Your
mveterate habit of miiiquoting and suppressing every
'thing, 'tbat imparts . respect and submissicni to the
Christian primate' prevents me ixom gimg you credit
^ * for
? • Cri. S16. f 5 Ct)l. 51. + 5 Co!. 36. % 5 Col. 92.
tn
Ibr accuracy in quoting a letter vnioa^ by the hitht^p
of Castbala to a French Priest from Wolverhamp-
ton on the 6th of September .1811, in which yod
eay, you find the foUo\ving passage. ^^ *It waa agreed
^^ upon by all the. four English Bishops in syno4» io
^^ February last^ that Priests receiving faculties is
^* ibture ahoujcl declare their assent to the foUpwjns
^' propositions, i^. That they hold commaiuoii.
<' with his Holiness Pius VII. 2''. That they. do noC
^' beleive the said Pope to have £Ulen into hereif
^< schism. 3^.That they do Hot consider hiip^ aa
^* the aiKhor or approver of any heresy or scUtou^
Here upon a recent and an important historical £ict^
that has taken place within those twp years, is Aers
more Enlsehood asserted by a man, who detests fibt^
imds% than could have been hazarded by any other^
4han an abandoned and thorough^paced brayo. Ew0
fportet esse bene &f naviter impudentem4 By the g^a-
ine document, Which fortunately for tha sake of tnitb^
and the edification of this part of the Chmr^j; psi
tieither entombed in the sepulchral library rfSiewe^ aor
immersed in the Foddle at DubUn ; you staiid vjl^
convicted of as much fi^lsehood and misriepresrall^
don, as could well be engrafted upon the fact. o£a
Synodical meeting having been holden in Loackui jfi
February, in which the growth of the aobUm ipf
Blancbard wa» taken into consideralion by the £19*
♦ 5 Col. 30, /
in
tth Viears ApofttolicI In the first place, the syttod^
cal resolution in question (or even the mutilated and
dfitfigured representation of it^ as yo^i say you found
kin Doctor Mihier's Letter) contains not a word, that
can be tortured into an implication of the doctrine
of personal * in£aillibility in the Pope; as you say,
•^NoW I for one, do not believe in any such pre**
** native ; and the Irish Bishops have sworn^ that it
'*i«b6 part of their feith.'^ In thef next plzce, Iv
was not in any sense whatever, what your most ve-
ncious and orthodox Reverence calls aiKl inveighs
agsumt, as a sicret and exclusive Synod, into ivbich not
ke (f)he second order of the Clergy was admitted. That
STnod consisted of five persons of the episcopal ordef
md seven of the second order* In the last plac^, it wilt
be found by comparison of the three propositions,
which you {who never fer^erted the words of any matt
U answer your own purposes of malignity and revenge)
live holden out to your countrymen, as the test or
condition for the Vicars Apostolic granting faculties^
or giving spiritual jurisdiction to their PViests, with
Ae original, that you have defacto^ (whether design*
idly or no, further detections of such suppressions
ttd garbiings will enable us to judge) omitted in the
frtt proposidbn the following very important words,
ir head rfibe Church of Christy and legitimate successor
i S/. Peter: The second original proposition yott
We unfaithfully and unfairly split into two, and the
9 A third
\
174
tlixd ydu have wholly suppressed ; ud I oiast be fite
to say^ that I cannot by any means lay such suppres*
5ion to the account of Doctor Milner, who assisted
at the synody and wrote a letter to a Fcench Priest
about it^ when a very serious question of difference
in church government arose between the Vicars Apos**
tolic and several of the French emigrant clergy^ upoa
the subject matter of that very tlurd proposition >
xiamely, whether all the rights^ duties, and relatione
of spiritual jurisdiction^ and of spiritual superiors^
and subjects did not attend those fugitive Prelates snd
their clergy into exile^ so as to exempt them ftom
the spiritual jurisdiction and authority of the ordi*
naries of the districts^ in which they should reside.
This third proposition was evidently resolved upon to
set that question at rest^ and to assert the spiritu&l
jurisdiction and authority of the ordinaries over every
person actually residing within their respective dis-
tricts. The following is a faithful copy of the una*
iiimous resolution of that Sjnody in which the case of
Blancbqrdy and others of the Emigrant French Cler*
gy were taken into consideration.
«yiodicai <« Present^ R. R. Dr. Gibson, V. A. for R. R, Dr.
•f the vi- «« Douglass, V. A. Rt. Rev. Dr. Poynter, Coadir. R--
<ait Ados • ^ j-
toii«. ** R,Dr. Milner, V. A. Rt. Rev. Dr. Collingridg^
** Y« A. Rev. Dr. Smith, Coadjr. Elect. R.J. Hodsons
«* V. G. Rev. T. Rigby, D. D. Rev. W. Fryer, R.
'< C.,Macdonn9ll, R. J. Bramston> R. G. Chamber-
« iaiPj Rev. John Griffith, Sec.". N. 2a^.Feby. 24,
V Question,
175^
^Question. What adherence to Blanchard or Ws
** system should be judged a disqualification in a
** Priest to his being employed by a Bishop ? ]f revi-
** ous to the answer, the Right Rev. Doctor Poynter
•^suggested, that a Priest adhering to Blanchard^ ot
** his system, should be required to acknowledge; Isf.
**Bbpe Pius VH. as head of the church of Christ
^' tod legitimate successor of St. Peter. 3dlj^. That
" Pbpe Pius VII . is neither a heretic nor a schisma:-
"tic, nor the author, nor the abettor of heresy or
'* schism. 3dly. That no person has jurisdiction
** in the respective districts of the R. R. V. V. A. in
"England, except by delegation from them, or im-
** mediately from the Holy See ?" Answer. '* Those
^ who refuse to acknowledge the above artitcles are
** to be forbidden to exercise any ecclesiastical func-
** tions, and to say mass within their respective dis-
*4iricts.** This misrepresentation of the Vicarial
Synod in England, and the falsification of its resolu-
tions are far from being single instances of the gr-
is^ant soi disant Columbanus's aberrations from hit-
torical veracity, Christiati candor, and theological
accuracy.
• *' The Irish Bishops assembled at Tulfow June Mi»repre*
*■ seiitation of
6, 1809. have thought it expedient to declare, that, <frcCatho-
-^ ° ^ ' ' lie NatiM-
thoueh they hold the Civil Constitution of the French »> -'^ynodof
^Clergy to be impious, heretical| schismatical, and
2A2 . J^on
* % Col. 214.
i7flr
^ on the whole to be rejected," (a pfetty cHmax!)
'* yet ihe holy father Piu8 VII. has only yielded by
^^ the Concordat, what the dreadful exigencies of the
** times demanded from a true shepherd of the Chw
I' ~
^' tiaii flock ; and that in his measure for the rest(^
f * ration of Catholic unity in France/' (by crownii^
Bonaparte, &c. &c.) '^ he has validly^ amiagreeaUf
^^'io ihe use and spirit of ihe sacred Canom eztvted
** the powers belonging to the Apostolic, See." •
Irishmen^ again I say, beware* Again I say^ Hum H
J(9man0 Caveio^ You naturally imagine, that tbese
lines .with inverted commas^ are quotation from the
synodical resolutions of the Bishops convened at Tul^
low, June 6, 1809. You wpuld little suspect, that a
Rev, and most learned Priest, who boasts of never
having misquoted old Gildas, who wrote 1300 yeaH
9go> would not be faithful and correct in quoting the
cynodical printed resolutions passed by the Bishqx
of his owni country within the last three years ; aajfi
even actually pending the unsuccessful canvas fot
his promotion to the See of Elphin, (his own P/e*I
late, the late Doctor French, assisting at, and signii^jf
them), t The misquotation is the least part of the
decepdbDi
* *' See," says Columbapus, ^^ this very classical, elegant, •
^' and orthodox performance of the Holy Syood of TuUoiff
<^ published by the Bishop of Cas-fabala in his Supplement to a
, %^ 1?AST0RAL Letter." London, 1809. p. 17-
+ " A year has elapsed since you first wrote to me toas**^
f ' your en^eaTQnrs for my promotion tp that See, &c." 3 Cq!? ^« -
177
sceptbn, whtch was intended to' be practiced oh your
Ottntrymen, to whom your letters are addressed, or
^ather for whose seduction into schism and disunion,
fcty were writterf. The words of the 2d Resolution
of diat Synod, as they are reported by Bishop Mil*
oer in his supplement, from which you most learned
Bmot pretended or affected to quote them^ are :
*♦ We declare, that adhering as we have done from
^' tbe b^inning to the decisions of Pius VL of holy
f* remembrance^ concerning the so-called Civil Con^
^^tinaion of the Clergy of France^ and judging, after
*^ those decisions, that the said Constitution was im^*
*^pbus m its suggestions^ heretical in its pretensions,
^ schismatical in several of its provisions, and on the
"whole to be rejected ; we judge at the same time,
*' tfcat our holy father Piiis VII. has not m«mt to ap^
'^jprove, and by no color or inference, has be ap-
^ proved of the errors, heresies, or impious princi-
" pies contained in the said Civil Constitution of the
^ C&r^yt or of any of them ; but that especially in
^' his measure of the . restoration of Catholic unity,
^ and the peaceful exercise of true religion in France,
'^ he has adhered to that, which was dogmatical in
'*the said decisions of his predecessor, and that ha
" has only yielded what the dreadful exigencies of the
^* times demanded from a trufe shepherd of the Ca*
^* tholic flocks, in commiseration of such days^ as ne-
'* ver appeared from the beginning of the worlds and if
" they had not been shortened on account of the electa all
^^ feik would not have be§n saved f\ Vi Thirdly,
Its
• ^ Thirdly, we declare, that la die Pontifical Atti
^* dready mentioned of Pius VII. he has validly, affil
•* agreeably to the spirit of the sacred Canons eaccl^
*^ ed the powers belonging to the Apostolical Seec
** that he has e&ctually restored the Catholic Ohm*
*' tians of France to the visible body of the Church t
^^ and that he has thereby imparted to them a. trie
*^ commumon with the universal Church, that bieiog
^< restored to God, through Christ, tliey may iia?e
*^ remission of their sins ^ in the holy spirit: aadve
^ accept^ approve, and concur with the said Acts df
Pius VII. as good, rightful, authentic, and neeeff-
sary, inspired by charity, and done in the £uth of
** his predecessor." *
Further • Laying aside all Irish, as well as English prejudices^ ;
sentitions you \vill%llow me. Rev. Sir, to bid defiance to e?ay
^ ^'-individual female or male. Catholic or acatholici
from Stowe to Castlereagh, tp read separately tiie
text and your pretended quotation of it, without havi*
ing different, widely defierent, conceptions^ andsa-
pressipns, and without drawing opposite conclusiooi*
Irishmen beware! Recollect who s^ys,! ** Givente
I*' Irish honesty^ and I will start with it against all die
:*^ ihejine virtues,. of all the fine nations of the globe."'"
Yei/
* The Esatchless effrontery, with whicji Colambanas misnr ■
presents the SynodicalActs of Tullow, throws me under the IM* j
ces^ity of presenting my readers with fall evidence of this seiU
ons charge. li^e will find the whole in the App* No* V«
f 4 Col. 26-
1?»
'ICf. ^vho are his countrymen, give him largely of
eur exuberance, and' back him confidently again^
he field. Watch every step from the starting to the
irinmng post. *^ Those Bishops, say you,* were not
^^ pressed by any legitimate authority to pronounce
" any opinion on the subject : but they would shew
•* the public^ that they can decide all matters apper*
•* taming to faith and discipline exclusively : and so
** they passed a Synodical Decree in favor of the Con*
^ 4ordai^ against Abbe Blanchardy with whose writings
*iB favour of the Bourbons, they would have dwxe
^* wisely not to interfere ! But . the more linfibitted is -
•* the society, in which we live, the more contracted
"and absurd are our ideas. A petty Constable. is a
•* great man in a village ; so is Mr. Lyon's Village .
^ Lawyer ; and so is a Politidan Bishop in a Synod
* of TuUow. The whole world is nothing in the
* eye of the Statesman of a Cabbage GardJea!" The
Idsehood, deception, and malice of the first part of
^quotation will be presently disclosed^ The tapi-
sod^ t with which it so loftily concludes, I leave in
ibe cabbage garden, where compost has its use.
I have observed, that these democratic evangeliz- Base at-
ios: agitators, ** 1 these bouifeus use all their arts of »» the c^
" fascmation ^y of ire-
f As some of my readers, may not, like the most learned
iHlctory haTe gone through a lingular course of rhetoric, for
%mr benefit I remark, that <this oratorical figure is so called
rout the Greek word /«r^erAu/) humble {o\y^ ^^c.
1 I Col. 75. - -*
180
<
^ £iScinatIon by loudly desca^iting opon soma-faw^
*^ rite popular uncontroverted topic or point ofm*
^^ cessary faith or discipline with zeal and enthusiasm;
^^ that they may by insensible gradation lead thco'
•* followers from truism to doubt, obscurity and ^*
•* ror.** The ppint used by you. Rev. Sir, fer Ais
lamentable purpose, is the negation and renuncatioifc
of any direct or indirect temporal power m the Bishop
of Rome. You well know, that the Catholic Clergy-
men both of the 1st. and 2d; order in Iretasd havef
specifically and explicitly lenounced it*; for itt
1810, that is, since your open proclamation of Wi^
with the Holy See, which is coeral with your txaand^
ousness of the failure of the canvas for Elphioi yois'
have theologically discovered, t ** a spiritual phrase'*
'* ology, which is much worse than nugatory. It is S
** profligate trifling in matters of the greatest impor*
^* tance } it is a species of equivocatmg profaaatku).^
Tou then labour most indecently, as well as stupscU
}y and maliciously, to fix every man, who hat takeflf
that oath with direct perjury, if he hold,* that tip
Irish Bishops have been (perhaps your RevereiMr
mes&f.
* Columbanus admits \i in the folIo\^ing terfiis, (2 ColS8»/
*^ Do we not well know, that these leTyfiatAsofjIlkgianciylM!
'*' which our ancestors were excommunicated by the Exdtfk*
*^ Doctors of Waterford, in 1645, are the pviuoipleaandosttH.
^' which are now taken by every Catholic Nobleman Sb'
*' Gentleman, by every Bishop, and by every Vtksl^l
'' from Kerry to Derry, from Cork to Donegal,'^
+ 2 Col, 119.. ^ .
4i
Vacant alsd, that they ought to be) appfointcfiJ fey
firiign power.* <^ I should be glad to knoi«r, whethei5
^' hcj who swears^ that he rejects all foreign UmpC'-
^ tal power, both direct and indirect on the part of
^ the Pope, and yet not only allows his interference
*• in the patronage of every diocese in Ireland, but
^ idso applies to him for nomination to every Bishop-
♦^riok worth from 2001, to 7001. yer annum, is
^not guilty of a violation of that oath?'* You
continue your scandalouFs and malignant sophistry,
by endeavouming to debauch your countrymen into
t belief^ that it is sinful to '^ take such an oath, as
long as zny foreign temporal influence j any foreign
patronage, and foreign nomination to vacant See$
^ is allowed ? for are not all those things temporali"^
** ties, and temporalities too of very considerable im-»
^portance? and is not the appointment to them
"•' direct ptrwer ? Nay is it not extlutive ? ? Is it not
* uncouritroukd ?" With such wretched contuiv
DKicious^' sophistry do you labour to fix your Hierar-]
Aj with the prevaricating baseness and inconisis*
lacy of condemning and rejecting by a solemat
'^yaodical decision, the very identical proposition^
vfaich each of them had individually sworn to^ And
this you endeavour to efiect by the grossest deceptbm
. upon those, who give you some credit ior Ustorical.
knowledge and fidelity. >
! J Col. 119, 1^.
ISf
Msirepr^ * " Tou who w?ll kjiow (say you. to ypur biotIier|
Vf^DrMiu ^^ the principles, which I have ever professed, will
CMiicao ^ " fwlge of my surprize, when instead of finding in
tio^ ** •'the condnct of our Bishops those facilities for the
^^ enuncipation of our country* which I had, untitt
f « latjely, expected from them, / read the following
^^ paragra[^ in a pamphlet, written by their avowed
f^ agent, the Bishop of an obscure village in Aiia^
^^ named duiabala, and published about the cfii:Cf
f ' last year* TJbere h not a single prelate in En^l0nJ
.f • or Jrdandf ibbo is not Jirmly resoiwd to reject, ibf
f^ four artisles cf. the Gattican Chwreb {xcpimonlj calUi
f* the GaUican liberties J. We are wry far from find*
^* i^g fatilt with the parttTUins oftf^e articles ^ but iflr
'^ tbmk we see in. these articles the germ (f ail tit
*^ ^reseat nuschiefz and to be brief we are determined
^^ not to siubseribe to the articles.'^ Here agai« the
misquotation, gross as it is, forms the bst part of the
wicked and wilful misrepresentation and delut^
attempted to be practised upon your countrymeor
ia Wder to plunge them into^ spiritual Schism an4
tivit dissention. If you Rev. and, mpst leariMid
JDoctor^ thus expose your infidelity in quoting a cfi?
tennpoiary work, that is in the hands of your frieiidl
and foes^ what credit dare you claim from aoy of
.ilhem. for accuracy or |i(lelity, in quoting from auUuMl
9nd documents lurking on the inaccessible shelve d
/.Stowc,
^ 3 Coll ^yb^
183 *
I
StDwe, of which yau have the exclusive ifton(>|)dty ;
and which you boasts ** without the Noble Proprie*
"tors permission, you could not make use of in^fa-
*' vor of any object, but tliat, for which it was coUtet-
•* ed ; for it has cost him more, trouble and expence,
*' ijian any other person ever yet incurred.'^ Now, I
amiree to admit, that his Lordship*s object in making
(lather paying ior) that collection, was ;z0/ to trompare
and verify the false translations, the tnisquotafions,
aad the irrelevant references of his Bibliotfaecarian.
The misquotation of this latter passage, pretended to
be cited n)erbaiim (inverted commas denote literal re*
petition or quotation) from the Bishop of Casiabalds
Supplement to a Pastoral Letter^ fsfc. London^ 1809,
p»39/' will appear to each of your cbuntryrnen,
who with better right, than Columbanus^ lays claim to
Irub honesty. The text alluded to, and supposed,
or affected to be quoted, stands as follows, ** The said
^Ei cur^ continues to insist in the strongest temif,
*^ oil revolutionizing our English theology, ho lesB
**than our Church Government, by obliging ns to
^ adopt the four French articles, though there is not
** a single Prelate in England or Ireland, who is not
^ firmly resolved to the contrary. We are very far
^^ from finding fault with the partisans of the articles;
** atili we think, we see in these articles, the germ of
**all the present mischief; and to be brief, we are
** determined neither to have Blanchard for our Thed"
*' lo^al^ nor to subscribe to the articles/*
' 2 B 2 ^ Before:
184
i)H«ctum Before I undet'take, Revl and moit learned DoctoPi
•f Colttm- ' ^ K , •
buut'sma- fQ e8ix>und the full malice and mischief of this mif'^
lice & mis- '^
chief in quotation, I crave leave to assure your Reverence^
and all the readers of this letter to you, that for some
days it completely misled my judgment, who had
notwithstanding more reasons than most men fa
mistrusting you, and many for respecting the learned
Prelate, from whom you pretended to quote. .How*
ever I might suspect you of misquoting Gildas^whidi
is a work in very few hands, or your GrandfiitWi
Comniittee Papers, to which I could have no acosssi
I did not imagine you hardy enough to misquote
the alleged misquoter of Gildas^ which was in eve*
ly body^s hands. Sedqui semel verecundia fines trait'
sierltj eum bene et naviter oportet esse impndeniem.^ But
be, who has once transgressed the boundaries of com*
mon decency^ ought consistently to become thoroug|i«
\y and systematically audacious. I was fiilly sensible
of your keen scent in running down your antagoaiitf
but little could I reconcile it with the kno^^ladge;
wperience arid zea} of that antagonist^f to gi^ yott
inch
^ i^ Epise. Fam. Cic. L. V.
*)* I can jastly attribute to him the qualities Columbann^ as«
tribes tosomo of his clerical countrymea, (i Qo\AQ^,)Patriars»
^tsqvitatttm Indagator ditigentiainiuf g EcchsiasHc^ MerlsA
^IkfimeTy Tbcologut prcfundui ^ ^cerrimus vitiorum reprchemoSf^^*
f^ A napst diligent enquirer into the antiquities of. his covnf]^
f^ A defender pf Ecclesiastical liberty. A profound theoltll
II &^ 4 roost keen lasher of Vice, &c.'[
185
idi a hold of him, as you would have had, ceuM
on have verified your quotation. I could not carry
ay mistrust in your fidelity to that extent, to which
you have carried your assurance in misquoting what
was <^n to all, ana liable to immediate detection*
Yom must. Rev. Doctor, have aspired only to the
loomentary sympathies and triumph di your admir*
ingreaders, or at most to an ephemeral victory, until a
fair and impartial judge could procure the Bishop*s
Supplement to his Pastoral Letter, to compare with
vCoiumbanus's Third Letter on the Liberties 'of th«
Insh Church. 1 will own, that for some days I suf -
fered an. unusual and very perplexing humiliation,
little short of indignation, from a belief (prising cfUt
of your misquotation) that Bishop Milner had abused
bis commission of agency to the Irish Prelates ^t the
«at of Goverjtiment in England, by identifying him**
sdf with their riational Synod, in reprobaring and
Injecting the four articles of the Gallican Church,
which I well knew many of that respectable tKerar*
diyhad learnt, supported, or taixght on the Conti*
Dent; and volunteering as their mouth-piece, a pub*
lie condemnation of those articles, as if ihey were
ttUtthievous, false, or erroneous. These impressions
^re distressing to me in proportion to my own opi--
t&n upon tl^at declaration of the Gallican Clergy.*
I wa$
* That opiDion is to be seen' in my Church and Slate, from
^59l to 618. I have revised it since reading Columbaatis^
tetters, and find nottiiog in it, which I wish to alier«
186
I was more especially confounded at the words r^tt^
lion of the four Articles of the Gallican Churchy bedaose
the first of those four articles, wiiich is the only one
interesting to the State, is the precise proposition or .
tenet (the abrogation of any temporaipower in the Psfe
tver this realmj^ which each of the Irish Hier-
archy, each functionary Irish Priest, Doctor Miber,
and I myself had sworn to, as the required test of
loyahy and submission to the existing Goverhrhent.
Rrf©r« np- 'jj^g public, Rcv. and most learned Doctor, bate
baaiv. yQ^j. Return : I cannot charge my conscience witb msfi*
presentation. They have also your assertiood, tltti
** the Bishops convened in Synod at TuIIow, June6f
•* 1809, were not pressed by any legitimate authdrity
** to pronounce any opinion on the subject; bat
*' they would shew the public, that they can dedtfe
^^ on all matters appertaining to faith and Niisciplffle
^^exclusively.** I wish. Rev. Doctor, that I coiM
apply to you what you say of the truly great Bossiiet,?
** the correctness of his quotations gives the best 8fr
^* curity to his readers against mistatements of Ae
•* documents, to which he refers." But I am ainply
justified in retorting your own words upon yourself) t
that it is evident from your quotations, that you&tfre
read all Bishop Milner's late works concerning cte
J^eto with minute attention : aiid had you discover
In them any propositions (I must allow you pretexid
« " ,*
to
* S-CoL g, . + Dr. Milner's Appeal, p, 15,
18?
to have discovered some fewj repugnant to Catholic
£uth, you had no reason to think, that from any ten-*
deme$s to him, you would have covered the failings
otaQ erring brother j for he, who can make good
aaj charge by the evidence of truths will Iiardly recur
to iUmderom impuiaiions, which you yourself knew to
beonfounded. Now, this is not only a calumny ^ but
jw, who have read all Bis^hop Milner's late works
with such malignant diligence, must know it to be
such. How then stands the fact ?
Your Reverence knows as well, as every one Nature »f
does, who has at all turned his mind to this subject, ulincW
that the commission of Bishop Milner^a agency from fromlhc
the Irish Hierarchy,. rests upon a Synodical resolution, IhoHc^hI-
or rather a ryder to their resolution of thanks to that ^^^*'*^**^'
J^^ctable Prelate for his powerful and unwearied
eiertions^ promotitig the Catholic cause, passed in • '
(Dublin on the 15th September, 1808. His accre*
4}ted powers are limited by these very guarded words
** Resolved unanimously, that the Right Rev. Doc-
'^ tx^ Milner be requested to act as Agent to, the Ro*-
^maa Catholic Clergy of Ireland, at the Seat o/Gq'-
^iffmmenty agreea^Je to such instructions, as he may
^ Occasionally receive from; the Archbishops in con-
^ currencc with their suffragans." From this it is evi-
<fear» that whatever Doctor Milner says upon a subr
jcct, which has no refet-ence to, or dependence upcn
fce English Government^ could not have been said
by
by him ia eWacter of Agent to the Inh Clergy'
Can you^ Rev. Doctor, expect many ptrnthftm tc
your idea, that because Doctor Miiner is the accie
dited agent of the Irish Clergy atlhe Seat of the
English Government, according to such instro^dow
as he shall from time; to time receire from the Ai^h'
bishops and Suffragans, they are in any .manner re«
sponsible for what he may write, either as a Dyfk^z
histofian, antiquary, or Catholic Prelate* The leaca-
ed and Christian world owes much to the. taleotS;,
knowledge, and industry of that respectable •Pi'elate
for several publications. For nonC) m«re tbanjFsi
that pastoral Letter and Supplement, to which yoa
have so insidiously and m^iidously referred, and s^
malignantly misquoted*
Occaiion Invested by the Sovereign Pontiff with episcoiri
ner\ • as- jurisdiction and the spiritual guidance and wperinteir*
ter aii4 dauce of the Roman Catholics residing in thie mM-
Ji«»"t lo his land district in England, Dr. Miiner found hkos^
* called upon by his pastoral duty, to warn and giRtfi
his flock against the propagation within his district rf
certain heterodox, schismatical, and mischieyoui*
doctrines by two French emigrant Priests. Thqr
are contained in pamphlets, and tend directly to ifkb-
draw the Engjish Roman Catholics from the catffe
of Catholic nnity, to undermine the canonibit jtt"
risdiction of their Prelates and Priests, and to pldB|^
the British CathbL'cs into schism, from which vA
tllCJ
^ iiat^ been free for nearly three centuHes** SIncef
t biV9 read your five letters or addresses, I am little
sorpruied^ though greatly shocked at your Reve-
Jnmee's makuig common cause with thotte turbulent
tempters of the English Catholics to plunge them**
lehres into so senseless and scandalous a schism, I
Ivdd wiading through the numerous errors, falsities^
lod indecencies^ published by these two foreign influ^
tmnun. Their names are Gaschet and Bhntbard;
tod a part of their doctrinesf is, that the Pope is the
Mi^r Of the heresy and schism^ in which the Galli-
can Church is^ according to them^ at present involved,
find that his Holiness Pius Vll. ought to be denounc*
ed by the Catholic Church, without however speci-
fying^ wbethet* as a heretic, or schismatic, or only
frr having violated the sacred canons^ Blancbard
endeavours to avoid exposing himself to direct cen«
MTe^ by not explicitly drawing the last consequence*
lh9^ not saU, Pius VII. is a heretic and a scbismatic^
Ud I have refused to say on the other handy Pius VII.
2 C is
* Vide Sup. 3. and througlioiit*
+ ?• ao. L'heresie vient d'obtenit en Prance un triomphe
(•iplet^ & Pie yir* en est U premiere & principale cause, p;
•iQ9« Ud des sujeta de leur jiutes plaintes (des eveques da
franco) cest, que Pie VII. par sa foiblesse, ait introduit le
Mkifine meme, & l'heresie daos le sein de I'EgUsc. p. 134.
Qoant a ce Pape (Pie VII.) Je dis seulement, qui'l faut I»
deooncer a PEglise Catholi^ue, encore sans specifier, si c'est
comme heretiqne & schlsmatique, ou uniquement pour aieir
•?loIi leg regies saintsf •
lOO
is not a heretic and a schismatic. Gaschei spede;!^ mortf
overtly than bis brother sold i^, in this determined
warfare iagainst the chair of Peter,* ^* BlanchSwl
*• would have rendered an important service toi^
'* gion and to politics^ if he would have affirmed tiitt
** in public, concerning the Pope's schism and here-
.*' sy, which he maiiitains in private company, '&c. I
** have the greater reason to be acquainted with the
^ real sentiments of Mr. Blanchard^ because vm
*^ years ago he advised me to denounce Pius VIE to
*^* all the Bishops of the universe, as a schisoiatic ^aud
'' the abettor of heresy and apostacy, and to declare^
** tliat I should take their sitefKe as a proof of ihdl
♦' assent to my denunciation/' No siricere drtbodex
member of the Roman Catholic communion can 83^1*
pathize and co-operate with these wolves, wha-baive
carried desti^iiction into the folds committed sepa-
rately and distinctly to their respective Bishops, atid
«upcremintatly to the supreme Pastor of them alt
collectively ; he cannot concur in d^ouncing Jik
Holiness guilty of heresy and schism, for having
brought back into the fold several millions of strayed
sheep ; he will not only commune with, but h/e wiU
submit to, and venerate, and thank- his Prelate, wio^
ever he is, that instructs, Warns, and defends, fc*
flock from so much dissention, scandal, error, ifti
felshfehood. ' To the disappointed caiididate ftir H*
phin an attack qpon the Pope was the warhoop fof
blood and carnage. You instantly armed and rushed
intc
* Declar. 6L Ct.
m
«ttt> the thickest of the battle, to encoiutter^ hand t<k
hand) t^e complete Hierarchy of your own country
twdi your particular enemy Casiabalemis, all fight-
ing the battle of the Chrisfian Primate against. those
Mucers, dispersers, and deyourers of his flocks.
. Itis painful to the writer and irk&ome to the rea- Furfiipr
der,but necessary for the elucidation of the subject, TheyoM
Aat :your Reverence be holden up to the Protestant of ooimu-
as well as Catholic public, as contravening and con*
tradicting with incredible effrontery your own asser-
tions. / k^ve never perverted the war di of any man
i9mwer my own purposes of maligmiy^ or revenge. I
cannot x/jarge my conscience with msrepresentation^ al-
though it be notorious, that the declaration or. reso-
latious of the Synod at Tullow, contain not a word
idating. to the four Gallican propoMtions, directly
or indirectly. In the false quotation^ which I have
before noticed, you put into Doctor Milner's mouth
these words : There is not a single Prelate in England
9t Ireland, who is not firmly resolved to reject the four
Articles of the Gallican Chutch. Now a firm resolu-
tion to reject negatives actual rejection : it certainly
is not a statement, that they had been rejected una-
nimously, as you falsely charge Doctor Milner with
having made* Still less warranted were you. Rev.
and mo st learned Doctor, \n asserting, t that " C«s-
" tabala in 1810 dares to inform us, that he and the
2 C 2 fxclusive
»3CoI. % ^ ^C$>i, lU
*^ exdusive Doctors j tlie firetgn if^kienciiBhihop^fi
^ Ireland bavedeereedj thai Ireland shaU mi njofih
*' liberties of ibe GalHcan Churcb^ And again jfk
misrepresent the case to your countrymen, by affiffll
ing to tell them (so long after you had l^oastad bf
having washed off the rouge), • *^ I am far fioA
^^ despising popular opinions ; and it would iUbe^
** come me to treat with disrespect those of my own
*' country^ But breathes there an Irishman', pos*
*^ sessed of an Irish heart, who can help feeliiigii^
•^ dignant, when he $ees the liberties of tfje GaKc^
•* Oburcb denied to Ireland by her oism Bisb^sf^^ AxA
*' our Bishops might then claim a power not onlyOf
^ denying us theGallican liberties^ as they haw alr»
** dy ventured to do, &c/' Least of all were you ja#^
lifted in giving the following title to the first humbet^
t>f your appendix, which consists of a mutilated, falte,
and unfaithful translation of those four articles^ ^
«ome very unwarrantable inferences of your ownj&J
notes. The four Articles of the Gallican Chnrcb fi'
jecied by the Bishops of Ireland: or the following tJkj
or head of reference in the contents to your tbW
letter, viz. *^ Gallican liberties tmjustly and^umm^
^* rejected by the Bishops of Ireland." Do not these
titles falsely announce an actual and formal rejectior
of those four propositions or articles by some publi
or solemn act of the whole body of the Irish B^
arcby
• 3 Col.J. . f 3 C»l. 27, J 3 Col. 125.
/s
1»S
jtnkf ^ What excess of credulity could contince
aajrman in the possession of sane intellects^ (Credaf
ihdaut jlpelh non egtf^) that your Reverence, after
faring 80 fastidiously boasted of the truths and your
yk^ttbn of tiie articles, which ar^ thus stated to be
^iqeoted unanimously by our Bishops, I hold to be
Mtnuf, and their opposites I hold not only to 1^ false,
^ but also to be* connected with a system of uncano-
^' nical and uncontrouled dominion of wordly pride
*' and nsurpation^ which if introduced, would gradu-
♦• ally establish in the name of the Lamb ofGoj) a new
^ and insupportable yoke on the necl^ ;of my Catho->
**lic countrymen,'* that I say you^ Rev, Sir and
most learned Doctor, wlm vaunt that ♦^^whefre-
" ver a passage is obscure, I explain if by the au-
^ thor's context, wherever it is clear, I give it? plain^
fimus^and admitted meaningy^ should have palmed
upon your readers and the public so Unfahhful, so
mutilated, so garbled, so astutely dfefigufed a* yer-
won transcript or copy of those very propositions,
vhich you affect to lay before your readers, in an
Appendix, as the four Articles of the Gallican Church
ftjuted by the Bishops Gflrelafid.\
I asi
*.SCqI.74-
•
^ As his Reverence has warned his countrymen against io9
^7 credulity in the words of Horace quodcunque ostendh mbi
^i^i iticreduitif odi : I shall borrow from ibe same source an
apology for giving the original, with a fair and Jiicral trans-
Utloo, in order that the reader may comp^^e them milk the
194
^ Tnf.ini>>iii. I am not fond, most, learned Doctor^ of baa
defertibin- drawn off by a fresb scent, before I have coinpletfl
cilurcb.* run down the game I originally started. It m»]
how^yi
translation of Colamlanuf. Nothing short of ocular deirttoni
t ration will convrnce him of the gross and evil minded iiifid^l
and distortion, that upon comparison of the different reidiff
*' must be glaring*.
* SegRius irritant unimof dcmissa peraiurem
Quam que lunt oculis subj«*cta tidelibus.
What we hear.
^ With weaker passion will affect the heart.
Than when the faithful eye heboid* the part. ' '
f ra. Hot. Art of Poetj> •
It is morally impossible^ that any person, who h9
followed Columbafjus'f surmises, and insinuations, and su
sertionsy and observations, and applications, and inference
concerning the Galilean propositions, not to lay his omissioi
of every word in that declaration of the Gallican Cltrgj
tending to enforce and support reverence and ob^ttce '^
the supreme dignity and jurisdiction of the Pope, or ViiaMf'O
Christ upon Earth, to a studied intent of represeutJ9g,.t||
whole declaration as injurious;, insulting, distrustful, and hostilj
to the chair of Peter. Whereas it was expressly made \t
support of the Spiritual Power emanating fiom Christ, thrOBgl
his Vicar on Earth, by marking stronj^ly and unequivocally tb
line of demarcation between the power of the Civil Magistrate,
and that of the Church Govenor. In order to afford th(
reader a clear opportunity of remarking Columbanus^i lUJ-
precedented and audacions lust for misrepresentation, tb(
original declaration of the Gallican Clergy with a very clbw
and literal translation of ic into English will be found with lii
mangled and disfigured edition of ic in the Appendix No. VJ
It may also help to disperse some unfounded prejudiccs'of '
105
lurwever betiecessary for the information, ilistraetten,
ainf evep consolation of some of my readers, to cau-
tJORthera against the obvious inference, which some
credulous, unsuspicious, or superficial readers, may
be seduced to draw from your very warm assertion of
tie truth of the Galilean propositions, and the ^rie-
lotts denunciations, you fulminate against those, who
differ from you upon their tendency. Neither may
every one at first view clearly discriminate between
<he actual rejection, and the non-adoption of four se-
veral, propositions. The first import^ a censure, dis-
approval, or denial of the truth, or, at least presumes
some sort of objection to each of theni. The latter
k perfectly consistent with the submission even to
the truth of e^ch ; and the non-adoption may be
juistified by objections to the wording of any one of
.them, to the liability of cavil or misconstruction, or
even groundless scandal or preposession ; ^by well-
feuoded surrr\ize,r that an ill use is intended to be
«uide ofj or would probably, or might possibly, fol-
low the adoption ; in a word, by any of that indefi-
^e variety of chances, designs or results, which the
... factious,
tightly laced ultramontanisfF, that that declaraiion was orlgU
*ially xpade, and when rightly understood, most powerfully
^ds to support and uphold the efHcient divine primacy of
dignity and jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome. The seimre
^ application of those prejudices to his own schismatical
purposes, IS not the least insidipua. and miHchievous part of
ttiisarcb misteprcseater'^ conduct.
1Q6
^ctioust intriguing,, and ambitious dra e¥tt on-.Ap
m
watch to avail themselves of. Ycnii^ Rev. Doalcn^
quote from your determined opponent^ . Djv lidilsti#
these words : we are very far from finding faultwtk
the partisans of the articles. Proof, that he di4 i)Qt
think them false and erroneous. Yet» when.a fac-
tious foreign Priest applies to the Irish Bishops (thi/
irregularly) by way of appeal, calling upon them 10
approve, and publish as aSydonical Act theiradopdoa
of that declaration of the Gallican Clergy upon eccia*
siastical power, for the manifest purpose of draviag^
them into his fal^e reasonings, and thereby of enti^l^
ping them in some consequential sanction of Ihif
schismatical and heretical propositions, upon whicI^Jie
affected to appeal to them, with what prudence^ {w
.priety, or decency, could they yield to such a trii^
and intent ? You full well knew, that in the oath^
•which you repeatedly say has been taken by th»
whole Irish Clergy, there is this specific declaratioOf
that it is not an article of the Catholic faith, neither M
J thereby required to believe or profess^ that the Pof$ H
infallible. As a simple layman I could rest aQ[
personal belief in the truth of the fourth Q^
can proposition upon that very circumsunce, jiP|Bl
other reasons wanting* For if Chribt's prorrdse^.Qf
teach his Church all truth, and to abide with.J)||
to the end - of time« and tli^it the gates of 1^
shall not prevail against her, in wliioh her infiUt^
biHty consists^ were to be accomplished in the
personal
107
personal inerrancy of the head of his Church, erery
Christian would be under an indispensable obligation
of submitting to the Papal decrees upon the Christian
revelation, and so serious an obligation could not
nbast without infallible certitude of the time, man-
ner, and authority, which should call forth the Chris«
tian to exercise the universally indispensable duty of
sulnnission and obedience. Catholics do hold, as a
dedded article of their faith, that in expounding the
CbrisUan n^^lation, the Church of Christ cannot err :
and in tliat rests her infallibility ; the belief of which
is a conscientious duty in every Catholic: as is also
the belief of her indefecitbility^ which consists in the
continuance of Church Government by the uninter*
mpted succession of legitimate pastors to the end of
time. Neither of these two qualities or attributes of
the Church, wliich carry with them their correspond^
ing duties of subniission> can be ensured by natural
.means; they depend solely upon the promises of
Christ, and they both appear to me (a simple lay-
num) to be a doctrine absolutely inseparable from
iny religious system grounded upon Christian reve*
Ittion. ** The learned Bishop of Chester, Dr. Pear*
nn says. By virtue of his all-sufficient promise, I am
Umredi '^^' ^bere ivasj now is^ and h^eafter will be^
9t long as the Sun and Moon endure, a Church of Christ
m and the same i consequently teaching the doctrines,
2 D which
198
Vtbkh Christ taught : and they are irreformably
liMdious TAe germ of the present mischief, which Doctor
views in i»r« •
pressing ficr (speaklng for himself^ and to his own flock)
tion of (he be saw in the articles^ must necessarily refer to,
propou- import that scandalous abuse of them, by which i
' schismatical intruders upon the unanimity of the
tbolic flocks in the British Empire, were vaunt
^ttegtnpting to ensnare them. The wicked doct
and practices, which those intruders upon the u
peace and obedience of the Catholic folds, o[
preach up and defend by their sophistical reason
and false constructions, necessarily cautioned
the English and Irish Bishops against the so
adoption of a declaration, then actually stret
upon the rack, to extract from it an insidious var
to give plausibility and currency to the most arroj
irank, and scandalous propositions of schism, e
and falsehood. You appear to nie, R ev. and
learned Doctor, to be uncommonly anxious to i
good your boast of the innocence of your ene
observation, that no proposition in Columbanus^s %
can, he laid hold on, but they are novel. It is not a
discern his meaning, but yet there is an obvious mea
No man, reading the following lines, could be
loss to affix the obvious, and a very unfounded
malipQus meaning to them, * " Those Bishops *
i^ not pressed by any legitimate authority, to
II nounce any opinion on the i:ubject'' (vizi the
GO
Constitution of the French Clergy^ and the Concert
itt) <* but they would shew the public^ that they caii
*' decide on all matters appert^hing to faith and dis^
'* dpline exclusively ; and so they passed a Synodical
^ decree in favour of the Concordat against AbbS
^^.Blanchardy with whose writings in favor of the
*' Bourbons they would have done wisely not to in-
**terfere/' Most men, looking no further into the
natter, than the words of Columbanus, would obvi«
m\y understand by them^ that the Irish Catholic
Bishops had volunteered the business, that against
gn^enGe or exigency they had obtruded worse than
dncious opinions upon their flocks, on matter out of
competence or jurisdiction } that in so diverg-^
log from their spiritual department^ they had plunged
tmo a species of civil criminality, in the eyes of maioy
scarcely short of treason^ by commending Bona«^
^e^ our inveterate enemy, at the expence of the
dethroned and exiled Bourbons, whom we counte-^
lancet subsidize, and affect to support slg^st the
^rper; and that they prostituted the sacred autho*^'
jAj of a national synod to the profane pdrpose o£
ping down a clerical individual, merely because he
decried the Concordat, and published political
IS favourable to the Bourbons. No rekson*
narrative, or refutation could elucidate this sub«
so intelligibly and forcibly, as the whole of the
rati^ of. the Bishops assembled in Synod zt
2D 2 Tullow;
200
Tullow, tirhlch I recommend t6 the lecture efal
your and my own countrymen.* By that they iril
discover not only your obvious meanuig, but th<
obvious meaning of each of the actors in that whol
transaction. They uill obviously perceive, that Dr
Milner neither acted^ nor spoke as agent to the Irid
Clergy, that the Irish Bishops manifested no obcm
sive interference, but condescended, though not' tor
nomcally (or according to your quibbling salvoj na
iegtiimately) compelled to notice the obtrusive ant
irregular appeal of Blanchard to them from the con*
demnation and censure of his legitimate pastors, thai
not one of the specifically condemned propositions oi
Blanchard^ nor a single word in the Prelate's decla-
ration, either directly or indirectly injures the Boiu>
bons, or favours the enemy. They will read in the
few lines I last quoted from you an obvious meaning
in the writer of them, of a fractious^ proud, and tur-
bulent disposition^ of disaffection and calumny to die
Irish Hierarchy, of disrespect, contumacy, and diso-
bedience to the Holy See, of contempt, hatred^ and
revenge to the Bishop of Castabala, and of counte-
nance, sympathy, and co-operation with the cob*
dcmned and censured Blanchard .f
Yoiff
* For which vide Appendix, No. VI.
'F The necessity of making early head against thei 6 tdrbtlfli^
fchiimaticsi both by those English CathoIicBishopsintowfcflJ*
folds they arc labouring to introdnce their unsound and bA«
wk«Ufiome doctrines and by all the Irish Ilierarchy^ to wboA
20t
Tour antipapistical sseal. Rev. and tnost learned Excm or
♦v t 1 V J • Columha ■
DQCtorj has macie such devouring progress upon you nm s Anti«
irithin the last two years, during which the canvas
for Elphin has irretrieveably failed^ that veil leave
bdhiod at an dwful distance the antipathy, acrimonyt
and contumacy of Blanchard, Gaschet, and all their
orert and occult partizans. They ground their ob-
jeorions to PJlis VII. upon the Concordat which re^
Bored both the sin and the scandal of the Civil Con^
ttiMisn vf the Clergy^ condemned by his predecessor
fius VI. To you, every Pope is fair game to decry,
and
«|mblic And solemn, though informal and irrpgular, appall had
teen lodged against the regular censure of their own-Bishops^
n&j be obviously discoyeredi from some extracts from their pii}^*
lindons. Gaschet terms the alJocution of Pius VII. (for which
Tide Hist, of Ireland from the Union, &:c. 2 Vol. p« 27.) a lyings
^k§U»g^ piece tfhusinea. {^^i* Apol. p. 114.) He affirms it %o
)ie blasphemy to pronounce the name of the Pope in the canon
of the mass, (p. 173) denying, that the Pope, is in the chnrcb^
or in communion with it. (179) He appeals to the tribunal of
tte uniyeTsal church against the Pope and his Bishop. He de«
fefeithe Talidity of the faculties of the English Catholic pre-
totei. He persists in rejecting the communion of Pius VII. and
declaring him to be a false Pope, who has lost all the authority
tad dignity in the church, (p. 202) and rindicates hts declara.
ntioD, that the Pope is to him like a heathen or a publican.''
fiyall those, who wish to acatholicize Ireland, these doctrines
%ill he relished, countenanced^ and supported. With whom
ttorefore ranks Colwnlanut^ the sympathizing friend and pro*
failed encouiager of their authoss ?
S03
and hunt down under a Protestant Ascendant f. 1^
quarrel with Pius VL for /joldlng the Civil Conn^
iion of the French Clfrgy to be imfioiu^ bereiical^ scbis*
maliQaly and on the whole to be rejected {a pretty clh
max J and with Pius VII. for yielding by the Concordat
what the dreadful exigencies of the times demanded frm
a true shepherd of the Christian flock. Of trivial iff-
port are the execrations or the panegyrics of ^
man, whose praise is censure^ and whose cenjBore'i
praise. They bring, however, into our thoughts aia*
logies of high importance, between very distinct and
disparate objects ; the Christian primate and the late
Catholic Parish Priest of Castlereagh, I shall not
wound your feelings by instituting a comparison be«
twcen a Sovereign Pontiff and an obscure individuaii
which so exasperated the Abbe Gaschet^ your Co<
adjutor against theChair of Peter. Vouchsafe, Rcv<
Sir^ and most learned Doctor, to permit a dabbler ift
Irish history, though gaggling in the note of foreign
influence, to observe, that similar relations subiHSttcl'
between the Catholic Parish Priest of Gastlereaghi
and the last Bishop of Elphin^ as now subsist ^
tween Pius VII. and every Catholic Bishop througb^
out the dispersed Churches of Christianity. The Bh
shop of ElphiU;, though he ordained you not in tbe
Church of St. John Lateran, yet he committed l#
you the spiritual jurisdiction, or missionj or superiH^
tendance over a portion of his diocese, which no othfil^
power, ecclesiastical or wil could have committfi^^
to
203
l^^^^y namely the care or guidance of the souls of
M-iflie Catholics in the Parish of Castlereagh, which
|Oti received ^ in Vihue of your * institution. It
would
»'
..* Here I make fr^e ^'0 repeat an obserTation, ivhich I itoad#
toiir Kicbard Musgrave, another of his Reverence's coadju*
im\ wnb Vaunted, that his ^worthy Bishop of Ferns tvoulijioi hav€
fiiiitSu (the Rev. Doctor Gordon) that ihwg bad hit hool^
(felMd^i a tme hMtoiy of the Irish Rebeilion of 1798) apfe^r^
dj^biscoUatkn^ (Let. to Sir R. Musgrave, p. 01.) «« That
^%fiUi. cevemony of Imtitutkn^ which highly as you may treat
*^ the Collaiiony is nothing less than an irrevocable jp^wer of
^^^iorney, gtven by the Bishop to a person to assume a snbal*
^''tem ]^art of his own duty^ within a given portion of hb dio»
^' cese. The Bishop consequently remains answerable for eve*
^^'7 neglect) deficiency^ or abuse, that may arise out of any:
^WtaXyy iipproper, or corrnpt collation of this spiritual charge
'^or jurisdiction." I there also remarked, that J gave the •
Bishop of Ferns credit, (as I also do to the late the Bishop of
Elphin) for having instituted the ^^ Rev. Mr. Gordon'' {j^vf
Doctor Charles O'Connor) <^ to this living from the best, and .
^^iideed the only justifiable motive for conferring the spiritual
^\pu».vX fl part of bis flock to him for life, viz. couvictiotrfrora
'Itiperience <^ his aptitude. Had he not known his conduct
^^ to be edifying and exemplary, his conversation Christian^
^' Wd his knowledge competent to the sublime function of lead*
^^ms parishioners in the ways of salvation, he would not, he
^^ cpold not have performed this awful ceremony of Institution,'^*
I lither chiiie to meet the most learned Doctor Columbanus^
^POn priiicipUsy and with arguments, that had been set forth,
^ "urgeji by me before the canyas for his promotion ta th«
^ of Elphio had tailed ; for fkough rasb^ af rogaut, uafouotK
204
would be waste of time to follow you» Reverend and'
most learned Doctor, through all the blind abena*
tions from first principles expressly admitted hf
youself, the insidious averments in some passages ia
contradiction to your explicit assertions in otheni
the inconsistencies and repugnances^ into which your
false and malicious conclusions incessantly betray
you, and the irrelevant and senseless discussiom
upon false;, ignorant, or impossible assumptioDt,
which generally pervade your five letters or addresses
to your countrymen. I'hus you loosely (without any
specific reference) inform your readers, that Sandiai
'9aid of your great Columbanus, who you assyre qs
wa4 a genuine Saint ^ though be was never formdhf
canmizedj because holding the Pope's supremacy, bf
yet maintained f that bis inferiors could resist bis autbf'
rity. Cateroqta nemo, quantumvif erftditus ^ siancivs^
ed, scandalous, aDd dangerous, his opinions are not lev. V^
ther is my representation of a Parish Priest taken from |Uiy ft*
reign influence authority. Turner, a Protestant Difine, islfr
vindication oftbt tights of the CMstian Churchy p. ViAy BaySj ^^fS
*^ though the patron presents, yet the Minister does not ofic*
^^ ate wholly (he should have said not at all) by the patios'i
^^ power, who ha4 only the right of nomination, but by antliS'
^' rity of the Bishop, who instituted him^ and indeed, wlio**
^' curate and substitute he is. So common a thing is it foroS^
^^ to chuse or nominate the persoD| antl anpther to coate^M
V hiffl Ms authority .'^
90^
ly * kiUtium baUudMturf tacutit^ kfbilut .' vfaicb
«i|l^ \kiib aome indecetit flippaiiqr translate ^y^r
mnfij bsiuewr ti^pectabk for leaning and sanctity ar4
^a^ffreaifQ$ls^ though. spoken }^y your great assuuw
djirototype. . The ihme concluding words^ halluf^
Wtut^ eacuHt^ labHur% would adrnirably suit youir re^
jrVMice as a mdtto to your elucubrations on the de«
c>y,43f church discipline^ since the unsuccessful issue
of tlie puivas for Elphin*
,,JS(ff the first time in J811> yau infuse Into the Coinaba*
' nus aseimu
ipds of your Catholic countrymen^ the degrading '^^^^^^^^^
llttallel between. Ghrist*s Vicar upon earth an^ Mr« ||j<^^^^^p^
Charles Abbott^ the Speaker of our Imperial House ^^ ^p«^'
* * er of the
Dt Commons, f So for in^tance^ the Speaker of the House of
" House of Commons is the first m^mber^ but not
2.E . the
I ■ ■ ' ■
^ ^Coi. Tii vii. N. B. I quote literally from Columbanns^
without vouching for the correctness, any more thaii the reader
^for the fidelity of his translation « I should haT6 hUmbl^
tq^hed those words, be UuaJtrs^ be hUnbi be tr^t. But tiiA
filviftd genius of the most learned Poctor scotns.to bt'ineanl/
(|tt||Kjl tf littend version* . s
M«
1
Kecirerbiiai teriw, eirtabh fedde^e eM
. Jaterprei. Hor. De arte Poet. - • ^
A tery great fool is he^ ' ' ^
Y 1^ho traulates literaRyj
Yfinian a la i>olHmlwi|wi»
ni« Cdunibsaiis translates ilbtU pedAufi carrying their sboi^
V^Hsckingt ia their hands^ (2 CoU zx, ^ 4liU famm w
iafiieUter.)
t 4CoI. 8l.
•I I
208
^^ the absolate monarch of that house! He eni
** iti firms and luagesj but he makes none ; he
^ serves legal order. The members do not hold
*^ seats from him ; they cannot be expelled \
^^Jiat ; he is not master of their suffrages ; he
^' can decide no question* He is the head, bi
'^ the grand monarque of that assembly. His <
*• as head is, to preserve order, to enforce a.
This is what I presume your Reverence calls f
blow rf duappoinud ambition. Although all your
ers must know, many of mine may be ignorant <
cf^tent of your plastic powers over the Pope an
Catholic Church, which acknowledges Iiim fo
preme head under Christ. In as short a spa*
time, as was the duration of the canvas for £1
you have cast his Holiness into three several mo
of Lewis XIV. the grand monarque^ George the '
a limited Monarchy and Mr. C. Abbott, the S
cr of the House of Commons^ " 1 1 leave it, yc
'^jCQ the candpr of the Scotch, an enlightenec
V a learned nation, to judge how far they ca
•* pend on a system so repugnant to the most le
•* principles and practice of primitive Christia
^^ I heartiI]^oin with them in their condemnati
•^ the absolute monarchy principles of a Bellarm
In another place you tell us. f ^' Both lead t
^ doctrine of absolute monarchy : and Belhrmine.
.... ' ' f
* I Col. 1 or. +4 Col. 41. i 4 Col. 55.
267
^ ipns 6ne of thl^ greatest men of his age, meant that
^ they should. There is a wide diflFerence," says he^
*^ between the way, in which Bishops succeed th«
^^^posttes, land that, in which the Pope succeedsSt,
<* Peter, For the Pope succeeds proprie^ as one King
(^ socdeeds atiother : but the Bishops itnproprii^ or
i^ by delation, which admits of no succession. The
"Pope succeeds^ Peter, not in his quality of apostle,
" but as ordinary pastor of the whole church, or pri*
" isaiejure dmno^ and therefore the Pope has juris-
^ fiction from him^ from whom St, Peter had it, i, e.
*' immediately from Jesus Christ* But Bishops do
*' not succeed the Apostles proprti^ for the Apostles
^ were not dr dinar y, but extraordinary ^ and delegat-
" ed and deputed pastors, who could have no sucees-
" sbrs. At Episcopi non succedunt proprie Apbsto-
^^ los ; Apostpli non enim fuerunt ordinarii^ sed ex-^i
*^ traordinarii, et quasi delegati pastpres, <]ualibus non
^ mceditur. De R. Pont. L. 4. C. XIV. FoL Edit,
** Colon, p. 884. Ita vero, et non aliter, succedere
** Episcopos^ Apostolls probatur, tiam tittllam habeht
** partem verse Apostolicas auctoritatis ! ib. p. ^82.*'
Hare follow his jargunients against episcopal juris-
diction of divine right, and he concludii, '* that the
" government of the church is monarchical !'* Wno ,
, Would have imagined, that all this had been said or
Quoted for. the purpose of charging the Pope with
absolute despotism, by the man, who had within %^
«ome few months declared, ♦ «^ that the governinem
2E2 ^ ^' of
♦ 1 Col. 85.
^ oF the Catholic Church is not an Orients^ deip^t*
** ism, nor a feudal monarchy, but a m/^^// Goverth
** ^^/, such as it is described by the most P^pal of
♦* all the Papal writers themselves." •Little will V
be suspected by those, who have not been enlight^
ened, by your recondite erudition^ most learned Doc-'
tor, that all these, and many other things of like teiH
dency published by you, of the Holy Spe, wmld
have been followed up by a declaration in one place
given in Latin, in another in English, beginmi^
with these words : " I protest most solemnly^that I
*^ entertdn the most sincere respect for the Aposto-
^* lie See of St. Peter, as the head of all, and that I
** never will depart one inch from the canonical obei
^^ dience, which is due to that See/'§
Tott
•
* '^ Doctores Catbolici in eo coDTenlunt o^nes, «*
^^ regimen ecclesiasticnm hominibus a Deo commissoin^
^^ sit illud quidem Monarchicum, sed temperatum ex arif-
^' tocratia Sc democrada. Bellarmin, Lib. de Pont. Cap.*5."
The learned Doctor Colambanns has quoted nothing even oflt
of the Codix Stowenih^ for the reduction of the chair of Pctef
to a leTel with that pf ^r. Abbotts
% As I am to presmDe, that Columbanps has made this 8^"
lemn declaration by way of announcing to the wor!d at larg^t
that he ^^ras a Roman Catholic at the time of writing it, it ^^
given in the Appendix, No, VII. and the reader will tb^
judge of its tendency ; that is, whether it be not less an act ^
submission to the Holy See, than an attempt to justify refr^^
tory doctrines against it. It is given in Colupabanus^s own L^^
tin, ^nd his own English, for the purpose of displaying t^
ponqtiVottArigQr^ with which he acts wp to his professjo^
209
Tw canoot, Rev. Sir, and most learned Doctor, sute in-
fmm^, that a person, that has atained his first pnfn?t tiie
grand climacteric, and who, in 1795, wrote a quarito frdlSdr"^
vol6me with the general view of enquiring into the
9r^ nature^ ^nd extent of eccles^siical and civil pow^
tfy vnth reference to the British Constitution, as the
tide of my Church and State announces, and with the
psftioilar iiftent and hope of demonstrating^ that the
discrepaiKry of the oath of supremacy, as it is termed
from^^h^ laws, upon which it is supposed to be hot*
tm^i and to which it refers^ renders it unlawful fo|:
a Roinan Catholic salvd fide to subscribe to, should
not have made up his mind upon all the hackneyed
objections against the jurisdiction of the Sovereign
Pontiff, which you have obtruded upon the public,
^th a profuse garnish of effrontery, plagiarism,
boast, egotism, and misrepresentation. This you
have done in a most unseasonable hour, and mis-
chievous manner, to the prejudice and danger both
of Church and State, not only to divide the clergy,
amongst themselves, but to separate the laity from
the hierarchy. You have worked up a fardel of all
die ^nti-papal combustibles of the three last centuries,
3nd launched it 'like a fire-ship into the very center
of your coupitry's fleet. You possibly' may have read
in
* Wherever a passage is obscure I explain it by the author»i
context, wherever it is clear« I give its plainf obvious^ and ad^
** fitted meaning. I caiiQot cbarge my conscience with mis^
' fepreseatation,'^
stcr
in toy tiktorieal Review * of a tool of Lord Sti'aC
ford (one of the false friends of Ireland) who was
Himself a Catholic^ having been insidiously seat irotti
England to deceive and mi&lead the body of Catho-
lics: and that fatal adviser of fhe crown boasted, thaf
he had completely duped liim in his mission. ^ Thd
^ instrument I employed knows no otl^er, but tbt
^^ the resolution of the State here is Sh upon ^t
^^ course^ and that I do this privately in favir emd
'* well-wsbin^ to divert the present storm, which
'^ else would fall heavy upon them all, being frattkoi
^^ and executed by the Earl of Cork, which maket
^^ the man labour in good earnest, taking it to be t
♦* cause pro arts ^ focis.'^ You, Rev. Doctor brave
every effort of your employers to deceive you. Yai
anticipate and outrun their deepest schemes; yott
undertake to realise, what your great patron's proto*
type, the Uyahhearted^ ibe unsophisticated Ormoni
boasted only of the possibility of doing : that isf ''ip
^^ to divide them, and engage some of them zpssA
•' others, that much safety will be thereby derived t»
** his Majesty's interests, and 'to his Protestant «b^
** jects here. And if these considerations fail, I shaB
<^ look out the fittest temptations/' You have al-
ready published five books of temptations, extract^
with rapid and malign industry^ out of the collectioa
so mysteriously translated from fielanagare to StofVA*
How many more will follow I afiect-not to diviflc^
♦iVoI.Wi, _t Vide antsa p.104;
• <
\ ••
fill
not possessing, like your Reverence, or your Blbliopo*
K8t,Dodsley, the conscia JlammafuiUrL Strafford's and
Ormond's duplicity, their political reserve, and theijf
rooted hatred to Catholic Ireland, would never, have
been ascertained, had not their confidential letters
been afterwards published, though evidently not
written with a view to publication.
Little boots it to the public to know, under whose Coinmbas
or what commission, for what consideration in pos-- cw his
session, or expectancy, whether from disappointment
9t past failure, or in prospect of future success,
yoa have within these two years started to ^vangelize
your countrymen, beat up for recruits to resist Popes
and Synods^ and to panegyrize the spirit, councils,
and measures of the present intolerant ministry, You
assert, • •' that the Catholic religion has deterio-
^ rated in Ireland, instead of being improved ; a new
V discipline has been introduced, which was unknown
'* to our ancestors, and which is diametrically hostile
'* to the civil constitution of the country." You de^
tWe a Jarge portion of your second Letter to the
proofs of religion not being the true cause of your
ffatiooal hatred to f England. \^ Neither was it yoi;
say
• % Col. LIX.
1" I hare repeatedly referred to the inconiistencies of C#«
Mflsirx, and perhaps he exemplifies this admirable quality in
a Doctor of Bivioity and a riaiimal etcluslte hht9r$any in
>U>iastance more distinctly, than in putting on and off English
^dlrish prejudices.' We bare remarked, that in July, 1809,
S12
*' say, the cause of the penal laws/' Wit
usual in consistency 9 you elsewhere boast tha
« Ai
be tiad washed off the rouge« tn tslO, he says, (^ Col.
^^ will dare to write with inflexible candor* I will dare
^' racterize the t)resent race of Englishmen a magnanin
^^ most interesting people. I will dare to sajr^that Eogla
*< only seat of rational liberty now existing on the fac
<< globe." Again (5 Col. 1^3) ** Englishmen ! all yoi
^^ generous and heavenly sentiments of liberty of con
^^ it is impossible for Irishmen not to admire.'^ Agaia
l97) '^ Irishmen, countrymen of all parties ! Men,- wh
** errors I respect, because 1 know your worth, and I lot
** gennous candour of your minds : Whether you hate, <
** ther you reipect England as I do." Remarking uj
leading feature in Irish history for many centuries, wl
(2 Col. 7) hatred ta the English name and nati$n : hatn
gloomy^ inveterate f he adds ^^ Th^se provocations on t
*^ of England are candidly acknowledged. They are a
<< ledged even with indignation by all the great and gc
^ of the Empire* What then ? Are the crimes of the pi
<< century to be imputed to this ? As well might we a
*' to the present Church of England the corruptions of tl
" *• Ijsh Bible, which are noticed by Ward^ and correcte<
^ genuine edition of th^t Bible, as read in English chur
^* Act of Parliament." Here follows a curious note inti
by Columbanus in his habitual excellency for relevant i
tion and historical consistency.'' How wise was it Xq rei
*' cient heats long consigned to oblivion, by reprinting
*^ I will leave to the secret hierarchy of invisible comeiena
^ termihe* Was it that the Church of England should
<< its bible ? Certainly not. Was it to upbraid the In
• ** dents, who beheaded Charles I. with having cornipt
^sacred text? Most undoubtedly not. Was it to J
•ftl3
^j^* Ancestors suffered martyrdom for articles of re^
'* i^ed {aith. ^ They lost their properties for main-^
2 F " taining
<' Irish Catholic against the English heretic. . That would be
*^ too uncharitable, 1 will not suppose it." This^ unprejudhei
Irishman, who thus stiews himself so tender of the English, and
sodetoutly zealous to eradicate from his countrymen every
8lHX»tantf ev^ry sucker, from wliich hatred to the English name and
futm could sprout, spread, or fructify, has had the patriotic
oounsteftcy to engfaft a choice scyon upon the treble.bearing
iJM^oi Irish metrical brevity, Iteferring to the times, whea
tk British Monarchs first asBumed the title o( Head 0/ the Churchy
Ae sedulously (and I will idere credit him for accuracy) perpe.
fottes t6e early lesson then usually iufused into the mouths of
Irish sucklings, to grow up with ^hem, and to be transmitted'
ty tlieAi to their issue in interminabfe succession.
£t nati iiaiioruni & qui nasceotur ab illia.
The children of the now ezUting^race,
And-thosey whom future progenies will trace.
The.reade^ will judg«, whether Ward*t Errata of th^ Prolesri
Uat Bible, or ColuinbaiHis'0 verses against the Sassanagby ber
tUnore likely to perpetuate hatred ta theEngHshnafn§andnati9nm
(ICoL 90) ^^ The following Irish verses were then taught by
narses to lisping children, and unfortunately they then con^
veyed truth^^ (It would have been desirable, that this Anglo j^
^ihiuaft could havd add^d, they ]i6<ii;iio longer do.j
** Na din t^ommtLn re fear galda, ma nir ni fairde dhuit.
** Beidb choldhe ar tid&do'mbedlta cooiman ad Htuir g&afda rioU''
Anglicos Aogelus est, cui ounqoam credere fas est :
C^ tibi dicH AVB, velut ab hoste cave.
The Iter, and most learned Doctor has had the rednndan^
!! I Coh 10.
S14
«* taining the doctrines of the Trinity^ the incarnation
** the sacraments/* . Notwithstanding, the Irish Ga-
tliolic
■»..-■
caution to guard this ralnable cutting from being nipped, or
checked in its growth, by the decay or extinction of the IrisK
language, when Cohmbanut shall be no more. He ha6 favoBr*
ed us \i ith a Monkish distich in Latin, purporting (I am to
presume) to express the meaning of those rudiments of Irish
patriotism. Like the hypochondre's bubble (^Vid. Ant.p, 141}
lie has encased them in Romad Christal, in order to secure
the precious relics io the latest posterity : but whether ^
liis own manufactory, or taken down ready made from^ha
sheWes of Stowe, he has not condescended io impart to Us Id.
qiiiftitiTe readers. Either supposition has its use. If plagiarisnif
they bespeak a facility of quotation : a valuable quality in a 1J«
brarian. If genuine, they evince an ability to render the old
Irish national annals into Latin verse. As I am ever ready io
co-operate in the propagation of truth (though probably with
a different View from the Columbanian Doctor) I shall attenpt
to English the Latin, for the benefit of sncii of my |iAuh»%»
understand not that dead language, nor its more ancientj t]MXi|fc
sttll living tongoe, the Irish.
Mistrust a Briton, thong^h ai angel fair;
When lie says, hail ; as of a foe beware.
After he had discharged his bilious acrimony at Doctor F<mD'
ter, for having published a short pamphlet of 44 pages, ^ «
thiologica! examination of the doctrine of Colu7fibanus contained i»
bis third letter on the spiritual jurisdiction of Bishops y and tkedif-
frence betnveen a Bishop and a Priest j he furiously bounds ff«»
particulars to generals, *' we Irish have our national vices, (4
Col. 25) ** so have other nations, not many millions of iBir«»
*• distant from us on the globe. We run the race of faloB'^ 5
214
dioUc Bishops ;;* ** have already taken the bath df
^^ allegiance^ expressly disclainuog all foreign tern*
"poral power, t their Irish ideas on this subject re-'-
*^ quire to be , chastened by those of the Gospel.*'
Thea putting a* question upon the. existing form of
2F2 Church
■ » . . . ■ . * . i .
'^ ve claim the palm of generosity ; and whilst, I trash ^hat
^' tbe lustre of our virtues may shine with a more radiant Tight^
^* wbeii polished fy nenn arrkitgementTi I also' trust, that the
*^ hwtre 0f our vices shall never derive a deeper dogd from fii*
^Miiliiiviacipies of vicarial duplicity* Perc4t ilk diei^infk'
^^Uit§ car^fUi notanda. Were I to balance national virtues
^Und vices, I would prefer the rvide onset to the courtly po|»
''son, th^ honest insult to tl^e treacherous smile. Give ma
'' Igsh honesty and I will start with it against all the Jine vir«
'' itt& 6t all the jine nations of the globe. If I know any thiug
''of friendship, and surely no Irish lieartwas ever yet a strHu^
"|W to its generous fee^pgs, its yery essence Cbusisls in in*
" |eauAttS candor, frankness and honesty of soul. Perish that
" smilet under which is concealed the rancour of any of thtii
'^ corroding passions ! The sacredness of friendship is pro.
^&Red by a shew of cordiality, which always assassinates^
.^' wh«n it is not accompanied with the sunshine of the mind,
** The partial balance and deceitful weig^ht,
** The treaohVouft imile, a oiask for secret liate,
Hypocricy, formality in pray'r,
And the du!l service of tbe lip were tliere.**
Such is the erudite, the demonstrative scholium of the most
huasd Doctor Columianus on the patriotic Irish baby S9b$)
MUtf ust a Briton, though as angel fair ;
Wben he lays, hail, a> of a fue b«WAfe«
♦jCoL 9«. \ 2 Col. n%
<14
Church government in Ireland, you ask, (by way of
tdravmg an inference) whether * '* that Priest and tbae
^* Bishop, \ifho have taken the oath cf allegiance^
^' against the Pope's indirect temporal power, ere not
^* guilty of perjury ?*' You represent your couatryf
^^ men | ^' divided in their councils, and idly feLcti--
** pus, or turbulcntly discontented, f Is it not a well
^* known fact,, that our lower orders are becoming
*^ uQmanagi^ble in tbje eztifme ? What are o\pr Qa^
^y ravats and Sbanavests I Are there not more oiur-
^^ ders committed now in one year, than fo imiiii yi in
** twenty ? Is not an Agrarian law proclaimed hy
^^ nocturnal incendiaries ? Are not menaces held out
*^ and enforced against lai^dlords, who let, and
^^ against farmers, who take lands at a higher i^te,
^^ than is determined on hy Threshers : and whilst
^^ our population encreases in numbers, and in igno-
^* ranee, in moral depravity, and in physical ilrefigtby
^* is it not true, that the influence of the Parish
*' priest, which ought to increase proportipnayy, i^
*' visibly on the decline ? The manners of t^he k>W"
^* est orders of Ireland are at once ferocious and
l^ fawning, hospitable and suspicious. §1 am aware,''
say
* 1 Col. 7. +4 Col. 87, 88, ...
f
§ It is irksome to be obliged to quote so largelj from Co*
Inmbanus, la order io proTo (he has charged me with having
made assertions wHheut proof) to my readers, that since tb«
mWHCcessful canras for the se^ of Kiphiq^ he has laid fpofc*
217
I
ly you, • *' that there are some orators 'who l6bk
tnth a ^vatchful eye, to a federal* union with Aeir
fapethren beyond the Atlantic." In the next page,
311 lindertake to shew, how monstrous a doctrine it
,aid how injurious to the state, and to the separate
ilwests of the Catholics themselves, *♦ that their
Bnlio^s can derive nomination from a foreign
court, even though that iourt may be engaged in
Ibw^ hostility to thtfr own separate interests. *•
dikhold forth the Catholic Bishop rendering t ** hi^
^ffkitual power a temporal sword, whose hilt is
stocwhere in France, and whos^ point Juijges at
every Catholic in the British Isles, You assert,
at J ** the rude ignorance of the mass of our
people, placed them beyond the reach of that
knowledge of genuine Catholicity, which distin-
guishes the jgentry of Ireland, beyond those of eve-
ry, other country in Europe. • A superstitious and
aottiah opinion of the Pope'a power, as dark, as
;' Erebus
iichief and danger to the account of the Catholic Hierarchy
Ireland, than Doctor Duigenan, Sir Richard Musgrare, Lord
edesdale, and the ivhole of that Acatholic school. ^^ Is it
not true,*' says he, (iv Col. 88) ** that for the purpose of
preserving unlimited and uncontroled dominion, our foreign
influence Bishops are endeavouring still n\ore to oppose thos«
salutary measures, which would arrest the progress of so ma-
ny calamities to our country V*
* 2 Col. xUi. + 4 Col. 39. % l]^id.
218
•* Eubus^* as confused as ignorance could ma
** held the unshaken empire of its leaden sceptr
" their minds." Then, by way of reviving (or
of keeping alive and tracing from that period
caiiginous spirit, you impressively asfsure youi*
crs (5 Col. 417) that ^' they see these prirwi
(viz. if consenting to any declaration of AlUg
ivhicb Irish Catholics might , for political reasoi
conipelUd^ or be willing to fUlMte to the King J ** :
** tained by Bishop Burke, and by the ad lilntu
^* cars Apostolic, and Bishops of Ireland dowh^
'* otm times ; and can it be supposed, that anj
'* testant Government will grant unqualified en
*^ pation^ as long as such principles are matntai
After having undertaken to defend the in
coiumba character of Archbishop Usher, and commend*
«ndTnjur« IS to be wishcd you had followed) his accura
try'i^cHgi- c^^xot^,tiQnf although you say he quoted more n
scripts, than Bishop Milaer seemed to have read]
ed books, you close a sort of comparison oi
two Prelates with those words, which appear t
most unwarrantably and basely to assume princ
Ofl.
* Howdoes this agwe \yilh (5 Col. 11) ? " Eveiy a<
^^ to abuse the piety of the people, and to take advanta
^^ their ignorance, Columbanus's heart swells mth the
^^ rous eagerness of his ancestors to oppose ; and his pen
^' termined, in defiance of all calumny, to detest^'^
V -
il9
ittd dispositions in the Bishop of Castabala^ and ^^cr
Catholic Irisli Hierarchy in general favourable ta
Bonaparte, and corresponding with Usher's <idoptioa
jf Oalvinistical doctrines * and support of the bbo-
IjrpCTsecution ^yad usurpation of Cromwell, f" Eve-
f ry. where candid and ingenuous, even where his
'^ inguments are untenable, if there is . any flaw in
'^ iui character as a Bishop, it is from the violent
^^linatacism of his tin^ he countenanced those
^ horrible principles of persecution, which divided
^^ Ms country, and prevented its coalescing in one
"mass against the common enemy, contributed to
'Vesiablish the usurpation of Cromwell,as tbe same
*^ frinciples ^ if not counteracted in time, will infalli-
" bly
* You saj, *^ he was principally concerned in frammg the
'* articles of faith for (he Church of Ireland, in 1615, in which
^^ te iiisei^ted the nine Calvinistical Articles of Lambeth.'' The
CaWttlstical and Jansenistical sympathieir, and secret propen*
Mh, commimity pf principle, and sinatUaTity of conduct, are
deirfyan the Appendix, No. 111. developed and traced from
k great leaders of each sect under the attractire guize of rem
¥9t^Htf in the 17th century, the insidious ///// of protesthg
^^tAoRc DhteiihrtXvi the 18th, and behind the variegated mask
^teformatlon, purity, antiquity, patriotism, nationality, con«
Bftfatioh, liberty, and sanctity, down to the outrageous extra*^
('■Inicles of Columbanus y in five Addresses to his coantrymtn tcr
^^ the very renerable relies of the Irish adherents to the
^r of Peter, under a Royal Vttfy ministerial tools, and a
•«iooal church. <3 Col. 5),
\ I Col. 51 .
226
^ biy lead to die iisurpation of Buonaparte.*' Hat
ing by a most extravagant assumption distorted tt
accepted meaning of Ultrdmontanism^ into a Paps
right to the temporal crown and sovereignty of tb
kingdom (an idea which I am confidi^t does not pos
sess the mind of one individual out of five milUotis
you insultingly to your countrymen and to truth ic
terrogate. * *' Shall we pretend, that no sochnc
^^ tions operate now, vj}^\hL.every one sees their influ
** ence in the apptnniments of our Bishops ?•* Yoi
then.add in a note, ^* The following pages will sl^eWj
^' that the Pope's temporal power is still strosj
^^ enough^ by means of exclusive Synods to wield the
** popular fury against the Catholic gentry of he-
*' land/' t You omit no opportunity of traducing
youi
* 2 CoU 70.
+ The reader maj jud^e a little of the btoitstedi candor. rf
ColmnbanuB, who gives the following title to the XlUfi^'
of his Historical Addre«» (2 Col. ) '' Influence tf tU f^i
^^ temporal domimon on the mast of the Ifith people domm to mitWiif
** timesJ*^ In that section he refcra to the turbukmt tivetlll^
Charles I. and says some uninteresting and inconclusiTe thfOgt
of Lyncl^ the author of CambremU Eversut^ 0*Fertal, Wdl^
I^reston, and Primate Lombard. The last pampraph of Oft
Section, is all that he offers to his reader to make good hit {Hf;**
dious title. It will hardly be credited, unless seen^ . M:ZM^
^^ prevalence of these ultramontain notions^ so hostile tothM^
^^ curl ty of our state, and the couBtenanqe they experienfMl^
« from the Roman Court down to our times« // manifest (00"
«' this candid reader) from ADtonius Brodinus^ DfioijUi^^t^
t
\wf countrymen^ which you .conceive mM let theni'
down, vilify and calumniate them in the^yes of your
2 G delegatorfif
^* W»/>, publi^lied at Rome irt 1721, in wl»icK the same doc-
^Mrine is strenuously maintained in the second chapter, inti-
V tnled, De translatione dominii Regni Hiherniety in Regno AngUai
^' irbere he adds, that it is the «fnv^rW opinion of the Irish
" people. This work has the approhatlo S» Maghtri Apostolici
^^ prefixed to \U and is dated ^rom the Minerva^ xiv* Septerobris
- ^ 172t !" I must here take the liberty of reminding my readers,'
that this reference to Brodinus, such as it is, comes from a tJC'
if) %ifMithfai quottr ; next^ that Brodinns^ ivfaoever be were, that
wrote this Work for the approbation of S. Magister ApoitoUcut^
at Rome in the days of our first George, could be no evidenca
of the treasonable disposition of the Irish people at that time r
Sor will many of my readers consider the distance of a century
Exactly as oqr own times. So far wa^ the preTalencfe'of this
extravagant ultramontanism from being manifestly traced down tef
oor own time?» or even to those of George I, that FconfideDtly
aisert, that in t}ie year 17^1, or at any time since, would \t
hare been as difficult to discover an Ifisbn^an, really wisbing,
expecting, or attempting to pl^ce tne Crown of Ireland upon the
^ope's head, as it would have been at the sarde time to have
fcaod an Englishman traversing the kingdom under a crutched
wallet to collect Peter Pence for his Holiness at Rome. Readet
■ withoid your indignation. The quoting librarian gains the as*
cepjancy over the erudite Doctor. In order to delude the igno«
not and unwary, he gives in a note the words of Brodinur^
^hich tefer not to the universal opinion of the Irish people up
jto our own times, or even to the days of George I. when he
jmblished his work ; but only to the days of Henry II. in the
Uthcentnry. (2 Col. 94) ^^ Henricus II. prospectum habent
quod Hybemica natio adeo devota remaneret sedi A{K>sto%
f^c«, utibi passim omnes profiterentur dominium suae Hegifinis
222
ielegators and instigators. • ** The factions of C*
•• tholic and Protestant, wliich shallow politiciani
*• supposed to have been the chief, if not the onlj
** cause of citU perturbation heretofore,. are vm
•• known to be only secondary to other objects, anc
^* of a tendency very diflFerent from that of maintain^
*' ing r^//^/w/j opinions/* Within three' ]f)age9, afte:
having catechised your countrymen about endeavoifr-
ing to bring themselves into notice by fury> and tc
gain influence by ferocity, you properly conclude
'^ that the only respect, to which we can^Iay claint
•* must arise from the awe of »ur virtue j and not froac
*• the dread of our brutality," You go on, '^ I anp
sorry to be compelled by those recent transactions,
and by many otliers," (including, I presume, die
canvas for the reversionary See of £Iphii>) ^^ which
^ have occurred within these bst three or four yearir
** even at fublic trials at bar^ to acknowledge in cool,
*^ dispassionate argmnent, that a reformadon ii ia^-
^ dispensably necessary iu the internal discipline voA
*' oeconom^
*< ad jns perlinere Roman} Pontiftcis.^ If these reiy luidLi*
tin words be genuine^ quotation, they are thus fairly translat^t
Henrj II. haring a prospeet, that the Irish nation would ff«
aiaia so deVoted to the Apostolic See, that they all would le^
verallj profess^ that the domimum of their country belonged di
right to the Roman Pontiff. Pray, gentle reader, poise tK<
JrUb hotttstfj Yiiih which the infldence of the^ Pop^s tempAd
dominion on the mass of the Irish people, is brought dbwil t^
•tfr tiD&es, by Colnmtarmi Vmdidnt.
»lGol,«.
*^ cxconomy of the Irish Church ; for these facts
** clearly demonstrate, that an Anti-Christian spirk
. *^ of worfily pridey and temporal dominion has cor-
" rupted the ancient humility, the ingenuous can-
^ dor and the simplicity of our ecclesiastical manners,
^' and that cons cieni iota Catholics have more just
^* cause to be alarmed for the total extinction of the
•• sanctity of the Is/and cf Saints, than to fear those
. ** salutary restsaints of legal responsibility^ sLvo^eAXy
\ *' consistent with their faith, which sober antifanaii--
^ col statesmen ("Perceval ^.nd Co. as well as some
^^'CAier fautores secrets) endeavour in pity to the Irish
^ people to interposcj as an ^gii of defence between
"their liberties, and the usurpations of the uncon^
**trouled Maynooth imperium in imperioy which is
^'insidiously styled the independent Hierarchy €}[ the
** Irish Church.'* This you elsewhere say, is i/| fact
tUi mcontrouled tentpsral patronage of. 200,000^4 per
You close your specification of the things to be coiumba*
performed after the death of a Catholiq Bishop, with "hw'a^il^'j-
t proposition, that appears to me, as a simple layman, Tg^^^stfub
to iavolve ignorance, falsehood, and error* * ** Last- TkeBopt
2G2 «My
• 1 Col. 86. It involTCS ignorancehy supposing confirmation
^^ nomination to be the same thing: the first Can oiily proceed
^rom the spiritual pow( r conferring spiritual jurisdiction or mis-
sion, whicii Columbanus (1 Col. 105) admits fftust he indepen^
^ of the civil power y upon the nominee ; whereas the nomina-
tion, whererer there is a civil cstafMrnenf giYQu by the state io
324
4 »
f« lyj the metropolitan is to agree with the civil power
>.f ia the confirmation^ or nomination of one of the three^
'* witbtut
Jbhe Catholic religion^ {not otherwise) usually rests in the civil
magistrate or its subordinate deputy. ^^ Fahebood^ in ai .
mucfa, as it supposes, that the Catholic Bishops of Ireland
^ver received covfirmatlon or the collation of spiritual power or
jurisdiction nuithout any reference to any foreign jurisdiction y in the
more ordinary sense of the ^hox^ foreign^ and as it is used in the
oath of supremacy. 3^ Error ^ in as much as the spiritual jurii*
diction (or mission) of evety Bishop or Church Governor ia
Ireland, as well as throughout all the dispersed churches, b li-
mitted by geographic9.1 boun.daries. He can neither assuine aa
extension of his own mission, nor grant mission or j)irisdi&»
tion to any other person beyond the meres or bounds, to wbic;li
the head of the church, quern penes arbitrium est (^ jus t^ norma^
thought proper to extend the confirmation or collation. The
utter impossibility of any human individuals deriving V9;7/£rMw«
iion^ or the valid collation of spiritual jurisdiction constitDtiof
^him a Bishop or Church Governor, njuithout any reference to^
firtigp jurisdiction^ ^(thereby meaning the See of Rome whilst
no general CEcumenical council is actually sitting) has been re-*
ceatly exemplified, in the creation by the present Pope Piot
VII. of a new hierai^chy on the western continent in theUnit^
«d States of America. This circumstance illustrates the trothof
9 genuine Catholic's belief, that there must be an efficient, per*
manent, and indefectible source of jurisdiction in the Churchi
fropix which ipissiop or real spiritual jurisdictipn m^y at all ti|pes
be drawn, independent of all civil power, Whenever the exigeo«'
^tes of the church may require it: for which end it is requlsitei
~ * 'a *
that there should be one supreme pastor. Church Government
could not be continued without it. All would be confusion* \
will not presume the most learned Doctor so unobservant of th^
^cclie^iastical events of the day, as not to have read the eftiv^
^ wfe&^l My reference io any foreign jurisdiction^^ . X
ake the word ** foreign** as used here, to impdtt
^l;fov no man, who knows the author of the
rards will give him credit for that highly rectifiefd
pint of Christianity, which knows no difference be^
mh'tbe Jew and Greek. \n a word> that you may
irt|it Jxt>.thing, which can render the representation of
(NlrcOuntry palatable to those, who have encou-
iged, enticed, or commissioned you to come for-
^arij^ybu unwarrantably assuipe, that the Christiah
•iSmate will, or rather must, adapt the exercise of
is spiritual rights, wliether holden Jure divino^ or jure
^disicutitd to the prevailing interest of some cbntj-^
i6ntal power ^ and then you advance sdll more uii»
Varrantablvi
ig-and iasiructlve letter of the Nortli American Hierarchy t6
leir Irish bi^cthrieli, (as it intimately affects his doctrineB, it
mbe found in the Appendix, No. VIII.) in which Ihey el*
^tbe ^' greatest obligations to the venerable Pius VI 1.;
j&ce it i^ 6wit]'g to his Wise and Apostolic conduct, ^hat this
portion of- the Lord's flopk situated in t^e United States of
America^ has been forpied into a regular ecclesiastical pro.
vioce, consisting of the Arch-Bishop of Baltimore, and fout
I
suffragan Bishops." iPerhaps his most learned Reverence^
• • • ■ V
M>li reconsideration, may find powers like tho^e 'of Mr»
>e«ker AlHiott, not precisely ao^tjtiate to the effecting of t(B
{Kirtant an object to the Christian Church, bis Reverence
9 been prodigal of his proffers to retract upon the discovery
«rror : has boasted (1 Col. 9) / nuGuJd die for ^the genuine arti*
'V the Catholic faith ^ as many of our jinceitar's h^Vf. Le^ hi^
Ale fovth^ apd m^ke good hii^ pr6&r«
warrantablv^ upon the strength of that as$uinptiOi
deprive him of them.* "Can any one be so ma
*^ ish, as to suppose, that if every Bishoprick is tc
derived from the patronage of a foreign po\
those, who look for such preferments^' (here
speak feelingly) ** will not make every effort to ph
•* and obey that foreign power in preference to t
** legitimate government ; so that, absolute mai
V of those, who direct the consciences of the peo]
^* foreigners will enjoy a secret influence, and a n
** extensive and powerful empire, than the soyere
** state itself/'
Hii pt)is Such, Rev, and most learned Doctor, is the {
tkt English trait you have exhibited of the present state of y
country, in order to ensure its civil freedom fr
sober anti-fanatical statesmen f and the English peo]
whom you so highly respect, and of whom you s
(JJtinam vert) f *^ The Irisli character is loved i
♦' respected in England for. that very adherence Ui
^^ conviction of their consciences, which has dist
** guished them in the worst of times." In the ia
page you ask, f * Is there a man in England, viAo d
** not entertain a high respect for the honest^
*' pies of conviction, however they may deem tB
?* erroneous ? | The generosity, and the good se
^ of the English of oiir times makes ample alliyiBi
•* ces in favor of the Irish, when they contempl
'* the unprovoked hostility pf their own ancest(
' ■ m ^
• 3 Col. (H. + ^ Col. 12, % % Col. 8, p» J, ;
«7
« * V
*wk6 we're confessedly aggressors " iSlucft naujfe-
fldag flattery could not be digested by the whole col-
lected fJowera of the fine nation^ if every Englishman
hit the stomach of an ostrich. O Irish honesty of
Cohimbanus ! What a monster of adulation hast thou
produced ?
Sid it not suffice you, Rev. Sir, and most learned Coinmba*
♦iJ*'i • t» • nusat
Df. that you had with malign industry picked up and tempts ro
^•••1* !• 1*^1- « rail ^t and
aonimstered to the mtolerants all the chips and shav- revile h\%
hgs of the over-primed fardels supplied by Doctor oa.
SQigenan^ Sir Richard Musgrave, and the anony-
mous and hired bands of firemen, but you should
attempt to stimulate their nearly exhausted ^ lust for
laOing your countrymen, by borrowing froni the
ddstical' lips of an officer on the continent^ (such
mfortunately have in these latter days of infidelity
fiery where superabounded) a sneering sarcasm on
die Catholic religion, and applying it to your Catho-*
Be countrymen, as an infallible provocative to those^
.1 ■
lAose abhorrence of that religion is insatiable. By
iwy rf corollary to the note before-mentiiMied,* con-*
cernitig the motives for republishing Ward's Errata^
JOtt fly oft in the following tangent-t ** And yet I
** recollect, that when the Earl of. Cork was on hig
** travels to Parma, anofficerof that court informed
f Km, that some very sanctified men, who frequent-
•*^ed it, Were good Catholics, but bad Christians, who
•^ m the name of God had no charity for each other^
« and
♦ « Col. S.
*i and no religion. Naui sommes t6ns iet him €0^^
y liquefy fnais pour la religion, nous n^en avoni ftbtl.
(In English : We are all good Catholics ; but ar
for religion, we ^ave none at all). Letters from Iti-'
\f London j 1773, p. 61. The external conformitjr
^Vlth the religion of the state may be found couple<t
^yith the internal want of Christianity, much nearer
home than Parma. ^ This quotation may be correct}
the observation may have been made, ; it is sanction*
ed by the quoter's memory, and yet I recollect^ but it-
applies not to a Catholic Hierarchy knd a Catholic
People, that have groaned under persecution for
above three centuries, where, as you express yow^
§elf, * *- religious principles expose men to privatioft
?• of civil rights, and to degradation from imipoPKint
V honours and emoluments.'* No matter it is a quo*
(ation ; and made by the Bibliothecarian c/i znxrf
great man. But does your Reverence aritidpate
{nuch sympathetic gratitude from your Catholic coW
try men, ypur brethren in faith, for this flattering poir-
trait of them, taken either for their avowed etietQiei
pr their false friends. Will they, think yon^ beto-
yious to enquire, whether you volunteered andpauit'
pd it as an amateur, whether you executed an order
for pay, or performed a commission under avowed
authority^ or covert influence. Most of them crtisi*
4er you, as an unruly steed without bit, curb, of
• S2D
ilfi/k, dangerous to every one^ that coixvf unthia
jMur contacr,
Eqni ie
Esse feri sinilem dico. — ^Hob«
■
Like an unruly horse I saj,
You. rear, you plunge, you lash away*
I have told you most learned Doctor,* that *^ I Tk« atfrer.
^perceived you preparing for battle from afar, the me-
^ against your country, your kindred, and the reli- 1795.
*' gbn of your countrymen. Tou were making
^yourself a public man by long antidpanon, laying
^ in your pretentions to a name and reputation in life,
^ tbough at an interminable distance/' The recur*
fimce aS these observations to my mind, renews in it
your censorious remark upon filling f <^ my volumi*
^ nous compilation with assertions without proofs,
^' and with calunmies, which every man at all ac^
^ quainted with Irish History had read usque ad nau-^
^ seam before I had written to him upon the sub-
«' ject.*' In February, 1802, you knew, that I had in
ay possession a oopy of your first volume, the result
of your labours to pursue the truths and you probably
nipected, that I might put before the public some of
fl^ more important truths, which^ you on your fli%
^stacy, thought it your duty to your GREAT
anonymous patron^ to smother ia the Poddle. I have
now before me, a printed annunciation of your in*
(ended publication of that interesting work, dated
2H ' 7th
♦ p,4a ^ ^ Col. ^?*».
2S0 •
.^th May^ 1705. Like every thing y.ou ever sent to
Press, it proves the similitude^ aad the co&>
sequent applicability of the Motto prefii^cd to my
Historical Letter, to your sympathetic rival. Sir R,
Musgrave. You told me in 1802, ^* that at aferkd
cf extreme political intemperance ^ and when the minds jf
all our body were exceedingly agitated t you were imbC'
fd to compile with a baste^ that could only be justified ij
your good intentions, the memoirs alluded to. No^, the
^ltermediate period between 1793, when your gniod-
father died, and the greatest benefits were grated to
the Catholics and the 7th May, 1795, when joa
pronounced the first volume nearlyjlnishedy (proof,tiiat
the compilation must have been made before Loot
Fitzwilliam took possession of his Government in
Dublin on the 4th of January, 1795^) was precise-
ly the least agitated and least intemperate portion of
time within the last twenty years. That must hare
been the period, during which you were preparing your
manuscript of the memoirs, to which I can now give
a title, which heretofore I was unable to do, vis*
^' Memoirs of the life and writings of the late Chtf-
^* les O' Conor, Esq. M. R. L A., to which is prefixfil
** anJHistorical account of the family of O'CoooT}
comprehending a very interesting period of biA
History f from the reign of Henry II. to the present
^* times.'* I wonder not at your objections against
ja man of very different principles from yourself}
"having undertaken to give an Historical Review of
the
231
tlf^a^]^ bf Ireland for that precise perioci 6f tiilte.
t iilQre you, Rev. Doctor, oil the faith of an honesi
h^bman^ (though I cannot rejoice at Ormond's
beb^ my countryman, or at your wishing to become
idF^dAt until this anniversary lib day pf Mayy 1812,
I'fa)^ not, that we so closely coincided in our in^
torions i and to speak the plain truths from the lec-^
tiMiff the preserved Volume. I did not collect your
aunorinced intent. If any idea of rivalry existed^ it
cotiM Oiily have been in him, who knew the object
of both parties, which I was not then apprized of.
But that document (and a very important one it is)
expresses your mind and intention on the 7th of
Vxff 17955 seventeen years ago : a period considera*
Uy preceding the date of the translation of the 0'Co«
nor collection from Belenagare to Stowe. It* was
ymounced, that the work then •* printing by Sub\'
'^icription and speedily to be published by John
^Heighan^ 49^ £ssex-street> was compiled ptinci^
* pally from, notes and extracts taken by Mr. 0*Co*
*iior HiMSBLF (his grandson nondum minjceraf inpa^
^hki cineresj from ancient writers on Irish History
^ttd MSS. sources <i hitherto unexplored or not ge^
^ aendly known, by the Rev. Charles O'Coilor^ D.D:
* Member of the Academy rf Cortona. The principal
'penonsy from whose correspqpdeiice a selection ha^
^ been made for this work^ are Doctor Johnson, Dr«
JLeland, Lord Lyttleton, Doctor Warner, Henry
Srooke, author of Gustavus Vasa> Rev. Doctoi'
3 H a ^ l\ Cantarine,
28«
'< Cantarine, the cdebnted friend of' Dofctor Btthi^
'< ley, Mr. O'Halloran, 0*Moore of Ballioi, Mi^
^* General Charles Vallancey, Doctor Currfy MoM
«< Rev. Doctor Carpemer, Lord Taafie, Meit Btr,
^^ Doctor Troy, Rev. Nathaniel Barton, Mf;. Vbam^
<^ Lady Lismore^ Irish Officers in France, Jm^
^^ Cooper Walker, Esq. the Chevalier O^Gonmn^
^* Mr. Pinkerton author of the History oi ScotlaaA
^ Rev. Mr. Mac Lagan, and several others.^* Em^
candid reader of this advertisemsnt will eAHFiMMf
trace it to the person, who wrote iwo leUM ii
me in February, 1802, who inserted Mr. BuriM^
Letter in Mr. Dodsley's Register for the same yetfi
as a preparative for his anticipated review, wUcb
graced the subsequent volume for 1803, of a woik
Dot even concocted in the brain of the pryeeting aa-
thor, and to the hand, that culled out from the Stoi^
collection (and retained in Conaught for some mfA
cal purpose) that valuable correspondence^ consittfa^
of several hundred of original letters on Irish bistsg
and Irish antiquities, between the revered . gran&
ther and the persons before*mentioned, in p» tt
Yoii told me notwithstanding, in February, UBS
seven years after this pompous announce^ that jb^
had lomeiime since given ibem (that is the menuiln
iogeiier imik tie origb^^ to the Marquis of Budkfi
tatiu There wants tome further culling to cto
away the cloud, in which these originals are stilt ci
veloped either in Bucks or Conaught. Your %
noun
S33
aooAO^ gratified yoar countrymen in 179& by an
aimrance^ that the work would be embellished with
^ aq;caving8 by the first Irish Artists, and partica-
** litly with a striking likeness of Charles O'Ccnor^
'^ £iq. by Brecas^'* Was he too drowned in Effigy ?
or )mng up at Stowe, as an espiator y oblation, by the
Smnks Hesperidum tempJi Custos ? I boldly, howe«
vSy prophecy, in defiance of the profligate efforts to
nise the unworthy issue into fame, by entombmp; the
Wtqfi of the parent that, as long as there lives au
hub b^arty the grandfather's memory will be there
cntbroned in grateful admiration^ confidence, aad
nyect.
Senper bonos, nomenciue iuum laudesquemanebunfr
Hii boBor, name, and praise, shall neyer die.
Bat alas poor Cortona f 'Thy panache is ho longer
worthy of gracing the^ brow of Doctorum Doctor doc*
ImmtM. When he washed off the rouge^ he unfea*
diered his cap indeed. Then did he enter the fol-
bn^Dg soliloquy into his Common Place Booky and ua-
vitdngly extracted it to misapply it to one of his
coantrymen, whom it little fitted ; ^' * forgetting,
* because I wish to forget, (happy power of oblivion!)
** that some members of literary societies are mere
^pretenders; that even learning, supposing it to
f' ddst in their noddles, is found frequently to fail ia
•*the
f 1 CoL 107»
^< the conduct And direction of life ; that we i)af t0
•* knowing without bdng wise, except in mtr fiSi
•« conceits ; and that literary beaux (for Doctors J seP
<^ dom discriminate between virtuous adherence to
•* that, which appears truth, and impudent obtnnkw
'^ of indigested notions and half-fledged opinimuf
•* upon the understandings of men."
Some vain. lH 1803, you pTobably discovered in the Historical
o«"nhr* Review several wrecks of that valuable jumble rf
TuSiicai excellent materials saved from the indignity of tfai
^"^*"' privy, and the oblivious muds of Lethe and Cocytus.*
Tou there read, (I venture to assert without prwfiAii
humbled pride and resentful indignation) tho8e1ui^
mirable words, of your revered Grandfather to Dr«
Jennings^ in which he refers to a letter he had writ'
cen to Doctor Johnson, accompanied with a dmewf
of fifty guineas, and an abstract of the Penal lAynf
to induce (though in vain) that literary savage t?
employ his pen in the publication (nojt the supprepf
5ion) of the truths of Irish History. * " I send" (aiji'
the virtuous Charles O'Conor) f* the Doctor my hit
** javelin : but I fear I have thrown it in vain. Mif^
** in power will not be convinced. There is an obs^,
^^ cy yoked with pride in this case ; andapbanim4>
'* hatred stalks behind, to cemerU the league bit^sm
them:' Lapse of time, disappointed ambition, wounded
pride, nay, habits contracted from having been long
accustomed to the warm beams of munificent? padro*
* 1 Hist. Reyiew, SaU
435
igpmay have now rendered your most learned Reve«
eifie more callous to home truths, than you were in
oar earlier apostacy From filial piety, from national
aitiments, from sacred duty« For the sake however
f soch of your countrymen, as may chance to throw
iidr eyes upon tlus letter to you, I think it proper
announce to them^ that I inserted in my Historic-
al Review^ whatever I found interesting and impor-
aat to Ireland, in your ill*packed cargo of valua^
>les/ and I did it in contravention to the permanent
conspiracy
* Almost the whole of what is contained in my Historicd
Kmm concerning the prosecution of Mr. Saal, the commence-
HNtttind Tiews of the first Catholic Cominittee, of which Co»
lombaaus, rightly adiqits Doctor Curry and his grandfather to
bue been the fathers and founders (^ Col. 104)* The first pub«
licifioii of Doctor Curry's memoirs, and its effects npon the
pilllfe, and several matters about that period most interesting
totfatholic Ireland, were the gleanings of the first cargo or
tntiire, which Columbanus had speculated in, since his grand*
mei^s death in 1793, (5 Col. ^20) when he was allowed ac*
cen fo^ or permitted to have the use of, or had worked hin).
sdfinto some sort of possession^of that invaluable national trea»
nie left by his grandfather* He assured me in \B0% (p. 29)
vkeii lie had certainly uttered less falsehood than he since has,
Att (ins first essay at playing the historian, was undertaken
^Vif]r» bnt with a good intention. He labmred to pursue the
^^. Let me ask him again, with such choice materials,
^iuif prevented him from finding her ? What could have in*
'SM him after So hard, though quick a labour, to drown the
produce tike a litter of mongrel puppies ? notwithstanding there
rereSo much blood, speed, and sagacity, to be found amongst
heiD* I can readily account from the recreant ^ostacy of th»
23G
conspiracy agsunst the publication of the tnitli«
History* I now confidently appeal to ColunA
countr
de^everate gnutdson for bis pjrorocatioii, torflaeas, and ,
nCioD at the prpservstion and poblieatioa of some of Mi
lin*! Bentiments and principln so danwatorj di hii-0«i
11 was not lair, mncfa less liberal in Cdfambamtt to v|rtN
for ii€^ bBTing seen, and to complain of mjr having imV
quoted the ^xareuunia Mt^9udum UyhtrmM ai J9kamnim\
when he must have veil known, £roni my having gire
eztracti of it without date or title, in the words of h
inmsigikm^ that alK I had in mj power to give or rafer i
from ihe/oddttd volnm'e ^f his memoirs. 1 JbaTt oftm hn
tlie imperfact state^ in which I gave to the public tiba 9
from that Intevesting and important document. I sene^
luire told Mr. Fox, who expressed an earnest wbh Co m
the original language, that my inability to procnie It| 1
aole reason for nothaving giren it That partial, ani |
iatperfeet translation, I tJiought might lead otliera to dl
ur publish the origioaf. Now I call upon my readen to
juftice, and to transplant all the imperfections and dii
tages, vnder which those Magnates JTylitmue were ii
brooght before the pabIic,from mine to the shouldera of tl
Charles O^Conor, D. D.^ wbo amply possessed the mi
doing them justico, and giving satisfaction to an inqi
and interested public. I have indeed heard, but cannot
the fact of that remonstrauce having been framed and s^;
the Irish Chiefs at Mojiurg. Now what is Ireland to 1
from an historian, who having so complete a collection
ginals and materials at hand, has made so traacherons^
faithful, and io mischievous an use of them? Had
known kim as I now do, in giving his translation of m
from that remonstrancoi I should have been bonnden to a
mj readers, that it came from the pen of a man^ wbo fliis^
•onhymen, to my own countrymen, and to tU
woatld at large, that I am not unworthy of the jadg-^
Kent of a Graiian, that I was • one of the very few
^isb Historians J who bad ventured to deal in the com-*
m^ij called truths and that I bad done so like a mani
Uatb n^our and ability against the tide of power and
pnjmdki f nor of that of his most worthy and res*
pectedl rehtivCj | " the ptesent representative of the
•*• ancient Chiefs of Moylurg, Hugh Mac Dermoid of
^ Co9lavini who reflects back on his ancestors that
^ manliness of character^ that steadiness of principle^
** and that Irish mindj which at every period of oui*
^lustory they displayed." He scrupled not to §
iMfratuIate bis country on this work having fallen intcf
iKj bands y whom abilities and candor equally qualify for
ibf tmdettaking. In proof of the consistency and con-
- IHncy of my principles j I refer him to the conclud-;
isg sentence of that page [| in my Historical Review^
trinch labours (I feel not altogether unsuccessfully)
Id restore suspended animation to many precious
lldqeets dredged out of the suffocating slime of the'
2 1 • i^oddle^
Wttfpltes, and tnisrepi'eseDts kistory ihore atidaciouslj and
ifMjy than any man^ whoever aspired to the cltlratter of an
Vrtoiian* Yet he has the jinatchless effronteiy to exclaim. (S
\ Cd. 3(1^) // ir eland never to have a Historian f The Bdetiair
npidence to abuse all others. Such are eur Irish Historians^
thiUeit them. (lb. 319) The insolent conceit of anticipating^
Hi own posthumous renown. Something luhispers into fny ear^
' fi^ tmof look nuitb confidence to posterity. (5 Col. 296)
- ! Vid. Antea. p. 15. % 5 Col. 271. | Antea p. 1% I ^il
9sn
t&Jdle anJ thcXiffey. There may be'read the sjrf-
rit of the Government, A. D. 1759, when Mr. Saul
was assured from the Bench, that ths laws did noi
presume a Pc/pist to emst in the kingdom / nor could
they breathe without the connivance of Goveanmenim
The sentence alluded to is: **The probability, or
•* even certainty, that truth will be ill received, it
•* no just excuse for suppressing it, especially when
** its publication becomes an act of justice to an in-
** dividual^ and much more so to a nation/'
intemtfnr The depth of that degenerate renegado maUce, of
•d^ttuili" ^^6 incesiusy qui minxerit in pairios cineres^ was never fa-
^dfi! thomed, till his fury objectos cavea valuit si fran^en
*•'• Clathros. Then burst forth his disappointment, his ire,
his resentment, his revenge.his rage in clamouring for
Veto^ m traducing Pope and Bishops, in slanderously
calumniating the religion of his countrymen. Little
do I wonder at his Reverence's severity on me, for
having reanimated the grandfather's voice upon these
delicate and venerable subjects, as an eternal anathe-
ma upon the degenerate, and false opinions of the
grandson. The following sentiments of the virtuous
graijdsire ought not to be read by the degenerate
grandson, without throwing him into a paroxysm oi
rage and madness. Cert^ furit. In writing to Doc-
tor Curry * he tells him, t ** In the mean time, you
* Therefore Doctor O'Conor so siaAousIy labours to dis«
ttradit both Curry and his grandfather. (5 CoL 2x9. C^ff^^
fitttim & turf iter), t Appendix to Historical Retiew, W^*
and all of you» are as passively silent^ ^s slieep be^,
fore the shearer : you are of opinion,, 1 suppose^
that it is not justice duetoaUpartle^f.to snew By
what means, and by wliose means, such evils were
Drought upon us to operate to this' day. Th|$
Hartis's insolence is seasoned for.hlm,I>y ah dpi--
' mimiierived from your silence^ that be has defeat*
^ ^ JU8 all. For my part, were I you, and had but
apebble, I would cast it against such an^ iiiioera|
dog : nay^ at every Irishman^ who w;ouId be |q ^ase
as not to be ashamed to mangle the corpse qf the
• fallen^ or to rivet the fetters of the pppressed. Bijt '
' alas! we are a people truly fallen, or we wohld
* co-operate with each other systematically in coiin- '\^l
'* teracting the proceedings of the parties, that ajnp
" united in nothing, but in a league again^st ujs.
" They oflfer us a boon ; a registry bill, which is evi-
''denrly calculated to extirpate our very remains.
** Nothing can be better known, than that our ///>/-
^ iml economy cannot be exercised without the spiritual
^[jurisdiction of our Bishops. Yet the jurisdiction of
" Catholic Bishops^ is totally overturned by the bles-
" 8ed boon, the intent of which is therefore to destroy
" l^op^ry by Popery itself ^^ This doctrine, which was
delivered about fifty years before the term Veto had
beoi appropriated to that Antl Catholic conspiracy,
could produce no other effect upon the unnatural
lad recreant grandson, than an indomitable excess ^
rf irritation and despair. Certi fwrit^
212 Jk%
24d
JTefaUfio* As you most Rev^ and most learned Doctor have*
berarat-* charged me with using language, that can scarsely hf'
^!^uy^of tolerated amongst civilised nations 9 I profess myself at "
SxSnpr"^ a loss, to know what language to employ, that will
fairly, candidly^ and unequivocally express the degree
of infidelity^ treachery and hardyhood^ with whicb
you challenge the character of an historian, and forfeit
that of an Irishman and a Catholic Christian. In
order to excuse or justify yourself for fixing ybur
grandfather and his friend^ confidant and cooperdtor
in the cause of Ireland, Dr. Curry, with falsehood^
you arrogantly and petulantly ^trude yourself upon
your countrymen to impeach the veracity, cry dowfl
the credit, and blast the well earned laurels,with which
every true Irishman and advocate of historical truth'
had entwined the venerated brows of Curry and
G" Conor. Like your cotemporary Musgrave you deiu
by wholesale in the two unequivocal badges of fraud^
Suppressio veri &f suggestio falsi. You do it, if possible^
ivith more confident assurance than your rival cahira-!
]Qiator of Catholic Ireland, He never recurs to my
xnind without a satisfactory conviction, that my motto
to the Historical Letter to him fitted him to a hair*
^alsus honor jiivat & mendax infamia terret
Qaem nisi mendosum & mendacera ?
Whom, but the m^n of error or untruth
Both borroMP'd honor please, doth lying shame appAJ!
Vou usher in your strained efforts to blacken ^
m
* yide Ant. Trcf, VJIi
641
«
r trliaracter 'of those two revered and excellent
Qlltmeit, Curry and 0^ Conor under a most im*
dent tifle of affectation. ^Pretended mdssacree of
'and Ma%^e. You say *' The foreign influence
ifriti^rsi (amongst whom you reckon those two)
aih^iiii^.Qf this horrid transaction (the murder at
Iii(r£;aiv,9fi the 5th of Nov* 1641) and endeavour-
\sig to cj|i3t off the odium, when they expected to
be included in the act of settlement (\. e. about 21
y^ars ajfter) trumped up their clumsy story of a.
previous massacre, at Island Magee. The firsts
who mentions this pretended massacre^ is an an<^ i
QOympus collector of stories, entitled A Collection
rf some massacres and murders committed on the Irish
uncf the ^^d of October 1641, which were pub-
lished ^rst in London, when the act of settlement
wafs in contemplation in 1662.*' No man will,
o man ought to believe you ignorant of what the
^rotestant Bishop Nicholson says of Clarendon^
irhom for unavowed and probably unwarrantable
lews, you have found it your interest to raise
fig»r (Btbera in your 5th Address ; vi2;, that his
iccount of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in Ireland
^n penned out of the memoirs and from the oral
^formation of the old Duke of Ormonde whilst his
Crace was in exile with the author. Surely, Rev.
Doctor, the inspiration of such a Deity never could
have betrayed your noble and first of historians into
Ae relation of such an unfounded^ such a wicked^
«uch
?5 Col. 2SU
9
«4«
aucTi a ctumify trumped vp piece of fiction, Tet }S$
words are. (Clarendons Hist. Review of the afarp
wf Ireland^ p. 329.) " About the beginning of Nbn
•* 1641, the English and Scotch forces in Can^'
^^ fergus, murdered in one night all the inhabita^
^^ of the Island Gee (commonly caUed Mac Gee)
^^ to the number of above 3000 men, women aJ
^^ children ; all innocent persons, in a time> vben
<< none of the Catholics of the county ^ere in vma
** or rebellion. Note^ This was the first massacre
i> committed in Ireland, of either side."* In the
tank
* After this aQtlk>r]ty far the nassacre &f Maget, to wlat
account are to be laid the ravings of Columbaaas about lui
grandfather, Lord Clarendon, &c. He afiects to kmeiit, that
alUioagh his grandfather were possessed of a booeToIent iieirt^
li^bad not an hutorical disp9tition of mind. // Irelisndwmfk
have 0H historian ? S9ch arf our Irhh ffisfoi^ians. God UeatinHk
I entreat the reader to bear in mind the genirine and hoiM)
testimony ^f the grandfather^s Yeracity from tke penefe
wnrthy grandson (p. 33, 4, 5) before I lay befctre bim lOM
of the reyolting indignities from the pen of another^ who 111*
long boasted of baring 'washed off the roagt^ (& Col. 247) I
ttter my solemn protest against his" (i o his girandfather's)
^ character of Lord Clarendon, who notwithstanding Ui
^ chronological errors^ and his implicated stile, which b tot
^ frequently embarrassed by the length of bis periods, b}^
^ the greatest and most classical historian, that finglandhi
' erer produced. (lb. 249) " I utterly reject mj gtM*'
* father's character of Clarendon*s history as declainatorjr'wa
^ untrue. No protestant writer of his age hai icpt w
t' Catholics so much justice ; no Englishmaa of Ut «gttai
«^
twofiigate defiance oF this evidence of jrourex-
I^'^rotestant Witnesses Clarendon hndurmond^
'with ia malignancy unfathomable' ^niJincredible,'
mjufe arid insult your country by the 'wicked
;^ood that f the massacre of St» Bartbelemf went
Zbat
lagme :
/) ,7 tJuVlT , ., i.,,* . . ^. * « nus abasei'
auz^a tecond edition in Ireland.
tjnagme' not most learned Doctor, that t am Coinmba^
/) ,7 j»)uVlT ^ . i.,, r %' ' - n us abuse!
ttentive to your boast, that you *" have not shaped iu« ^Mr^igr
^our opinions by the views or the opinions of any
nian^ or of any party in England. Not by Sir
bhn Hippesley's, who with the best intentions
las yet to learn the whole extent, and to calculate
he different bearings of a subject, which involves
hi^ divine and eccle^iastical rights of the second
irder of the Irish clergy, as well as of the firsts ^
mi Embraces even the Civil rights of the peopled
>Krt by Mr. Perceval's, or by his friend Doctor
&uig6naii's, whose measures will never require to
be ^defeated by argument, because they willevet
defeat themselves, and they are sufficiently defeat-
ed by proceeding from such a source: not by
*^Lord
/ .•►.
touted, tbe Irish witti so much respcct.^^ (5. Col. ^6),
^ late grandfather^s statements, as far, as they relate to
L|rd Clarendon, and to the persecutions of the reign of
#1^68 down to 1641 are therefore exaggerated, arid mj
li^pectfor his memory, and the sincere regard I entertain
far bis virtues, his hospitality, and his patriotism ihaU Bot
jft^Vf^e me to violate the first duty of an historian, Ami««l
flqf^ Anucus SofrBrn-r^S^A magis A^ic4 Kerilaf.*^ ^ ^
* I Cgl. lis.
'^ Lord Orenville^g, whose opinions have not jet^^
(i. e. in 1810) '^ been sufficiently unfolded, to ena-
^' able us tq form a fair and impartial estimate of
*^ their extent in detail/' Never was delusion at-
tempted without a dash of truth. Decipimurspidi
recti. You add, however, *' that if no better ol^
^^ tions to Lord Grenville's opinion can be alledged^
'^ than those, which are founded by the Bishops and
** Mn Keojs;h, on an eflfectual negative, that ground
^^ is utterly untejlable ; and ibey may find abiHidant
^^ reason hereafter^ in the invasion and distracdoBiof
•* their country, to repent the rejection of bis opi-*
^^ nions, who object to them ncwj upon so futile and
^' foolish^ or rather so wicked and hypocridcal a pre'
•* text,'* You are elsewhere more explicit ; and be-
cause the whole Hierarchy and the bulk of the;
Catholic population of your country were una-
nimous and warm in the reprobation of the V^
you most unwarrantably and maliciously aissert. * '*I
♦* therefore do not wonder, that the bigotry of %na- \
*' ranee, the jealousy to England, the democracy of
** revolutionists, and the principles of rebellion and
^^ separation have coalesced against granting a IM'^
** ted negative to the civil power in the appomtment
** of our Bishops. On the contrary, I always fore^
^' saw, that the most outrageous opposite passions
** would confederate, in order to prevent every and
•* any interference, which might tend to restrain tte
*^ uncontrouls<f
♦ I Col. a*.
S45
^ tineohtrouled dominion df MaynootK^ (CdmhH^
ms^s malign phrase for the Catholic Hierarchy jT
' within the limits of just^ and l^U stnd ndcessary
• responsibility.'^ The reader \rill keep in mind, *
hiat this invidious battery of criminal accusation h
Kieliarged by the most learned Doctof at his res^
pectaUe Hierarchy ^ within some few months^ after a
vmv9»Ga behalf of Columbanus {6t the See of Elphin^
Jnrillg the Hfe of Doctor French the late Bishop^
irhich would have added the most learned Doctor to
Jieir number^ had it not failed.
In the like spirit of resistance and otoosition to cotamb«^ *
. ^ ^^ nus's v\bU
the Prelates* syiiodical resolutions against the F^/^?, ©nary ©f-
(I will not affirm // to be a bye-blow of disappointed Vw*
mAHion) ydu boldly undertake to inform your coun-^
trymen^ that ♦ " for the purpose of appointing theii*
•* own sucicessors, they have resisted a lirtiitted ne*
•* gatire on the paf t of the state, which if it had
<< been conceded, would have led to extensive ar«
** rangements in favour of oUr poor ? One million
•* of bur peasantry might have been brought under
**the necessary discipline and Catholic controul of
* parochial schools, had it ndt been for the religiout
** ctf so insidiously raised against an arrangement,
**whicTi would have immortalized the eloquent and
^ noble proposer df it in the House of Lordit, and
"the eloquent and conciliating Patriots^ who sup-
Imported It in the Commons, which would liave uni-
♦ 4 Col. 89*
240
'• ted both countries in the strictest bonds of amity;
^ and whilst it endeared to Ireland the memory and
** the talents of her own children, of a Grattan, a
*^ Sheridan, and a Ponsonby, wo|ild have also en-
^* deared to her the English nation/*
Hiiwiid Your Reverence must long since and frequently
«>fH« have been sensible of the extreme folly of an ephe-
»t«te«nen meral triumph from illusion. You wished, yqu la-
to tiipport - . .
tkcVsTo. boured, you intrigued, first to impose upon those
Statesmen, with whom you had any connection, or
upon whom you, or any of your countrymen had de-
pendence, and then upon your countrymen and die
British Empire at large the belief, that all the pa-
triotic talent, influence, and virtue in the Senate stood
pledged and arrayed in favour of the Veto, as the;/»^
qud non of admitting the Catholic population of your
country to an equal share of the benefits of the Bri^
tish Constitution with their Protestant brethren.
Your new born- zeal against the predominant and
exclusive right of the Supreme PontilPs creating
church governors, and the clerical influence and sen-
timent of your own order had not answered in the
attempt to place you in the chair of Elphin. Hence
your impassioned apostrophes to the law, to the civil
magistrate^ 40 lay patronage, to ministers of stat^
and to commissioners of public boards to open the
gates, of which the keys have been hitherto inviolably
kept by the Christian Primate, as the ordinary source
of all spiritual jurisdiction thrgughout all the dis-
pcrtcd
^i
*u
ined Cliurcheis of Christendomr FUcfeifisf wp^
^^erosj acheronia thovebo.
Once let in state influence with a Veio» and. tlm ¥F^ j'
^ . State inftii*
hurch is no longer free : when the collation of spiri- «"«« *»» _
ual jurisdiction is treated as political favor, the tool
»f ^tale^ not the evangelizer of the poor^ and the as^
^ertor of Christian freedom will b'e sought out. Who
nrented fa:vors^ invented shackles : qui invenit bene^
icia, invenit Iff compedes. The Veto once established^
low powerfully would not your Reverence's merits
36 urged with the Ministry , for having laboured so
zealously and successfully^ in decrying and dividing
your countrymen, in extolling British liberality and
'Wisdom, in villifying and excluding all Papal power
and influence, in stigmatizing as perjurors and trd--
tors the whole body of your own hierarchy ? But^
Rev. Doctor, be not over righteous. Sapere ad to*
hietafem*
You may for a short hour have duped some un- j^ real
suspicious men of higji honor, even some enlighten-^ vm^
ed Statesmen, because they knew you not, and there- Sirwd
fere gave you a credit, which you were not entitled ^[dMclISL
to. You could never seriously think of precip.itaring.^J^d^oJJ^
them through the entire maze of your own, abqq'^-f ^°*
tiong, without halting, breathing and reflecting. What?
€rer you. Rev. Doctor, and some of your select*
Aough occult instigators^ abettors and co*operatorft'
XQ placing at the tiara, may have done or said, to
ioduce Lord Grenville explicitly to abett the Veto in
2K2 his
248
Ills letter to Lor3 Fmgal, and Lord Grey, to mih^
scribe to the sentiments Of it : Whatever crude su^*
gestions of zealous Catholics, little versed in gauging
the flattery and insincerity of Statesmen, may baV9
occasioned Mr. Ponsonby and Mr. Grattan to pro-
pose a qualified Veto in the Commons j yet happiJjr
for Ireland, they have all of them since reflected upon
the subject, they have turned it in theur minds, in all
its bearings, they have read * much upon it ; they find
the general sense of Catholic Ireland to be deterim*
nately against it ; they do justice to the tried loyalty of I
the Catholic Prelates, they reject the foul imputation
of their being perjured in taking the oath, of allegi*
I
ance, they are satisfied with the security of that leps*
lative testf of loyaltj^, they are become sensible, ;
that ,
* I will suppose, they ha?e read and been most afiected by
ihe works of Columhanus ; for it would have been impossible
for men of wisdom and experience not to ponclude, that socha
farago of scurrility, scandal, and incoherency was bottomed ift
falsehood and ijeception. Advocating a bad canse makes it
worse. Causa patrocinio non bona pejor erit^
f The redundant caution and humiliating negative pleo*
Dasms, which indirectly and unwarrantably throw imputaticnis
X}f duplicity and perjury ou the juror's ancestors are said to .
have been the forced production of the elaborate and rotXifi
ingenuity of Df« Puigenan. Never have we yet read of heiM
of the Right Hon^ Doctor's (adept as he is in humiliatiog lut
Catholic countrymen) having mistrusted the cfficiency-of tflis
thfd'oeuvrt of his art. The first objections to it were'iresened
for the keener Tirulence of Columbanus^ who has dev6ied9
whole section (^ Col. 114) to shew^ the oath of aUegiam^^^^
90
OH -If the eadsting generation of Catholics &bottld
epeefcHth discontinue to derive their, spiritual juos-
ipdoa from th& Ch^ir of Peter^ they, would differ
KMTV.thar ancestors iu that very point (most essen-*
]aAt0 Government) in which their Catholic aiaices*
9tft;4>ikred from those of the reformed religion of
:lie $tAc» they retraced the tried loyalty of the Irisii
CaebdJjc clergy for the three last centuries, ^q4 they
irrived at the unavoidable conclusion, that yn^Uali-
ieAismancipation could alone ensure permanency to
die '^Constitution in Church and State. Lords Grey
and Grenville now saw through the insidious an4
jeceptiyp projects of those persons, who, though not
itpesenting the body of the English Catholics, had
)nth obtrusive anxiety^ and under a mysterious adK
tomption of accredited agency drawn and redrawn^
privately canvassed and recommended, then publish-^
M, iand lastty presented to Parliament a form of re-^
solution, not inartiiicially fitted to illaqueate the sub-
icHbers^ in every or any possible proposal or condi*
1^ however captiously made or imposed ^^ Thea
recurred
:^„flfgaf^ry$ until ultratmntaitt ideas of spiritual pouer are r§*
.^fyf^J* But not to distress his Revereace nuith perplexing ana^
ifnispit ( 1 Col.) I date the dUcoveries made bj him in the
^ifffi&ciQnGy of Doctor Duigeoaa's oath of allegiance to the
yeVi in which he told his brother (3 Col. 1%) ^^ 4- year has
'"^ ^fil^4 ^i^^® y^^ ^^^ wrote to me to assist your endeaToars
j^'^j^^^jr promotioa to that See» Elphin as soon as it shoald
.^%'i^iu:it^d bjr^the expected death of Doctor French."
S |t vas j^ nmi rfifn of s^aeia^U^s i ,wJugIi bound to %tiiry
250
recurred to their minds the noble precedent of the
British Legislature in 170 1, which rejected the v>
trigues of those sot disant Protesting Catholic Dissert*
ers to confine their intended bounty to them, a»l
-exclude from all redress the bulk of the Engli^ Gh
tholk^
thing and nothing. See the third volume of my last histoijr^p.
871, where is given the synodical resolution of thanks froDtbe
Irish Hierarchy to Doctor Milner, '^ particularly for hbltte
^' apostolic firmness, in dissenting from, and opposing a vague
*^ indefinite declaration or resolution, pledging R. Catholkl
^^ to an eventual acquiescence in arrangements possibly piq'iu
*' dicial to the integrity and safety of our Church discipline,"
I also said, '(p. 872) '' The more busy movers of the Board
*' of Catholics of Great Britain, who from the year 1791, liad
^^^ openly had it in contemplation to ^et on foot a new nattonal
*^ congregation" (or Church a la Utrecht) " vrithout jariBdic«
^^ tion flowing from the Chair of St. Peter." In consonance with
these sentiments, I mark Columhanus'' s boast, (4 Col. 12.) «t
shall yet have a national Church ; and (3 Col. 46) '* The Castabala
^^ principles are hostile to the safety of our religion, which can*
*^ not eiist and keep pace \^ith the rapid encrease of ourpp«
*^ pulation, unless it is supported by that canonical disciplioe,
^^ without which, we may transmit a vile, intriguing nltranuMW'
*^ tain, but we cannot transmit a legal national church to potte*.
^^ rity." I once more entreat his Reverence to read over and -
ponder on what I have further said (p. 790) on this importaiit;.
fuhject. ^^ They are those gentlemen," (with some subalteit
neophites) '^ who in 1791 were defeated in their attempt under
•^ the new firm oi protesting Catholic Dissenters io throw off thar
*' spiritual subjection to the Apostolic Vicars in Enjjbad.
^' These are the gentlemen, whom the late Mr. Burke annveit •'
^^ the author, he considered as having gone more^ than hrifc-
« way over to Protestantism* 'j^
261
oWcBj who in submission to their spiritual miper)*
9 refused to take an un&wful oath, which they
ished to force upoa their consciences, after it had
seo condemned by their Bishops. As the Legisla^
ire of that day most liberally admitted the whole
od7<^ the English C^itholics to the relief sought for
nder an oath objectionable to non^, so did they ne- /
•-. •/■.
e«san3y conclude, that to annex conscientious . diffi**
ulties'i^as conditions to necessary and intend^ bene*
ts, would be unbecoming the dignity of the legisla*
ue, if would be to hurl amongst ihenr the torch of
issendoh in lieu of presenting the olive of peace : it
rodTd'be to rivet the penal code upon the necks of
iiebulk of the Irish Catholics for their .conscientious
erseverance in the faith and practice of all their
^hnstian ancestors^ whose doctrines they had known,
Aowe conduct in conformity with them they had for
e&turies experienced, for the sake of liberating a set
tf innovators in doctrine and discipline, very much
ess numerous, probably less conscienfious> certainly
Qore restive to authority, and evidently more dis*
posed to disunion and schism, than their antp^eto bre«
tbm. In a word, a set of nm-descrifis, whom the
ttate neither knew nor had tried : who had been em«
liaKcally introduced * to the notice of our laws, and
thai
:■:'. :»
^*E&rg^.bIae book, p. 3, chimlated amongst tiM'EQglish Caw
ftdmitt. Nivreinber and Defiember, 1789, compost by Cb'aV«
hs JJafler, E^q. Secretaiy to the Committee, ^ho signed iU
Fide my last Hist, of Ireland, S Vol. p. W\ to%79d /
Q6i
Hbaf in a very marked andpoihted manner^ as a iisefip^
lion of persons wholly unknown to ihem before^ by the
tery gentleman, who had machinated and conducted
the late lubricous preparati\res for a Veto with Lords
Grenville-and Grey.
tiiey re. WJth full reflection upon all these truths, fects
v«» and ' circumstances. Lords Grey and Grenvillc, and
Messrs. Ponsonby and Grattan acted Jike n>enbf/i(v
nor, truth, and principle, like wise and enlightened
statesmen ; they retracted their former opinions^wlMd
they discovered them to be unjust and unpoliticaL
Cum T^ntuln ad terulA 6st, mores senSus^ae re|)ugQi(nl6
The nation has admired these great and goddi mrt
in their places in the Senate, in their address ro thdr ^
Sovereign, in the face of the nation, severally ac-*
knowledging their too easy seduction into error^
their utter renunciation of it, and their inflexible de^
termination to adhere to the opposite principles of
wisdom, policy> and justice^ The most dignified and
sublime operation of the human mind, is the public
recantation of error. Never was the great and amia-
ble Fenelon so admirable, as in publishing the con* i
demnation of his own book (Explication des maxim
des SainU^J from the pulpit of his own catbednl
Perhaps the most estimable act of Bishop Milner^i
life, is his open, sincere^ and unequivocal recantation
Df his error concerning the Veto. And were I even
gifted with the conscia Jlamma ficturi^ I might \h^
••l;t« '
.Sv'
.253
lUt untruth aver, that the most honourable^ the mcfef
lesirable, the most edifying day of your life. Rev.
doctor, will be that, on which you will solemnly and
incerely retract the errors, which are contained in
iTOur five Addresses to your Countrymen. Hence-
brth refrain from sheltering your splenetic and vin-
dictive efiusions against the Christian Primate under
the respected names you have hitherto resorted to.
rhey acknowledge they have been deceived by the
persons, whom they trusted; they heroically retract
their hasty opinions formed on misplaced and abused
confidence. You therefore. Rev. and most learned
Doctor, have henceforth to associate yourself with
the pledged bigotry of Lord Viscount Sidmouth and
his puny partizans, with the indiscrimate prostitution
of Lord Viscount Castlereagh to every party, to e\rery
principle, to every spirit, to every promise, to every
lure, to every job, to every plot, to every purse, (but
an empty one) ; with the persevering intolerance of
Mr. Perceval, with the affrighted and sneaking hypo-
cricy of the Earl of Liverpool, and' their mercenary
and still too numerous bands of intolerants } and
more closely than ever, with the most infectious and
abominable of all reptiles in Church or State, your
aaonymous and occult goaders and abettors, who in
fiiy last history are referred to, as having been right-
ly described * mischievous and nomus creatures^ seen
2 L tio
• History of Ireland from the Union, ic. 3 Vol. p. 880.
Bar the proofs of what I hare asserted about the retractors and
^^porten of the Fcto^ I refer my reader a to (he late debates isk
f
.*}
^
Hffiohere^feH everpiobere. Such ar^ your companioiri
in arms, with whom you have arrayed yourself to
keep up the ascendancy over your oppressed and pro-
scribed country and religion. Believe me; Rev. Doc-
tor, your countrymen have their eyes upon you ; aird
in the indefinite variety of the revolutionary wonders of
the present aera, the finding of an 0* Conor and a Cathih
lie Priest in such company is not the least extraordi-
nary and revolting. They behold you pressing with
•enseless and indecent avidity, to the derision and
disgust of your new associates for a draught of Circe's
cup, with which the new leader of the host has been
*o powerfully drenched. You hare, however, still the
qrmpathies and wishes of many, who for the ssd^e of
your country, name, and character, devoutly pray,
that the fatal beverage may not defile your lips;
though none of them allow you the virtue or wisdom
of Ulysses^ or believe you guarded by an antidote
from Mercury against the enchantment.
Circae pocula nosti ^
Quas, 81 cum bogus stultus cupidusque bibisset,
Sab domina meretrice faisset turpis & excors :
Vixisset caois immundus, yel arnica luto sns.
Hon. £p» lit L. If
Yon know the magic Circe^s draughf, fcj
Which had the greedy fool but quaif'dy
lake his companions he had sunk
Under the lash of flaunting punk.
A sniv'ling knave, an unclean dog^
Or ia fool mire delighting hog. * ^
Parliament, as reported in the seToral papers dilferiog ia i^'
tU agreeing ia lubsUmcet
\
%
^
256' /
I tec ottt^ Leariied and most Her. Doctor^ widb^a ^>^^«^
\ ^ thort ^
solution* and I hope I have continued to steer clew chnrchaaat
-^ . StateabmU
: theological controversy. You will however fiir- the Papdi
ve me, for quoting (not from manuscripts or un-
iblished prologomena) my general ^ettiments and
eB^ upon the fundamental subject of ydur five Let-
art, in the year 1795 ; that it is about Mstea years <t
sfore a canvas was instituted for your prote»tlbsr to
le See of Elphin^ during the life of the 4attt Doctor
rench, and fourteen years at least before you had
rought the powers and jurisdiction of the Universal
ishop and Primate of Christendom, to an equation
ith those of Mr. Charles Abbott ; and about the
\e space of time before you had so rudely assailed
Qor own Hierarchy, misrepresented their synodi^
lets, and traduced their characters sold conducti*^
^ The whoiC doctrine of the Roman Catholic Cburth
:oDcerning the supremacy of the Bishop of Rome is
rontained in these two ardcles : 1^ That ChrisNtfter
lis resurrection to preserve the unity of his churchy
(aye to St. Peter a superintendency and Jurisdiction.
>ver his whole flock, ^""p That this ofEce accoiding
Christ's institution, was ^fter St. Peter^s decease
> pass to his successors appointed by the Church ^
Old th^t these are actually the Bishops of Rome* I
ive disavowed the intention of fstlling'^intp contro-
JTsy J I merely therefore state this doctrine; and in ^
rder to prove, that I state it fairly, and that it h^s
2h2 IkOt
^ Church and State, fi^36.
256
ff
. pot been lately t^ken up by modem divines, nor is
the mere effect of what are commonly called Papal
encroacriments or usurpations upon Sovereigns, I
shall beg leave to remind my reader, that Saint Au.
gustine in the fourth century, (he was born A. D.
350) expressly aflGirms,* that he was holden in the
Catholic communion by the succession of Bishops
froni the See of Peter the Apostle, to whom Christ
after his resurrection committed his flock, to the pre*'
sent episcopacy* Tenet ab Ips^ sede Petri jipostoH, cut
fascendas eves sms post resurrectionem Dom'inm cm*
tnetidavitj usque ad praseniem Episcopaturri successio sA*
cerdotum. Now it is evident from what I have be»
fore advanced, that all the power and authority,
which Christ gave to his Apostles whilst upon earth,
were purely spiritual. None other therefore can have
descended to their successors.'* In that work, I la-
boured, and I trust 'not vainly, to demonstrate, that
the spiritual and temporal powers cannot operate at
all, but upon their respective objects ; and that the
light of nature suffices to discriminate between thijm*
An adherence to these principles supersedes the ne*
ccssity of noticing any part of your diffusive and pe-
tulant discussions upon the introduction of the cau>n
law, or the controul and operation of the municipal
law, upon what you very improperly term livtnpi
where your religion has received no civil establishment
from the state. All rights of presentation, electioi^
* Lib, Can. Epist. Fund, c, 2r.
'
257
or nomination to livings or benifices are esieQtUlIy
bottioped on a civil establishment, anil ^^re wholly
irrel^^nt to a clergy voluntarily suppo.r^by^ con-
tributory gpspel maintenance : vhich. tl^jugh it im*
pote on the Christian a conscientious duty, creates
no.dvil; oblig^ticHi, and consequently cannot be ?n*^
forced,:, i^us^lified, or in any manned affwed by the ^'
hwh IJq. paf It o£ the canon law, beyond whal^.atrijct-
h cWQern;^ submission to the revelation of. Christ
* » ' ■ ... . . . , . A ^ J.- .....
smd coiifpnpity to real spiritual ^^ipliaer ha?,. Pr.
cv«r had, aoy legal operation or eflFecf in,tliis pr aiiy
Oliver cpuxitry^ without the assent of the si^preme cir
vil jnagistrate, which your Reverence (as well as.
othei:SJ.a,ppe2u:s to consider in an ecqlesiastical light,
I 'l r . ■ ■ ; ■-' *i
to.be.m, this country the King, as he Js called su-,,
premtp ftead of the united Church of .England a^d
Irt^jd^j , Whereas in no sense is the sujpremacy of
ciifiJ^ pp^i^er vested by our constitution in the * King* ^
Tj^e sppreme and ujncontrQulable power of thfi.civ,U^
HMIgistrate is wholly vested in Parlianaent, .
..Pkiabl^ indeed are the confusion and darkness of confuBio*
; * ' ' * .' * • ,• 5 of Column
your ideas vpqa these important subjects, most learn- banus's
ed Doctor. If thes^ be the signs of your illuminat*
Qgl^nd/efbrming hiission, I must again^ say, Irishmen^
^^re; your evangjeJi^ing innovator, has long since
^tcf£F bis Jrish. prejudices,, a^d .notwithstanding the
,. iii?2ippearanf.e
* Vidi Church and State /^//iw, parttcularly 525, where th^
famous Atterbury controTersy in the dayTS of Queen Ann it
sbttly revised^ which throws great light upou thii subject.
253
disappearance of the rouge^ I anticipate your opimonii
tiiat he ought to have been brought forth in a duller
atmosphere, than that of Erin,
JBeotum in erasso jurares aere nattun:
Hoa.I £p.L. II.
The man yon'd swear
Was bora in thick Beotian air.^
It is scarcely credible, that a person^ who has read
^nd written so much upon the subject of episcopd
^luthority and spiritual power in general, should so
unaccountably betray such ignorance and blundering
in the meaning, use, and application of the terms,
forms, and ceremonies of your Church. HaUudnor
Jur^ cxcuiifj labiiur. So determinately inquisitive are
you into the temporal rights, which constitute the
civil establishment given to the Catholic religion in
different states, that all your premises are formed ef
usages and precedents arising out of or adapted to
civil establishments^ which you most illogicallyappl^
to an hierarchy, which has none : you consecjaentljr
must conclude in error. You inconsistently initAs
* What slight pretensions has Colurabanas to be nnmb^
with, those, whom he calls i\pon to join him in tradncing asd
opposing the Governors of the Catholic Church of Ireland! (i
CoL 24) ^^ Is the good sense of a nation, famed for qalcbicsf
^ of perception, keeness of wit, vivacity, to be cajoled bf the
^^ hypocritical canting of men, who would dispense thuUon
^^ thus in bountiful profusion ^ and generous liberaUty to other^i
*[ and reserve Mependena only for themselves ?
the protection, aid, and interference of laws, t6 tupP
port and improve a religion, which those very lavrt
forlikl and punish as Unlawful and driminal. The
partial relaxation of some of the most penal laws in
favor of such individuals, as comply with the condi-
tions thereby required, leaves every statute of that
ferodoas code, as to all other persons and purposes, ,..^
in as full vigor, as when it first passed into a law.
J^ (me of them is repealed. I have not been able
%;.6x upon one fair discriminating idea in your five
nombers between the acts^ which proceed from the
temporal and the spiritual power. What in one place
jfou assert truly, you are sure in another to contra*
diet, or throw into doubt.
It would be foreign from the intent of this letter, ^^^SH^
and drive me out of my province, to* say any thing jJjJiJJI^
of the rights of the second order of the clergy to at ^'
and judge in the synods and councils, which you have
with so much heat asserted : nor shall I offer a &in*
1^ reflection upon your attempt to equalize the pow«
tfei dF the Bishop and the Priest. I Jiave long been
taoght by Thomas a Kempis to venerate the mighty
fignity of the Priesthood, who enjoy a frivilege denied
m
to angels ; for none but Priests ^ and they duly ordained
tytbe Church 9 have foiwer of^a^ing mius or consecrate
% the body of Christ. The sacerdotal power also of
itmitting or retaining sin, given by ordination, proves
tile fublime, dignif ed, and important function8,which
hiests are ord^ed to perform in the Church of
Christ.
560
Christ. But the legitimate exercise of this
ministry depends upon jurisdiction^ which you
lamentably confound with order,, *
* Thus the most learned, the most logical, and the mos
logical Doctor argues, (1 Col. 36) ^* As the Pope has
-*^ which are pccaliar to himself, and subordinate only t
. ^^ neral coatcil, so Bishops have rights, which are eqm
^^ hereot by dWine iQStitutioo, which it would be hmmi
.^^ €oatn»Tert. Even. Priests, who are not in the pareo
}^ have iftalkfUihU rigbty iu virtue of ordination, , wUd
^^ once holy orders are conferred, no Bishop can witbot
^^ mmiol reason suspend or recall/' This sei^lesreOi
of order and jurisdiction exceeds even Beotian duloeii
awful powers conferred, he received them (inSfrJohnL^ti
fey ordination 9 of uttering the words of consecration mii1>i
tion a& the Miulst<^r of Goo, to which such supernatyinil
fjre annexed by the divine power, can neither be recalih
suspended by any power upon earth with or without :
Ifot so of jurisdiction, which is the legitimate aailioi
nung or exerciiiing those inalienable powers. If this ji
tion. have been once given with cure of &ouls and faculti
Parish Priest, whether he then hav4k immediatA povff^^p
parishjoners l^y divine institution, ox..vicdiant€ efiA^(fo,\
tl^eologlc^ point I touch not) he admits he may be][reca]
susp^ndefl by his Bishop for a canonical faulty (say gross \
tacy, heresy, orfia^rant habitual immorality) the Bishoj
double ,dnt7 upon him independent upon the civil magi
first to withdraw the jurisdiction or faculties, wbioh )n
. so. Acaadalous)y abused, and then to provide for ihfe )y
w^tii of t|ie jparisb, as a part of his diocese, ov^i^ W^i^^
ceived. the soperintendance by virtue of bis qonficmado
Ike ispremf bead of the church* Thus when Columbaau
AaiwIifaMelf frm.Att«Adiog to tl^e cure of the souls of (
[•
301
Hot^ far precisely Columbanus ccsctalt I Will not '^^ ^^
• , . . . centmici
tfect to decide : his optic nerves are certainly de* ^»^*"ont
' any citU
tsoged : but whether strained by over eaeer tension •'stabiith-
1 ... r 1 mentNoDtf
in watching' the anomalies of the evanescent chair of >nireiaiidi
the thrcii
2 M Elphin, last.
tet, (he Bisbop of Elphiii was obliged bj his episcqial Anty
to prorfde for the spiritual wants of that portion of his diocese
if gHriDg institution or spiritual jurisdiction to some other pro^
^lod fit Priest in orders, to perform those duties, whkh he
bid once instituted Columbanus to ezecutei. On similar prrncl''
Jilei, I humbly conceive Pius VII. acted with reference to the
UbrentSees of France, which were portions of the general flock
coauDitted ta his charge ; and for the spiritual wants of which
k was bounden to proTide. The most learned Doctor's abro*
(ition surrender or abandonment (call his biblical vocation to
Stowe wfiat you chuse) of his flock at Castlerea, placed himr
hi iBother, than his native countrj, without cure of souls, buC
tith a huge and peculiarly responsible cure of books and ma^
Qiscripts,and threw him under the episcopal authority of Apo8«
toKc Vicars, more immediately dependent upon the See of
Home, by being removeable at the will of his Holiness, than
iqr ordinary Bishop of a regular hierarchy^
The conduct, mancenVres, and doctrines of Columbanus raiser
^ refbr to so many delations, analogies, or connections with
luferial Incidents set forth in my last history, that it would be
tnJQSt to the pubfic, unfair to Ireland, and injurious to ther
dttraeter of the historian to pass them over unnoticed. One
ctb hardly traverse a page of Columbanus, without being shock*
edat some such gross infidelity, as singly taken, would deprive
In tnthor of an credit for quotation, reference, or assertion ;
Hid jet he has the hardihood to declare (5 Col. 402) *^/ non»
fcfcrf, tiat Have in thisy at in wy former nmrkt most rdipqusfy
^fhtd to truth !!! His fourth number is professed to be a m
Elphrn, or cncked by too cbs6 approximadcn to
the tinextingiusfaable light of the Chair of Peter, is
doubtful
futation of DoctorPojnter's theological examioation ofthe.doc
triae of Coltimbanus« (4 Col. 7) " I give," »ays he, "Doctor
^^ Poyniev credit for the candor of his assertion, that na fnf»»
^^ siiim in mj naorks can hi pointed 9ut aB bereticAl or schiim^ifyJL
^ Thia acknowledgment leaves me in possession of i»j ^rf&o-
^' doxy, and exposes the rashness of him, wbp talked so lifel/
^^ of retractation and excommiinicatioD." Now I confid^tlf
a8sert,that not one man out of fi?e millions reading thii pttftsgei
would not sappose, that Doctor Poynter had actually made the
assertion, upon which Columbanus so exuUiagly rests his. dtin
io orthodoxy. Perhaps not fhre out of the fife milUons wovU
think it necessary, as I did, who knew the Arian labxiciljiitite
Jansenian dissimulation, the Columbanian impudence.^ the
writer, io refer to Doctor Foynter's examination, slight ^s^itisy
to Terify the quotation. Doctor Pinter has mads no smA tsstr^
Hon* His Irochurc consists only of forty .four loosely prints
pages in octaro. A fair trial of Columbanus i»pon the <rM!S^
of impudent misquotation will be completed by companion i''
fewer minutes, than Doctor Poynter probably consumed da{^iA.
making the theological examination of his doctrine. . Wt^tb^
veally says, p. 6, in his introduction, is lamentably tootrHf
and draws upon the head of Columbanus consequences^ vUch
fatally commit him before his countrymen, his hierarchy^ .V^
bis God. ^' On the subject in question, Columbanus aHWVet
^^ so many different shapesj that it is difficult to lay hold;^My
^^ particular proposition, and say, that this ij bit prcciu doctrpf^f*
In this Doctor Poynter was right ; for there is hardly ajifopf^
fiition hazarded in one part of his works, that Is not Taij^jfii^
lified, or contradicted in another. In the same page C^ Pociof
Pointer sayS) ^' I hare read these three letters of Cplai»|iaflO^
^ vUh atteatioD| aod I dq not hesitate to declairej t(u^^7
20?
doubtful. He scarcely distinguishes a point in the
whole line of demartation between the spiritual and
2 M 2 temporal
"Contain b niirfpreientelien, tatber than a tnie slalement of
*' Thaxty pninfs of the doctrine and disciplino of (he Calholh;
" Chnrch, Hi? doclrine concf-rriing the spiritual jurisiliftiun
-^^^'Bitlibpj, and the difference between a Bishop-and aPrielt
■*^ 1 indAttaln h errooeoas and- Rub>e»iie of tk« IiieroMiiir *'
^ Vtik Gktholic Cburch. His woi^ is calculated to prodaoeob*
*' scare nuliQii;, and lo leave fdbe opinioBS in the oUiidi of the
" generalify of his readers."
TJiis firgej filse assertion put info the month of Dr. Poiot-
rtleads tu mailer and results big with t tie fate of reUgioo ia
tlifsc i stands. The subjedi under all existing circumstancei,
is too TRSt for my attempt in this luller to place it before mj
mdcr in full detail ; it ia too aivful to be tfeated lightly or Iq.
driconslf ; it c^ilU loo powerfollj iipoa (heCatholic individual,
forapractical test of submission to his le|itimftte spiritual tu-
perior, not to force from me, eircum' lanced aa I stand, an ex->
plioil and dctiirmined avowal of my opinioos, impressions and
obligalions arising out of it. I do i( under correction, and
with respectful deference for, and full subinission to the lejijitiDate
episcopal jurisdiction of Doctor Po^ nttr over all the Calliolics
of the Loudon district. 1 collect from p. 97, 4 Col. , and from
p. 15, 6 Col. aud from several mysterious iniinnatione, tvilifht
preramptions, and feeling liints dispersed through the five
Bambers, that Doctor Milner has directedall the Priestswifb.
[nbi; (the midland) district not to admit Doctor O'Conorto
the sacred tribuniilof coiifcs^ion, until h« ahull hare Biadfr'a
public recantation of lh« doclriaes, which he hsi pubUshed. to
the scandal aud danger of his lluck ; that the late Sishop DiWg.
lais had withdrawu or suspended his spiritual facolliet, or pfo.
l>ibited hjui to administer the sacraments to others within the
London district on accoitiit of ihostf docliinea.^ i.Nojr viihout
|«iBf^r«I peptpr*: He ejuinot <diioo>rar <lei«0bieii4e
lltg ph^mmsim in cccIeaastioaEl hktoiy f die gnwik
Arrogating to mygelf the faintest siiade of right to ttiv^ ^
question their judgment and conduct in this particular,,! aa
free to express my cordial conviction of the imperious ne^easi^
ibr their having acted at least as far as they did go. In the Loo.
doa district Doctor O' Conor was allowed notwithstanding to
officiate at the altar, to preach and teach, (tltongh restrtioei
from administering the sacraments). Many serious aind simiere^
Catholics are perplexed at the revolting consideration, thattitef
public and persevering propagation of false and scandalous doc*
trine by a Priest should draw upon him the suspension or ^(k
privation of spiritual faculties by luis Bishop, who still iatbOifl«
ed him to preach and teach, (the most obvious mode of pro^
gating error) and to offer up the most solemn sacrifice fox tks
people seduced, scandalized, or put in danger by the broidu
ing of the pernicious errors, which occasioned the necessltji of
ihe suspension or interdict*
Doctor Poynter has now succeeded to the episcopal (iharg* tf
Ae London district, and upon a theological examination of fte
doctrine of Colnmbanus has within these two years declared lit
print, for the instruction and edification of his fiock, ihaiiOh
lumbamis's letters contain mhrepresentationoftnaty pointitff^
thdic doctrinct and discipline of the Catholic Church ; that hiiA*
iriniufon the spiritual jurisdiction of Bishops^ and the differemey*
tnueen a Bishop and a Priest is erroneous % and suhversive vf tteikf*
archy of the Catholic church; and that his nvork is catcviatei h
produce obscure notions, and to leave false opinions in th
minds of the generality of his readers / it is therefore the con fc
dent expectation o( those, who look up to his pastoral vigtiftoce
and.care for his flock, " That ive henceforth he no tnore Skf^
f^ tossed to and fioy and carried about nsjitb every nuind of doctrine h
itJifi slfj^bt of men^ and running crafii^sr, 'whereby they lie in ^^
> •
rfGatholicttf tlrraughout the world for the thrM"
Ent centuries of the Cliristian ^ra without any ciibil
establishment, in defiance of the law and civil ma**
gistrate: and the maintenance . and support of a Ca-
tholic Hierarchy and religion in his own country,
for the last three centuries^ M^itbout any civil esta«
- . . blifihment
. ■ i >
^^^decdpfi.'' {^Ephs. /r.l4.) That for strengthening tb^lr tub-
tDifisioB and obedience to their legitimate teachers^ and keepini^
<ittem united with the head and center of the churchy he VfiYL
•eitjker rc^tract his own opinion and judgment of the doctrine of
Cdoaibanus^ or call upon Columbanus to retract those ^rrone*^
m and dangerons doctrines, which Doctor Poynter has so ex»
plicitljr declared to be subversife of the Catholic Hierarchy,
904 calculated to leave false opinions in the minds of the gene*
ndity of his reafders. It is the firm and just expectation of all
orthodox Christians, that a Minister of God's word shall oof;
beh'censed to preach and teach unsound and seducing doctrine
irpm the altar and pulpit, under the imposing authority of dt*
Wmisfion^ who stands publicly denounced by his Bishop of
(ropagating them in his book through the uncontroulable free*,
flom of the British press. They behold with horror the ravages
already made by their most subtle and pernicious of all heresies
lathe plebeian, in the patrician, in the sacerdotal orders* They
^fidently anticipate in the fMlfiUment and indefectiblllty <^
God's promise to his church, that he will graciously manifest his
extraordinary mercy to this portion of it, in preserving it frooi
itodexn jirianism by /ithanasian firmnesst
Si fracius illabatur orbis
Impavidum ferient ruins.
noaACB,3L.3 0«
Dauntless he'll stand amid the crash of all,
Whilst harodess on his hea'd the fragments £aU»
Uishment, agaioBt the municipal laws^ in spite ef th
civil magistrate, and in ddfiance of nnrelenth^ ^
pression and persecution. He sees not a single fea«
ture of his religion, but through the fallacious me£*
tm df civil establishments. To a person so voraciooi*
ly addicted to them as Columbanus is, every p^rt ji
the ecclesiastical system, which is unaffected by tlieoii
must have, if any/a black jaundiced appearance. The
practises of all the dispersed churches for the thee
first centuries, and those of the Irish Catholic dinrcb
in the three last, would to an undistempered q^
have operated as a prism, to reduce and annalize tbe
imposing glare, by representing each object in it$g|S*
nuine primseval colouring.
]JJJ^^J^ If your theology suffice not, Rev. Docto*,toT^
dSti!?n^h^ store your sight, a sincere application to the la'w, to
the two ^faich y6u so pathetically appeal * (Is the rcsponsHntrij
tfflaw never to be known in that church? ) \viil enabk
you to discover objects at leasts though it may not
powerfully dispose you to follow the very light^ft
gives* You have then yet practically to leam fr(Hn
the laws of England,! that even in the reformed sjs:
tem of a national churchy which you so devoutly ^gb
♦ 1 Col. 24.
f As a lawyer I make free io remind my readers in gOMraJ,
to inform Ihe most learned Dr. that the laws of Englandii^i^
afected the civil establishment of religion before the Befoitti*
tioa were b6ttomed upon, and framed to support and effeciBi^
the then admitted spiritual prero$ati?es and rights of his:JB^'«
I
4
br, nt/e shall yet iame- a. national cbunb^l in die api
pttntment both of the higher and lower clergy, the
act
uu^ who upon that principle was by emphatic emiuence stil*
^ the Apostle, Upon this subject widely did our ancestors
di&r firom Columbanus and his occult and overt leaders, em«
ployers, instigators, and co.operators. He says, (1 Col. 80)
^■neither the election of Bishops by the Pope, nor their eonfir*
y^wutkfi by him after election, nor their nomnatien to any ra^
*'caqt See, nor the Pope's consent y nor es en \Ci^ knowledge ot
<* the appointment is a necessary requisite to establish the ta*
*Midity of any of these acts." By the case of the Bishop of
SsKsbary in the year books (the very best evidence rf what
•void common law was) (41 Edward III. A. D. 1369) it ap«
pearf, that by the common law of the land an English Bishop
fUcted under a cong^ (telirey consecrated, or even invested with
the temporalities by the King was not a complete Bishop, till
k were confirmed by the Pope : for this confirmation was the
ict, by which he received his Spiritual jurisdiction or mission.
''Allbeit he be elected, it behoveth him to be confirmed b)r
*' the Pope, and it may be, that the Pope may refuse him
^'i(Nr Don ability or otherwise &c. Car tout sbit il eilie iUonm
** mcttt etre confirm del Pafe% et pott etre que k Pope luy voet
^^ ufiuer pournon ahilitie ou autrements,^^ On the other hand
^t ancestors never considered, that the Pope gave any
Utforglltj^ whatever by confirming or appointing a Bishop^
^Columbanus has with malign hebetude argued, and urged
throughout his difierent numbers. In an older case in the year
books (31 Edw. Ill) it is said, that, <<even after electloa
*^ tad Confirmation the freehold of the temporalites was not
*^ ia the Bishop, till after he had sued for them out of the
*^ King's bands. And in order to make* manifest to the
•xitting and all future generations the belief and* practice of
* 4 C(A. 1%.
2dd
conferring the spiritual power is ats dis^nctly an<f svBf
ttantially kept a part from all the civil acts attend*
kg
eur aneettors j as to to the exelushre^ erikinent and nncoatm^
lable right of the Pope to name and appoint Bnhops aad fhw
them missioQ or Spiritual jurisdiction^ I direct their titteita
<o Pope Clement v., who in the days of our Edward S, (li
begftn his reit^ A. D. 1307) rejected Thofnar CMam ChMaly
Cwtgi dilire to the See of Carfterbury, who went to Al||ina
according to the cnstom of those dajs to be confimed wi
intested by the Pope, and his Holyness appointing atUf mH
motion and ^screthn Thomas Reynolds to that See, to wbeii Hi
tent both the investiture and pall. No act whatet«r of (it -
CiTiI Magistrate ensued this instance of the Pope's » ifiiM i(
liis supreme right of appointing Bishops to ereij part if te
Church nnconuitionally and independently of the CivH']It|ii«
trate. Whereas had the King, Parliament, or ChayttTi ir |
I
any species of patron named, elected, appointed, or evil
invested a Bishop, our ancestors held (and so do their jmriv
CatboUe successors) that the confirmation must hare been alii
by the Pope : for confirmation imports the supremacy or trlil«
cendancy of that power, by yirtae of which the inchoate origiail
act is done. ( Chu. & St. 420. 484) Irishmen ! Ba^
men ! Catholics fsi eiery Clime ! beware ! Let no man si/Htf
you, that the time is come, when you will not endure soaai
doctrine : but after your own lusts you heap to. yonsdill
teachers having itching ears. Beleive nb man; no gradoifsi
prig of theology, no conceited member cf a foreign acadfflfr
no thrown out mitre hunter at home, though be swear to fUr
that the common law of England, (that masterpiece of haMB
wisdom) is formed out of or bottomed upon any tiAwgj Vu
bigotry, mummeiy or priestcraft, or papal pride, iawliaefip
arrogance, assomption, couvetousness, encroachmeaty
patfon, or tyranny^ or popular ignorance^ or ieitililfi-
260
ng the Initiation of the human being into aposfofid
mission, or the legitimate exercise of his (unaliena*
2 N ble)
hiption, SQperst2(ion or brutality. No; jour common laW
lioie oat ef the creed of our christian ancestors^ who fromt
their adoption of christanity continued uninterruptedly to
icluMwIedge an eflicient primacy of dignity and jurisdiction
in ChrfttWicar on earth, the Bishop of Rome. For until!
Cm despotic Henry for his own lustful and ambitious purposes
kad bvllied the two houses of his serrile Parliament to altei*
tta Caamoa law in this regard^ by withdrawing from the
hpreme Pastor every particle of that Civii estahlisbment oi
the Catholic Religion, which the piety, confidence and r«Ter«
cue of our ancestors for the common Pastor of the faithful had
incited his Holiness with, as corresponding with and depend-
t^ upon that Cardinal or top.Iink of the Spiritual chain*
hf which thro' every gradation of Church government they
coonaned with the head and center of Christ's visible chnrcit
oa earth, and were connected with its invisible head in Heaven,
la alteration in this regard was eyer thought of or attempted.
ladeed trite and genuine Catholics believe (and in this they agree
with Protestants of the FstaUiihment), that the power of the keye
VM originally given by Christ and must for ever remain, ui
1M| as the Sun and Moon endure, independert^ofthe civil magism
trekm The sympathetic motives of vice or turpitude, the un^
Worthy grounds of servile acquiescence, or the plausible vizoc
tf courtly approbation produced the concurrence of the majo«
Ifitf with the will of a depraved and debased tyrant. But Irish*
■m in particular, ] again (though an Englishman) say ioyou^
BEW A^£« You, who for three centuries of unrelenting per«
•icalioB, of corrupt lure, and debased oppression, have with
Mexible nerve and vigor kept your hold of the cardinai link^
hole it not for the fascination, fooleries, and falshoods of a man^
who aeldom tells truth, but when he wishes, or expects to be
discredited, or would be benefitted by disbelief: as vrhen- (2
270
We) powers, as in the Roman Catholic church. The
church of England or Ireland (i. e. the national church)
cutting, like Alexander, the Gordian knot, lopps off
the top-link of the chain, by which Roman Catholics
have from time immeir^orial considered the Hierarchy
or Church Government in regular gradation, con-
nected from the Parish Priest and his curate, thrt)ug&
the imiversal Primate as vicar upon earth, with Christ
the divine founder and head of it, in Heaven.
Waioreof AW the preliminaries, concomitants, and conse-
tbe acts of
roiiation quchts of tliis awful collation of spiritual jurisdic*
power. tion, or Apostolic mission, wherever there is a civil
establishment given to the Catholic religion, are by
you, most Rev. Doctor, confusedly heaped together
without discrimination, misconceived and misrepre-
sented^ insidiously diversified, or ignorantly identifi*
cd. Election by the laity, or under the writ of «n-
ge cTelire by Dean and Chapter, nomination by roy-
al, patent, postulation by the suffragans of a province,
or the clergy of a diocese, presentation by ecclesiasti-
cal or civil corporations, or lay personages, or any
possible mode, by which a civil magistrate or commu-
nity of Christians may express or convey to the su-
preme Bishop the best founded presumption of the
worthiness
^ol.37) he spoke the real truth, in order, that his deceiTed/bJ-
lowers might think it an exaggerated falsehood. *' There are,
^^ who for their own purposes, will devoutly assert, tbttt the
** writer is a schismatic^ perhaps an occuU berclsc^ a degmt(^
*^ QaQomr^ an Englishman in his heart.'*
«ii
271
t
rorthiness and fitness of the person^ upoft whom H
Iblmess should (for he only can, whilst no oecume^i*
Ileal council is actually sitting) confer the spirituat
ure and superintendance of a particular diocese^ are
If you spoken of and treated, as immutable discipline^
nnding the particular dioceses and provinces, and
coiltmlling the eminent right of the living head of
the cburch upon earth, to dispense spiritual jurisdic-
tion throughout every part of ir, until the end of time.
Each of these preliminaries proceeding from the tern-
ponft power of^ the civil magistrate, must like all
temporal Institutions, be essentially variable, and un*-
ceaangly liable to be adapted to the indefinite varie-
ty of all possible human events and exigencies. Equal*
ly evident is it, - that the induction with the lower
dcrgy, and the homage done to the King by the Bi-
shop, bis instalment or enthroning, as it is sometime^
called, or the delivery of the' ring and crozier, or any
other ceremony subsequent to the act of institution
or coafirmation (which is the act collating piission e^
spiritual jurisdiction) or any other act^ form or cere-
mony tenduig to notify the person invested with spi-
litual jurisdiction, to whom spiritual submission 19.
dne, as well as tithes or other temporalities,, wheret^
there is ^civil establishment, are ^mV'^cts, ?fid are
of course changeable by the civil magistrate, without
whose concurrence or sanction they can have no
blading or legal effect at all. It is an unexceptiox^^f
hie ma^dm, that the real spiritual power left by Christ
2N2 to
4ft
272
to teach and govern his church, cannot froprio vigcri
produce any civil effect whatever. When therefore
hi the established Protestant, or as your Reverence
would call it, the National Church, a Bishop of a par-
ticular diocese institutes a Clerk, Rector, or Vicar of
a Parish within his Diocese, or the Archbishop of a
Province (or three other Bishops during the vacancy
of the Arch-Episcopal See) confirms or appoints the
elected or Patentee, the civil magistrate inter£^
not in the act, which is admitted to be an exercise of
divine right, flowing from the power of the keyi.VSbj
therefore did your Reverence take it in such high dud-
geon, that Bishop Milner should have told you **that
^* you might as well pretend to pluck a beam from
" the Sun, as to touch onejf^r^ of ecclesiastical juris-
*^ diction." Every well informed Protestant will
now (these matters have been latterly better undar-
stood than heretofore) tell you, as strongly, that nei"
ther the Sovereign nor Parliament set up any preten-
sions to give, take away, or qualify (according to the
words of. their episcopal commissions) those thinff
which are known from holy Scriptures to belong to ptt
0y divine right ; and that the frequently repeated
exception^ in quantum per Chrisii leges licet ^ was a
constant and unequivocal admission of th^ existence
of a spiritual or Apostolical power ^ and an absolute
renunciation of any right in the civil magistrate to
fjnterfere with it. In a word, it is solemn Protestant
English
m
27*'
/
:q;iidi) and legal authority, • (thcrrfore gp6d
litest you) that the established national church ad-
* mits
•I
* Sec; a note upon cbU subject in %d. Vol. History of Ireland
ice,^ Uniony p. 101. ** No Monarch ever pretended, or.
ever ^N^ allowed to have in bim> or to exercise the power
ef tKe* leys, or to partake of the pontifical or Episcopal
uHleh' 'i(Notwithstand1ng Sir £. Coke*s pedantic nonsense,
fti sfnriiSliali^ing the Lords annointed» Reger sacro oleo uncti,
"smti^'^ftrikuiiii jurhdictionis capacet.) He cannot therefore
copSrm a. Bikhop or institute a Clergyman. That being the
act| by.vhich Spiritual jurisdiction is conferred : itcannoL
'Bor ever 'was prelended co be drawn from the Civil Magis^*
'tiate. , Order acd jurisdiction i^re essentially different : they
^artboth necessary for church government: but neither can
''bc<lmwn from the Civil Magistrate. The act of Henry
^*VUJ» which regulates the ordination of Priests and ton.
" kcfitation of Bishops, gives to the crown a right of puaishing
^^ metropolitan with a prutmunhe in case aftei| the election
"ooder the Congid'EHr^f he neglect or refuse to consecrate
** tod confirm the Bishop elect : but it enables not the crown
** to do' what the metropolitan might have done, but refused
*flr Q^lected to doi viz. to collate Spiritual jurisdiction over
* tb diocese : that flowing fronqf the ponver of the keyt could not
I be granted ^y the Civil Magistrate. Whereas by the same
'act, if the Dean and Chapter lefuse or neglet to elect a
person under the Congi d*Elerc^ (which is a Civil Act) the
^ King is t>y that tStatute enabled by letters patent to appoint
'2f)erson to be presented to the Metropolitan. So in the
' inferior Clergy ; the clergyman is presented by the patrout
to be instituted by his Bishop, who alone can confer Spiritual
jurisdiction and the cure of souls over any part of his
^Iiocese. The only difference between the Catholic and .
Protestant in this point is : the fs)jmcr bol^s it necessary (#
274
mits the existence of a pure spiritual power, which
consists in the power of the keys, potest as clavium;
which aie divine rights invested in Christian Bishops,
qux ex scripturisj tibi divinitus commissa esse dignoscunt*
ur^ and which cannot be usurped or even touched bjr
human legislation, only quantum per Chris ti leges licet.
S?S?ttm. Hallucinatur, cacutit, labitur. The fitness of this
Jj^J^i^P^" motto to your Reverence's confused aberratioi}5,
contradictions and false assumptions, recurs almost in
every page. To follow them in minute detail wouH
be irksome to my readers, and useless to most of
yours. You are perpetually mistating, confounding,
and misapplying the words, makings naming^ app^nt*
ingj consecrating f ordaining^ confirming^ instituting^
cburcbi government^ mission^ jurisdiction, autboritjf
rights^ liberties^ privilege^ livings^ benijices^ patronait,
establishments^ civil, temporal, human, spiritual, ecckttr
asticaly sacerdotal, lawful, legitimate, prescriptive, inH' .
Uenable, legal, and canonical, as applicable to Churchf 1
Bishops, Priests, and States. If ambitious of singu* j
larity, you have certainly attained that object. 31
^quale homini ftdt Hit. You wish to be thought or*
thodox, you wish to* appear heterodox: you affect
eubmission, and arrogance to the same authority: you
profess love and respect for your counrry, and straia
even at eloquence, to traduce and vilify hen You
fastidiously enlist under the banners of truth, and
with
*
^* derive Spiritual jurssdicthn from theuoiversal Bishop." Tte
btter from a Metropolitan,
\
275
;ith studied j^rfidy desert them in action! y&a&Ki^
r profess truths in words^ which you warmly re-
ounce by inference and implication: you Tjoldly la-
our to inculcate false doctrine, and timidly submit
J the true : you oil and soap over your propositions,
1 the pitiful confidence of eluding the gripe of your
nta^oiiist : you play the Norman, like Blanchard :*
foa Jtiave not said, the Pope is the sole source of spi-
ittial jurisdiction or mission throughout the whole
diurch of Christ, whilst no oecumenical council is sit-
dng : and you have refused to say on the other hand,
tiiat spkitual jurisdiction or mission, can originate
from any other source. I have endeavoured to shew, I
hope successfully, that your Reverence, though ia
orders, and a most learned Docto/, have not been
wrranted in your assertions and charges against your '
cotemporaries and opponents, that you have been
raise in your history, inaccurate in your chronology,
mcorrect in your translations, maliciously unfaithful
in jfour quotations, knowingly deceptive in your mis-
representations, and perpetually at variance with
yoinrself in boast, failure, and contradiction. Nil
fidt unquam sic impar sibi. It remains for me to ex-
pose your powers of ratiocination. And I am free
to anticipate my reader's conclusion', that they would
^race the threshold of dialecticks.
Jrisbmen beware/ Your reforming Evangelist His furiter
cpens his mission with a cavalier anticipated pros- gandcs «•
^tion pf all his opponents, cmltavit utgigas. t"Take
^ Anttaift. t 1 Col. m.
278
*^ the following few principles, in oppposition to all
*' the declamatory nonsense of your Keoghs^ and alt
** the half-measures, and political manoeuvrings of
^* our clerical politicians, and it is impossible yoi^
** can err." Irishmen beware in following this uiwr-
ring guide. He tells you some truths : but his de-
sign in telling them, is that he may seduce you inta
error. The support of ninety-nine truths vrill not
justify the maintenance of one false opinion tipoit
faith and church government. He asserts truly, thit,
• ** without a mission from the Church there^om be
^* no' ecclesiastical jurisdiction^ no valid administnh
•* tion of the sacraments.** But he is silent, as to the
mode of deriving it from the Church ;t he explains
not
• Col. i05.
+ The studid craft, by which Columbanus has thronghoirt
has five nambers evaded any proposition, which either assert!
or denies, that Spiritual, jurisdiction is to be derived trom the
pope, is A marked symptom of the Jansenian School. AffeC«
taiion and boast of general respect and docility to the choreb^
contempt and opposition to its governors. Cant upon specil«
la tive obedience : contumacy against practical sabmission* I
can assimilate this altum silentium about the real source aoi
practical mode of deriving^ Spiritual jurisdiction to notliingi
but the Calvino* Jansenian doc.iiines ot Richer and that Scbofl||p
of which more is said in the the Appendix No. III. TV
noted Calvinist Ann du Bourg, who was put to death oader
Henry III, gave in \\\b formula fidti upon ^his point , tl^at ho
believed the power of loosing and binding, commonly'
called the ponver of the keyt^ to have been given by God, fwl It
wnt tnarti $r two^ hut to the 'whok churchy, that is to all thejaitllfit
wbBt te iktmH by tbi Church in that
confaiedly imports a concurrence of the tMl
2 O magistrate
i§f0, '^mh heleive in Cbritt.** Soxnctbiog has^t)ecn alreadf
Bf#Co]umbanu8* favounible representation of Jansenism :
Hll||ll:twill be said upon that proline source of evil in the
ini flharch in the Appendix No. Ill, It is not however
timal to the denouement of the piece, that has been
rff fetttng up for the British Theatre for more than twenty
I to ahew how leniently, how aitfuUy, and how pUtfsibly
ilijcct, the plot, the heroes, the soubrecsy the mechanlmi^
icttciy the interludes are managed at rehearsals, to conceal
Itittrophe until the day of exhibition. A much mo^o
at writer than Colurabanus published in I793 the me- . ^
I of Gregorio Panzani^ (the Rev. Jos, Berrington) in the ■
lement to which (p. 3 9) he ushers in this very important
ct with the lines from Milton. Par. Lost. b« 2«
Others apart sat on a hill retir'd
In thoughts more elevate, and reasoned
High of providence, fbreknovi ledge, will and fates
FU'd fate, freewill, foreknowledge absolute •
And found no end, in wandViog mazes lost.
rhe history of this controversy, is the history truly of che
iitnts de tesprit hutnaiftf wbich under the specious shew of
dting the integtity of religion and the cause of truth, all
ttiions, to which man is subject, rushed into action, and
1 unbridled. The Jesuits in this warfare were the
pions of yr^^'sri//, againtt the doctrines of Janseniusi
other orders on the side of Grace^ but not on the side of
Blgian Bishop (i e Jansens Bishop of Ipres), whom the
S8 of Rome bad anathematized, and combated with equal
r. Btit the controversy, as ic advanced^ branched out
^9 taking different aspects, and involving various matter,
firft ivas a Jansenistji who admitted the real dodrism
278
magistrate in tbe act of mission or jurisdiction ; <' and
•* without tlbe good understanding of the civil power,
there
of the Secf: then he^ who refused to subscribe unconditmalb
to the orders of Roice: he, who appealed from those de.
crees to a general council: he, who rejecting the doctrine^
maintafnedy that they were not to be found in the VoIniDe
Jiugiutinus : he, who wished to remain passive on the qaeicibo:
he» who could beleive^ that a Jaiisenist could be an hooest
man : hci that did not admire all the maxims and mancetmei
of the Jesuits: he in fine, who was not a friend to theif
order." In p. 443, this Reverend gentleman represeots
**Que$nell a man of many virtues and of great leatningf was
mnhonest JansenUt^ who died in 1719, anathematized by Rome
and persecuted for the excrescences of a wild imagloatioa
by Kings» Priests and Jesuits." A truly Richerian sentimailll
In p. 400, he details some charges sent to Rome a|»Bit
certain Missionary Piiests from England in ITOTy wbo
structed their converts/' to speak irreverently of* the Pope,
the invocation of Saints and of indulgences : that many kep(
in their oratories the portraits of Arnault and St. Cyran (notil
French Jansenists) : that many books, either plainly Jamse*
nisticaly or nearly so, had within the last years been trasdatei
from the Fienchi and printed : that a certain Priest in tbt
county of Duiham instructing some scholars, read to them die
frovinciul Utters i &r/' To which Mr. Bertington adds thf
following note.*
* The letters of the virtuous and eminent Pascal, Sur lamwt3k\^
^politique dt* JesuiUt f He then gives a fiatterinf; Critique upon then, t»
which he subjoins the following eulogy of his own. ''He that has read these
famous letters, will subscribe to the Critique: he, that has not read then,
hat lost a pleasure, which their perusal only can compensate.'* They were
revised and corrected by Arnauld and Nicole. I should also be wantlsg
in duty and attention to my readers, were I not to apprize thcaSf tlMt
<hey were lolemfily coAdenmed U Aome|HBd by the cooncU •£ 8ttle|IMi
279
" there must be war between tlie Chureh and dift
" State." It must be presumed, that your Reverence
here meant the ecclesiastical state of the national
clergy, where they had a civil establishment ; for no
hgenuitjr can torture the words into a reference to
:he gteat body of Christ's church dispersed over the
Mr|ioIe earth, its supreme Iiead, and the civil magis- ,
Tate of Ireland. You then advance some more
rath, but mix it up with a huge portion of falsehood.
► <» No Englishman ever yet for a moment supposed!,'
^ that the King could administer sacraments, ordain
•• Priests, give a mission for preaching or teaching, or
*• be the source of spiritual as well as of temporal power.
** They give him no authority even in church disci*
^ pBoe, but such as is necessary for maintaining or^*
^der in the State.*' The plain truth is, that the
^t bulk of English Protestants, as well as Irish,
tare for these two last centuries supposed, that all ec*
cleuastical or spiritual jurisdiction whatever proceeds
^ from our Eang, as the supreme head of the estab*
Itthed church.
Few, very few persons indeed have heretefore..^^^"^"
(bought fairly upon this subject, as did formerly B"?"**"-
Bramhall, Archbishop of Armagh ; Carlton^ Bishop ccmingtke
rf Chichester ; and latterly Lord Grenville, who of theKmc^
<nily informed the House of Lords in 1810, what
2 O 2 was
• 1 Col. 91.
wral Bishops and Pailiaments In France* The reader is requested (•
tpiy these passages to the touch stone, by which in tbt appendix No, III,
b iaftrncted how to discover a JaBiralst.
S80
was new to most of them, that the King was not
Pope of the established church. Upon that general
error on the subject of the King's supremacy was
formed that oath of supremacy, which Lord Grenvillc
justly observed * appeared to have been framed with &
captious desire to exclude Catholics. An oath might, U
conceived^ be framed freed from that capticusnesSf ac-
knowleding the temporal supremacy. Under that error
were made out the commissions of Cranmer, Bcwmer,
and the first Protestant Bishops.f Under it was
framed
* Vid. 3 Vol- of Hist, of Ireland since the Union p. 6S§.
+ Of that act Heylin, a respectable Protestant Hirtorian
and Divine said. " The intent of the contrivers of this act
•* was to weaken the authority of the Episcopal order, by fore-
* ing them fiom their strong hold of Divine institution, and
** making them no other, than the King's ministers only*
^^ And of this act, such use was madf , that those Bishops i
^* those times were not in a capacity of conferring orders* but
** as they were thereunto empowered by special licence."
i\nd the great Protestant historian Bishop Burnet in ^^
history of the Reformation (part II. p. 6) says, ** The
*^ Bishops were required to take out commissions of the saw*
*^ form with diose, they had taken out in King Henry's tiflW*
** Cranmer set an example to the rest, and took out bis cWflJ-
** mission.^ 'The same historian speaking of Bonner's Com*
<< mission says, (Coll. to Ist part No XIV) "Ttesnb-
^* stance of it is, that as all jurisdictions both ecclesiastical
** and civil flow from the King, as .Supreme head, and he was
*^ the foundation of all power, and it became thosci ^^^
*• exercised it only (precario) at the King's courtesie, gratrfnily
^ to acknowledge, that tbey had it only of his bounty : ^
961
famed the Act of Edward VI. concerning the elec-
^ipn of Bishops. Under the evident confusion of thii
i^ror did the Legislators act in the first of Elizabeth,
ivbea they put an end to the Pope's spiritual ai;^ ec-
dwiastical powef from the last day of that sessiooi and
^atttuch jurisdiction, privileges, superiorities, and
"pre-eminences spiritual and ecclesiastical, as by
^acy spiritual or ecclesiastical power or authority
(evidently of the Pope, which was only to cease on
the last day of the Session) *^ hath heretofore been or
" may lawfully be exercised or used for the visita-
"tion of the ecclesiastical state or persons, and for
** reformation, order, and correction of the same and
** of all manner of heresies, schisms, abuses, offences,
" contempts, and enormities, thereby united and an-
nexed
^to declare, that they would deliver it up again, when it
* shojild please him to call for it. And since the King had
* constituted the Lord Cromwell hii Vice-gerent in ecclesiastical
* affiiirs, yet becaufe he could not lopk into all those matters,
•'therefore the King upon Bonnet's petition did empower him
* in his own stead to ordain such, as he found worthy to
•^ present ;and give institution with all parti oi Episcopal autho.
^rity, for which he is duly commissioiiedy and this to laat
^during the King's pleasure only." Of these commissions
Cdlyer says, (Ch- Hist- Pt. IT. 1. 111. p. 169) " After the
^ King has thus declared himself Patriarch in his dominions,
^eliaimed ail manner of Spiritual authority, and pronounced
^ the Bishops no more than his delegates at pl&asure ; after
^ diis, these words are thrown into the commission to give it
* the more passable complection, he sides those things f *whicb arc
thmon/rm hofy Scriptures h belong to you of divine right. ^*
cc
cc
282
^ nexed to the Imperial Crown of this realm. Her
Majesty was moreover empowered, ** to appoint com«
missioners to exercise, use, occupy, and executei
under her, all manner of jurisdictions, privilegesi
and pre-eminences in any wise touching or con*
ceming spiritual or ecclesiastical jurisdiction, ^nd
•* to visit, reform, redress, order, correct, and amend
** all such heresies, schisms, abuses, offences, con-
•* tempts and enormities whatever."' The next year
after this act had passed^ a great part of the natum
believing the truth of what Doctor Milner told you,
ihat they might as well attempt to flulk a beamfrm tbe
Sun, as to touch one fibre of ecclesiastical jurisdidiMf
the Queen was advised to publish what was called
her pra-monition : a most tyrannical act, to force
an unnatural and distorted meaning upon the dm*
plest words of a statute, and to declare fractious and
turbulent, those who should refuse to take the oath
of supremacy in this tortured sense of her clainung
no spiritual jurisdiction. " Her Majesty forbiddetb
** all manner her subjects to give ear or credit, to
*' such perverse and malicious persons, (i. e. the re*
cusants) ^^ which most sinisterly and Ynaliciously h-
*' hour to notify to her loving subjects, how by tW
•' words of the said oath it may be collected, that the
^^ Kings or Queens of this realm, possessors of tiie
** Crown, may challenge authority and power of mi*
" nistry of divine offices in the church/' She claitn-
«i no other authority or power, than what her father
and brother
rother cbimed and enjoyed. This left the difficult
r untouched as to those, who could see no better
tie in her father and brother, jure coronaf^txaai in
BTself, to partake of the power of the keys. Under*
is identical error did the pedamit Cooke ascribe this
apostolic attribute to the holy chrism used at the
x)ionatipn: and the greatest part of the learned pro*
essibns of the law and theology, have generally con*
idered and described the Sovereign as persona /aixiam
t is morally impossible, most learned Doctor, that
lie pursuits and studies of your life and profession
oald have left you ignorant of these £ptcts and cir-
umstances. What then must be your effrontery in
sserting, that no Englishman ever yet for a moment
^ippotedf that the King could give mission for preaching
r Uachingi or be the source of spiritual, as well as tem^
ord power. You have the general error of two cen-
ones, the voice of several Legislatures, the declara-
lOQs of Sovereigns^ the doctrines of lawyer; and
iteologians, and the communis opinio not only of the
3ergy, but of the Laity, to falsify your assertion.
^ubitudo errantium not tollit errorem. The assumption
vas not less erroneous, because general. Against
inch an inundation of evidence^ lAcredible is the
Uffdihood of your assertion* But yet the man, who
las washed of the rouge, who has once transgressed
ite bounds of common decency, becomes in self-de-*
bee a iborough-paced bravo. Sid tamen qui semel
wrecundi^
2S4
vereamdia Jirxs iranskrit^ eum bene Iff et navtUr apor*
iei esse iwpiidentcm.
dm^wer ^ ^^'^**^ ^^^> '^^^^ learned Doctor, to follow your
Ildmi'ttcd^' example in leading any of your countrymen astray. ,
^Sh^r-v'V* ^^^^^^^^'^^ beware. There may appear incongruity in
iiagiitratr. j^y citing thc authority of a whole nation generally
for tv/o centuries holding opinions, which you beruA
fiai'ltcr insist no Englishman ever for a moment did;
more especially, when I contend for the force and
operation of the laws'being contrary to that general
stream of opinion. I certainly have said, and I agais
repeat, that the salvo^ quantum per Chrisii leges Sat
introduced into the act of convocation or submiftioll
of the Clergy, and the exception of what, from the
scriptures the Bishops are known to have of divine
right, upon which the several Acts of Parlian£ient
v/cre founded, which expressed or affected to extin-
guish the supremacy of the Bishop of RomC over the ,
realm, recognized the existence of a spiritual power
am:)nT;st Chri:^tians,^w/^i/jj claviwiiy essentially cSf-
fering from the poicsias gladuy independent upon each'
olher ; as it is fully and fairly set forth in the decla-
ration of the Bishops and principal Clergy un'der
Henry VIII. Now the admission of this principle
negatives the Legislature's power of touching one fbri
cf ccchsiasiical jurisdiction^ When therefore ex abioh ^
da7iti cautclu they used these exceptions and salvos,
it was no more than a useless declaration^ that the
t9S
wer of the keys was beyond their competency i#
uch. Whoever believed the scriptures, knew the
tility of the declaration. Yet few at that day, or
ice, have sufficiently discriminated (your Reverence
i^ently has not) between religion and the civil est a^'
ibmeni of it. This confused error was kept up and
ted upon by the lust and ambition of Henry,:; by
e despotism of Elizabeth, the pedantry of James^
5 arbitrariness of the other Stuarts, and the inter-
t of their successors. Therefore do w^ constantly
5 rights claimed and acts done by our Sovereign,
Ittch are exclusively out of the competency of the
nl magistrate ; such as judging of the Cliristian
!?eIation, determining upon heresy fifhd schism,
raating spiritual jurisdiction or mission, ^and control-
ig the exercise of it in those, to whom, divinitw
•
9mmssa esse dignoscuntur» At all times there were
m, silfficiently enlightened to see, and sufficiently
lonest to declare the truth. More recently tbaa
boie Protestant Divines, I have already mentioned^
S8 Lesley* said, ^'How can rights, that are divine be
2 P givea
* Pref. to tbc Uegak and Pontificak VII. In order, that
ihaibainis may not always iipbraid me for gaggling in tlia
Ite note with the foreign iiftttence men, 1 mention, that the
tii respectable Mr. Whitaker, Rector of Ruan Lanyhoroe
I assared me more than once, that he considered Lesley ta
tfce greatest man, that has enlightened Christendom sine*
Paul. I Aave said in my Church and State (p. 581)
lOQgh differing from Mr. Whitaker upon some political
tcipUs ; that [^ his pablication (The real miin of G^ertu
286
^ given up ? And if they are divine^ n&itimdn autlio*
** rity can supersede or limit them/* Your Reve-
rence has admitted the truth of these doctrines^ in
order to obtrude insidiously upon your less discern*
ing and considerate readers a gross and mischievoos
falsehood. *^Here then are the necessary requintci
•* Jure divino for Bishops and Priests : Canonical
•• Eleciiun^ Canonical Ordination^ and Canonical «r//-
** sion, and these must be independent of the civil
•* power/' Irishmen beware ! and mark the reason*
ing of your new Evangelist. No other human oeing
saving your most learned Reverence, will I confide,
call in question the truism of Lesley. What »
of divine institution, is independent of the civil pow-
er, and therefore indispensible, immutable, and vcx"
pervious to the lapse of time, vicissitude of fornmei
and fluctuation of human occurrences. Every right,
power, and obligation left to, or imposed upon tlie
Church by its divine founder, are common to all ani
every part of it ; the Church knows no partial pre-
cepts, no variable doctrines, no national ordinances.
The kingdom, which Christ established on eartb,
though not of this world, comprises every habitation
of man : it has no limits, no sections, no divisions*
What God made universal, cannot be restricted by
nian^s presumption : what in his infinite wisdom be
ordained
** msnt) ** bespeaks a man of great eruditioD, aTcry Wllii"^ I
mind, and a warm wish to serre his countrj,»> I wish I con'*
with troth assert th« same of Columbanus*
I
y^fySned qaiuiot be iipprovied jby human legislators*
Eiejf^ ^b<^ the Creator, has made^ lu8 ^Muus^r^,
ani)ot be controuled by the creature^ . / /
la order to prove, that canonical election is a jure Election *
• "» • ' r institution^
^kdm jrequisite for a Catholic Bishop, tour Reve^ ?'^"^?^
;i|oe very flippantly asserts upon your own authority^ <»•
wlfhl^^oSermg either proof or reason fof the asser«
ioiy^^!that ^* all Catholie0isbofs must be catfj^alfy
^^fbHedby the Cutbolic Clergy of tbe vacant diocese. *
rhbyll^ think qaite sufficient to prove your i^/?jff.
Efpon the two other divine rights of episcopaqr» viz»
ff^n" 9^d( jurisdiction^ of which no well informed
CJuisdan doubted, you have condescended to offer
some.sort of reasoning : :though lamerytably sophist!-^
cdand false. 2^ ^^ Tbey tnust bavewhonical ordi*
tjiKftion from the Catholic Church^ To prove this
9fi[vrersal proposition, you particularize^ that they
wkd he orduined by three Catholic prelates with the
foment of the proviimal 3Ietropolitan$.VfheTe2i$ I
{ffeaume, the head of the Church, or any Archbishop '!
or Bishop, by commission (perhaps validly without
it) may consecrate a bishop, or confer the order of
qtkcopac y. Yo\^ then say truly, that * " Ordination
!f alone does not imply jurisdiction. It only^ gives
*: the ordained an apj^de to serve the Church by
^ preaching, teaching", and administring sacraments ;
/r^but it does not allott to him a particular altar^' or
'^ congregation. For this he must await the mission
5Vof the Church, which is to indicate to^ hun the par-
2P2 f^iiicalar
• I Col. i05.
9
t9»
^ ticular destination, whether to Ireland, to England.
^' or to Ametica, &ۥ Quomodo fraduahaa, nisi mt^
*^ iantur'* In the particular instance, which you have
alledged of the ordination of an Irish Bishop^ smd
which you falsely assume, must be by three soffia*
gans, with the consent of the Primate, (becaulehe
may be otherwise validly and legitimately consecrat*
€d),'3(9u conclude in a ttjgt proposition, though not
flowing from your premises \ that ^^ it cannot be de-
^^ nied, that this is legitimate ordination hattdid dotm
^ ^ through those primitive Bishops from theApostks;*'
But why so costive and sparing of explanation open
the valid' mode of conferring mission? You dryly add.
^^ Add canoi^l mission or jurisdiction, which edii«
^^ nects Parish Priests with their Bishops, aiid Birfiopi
** with the Church, and you will have every re<]tD9te
*' for the legitimate exercise of episcopal power jun
CoUmhu^ Now, Rev. and most learned Doctor, wbihtite
^l ^'^' pulrabou beats high at your heart, invoke • iHibtmt
mS errors/* ^^^ coumrymen of that great Columbanus who lie*
*« ver submitted to ipse dixits' who have not yet ren*
** dered yourselves unworthy the knowledge of troth
** by any wilful dereliction of honesty, or by any con-
^ scious violation of principle; w ith whom convic*
*^ lion never was, and I trust never will be a barrdi
*^ unproductive sentiment of idiot admiration, vrbiA
f^ is never to be followed up by any renunciadoo of
** error,
mKU-^ Ijyiiauy adop«io» df tihuthj-by any' esftr-
^imtof ciiodjfvox^ 1^ any* f Igor of mind : yoil, Who
tellr«iM^en i)i3e4 in the school of adversity, arepos«
M^s^fpf t'kigfa energies, and know bow tb estimate
^^Hslagenuous frankness of soul, which is necessa^
i^lnlKJthe admission of truth, &c." But Reverend
dn^fmcJ^slrned Doctor, tu)«n not your back upon
MHil^^nse not to ^nUghtei#i^iem ; they are ^^ ttte
fg^Mt 9f youi^ people, whose rude ignorance places
Hibdlpi Jbkeycw the reach of thai.geTtuine C^tholidry^
i^lf^jdistinguishes thdi gei^y of Ireland b^nd
fltMe^Jf, every other country in Europe," Con^i-
Ui^t Cl^i&t came upon earth to evangeh'ze the
^^ Jgi^ect again, that your countrymen^ )3ire the
ul^jc-pv^r whom you say, ^^ a superstitious and
^g||g«b opinion of the Pope's power, as dark as
lll^riiHis^ as ignorance could make it,
held the unshaken empire of its leaden sceptre over
||j^)3;^PkUicI$«" Come forth most learned Doctor,
^IdSSJfee^good your subliit^p apostrophe,"* "But
:;gi^^t$land of ancient eaoctity^ from whence the
^jl^t^^ 4>f sc^nce^ and the blessings of religion have
|j3^ diffused over tht^ western world! Columba-
Igl^J^s vowed, that the darkness^ of ignorance
|iev<er spread from tii^ benighted imagination
foreigner, to overshadow thy consecrated
j|^[^ l£RNA! Island of my fathers! bemerci-
^^,as thou expectest mercy : but be careful of tht
Iqf^uage of Revelation*^ Recaltto your min^t th^
^* day
S90
<^ day of your ordination in . the Church of St. Mn
*< Lateran, a day memorable to you as the most awful
^* of your life, when you solemnly vowed, before the
*^ great altar of that Church in the presence of pur
** Maker, that you would never sacrifice one iOa of
** your religious opinions^ or any of those canons ol
'^ the Universal Church, ordinances of sanctityi iii-
^^ stitutions of Holinftiib, and rites necessarily and mwh
'^ riobfy connected with our faith, for any eaitbly
*.^ consideration/' Indeed, Rev. Sir, revelation is too
awfdl a subject to trifle 'with so flippantly. Tps
have told your countrymen Iruly, what you ortiMf
could not have known without revelation : tha( two
necessary requisites yV^ divino for Bishops andP/xff^
are canonical ordination^ and canonical mission, f The
spiritual qualifications of 0r£//;itf//V/f and mr/J0%ib]d
are necessary for '< obtaining a Benefice or a Bish^
** rick must be independent of the State/* Too go
on in the same sentence with revolting inconsi^tencfy
and with an indecent and a profane assumpdoa of
the insufficiency of a divine institution to its own
ends, which directly leads to the Anti- Christian con-
fiequcnce, that Christ had not left his Church noder
such a Government, as would insure her against the
world and satan unto the end of time : *^ but/||i06e
*^ qualifications are not in the present state of Mend
** sufficient without some degree of temporal poper/'
You then put questions, which are either lamentably
unintelligible, or supinely ignorant, " What mcon-
*' veoic&cd
* 4 Col. fio;
\
291
' cnce cat! arise from thai lemporality being iiegatited
^ or confirmed by the State, as long as it is confer-
^ red upon those only, who derive their spiritilal aii-
' thority from the Church ? Probity and religion
• are necessary in a Clergyman, valor and fidelity in
' a soldier^ ancient nobility in a knight. But does
' the King give probity, ordination, or mission, or
' jrelfgion, when he confers a benefice? Does he
^ confer valor, when he enlists a soldier ? Does he
^ confer ancient nobility^ when he dubs a knight ? Is
* it necessary to enlarge oA' matters so evident T*
[lertainly not^ most learned Doctor, for those, to whom
Lhe (jueries are evident. I unfortunately number
amongst those^ who understand them not : &f nulla
at diffictdtas^ nisi penes non intelligeniem. Lack of
intellect only creates difficulty. To point out to
yimr ignorant countrymen^ what tb^tt temporality is,
which i^ to be negatived or confirmed by the State, you
end a long section upon the preliminary steps to be
taken before a Christian Bi^op receives jurisdiction
or mission, and quote St. Leo's letter to Saint Hilary,
• '* requiring the testimonies of the people, the will
* of the gentry, and the election of the Clergy," by
tbe following elucidating Scholium. ^^ I now proceed
^ Ifhshew you, that all three are equally distinct from
^ the subsequent f nomination^ cor^rmation^ or negative
^ of tbe civil power. *^ * Upon
• 1 CoL 50. + So you elsewhere say (1 Col 51) " The
** election of a Bishop to. a vacant See is one thing: his tvff*
^frmaSiw or nomination to that See, is another/]^
202
Nominn. ; Upon tliese three synomma I observef that the mott
finnanon^ corrcct writers upon Church Govemmoit and 'Sxxk^
t*ie e7rhe siastical establishments, use the term nominatioaoF
civi pow g{^}^Qp3 ^Q express or generalize the designatiMC^
the person, vi^ho is elected, proposed, wished, inttat*
ed, or recoihmended to be made the Bishop of ajM^
ticular diocese, whether such designatio j^smm \ft
eifected by Royal Patent, or other lay presentatMri^'
or recommendation, or popular election, or dmtf
postulation, or any other mode of pointing out to ife
supreme Bishop, who must be presumed ignoraiAN^
the merits of individuals, the most fit and wrfthjjl'
person, upon whom his Holiness should confeit iri^*
sion or spiritual jurisdiction. Nomination tbmftre'
from its nature varies in every community, and iMhi^
trouJable by the civil magistrate, wherever he ghiN'
civil establishment to the religion, of which theiMa^'
nee is to become a Prelate or a Cburcb Govihttr*
Corifirmatiim is used to express the act performeSbf
the Pope alone, which makes the nominee the Bishop
of the particular diocese : it is of course sabsequeiic
to nomination^ and is the collation of mission, wUcK
you admit to be a divine right independent of tK
temporal power, or civil magistrate. The negMilf
of the civil power is new, and in fact a chymera^ aijplK^
logical hircocervus not mentioned in any writar^-tiD''
within these four or five years It cannot be ajiirf-'
nymous or simultaneous with confirmation^ becauMlP
at all exercised, it is to prevent the nominee from bdiag
m^lntmU Tbeologic^y it cannot e±ist ; beeuuw if
t^Awre isy Ci0<Bet, it is to coiifi8ii4. the dtviiu rigk of
henipieme Bishop to grant mission. Mission m
r is independent of tlie civil magistrate or tern-
t^pover: ex eomedendit therefore it cannot be
lied by any human, chuil, or temporal authori-
yer. Tou mast allow me then, most learned
'^}octor, to express not only my astonishment, but
l^- pity and contempt at the egregious nonsense
M have written about Symmachus having been
pnfirmed in his electioa'w nomination to the Holy
l^j* by Theodoric the .AJian; '* he having been in
I ^is hypothesis, inoaUdly a^^ointed, by an hereti*
kcal violation of revealed feilji." Whence you con-
iMde, with your habitual incoherency. " Therefore
^j^ nomination even of a Pope by an Arian Prince,'
laiid a fortiori by a Protestant Government, which
uckoowledgcs the divinity of our Saviour against
^Arius, and the efficacy of his mediation against So-
%cinus is not inconsistent with the Catholic &ith;
Sjnd consequently the civil power, though Protest-
P^t, may exercise a limitted negative in the nomi-
Miation of Catholic Bishops.*' This more than
■(Dtian crassitude assumes, that the civil magistrate
nuires power over spiritual objects, in proportion
■;tbe plut or the minus of hts orthodoxy on the
^riittian doctrine. Whereas the civil nu^etrat^
ttbose obligatory powers St. Peter and St. Paul so
i^f,, 3 Q emi^ticaUjr
"Vl Cia. « to M.
894
emphatically enforce, was an idolatrous magistrate
who persecuted the Christians ; and yet these inspir*
ed writers allowed him the same supremacy and inde-
pendence of civil power, as was ever claimed by, or
attributed to the first Christian Emperor CoiistamiBe^
St. Louis of France, Alfred^ or St. Edward the^0ti-
fessor with an English Parliament. It would be benJea^
drivelling to suppose or argue, that the nature^ ex-
tent^ or efficacy of civil or temporal power variedfkii
y the Euripus of the follies and vices, or even virtoaflf
Sovereigns and Statesmen. Eternally true is ir, tint
the non-use, mis-use or abuse of spiritual power tf{
those, who are invested with it, cannot alter its dipt
origin, vary its effectr, or transmute the m^.'Of
acquiring it. ^^-.
Coiamba. Ifubmen hcware ! Again I say beware! Bd|Mt
nut s false «^ *'
S^^p"*^' ^^^ y^^^ ^^^* ^^^ ^ hesitate not to add, your if»**
«oprema- gant and insidious reformer. He tells you
that, ** the Popes supremacy by divine right ostiA
only in a power of inspecting the conduct of all the orini
ef the hierarchy^ that the faith we otderly profess sbd
be confornmble with the revelation of Christy and ibA
cur morals shall be conformable with our fait b. • *&
<* is on this visible agreement of faiti and meralSf]
♦ 1 CoL8?.
f This lame defectiye and false representation of the papdii*
jpremaey fy divine right according to the doctrine of theCtAoRi
Church, not only prores how widely (in my humble opfariM
though I avoid tha controversy) Columbanus diverges btB
'*'tliat tJi^'muJy of tTie churcb'isfounfl^f'ariS it i*
**^for the preservation of that vhible unfty,\hai we
2Q2 «have
her orthodoxy ; but how lystematiedly insldloM 'and decip.
Live he is tu his couDlry men and others, whom he laboars to
leduce into schism and error. The true Janjeotstical Popup.
hohia pervades all bla publications : not a syllable in the £rs
nninbera touching the jurisdiction of the Pope, how derived
rrom Christ; how vested jure diviia ia Peter, how derivable
Tram Peter's successors to the iadividn^i of tli» cElipeised
shDrdies. The very term CAurei GavermMit ioes not (ttyn^
r<:callectioD) once occur, 33 us«d by him: and the idea of ft
is HDothered, disguised and removed from the eye of the rudai
with Dnblushiug hardyhood and malign industry. This iuBidoai
redaction of the papal supremacy to an in^mitorial KaA'eorm
tetihe power is a.?siiniGd for the direct purpose of keeping out
oTiight the original source of jiiTlsdicljon, which for the por.
pOKof perpetuating the goverameot of CbriiCs cfaarch mnat
llov from it's visible head on earth : and it !a attempted by thft
■dost barefaced misquotation and Infidelity of translation.
Still playing the Roman Catholic, he flatters the opinions of
hiagapposed brethren in faith with a reference to BishopBurnet,
(I Col. 97) who "endeavours to apolo^ze for some of
*^ those (i c Proledtanl) doctrines aod practices, which ha
"ackoonleiTgcs to be trr^meous ohserviDg, tiiat the Apes tiei
cmtinuctt le pray ia lie temple of JerUiaUm^ and to eireumthu
*' after the alolilka of the Maiak Lam, and that the compilers
"of the 39 Articles worded them with propped amiiguilyf sa
"u to leave the divines of the time, whose priodptes war«
"obviously inconsistent v»ith each other, each ia possessioa
*i^bf'iili owii particulu tenets, provided, that all confederated
^Iftatoit the anclenf church ? This was a lev/ «» ffu/rs ^f
'■fij^'good, the bad, and the indifferent: a confederacy^
. tihuui itKoniiitetKlet,'* Upoit the merit of thtj CaSioIlo
9M
^ have a visibh bead whose primacj ei^edln: ^
«< days of St. Peter^ as full as in the pompous dajt
.t
effusion^ he attempted to associate himself witb Grotias^^Teff
learned and amiable character, and with Melancthon the mt
moderate of reformers, in order to impose upon his uhmJF
readers. He informs them,^ ^^ that PetaviuB^ (a real orthodox
*^^ divine) and the celebrated Arnaud (a noted thoujhJJMnied
^' Jaosenist) declare, that Grotins mentioned io then (if
^^ intention of returning from the confusions of innoTftiaPJp
^^ die in the communion of the Catholic Church. Some of \^
^' Protest ant friends said of him Grotius papiJItm. ^V^W
^^ 9e|f saysy that there can be no Union of christians ^.vitfMq|t
*' a common head, for the unity of faitfi and moralt. SetAA*
pendix II.'' Now upon referring to this extract from pNtiiJ^
80 far is he from saying, that there can be no Union of cliM«
ans without a common head for the pf^iervathn ^/ ^^^^l^^Lfiiil
mnd morals^ that neither of those words occur in^ tiie tag*
The cause alledged by Grotius, is, Protestantes »9^.^)^
tommnni EccUsiastico regimine sociantur : which words (foM
wonder) he has translated with tolerable fMrness^PnMfff ,
kave no common church government f in nvhich they ar^ ^^^X-vSf
shew more emphatically, that without uniting with -those. .|j|j^
lire in communion with the See of Rome, there could (f-A9
^TO^Y church government, he says, sine qu^ nullum /p^f^arf f^
•ft eccletia commune regimen: which most importsint f<|^
lie. has thought proper entirely to omit in his tranriad^
They import, luithout nvhich no common government can t^iffK/^fi^
fn tie fhurch* Grptius supports his opinion by that of^M^ifH*
than, who likewise confesses, ^^ that he thinks, that aidif9«
•* priMnacy is necessary for the preserving of unity." ,,ftLi|k®
nezf ^ page of his Appendix, he quotes, and gives as tra^a^
from Melancthon (whether correctly I know o<.)ti| th^(ol|f;f«
Ing words : ** Primacy," says Melancthon^ ** ii^ ^Y^rnB/^M^t
Wl
^Df.XtoX: la>jtlu5^ and Id thk otfif,consht%iht
^JPbpe's isupremacy by divine. right J^' ..Having thus
iegraded the Christian Primate from a supremacy of
fignity and jurisdiction over all Christendom into
lie tiumble infictions oi inqut^ior opinionum If pra^
^i^tJI^jPOfW^f you interrogate with senseless arrogance.
" Does
^%^^eslprve union. We agree, that the presidfog of Bishops
^^ over many churches, and the Bishops of Rome over all
^^ !6ishop8 IS a lawful form of gOTernment. The Monarch jr
** of the Pope could also conduce very much to preserve
** different nations in agreement of doctrine." Thus it
tmji^ntly' Appears, that Grotius and Melancthoii consider.
'ftrttie primacy of the Pope as monarchical, and necessary
4ilrKe^]ping up Church Government^ without which the unity of
"m'^nui^h could not be preserved : the agreement of doctrine
u tieated by M elancthon as a secondary consideration or inci-
mtal consequence. By Grotius's reference tb the opinion of
Ifettncthbn vA support of his own, he avows, that they both
€oncorred in the grounds and consequences of their opinions.
w1^ tQ derogate from the dignity, rights, and
pnr^n of the Christian Priesthood, I cannot refrain from re*
•Hi/-
wrking, that Melancthon introduces not into the government
w t!be church the second order of the clergy. The only church
KoVemors he speaks of are Bishops. Thus his Reverence,
^mti his * maxims, which he gives *« as infallible rules In ec-
*^ elekiaistical affairs. As metropolitans cannot malce laws for
^^'fltelr'tespectiye provinces without the concurrence of their
'^^ itiilTragans in a provincial synod, so neither could the Pope
*^^ nake laws for the universal church, &c." These must have
Bfet exclusive synods, unless the word suffragans let in the cler*
gy of the second order by a straiaed construction. But uii €§•
^mit preihyterii F
tS,
Cm
•«Doos itfottow, became the FdjpeBai'tf tight of
^' universal inspection and vigtlalic^^fil ehfer t^til
'^ genuine canons of general Councils be not Viblii^
^^ in the collation of benefices^ that therefore tlidit?
** benefices, are his personal property^ jatid ^f 'fihe
'* State cannot determine the number or the ttsiMti
<< dioceses or parishes within its own donunicHSg iMit
*« out his consent ?*' You truly assert, that •«*S&h.
•^ ops can iio more give jurisdiction beyond th^'Mtg
** of their own dioceses, than Parish Priests €311*1^
** yond the limits of their own parishes.** *• Att A»**
<* quire a regular mission, which is limitted l^
*' Church/' You then with inconsistency and 1^^
IkkkI add : ^^ And may, in some cases be liHiiMBSfl^
♦* the State : for the extent of a diocese riiay lJriiS«i-
*' by the civil power!* Your Reverence Ud#^lio{^
and cold: you hold directly contradictory dffvMB^
Who would suppose, or could without seeilig 1k»e#e|^
that the same man had the effrontery to- fnxf^f^idBi^
*' out a mission from the Church, there cati be ll^
<< ecclesiastical jurisdiction, no valid administlftidiir
^' sacfiaments ? and that a regular mission maf^'tt^
** some cases be limited even by the state/* Th«S^
both truth and falsity in your summary declaratlM|W^
conclusion. X'^ Here then arc the necessary reqtilitfV*
^^ jure divino for Bishops and Priests, viz. caji<sfli0
^^ election f canonical ordination^ and canonical ki^iw
^* and these must be independent of the civU paittfefJ^''
♦ 4 P61. 91. + 4 Col. 39. +1 1 Col. 105. § 1 V^Plt^
xi^ypr yQtH?>iieader> witli a v^ry Jngcaioiis H^ His confa
• " J 1 • t_ ^» « • 1 8ion about
ivc^aud Gpnclusive observation, upon whichi as missioa.
ip5:fint of infallible inspiration, yoa rest yoqr
OS* ** Spiritual jurisdiction is not like a lump of \
t;^f, which can be divided into bits and scraps
^.dismemberment or the division of a territory:
f^ishops's juriscSction may be subject to the
••^•f the Abbot's of Hyona, of Bangor, dr of
afitmacnoise. All who read Columbanus'& tet*-
fr will find tlus to be his doctrine.'* And curi-
K;trine it is. How the indivisibility oi spiritual
ciion proves, that in some cases it may he limit'' ^
tfy State I want ingenuity to discover. You
i^ uidependent of the State : and that it is jure
: how tjiep can the power, which cannot create
lit it, be enabled to limit it: and how can'
i^^pces transpose the objects of the civil to the
(^Ijpower, or vice versa?. For each being indepen-
ififhe oth^ by their nature, cannot acquire or
g any of those objects, which God's, ordinances
severally and respectively enabled them to act
, . yhccivil magistrate cannot enlarge, nor di-
^ the rights or powers, which you say irtdjzxQ
stident of the civil power ; ztAfahekf^ that they
^e divifw. If spiritual jurisdiction or canonical
ffhe as yoa say, a jure divino requisite for a
p and Priest^ that^ like every divine institution
t Church of Christ,.niust be universal in its ex«
teqr,
CoUd9.
^^.
300
us* ^^
tent, indispenalble in it$ o^^g^^^ifd^^
in its operatioa until the ena qf tipi;
Iqng as Christ has promised his Churdh
It is then inconsistent of you to subject that/i
vino mission to any other^ than the giver*
whom it is derived ; and pitifully ignotadt
that mbsion to monastic rules of reHgiiottffi
whose superiors or subjects^ have nb t-^j
rank, or degree in the Christian hierarcjTj^^]
you truly say, that * *^ the ministry of, ^ri
*^ cit without a mission, and so is equally S
^' out a missioc, the ministry of Bishops;**^ ^•
the same place you unwarrantably coincMi
^' as Bishops derive mission from our SaVickiiMl
*^ the Church, so Priests derive mission ^fpj
" viour, through the Church also,'* ^^
ii^^u- Your ferocious attack upon my alnlitieft,
^,|['^*"^„„ character, as an author,, imposes u^^'^xoefi
trjfmeii. ^^^j learned Doctor, a duty to appeou:^ jft^i
whilst you labour to mislead your couiitr)i(ii
times with Jahsenian cant ; I would die fort/%^
ine articles of the Catholic faith,\ and for^tbi piUMff
cf our religion I wotUd^ were it necessary^ spHk\
drop' ofnq blood ;% whilst at otlier times with'
ftne sneer ef infidelity^ which you observe, ^ '
sier to leafn than unlearn, you attempt to
shame them out of their religious practices, and:]
unqe^singly with Rkberian [^rfidy Md impittyrMfili
? 4 Co!. M. f 1 Col. 9. %i Ool. 4G. % S Cdl.'4&^.
'ItlH
•:*
• •■
m
W-llie tf^J'bf their Chmch of iA Juris Jietiotkt
ifrfdg^tive; tight, power^ and authority, vrUhing to
''■' • 2R ■ transfer
t luite before jreinarked4 that Colntnt^inus (id the itu^ «p!«
%jl\fi^T RoYAi^ the grand palladium of Jansenism- at Pa^^
tedQaoifested sach voracity, fdr a Tiaor of orthodoxy^ that
HMBOt scrupled, to for^e an asaertion, and put u into the
unn Doctor ^ojnten With like intent has he thronghoitt
m'Mmbers most studiously ayoided any direct, posltiye, or
^ir^ropefsitlon concfernlng the source, exercise, or derii*
^Hf spiritual, jurisdiction or mission by or from the chaic
^^^f i he has put many insidious and captious questions^
ih he h^a left unanswered behind a non-respoasibie shield ;
iiiocet^ qui prudenter Mcrrogat f Hellas throughout srno.
«a, Confused^ or holden back information and instruction,
d hfs subject called for^ with a view \.o git e strength and
tacy to unsound doctrines^ which he wished io promote^
irhiobjie durst lUH etpllcilly avow^ nor o|>enly advocate*
h ^ait9t>^j ars^e find in Pet«r. Walsh's letter to the Bishop
liCflki.(P^ ^.&) where^ speaking of the canons of the Qni«
u eburch and the Pope, he says^ ^^ We see it plain enoij^b
*tlfiB'lei'y words, that they attribute only primatum^ a prU
)S^4A power ovet the ^wkdle tuorUi not a tupremacyi and conse^
IMly neither a vicarshtp not headship^ nor a fulness, nor in«
efany. tneasure at all oC that^ which is in reality and pro^
rij and^fttrictlycfalled jurisdictUnal /oov^ to the Pdp^, aa
req tohim by Christ in Peter to govern the universal ebunbi
\i is ao less plain out of fhe latter^ which is the restrictivef
jrt -oT them, that the eterdse of his power, whatever it be^
Hodtted by them^ is confined to the former practice of oecu^^
mkal-conticlls^ and import of theffr sacred canons ; and both
ind himself left wholly subject to both, being he was no be.
re^ according tp the acts of ^U former geneiral coancila of
>tb churches (i. «« orient and Occident) and their sacre j
i
\
SOS
transjhr tTiis whole ^^u;^ cfihe keys from the Goriii
nors of Christ's kingdom on earth, to the cnilma?'
gtstrate, which would of course display a new chMf
of navigation to the episcopal Sees, and open an is*
viting Visto of influence to let in the interest rfpirf
and nobility * to crown the honest exertions t of asA
dates for mitres, and thus transmit a legal netMi
church to posterity. J In practising frauds dicre h
equal criminality in the suppressio veri^ as there it
in the suggestio falsi. Now, most learned Doctor, I dn
rectly charge you throughout your five addresses iiWKj
studiously suppressing the truth of the doctrines silf
usages of your Catholic countrymen, with referme
lo the Papal supremacy from the introduction of Cllm*
tianity into the Island down to your own days; sdA
with falsely suggesting, that the Gallican Chordf
disclaimed and resisted Papal jurisdiction ; and tliilf
the declaration of the Gallican clergy about ecdef
astical power was made against the jurisdHctidli Stxhs
Fope. For this purpose you have maliqoudy iiA»
dhtcd
. I
** canons too. But of this somewhat more hereafter, wUdilH
^ illustrate what I said but now concerning no jurisidtui
« power, properly and strictly snch attributed by this FloRS*
<< tine Council to the Pope." In the very next page (27S) F>»
ter Walsh boosts of supporting his doctrines upon the authoiitf
of the itlustriouf divines Ricberius (ff Launoiun For moi» piftf*
culan of the credit, conduct and doctrines of Richer VUf^
nu/^ the reader is referred to the Appendix^ No. IIL
• a Qui. Id. + 1 Col. 21, % 3 Col. 46.
''>f
t
ids
^^^dgarbjfed ^t 4ecIara,do% ts may ' bf le^
&e Appendix^ No. V« Altho^i;^ tkis matter bor*
on theology^ yet in as much as it involves the
ids, upon which the Irish hierarchy, clergy, and
Ijtave resisted, and still do. resist the Veta, whicii
wta prominent question or rather intrigue in mo*
^^^^sh History, it behoves me to notice some
lidM^es against both your suppressions of truths
l^$i^estions of falsehood, lest you might appear
ijlMive had reason for entituling the 20th Section of
iSecond Letter, Mr. Plowden, his shameful igno*
:e ^ Irish History.
^ijf^baps your most learned Reverence has amongst J"I^^^|
Ml <^ther illucubrations removed all future occasion gf JJ®'^ ^'
^"oversif arout the mission of Saint Patrick into '" **** ^^
by establishing that leatfing eveM on the immu^
Uhssif of mtrommical calculation (Doctor 0*Coiior's
lA^^ Hyberni^
^^^p^frfs Antiqut, p. 938, N, B. Unpublish-
^Jbi '*1S13^ and fixed the opening of his mission
MMwheris about the year 377 ; in that case he was
br many years of his life cotemporary with the great
ijidt Athanasius, who died on the 2d of May, 373«
Wtow not exactly the degree of estimation, in which
iCMf Reverence holds that great assertor of Catholic
MgQhodoxy, Christian liberty, and episcopal jurisdic*
ii^i^ against the subtle errors of the sanctimonious
Mus^ couched under capdous test<$ and formulas,
md backed by the overbearing interference of the
2 R 2 civil
804
civit magistrate^ It has been a ]ae6*<^(yrevain(if'
ion to represent that great character ind piUaritf
Catholic Church as an obstinate ^eatot, ^
mere fanatic, an opposer of the salutary restrah&P
lawj a foreign-influence nian, an Apostolic
m
however humbly entreat leave to give a couniaM|
ing to your countrymen, as well as to my owi'lhl
those two great luminaries of the primitive diNAl||i
Saint Patrick and Saint Athanasius agreed hMit
opinions upon the jurisdictional authority and rij^
of the Holy See : consequently, that what St.
nasius in confusion of Arian duplicity, andifi
ance of the civil sword of the Arian Emperpt OsV
stans said in facie ecclesia was precisely the doctdfll
taught by Saint Patrick to your first Clttistian M0N.
tors ; and I am free to say, it widely diners frofli^
broached in these latter days by Richer^ LauiuUifi^
ler Walsby and eke by Columbanus. That ff^^
late, of the oriental church, addressed his HoUr^Mt
these words. ^' It is unanimously admitted-by all 0(1
*' aforesaid brethren, that an appeal lies to.yocir&oif
'* Roman See, to which by special prerogadve tke
** power of loosing and binding was imparted by'o<
•* Lord himself. She was fixed by God as the fwB^
•* dation, she is the sacred pivot, on which all anr
^' moved, supported, and raised up." About nwl- *
way between the fourth and the seventeenth ceiitfl-
ry. Saint Bernard in the twefth century, showithe
prevailing doctrine throughout the Church in hisday*
of
.- !•
riifiieiieiH^^Fii^ii^ ,^^^^^ $eventeei«h ^entqry jto.the
i^nlPMAeiit of the nineteenth century, tl^er^ Jb^as tSfp-r
;MI|^|rMi^inoi^^ar(^ A^d ia^atiaJLde kf$t }o ^1 th^ op*^
piMMl of P#^ jurisdiction ta affiliate pr asso^^ato
iftilbldkM )«iFi A the GaUiean^lergy^t thinking, th^re^^
tll^^bfeiepun^enaiieed iMider their authority, in, their
IfrilUitji to the chahr of Peter*^. for Columbanus's
j||ll!arthft:ii¥leceilt^ and base efforts to effectuate, this
ipdOrd {«ii^$e hy disfiguring and maiming. th^^ Galr
itto'^fiisb^tioii of 1682, we again remitt our reader
llllAft ibppiliil^^ No. V. But forthe sivictrcoafor^
l|||^!06 dof trlAe Upon the jurisdUtional authority fi^i
liifNltfo^Fe^r hi the i7th century >ith that:of St^
4llMW»iwrilt i^he £ourth, and Saint Bernard iii the
MfcMU^oI'I i96nd my reader to a declaration of a^u-
iini^a'iNli^viUy of the Gallican clergy on the^^th
|i:]a|kua|j^ 1620, who speak of it^ as of a fundament^p
idinmiim of the Hierarchy, upon the observance of
Idttob the^ipresenra^ion of the church substantially
ilMri ^ flortamur episcopos omnes, ut Apostolic
^f^t^ riedem, ntpote Dei sponsimie in&llibijii fun-
^ti^^afftii omniumque ecclesiarupi matrem^qmjp^ ho*
ff?fiore cuitpque prosequantur. Ipsa enim, ut cuyi
^iBeato .^thana^ Ipquamur, .§st. sacrum jljud ^a-
^uiua\^U0 in osmes ecdeviM v^luti.totidi^xii.ni^^cn^
V bra
I
I
^ bra> omnis spiritus diffiinditurt quo nutriustttr k
<^ conger vantur/' We exhort all Bishops to pay all
honor and worship to the Apostolic See, as havii^
been founded upon the infallible promise of Qojf^
the mother of all churches. For she, to spe^K^p^
blessed Athanasius, is that sacred head, from whi<^ ^
all churches, as to so many members, all the life k
communicated, by which they are nourished andjpre*
Berved,** Again^ St. Bernard says, • ** In thechiucli
•* there must be zn universal govemor,from whom dst
'^ authority of governing (or jurisdiction) may desoei^
*' to the mesne governors, even to the lowest rectcm;
*< and this is the Pope ; and upon this rests the waitj
^^ of the church, because all the members are unijer
** one head : for which reason, those, who deny him
*^ this power, are called schismadcs/' St. Thogiai
of Aquin f (he flourished in the thirteenth JKPtory) .
holds the same doctrines ** Christ promised'to Peter
•* alone, I will give thee the keys of the kingdom of
*^ Heaven, that it might be manifest, that the potior
* Lib III. De Consid. C. Tiii. In ecclesia debet essenai-
▼ersalis rector, a quo descendat auctoritas regendi in mediosi
usque ad rectores infimos; & bic est Papa: et propter hoc
Stat unitas ecclesix, quod omnia membra sunt ab uno Capite: ^
qua de causa, illi qui jianc potestatem negant schismatici £cofl*
lur."
f Contra gentes. Cbristus soli Fetro promisit, tibi dabo ^cs
r
regnt caslomm, ut ostenderetur /9/^//^/ clavium ad alios per illOV
dexcvanda.
307
of the keyi (or spiritual jurisdiction) was to b6 de«
rived through him to others.*^ B^ore these, Hinc^
mar Archbishop of Rheims" (A. D. 845) a leariv.
I man, and a zealous supporter of the rights of the
af Ucan church and the purity of Catholic doctrine,
iieahing of the Pope, said, •*' From whom the stream
ol^iUigion and ecclesiastical ordination and canonic
dJ jurisdiction flows/' Pope Benedict the 14th^
itfa whose opinions from your reference to his au*
icmty, your Reverence wishes, I presume, to be
msidered, as coinciding, has explicitly said, that
•* The jurisdiction of Bishops, whether it be imme*
' diately from Christ, or from the Sovereign PontiflT,
^ b so subject to the latter, that as all Catholics
^ agree, it may be limitted by his authority and com-
' mand, .and entirely taken away for a legitimate
• cause/* Now whatever right or power rests jure
)km lA a. human being, cannot be limitted, altered^
«u;)eabded, or taken away by any power on earthy
irither of Church or Pope, much less by any derivative
mtbority from them, and least of all, by the civil tna^^
istrate. Thus the powers of ordination in Bishops,
and
* A quo rivus religionis, & ecclesiastics ordlnattonis, atqu«
ifionlcae jurisdictionis proflnit* M Hsnes. Land.
f Dia Synod. L; VII. C. VII. No. 7. Episcoporum jarii-
^tio, sive sit immediate a Christo, sire a summo Pontlfice, it a
mic iubest, ut consentientibus omnibus Catholids, ejas anc«
^ritate & imperio limitari, atqu^ ex causa Ugltima auferr^
KWtlt.
308
flticl of absoktion and consecration m l^esU torn'
Uen:ibly attach to the individuah" by the jkym
God, when they receive consecration Cr order j»
they never can be taken away or extinguuhed. Jfe
for preserving Government and unity in the Cil^
Christ vested in St. Peter and his snccessorr'iJrt
divino right of controuling^ modifying, suspeti^
reviving, and prohibiting the legitimate exerciie('
them. So De Marca^ whom you very justly cxWlj
and whose authority you therefore ought the moreV
revere, tells you, that, ** if provincial cooDCfblv
meriy exercised this power, it was because ttb-jl^
risdiction being purely an ecclesiastfcal rig^i
may vary: but it is invariable in the Soverqpl
•• Pontiff, because it rests in him by dixim r^^Vi
^* the completion (or perfecting^ of his juriidktio&»^
CoiumW The last authority I shall quote for proof ^^9
bimscif. assertion^ that you unwarrantably assured jofit WW
trymen, that canonical mission is vested jure rftttf
\n every Bishop and every Priest; meanings as Ininli
suppose you do^ a Bishop with a See, and a Priest
with a Parish, and both with cure of souls, is one^ drt
I know you value above all others, and am rery coiH
fident, you vrish your countrymen to hold it in the
like estimation. The Rev. Charles O'Conor, D.R
in his publication, under the title of, Columbanus ad
HybemoSjNo.IV. p. 41, manote, which pointaoutthp.
absurdity of some Scotch writers attempting to proves
that
* Cone. Sacerd. L. VL C. 8^
|]3t the Culdfc i^tabiis^men^ 'wgn;;^iwbjf)^^
nd that theirJPresbyters were not iprdsined by Bisb-
ps, makes the following judidous and pertinent re-
lics. "After thisi l^ave it t!Q.the c^qdor.af the
.Scotch, an enlightened and a learned nation, to
judge how far they can depend on i tystetn ao re-'
' Imgnant to the most leading principle and piacticf^
*^D)f.primitive Chastiamty. I hardly join with ^^fOk,
SKt^f^condemnatioa. of ,th^ absolute, * yipiiarcj^
fc.i?. ' ^^ - princ^le»
c^ Surely the most leuntd Doctor must ban forgfitlm^ Hut
khad in his first ]ft<iit p. 95, qooled -the words of ^ut moit
ipalor^H papalxriteis toprow', that B^llj*n)ilne jij4 n«t:b<)lA
ese ehiolulc monarchy priati^i, Menareb^um^ tfd trnfaratwrn
Ariilocratia & dgmocratia. It would be eDdlegi,to foUow C(V
i tiirougball his wanderings from coBsiBieocr aol t]pi|hp
difference, which BeUannine poinb out ip tJw iiiCMSjrioii^
l^^tiie Popes (o St, Peter, and of other Bishops. to tbe A{iiuU^
% )^ W *B^ iHwtrati»e of the docttioe, which h^ atwayabeek
iMJtffiy by t^ church, vii. that the BiBh^pef^Ame pucc«e4«
J^^tf not in liji (tualify of AfoitoltUt .but as OT^inarjr Pa«tor ofjl
tte.wl^ole (jnircb, or Primate /wir^'vuw. Colnmlianus ajuiist.
4S'^ebei8l itream of opinions, iu ordef Id prove, that the ja>,
^HctioD of the Parish Priest is equally oi^vbit right with.tlkat.
^vrtry Bbhop, even of the Pope, ^ootes St.Panl'iS words {<»
^.Eji^e^ans, Cir. V.ii. |Ie-g;aTe.£oine^/ffr/,,aadioina.
9rMbHi^ aod some EyangtHitt^ and some Patturt and "^tatbftt,-
& the perfecting of the Saints, for the work {/"f^jfdlj^fjii&c^f
tad In order to falsity, what Doctor Poynte^ truly said upoi} th^
it|&e»t (rirthOrity^ '•* thai from 'the beginning of the, Chutck.
^jFriaitahadm<!«n/s/MiVW«ff, fiifw&sf /^ rtniwdfiBmSUkr
''.iSy*" Columbanui says, that he is expressly contradicted by,
tU Lulu, C. X. Whoevar reais that Chaptec will perceirey
SIQ
** principles of a Bellarminc, but there is a passage
" in that extraordinary man's book, De Romano Poif
tbat Christ gare a special and limitted commissioa to a certaia
number of his disciples* ^' After these things the Lord ip.
*^ pointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two be.
^^ fore his face into eiery city and place, nhither he himself
^' would come." Then follow the instru'clions for this extraor.
dlnary mission. When their circuits were ended, they repart*
•dthe results to their divine master. ^^ And the seventy re.
*^ turned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are
** subject unto us through thy name." The FTangelist doei
not inform us, that these seventy, or any one of them, received
any further commission from our blessed Lord. It is evideof,
that they w^re not then in orders : for there existed no Christiaa
Priesthood, or Church till after Christ's resurrection ; thoogh
probably many (perhaps all) of them were afterwards ordaiaed,
and employed in the ministry. Does not this example of our
divine Saviour seem' to direct and warrant his Vicar upon earth
to send special commissions throughout every part of. thedlt*
persed churches, whei'ever the exigencies of his flock call npoa
the interference of his plenary jurisdiction, or power over then*
It would have been consonant with the professions^ though dis«
sonant from the practice of Columbanus, had he informed bii
countrymeU, that Doctor Poynter proved his assertion by masj
authorities ; the first of which was that of St. Ignatius, wbb
was made Bishop of Antioch, A. D. 68, and suffered martjr«
dom at Rome, A. D. 107* His Epistles are a precious repoii-
tory of the faith and discipline of the primitive Christians. In
that to the Smyrnians, he says, ^^ Without the Bishop letoo*
<< body do any of those things, which belong to the chnivt*
** It is not lawful without the Bishop either to baptize or cele-
^^ brate the Agapa (love feasts for cathecumens and charities)
*^ but whatever he approres of, that is well accepted of i^
dir
*
*' tlficCy L. 4. C. atxy. fol cd. p.1S86l^ ^hich ctiims
" their attention. Potestas ordinis requirit characte*
*' rem & gratiam, quam solus Deus efficere potest,
^^ luiisdictio solum requirit superioris -voluntatem.
^? P^haps also, if Doctor Pointer had attended to
^* tilis distinction^ he would have spared himself the
•^•ttimble of claiming exclusive jurisdiction y«r^ ^i-
^''rtto." Here you introduce a • letter, ** vmtten
at y6u say, before you ** had any idea of Doctor
'* Poynter's attack} the original is in the hand of a
" person\>f high rink." The letter has so much
teaming in it^ besides the advantage of its being in the
hands of a person of I igh rank, that it forced upoii
)roa the home stroke of La 5^Iothe's lash at a pedant.f
" Dieu vous fasse la grace de devenir moms scavant.^^
What a deluge of quotation ! How relevant and il«
lustrative of the doctrines of a librarian, whose letters
can reach the hand of a person of high rank ! As your
biblical Reverence has not condescended to English
the grand quotation from Bellarmine,which claims the
attention of the enlightened and learned Scotch na«
tion, and has some how eluded the attention of Doc*
tor Poynter, and appears to have so baffled the hallu«
•
dilated mind of Columbanus^ as to have driven it tnau^
2S2 gre
^ God." '^ Sine Epijcopo nevi9 quidquam faciat eorufftf qua at/
^ ecclesiaJH sped ant, Non Ucet sine efiicopo iaptizare, neque agapen
cckhrare : sed quodcunque iUe pr^taveritf bQ€et DtQ est beneflaci^
^' turn:'
• 4 Col 40. t 4 CoU 43,
j^/ his lust far aberration, into a by'^path of trutb/I
•hall translate it, for the benefit of such of tsvf tMn^^^
ers^ as understand not the dead language, in wl»dl '^ •
that extraordinary man's book is written, and bui^H
which the most learned of Doctors has selected* lltiP
mystical passage to corroborate his own, and <abii^-
Tute the thesis of all his adversaries. The pwoifif'
0rder requires a character and grace , which GdDaUi'
can effect: (i.e. unalienable and unextinguishable pdtr^
crs are by GoDjinnexed to order) jurisdiction olflynf^[
quires the will of the superior, (i. e. wholly depends ufif
the will of the Pope. J It was therefore said by Du^''
rand the worthy predecessor of the great Bosaoetj
that * ** In others, (than the Pope) jurisdiction i
** only derivative, and limitted as the Pope pleaBedu-'
•
Coinmba- Havinff SO Dointedlv charc[ed your Reverence iriA
rus takes o r y o J
v°^*l*^cof 2t conscious intent of deceiving your countrymen^ and
Ficury the ^](^ labourcd efforts to seduce them from tharspiiit
ecclrsiasti- *
cai histori- ^y^l obedicnce to the Christian Primate, by-pliingkff'
them into direct schism under the hypocritical cast
of Jansenistical Puritanism, I should leave the charge
less perfectly substantiated, were I to pass unnoticed'
* . ■ . I.
your constant reference to Fleury (from whom yoii
have borrowed largely and not always fairly) with the
insidious view of identifying your doctrines with
those of that learned and respected character. Bf
mutilating
* In alits aoQ est nisi dmrata (juriadtctiv^) et Uoutaia pio^t
Papx placet*
atfitotiotg wd de£5icing the declaradcm of ^ tliei€«ain«
ut.Gkxgjy and by furtively catching hold of the
1^)^. of tbi^ Gallicaa divine^ you arrogate to your ^
tf|»*(^Quble portion of his spiriti and presumptuously
iiliiyitbe waters of Jordan^ that they may part hither
Qi^llgther ; but you shall not, like Elisha, go over oa
mgis^d. Fleury erred in urging- too strongly the
ilSHIInh4ity of church discipline : be was too much
K44f^ L jo P^^i^i^ive usages^ and too violently pre*
josfi^^i^ against modern alterations. Discipline is
B^:;vttujre variable ; and would be essentially de««
bc^jirp^ if npt adaptable to the fluctuation of govern*
nf^is$ men and manners, Erasmus (he was noyb-:
'sfpi influence man^ and from other peculiarities has a
:all qpon your sympathies) after having entered into
L jigMiute comparison of the ancient and modern dis«
riptfjpe, lA all its bearings, came to this conclusion,
\\lpXk- th^ Church Government of his own thnei^
id^hHWfre jthose of the first reformers^ * that ^' If St«.
^^^1 were to return to the earth,, the then actual
* Itf^e of CImrch Government would not displease.
^jjbpm/* It is also necessary to apprize my readers^
ibat the work of Fleury, which is the most esteemed,
^l^ely his discourses upon ecclesiastical history) has
i^nc^i considerably altered by the party in France,
^faich was always on the watch, to wrest every au*
* thor
* Erasmus was so connected with Luther, that it was an
anal saying at that time, aut Lutherm Eraimizat, aut Erasmus
ti^Uberizat* Something like Gr0//ii//^//zir;7/, '
- I
81:4
thor of reputation by misconstrucdoii or disM&i
to their Anti*Papal objects and^ designs* In tfae-fii
edition of that work^ his discourse upon the fiberU
of the Ga]lican Church is the 9th, and the 12th btii
subsequent editions, which contain many subMnw
alterations, and notes to disfigure, and fdrcieAeoll'
ginal meaning of the autboir. I am free to fii|^^tii|
Fieury, even with all the freedom, with vhldi A
speaks of the rights of the See of Rome, does ndttsfe
ly discriminate between the nature and effects 6t^
ritual and temporal power. He says, that from i^*
earliest times the church has possessed landed prafia^
ty. * '^ Mais des les premiers terns TEglisea pos^
^^ sede des immoeubles & des fiefs/' If by tbiCkmS
he there mean any representation of Christ's uaifer*
sal church militant upon earth, or that kingdifiiiv
which he told us^ is not of this world, the jSossibilitj
of the whole, the head, or parts acquiring the damK^
nion or property of land is absolutely denied* All
property is in fact the creature of the civil power:
and it is out of the competency of the spiritual poicr
or jurisdiction, by which Christ^s kingdom is goveiiK
ed, to touch, alter, or affect it. The incorrectnenof
his deduction from the first proposition, marks fbs
confusion of his ideas upon this important sutijectf
and leaves us therefore more at liberty to dissent fittt
some other effects of his want of discrimination sod
judgment. *' On ne volt pas ce qui rend les eodoi*
astiqucs
• Paris Edition of 1703. p. 411.
#
stiqiies iitcapables de gouvemer aussi les hommea
bres/' One sees not what renders clergymen
:pable also of goveflriiing free men. Such blunder-
and floundering in men of learning are inconceiv*
s,; To confound the terms Church and Clergymen !
ne^latter may be Priests or not Priests : they may
eJ^risdiction or be without it ; for according to
nj^t^rence^ and some others, as I have shewn,
! idwnrequirit superioris voluntatem. But whether
Clergymen, of whom Fleury speaks in his de-
tion, have in them by divine right the inalienable
rers of ordination, consecration, and absolution,
\€X voluniate viri by the will of their superior, the
hority of legitimately exercising them within such
indaries as their superior shall limit, no civil effect
itever was produced thereby on the individual, so
ained or instituted : he thereby neither gained nor
:.any civil rights he before had in him. St. Paul's
ibation or mission extinguished not in him the
lits of a free born Roman citizen, not to be scourg-
uncOndemned.
07hen my reader reflects. Rev. and most learned ^^"'7^
ctor, who it was> that boasted of his never having i^abwui.
verted the words of any man to answer his own pur*
r/ of malignity or revenge ; that wherever a passage
I obscure f he explained it by the authors context^
^rever it was clear he gave its plain^ obvious ^ admit*
• meanings he will, I am confident be astounded, to
d this very Fleury laying down doctrines so point-
edly
. v.
« ■ - •
td]y contradictory of yourti In hU 12th dKscoone
upon the liberties of theGallican Church, he ajtf
'' We believe also with all Catholics, that the Popi|»
'^ Bishop of Rome, and the successor of St. F^lptr
^^ and as such, the visible head of the Church, ilj
^* that he is so by divine right, because Jesus Cfarat
^^ has said, thou art Peter, and upon this rock I wD
build my church, and the gates of hell shall not p»
vail against it. And again, Peter lovest thou ml
** Feed my sheep. We hope, that Gpd will aeier
** permit error to prevail in the holy See of Rom^*
^^ it has happened in other Apostolic Sees of Al&cUh
<^ dria, Antioch^ and Jerusalem ; because Jesus Chrbt
** has said, I have prayed for thee (Peter), that thy
** faith fail not. We believe, that the Pope ispri&d-
** pally charged with the instruction and direction of
^'^ his^ock, because it is said : and when thou art coa-
*^ verted, strengthen thy brethren ; and again : feed
*' my sheep, not only the lambs, but the shejep. But
** we also believe (mark, he saya not with all Cs&th
** lies), that all Bishops have received their power im^
** mediately from Jesus Christ, because he said totke
Apostles^ receive ye the Holy Ghost. And Saot
Paul speaking to Bishops says, the Holy Ghost htf
appointed you to govern the Church of Goft'
Whether this be the original doctrine of Abbe Ffettfjf
or of the Editors of the Second Edition, I have not
an opportunity of examining. Either the author mi
originally not clear, or his interpolators purposely
rendered
<»
iMik» «s he is epedung of l^shi!^ in gfilerftU which
Ip^tt the order ef ej^scopacyv'tedtbenit is true^
ttt'^lie powdh; which they hare recdved by their
lll^atbtkki (viz. of oirdaimng Priests, which yotfal'^
V^tplf-skld of €m^rMi^ £lB0i9 which yon seem in
HKtip-Asallow) they lAi^e i|f^^
^i^tokt. So Priiests teve 'inalfertable rights* and
U totf ^by Yirtue of their ordinacion^ as we have hiey
ri^l^serted.* <^The jurisdictioii (yon yoanfeIfac«
kfimrlei^e) of Bi^ps^ as well as of Priests; is de«
itfved by misdon from the Church. All Parish
FrieMp have jurisdiction e^ tfficioim their parishes^
f|r weU -as Bishops in their diocesesT^'' ThisJs.M
^icleai^ explicit) and true proposidon^ as Iw' as it
aws lo-prove^ that the Bishop's misaon defnaads as
MCbttpop the voluntas superiorisj as the RedOk^s or^
diate^j;- In point of &cty yon add, f ^' as Bishops.
ittsnve mission fromourSaviour through the churchy.
M' Priests derive mission through the Church also^
TElld ministry of Priests is illicit without a mis-«^
iforv and so is equally illicit without a missKM, the
iiniaistiy of Bishops.'^ These corresponding rda^
MSwof Bishop to Pope, and Rector to Bishop,
Migh fairiy and truly put by^^f^ttir Reverence, are
pi at all sanctioned by Fleury, by the hem of whose
Mide you wish to hold. Thus ikres it wkh all wan^
2 T ' deiCD^
■ ■ . I
^4Con3i.' f4CoUS8.
cferers from the straiglit road of truth ; they are per-'
petually jostling and crossing e^h other, in the de«
vious tracks of error. *" There is, therefore/* says the
French Abb^, '^ a great difference between Bishops
•• and Curates, t Curates hold their power imin&-
^^ diately of their Bishop, who always retains die
** right of exercising all manner of spiritual functions
'^ in each parish (of his diocese) ^^ and it isi'but ai
*' to the order of Priesthood, that the institution of
**-the Curate is of divine institution.** If fairly and
impartially considered, the very principle?, upon
i^hich Fleury demonstrates against your Reverencei
that a Rector, or Parish Priest by virtue of his insti-
tution receives his mission only from his Bi^bop,
(which is the truth) as conclusively evince, that a Bi-
shop by virtue of his confirmation from the Pope,
receives his jurisdiction or mission over the diocese,
to which lus Holiness appoints him ; all this &lls in
consistently with your own admission, that jurisJUtii
solum requirii superioris voluntatem. So you rightly say,
in that institution the spirituality does really consist. And
*^ by ordination Priests receive the power of conse-
** crating the elements, and remitting or retaining
^ 9ins, and Bishops, that of ordaimng Priests and
"Deacons,
* Fleury 's 12th DiscoarBe» p. 424.
+ If I mistake not, in the French ecclesiastical establishoiMti
tiifi Curi answers to our {lector or Vicar: that is the pefflODf
«jrho has committed to him by the Bishop the care of the sonlBof
ihe Parish. Vicairs answers to our Curate.
1M^
^^ .Dea.cpes> ^c. ib)|.t^t^e ^fomef tec^Y^^ 9aM
**.the latter no diocesel***
, t Irishmen beix^re of yoar self-appointed reformej: I Further
idian be frittei:s down the Vicar 'of Christ into aj> coiua**
■■-fe^'V., . ^ . , -. ■ " 1 f_. ' .X *7^ "«*
uiar andta Cprrigedor^ and levels bim with. Mr.
$geaker jj|^bbott ; call upon him for the proofs of his
-I, ^ 2T2 missiqn
•;•- I'-CW. 104. *■"'' . ^
, f. I G>1. 101 i So Colambanns els^Iiere adduces an in«
ftlHUMi (tliough not without some coofusion of tenns) of peinspps
hAng ordained or consecrated Bishops merely for the purpose
of ordaining such religious of certain monasteries! as wese to
be admitted to the Priesthood, This is, I presume, what he be.
fore confusedly alluded to, by saying, that the jurisdictioa of a
JBishop may be subject to the ru'es of the Abbots of Hiona^
Bangor, or Ciuanmacnoise. (4Co).45) ^^ There may be Bishops
^ at this day, as there always were in Ireland, eistablished In
'^^ monasteries, and Subject to the rulies of those monasteries, tAA
'^^ 'H the jurisdiction of the Abbots ; but yet superior to Idl or*
"** deifi of the hierarchy with respect to ordination, and ntcessa^
^^ Tf'f essentially necessary, for the ordination of the Priests
f ^ and the Deacons of those monasteries, to which they belong.
*' ed.'* It is perfectly intelligible, that in the vast monastic
'tsbiblishments, which once existed in Ireland, (consisting even
'iif thousands) a Monk bf the order might have been by a spe**
clal commission of the Pope consecrated a Bishop merely for the
ipnrpose of performing the functions of episcopal order, such as
ordaiaing Priests, confirming the youth educated in or at these
monasteries, consecrating altars, &c.irhlch,without junsdiction
or mission over a diocese, would no more dispense, nor release
with the individual consecrated, by reason bf the dignity or pre.
'(bedence of his order from his religious vows and obligations^
ttan the order of PHesthood. This latter certainly riiseid fhe
ordained much more la digaily above the laity^ thaaf^^^aselSra'*.
Aussioi^ to coatra^ct the holy Council of Florence,
^hich teaches you, that plenary power was delivered
by our Lord Jesus Christ to him (his Holiness)
through Saint Peter of feeding, ruling, and govenW
ing the universal church. Ei ipsi in Btaio Petroftu^
€en(U^ regendij atque gubernandi universam tcclesum S
Domino Jesu Chrisio plenam poieslatem iraditam es^9
When again he tells you, that he does ^ •• most dis*
^^ tinctly profess his full and deliberate convictioOi
*^ that no appointment to an Irish Bishoprick can bs
** legitimate in the present state of Europe, without
^* the free election of the diocesan clergy assembled
^^ in chapter for that purpose, after the Bishop's death,
tion raises the Bishop above the Priest. The institution of re*
ligious orders in the church is a collateral , but yery substtsdal
proof, that all spiritual jurisdiction, is vested primarily andp<>»
tentiallj in the Sovereign Pontiff. His authority alone can
give efficacy- to the vow made by the religious of obedience to
their superior (Abbot, Prior, Guardian, Rector, General, or
Provincial) and charge the superior with the cure of the souls of
his religious, within and independently of the ordinary episco*
pal jurisdisdiction of the diocese, in which the religions e8(a«
blishment is formed« All these things are now, as little depea*
dentpf, pr poguixible by the civil magistrate^ as they werS}
whilst they proceeded above ground from the immediate hao(fl
p{ |thj& Apostles during their lives, or were continued under
ground in the catacombs by their immediate successors avoiding
persecution j or as they have for the last three centuries beta
redintigrated and restored to the primitive usages and institi*
tions in the persecuted church of Ireland*
f 3 CoU ih
Wit'-
MdiOfM^ bf titt ^lKipe» IK^ their eoufiiiteltoii by
bfanuftev eteciion; nor etra his 'knowledge of the
iqipoinenient) it a necesssufy requisite to ettabiish the
WtkuStyot amf of theneaeis/'^ &ai a word. When he
NM» hciAHMlfitry^^ a taew recipe im^ Bishops
iii^lftdependenti^ fl^ h«ad of theChutxh^by
H%*ilMfm, t^^ that the -Section df the ctei^ with
jftfrl^obation of the gelitrj, and the confirmi^
HktMS the ciril power, is the only prudent^ the only
i||Sie^ "the only constitutional dild the only Catbolit
ptttft^ that in the present drcumstancesj can beadopf-
^Wf the Irish people/^ Again call for the proofs of
I diisision' to withdraw your assent and submission
3m the decrees of the Council of Trent, which has
ijjpounoed anathema against every one, who shall say,
at^tfae IKshopSy who are set over dioceses, wl^are
omo^ (confirmed or instituted) by the audiority
lite Rtfman PontiflF, are not legitimate or true Bish-
f. I oi quit dixerit episcopos, qui Ramani PontificisAuc^
ieate Oisumuntur^ non esse legiiimos tif veros episcopos^
NJTHEMJ SIT. I shall close this important
b}8e€ with the opinion of a very great man: (ivho
Q^'i&uD. 420,) St. Jerome, which must hav^ dduble
Ik upon your Reverence, as you have informed
. us
*r
«
flCoLSO, + 1 Col. 79.
t Cooc. Trid. sef. 23. 2 CoU ix. He goes on, cribatofSL
rmard^ little jefleotbg how St. Bernard's doctrine (py 305)
■tonnds that of the usurper of his naiae. ^
*%
829
us, that after the name of Columbanas, y^ur model-
ty would have assumed that of this Holy father, from
his enmity to the intrigues of Popes and Nuncios,
because he distinguished the abuses of Courts^ and die
superstidons of the vulgar from the genuine dpctiim
of the Catholic church. *^ Were I to chiiae the jyw
^' of any other great man,.! W^ld prefer that bf 8ti
^^ Jerome for the same reason/' Writing agailot
Jovintarij a recreant, dissol^ite, and Anti*papal Qtoo*
bite of IVlilan, virho like most schismatics or 3evcedea
from communion with the See of Rome^ eqoalisei
all Bishops, both in order and jurisdiction, becaoie
Christ immediately gave both order and jurisdictfos
to all the Apostles, he says,* *' But the Churchi say
you, *' is founded upon Peter, although the very
^' same thing is elsewheie attributed to all the Apos-
^^ ties, and they all received the keys of the kingdoor
^^ of Heaven, and the support of the Church depends
upon them all in common? Tet nevertheless
amongst the twelve, one is made choice of, anl
** made head of the rest, to take away all occaad
•^ of schism.'*
coimnba- I remark. Rev, and most learned Doctor, thit job
»■»'» fur- • 1 • iv
ther crrore ttave the geuume cant, putt, and pretensions of all r^
Pop" and formers.! ** My book, has had in Ireland a r^
the ilierar .^ , a ^, -wt i i i •■ « •
pby, *^ sale." J '^ No one has laboured more than I hare,
*^ to rescue from oblivion the monuments of our an-
♦ Hier. A(1t,7ot. L. II. +3 Col. t^ % % Col, I*.
ft"
S9r
V
.-; » *■
me
iole apof^'gy T oft^tomy reader for s6*ftreqtl#tttty re-
tllllilligMng task ot inciulpatibn^ is Colaibbanus'S
iecurrence to Iris di||r'6arrectne89^'knowledge<, and
He is truly lueddimmn hcemb. In addition to
Mv'iii&timents of his worthy grandfather prorideittlalljr
itttyMfi^m their intended' suffbcaiion in the Poddle, is •
klMA6ai him to his frielid Kir. dlVIbr^", which contains aH
|Ui^nMd damnation of fhe last fifteen yekrs of thegrand*
f^-po^n^ ^' The concern yorii express at the attack made
■aiHefor no other offence", bat (that of preferring in spirM*.
il^ obedience to the laws of ' conscience, rather than to the
bn^Of the strongest, is so natnral to an honest mind, and to
soagenial eren with that probity, which the elementary prin«
o^Aes of ^reason dictated to the Pagans, that ourmasteri
tppirot but f^el it, and therefore cannot but be cnlpabl^ in*
^lllMeriieting it. The infliction 6f dTiI piinishltfrat^ whera
p^ljdtii criine exists, is a dispensation, which accords but lit-
tiijriththat of ProTidence: since instead of arniexlhg re«
WftMs to sincerity, i^ transfers them to dissimulation, dec."
Itlagli it also, that irishmen of all persuasions should Know*
lat Doctor Charles 0'Gonor,Member of the Acad^y'of Cor.
ift| tbooght and prjinted of his terered griindfiither'in- 1795,
Wtta^ h^ says in 1812, (5 Coi. 247) hi bad mt sm ihhrkal
J/ffkkn of fnindj and I enUr my soUvm frotcit agaiHii Ut cbarac*
n^Lmd Clarendon \ and (p. 256) MylaH Gran^atber^s statcm
mfsy as far as they relate to LordClanndon^ and to the ferucutioni
\i,^ reign of James d^nun tp I64I9 are therefore exaggerated* I
Mif^ reject my grandfather^ t character of Clarendos^ s history as djf*^
amatory and untrue, (p. 279) jimicusf Plato^ Amicus Socrates^
tihmagit §nuca Veritas. My reader will ob^erre the select so«;
^f^ into whicb Columbanus has bten ipitlat^d by tlie great
^•y^-.
884
** me 18 a direct falsehood,* U no otber idvantage
*' should arise from Columbano«*s letters, but that
of
nan, whose yery name in 1810 beMdmt dare to meniiom. (9 Col
^4) In 1812 he openljr boasts of bis friendly intimai^jj^
Plato, Socrates and truth, and of his devoted obsequliMMi
to the admiration and firm hope of the nobility, l^potry, (j^p|
and People of Ireland^ the most noble the Marquis of Bncls]!^
ham. Irishmen beware, and mark how in such company ,thi
intellects of your reformer hare been brightened : how Ul Mo-
rals hare been mended. Before he had washed off the ro^s^
and had begun to bask in the warm beams of mnnifioent pitio*
nage, the following was the portrait of his grandfather irait
sketch taken from the life ; a faint line of which, the wimt*
ing sympathy of a stranger endearonrs to hand over to:poslerity
in the frontispiece to this letter. After the still uninvigon^
and uncheered member of the academy of Cortona, had set fntii
his grandfather's thoughts and wishes to write a histoij efUi
country, he says : ^^ I have been often so much led itwajr \si
^ this consideration, that I felt the loss of Mr. O'Conoi'iii^
*f tended History of Ireland to be more serious, than It wokH
^ appear on first view. No man was better acqnainted tin
^ he with the original sources of it. No man knew belter. ttv
^ spirit of the parties, aod of our clans before and after tefivp
'* mation. No man had laid himself out for such a task so ear
^ ly in life as he did. Ho man divided his company moro Mr
^ tween Protestants and Catholics, between higher and loMr
^ orders* No man scorned tnore to sacrifice htstorical truth mtl
* 3 Coi. 143. This reminds us so strongly of Peter Wabfc
to whom I have in the note of my last history assimilatsd Coi
lumbanus, that I take this opportunity of informing my reilsi|
that he will find the paralel, as far as it goes, (for Colnmbutf
has gone far beyond Walsh) in the Appendiz. No. III.
•< of shewing! that a CathoHc may, without ceasing
^ to be a Catholic, argue against the abuses, which
f ' prevail in the Catholic Church, and arraign before
^ the tribunal of the public, as St. Jerome did, the
^ conduct of the episcopal order, and call them back
'^to the general principles of their own Church, that
*'ddlle wall be an object sufficiently important to
^fiittiff this appeal to our country and to our friends.
*^I feel it a duty I owe to the Catholic Church to
^ fift up my feeble voice against false and pemicioiis
*5^maxim:), which / know to be novel, uncanonical,
^and equally detrimental to the prosperity of our
^ €X)uMry, and to the interests of our religion, for
2U '« which
^ dbrt qffrefudicc. An^ no maa felt more seAsibly tho wrongs
^ ud calamities of his countrymen of all descriptions/' A
tntelajy chemb of Erin presided oyer the immersion of the roe-
Mte, and preserved some few copies with almost as singular a
PiOfidence, as watched over Moses in the flags of the Nile ;
kdi pTPServed to his countrymen this golden principle of the
^Mbdlkther doomed to paricidal oblivion by the degenerate
fcrandson. ^^ linow^ that in n^ f resent sttuathn Hove truth more
^* Am/fit hoe aty things and I think I could resign a crown sooner
^ timn resign tivf principles *^^ Let tltis motto be magnificeutly
Hchiered in gold and emeralds (the half of a tellership of sixty
jUasand per annum will bear the expeuce) over the collection
elfish boolcs and manuscripts in that Urge and splendid library ^
ft vbicb Colnmbaniis, I presume, referred in his third Address,
tib50) as the apposed scene of an incident, that will never be
radited, as long as it rests only upon bis ipse dixit* Such a
^4kHinkus device to the Stonue collection will have its use^
- m»
I
*^ which every priaciple of my education^ all tk
^< study, and all the experienotf of my life call ' vpoo
•* to «pUI, were it necessary, the^kst drop of mj
•* blood.** * " That my opinions in pflvate agree
*^ with my printed books; that I am utterly mcapa-
'^ ble of holding any doctrine in religion, which t
^^ would dare to disavow ; and that base insirittfibos
'^ can never affect me, except with those^ with Whoa
^' I have no persotial acquaintance, are ibfitterrof
^^ such notoriety, wherever I am known, that I voaki
** scorn to allude to them, did I not feel it an impe-
^^ rious duty to uphold my character with my coon-
•' trymcn." t *' My reading has sufficiently inform-
<< ed me^ that in the regions of learning there are
*^ many intricacies, much darkness, and fornudable
^^ confusion* In these mazer of opposite systfcmfi
** and intricacies of learned opinions, I derite com-
^^ fort from the certainty^ that in tracing back die
^^ steps of the venerable Synods and Councils of an*
^^ tiquity, I travel in company whh all the wisdom,
^^ and all the virtue of eighteen hundred y^ors.**^
1 ** The great business of every man is to enqmn &
** hgendy,
« 3 Coh 105. This dark of the trafelling Knight for rigk
teen centuries seems to have had such charms on him, that k
hat9 faTOured his countrymen- with a voluntary D« Cajio^ witk
tariatiouPy the most striliing of which is the encrease of hbtca*
Telling retinue. (4 Col. 416.) First he is attended by wifff^
and Virtue; then, by SMnctitj^^ Wisdom^ And Learnings
f S Col, 1€4.
827
• ■
* Sgent7y» vlttn he II to form a judgment eh oiat^
^ ten relating 4of^the character of such sin ancient^
^^ ;aQd so oniversal a church as the Cadiolic ; to dis«
ff.,&igui8h th^ abuses of individuals from the saMtity
{' Sfi^^^ canons t to reflect that individinils njay
f!^||t||||t= yi knowledge without growing in htmiility or
^J9ktu^ that a heap of indigested and umelected
^ enid^lgp x>perates but faintly in the regulation of
^ponhict, and that we may trust too much to our
7,0wa powers,, and be too wise in our own conceits.
■'.For niy part I love submission to venerable autho-
^.lity , I would respect the genuine decisions of the
*' andent church, even if that church had no promt*
f'lesmher favor: I would feel reverence for her
** instructions, even if they were in oppo^tion to my
*• own acquirements.'* * *^ There is also a degree of
[f coerjdoi) necessary to restrain the pruriency of hu« .
^ man opinions, since experience *shews, that a toa
^ iqunii assertion, of the rigbt of private judgment leads
^ to schisms in religion, and that that rights which can-
^•not be disputed^ is frequently exercised without
** knowledge, asserted with petulance, and vaunted
^ without discretion, until the bonds of peace aie bro«
"^^n, and rancorous controversies, uncharitable ca*
^Jumnies, and unjustifiable altercations ensue. Far
•^be it from me therefore, very far to excite any spi-
•■rit of resistance to legitimate authority in the
fchnrch.'^ With all these plausible sentiments of
2 U 2 reform^
• 4 Col. 15. + 3 Col. vr.
M
3Sft
reform, Itow came your Reverence to hold back, and
smother your zeal, whilst for about 30 years, you be*
held these abominations defile the sanctuary ? * ^^ Our
*• Bishops, you say, are intruders f if they are not pre*
'* viously elected by the Clergy of each vacant See/*
^^ Those, who have been recently appointed ta Irish
^^ Sees are illegitimate intruders, in direct violaijoo
<^ of the canons of general councils, non i^^rmennl
'^ per ostium in ovile^ usurpers in the eye of taoctity^
*^ violaters of the laws of the church.'* To a goiu-
ine Catholic mind dreadful must be the consequences
of a pseudo-episcopacy pervading an hierarchy, ^ Ypur
Reverence has alluded to some, and can be igppr^t
of none of them ; it would be beyond the line faiMj
department to insist upon them. But as an historian
it behoves me to notice, when the grand ebullition of
your punctilious zeal for the orthodoxy and disci-
pline of the Catholic Church first burst fprth: aqdit
is somewhat important to trace it to the dadining
health of yon||late Bishop of Elphin, Doctor French,
and the failure of the Zsbedean^ cznvdts for your sue-
cessioa
^ It is impossible exactly to fathom or guage tbe mind, iin«
tires^ and views of the author, who writes for deceit t and Isoi
free to charge him with that general intent, who boasts of bit
opponents inability to point out one proposition in all his wOflSy
«/ heretical or scbismatical ; and therefore, that he renmi ia
possession of hia orthodoxy. Columbanus will excuse mjr coiu
chiding, that the canvas for the See of Elphin, io which hawii
privy^wai at least Aati-ChrisSian^ for our blessed Lprdp iiff^
A
d9»
cesaoQ to ISa. See.- Ttaen and not before, lakit
Gerberas you opened &ree tremendous moUtbi
against
lie reprimanded not the mother of the sons of 2ebedee, who so*.
lidUed their spiritual promotion,, yet as the sods were present,
iMtMMrered in^the plural number, as if it were their joint ap«
I^Udmbn for it. Tekwnv mi what ye ash. (Mat. 20. 92). Our
SMVMr (Hd not grant the request; and eyidently disapproved of
/4lit.4QiplllB)itiott for it. ^^ jindnvhen the ten heard it, tbej tvere
..fffo^dmuth indignation agaimt the tnvo trethren* It is remarkable,
^tfA .peither Christ, nor the ten expressed any displeasure or
inclination against the soliciting parent, but against those, in
trKose behalf, and with whose privity the solicitation was made,
I catraot drop this subject without noticing some expressions of
Citttitibanus, which bear internal eyidence of the workings and
^ teariiil^ of his mind upon the object of his ambition. In his
tot .letter (p. 21) he says with unwarrantable frowardness, and
i|Of; wi^b^t spite, *^ that there is no instance, and there ought
** to be nolle, in the history of the Christian Church, in whichh
^' the Bishops oft any Catholic country elected their own sue*
^'' eeteorif, or bequeathed their own dioceses, as the Bishops of
*^ Ireland actually do, by their own private choice ; a) private
at
^^ mrrangementp in which Simony , for ought we know, but cer*
^ tatnly favoritism, reasons olfieth and bloody and worldly prO«
** pensities, must necessarily' prevail against honest exertions.^*
And (3 CoL 16.) ^^ It would be endless to enumerate the pro«
^* aiotiods, which have occurred in the Church of Ireland, thro*
^tke interest of our gentry and nobility : (he then feelingly
adds) ** jind /, nvhe have never had tmy such interest sn^ mji fivor^
• ^ C^f ." Now, honest exertions, and interest made in fawur of a
penon to procure a Bishopric for him, evidently could not
• kare been thus spoken of by a person, who thought of any
laeans, ^even the most honourable^ as was a direct applica*
tion to our blessed I^ord) to procure ecclesiastical pr^ermenti
• I
S3d
against the Pope, the Irish Bishops, and their cosul*
jxitors.
Rabida qui concitus ira
ImpleTit pariter ternis latratibas Auras,
£t sparsit Tirides spamis albentibus agro^
Through anger and madness you cajise*
The air with three yells to resound, *''
You poison with foam from your jaws
The green fields of Erin around. ^.
Ovid's Met..T^
fiiiimba. I ])0ve said something: to you. Reverend and vmk
in profe«. learned Doctor, of your opposition to the Christian
fni^bis sub- .
miBifon to Primate and your own Hierarchy : I must say some-
thing also of coadjutors. Though redundant, it ought
not be improper here once for all to observe, for the
sake of my Protestant readers, that if I have appea^
ed to them to assume too much without proof ifl
speaking of Roman Catholic doctrines, this lettdr if
solely addressed to the Rev. Doctor Charles O'Co-
nor, D. D. wlio professes himself to be a Roman Ca-
thoiic of the very purest cast, and lays in extraordi*
mxj
as did out blessed Lord and ten of his Apostles. No svcbir
frthn or interest made in favor can be honesty if made or wisbed
•n behalf of the candidate himself: we have scriptural authority
for calling them /fnti-Christiany when made by others ; and by
general Inference they are therefore to be reprobated; ^^ A
^' good man out of the good treasure of his heart bring«th foitt
^^ that, which is good ; and an e?il man out of the evil treason
*^ of bis heart briogeth forth that, which is evil ; lor of thi
^ ftbnndance of the heart his mouth speaketh." (Lake G.4i^r)
ry merit for Kis z^alou^ ^!^P9^ 9^^^ ^^^^ff^
rpiiiei of the tioij See, pptimi de fede Apt^y^i^
retun* He i$ , resoly^ to .iM'f>i;)aini his orthodoxy
i the house-tppf 9 for tbe learned M the jdtad lan«
age^ and in the English for thejfnlf liaiipn; but
»or Irisb ho/usiyMe^ .has riot vouchsafed to give
ion of it in his verqacular tongue, although the
tt^be written to his countrymen (nominally indeed
'hk brother) on the liberties of the Irish church*
F'd^ great majority of the population of his country
^ilge where isays, f Siultorum - mfi^tis eit numertit.
sjby the general discipline of the Catholic Chufjcft
e;4iyine service is performed inXatin,. and in that
Qgqage is the canon law written, I presume the La«
\J6rnmla is intended for the theologisOfis, and other
irm^ men of his own Churchy who might be ex«
icte4 to scrutini2:e it with punctilious rigor ; and
e loose English version iot the gentlemen c^
Q Established Church, upon whose sympathies he
\Sl some claims. A jure divino primacy in the
ishpp of Rome is believed by every genuine Ro-
an Catholic; we therefore find in the Latin for^
tda these words et Divina qua pollet auctcritas
vf&tA to the Holy See : but ^s the Protestants
ii6ic of no primacy at all in the Bishop of Rome,
they
* See this profession of faith in Latia and in English, Ap«
^■^, No. VII;
t SjCul. lid* ^^ Men must be contenl td leave thi^se mat^
' left tp thaleataed, as they letTe presariptlons to Fbjsicians
' sad' drags to Apothecartev."
> « I
• ■
332
they cannot adnut it to be of dhite tight fa
the Pope. What Cotumbanus calls translating into
English is a complete dbguise. A Catholic fonto-
lary in masquerade. He enters the lists with a Rmqiift
target, belynd which he fancies his orthodoxy securer
When he has displayed the chivalrous feats of hur
third tournament, he anticipates the magical effects
of them upon his spectators, and boldly ventures to
pass off his English nostrum^ as the genuine arcide
first announced in the more imposing language of
Rome. Judging probably, that those, who at tlie
begmning of the work should have read the LadDi
would not trouble themselves with the English veractt
at the end of it. At all events, he fondly hoped,thtt
the lecture of his instructions properly prepared thm
to reHsh the variance. Those, who understood not
the dead language, would reserve themselves for tbe
English treat at the close of the work. Thus was hs
doubly guarded against too severe and critical a com-
parison.* The
. ■*" •
* As sach barefaced iDfidelity of translatioD, and fodi giof .
attempts at delusion are scarcely credible, the Latin andEiy^*..
s
Ush formularies are given together with some annotations in thi ,
Appendix^ No. VII. As the closer affinity of the Latin tOi(t|i,,,
to the properties of the old Phcenician language, than, to ti|llll .
of modern English was probably the reason for Columbanvjni,, \
having announced his intention (as he did ten years SjSp^i^
translating the old Irish Annals into Latin, in order that H|i
version might be the more chastely correct, I assume, that ll^ jl
his most learned Reverence professed his faith in his QSlif^ »
tongue^, the formula would have approached nearer to the B^b'
man, than to the English text.
- The $y%tiettk ♦ of coadjutonhips, ilrtiether newly ki* Jj^^^
tnducedy whether only continued^ or whether revived iJP^"***^
Ea-church governnient^ was a brain-Uow to the am*
bhkNit views of a clergyman, who could reflexedly
peculate, and feelingly argue upon honest exertions to
2X attain
■...'. .
,^ It tiu been tlie immemorial usage in the dhai^li to appoint
Cknfftt§pi^ Coadjutors^ or as they are frequently called Svffra*
fmsj Jiot only in cases of age and infinnity^ but where dioceses
Ms very extensive, having merely a nominal jurisdiction in par*
NHr btfideUum^ but having by consecration received episcopal
Oi^, who are employed in the dioceses of other Prelates to
hdp them in performing such acts, as can only be done by the
Kv4sf of Bishops X such as conferring holy orders, coneecratfng
feltaiSij giving confirmation, &c* The propriety and canonical
raHdtty of such Bishops without jurisdiction, are strongly sup.
Smed by the learned Protestant author (supposed to be Bish«
^p'Fleetif ood) of The accmnt tf Church Government and Churct ^
'Simrmrt published at the beginning of the last century ^through*
^t his ISth chapter. He quotes very lai^gely and rests his doc«
rina upon the authority of another very learned Protestant
maooist Beveridge Bishop of St. Asaph, who wrote Pandectm
UteM Jpostohrum &f Conciliorum published in two volumes
wjfJUb; A. D. 1678. He kept up a very long and interesting:
QiM^Bdence with Botsuet Bishop of Meauz : he wrote with -
C^ibaiiid learning and exemplary modesty. For which twa
tirinments, if Columbanus be not incurable, I recommend tho
iMire of that work. Columbanus's flippant and frequent jac«
idiiloa'of extensive reading (ftij old friendy Doctor Cmrry^ iuh§g
UiJtg rfod haifas much at I have, 9t Col ^1, & alfb.> brinrgi tor
t^'lMnd the practical good sense, with which my schocrf-mas*
^Ifitelcated to his scholars, the maxim, b^emultumfmnmulUfr
Mdmncfa, but few books.
attdtt I autre, and^ publicly lament, that through tht
I
influence of gentry and nobility he had npoer had any such
interest made in his favor. Hinc iUa lachryma ! Folly
I can account for the bitterness of your Reverence's
plaints and reproaches upon this tender subject j bat I
find no Irish honesty, no fidelity of the annalist, no
learning of the canonist, no edification of the Priest
in the false indecent suggestions and charges made by
you against a most respectable body of Prelates. I stand
aghast at the malignity, I pity the absurdity of your
ravings; rabida qui concitus ira. t ** You say, that
•' to question the divine right of each Bishop to be-
*' queath his diocese, to whom he pleases, is to in-
•* cur the danger of excommunication : and that their
** Lordships the Bishops will resist every attempt to
** infringe on this right, and will exhort the people
*' also to suffer martyrdom in defence of it. Bram!
•' Intriguing Bishops agree, that they can nominate
*' their own successors against the decrees of ge^^
*^ ral councils, and render their dioceses hereditary
<« property, or bequeath them to whom they list for
•' reasons best known to themselves.'^ After thecaiip
vas for the reversionary See of Elphin, and all Artwrf
exertions had failed, you affect to argue ab impossitifu
^^ How then could I canvas for a situation, that pro-
** fessed to engage me to co-operate with men, wbo
•* are stated to have avowed their determinaticffl '•
•* reject the Gallican libertiesy and who thereby, ifl
«fljy
? 1 CoK le; + 2 Calj 213. % 3 CoK 7, 8.
835
^^fjay opmon tac^ce the true mtereits qF tKe (
^^tl^oUc reltgipn in Ireland, .aod the emahctpatiaii of
**j^^r country to a. corrupt and hovef ^stemi to
f,f yl^ws of exclusive dominion and of privatef in^
^ trigue. The pain I feel on this account is increas*
f^^ ed by their trnprecedentedj uncanonical claim to er«
^.elusive power in the very important point of nom^
^ 9fiting their own successors : a practice, which ren-
.^ 4^^ ^^^^^ dioceses private property, disposable at
.^ t^eir will, and establishes the empire of worldly
^^(i^uccession, ex voluntate carnis ^ et sanguinis (sf ex
fSitjtfluntaie viri, in the very sanctuaries of the Isle of
.**; Sfjnts !'* * ** There must be an end of private in^
f^{ffigu€s carried on by nepotism and favouritism
^^**. ijuring the life of the Bishop pro tempore: and we
^f^ must Tee restored that ordinance relating to the
^* appointment of Bishops, which is insisted on by
^' Pope Celestine I. who sent Saint Patrick into Ire*
•^ land in 1432;' t " The Catholic religion, as pro-
^^ fused in Ireland^ can never be represented by the
V'body of our clergy, as long as our church is under
,^'^.t^^ influence of ^foreign power ^ as long as our Bi-
J^f j)hops intrigue for preferment in foreign courts^ as
^^.Ipng as our church government is managed by ex-
.. ^f. dusive Synods, and our second order of clergy,
^^^noWlity, and gentry are deprived of their necessa-
. *^ contrpul ; that to remedy the abuses which prevail,
/^ our Bishops must be elected, as formerly^ without
2X2 *«any
» S Col. 47. + 3 Col. 141.
€4
338
^ any canvasing and intriguing on thor parts by the
«* Dean an4 Chapter of each vacant See." • •* Am I
^* therefore to submit to the most daring violatioi^
of the Canons ? To the bequeathing of Diooesei?
To the uncanonical, perhaps, the Simoniacal ^
^ pointmcnt of favourites to episcopal Sees ? To the
•• vilifying of the second order of the Priesthood?
•* To the excluding and absolute monarchy prindp/er now
** introduced into the Church ? Why has not Doc-
•* tor Poynter's zeal been displayed in combttiDg
^* these abuses ? because he has been uncanomcaOy
•' appointed himself/' ** Inquire — ^Inquire— Have I
** not elsewhere shewn, that not even the Pope ca&
•* nominate his own successor/* t " I will natJM
*' enquire, whether it is wise, at a time, when all Ae
*' feudal establishments of Europe have been levdkd,
** and all feudal ideas have expired^ to attempt to
^^ force upon us, by such falsehoods, a feudal cfaofch
*' government of twenty-five Spiritual Lords* who
** having no legitimate children to inherit their dio-
•* ceses, claim a right of adopting children and be-
•* queathing to those adopted favorites all the €krgf
** of their dioceses, as the proprietors of West India
^' lands bequeath, or sell, or dispose of their bhd
** slaves without any controul/'
Actoaimo. Now, Reverend and most learned Doctor* that
tiv« for ' '
Coiumba- you hj^yc mofal certainty, that none of your honest w-
S-mo^'l*^*^ ^r//tfw^ no interest made in your favor through the
•bipi.; influence
f 4 Col. 39. t 1 Col. 78*
*•
/
889
influence of jott gentry andmbiliiy^ 'no fteomm^ficb-
'Am of ^*c%je ItishPrelate^ to whom ybu formttiy
flpioiied and corresponded with in conse:quence, no
postolatioa of the diocesan clergy of Elphin^ no. inter*
tlprencg^ of . your gteat and anonymous . patroQ^ no
^^ecMinkenance from those enligbted 9tate^meii|, who
.lure ^emerged from their>erroneousconceptiQQsof the
'^^itaiMp state influence from an intolerant miniitry,
noTiastfstance of Doctor Walsh at Paris, no favor of
S0l^nal Maury at Rome will procure you a Cs^tholic
vMUre in Ireland,, deign to retrace in your cooler
'tiM>iight8 those ravening e£fusions from the defeated
ipwjects of your spiritual amUtion, Well dp you
kilbWy that no nepotism^ no favoritism^ no '^imony^
^^^Ifsue legitimate or illegitimate^ no spirituality of
S^' and bloody no bequest of a diocese have ever de
ySitt^ existed amongst the Irish Catholic Hierarchy
t*f0Mttiii your ReverenceV recollection or experiehce;
^litlter had any such imputation or charge proceeded
^#»m you, until the canvas for the revertionary mitre
ttf Doctor French had failed ; and if It had succeeded^
;|iroliabIy none ever would. Your consciousness^
iiowdver^ of those particular negatives, is not the
groundyUpon which I reprobate the expressions of
your angry feelings. Were there truth in your .as-
iertion of facts, or grOtmds for youf illiberal and in-
decdit suggestions, the principles, which regulate and
coatroul the facts and circumstances, that form the
geaa'al subject of your five Letters^ would have the
same
;*
338
same force and efficacy upon my miind.*^ la fioo^
eluding this letter, which has grown undet ity pen to
asize
* I was indaced to pu'blish this letter to Columbaniis, not onlj
to repel his gronndless and illiberal attack upon my histoiieil
Teracity, but to elucidate, verify and confirm whaterer 1
liaye advanced, or inferred in that history by coHateni,
newly discovered, recent or subsequent facts and circnmttat.
ces. One of the most astonishiog and perplexing ^iSi^MMMiii fa
in the political system of the British empire, is the MUn
shifting, dropping or dissembling of principle in mosi oT'fEi
professed, inflexible and conscientious opponents iof C^riMfe
Emancipation. The report of the debate on Mr. CaiHib^
motion for the House's taking early in the next Session NMo
its most serions consideration the state of the Laws aftcttB^
his Majesty's Roman Catholic subjects, &c, which was cir-
ried by a majority of 129 out of 391 members, on the 33nd
of June 1812, affords more materials, than many volumes of
ancient history, for justly appreciating the honor and htnmtff
the sincerity and consistency, the wisdom and experienterf
most of our modern statesmen and politicians*
No inconsiderable part of this letter tends to ilx certlia
persons in England with a very indefatigable, though not veiy
open attempt to let in the Veto, and nathnalizc the Catholic
Church: in plain words, to establish Bisbops appointed Ij
the laity, and not drawing spiritual jurisdiction fromilvr^
of Rome. The reader, who takes an interest in this quMfioiiy
in a note (p. 790. 3d vol.) of my Post Union Histpiy, wOl
£nd, that I say, «« The influence of the English VetiMs
*' upon some of the supposed parliamentary friends ^of die
^^ Catholic cause has been very recently manifested id^e
^^ House of Commons by the amphibious speech of Sir !•'€•
«< Hippesley on the 31st of May 1811/' That note tpedM
the honorable Baronet's boast to the House of his having fw^
85d #
I 'sitte> I little at first expected^ I thalU undamtliadoo
gi(^l eorrection endeavour shortly to 'develope as the
"'- necessary
inn^orrcspoodeace with, attended and instructed by Mr**
Biitiex» He read tbe proceedings of the cQopLmlttee of English
CathcJks in 1791 and 1792 : of course he was furnished bj
l^risorrespondent with the blua books (for some account of
'YP^i^yide App. No. IV) and unquestionably he was well
fapgMmatfld with their spirit. My reference to them id this
\fjlliflf,yf\% scarcely therefore be considered a hors dtuvr^* The
mplgic, powers of the two grand qq.apei-atocs for the Feto ani
0f^lifi^fmntSj ColQmluinu» and Mr. Butler^ so worked vpom
tkf lioiiarable Baroneti that they brought him to an open and
mfqiiiTocal ayowal of his present actual vie.ws upon the
QUiialic body. I find the following as the the most arnpi^
aii4 4i^tt^® report of the part he took in the debate.
. *^ Sir J* C. Hippesley was of opinion, that some security
^^ iras necessary : at the same time, it was not his wish to
*^ 4UE|CEoach. on the Catholic, church. But h« could shew, that
^' tie .church itself was tired of a foreign yoke. . He had a
*^ communication from a Catholic Prelate, stating^ that it was
V'^cessary to guard against the intrigues of Rome ; also '
'^ from an Ar<:;hbishop of Ireland, that a foreign bishop had
y beeo appointed to his district, by the Pope without his tha
^•^ Archbishop's knowledge. He wished the Irish Catholics to
tt be on the same fpoting, as those of Spain and Portugal^
^{f^ipt which reason the measure shoqld have his support."
:.,.Irishmea and Engli9hmen» who do not feel yourselves op«
frassed by. a foreign yoke, because your spiritual pastors draw
i^ir jurisdiqiionfrom the Vicar of Chrisi, bse aware of what
jom seek, and of what you take« Demand proof of these
ccpiplaints of a Catholic Prelate, and the appointment of a
Isreiga Bishop in an eccjiesiastjcal province .in Ireland. Mis.
trast both tha instnictoryMd instructed* IM (kfianci nam^
940
necessary consequences of the premises, which I have
heretofore endeavoured to. state ivith fairness and pre*
cision. la
vamc (5. Col. 13) I truly told joa in the 3(1 yolnme of my
last history (p. 794) that ^^ the deep laid plan (of Veto and
" arrangements) was suggested by Sir J. C. Hippesley, fiu
^^ thered by Mr. Pitt, adopted by Lord Grenville» and palsied
'^ by Lord Castlereagh upon the duped or intimidated tnutcei
^^ of Maynoothin contemplation of Union/' But it appeals
from a short pamphlet of 12 pages, without name or titlf|
dated London, April 15, 1796, (the first printed effort of fir
J. C. Hippesley in fayor of the Pope and Catholics after Ml
return from Italy) that before the Uuion was known to be ik
contemplation, this plan Jor altering the state of the CathoKci
was actually on the tapis • Irishmen will not be the mon
partial to it, for its having been devised by the authon of A0
the system of coercion and terror, immediately after the TirUu
ons Fitz-WilUam had been so infamously sacrificed to tto
Protestant Ascendancy party. He sincerely wished togil^
religious freedom to the country unconditionally. . Tlk»
honorable Baronet opened his pleadings on behalf of Rame in
the following manner. *' In consequence of the proceeduip
^' of the infatuated people in some parts of Ireland caUf)J
*^ Defindcn^ reports have been circulated highly injurioof to
^' the Court and See of Rome, and which if uncheckedf mif
^ hereafter he destructive to many salutary arrangementi .rf^
*^ policy ifUtmately connected nuith the interests of bit Mqj^f
*^ Government,^^ From that period to the present has he v^
lost sight of these civil arrangements y though ia the iaterme^M^
time he appears frequently either to have changed or Jf0
clumsily to have disguised his sentiments,' concerning .^
relations of his Majesty's Catholic subjects with the Baa^
Ponti£ We must mark the progress of those Vet^ti mj^
$nivigert Q?er the mind4 of !^b>^ thejf UMitik upoa^. jfe
€ -t
-t '•.
I
In brghg tiie divim oiigiii and tte « lja< l Di « i» i|i J^Jj
^^caideace of civil and Mnppsad pemr, it itadoioM, S^f^
-that they are both to be exercised by human beiagSii ^^2n
naturally imperfect and fallible j consequently Ij^Ue J^pJlJ,
o Y to "^* •'
'1805» atludtng t0 an opintoif entertained by some, *^ that 1^
^ Majesty instead of the See tfRvme shoidd in future nominate
-** to the vacant Sees of Bishops of the Romab ConmiBifion/'
\m •xplicitely said, **I concdie, *Sir, nd^her th^^Catfioliti
i^coald consistently coccede such an innoration,* nof /conH
'^ Us Majesty consfsteiitly assume fhch on un^r^eed^liid
^^ ei:ercisei of power" (Vide. Mbstadce of addM6vnl*'obse».
Vationb intended to have been deliyejr^i &c, t^ublished by
*UniSelQ: Yet after he hid been ^rorked upon l^f; hit lieir la-t
Striictors, he says^ ^^ ali confirm the priiiciple, klMAthe 8o-
^* Tereign power in every state of whatever 'reliant '-t^bm*
'^ nmnion has considered itself armed with legitimate anthoiitjr
^ in' all matters of ecclesiastical arrangements within its
«< dominions.'' (Vid. Sd toL of my last history 794) la
lU speech in 1810 he declares open war agiioA His old
IHeiid and eonfidentiarl correspoddent Dr. Miln^h^'antt de«
. clavei himself professedly for Veict mtii turrai^emenU. In Mil ^
llm declares, that, <« as long, aiThe Im ikstial^n «hat ONkJ^ Im
'"^ ihall never^coHsent to any bill without %' claniei
-'"^ ance of those ii?solations of the coiomittBe'of ^t-lB^\
^ Catholics:** but he had then saamalgamated hiifeattnga wlfli
nViiose of their former Secretary^ that itf mentioning Iha 'ittitf
'iftractive letter he had lately received from- Mr. Budei^, bia
■ ^ J.
ilsMngly addedttf^itm// nubom DrMMnerM naltldn tbreimrn ef
mfim thys printed in DMsm at/oul a RMf eu mteir htmi Jnm Hei
fnsi. This publication is alluded to (frCoL 110) as apom^
jiHiialy announced O^fy and M with al^nrifixof D.D.F.J.A.Cf,
.flL A. y. A. to which the wttter bifd^itaa. irt» that br 4f ate
JjfNUlbMl Mmtiff^ mod«|gir iosimiates^ Qiat he b tb« fMlr
S44
ppoilri Invildiottit than instructive^ Mutual cneroadi*
ments and psurpation^ upon each other have been tod
frequently
hm to chuse the name of aoy other great man, would pi^
fer that of St. Jerome for the same reason ; and who peroiiMMl
Dodesley his intended Editor in 1803) to besmear htm witk
the most nanseating flattery. (Vid. App« p. 12«) Befiu^
Columbanus was personally acquainted with Sir J. C. Hip*
pesley he spoke of him in 1810 (1. Col. 115), aa of a mti,
^^ ;w]bo with the best intentions, had yet to learn ihe vhple
V extent. and calculate the different bearings of a subjafl^
^^ which involvies the diyine and ecclesiastical rights j^t.(lf$
^^ second order of the Irish clergy, as well as the first, aWl
<« embraces even the civil rights of the Irish people." Tkh
charge of ignoraroce, the Hon. Baronet, who not unreasoubijl
felt himself entitled to benefit cf ekrgy (especially of the JsiA,
€lergyj took in high dudgeon ; but yet consoled himself ittf
ignoring in good and holy company. (Substance of Speecbtt)
^^ If Sir J. llippesley^ appears to Columbanus to be igDOfaiio&
^< those rights, so most the ten Prelates, who ipad« thejpfifor
'< sal of 1790." Columbanus was more disposed to inQbl|Hlai
the Prelates, than their boasted advocate. It was nof»plyitf
bis charge* The sympathies of the duo lahorantes iu Utmm soQpi
made common cause in engaging the Honorable Baronet as.ai|'
open and professed, as they knew hp would be an indefatigable'
and powerful advocate of their Anti. Papal views. His peMmiH^
ii^peared in his l^st Address (5CoU 131) '^ Before I hadtM
^* honour of a personal acquaintance with that invalaable friai^
^< to religious, as well as to civil liberty, Sir John Cox Hl^
'* pesley, I ventured to say of him, without meaning, heaMl"
*< knows, any thing inconsistent with tho high respect t^i
^ for his integrity, with the best intentions, &c«'* The reaietf
of Columbanus, who refers with inverted commas ty waytlf
^[upt^tion from one part of his work to another,, will obviodsli^
i^tHlyi.^;^ %JfW#ffla4e:'. Yfi^^Jt.fwa,.
9Hl:^weji, iff^jfik I^^ the posiubiUty pif .^p^ ia the^ «
•a... exercise
peA the qtiotidoti toiie faitbfiil, nd ^vilUhei^finjie probablf
t^n back to It, on the cre^the glrei a gentleman for fide,
f';''^ It' falls to my pairiful dnty to %liii1hii9r readers of the
t^BftusM iriMelity of qnotatioti eyett of' Iris own. words, which' ^'
ftM instance wholly metamorphose ^Ihe text referred to, yIz.'
Ml with Sir John HtppeshByy who with -the best intentions
ildjett6 learn the whole extent, and t6 taloulate the diffe.
tftit bearings of a sibjeot^ which invdTes the dirine and ec-
fitelostieal. rights ofthdSecbnd order of the Irish Clergy) as
«iillrat-bf the firs^ and. embraces OTea the civil fights of the -'•
Mlh people.'^ What different idea, judgftieni and feeling
MfisMr arise in4he tniadcciMtt of the most, prejudiced or bi4i
liM, #hoi reads the worda referredl to marked as quotation j
^ho wHkthe best intentions had yet to leaf n the lu^iEr extent^
Mteoalculate thed^rent bmtingtdL the Catholic qaestioo.*«
lambanns perhaps from his own habiUpresnmes, that readk
KfAl^oim raitarn to, or reflect- upon thelezt, over which th^
PSilhiosra a raind, uninterested^ or reluctant eye. It is evfo
i^qihait if .the. Catholic question^ were this day carried, (9
01 words, if Ireland were this dsjy .eipancipiited, the relatife
iHud^nghi^^ powers, and jurisdiction of the Catholic Bishoj^
t^Pfiests^ would remain precisftly sb they * now are^ anS ai
px.were.iu the fijf stage NOfChristiaaify) when Saint IgnatiuA.
I $M(f Epki^ nemo quUpiam fieiet corumj quf ad. Ecekshtlfi^
^ .ahoald wilb extreokSi relttotanca be placed in the painful
mtiOi| of being forced- oat of^hei.laYOurable conytctlons con*
i^ihg;Sir J. Cr'Hippesley, ifiodM-Fhich I wrote the note (3d
•ii.p. S35) in my PostUofaui^ flistory; <^ No, he qeyer act*
^appti disguised, principles^ . The candor, that peryadea
Iris>hole speedy 'tli«i iolliiiiiStiMi it coi^Teys, the ^iS^tJ of ||
^i'
84ft
r
exercise can conceal jor confound the
r»
ation between the two powers. Your Reverence bsu^
with
^ to the Catholic cause, place him above such imputatioo. Witk
* the best intentions, howerer, of acting up to the fair piiad«
^ pies of religious freedom, it is feared, that adyantage has heea
'** taken of his easy access, of his aviditj for information, of lui
** reluctance to place to the account of dissimulation, whatcaa
«« be accounted for upon no other principles." He has beei
set ojtdfiied by the author of ihe blue beolt^ and the author of Co*
Inmbanus's five Letters or Addresses to the Irish. DmUh
rsmi€t im Unum. They have obtained a short-llTed tripapk
over him for their own designs : and he has been misled \j
false information, imposed on by insidious misrepresentatioii|
and seduced by specious argument, to declare in open Seattei
tbai the Church Useffnuas tired of a foreign yoke s that a CtiMk
Prelate had assured him it nuas necessary to guard agaimst the k*
irigues of Rome s and that an Irish Archbishop had compiastied^ M
a foreign Bishop had becm appointed h his district by the Pope mtk l d
his inonxdedge. But folF the plausibility of consistency, he isibf..
o^d in these novel and strange declarations from behind a £^-.
eriau shield borrowed for the occasion. Jt is not my mush U m*.
eruaeb on the Catholic Church, These two authors of blue bod^S
k;ftd addresses, also set and plied Lords Grey and Grenville, aof
for a time Tauntingly chuckled at an ephemeral triumph from Ittr
sion. (Fid. Antea. ivim p. 246 io 254) By misrepresestf
/flon, deception, and importunity they -were made Vetoists : ifjt
to were Messrs. Ponsonby, Grattan, and some others; aD rf
whom Upon retracing the means, the grounds, the pretexts, tie
designs, the effects of their having been worked into this erfO*
. i-i"
neons conyiction, like txyise and enlightened itatesmen^ they retr^^.
their former opinions ^ luhen they discovered them to be unjust andv$l^{
UticaL Cumventumadverumestf mores sensusque fePuguant* l\
f hfUl not anticipate an excuse from Sir Joha Ct Hippeslej 1^
\
lA studied afFectatibn industriously avmded men*
^ning in any one of your five numbers the opinions
either
pressing inTitation to meet Lords Grey and GrenTille, and
[esars. Ponsonby and Grattan and other friends^ on the score
fa pre-engagement to the Secretaiy of the would.be Pr^/^////!^
4tMic.I)isientersy and*a member of the Academy of Cortona,
Iq point of historical credit to be given to the facts asserted^
ir at least generally referred toj orassomed by Sir J. C* Hip.
)ealey in his last speech, I trust, Jie I4II not be offended at my
itofessing a thorough cpn?iction of bis well disposed and un^
utHCious mind having been most maUciously practised upon
nth a view of giviug a final triumph to the RickrUnwrns and
nabceuTres of the last twenty years for natknaUziag the Catho.
it Churches of England and Ireland* 1 for'^ne withold as«
eti( and credit to any one of the three facts.: I will jealously
criitlnize the evidence, whenever it is brought forth : hitherto
1^ has been tendered. Lord Redesdale long has been, and
fflt'b the professed friend, the confidentiiit adviser, the power-
bT promoter of Mr. Butler^s views and designs in all the Parii«
nentary proceedings relating to the subject matter of the blue
o^, and its immediate and remote possible consequences*
tis Lordship in 1805, in the debate on Lord Grenville's motion
Hr referring the Petition of the Irish Catholics to a Committee^
bU the following language : but he named not the author of
b information, neither did he refer the house to any path,
iilam, or direction, by which they might discover the source of
^ great body, which like the Nile traverses and occasionally
^•rwhelms whole kingdoms. The Honourable Baronet leads
b'attditors no nearer to the inscrutable source in 181*2, than
H' Right Hon. Baron did in 1805. (Vide my Post Union
liltoiy M Vol. p. 97} <^ If the Catholic Hierarchy," said his
•bffdship, ^^ were abolished, something might be done, to con«
tilitte the Catholic body i and to the generality of tUtt body^
S46
dither of others, or of yourself, in whom spiritual JM
diction eminently and permanently resides, so as to te
imparted
*' be was confident^ the abolitioo of the Hierarehj werid le
*< extremely gratcfitU He had beard of a prorince, whei^lle
^ inferior clergy, oae and all deprecated the appointmevtWa
*' Bishop amongst them ; and several reputable and iiitilU|liit
^ Catholics had assured his Lordship, they would be gild (o
^ get rid of their Bishops.'* Irishmen and Englbhmen, wle
mean to retain communion with the supreme head and calif
of the Churchy mark the destructive progress of, and firmly Mke
head •against this inundation of Caivino Jamentan Jtnti^PirJttft
Let it not in upon the Tineyard. This general, incredM^i
and unsubstantiated declaration of Lord Redesdale obvMff
suggests, that the whole of the Uoir: Baronet's cottplaMM
entirely of British manufacture. He could sbrv^ thai thf Oktrtt
itseifnuat tired of a foreign yoke : perhaps by reading Colnah iiHi
or the blue books : hut what means he by the Chmrchy CO wHck
a foreign yoke is grieVous ? ^i versatur generalibut^ «lrfiMr'^
.losL The comrnunication from a Catholic Prelate^ rtatif^^' tttt It
nuas necessary to guard ugainat the intrigues ef Romcy oMosllr
ajppears from the wording of the report to have beenffrJMil"
ate communicatioti ; (^Tery party is anonymous: and of the pendUy
through whom the communication fwas stated to the HrauMlrili
Baronet, who has filled such an extraordinary dipIomaeylMii
intriguing court, I cordially repeat, Hunc tu RomamCtSl^
Tread cautiously in the dark. Jlso from an Arch Btrbf^Mtm
foreign Bishop had hsen appointed to his district hy the
his inowkdge. This metropolitical plaint appears alls
arriyed to the Honourable Baronet by means of a stattttit^i
question not, but that each of the' three Irish Arcfabl8ho|nRr.
liTingy will readily stand forth to negative the fact aad Vlk|
.plaint. The use of tfie word district superadds to th«-idr|Mii'
,of the non-appearance of the foreign Bishop iq take poiwhwirf
349
imparted to individuals, as the spiritual exigencies of
the church shall occasionally require. Your insidi-
2 Z ous
hi« See) that was a Bntlsh stating^ for the ecclesiastical limitt
«f the episcopal jnrisdiction in England are always termed Dh^*
iriitfm No Irishinan« and least of all an Archbishop would
mention the boundaries of his own or su£Fragans jurisdiction,
knt'^ai the terms, provinces or dioceses,
in the before.mentioned note relating to the Honorable 6a.
tmietf it is said : ^* it is the amiable foible of the ingenuous and^
^ tiocere to be uasuspicious and oagoarded against deception
** and intrigue, to be prodigal of their credit to other?, as in so«
* dal intercourse, they deal in no other, than the medium of
** Bndisgulzed truth/' Sir John Cox Hippesley, as I observed
io the third yolnme of my last history (665) ^* during Mr. Pitt's
"* administration spent some years in Rome under a secret misw
*■ sion of unavowed diplomacy to the Roman PontifT." This
1m Terifies in the supplementary appendix to the substance of his
speech, &c« p. 117, in these words, ^' It is scarcely consistent
^ with the dignity of a great government .to receive occasional
^ benefits through private and, unaccredited channels, where 2L
^ regular diplomatic communication is held to be proscribed^
^ .^nd to enter into clandestine engagements, to which the pub^
!* lie faith is as irrevocably pledged, as if they w:ere sanctioned
^ hj the most punctilious formalities of office." To this he
fa^ a note* Such engagements. Sir J. Cm Hippesley noat autbor"
iffiip enter into nssith the court of Rome. In the same page he
M^h tUe legal inhibitions of such intercourse, noeak^ miscbiesmu^
rkUeuhut* The Hon. Baronet of all his Majesty's Pr^tes"
subjects knows most of, and has spoken roost openly, can.
4Mty9 ^'^ favourably both of the See and Court of Rodie. I
i|||f» never discovered an idea written, or uttered by him on
My oeeasion, that wa§ distrustful, pontemptnous, or hostile to
Roman Pontiff, until he stood up in his place^ in the liotistf
350
008 intent to keep out of sight the primarf jtfrisdiV
tion of the See of Rome is but too obvious : - hot
you
of CommonS} on the i^dof June, ISl^, watrped and inocolated
vfiih the papaphohia by the two great practitioners in thatirt^
who from their success in England, are preparing to introAior
their system into Ireland,* and throughout the rest of the BiU«
ish empire, as exten&rvely as the Taccination of Doctor Jenner*
The fruits of their labours upon the delicate sensibilities of (bf
Hont Baronet for the Pope and the Pretender, are pasaof
strange. His conversion into one of the strongest alarmisto tt
the intrigues of Rome is almost at miraculous, as that of Sail.
This gentlemaoywhen in bis diplomatic character at Rome, coa^
manded the love and admiration of all, who had the happlnc»
of being^quain ted with him, of which he was so sensil)Ie,tkat
in 1^00 he distributed among his friends a most superb edilioaia
quarto, of bis negociations dnd correspondence with the Pope
and Cardinals on the occasion of his procuring from his Mi*
j«sty, an allowance of 4000L per annum to the Cardlndrf
Yotk, with fac sivaks of the great men's letters to Sir John
Cox Hippesley. A letter of the 26th of February, 1800, i«n
Cardinal Borgia acknowledges the gratitude and admiratloa of
the whole conclave (consi9ting of thirty«.four CafdioaJk) iatt
which Mr. Oakly was admitted with letters from LordHintOy
(then at Vienna) with the official announce of the allowaaca iff
the Cardinal of York : ^' and in ilie applause, the names of
«< those^ who assisted in promoting it re.echoed, and espedaOy
** that of mj fritnd Sir John Hippeslej^f the prmdpal m&ver rfHf
'* gofd acihn,** The present Pope Pius VII. thus expreiui
himself to Sir John Hippesley in a letter written to hiiaintlw
3rear 1800. ^^ And as the above-mentioned glorions Sofeid|p
*^ Pontiff (tvbose authority is of the greatest weight with ailll
^ creature^ and to whom we are beunden hy the strongait ani
f^ [Sweetest ties of veneration, affection, and: gratitude) hM
» Wirere the Doctor is reported to ht lately arrived*
i
I
• •
351
:h your weakness
tmdice» You have repeatedly admitted, that the ju* '
2 Z 2 risdiction
^ gWen us so maoy and such manifest proofs of tbe high esieem
** he entertained of the generous English nation, and of its mag.
** nanimous and just government ^ and was ever so solicitous to
** cultivate harmony and friendship, and also to demonstrate
^ io that natioDy on all occasions, his most lively attachment^
^ we also pursuing the same steps, will equally make it our
^ study to preserve with jealous care tbe same reciprocal good
^ iotelligenee and union : and we will not suffer (as far as lies
* in our power), that England should find seated in thePonti.
^ fical Chair of Rome another Pontiff differing fromliim, who
^ 80 invariably acknowledged the kindness and friendships that
* England entertained for him.'' Such are the blessed effects
of the Hon. Baronet being set and pHed by these two zealots for
Mtipapacy : duo laborantes in Unutn, In 1800 he displays with
ostentatious boast his correspondence with his Holiness ; and
in 1810, when that same virtuous Prelate is a strict prisoner
td the fortress of Savona, he stands up in his place in the House^
of Commons to sound the ticsin against the intrigues and en«
croachments of Rome, and the grievances of a foreij;n yoke*
It certainly is not too much to say,, that of all the 1021 sena.
tors, of which our two houses of Parliament consist, Sir John
Cox Hippesley is the very last, from whom these alarms would
have been expected. Before hdwever, he had been so worked
,^^p6n, he seems to have been insensible of an hoax played upon
Ihim. For in the before.mentioned publication of 1796, he
iUius expressed himself (pi) ^' The conviction of a man of the
** name of Levery at the last Belfast assizes for administering
^ an oath to be true to the Duke of Tork and bis Cotmmtteesj has
^ been cited, as a presumption, that there is still a considera.
*' ble remnant of persons active in the desperate cause of re*
ff storing the proscribed family of 2>tuart, and probably finding
352
dsdiction of each Bishop, and of each Batfish PriM
its confined to his. respective diocese and palish. Hw
*' abettors at Rome. On such an occasion^ it seemi an act.itf
*^ strict jostice to refer to authentic documents, whtcb S9$a«
<< ently manifest the anxiety of the See of Rome for the peier
^< and good order of these kingdoms." And of such docamnnip
the pamphlet is made up, or refers to : namely, a brijcf of
<' Pius ViL to the Bishop of Leon> then in London ; thejetien
'' of the congregation of the Propaganda to the Catbolie Ckr-
** gy in his Majesty's dominions; the Paatoral Instructkm.of
<* Archbishop Troy ; and the full account of the change of tk
*< Oath of Consecration, by the omission of the Word» HarHm
penequar & impugnabo ; which has appeared so iniportant. It
the Hon. Baronet, that he has thrice repeated it in difereot
parts of his works. It is given in the Appendix, No. X.
The case of Levtry was communicated to Sir John C. H^
pesley by a private letter from Ireland ; but it came fr<MI a
quarter, which to him appeared of so much cons&quencei.asto
take him to press, and give a beginning to the many cndttis
and interesting publications and rare documents in favor of tlie
Romati Pontiff and his spiritual subjects within the British eap
pire, with which the public (or rather his readers, for moftof
them were circulated only amongst his friends) have beeogii-
^ified. The letter boie upon the face of it its own want of cre-
dit, by supposing* that assizes are holden at Belfast, which is II9
county tpwn. It evidently was either the innocent joke of a
friend^ who wished to banter hi;n upon his intimacy with,iai
attachment to the abdicated family, which terminated tahb
procutipg the settlement of 40001. p^r ann* to the CardioileC
York, & one of ^OOOU for t)ie widow of that unfortunate PrioH^
^has.Edward : or the malicious hoax of an enemy, who atteovfe
^d to disgoize the reality tinder tbe wild ide^ of JacobitUm:r&>
yivingr again in Ireland in favor of the newly acquired title of tho
S53
Sgst Jure dsvin$ requisite for Bishops and Priests, yoti
btVe before ^aid, is eanonicat clectm. One part of this
dogmatical
Dirdinal Bishop, the last of th^t ill-fated hmt\y» No &l)rica.
tsoii cpncerning Rome or ihe Pretender was ever too gross for
t\m ascendancy palate in Ireland. If the worthy Baronet, to
iAom the communication of the conviction ot Levery Was
inadef (that he gave credit to it is evident, from the serioos ar«
gamenche engrafted upon it) really believed, that there was a
^foiilite party there active in promoting the cause of the Pre-
tender in the north (or any part) of Ireland, con6dent am I,
that he would be as solitary an instance of such credulity, as
he hat been of Protestant diplomacy to, and direct corrcspon-
sicnee with the Bishop of Rome. I said not without reason of
hilliy #/ if feared^ that advanta^ has heen taken of hit easy access ^
of bit avidity for infotination^ tsfc. But it is utterly incredible^
thsLt any of his acquaintance should play so grossly upon this
amiable foible, as to practice upon him with mere fiction of ex-
crettie improbability* Decipimur specie recti. There probably
was at the time alluded to, (I cannot specify where) some pro.
cceding, or prosecution followed by the conriction of one Le»
vesty^for tendering an Oath to he true to the Duke of Tort and his
Committees ; but then, the crime arose out of a much more deep,
dark>and dangerous conspiracy, than any, that could then have
been set on foot against the succession by Jacohitical interest.
They were not Committees of a titular Duke of York, Bishop
ef Frascati, Prince of the House of Stuart, and a Cardinal of
ihe Church of Rome, but of the real Duke of York, Bishop of
Osnaburg, a Prince of the House of Brunswick, and Comman.
der in Chief of his Majesty's forces. I hint not, that his Royal
highness was privy to any such Committee. The friend or
the foe, who thought it worth his while to furnish the Honour.
able Baronet with this report of the case of Levery for his owq
porposcs, converted the Protestant Bishop Militant into a F^
354
dogmatical assertion is hors ik combat: for Plr^
never were^ nor now are iUctedy either for their ohR*
mm
pish spiritual Prelate« in order either to sport with the feelogi
of the Protestant champion of Roiiie» or to mask the reafitfi
and divert the attention of the public from a wicked and exM*
hxvt conspiracy to a visionary bubble, that had nothing bvite
subject, extravagance, and insignidcancy to give it even an epbe«
meral existence. Had a conviction of that nature taken place
under the administration of Lord Cambdeni while the triumfi*
xate of J^hni (Clare, Beresford, and Foster) drove thesysteflirf
terror and coercion, it would never have been smothered, bttt
would have been industriously worked up into a powerful eD|&B
of crimrnatioD, confiscation, or exteimination. Whereas AiK
weie at that time, and for many years subsequently, stroi^ie*
ports afloat, that Orange Committees were sworn in to uphoU
or stand fast to the interests of the Duke of York, as the real
Protestant supporter of the Ascendancy, and to advance him to
the throne as the 5uie means of extinguishing the CatbofN*!
hopes of emancipation : and that Orange*Magistrates in certain
towns had tendered oaths to this effect to publicans, before tbey
would grant or renew their licences. There is no question/bot
that the Orangeman's oath (Vide Introd. to the ist Vol. ofinjr
last Hibt.) qualifies his allegiance to the King and his Succftfton
by the conditional words, as long as he and they support tie fniH*
tant ascendancy. Since that time there has been a very itopifa
tant renovation of the Orange system (Vide third Vol tfAjf
last Hist, from p. 750 to 766} and particularly to p. 757, wtot
is mentioned the case of King at the prosecution ofButkr v. 'R/dh
tirdj at the Kilkenny Summer Assizes, 1810, where it cameM[
in evidence from an Orange Yeoman, that he and the ifS&
corps, into which none but sworn Orangemen were admissaVei
w&uld considar themselves released fiom ihcir allegiajic^i i&d
{
S65
4fMff» or insiiiuiion. And as to Bishops.,* you gire
ighteen instances of foreigners having been appoint-
d to Irish Bishoprics without any election of your
:lergy, or any recommendation of your nobility or
jentry, between the 12th and 16th century; you say
r^ny.more were so appointed, and you could men-
fon hundreds of inferior Abbot Priors, &c; besides/'
Ttm give recent instances within your own times of
ri»h S^es being filled without what you call canoni^
dtdeciion. You say f you have actually in your
K)^ession the original correspondence of the late Dr*
Carpenter, Doctor Troy's predecessor in the, See of
DubKn, who it appears was appointed tb that See
rhtefly through the interest of your Grandfather, and
Lord Taaffe, backed by the Court of Lisbon ; and
hat you have also the correspondence of the late Dr»
!gan of Tuam, who was first appointed to Achonry,
nd afterwards to Tuam, through the recommenda*
tion
ie*obligatioa of their oath, in case Iuf Majesty faveured the Co*
^cs. I cannot anticipate the effect which the shifting and
a:«)iction of principle by Lords Lirerpool and Castlereaghi^
id tlie adricc they may consequently give to the executive /9
vtr the CaihoUcst will have upon the Orangemen's oath and
Icgiaoce. Bot this much I am free to say, and I say it before
I J G0D9 my King, an4 my Country 9 that if a shadow of ground
ibaisted for any such conviction as that of l«every's» it became
a imperious duty» as it still is m the Qivil Magistrate, to
e^urcb for the source of the evil, and €ithom It, thcHiigh dtej^
»d dark as ^r^^a/.
f« Col. 130, fJGol. 15.
866
lion of Mr* Caddel, of Herbertstown^ aod yottf
grandfather, and your cousin Charles O'Kelly, of the
Minerva at Rome. To your own knowledge you
say. Doctor Troy was appointed first to Ossory, then
to Dublin, through the influence of your cousia
O'Kelly, and the recommendation of the Irish Go-
vernment. Doctor Moylan A%as appointed to Gxk
through the recommendation of Lord Kenmare : botb
of whom you very defervedly commend. If then J
canonical, election, which ex ccnfcsso none of these Fre* ^
lates had, be^ as you say, dijure divino requbite fbr a
Bishop, it is therefore a sine qu& non for subsequent
confirmation or collation of spiritual jurisdicdoi^ Of
Apostolic mission, and you have elsewhere expressed
yourself: *' No appointment to an Irish . Bisbopiic
** can be legitimate without the free election of the
^^ Diocesan Clergy assembled in Chapter for tint
** purpose after the Bishop's death, vacante sid$.
How then could these illegitimately and invalidlj ap*
pointed Prelates continue the Hierarchy, impart sp-
ritual jurisdiction to Priests, and validly confer the
sacraments ? Well do you. Rev. and inost leajroed
Doctor, know, that these and many others have U^
confirmed Bishops in particular Sees, both in and^Mt
of Ireland by the Sovereign Pontiff without aoy pre-
vious election, postulation or recommendation } and
yet their Apostolic mission or jurisdiction has new
been questioned : and I trust, even with all youir piKr
possessions for National Bishops^ and reluctance to
adai&
57
Jihit tlie pnmac^ of jurisdiction m the successor of
it. Peter, you will not, now your ravening has siib-
ided, assert, that poctor Troy, and Doctor Moy-
an are intruders, although not previously elected by
he Clergy of their respective Sees. At yoU knoW^
hat f they, Auctoritate Rontiini Pontificis assiimuniur,
fou will not push your hardihood so violently against
:he authority of the Council of Trent, as to assert^
!wii esse legiiimos &? ^eros Episcopos.
One could not speak seriously of ydur charge of ^'^^^J^j'^
bequeathing Bishoprics^ unless such a portion of^^^'^^^^^^
tnalice had been mixed lip with the folly of it, to en- caiumba-
inare the ignorant. The fundamental . requisite tp
bnable a testator to bequeath is, that he have the pro-
pierty at his own disposal, and that it be iti its nature
devisable : the bequest is hot to depend upon the
will or gift of another* A will is revocable aiid anl«
bnlatory during the testator's life, and whatever ii$
taken under the will is the gift or bounty of the tes^
tator and of none else. A Bishopric, where there i^
DO civil right or property annexed by law to the per-
son invested with the spiritual jurisdiction, as is the
Case in Ireland, is not in any sense property. Here
the spiritual power or jurisdiction is what constitutes
hirxi Bishop of his Diocese : as well might his divine
tight of Priesthood and consecration be bequeathed ;
they are both spiritual objects^ and necessarily there*
fore out of the competency of the civil power to act
•
VpoiL In the Qomination of a Coadjutor, the will
tf A and
^8
and power of the Pope are only exercised^ and if k .
succeed to the Bishop, to whom he is coadjutor, he
receives his spiritual jurisdicdon after the death of the
Bishop, as touch in virtue of the confirmation finm
the successor of St. Peter^ as any other Prelate mthe
Church of Christ : he takes nothing as representative
of, or by donadon from his predecessor.
^Int^of' The discretionary appointment of Coadjutors by
J^j«*«^ the Pope is a necessary consequence of the Jure Ai-
M7 io the fio primacy of jurisdicdon in the successor of St. Pe-
ter; consequently even from your own acknowledg-
ment it must be independent of the civil pcwefffot
though you have before vested in the civil magistiate
an actual power of dilating and contracting the di-
vine right of i^postolic mission at his discreticm; bt
dioceses you say^ may in some cases be iimitted tjj^
State ; you have too malign caution to commit yw ^
self by the explicit proposidons^ either that the Pope
can at all, or can alone grant spiritual jurisdictioa or
mission throughout every part of Christendom^ or
that any other person or persons can do itj but bf
derivation from his Holiness. Tour Reverence hai
repeatedly (and rightly) confined the spiritual juris-
diction active and passive of particular Bishops and
Fstrish Priests to their respective dioceses and parishes^
I shall not take any shuffling asquivocation^ obscoR
explanation, or ambiguous answers to the above qtt^
ries. I will alsd travel in holy company and with a
larger retinue than your Reverence : that is, of all
legitinttte
359
legitimate and good Bishops appointed or confinttedl
* — _
in their Sees by authoiity of the Roman PontiflF for
eighteen hundred years. You have frequently snarled
and barked at the absolute monarchy frincipler of Bel-
braiine, in order to enhance the merit of your own
opposition to Papal power : though with your habi-
tual inconsistency you adopt this explicit denial of
ibem by that most Papal of all Papal writers; decla«
ibg it to be a mixed Government, viz. a limitted
monarchy tempered with aristocracy and democracyf|
I wonder your Reverence's Anglo^mama never tug«
^ted to you the complimentary analogy^ which the
English Constitution bears to Church Governments
Ton appear to think, that because the spiritual mo*
Aarchy is successive, that it is therefore absolute or
•rl^frary# The settled succession of our crown
makes not the wearer of it an absolute monarch:
Oor Eihg governs according to law ; but he consents
to the enacting of the laws of the realm, which bind
iiim. So the Pope is bounden by the laws or canons
of his kingdom : but then they must be such, as
Mach to every part of the habitable world, for so far
tsxtends the kingdom of Christ : and they must af-
fsct only such spiritual objects, as are subjected to the
powers given by Christ to the governors of his king-
dom, which is not of this world. Al such spiritual
monarchi i. e* as Vicar of Christ upon earth, he can-
not surrender, lose or diminish his rights and powers^
nor can he in that character acquire any improve-
d A 2 ments
inenti stddition or corroboration of them from dut
civil n^gisiraie. He cannot, as Cranmer and Bonner
affected, to do, surrender unto the civil magistrate
the divine commission : or as th^ French Consdtu-
tional Clergy int^ded to lodge their spnitual powerf
or jurisdiction in the hands of the ci'^il magistrate, by
delivering up their leitres de preii'ize according to
the principles of Richer^ Ilig character remains as
perfect to him, as it e:^i&ted in St. Peter, when oar
blessed Lord, told hin^^ " Feed ray Lambs, feed m|
Sheep/' But the Pope, iu being invested with this
jure divino primacy of dignity and jurisdiction, re*,
mains, as an individual human being liable to all the
personal imperfections of mortality, clothed with al}
the civil rights of social man, and liable to all the
political duties either of a temporal and partial So-
yereign, or of a subject, precisely, as if he neither
were in orders, nor invested with the dignified monai-
cliy of the Kingdom of Christ,
jnaitpriT;]. Thcrc is one paramount duty, which was imposed
*.fthcPoi)c by Christ upon Peter, and never can be dispfinsed
ing Biflhops With in the most remote or trivial manner m any one
perked chui of his succcssors : that is, to feed the nock or Chnst^
by appointing person^ to the different Sees, the most
fitted to improve their respective folds by instruction,
and edify them by e:^ample, according to the best of
his judgment and discretion. Th}s i(idispen8ible
obligation he cannot, even in a single instaace
sacrifice to human f espects, wordly profit, or tempo-
ral
361
ral greatness. He cannot rid himself of it, nor can
lie^ even if he would, put it under the comroul, check
or interference of any human being. He cannot in
person be present^ or acquire minute and accurate
information of each individual throughout the whole
di£Ristve church. He is therefore compelled by this
paramount duty to resort to the means man likely to
convey to him the best informadon, which the cir-
cumstances and exigencies of diiferent places^ com-
munities and governments are lilcely to affbi^, of the
abilities and fitness of the individuals, upon whom he
ought in the execution of his supreme pastoral func-^
lion to impart that Apostolic mission or spiritual ju-
lisdiction, which is necessary to carry on the govern-
ment of the churchy and bring his sheep into the hea-
yenly fold. On this sole ground are established con-
cordats with States, patronage or recommendation of
great men, popular and capitular elections^ clerical
postulations, and various other modes, as the most
likely means of generally designating the persons
best fitted for the sublime charge or care of the souls
of particular dioceses. The exercise of any of these
preparatives, very improperly called rights, (much
less jure divino requisites as you say) are not sup-
posedy nor can they in their nature bind or controul
the judgment and power of the Sovereign PontiflF:
they are intended to help him in forming his discre-
jion ; but if he personally know any objection against
a person elected, presented or recommended, he can-
not
862
riot, as Cliri$t*i Vicar, admit the enemy or wolf info
the fold ; nor can he leave the sheep without the
fittest pastor, that human prudence and his Christian
and supreme pastoral duty point out to him. Upon
these grounds is his Holiness occasionally called upon
to appoint a coadjutor * to a full See : either with or
without
^ Before 1 close this letter, I shall for the sake of all my rea« *
tiers, submit one valedictory obserration, that is yitallj interest,
tog to the creed, duties, and consolation of all his Majesty's
Roman Catholic subjects. It will be a stilliard, by which the
cnredit of Columbanus may be poised io a scruple. In his 4ih
Letter, (p. 29) be thus boasts. ^^ At ray ordination, I rowed
** canonical obedience, and that obedience I never have viohu
^ ted, and with the blessing of God, I never will. But anil
*' therefore io submit to the most daring violation of the Ca«
^ nons ? To the bequeathing of Dioceses ? To the uncaoo*
** nical, perhaps the Simomacal dL\i^iAnimevit of favorites to epts^
•* copal Sees ? Why has not Doctor Foynter's zeal beea
*< displayed in combating these abuses. Why ? because
*^ he has been uncanonically appointed himself* loquire,
*' inquire. Have I not elsewhere shewn, that not even the
*^ Pope can nominate his own successor." In a note upon this
passage he adds, ^^ Our Bishops and Vicars have exceeded
** even the abuses of the Court of Rome. There are actuallj
** three Archbishops of Dublin : and though the Protestaat
*^ Archbishop labours tinder a grievous infirmity, sach de^
'f lic^cy however has been observed in this point, toourshane'
^ be it said, that no coadjutor haryet been appointed to hiDi
f< while Catholic Cork, Catholic Ferns, London District, fte^
^ have violated every principle of the ancient discipline of the
•' chnrch S— ^and good reader, yet we are not to mention abas^i
^\ leit we incar excoipmuDication?" Again he saysi (3 CoL4l*)
363
tritliout spi sucussionisf or cum futura successions ab-
solutely ; which is nothiog more than a reversionary
grant
^ Eyen in those German, African and Italian Churches, which
^ *were founded by the Holy See, and may therefore be coo«
*^ sidered as more immediately subject to the jurisdiction of
*■ Home (a senseless and indecent idea, that the jurisdiction of
Christ's Vicar can be partial) ^^the Pope could not nominate
** successors or coadjutors, as ihey haTe been lately oomioated
** in Ireland. '' As Doctor Poynter has now succeeded to the
episcopal charge of the London District, (Antea 264) it will
be seen by Columbanus's conduct towards his spiritual superior,
whether he be equally restive and refractory in practice^ as h&
theory* As my reader will now have nearly waded through
this unexpectedly protracted letter, I inform him^ that for bre.
vity Sdli^e I took for my motto the four concluding words of
Hprace's portrait of a 97/^rr .(Juvency in his index, says $jiger
pro ma/uf.J I shall now exhibit it at full length* f^iosc image
// iiif f Mat. xxii. 20*
Absefttetn, qui rodit ami(!fiin $
Qui nen defeodit, alio colpju^te : solutos
Qaicapitat risus bominum, famamque dicacjs :
^ingere qui non visa potest: commissa tacere
^incqfiit: hie nicer est: hunc tn Romarie Cavefo*
fie, who malignant tears an absent friend.
Or, when attacked by others d'ont defend ;
Who trivial bursts of laughter strives to raise,
And courts of prating petulance the praise :
Of things he never saw who tells his tale.
And friedships* secrets knows not 'to conceal •
This man is vile : here Roman, fix your mark s
His foul is black, av his complexion's dark.
Francis' Hor. 4 Sat.
It will be scarcely credited, «that Father Thomassin, the
learned fnd orthodox FrenchOratorian, in his church discipline
(Part II. Lib. ii, xxku & zxiii.) says, that Coadjatorships fo
y
S64
1
giant of that ttiissioxi or jurisdiction^ wtiicK can be
derived from no other source. Innumerable may be
the
Bishoprics were usual in^ the very earliest days of the chmck
tVe find in fact, that in The 55th year from the birth of CUiii
St. Lini|8 was made CoadjiUor to St. Peter: and withlintti
very (first century of the Christian yEra Evaristus was made mi
adjutor to Pcfpe Anaclctus. This authority is the shronger
r
against Columbanus, because in the Appendix^ N. IIL b Uf
first Letter to his countrymen in giTiog a catalogue of the BMW
learned works on the Catholic hierarchy , and the rig1i(s of the
different orders of the Cathiific Clergy, he saysjTioms^ii
Dhciplwd EccL 3 \o\. fol. Paris, &c. Fabrki says of tUi
work, vastum &f eruditwn opusy an fmmense and learned woili
With astonishment will the readers and approTers of CoIidIM"
nus learn, that the decretals expressly authorize Coadjotof)
ships in cases of sickness and old age. Vide Decretals andtt
, the heads of De CUrico agroiante vel debilitanUf apud Grtjgf anfl
the canon ^ia /rater. Caus. 7, 9, 1. Every genuine CaAnf'
lie will be shocked at the flippant arrogance, with which Co*
lumbanus represents Coadjutorships as novelties and c
lions ta tho church, when he finds the Council of Trent
ing their usage ii) the church, and engrafting upon it a decrt^
that on the appointment of coadjutors,the Bishops shonld u^
to them a certain portion of the episcopal revenues for thoi^
maintenance. Here I beg leave once for all to remark|iil
bave frequently throughout this letter expressed myself) tkit
whenever decrees of councils, or Papal bulls or briefs direct gtf
enjoin any thing concerning the temporalities or ehnrch htwdj^
ces, they are bottomed entirely upon the presumption of At
consent or acquiescence of the civil Magistrate of the eountiicfi
in which such property Is respectively situated j without wbk
such directions and injunctions are a complete nullity^ hil^
no object to operate upon. Thus in England before the Bififf:
S65
die eomcxentioof motives for thtt efercise of the
Pcipe^i divine primacy of jorisdiction; The more
3 B ordinary
udpiis a grett share of the lieadsliip of the thil isUAtulmnt of
the Catholic religion was by coosent or coacesiion of. the na«
tion Tested id the Pope ; whatever therefore he decreed or en*
jmned hj bull or otherwise, concerning church revenues or ec«
desiastical property in England, was valid and took its efficacf
fitmi the law of England, whilst it lasted; Hence rnider a pre*
simpdon ai the continuance, or a hope or expectation of the
icvival,. or a blind, fond or confused understanding of the naw
tui'e of such national acquiescence, consent or concessions, tho
Biine form and siiUu curia are kept up in public instruments, as
obtained ,whilst the rights expressed to be imparted were actu«
bUj enjoyed. This may arise from a species of corporate scru«
pulosity or conscientious punctiliousness, by which persons en«
joying only an usufructuary possession, feel themselves called
upon to do DO act, by which diey may be construed to have
abandoned, waived or done away any riyjht or beoefit, which
they are bouodeD to transmit to their successor^ as they xt^
ceTved them from their predecessors, and rather improved,i' '
than deteriorated, as far as in them lies. Perhaps it might be
better, tKat bulls of confirmation, instruments of institutioiit
and other pubKc or solemn acta collating sfiHttuU dignity or
[i|risdiction contained nothing about temporalitiest Where
bowever there is a civil estaUbhment annexed to the objects of
die spiritiiai grant or investiture it may not be improper to
OODtroof, regulate or qualify ^ use of the temporalities by the
qiiiflhial corporations, whether aggregate or sole. Where there
ia no Boch civil establishment, the instrmnents, though still ex«
pressed in the sameTorm, are understood to be^ as to the tem^
gmraltties, wholly inoperative by all parties, and are therefore in*
indons to nooCi Stieh if dw case upon the fiice of that iostru-
ordinary ve, rfae iiifirmity of the^Bishti^/luB'deKniB^
tbn or inability, or unwillingneu to yrf b mt :die-
epiiGOpal functions or duties-of -his order and office;
: sometimes to prevent or repair the disturbance and
scandalof the -flock by canvcissihg and eleetioff. Toa'
have instanced aometfaing of tlfit -necessity in Tiumu'
I will' instance another .pressing and craipulsory.csll
upon. the rapreme P^astbr's making. such a reversion-
ary gnntcum /utura successme.; vrhicfa is, wherarer
.there are.well founded ceasons^for expecting .intrigutt
of turbulent^ «mbitioHS and wordly ^Priestt either
vrith the state, people^ or clergy, or even li^fieu exeih
ihnsy or too strong sdlicliathm 6j injfuence or interest is
procure ibe mitre, liere the obvious, paxamouh^ and
indispen&ible duty of. the universal dispenser of spin*
tual jurisdiction or Apostolical xmssum throughoat'
the church militant, is to prevent the mischief and
scandal likely to happen to apart of it, by mtroduddg
into its government men of worldly habits, dangerooi
principles^ aiid .turbulent dispositions; necessari^
therefore mil the Pope for the peace, beniefit, and
edificationof his .flocks appcnutibr the immediate suc-
cessor a person, who has the testimony of a wordiy
and edfying Prelate, together with that of the oSier'
JBishops and respectable Clergymen, a man* '* blamd-
<* Ibbb.
mtnt w bull Appointmg Dottor'Egan to beCoftdjator of Wt-
ccrford and Lismore, bj Pope GanganellT, in the Appendisi
No. X.
* JPsul to .Titni, 7.. Aamndi pi^ttdkiiis attempted to be
mailed by the EeT« XKictor Colambaaaaefpdnst the 4i£pointMM
'«3eit»Aft4ie'6t«inara of Cod:: not seIf*ii{Tled^ Dor
**^ MOD angryf not given to wina^ no striker, not gb-
^.^vea tp:filtby lucre: but a lover of ho^itadity:, a lo«
^ rm: of good men, sober, ju^t, holy, temperate^
^f .bQlGKng tfast the faithful wprd^ as he ha(h been
* taughtf that he may be able fay isound doctrine,
^^ b^ti^ to exhort and to convince ihe gainsayers.
*VFor there are :inany unruly and vain talkeit and
^ deceivers,, especially they of the circumcision, ;ii4iose
^* m>uths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses,
** teaching things, which th^ ought not, for filthy
^.lucre's sake/'
Rev. Sir, and most<learned Doctor, as you have so
<)peiily and so nobly professed in the face of your
country and the world at large,! Thz,t^ J detest false-
h$o4i.and if J advance one wsrd of untrutbj I shall most
fkrf^ maJke amends ly a public recantationt*- it is
hoped you will make good your pramise by
Your humble Servant,
^nd -well-v^her,
JUANCIS PLOWDEN, L. C. D.
-« ■ •
<il vCoH^futors, therreader •will find in the Appendix, No* X.
t^e form of such ^ppoinunent, which will giTe him verj diffe*
ivnt ideas' upon the subject from those; wluch be. may hareTf*
cMved from the Lectufeof Cokimbaous,
♦-••JIjCoL 315.
^ "■
>fc-r
. »
J
es
■*ai^*BaK>«*M»te
■ Ml I Mill
APPENDIX.
No. I.
Lands granted to the Duke of Ormonde by the Act of Settle-
inent and Court of Claims. Cartels Orm. 2 voL p, 132.
Counties.
Gallway
Kdiare
Meath
Dublin
Waterford
Lands. Old Proprietors.
Moate, &c , « . .Mr. Kelly
( Rathcoffy^ &c. Mr. Nicholas Wogan
C Kilrush, &c Morris Fitzgerald
Danboyne, &c .'Lord Dunboyne
( Balcony, &c. George Blackney
f Kinure, &c Patrick Walsh
Carrigbegg, &c James Butler
Milhill, &c Ulicke Wall
Catherlogh '^Kilcorle, &c Edm. Birne
Balliceally, &c Gerald Nolan
Balligowen, alias Smith's.) ^^^^^^ ^^^^
town* and New-Church, J
Rathana, &c >» • . . .Mr. Archer
Rathardmoore Pierce Shortall
Tubrid, &c Robert Shortall
fBallynoran Pierce Butler
I Myler's-town. John White
Tipperary -^ Hussey's^town Edward Butler
Fleming'8.town. •••••• Edmond Prendergast
Moore-towD, &c • • • • Dayid Walsh
A Counties.
• Smith's-town contained 834 acres, and New-Cburch 116 acres, two
rood and eight pole, and was granted by the Duke to Robert Walsh and^
bis hein jtfale, for the rentfof jf 5. a year.
Kilkenny
LArTDS. Old Pbopbietou.
"Borrindufffe, 4c Nicholas Whyte
Rathluose, &c Thomas Whyte
Knocklosty, &c ,- Theo, Botlec
Bathcaatio Tho. BuiW
James-town Solomon Whyt»
Orrhards-town Edmood Bray
Loghlobcry ... . , MoiTis Keating
Dercgrath, &c Richard Keatiiw
Bayfonrath Tilmobd Butler
Castle-Moyle, &c W.itter Butler
Sbanbally Duffe Piecco Butler
Bttllinree Walter Butler
RaUiconne Sir Richard Everard
iThomas Buller wfc
Brccbindown-, &c > James Butler
Milei's-town AValtur Hackett
Bollihomucko Richard BirminsliaiB
Tipperaiy ■^ Tyllocaslane Piers Butler
Ballinadlea William Buller
Ballioweo, &c Simon Salt .
Bulliknocke Rtdmond Magmth
Cloran „ Robert Shee
Miitown Lord Daaboyne
Tuliaghmaine, &c Richard Cpmia
Coolenagon.. Edmond Hogso
Tobnrbryen Dan. Ryan
Lislin Franca . . .' W. Barks
Moinarde Edm. Heydea
Archer's.lown James Archer
Cloghcnarlin ^ Jama Butler
Tnllomain James...... ......Lord Skcrrya
Moynetemple EdmondHeyden
Boresoleigh Richard Bourke
(W, Kennedy
.^"^'■"^y •. iphaipGii»s«..
. 3
No. n.
The Oath whiqh was framed by King James I. aod proposed
by him to be taken by all his Catholic subjects/
^^ I, A.. B. do truly and sincerely acknowledge, profess, tes.
^^ tify and declare, 4n my conscience before God and the world,
^^ that our So?ereigA Lord King James is lawful and rightful
^^ King of this Realm, and of all other his Majesty's dominions
*' and countries: and that the Pope, neither of himself, nor by
^^ any authority of the Church or See of Home, or by any other
^^ means with any other, hath any power or authority to depose
^' the King, or to dispose of any of his Majesty's kingdoms or
^.^ dominions, or to authorize any foreign Prince to invade or
^' annoy him or his countries, or to discharge any of his sub.
^^ jects of their allegiance and obedience to his Majcsfy : or to
^^ give licence or leave to any of them tq bear arms, raise tuk
f* mults, or to offer any violence or hurt (o his Majesty's Royal
^^ person, state or government, or to any of his Majesty's sub.
^^ jects, within his Majesty's dominions. Also, I do swear from.
^^ my heart, that notwithstanding any declaration or sentence of
^' excummunication or deprivation made or granted, or to be
^* made or granted by the Pope or his Successors, or by any au«
^^ thority derhed or pretended to be derived from him or his
^^ See, against the King, his Heirs or Successors, or any abso*
^< lution of the said subjects from their obedience ; I will bear
^^ faith and true allegiance to his Majesty, his Heirs and Sue.
'^ cessors, and him and them will defoiid to the utmost of my
^^ power against all conspiracies and a t mpts whatsoever which
<^ shall be made against his or their persons > their crown and
^^ dignity, by reason or colour of any such sentence or declanu.
^^ tion or otherwise, and will do my best endeavours to disclose
^^ and make known unto his Majesty, his Heirs and Successors^
^^ all treasons and traitorous conspiracies which I shall know or
^^ hear of to be against him or any of them. And I do further
'^ swear, that I do from my heart abhor, detest and abjure, a»
^^ impious and heretical, this damnable doctrine and position
A? <*that
<^ that princes, which be excommunicated or deprired bj the
<^ Pope, may be deposed or murdered by their subjects or any
^^ other whatsoeyer. And I do beliere, and in my conscience
f< I am resoWed, that neither the Pope, nor any other person
^^ whatsoever, hath power to absolve me of this oath or any
^^ part thereof, which I acknowledge by good and full authority
^^ to be lawfully ministered unto me, and do renounce all f^ar.
^^ dons and dispensations to the contrary. And all these things
*' I do plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear, according
*^ to these express words by me spoken, and according to the
^^ pftiin and common sense and understanding of the same words^
^' without any equivocation, or mental evasion, or secret reser.
^^ vation whatsoever: and I do make this recognitioo and
^^ acknowledgment heartily^ willingly and truly, upon the true
^^ faith of a christiali. So help ms Ood.''
The Oath prescribed to be taken by his Majesty*8 Roman Ca.
thollc subjects, who wish to avail themselves of the benefit of
the 39th of his present Majesty. (British Siatute.)
^^ I, A. B. sincerely promise and swear, that I i»ill be faith.
^^ ful and bear true allegiance to his Majesty King George III,
^^ and him will defend, to the utmost of my power, against all
^^ conspiracies and attempts whatsoever that shall be made
^f against his person, crown or dignity : and I will da my nt.
^^ most endeavour to disclose and make known to his Majesty,
^^ his heirs and successors^ all treasons and traitorous conspira.
^^ des, which niay be formed against him or them : and I do
^^ faithfully promise to maintain, support and defend to the ut«
^^ most of my power the succession of the crown, whicl^ sue
^^ cession, by an act intituled, Jn Jet for the further limitation,
^^ of the Crowriy and better securing the rights and liberlies
^^ of the subject^ is and stands limited to the Princess Sophia,
^^ Electress and Dutchess Dowager of Hanover, and the heirs
*^ of her body, being Protestants; hereby utterly renouncing
^^ and. abjuring any obedience or allegiance unto any other per-
son
^^ son claiming or pretending a right to the crown of these-
^^ realms : and I do swear/that I do reject and detest as an tin.
^^ christian and impious position, that it is lawful to murder or
** destroy any person or persons whatsoever, for or under the
^^ pretence of their being heretics or infidels : and also, that an.
^' christian and impious principle, that faith is not to be kept
^' with heretics or infidels. And I fnrthcr declare, that it is
^^ not an article of my faith, and that I do renounce, reject
^^ and abjure the opinion, that Princes excommunicated by the
^^ Pope and Council, or any authority of the See of Rome, or
*' by any authority whatsoever, may be deposed or murdered by
^' their subjects or any person whatsoever: And I do promise,
^^ that I will not hold, maintain or abet any such opinion, or
^^ any other opinion contrary to what is expressed in this decla.
^^ ration : ^d I do declare, that I do not believe, that the Pope of
^* Rome, or any other foreign Prince, Prelate, State or Potentate,
^^ hath, or ought to have, any temporal or civil jurisdiction, pow-
*^ er, superiority or pre-eminence, directly or indirectly, within
^^ this realm : And I do solemnly, in the presence of God, pro.
^^ fess, testify and declare, that I do make this declaration and
^' every part thereof in the plain and ordinary sense of the words
^^ of this oath, without any evasion, equivocation, or mental re.
'^ servation whatever, and without thinking, that I am or can be
*^ acquitted before God or man, or absolved of this declaration,
** or any part thereof, although the Pope, or any other persons
^^ or authority whatsoever, shall dispense with or annul the same,
^^ or declare^ that it was null and void. So help me God.'*
The Oath and Declaration required to be taken by his Majesty's
subjects professing the Roman Catholic religion, in order to
entitle them to the benefits of the 33d of his present Majesty.
(Irnh Statute.)
^^ I, A. B. do hereby declare, that I do profess the Roman'
^^ Catholic religion. I, A. B. do swear, that I do abjure, con.
^f demn and detest, as unchristian and impious, the principle,
^[ that it is lawful to murder, destroy, or any ways injure any per.
" son
6.
f ^ son iihatsoeTer for or under the pretence of being a here.
^^ tic. And I do declare solemnly before God, that I beliere
^^ that no act in itself injust, immoral or wicked, can ever be
^^ justified or excused by or under pretence or colour, that it
<( was done either for the good of the Church, or in obcdienco
^^ to any Ecclesiastical power whatsoever. I also declare, that
^^ it is notan article of the Catholic faith, neither am I thereby
<^ j-eqnired to believe, or^pr./fess, that the Pope is infallible, or
^^ that I am bound to obey any order in its own nature immoral^
^^ though the Pope or any. Ecclesiastical power should issue or
^^ direct such order : but on the contrary, 1 hold, that it would
^^ be sinful in me to pay any respect or obedience thereto. I
^^ farther declare, that I do not believe, that any sin whatsoever
^} committed by me can be forgiven at the mere will of any
(^ Pope, or of any Priest, or of any person or persons what^
^^ soever; but that sincere soirow for past sins, a firm and sin^
^^ cere resolution to avoid future guilt, and to atone to God^
y^ are previous and indispensible requisites to establish a well^
^^ founded expectation of forgiveness : and that any person, who
^ recdves absolution without these previous requisites, so far
^^ from obtaining thereby any remission of his sins, incurs the
^^ additional guilt of violating a sacrament. And I do swear^
^^ that I will defend to the utmost of my power the settlement
^^ and arrangement of property in this country, as established
^^ by the laws now in being. I do hereby disclaim, disavow
<<aBd solenujily abjtire any intention to subvert the present
^^ Charch establishment, for the purpose of substituting a Ca«
^^ tholic establishment in its stead. And I do solemnly swear,
'^ that I will not exercise any privilege, to which I aiti or may
^^ become entitled, to disturb or weaken the Protestant rdigioa
^^ and l^rotestant government of this kingdom.
'^ So HELP ME God."
N Ji. It iB obBervaUle, that tbie only differeoce hepfpt^ these eathf , as to tbA
abjuring part, consists in the epithets applied to the aty«red doctriaes,
which in James's act are termed hnpiotu and hen^ical^ and in the tw«
latter with more propriety, unchristian and impiout. For there never waa
' a heresu of such tendency.
No. III.
No. III.
Proofii of the trntli of the following passage in the note
p. 818, of the history of Irelaml since the Union. ^^ An onti*
^^ nBfyh reader may wonder, why the author's treatment of the
<< Duke of Ormonde should excite such an ebullition in the
^^ br^st of the Rer. Veto Doctor. Presumption suggests Dr. .
<< O^Conor's consdousnesa of the strict analogy 4)f his own situi^
^^ tion= under an Ex^Govemoi' of Ireland, not uniwoigoraUd and
*' uncheered by the warm beams of munificent patronage^ (so
^^ he boasts in his prolegomenon to a promised translation of
^^ the old Irish annals into I^/in) to Uiat of the recreant^etef .
^< M^alsh, who found patronage, favor and support froHB Or«
^^ monde, 'ha?ing, through his Grace, been appointed Seneschal
*^ to the Bishop of Winchester. He quitted the EYangelkal '
^^ labours of his Tocation in Ireland for other pursuits in
^^ England : he employed his literary attainments in defending ^
^' unsound opinions ^d r<^frftQtory conduct to l^s spiiituid 30- .>
^^ periors: he receded' so far from .Catholic doctrine and-diofUf "
^^ pline, as to have been generally supposed a Protestant, thoiigh '
^^ he never read his recantation: he was not only suspendeil
'^ from Jiis faculties, but disciplined by his Bishop. Arch.,
^^ Bijihpip Talbot exposed ^nd censured his opinions and cpn* .
. ^^ duct in a book intituled The Friar disciplined,^^
The Rev. Father PETER WALSH, The Rev. CHA. O*C0N0R, D.D.
of the Order of St. Francis. Pro-
feasor of Dmnity.
Was a native of Ireland, in J!s a native of Ireland, a seen* .
Priest's orders, a Friar of the lar clergyman in Priest's ordeny-
order of St. Francis, owing by a sworn Alumnus of the Irish
virtue of his religious vow, spe. Ludovisian College at Rome^ '
cial obedience to the suporibr owing by virtue of the ofith^
of his wd/BTm , taken by every Alumnus gf ihat .
College special obedienfie to Jtho
ordinary of his native diocese. •
Was
* The formula of the religious vowi of poverty, chastity and obedience,
ii generally known; bat there aic parts of the oath of a LodoviiiaB
8
WALSH.
O'CONOR.
Was a professor of and Is a Doctor of Diriiiity, tbo'
taught theology^ though never he nerer professed or taught
made
Alumnai, which, to a certain extent, affect the subject matter of this let-
ter, and are known to few. The formula b gnren at the end of the
Conttitutiaaes CoUegii Ludovuiani Hibermorum, RoaUe 1773. The foUowing
is a faithful translation of it into English. <* I, N. the son of N. of the
** diocese of N. having full knowledge of the institute of this CoUege, do
" voluntarily subject myself to its laws and constitutions, which I accept
" according to the explanation of my superiors, and I promise to observe
*f them Co the utmost of my power. Moreover I promise and swear, that
" whilst I shall remain in this College, and after I shaU have quitted it id
** any manner, eiiher having finished or not having finished my studies, I
" win not enter into any religious society or regular congregation without
** the special licence of the holy See, or of the sacred congregation for the
** propagation of the Faiih, nor shall I make my profession in any one of
** them. I also promise and swear, that with the good will of the sacred
^ congregation for the propagation of the Faith, or of the most emiaeat
** 1>rtKector for the time being of this College, and of the kingdom of Jre-
** laiidy I will embrace the Ecclesiastical state, and I will be advanced to
** aU the holy orders, even of Priesthood, when to my superiors it shall
** seem good. I also vow and swear, that whether I shall have entered into
*' religion, or shall remain in the secular state, if I shall be within the coif-
*^ fines of Europe I will yearly, if without them every second year, make
" a report to the sacred congregation for the propagation of the Faith, oT
** myself, my state, employment and situation, where I shall be stationary.
** I vow moreover and swear, that I will by the order of the aforesaid coff-
** gregation for the propagation of the Faith, or of the most eminent pro<-
** tector for the time being, return into my country without delay, and that
** I will there unceasingly employ myself in administering the Sacraments,
* and use my utmost exertions for the salvation of souls: which I will also
" do, If with the licence of the aforesaid See I shall have entered into any
** religious order, society or regular congregation, and shaU have made my
" profession in any one of them. Lastly, I vow and swear, that I under-
** stand the aforesaid oath and it^s obligation) and that I wilt observe it ae-
' *' cording to the declarations made concerning it by the sacred ooqgregatioa
** for the propagation of the Faith, and corroborated by the apostolical
** breve, hearing date the 20th day of July, 1660.
« So BBLP ME G0D| AND THPJB HIS HOLT GoSTBUJ*
T^ALSfl. . b'CONNOli:
made a Doctor of Divinity. thedldgy*.
(Pref. to Hist. Rem. XL.) (5 Col. 3Dv 1, 2.) " No pe^i
" If the truth -were known it '^ |)edple on earth, says the V".
^^ would be foQjid, that Baro. ^^ Bishop of Castabala cad
^^ aius, and the rest following ^^ make laws of dnij kind for
^^ him, were willing to make ^^ the spiritual kingdom of Je^
«^ use of any ihaliclous un. " sus CKrisi.'* (Let. p. 90.)
*' grounded fictions whaisoevei' ^^at civil magistrate's power;
^^ agdinst Jusknian: not th^t tcache^, as the kingdom o^
-^^ they believed him to have (Christ's 3oes, tS efeiy pirt 6t
'^ either lived at any time, ir the habitable globe ?) " Whaii
^^ died at last in any wilfiii or ^^ theii Were th^ Ecclesiastical
^'imputable error: or in any ^Maws of the Saxon King^^
« at all, otlierwise, tfiiri as St. " Ini, Whithred, Edgar, Al.
*' Cyprian of Carthage did : ^' fred, Cadute^ which havo
* It is nsuai for each Ladovisian Altini^iis (they receive a grattiitbtis edu*
cation from papal bounty, as DrJ O'Conor ^5 Col. 13) upbraids the Bishop
of Castabala with having received a charity school education,) who ha^'
been found worthy of finishing his course of studies and of being promoted
to holy orders, to receive the degree 6f Dbctor of Divinity, from the Pre- ^
fett of the Propaganda^ who is authorized to ^ani it by a papal decree of
tJf'bao VIII. in. 1627, and confirmed and extended by a rescript of Cle-
mefit XIV. in 1772. This is done before they return to their native diocese;
In order to give them more consequence and resj^ectabiiity amongst their
countrymen. The motives for conferring siich d^ree lire thus specifically
detailed on the face of the instrument o^ cbllittion. " Nbt indeed for his
^ attaining the celebrity of human iod perishable pritise, but for.stirring
** up in him the emulation of virtue a'hd learning, which, as they encrease
** with age in pindent and well-ottered youths, will, by their own attracti-^
** ons excite them to true elory, and chearfully to nhdertal^e the functioii
** of spreading the Catholic faith throughout the whole world ^ m which^
^ barring ail human considerations, but looking aloft, they haVfe In their
"• wishes, desires and contemplations Eternal glory in heaven, #bicR is th^
*^ reward prepared for them for their teaching, labours and wellHipent lifb.**
Colambanus will compare this version with his otiginal dipUnruiy unless he
6l)aU have committed it with his progenitor*8 memoirs and effigy to thefM^;
die, or mean to drop hb graduated dignity with the academic hoaai#or
Cortonsi. ► *^
Id
WALSH.
^^ hut that his laws in Er.oK-si.
^^ astical matters, even those of
^^ faith, are a perpetual eyo-
^'. .«6rc to them : because these
■ I ,
^^ laws are a precedent to ull
^^ other good princes (o govern
^'.thtiir own rcsp^^ctire churches
*^ i^ like manner, without any
*^ regard of Bulla Cwme or so
^^ maby other vain allegations of
^^ those men, \iho would make
^' the world belicTe it unlawful
*^ for secular Princes to make
^' Ecclesiastical laws by (heir
*' own sole authority, for the
'' goyemment of the Church."
Arch-Bishop Talbot said of
him in 1674, (Fr. Dis. 10.)—
^^ Ills ambition of a mitre was
** so exccssire thirty years ago,
*^ that to obtain it, he turned
*^ the greatest rebel and Tjunci"
^^ onist of the Irish nation : and
^^ bad a greater hand in the
*^ rejection of the peace of 46
^^ (and 1)y conscqnence in the
^^ deStiaiction of the late Kin'g
<^ and his people) Ihan any man
'•- living, or all the clergy, that
^^ he aecuseth of it. The re.
^^ |>ii1iBe he then met with after
*'lii8 eminent services to the
*' ndntioy of treasons agaliist the
^^ King, deprived him of that
^^ little wit he had: and ever
o»co>roti.
^* been published by Spelman^
"AVhitlock, Lambert, WU.
" kins, Johnson, ^eyeridge,
*' Lin wood ? What were the ca*
" pitularidF rancor urn? Which
" have been so eruditely pub.
^' lishcd by the learned "Baluz?
^' In all Catholic countries, the
'' abuse of spirit.nal power was
^^ by the civil laws subjected
^^ without api:ra], and in der^
^' titer resort to the civil jna-
'' gistrate.'*
His ambition f6r theSeeof
Klphln was so*;grcat, Hhdit when
the health of tlie late Bishoii
French was on the visible de.
cline, it appears frem 'bii own
avowals, that'he iwts 'himself 4o
correspondence ahont It "tdth
Dr. "troy and Dr. jSloylan, that
application was made on his be.
half for the influeBCC of the
Marquis of Bucklnghtoi, aad
that he had Sectircd dffers
from Cardinal 1ViaLury'lrt%dmey
^nd Abbe Walsh at Paris for
the interest «f the court of St.
Cloud for him at Rente. -The
failures he had -irfet Wifh'^^dn.
yihced hfm, that the'tiitlras after
iPr. French's death, woiilclbe'.
u
^^ siace he has been priating
^^ of libeU, and trQubfing the
f^ world with an odd kind of
^^ raw indigested heresieSjj sto.
*' len from the worst of authors,
^^ but so unconnected and ab-
^' surdly applied by his dull
^* pen, that though you may
'^ seeheh^th read some books,
f ^ yd ypu ,will easily perceiye
^^ he unders.topd very few : and
f ^ such as he understood he
f ' wrested to a >^rong seijse.-r
*^ No i;nervail therefore, if his
notions l^e fal^e, his di§.
' coi^rse^ cpi^fused, hi^ areu.
^^ ments weake, and his contra.
^^ dictions so frequent, that to
^^ cqijifute him, yoi; need go no
^^ further, ths^n hi$ own wri.
filings.'?
rji). 11.) ^^ ^e is so trans-
ported with passion against
f ^ the phi:^rch of Rpme.and those
f * ivfo great pillars thereof, JB^^-
£c
i«
O'CONoa.
equally unsuccessful amongst
the Irish clergy, to whom he
was knozon^ as they had b^ii
during his Kfe. Hedien afiected
qualms, scruples and coiiscienV
tious objections to the said cab.
vas, when the See was facanf,
which no one had he^rdoftlu-
ring the year's canVas, whilstr
the See wj^s full. Since tliat
time he has pubfished Mi fiVe
letters or addresses to hiscettn-
trymeq, answering in every th«>
most minute parficufaf, thed^
scription given of the Fritfifrs
productions by theArch-bishop. •
Similftr causes -produce snnilar
effects.
\
cc
He devotes a larj^e j^iprtion of
his No. II. or his'torical address
' ■ ■. . . . = ■ ■ ^ . , .
to his cotinf rynien to toe pror:.
ing, (p^ 71) that the Pope*s-
sviHdo m^ the B)i$hOjp$9 who
w^^d rwom a^heeeat^ io the
Regalia of Romej infl inaiii.
t^per$/ of the' nltrai«(ift6tf ft
^ he trei^ts and term9 them rio
^ better than men hired by the
*^ Romm cojort to sacnupeaTI
« ike wpM to tho^Fipp^^^ a}^^, pri^pjgs ojf , t|iat Cpurf^ * di*^
^ tiott. The rage he is iuiw not nfter . the ,^xiQ(i|mfpji^uiq9,tiof!l .^f
^^ihidii!j[ out arguments to niako Queen ^tizlkbeAh,.. Ire^tiifjiittf
^^ this ^ad his Other calumnie^ gire countenance to ilMMr iem^
f • crej^il^le^ is so ^traordipary, poral nptio^s^ so as id ctiihody
12
WALSH.
If that lie forgets nvhat he said
^^ in the foregoing page or line,
^' and through his whole work
^^ ncyer remembers to spea]^
^^ consequently ip ^ny one par-
«.t|PflUtr,'.>
la bis epjstle dedicatory to
the Duke of Oriponde he said^
It was about ^3 years since h^.
,had presumed tp appear in
print under the patronage of
has (jrace, and gratitude oblig-
ed bim tQ make that address to
bim, ^n t^s^t, vf\i\i^\i would pro.
bably be b^ l^t worl;, in return
£pr the goodaess^^ with ^hich
he had always treated him. He
thanked him for the yalue he
had been pleased to put on his
honest endeayours to serye his
Grace^ who h^d spent a great
part of his life so eminently in
ga?erning the kingdom of Ire.
land. The ambition of appear-
P'CONOR.
a powerful Irish faction agaip^^
the loyal principles of the Irish
nobility and gentry from that
period down to our own times.
Some years ^fter he hadj.
through the influence, or by
Sitipulation or command of bis
qew patron, drowned, sufTo.
cated or immured his Grand,
father's memoirs, sentiments
and effigy, he boasts in 1803,
thro' his boo,k8eller* Dodslejr
(Ann. Reg. for 18G(3, p. 936,)
that '^ however delightful and
^\ ^tis(actory the purs\iit of
^^ recondite knowledge is to
^f tl^ie secluded * scholar, sterile
^^ and useless to the world
^^ would prove the labours of
^\ the most erudite, when uhin.
^^ yigorated and uncheered bjr
'^. the warm beams of munifi*
■J ■»
••»
• It b passing strange, that Dr. Charles (VConoE, even aCier.Hhad raiae4
the Visor; dropt the borrowed dignity of Columbanus, and openly ad-
dressed the Most Noble t^e Marquis of Bocki;ighani, whose very name in
l^M^l^fiiirst ppt ifiention, should be inaMentive to the respective relationt
of Dr. Afi^er to Cotjm^ and Dr. O'Cooor to Dodsley. Yet (5 Col. 119) lie
thus taunts hb opponent Dr. Milner: ^ You, who allow youreditM*,* that
*' U sftAtmlf; to bespatter yoii with the most fulsome adulation in your ad-<
*' vrrtbeJUf nlk preisied to 3'our own dab^^ Tlie difference is ; one dab wsi%
in the year* 18QS, in fciu fieri: aod iu 1812 is twn^um faciun. The other
dab had for som^ time ^een before the English public, and a Dublin book-
seller thinking it adviseable to throw k into circulation amongst his owW
countrymen, prefixed to it such an advertisement, as he conceived would
best forward the sale.
,*
13
WALSH.
ing under the protection of a
great name gave him the bold,
ness of using his Grace's with
the most profound respect^ and
grateful acknowledgmci^ts of a
soul deeply sensible of his great
and lon^.continue^ km^ess.
O'CONOR.
^' cent patronage: happily ix^
*^ the present instance they
^^ hfiLTQ not beenwith.held, but
^^ haye b^en employed with
^^ a generous profusion in call.
^* ing forth the abilities of Dr.
^' O'Conor into light and acti.
f^vity; thereby conferring on
^^ Ireland in particular, and
f^ the antiquarian and scholar
*^ of every clime, the most
^* weighty obligation." In de-
flicatin^ hhjifth and last work
to the ^reat Ex~Governor^
\ , -' ... )..; thereby importing hisapprplMU
tion of the four preceding, he
anticipates it's recommendatioa
•
to every description of persons
in his native country, from 'the
9onfidence,which they naturally
repose in a name so jnstly re.
spected by^ them as his Lord-
ship's.
Be it hese remarked onoe for all^ that Peter Walsh was right
in the causa Valesiana, as he calls it : th4t is, there is nothing
contained in the remc^str^nce, which he frame^, signed and sup*
ported, loosely as. it is worded, which cannot be, with i^ ^gSe
conscience, sworn by a Roman Catholic : it differs not snbstan.
tially from the oaths actually sworn by the English and Irish
Catholics, contained in the Appendix No.II. ; and therefore that
he was, on that score, unjustly excommunicated. But that war*
ranted not his aberrations from truth, his circulation of unsound
and schismatical doctrines, nor his fractious and improper con*
duct to his superiors. In these consists the parallel of the two
pfoiefh of the iwo great unparagoned ud unscphisiicated
14
ExmGovcrnops. Would to God I could lay v^f finger upon a
single pivot of truth fairly, clearly and consistently put, and
perscTcred in, throughout the five addresses of Columbanas
to his countrymen. Wishing to deal openly and candidly \f itii
my readers, I give a genuine copy of that remonstrant oath in
the Appendix No. IX. that the present and future generations
may clearly see, and therefore prudently avoid all such opcasi.
ons, pretexts, or causes of national dissention, calamity and
misfortune.
It is also proper here to submit to the pub^c, whatArch.bishop
Talbot mentions in a public letter he wrote in answer to Walsh's
charj;cs and calumnies against him: (F.D. 78) ^' As fpr my an-
^^ 8wcr to his petition against me presented to the council in
^f Kogland, I could not excuse answering it, having been com.
<^ maoded by the Lord Lieutenant and Council of Ireland,
^^ where I was t<> put in my answer, which contained nothing
^^ but truth : and $o it appeared to that honourable board, which
^^ declared me innocent. It was no other, but that I never perse.
^^ coted him nor auy of his seven Friars Remonstrants, in whose
^^ behalf he ^tetitioned. Neither did I, nor could I excommu.
'' nlcate any Regulars, who (by the Roman canons) are ex.
^^ einpfted from the Ordinary's jurisdiction. Neither indeed
^' did ihijr own regular superiors punish them for signing the
^^ remonstrance, but fpr cheating the people of money, and for
<( exactii^ it from the KJng's subjects, by virtue of a (iounterfeit
^^ cmxnis^on from the Pope."
WALSH
. SsLj$ of his countrymen in
1074, OJlrcf. yU.) "The very
^^ notion of «the Catholic or
^'. luuvQi^ Church (the. un-
<^ doubted spouae of Christ) wa3
^^in ,a manner lo3t .amongst
'^ them; at least so •bscured
'' by tbem, that jwany of tb^
•' faithful, especially the mid.
O^eONOE^
Says of his countrymen ia,
laiO, (2 Col" 96) " Ti^elrisb
^^ ideas require to be chiv^tenedi
" by those of the gospef." (2 Col.
198.) ^' The rude ignoraiice
'^ of the maas ,of our people
^' plac^ them beyond the reacl^
-^^ of that ]^no>rled^ of jj^e.
^^ nuine Catholicity^ w1i!c&.
m
«< aie sort of «i^, rfcirtfe'ttnfo^
« 'vrhat to iioM, br 'Where Uo
(Address to" Hie CathbKtJfr trf
£hg|tandj' Irdatid, aiid Stotf^nd,
six. * XX.) ^^ These also ha're
** already at their cfons^CTftftion
"hdiitid themselves Liegeman
*<ip*h!s''Ho!ine5s, even 'by the
'^ir^y^tridte^t'Oithj-A^t eauTfl
<* iJe' Worn or x^eimed. Who.
**'Sdei^rghalIedniiideT'aH and
"•feTtty the ispedal ties of tMs
"*^l!h, ^tU Trot muiih admire
**'dt 'thfe eaCrti^e eithter of tiie
<*it!* ttirdhJbishops, iHi^hops,
^^Ttiid other eocle^iiastfcs'at Waw
*' teribrd in Ireldnd, tn]dier/<<he
**'prededehcy of the pkpaltiiin.
^^ do *By>itf cnWi, in • the yiectr
" 1«46 (N.B, TeterWash'Was
«' ^ s^ubiA and * Mof^t ' ©rt^
lii^t^f -this i^ace>ag«ihst the
I ' •
^^peivoe 6f the' satae year, or
«*bf%e bther 6f the prelates
«^^df '^the^aid' Idiigddm after 'at
^^ 9ames:att>wnmgaiosttfae peace
<< of 1648." We know^they
<*lnhliit1)fepcirjtired to thePope,
<^i^^ they prtfte faitSfut to the
^^^Kldg. Whether so or loro^o
*<^68,^jddjfeyou. iBmrsdre,
<*•» ^ti^i^eteiiot t«ijrtbt^4n
^^^'tiiktttg'th^ 'iifc^naid oath < to
O'-OONOR.
^^yislingnifi^es tlie gentigr lof
^^ItelaKi^ti^jrond^haBe of erery
^^•^th* Gfttholie country .'»
(2 Col. 128.) <' Hhofic Bl-
<^ i^ops^ T^tf^inll646 ttBfui^ed
'^•Ihe 4>«pal 'Standard, ^those,
^^•Who 'linpriswMd' our n^.
"lii^p, those, nivho deckreid
^^ the 'Pope'9 atineio generdUsm
'' (fimo^of oar arnies, .those,
^^ who'didposftbofirmostgaliaAt
^< generals, aiMl ;by their ex.
'^ cdiUdninieatiaiisdisarmed^f.
^^^d^s,'i^(]m>no other power
^^'irrottldawe, nndnootheiNforce
<< coii)U cc^tfer^ all alledgcd,
^^^hattheyfacted trader spiritu*
'^ o/ j^i risdi^oa^adthey eould
^^•hatdly t-eeonciie any. other,
^^'dbfidttdt'tffith their oath ol
<<*cotf8ifcm6oii. 'This word 4^
^^ iri^i»/ Js tfaefcfoce, ifl our
<^ Irish- aooepl^on^ • a sort of
^< ^ague ' iegendenidkin YtotA of
^^ df^i'Otte'iiieaiiiiig, whioh re.
<^ qaircs to 'he ^defined. To
'^ what -ave we to ^attribute
^^ those strange, foolish, anti-
^^ 'Catholic cantiog notions of
'^'SpmUttil -porwer^ iprevaillng
^< ltf^th«ittii)fds<of such A gal.
^^vfaAt atMl qiiiok«sighted;a .'na.
<^^tien as the liiflh?^' at the
Teiy d0or>6f>S.Bghmdiand in
th^ bittse^f:; light, ^dikh ha.<
16
WALSH.
^ least renomiccrs of their al.
<^ legiancc to his Majesty, aiid
^' thdr obedlenco also to the
^ Catholic church.'*
As erery Rdmah Catholic
(c¥enDr.C.6'Conor,6CoL U.)
hold^ general councils infallible
it) proposing articles of faith,
Walsh assiduously assumed^
that the Galilean dedaration.
i^hich asserted a right to exa«
mine and discuss before ac-
ccptsinCe of submission to new
decrees concerning tanons or
morals, (an unerring decree of
faith is hot revisable by those,
who admit it^s iherraliicy, ui
pbUet) unwarrantably infers
the superiority of an 0£ctimeni«'
cal Council orer the Pope (tu
gainst the direct opposition of
De Marca Con. ^kc, L. 3 c; 7;
and many others) and ass^crts^
tkat that declaration n as made
agaifisi the Pope. (Address to
the Catholics of England, Irei
land and Scotland, xiil.)
(Pref. to Rem. xti.) "Their
" missionaries, that is, their
" Pricsts,not otJy day and night
" labour to make new pro.
" selytes, but also to infuse
^^ into as many of them', and
" of their other penitents as
O'CONOB*
been thrown upon the sobjetl
by Bossuet, De Marca^ Fleury,
and hundreds of other most
Catholic diTines ?
As erery Roman Catholic
holds, that the Galilean Churchi
remained in communion "with
the See of Rome after and not*
withstanding the declaratioii of
1682 concerning ecclesiastical
power, with a tiew to Tarnisli
and justify his antipathy and
outrages to the holy See^ he
insidiously assumes the GaLli.
can propositions to hare 6efsn
made against the Pope^ wick,
edly attempts to raise the Irisk
Laity against their clergy for
refusing those liberties to. hit'
countrymen, and atrociously,
misrepresents that declaration
by omitting erery word in it
respectful and submissiTe ta
■ ■
the holy See: as will appear,
by comparison of the original
with his garbled aifid mutilated
copy of it in the Appendix,
No. V*
(2 Col. 119,122)" I should
•
^c be glad to know, lyhether he
" who swears, that, he rc!Jects
" all foreign temporal power,
" both direct aiid indirect otf ^
'' the part of the Pope, and yet
[^ ^ot only allows his ipiteift^ .
17
WALSH.
< they think fit, all their own
^^ principles of equirocation,
^^ and mental reserration in
*^ swearing any oath, even of
*^ allegiance or supremacy to
^^ the King, and forswearing
*^ any thing or doctrine what-
*^ soeyer, except only those ar-
^' tides, which by the indis-
^ pensible condition of their
'^ communion they may not
f * dissemble upon oath. That
^* the tenet of transubstantia-
*' tion is one of these articles^
*^ Therefore to discover by this
^* (however otherwise in itself
^^ a very harmless criteritim)
*' the mischief, which they con-
^* ceive to go along with it,
^* through the folly of 'Roman
^^ Catholics in these dominions,
^* they make it the test of dis-
^' criminating the loyally pririm
^' ctpled Protestants, from the
^^ disloyal and dissembling Fsim
cc
pists.
yy
Closes a very long muster
roll of stupid, wicked and
O'CONOR.
^' tence in the patronage of e^
^' very diocese in Ireland, but
^^ also applies to him for nb^
" Inination . to every Bishop..
" Wrick wdrth from j£2Q0 to
" j6700 per annum is not
" guilty of a violation of that
'^ oath ?" We are episcopally ,
informed by the Bishop of Gas-
tabala, and then synodicalltf
by the Bishops assembled at
Tullow, and again by those as«
sembled in Dublin, ^^ that the
'^ oath of allegiance abundant^
*^ ly provides for the security
" of the state by excluding all
^^ foreign, except that spiritual
^' powerjwhich is now exercised
" in Ireland." This is not only
nugatory and disingenuous, be-
cause it is resting on a word,
which is undefined^ and there-
fore liable to equivocation : but
it is worse than nugatory, be-
cause it is trifling with the so-
lemnity of an oath, and ex.
posing enlightened Catholics,
who entertain strong doubts on
the extent of jpiriYwa^ jurisdic-
tion, to the torments of cpn.
scientious scrupks and to. the
fear of evident prevarication.'*
In chiirging the Bishop of
Castabala with arrogant and
18
WALSH,
damnable errors aud positions,
which he charges to be taught
and practised by the greater
part of the Catholic church,
hy obserring, that thej are
(Pref. IX.) ^* against the phiin
<^ design of the whole Gospel
^* Itielf, to drive directly by
^^ such positions at the proper
^^ scope of the Alcoran, and
^^ establish in the Church of
'^ Christ a worser tyranny,
" than that of the Mahumcdans
*^ n.nd Mamelukes.**
Was tanntcd by his oppo-
nents with non.observance of
his religious obligations (Fr.
Dis. 70.) <' Mr. Walsh, T would
<^ not have his Grace advise to
^^ put you to death, b«t would
^' hare you not trouble him :
^^ avoid the occasion, aod re.
O'CONOR.
heretical doctrines, he tells him
(3 Col. 31) he << would gladly
^< beget a snivelling race gi
^^ sycophant priests, who^ de«
^^ graded by the Mahomedan
*' principles of the Turkish
^^ diocese of Castabala, would
^' wink at abuses, &c." (Ib.20)
''l( the Bishop of Castabala
'Ms to judge exclusively ac«
" cording to his Turkish do.
'' tions, he is a synod in bim.
" self." (2 Col. 37) " I would
'' hold myself to biiire degenera.
^^ ted indeed, if I could submit
^Mo the Mahoraedan |>Tiaciples
" of Castabala-" (3 Col. 138)
'' A^imilating the government
'' of the Catholic Church of
^'' Ireland to that of a Turkish
'' Basha at Castabala."
Is charged by some of his
antagonists with living in habi.
tual non.observanoo of his Ln-
dovisian Oath. England not
being his country, they urge
agsunst him, that the care of
the Stowe library*, is not the
evangelical function of admi-
* I ohsenre in the contents of the Sd No. of Cohimbanus, to the fol-
lowing Iiea4, ExpemsiM Law Suitt carried on by foreign influaux agents
at Mmu d^ttnto m/r ^tsn tmes.^120. the folloiving Quere pat to my
hifU^r iralted and esteemed friend, Dr. Bodkia: ** Can the pxeseat
^ Warden of Galway state in verba saccrdotis^ vrliat that Sillt cost, whicji
** the town of ChUway employed him to carry on at Rone, a^datt the*
** pretensions of the late Arch-Bishop Egan T Cum bond venid Doctoria
Dpetimmif I will pot a sUniUr Quire, and perhaps of no lc» cease*
19
WALSH.
** tire into your coavent. But
^^ I fear you had rather venture
^< hanging, than do that. If
^^ you be not guilty, in God's
'^ name make out your inap«
*< coney."
(Pref. L.) ^^ For what con^
*^ cems either myself, or my
^^ said fellow remonstrants^ I
^^ have also before now at large,
^* and of purpose in my afore.
^* said Lift in a Hi/bernica J Part
•*^ III. c. 5. 6. 7. discovered (as
'^ I shall jet hereafter in the
^^%d ton^e of this English work
f^ as in a more proper place dis.
** cover) the imposture of tliqse
^^ for one part lying, and for the
^<rest deceitful vain objections."
N»B. Neither the Latin/f^&er-
nica^ nor the ^d tome of the
English work ever made their
appearance before th^ public^
O'CONOR.
nistering the sacraments, nor
do they consider his addresses
to his country paen, as the ut.
most exertiqns for the salvation
of spuls. If the charges be
unfounded, he has the means
of refuting them.
He told us in 1803 (ant. 52)
that in himself had been found
the worthy inhetstor and able
representative of the pepuliar
attainments of his progenitoi*,
the great Charles 0^ Conor ;
that of his I^atin work, Rerum
JJyberntcarum Scrfptores^ &c.
in that year, 1 803, part was in
the press, and much progress'
had been made in decyphering,
translating, &c. In 161 1 (4
Col. 13) he refers to p. cxii.
of his EpiHle prcpj, to the
Irish annals. In 1810 (3 Col.
60) he treats his readers with
a tanlal 'ing antepast of hi$
Latin prologomena : and (p.
32. ib.) sends his reader for in-
struction to a MS. work of his
on thus religion of the pagan
Irish of the Bth century,-^
^tepcc to Inland. Quart! Can tl^e present Librarian to tke Most ^or
ble Marquis of Buckingham state in verbo sacerdoiis^ what that appeal
^ost, which be made tg the Pope from the late Dr. French's order to him
to return to his Parish under his obligation pf tlie LudoTlsian Oath, %f(er
bis leave of absence (say six- Months) had expireil, and which was dt^ci4*
cd by Cardinal Gerdily Prefect to the Sacred Congregation de propa\
iroMra/ffo ilgainstthe apelianti
C 2
20
WALSH.
His aniagonist Areh.bishop
Talbot (F. D. 7J) addrcbsed
him. '^ Indeed Mr. Walsh I
*' was much surprized to see
" you remit English readers
^' (for the confutation of these
^* accusations) into your Latin
** Hyhernica^ a book not as
*^ y^t published, and when
*' printed, not understood by
^' the English nation. '* Nichol-
son, late Bishop of Carlisle,
in his Irish Historical Diction-
ary, ^' takes notice of Peter
•^ Walsh's Prospect of the
'' State of Ireland from the
" vear of the World 1756 to
" the year of Christ 1652."—
*^ The first lines of this work
were drawn at the request of
the Earl of Castlehaven, whilst
his memoirs were in the press
and intended for an Appcn.
dix to them. New matter
crowding in upon him, and
the Earl halving released him
from the method, whereto he
he had ^rst confined him , he re-,
solved to divide his work into
two parts. In the first, which
was all that Was ever printed,
O'CONOR.
N. B. Not one of the aAove.
mentioned works is as yet
(1812) before the public (to
my knowledge).
Many persons, though not
enemies to Columbanus, have
thought, that it would let the
interested part of the public
more into the real knowledge
of the ancient history of the
country, were the ancient Irish
annals translated into English
than into Latia: ^ dead Ian.
guage not now more cultivated
in England or Ireland, th^m
in the days of Peter Walsh*
The translation of ancient chro«
nicies from Celtic MSS. the cha.
racters of which are almost as
obsolete and obscure as those of
Persipolis (p. 23) into a dead
language^ and then from that
dead language, of which the
translator appears from the spe.
cimen he has chosen to give us
of his proficiency in the Roman
tongue, (3 Col. 60) to be no
great adept, into a living lan-
guage, in ^hich he is no tori,
oubly incorrect, obscure and
deficient, must remove the gc.
nuine meaning and spirit of the
original further from our sight,
than the first translation pro^
bably would. Of his own dejficU
21
WALSH.
he represents the state of the
whole island and it's inhabi-
tants from the first plantation
after the flood till the English
conquest. The man writes some,
what cotifusedly, intermixing
long occasional stories with the
main thread of his narrsitiye;
but seems not to have omitted
any thing of consequence, that's
advanced by either of his afore-
said vouchers (Keating and
Lynch,) This honest Father
Walsh is that same modern
historian, upon whom Mr.
O'Flaherty has let fly a whole
chapter of remarks, for his
pretending 4b criticism in the
Irish language, when he speak$
of (Engus\ sirname of OU
muchadkj those of Malcolm,
O'Bryen, O'Neil, Kaimes, &c.
This severe treatment probably
discouraged the author from
publishing his 2d part.''
O'CONOR.
encies in stilcy he was or af-
fected to be conscious on the
17th of March, 1810, (adv. to
CoL ad Hib.) but which he>
hoped would be supplied, by
strict adherence to historical,
documents, " Ifis object is,
" without scrupulous regard to
'' refinements of language or
^' elegance of sti/le^ to expose
'' the fallacy of doctrines, which
" have been propagated in re-
" cent publications." Notwith--
standing the ostentatious secu-
rity he gave his countrymen
(tliroughDodsleyin 1803) that
the loss of his grandfather and
of General Vallancey would
be more than an\ply supplied .
(uno avulsoy non deficit alter
aureus) in the abilities^ supe^
rior knowledge of the Irish
language and indefatigable 2«-
dustry of the Re v. Dr. O' Con or,
yet was I assured in that same
year from no mean authority,
that '' the grandson had not
'' made Irish literature his stn.
''dy. above five or six years,
" and could be but imperfect-
'' \y acquainted with the an,
*^ cient Irish language." (ant.
p. 35.) Quere^ What has dis,
couraged or prevented the
publication of any one of his
long.promised works ?
22
WALSH
Once was an infariated nunm
cionist; was often challenged
in print to refute, whilst he
bad the power, the following
charges, of haying murdered
five English Soldiers, at John-
ston's-bridge in breach of faith
and with incredible cruelty :
of having seditiously preached
to the people to resi9t the Mar-
quis of Ormond after the pro.
clamation of peace in 1646:
of haying approved in print of
jEi?o's libel against the person
and authority of Ormond,
who, he alleged, intended the
King's ruin, as well as theirs:
of haying wrested the Castle
of Kilkenity out of the King's
and Qrmond's hands, and de.
liyered it to the Nuncio : of
haying written with his own
hand the first fatal excommu.
Dication, (afterwards put into
the hands of Loird Berkley
when Lord Lieutenant) and in
the habit of his order stuck it
up on the Castle Gate ; where-.
by Kilkenny^ being then the
Key of Ireland, and the pco.
])le being implacably exaspc.
rated against Ormond,. the
further distractions and ir.i-
scrics were produced : yet none
of these circumstances arc even
O'CONOR
Was supposed and reported
to be more favourably disposed
towards the originial union of
Irishmen of all denominations
in one common cause of eman.
cipation, than may be now po«
litical or prudent fiir him to
admit. I shall not attempt to
particularize any charge : and
silence ^ may probably be his
best panegyric. He refers ia»
deed to a period of extreme pB^
litical intentperance(anteaM}
m
pnd 7s>hen the minds- of all our
bod^ w^re exceedingly agita^
ted; he talks of a hasten wliich
could only bejustijied by good
intention^ and of ids labours
to pursue the truth^ and of
his subsequent sorrQw, that any
result of his researches should
have appeared. In none of his
numerous publications does he
specify the time, the occasion,
the reasons, or the circumstan^
ces of his .extraordinary con-
version, and vocation to be-
come a vessel of election to his
countr} men. He refers to the
circumstance, but not to the
time, when there fell from his
eyesy asf it loere scaies^ and
he received sight forthwithy
and the rouge was washed
pff^ and the wrinkles appeared^
23
WALSH.
obliquely touched or hinted at
in any of his subsequent to-
luminous writings: no menti-
on made of the time, grounds,
or circumstances of his conver..
sion, or of his vocation to be.
come a chosea ressel to the
nation, to open ^keir eyes
and to turn them from dark"
ness to light.. '^ Nor indeed
^ (says Arch.bishop Talbot,
<^ Fr. Dis. 66) could this age,
'^'So infamous for murders and
^^ rebellions against lawful so..
^^ Tereigns expect so apostoUc a
*< reformer y as P. Wal«h hatk
'^ proTed himself to be."
i
• r
It was o%|j^eted to Mfo by
Arch.bf8hop Talbot, (Pr. Dis.
91) ^^ Htm Redmond CuFon
^^ and geu were resriTed to be
^ S&h»]^8^ tbe ose of Armagh,
O'CONOR.
more disguding^ the less thetf
were peroeived before* Drop.
ping or keeping in the back
ground the whole circumstance
of his conversiqn, he seeks no.
toriety in the destruction of
those, with whom he might be
supposed to ha?e associated,,
and proTes the ardor of
his new zeal by administering
to his readers a draught so
powerfully revolting, that none
but hi^ own, and some £^w of
like digestive powers, ("(? ^icra
messorum ilUa) could ., with,
stand, (untea. p« 143) QemoJ
destly assumes the a^>peUatioa
of Columha»H9j from hi^ sin.
cere catholicity, Ms enmity to ■
the intrigues of Popes and
Nujuciosf^ faS/} distioguisUog the
abuses of courts and the su^
pcrstitions of the vulgar from
the genuine doctrines of the
Xatholic Church, " Well then
*' may we wonder" as Arch.
bishop Talbot said to Walsh,
^^ God did not sooner send a
^^ holjf man to reform these
** enormous errors,^* (F,D.66)
A year had elapsed, (3 Col.
1) since his brother had writ,
ten to him to assist his en.
deatours for hb promodon
to succeed Dr. Fr^ch, fhea
24
WALSIJ.
** the other of Dublin : you
<* despaired of obtaining miters
'* by your merit and the ordi-
** nary wayes : therefore you
** resolved to fright the Court
*^ of Rome into it by setting
^^ up this your remonstrance:
^^ and intruding yourselves in-
^^ to ecclesiastical and state af-
*^ fairs,** in which they were
encouraged by the Ministry of
that day, ^' for reasons best.
** knowen to themselves, and
^^ common to all statesmen,
'' whfch they foresaw would
^^ divide the Catholics tmohgst
^* themselves, discredit their re-
" ligion, and give the gotrern-
" ment the color and advan.
'' tage of excluding from their
*^ estates many meriting gen-
'' tlemen.**
.;•>
•' \.
J :
r ^orf;'>
-• • . •
O'CONOR.
holding the See of Elphin.-^
He wrote to Dr. Troy and Dr*
Moylan, that it was his final
determination not to use an^
influence whatever in the pro*
secution of that design. He
was privy to the Marquis of
Buckingham's declining to in«
terfere : he lamented (3 Col. 16)
that the Irish gentry aud no*
bility had not made any inte»
rest in his favor. His dibcesan
clergy had been reminded of
his merits* :*tou kttow him*
(antea p, 129) Then fonsak.
ing the ordinary way of drawl-
ing j urlsdiction from the Pope,
he proclaims in terrorem Romoe
(1 Col. 79) " That the elec-
" tion of the clergy with the
^' approbation of the gentry
'' and the confirmation of the
^' civil j)Ower is the only pru-
" dent, the only wise, the only
^' constitutional aad only ca-
^^ tholic plaii, that in the pre-
^^ sent circumstances can be
'' adopted by the Irish peo-
"ple." For, (1 Col. 80)
^' neither the election of Bi-
^' ^ ops by thePopCj nor their
^f conJUrmafi^n by il^mf after
<< electidny ■ ^or ' ^ix/nQmina*
^' tion to |any vaci^nttS^e^ .PPr
". ihe Pope*§ Gonseniyj^vn^^
»25
WALSH.
{ W. Hist. Rem. xliii) . "..No^
"thing less than (liorye-t^any
'^ such thing as a) design . to
*^ undervalue the miracles re-
' ported ,on anj ^uf&.cient
*^ ground to be wrought either
*^ in former Or later^timisa by
^^ any aaint or petson of the
^' Roman church induced me
*^ to give that large account of
*^ the: famed wonder-working
*^ Irish priest James Fienachii/
^ besides ,the^ duty of aix histo^
^f r^i2^ which might ejen ^lone
^f require, that narrative in. this
*? yefy.^ce^ I had also aU-the
^^ j^aspn in the world to intite
^ '. ^e.tQ givi^it : that Protestants
*^.pay be convinced, there are
^f jyet. x^iaa^ping of, the ^grnan
*f Churchy ,at least even Irish
^*, Ecclesiastics, that desire not
*^ .to maintain the truths of
" Christianiti/ or Catholicism
^', by cheats, or tricks and lies,
^^ and mountebank rics/*
D
O'CONOR.
• - . • * .
" his knowledge of the «{p-
'' poiniment is a necessary re*
•
^^ quisite t6 establish the vali*
*' (/e/y of any of these acts.'*
(3 Col. 43) " The Irish al-
*^ ways appointed their owni
^^ bishops without so much as
'^ the knowledge of Rome.'*
(3 Col. 77. d.) " With re-
" gard to St. Wiiiefrid,, I no*
^* lemply protest, that a word
^^. of .disic^spectful language tOf*
^' wairds the person chilled St*
^' Wit^efrid never escaped my
"lips. I recqllect inde^, that
"when, the Bishop of Castas
" bala published his piiraculoud
" pamphlet on the wonderful
^^ cures performed at the. Well
" inFlintshire,commonly called
^'StJfVinefrid'Sf I complained
" to. the good Bishop of the
"London district, that false
^^ miracles, had always been a
^' source of infidelity. What
„" I cpmplain of is, that the
^\ Bishop of Castabala coun^
" tenances supposed miracu-
^^ lous cures^ which cof^tributes
"to shake the faith of weak
" brethren irt.the genuine mi-
*' racles of primitive times."
(2 Col. viiij) "there are o-
^^ thers, who suppose Arom the
•: *■: '1 ^- ••*- '^
26
WALSH.
(3 Lot. to Ferns 97) « Nei.
^' ther divine nor human right
*' hafi madi* him (the Pope) an
*' autho>itatiye judge to bind
" her (the Church). That
*' Sp aking precisely de jure
*^ dll bishops and churches
*^ of the earth are co-ordiriate
*' dnd Reggiiim and Rochester
*^ ectual ta Rome." (Let. to
Barlow 275) '' They attribute
** only pHmatum a primacy of
'^ poWer over the zehole warldy
*^ not a siipremaci/^ and cbnse-
^' quentfy neither a yicarship
*^ nor headship, nor a fuhiess,
** nor indeed any measure at
^^ all of that, which is in reality
*' and properly or strictly
^' called^ jurisdictional power
" to the Pope as given to him
^' by Christ in Peter to govern
*f the universal church;"
He holds it " Not to be the
** doctrine of the Roman Ca-
'' tholic Choirch, (Pref. 5 sect.)
O'COXOR.
*^ foolish producti<;ns of Sottie
^' of our writers, that Catho^
" licity is a system of anility,
*' fit only for vulgir or imbe-
^' cil minds, A belief in hob-
" goblinism, witchcraft, fabu-
^' lous miracles, and legendary
<^ tal^s.^'
(3 Col. 109.) " As Bishops,
'^ his power does not extend
'^ beyond the limits of his
^'diocese of Rome, which he
"must govern canonicalljf with
" the aid of his clergy. Hes
" can exercise no episcopal
" jurisdiction in the limitary
" diocese of Porto or Ostia,
" or Albano, Otherwise he
'' would be. Universal Bishop.^*
(3 Col. 112.) "This primacy
" being a spiritual and not a
" tetn poral power, can exert
" itself visibly only, when/ffiY^
" or morals are risibly tio-
" latedj by declaring the vio-
" lators -separated from the
*' communjon of the apostolic
" church, and ordaining cATZon-
" icatty^ that other teachers and
" preachers may be substituted
" in their stead.*'
(3 Ciol. 113) *^ Even ID
'^ quality of primate the Pope's
^' power is not absolute. He
n
lYALSH.
*^ that the Pope is either infal.
*^ Uhle, or at all the supreme
*^ judge of controyersies ^ris-
^' ing in her &c. I desire them
^* before hand to consider on-
♦^ ly tbis brief passage of the
'^ trut^ Catholic and learned
O'CONOR^
^^ cannot decide controversies."
'^ It was not then and cannot
^' now be the doctrine of the
" Catholic Qhurch, that the
'^ Pope's decision, even as pri-
" mate, however respectable,
^* is suff^^nt to {fecide con-
^^ Richerius in his historj^ of ^' troversies respecting articles
" the general councils. (Cone, "of faitl^." (3 Col, 20)—
"1. 4. part^l. pag. ^4) In
^* the days of yore and primitive
*^ church even tjie Bishop of
^^ Rome's decree was reviewed
^* in the Provincial Synod:
*^ which was held every year
^' twice: and so the church tri-
*^ bunals were open to all : not
^' as they are now 9-days, with
^^ extreme injury, by absolute
** power shut, which poWer the
^^ Pope arrogates to himself over
*^ all churches: and in imitation
*^ of the Pope, all Bishops do,
*^ in their turn, arrogate over
*' all their inferiors, against
*^ the law of God and nature,
*' and thus monarchically they
*^ decree all things by the ad-
'* vice of a few persons, and
*' so not only strengthen the
*^ old schisms, but open the
f* way for new.*^
D2
" Those persons, who Tormer-
" ly would have shrunk from
" exclusive empire, as subvcr-
^' sive of our hierarchy, and
^' heretical y have publickly
'• announced, that they excld.
^'•sively have a right to discuss
^' all matters -appeFtaining to '
" the doctrines and disciplines
" of the Roman^ , Catholic
« Churcb!" (3 Col. Hl)-^
" The^ Catholic Religion, as
^^ professed in Ireland, can
" never be fiirly represented
" by the bo4y of our clergy,
^^ as long as our cburph is un.^
'^ der the influence of a foreign
^' power, as long as our Bi-
" shops intrigue for prefer-
'^ ment in foreign courts, as
*^ long as our church govern -
^' ment is managed by exclusive
i' Synods, and our second or-
" der of clergy, nobility and
28
AVALSII.
0'Co^^OR.
^ ' gentry arc depriTed of tneir
" necessary controul. (4 tol^
84) " Were we aware, a fe\r
." years ago, that our Bishops
" would ever dream of exflud.
^Mng from our Synods all b^t
^Mhemselves? Of claimitig an
^^ exclusive right of discussion
" and judgment in all matters
^' of faith and discipline, {$
' ' » .
Col. 22) the doctrine of ex^
^^ elusive discussion, advanced
^^ by Castabala, is hereticalj*^
He sides vitibi the church of (f CoK i25) ^' It may pos.
^gland in objecting against '' sib(y be argued that the couh-<
the council of Trent.* (3 letter . " cil of Trent has been received
* When a teoacibui uQif^brinity in 8tr6fig error pervades iDdivi^ah^
tbrouj^h a course of two centuries, it is evident, thkt the common tie of
snch erroneous opinion is systematic ; and unless, therefore, the wholes
system be rooted ap, the refutation, condemnation, or even punishment
of the sii^le error, be it ever so dangerous, wiU only encre^e Uie 'ci»D-
tiunacy, sharpen the zeal, and multiply tne artiifce&ofiBele^dliii^itnemhnefk,
of the system, to mask, fortify, and preservie the rest bf it khore 6ttt'caS-
fiiily. I'he direct op|>ositi6n to doH^s reveHled truth, is resistance tb tli6
«luthority he 6as cbminissioned to teach it. To this is traceable that pro-
mlnent feature of Jansenism, contemptuous hostility to the council of
Tr^t. Abbe St. Cyran, the founder of that subtle and pernicious sect
in France, .held it to be only a political tonventipn, and in n^ H&Lpt a
true council; a mere assemblage of some school divines by the P^<^,.
where tlicre was noyiing but intrigue alod cabal. The maiiifra'tation bf
thb symptom proves the prevalence of the disorder at this hour. Would
to God, the remedy were as obvious, as the disease is evident. No mau.
professes himself a Jaujtenist. We can discern them only by their fruits^
^ tl)e Baptist ^id the Pharisees and Sadacees : generation of Tipers^
who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come ? Bring therefore fruits
^icetfor rtptntance. (Matt. 3. 7.) I trembly and shudder at the ravages^
29
WAtSHv . O'CONOa,
fi'om Walsh to the Bnhdp of ^^ by France and Ireland, bc-
Ferrics, 103) " That it was " cause the doctrines dofiticdf
^^ ncrthtr cecisineiiical, liop oc^ ^^ by that council are admitted^
wfileli'^ si^ethitt l^iVlblc^ d^ftrderoiallif)^ amongst some of the Catiioitc
fi66ts within' the doitiinii>M9 of His Majesty. Bat as h»eittibility of
infEfetion alMd dattgei* is o^ general syiniytom of the disordor, Is yield ta
xtiote, evtn thaii my hUtotiettf dttty-, in sonodinf thd'aUrri^, in iiianifest4ng.
ttte' pro^i^ss and mfsdbief of the disease, and i» w^fmini^ every pastor of
a Cath'olte tfo'ck tbrbughont the Bifitisk Efiipiiiey tii9t theile is iofiniteljr
\6& dSLUget of desthictioo'to' their flocks,- from fhe overt errors of Arian»^
Sbbini^as, CalVidi^, Lutherans-, or «n^ avowetf sepilvalists^ than from
the disguised poisbn of the Jan^ni^ta, who witfar anneilentnig pei^veravee
Idlrl: aiAMtg the Catholics, conceaHog thei# infection onder an ostentatious
dbpdy oi aiiefii^l pin'fty, With a view to indnlge tlieir lust for seduction,
in tii€ iHie ipit'it of their Indidiotisr fottnder. Jan^niot, in his 60lh letter
to Kis Cd-£Vangelist St. Cl^ran, said of three of their ciiosen disciples
r^comthended khd Wett received at tfafe then Span'isb Court of BruiteUesy
*' ti Wilt Ve pi^per to find them, if possible, a place in the middle of
'' the tTdiv^rsity, Wlthonk giving any reason for it: for I design to make
^' all the youth fall by degree into their hands." UnalroWed sednction
uiider eitet'nal sanctimony eter has b^en a sure diagnostic of the lueg
Jahieniaha*
1 have before alluded to the introdoction to. onr laws, of a description
of persons wholly unknown to them before^ the protesting Catholic Dinventeri
by an indefatigable co -operator of Cotumbauus. Whilst that legal Masv
ter of the Ceremonies officially introduces the$e strangers to our laws
uhdeir their nt^ and foreign titles, I humbly beg leave to stand by as a
JDrogemaH to the Mahomedah foreign influence establishment, occasionally .
to interpret \\it language of those strangers, ivhirh is not currently uur
deratood in any of 6nr Courts, whether Christian or civil, of equity,
conscience, honor or digtait)' . I have had several opportunities of stu-
dying the origla and progress, the occasional improvements, and modern
refined niceties of their tongue. I was impelled to that study by some-
thing like invincible Grace; f^om almost an innate reprobation of the
principles, execration of the Spirit, and abhorrence of the practices of
Jansenism, Under these impressions I am sensible of the awful and
double doty I have to perform both to Chnrch and State. 1 submit to
the indispensible obligation, under which God's ordinances place me as
to both. Though each be supreme and independent of the other, so
so
WALSH. O'CONOR.
^' ciilontal, nor free." (lb. '< and (aught by both, — Most
110) '' There was neither side '' tkleotablelogick! Mostwon^
^^ nor bench in it, but of men^ '' dcrful sagacity { France and
litile do the two powers jostle or dash with each other in this uistasce,
Ihat a single act completely satisfies the double obligatioo. That act
hi to pat ii> print and circulate as widely as I can, the soiArce, principles,
spirit, doctrines, designs, practices, connections, means, power, iDflneoce
and condqct of a ducripHan pf persons whoUy ur^kuawn to the Itucty and
of such as ColumbaniM ^ibonrs so cntbuiiastically to mal^e hi« coun-
trymen become. I waTQ my reader, perhaps ex abundanti Ca^teld^
that in ftpeaking of Jansenism, I 4p it hUtoncaUu^ not thtolagicaVu, It
is chiefly therefore, for the iufonqatWu of the civil Magistrate, whoni
without any ciisrespect, 1 assume to l>e in «;reat ignorance upon the
subject, that I state the leading doctrine, or ti^eir noted five propositions^
th^ir New Lights, their spirit and modes of proselityzing, their perseve-
ring energies, their numbers, their influence, their trust fuod« or stock
parse, their emissaries, their disciples, their teacher^, their evangelists^
tlicir use and abuse of tests and formularies, their secret engagements
and intrigues, their overt and covert cou(iections, their opposition to
llie e»tab)i:shed religion of thke stale, whatever it be, in as far as it differs
from tSieir doctrines. From this information #ill he bQ enabled to square
his policy and conduct, by countenancing these old novelties, by exten-
ding Methodism (the Jansenism of the establislied church) and by crea-
ting a moral certainty of renewing in the 19^h, ma^iy of the religiol^
hrrrrors of the 16th, 17th, and IStb Centuries.
Co^vBLius Javsens!, a Native of Holland, was born in 1585, and
went io Paris in 160-i, after havipg studied at Utrecht and Louvain^
In France be became intimate i^itii the famous John Ferdeger. deHauranc^
better known by the appellation of Jbbe de St, Cyratij the bosom friend,
confidaot, adviser, and fellow-labourer v\ith Jacseos in establishing the.
new doctrine. Returning to liouvain in 1G17, he took the degree of
I>()ctor of Divinity, was made head of the College of St. Pulcheria,
and obtained a profef^sorsliip of Holy Scriptures iu that University. He
was deputed and succeeded in procuring from the King of Spain, a
prohibition to the Jcsuites to teach humanity and philosophy in that
University: and upnn the treaty of alliance, which France was about
to enter icto with the Protestant Powers, he published a small book^
Cftlled M,7nt GalUcus, very injurious to France, and grossly insulting to
their kiǤt% ^r which he was nomiuotcd by Philip IV, of Spain lo be
^1
Walsh. O'Conor.
^^ that were bond-men to the ^^ Ireland held these doctrines
** Pope, as well by virtue of the '* before the council of Trent
'^ aforesaid oath of vassalage ^' was known. Is it because
Bishop of Ipres, in 1636. He died in that see in 1638, of the pla^e, ot
according to some of a putrid fever. The famous book, which contains his
peculiar heresies, is called his Augustinus; and thebce were extracted
the five propositions, condemned at Rome and by the Gallican charcb,
which made so much noise and disturbance in France in the two last
centuries. The propositions are submitted to the reader, id order,- tliat
he may compare them with the doctrines, which in the preient day are
professed, countenanced, favoured, and encouraged by the modern evad-
gelical preachers of the New Light ; who though tbrmed Methodists or
Swadlers by others, like the Jansenists reject and disclaim any distinctive
appellation ; meaning collectively and individually to remain in (he en-
joyment and communtcation of all the good things of the establishment,
they pretend to nothing more than extraordinary purity in the religion
established, and therefore treat the idea of their being;,a sect as a phan*
torn, and feel the application of a distinctive denomination as insult and
iiyury.
1st Proposition. Some of God*s Commandments are impossible to jost
persons, who desire and endeavour to the utmost of their power to keep
them: they also want that j^race, by which they may |)ecome possible to
be kept.
2d. Prop,^ In the state of corrupt nature, no 'one can resist interior
^race.
3d. Prop. To merit and demerit in the state of corrupt nature, we
do not stand in need of liberty, free from a necessity to act; but it is
enough, that it be free from constraint.
4th Prop, The Semipetagians admitted the necessity of an interior
preventing grace for every action in particular, even those required for
the first act of faith : and they were heretics in as much, as they pre-
tended this grace to be of snch a nature, that the human will had power
cither to resist or consent to it. '
5th Prop, It is Semipelagianigm to say, that Christ died or shed his
blood for all men.
Tme it is, that the first of these five propositions is the only one^ that
M contained in the Avgustinus in direct and express terms: but the plata
meaning of the other four is extracted from, as it is diffused through the
author's whole system of Divinity upon predestioatioo.and grace, of
32
WALSH. 0?CONQJt.
^ made unto him , as by reason '' they were^eBoed in the ),6tii
** of their. maoifojddcpeaden- *^ century, that. they werc^^e-
'( des on ihim almost in all ^^ licved and taugh^in the ,6th?
•nhkb BoKu^t,^ .whose ilearned and inflexible ortbodpxy frown .indignant
defiance against the bent ^ tfaviter imp^dentem, thus spuke, Pui bui
tkut Augusi^nui in an alembick^ and j^oiiU extract nothing else, but the Jive
prppositions* Grievously do they err, who imagine, that the Jansenian
errors bavedied with their inventors: Jn fact, the Auguslinus was only
•
published two yeafs af^er the authors death', viz. 1640, and was con-
demned by Urban VIII. on the 16th of March, 1641. To allay the
dreadful animosity of the (Hirtyt eighty •eight Galilean prelates com-
pressed the substance of the new heresy into the five propositions, which
Innocent X. denounced in 1650. The cry of the party being violent against
the (livuiiiatory b'ili of Innocent, a special congregation was instituted in
1651, (o examine and report upon the five propositions, and after thirty*
BIX sliiings, ut the ten last of which of four hours each, his holiness
attended in person, they were formally condemned, and the bull of
condemnation was sent to all the Catholic crowned heads of Europe.
The condemnation of each separate proposition Is as follows.
1st Prpp. *^ Is ra^.h, impious, blasphematory, anathematized, aad br-
rctical.
2d Prop. " Is heretical.'
.'Jd Prop. " Is heretical.'
4th Prop. " Is false and heretical."
5th Prop. *' Is false, rash and scandalous; and if taken In- this sense^
<* that Jesus Christ died only for the salvation of the predestinated, it is
*^ irap.ous, blnsphematory, injurious and derogatory to the goodness of
" God and heretical." The bull was executed under sanction of letters
patent from Louis XIV. and registered in the Sorbonne. ■ It is very-
important for every one, who gives any credit to Valesian^ Colambanian,
or other assertions concerning thef limited jurisdiction of ihe"Pope to
remark, that in the letter written to thank his holiness for having issued
that bull fcr the safety of the Church, and preservation -of- , the faith .by
the thirty prelates, who were at Paris at the time i^ was -wceivedt/aod
met at Cardinal Mazarin's, rontatnisd - the following words..' *^\XbaiUbe
^^ judgments passed by the Vicar of Jesus Christ to streDgtliea.ihenila ^t
" faith upon consultation- with Biabops«(wiietber'4JieiB.aduc(^.'be)lMeited
*^ therein or not) rest upon the divino aod.'8upFemeia<Ufaoiuty}»'PrJil%cbJie
^faas over the whole Cbarcli 9ian4Uith«cityvtft<RhM;kaH{Crl|FM|ifiqiL^«'
^ -obliged to sttbmit tbeiP reason.'*
>t
i»
33
WALSH. O'CONOR.
" things, \vhether of this^ world ^* In order to prove, that thd
^' or the other.'* Thenl in Or- " council of Trent has been iu
. ■ m t • *
dej^ to "proye the asserted law- ^^ a«y shape r6ceiVed by Ire-T
A^n:VQ<if Qiiesoel, and other leaders of the party (who on the death of
St. Cyran in t'61 ^, became the head ana oracle of th^ Jadseniad party)
atteinpte4 to illad'e the effect of the <^ondemiiatio& pf Inndceot, by a
subtle invented difference between right Sihd fact: undet' which dlsguisei
fix subterfuge they accommodated their consciences to subscribe the test
qrfofmufarif of their submission to the condemnation, in order not to b^
s)^l put of faculties and benefices. Sdme of them appealed to a future
sx^eral coupcil: which was deferring the ultimate de<fision to a very loni^'
day^,^— «kl OaUndas Ortjscas^ Arnaud inyeiehed .as Ipudly and coarsely
^^iast th^ Pope^s cp^demnation of. the five propositions, , as Co-
lum^nus does, and almost in the same words*, .against the papal ctfn*
^^mnation. of Quesnprs works. This evasive snbtilty of the party forced
tii9^ Pope to issue a decree in 1665, prescribing the fpjlowi^g formulafy.
or test, as excluding or preventing any evasion or equivocation. '* I^ A.B.
*' whose name is hereunto subscribed, submit to the Apo9.tolical Constitu-
'^ tion of Innocent X the sovereign Pontiff^ bearing dt^te the 3 1st IVIay^
^ 165S, and to that of Alexander. VII. his successor, of the 16th. of
*^ October, 1656 \ and I reject and condemn sincerely the five pfopositions. n
V extracted from the bool& of Cornelius Jansens, intituled jiugustinusy. la,
** the proper sense of the same author, as the apostolic $€\e has con-
^ demned the same constitutions. I swear it so. So help me Qqi,^-^.
This created a division in the party. The foore rigid h^ld« that this test
or formula could not be jsworn to without perjury. The less' sincere, an^
by far the more numerous part of them swore, udder Ih^ .referve,ihat.
though they might renounce the five propositiond, the^ dId,i|ot t^reby.
forswear the doctrines oi Jijiueniw, Under the or tlie.like subterfuge,
they have gt^nerally ever since taken and subscribed different formularies
or tests, which were framed for the purpose of keeping them out of the,
ministry, and all Church preferment. Upon similar principles havtt.
some bold men recorameo|ded to all his Majesty's Catholic subjects to take
the oath of supremacy, in order to let themselves, into great civil benefits,,
from which recusants were evidently intended to be shut and barred out
by that very test or formulary ; for jCing James said truly ^ ** the oatii •
*^ pf supremacy was devised for putting- a difference between papists and.
** them pf our profession.**
Irishmen and Englishmen, governors of the Church, vM rulers of the
State *' Beware of false prophets, whjcU come to you Jin sheep^s clothing,
5*
fulness of^appcaling jfrom the " lanrf, yremu'ii p'roteyiSitit
Pipe and Trent together, be- " has becD publicfy pronrafga*
sides the argumect drawn from '^ ted and rec^ired by afatxcmtl
** bat ibirardly they are ravesmg wohret. Ye shall knew diteVy
^ their fruits. Do rora i^arfbec grapes of dioms, or figs of tbiitles?^—
^att.Tu.!5.) Jansenism, from t^^ bcginiting to ikU boar, fias aeve^
^olifly, manfuBy and ejcplicitly a'?owf d it's own tenets : it has {ed"o&
we may it4t saiisffed af'7jiivtiJ> fetotC^d k!V^!& gt*lrtiw «^,
toi-iiii, cfirdmaiiH VArtlSkiiifft, st'itft kihd^liiCrmotty Of tH« i^fe»te rilD|HMI<i
fioDf^ Popb Cleibtftif Xl . VW d6q(U«st^mtyiy a ihnto IdIT ^al IbM^y
4iiifbiH Yffd VlYttt^. HcifHik of Ae CofeoihahtaB raSeflitfafr. Kta^r
kiik'verW^'ectaikfdr "^Mh^giM ii^lll^/ti^btten 'grt^fMls^etli.ftMft^
Ht it w^. Who >YibIished To f7lS the c^Srated CdiistftMotf tarbM
Unt^eiiUvs, Wlikb'li^s heea Treeiv^d'by dit'^Kble Cafttbfic dftiMiMRl.
^•ciinvx: bpf'oire ntffibed. tii tis hirt( I^T^i^tMt Dd^rAi i^UMc^ii; srhM'he
ijSiw^dirt ITOd'^^tlf^rfible; Uhfl^MbtbtatifeU Ae^ve'lilr^i^icaiyaM
4%b pretdiided, tHJt l)[y a'r^i^iectlid dUft(^ they iaM>ik*a ihe^^
s(ii>if)i%Sioii to \h6^(k{d\\t\3\ilUsi6&\i^^
vii'e'ef Jairrfnmh mY\cMy,fwi£eeMs sffia'rfJsrfiritffetibO. "^ Tftsse <iir-
<^5ufl;bc'spftits have every Where d%>p«l^ 'bobfcs atiid 'fibds ^fifita
•^ '^ith'^ iiSfgti't&^mia^e -. kb'^reio ty ia atteinf^t'i^iiVkrii^to-iGe Bblj
'^§€ek'j0bW,'^t(d to tftb'i^r^'a^s^aml^rbf iHe'Whote €bnrEk,ltiefylhiVe
'<^ha'd7life''tdfdfl»i ti^ieadi; that %r the rettdirftig the trhed^cetoie
«^cb (lir6 kfj'liBbst&Tic dcr^i'^f^, U%ti6i iteha^ry to coadi^An fkHbiMMy
*<'%& iim bf JadVertWK^dbk i^ berctVea}', vrhith W tfae-veilbe cbodeiiiifed
«^mmi^<-6 p'i^oii»itti5hs ; ^Qt'fK^Ht-V^^i>ii tbatj^iffitt'ibribetflH
" be, (ai ^kytena \ly\'f^i>€ctf\iiiy ISfeM> * It is'iiho h9tbrtow;^lit
^'*s6me p^^i:%ive ^etn 'ira^pDYtbd' to 'HkiiAu ticM otliiip^Blhkk^
"ibski forg'^thViV ifi^t irtlly dVrikti^&''6firtM(y,'l)dt Vididieiin^^
<<''i^ns^ of 'rf£tuV4l^h6n'6r atrd^eioii^ afflnn^d.^bbt the fblb^iUhi)'^.
'^'^bitfdfd'i/AkiiBaerTil/lBfi^ht feWfhhy'he ilg^W' feVcb**/ tJwte
«^"|ii*rsbfift, "Who in fbeir ^ca#t6 i^dhotj^dge'i&e alfbfesaM'hi^'of ^rka«
*^s^ius fb cdmaftf h^f^d^r i^^iab. 'Wt. by die idlitM^ addtoHHy^i^fli.
^ tolic, in virtue of these presenU, wbicb shall rettttlit\n'fisikeiHrlsyfiir^do
'"^^ecr^e, ikhm, t^p^'blnt '^d brdiaa, that^l^ift^lkid'l^
<«iiifficicnt prliof^'of tie^'oba^bde diie't6'Vfce'i^dUt^(ft(»^liere1ik'ta.
" serted : but that all the faithful oa^t (o reject and cesidcaia as hereti-
WA^Sg. O'COXpR.
ancient tlmeg, heur^thcdoc* "synod, legitimatelj convened
trine and pract^ of tboss nry <* to consider and discuss fhaf^
ara and men, whom ve all le. " subject, and to report and
" cal, not kUIi Mt nsoath ml), iift /{om tki kearl, the seme qf JaotenlA*
" b'>'>lc, (he leiM CDDdcmoett ia the fire propoiitiDU afureinld, and tial
^ ti'hicb lbdriirop» termi, Dbrforenemioncd, at drat offtTlo tbeon-'
*■ deniindiag : Bnd that the farmidary caa nal he Mfffuliy labicribed in
"an; qther teose, dlsposllioa arbdjer." Tbus did tbat grrat PaitOTen>
deavoar lo (Hard bli flocli. nit ouly agaiut tbe deliterloui vcoota ot
JaUKDiao doctrine, but aha agaimt ibe eosqarjog mtschlef and daldKCi^k'
of JaateDlao'dajilirliy, iiajiuclcuce and preraricatlon .
AIchDU^ eacli or my readrn may col bold blintelf Mn'screoliaariy '
baUDden to yield abaoluie and blind (iibmiisian to Papal decreet, tlioi^b
aMcnicd to by Ibe dispertcd churrbeg, as (be buirL'ti^enfltubatbtedt'
yet feir, or iione bui'ibe profited Jansenists, and iheir much mare
nomcroui Kcret abellon, will coDceive it poiiible, tbat a perwn fti-
biaLoe niib tbe -offlcial InflneDre whicb the Pontifieal Prlmaey gars
bim over Ct>rJil«pdoai, (he conpdepcc, cttimatioii and ercdjl ever atiM-
daat opoD learniog, bigh birth aod experience, ihonld, lo (he V}eo <n
(be {^b'risiia'a'V^rld, toletniily'leae ao act or iiwImmeDI itaio'cd and
4eba«ed by oiJtbrloDs fakebdods. To my reader, therefore, I iDbndt
the following pauage eiiracied from a brief of Clement XI. (o ^
Cathoilfsof llollaad, axlihiorhat aiidence of Ih« quality of ^uweilitm
ia' the middle perlbd of ll'i career. " They affect an ex((A'iar ihn '
"refonned, aod areglad to paufardoctora of ieri.'iE uiutnti: buCetei?
" irhe inaa eaiSty icei their true ooilon; and doai^m by lEic app'.icalloD
" of (bat certain rale; ^hkh qur Savkm^ save W to disct^ro taili a^
" Kdc themMiTt* ondpr ihq cloathln^ of &e«f. Vou n ill knoW Ibein _
*" Bj tbeir I'atka. For lo iay bo more, wbeo ve nlirrrtr so .rnqBy !!■ .
" fitIt,^B« th^y b'bie printed atiout the tireii^^t d?ba!E. Clled ^iiji jnlnriiii
" and ■landen^ llet and ^a{i]iinies, irhereio't^ir temerity and conlempt '
** (# iltr'boly Sn' openly appear,' and ,jm known to have given scnndiil
"even to bereiics ibpaselTcs: nben ye Hhftne, I say,' lEii-se jibfls,
■■ dftif*t *e >,i«*<!bHy obMrve, thai Ibcir'sothor* 'and""ab'-(lni^ ni.! far
"fMHu-biving'tbelpirit of Goc(, who ij the Cod of peaVi^ and nW of
" dllsdntiOdrdlatlitfy'ard far' from baring tho triie charily -of !^iik'
" CiufUf, Wirfcb n^y t'xiiSI^ lo' tiiiich iriih Iheir voice, and ovcrtiirow
"bytf^iPbli'flciBi! AW In^rt tbtf ire very far from (lie wdyof
" uW'tttlitKy^ ine bbedteiite; UuiCb are (he groMiid) of olher
36
WALSH. O'CONOR.
ytrence, and presses harcl the <' promnlgate accordingly. Notr
4)ld belief or persuasion of the " the first.rate Catholic Thep.
fallibility even of the most' actu '^ logians absolutely deny, that
♦ • . ■
• .. ' . * . ■
Ad aoonymoui writer abovt the middle a|^ of Janieoiim^ ipeaks as a
coiemporary historian of the JanteDiits of bis day. His liook, ai
translated frota the Frencti, was publUhfd by Lewitf, of Russel-Str ectf
Coyeot-Gardfo, ID 1714, under the title of FamViar Instructiont about
Predertiftatitm and Orace^ by way of. Quettion and Jmmer^ and in de^
i^onstration pf the troth, fidelity and jad^rment of that author, I select-
the following lines, from (p. 1 15) which delineate the syiuem and.tba
■itiiit, doctrines and practices of it's followers with as minute precision
and unbiassed judgment, as if they had been written in 1612, ai
a Comment upon, or Exposition of the five numbers of Columbanns.
** How JanseuisrN ma> be distinguished before they come to malte a
«< separate bqd^' from the Cl^urch*'
^ lf» (x.fi, dayman) How can we know them before they declare their .
*' opinion^? For p<-ople often con*e v-. di^covc^r them too la^, and after
"they. have been prepotesesse^l by them?**
'* J) {i.e. D^ine ) .V.yen for this reason people caD*t be too attentive
*' io distin^uisli the tr|ie pastofi from the great number of woWes that
•'lookUkelhcm/* . .
^. Z.* Persons, of th^t character ar^ dextroui in disguising them*
*'frelyes, and it is not always an easy matter to be yertain, what
t\P, To believe a pastor or director a JqriKt^isif yoo. insist \ne iure he
'' is so: but not to trust yourself |n his hands, it Is enough .to^be UQcer«
** tajn, whether he be or not. Here then .is the ru|e. 1 would recommend ,.
** upon. this point to Catholics. Believe fio.man a ^ansenist, if yoo haya »
** not convint-ing proofs : but give up ypur conscience to no. body, ^rboii
"yon are not perfectly .sure of.'* • . . *.
^ Z/. I Wf>ul^ add to this rule the signs, by which one ^igfat discOT^ a ..
*• Jan^etiist^ that conceals himself.** .,.."..,
** jP. You may tn^re tliem \ty their esteem of and attachniejni to .cerr. .>
*^ tain persons, that ^t-e not()riously of their party : by ;their crying;.| «.
** up, and putting into vour hands condemned lioo.ki4.b^,theextraQ(4|r*- •>
^* nary practices, that you will see ^hem iptr<Klafe il> the adminla^ra^Mi »
*' <^f pr nance and the eupharist : by ei^C^aio bvDtf^ thai dr|ip ^fcwB^.-lb^iii,. .
" a|;ain8t ^ Pope, Bb^o^if and prince: by< tb^ little inqd^iatKMa tfa^ , -'
** shew In speaking' of them, who most avowedly oppose the doctr^. ^ ■
" Jansenius by the][conleropt, or at leasiJodlflTerence they have for vioit
37
WALSH, O'CONOR.
menicalsynods truly suclajwhat- " the council of Trent ever wm
ever the subject of their decrees " receiyed in any sens^, either
be. ^' with respect to it's doctrines
' ^' or it's discipline, bjrthe Gal-*
^^ lican church.'*
** of the T^iQiiii and warrantable practices antfiorized by the chnreht b^ *
** their industry to lessen devotion towards our blessed L^y, and lb«tr '
*' weHkcning (he foree of the encor^iium^ given her by tbecborch: hy*
*^ their affectation in preaching up an over-severe morality, and in^' sigh- '
•• Ing upon the relaxation of the primitive discipline." "^
L. ^ To form a judgntent of these sie ns, the number of JanHnUU is
** very considerable at thi^ day, and a state may apprchchd every thing •
'* trpm a new heresie: 'tiS at the beginning, ^ fire raked up in the em- *
" bers, but m^y hereafter break out into a great flame." *
J openly and loudly' pro f(£s3 my wishes and intention ; but lament that ^
lean not strjengthen ray fe;e^(e efforts to extinguish the fire concealed ''
under the tr/?acherou9 embers, ere it burst forth into a flame, that may *
reduce the better part of the etnpire to annihilation. I publish, to make
knpwn the danger both to Ciiurch and Srate: and earnestly invoke every
individual, who tendei^ die purity of Cattiolic faith and Church govern. '
mQi;;t,.and has at hqart the perfection and consequent permanency of the
Bnlish .constitution to back my feeble, though earnest energies to pitvent
the evU. I am well aware that,
F^iiculosse plenum opus aleap
. . Tractas, 6c incedis per.igncs
Soppofi^tos c|neri dolosq. Ilor. 2L. 1 Ode.
Ardent 4h. hopes to sa^ipy native land, ,*
A work'of 4esp'ra(e chance 1 take in hand.
Too confident, perhaps, 1 heedless tread
On fire, wiih treacherous embers overspread. r
Som6 few more unequivocal symptom!: of Jansenism from their mesne '• ^
period, will prove not uninteresting fo those who may not have had-
the opportunity, or even thought of unravdiing some very perplex^ •
intricacies, of analtzing some very noxious, though artfully mixed t^'
potions, and of combining certain pernicious principles, practices ftnd '
analogic of the three last centuries. The last-mentioned author says,' '
(p. 19) ^ Jansenius* di&ciples beheld the disciples of Molinos arise
'* amongst them, and doubtless for this reason, that one and t*oth(^ found'
^ at Rome the same iriends, the same protectors^ and the same adver*
39
These parallels will| I hope, conrince every vabiasM^d resu
ier that I did not assert or suggest 9 simiUritj of sitoation^
spirit and doctrine in these two oppugners of Popes and sjnod$j
uithout proof. I further crare his courteous indulgence to
^mtiff- AQb>rn$Ti| prppcrly tpeaking a JANSEVtfT, that drawing
** fair coDsequeocet frpm bis ^aiter';^ priocip|ct, about f be ncceeity of
. " doing ill» concludes, that he himself does not sin by dptng it, and so
■< al^adoin biaiseU; wIUmuU tbe least dbturbaocc^ fo tbe w^X frig^fv} .
^ diMlciMf •" 9e(wecii Cl^>^an 1670 and 16^^ It W9> th/e intrill^
of ^0 pftNy to fsta^lisb ai^To^'otia/CAiirri, tndepf^adep^ qi ^94 tlfic^^?
nectod with Home, and therefore thcjr applied ^ laqi^ pprtiop c|f if^\^,
funds or stock-purse in the porcbafe ef'laafi i^ 9. small DjaM^ \?^^^
called ^i<M-4stra(id. But (hat project quickly iM'jefei^ted 4i9ic\4ti«w
which were no loaner perceiycfi than tl^ si^ine was a^iai|d4|iied. It' ,
wqqM have ibruwo tbem iatp an iosolated ai|d ^parate body^ and coa«
seqaently shut them put of their great means of proselytizing, ^ ia«
sinnaiioQt nader cover and with the advantages of ^ rc^ar ipioittry
and Ic^al benefices. Tbey accordingly sold back tp fbe puke of
Ilollleip ti^ir lands in Nordstrand', for50/)00 crowns, which the Dnk^
was |o pay, not all in ready money, hot by ipslalments. In (be year
1699>, ^r. Nicole (a leading man of the party) be^uea(hed lo Madame
de Fonipertois (the Lady I^nntingdon of her day) the remainder of (ha
debfy that fell to his share. The bequest wa| made by a codicil td hh
will in these words : " I bequeath to Madame de Fontpertirts all tkaf
' " nay accrue to ine, as welP prfnclpftl as interest, from the Dnke iif
**' Holstein, fur the purchase be made of the lands we sold him ia-eom* '
'*' mon, situate in the island of Nordstrand^ by contract signed and de*'
* Ifvered in the presence of Booriier & Lorlmler notaries, of the Cha-
"* telet at Paris, the 18th or 20th November, 16T8.*' It is to be re-
marked, that tliis Nicole, thovgb he Jiever .could iie pievailed upon to
take Pricst*8 orders, fvas a most aealoss . leader Af tht party ; he co«
operated with Amaold in deliuidiQi? Jat)sen^m» and was the founder of.
the trust fund^ depoett or atoejf -parse,. .called X^a b,9tB^e J'ereUe^ so in-
stnmieaial ia forwarding the ipi^ejit^ mI the J^arty s g^hich jpi Jl^t
yielded anaiiaUy 40,OPO livres^ according to tbe wwprj^i^ pf Pri^idem
Holland* w|io coo^lains of bayvifig beep virtually 44|ia!*er)ted /^ kp. ,v.i^-
rie from tho.large ^gacics, whifh )ie Ifft^pihi? Cw^* Ufi ^r« f?*y? ^•f*
himself, thj^t the a^'air of Ihe fFje^uits ii;^ pg^ bim j^j^o.vf ^»QQO Uv^
ont of his.iH»a popkfkt, ^nd ni^i^h, ^4d«,her t)ie Jabpucs J iia^erTf^fK^
and particMlajrIy aftfir tbf 3 .cii^its, fvho .woald not havebecA ab/:4i4ie^« if.
I bod hot d(?vo««d to that purpose ojy iitafi, ^y li^i^lth an^ ^|r ^nippf^^ .
ought not i» hav^ VrpM^t upon ^ae ^ishf Jf ison by my mflc.
39
iSilfdw j<h irikjiSrt&I ejre Wer the ffetrrettirffiiifig V*!S^*> ^Mch f
trust will satisfy him^ that I did not without reason or prd(^
Uidt 6r aVsume, thi*t thfelidth'df of th^ fahtotis blueAboks pub.
|[sir^^glim§t thfe po^ei^'ai^ juHsdiiftibn df tli^ Bishop of ftott^.
Itie TmiisdctToils lii^ 'ttite p^yln !¥6ll)!iAa ^Mrf <he m»d!e ^^
>9liiisMil^'<i^ite lN>6 stpokij^ aficffo^icS'lo^tid HaWlnsidious and covert effiontf
ft^Wlo«tiat«8'tle>ttiig)isli aod trkl CsiUiolic Church to be passed o«fr ■
/iafl^OiGed. By tiit relofhnatieii the bkr^roby bskd become eztio^ttl^hetf
in Uo^modifUi iti^ad in England : and tbe Catholics were there subjected
as tliey are in fingk^id, to apostolic Vicars, having episcopal jurisdicddtt
and |>elttg bishops in pdrtibus» Att\f>p^st these Jansenisin bad macie Via*
'lent progress, ^eter Cod^de, the Arch-bishop of S&badte, hi 17!l,d«Btf1bir
'tat ^dktHt^lAiii i;tf6f^k)h d^>at)^rri^in, and fis^ecited the SacradMMU
#e^'ille bands' )7fa Mr. OUims^ Mho A^'hislike^roftsslon of JaMMfOk"
Aa4'^«4)de]^^ivdl iolf his fhcultiesrjiy the Pope,aJnd^as under intei^ic|4.
of couAedis^jaalifiedlof IheiaiaiUryr or,m:(hatftate« hi whtch Colnior- .
phonos fays,' withont mtssion^ be could -not. validly administer the saon*
mants. Then says the same, anon ymous aotbor, p..l 10.
. .41'" '
L*^l% there ao vicar apostplic in the place of the arch-bl^<$)^ 6f
"^Sebaster
'1). ^ ^hh 1*iaipe hii;d m^taied diie,'Tvbor iTfts very inufb to the BklBg 4f
^*9k patf^ Ikit he li^Fcd it^fy fcrw <days:'His HoUness has stnce^Mpictf^
^iiniUier, ButtldiStaCes, whniii these igentlelnen have enga^ in thflir.
^tOieiieMirefale to receive him. In 'short itj»ppear8,.they are resolved to.
f^ have-aificar of the new sect, or none at -all : that is to say, they are rc-
'^^pl^ to j)ush affiain to extremity and throw off the yoke of Rome.**
X. ^ But db tbe'Jansenlsts of Trance join with them In all this t*
i). «/Yes r ania'lt'is cteaVlyiJrtiired in ihelclters JtBt HoW mentioM^. '
^thfs'body Is {trisect Animated with the samfe spirft, that ads hi tbe
^ difi^nt '^air«9, and «eb ^ttery iq^litg ito motion. Bikt when the Jdfe-
> benists ^ lioU^Dd will ha^ vet np a Cbnrcb apart,, under the Slat^B
** prpteelion% their brethren, that are loo much streightened elsewhere,
<' will ran thither in crowds to taste the first fruit& of the liberty ^ey
** heretofore would have sought for beyond seas at Nordstrand.**
L, ** Beheld the new law-ef St, Cytatt well advanced, and his new
** church in great forwardness.*'
D. ^ Unhappily it is built upon the ruins of the true church : the only
^ pastors, that might httve ttiaintftlded the faithfbl in union with the Vicar
^ of Jesus Christ,'m«l)anishedIIMkMld^'and an- infinity of zealous Ca~
^' tholics an g€inz to be thepnjf of wolves in sheep's clvathingj*
40
*
and ColumbaaiUy were duo laborantes in Unum. (3 Vpl.
Hist. Ir. 820.) / *;
-Yaioly has Coluinl^anns, as Yiefoie observed, endeayoored to
draw off Ins theological pursuers .by misquoting Dr. Pointer'9
words (4 Col. 7): his wealds and forests, his patudi'e selve
hirsuii (^ Col. 83) superaboond with Colofnbantaa.deslrjictiTe
game: and it is hoped, thejr i%Ul not relax their earaf}€ti^0a69
M%ilst objects of their pursuit still temaln to be;hQBted dowA.
I rejoice to hare caught htm towards the ci^se of the chacn^,
tripj^ing or stumbling* very unexpectedly into a- frack of orilfo-
'doxy of prime importance. (5 Col. 121) '^*}f it shoWtf be
<^ pbj,ected, that the council of Trent has prdained it so, 1 an..
^^.fiwery.that this is one of a thousand demonstrations, thatcouii.
^^.cils-arc not iafuUible (except in articles of faith) <.*[ To4S9ch
only, I admit docs Christ's promisd:of infallitMlityoattach; as-
I have libonrinl to shew throughout my Chiii r di and fkate^ par.
ticularly in the 7th chapter of the 2d book, Inflltul6d- *< Of -the
^^.compatibility of the Roman Catholic's doctrine of (he itttku
*' libllitV of the church with the oTbsefvance of. their oath Jaad
*^thetr civil duties to the state." There I said (p. 2%\) ^-^ A inaa
^^•oeas«s> to be a Roman Catholic,'! who ceaaes to ^^eT;'^^ «4^t
^^- Jesus Christ promised to teach all truth to hi»icharch'iiU-:ibe
*^ end of time: consequently, that the faith,' which '^lie'tloW
^'teaches, is the same, which he revealed to his ijE)08tle8':tm^
^' therefore that in declaring his revealed docfrincy th'e/cttorch
*^ can not err, or deceive us. The inerrancy, therefore, of the
^^ church, according to the true and fair exposition pf Rojqca
^^ Catholic doctrine, is nothing, more nor less, than the promise
^^ of God to preserve and contiuue the identity of that faith,
*^ which Christ revealed, and taught whilst upon>earth, and his
" apostles after his ascertsioti preached t(^ all nations.*' But *
Quid non mortalia pectoia cogts
Auri sacra fames ? ' • ;.*.••
To what excesses pf a rav'ning mind.
Docs holy lust of- mttre drive nMinUnd^. >
Priar Peter Walsh, professor of diyiaity in the l!?th, and th«
ReT.C. O'Conor .doctor of dirinity in the 19th century, both ot
them fastidioasly tenacious of their orthodoxy, botib of ihemta2
serting the jure divino rights of priests to a special mission for fe« '
sisting and reforming church abuses in their c6untry, both chiinu
ing the advanced post in approximating the Catholic charch of
Rome to the reformed church of England, both preaching up
the duty incumbent upon every true son of the church (Pref. I0
Let. 7.) to vindictde her from (he imposture qf tedci$ and Hi
her once right in the opinion of ProteHuntSy both iiavSag be«i
foiled in their wishes to obtain an Irish mitre, hoist the flag of
Anti-poper^fy and fonhally enlist in their service the most via*
lent oppugners of the holy See, who had signalised themselvea
in the ranks of that corps, whidi I have before remarked to b«
properiy speaking the puritans of the Roman Catholic Churcfau
A corps lugUy disdplined in the mixed tactics of Jolm ClJviE
and Bishop Jansens : famed beyond all otheir corps for aeal^
craft, address, versatility, eitmvagance, activity and perseve«
ragace ia recruitiiig and proselytizing: and mdre renowned (pt
their dexterity in suiprizes, feints, ambuscades, miaiu,^ 8ap«
ping, bush fighting, masking, and other refined ruses de guerttf
tina in open deeds of valor in the field. Like Orangemeji^^
they are secretly confederated against Popery, whilst they af«
feet greater purity of loyalty and religion than their n^hbours^
they profess their exclusive views to be, to give strength to one^
4md perfection to the other. They are h^rp^Uc^Xlf closed
, against divulu^ the time^ place or term? of thdr euli^tmeat^
who was their xecrijiitiagsf^jeant, yiko is their pay .master, who
their commanding officer.. Although dKumstantial, accumu^
lattve or ioferible evidence may .i^ot pi^tdfice^ copjj^^iion under
a jcrimioal imdictaient, it suffices to bring ^li^t.j^^. truth nru
der historical jttirestig^tipn* ^ For this purpose it behoves ine t<>
dev^V'p to L(isbmea as w^U as Eagiishmm the doctrines and
character,,^ ibe truiif CalhoUc ,ahd learned Ricksrtusy and
soosc.of t\gifjfrsf^r,aiid French Cathoiic theologians^ whose opi«
nioos ioMf^ ]iifai^^anarnestly i»sorted to by these two inflex*
'^ - , F
»"-<i/\
42
ible professors of the most refined orthodox^r. Edrnund Illcher<^
T7as a man oC gre.it learning and impetuositj- : in the turbDlent*
limes of the Ljaguc in F.ance, he went the length of extoUing
the act of Jacques Ciemcnt, the fanatical Dominican F.iar, who
ajsassinatcd Henry III. i'j a public thesis^ the very year after he
hAd taken the decree of D. D. A- D. 15S1. lie forcibly main-
ti^ed the true (whig) (jiinciples of civil. power^ little congenial
with the courtly d.;CtrinvS cj ar absolute monarchy, h\H en--
glEafted upon thoni all the Puiitan |>riiiiency and excess in their
appltcatior), which brought Kin^, Charles la the block. —^
Cardinal (ia P rron, m a letter to Casauhon, quotes (be words
of ih€ urigiiial';thtf»is, which he had in his possesbion. '' Henry
'*»dH. wKo.faad forfeited hisiword with the S:tates, was justly-,
''iparto death as^a tyrant, and all, who resemble him ought not j
'* only t6 tk pursued by armed resistance, But by private as^ .
^^ sasbi nation, amd that Jacques Clement, who killed him, had
^^lieen inspired .by no other passion, than zeal for church dis. *
^'tipiine and love of thi law», his country, and publitt liberty^ :
*' of wWch he was the avenger and protector.'* -»
* Not onfy diil Richer err in misapplying and abusing triie
pVincipfcs^' (if civil government, but he wandci-ed further and
mofe grossly froiri the truth, by assuming the sname principles
add applying them to {Spiritual power. He eertainly teid rert •
'ruly, but in very bad Latin : " Jure divino et naturali, omnx.
'^ buS perfectis Communitatibus et civil! societatc prius, imme. '
^^ diatius atqde' essential! us competit, ttt scipsom- gubernet^ *
<^ quam alicui honiini singufari aut totam societatem et Com^
'^ munitatcm regfat. Neque spatta tetnporum, neque privt.
*^ legla locprum, neque dignitates prrro"narum unquam pr^er?-' '
" here poterunt." (Dc Ec^l. Pot. c. 1 & c* G.) I gi^e the •
passage in the origfnal language, and oif^r under corri^ion *
my own tindersfanding of the text. Perhaps the Ridttrian'Dr. •
Charles O'Cbnor may give his countrymen a version itiore et>n« '
genial with the lubricous sense and fugitive import of the Words
of the Caivino»Jan9ef^aicai author^ After all tovmmldes
and civil society hzd been once perfected by the law of God and
V,
43
Nature, it was more imoi^ediately an^ essentially coinpeteat for
then) to gOTero themselves and the whole society and communityi*
than for any particular individual to dQ so; against which ti^
lap^e of time, no local privilege, nor personal dignity can ^r^«t
scribe. In prppoonding and applying these principles oT polid;,
cal government to the kingdom of Christ or Church i^ovemAenf-
he grossly, and I fear (like too many of (lis fpllo^^rs in letter j/^
blue books and addresses to Ireland) maHiclonsiy attempted to
transfer, th^ appointment of church governors from th6 Yieal*
of Christ to the Civil Magistrate. He adopted all {he^ inrinci^r
pies and doctrines of the recreant and sc||iismatical Arch-Mshofr
of Spalatroy who came over to England iii 1616 to flatter 'an^
bamboozle our pedantic James, by whom, (though a foreigner)'
l^e was promoted to several church livings; and to publish witlt^
security Francis PaolJ's history of the Council of Trent, as he
did in Londou, 1619, under the anagrammatical disguise' bf
Pierre Suave Polanoy for Paul Sarpi de Venise. A fuH ac-i-
count of his doctrines and their refutation may be seen in mf
Church and State, fp. 189, 190) Gregory XV. who had been .
his early friend and school.fellow, prevailed upon him to retum*
to his See and to his duty. He mounted a ])ulpit in London,'
•
a^d openly retracted every thing he had said or published agatmtt'
the holy See. This so much irritated James, that he deprivect*
him of all his ecclesiastical livings, and ordertd him out of the*
kingdom in three xlays. His versatility and insincerity weire**
such, that in the year 1623, in which his friend died, he wrpte'
to England, within nine months after he left it, that he rc^ractecP
his retractation. Some of his letters were intercepted and af* '
ter the death of his school .fellow, he M^as confined ^y his sue'
cessor, Urb?in the VIH. in the castle of St. Angelo, and (h^^
he died in 16i25. — Ilicher. the follower of his schlsmatical docl'
tripes, ineptly applied his political principles of government to^
the church of God: whereas Bossuet's addre'ss to the Catholic
■ - * * ■
church (he really was a irulti catholic and learned man) rightly
informed YiXxfi and the rest of his insidiously malfcipns and mi8-\
F? ■ ■ ■•
44
ebicfODt kk#oI of tlie diffarence. Ye are a people j & ttatty
miodei^: but Jena ChrUiy mho is your Hngy koldt noihing
from gou : ki$ mUhorHy iiof a higher origin. You have no
greaier righi /a.Mgf, who $hatt he his wunisiers, than you have
^ ^Vpoint him to be gomr sovereign. (Vid. dw applicttioQ
of tkis whole paiMge ip a note History of Inland since mdon.
S ¥oL p. 603) On the IStli of March, 161S, the prorindal
E^nod of Sens, composed of the Cardinal dn Perron, Arch.
Usbop of Sens, and the .Bishops of P^ris, Aozere, Heanx>
OrU^aOj Trojes, Nevers, and Chartres condemned at Paris
Riclier's treaty of ecelesioHieal and political power^ as eon*
taining many propoiUionSj expositions aud allegations^ false j
erronoopsy scandalous and sounding schismatical and her^ical.
The Biihop of Peris, on the 16th of the same month, pnblishejl
a pastoiraly. by which he ordered, that this censure shonld be
read after the prones (or homilies) in ercry parish : the same
treaty was cosdemped on the 24th of May by the Arch*bishop
qf AiX, and the Bishops of Riez, Frejns and Sisteron,' his
SQi|ia|pBiis : and afterwards was condemned at Rome. He was
removed from hit office, and liyed in disgrace and retirement till
the 9Mi of Norember, 1631 : he is reported to hate gireo into
his iHshop.a fall written retractation of his errors about dghteen
lapoths before his death. After he was dead, the party, always
enthusiastically jealous of the inflexibility of thdr leaders, gate
out a tale, rondied for by no living witness, disguised by gros^
anachronism, and improbable to ha?e happened without pro.
dudi^ a uniTersal and alarming outcry in those days of party
violence^ namely, that he was invited to dinner by the famous
Pere Joseph the Capncin, the confidant and active favourite
of Cardinal Richlieu, where four armed ruffians started from
behied the arras, and with poigaards at his throat, obliged
him to sign the retractations^ and that he died two days after
of fear, chagrin and hum]lia;eion. The truth or falsity of the
incident rendered his doctrine neither more nor less CathbBc*
I cannot help remarking, that I find no mention made of any of
45
the secdtid ordeir of tl^e clergy baring' assisted' ai the Sy«od'^t
Council <if ^Setis: and that the sentence of the P^rekitef^ only -it
recorded, t bare been induced to offer this obserratioo to my
reader, bedinse Dr. O'Conoi* has gone the length of making
a Tcry deceptire and insidtoiis assertion, (S Cok 9^1) t)uil
^^ Priests hare jitre dMno k right to teach Christianity; that
^^ they are bound to denotlnce heretical do€fi4n«s^:and:to'4i(eitll
^^ doctrines of f^h atid rulfes^f discipline Ifl ^Sj^vu^l^,' iih whldi
^^ their crf^^cfoncels always necessary, whihl that <rf the B<f^iUy.
*^is iiot>* Tfe te?4?al/bt mther tirificlrGoa ai tUoherUm
at the commencement of th^ French revolution, ncrt only helped
to put down the French monarchy, .but itilm^iatel^ produced
the cioU constitutioii of the French clergy, of which so muck
has been beibre said, and which has been so tenderly spoken of^
S6 fondly cherished, so artfdlly countenanced by all the modem
Rtcherion advocates for national churches ander the influence^
cohtroul and festtaint of the lav». it was net Without reflec*
tion, that I observed, that the Jansenists mi^t not be impro.
perly called the Puritans of the Roman Catholic Churdi* —
Richerism is the nonstrbus offspring 'of their secret intriguea
and antipapal furor. The fanatical priest Ante du Bourg^ who
was executed in 1559, under Heury II. for an infuriate and
treasonable speech in parliament, in favor of the Calvlnists,
and for violently supporting thdr doctrines, under grievous
suspicion of having been implicated in the assassinatioa of the
President, Menard, one of his judges, not only held the
doctrines, which Richer afterwards took up and supported as
to civil government, but he signed the following formula of
his religious creed. '^ I believe the power of absolving and re.
'^ taining, commonly called the Keys of the Churchy to have
^' been given by God, not to one man or to two, but io the
<^ whole church, that is, to all the faithful and those believing
^^ itt^ Jesus Christ." Such precisely is the doctrine of Richer
and of Quemel the Pope of the Jansenists : upon the condem.
nation of* whose cieed, by the See of Rome, Columbanus dls.
46
canti with such mysterious sympathy (4 CoL 11) % shoold not
kUTe said so much of the iriUy catholic Richer^ had I not felt
ii a duty to arrest the attentioa of the goTemors of su^ parta
ft the catholic church, as ^e within the dominions of Bii
Miyestf^ ap4 of such of Hia Majesty's serTi^ots, as are or may
be entrusted i^itb the rejns of gpTernment, to the origin, na«
tore, mdoptioo^ covnteoance, extension, use, abuse^ «Kl?antage^
asischief^ daiigeri eaccsies, and fatal resiilts of JtscAfTfinn. I
give them both an awful warning, ii| the execution of thei[^ r^s*
pecti?e cAari^, to \eep a w^hful eye, and a well nenred
tan upoa each of the Richerian School, who haie insidiQuslj
attempted to introduce any of the peculiar maxipis, doctrinea
and practices pi their truly catholic master into the B.ritish em^
pire,- whether as reqipnstrants in the 17th century, nspraiesim
ing catholic 4ii9enter$ in the 18th, or in the 19.th as Jure iCu.
vino pr^sbjters, as. governors and teachers of a national churchy
as importers of a dvif consUttUion fox the English and IrisU
catholic clergy, as manufacturers of home-made B^hops, . as
refa«iH»dfa u i , l,,.lt » . ^ « «.,«,, ^Cbmbanian,, or nn.,
dcr whatever guise, fofu^, 0|> appellation a Richerist may be dis.
tinguisbed.
I should fall short of r^y duty to the public, were ( not to
draw the attentioa of my readers to the 'characters, doctrines
ami conduct of some of the mqre prominent of the Jfi.r.sUTat^
French Catholic theohgians^ upon whose Authority the rpre*
rend and most learned reformer attempts to recommend hisr
errors and falsehoods to his countrymen. Dupin, whom he.^
quotes more frequently than any other, was certainly a man ojT.
learning : he was a professed Richerian^ and openly preached
his errors, even after Richer had solemnly abjured them. The*
learned and inflexibly orthodox Boss uet, finding his writings,
unsound and dangerous, prevailed on the great Harlay, Arch*
Bishop of Paris, to condemn them. For his doctrines and
Cf^nduct he was deprived of his Chair in the Sorbonne, aB4
banished to Chattelei>aut in 17Q3. He also publicly (perhaps
^«
4T
nol sincerely) retracted. He ifas allowed to return to Parii^'.
though he nerer re.6btained his Chair in the Universtty.--^
Cl^medtXI. thanked Louis' XIV. for having chastised him^
and in the brief, which he addressed to the Kfng on that qe^
caision, he ealls Doctor Dupin'a man of ver^ unsound doti^
tfiiU^ imd giiiUy of nian^ outrages upon the Hoii/ Se^.^^
He was"* for a long time in dose correspondence with Wake^
Arclufiishojp of Canterbiiiy, He (like some other modern
Richerists) affected great anxiety for, and facility in coalescing*
with the naiiomU established church of Eni^land. Ut>on''^^s^'
ctons of hi^ iqsiaoerity |Mid irrq^ritj of conduci^Iie was fdr^'
ther proceeded against su(id^ his papers were' sazed on the idtJEf^
Februaiy, 1719^ amopgst ijFhi^b Lafitau, Bishop of Sisteron,
who was present when th<*y were brpught into ih^JPalais Royal,
rend one, which expressl)^ maintained, ^^. that qur principles of
^^;faith aught Tery well accord with those fi,f the church of
<^. England. Jt maintained, that wUhont altjeripg the integrity
^^ of our dogma, they mtght abolish auricular cppfes^ion, and
^^ spe^ no inoriB of transubstantiali«3f^ in tU^ sacrament of the
^.f Eudiarist, abolish religious Vows^* kpock off fasts, abji^ti*
^^ nenceaiuMent, dispense M^th the Pope, and permit priests to
^^ marry.'' After his death a woman €laitn^, ras his widow, ,
her legal rightsin his property^ ' It is npt>irrele?ant here to ob-
seflT^, that Lafitau, who wrote the Histoosyiof the Constitution
UnigenUusy remarked^ ^' that Quesnelism in^ at bottom, real
'^Calvinism, which not daring to shew itself openly in Frince^
^^ concealed itself under the errors of the times. This is wlkat .
<^ was seen in the fiunons projects, which the Quesnelisis had
*' for uniting the Gallican Church, with the established Church •
^ of Engldnd." He further says upon putting some very na-
tural results from their sympathies; ^^ Itis unquestionable, that ^
^^ we should then see the Quesnelisis openly coalesce with the '
<< Protestants, in order no longer to make separate bodies, as
*^ they now make but one sod with them." See tiie confirma.
' ■'••..■ ' ■ * ■ _
tion of this judgment of lii^im €iN9fermed by that of EdmUnd
^4S
B^nrke iridi raferepoe i9 tbe Pr0i^stit^ CaikoUc Dtsteniers*
Hifttorj of Ireland fcom it*i Uoioo, S Vd. 7Qa
Lauhois is Motker of Doctor O'Conor's ^fnf Frauk
ikeologtam, aod a i^an certainlj \a was of great emditioo :
vai in higli estimation with the Jasteiiistical part}^ : iie held
for a considerable ^saeMondt^ conferences at his own hoeseii
which were eagerijr resorted bj the partj ; the general topic
wasdefience of Rkheritm: they were stopped by an order of
the King in 1636. From his zeaTior depurating i^gion^.bj
striking^ off non-essenti^U, he was called Le Deni^wr det
Sfumts^ Uncanoniser . of Saints. 'He*'raEIier chose td h^ ^slL
pelted the Sorbbnne, than 'sigii'^' obMtt of 'Amanld^ fcbtu
demned by Rome and Oie 'tiallicati 6fttxdi, 'HeVeiit ftiither^'
by pnblickly writing agalnst^felftfi^Qlidf '^e'ki^bljyiof tSnf
clergy, in 1656. ' That genenfl i^srafbiy* V^ the der^ of
France, or national Synod, consisted of 17'Ardh-tl^b6ps, 57
Bishops and ^ Deputies 'of the second dfdc^r ; 'and #iey eia*
mined, reriewed and approred of whaferet* hid been dene mp
to that time, against Jansenism.
As ft is probable, thai tibe fire EfMolw Cchmtami td Hy^
Ifcmosj and particnlatly the last, w^h has sweUad-tejond
the size and cost of a pamphlet, and this letter may not fall no.
der the same eyes, I early claim thanks of tte Inost kaned
Doctor, for oontribatiiig my iasigniiicant mite towards the laora
general circulation •of -dttt estraordiaary effort €i Genlas, -mtm
imHubiU fulmeu^ by which he has blasted his op^qpents^ daass*
ed and anathematiaed enry -word of their boqks, tanght wretak*
ed mortals how to disarm "the anger . of the GodS| and placed
himself o?er th^ pigiay crew of his assailant^ in the menacing
attitode of jinftiUr tonoM. Uj& Umnfied tke board* oj fie
Vaiicany ami all Ol^mpjis trembled at his npd. (6 Col. i97>
Quo9 ego. As XhU will -be iqy last ^flotation on this subject
the reader muisut Jiot be too ab.i:M^U]r^ surprized. Let hun he
gradually pr<^ci^/Qi:'th^ blast.findexplosion. '.
Some emiiVQiU. Aaipiers ,ba¥e indulged their thirst af^ poat-
humous icenonrn by ip^'odufiins; th^ own jportrai^iato ccynpi* '
4»
Cu6as charaGters in ibeir mo^l cdebraM y^
appears so fond of his own features, that ht u^ M^wt.*
oat of his hands a single picture, or tevcA t mm**
they are not to be most j^tinctlj teeo§tAL&L f <^„,.^^^
applied to him what Flaccus said of
Tigellius : '^ Nothing was ever like thai".
^^ was ever so unlike to. himself,^* As, howetcr^
lays in high pre^eii^/oyif /^o a name and repiUaihm im UL^i
Tully's rnks of histoiy, it becomes my daty t» twa^i^ 4I
general conduct and character^ which he has assqaMtf. «^ ^
which, therefore, cotemporary and future gciieniti4»t f^ ^^t
judge of him. The part, which he has undertaken or saUR6«tiv?
to play in this tragi-comic farce, was cast for and by biMMif
and we are to examine how he performs it. The character U
as new as Caliban's, in Shakes pear's Tempest.
Si quid inexpertum scenae committis, et audea
l^ersonam formare novam : serretur ad imum
^ualis ab incept o processerit : et sibi constet. Hor. Art of Poet^
If on the boards a character you place
NewformM, and to your auditors unknown,
Beware, that from his entrance, none do trace
A line, a trait, a feature, but his own.
He is classical to the back-bone : he keepn his mantiscrlpt be*
yond the probationary teiith year nonumque prematur in
annum. He plunges with the patriotism of a Curtius into the
poddle : mindful of the Roman caution
Ddere licebit
Quod non edideris : nescit vox missa reTerti.
You may correct, what in your doset lies. •
If published, it irrerocably flics. Fras. Hor. Art of Poetry*
Once his literary cestrum had driyen him before the public,
his progress into towering consequence was rapid as the bolt of
Jove. On St, Patrick's day 1810 he replaces the washed off
rouge, mounts the strolling cart of Thespis under a borrowed
name, and modestly discl^ibs all refinements of language or
elegances oj stile. (Advertisement to ColambaniiB--<-the play»btU
G ■-■ ■•:•-■ ■ ' ■
5»
hv fiat fqliUA igoeanncc
Qai iTiift^ ■ pim i l i m tacwicti iSlpiMB^Qra.
Carried llif la g i mt plafsis in a cait^
flii^ o'er tbe Cfwv4 Ck^afanie tri!» mppMMp.
And pfcnr*d ad 9«ii5 w*lh leorfiiinrbfiin^, FJ^A^,
Exalted merif soon sponifd £^^niM>: fie wiadfcr off due ppiny ;.
crowd onTeitctf tie i&jsterj fb T91^: flCoU 9> ^Iluyti*'-
<• ^thor of the letter signed CofoMftonRr, aiMre^wd to |)bo '
<- people of Ireland.'* Bat on ffte rehnm of St^ AfiMjL's '
dav 1812, a sta^ is erected Under a Bcencfd pattodo^ ftttifll->
with a dedication to the great Maecenas. (Bschjfos £9ptoy« klft .
powers, pomp and gr^^tness on the boards.'
JP ost Lunc persoooe paIT<cQue repeitor honcstae > - .. '
CBschylus, et modicis instrarft putpita tigni?, -
£t docQit magnamqnc loqni, nkique cotkurno.
Then (Escbjlos a decent Tizard ns'd ;
Built a lovT stage; the flawing rgjbe diffased ;
la laf^va^e more subline his s^c^tors rage,^
.'And in tbo gi«Ge£i4 buskin tread thc^ sta^e. Fr^s. Hor. A. P.
f 5 Gol. 9^) ^ Some abMdasoiis paBi|>blets, disgi^ceful to the
^^ literature and to the mannen^of our conntrj^ iMiie appeared
*^ in reply to Columhanus^ (8) ^* Howerer repugnant these
^^ pretensions may be to the dnctri^e of St, P^ai^ Ifityfiur obe^
^^ dience be ralionalj^ j«t CQuld I ipake allowances for the
'^ HBnywajrdaeisf pC tJ^ohvinan will^ wivcji.alt^ays. tends to despp.
'^ tinay and eTCft ijb |r tJ||c$e strange publiqations, if I cputd db.
^^cotser itithm^ any -oig^ <|uaJI^,. \$fhich migh^ render them ^li^
^^lafliUe to t. oh^iiMii Uf^t^* . Sqjfkctmes. e^en the most im-
^< pioiia doctrifi^ cq^^ r^cooamencled Uy persplqnify : if the'
^^msaimM, ar^ pr^lig^ y^t Ibe Iftppa^e js terse; lack of
^iJtkpjA^nvLy Vp WFeli«4 l\J ?^ sj^Ie^^ttpn p( tjle Qlioi^est w6r<b ;
** Iqr splendor of imagery : by virtcity anid phyfulnesirorwItH!
51
• ■ • ■
«* But in ihest i$Ati6kfii)n5, eacil' riuggtish^ine flrfe^^ (^ flip
^' from the oommon p1ace.bo61t) like a carthorse carryiiiglttti]^
** belr aft^r his leader, 1i?ith a stupid itt'otiotoiiy of nbikH^e,
<i vulgarity of epithet, and coatsfettess ot "fcaltiftmy, whtch titl
^ poses theiif writets to tlerrsltin, and thjiar abetttifs to Asgrtt-cel
** Here te fieiftei- thtdhgif nbt hiAory. An^eriltiit dfter m^t^
*^ //o)!, foitetred hiete and thei-e by a ttlstralAfe i/%^n se^ifft^r^
^ 8eem3t5>tafte l&e an idedt) at that strange thing, which pre-
^^ ceded, ^d that srtitinger thing, which follows it t and te^ng
^ itself out of place, add out of time, thf^feiftig with €Old,
*^ starvedwithiongw, pinohfed witi poverty, c6tis^^n%^ weak-
^ Hess, bnd looking rontid to erery eontigmnis #erd A^«{>i»f:
^ tioft of life, it s^etos With a bteggarly tone to petition i^ U
^^ pittance of animation to save it from despair. ("Brdo^K^JHO !)
*** Qbtumhcmtii Would honestly acknowledge siipetihr^^^ if
<* Iiot of truth or argifmcftt, ^ l^ast of briHfaMiy atid rvigioMl*,
^^ if he saw even the sophistry of his cottntryiqan 'Cefe^stiio : it
<^ he could find falsehood screened by letoTjCkente, or ignoM^<!^
^ by style. Splendor of dictiOn und f^rtkfty pf Idttcy iwiveir a
^^ multitude of sius. (Symptom^ of Cohitniunittn fetMtts.}
<^ But here ik falsehood in all its defortoft^.^f h thcSfer efAMoiil
<^ of dulness, and invc»tiotiB c^ malignity, We £nA neither Ht'«p
<< mony of cadence, nor vigour of construction, neither truth
^^ in the premises, nor accuracy in the couclt^sions* However
^^ Irishmen inay be accused Of Mndering in conversation—
*^ 8i|rol^ we are not^tipi dtgffSTjt qf our fij>,» gruv^i^ ^s to truct
<5 fci€ to^widi blmukci^g as titfi. "^
^^ Is Columbamis pia/ctifedJUi tiie J!l(^c^j^.copkavj( jart of toifing
^^ and booing to suph stupidity of intellect? such starvation of'
^^ mind? Heliopes not.— He will no't qffecl modesty, where he
^^ is conscious of auperior vigour : nor does he apprehend, tSiat
^^ be can^ {n the eyes of any rajtlohal observer^ be liable, to the
^' imputa^pn of ^elf-cpncoit,. if arguiojg from the incoherent and
^^jaiipid efinsipn^ of jndjg^sl;^ malignity^ which disgrace th^
i^. ^kif pilg^n ft (f^hfihiyf^ da^fis to assert^ ih^X h^ymf only
G%
53
^ SQcIi feeble opponents to encounter, he can walk at his leisure
^^ and eren loitore orer the coarse.'*
(131) '^In rain does he hope, that Columbanus . maj be
^^ tanght by falsehood, or proroked by insolence io descend
V from that superiority, which historical truth and manly arga»
^' ment haTe conferred into a contemptible warfare of persiMia^
'^ lity. No, — Columbanus wiU not brawl with defeated spleen,
<^ nor will he hurl back the rerilings of disgraced ignorance.-—
^^ Imputations of heresy, and excommunications of malice are
^^ cheap commodities, in which it is beneath the dignity of a
^^ Columbanus to contend: Nor ought the tongue, which has
^^ been consecrated to piety, to be profaned by slander, o^ thei
^^ nfe, which has been dedicated to religion, ta be contaminated
^* by malice.**
(Jb. 10.) ^^ No — He will not disguise or disgrace his real
^^ character by any fictitious appearance of humility. Every
*' hypocritical cry of religion in danger, ^ery fraudulent, cla-t
^^. mour of sphism and heresy ^ every attempt io abuse the piety
f^ ^f-the people, and to take advantage of their i^orance,^
f ^ Columbanus' heart swells with the generous eagerness of hl^
t^ ancestors to oppose : and lus pen is determined, in defia^AC^.
f ^ of all calumny, to detect.'* Q,uos e^o—
No. IV.
Proofs of the Truth and Applicability of what Is asserted id
the following Passage of the Note concerning Columbanus^'
Hist, of Ireland since the Uhian^ 3 vol, p, 820.
*^ His charge of the author being misguided by foreign ti|^
^'fiuencQ men^ he can no otherwise understand, than'^hafin
'M 791,. when the Protesting Catholic Dissenters broached
^' certain doctrines, which the Author conceived bore too hard
'' upoo the spiritual supremacy of the head of the Christiaii
'' hierarchy, he wrote the
^' Sir Richaird Musgrave
le Case Stated^ which oppugned t&rm,
1^ flie'b^y*t)iEifs&iiliie^Auth6i^ii awaril
53
^^ of, that has noticed ia priat that publication. As, howeYer,
^' Columbaous's first letter is made up of the general substance
U and matter contained in and compiled by Mr. Butler for the
'^ fampijLS blue books, published at that time against the powers
*^ and jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome, it would be folly
^' to deny, that they were duo Idborantes in unum : and if the
^' author could ha^e foreseen in 1805 these sympathetic ener«
*^ gies of the Rer. Doctor "with Lord Sidmouth's.tool, he too
^' should have 'had a hand in instigating Cerberus to bark at
^^ Erin and her religion, in the frontispiece of the author's his^.
<^ torical letter to Sir Richard Musgrave."
The courteous reader is respectfully reminded, that what was
published by me' twenty years ago, could have had no personal
allusion to Columhanus^ whom I then had nerer heard of, nor
to any thing, that he has published within these two last years:
hut it is earnestly requested, that the full and fair bearings of
the extracts from my Case Stated^ which was written in answer
to the blue books in 1701, may, by transposition, be applied
to Columbanus' fire addresses, published in 1810, isil and
18 IS, as conclusive evidence, that their respectiye authors wer0
duo labor antes in unum, Q. £. D. It formerly was a max*,
im of the schools. Qum sunt eaden utd tertioy sunt eadem
inter se. In application of this maxim, which I hope is not
extinguished by the new lights^ I humbly beg leave to remit my
leader's reminiscences to the whole, but more particularly to
the latter part of the preceding number of this Appendix.
Having in my last history explicitly avowed, that the object
of my Case Stated was to make head against docftrines, which
bore too hard upon the supremacy of the head of the Christian
hierarchy, I do not reject the claim, wMqh those, who join with
Golumbanus in charging me with making assertions without
proofs, have to call upon me for evidence, that the author of
the blue books and Golumbanus were duo laborantes in unum.
I wrote against the two first blue books in 1791 to unmask a
battery, from which a jery destmctive fire was kept np against
the prerogatives, commissions and supremacy of: the; holy See.
In 1812 I have to repel the atrocious open charges of a despem
54
radoy who (ore voment ignes) dhgorges his random fire at
tnrery person and ercry object, tbrough and bjr which he can
annoy, wound or demolish the chair of Peter. Whoexer will
loBji^rtially peruae the three bloe books, two of which were
pobKfibed in 1791 and the third in 179^, and compare theiq
doiely with the fire addresses of Columbaons^ will be at no loss
to disoover the ttatn sprki^ from which both streams take their
ionree; They maj readily trace their windings, their occasional
dips nnder frocnd, their whimsical re-appeanpioes, tfadr smooth
rippling through iiowerj meada, tfceir ftMioaiiti^ falls from rocks
and moontaraa,. their aettleiaeiit into qoiet and expansiTe lakes,
thdr gradual confiaencfe, their angry swell into toyrcnt^ thai
loatn and rage and bear havock and de^mction in their boiste«
f oas coarse.. It woidd iosnilt ft reader to attempt to conduct
litm throngh this watery labyrinth ak>ff^ all the ramified streams^ •
which have worked their chanaels through the interminable
lAlckS of the spiritnal kingdom. Suffice it for me in 1812 to
Hffirr In repty to ColumiMinus^ what 1 s^ iii 1791, npon a
Test trap and mock docility to spiritnal power,
*^ It 18 the duty of an historian to represent the persons^
^ whose actions he rektea, as truly and faithfally sys the actionf
^^ tbemschc^. By /ar the greyest nvmber of the Kngli^L
^ RiaaMin Catholics of rank atod fortune have^ thn^^nghpnt th^
^ wliole of the b^sini>6s^ sided with the eomiaifctte«; th^ng^
^^ some «if that descriplioii hare,, froan the bcjgin nia^^ djsallowe^
^^ tiM^r commfssioa, ethers hare rcmaiaed tetany im^^i and
^^melew hvfe^ latterly, afaf^i^ tm ^|^. 'Pp^fSitloA tto
*^ their ikieasures. 0% the other («de, the fioar .4po6(toUcai
^^ Ticats, by far difc greartest ai»ih«r of ib%;{loiDan Cath^dif
^^ elergy, some ^nons cf itaak >and ft^tuiie, latod % ^^r th^
^^ greaitest wambtsr of the rokltViag and dourer classes, 4)f Biomaa
^^ -CathoHcs^ tore ^ectt (fatren to the iiaOYtifyji^f nepes&it^r of
^ patiiicly wippc^tag the awnsures t>f the oo|«ai|ttieejg «ad theip-
*^ «ip|n>s^39^ ilssiks <DndBr «GodD to the lifaeraUt^: f^ v^jfidoa^
^nf pkrliioBianl, hnismi crom^ocd vtlth tAit^CM>$i ^i^l^lP^iH^^e^^^
* '.•»•■ •-....
55
<^ The first act, whieh tn-mgs jm into puMic, is tli6 prateata** ^
<' Hon ; wlkieh^ ay tH^ gontl^Qi^^ of the comiBittee say with
*^ ttudih, zaassigj^ ijf c^i- th^ (^posffiUc vicars* anil their com
" mdjutars^y ai^ miikJWf eme]^ti<xns^ ifuleedy btf all the clerg^j
''and btf>M tA& MiyeJ a,tsy. GOJise,quence in the kingdom of
^^ England* Ami the^hLTi\ieT tdil xxs^ ^at the signing of the ^
*^ proiBstaHan zim Mitmdfid, wiik ih^ most salutary €{ffectsi
*^ prejacdie^ agmn^t m trOff^li^ ^bs£ded,,a?idp as mei^ and
'''^€i6iaon^ me f^mdi our^el^e^ t^gi^ni/i^ t(f. be^re^tored to the
'^- confidence amtqff^eif^iioiM of the p^bU<^'[-r^Vift. C(i.St, k% 59.
• Thct protestalifiiy. p^/<9ra«l dis^^Q^alof. maQ^ ]iQxioa9 opi^
nioiis imputed to Roman Cat^olicsj sigi^ b.y l^^iS, p^r^ons of
raak^ fprinse ai^d reftp^i^biiUy,, is.^i^l to. I^e d^o^it;ed i» tt^e
lAAihskMusettm^. I(f ifiU: U^us^e/^, ^hex^focc^ to tcouble the
reaidep ^h a copy o^.^mmt^ ofj it,, ^lij^a^fl^ifc imn^ediately r^lfttips
to the oath^.iMto whicl^r H^coxA^B^ip^ co^teadisd the fujbetance
of the pro^oatatioii; >v«a6^. (^mp^qssed. This I call a test trap^
because it wasi a inaj|if^v?^fQep trap the body of the Catholics
ID an unrptevded 4is<^l^VW-^^°^^ ^^ the highest jurisdicfiojE^al
priCirp^tWefr oCOhrii^t> Yicfw vpon earth: tp,^ij(aqyiate them
by as^bscnptlD& ta a (ormula, at. yariaiBce. ivith t)ic^r practical
sjt^binisa^il to the ai^tho^Ity of a liriog 4^^$® ^^ controTersy in
t^ church^ Whea th^ writer for. the committee had moulded
the protestation ii\to the form pf ai;! oath, the four Catholic
English prelates having been first {ippnzed of it by the opea.
channel of the newspapers. m.et in synod, considered th6 tento
oi i(^ and published the following
- ■ ■ ■• • • ^ • • , ,->.•..
'^ ENCYCUCAL LETTER,
['^^ Addrened (o aflihe Fmtkfui^ bo^ Clergy andLedtg^ in
^^the Four' Districts of England, fty 1f§€ Fbwr Kicats
' ' ' ^' Apastoiic, Charlie Rankaiehy Jmntet B^than, T%amtt9
' ^ Jkon, and Mi^em Omnmei{. •■"
. -- • ' - ■ ■.:..;:•:. ;:• .' .; '
. « 94 Pat Ba«]^ p. 9^. 1^ '^ t^^M^ hei^ to nMef^tion^ tba^ the g^ n*
Hemen of the committee pablished, at different times, iifo ^ue Books,
at joH'JMytyy? giccat •£ t^eir own condaet, and c,ic<;iilated them gratis
throoghoat the nation.
56
** Deariv bdoieJ Eteihxru^ aad CUUres of ChrfcC,
'* WE think it nec^«^iy to notifj to too, tkit, kiTiiig beid
<^ a meeting, on the iMi of October 1789, after Biatsre d^L
^' >»<'*«*^''« aod prerious discasaon, we vnainaioiisly condemned
^' the new form of an oath, intended for the Catholics, pub.
«< lished in Woodfali's Register, Jone Mth, 1789^ and declared
^' it nnlawful to be taken. We also declared, that none of
^^ the fiuthfal, clergj, or laity, under oor care, onght to take
'- aoj new oath, or ngn anj new declaration in doctrinal
^^ matters, or sabscribe anj new instmnient, wherein the iDte-- -
^^ rests of religion are concerned, witboat the prerioos apprdui
^* batioa of their respectire bishops.
^' These determinations we judged necessary, to die promo-
^^ ting of yonr s;)iritaal wdlare, to fix an anchor for joa ta
^^ hold to, and to restore peace to your minds. To these de«
<< terminations, therefore, we require yoor snbmission.
-f- Charlcs RAVATsir) V. A.
f Jamks BiETHAir, y. A.
flammersmith, f Thomes Acoir, Y. A
October 21, 1789. + Matthew CoMAircy, V. A^
^' *Such is the pablic iastmment, by wMdt the font aposto*
^'. ileal vicars, who are the guardiatis add protectors of tbe Ro-^
^^ man Catholic religion in England, and whom the body ac-'' ■»
'', knowledge as their lawful bishops, condemned this oatb^ after
^1 they had.ihemselTes signed the protestation.
^' The Committee inform nsf the protestation was receiyed
^' by a Member of the Committee in the month of NoTcmb^r/
^' 1788; the rank and situation of the person, who proposed it,
^^ and SeTeral other circamstances, made it absolutely necessaiy
^' for. them to enquire, whether the CathoUcs wonld or would
^^ not sign it. The Meml)er of the Committee, who reoetred it^
^^ transmitted it immediately to the secretary of the Committee,
*^ with directions to forward it immediately to the Ticars apos^
^^ tQlic,and request their opinion of the lawfulness of sigmiigitJ
• Ca. Stat, 102. f Sfcond Blue BoA, p. 8»^
j>
^^ Thk was dooe; and thejr dsewliere acknowledge^ ^*Wt
^ Be¥e4> assunied to strove or disapprore of k, as* far as It re*
^^ kted to doc4riaas. On raoaLpt of the protestation^ we trao&A
^ DHtted it to the apostoUo ncars, and till they had not only
^ a^proiFed of itf but themselves signed ity or declared they
^' fihoi^d grre no ppposittonr to the signing of it by the faithfal
^' of their re^fctave districts^ we neither signed it ourseUes^
^^ nor proposed it to be signed bj others.
^^ And for thiS' docile and siibmisBi.Ye deference to their spr^
^' xittial superiors^ on this occftsion the Committee are not 'kmdkf^
'^ ward in assmqiug to themselyes a decent share of merii^?->»«
^^ f What more tl^an this could haye been expected from the-
'^ most dociie membefs- of Christ's Church ? When^ however^
^^ this sMio matter relating to Doctrines ^ was to be reduced*
^5 into the. form of an patb^ I believe every individual in this
^^ nation (if we except the Gentlemen of the Committee, and
^^tki^r devoted adherents) will admit without hesitation, that
^^ in this latter form, it came more immediately under thepro^
^' vincSe' of the bishops to examine, than it was in thejbnner
^' shape of a declaration pr protestation. The Committee,
^^ howeveiP, widi their usual consistency, not having assumjsd
^^ ta approve or disapprove of the protestation^ as Jar as it
^' t elated to Dootrinesy now, without any communication with
^^ their spiritnal su|)erioTs, much less^ with their sanction or
^' apj>robationy undertake ekher to frame or to adsnit |i ^rm.-
^^of oath framed by others, as- the future test of the. religious
^' faith of all the English Roman' Catholic subjects of his Ma«
*•' jesty : and this form of oath, so either framed or admitted
'^ t^ Iheir direction y was inserted at full length with the bill
" iW iVoo^M'sReghter^ June 26/A, 1789.
<^ k caflfi^K>tr sureiy but appear singular, that this new form
^^ 6f o^h reli^g to doctrines y should have been first commu^ ,
^' ntoated to the Apostolical Vicars, thiough the mcdjivn of a
« Second Bli^e Book, p. 3. f Second Sloe ifeoolc, p. i.
f Itecfe, u5i stfpi'a,
JI
i
58
^ public newspaper, by tbe rery gentlemen, who no pomponsly
^' boast of th6 extreme deference and aHenHony whiehj through'^
*' but the whole course df tkii business^ they have paid to the
*^ Apostolicdl ncdrsy** I appeal to all persons,* il^hose minds could
*' nbt have been biassed by taking a side in this dispute, whe.
^^ ther or no this cbndact of the Committee did or did not wai*.
^* rant the conclusion made by the Bishops, that the Committee
^^ intended no longer to apply to them for thePr* opinion upon
^ the Validity of the oath. For they had thui ushered into
^piAlic an oath, and the heads of a bill, of which they thesis
** selves speak in this manner; ^ ^ Upori this the oath was tai*-
^ ken out of bur hands. It was'^then the property of govem-
*^ Inent. It was in their possession, and we could not alter it»'
" Not one letter was at our command. Erery, alteration in the '
^ oath. We knew would retard, and might endanger the pro-
" gress of the bill.' It was, therefore^ to be presumed and
** .concluded, that, as the Committee express themselyes, here
^' then for the moment^ was the ultimatum of Governments'
^* whatever relief or redress the body of English Roman C^ho.
*^ lies were to expect, was only to be received upon the previ-
^^ ous condition of their taking an oath,- which their ecclesiastical
*^ superiors, * ^ after mature deliberation^ and previous discus^.
^^ ons, unanimously condemn, and declare to be unlawful to be
^^ taken.' The Committee's Own champion, very candidly
<< avows, what all other impartial persons will readily admit,*
" that ^ they acted, however, within their sphere, and moved
*^ most cert^nly within the circle of their pastoral charge, for
** the direction and safety of their flocks. *For they are the
^' lawful judges and arbitrators of all religions matters apper-
^' taining to doctrine and morals. In this light every public
^^ oath is to be considered, where doctrines are to be disclaimed.'
^'" Now it is very evident, that the bishops were officially
^*l)oufid to declare to their £oCks, that they were of opioioB,
<^ that the oath could not be lawfully taken, ne pilot ^ who sees
^' the vessel in danger of splitting against a rock concealed
* Second Blue Book, p. 3.
^^ under the wavesy and neglects to give warning j detrains his
^' trust, said the late bishop of the Northern district. . Najy
<^ the Tery committee themsebes, who inveigh sq passionately
'^ against the bishops for haying passed this public censure,
*^ have expressly * lamented (heir misfortune in havifig incurred
^^ the disapprobation of them, xsho, from their station in this
^' country, ar^ the natural guardians of the Catholic religion^y
'^ It is not my intention to re?ite the controversy of the ad.
^ missibility of the foregoing form of the oath. But in justicf;
^^ to those, who had signed the protestation, and refused to
^^.take the oath, which the gentlemen of the committee c^li
^y one and the same instrument, I think myself warranted in
^^ calling the attention of my readers tq one most essential vjel,
^' riation in the oath, from the tendency, sense and words of
*' the protestation. Without comment^ ^ I appeal to cyery im.
^<. partial reader, whether by this abstract proposition, '/ ac^
'^ knowledge no infallibility in the Pope, which is contained
^^ in the oath, the full and just meaning and sense is eji^pressecl
^f by the following part of the protestation.
. '^ U. ^ We have also been accused of hpldiqg as a princij^e
^^ of our religion, that implicit obedience is due from us to the
^^ orders and decrees of Popes s^nd general coi.nciIs; and i^ai,
*^ therefore, if the Pope, or any general council should, for
^' the good of the church, command us to 'ake up arms against
^ government, or by any means to subvert the laws and, H-
*^ berties of this count^ry, or to exterminate persons of a dif.
'^.ferent perst^SLsipn fropa us, we (it is asserted by pur accusers)
'^. hold, ourselves bQun4 to obey 9uch orders or decrees on pain
^' of eternal fire.
" Whereas we positively d^ny, that we owe any s.uch obe-
^^. dience to the Pope and general council, or to either of them :
^^ and we believe, that no act, that is in itself immoral or dis.
*^ honest can ever be justified by^ or under colour, that it i^
* First Blu^ Book, j>. 12. f Ca. St. lOS to 109«
H2
69
'^ done, either for the good of tiie cAurdi, or in ol)edieiiee to
'^ any ecclesiastical poorer "sritaterer. We acknowledge no in.
^' faMibtiity in the Pope ; and we neither apprehend nor he^
^ Here, that oor disobedience to any such orders or decrees
^^ (should any such be giTeo or made) conld subject us to any
^^ punishment whatever. And we hold and insist, that die Ca«
^' tholic Church has no power that can, direcdy or indirectly,
^^ prejudice the. rights of Protestants, inasmuch as it is strictly
^^ confined to the refusing to them a participation in her sa«
^^ crameuts, and other religious priyileges of her coramunion ;
^^ which no church (as we concctTe) can be expected to give to
^^ these out of her pale, and which no person out of her pale
*^ will, we suppose, ever require.'
^^ In that sense, which alone the context of the protestation
'^^ warrants, every Roman Catholic would be ready to declare
^^ against the infallibility of such decrees of Popes and eenncUs
'^^ as are there mentioned ; and that, therefore, no obedience is
^^ due to them. In this, as in the obvious sense of the pro.
^^ testation, did I sign it; and am ready to repeat my signatare,
<^ For it is evident by the protestation, that we mean, and iii.
^^ tend^ to deny or repel the charge of paying implicit obedi.
" ence to the decrees of Popes and genertd councils, evea in
^' what is sinful and wicked, because we deem them inf aftibie ;
*^ that is, because wc think that their having decreed the thing
^^ makes it cease to be sinful or wicked. This I submit to nay
^^ readers, is the real, and, in fact, the only sense of tiie pre.
^^ testation. I certainly shall not be judged rash or presninpta«
^' ously didactic in making this asscfrtion : for the Rev. Mr,
'' Reeve, who appears to be the avowed champion of the com.
" mittee, in the work, which he wrote in defence of the oath,
" most unanswerably proves this to be the sense of the protest.
" alien*.
* A view pf the oath i^^tended by the Lfg^islature to t|ie j^Qmian Ca-
thuiicii of England, pag, 45, 46, 47. As this a\ithor tells us in bb preface,
that hcjias rtud most of the correspondence and orfgival jtftpers he treats of;
61
" x»uch in the habit af ma^Bifyipg apd mifiCPjp^rui.Bg (|of triney
^^ to ow pjrejwdice, that the nao^t har.oitesH points of ihepry hav^
*^ beeji fr.ejjiJient)^ t^^nsfoirn^ by their excessive fear? miQ
'' frightful n^oqster^. Even the jPope's ipfallibil|ty has hec^
^' echoed thrpujgh the laqd, and hy soqijb magic sound^ as it
^^ were, has bjsen called forth like a hornd spectre to spr^4
'' terror amon^gst thp deluded multitude. But the figure is ex.
'' hib.lted ip suph exotic colours, apd distorted in so ^tran^e a
^^ manner, that it bear$ no resemblance with any thing eveir
^^ l^now^i to Catholics by the name of infallibility. To justify
^^ the assertion, we ueed but pr^^ent it in the shape, in which
^^ it has t)een drawn by a Protesitant pen^ and pQ^^red to us ii|
^^ the p.ul^lic protestation wje signed* The Pope's infallibility is
^^ there intrpduced under the notion, that we brieve the Pope
^^ c^n do or command nothing wropg ^ and that, by the prin-
'^ ciples of pur religion, w^ therefore hpld implicit pbedience,
<^ as it is pretended^ tp be due from ns to all orders of thie
*^ JPope, whatever they may be, Conse(juently if the Pope
^^ should gpmmand us, for th,c good of the Churph, to take
^^ up arm^ against Government, or by any means to subvert
^^ th9 i^ws and libprties of thijs country, or to e:(terminate per.
^^ ;spns differing from us in religious tenets, we should hold
^^ ourselves bound, as our accusers say, to obey such orders,
<^ pn pain of eternal $re.
^^ Such is the descriptiou giv^n by Protestants pf the Pope's
^^ jnfallibilitv, and such is the precise object, which, under
^^ that appellation, we are called upon to disclaim. Such is
^^ the doctrine, w^ch we are supposed to hold of that dreaded
^* phaptom, ^ doctrine pregnant «with endless mischief to the
^^ state^ if we really held it. Under thi^ notion it is classed
4fni{ 1^1 /Ae«e crc ihn vwehers he has ready to proiiux in suppart of the
fyicts M mention^ i ^e cpnelqde froiQ U^e admissiqo to the use and tlie
cpfnm^d of the prpd^ction of these vouchers, the author to be either
the fiiei|d, advocate, or servant of the Committee and that the work
was written aad published with their privity, consent^ and approbation.
62
^^hj the act with other prmicious doctrines, and under this
** notion, it is rejected by us. Under this notion we sincerely
^^ declare, that we acknonledge in the Pope no infallibility
^^ whatcrer. In his word?, in bis actions, in his writings, in
^^ Lis mandates, in his public and prirate transactions with men
ic ^e belicTC him fallible, and like other princes liable to pas.
*^ sion, to error, and'mistake. Catholics are not such ideots,
^^ as to think any roan whatever Impeccable on earth, nor yet
^^ snch bigots as to fancy, that an order from the Pope to do
^^ an immoral or dishonest action, can be binding in any case
^* whatever, not eren under the colour of its being done for
^^ the good of the church. Far from obeying, In that case,
^^ they wpuld think themselres bound to resist the order, nor
'' do tiicy apprehend, that their resistsince could subject them
^' to any punishment whatever. Here ends the political point
'^ of view, the sole view and object of the oath in all its parts.
^' The Pope's infallibility, as it is usol!ly understood by
^' Catholic Divines^ is solely confined to the dc^matical decL
^^ sions he may fix upon a controverted point of doctrine ca.
■ '^ nonically brought before him to be determined, when, after
^^ due examination and discusbion with his divines and private
^^ council, the Pope speaks ex caihcdrA^ as it is termed, ^o the
^^ whole church, as supieme pastor theieof, and dogmatically
^^ decides the point in dispute. Whether his decision, accom.
^^ panicd with all these circumstances, be then final, is the
^^ question. It is a question, in which none but schoolmen
*' ever engage, it being no where trlatcd of, but in the tracts
*^ of speculative theology, and seldom heard of beyond the
'^ precincts of the school : a question wholly harmless, because
*' purely specu]ati?e and unconnected zcith every social and
" moral duit/ of a Christian. Its affirmative or its negative
** may be held with equal safety to\he state. Few there are,
** It seems, whoever form a decided opinion nj^on it. In this.
*' theological sense it can be no object of terror to any one,
*^ be a us J ill this sense it ha^ no pernicious tendency to hurt o:^
63
r
^^ disturb the statfce. It h ao article of Catholic belief, limtf
^' now be asked^ whether as a Catholic I. may lawfully swear^
f< that in the Pope I acknowledge no infallibility whatever ?'
^^ Why not? For as Protestants understand it, as mentioned'
^^ in the protestation, infallibility is a perpicious doctrine, uid*
^^ as explained by our diTines, it makes no article of Catholie
^ belief.'* (So far Reeve the Committee's own author.) -
^' What can be more explicit, and at the same time more true/
^ than that infallibility as menlioned in the. protestation^ is a
^^ pernicious doctrine? And as sjoLch, no Roman Catholic will
<( object to renounce it; and they did in fact so renounce it by'
^' signing the protestation* Now, as the gentlemen of the coili.
<^ mittee prolesls, that the oath is but a repetition of the protest
^^ tation, and consequential forms one and the same instrument f
^^ we miist again attend to their ^planation of the sense, mean- -
^< ing and tendency of the word infallibility y]dA used in the oath*
^' *As to acknowledging no. infal It bill ty in th^ :Fope, is it not'
^^ expressly said in the Catholic pnnciples, that this is do tenet
<(■ of our faith ? But if no tenet of our faith,'' and we:^ven do
^^ tiot believe it as an opinion, why should we -be costrained '
^ ffom declaring, that we do not acknowledge iti Especially ,-
^^ Its it is^ ihe control of this principle, that above all ather
^^considerations, excites the diffidence of our Protestant fellow *
*^ subjects,?' Now I appeal to every reader, even the most
^^ prejudiced, whether this be not an open, express and'unequi.
^^ vocal avowal by the Committee, that the sense, in which the
^' infaHibility of the Pope ws^s intended to have been renounced '
^^ by the oath^ was that theological, disputed iiiense, which their '
^^ own author says, has no pernicious tendency to hurt or dis^- ■
^^ turbithe state; and is "no article of Catholic belief* But this- -
^^ Sjpnse of the'word infalHbUity^ which leaves it as a matter of- >
^^ opinioB open for every one to hold, is evidently different from '
^^ that sense of it, irhi<ih makes it a pernicious doctrine lawfi^l • -
^^>for nobody %o. bold. : I hope, I have now ^proved to demon- • *
, ^^- ttration, that in one most important article, the oath has mat '
• SdBloeBliDki p.S4.'
64
^Methily d^rht^d from the pro iA hOotf, TUfe ftr# «#«Vtl
<< orffhet Hishftices, in wfaieh tiiey %tthstBLniiMy dHfi^r ffAil «IC&
^< &fhtt ; as wffl ippidat ta'sAy ^ytte^ tliat Will att^tli^ly Hud
<< Impftrti^ly censkle^ th^m. Btit I gMd^f atroid eatcriftg Hio
*^ t^dmidiLnC prbol^tfttlAif AtnfentB. This will tAoWy 1 ]i«|^-
<^ s«r?e f o aiidljnK^ <lie tkwtj spirit, ottA jmdgtoienij in wImc^
<^ the CoilMDittee'hafe atodertaken to repm^fot aUr those^ to the
<^ pabirc, who^ afier fawing signed the protestation, ofegeded
<^ to take the oadi; For thos do they "if rite to the ibpr apos.
^* Mica) vicarS) who lud eoodcfraned the oitb^ ^ wklaw/ol to
<< io bo taken*.
^ An i*9troment of protestation \raa ihccc pre&eifted to vs,
^< cewtflinhig the o^bjections of Protetfante and the an8irer%
<< wliich they deelami wonM.be saiisf^tory. We were c^Ued
^< vpon to sign this iMtrument ; — cl^r^ and laity^ we sigBed^-**
'^ Afe there among tm persons capabie of receding fron thdr
^^ sigiftttires, and prostituting their. honour ?"
** And agarfn--*
'^ This* prottetatioti was convened into the foiti ol aacitii*'
^^' Shall wo refine to i^wear, when called npoir by oo^ conndyy
^^ what we most solemnly protested under oar haAd-wrltiBg7*-^
^^ The Violation. of an oath may acctiihul&te the gilllt of per*
<< jury or prerarication ; but T^ritcHy b eqnally sacrhl^> v^kelher
^' a prortedtation be made npon hondor, or tpon datb; TiMm9
''in (e iii reri amor^ ut qntdquid diitrif^ id jmrdhtm pttteif
^^ was the «xhortatf on of a father 6f the churob, tsd ho nrafift
^' be destitute of Chrhtian sincerity, whd tMdfes Htf \9 no^
^^ ec^natiy bound to tell the triith withont ^gniso, 'trhent eaUed
^' upon to make a solemn adsererotimi, as if ho had an esth-
<^ cftdally tendered hhh. To recede, ^Aerefove, tfum fliKiy part-
^^ of the protestation, weold be e^fia^^rtot vniaflionof feneky ^
^' & rriifikial pretarication '^ a mortal' weundTto* He ietepi^ of*
^^Cath^Hes, and, eenseqoently, ad eTcMtftiog tdftfinMlion^of
^^ the iMjQdi^vof Proitestants, : tfaa^ our rei^ieb >])eAMl» vl% to
^' use dtiplictty and ocpiltocation. Is : it inata this'ditiiOB^lftr w#
« Secoed Bhie Book^ jj^. S9 «> 84.
65
V' Arg et:1iorted, nay required, by your Lordships^ to pluiifef
^^ Does not authority exerted to affect this purpose, tend to
<^ destruction, not to edification ? And if such an authority
'^ were submitted to, would not an undue respect for the mi*
^' nisters of religion inyolve the ruin of religion itself ?^-Have
<< your Lordships duly weighed these momentous consequences ?''
Remember, gentle reader, that all this is said by those very
persons, who in another place * address the same Apostolic
Vicars in these words : '^ Thus your Lordships see the ex*
^^ treme deference and attention^ which throughout the whole
*^ course of this business , we have paid to the Apostolic Vicars*
*^ fVe never assumed to approve or disapprove of it^ as far as
^^ it related to doctrines J**
After such accusations, imputations, and insinuation;^
made and published by the Committee, an £DgUsh reader
will be surprized, that the accused have so long remained
silent upon the subject ; and surely this is a full apology for
my submitting this statement of the case to the public f.
I have been very particular In shewing, in this one instance,'
that the signing of the protestation did not necessarily induce
a consequential obligation of taking the oath. And as I
• Second Blae Book, p. 3.
f In the beat of tlie controveny between the two parties, whilst the
Bill was pendioj; in the House of Commons, a certain Baronet, who
appeared to have previously communicated with the Committee, repre-
sented to the Apostolic Vicar of the London district, that any further
printed publications would be of the most fatal consequence to the
cause ; and they therefore prevailed upon his Lordship, who ever in«
culcated meekness, peace and harmony by word and example, to use
all his influence with his clergy, to refrain from any further pubiicati*
otts pending the business. He recommended (what he could not enjoin)
a temporary suspension of the Freedom of the Press. To an obedient
and docile clergy, their pastor's wishes had the force of a command.-—
Immediately, however, after this sort of Paper Truce, the gentlemen
•f the Committee published and circulated a great many hundred copies
of their Second Blue Book, which to every ioipartial reader^ will ap-
pear little calculated (o etUtUish an naion between the two then disse**
tient parties.
X
66
late lotrodueed ibis subject, I thinlc it a piece of jifWeif 9M
io all those, with iirhom I have the honour to think on'thii
occasion, to state shortly to the public, that they did not ob«
ject to those words of the oath, / acknowledge no infaUihU
Ui^ in the Pope, merely, because they Taried and deviated,
both verbally and substantially from the protestation, bat he*
cause, as they are introduced in the oath, they are, first, ir«
relevant to the purpose, for which we offered, and govern*
nent accepted of a test of our civil and social principles:
secondly, l)ecause they convey a sehse, and go fo an extient,
which no Roman Catholic is warranted to carry the Denial of
I the Doctrine; and tliirdly, because they would operate to ex*
dude a great number of worthy and resr.c stable Roman Ca-
tholics, who h vld the doctrine or opinion, that the solemn
tlecrces of the supreme pastor of the church, upon doctrinal
matters, are irreformable, fro"-! that bounty of the legislature,
which was intended to be, and has iu fact been extended to alt
Roman Catholics indiscriminately, tvho would give that sa.
tisfactory test of their duty and loyalty to government, which
government should think proper to require.
As to the first of these reasons, I am happy in being en*
abled to draw the confirmation of it from that ton roe, which
cannot be questioned nor denied by the opposite party, tie*
cause their own publications are their own words and sentf*
ments, not hastily nor unadvisedly delivered in the warmth of
disputation, but fully considered, and deliberately pablished*
They say of the oath* ^ It is only a declaratioQ of tiM-
^^ innocence of our principles in social and chii concerns.— «
'^ Oar faith is not brought forward in this oath : tbi$ rights of
^^ conscience are not coni»idered: religion is not mingled with
'^concerns of a mere tem{)orai nature: all we are required to
^^ swear, is, that we maintain no tenets, which can kinder bs
^^from faithfully discharging the duties of honest men, and
^' peaceable subjects*'* I leave it to more refined arguers^
than I pretei&d to be, to render this declaration of the'CoBU
* Tint Blae Book, p. 1^.
6T
•
miU.ee epnsisieiit with their former declaration. fVe nevef
qt^umed (o approve or disapprove of i(^ as far as it relafeito
doctrines. This, howeTer, b^ing the avowed intent of the
oath, all that must he irrelevant to it, which does not answer
this intent. But to prove^ that the renunciation of this purely
speculative opinion cannot give government any assurance of
our faithfully discharging the duties of honest men^ and
peaceable subjects^ I will once more repeat the words of thel^
*
own select champion : ^^ It is a question, in which none bnf
^^ schoolmen ever engage, it being no where treated pf but itf
^^ the Tracts of Speculative Theology, and seldom heard of be.
^( yond the precincts of the school ; a question wholly harrru
** less J because pureltf speculative^ and unconnected Kith everJ
^^ r^ social and moral duty of a ChristianM Its affirmative or
*^ its negative may be held with equal safety to the state. Few*
^^ there are, it seems, who ever form a decided opinion trpbir
^^ it. In this theological sense it can be.np object of terror iff
^^ any mart, because in this sense it has no pernicious tendency
** to hurt or disturb the state,*' And I have before pi^dved^
that in this sen^e alone was it introduced into the oath.
As to the U reason, we dissenters from the oath (since the
disagreeoient from any opinion now makes a dissenter) havo
heretofore, in print, submitted our grounds of It to the pilb*
lie. l^he Coirner ^tone of the Roman Catholic faith, is the
doctrine of the infallibility of the Church. M^htther this in*
fallibility be vested iu the head of the church, or in the hodt
of the church, is a disputed and undeii mined point among
them; but they all agree, that a deer v" of an c^cumemdal'
council, with the Pope at the head, upon doctrinal matter, is
infkllible. — ^They cannot, therefore, totally disannez the pro-
mise of Christ, to teaeh his churph all truth to the end of
time, from the head of the church : and consequently do not
tiiink themselves^ warranted in swearing, that they admit no
infallibility in the Pope : for that would be false, if *he in any
IKivneT partake of this promise of Christ'; much more so, -^j
promise wne made to Si. Peter as to tba bead of ibecliiirdi,'
to kb succetton m tluit capadtj. They do not^ moreover^
fed tfceoiselTes justified in rvcariBj, that the Holy Ghost ne.
^er has, nor neTer vOi inspire the risible head of the Chnrch
to teach or enforce the trnth of God; in ^hich case there
was, or wonld be some iofallibiHtj in the Pope, inasmuch
as what he would declare or teach nnder such inspiration^
mnst essentially be infallible and irreformable : znd hence it
b inferred, that the Pope has some iofallibility in him ; and
there are many grave and respectable authors, who allow a
portion of it to erery BtJiop. Ip a word, to swear, tha(
there b no infallibility Ia the Pope, seems to go to the full
ei^ent of swearing that he b, as head of the church, abso*
lately inca|.able, ^n any possible case, of recdnog that In.
flnence or direction of the Holy Spirit, which must render
^ decrees pronounced in consequence of it, eternally true
^d irreformable. In thb sense, infallibility and troth be»
come synonymous: for the trnth of the Holy Spirit of Go4.
mnst essentially be infallible ; and ( ^liere no Roman Ca«
tholic will deliberately swear, that he acknowledges no s^ch
ijTuik in the supreme bead of bis church*.
Without troubling the reader with a detail of ^ intermedi*
ate communications and intercourse relating to this oath^ I shall
Igiy before them a letter from three out of the fo^r Vicara
Apostolic. It roust be remarked, that t the Bishop of the Mid*
land district, (Talbot) who had declared, that hb objectioa to.
l}ic former 9ath w^s it's dcTiation from the protesta^cm in tha^
part of it, whi^h related to the interference of the power of
Christ'^ Church. Tliat being restoredy be declared he ihouid
na longer have any objection to the oallny <u it then stood 2^^
This being accordingly done at the next general meeting of the
Catholics, he was appointed to be cf the Comn\ittee in the ropii|^
of iiis decease d veoerable brother. He decbred verbally, as i^
13 said^ (though he cerer could be induced to do it in writi]i|^^^
« Ca. St, p. 72 to 86. f Ca. Stat. 132. 3.
69
tihtt bo thought the oath was now admissible, l^ho dtlier'
Bishops still remained of a different opinion. They appear not*
to have been consulted upon the alterations^ nor apprized of
tfaem, when they were piade. Their sentiments, howefer, opon
all the intermediate proceedings of the committee, will be i|ior#
iairlj and fully %tX before the public in their own words^
♦ '« ENCYCLICAL LETTER,
" CharleSy Bishop of J^ama^ Vitar Apostolic oj the Western
f^ Pistrfct ji fVilliam. Bishop of AcanthoSy Ficar Apostolic
•' of the Northern District ; and John^ Bishop ofCenftu
'* rfflf, Ficar Apostolic of the Southern District.
<A<Xroalltb« Faitsvul, Clsrgt and Laitt, of tbose respective Districtf.
^^ WE think it necessary to lay before you the following ar»
^^ tides and determinations ;
<^ 1st. We are informed that the Catholic committee has given
<^ in, or intends to give in, a bill, containing an oath, to be pr««
f^ sented to parliament, in order to be sanctioned by the Legis*
f^ lature, and to be tendered to the Catholics of this kingdom*
^^ 2dly, The four apostolic vicars, by an Encyclical Letter^
'f dated October 21, 1789, condemned an oath, proppsed at
^^ that time to be presented to parliament; and which oath they
^^ also declared unlawful to be taken. Their condemnation of
^^ that oath was confirmed by the Apostolic See, and sanctioned
^^ also by the bishops of Ireland and Scotland.
^^ pdly. Some alteration has been made by the Catholic com.
*^ mittee in that condepaned oath : but, as far as we have learned^
*^ pf nomoipent: consequently the altered oath remains liable
*f to the censure fixed on th^ former oath.
^} 4thly. The four apostolical vicars in the ^bove-mentioi^ed
^^ Encyclical Letter declared, th^t none of the faithful, clergy,
'^ npr laity, ought to take ^ny new oath, or sign any new de.
*^ claratien in doctrinal masters, or subscribe any new instru*
f ^ o^C^t, wherein the interests of religion are concerned, withpat
• Ca. Stat. ^ 1$4 to 13l(ii
ff tke prerlous uppri^batioB of their respective bishopi and they
^ required submission to those detenninatioiig. The altered oatH
^' has not been ai3proTed by us, and therefore cannot be lawfully
<< or CQBsci^otioualy taken by any of the faithful of our districts*
^ 6thly. We farther declare, that the i^sembly of the Ca.
<^ tholic committee has no right or authority to deteri^iae on iJffk
<• lawfulness of oath^, declarations, or other instrun^ents what*
<< so'^ver containing doctrinal matters ; but that thia authority
^^ resides (n the bishops, they being, by dirine instittHio», the
^^ spiritual governors in the church of Christ, i^ the goardianf
*^of relij^ion.
<' In conscqaence, like^se, of the preeeding obserratlons,!
f ^ we condemn, in the fullest manner, the attempt of offimnig-
^^to parliament an oath, including doctrinal matteis, to bfi
<^ there sanctioned, which has not been approved by us; anil
^' if such attempt bo made, we earnestly exhort the Catholici
^^. of our respective districts to oppose it, a|id hindiBr its bejng
<< carried into execution ; and for that purpose to present a
^^ protestation or countcr-petition, or to adopt whatever other
f^ legal and prudi'ot mca,sures may be judged best.
'^ Finally, ^Ye also declare, that conformably to th^ letters
^f written to the Catholic committee by the four apostolical
*' vicars, Octqber 21, 1789, we totally disapprove of the
^^ appellation of Protesting Catholic Dissenters given us in the
^^ bill, and of three provisoes therein contained, and expressed
^.* in the said letter of the four apostolical vicars.
" We shall here conclude, with expressing to yon out hopes,
*^ that you hav^ rejected with detestation some late pubUca«
*' tions, and that you will beware of otbersr, which may appear
** hereafter. Of those, that have been published, soMe are
^' ^chismatical, scandalous, inflammatory, and insnlting to the
*' supreme head' of the church, the vicar of Jesus Christ.
^^ + CiMRLEs Ramataw, v. a.
' *^ + WiLETAM AcANTHCir, V. A,
" + JouN Cxirrxnef^if^ »¥• Jt<^
^' London^ Jan. 19^ ITJiV^
" I vnsb hot to pr^ss mote of thismait^ apoti the midd Df
my reader, than will couclusiTely evince the^ identity of the
spirit of Rkherism operating upon the author of the blue
books in 1791, and the author of five letters or addresses to
Irishmen in 1810, 1811, and 1812. I wished to lay th^t
subtle spirit with as gentle a' lenitive, as would be efiicient.
I then spoke of it in the following manner : " + W hen these
^^ didactic gentlemen pronounce with such precision, that
^^ the oalh contains no ambiguity^ and that it is nothing
^^ but a promise of that allegiance^ which every govern*
" ment has a right to claim from its subject s^^^ they seem
eloseiy to have aped the insidious principles of. the French
National Assembly,* in demanding a test from their clergy,
wbidi they call the serment civique, that goes in fact to
rcnounoe and annihilate the first principles of spiritual Sub«
ordination, and which must necessarily involve the subscribers
to it in direct and formal schism. iVe execrate such priiu
eiples ; and, as dutiful and faithful subjects of his Majesty^
"we grieve at every a ttempt to import them i rom our Gallic
neighbours into this country. It was in the indispensible
discbarge of their pastoral duty, that our vicars apostolic
exercised the plenitude of their spiritnal power and jaris-
diction, to crush, in their infancy, the baneful effects of
these newly devised and newly imported doctrines from
France.
The true disciples of the Richerian school have ever sig«
nalized themselves by craftily crouching under defeat, and in
their overbearing use of victory. The party failed in that
subtle attempt ; and remained nearly eighteen years crest-fallen^
and apparently inactive. But their worm shall not diey neither
shall their fire be quenched- (Is, 66. 24.)
The unfortunate Veto controversy, the unsuccessful canvas
for the see of Elphin^ and the %m and unammous stand made
hy the QlOeive Uerarchy ot Ireland against Vetoists^ fibOir
♦ 6a. St.46|»
chardists, and other norclists being eoeTaI| rouied &• V^^
irom their silence an J inaction; and behold steps forth tba
sdffccenfident Goliah of Richerisniy (ipie Agmen) prodaimingj
as I said bi*fore, interminable war against the power and juris*
diction of the Pope and the religion and hierarchy of his conn,
trjinen.^ Haying placed before the eyes of the most learned
Doctor some of the thoughts, which I expressed twenty years
back, concerning a test trap then set for the English Catho.
lies, it remains for me to furnkh him with some obserrations^
which at the same time I had occasion to make npon die mock
docility of the trap^setters. I doubt nc^, but I shall kwakea
all the energies of his capacious mind, and I anticipate hi^
greedy sympathies in all the variety of forms, wlrich be ha»
brought together in his 4th Number 66. ^^ Subscripsi^ collau.
^^ davi, annui, confirmaTi, consignaTi, consolidafi, firmavi
^^ cum gaudio, consensi, acquie^i, confortavi, corroborari^
^^ conclusi, consentiens subscripsi, concessi, propiift mana
^^ confirmo', signo crucis confirmo, libenter anonOy gratu»
^' habui, concedo, pro yiribus assensum pr(cbeo."f ^
* To aicertain all the pifrate and spppressed motives of tiie actoil
in some very important scenes, baffles the powers of the most erttdit^
sagacious, and faithful bistoriao. It is however his dnty to onraTel as
■mach of the secret mechanism as be can. In a system, where wheel '
works within wheel with more complicacy than jo the cnmbrons
.hydraulic machine at Marly, much is gained, if a single movement be
ascertained. The moment of Columbanus' conviction, that it was im*
practicable for him to reach Elpbin via Romce^ threw him into an incre^
dible degree of credulity. He became sensibly affected with what the
Bishop of Metz, (2 Col . 23) in the name of the council of Cardinals, stated
to O'Nial, namely, that they bad discovered on Irish propiecyf wbick
^ said, * that the church of Rome must fall, if the Catholic faith it
** overthrown in Ireland !** Columbanus* faith in the prophecy excited
his hope to put down the tiara, and fired his chmity to acathoDociie
bis country.
f For the benefit of my country readers, I must attempt the dmdgery
•f a translation Into English of||^ese prolific powers ef tmeat and
approbation: a graduated B.D. aod Mtmber of the Acadcaiy ef Cor-^
tona would not condescend to the servile task. ** I have snbscribedt
^ I have joined ia praise, I have aaseated, I haira ceainnedj^ I hata
■ >
ft
iHibie^iiltetfLeh^istv^ mpekitedly boasted of ftfaeir havmtg
^aid exireme deferenee and Mention 'throughout fhs nobi^e
course of the 'business 'to the 'apostolic vicars^ and baTing ifli
fhdr ^d blue book enUMenttcd fhetr •tnultifariotrs nmrhs, -goai*
cltrtle with this sdlfistiffi-derft interragatory, l^p. 6) What more
than this could have been expededf^om the most docile <merk^
hers of ChrisVs church 9 They tell them however, i(p, .2)
that nothing was true vf the general subfftlnce <0f one riyf ihsif
pastoral letters to their iioeks. Iti the sam^ ?^j they, ittier^
rogate tfadlt prelates with a snperellibiis air of didactic au
rogance, Which has no example. fVhif ^hen^ 'mtf loirdit^
precipitate matters? Why circulate this defamdtorp mandette^
Have the faithful been edrfied.bif it? Has it served 4he xause
of religion? Has it recommended Cdtholics to the favor njf
the.ndHonf
" It is curibiis to dbserre, how rapidly theffe defdle member^
of Christ's church advance in the climax of their <d^erence anft
attention to their spiritual pastors. " Tims, f my Lords, in
<^ our regard, nd preliminaries, either of form 6t right wore
^^ attended to. Is it possible to suppose your heavenly Mastoid
^' inspired a cdnduct so opposite to his own spirit of^ pr,udenGe^
*^ meekness, Conciliation, and justice; or that your Lordships
'^^ Sp6ke the langusige of the church, when you acted in a man*
^^ ncr so little conformable to its prsictiCe ? Thus wandering
** from your proper directions, we are not surprised at your
** errors*"
With '.this .same extreme defstence .and submission to theft
Iptrltissd superiors, these prudent, meek, conciliating and just
ta^, «eem never to tire in arraigning the conduct of their
l)ishops. *' ^^Sut-ely, tny Lords., when your Lordships act
'*' joinie'd ia lifting, I bate affirmed with g!e«, I haye e6meniedi I bavtt
'*^aoquieseed, Ihaveaidct strenj^eaed, liuiT^ corr^batedf I have cosi
^daded, e^n»tntia^ I.hateialiscribed, I have granted, with my own
" liaod I confirm, with the sign of the cross I confirm, I willingly ^si^^
** I have found it sigreeable, I do grant, I give my n(;nost asdeAt/*
« Ca. Stat. 1 18. . f 2d Blae'Bookr^«{^»
K
74
<< urith 90 much prectpitancj, when 700 jhevr such Ihtie atteiu
^< lion to the forms or substance of justice, when yon shew
^^^oursvlves so uncontersant with the subjects, on which you
*^ pronounce your determinations so decisively : when there ii
*^'%o much contradiction in your opinions, and so muchdis*
^^ agreement amongst yourselves, &c."
Some few of my readers, who claim a right to jiulge for
ffaeroselTes, will, I fear^ thiuk, that these rery great lovers of
truth, who have said of themselves, that the^ have paid ex.
treme deference and submission throughoiU the xahole course
of this business to the vicars apostolic^ had better pause a
little, before they venture to bwear, to what they bave thus
roundly asserted. For before the whole business was coticln.
ded^ they tell these same vicars apostolic, '^ My Lords, your
^* pretensions to authority, in the manner yon have exercised
^^ it, being thus set aside, your decrees must necessarily sink
*^ into mere matters of private opinion.*'
But lest there migkt still remain a doubt upon the mind of
any one, that all acts of deference and submission had not been
tlone towards their spiritual superiors, which could be made
or done by the moU docik members of ChrisCs churchy they
wind up the cHniax of their humility and obedience, by an
iiyperbcle, that surpa^^ses all precedent, and scarcely admits of
■bolief.
Your Lordships having brought ^natters to this
point :^
'* Convinced,. that wc have not been misled by onr clergy;
convinced, that we have not violated any article of Catholic
faith or coirm union, we, (he Catholic Gommittee, whose namies^
arr }.(re uniler.wrktcn, for ourselves, and for those, in whose
tihs* : \sc have acted, 60 hereby, before God, solemnly protest,
anJ call upon God to witness our protest, against your Lord-
sM?>' ^p.ryclical Letters, of the 19th day of October, 1789,
a 1(2 ^Ji^: '21st day of January last, ad every clause, article,
«i.itv:ruiau\iioM, matter, and thing therein respeotively contained
• Second 3lua Bo^k, aubt^JUu
. -vs.
■
HI imprutlent, -mfbitrarj/ and unjust; as a total . misreproian.
tation of the nature oi the bills, to which they respectively
ypfer, and (he oaths therein respectively contained; and our'
conduct relating thereto respectively', as encroaching on our
naturaly civil, and religious rights^ incnlcating principles hos*
tile to [Society and government, and the constitution and lam
cf the British em^pire; as dero gator tf from the allegiance we'
owe to (he. state^ and the settlement of the crown: and as
tending to continue, increase and confirm the prejudices against
the faith and moral character of the Catholics, and the scandai
and oppression, under which they labour in this kingdom. la
the same manner we do hereby solemnly protest, and call upon
God to witness, this our solemn protest, against all proceeding^
\kndj or hereafter to be hady in consequence of, or grounded
upon your Lordships' said Encyclical Letters, or either of them,
or any representation of the bills or oaths therein respectively
referred to, given or to be given by your Lordshifs^ Of any
of you.
^' And from your Lordships said Encyclical Letters, aii^ .
all proceedings had, or hereafter to be had in consequence of,
or grounded upon the same, or either of them, or in c^nse^
qt^ence of, or grounded upon any represeuiatlom of the said
biils, or oaths, or either of them, given, oc to be gixen by
your Lordships, or any of you, we do hereby appeal, and call
on God to witness our appeal, for the purl y and integrity of
^ur religious principles, to all the Cath lie churches in tho
universe, and especially to the first of Catholic djAirches, th^
Jlpostolic See, rightly infoxmed.
Charles Berrington Stourton
^os. Wilk9 Petre
Henry Charles Englejleld^
John Lawson
John Throckmorton
William Fermor
John Townely
) . / , Thonjas Horntjold^
ibey act, and ihe^ call upun God to witncis their proi^sij tgaingi
the first Encyclical LfCttcr of the four Apostolic Vican, an4'
a^Qst the second Eocjclical Letter of the three Apostolic Yi.
ears, hereiiubcfore cited, and every ariicie^ determination^
maiie^. and thing, therein rapediveli/ contained* Thus thej
mro not. only contented to protest against the point in dispute o(
question^ which is the right of the bishops to censure the oatb^
bat so infatuated are they with this pew exercise, that they msk
head^iong into the course determined to distance eyery competi«
tor, that had eVer started from the same goal ; and ( fin) Tery
ready to believe, that no Protestant in future, of any denopu.
nation, will attempt to enter the lists with these protesting
champions. Every clause, article, determination, matter, and
thing, in these letters, is by them protested against. They,
therefore, protest^ in the first place, against the fact, that the
persons signing them are, in reality, bibhops, and vicars apos«
tolic of the districts therein mentioned. They protest againsf
their ha?Ing used mature dtliberation, or any previous discus^
sion, before they condemned the oath in question :. They protei{
against the actual condemnation of that oath : T^fjfp^ro^e^tagainst
its being intended for the Catholics : Theg.protest against it»
publication in Woodfall's Register: They protestj that ^hera
are no faithful clergy, or laity, under the care of thiese apos^
t^He vicars ; and sti(l more, do they protest against any right,
which their bishops hare, to signify any approbation of the'
oath. They protest, that tbc restoration of peace to the minds
of the faithful, cannot promote (heir spiritual welfare: 7%eiL
protest against their having given in, or intenijkd to give in a
bifl coctiiiiiing an oath to be presented to parliament, in order
that it should be sanctiotlcd by the legislature, and be tendered;
the nation, which extends unexceptionablj and indiKrimlaatnily tp.erer^
one of tbe Konaan Catholic body. Such is tiie laC^ act of parlianent •
passed in our favour. And thai we owe to the cxertiom and effbr|i pfi
iMe apo^olic vicaxs and those, .'-» ho acted iiDderaod with them { aad^
It blush to add, that the sole opposition to their etTorts arose f CPU tkn
a«9tlem jtt of the committee E^nd their adherefi^t - . ; h
7«
td the Catholtcs of thiskiDgdom : 7%€fy prd^#/ against the fao^
of the oaths haying been also condemned by . the apostolie see,
and by the bishops of Ireland and Scotland: Tlic^ prqte$t
against any alteration baring been made by themselres in .the
oath between the Slst of October, . 1789, and the 19th. of Ja-
nuary, 1791 : They protest against the fact of any publication
having been lately made, that inas schismatica), scandalous, tn«
flammatory, and insulting to the supreme head of the churchy
the Ticar of Jesus Christ ; and consequently they protest against
the supreme head of the church being the vicar of Jesus Christy
•These are matters and things contained in the Encyclical Let-
ters ; and lest any such matter or thing should escape from un.
der the operation of this their all.grasping protest^ they ex*
pressly protest against every clause and article y in which thcs^
matters and things are. contained.
Although persons, \vho do not hold communion with the
church of Rome, will readily protest against any authority of
the bishops of that church over them, yet few would, I belioTe
protest, as the committee have done for themselves and others,
against their authority and jurisdiction over the members of the
Roman Catholic church within their respective districts. The
committee have said*, Thus publickly kc have acknowledged
ourselves members of the Catholic church: and in order to
$hew how inconsistent they still are with themselves in the very
letter, which contains this unparalleled sample of prodssting^
they thus address themselves to these very bishops : '^ Respect.
^^ able for your exemplary piety, your missionary zeal, and
<6 your many other moral and religious endowments, your lord.
^' ships are entitled to the utmost attention and respect; the
^' utmost attention and respect we ever paid, and shall ever pay
^' you* • When you deMver to us the solemn decisions of the
^^ church, when you exhort, persuade, or instiuct, we know
^^ you are within the sphere of your pastoral duty." And yet
do they expressly protest against the instructions they giro to
« 8d Blue Book, p. 14.
«
thorHj/, fio 4eiwmine on the iawftdtwsg ^ mHth^ ' denlaraHmti^
thr ifiher 'imlrumenis tchaUoevet^ ^oontamrifi^ do^rinnl' 7MU»
%eri 'biH ^at this tMihorik/rt^ideisin iheirishopf^ 4hcy bieiiog^
ty dimne-msftHuthm^ Mr spirkuai gtroernore in 4he^chiSrob of
Vhrhft, and the guardiani cf rehigion.' Theg profeoi a itiBst
their €idi0rtfttk>H -to the OthoKcj €f their ToafHactkre dratriet^
<t) oppose and hinder the introduction of anf oath into m VOl
1)efore pafliainantt, which shall 'not havt t»oeii appc^ved atbf
them ; and they also protest against ^ir eafhorMSoma^ ipersMM^
sionsj and imiructions io their ilockft, to vfjccl .with -iletesta^
tion^ schismatical, scand^ous, find inflammaiton^ pidllkaiions.
These neir protesting gentlemen are not oidf n9t<coiitent«S
wiCh protesting against ail these mOtterp^ ihtt^^ nrHaiea^
clauses^ and determinations ; but they push tfaetr ^rata siutiu fiB
still further; and, by them annex the blackest .aod ^BiaBt enye^
honied motives, thatt can be devised, to Khe pe««vend ppdatss^
who signed the Encyclical Letters. They pnaievt ag«hi9t 4beil
as imprudent y arbitrari/, and unjust; as 'MMy misr^rmKB^U
in^ that bill, which the legislature 'has thought proper 't^ ae^
l^ommddate to the wishes and suggestions of these t'ery pi>^}ft(«5f
and that oath, which upon their reprcsentatton the k ' j^tik HiWf
has also rejected. This prote^ing mariia has endowed ifs ^rote^
rles with a new spirit of divination, to iind ou):, ihat thpselBn*
cyclical JLctters encroach on ih^ natural^ civfl^ and TelighfOf
rights of men; that they inculcate princi^yies fto^tc to-isodety
and |[OTcrnment, and the constitution and laws of Are BiffisK
empire, in a word, it has converted ^cse prelates fVhom ih4
committee avowed to respect and revere) into open and ffiredt
rebels and traitors to their king and coontry : f>or 'ffiey ^prdied
against these Encyclical Letters, as derogatory from the tMegt^
mnce we owe to the siatf and sftttlemeftt of ihe crmm. *
After these protesthig gentlemen hare attempted, %y fbAi
newl^ adopted art, to conform ktmwn, peaceaUe, tnrOril, r4lk
gious, and respectable chanateBS^ \9k» hnpostors^ usurpers^
k.
^eirers, sedncovl, r«bl»6ps, sara^efl, .rebeAs, ^nA traitors, we
shall not be suf prised at tk«ir att<srapts to adiraaco one step ftir«
tlier, and endeavour to make a Protestant nation join with tiiem
in opinion and jad^ent. But as in their first effort they were
defeated by the extremiy of thair ownjextravagaace, so were
they in the second by the good sense, candour, and uprightness
of those, whom they wished to gain over. So far fxUKi these
Encyclical Letters having tended to continue^ increase and cen^
firm the prejudices against the faith and moral character of
Catholics^ and the scandal and oppression, under which they '
laboured in this kingdom, that it was principally, if not whol.
ly, owing to the effects of these yery letters, that the legisla-
ture has, in Its bountiful liberality admitted the whole body of
Roman Catholics into the benefit of the laws, and participation
ef the constitution. I did once before, aid I do now again,
once for all, warn these gentlemen as^aiust the insolent presump-
tion of undertaking for their Protestant brethren, to pass judg«
ment and sentence upon us.
It should seem, that the art of protesting had now been -
carried to the highest possible degree of. sublimation: but no
check nor limits, civil, moral, or divine, were to be put upon
the rage, with which these infatuated protesters, pursued the
authors of the two Encyclical Letters. Not contented to
protest against all, that had already been said, written, or
done upon the business in question, they in like manner -do
solemnly protest and (horresco referens) they call upon God
to witness this solemn protest against all proceedings had, or
hereafter to be had, in consequence of, or grounded upgn the
said tzco Encyclical Letter^, or either of them, - qr any reprem
senlation of t fie bills or oaths therein respectively referred to^
given or to be given by them, or any of them : Thus do tl^ey
not only protest against every act, word, and motive of th^ijr
apostolical vicars, but even a^nst the possibility of any future
word, actioq, or motive, being produced by thepi upon this
iinbject, conformable ■ Wjth th^ diptates of hvm^in prudence^
the requisitions of the laws of their country^ or ib^ .c9{W^ls
. X .
8!)
and precepts of Almighty God. For, unlets Almightj God
should, in the utmost seTerity of his wrath, withdraw frotfi
these apostolical vicars the freedpm of their wills and actions^
and refuse them erery future grace in this life, what humaa'
being can by possibility know, that they, or some or ooe of
them, will not hereafter speakj write, or act in a ma&Bei;
agreeable both to the laws of God and man ?
In no age, in no country, in no circumstances was there
e?er, to my knowledge, an accusation preferred against any
roan, or any set of men, of a blacker and more complicated
nature, than this protestation by the Protesting Dissenting
Catholic Committee, against their lawful superiors. They
.appear to hare consulted a table of sins, in order to collect into
one catalogue all possible offences, of which these vicars apos^
tolic could be guilty; and, if they will make true their charges,
much as I now respect and revere the private and public cha«
I'acters of these truly apostolical prelates^ 1 will join cordially
with the committee in protesting against them, as guilty of
imprudence, tyranny, and injustice; of deceit, error, and se.
duction ; of malice, slander, and detraction ; of usurpation,
robbery, and impiety ; of sedition, rebellion, and treason;
of immorality, oppression, and scandal ; and not only, as
now guilty of these misdemeanors, offences, and brimos, but
as incapable of r^^penting of and amending any of them, and
so necessarily remaining guilty of each of them for evermore."
, No. V.
♦ '^ The four articles of the Galilean Churchy rejected by
the Bishops of Ireland, as kbove, p. 5.
I. Jesus Christ has given to St. Peter' and to his successors
St spiritual pozoer J which relates only fo idlvalion in a life to-
contis. He haS given him lio power direi:tly or indiredly over
temporal concerns: cbnsequently St. Peter^s successors have no
r I • ■ .
power of deposing kings, or of absolving subjects from their
oatls of aileglaucc. fVhjf hate our Bi$haps rejected thiff
See above f^ 5%
• 3 Col. 14S.
H. Tlie plenitude of the power given to St. Peter^s succe»*
S<jn over spiritual concerns does not derogate from what the
Council of Constance has defined in it's fourth and fifth session,
touching the superior authority of General Councils : and the
Gal'ican Church disapproves of all attempts to question the au^/
thority of tho^e decrees of the Council of Constance, or to
«Inde their force, by conHning their operation to cases of sfchism.
tVky have our Bishops rejected this ?
III. The exercise of the Apostolical power of the lio>y Sec
aught to be goDerned by the canons^ which have been enacted
by the Sjjirit o( G^d, and are respected by all the world: and
tile rules, as well as the cu'toms or usages, which are recemd
in the kingdom and church of Franco, ought to have forde.
IV. it is the P pe's office chiefly to decide inmatters of re-
9ea(e.dfaUh^ and his decrees are obligatory throughout the uni.
Tersal Church. His decrees, however, are not to be admitted
as absolute rules of faith ^ until after they are adopted by the
Church''
1 now lay before my reader the original Latin declaration
«f the Galltcan clergy, which I have endeavoured to translate
Into Fnglish with ])unctilious scrupulosity de verbo in verbum^
as far as the Latin and English idioms will permit. I shall then
offer some few remarks upon the document brought before the
public by Columbanus.
CLERI GALLICANI
J)c Ecclesiastica postestate Declaratipj^
PIE 19 MARTII 1682«
Ecclesiai GalUc^nae decreta 4^ liber at(s k majoribus nostris
tanto studio propugpatas, earumquefundamenta sacris canonibus
A Patrum traditione nixa multi diruere moliuntur ; nee desunt,
9\ii earum obteAtu prini^tum beati Petri ej usque successorum
Romanorum Pontificum a Qhristo institutom, iisque debitam ab
omnibus ChristiaDis obedientiam, Sedisque Apostolicae, in qui
:^es prsdicator, & unitas servatur Ecclcsix, reverendain
pBinibus gentjil^us majestatem imminnere non vcreantur.^ Hercr
L2
*
tici qnoque nihil praetermittanf, quo earn potestaten, qph |Aic
Ecclesiae continetur, inTidiogam k gravem Hegibas & populigr
ostentent, iisquc fraiidibus simplices animal ab Kocleslaa Matrix
Christique adeo comniiinionedissoclent. Quo ot idcoomied*
propulseoius, Nos^ Archiepiscupi & Epkcopi Parisiis mamiattf
Rei^io congrcgati Kcclesiaai Gallicanam repraBsentadtes, nn^
cum ceteris Kcclesisasticis Yiris nobiscam deputati^, diligdii<l
tractatu habito hxc sancienda St doclaranda esse du-icimas.
I. PrhD&m beato Petroejusque succesboribus Cbriati Vicarif^
ipsique Kcciesiad rerum spiritualium k ad sternam salHttm p^rti.
nentiuip, non autcm cifilium ae temporalium, ii Do6 tracUtaia-
protesfatcm, dicente Domino, Regnum meum non est de hoc
tnundoy & iterum, Reddite ergo qma $unt Cteiorie Ctt94»ri Sf
quw sunt Dei Deo^ ac proinde stare apostolicum illud^ Omhis
anima potest atib us sublimioribue subdita sit. Nol^ €st enim
pot est as nin a Deo, Quce autem sunt^ a Deo otdinata 9unim
Itaque quipotestati resistii^ Dei ordinationi resistit, Reges ergo
& Princlipes in t.-mporalibus nulli ecclesiasticae potesUttt Dei
erdinadone subjici, neque authoritate claWum RcCleslae direct^
rel indirectedcponi, aut illorum sobditos exinli X Me a(que obib^
dientii, ao pr^estito fidelitads Sdcramento i»oln po^ft*, eamq«i
sentcntiam publicas tranquilHtati neccssanam^ nee mhioi
£cclfst£e quam Imperio utilem, ut yerbo Dei, Patram tradU
tioni, & Sanctorum cxempHs consonam omnino rettnendam.
II. Sic autem inesse ApostoUcae Sedi ae Petri successoribas
Christ! V^icariis rerum spiritualium plenaip potestatem, utsimul
yalcantatquoimmota consistant sahctae oecnmenicae Synodi Con-
stantiensis a Sede Apostolica comprobata, ipsoque Romanomm
Ponttficuni ac totius Kcclcsiae usa con6fmafa, atque £lb Rce!<P8ia
Gallicana perpcfua religione cusfdditd dettbtk d^ authbHiM
Conciliorutn gcneraiiiira, qua^ sesbioh^ qnaHa k qnldhk c6ittl(i
ifcrtfur, m»c probari a'Gallicana Kcclesia qci eofUitt decretOril%
^tiasi dubiae sint authoritttfis ae ttiifliJIs approbahi, robuf ififtitf^
gatit, aiit ad sol 'm sdhismaHs tempus Cdn^ilH dicta dK*tofqtti<ail€i
III. fIincA|)ostolicfls potestatik lisckVutiodi^raf^iifrf p#r dao^MM
»i>iritu Dr i condtt6S & t5tius ttiundi rctcfettH^ eoiiteeMM;
Valcrc ctiam regulas, mores et insfituta i regno & Eccles^
9»
, Craltic^na recepi^^ p»tfumque Urmfnos manere iheojietissoi ;
s^que id pertinere ad am, litudinem Apostolicoi Sedb, ut statuU»
Si ccnisuetudiQes tant» Scdis 6c Gcciesiarum coaseBsione firniati^
propriam stabilitatem obtineant.
, IV. In fidei quoque qua^tionibus praecipuas summi PoDtificU
esse partes, ej usque docreta ad omnes & singulas Ecclesiat
pertinere, nee tamen irreformabile esse judicium nisi Ecdcstai:.
consensus accesserit.
V. 0,1103 accepta a patribus ad omnes Ecclesias. G|ftlUGana8
atque Episro^os in Spiritu Sancto authore pfaesideiites mitteada
decrcvimus; ut idipsum dicamus omnes^ simusque in eodeni
sensu & in eadem sententia.
A very Hteral translation of the above important Latia
document, made under cprrec^ion of any competent, jadge.
]!i^» B. I challenge not comparison by reference to fnanu*
script or unpublished works,
Declaration of the gallican ci;ehgy^
fiCCLESlAStlCAL PdWER,
March 19^ 1682.
Marty ^ttdeavoiir io p':t a own the decrees and liberties of
tike Grallican church, contended for with so much zeal by our
ancestors and their foundations resting upon the sacred canons^
and the traditions of the fathers ; nnr are there wanting some^
. trho under colour o^ them, do not fear to derogate from the
primacy of blessed Peter and his successors, the bishops of
feome, instituted by Christ, and from the obedience due to
them from all Christians, and to fritter down the Majesty to
be revered by all nations of the apostolic see, in which the
faith is preaiihed, and the unity of the church is preserved.
The heretics likewise omit nothing, by which they may repre»
sent that power, in which the peace of the chureh is embraced^
aa iavidiQua and barthcnsoxa^ to kings ^i potentates ; and by
86
those fraods, they serer sirojAe fouls from the ftoranratiioii ^f
4be mother church, and consequently from that of Christ. To
obriate which inconTenlencies, we the Arch-bishops and Bishops
eonrened at Paris by royal mandate, representing the Gallican
church, together with the other clergymen deputed together
trith ns, after diligent deliberation^ bare thought these tidngs
dught to be decreed and declared.
First. That there was given by God to blessed Peter and hli
sticcessdfil, the ricars of Christ, and to the church, a power
over spiritual things, and appertaining to eternal saltation, but
not over civil or temporal things ; the Lord saying, my kingdom
is not of this world: and again, Render therefore unto Ctesar^
the things^ which are Cctsar's^ and unto God the things^ which
are God's: and therefore that saying of the apostle holds good,
Ijct everij soul be subject unio the hightr powers i for there
is no power but of God : whosoever therefore resisteth the
power y resisteth the ordinance of God: and therefore, t^at
king^ and princes in temporalities are by the ordinance of God
subjected to no ecclesiastical power, nor may be deposed di^
rectly or indirectly b^ the authority of the l^ys of the church,
gr may their subjects be absolved from their allegiance and
obedience, or their oath of allegiance sworn to them: and diat
this opinion necessary fpr the conservation of th^ public tran«
quillity, and no less useful to the church than the state, a^
being consonant with the word of God| the tradition of the
fathers, and the examules of the saiqts, Queht to b^ unques^
tionably maintained.
Second. But that the plenary power over spiritual thingS|
is so vested in the apostolic See, and the successors of Peter,
the vicars pf Christ, as that the decrees concerning the authp*
rity of general councils contained in the 4th and 5th sessions
of the holy oecumenical council of Constance, which hare been
approved of by the apo.'^tolic Sec, and confirmed by the actnal
practice of the Roman pontiffs, and of the whole church, and
j)r(*;?erv€d unceasingly and religiously by the Gallican Chul:cii^
are ai the same time of full avail and remaia unshaken. Neith«^
83
^te thej approTed of by the Gallican cburch, wbo derogate!
from the force of those decrees, as if they were of doubtful
authority, or not fully approved of: or who distort the wordsi
of the council, by applying them only to the time of schism.
Third, Hence the exercise of the apostolic power ought to*
be regulated by the canons framed by the- spirit of God, and*
consecrated by the Tencratiou of the whole world. The rules,
customs, and institutions received by the kingdom and church
of France are also still in force, and the decisiomif of . the
fathers remain unshaken: and it is appurtenant to the greatness
of the apostolic See, that the statutes and customs sanctioned
by the assent of so great a See, and of the diffusive church
should possess their peculiar full efficacy.
Fourth. In questions of faith also, it belongs principalljf
to the chief pontiff to decide, and his decrees reach to all and
singular the (dispersed) churches. Yet nevertheless, his deci-
sion is not irreformable, unless followed by the consent (acqui*'
escence) of the church.
Which having been recdved by the fathers, we have decreed
them to-be sent to all the Gallican churches, and to the bishops
gOTerning them in the authority of the holy Spirit, that we may
all say the same thing, and be of the same mind, and of the
same opinion.'*
Then follow the Signatures.
To the unbiassed reader I offer a very short scholium on
the copy, readings, edition or quotation of the declaration of
the Gallican clergy, on ecclesiastical power, in 1683, hy the
•Rev. Doctor, who boasts (3 Col. 74) that he has a character
get to lose: that he cannot charge his conscience with mism
representation : and that truth is the first duttf of everif writer.
The preamble, setting forth the views, motives, and grounds
for making that declaration were not kept out of sight, for
its length, intricacy, or insignificancy; but, because it set
fortji in too plain a language, the high prerogatives, the juris-
fUctional authority, and the obligatory obedience diie11}y divine
88
iattitutian, from all Christians to the chair of Peter* Ndthur
was i^ for the mere sake of abbreTiatioii, that so viMch of 4b^
first proposItioQ was omitted, as will by comparis .n iippoar;:
■ particularly ^hose very important wtords, ih^ Vkaff 9f Chfi^tf
which ia the original iiDmediately follow the words, PM^r t^nd
hi$ tuceeisors* This use of the word him^ instifd pf thfim^
might give room to doubt, whether the father^ coaT^ned WJ^hifc
not hare eon Jiicd the investiture of spiritual power' pejnffaonalljr
to St. Filter, without ex^ttfudiog it to bis sacc^ss^^ 19 tb^ S^
In the sect^nd propositioa, there U a repeatfsd ogusejoi^
of those important words, which the fathers coa¥«;n^ %o
studiously as;ain in^riiduccd, not to leave a doubt npofi the
loinds of thdr and the church's enemies, th^t , tj^e •Q.iiJ.lij^a
church differed in one i >ta from t)ve church diffa^i^e .upop.
this cardinal pivot of Catholicity. l\\% views and mptiTes iie^i
not to be analyzed, to discover the genuine ^pund of hj|
omitting after the word Constance in the original, the following
mf>&i material words, viz. ^hich ht^ve been cgnfirmed l>» fke
actual practice of the Roman Pontiffs^. ani of tijfi p)koifi
ckurchj und preserved wiceastngl^ and religiou$ltf by th§
GalHcan chtirgh; or of his introducing the words, ijaiichinf
iha superior authority/ of general councils, in Ueu of d0 (EiiMh
toritate conciliorumy ti^uching the /aathoxilt^^of general coun-
cils.
In th^ j^rst line Columb^nus intj'odur^s the words hoty Se^^
yfidch occur ppt in thp pjiginal. But the smothering of th?
• « I have befiore noticed, tW r^ttr FFa^AiepUovUig^he «h9C Otli^ ,
jffiii iUiVtrious Jflidier, Lauoois, ^. bejd^ iM- Xhece w^ ^ly ia ikt Pf>(^
jm frimgicif pf pou>er over the whole wotldf not a suprqnac^y and consemetU,^
neither a vicarship nor headship, 8^c, aad this avowed ((jcnyer of th^
vicarship or headship to the Pope is the man, whom Columfoaoos threu^
oat hb five nombera holds up to hh conntrymeo, as the Beedeomod
' «f his order, a man of .untainted orthodoxy* ai ftXiuaplar^ iCOiABQty
. A fi^voarite of Orpiosd, becaua^a pfirsecilM wtf^ 1lf ^jM^PWa) Mifi^
.>aii4. papal^|^rcssip;i«
89
Utter pait of i^e ^M»d pr^positiDa is of a pusos wiOi his iara^
rlaMc rale of sttppn^smg or distorting ler^r/ thing, that ieniti
to enforce Jiespect a«d dbedieiiDe if> -the ohftif pf Peter. If
the reader wiJl give bioisftf ih» IrseabW of comparing the
translation of the fourth proposition, (which is the least dis«
figured) he will not find it translafed with that close punctilious
accuracy, which such awful sirbjectt require.
To the end of the second proposition Columbanus puts the
following note, '^ These two decrees of this counoU merit the
^^ more attention, because the second, . intiBtately connected
'' with the first, happens unfortunately to be that, which the
'^ Irish. Bishops have condemned in their synod of Tullow, as
" above, 29." And by reference to p. 29, the reader will
find, that Colambanus says, he is esLtremely sorry to be com.
pelled bi/ truth to charge the Iri^ Bishops with having con*
demncd in that synod the following proposition : ^Pius VIL
woh14 ^e a heretic and schismatic^ ^ he renounced or coru
demned a solemn decision of the Catholic Church. There can
hardly be more barefaced misrepresentation, than this charge
against the Trish Bishops, (made by him, who knew it to be
false) that they had condemned this hopothetical proposition:
that is in its^lf^ as containing falsehood and error. Whereas^
the Bishops expressly say of that preposition : This proposi^
Hon separately taken is equivocal: but it is to be considered
along with the three follomng. The acts of that Synod are
(App. No. VI.) submttted'to the reader at length, in support
of the truth and justice of that venerable hierarchy, and th»
exposure of the petulant fractiousness and want of candour ia
their impiigner; maugre his thrasonical assurance, that he ne*
ver perverted the words of antf man to answer his ozon purm
poses of malignity or revenge. How free, how very free
from any such corrupt motive does the most l^rned Doctor^
cy jJevant soi disant Columbflnui appear in the sublime » con-
clusion of that very 2dtb page, ao .pr^piant with trntl^ cs^^^r
90
znd' Irish honattif. " If the Bishop of Castabafa is to jud^^
*• exclusive! f/^ according to his Turkish notions, he is a S/nod
"in himself! Ipse agmen, — Poor dear man, I recommend it
" to him to read more, and to iDrite loss. ! ! /*' (3 Col. M>
No- VI.
Declaration of the Roman Catholic Prelates of Ireland^ ton-*
cerning certain Opinions lot clj; public iicd in England^
*' Whereas Wr? the underwritten Archbishops and Bishop9
*' ot the Roman Catholic Church of Ireland, ha?e been called
** upon to declare our judgment concerning certain opinions
** IsiUAy published in F/igi-iud, and there cor.demned by our
'' lii^ht Rev. Brothers, the Bishops of Centurix and Castabala^
*' Vicarf Apostolical ; from which condemnation a pretenicd
*' appeal has been convey<.»d to. us, in a book entitled, Abus
'' sans Example de l^Aittorite EccUsiastique^ pour fletrir
*^ et opprimer P Innocence^ S^c, Sfc, litf Pierre Ltouif
*' Blanchard. styling himself Cure de St, H^ppoliie, Diocese
*' de LisicuT^ Normandie. A Londres^ de Vimprimerie de
" H. Juigncy 17, Margavet^street, Cavendish'Square» Se .
" vend chez M. De la Roche^ 5, King^street^ Portman*
^f.equarc; et chez I'Auteur, 81, llighMreet, Mar^le^bone^
*^ 1808.
." And whereas the said Pierre Louis Blanchard has signifie.d
" in his said book, that he will consider our silence as an
*' approbation of the opinions therein asserted, and already
'' mentioned to have been condemned :
" For these reasons, we have thought it expedient, without
'* entertaining the said pretended appeal, which yre declare to
** to be irregular, nugatory, and invalid, to take into conside*
<* ration the reasons alledged by the said pretended appellant ;
"and having examined the propositions hereafter set down, as
t
91
^^ ^ell sep&rately itakeii,'' ascompared with the context of the
^^ above.ment,u>ned WQck of the said Pierre Louis Blanchard,
^^ We have unaniipously agreed to the following resolutions:
'* Firsiy We profess and teach, that Pius VII. the now
^' Bishop of Roroe, is the true and supremo Pastor of the.Ca*
^^ tholic Qhurch,. that W^ adhere to him as the undoubted sue*
'' cessor of Piiter, and that he is fully and justi) in possession
^' of all spiritual powers, whi^^ by reason of the Primacy di^
^^ Tincly established in the Church of Christy of right belong to
^^ the Cliief Bishop of Christians, and to the Teacher of aU
^' Christians.
''Secondly^ We declare, that adhering, as. We have don^
^^ frpm the beginning, to the dogmatical decisions of Pius VI,
^' of holy remembrance, concerning the so called (7«ce7 Consitm
^^ tution of the Clergy of France^ and judging, after those de*
^^ cisions, that the said Constitution was impious in its sug*
^^ gestions, heretical in its pretensions, schismatical in sevesal
*^ of its provisions, and on the whole to be rejected ; We ju-Ige
^^ at the same time, that our holy Fatlier PlusVH- has not meant
^' to approve, and by no colour or inference has he approved
<^ of the errors, heresies, or impious principles contained iu
'^ the said Civil Constitution of the Clergy^ or pf any of them :
^^ but thatj especially in his mi^sures for the restoration of
^^ Catholic Unity, and the peaceful exercise of true religion in
^^ France, he has adhered to that, which was dogmatical in the*
'' said decisions of his predecessor, and that he has only yielded
^^ what the dreadful (xigencies of the times demanded from a
^^ true Shi'pherd of the Christian Flock, Jn commiseration of
^^ such days as had n^ver appeared from the beginning of the .
f' war Id J and if they had not been shortened on account of thQ
^^ elect ^ alljlesh would not have been saved*
*^ Thirdly^ We declare, that in the Pontifical Acts already
^^ mentioned of Pius VU, he has validly, and agreeably to th^
^^ spirit of the Sacred Canons, exerted the powers belonging t<|
n
<< thdftic ChristwdB if France to lie tislU* body of tli» Cborlb,
<< and tbit ho Ym ther«>ij IfnpaFM f* tbem A tme ColMmiiriott
^ with the UiiiverMl Church, that b(4D; rMtored to God thro'
<^ Cbfi9t, thtfj iBsiy hftve fefmssiotr of (hdr riilt in the Hofy
^* St^rit ; Afid we cecept, app^ore, atld eMcar with thi^ said
<^ Acts of Pins V[l. ia good, rightful, atidiefltic, tsdA n^eessarjf
^ iniplred by chscHty, Md don^Mn the fal(h 6f his predecessor.
'^ As w« are wHiing and protnpt to male this declaration ta
^ testiQUOfly of iht One Catholic Church, and in the dfffence of
<'its Tisible Head, Pius VII. /or nhoie deliverance^ as for.
^^ liietly for (hat of Peter, the prayer of the Church is utu
^* cecuingly offered up to Gody so it is with unfd^gned grief we
^^ ikid Our&elres compelled to reprehend the works or assertions
^^ of a man, who appears to hare belonged to that glorious
<^ Church of Prance, which in these last days has crowned its
^* faith by Confession, and its Confession by Martyrdom; in
^^ the sufferings of which We sorrowed, and for the deTirerance
*^ of which We prayed : but being reduced to the necessity of
^^ either acting with pastoral authority and animadversion^ or
'^ surrendering (he sacred trust confided so us, We follow the
^* etample of him who has said: If thy right eye scandalize
^^ ihee, ptuck it out and cast it forth from thee ; and again^
^^ unless a man hate his very soul, he cannot be my disciple.
*^ Wherefore, having seen the following propositions asserted
^* by the SHid Pierre I^ouis Blanchard, and having examined
^^ thi^(b, We declare them respectively f alse, calumnious, and
^^ ficjlKDAlotS, inasmuch 2^ they regard the acts of Pius Vlt.
^^ In hii Restoration ^d Settlement of the Churches of France,
^^ iind ihanifcstly tending to schism, most dangerous at this time
^^ to the peace and unity of the Catholic Churchy eiciting and
<^ intlting to schism, hot alone schismatical, but dogmatizing
^^ tchism, tistirpitig ecclesiastical jurisdiction^ and subyersiTeof
^.^ Church auifrority.
93
<^ The prepesHioos are these foUowin; ;
Page a8, ^ L'figHee da C^ncorddt tT^st pas Catholjqae.
Page 60, " V Ueresic vient d'obtenir en France «tt triomplie
^' comfAisty et Pie VII. en est ht] premiofe «t la ^ riaclpaie
<rcaiise. .
P. 95. ^^ IJne Eglisc aussi compl^temciit asSieirri^ ne peuti.
*^ etre I'Eglise de Jesus-Christ.
P. SSL ^' l^ Evjiquet Cpiioordataiv«s doiTent ^tre.evit^pat
^^ les fideke jaloux d'operer le^ir salut.
Ibid. '' lis p'ont pas re9u 4e Jesos-Chrilt U^ pouvoid
<^ (sseodelleiDent Ubves dan» le^r p^inf:ipt ^.dan^ leur exercise
P. 109. (Jn des sujets de Ki^r justf^B plaiotes (del Evdquel
<^ de Frano^), c'«9t qm) Pie Vtl. par 9a foil^le^o, ait iatroduit
^^ le sckisme ro^e et i'her^hie ^9.m }» ftain de I'Eglise. *>
P. 134. ^' Quant 4 oe jPape (Pius YII.) Jd di» $9«Umeiit
^^ qu'U fairt }^ deooncer a^ l^Egliie Cathtoii^ue, i^nc^re saol
'' specifier si c*est comme ^6retique et FQhi$0]ati§ii^^ ou unique.
<^ roent pour avoir via^ I?t vigj^ saintes. I
P. 137. ^' Pie Vll. leroit hereliqne et •sdusinatlque pa^
^^ I'abandon et m^ine par le in^pHsrd'iuifi decssioa solemiieUo dtf
"I'Eglise: , .
^^ This proposition ^eparat^ly t^en 19 equiT^cali butitiaitb
<^ bQ considered along with tht three folloi^ing:
P. 62. '' Nqus aTons done dans la decision de Pi6 YI? coa^
^' tre la Con^titutioa civile «h^ Ci^letge, celle de I'Eglise univer.
'^ selle meme.
P. 117. '^Pie yil. par la, formtioii de I'Eglise CQB?or«.
^^ dataire a, en efiet, r^voque les brefs de son pred^cesseur^
^^ et admis les principes fondamentfiux de la Constitution civile
" du CUrgi. . , ^
Ibid. '' Comment Pie VII. a.t-il forme ce fantome d'Eglifie?
^^ II U forme sur les bases s^emes qu^ Pie VI. aToit coodaiD«*
<^ need comme imi^ies, h^^tiques et schismatiques.
'^ These Propositions we r^ect and condemn, without ap«
^^ proTing or intending to approve many other propositions
^/ maintained by tbc said f. L. Blanchard as connected with the
9i
<• fofOj^oing, and without entertaininjg', as Wc hme already
^' declared, the said pretended appeal) or approTing of it iii
." form or substance.
^^ In testimony of all which Wc, the aforesaid Arcbbishopi
^^ and Bishops have signed our names to this our Solemn Decla.
^^ ration and Decision/*
^'Dublin, ZdJuly^ 1809."
*« Richard O'Reiljf, D. D J. T. Troif, D. D. Dubhn.
Armagh, Daniel Veiuny^ D. D.' Kildare
Thomas Bray^ D. D. ChashelL and Leighlin,
Francis Moylan^ D. D. Cork. James Lanigan^ D. D. Ossory,
P. J. Plunket^ D. a Meaih. F. French, D. D. Slpkzn.
John Cruise, D. D. Ardagh. t. Cosieilo, D. D. Clonfert.
John Pozcer, D. D. Waters John Ffyn, D. R JST/^c/,
/ord dfirf Lismorej • - • Achonry,
Flor. Mac Carthy, D. D. -<<>i. Patrick Ryan, D. D. Crcrman
tinoet Goad* Cork. ' fitcw, Coocf. Fcmj.
JB. D///o»5 D. D. TVflOT. t)aniel Mufray, D. D. Cbcrf,
/• Caulfield, D. D. Ferw*. Elect, Dublin.'*^
^'^^'1 hereby certify* that the underwritten Prelates, not pr«-
<* sent at the assembly of their brethren on the 3d of July,
•Imve appnotefd 'the foreg'bing solemn Declaration and Deci^
^^ sion ; and authorf^^d ittc i^y t&eir respective letters, to afi^i;
"their signatures thereto*. '•
«/. T. TROY, D.D. Dublin,''
"August 21, 1809."
^* flfm. Coppinger, D. D. C» Sughrue, D. D. Kerry,
Cloy no and Ross. '" ' James Murphy ^ D. D. Clog'%
P. Mac Mullen, D. D. Dozen her.
and Connor, J. 0^ Shaughnessy, D. 0,
JB. Derry, D. D. Dromore. ' Ktlalloe.
Cfias. &Donnell, D. D. Berry. P. J^Iaq LqughUn, D. D.
iV. J. Archdeacon^ D. D. if//- ' Raphoe.
macduagh and Kiffcnora. F, Reilfy, D. D. Ktlmore.
Dominick Bcllczp, D. D. Fw/. Bodkin^ D. D. »'ar((^
Kilalla. Oalisay.'*
95
No. VII.
Doctor Charles O^Conor^s different professions q/" submission
to Papal authority in Latin and English.
^' There are^ who insinuate that I am an enemy to the just
" rights of the holy See* In reply to that calumny,. I beg
^' leave to enter this solemn protest, which may be seen trans.
*• lated into English at the conclusion of thFs letter." (Adver-
tisement to Columbanus' third letter on the liberties of the
Irish Church, &c.)
For the conveniency of my readers, and the more ready
discovery of Columbanus^ fidelity of translation, and marvel-
lous adaptation of his professions to the taste, fashion, spirit^
views, and interest of his readers, countenancers, abettors,
and employers, I shall draw his Roman and British protest
into closer contact, in order that the variations of this formula
bilinguis may more glaringly appear. " A figure with two.
*' faces : one turned to the treasury, and the other turned
^' to the people, xsith a double tongue speaking contradictory
^' language," (An tea 17.)
Protestor imprimis me sedem I protest most solemnly, that
Petri Apostoticam, ut caeter. I entertain the most sincere
arum caput, sinccro prosequi respect for the Apostolic See,
honore : nee unquam me vel as the head of all : and that I
latum unguem a dehita ipsi never will depart one inch from
obcdientii canonica recessu. the canonical obedience, which
rum. Tantum autem abest ut is due to that See. But I am
putem hsc m^a opuscula quid, far from thinking that the prin.
quam ejus legitims auctoritati ciples inculcated in my publi.
ofiicere, ut 6 contra existimem, cations, can be prejudicial to-
ad auimos Ecclesiae Romanae the/e^tVt^za/eauthority of that*,
conciliandos esse Talde neces*' See or of our Bishops. I be-,
saria, cum cathedrae Petri pri- lieve on the contrary, that they
matiis . et dif ina, qu& poUet are absolutdiy necessary to con-
auctoritas sbceri aipaosci . ne. ciUate the minds of men to the
96
% I
queaf, Disi iatra justos limitcs triie priTileges of tibe episcopal
^ohibeatur. order: since the piimacjr of
the holy Soe can neTer be ac-
knowledged in the British Is«
lands, unless it is restrained
TTithin its jnst limits, and re-
called to its original inHtitn.
tion.
Surely they are evil eoun-
sdlors. and deserve no faTonr
from that See, who ezteiiding
its power beyond those limits
-which God has imposed, ren«
dcr it drcadfol to all States^
odious to all pm^plo, formi.
dable to the liberties of all
national chnrches, desfiotictf
in its decrees ! Bnt they de.
serre well of -the holy See^
who distingtiish its IfegiHmato
privileges, iftstttiited'Cor4be«u
cred purpose 4>f fMnsarvlog tibt
Unit^ of the Christian Gkutdi^
from that .worldly and spaiimia
pomp of power, "vhich flvttiw
rers and synophaxits have ia
Tain andeawoitf ed to estttblisk.
As in professions and formnlades of inth^ the moat pmie.
tilionB nicety both of language and intentioa is leqinred, Hn
reader will BOt think it an effort of fastidious •cviticiaa^ .if '
I remark, that the Latin words cmteramm ^CMprnt, as tJiey
stand in the ^motckt, convey a v«ry diffienmt wcsudmg .from
the English words at the kemd of 4iL ThHtefiaglidi wovdi
to ^me appear 4o bear the meaning of mere primaRsy, as XSotanu
banns *§aMM throajjlMtft Ms ofusottlBy «aB iJw ^haie'dBnamiMtni
Pcssim^ quidcm desedeapos.
tolled merentur, qui auctorita.
tern ejus niroinm extoJlentes,
earn Regibns ttmendam, popu-
lis invidiosam Ecclesiarum om«
nium liber tati bus fonnidandam
ostentaht. Optim^ vero il, qui
Sancti Petri legitimum jus ad
anitatem Ccclesis visibilem iir.
mandam institutnm solidis rati,
onibus a mundan4. & adulterini,
quas ipsi immerito tribuitur,
ptAestate secernent.
97
bis writiogs, to iaeline strongly to the doctrine of tbc Popovs
tterely ranking as first Bishop, primus inter pares ^ the ^nt
amongst his equals* As Armagh riinks first amoogst the four
Irish metropolitans. Whereas the orthodox mcamng or intport
of the Latin words coHerarum capui as they stand, I humbly
take to be, that the holy sec of Rome b the head,, origin and
souTce <yf all other sees tliroughout the church ; that Is, thej
verc created or formed, and are continually stfpported by re«
i^eiying appstolic mission successiyely from the see of Rome.
Thus wc before observed, was the new hierarchy or province of
Baltimore, in North America, created or formed by his present
Holiness Pope Pius VII. No other prelate or prelates out
earth, without power emanating from the see of Rome, could
have produced such an effect. Notwithstanding the hallacinating.
Doctor frequently boasts of Bishops having been formerly
named, made, consecrated, aj^ointed, confirmed, instituted, in*
vested, installed, &c, without the' privity, consent, approbation^
or co«operation of the see of Rome, and that the Irish Church
was once governed and administered independenilif of the holy
see. As well might he argue, that the Irish Viceroy appointsr
to civil places or situations in Ireland independentltf of tho
crown, because no immediate act passes between the sovereign'
and the appointee.
The English reading of the second section of this protest^ as
Columbanus rather singularly terms a professed act of submis-
sion to%a legitimate superior, is a most brazen attempt to im.
pose upon the ignorance ot stupidity of all, to whom the Eng-.
lish language is familiar. It. bears tlie badge of rank ling fraud.
It entirely suppresses tji^ whole doctrinal substance, the very
quintessence and ground of Roman Catholic faith in the spiri.
tual kingdom of Christj and every word, that can import, or
even suggest an idea of that basis of Catholic submission' to
papal supremacy: viz; et divina qua polkt auctoritas, that
is, and the divine authority^ on which it rests. The rest of
the sentence is so seasoned and garnished^ in order to suit it to'
N
98
the British palate, that it is completely disguised by fife introJ
duction of the folio wi ig noTeltie<{, which are not discoTcrable
in the gennin^; orit^inal words of the supposed text in Latin : riz^
principlei inculcated in my puhlicationn^ for hiec mea oputeula:
or of our Bishops^ is a pore Toluntarj, not warranted by sL
single .syllable of any such import in the Latin. No man would
suppose, that the words the true privileges of the Bpiicopat
order were intended to convey the meaning of Eccleiim
Romame. The particularizing the British Islands, as the h
cus in quo a conditional acknowledgment of the primacy of the
holy see is to be admitted, under qualification and reform, it
glaringly an obtrusive periphrasis upon the Roman test; not to
explain the import of it in the English language, but to flaCttef
the religious prejudices of the chureh of England, as by lavr
established. Although it may be plermasm i6 most, it may yet
be of utility and satisfaction to some of my readers, who froih
their ignorance of the learned language, may still be incredu^
Ions, that any man of the most ordinary pretensions to credit
or decency in life should attempt to practice such barefaced
deception, that I give a literal translation of this second sen*
tence into English : and I will add a la Columbanus^ compare,
compare. ^' But so far am i from thinking, that theso little
^* works of mine are ai all hurtfu^ to it's legitimate authorityi
^^ that on the contrary I dr^em them very necessary to reconcile
'^ the minds of men to the Roman Church, as the primacy of
^' the Chair of Peter, and the divine authority, upon which it
^' rests, cannot be sinc(!rely acknowledged, unless it be restrun*
*^ ed within it's just bounds."
A like literal version o^ the two remaining sentences, will
enable the reader, who rijppens to be ignorant of the dead
language, to jud;;;e of Columbanian honesty, by comparison of
his own formula hilinguis^ his two4ongued profession.-^^
^^ But those indeed deserve very ill of the Apostolic See, who
^' extolling it's authority too much, bold it forth as dreadful i^
^^ kings^ odious to the people, and formidable to the liberties
'^ of all churches. But they desenre well of it^ who with solid
99
'^ reason discriminate the legitimate right of St. Peter, iDsti.
^^ tuted for strengtheniog the Tisijbltf uni^y of the Church from
^^ that worldly and spurious power, which is attributed to it."
A very great fool is be,
l¥bo tranilates literaUy. (An tea, 205.)
No. VIII.
A Letter from the Arch^Bishop of Baltimore and hU mfm
fragan Bishops in the United States of North America^
to the Arch^Bishops and Bishops of Ireland^ faithfully
translated from ihe original Latin,
N. B. It was written in answer and consequence of an Encyclical Letter
from the Arch- Bishops aud Bishops of Ireland to all the Catholic Pre*
lates throughout (he World, an Luglish Translation of vibich is to be
teen in the Appendix ^lo, iV. to mv History of Ireland bince the Union,
Vol. ill.
TO THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS AND REVEREND L. L. THE
ARCH-BISaOPS AND BISHOPS IN IRELA^D.
Tht Arch^BUhopt and Bishops appointtd in tht United States if America.
HEALTH IN THE LORD.
WE recei^edt Tenerable brethren, with a i^cnse of gra«
titude and mth that rererence, which is deservedly due to
you, the letter which your charity indited to all the Prelates
pf the Catholic church, on the ^d calends of March.
It has been determined by us, with the help of God, to
cherish the unity of Christ's church and the authority of the
holy See, ypon which the sai4 unity depends, and to defend and
assert the primacy of honor and jurisdiction, which the Soye*
reign Pontiff possesses by divine right. We deem it a duty
equally sacred as gratifying to profess unreserved fidelity and
obedience to him^ who now holds the supremacy of the Pontic
N2
iOO
licatc, Pins VIT. To fliii Pontiff, \vho never can be sufficient,
ly tTaiscd, mvo adhere and sulMnit, as mpmbiTS to the head.
But •'incp, ts wo hav • it out of St. Paul, if one member suffer^
all the members suffer Kith H ; bow mudi more onght not I he
giif'vous sutl'i'iinfi^s of the hitid itaelf to raise the most painful
sciiPaiion«5 in all the mimbir?.
AVith }ou, Ton rable bnlhrin, wo -anient ard are indignant
Ix'fore till* Lord. Mith you xU^ wo promunce it an unotterable
crime, that an old man should be turned out of his home^ hi^
country, an unoffending Bishop *hoyld be afflicted^ thai the
Mother Church should be str/fff'cd of hvr patrimop^y and a
^celUucscrving Pontiff sliould hi: Iiarri^sifed tcith calumnies.
01 11F, bihintrd in \h\s nciote counfr}, Po^e Pius VJl. has
b*'tn most liii^hly d<seivin«;, as we conlc^s ffith CTcry sense of
grafifude. We owe it to his proiidont and ai)Q5toVral piety,
that this [:orfion of the Lord's iloct in the United States of
.^Vmciica. has been forined into an Kcclesiabtiral Pro?ince, con.
sisdn*^ of the ArcluLi^hop of 13altimore and four ftuQVngan
Bishops.
VVu tiusttd in the Lord, that the sapie eminent strength of
niind, which >o gjoiiousi) ^iioue forth in Pius VI* of happj
meiiiory, we should always hnd cons) icgpus in pjus VII. And
wc (Ijuht nut, but that he uili to the last continue tjo exhibit
that iiivipt'ibie eonstancy of n ind, which be has already made
npj.iar in sunt-iing calamitii:;» for the solace of 'the Cburcb,
'wherever Jio sIiliIL be called' upon to act. speak| or (perhaps^
suffer for it.
Tn the mean time we profess before Cod, that \rc will hujnfely
listen to the admoiiilions of our pest Ilely Father^ although
(lofaincd in ca) tivity, and that we will promptly obey his
wishes and coinn»ands, if they earr> on the face of thcQi th^
due marks of the sintiTC words of Peler, and of the genuine
mind and authority of his Holiness. We shall hoMCTcr consider
onrselve£^ hounden by no letters or documents /of any nature
whatsoever as issuing from him, which may be handed about in
lii^naine^ unless all or even the slightest shade of suspicion shall
101
Jiave Uecn first rcmoTcd, -ihat Pius Vil. did nol enjoy full and
perfect freedom of deliberation and consultation.
But if the Sovereign Pontiff should depart out of this life
(which in such ^reat perils of the Church may God avert) we
are equally persuaded with you, venerable brethren, th^t \\m
mighty God will not be in the lea«t wanting to his Church in
such a^Siction ; which, altfaoug)i for a length of time she ha^e
been in a state of widowhood, deprived of a Sovereign. Pastor
on earth, she^ill nevertheless, incur less detriment, than if any
one attempted by force and terror to mount the ^^hair of Peter,
aud rend the m}-i»t}cal bfdy of Christ, by a fatal Schism*
Whence wc have so made up our nunds, that we shall endeavour
io j)ersuade the people committed to our care, to acknowledge
no one as the true and undoubted successor of St. Peter, whom
a decided majority of the Bishops of the wbti^le Yfovld shall not
Jiavc acknowledged •
If we, Reverend brethren, who as yet scarcely bearanaxiis
amidst the disused Ciiurchos, have resolved to convey to yon
these sentiments of our mind, it was your humanity, that cn«
couf^ged us to do it, qioved by which you* vouchsafed to ad«
dress your Encyclical I^etter to the o^her Prelates of'theCa*
tholjc World, and even unto us. It would be unpardonable
fiot to aoswiT this honorable attention to us. For you fill
those Apostolical Sees, which for a long series of years have
been rendered illustrious by the holy Prelates your predeces*
Sors. You confirm the people committed to your charge in the
ancient and sincire faith, and with piety in vford and deed,
and you exhibit the singular, perhaps solitary example, of in.
vincible fortitude in supporting and propagating the Catholic
doctrine, in resistance and defiance of ail human artifice, fraud
' and violence. *
Wg bog to be humbly recommended io your prayers, an4
we earnestly implore for you erery prosperity to your coantryy
to your churches, and to each of you IndiTidually.
Fare yo well, most illustrious and reverend Prelates,
Baltimoie, 14th day of November, 1810.
f JoHw, Arch' Bishop of Baltimore,
f Leo HARD, Bishop of Gorta^ Coadju^
tor to the ArchmBishop of Baltimore.
f F. Michael, Bishop of Philadelphia.
+ John, Bishop of Boston:
+ Benedict Joseph, Bishop of Bardstown.
The folloning documents shew how widely the Catholic
Bishops in North America differ in their opinions, feelings and
conduct concerning his Holiness Pope Pius VII. from Colum*
banus. Mho inveighs with such bitterness and rancour agsunst
the Irish Hierarchy and Doctor Mil ner, for censuring Blanchard
and others of that scbisniatical cast; some of whom still find
advocates, supporters and abettors, to the great mischief and
scandal of the true Catholic flocks, in those districts, where
they are actually receiving that countenance and encouragement,
which encreases and spreads the evil.
*' We, the undersigned, by divine permission, and with the
approbation of the Holy See, Arch.Dishop and Bishops of
our respective dioceses, to our*" beloved Brethren. Grace and
Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
The many outrages committed against the person of oar
Chief Pastor Pins VII. the Vicar of our Lord Jesus Christy
in the government of his Church, and the invasion of the pa.
trimony of the Holy See, have been long known to you, our
boloved Brethren, and excited in your breasts, sentiments of
deep afijiction and indignation. These acts of aggression were
not only unprovoked ; but to avert them, our holy Father em^,
ployed all means of forbearance, meekness, .patience, admo.
Tiition, charituble remonstrances, and even condescension, as
far as his conscience and duty would allow him, and thus cvinc,
ing his wncere desire tp preserve pea^e, unity, and^Tue religipa
103
Id the vhole flock committed to his charge. Blit fruitless wer^
his endeaTours to rcstraiu violence^ and infuse principles of
justice. The work of oppression went on to it's consummation
in defiiCnce of all law natural and di?ine. After suffering
with that placid constancy, which only the God of fortitude
could inspire, the disrespectful and insulting treatmtnt, and
being stripped of the dominions, which had been held by his
predecessors for more than a thoosand years to the immense be«
nefit of the Christian worlJ, he was first made a prisoner within
the walls of ^his own palace, and then, as was his immediate
and holy predecessor of blessed memory, Pius VI: forcibly
dragged away from the chair of St Peter, and the sacred ashes
of the apostles, he is detained in a foreign land as a prisoner,
and debarred from communicating with any part of the flock
committed to his pastoral care and solicitude. Thus has diyine
Providence |)ermitted him to drink of that cup, and share in,
those sufferings, of which the first of his predecessors, St. Peter,
and many after him had soT &rge a portion, to the end, that their
constancy in resisting the impiety of the enemies of Jesns
Christ might be as conspicuous as their high rank in the church
of God, and that thdr public testimony for the honor of his
sacred person and religion might confound, and leave without
excuse the malcTolence or ignorance of those men, who conti-
nued to calumniate the Bishops of Rome, as corrupters of the
faith and worship of God the Father and his blessed Son, the
Saviour of mankind, for whose sake so many of them sacri- .
£ced their liberty and their lives.
But though the church is glorified by their meritorious suf-
ferings, it is not less the duty of all it's members, during the
oppression of our common Father, to offer up our fervent pray-
ers for his deliverance from the power of his enemies, that he
may freely and efficaciously exercise, for the advantage of our
souls, his important pastoral duties. When St. Peter, prince
of the apostles, was cast into prison by the impioos Herod,
and loaded with chains, the primitive Christians regarded it as
104
t common calamity, and prcyer tsoi madd wtihout ceasing by
the church to God for him. Acts, ch. 1^. ▼. 5.
Their prayers wer« graciously heard, and an angel rf the
lord stood by him^ and the chains fell off from his hands, 9. 7.
Encouragi'd by their example and succesy, let us beseech tiie
Almighty Founder, preserver and continual protector of his
church to manifest his power in these our days, as heretofore^
by dclirering our chief pastor oat of tho hands of his enemies,^
and restoring peace and tranquillity, so that he and other pas*^
tors under him may again every where, and in all freedom, mi*
nister to their respective flocks in all holy things. To render
our prayers acceptable before God, they must proceed from,
penitential hearts, deeply humiliated by a sense of their past
transgressions, fully resolved to follow no more their sinful
lusts and disorderly affections, and filled with an assurance of
obtaining mercy and favour through the merits of our Saviour^
Jesus Christ.
Wheref re, on every Sunday or flltival, either immediataljp
before Mass or Sermon, the respective pastors shall rccit« the*
120th Fsalm with the prayer hereto annexed : and all piieats^
at the daily celebration of Mass, besides the proper collect^
shall add that for the Pope, as in the missal, Deus ommunt
Jidelium pastor and rector ^ Sfc. These directions are to ba
observed till furtlier notice. May the Grace of God, tbroogb
J'esuii Christ, and that peace, which the world c^aniotgiv^
remain always with you.
Baltimore, November 15, 1810.
+ John-, Arch»Bishop of Baltimore.
+ Michael, Bishop of Philtidelphia.
f John, Bishop of Boston,
f Benedict Jo%E^Uy Bzsht^of Bardfioum*
105
' PSALM 120.
'I bare lifted up my eyes to the mountaias, from whence help
shall come to me.
My hold is from the Lord, who made Heayen and Earth.
«: May. he not suffer thjr foot to be moved ! neither let him
slumber, who keepeth thee.
Behold, he, shall neither slumber nor sleep, Who. keepctU
Israel. '
«.' Tl»e Lord 18 thy keeper: the Lord is thy protection upon thy
;right haad. •
-I Tjie<SUn ^all not burn thee by^day, nor Ihe Moon by night.
. The Lord keepeth thee from e?U : may the Lord keep thy
€oal. > . .
^' May the Lord keep thy coming in, and thy going out, from
Jienceforth now and for e?er.
Gjlory be to the Father, &c.
As it was in the beginning, &c.
- ' V. ' Let US pray for our chief Bishop Pius.
H. Our. Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him
blessed on earth, and«deliver him not to the will of his enemies.
V. O'Lord hear- my prayer. » .
R. And let my supplication come unto thee.
V. The Lord be with you.
. R. And with thy spirit.
LET US PRAY.
O God, tjbc pastor and governor of all the faithful, look
down in thy mercy on thy servant Pius, whom thou hastap*
pointed to be Pastor over the church : grant, we beseech thee,
that bojth by word and example, he may be profitable to those,
over whom he presides, that together with the flock entrusted
to him, he iioay obtain everlasting life, through Jesus our Lord*
\men'.
106
Extract of a letter from the mo9i Rev. Doctor Carrolfg
jirch.Bishop of Baltimore^ to the most Rev, Doctor Troy^
" Arch-Bishop of Dublin: dated ^6th Nov. 1810.
^^ Azf^eeable to youf Lardship^ desire, i d.liimred t cofij of
tkk priiTted letter of iheiddst Ref. Arch*Bisho;a and Bisbopf
o^* Ireland to my Coadjutor, and the Bishops of (PhiladelplMBy
'BoUwk and Baitfotowtt^ iki;ntQcky; and we. perused it with
all the Tcneratioii due to those eminent prelates, who ^now
eoii9(it<irte^ fierbajis, the £alr^t hope and strongest bv^wttrk
of the church throughout the Chri.stian world: for .j«u esjojr^
4)hroug% ' divine m^Qy^ the >prtivilege of oi^nly iiertarifig the
gMiiifie • sentimefVt^,- *Which may Animate and effti|(lilea iMt^oiu
]y the pastors^ y but likewise all members of the Catholic
<5htrrch. ' To thate the communication to iny ''^&r. 'Brethren,
I aYailcd myself of the circumstance of th(^ir being ^brought
together at this place to receive their coiisecratioa on( the 2Sth
Oct. 1st and 4th of this month. • ' '
Theconsccratioo»b^iQkg4or)e, (ihe Bish^pn ja^foaHied tw^^en*
ftii^iiRQuks nrkhine, «to advise on .many ipdiois of ci^iilfllioa land
^scifdiae^ . that we may r fallow an viitfvrm ip^actioeaB tkcgo.
vernment of our Churches : and ii4te wise ^to take joto'^^oiKide.
ration the prcsoot estate ^f the Catbotic CUiurOb^^f-^tfs vittblft
head, our-vnerable Pontiff, and -(be <xm6eq«eiMDM^<tf hls<being
withdrawn from his captivity either'byTlolfence,or*€he.rfiiii of
bis constitution by interior .o<* exterior su&rings. In these dis.
Xi"SsiQiis the encyclical letter from your Most and Right Rev.
Xordsfiips .necessarily offt^ed itself to our minds, and though
we k/iow not whether the Vicars ApostbUc in England, or
ttie-Bisbopsir^ any ath.T country have expressed themselves as
;,^. body 9 on the obedkncp due to any acts emanatiog ostensibly
/from the Pope, -or on the caution to be used in jrepq^nizing his
successor: Yet we juJge it our duty to transmit jrott an
answer, which I have the hfif\OT lo enclose. We were too
sensible of our insufficiency, and recent dates Of our establish*
ment, to prescribe to ourselves^ or profess before the Tcaerable
107
VMen'^f the ehurelr an irdhesion to speeifie rules of coaduct
ia all the mo»t. tfiitrieate situations, whrch may happen : humhl}^
trusting, that if theexi/ency ahould arise, we shall be directed
by that divine spirit, which is promised to the Pallors, socccs*
sors of the Apdstles. We therefore pledged ourselTCS to those
«
general principles, whkh are now indispensable and: essential:
not doubting, bat your deternunation and lumbtona examples^
will, under God, be our direct! oa in the disastroua. times and
Events ao likely to ensue."
Extract qf a Letter from the Right Rev. J. 0. Plessis^y
Bhhop of Qmebec, to the Mod Rev Doctor Trojf^ translat£d
from the French, Quebec^ 6th Nov, 1910*
^' I had the honor of receiving in last September, yonr
Grace^s letter of the S8th of May and 5^h of June. The
judgment of the Irish Bishops against Blanchard has not jtt
appeared here, I propose to procure them from Keating & Co*
as well as the other publications relating to the discussion^
which he has raised.
* The name of this respectahfe Prelate brings to mind the clrcam-
•tances of his appointiiient to the See of Quebec. * he^ have been
liaqrated to me by persons so worthy of credit, L..a • profess fully to
believe them: at the same time I candidly avo v, I have do historical
dedunent to offer for vouching for the particulars, ' Were it even a sup-
posed case, It would furnidh as practical ao elucidation of what a Veto
would be,, if once vested in the government, at •'' tni^. There died at
Bmzelles, about twenty years ago, a Franciscan Fria'* of the name of
Kildta. He was from the Nort^ of Ireland; was a man of talent and
information, a handsome person, of pleasing address and engaging man*
ners. Whilst at Prague, where there was an Irish establishment of his
order, he became acquainted with many of bis countrymen, oflScers m
the German service. He was suretp captivate all his acquaintance;
and whether by external recommendation and favor, or by the int<^rnal
lympathy and et^mof bis commaoity, he was appointed ^ardianof
0%
108
Nothing, my Lord, conduces more to the honor of the Irish,
clergy, than the firmness, vfith which Jrou have rejected the
VetOy which would go to riiiti the discipline of your respect*
able church.
If this packet should ^o by Newfoundhind, I will take the
liberty of ehcrcasiiig it, by adding to it my pastoral, which I
have just published respecting the detention of our Holy Fa-
ther the Pope. Every body here has read with interest the
resolutions enterrd into in February last, by the clergy of
Ireland, relative to his Holiness."
(hat Convent mach earlier in life than is n^nal to name luperiors of reli-
gious bouses. He obtained tbe licence of his superiors to come over to'
the Knj^ish Mission. In irRvenw% (iermaoy be wanted Aot recommen-
datloos $ amon^t other places, where be was honoorabl^ and gladly
received was the Court of Prince Meclingburgb Strelitz, who gave bun
letters of very warm recommendation tu his Sister, our Queen. On his
.arrival In London he banded them over to Lord Sydney', then Secretary
of Stale: and was, on tbe next day« bononred with an audience •f her
iMajesty, who received h|m witb^the roost gracious affability, but frankly
declared her inability to second the warm wishes of her Brother to a
person of his cloath in l.ngland: but ofi'ered to procure for him strong
recommendations to some ambassador at ttie Court of London, in whose
retinue he might return t<i the. continent, ^nd b^ sure of Ecclesiastical
preferment in the state of iha-t ambassa^or^^ Sovereign, father Kilde^ re-
plied, that he wished \o follow up ^)is vocation, by rendering service to his
Majesty's subjects, lie was.t.ld, that prejudices against popery ran so
high, that it would be less ,prudent for his Majesty, however inclined to
grant him a private audience. He frequently waited upon, and was
alwavE favourably received by Lord S\dncy. From want of any better
provision he was named Chaplain to the Portugueze Ambassador in
South-Street. He had not long done duty in that :$ituation, when tbe
report of liie dpath of the Catholic Bishop of Quebec cairied him to bU
friend L<4rd Sidney, who gave him every ehcouragement to hope for
the nomination to ibat vacant See. This was, according to Coiumbanus,
an hnncut exertion without intrigue. Father Kildea. w ho was naturally
convivial, an4 never very reserved, did not conceal his expectations
from \\\\^ friends, It came tp the knowle(!ge of Dr. Husse}, the late
Catholic Bibhrp of \Vater(onf,*who had Jong been in the confidential
iutinmcy of Lord Sydney. He rfpt-#scnted to his Lordship, that, wiUh
109
TRAl^SLAtED FROM AN AtTHEKTICAlfED COPY IN FRENCH. '
" Pastoral of my Lord Bishop of Quebec^ for public prayersm.
JOSEPH OCTAVE PL ESS IS,
Bi/ the mercy of God^ and the grace of the holy apostolical
See J Bishop of Quebec^ 8fc. Sfc, to the clergy and faithful
of our diocescy health and benediction,
" The last letters, which we have received from Europe,
confirming the reports frequently repeated in the public news»-
papers, leave no room for doubting about the captivity of our
Holy Father the Pope, in the fortress of Savona, in Italy.
It is after having boeii unjustly and ignominiously despoiled
of his estates, separated, notwithstanding his protestations, from
the college of Cardinals and his most confidential servants:
after having seen taken from him, under his own eyes, the
out derogating from the amiable character of his frtend Father Kildea,
he seriously siubcnitted to the consideration of bis Majesty^s Goverament,
that upon the first vacancy of a Catholic Hishoprick, to \vhich any
temporalities were annexed, and the nomination or recommendation to
which naturally therefore devolved on the Crown, it would be wise and
political to be very choice in the nomination, and to shew every tender
regard to the wishes, habits, and principles of his Majesty^s new Ca--
tholic Canadian subjects: that aniongst the many amiable and valuable!
attainments of Father Kildea, the episcopal qualifications described by
St. Paul, were not the most prominent. Lord Sydney attended to the
advice of Doctor Husse^', and a person of the country respectable for
bis edifying conduct, knowledge, and evangelical zeal, was recom-
# mended by his Majesty, and the above prelate was thereupon confirmed by
the Pope. Lofd Sydney, who loved a joke, after having allowed, that
he was really fond of Father Kildea, and had given him encouragement,
laughed and said, he thought he had been doing a good-natured thing
to all parlies : for he did not doubt, but that Father Kildea, if appointed,
would soon have a nursery, and then the See would become hereditary,
and they would be eased of any furthev importaoity or trouble about
future nominations.
no
archires of the Roman churck, and. ha?iDg for a YoBg time
wand^r^ from town to town, that the so?ereigii PondfT is
at last sent back, at least since the last nine months, to this
prison, without any human comfort, deprfted^ as we are as*
snrcd, etcn of the attendance of his scu-rants, and reduced to
the same rations with the other prisoners of every description,
nho participikte of his misery.
Who, my deariy beloved brethren, could hare brought upon
the head of the church, a treatme t a( this sort? Has he be.
trayed the interests of reh'gion? Has he abused the authority,
which as a sovereign prince he had over his oifn subjects?
or as the first pastor oref the faithful ? Has he been in the
least wanting in any deference and compliance, which Christian
princes might expect at tiis handif ? Alas \ you know it. Hit
great piety, his moderation, his mildness,, his condestoisiou
strongly repel any such injurious sun^nize. He is persecuted
for his justice : and there my dearly belored brethren, is what
ought to console us, at the view of the sufferings he undergoes.
No man is ignorant of the sacrificed, which this worthy Vicar
of Jesus Christ has made, to bring back into the fold the sheep,
\irhich the French revolution had driven astray. He negociated
with the French government, the very moment he faucied he-
cpuld perceive a hope of re^testabiishing the ancient worship of
a oation heretofore so dear unto the Church. He settt into
France a Legate a latere to settle and arrange the principal pro*
visions of the Concordat of 1801. l^hither he repaired two
years after in person, braving all hyman dangers and terrors,
and appeared in the mid^t of tbe ^nbelieyors, who com^^sed the
court of tb^ new Monarch, like a lamb in the midst of wolves,
hating no other policy, than the simplicity of the gospel, stop*
ping the mouths of the most unbridled tm}jious by his meekness
and extraordinary modesty, and forcing the apostates themselves
to do hotpage to his eminent virtues.
However grateful the head of the French, gonernment ought
to have been fpr such a journey without a precedent for Several
ill .
centuries, undertaken tit !iis request, Jtad ih pttrt for bis interiest,
he an!y 'repaid fhls patertial condesceiftiioo'of the Sovereign Poii^
tiff with ingratitude aad chlelty, Scafrc^j Was he returned td
Italy, than hW {ir^nff^d lo corai^el hlniy'fio* enly to shut the
ports of his states against all the i^e^dift belonging to the ene«
inles «f Prance^ but 'ivern to 'd^ar^open hoistility to allnations,
With whidh Fntnc* ^itonld think fit tdin^ke wtfr. ' Tlie jnaft
&a^rbt^df'th^Witfmbh l^th^of a!l the Fdthful at^och « pro.
pbsittdn^ aiid Bis? 'peremptory refusal to accede to it, was thft
^reVert, whicH'^e ^ftribltious conqueror made use of to ri€e
Mtti without itt^rty; iind wfth6tit k^y tespf^ct for Ins dignity,
ilDA^ lie cbtfltt tic* ' dtsdaim; thcrtgh' he "sought to ^»ba»e it.
The perfidious hatid, which had just been oyerturnin^ *the
throhes of Naples afnd^triiria, and was preparing to' do^ the
ifattioe by tlibse of 'Spain and Portugal,' Has da^d by a sacif.
tsgibto attienipt'to tikk hHnself kl^o a^ga^inst* the ch^Ir of ^t.
PrtW. - The' Pope hW ken tftHcken out of ^he list <rf iote-
Yei^ ptihceS ; ' bis tJdminfons Seized i^on : liis person insulted
^hd pt'oscrib^.' Itfy dbarfy belb'fed "bi^h^n, the 'inriocenee
•rf'Ae^Jnst Is^tB^'tbrinert ofihe-?^ because it silently:
ve)i)i^6alAes tffettiwithihd^'teai^ Let us not Wonder, that
tBey Seek io xlppr^s' and get tid of him. '" Circumveniamus
^jiikiiim^ ^ qubMikm coiArurms (sk operibus noAris^ ^ ttHprap^rtU
^''T^tfit^is;4tt«t«ie OTferthro^^^^ the tfein'poral power of
the Pope In no manner aifects 'his 'aoihority, ias^heild ^ tlienm.
irersal iJhtirch : feat ihe'apostolieadSecfls hot thb woA of man:
an9(^iseqncftHy^attAaW cannot 3estr6y it: thaties dfivlne^onn.
-der' cfetat)1ishca it tpon a soHd'roct: (Mit. *6, 18J that the
viOliM^h pontificate, bfeing the Wtre of 'Catholic unity, will
' 1^^ loiig^as'the diurch, thiit'is to say, to the consummation
of iigi^i,-"(Ma*;M,^0) in short, that the persecution, which
•^ Vitiir erf Cfcrist suffers in the ih^nt moment, bis captivity,
'Ms^sdlfeHiigs; ""tETren iiis dea«, «h<WiM4h^y'ei^ itf ibat, ftr
«fV^^eliig«&i;)tself^ i^( eril/ i(M^ ^bir th«^ Contrary, a mark
112
pf Goi^.9t ppedilectioB for him, the reward of -hig meri^ a
fiourcQ of spiritual joy, as it was to the apostles to suffer
outrages for the name of Jesus. Ibant gaudentes a consp^etn
jCffneiliiy qiioniam digni habiti sunt pro nomine. Jetu caniu^
jneliam puU. (Act. \%. 6.) » .^.. .
^ -Iferertl^closs, the stormy, whipb from tiro^f-to time agvtafe
4tb|0 church, the persepiitioTn, to which she js a prey, the. ill;
treatment of her pastors .ha?e always appeai^^object9 woitifjr
of her attention, bcr t^rs, . and prayers. Peter was. in. pffspn^
4hG^ z^cts .of the apostles tell us, Peirus quufcfr^ tervAbatur in
earcere^ and the church ,prayed't(i God iac€^$f^tly for. hira^
Oratio ffiitem-fie^at sine inie^mi^sione ,ab ec^siq ad D^uip
l^^Q't, - . . . : . :...,• «... ....,■•: .. .:T
[jXlwiV^l^^^^g^^y.t^^ special pjot^ctji^ii)^ of heaTQ^, Tf.e^b^
.iif^lttii^: part • of .the,/i^opld, sbckcred frQQ^th^ scoui^^, Mi^b^cb
elsejv^ere. oTcrwhclii^ the cburch.p^ J^H^ ^V^^'-'^^RPS!^
.by the ILborality-^And spund policy ,o,( ti^e Gorefi^aept, uii|der
; which RroTidence hfi9 placed: jus, , the bply religion .we. jp^fess
yenjoys ,ia this hfippy country, ^11 the respeet^^^^c^tepa)
.pomp, M^hiqh we: c^p rfasopably.q[Lpecli;_w,ft^mps|:,.j[v>t^ji|}ere-
.• fore fqeji.le^ in^tprc^t ia the ,suffer^i\|s - of; our .j^isent ^ j^^thri^
..and. abore all, io tluj«e of t|ie sjuccessor of.S^ Peter^.aD4«7f
. should ,npt be worthy ^of. belonging .tptbecbnrcb, ^of .yr^iiph
he is the first pastor, if, when appMzed^of h^ ,coufin^ept
' ^nd angnitili, wc; deferred, any; Ipnger to offer ^\ip| to beai^9P)Our
TO,ws<an4 prayers to obtain bis- delirerance* . ,.• .n,'l •.'•
For, ^fse, reasons ;we:.bare\ regulated and .ordained^,. ^
by th^, presents we. do regulate and ordain what foUpn^^,^,
! 1st. Ip all tiiecbuKcbes.au^^chapds of our diocese^i^^^here*
ever mass is publicly celebrated, on erery Sunday and^bply^ay
^, of obligation, Immediately ^fter, the parochial, cony^ntual^tor
^:(^iQ|C]pal mass,, ^fhe ipr^est^ who ^all hare celebrated, if^. shall
not quit the ajtar steg.jii^ltbottt having on his knees, m a Ipud
. i;oice i^^te^, aAd^rjtbe.^opgregjatiqn, answering, eitb^i; seven
^rtjia^a Pa(^j;'.^o^i^ soj^n ti^qes JheMarUh «' ik^iLitoffif
lis
I,
of the blessed Virgin for the pressing necessities of the chnrch^
and especially for the deliverance of our iioly Father Pope
Pius Vll. actually detained a prisoner* We hope, that 8uc&
of the faithful as shall not be able to attend dittne derrice, will
say the same prayers in their families. •
2d. Every Priest shall add to his mass, to the same inteiu
tion, the prayer for the Pope, Deus omnium Jidelium eyerjr
tiraa that it shall not be specially indicated, aud MM the mass
of. the day shall not be of the first class.
3d. These prayers shall be continued until it shall be noti.
fied to the clergy by our letters, or on our part, by those
of our Vicars General, that the time is come to interrupt
them.
This present pastoral shall be published at the Exhortations
of all the parishes, the first Sunday or festival after it shall have
been received, and read la the assembly or chapter of all com-
xnuoitics.
Gi-aen at Qaebee^ under our Stgnattire and Seai^
and the Counterseai of our Secretary^ the
25th of October, 1810.
+ J. O. EV. DE QtJEBE&
L« -)** & By my Lordy
P. FLAV. TURGEOJr, Prt. Sec
TRUE' COPT,
P. F. TURGEON, PW. Seti.
114
No. IX.
The triih "Remonstrance^ stoned b^ Peter IVjLsBj altdf
twenty. two other Regular s^ in 1666.
FROM WALSHES HISTORY .OP THE REMOXSTRANCF, p. 7, 8, aod 9.
'«T0 THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.
The humble Remonstrancf?, Ar/knowledgrtent, Protestation,
and Petition of the Roman Catholic CI r^y of [relahd.
Vour Majesty's faithful subjects, the llomari Catholic Clergy
of your Majesty*s Kingdom of Ireland, do mo'Jt humbly repre-
sent this their present state and deplorable condition.
I^hat being entrusted by the indispensable cotnfhission of
*he King of kings, Mith the care of sonh, and the care of
their flocks, in order to the administration 6f 'Srtcraments-j
and teaching the people that perfect obedience, which, for
conscience sake, they are bound to pay to your Majesty *9
commands, they are loaden ^vilh calumnies, and persecuted
with severity. ^
That being obliged by the allegiance they Owe and ought
to SM^ear uQto.your Majesty, to r<;veal all conspiracies and
practices against your person and royal authority, that come
to their knowledge, they are theniselves clamoured a^inst,
as conspirators plotting the destruction of the English among
them, without any ground, that may gile the least colour to
so foul a crime, to pass foi* probable, in the judgment of any
'ndiffereot person. .
That their crimes are as numerous and divers, as are the
inventions of their adversaries?. and because they cannot widi
freedom appear to justify their innocency, all the fictions
Imd allegations against them are received as undoubt^ veri«
ties, and which is yet morcf mischievous, the laity, upoti
whose consciences the character of priesthood gives them an
influence, suffer under all the crimes tKus falsely imputed to
U5
them : it being their adversaries' principal design, that the
Irish, TV hose e£tafcs they enjoy, should be reputed persons
unfit, ^nd no way worthy any title to your Majesty's mercy.
That no wood comes amiss to make arrows for their des.
truction : for as if the Homan Catholic Clergy, whom they
esteem most criminal, Yere or ought to be a society so perfect,
as no eWl, no indiscreet person should be found amongst tht-m,
they arc all of them geierally cried down, for any crime, true
or feigned, which is imputed to one of them ; and as if no
TTord could be spoken, no letter written but with the com.
mon consent of all of them, the whole Clergy must sutler
A>r that, which Is laid to the charge of any particular person
among them.
We know what odium all the Catholic Clergy lies under,
by reasod of the calumnies, with which our. tenets in religion,
and our dependence on the Pope's authority, are aspersed ^
and we humbly beg your Majesty's pardon to vindicate both,
hy the ensuing protestation, which we make in sight of heayen
and in the presence of your Majesty, sincerely and truly,
without equivocation or mental reservadon.
We do acknowledge and confess your Majesty to b^ our
true and lawful king, supreme lord, and rightful sovereigu
of Ireland, and of all other your Majesty's dominions: and
.therefore we acknowledge and confess ourselves to be obliged,
under pain of sin, to obey your Majos^y in all civil ancl s
temporal affairs, ate much as any other if yonr Majesty's
subjects, and as the laws and rules of Government in this
kingdom do require at our hands; and hat notwithstanding
any power or pretension of the Pope or See of Rome, or any
lentence or declaration of what kind or quality soever, givea
or to be given by the Pop^s, Ips predecessors or successors,
QT by any authority, spiritual or temporal, proceeding or
derived from him, or his See, against your Majesty or royal
authority, we will still acknowledge and perform to the' uU
teripost of our abilitits our faithful loyalty and trne allegiance.
• f
116
to your Majesty. And wc openly disclaim an^ rMotincc all
foreign power, bo it pap^l or princely, spiritual or temporal^
itr as much as it may seem able, or shall pretend to free^
discharge, or absolve ns from this obligation, or shall any
iray gite us leare or lict^nce to n^ise tumults^ bear trms,
or offer any Tiolence to } our Majesty^s person, royal yothority^
or tathe State or Goyernment. Being all of us r«'ady, not only
to discover and make known to your Majesty and to your Mi.
ni^ters all the treasons made against your Majesty or them,
which shall come to our 'hearing ; but also to loose our Htcs ia
defence of your M^jesty^s person and royal authority, and tn
resist with our best endeayours all conspiracies and attempt^
'against your Majesty, be they framed or sent under what pre«
tence, or patronized by what foreign poWer or authority so.
OTer. And further, we profess, that all absolute prioces and
supream gorernors of what religion soerer they be, are God'a
Jientenants on earth, and that obeiiience is due to them accord,
log to the laws of each commonwealth respectively in all ciTil-
and temporal affairs. And therefore we here do protest against
all doctrine and authority to the contrary. And ^e ^n hold
{t impions and against the word of God, to maintain, that
any private subject may kill or murder the anointed of God,
bis prince, though of a different belief and religion from hisu
' And we abhor and detest the practice thereof, as damnable and
"wicked.
These being the tenets of our religion, iqj^int ef loyalty and
submission to your Majesty's commands, and our depeiideneo
of the See of Rome, no way entrenching upon that perfect obe«
dience, which, by our birth, by all laws, divine and humaiiey
vr^ are bound to pay to your Majesty, our natural and lawful
Sovereign. We humbly beg, prostrate at your Majesty's feet,
that you would be pleased to protect us from the severe persecn*
. tioR we sufTcr, merely from our profession in religion ; leaving
those that are, or hereafter shall be guilty of other criaies (and
there have been such in all times, as weli by thetr pens, as by
their actions) to the |)iinishmcnt f rcscribcd by the law.
in
No, X. .
A PAPA I. BULL,
Appointing a Coadjutor to an Irish Bishop f
mrar^UT '^banslateo fbom the lativ oiiraniAL ni the avtbqii'#
POSSESSION.
CLEMENT, P. P. XIV:
felaved 809; Health and jipostolica,l Beiudiction,
The Roman Pontiff be^ng in?estcd by the heuTenly xpastojr
with a plenitude of power for the goTernment ^nd viholesome
regulation of alL churches, particularly cathedrals, and^pply,
ing night and day to the discharge of his office, diligently pro-
Tides wh^teyer lends to preserTe and fprward them, as circum.^
stances call for, and at the same time as the condition of the
times and situations permits, looking not only to t^i.e presentj;
but also to the future state of affairs, ti^ order, that those
churches inay, as iar as may be pr^^erved from blemish, anj
thrive with the blessing of the Lord by continual en crease botl|
gpiritMal and temporal. Since therefore, our venerable Brothci^
Peter Crew, Bishop of tl^e for eycic canonically united churchei
of Waterford and Lismore, in the kingdom of Ireland, oq
account of his encreasin^ age, and the bodily infirmities under
which he labours, as we are informed, and as he himself acknow-
ledges, is unfit, Jbeneeforth, personally to perform the functions,
pf his pastoral office, and of the government and administration
of the aforesaid churches committed to his charge. We there,
fore, lest in the mean while^ by means of the im^pediments of
the aforesaid Bishop Peter, the said churches should be expose^
to any s^ iritual or temporal inconTcniences, wishing from oui^
paternal carb to provide, after the diligent deliberation, whjich
I
we have thereupon had with our venerable Qrethren the Car*
dinals of the holy Roman Church, who preside over the
concerns for the propagation of the faitb^ have at last &xei^
118
• -
the eyes of our mind upon you*, bciii": a secular priest of legi-
limate age, born in lawful wedlock, and having all other neces.
sary rrqni^^iUs, concerning whom testimonials worthy of all
belief are lying before us, as to the purity of your life, the
correctness of your morals, your attention to spiritual and cir-
cumspection in temporal concerns, and to your being gifted
with many other virtues. To all which things, we having giveii
due consideration, fully absolving and holding you absolved
from excommunications, suspensions and interdicts, and froin
nil other ecclesiiistical sentences^ passed either by the law, or
upon any examination 4jpon any occasion or cause whats'iever,
if in any such you happen to Le imi>licated, in order only,
however, to give full effect to these presents: we will have yon
expressly, by these presents, to be named to the church of
Sura, which is in parts inhabited bj infidels, now destitute of
the consolation of a Pastor ; of your person well received by
vs and our said brethren on the claim of your deserts, with the
tdvice of our said brethren, by our apostolic authoiity, we do
provide, and we do institute you to be it's bishop, by commit-
ting fully to yon the pastoral care, government and adminis*
tration of the said church of • Sura, both iu spirituals^ and
temporals, and by the like authority we indulge you, that so
long as the said church of Sura shall be detained by the Infidels,
you shall not in the least be obliged to go to^ or personally
reside in that See. Wherefore we have by the same authprify
instituted and deputed you to be perpetual and irrevl)cable
Coadjutor to the before named Bishop Peter, as long as he shall
live, and fill the chair of the said churches of Waterford and
Lismorc in the government and admt hist ration of the said
churches of Waterford and Lismore in spirituals and teropojals,
with full, -free and all manner of power and authority to do all
and singular those things, which appertain to the office of such
• Coadjutor, by right, or by custom, or otherwise howsoever;
and we have at the express request and consent of the said
♦ The instrument is indorsed, To our (tekvid Son William ^an^ <z secun
lar prieit elect of' Sura»
/
m
Bishop Peter in this behalf, with the advice of our said brethren
by the same pow^er we have constituted and designed you to
do, make, procure, exact and exercise even those things, which
are of the order and office of a Bishop.
Yet so, nevertheless^ that during yaur> office of such Coad*
jutorship, yoit may not, unless when and for the time that the
aforesaid Bishop Peter shall be willing, and expressly allow it^
interfere under any color of acquisition, either by yourself or
through any other person or persons in the governmeut or ad*
ministration of the spirituals or temporals of the said churches
of Waterford and Li^^^r^) or of their episcopal, goods, jnesu^
sals, or fruits, rents, profits, rights, obventions, or emolu-
ments.. And also in case the said Bishop Peter should retire, or
depart outofthis life, x)r ishould in any manner cease, to govern
the said churches of Waterford and Lismore, or that they should
in other rfianner become vacant before tliti Apostolic See, altho*-
at the time of such vacancy you should not have entered upoa
tho exercise of the said office of such Coadjutorship, and that
it depends upon you, whether you will exercise it from that or
this. time: and on the other hand, by thc^ said authority we pro.
▼ide for your said person in the churches of :W,at^rford and Lis*
more aforesaid and we appoint you in like ipanner, Bishop and
PastO^ over' them, and that your person is. provided for in thosQ
churches of Waterford and Lismore; an/1 we decree, that yo^
shall D^ the Bishop and Pastor' put over th^m/ by fully com*
raittitig to you the care, governraen.t, and administration of the
afor^toid cimrches of Waterford and Lismore, in spirituals and
temporals. Yet so, th»t' as soon as you shali^ in virtue of this,
provision, have acquired the peaceable possession, or the appa*
rent possession of such dignity, and the government .and adsii.
lustration of the aforesaid churches of Waterford and Lismpre^
and those cgiscopal mentis, and such goods or the greater
part of them, and >ou shall have, entered upon the duties of
your consecration,- thendeforth the, aforesaid church of Sura
4shall, . of itself, be considered vacant ; notwithstanding any;
apostolic co;i2|tittttioxis and ofdinaiiQ^^ asfftr as necessary, of the.
m
Ufottsdid chntthei^ erea bj oatk, apostolical confirmatloa,
or strengthened by any other corroboration, statutes, or
CQStoma : and aoti^idistandihg any prif ileges, iodults, or apos*
toiic letters in any manaer granted^ conilrflied and rcnew^ to
dt^ contrary thereof lu any manner whatsoever.
In all and sin|^ar of which paYticalars^, we, considering
the fetior of these presents to be as fully and sufficiently
etp^e^s^, as if they had been word for word inserted herdo^
thdugh on other occasions remaining in full forco to give
cfi^cf txr then* premiseflF; in ihis instance only, we specially
■
findf expt^s^ly dispense therewith, and any thing else to the
contrary thereof in any manner tkntwithstanding. We have
concecred a firm hope.aiid covfidenccy that the prop.itioua
f^rade of the Lord ilssistlfig yoi*, tiio aforesud ehuFcbes of
MTatei^otrd and Lismore, will, under your happy government,
b'6 u^fuily and* pioeperonsly directed, and wiU e&pmence
the mfost gra(tifying increase in sprritnals and temporals. But
tre will, that you wholly refraiDr from any sort of i^ienatioii
of the hnmoTeaMe goods, or precious moveables of the said
episcopal roensals of Waterford arid Lismoro, aad that yon
be bounden to retide^ an account of your management spj
a(fitth)isfTation durFrig the' thive yo4i enjoyed the office of such
Coadjutorshrp^ accordiug to the teaor of the coostitutioil
6t Pope Boniface the VIII. of happy memory, our predecessor^
trhrch begins, Pasfotalk, — And. before you enter upon- tfae
exercise of any part of your said office of sneii Coadjntor^hlqpkj
you take the requisite oath, ia^ tiie usual form, for peff ofttiflg
it justly and faidtfnlly at the handb of the Catholic . j^la/te^
%^ho shal^ consecrate you as hereunden
l^erefore by fhese o»r apostolical writings^ wo ehaijgo
yotir dhcrefion^, that you d^ cureAiliy manage,, aod' faitk*
fully follow up that carre and' admiitistratianj that thenOtfortli
the hoped-ft)r fruits- may aHse, atidf the odor of youF good
fhme may be more yfi&sYf diffiised^ by yxurr ptaiae^wenrthy
SN:tions, and ^e said churches^ of Waterford and lisHorO'
thay rejc^e at bdo^ ooniBilMi'^fiflE^ charge a( a; pioividttiit
gBTi^nuMr^ stod 8 tiiiivmg admihistrator ; and that you majr
bejroiid 4)10 reward of etemai ritnhixiipn^ he deserdng of^
^d ahtixm 4he iii^ssin^ of vt^ vuui dnr aforesaid See, and
£r^ia' ilieaca.more plentifui grace, and to onr beiored sons
the' ofaapt^ni abd ifsitts£iltf of tin aforesaid churches of Water.*
Ibrd' aad; Lbmoiiey and the elergy kod people of thq xittes
iockdieeeBas of Waterford aadr Ltsmore^ obeying yon asiriem-
IMs-.db: ttte ke|d, aiid tJi6 cfiipters \ikem Coadjutor uudi tb^
faturd Bhhofi ^ Waterford and Lismbre, humbly Inteaibig
^d' displaying: due and deTeot'obecKencie and Tevereiice- to you
ia fU thoir ti»n|)s, whicSi appertain untethe oiffice iiif snch
Coadjntevshipy While it last^, aitd< then as tof the fadier and
paalor of theu sonh. And the olergy kindly receiving and
Inaiailrsbl^ irestiiig yoa ont of reverende* to ti& and the saiA
fee, niay himUy aodelpt all your vrholesdme ^nhnonitions .and
lUminiaildS)' and pi^ocure them to be effectnally folfiiled. • >Bdt
let Qie peojdci ^deYoatly recerring yon fii the father and pastor
of their sbols^ and aiidwtng yoiu dfue marks of honor, humbly
attend to yonrwhdletome admonitions and commands ; so that
jrefii may rejoice in having found lor them deVout children, and
lAusy conseqittntly inharkig found in you: a b^evolent father,
^nt let yomr yaessiils behaving totwards you with doe hoiior^ be
flhieful to render to you fully the due and accustomed faaUy,
and the aceustomed services of rigiftt due' to yon from them :
otherwise, we sha^l istify atd dxuiir^ to be eibserved inviolab^
t»y jnd^ent or penhHyy wQiich jon Mt\ have legitimgtel/
passed mid decrebd againsit defaulters .nnder the anthofity of
onr Lord, nntil fiiil satisfaction skali bare been miide« We
also entreat and earnestly ediqrt onr venerable brother the
!jLf oluBlshop of Cashell, to whpse metropofitical jnrisdlclfioh
4to alofesaid churches of Wxterford and JUamote are knoiihi
i6o be Biih^t, aifd we enjoin him by diese onr apo^lMal
writini^ that he do kindly support with the aftiftaqce of his
gcace and ftn^or, you now el^ (Seadjdfdr' and fntuviPBtsli^p
«i Wia»etfo|4 and IteMre^ and OuNl hatHog thk^ iJH^ratJid
9
123
churches of Watcrford and Lismbrc so commitied toyoo, 89
hi5 suffragan, he may consider them the more earnestly rew
commended to him from the reTercnoe he owes to as and our said
See^ ih extetiding and prcsenring yonr rights. And joa the
elect Coadjator and futore Bishop of Waterfdrd acd lismore^
resdng updn his aid and countenance in this commission of
fiastoral ch»i^ unto yon, may j^on prosper onder the faToc of
God and ofier op yoar condign thanks and prayers to God fo^
th0 rewatd of eternal Jife to yonr said Arch.Bishop and to nsx
A& to the rest, we kindly wishing to faTour yon isi every things
ithat am eniCEease your conteniency by the tenor e£ these prti*
sents-haTC granted yon full .'and free licence, that you may re^
^oehre the gift of consecration from whatever Catholic prelate
Vcingia the grace and commnuion of the aforesaid Apostolical
HxtBy-y&ii chuflfie; and he may call in as his assistants. in this, in
:lieQ of fiSsh'opsy two secular priests, although not invested with
ganjfT ecclesiastical dignity, or regulars of any order or ins&ute,
-being in jike grace and favor, that having first received from
?vonra profession, otf faith according to the articles already
[proposed b^-the At>osto)ic^.Sce, and in our name, and in that
of the Roman Church takeii the ordinary oath of due fidelity
fjif^aording to the form hereunder written. But we will and by
;the aathority. aforesaid we resolve and decree, . that unless snch
-aforesaid .prelate, shall have received from yon snclr oath and
^irofessidn'.of faith as aforesaid,' the same, prelate as well as
tj^imrfeU' Jbc instantly snspended/from the "exercise m :ai^ pon.
«tific^^filce,..luad from the government and administration of
^tbc spiritnab and- tempiOrals of your respective churches.. We
^Mill itioreover, that.you do. procure, as speedily as may be, the
i:9ii:ofc$j>ioo of faith made by you to be .reduced into form and
iMrlyk written without blots or faults, and also the oath as tem*
■r •
iiilitifiitp you, to be copied: word forwoid and sent iovis in
sili^ttors patQUt .signed with your seal by 3^our.:own messenger.
(|J^t':theJorm of^theioath, which, you shall tafte is thb:—
1 J> WJUiJMn, :^aw,. JItecfe of Sura, 4nd deputed by. Apostolical
.\uthorify Coadjutor to the^Right Reverend Doctor Peter
133
Cfew, the present Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, in the
government and administration of the churches of Waterford
and Ijismore^ OTer 'which the said Peter l^ishop now presidesy^
luid fnttire Bishop of Waterford and J^ismore from this hour
forward will be faithful and obedient to blessed Peter the
Apostle, and to the Holy Roman See, and to our Lord the
Pope Clement XIV* and his successors canonically coming in,
I will giTe no adrice nor consent, nor do any action by which
th^y may lose their life, or even a member, or be arrested by
any malicious c^ptioii, or Wolent hands may in any manner
whatsoerer be laid upon them, or any injury be done to them,
under any 'pretext or color whatsoerer. But I will discoTor
^ |io one what I shall ](:now of any councils, which they shall
confide to me in person, or by their Nuncios, or by letters to
their hurt. I will assist them t6 retain and defend the Roman
Papacy, and the royalties of St. Peter against all men, saviog
Ihe rights of my order. ••--I will honorably entei^taitt tliQ Legate
of the Holy See in going apd returning,, i^nd will help him in
his necessities. I will take care to preserve, defend, encrease
and promote the rights, honors, privileges and authority of the
Holy Roman Cfau rob, our I^ord the Pope and his aforesaid
^ceessors. I will neither be of counsel, nor ooncernM in
any act, nor enter into any contract, by which eviUmihded per*
sons may combine any thing against our sM, Lord, or fik^^fdi
Holy Roman Church, or to the prejudice uf their right,. honor,
rank and power. And if I shall know an ''•such thiiig to-be
carried on^ or procured by any persons MhomsoeTer^'I'vfill
lunder it with all my might, and as speedily as possible, and
will mak^ it l^nown to our said l(Ord or to some other person,
through whom it may come to his knowledge. I will with all
mj might observe, and cause to b^ ol>serTed by othe*b, the
rules of the Holy Fathers, the decrees, ordinances or dispasi*
^ons, reservations, provision^ and apostolical mandates.* I
* Sir John Cox Hippesley, the indefatigable coUcctpr of docomepts
a«d iHustrations coacemio^ the coouniuucatioiis of his Majesty's Ronan
Q 2
wlU pppoM and inpdgti 4o my utmost iU lic^^cs aoA rebeC !«►
our said Lord, and his afote^id saccessors. Wheii sttnnnon^ed '
I will come to the sjhqa^ unless I sBatl be prevented by iom^"
canonical impediment. I witi personally TJi^it t^^ ahriDes of^
the Apostles pncc in every four yei|rs. ^rijj 1 ypXl^x^niet ai^
account to ovr said I^prd fvad tp l^s aforinyi^sfijcasfqcs, pf aU
C^llliolic ratyeils with the See of Rome, and their df peod^poe apon her in
ipirii'ualSf ban in the apprndix to the instance of hit speech oniecoifdiv^
)^lr. Grattab*! kotioa ^r referriiig the t>etttioa of the Mbum CMftblio *
^ lirelahd lo a coiamlttec of tie Bo0k sf Coattndas, ob 'fMdajp Ac
18th of Majr, IHIO (Llil. 94 rditiop) gina t|if <^ltW99f .^I^^WII of «hf
*« ALTERATION OF THE PONTIFICAL i^ATH tAtCBlT' BT *
; BISHOPS AT THEIR tlONSBCRATldNl '- - '^ '
*^ From an Jtuiiehee had cf his Holiness Pivs VJ. d»i flte
^ i t *
** ^tkdhyof'jijmi^Vjii. *■
:: . .« Tile ivrblNsbppi Metropolicaf^ ^f ^, kii^g^pff t»f I|^i|i| ifpf^^
B^ji^^.to ^i3 HrlipeM^ that from the igpplfi^Bcp Office of g^m^ y^,
foos. certain expressioiis io the form of the oath prescribed .in the
' lldinaii ntiial to be taken by B&hopd <kt 'their consecration, and by
^'AVdil^lsho^ on recelTing the p^H^ ' haVe heth isMsiitttpttitA : 'whiic^
V a* i4da4 oew fierplcziiies tp those, which tJ|i^ aally ex^^liebce is A
. iiH|K«i^9m> toilers i/i< C?a<^w)<i< /a|<A t> nkt %^ ^gion 90 |^^a|nv;w|r^i!<^
: M^^^y,^"^"^^ rcquesifd, if it ^ou^l ajp^e^r ejcj^()|f nt (y ^f^ol^-
.^es^, that be would yoocbtafe io applj a remedy by some act t)f hjs
Apbstdfic vrgilance. His Holinesst on this report being made to h^m
' hy'iiJt *dic noderwritten, aM 'circuinntances df* the case mainly cbit-
• fiid^4ie«Iy'WA8%racio9b1y pleased to grants tbat tir«r Bilfio^ >t)f^ kfef-
klA» oT \Irflhnd, at t<icir oon^ecratiftQ-, Md tlie AjrehhishOfiSi on tt-
f«mpg <^e pf4^ |n%y use the ^^e ff^tta, of oa|fa» widf h wfis .talfcen ^y
the. ArcJ^isbpp of MohiloWf in the emjiire of the JM^scovitcs, by per-
mission of bis said Holiness, n'bich Is as fbiloB-s ;
4
nty ptt^disl j^ilee, itud <)f iti thuigis in rafimaiMMpky^taiili^
u^tc^'^li^ ittete liyf iM|^ <)|«ri^^' die 4iM^ of mf dwgj^Mt
pe0i>lef ^ttd' t^^8oillfr^<»i0ttf«!ted td ny chao^ge. And Ifwill |v
nftfi^ttipiKkiii^b1y'yM«fi¥6 III apostolic ootftoiaadf, anA i^ott 4Ui^
getitljr perform tbte^ ' AM «*^liR^b; if i fthMld> bO' diBtiUicA bj^
iEkt^ iti^f^itileni, I wilt AilM by a beiM»iti 4ifB$(|iij;er (BfMiidtf
app6iilted fot tMs']^u^)^iMe from the' t^d^of aijrtchsplery ov
b]^ iNn^e ether ^(^ifiefr fi^e^f^y otjoClitMifle fcoldiBg s
^mon^,' or if 1' i^oMi have jMio -stdi'' by «oi&e diotcea^
ipk^st^^ot* tf ihefi ^ottld be Waftkig tey stMsli daif^taiaiii by
some other secular ))f4est^y or regular of; kii0Wft ptobits' oiil
relig^O) f fii|y ip5tr4|t>|c^ pf |11 these matters. But of any im.
pediment of that sort, I will by legal proofs to be transmitted
by such aforesaid special messenger duly apprize the Cardinal
^ I. N. iV. as in she Roman PootiQcal to tbe clause. jiU hereOcSt
schismatics and rebels against our said Lord and his successors aforesaid^
I witt t0 the utmori of my power prosecute and oppose, (Bishop of
Clo>ne*6 translation), which is entirely omitted : Afterwards the words :
''The Cardinal Pnpr^pqit^il^ '^^^ HX^n^^^tion for propagating
^ the faith,** are sabstituted instead of **' The Cardinal Proponent in
*' the congregation of the sacred council." The form concludes with
these words. I wiU observe aU and every one of these things the more
inmolably^ as I am firmly conuincedj that there is nothing contained in theoky
' vhich can be contrary to the fidelity I owe to his moat serene King of Great
Britain and Ireland^ and to his successors on the throne. So help me God,
and those holy Gospels of God. Thus I promise and engage.
ly N. N. ARCH.BISHOP OR BISHOP, &c.
Dated at Rome, ia the boose of the sacred' coogregatioD, on the
SSd day of Jane, }791.'
h. CARDINAL ANTONELU, Prefect.
A. ARCHBISHOP ADONEN, Secretary.''
(f SEAL.)
196
of tte M J Roman dnireh prestding in tke congregation of
&e Mcred council. I will not sell the posiessions belonging to
my nfUBly nor will I gi?e them away, nor pledge fbem, nor
make any. new enCeoimeBts, nor in nnjr manner will I aUenate
them, ercn with the consent of die ^pter of my chnrch,
withont bafing consulted the Roman Pontiff. I am willing to
incur that instant the penalties contained in a certain ecdest*
jistical constitotion published upon tbia matter. So be^ me
God and these bb holy Gospels, Paled at Rome, at St. Maiy
Major's, under the Fisherman's Ring, on the Bth day of Ha^ch^
1771^ in tl^e second year of our Pontificate,
A- CARD. NIGR0NU5.
WP OF TR£ APPENDIX.
..*.
» J
m&m
«
mm
Postscript
y f
vVhILST t wite doting thes^ last tUeei$ tot the Press^ an Utiexpect^d
** proof has reached me, by vrhich I find,"(^ol.Post8cript)(hat yoor recent
condutt has ootonoasly fixed you wUh certain symptoms, mentioned in tb4
l^ott (p.S76), *' Afi'ectatiqn and boast of general respec^ and docility to
** the Church. Contempt and opposition to its Governors. Gaat upon spe*
** dilative obedience. Contumacy against practice submission.*' I also say
after yon, that '* vrhen I began this work, I little expected this cenclusive
cfidence** (5 Col. Postcript) of yoar eagerness to prdve^** by yo«r conduct
** to your spiritaalvsuperiof^ that you are equally restive and refractory ia
** practice as in theotf'y.'' (Antea p. 3d3 and 264). In scrutinizing by .
the rules of History (Antea XI.) your general conduct and character as set-
ting up pretensions, to'a name and reputation in life« it is imperative upon -
me to submit my di»coverie8 up to the latest moment both to your country* .
men and to my own* This is my reason for adding a Postscript to a very
long Letter. Upon k Snbjrct so delicate and important, nothing material
should be suppressed from lliose, who are in any manner interesteid in it,
Itis now matter of notoriety, that Bishop Poyntef sinqe the death of Qr.
Douglass, has totally interdicted your Reverence in the London District, as
Dr. i^ilner beforel^ in the midland district ; and .for the same cause. (An-
tefi 2G3). Fitting is it also to be known to ail those, whom you would
persuade, (1 Col. 15) that Ireland stands in need of the interference and
protection of Law, (1 GoL 84). Is the responsibility of Law never to be
known in that church? that whenever any Priesf^tif the midland district
lisl!3 refused to admit yon to the Sacraments without a retractatiop of the*
ttosoond doctrines published in your Letters ai|d Addresses to your conn*
trjunen^ he uniformly received a Letter from your great and munificenC '
Patron, forbiddiog him to enter Stowe premises, or to hold commnnifation .
with any person within then. Such are your *' salatary restraints of le-
II POSTSCRIpr.
*^ gal >etpoittibilityy aTOwedly contiitent .with their falUi, whidi nber af|-
** liAmaticai Statesmen esdeliTCMir in pity to'tbe'Irith People to iiitcipo^
** as an JBgU' of defence l^etween tb^ir liberties and the nsarpations, dee.
«f of the liiefAfcby of the Irish Cbarcb> (I Col. 9.) Inebriati^ foretaste
of the blessings of Veto and arranfements ! How beantifiil are the feet af
them, that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring ||lad tiding* of good
things?
It is not improbable, that your recent interdioi in tlie< iioadoii ^i*H#
nay luive' been amongst tlie inducements, which brought yon over to
Ireland : where yon might animate yonr * desponding and disheartened
party to rally round the Colombanian standard of anll'papacy, ai|d whti^
yon anticipated lome party laurels, from a single handed th^rgd npon a
a Metropolitan, with which you might on your return to the 'fine natioii
strew the vestibule of your great 4ad mnnicf^cent patron, and decorate
tbe brows df your captain an^ jfifcllow soldier Sir J.C. Hippesley and Mt.
Sutler. " Your landing in the metropolis (Dublin) threw your itineraot:
^' sanctity Visdom and learni0|r^ (aBtea386) under the Spiritual jorisdictio*
of the most |(ev,. Dr. Troy, wh^f both ^Sir J. G. Hippesley and you'
Revereiic^ falsely assert, was appointed to the Archiepiscopa! ' See olf
Dublin l^y the recommendation of the Iri^h Government. ' The fact is, k«
was tran8lat(^d from Ossory to Dublin by the late Pope, at the instance of tl|fi
sacreil eongregatioii of Propagalkdas and aftei- thai appointment had been
actuktly made, thoueh be]for« it wiere^ known in Ireland, he was reconuneii^
dfd to the See of Dubliqby all his coproyitfkciaf prates and 12 others t aid
government was well plea^eif, though It 'did nM 'interfere with the appoint*
ment : as Mr. Stoi'etary Orde wr<^e'of^cia1ly to tha^'l^ ^iiii fpr his exertions ia .
Ossory to put down the White Boys, in 1784 1 d) may bcf seen ?n m^' Hisf orient
Review, 2 Vol. p. 107, where both his Pastoral, ^4' the ^ecreiai^^ Li^tter .
are given at full length. I presume Doctor Troy has in 'the ptrfotiHance
of his pastoral duty attentively read your Five Addre^^' or Letter^' io' your
countrymen, and I necessarily conclude, that the lecture imposed 'upon'
bim^ imperiouti necessity of -eypreissifig- his maFked reprobatihn df tbe^An<i
thor of so much deceitj error, 'scandal, Fals^and uusound ddctrine, as it
contained in them. 'He could belittle pleased at the^additiioin of peisooal
exertions to the forced circulation of those worfc^ of idsidi6^s and'indhgij
industry, to poison the minds of his flock. He must see ihore clcariy aui4
deeply than most men, into your Reverences views in broaching these Anti-'
Papal doctrines at this particular flera, and coming over ia person with a
; ... • -J
diplomatic commission from Doctors Hippesliey and Butler to vaccinato
yqnr countrymen for Veto and Amuwgbmbnts, because he knows the
direct falsity and fallacy of whatever yonluive said, Iq diiprove your oign'
t\
— •
POSTSCRIPT; ]C|?
Hf ertioni to procnre the mil^ of Elpbin, dnring the life of the late poctoc
Frcncli. For some mobthi before the deftth of that Prelate, you. Rev. an<i
l^t learned Doctor, wrote to Doctor Troy, solicitiog hi)s, /and the mo»t
Atft Doctor 0*Reilly*8 (of Armagh) recobui^eodation of you (Dr. Gharle«
O'Conor) to the lioly See, as ^ tit and prop er person to si^cceed Doctor
French in that Diocese. Doctor Troy communicated the Letter to Doc->
tor 0*lteilly, and in his answer to it j^c distinctly stated, that they thought
li higfpl;^ impropef tb recornqnend any one for that See, or any other, un^
«1 it became vacant. And for the truth of this extraordinary and incre-
Ible instance of self-assurance, arrogance, and prostitution of all canoni-
cal decency, I have full liberty and authority to refer any person, whom
.the knowledge of the (act cQncerns, to both or eitb^ 0f tbpse. trtt}y re*
fpectable and revered Prelates, who will vouch for the correctness of this
•latement. Little then will any of my readers wonder, that shortly after
yovr late arrival in Dublin, Doctor Troy should have written to you the
[Rowing Letter. ' ' *' '
'U
^.t.y~
f
*' 3, Cavendish Row, Rutland Square,
•' Dublin, 17lh July, 1812.
Rev. Doctor Charles O'Gonor, ' ' '
' Rev. Sir,
Since your late arrival in this city, yon have had no faculties from me.
I DOW think it proper to warn you, that by the exercise, public or private,
^f any sacerdQtal function in this Arch-diocese, you must necessarily incu^
&e censures indicted by the'iaws of the Roman Catholic Church on such
\ t : ^ i ... I . - ) • •
clergymen of her communion, as presume to officiate without the permls-
1100, or conirary to the express will of the Ordinary^' '' ' '
I remain. Rev. Sir,
Your very humble Servant rn Christ*
' ' X J. T. TROY, D. D. &c.
THV VOLLOWIlffi JLMSWBR W^S oN TUE SAME DAT EETyRN£9*
^ Doctur 0*Conor presents his Compliments.
He has received Doctor Troy*8 Note forbidding him the Exercise
of any Sacerdotal functioik In Dublin either In public or private, and me-
i^adng censures, 8lc. &c. but assigning no cause Whatever for such ex-
^hM>rdinary proceeding. Doctor O'Gonor Is in virtue of his ordinatldti
o
It ^ postscttift.
i
entitled by ttnftm miam to offer tlie holy sacrifice discreetly and modestfy^
as he has hitherto done^ io any part of the world, to which bosincn may
lead hf n, until sach a time as isiXoaAMtir, i^bsibst, or scnisic, Is In a fidr
open (rial canonically proved against bim. This is one of th^ most sacre^
laws of the Catholic Chnrch, • to which all Bishops, as well as Priests art
boond to submit, and hsLving the Catholic Ghnrch for his gnide, and pro!*
fesshig the most sincere respect for Spiscopal Jurisdiction canoorcally ez«»^
ercised, but holding the abuse of that juriSiiiction to be the source of n^a^
ny calamities to hi! native country^ Doctor O'Gonor will continue with alt
due deference^ as he has hitherto done, to offer up his prayers for the Irish
Nation, for his friends and for his enemies, in a modest discreet way, until
such time, as he is by a canonical decision declared oat of the coimnonion
of the church, to which he belongs | not by Doctor Troy's permis^on, hot
by baptism, and by a laborious and faithful discharge of his duty, and be
trusts also, and be it said with humility, by an exemplary lifie of filTty years.
If Doctor Troy has no objection. Doctor O^Conor will have bis Note and
this Note inserted in to-morrow's Ereiiing Post. He begs an answer before
then*
*• II, Nassau-Strect, July 17, 1812."
• The words of the Council of Seville are '* We have found, that Fragi«
lianus, a Priest of 4be Church of Corduba had Seen unjustly deposed bb
his Bishop, and condemned, though innocent. Therefore to prevent saCh
presumption of any of us in future, We have decreed, accordiitg to THt
Dficinoif or TUB aitcient FATHEiiSy that none of us, shall hereafter dare to
depose any Priest or Deacon without a trial in Council. For there are
many, who condemli them without an examination by a TTaAMHicAL ppw^
xn, and not by Canonical Authority, and as they advance some through
favour, so others they depress through envy, condemning them tbros^h
slight snspioions, whose crimes fhcy cannot'prove. If they, who in a ten^
poral state have had the honor to be made freemen by their Lords, caw
NOT BB'BaDtJCBD TO suviTODE, wiless tboy be publicly accused at the Pre
sidents tribunal in the place of judi«>atBro t how much more ought those to
have a faib, lkoal trial, 'who are invested with ecclesiastical honor and
coNs£CRATED AT TBE ALTAR, who Otight uot to be condemned by obb, nor
to be deprived of the privilege of their dignity by a sinolc jvdgb ; but
RKIWG brought BEFORE THE STNOD, SHALL BK JUDGED tbei^^ and What t{^
Canons prescribe concerning them is to be decreed.
See. Cardinal D*Aguirre's CoUectioa of Councils, published ^ B^t»u
1694. Folio. ToBu II. p. 462. Canon. 6. ' ' ^
Poc^ ^'Copor fabmltf to Up I«aw8 of the Church.'^
o
t>OST$ClWt»t, -y
I
^ ^lilTieD^.CQiiDirymen of th^t great ColiimlMUiiiSf who never lubmii-
^ ted to ipse dixitsj &c. (4 Col. 7, 8<) ti^e a retrospectWe vieir of ikp
** ^coiind, oVer which we have ti'a.velled." Be you my jadges, whether t
hsVe followed the rules laid down by Tully (Antea zi) in brUigibg before
^uE^i ft^ general conduct And character of the cidevant soi disant Coliimb^'
ni§^ Take this first ebullition of bis zealj as the opening dawn of the new
4Bra, aqd bis ne^ lights.
Quid digniira tanto feret hie ^iromiflsor hiatu ?
I{ow will the boaster bold bis gaping rate^ — ^Fra'A; Hoii.
By the shade ot Coluoibanus you shall hear me; (5 Col. 130.) Dn 0*6e^
lior i) in vir^ of his ordination entitled by divine right to offer the holy
Sacrifice. As an historian I touch not your divine right eith^f tff offering
the holy satt'ifice, or of evangelizing ydut* countrymen. As well might I
jj^jluclL a beam from the Sun as (ouch one fibre of it; But in an Historical
Letter vitally affecting the honor ^ credit^ and veracity of yobt country and,
ieligion, vfrbich took its rise out of yotir dnfounded chafgefi against their
historian, it would be criminal not to Set before their eyes, in faithful co^
lonrittg, the pi'inclpal performer in that tragical eihibition, which yon are
tome over (on a summer engagement I presume) to get op in Ireland. I
h#ve before s^d, that yoUr *^ character Is as new^ as Caliban's in Shakes-
** poare^s Tempest;*' (App; 49;) Nothing was. like that man^ and nothlni^
liras e^<Jr so tmlike himself. (Ibid.) He informs his countrymen, (1 Cob
(04.) '* tbftt Orditlation gives only an aptitdde-to seihre the cborch by preach*
V ing4 i6ath\ng4 and administering the Sacraments, bnt he thereby receivei
*^ no parish | he for that must await the mission of the Church $ that ordi-
** DBtiOn and canonical mission are necessary requisites jure divinofor Bi-
*^,shops and Priests (1 Col; 105) j that without a mission f'rom the Church
*^ there cdn be no ecclesiastical jurisdiction, no valid administration of
** Sacraments : that (4 Col. 38) the ministry of* Priests is illicit without a
** mission : that accordiog to the douncil of Trent, ho Bishop can givs^
^ jurisdiction in the diocese of another," which seems to iniport, that
without the licence or authority of the ordinary no Priest can licitly per*
form his ministry. What mean you then, Rev. and most learned Doctor^
by your jure divind'travelling commission, thai concerts your aptitttde fiir
the ministry into a licence & right to exercise it in any part of the worid^
to vhicK bnsiness may lead you: though yon qualify it by two advet'bf, dis*
cretely and modestly. Thus by a very self-suflleient arrogation of discre-
tion and modesty yoti.oost every ordinary church governor throi^honC
Christendom df his Jurisdiction or power of granting, witholding, or wilh-
ilrawing faculties, licence or authority to perform the highest ^ifftctiona of
the Christian Muistry. Yea thus affect or attempt, (I wil^ Bot say ubchk
fV VOSTSCRIPT.
oonirally and inreverrad^) bnt indecentlj, and itapidlVtApccvefif Dwtof
*rmy (and contrqaeotly e?ery pishop tliniiighovt Cbrf/tradon) to r e f W*
-withold, or withdraw from every tranient or occasionally recent Prktt
• * * t
(In a metropolis they most be nurarroitt) the licit and Valid eierclte of tfce
\iRp»t awful functions of Che Priesthoo^l. Eum oDortet esse h«ne & aarf-
tcr impudentrm, who ran thus pretrnd, that be Doi a Jure dlTino ntiK^
over every part of thf world, to vrhich hnsintwi may lead him,' in delteMQ
and in rontn^dirtion to every chnrch fove^or, but his own, into whose
temporary jurisdiction he shall come, to perform a function denied cren
to Ao^Is (Antpa S59), wh^n it is aotorious, thronghwit all the dispersfed
churcbrs of the British Empire, that yovhave by a formal Interdict been
prohibited by the Bishop of the Loudon/ district, witliin whose jnrisdlc-
tiuo you published your unsound and dangerous doctrines, Iroro ofleriiq; that
holy sacrifice, on account of your ooworihiness, aud Uie public scandal
nr.oduced by tho>e very poblicatibn!i. If Doctor Troy have, as your R^>
Torence hold^, jure divino the ri$ht of gbveniin^, and possess spirliaal
jurisdiction over the Arch-Diocese of Dublin, i^iihout any pretepsions to
|heoli)gy, as a' simple layman, I miiht necessarily iofn*, that knowing what
he does know of your Reverence, he would have grievously neglected hb
pastoral ^Mty, and brought irreparable scandal on the Church, had he per*
niittedy licensed of hot prohibited yoo to perform any sacerdotil faacthMi
* ^'*v'^-'»''' •• , ■. II*'--' {«
w ithin his jurisdiction, whils| ypui are interdicted from exercising them by
your own Prelate ; and whilst your scand^ons publications are not only
not retracted, biit ^forced into circnlation to the disedification of all, the
danger of the w^^^^i ^^^ *^d Ignorant, and the contempt, dbgusf, abdlior*
rrr of (he well-informed^ and steady part of the faithful. ' *' '
' « t' •
From your tin varying infidelity in tradsfatlng, yoo cannot expect credit
ifor the accuracy of your English' quotation of the Cpuncil of Sevile. But
lihould you on this occasion have Varied from yo^ir habitual practice, by
giving ti^e real sense of t|ie Author qodted, you have still fitistidioiisly ad
bercd to another of. your predominating habits: irrelevancy of application.
In quoting the ca^ of Fragilianus, you bavii le\ do^rij yoiirjiidgnient be-
Death anility. By your own statement,, that Priest was dispossessed of his
Kcclesla^tiral benefice (a^ freehold for life), where the civil magistrate'
sanciianrd such rstali^Iisbmentfi, by his Bishop, who was riot i&uth6rizcd by
law to exercise any such power over ^hat property.* Atilo time^'Bcfore
Or since the reformation, could property of that natu|[T be shifted or traki-
muted, witliout tlie sanctloQ of some juridical act or judgment. Well
Diight I deny you credit for accuracy of translation, when yon betray
^ich palpable infidHify in quoting, from your own work this very c^ise of
|''>a{T;taiiua, as you there call him. (5 Col, 104,) In order to dtt^guisc the
POSTSCRIPT; yi|
foapplical^ilily of (htt case to yoar own, you hxwe most unwarrantably
^ept back <|n essential feature in tl^e Bishop^s excess of power, by the
Ibaaisbraeat of tb^t Priest, whicb wben you bad no particular view to an*
vwer by the suppmf ton, yqu bfought forth in that work. He mnst be more
tbao blind, wl^ does not perceive the wide difference between privation of
|iToperty and banishment, and the prohibition or refusal of Cacnines to an
itinerant Priest ^ particularly to one, who is interdicted by bis o\« n Prelate
for publishing the unsoiiud doctrines, which be is endeavouring to propa-
gate among the tlociL of the Pastor, who so refuses them. You have quoted
the resolution of-a provincial Synod, evidently bottomed on pmctices aris-
ing out of a civil establishment, as' a most sacred law of the CatboHo
Church, to which all Bishops as well as priests are bound lo submit. The
0itbolic Church existed for the three ^rst penturies without any civil esta**
Uishment at all ; and many parts of it, like ihe Church of Ireland, Imve
tnbsisted for the' three la»t centur|es vilthout an^ civil establishment, upon
irhich such resolution or law could operate. And this' irrelevant note of
oftentation you ineptly obtrude upon your temporary spiritual superior, in
Qrder to prove, that until such a time as immorality, heresy, of schism, is in
^ fair, open, trial cnnonically provM against yon, (In a counti^ where for
Vnnt of forensic jurisdicticHi po such trial- can be bad) yon are entit1e4
Jure divtno to oflBciate withoni the petmission and contrary to the ezpresf
TV ill of the Ordinary. 1 arain call my reader's attention to that Arian lu-
■ '...■ « ■ ij <•
bricity, by which you aie(:t to elude thtf letter of disobedience, and to
keep up the fippearance oP resistance. Your Prelate' warns you against the
public or private exercise of any's;icerdotal function in his ^ipccke, which
In bfs discretion he is entitled to db. You reply, that yon will continue to
offer iip| your prAyen* ^'c, * ^Tou say not in the mass. The pne is a sacerr
dotal function, the other a commendable act, apd a doty in all Christiahi^
^lievd m^ most learned Doctor, th^t this attack upon an Arch-Bishop|
which in a senseless ^d shameless manner you wished to invite tfie public
to take a part in, by giving it publicliy' in the Newspapers, is disgusting
and revolting to your pountrjmen; it will npi be 'eulogized by the fine
Illation, whose generoqs and heavenly sentiments of liberty' of conscience,
it is imposHible for Irishmen not to admire! (5 Col. '193,) I much doubt
Whether your virtuous, admlfihl and esteemed new friend. Sir John Goie
llippesley, even under the endiubiafcUi of his new ligfats,will follow iip this
rude, seosele s, and innocoons blow at his old friend and correspondent
J3octor Trny, for exercising spiritual jurisdiction wilbiri his Arch-Diorese,
over a Priest whilst resident in it. Sure I am, that it will not be publicly
commended by your learned friend Mr. Charles Butler.
tui POSTSCRIPT.
Thin rrceol effort of your Reverenrei' 4otf-papal pro wen, from whic^^
you aolicipate such cropH of lanrtfl, hu reduced to practice most of th*?
charges, suj^j^cbtiont anil iiifLTcncet contained in the rorecoing lefter. f
Ncaia repent. '' If ambiiioot of tiai^alafity, yon hmve certaialy sHaioed
^"itaat object y nil sqiiale boihini fuU illi. (aot. 2^4) tVehaie read of a
man, that had been caught op into paradise, saying of himself j I will not
glory bot in mine infinuitlrs.- Bat be also applying to^' Che mod sense
*' of • oaticm (tbe Corifitbiiuit) famed for qiiklMtM of perception, kee-
** nrss of wit and virnrity not to be cajoled by tbe hypocritical cnotiog
*• of men. &c/* (1 Col. 24) warn& them, that there ** are false Apostles^
** deceitful labourers, traobforming themselves into the A pos(le» of Cbri!>t"
(2* Cot. XI' l^) Now cs it is evident, that jgu. Reverend and mobt learned
Doctor,- glory not in your infirmitiei, but taking the opposite course, you
bna.<>t on all occasions of your own merits and good deeds^ representing
yourself In Uodesley, (ant. Si) as '* tbe worthy inherit or and able re*
*' presentative of the peculiar attainments of your progenitor," furoisb-^
fag self draslrn testimonies of yoiir bcKog '^a fit |)erson to succeed Dhw
^^ Frencb in the diocese of Elphin*' to be banded np to bi« Holiness by -
Dr. O'Reilly of Armagh, and Dr Troy^of Dublin^ anJ receiAly thflGtis
on the 17th of July 18|y, you glory (1 apply not to ^oa tbe words of 9tt
Paul, lb. V. ii. I am become a^ fool lit glorying) in your letter for Dr,
Troy, of your laborious and faithful discharge of your daty, of yonr
hamiliiy and eiemplafy life of SO years | as nn bistortan it becomes my,
doty, to trace (he means, by which, after failure of all honest exerti-
ons ud yotrr own part^ and the solicited mediations of Dr. O'Reilly, Dr«
Troy, (be most Mobla antifanatical Marquis, and even the 2ebedean can-
tas not having insured tbe Mit^ of £lpbin, yon uBdertook to transform
Srourself into an Apostle of Christ. Maddened wltU tbe titillating thrill
•f pofetUumoHS renown '{** something whispers into my ear, that I may
**" look wHh confldflnce to posterity** (5. CoLS9Q) Yon specnlate np^n
^'a golden legend, in which (1. Col. 9ff) one day wlH be memorable for
" the festival (of a St.- Oolumbaniu, as ya« any of) a Ht. Cobbett^
'* St. Fldoerty^ and a St. Huroe Took-** That favourite theme of the
pobtbumous mead of virtue engrosses your very soul. (lb. 19) *' Faoati<'
** cism boasts of its Martyrs, l^urpen have been deifted, and Buonaparte
*f has already mar kt>d his own apotheosis in the sword of Orion.** You
learned Dr. have already marshalled vonrael fin the ranks of the holy Confes-
sors, who unce illumined and edified benighted lemav by applying to your-
•clf in your Lrttor to Doctor Troy, the whole substnftce of tliis hymn,wbicli
yonr church sings on their festivals. Yon have paraphrased it in pr4^: I
do it in metre, as more congenial witb (he spirit of tire original.
<)ni pins, prudens, homilii,- padicus^
Sobriam dixit sine labe vitam, &e.-
"Hie man most fit for Elphin*^ See^
From virtue, lore, and pedigree
Is he, whose life for fifty yearv
Chaste, spotless, wise and good appears.
Just such a man, I plight my honor.
Is (he m'>st Icsirncd CU AliLC& OXONOR.
i^*-r-
m
ALPHABETICAL INDEX,
Abbott, Cbarles, Mr. reffises ihe Anthor access to the State PApers*
^heo Secretary ifi Ireland, p« 25.
AddioftoD, Right Hononrable Henry, Tide Lord Viscoiint Sidmouth, 25#
JljDcrica Hierarchy, there formed, 985. Appendix 8, 99.
Letter from the American to the Irish Hierarchy. Appendix 99
to 108."
Address of the American Hierarchy to their flocks about Pope
Pius VII. Appeudix 102 Co 107.
Aquin, St. Thomas of, explicit as to the jnrisdictional authority of the Pope
in 13th Century, dOQ.
Arius, his lubricity and dreadful end, 133.
His subtle errors and sanctimonious appearance, 30X
J^rnaud, the noted Jansenlst, inyeighs lik« Columbanus, against the con^
demnation of Quesnell. Appendix 32.
Athanasius, St. how considered by fome moderns, 304,
holds jurisdictional authority of the See of ^ome. Ibid.
Gotemporary with St. Patrick. Ibid.
Jj^ogustinus, Jansens' book so called. Y^^^ JAwsas'ncAL.
Author grossly charged by Doctor O'Conor.-^Pref. II to VIII.
His Tiews for publishing; this Letter. — Pref. IX«
Ditto, iu writing his last History. — Pref. XII. **
His efiforts to disclose the truth of Iriah History, 2,
Siiecial circumstances calling upon him for publication, 4, 5.
The circumstances, under which he wrote Irish History, 9*
His corrf i-pondence with Dr. M*Dermott, 13.
His first knowledge of Doctor O'Cooor, Ibid.
Acquires Doctor OTonor^s suppressed work, 14.
Offendf Marquis of Buckingham by his Historical Review^ Ih
Jlis first Letter to Doctor O'Conorj 2!,
His pobtliminlous Prcfr.cc, §5,
INBEIS.
AKthor Hii Bceond and lost Letler to Doctor. <yCS«M>rj S6 to 88.
Ditto to Doctor M'DermoUy (If ote IliN()
V}s DisserCBtion oo Antiquity of IriA lOit. pablbhed in 180$, 48.
Uodtfr iiytinctlony 49.
• Beflecta on Doctor 0'Conor*i professions, 66/
Retorts the cliarge of Anachron/sm vpon fcolnmbanus, 180,1, 2»
Gives proofs of Culumbaniis*s wish for an Irish Bishopricfc, 187 to
Hit Charch and State, 143, 4.
llisaccouDtof the Civil Constitution of the Fr^JMli Clergy, 159.
Has an honorary degree of IJoctor of Civil Law la the University
of Oxford, 170.
Gave in his Historical Review what he could collect from the pre«
served though suppressed Volame, 8S5 to 239,
His opinions of Papal supremacy delivered in his Chnrch and
State, 1795, p. 855.
^is note in his fitistory abont the Acts collating Bpiritoid Jurisdic-
tion, 873, 4.
liis execration of Jansenim. — Appendix 89s
His motives for laying open Jansenism* — Appendix 30.
2ralous in hi% efforts to prevent its progress,— -Appendix 37,
His Case Stated, published in 1791.— Appendix 68 toSS;
Explains what inight appear not dew and explicit beynd cavii
ordoubt»348^
Benedict, Pope, XI V. says the jurisdiction of Bishops is controulable by
the Pope, SOT;
Bcrwiclr, Duke of, no Irishman, as falsely asserted by Columbanns, 169.
Bcveridge, Doctor, Bi&hop of St. Asaph, largely quoted by Bishop Fleet-
wood in favoVir of Coatyutprs, 33^.
l^ishops, Irish Catholic, theirSy nodical Resolutions at Tnllow, 178. — Ap.Y.
Thunk Doctor Milner for opposing s'th Resolution, 859.
Sometimes consecrated without jurisdiction, 319.
May be in Episcopal Order and liable to religions mlc. Ibid.
AirATHXMA against those,who deny, that such as are appointed by
the Pope are legitimate and true Bishops, 381 to 357.
Instances ailedged by Couluntbanus of their being validly ap-
pointed in Ireland without Diocesan postulfUioo, 341 to 357.
The qualities of a proper one according to St. Paul, 366, 7*
Bishoprics not devisable, as averted by Coliimbanus, 357,3.
QiiftQchard, bUopinioai ccaiwred^ and cause of Bishop Milner** Pastoral?*
Uti>tx. d
BoarJ of British Catholib^lf-pripointed, 150.
Set forwankttit?5tbiilosol.v'-t.n, 250, 1.
Boiioet, the great Lnliopof V v, what be baid of the five iropoiitioni
of JaMS;Mr>. — 4-jPP*^'*'* ' "^ '-•
His SLi»iiine oiiini-iii of iiic *Ttni-ters of God's Church. — App. 44-.
I>iter<*stp>d hliiiseir in procuring; tu have Richcr's Works coudemn-
ed. — App. 46.
Bockliigbam, Muiquis, orTr^nJed at the Author^s Historical l^view, IJL
His <'<>iiJuct in the House of Peers, 10,
Tl\i portrait ot Mr. Grattao, 17, IS.
His conduct on Kin/;*3 recovcrinc:, 18.
Refuses to present the Address of the Conunons in fa^or tff
the Prince^ IS.
■
Compared with Ormond, 77.
tVho he is, 79.
Columbanus's 5th Address dedicated to him. -^ ' 1
The half of the Teilcrshlp of the Exchequer, (Sixty thousand
pounds per annum) would afford an appropriate motto
over Oie O'Conor coUeclioo io Stowe Library, :V^j.
Gurnet, Bishop^ admits the King to be founder Of oil Spiritual powcr,ISO.
fiutlpr, Mr. writer of the Blue Books, 148.
P&uegyrized by Columbanus. — Appendix x30«
His indefatigable co««perator, 29. ^
Set and pued Sir John Cox Hippeiley on Veto, ?••!.*.
Intimate with Lord Redesdalc, 311, 6,
G
Canning, Mr. my^icnl-effects of his Mot'on to refer the Cathohc Quefttoa
to a Committee next SesiioD, S3&
Carroll, most Rev. John, Arcbbishop^of Baltimore.— Appendix, No. VIII.
Catholics, English, sworn Whigi and CimlpUieh, 145. ^
Board of British, S49.
Catholic Confederates allowed by Columbaoas to have bceft tinccre in (heir
loyalty, 85.
Charles I, King, commands Omond to treat with the Catholics, lOo.
His Letter from Newcastle in i646 agaii'st the peace was either
forced or forged, ISO.
Chiirch, temporal head of, and Defender of the Faith, according to Colum-
ban us, 154.
Ifational, according to Colombanus, 159, 163.
Guvernmrot, Iti analOoies to the English CoDstituticii) 3j9.
B
*%
*.
C INDEX.
Cicero» hisrulet for writiof^ history. — Preface Jlf
Civil efiUbliihrnent of religion. Vide E<tabl1|lMiriit#»
Magistrate — quod vide. «
Constitution of French Clergy, 162.
Power, difference between it and Spiritual Powrk« 273*
pUrendoOf Lord, unaccountably praised by Columbanos, who denies hif
Grandfather's cliaracter of him, 242.
Khe relator of the massacre at Macgee, which is denied by Ct>
lumbanus, Ibid.
Clemeof, Pope XI. publishes the Bull Unigentis. Appendix 34,
Describes the Jansenbts in his Bull Vinean Domini Sat>baoth.-«-
Appendix, 34.
^\3 Pull to the Catholics of Holland, taken as Historical evU
«
dence of JaoseDism, about their middle period. Appendix, 3^
^lergy, French Emigrant, 163.
Gallican Declaration of, on Ecclesiastical Power^ 194, 5. — App.
No. V.
Coadjutors, the system of^ destructive of Mifre hunting, 333.
Usual in the Church, Ibid. & 3B4.
Columbanos^B motives for opposing them, 336 to 340.
Their appointment discretionary in a Pope, • 358.
Conscientious motives for Pope's appointing them, 3Mj 7.
Coadjutorships^^wilhing more than a reversiouary grant of Episcopal Ja.
risdiction by the Pope, who alone can grant it, 369.
|L4 early in the church as &f, Peter, to whom St, Lidos was
Coadjutor, A. D. 56, p. 364, 5.
So in the first century vras Evairiiitas, Cot^ijutor to Pope
Anacletus, Ibid,
Sanctioned by the Cannons and council of Treat, 364.
Collection of Irish Books and MS3. by Mr. Charles O'Conor, best in E«?
rope, 42.
Mysteriously moved to Stowe, 53.
Collyer admits that Protestant Bishops are merely King's Minister, 288.
Columbanus, vide Rev. Charles O'Conor.
Concordat entered into by ^'i us V 1 1, with Napoleon, 163.
Constitution, English, has »lroog analogies to church government, 359.
6urry, Dr. and Charles^O'C^nor, the father an4 founders of the Catholic
Committee, 235.
His credit and veracity violently ^assa^ed by Golombancs, 240 to
a43.
m
f
Be Marca holds tapremtpnij^sdictional authority in Pope j<ure fliviflo, 308w
Dighy, Lord, entrusted bjf Orfnond with hit Machiaveltsm, ^05«
Admits King Charles\s Letter froifa Nevv castle in 1646, to be either
forced or forged, 110,
Papiji, a noted French Jansenist, soipe account of his life^ conduct and
condemi^dl worlds. — Append,ix, 46.
Pubourg,^ Anne, a noted Qal^vinisjt executed lyider Hen^y IL -J^jj^ profes-
sion^ f^ith.— Appendix, 4$. ''^
Duigenan, Dbttor, abused by Poctor O^Oonor, 51, 243.
Pu^audy predecessor of Bossuet held jurisdiction in ail others than the Pope
derivative and lUoited only as the Pope pleased, 31?.
Elphtn, See of, canvassed forand by Dr. 0'Coonor,!l9» 1.60, Y, 245, po8t3«
jEnglishmeo, their practical errors., fpr two cpntunesy about the rfgal Su-
premacy, 279 to 287.
English protesting Catholic Dissenters, l^K
Attempted in 179^1 to throw oflf their subjection to the Vican A-
postolic, 150.7— Appendix 34, 5.
A set of non-descripts, 251.
Erasmus thought St. Paul would approve of the form of'j^hurch goven^
mept, as it was in his days, 313. .,
l^tabilshment, civil, of religion; its rig^hts. elifcidat^ at th^ If^fananagh
Assizes, 157 to 160,
None in the Christian church for the three first, none in the
church of Ireland for the three la^t centuries, 261 to 266.
Eusebius, slight sketch of bis character^ 7,
Fitzjame?, Son (and not. Brother) to the Duke of Berwick, I69U
Jfitzwiliiam, sacrificed to the Protestant Ascendancy Party, sincerely
wished to give religious freedom to 1/eland unconditionally^
p. 340.
Fleetwood, Protestant Bishop, supports coadjutors in his work, *'Ti:eati>
ise of Church and. Church Government,'^ p. 333.
Fieary, Abbe, unfair advantages taken of him by Colombanus, 312^
Coufounds the first elementG^ of discrfmination between the two
Powers ; his Work altered ; too much wedded to ancient disci «
pline, 3l2to3I5.
C<iatEa(!ict6 Columbanas as io the divii^e righti of Priests, 316 to
319^ B2
Fox, ontvofed upon his East India Bill by ibe B|Mfeavre of tori %ich
inghajDy i5, ^ *
Freocfa, Right Rev. Doctor^ Catholic Bishop «ipFern<?, late Bishop of £U
pbin, 2i9i
ll'ki spirit and feelings 88, 9.
G
Gallician Clergy, t)ecIaratioti of, misrepireseoted bjr ^olumbanns^ 183 try
*>. ,•-
The original in Latin and English, and the mutilated alwgarbled copy
of Colambanus. Appendix V. 135.
Agree in 1620, with St. Athanasiis, and St. Bernard, upon jnrisdic*
tioaal authority of Rome, 3i5.
Canganelli, his Bull, appointing Dr. Egan, coadjutoi' of Waterford^ aqd
Lesaore* Appendix No. X.
Gaschet, the approver and instigator of Blancbard^ and of his doctrines
£01.
Grattan, his honmnrable tcstimrmy of the Author';) History of Ireland, 15.
His portrait of the Marquis of Buckingham, 17, IS.
Alisled and deceived about Veto, retracts h\% former opinion, 247,
to 254, 346, 7.
GrenviJIe^ Lord judges fairly of tha Oath of Supremacy, 147.
|iis former opinion in favour of Veto suppressed tiy Colnmba-
nus, 244. '
Misled and deceived about Veto, retracts, 247 to 254, 346, "/.
Grty, Ear], misled and deceived about Veto, and retracts his furiner opi«
nions, 247 to 254, 346, 7.
Grotius, for a vitible head to the Church for preserving unity, 296*
H
Karris', the Historian, his insolence represented by Charles OXonori fS9»
llierarchy, Irish, vide Bishops^
Ileylin, Rev. Dr. a Protestant divine, supports the jure divine rights of
Bishops against the Acts of Parliament, 280.
Hincmar, Archbishop of Rheims in the 9th century, explicit as to jnrisdic«
tional authority in the Pope, 307.
Hippesley, Sir John Cox, his amphibious speech on Slst May, 1811, 338.
Attended and instructed by Mr. Butler, 339.
His Speech on Mr. Canning^ Motion, I2th June, I8I2, 339.
Privy to Veto and Arran«;cuients in 1796, 340.
How woiked upon by his^new instructors. 341, 2, 3, 4<
Turns against his old confidential friend, Doctor Milner^ and
. -i^udes with his opponent^ Mr. Butler, Silt
/
1^ find Plied by Mr. Butler and Jf)ocfor O'Conar, S4i5.
His strange MOsaJMuitiated declaratibos in the House of Commoifs,
346. ^^
^fiects not to Wish to tncroach pn the church, Ibid.
aa>8 the church itself fs tired of a foreigo yoke, 348f.
Alarmist at the intrigues of Rome, Ibid.
Called upon to name the Archbishop to whose See a foreig^fer was ap-
pointed b^ (he Pope witboi^t his linowted^e, 348, 9.
Verifies his own diplomatic commission to the Court of Rome, 349:
« Acoount of his correspond ence With the Pope and Cardinal, and hit
successful negociations on behalf of the Pretender, 349 to 551.
forked up to sound the tocsin against the intrigues of JRodac* &nd
grievances of a foreign yoke, 351,9. .^ •^.
, Hoax played on him about the conviction of one Levery for swearmf
in persons to be true to tBie Duke of York and his committees ; what
- • probably thereby meant, 351 to 3^5.
Historian, delicate grouod|of a cotemporary.-^Pref. X»
Sevf re duties or an,' 5.
H
k . . .. ^. ■ f- ■ ..
Inchiquin, Lord rebellious, and has good understanding with Drmond, 103«
Indefectibility of the Church, what, 194 197.
Intallibity of the Church, 194«to 197, "!
f. of counrils upon the christian revelation. --Appendir, 49i
nnocent, Pope X. framed a test for Jansenists. — Appendix, 33.
Institution,' what it ib in the high andloW ctergy, 291 ^ 281, ^
' if .
Jaosens, what he ^aid of ,3 of his discipl^s^— Appendix, 29.
who' he was. — Appendix, p. 30, 1. , -
JaoStaists; the Puritans of the Roman Catholic Church, 16S.— Ap. 41,4^.
will not subscribe the bull Cn'igenitus, 169.
Paschal panegirized by Mr. JTqseph Berrington, 278. \^
Touchstone to k no vf them by, 2'79.--Ap. No. 113. p. 28 and 367.
Attempts to nationalize a church jn Holland, as Columbaous
does in the British Empire. Appendix, 39.
Jansenism, systcri of.— Appehdix, 2^. ...
The Authors views and motives iii laying ft o|;yen.^-App. 29, S0«
Port-Aoyai paYladium pf, ^'01;
Janienistical antipathy to Ronlie, 167.
Sympathies of Columbaous, 162, 9.
Svuipathles and principle of Calvinists a£^ JanseniSfti, 219.
The 5 proposition!. — Appendix,' p. 31. ^
Jrormally condemned, 32.
Formulary framed by Pope Innocent X. to -exclude them froiA
livings, &c. Appendix, 38.' . .
luost Jansenists took it to be let into livings or benefices, Ibid.
Symptoms and sentiments, Appendix, 3^.
I'ohnson, Dr. solicited a^nd pafdin vain for vindicating the trntb of irisA
History, 234.
Jurisdiction, spiritual independent' of the civil magistrate, lo5^2and23.
Necessarily exists in head of the^Church, 224.
6iven to a new hierarchy in the United States of America,
225. Appendix, Vyi.
K
edgby Mr. Jnnr. abused by Col umbanuA 214. . « ' u u
•>8 power of given by Christ to endure for ever according both to
eathoUcs and Prote.tants^ 269, 284^
m
c
I
10 INDSX.
Kild«a, Father a Francitcaii Friar, aboat to ha?e been appolaM BSihaa
of Quebec Appeadix, VIII 101.
Kins, oar kai not in aay lease the tnprea^wy ^/Pif&mtx (which li in Par-
liameDt) 257.
I. " '
lAaaois, one of Or. O^Goanor's JanteDistical French Theolocfiaat. -^Some
account of hit condoct and writinct. Appendix, 4§«
Termed an illiistrious Divipe bv Walsh, i&i. \
JLcdyy Protestant Divine, for the divine* Hghte of Bi^ps, 885, 6.
Highly kpoken of by Mr. Whiiaker, a moat r«pcclable Proteitoat
Oiviue, 2811, 7. '
M
]^ Deffliote, Dr. TTogh yrho that worthy <:baracter is, IQ»
His Interesting letter, from 10, to 12.
his letter to the author, 13.
His opinion of hii mannscript 15.
iiis letter to the Author, 19 to 81.
Ditto, excellent and ii^^esting, 3S (o SS.
His character of his Grandfather, Mr. Chariet O'Connor^ 34,
Another letter from him to the Author, 86 to 3^.
His last letter to the Author, 3^ to 40. ^
Mc Oleland, Mr. Baron strange judgment of 157, 8, 9;
i^agittrate, Civil his power, the same whether christTaa or heathen Tariet
not with the plus or minus of orthodoxy, S93.
Mf'laochton approved oif the Catholic Cborch GoTerameat, 89T.
Milncr, Right Rev. Doctor misquoted, and misrepresented by Colum-
banus, 182 to 193.
His commission of Agency to the Irish clergy, 187.
Occasion of his pastoral and supplement to his own district. 188.
Thanked by the Irish Hierarchy for qpposing t|ie^5th rctolutioB, 25^
l^ission, vide Spiritual Jurisdiction.
]MB5grave^ Sir Richard Author*s Historical letter to hini^ PrefL 1, 11.
Assimilated to Columbanus, A^io 52, 240.
Abused by Dr OXonnor, 51.
Warned about Bishop of Feros, 8« polofib^uiiis is about the
Bishop of Elphin, 203.
Muskerry, Lord brother-in-law to Ormond, and bif dying de^laratioQ
about his perfidy to the Cathplics, 89. .
.If
Kalsoa, Rer. Doctor, hi? Character o^ Sir John Temple, 100'
Nicole, a leading Jansenist, devises part of the 8tock pune. — Appendix.
38.
domination of Bishops presupposes a ciyll establishment of religion, 257.
Confounded with coiiifirmation by Columbanas, 292*
O
patlis difference betipreen Elizabeth's Oath of Supremacy, and JaBM»1|
Oath of Allegiance, 132 to 136, 146.
of^qpremacy. A GatiioHc cannot take, 144«
Oath of James equivaleut to that of Geo. III. both English, Irish,
153.
The Oath of James 1. British Oath of 39 Geo. III. and Irish Oath of
33 Geo. III. Apprndix No. Ill- 3 to 6.
Bishop\< of Consecration. Appendix 'S^o, X.
^HlU fabricated by the would-be protesting Catholic pi^n^rs.
INDEX. II
'. " ■•
^ffiermt frma the Protatation, and condemned by the Vicarp
Apostolic, 59 to 79.
Oath of CoiiiiicrBtiou altered, and Sir John Cox |{ippe8lf3^'s ac-
countofit. AppencJJxNo. X. 123
P*Conory Charles, of Bc]ana^ai'e,.soine accbant of his writirgg, 20.
Stated to be one of tiie Editors of Butler'i |iivesof Saints, (Irish
Edition). Quer. if so? 30.
Ilis veracity t«*btified 1>> Doctor M'Permot his miLtern^l Graitd.
M>n, 33. ' _
His laudable view in making his collection of Irish Books and
MSS. 58 to 61.
^ His sentiments contracted with those of his Grandlon, 139, 9.
And more particularly, 323 to 325.
His adn^irable sentiments addressed to Doctor Jennlnf^, 234-«
Ditto to others, 2^4 tp 23^,
pbjecu to the reaPity fifty years before the term Veto was in
Mse, 239. .
His veracity an^ credit violently attacked by bis Grandson Co-
lumbantis, 240 to 243, 323.
What bis Grandson said oT his historical abjlities and veracity,
before his conversion to the Stowe tactics, 323, 4.
P*Cx>Dor, Doctor Charles, his charges aeainst'fhc Aothor. I^ef. ^.toYlll.
Explanation of his title D. D. 1 .
His pedantic and a^ected resort tp it, 6 to 9«
His views to rivet distention in Ireland, 9.
His fir^t suppressed work. 14.
[His first letter to the Aathor, 22 to 2^.
^ His second and last, ditto, 28 to 32.
His Prospectus in r>))dsley, 1803, 41, ^.
Had a graiuitous eduoitioD at Rome, 46 apppe^dix d*
His Anti-Prelaiipa) disposition, 47.
Attacks the veaiity of his Grandfather, 47.
His own tramp^^, 52, 54, 63.
'^ Misapplies his Cfrand father's collection, 55.
Proofig of the* sale, thereof, 59 to 65.
$worn to ^rye the Irish Mission, 60. Appendix 3,
Throws his printed llistory (because true) into the Poddle Ij^
Dublin, 53,
^is^ profession to translate faithfally, 6fi,
l)is farrago of unintelligible pedantry, 67 to %Qi
j $»till tender of bi^ character with his owp countrymen, 74.
I His strained panegyricks of Onhond, and conpares him with the
' Marquis of Buckingham, 74 to 81.
Admits that Ormond might have saved the l^onarchy, 86«
Affects candor about Ormoud, 86, 7, 8.
ilis voluntas episcopandi prolred, 118. Post. 3.
His anachronisms, l^.
His infidelity aboiit the oath of supremacy, 132 to 186.
Attacks his own Hierarchy, 107 to 142. ,«q u
His sentiments contrasted with those of fats Gr^adfatlier, 138, t*
His revolting coarseness of invective, 143,
Refers to onpnbfished works, 145.
Identifies himself with Walsh, 148.
Cries up and shamefully abandons tnith, 1 53.
"penies Popes' supreme jurisdiction, 154.
l^isrepreiients Civil Conftitution of French Clergy, 162;
J2l INDir^T.
IViIiifi€i the synodical rMolaiftooi of the Sagliflh ^ican Apog^
tolic, 171 to 175. . ^
Falsiiet the MiCory of the D«ke of Berwick ind Fit2jamfi|
fiit»bop of 8oi«^»o, ^09.
Misreprftemts the Synod of TolloWy aiidf mi&qnotet the reib^On
^ tioos, i76, ., . '
Id isre presents and misqubtes Dr. Milner,' BXkH the declaration of
the Gatlifan clerfy, 182 to 800.
Attempts to draw his conntrymeo into direct SehSsm, 132.
' Uii insidious views in pressing iiCt a'duption of the Gallicaa
declaration, i98 i<i 200,
sympathizes ^Hh & cncoiflirQ|;e8 filanchard aibdthd siiltmore violent
Gascbet, SOi
Bb excessive antl«papacy, SOr,
His inEdelity of translation, 805. .
Assimilates the po%ver of the Shpreme Bishop to. that of oar
Speaker, Mr. Charles Abbott, 205, 0, 3t9«
TTiifaithful in translating^* even his ovrn latin profession of sab-
mission to papal power, 80i^.' Appendii, VII.
Outruns the malice of his employers, 209' to 211.'
Traduces his coonfryiheo, 2f i'«
Ifis fulsome ap<) incoWistent praise of the English, 209'to 2 1 5, 2S^.
InsolU the religion of his' country, 2iS to 223, 228.
Compares' the Calvinism of Usher with the doctrine of tb«
present Frish hierarchy, 2t'9.
Bis still gromer historical iofidelitie^, 2i9' to 225.
Denies any foreign (i e Papal) juHsdictlon, Ibid.
Applies the deistical sneer of a forei^ officer to bis'own conntrv-
men, 228. ^
Announces his history or his memol]%, 2!29 to 233.
Makes treacherour nse of thfe hiirtoficdl documeoti iii bis hands
Violently attacks and cliarges witfi raf»ehobd his Grandfather
and Dr. Curry, 240 to 243.
Charges bis countrymen vrith going through a 9nd edition of the
massacre of St*' Barthelemy, 243.
Chdtges the oppolseots tff Veto with' the moil scandalous and
slanderous motives, 244, 5. - ^ ^
AttempU to en^e soma Slate^tai&it to support the Teto, 24&/
343,4.
tildes with the Jntoleraots against his country and bef religion,
254, .
Confounds ord^r and jiftfisdiction, 260.
Forges an assertion for.Dr. Poyuter, on which be affects to rest
his orthodoxy, 262, 3.
His general^c on fusion of terms, 274, 5.
His Jansenian craft i'n declining to deny or admit a <upremagy
. , of Jurisdiction in the Pope, 2T6.
His arrogant assumptioi^s and errors about the Civil Magistrate^
.888 to 294.
}Mlisquotes Grqtitfs, 255, 6.
Debases the power of Sovereign Pontitf', 394 to 300.
]irraudulent in suppresiting facts concerning Papal Supremacy ia
Ireland^ S02.
pitto, in suggesting that tfie Gallican declaration ivas madt a'
gaiasi the JurUdiQtion of the Pope, li>id.
(.
INDEX. 13
J^uJDtaifM Against the Scotch^ that jtfrisdiction depends .only oa
the will of (he Superior, 312.
l3hargea with schismaticalintentioosi 319, 13. -
^Attempts to take unfair advantage of Fleory, 313,
/ Errs frrossly concerning divine right of Bishops and Priests, 315
to 319;
Modciitly assimilates himself to St. Jerome^ 322, 343, 4.
Has the true caot and puff of all reformers, 1 hid.
/More striking antithesis of Gratid father and Grandson, 323 to 323
Assimilated to Peter Walsh, 3124.—- Append ix.^No. III.
Kepresses his zeal for nepr thirty years against abuser, 328.
Kis further errors about the Pope and the hierarchy ^ 322 to 330
The ^ebedean canvas for £lphin proved from the sacred text
to be antichristian 328 to 330.
His trick in professing one sobmission to the Pope in Latin^
another in Ehgliiih, 330 to 333;
His Latin and his English act of submission to Papal authority,
with obtervationsi^AppAndix, No. Vllr95 to 99.
Boasts of hid extensive reading^ 333.
Misrepresents the system of coatyntorships, 333*
Coarsely and wickedly abuses his hierat>chy^ 333 to 336.
The actual niotiYes.for Golumbabas* opposition to coacyator^hipi,
. 38«^tp 340. .
Calls On Milners publication^ ao t>glio and dab. and grossly
abuse* it^ 341, 8.
His charge a^iunst and] palliliodja In favoi* of Sfr Si C. Hip*
pesley* 344, 5* . *
He misquotes his own words^ 345;
. Sets and plies.SM^J; C. fii|^p,eBley on Veioi 34^
Gives instances of in^Qy Irish ^iAhopa appoint^ by the Pope
witlKNit dfoceiait pqi^iil^ti^n^ 34t to 3d7. .
Called upon to retract acc0ii|ling to bis proroW, S6T.
An Alumniis or free 9ch«Uf 41 4opu: on a Papal foundalibn.—
Ap(iendiz t.
Takes theLudovisian0.iitli«{ditt<K,8. . ■
Tim motives f«a- blabeing^raduaied, 9.
Subjects the Church to the Civil Afagistrate, ifi;
Foiled id hiA views, of a OMtre i he publishes his ttoaound iitrorkl^
■• •'«■
l^'latters his Patrooi ^l^c^ives tim Pope. 12.
Vpbraids lill cooatiyoiep tvitb* Ignorance o^ their religidn,- 14,
Id..- • ...... .;. . ,.. . . / ,
Vharges the Bishops witn treason for bavmg taken the Oath oC
Cootecratioa,tI6^ 16 . - .
Misrepresents thifr GiillMffi. idfitlatlUion as if made against the
Pope,i6.: . ,.. •; -ui.'.; ^ '.'.• . .
Upbraids the Irish Cathoncs ivith jiot auqfij^fC itfdinaYy oath%
16, n. . ^^^,
' Aeeuws the Catholic Chufch of.Ireland with being Mahome*
dan, 17, 18.
Refuses to return to hivausiioa, IB, ^^ •
Interrogates Dr. Bodkin about the costs of Sqit in a Roman
court, hnd is himself interrogated upon ditlo» t^» i9.
Kefers to Latin and English Works never published, i9.
Has not yetgiveivtQ..the public any one of his, long promiirtl
Works. Quer. If on account of hi s^ imperfect knowledge ot
tke ancient Irish, according to Dr.Mc. Hermott i 2i.
14 IKDEX.
Ooco Mokibe popular side, but now be meotiooB bk CADversion,
^ After . failnre of the rnnvos fbr Elphla fa terroren Romae
he holds it iiiinec»<ar3r to apply to the Pope for Episcopal
jurifdiction, 94, 5.
Ch^r^es Cath. Bishops with encourariof pretended iq^icacles, 85 -
Denies Supreme Jurisdictiou to the Pope, 26.
Denies that he is a judge to decide coatroyeriiet to the Cburch,
«6, T.
Insists that the Council of Trent nerer was accepted either as to
discipline or doctrine by the Oallican charch 89 to 37.
Inadvertently stumbles ipto truth.— Appendix, 4.
His false and insidious assertion, that Priests mast be, but tbere
needs not to be a Bishop in Synod. Appendix, 4$
His rapid pro^^resj into consequence, and specimens of i\§ sub*
. lime eloqiience. Appendix, 49 to 58.
Proofs of his cooperatin;; with Mr . Bntler, fiSS,
Orange influence of Administration in 1803, 44.
Institution rencw.ed ; their Oath of Allegiance only conditional ;
reports of their having Committees of the Duke of York, ia
which they swore men, SM, 5.
Orders, Religions, how they exist in the Chnrch, 386.
Order, Sacrament of Holy; different from jurisdicttoD, 859, 860«
Ormoad, Duke of, spirit of his days, 74.
So Irishman, but born fn ClerkenwelK 78*
Compared to Marquis of Bocklngbam,79.
Described as n bigot, 80.
His restless spirit. 81. ' »
{[His sanguinitry diiposittoor proved h^m ProteilaBt Aatbors, 80.
Thwafts the Kin&^^s wish for peace, 84.
Might have teved the Monarchy; had be obejFe4 the King, 86.
A real enemy of lTefaDd,'90, "
His canting and raming Letter to I^ofd GoramiMtowii bis old friend
98, 3.
Beneiits by the rebellion, 94. ft, 6. •
Solicits (he Lords Justices -to extend bis field and powers of
extenainatibn; 97, 8^.
Intrig^e» withthe ParliaraeiMarians, 99^toia6» '
Admits his Macbiavelism t» Lord Dtgby, 104.
His reluctance to obey the King, 1€6.
His sympathies with the 'Scotch Rebels, 107.
Acknowledges, when too late, the inflexible loyalty of the Ca-
' tholics, 109. . '
Owns his own degraded submission to tho Parliameolariaos, III
His Macbiavelianism boakett'of. Ibid.
Abuses his power of grantiiw places andcommislioiM to Catho-
lics, iii to ri& ..*..'
Like Strafford, 810. . . .
' HHps Garendon to Write his Historical Review of 4b#. Affairs of
Ireland, 248. • . . t'
List of the lands He'gainedr in consequence of thofobelttoiu Ap*
pehdix. So. I, . •• . . i
O»ory, Lordj reports horrible cruelties of lachiquia to Onnond, 90, 91.
■ -• » ■ p ■ . . .
ip^cbfil) a noted Jansenist panegyrUed by Mn'Jos. Berrui^<itp« 8'~9.
index; 15
k
ratiick, ^U cotemporary with and holds same doctrine with St. Athana-
sins about the jurisdictional authority of the Pope, 3Q4,
put, Mr. prevalence given to his system, by the manfleuvre of Marquis of
Buckingham, 15.
Lets out Pandora's box on the nation, 17;
Pius VI. Pope, SCO
VII his duty to his flock in Prance, 201.
Pledbis Bishop of Quebec how appointed. — Appendix, VIII. iTO
His pastoral on the Popes captivity, Ibid.
Ponsonby, Honourable George misled and deceiTed about Veto, aad
abandons his defence of it, 247 to. 254, 346, 7.
Pope, Jansenists antipathy to, 167^
The repository of Spiritual jurisdiction, $24.
Catholic doctrine of his supremacy as published in the Author's
Church and State in 1795. 255,
Proved from Law cases, that our ancestors allowed his Holinesf
oucontrouble aiithorily to appoint Bishops, 266 to 170.
Columbanus' erroneous opinions about him) 294 to ^98.,
Honorable judgment of 30 French Prelates upon bis power as
Vjcar of Christ, — Appendix, 32»
All. §apr«macy denied him by Walsh, 301^
His jurisdictional authority in 4tb century, 303. > ii
His jurisdictioB recognized by the Council of l<loreilc^ 3S0;
Ditto, Very expressly by St. Jerome, 322. '.
Can appoint valid Bishops without. Diocesan postulation, 341
357.
Can appoint coadjutors discretionally, 858.
Can lose notfe of his divine rights as successor of St. Peter,
nor acquire any addition to them from theCi.vil JMU^;i»^:
trate, 359, 360. 7. . '. . m.-. :
Bis Spiritual character effects not his ci vi 1 rights or deities 360*^
His indispensible duty to provide . proper, Bishops for the
dispersed Churches, 300,- I. : '....;
Upon what grounds occasiofudly called upon .to' appoint
coadjutors, S<62, . . '.:■■'.
Cannot as Vicai of Christ :give EpIsopfaV joresdictiop 'to.4t:
person he knows to be unfit, however nam^d^ elected,
postulated or rec4imnieoded,;36l, ^. .' /:
Concientious motives for appointing ciondjutors, 366.
Nature of Papal RuUs tor grants, which mention tempora-
lities, 364 to 367.1 . : . ■ ' '
Purt-Ro^'fiT-; the paladium of J^iogenismat Paris, 207/ •
Power, vide Civiraod-Sptritual; . : ' : *
X'oynter, Kight Rev. Doctor Vicar Apostolic of the London district, what
expected atbishaods,' 263.tB26&. :?
Charged by Columbanus with what he ncv^said, 36. ..'.:. ^
Prelates, vide Ritihops. .».>.: ./,
press, liberty of favorable to cotemporary history. Preface, X:
Itseflects, 1. • »
Protestation, a formal disclaipier of many obnoxious doctrtnes irppnt^ed iq
the English Roman Catholics signed by 1583.— App. 55'. : ' '
Protesting Catholic Disseut^rsl thei|ir co-operation with ColumoaauSi 148,..
'.-.•. ..a "
Qacsnel the Jansenist, some arcount of Jria condemned Wo^ks, 167. ■ . . i'
Queonelism, real Calvinism according to L&fita9, Bishop of Sis-
teron. Appendix, 47.
16 INDEX.
R
Bcdcsdalf , toril, iotiniat^ with Mr. Butler, S4ti
GivM to the Hooic of Lords io IM^^mihr wivr&nees of a ^
neral spirit of Anti-ptelacy amongst the Irish Catholics,' a<
Sir John Cox Hippeslev did in 1812, 347, 8.
HemoDStrance, WaMi right in It. — Appeadjx 14.
The Remonstrance. Appendix^ No. IX.
ResolotioD, the famous 5th settled by the Agent of the Board of Britlllf*
Catholics wCth Lords Grey and Grenvillfe 24#.
Richer, Wafsh's most Catholic and leamH divine, same account of hislifitf
and doctrines^ Appendix, 42 to 40.
Bis followers to be guarded against in the 17 th, I8tb, and 19tb
centuries. Appendix, 46.
Termed an iltu&trioos divine by Walsh, 302.
JloUand^a noted Jansenist (<*yen in 1781) complains of having hepivdisio-
^rifed by his Uncled donations to^he btock piirs<*« noi withstand-
ing he haid expended 60,000 Hvres ia procuring the abolition ef
the Jesalls. Appendix, 38.
S
Saint Cyran, AblM», foundf r of Jansenism in ^ranee. Appendix, 28.
His objectioof to the Coancll of Treat, Ibid-.
Scbisn, Iriih Catholics tb#ee ceoturica without, H3.
Danger of from Engiisb Protesting Catholic Dissenters. 150.
tnmee fnvolved lu scbiara by the civU consiitiuion of the elf rgv,
163.
Similar danger to Ireland, 163,. 4.
.Who SchismaticSf according to St. Bemahl, 306..
Schismatical views of blue books, and of Colmnbaous, 1 49«
Sebaste, Jansenistical Archbishop of^ ia Hollaod. Appendix, 39.
^dmoath, Lord Visctount^ the Author's furoposal to him and views for
writiag Irish History, 9. . "
Spalatro, Archbishop of, someaccoaiBt ojf Ifis defection and deprecated re-
tiactions; Appendix, 43. ;
Spiritual Power, nature of the Acts coUattog it, 270; .
Statute, ^eth Qeo^ 111, Prison 4ct, which provides iot Catkol'rc Chaplaf nr,
ISt.
Struffbrd, Earl of, his djnltcifty imitated by Ormoiid, and outdone by Co-
lumbamis;, 210, II.
Sapreraacyy Oath of, onlaw/ol for a Cathoficfo take, 144, 147.
Lord-Gfeoville judges fairly of .lt«. 14t.
Rev. Josei^b Tierrin||ton ancisiirages. CathoJKcs to take if, H9.
Recommended by some bold men, ab the ^aosenists took tiie
• ■ test of Innbceat X. Appendix^ 33.
Any denied to tbePope by V^alsb, 301.
Synod and Syaodical^ Act of the English. Vicars Apostolic, 175.
Attt of the Irish Bishops at TuAlow, Utf, and Ap:p<ndix>
Wo. V« ■
Tetaiple, Sir Joba, intrigues with.Omiond, 99.
His character from Protestant Authors, lOO.
Temporal or civil power, quod vide. " « • •
Tencin, Cardinal, how represented by Colimibanus, 109^
Thomassin vouches for Coadjutorshipt being usual in (he Church rr#iB Abe
very earliest times, SjM^
Commended by Colnmbanns as prime jiaibority. Ibid
Truth, the resort to^ and abuse of it by Cfluuibanus, ^to 8.
if
¥ii&ow> Synodical reiolntioiiB of, 178; AppeadUti Ko. VT
It .
IjnisenUiis Bulli the test for disiiotexiog a janseolst, M.
TetOy objected to by Cfiarles 6'Conor ^ years before ike term mod, ^:
Uri^ed strongly by Columbanus, 843, .4, &•
XITects of Stote iofloence upon it, 347.
Renounced by Lords Grey and GrenyiUCy aihd Metsrs. Ponsonby a^d
Grattan, 847 to 854.
This and arranfrements in cotftemplatioB of Sir Jobli Cox llippesley,
as early as i79d, 340, i. ,
Ticars Apostolic, English, their Synodical Resolutions about Blanchard-
ists, i75. ■
Their Encyclical Letter, condefinliig the Oath of the would-be pro^
testing Catholic Dissenters. App^idlz, 55, 6.
- . ■ W
If alet. Prince of, his flatifering acceptance of the Author's history. Pref.IX.
Tateh in by the Marquis of Buckingham's maoceuvre, to vote
against bis father, 16.
^ Unconstitutional restrictions of the Regent, I#.
tfalsb, Rev. Father Peter rises against bis kupef ior^i ai»d broaches vm^
sound doctrines, 147.
His Antipapal doctrines f eferred to, 149.
Parallel between him and Col umbnnus. Appendix, Mo. HI. 7.
Subjects the Church to civil Magistrate, 10«
Foiled in his pursuit of a mitre, he gives into unsound doctrines, li
Hatters his Patron, decries the Pope, 18.
Right in his remonstrance, and therefbre on tfiat score wrongly
excommunicated, 13, 14. .
Puni^ed for other matters, 14.
Upbraids the rest with ignorance of their religion, 14, 5.
Charges the Bishops with treason for having taken the Consecration
Oath, 14, 5.
Hisrepresents the Gallicaa declaration as if made against the
. Pope, i6. .
tJpbraids the Irish Catholics with not minding: ordinary Oaths, i6,7.
Accuses the Catholic Church of Ireland witn being Mohomedao,
. 17, i8.
Refuses to return to his convent. Id, 9.
^fers his readers to Latin and English Works never publi^d, 19..
Ciave not to thie public his promised Work, i^usre if on account ojf
his ignorance of the ancient Irish, according ta Dr. Nicholson? 8k
Once a furious confederate, but no where alludes to his conver*
sion, 88, 3.
After he had failed in his views upon the See of Dublin, he set up
his remonstrance, and wrote to terrify Rome, 84.
Charges the Catholic Irish Clergy with encouragiug coottterfei|
miracles, 85.
Denies supreme jurisdiction to the Pope, 86.
Denies, that he is a judge to decide controversies in the Church, S6.
87.
Abuses and rejects the authority of the Council of Trent, 89 to 37.
,^. . Denies any suprenmcy in Pope, SOi.
Wl^itaker, Rev. Mr. a respectable Protestant dlviAf, commeods Leslry, at
next to St, Paul, 886.
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for same — some.
ror orina]« •— originalff.
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For saero read sacro.
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Before Sacraments in/ert of
Transpose the word w/M to the preceding line
after the word dispense.
For enligh ted read enlightened
For 1432 432
For civil spiritual
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For Ame — Anne.
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