The ensuing year unfortunately gave farther evi dence of the want of temper and union among the Catholics. The court of Rome recommended their acquiescence with the propositions of Mr Grattan ; but of the Catholic Board at Dublin dis claimed indignantly all foreign interference ; and the clergy passed resolutions against the appointment of. any Catholic bishop by the British government. The intemperate proceedings of the Catholic Board now led government to dissolve that body, and declare its meetings contrary to law.
These dissentions prevented the from being submitted to Parliament in 1814. Next year it was brought forward by Sir H. Parnell, not by Mr Grattan, who declared that an unconditional grant of the demands of the Catholics was not to be expected, and that, without cultivating a spirit of con ciliation, they never would succeed. The motion was lost by a great majority. In 1816, it was again brought before Parliament, but in two distinct peti tions, of which the more teamtrate, introduced by Mr Grattan, received the support of 141 votes against 173.
Next year (1817) the question was proposed by Mr Grattan, with the aims views as in 1813, and supported by 221 votes agekst 24.5. The disap pointment of failure was soothed not only by the large minority, but by a very substantial concession obtained soon after, on the proposition of ministers, viz. an act to enable Catholic dicers in the army and navy to attain rank nearly on the plan proposed by the Grenville ministry is 1807. la 1818 the Catholk question was not agitated ; but is 1819 the tone of that body being more coociliating, Mr Gratten's motion for taking it into consideration was support. ed by 241 votes against 243.
Our victory at Trafalgar was of particular import ance in regard to Ireland, as it relieved her almost en ,tirely from the dread of invasion ; but the seeds of dis content, disorder, and insurrection,still continued. In
1807 it became memory to renew the power given to the Lord Lieutenant, to proclaim counties in a state of disturbance, and to authorize magistrates to arrest persons found at a distance from their homes at night ; also to prevent suspected persons from keep ing arms. This act, which has since been repeated ly renewed, proved a security against any general commotion ; but it could not prevent the disorderly from entering into associations which, at one time under the name of " Threshers," at another of " Carders," at another of " Ribbon Men," have so long excited, and still continue to excite, disquietude and dread in that unhappy country.
Ireland bears a strong resemblance to some coun tries of the Continent, in the petty size of farms, the poverty and wretchedness of the lower orders, the want of mercantile capital, and of manufactur ing towns. These are the features which strike the traveller in Brittany, in the south of France, and in great part of Italy—countries long govern ed with the same inattention 'to the welfare of the people as Ireland. In them, however, the reli gion of the inhabitants is that of the government ; their pastors inculcate loyalty, and derive their sup port from the state ; while, in Ireland, to all other causes of backwardness, has been added that of in cessant jealousy between the government and the spiritual guides of the majority of the people. Hence a general and hereditary discontent, and a no less general ignorance, the result of the want of all kind. ly intervention from government in regard to educa tion. But the discussion of this painfully interest ing topic, will find a more fitting place in the article IRELAND.