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    not attended with success , but its failure was owing more t

    disappointed the hopes of every good Christian in Europe , would at present operate favourably . For what interest can England now have , which is opposed to such a union , and what nation or church in the universe can

    have stronger motives for desiring it than Great Britain , if by it she could preserve her Church Establishment , perfect her internal policy , and secure her external dominion ?

    The time ia favourable ; for the Government is powerful and at peace ; the Pope is powerless and anxious to conciliate ; the Irish Catholics are wearied and fatigued * exceedingly desirous of repose ; the established

    religion is almost frittered away , and the monarchy , a thing unprecedented in a Christian state , is left in one country with only the staff of the Church , to use an expression of Mr * Hume ' s , ami in the otiier with less

    than a moiety of the people attached ta the hierarchy . Add to this the improvement of men ' s minds during the last century , the light and liberality Which distinguish the present , the revival of Christian piety since the

    overthrow of the French Revolution , and the disposition of even' religious disputants to conciliate and explain . In Ireland , I am confident that , notwithstanding the ferment which now prevails , a proposition , such a » you have made , if adored by Govern-_ __ _ . ^ — . »_ __ I ¦ ¦_ _ ' ¦ _ __^ . . ^ r ¦ B __ t _ .-. __ _ »_ Mm . __ - _ L ^ , inentwould be embraced

    _ _ _ , heartily . The Clergy of the Establishment are unpopular , and they feel it ; they are without flocks , and every professional man wishes for employment ; their property is attacked , and even endangered , for the State has touched it , and the people have no respect for it . The l ) issenters have encroached on

    them ; and the Catholic Clergy have despoiled them , in many places , of their flocks . The Catholic Laity , as I before mentioned , are tired of their degradation ; they are wearied in pursuit of freedom ; they love their

    country , and are anxious for repose ^ Their Clergy , without , I believe , ah exception , Would make every possible sacrifice le effect a union ; I myself would moftt cheerfully , and without

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    fee , pension , emolument , or hope , resign the office which I hoM , if by doing so , I could in any Way contri - bute tp the union of my brethren and the happiness of my country . The proprietors and capitalists in Ireland , are affected at the prospect which lies before them , and are , if not blind to self-interest as well as dead to patriotism , anxious to establish peace and security amongst us . The Government has no interest in preserving disunion , unless for the purpose of securing its power ; and should it find an honourable and safe

    substitute for so detestable and precarious a system , it would be blind end besotted if it did not embrace if . The King who rules over us is liberal , wise and enlightened , beyond any of his predecessors ; and as he is the head of the State , so he has been foremost through life in bestowing bis royal countenance and support on whatever could contribute to the ho *

    nour of religion , to the good of his subjects , or to the glory of his reign . Whatever , then , time and circumstances can contribute to a great and good undertaking , seems now to favour a project for the union of Chris * tians too long divided . Had they been so favourable in the sixteenth

    century , the separation which has produced such numberless calamities , would certainly have been prevented . It may not become so humble an individual as I am to hint even at a plan for effecting so great a purpose as the union of Catholics and

    Protestants m one great family of Christians ; but as the difficulty does not appear to me to be at all proportioned to the magnitude of the object to be attained , I would presume to state , that if Protestant and Catholic

    divines of learning , and a conciliatory character , were summoned by the Crown , to ascertain the points of agreement and difference between the Churches , and that the result of their conferences were made the basis of a projet to be treated on between the heads of the Church of Rome and of

    England , the result might be more favourable than at present would be anticipated . The chief points to be discussed are , the Canon of tKe Sacred Scriptures , Faith , Justification , the Mass , the Sacraments , the Authority of

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    388 Ltitetftom Dt . DoyU on tha State af Ireland and the Irish Church *

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1824, page 388, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2526/page/4/