O'Callaghan. I am astonished at the madness of the Catholic clergy
in not perceiving that Catholic emancipation is Catholic infidelity;
that to entangle their people in the intrigues of a Protestant
parliament, and a Protestant court, is to ensure the loss of every
man of fashion and consequence in their community. The true receipt
for preserving their religion, is Mr. Perceval's receipt for
destroying it: it is to deprive every rich Catholic of all the
objects of secular ambition, to separate him from the Protestant,
and to shut him up in his castle with priests and relics.

We are told, in answer to all our arguments, that this is not a fit
period--that a period of universal war is not the proper time for
dangerous innovations in the constitution: this is as much as to
say, that the worst time for making friends is the period when you
have made many enemies; that it is the greatest of all errors to
stop when you are breathless, and to lie down when you are fatigued.
Of one thing I am quite certain: if the safety of Europe is once
completely restored, the Catholics may for ever bid adieu to the
slightest probability of effecting their object. Such men as hang
about a court not only are deaf to the suggestions of mere justice,
but they despise justice; they detest the word RIGHT; the only word
which rouses them is PERIL; where they can oppress with impunity,
they oppress for ever, and call it loyalty and wisdom.

I am so far from conceiving the legitimate strength of the Crown
would be diminished by these abolitions of civil incapacities in
consequence of religious opinions, that my only objection to the
increase of religious freedom is, that it would operate as a
diminution of political freedom; the power of the Crown is so
overbearing at this period, that almost the only steady opposers of