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speedily resume the reins of government , and that by no act of his should the return be made in thel $ ast degree inconvenient . The ministers of course accepted this mark of his royal goodness with
great gratitude , and professions to < # o every thing in their power for the benefit and ease Nof his government . They had in a few tlays a mortifying scene to undergo , for the Address of the
Common Council was presented to th e * Kegent 3 and was read in their presence . The prince received it with great dignity , and listened with great attention to the
censures past upon the ministers around him , and the expression of grievances , among which the present state of the representation of the House of Commons was
prominent . To this address he returned a dignified answer , very different from that which the city had received some time before , and which had , been the subject of general complaint . This mortification was soon
followed by another of a very extraordinary nature . The Irish Catholics have , as is natural for persons in their situation , been very desirous of regaining their
civil rights , and for that purpose frequently petitioned parliament for catholic emancipation . The management of these petitions has be en vested in a committee at
Dublin , which intending to renew their application this sessions thought to improve their cause from a number' of " petitions from all parts of the country * On a sudden an alarm was excited
throughout the whole kingdom by the appearance of an order issued to . all magistrates to prevent the jneefirigs of Catholics , and to en-
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force an act of p&rliamerit , which had passed some years back , against all who had or might take part in these petitions . Its com . ing out so soon after the Regent eame into office seemed very extraordinary , and the ministers were questioned on the subject in
both Houses of Parliament , when , to the surprise of all , it appeared that they' were ignorant of the measure , till the orders were brought to thena ^ and that the whole proceeded from the administration on the other side of the
water . It seemed strange ^ that a matter of so great magnitude should have been carried into execution without the previous consultation of the cabinet , and the alarm was natural for the state
of the sister island * How far it may be justified we must leave to time to discover , but every rea « sonable and Christian mirxd must regret , that religious differences should require such a , species of coercion , and that the whole dis .
pute was not set at rest by . general toleration . Our fleets ahd armies are filled with Catholics , and we hear of no dissentions in them on account of religion ,-and if it were not made a matter of civil
interference , and all religious tests and incapacities were removed , the peace and happiness of the kingdom would be improved . We fear that this measure will be
attended with unhappy consequences ; it will keep up religious feuds and animosities , which in a time marked by the conciliatory spirit shewn by the Catholics in
kingdoms , where they have the power , towards the P rotestants , points out in how small a degree the principles of our Lord and Saviour 'p revail among those who
