And again, how many you have had who notoriously have been without
any religion at all?

Why are you to suppose that eligibility and election are the same
thing, and that all the cabinet WILL be Catholics whenever all the
cabinet MAY be Catholics? You have a right, you say, to suppose an
extreme case, and to argue upon it--so have I: and I will suppose
that the hundred Irish members will one day come down in a body and
pass a law compelling the King to reside in Dublin. I will suppose
that the Scotch members, by a similar stratagem, will lay England
under a large contribution of meal and sulphur: no measure is
without objection if you sweep the whole horizon for danger; it is
not sufficient to tell me of what may happen, but you must show me a
rational probability that it will happen: after all, I might,
contrary to my real opinion, admit all your dangers to exist; it is
enough for me to contend that all other dangers taken together are
not equal to the danger of losing Ireland from disaffection and
invasion.

I am astonished to see you, and many good and well-meaning clergymen
beside you, painting the Catholics in such detestable colours; two-
thirds, at least, of Europe are Catholics--they are Christians,
though mistaken Christians; how can I possibly admit that any sect
of Christians, and, above all, that the oldest and the most numerous
sect of Christians are incapable of fulfilling the common duties and
relations of life: though I do differ from them in many
particulars, God forbid I should give such a handle to infidelity,
and subscribe to such blasphemy against our common religion?

Do you think mankind never change their opinions without formally