I, John Synnott, parish priest of Gorey, mentioned, or sup posed to be mentioned, in a form of affidavit, said to have been made by John Higginbottom, and published in a pamphlet entitled, Observations on the Reply of the Right Rev. Doctor Caulfield, &c. Dublin, printed by Marchbank, 1802, and supposed to be written by Sir Richard Musgrave, Bart. feeling myself criminally and falsely charged therein, deem it a duty to the public and myself to do away, so far as in me lies, the unfavourable impression which the mistatements of the publisher are calculated to make to the prejudice of my bishop and of the Roman Catholic ministry in general, do make the following solemn declaration: In the awful presence of Almighty God, the sovereign judge of the living and the dead, I do solemnly declare, that I was not in Gorey during the battle of Arklow; that I was not in D'Arcy's house on that day; and that I did not see the deponent, John Higginbottom, during the battle of Arklow, or on that whole day; that I did not any where take out or shew Redmond the letter referred to in the said affidavit, setting forth how long I was concerned in the business (rebellion), and that though I stood against it as long as I could, I was compelled by the bishop to it; that I never expressed or used such words, or others of similar tendency attributed to me; nor these....there are some people now lashed round hell with an iron flail, words which I never heard of until I read them in the alleged affidavit of Higginbottom. I also declare in same manner, that I could not shew any letter of the import alluded to above, because I never received from my bishop, Right Rev. Doctor Caulfield, any letter, tending to sedition, turbulence, or rebellion; on the contrary, I received several letters from him, in the course of the year, before the rebellion, and in the beginning of that very year until he was called to Dublin, directing and ordering me and the other clergy of the district, to use our utmost endeavours to impress on our flocks respectively the sinfulness of unlawful oaths, of all combinations or conspiracies, and unlawful meetings, tending to sedition, turbulence, or disturbance of the public peace and tranquillity, and that such had been the Doctor's constant theme whenever he personally met his clergy, uniformly on such occasions, and by circular letters, declaring that any Roman Catholic, who did not conduct himself conformably to these instructions, was absolutely disqualified, and could not be admitted to sacraments; that loyalty to our king, and submission to his government, were indispensable Christian duties, and that no one can be a good Christian, who is not a good subject. VOL. V. How or why that supposed affidavit without date, has not made its appearance in public till this late period, is not easily accounted for, or how it could have so long eluded the diligence of the compiler of the memoirs: but let the candid public compare it with what I have now truly set forth, (which I am ready to declare on oath in any court) and with the following affidavits made by the very men stated to have been present, when the subject matter of Higginbottom's affidavit occurred, and let them or any man of common sense judge of its authenticity, and how far it tends to criminate the conduct of Dr. Caulfield, and Reverend Father Kavanagh, so often mentioned in those memoirs, published by Sir Richard Musgrave. Gorey, 4th Nov. 1802. JOHN SYNNOTT, p. p. I. Matthew D'Arcy, late of Gorey, sweareth on the Holy Evangelists, that he lived in Gorey the day of the battle of Arklow; that he remembers John Higginbottom to have been in his house that day in company with John Rossiter, of Gorey, has no recollection of Rev. John Synnott, or Rev. Francis Kavanagh, to have been in his house, or in Higginbottom's company on that day; and positively denies to have not seen or heard any thing of the letter spoken of in Higginbottom's affidavit; and further saith, that his affidavit is made at the request of the Rev. John Synnott, of the county Wexford. HUGH TREVOR. Dublin, June 15th, 1802. MATTHEW D'ARCY. II. John Redmond, late of Kilkavin, in the county of Wexford, maketh oath on the Holy Evangelists, that the Rev. John Synnott never shewed him any such letter from his bishop, nor ever used any such expressions in his hearing, as stated in John Higginbottom's affidavit, and that he, John Redmond, was as far distant from Gorey as Kilkavin, which is three miles, from the commencement of the battle of Arklow until the day following; and further saith, that this affidavit is made at the request of the Rev. John Synnott, of the county Wexford. Sworn before me this 15th day of June, 1802. HUGH TREVOR. JOHN REDMOND. III. County of Wexford to Wit....The Rev. Patrick Stafford, of Clonsilla, in said county, priest, came before me one of the justices of the peace for said county, and made his voluntary oath on the Holy Evangelists, that on the day of the battle of Arklow, the Rev. John Synnott, P. P. was in company with him; and that during the continuance of the battle they were not in Gorey, or within a mile of it; and further saith, that this affidavit is made at the request of said John Synnott. Sworn before me 18th June, 1802. ANNESLEY BROWNRIGG. PATRICK STAFFORD. IV. County of Wexford to Wit..... John Rosseter, of Gorey, saddler of said county, came before me one of the justices of the peace for said county, and made his voluntary oath on the Holy Evangelists, and saith, that on the battle day of Arklow, in the late rebellion, he did not see the Rev. John Synnott, the Rev. Francis Kavanagh, or John Redmond of Kilkavin, at Matthew D'Arcey's, or any other house in Gorey, or any other place on said day; and further, he had never seen the Rev. John Synnott hand a letter to John Redmond, or say he had any orders from his bishop, or any other person to act in that business; and further declare, that he never used such expressions in his hearing as is stated in John Higginbottom's affidavit. Sworn before me this 19th day of June, 1802. This affidavit was made at the request of the Rev. John Synnott. JAMES WHITE. No. CXVI. a. JOHN ROSSEter. A LIST OF THE MEMBERS WHO VOTED AGAINST AND FOR AN UNION WITH GREAT BRITAIN, ON THE 24TH OF JANUARY, 1799....PAGE 33 AND 138. The following gentlemen voted against the Union. Hon. A. Acheson (1) Jonah Barrington W. C. Alcock J. C. Beresford Arthur Browne Lord Visc. Corry (1) Lord Cole (1) James Cane rald ton Sir Francis Hopkins Hon. G. Knox Richard Power (1) ger [111] The following are those who voted for an Union. Rt. Hon. J. Corry St. George Daly A. Ferguson Hon. W. Forward Col. B. Henniker Peter Holmes William Smith Sir H. Langrishe (2) son H. Dillon Massey Hon. F. Hutchinson Stephen Moor Hon. J. Hutchinson Right Hon. Lodge Morres Henry M. Sandford Sir Rich. Musgrave [106] Thus marked (1), country members. COPY OF A LETTER FROM DR. CAULFIELD TO JAMES BOYD, ESQ. SIR, WITH equal surprise and concern I have lately been told, that it is whispered about, you have many grievous charges against me as many as would hang fifty men. If this report be founded in truth, conscious innocence presses me to request, and I expect from your candour, that you will have the goodness to let me know it; for I do not, nor will I skulk, or fly from justice, or the laws. I shall be here, or in the neighbourhood, openly and ready to answer any legal or fair call: I hope |