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1. THIS Appellation is used throughout the following statement, for the sake of brevity, not of controversy. The legal appellation, at this day, is that of Roman Catholics." Should this compound epithet appear to involve a solecism in language, the Legislature alone, nof the People, must be responsible for the impropriety.

We find indeed, that the Legislature has varied curiously in this particular. From the time of the introduction of the Protestant Creed into Ireland (temp: Elizabeth) the appellation, used by the Statutes, appears to have been mere ly that of " persons in communion with the Church of Rome." In the commencement of the Reign of William the 3d, viz. 1692-the Catholics were expelled from the Irish Parliament. A more hostile and contemptuous phraseology then appeared. From that time to 1792, the Statutes describe them as "Papists," Papists," "Popish People," &c. At length, in 1793 (33 Geo. 3. Chap. 21.) they attained the title of "Papists, or persons professing the Popish or ROMAN CATHOLIC Religion."

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30-50. Geo. $.

Sect. 47,

&C

2. However, the later Statutes drop the harsher 43 Geo. 3. Ch. phrases altogether, and term them "Roman Catholics" only. Ch. 103, The reproachful epithets of "Papist," Papist," "Popish," "Popish," "Ro- &c. mish," "Romanist," &c. &c.--are no longer applied to them, by any gentleman or scholar.

b*

See Dr. Arthur
Brown's Eccl.

Law, 47.

1. THE English Corporation Act, 13 Car. 2. st. 2. c. 1. agrees in substance with the Rules and Orders, confirmed by the Irish Statutes of the 17 and 18 Car. 2. ch. 2. and 25 Car 2. (See post. p. 88, &c.)

2. The English Test' act, 25 Car. 2. c. 2—relating to qualifications for Office, &c. civil and military, agrees with the Irish Test Acts, 2. Anne, c. 6. and c. 14. s. 2.-and 9 Anne, ch. 6. s. 18. (post 23. 113. 120.)

3. So much of the Irish Corporation Act, as required the Sacramental Test, and was therefore disrelished by Protestant Dissenters, was repealed in Ireland in 1780, (as to them only) by the Statute 19 and 20 Geo. 3. ch. 6.

4. The Corporation Act remains in full force against the Catholics, in Ireland as well as in England. The Test Act, by the effect of the Irish, Statutes of 1792 and 1793, has been infringed, and "pro tanto," repealed. Its principle has certainly been surrendered, and is no longer sacred and inviolable. But we lament to say, that its jealous spirit continues-and that, in substance and practice, it operates with unabated violence against the Catholics of Ireland. This is owing, partly to the many important exceptions reserved by the Statute of 1793; partly to the numerous Penal clauses unnoticed by that Statute; and partly to the Anti-Catholic principles of the present Administration-In the following "Statement," these causes shall be more fully unfolded.

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