After the rejection of the Catholic Petition to Parliament in 1810, an Aggregate Meeting assembled in Dublin, on the 13th of July, in that year. -The former Committee was continued in its functions, and the meeting adjourned to the following November.-Accordingly, on the 2d of November, a General Meeting was held at the Repository, Stephen's-green, when Mr. PETER FINNERTY, by a Speech of powerful reasoning and eloquence, produced a unanimity amongst the leaders of the Catholic Body, from which the happiest results have sprung.-At this Meeting the General Committee were instructed to prepare Petitions to Parliament, on behalf of the Catholics of Ireland, and thanks were returned to Mr. Finnerty for his able and conclusive speech on that day. On the 24th of November, the General Committee met, and the draft of a Petition was prepared and read.Thanks were voted to Lord Donoughmore and Mr. Grattan, and a Sub-Committee of Grievances was appointed.--It was thought, and justly too, that the People of England were, and indeed still are, igno-rant of the nature and extent of the restrictions which oppress the Catholics of Ireland, and that even the sufferers themselves were not aware of all the privations and grievances to which they were, and are liable.-The report of this Sub-Committee is we understand full and luminous, consisting of 124 sheets, evincing much labor and research, and interspersed with a highly talented commentary.*

The General Committee continued its labors with unremitting zeal, and to discuss various subjects that occasionally arose, yet all closely connected with the chief and legitimate object of Petition.This firm and constitutional conduct of the Committee, brought down upon its members, the unqualified

As this Report of the Sub-Committee of Grievances, is now published by Fitzpatrick, Capel-street, it is unnecessary to enlarge on the subject.

abuse of the ministerial press-the paper of the Minister held them up to the people of Great Britain as a seditious Faction, and the Secretary himself issued his celebrated CIRCULAR LETTER.-The proceedings and events arising from that Circular, and from another not less impolitic and unconstitutional Instrument of the minister, will be found accurately detailed in the following pages.

On a perusal of this work, the reader will observe, that the Catholics have with them the Protestant rank, fortune, and advocacy of Ireland.†-With such a support the Catholic Cause, which must be considered the Cause of the Empire, cannot but prove triumphant.-The Intolerants may fret and fume their hour upon the stage, but "the long expected day of Justice" is at hand, "the proceedings of which will close for ever the oppressive Administration" of Faction and of Folly."

Upon the "FACTION" an able commentary has appeared in the Freewas's Journal, and the strictures of the intelligent writer, are now published in a Pamphlet.

At the County Meetings, the Speeches of both Catholics and Protestants have evinced distinguished talent and sound patriotism.—Of those of the latter, were we to point out any particular speech, it would, perhaps, be that delivered by COUNSELLOR FINLAY, at the county of Dublin Meeting -It is one of those powerful efforts of a great reasoning mind, and of an eloquent advocate, not frequently to be met either in the Senate or at the Bar.

THE conduct of the General Committee of the Catholics of Ireland, has already occupied our attention in the preceding pages.-The proceedings of that distinguished and highly talented body, had made a sensible and happy impression on the Protestants of Ireland, and in England and Scotland had awakened a lively interest, when the Circular Letter of the Irish Secretary, addressed to the Magistrates of this devoted island, was launched upon the coun try" as a firebrand*" to impede the subject in the exercise of a constitutional right, to irritate and exasperate an oppressed people, to create alarm, and destroy public con

See the speech of Mr. Shaw, [Member for Dublin] on this subject in the House of Commons, March 7th.-He declared, that the unfortunate Circular Letter had gone out into the country as a firebrand, and a rallying point for all the disaffected, and remained a lasting momment of the rashness and imbecility of the Irish Government.”

A

fidence in a land only recovering from the wounds of a barbarous policy. The first general intimation which the people of Ireland had of the issuing of the Secretary's CIRCULAR, was the following notice which appeared in the Dublin Evening Post.

Mr. POLE'S CIRCULAR,

From the Dublin Evening Post.-Feb. 14th 1811.

To speak of the following official document in terms expressive of what we feel, would be impossible. It has been forwarded, we understand, to all the Sheriffs and Magistrates in Ireland; and the people of this oppressed and insulted country will peruse it with astonishment, with grief and indignation. Read, countrymen! and should the liberty of speech and of complaint be denied you, to feel and mourn still is yours.

SIR,

Dublin Castle, Feb. 12th 1811.

"It being reported that the Roman Catholics, or some part of them, in the county of are to be called together, or have been called together, to nominate or appoint persons as Representatives, Delegates or Managers, to act on their behalf as members of an unlawful assembly, sitting in Dublin, and calling itself the Catholic Committee, you are required, in parsuance of the provisions of an Act of the Thirty-third of the King, Chap. 29, to cause to be arrested, and to commit to prison (unless bail shall be given) all persons within your jurisdiction, who shall be guilty of giving, or having given, or of publishing, or having published, or of causing, or having caused to be given or published, any written or other notice of the election and appointment, in any manner, of such representative, delegate, or manager as aforesaid; or of attending, voting, or acting, or of having attended, voted or acted in any manner, in the choice or appointment of such representative, delegate or manager. And you are to communicate these directions, as far as lies in your power, forthwith, to the several Magistrates of the said county of