be stimulated by a wise and dignified, be gause an important distribution of reward and favor-that patriotism in its purest and most genuine meaning, would be identi fied with power, and that the only medium by which the people of these realms could view the supreme magistrate of the state, would be through the irradiations diffused around him from acts of benig nity and munificence. Fain would we have been to forbear clouding the dawn of our intercourse with your Royal Highness by a glance even at the name of grievances, manifold, weighty, and pernicious, as those are to which we more particularly apply ourselves, but the duty we owe to our So vereign and our country-the reverence we owe to the memory and example of our forefathers, and the justice that is claimed toward our posterity-the fame, the happiness and the safety of the empire-ail, with irresistable force, forbid us to disguise our thoughts or smother our feelings.

We see with a mixed contemplation of shame and sorrow, the political unity of a great people hazarded. We see Ireland, the most esssential bulwark of the British name and glory, paralyzed in her exertions— degraded in her character-her valor checked by unworthy suspicion-her emu lation expressed by servile and unwarrantable distinctions-her people divided without meaning, and her strength and her integrity depreciated by imputations that at once she disclaims and detestsand laying before your Royal Highness the common sentiments of a loyal, generous, and ardent people of all religious persuations, we do most humbly implore your Royal Highness' early and earnest attention to the situation of the Irish Catholics.

By the present system of laws, the Catholic of Ireland is mocked and tantalized, by having laid open to him every avenue (that to the church alone excepted) which leads to wealth, and power, and dignity; and thus he may drudge and labour in the dull and discouraging pursuits of Science that are divested of all those lures to activity, by which every other description of men are incited to great exertion; or he may fight and fall in the field, under a sense of duty abstracted from all the noblest and most inspiring incentives to glory. In either case he is so circumstanced, that the zeal, which in others animates study or invigorates labour, and the heroism that inspires to deeds of valour, are damped and chilled in him, by the heart-rending reflection, that however nobly or meriteriously he may struggle for the final advantage, he can never

In beseeching your Royal Highness* fa vourable attention to our common suppiication, we approach your Royal Highness with the greater degree of confidence, beCause we cannot but hope, that when the two great classes of Protestants and Catholics, for mutual preservation, shall make conmon cause, in pursuit of an object that we all think indispensable, the few but odious remaining restrictions upon the Catholic body, smitten by the united rays of the law, the constitution, the na tion and the throne, must, like a noxious exhalation, melt and disappear.

We do therefore humbly entreat, that your Royal Higness may be graciously pleased to recommend to the imperial. Parliament, the immediate consideration of the state of the Irish Catholics, and the ur gent necessity of restoring them to the full participation of all the advantages and blessings of our glorious Constitutionblessings and advantages to which we hum bly subinit that they are now highly and justly entitled, to a still more ample extent than what was assured to that Body under the solemn treaty of Limerick, signed by King William, to the security of which, they have in much more than a proportionate degree contributed by their treasure and their lives; to the enjoyment of which under your Royal Highness and every branch of your illustrious family thus have eminently entitled themselves by an unabated loyalty toward the House of Brunswick, and by their uniform, ardent, and steady attachment for six hundred and fifty years to their natural alliance with Great Britain. In support of which every battle that has been fought, and every victory that has been gained, from the earli est periods of our history, under the Bri tish banners, by sea or land, in every climate of the earth, has been highly attributable to Irish valour and Irish loyal

ty bleeding and dying for British glory and sealing with the best blood of Ireland the bond of British connexion.

With these views, may it please your Royal Highness, we trust that it will appear but a claim of common justice on be half of this numerous, opulent, and loyal majority of the Irish people, that they should at once be freed from every species of restriction and disability, and be placed on a full and fair footing of perfect equality with the most favored of his majesty's most loyal subjects.

On thus approaching your Royal Highness with our sincere congratulations, we bave attempted to discharge an honest duty, at once to your Royal Highness and the people of the empire, in humbly suggesting a measure, by the recommendation and accomplishment of which, your Roy al Highness will ensure the gratitude, and combine the strength of this vast portion of the empire, and entail upon your name and character the love, admiration and blessings of the time in which you live, and the reverence of ages yet to come.

To the Right Hon. and Hon. the Knights, Ci tizens, and Burgesses, of the United King dom of Great Britain and Ireland, in Parliam nt assembled.

The Humble Petition of the undersigned Gentlemen, Freeholders, and Inhabitants of the county of Tipperary, com prising persons professing various religious persuasions,

SHEWETH,

That we, your petitioners, being actuated by sentiments of attachment to the true principles of the constitution, and sincerely desirous to promote the internal concord and general prosperity of our country, by every measure of conciliation, good will, and justice towards all classes and descriptions of our fellow subjects, beg leave to represent to this honourable house, that we view with particular regret and disapprobation, the existing code of penal and disabling statutes, which aggrieve and degrade the Roman Catholics of these realms, adhering to the faith of their forefathers.

This obnoxious code, at all times unjust in its principle, and violating an ancient and solemn treaty, appears to us, at this critical period of national exigency, to be peculiarly ill-timed and unadvised.

thy of confidence, and proscribes them as aliens in their native land.

Besides infringing the sacred rights of private conscience, and violating the first principles of legislation, it insults and depresses every individual of the Catholic community, stigmatises them as unwor

Thus disuniting the people, thus prolonging needless dissensions, and alienating the great majority of the Irish population from the State, this code is the certain source of national weakness, and imminent public danger. Without the zealous co-operation of the Catholic community, that right arm of Ireland, no reflecting man can confidently reckon upon an effectual resistance to the common foe, in the trying hour of peril; and it is but natural to presume, that such co-operation will be best ensured by augmenting their interest in the maintenance of the constitution, by extending to them its full benefits, without reserve or restriction; by acts of substantial justice, and even of marked kindness, towards this faithful and well-deserving people, from whom, perhaps, within a very short period, the most arduous services, and of inestimable value, will be necessarily and anxiously demanded.

We are of opinion, therefore, that no other measure can so effectually tend to the firm defence and preservation of these islands, to internal union and general se curity, as a full and complete restoration of all the rights and benefits of the constitution to the Catholic people.

Justice, no less than sound policy, demands the immediate adoption of this measure. Liberty of conscience, and the unfettered exercise of private judgment in the choice of religion, are the inalienable birth-right of every man, and cannot be invaded by human power, without disrespect to that merciful Deity, who to lerates all religions; and graciously accepts from all men the genuine worship of the heart, in whatsoever language, and under every form.

The experience of nations has also shewn, that intolerance can never be prac ticed with impuuity; in its gloomy train are ever to be found national discord, disgrace, decay, and finally, desolation of the most disastrous nature. May the Almighty avert such dire calamities from this empire.

As members of various religious communities, Protestants as well as Catholics, we disclaim all coercive laws concerning religious subjects.

We solemnly protest against the prolongation of a code, founded in such coercion; and however different our respective modes of faith, yet we cordially concur in earnestly praying, as the first and choicest blessing to Ireland, that those

PUBLIC OCCURRENCES.

Died, on the 1st of this month, at Balfitore, Lvdia the wife of James White, master of a boarding-school in that place. This amiable young woman, who had little more than completed her 24th year, had most exemplarily discharged her several duties of life, and in the important relation of presiding over the domestic arrangements of a large school, by her tender and motherly care over the boys, had eminently gained their affections, and gave the strongest indications of future usefulness, if her life had been prolonged. But a rapid decline terminated her earthly prospects, and snatched her from her husband, and friends. It is not intended by a pompous display of her many amiable qualities to describe her character. Such a display would ill suit to delineate her modest and retiring virtues. She will long survive in the memory of ker friends. Hers was,

"A heart within whose sacred cell, The peaceful virtues lov'd to dwell. Affection warm, and faith sincere, And soft humanity were there. In agony and death resign'd, She felt the wound, she left behind." She was endowed with a sweetness uncommon, and had a mildness in her manner, and in her countenance, that bespoke evenness and amiableness of mind. As she grew up, her mind was particularly turned to compassionate the poor, often visiting

in the cottages, and procuring little mat-" ters which she could obtain for them, suited to their necessities. She had an extensive interest amongst all ranks, but particularly the poor."

BLEACHERS PETITION.

petition has been thus announced by Sir S. The progress of the bill founded on this Romilly:

Lincoln's-Inn, April 10, 1811.

SIR,

I have great pleasure in informing you that the bill to take away capital punishment for the offence of stealing from bleach greens, and to substitute the punishment of transportation for life, or a shorter time, at the discretion of the judge, in its place, has, together with some other bills for similar objects, passed the house of commons, and was yesterday carried up to the lords. What will be its fate there, I cannot tell; but as the bill was indebted for its favourable reception in the commons entirely to the petition which you transmitted to me, and as no notice can be properly taken in the house of lords of that petition, I think it right to mention to you that a petition to the lords to the same effect as that which was presented to the commons, would be likely to be attended with extremely good effects.-The bill is not to be debated for some time, probably not for a month, or perhaps/longer-whether transmitting a petition, you can best judge. that interval will allow of preparing and I shall endeavour to make the best use I can of the important facts mentioned by you, in your letter of the 9th of last month. I am, Sir,

With very great regard,

Your most obedient servant, SAMUEL ROMILLY.

JOHN HANCOCK, Lisburn,

At a meeting of the proprietors of bleach-greens, held in Lisburn, pursuant to public advertisement the 16th of April, 1811, John McCance, esq. in the chair. The following resolutions were unanimously agreed to:

That this meeting has observed with much satisfaction, that through the zealous exertions of Sir Samuel Romilly, and his enlightened endeavours to reform the criminal code, a bill founded on our petition to the house of Commons, has been carried through that house, which takes away the capital punishment for the offence of stealing from bleach-greens, and substitutes transportation for life, or a shorter time, at the discretion of the judge.

That in furtherance of the plan apetition be presented to the house of Lords,

similar to the one sent to the house of Commons.

Which petition having been now agreed on, the committee formerly appointed, are desired to use endeavours to have it as fully signed, as the short time before the necessity of having it presented will ad. mit, and that it be forwarded to the Marquis of Hertford, with a request that he may present it to the house of Lords. JOHN M'CANCE, Chairman.

THE FOLLOWING IS A COPY OF THE BILL TAKING AWAY YELONY OF DEATH FOR STEALING FROM BLEACH-GREENS, AS IT PASSED THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

•

A Bill to repeal so much of an act, passed in the parliament of Ireland, in the third year of the reign of his present Majesty, entituled, "An act for the better regulation af the linen and hempen manufactures," as takes the benefit of clergy from flons convicted of st:aling cloth from bleaching grounds; and for more effectually preventing such felonies.— Ordered by the house of commons to be printed, 7th March, 1811.

away

Whereas by an Act made in the Parliament of Ireland, in the third year of the reign of his present Majesty, intituled, "An Act for the better Regulation of the Linen and Hemp Manufactures," it is amongst other things enacted, That no felon convicted according to the course of the law and statutes of that kingdom, of stealing of linen, hempen or cotton-yarn, or linen or hempen cloth, or cloth made of linen and cotton yarn, or any materials or utensils used in bleaching the same, above the value of five shillings, from or out of any bleachyard, buckhonse or workhouse thereunto belonging, whether the fact be committed by day or night, shall be allowed the benefit of clergy:

And whereas the said Act has not been found effectual for the prevention of the crimes therein mentioned, and it is therefore expedient that so much of the said Act as is hereinbefore recited, should be repealed:

And whereas it might tend more effectually to prevent the aforesaid crimes, if the same were punishable more severely than simple larceny;

Be it therefore enacted, by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present parliament, assembled, and by the authority of the same, That so much of the said Act as is hereinbefore recited, shall from the passing of this act be and the same is hereby repealed. And be it further enacted, that from the BELFAST MAG. NO. XXXIII,

passing of this act, every person who shall be convicted in Ireland, according to the course of the law and statutes of that part of the united kingdom, of feloniously stealing linen, hempen or cotton yarn, or linen or hempen cloth, or cloth made of linen and cotton yarn, or materials or utensils used in bleaching any the same, above the value of five shillings, from or out of any bleachyard, buckhouse thereunto belonging, whether the fact be committed by day or night, shall be liable to be transported beyond the seas for life, or for such term, not less than seven years, as the judge before whom any such person shall be convicted shall adjudge, or shall be liable, in case the said judge shall think fit to be imprisoned only, or to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour in the common gaol, house of correction or penitentiary house, for any term not exceeding seven years.

BELFAST SUNDAY AND LANCASTRIAN
SCHOOLS.