9d.
About the close of August was passed the Charitable Bequest Act, against the indignant remonstrances of the priesthood and Catholic population of Ireland.

This Bill was obnoxious in all it's provisions, but the enactment which was received with most scorn was the clause that annulled a Catholic charitable bequest, unless it had been duly made six months at least before the decease of the testator.

The prohibition was attributed to an insulting assumption that the Catholic clergymen abused their influence over dying penitents, for sacerdotal or religious, if not for personal aggrandisement, and the impeachment was repelled with bitter execrations.

Others objected to the Bill on grounds involving more alarming considerations.

They regarded it as the first infringement on the liberty of the Catholic Church--the first criminal attempt to fetter her free action and sow dissent among her prelates and priests.
The Repeal Association offered, from the beginning, its undivided, unqualified and indeed vehement opposition.