with the mass of the people, that I possess means of information inaccessible to others, and am acquainted with the opinions and views of those who exercise in Ireland a powerful influence." I am inclined to infer from the above passage of your Letter, that you may value too highly the judgment which I am enabled to form with regard to the political condition of this country, and therefore, whilst I submit my views without reserve to you, I beg you may bear in mind, that I too belong to a class of men who are supposed to be rendered bigots by their profession; that I have been bred up a slave, and imbibed from my infancy strong prejudices against the ruling party; that my religion is only emerging from persecution; and that my love of country, however laudable in itself, tends to inspire me with wishes for her happiness which perhaps cannot be realized. You will therefore make a just allowance for such degree of prejudice and passion as you may suppose to obtrude themselves inadvertently upon my calculations. But I beg you may continue to be assured, as you have ever been, of my love of justice, of my abhorrence of religious feuds, and of my entire devo tion to the King and Constitution under which we live. I shall here endeavour to reduce to certain heads the questions proposed in your Letter, and will offer such remarks on each of them as will, I trust, put you in possession of my sentiments, as well as of the grounds upon which I have formed or adopted them. CONTENTS. IJ. THE Character of the Irish Government, and the effect of its measures upon the country; in- cluding remarks on the Peace-preservation Act, or Constabulary Bill, the Burial Service Bill, and the Tithe Composition Act, The State and Composition of Parties; Sketch 37 Page 155 Leller VII. The Bible Societies: their opposition to the inte- VIII. On Catholic Emancipation; on the Papal Power, and the nature of Allegiance; and on the a measure would be, 223 267 293 lity and advantages to all classes in Ireland, 311 |