"Clama ne cesses---quasi Tuba exalta vocem." Isai. lviii. Phalaris licet imperet ut sis Falsus, et admoto dictet perjuria tauro, Summum crede nefas animam præferre pudori. PRINTED BY J. SEELEY, BUCKINGHAM. SOLD BY PAYNE, PALL-MALL; AND EGERTON, CHARING-CROSS, 1812. To the MOST NOBLE The MARQUIS of BUCKINGHAM. MY LORD, THE merit, whatever there may be, in the following sheets, is owing to the Patronage I have experienced from You; the faults, which, I fear, are many, are exclusively my own.-They possess however me merit, which, from the honour of a long acquaintance, I am sure must recommend them to a Mind such as your's,—that of very honestly, very plainly, and perhaps very forcibly submitting to a nation, whom you always respected, esteemed, and cherished, TRUTHS of the greatest importance to its prosperity; as tending to elucidate and confirm the several relations which the Nobility, Gentry, Clergy, and People of Ireland mutually bear to each other, in support of that Constitutional form of Government to which, under God, we look for our National prosperity. These Historical Truths, and the inferences drawn from them, will be well recommended to every description of persons in my native country, from the confidence which they naturally repose in a name so justly respected by them, as Your's; and I humbly hope, that they may ultimately tend to establish those blessings, which the divine truths, taught by a well-regulated Clergy, can alone secure to all classes of the Irish people. I have the honour to be, MY LORD, With the most sincere respect and gratitude, Your Lordship's Most obedient humble Servant, C. O'CONOR. St. Patrick's Day, 17th March, 1812. CONTENTS. DANGEROUS foreign-influenced maxims, yet main- Style and Character of various Pamphlets against Page 1 Whether the State can enact Laws for the Church.......... Whether, in the present state of the Irish Catholic Church, an Irish Catholic Bishop can tender an Oath in Case of a Catholic Member of Parliament for the con- sideration of the Legislature ib. Whether an Irish Catholic Synod can decide on any |