With the firmest reliance on your brilliant exertions in promoting the measure we have so much at heart for the advantage of society in this kingdom, and with due deference to your instructions in conducting it on our parts, we have the honour to remain, etc.
Dublin, 2nd February, 1795.
Signed by eighteen Prelates.
✠ John Thomas Troy, of Dublin.
✠ Thomas Bray, of Cashel.
✠ Francis Moylan, of Cork.
✠ Gerard Teahan, of Kerry.
✠ Wm. Coppinger, of Cloyne and Ross.
✠ James Caulfield, of Ferns.
✠ Daniel Delany, of Kildare and Leighlin.
✠ Dominick Bellew, of Killala.
✠ Edmund Trench, of Elphin.
✠ Richard O'Reilly, of Armagh.
✠ Boetius Egan, of Tuam.
✠ P. J. Plunkett, of Meath.
✠ Hugh O'Reilly, of Clogher.
✠ Matt. Lennan, of Dromore.
✠ John Cruise, of Ardagh.
✠ M'Mullen, of Down and Connor.
✠ Charles O'Reilly, Coadjutor of Kilmore.
✠ Dillon, Coadjutor of Kilfenora and Kilmacduagh.
II.
LETTER OF CARDINAL ANTONELLI TO THE ARCHBISHOPS OF IRELAND IN 1791 REGARDING THE CHANGE IN THE CONSECRATION OATH OF BISHOPS.
Per-illustres Et Reverendissimi Domini Uti Fratres,
Ex literis vestris sub die 17 Novembris anni 1789 scriptis summopere Vos commoveri intelleximus, quod cum in lucem prodierit quidam libellus a Pseudo-Episcopo Cloynensi conscriptus, De praesenti Statu Ecclesiae, occasionem inde ceperint obtrectatores nostri, veteris calumniae adversus Catholicam Religionem acrius refricandae nullo scilicet, modo posse hanc, salva Regum, ac Rerumpublicarum incolumitate, consistere. Cum enim, inquiunt, Romanus Pontifex omnium Catholicorum Pater ac Magister sit, ac tanta praeditus auctoritate, ut alienorum Regnorum subditos a fide, ac Sacramento Regibus ac principibus praestito relaxare possit, eumdem facili negotio turbas ciere, ac publicae regnorum tranquillitati nocere posse propugnant.
Miramur his vos querelis turbari potuisse, cum praesertim praeclarissimus iste Frater vester, et consors Apostolici muneris Archiepiscopus Caselliensis, aliique strenui jurium Apostolicae Sedis Defensores maledica ista convicia egregiis scriptis refutarint plane ac diluerint. Quid igitur proderit, novam nunc quemadmodum petitis, edi ab hac Apostolica Sede declarationem, ut sua jura tueatur, explicet, atque a criminationibus vindicet? Nihil hoc esset aliud, quam adversus ipsammet Catholicam Fidem novos excitare hostes. Ea enim est hujus nostri temporis improborum hominum mens, atque animus, ut dum certare se simulant adversus Apostolicae Sedis jura, contra ipsam tamen Fidem intentant aciem, eamque unitatem, quam Catholicae universi Orbis Ecclesiae cum Apostolica Petri Cathedra firmissime retinent, convellere, ac labefactare conantur.