A MORE

EXTENDED DISCUSSION

IN FAVOUR OF

LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE

RECOMMENDED,

&c. &c.

Ir is evident that a favourable impression has been made on the public mind, by the late debates in Parliament on the claims of the Irish Catholics. To the old and well-known arguments for concession, drawn from the policy of conciliation, and from the increased liberality of the times, new force has been added by the weight of character, the probity, the wisdom and liberality of Mr. Ponsonby, and

by the genius and eloquence and especially by the moderation of Mr. Grattan, so signally displayed in the House of Commons; and not less powerfully, perhaps, were those arguments, reinforced in the Upper House of Parliament, by the vigorous and comprehensive reasoning of Lord Grenville, and by the mild but dignified conduct of the Bishop of Norwich, whose wisdom and truly Christian spirit of candour and benevolence have done honour to the mitre. Yet, from the terms of the Petition then before the two Houses, the advocates for concession, if not precluded virtually from touching on the right of all men to enjoy perfect liberty of conscience, were naturally led to be sparing of arguments drawn from that right, and to press their point chiefly, if not entirely, on principles of less extent. This was natural, and almost unavoidable, on that

occasion; and the good effect of the prudence and caution manifested in that instance is, as it ought to be, most gratefully acknowledged even by those persons, whose ideas of duty oblige them to maintain that every species of intolerance is a criminal interference with the authority of God; and that all laws whatever encroaching on that unalienable right, ought to be removed without delay from our statutebook; in which at present they stand the disgrace of our legislature, and in a more eminent degree the reproach of our superior church

men.

But will it be prudent to dissemble with ourselves, and to deny what appears evidently true, that more than by all the wisdom of Mr. Ponsonby, the genius of Mr. Grattan, the comprehensive reasoning of Lord Grenville, and

the singularly virtuous conduct and affecting address of Bishop Bathurst, fresh force was added to the usual pleas for toleration, by the fearful state of Ireland, and the general danger of the empire? In such a state of Ireland and the empire, have we not reason to fear ultimate disappointment, unless the aid of other and more powerful arguments than have yet been insisted on, shall be called in, when we consider the great majority of the Peers, and the still greater majority in the Commons House of Parliament, who could bring themselves to refuse any concession whatever to four millions of aggrieved fellow-subjects, whose just complaint at such a crisis was thus powerfully supported by the most signal exertions of eloquence and wisdom? Would not a peace with France, on other accounts the most anxious wish of every good man, at once annihilate all hope of ob