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II. H. J.
Calvert
Paper
No. 735
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And we doubt not but the Roman Catholicks will on considering
the words think, there is not the least Occasion of Offence given to
themselves: Our Words are these Viz. In such Circumstances
however fortunate and safe the Roman Catholicks or Persons nearly
attached to them or their Interests might imagine themselves &c We
do not expressly or implicitly by these Words charge the Roman
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p. 40
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Catholicks with any ill Action or Intention; but the plain Meaning
is, that it is very reasonable to suppose Persons of that Communion
and sincerely Zealous for their Religion (which is with such always
preferred to every Earthly Consideration) would think themselves
more fortunate and easy if their Religion was established here, th6
even by a Conquest of this Province by the French, than any true
Protestant could think himself in such a Situation; Had Roman
Catholicks of such like Principles as have often been discovered in
Plots against Our King and Mother Country, or any Persons known
for Disobedience or rebellious Opposition to Our present glorious
and happy Establishment in the House of Hannover given us the
same Assurance, as you have done, of the Inclination as well as
Power of the Roman Catholicks not to disturb the Peace or Safety
of the Province under the present Circumstances of an impending
War with France, and an Actual One with a Roman Catholick
Prince who avowedly cherishes the Pretender and his Adherents, We
could readily have accounted for such Declarations by imputing them
to the usual Policy of endeavouring to draw us into a fatal Opinion of
Security: But to have such Assurances from a Lower House of As-
sembly composed of Protestants and Loyal Subjects to his Majesty
and true Friends to the Hannover Succession is really very unac-
countable: The Parliament of Great Britain has been always so
far from vouching for the Conduct of the Roman Catholicks at any
time, and much less in the time of War with Princes of that Com-
munion that the strictest Watch has been always had over them &
their Actions, and even since our present War with Spain it appears
by the Publick Prints in November last, that upon an Address of the
House of Commons of Ireland a Proclamation was published by the
Lord Lieutenant to seize all Arms Armour and Ammunition in the
Possession of any Papist or reputed Papist: These Particulars we
mention to satisfy you, that although we have not a less good Opin-
ion than yourselves of the Roman Catholicks in this Province and
of many in England in what relates to private Life, and even to many
Actions in Publick Life, yet We dare not answer for their Conduct
in any Affair where the Establishment of their Religion may come
into Question
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p. 41
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We hope you are already convinced of Our being in earnest to
encourage the Levies directed by his Majesty, and we own Ourselves
not sharp sighted enough to see the Contradiction, which seems to
you in Our Offer of Part of the Fund for Arms &c. for we say, the
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