The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1808-06-18 00:00:00

1)1 01 01 IT • 0 a 1 1 1 1 • • !4 • • 1 0 1 , • . .., Steed an unfortunate and deep-tooted pee l prevail, so far as to ma k e unto sa y , decided y ensl, openly, that we will not believe a Catholic. even. upsii his oath—there iv an vnd, my Lords, of the. discussion at once. But the a rgnment,if argument. it can be celled, proves a greet deal too much, and. for this plaiu reason—uo tibligatiou more binding than thater lei appeal to theSu?reine Being. hy an oath, has hitherto 11.:cii devised in civil society.— Tie, therefore, who can justly be. supposed capable of setting at nought such an obligation. upon any pretence whatsoever, is not only unworthy of the privileges here contended for, but he is unfit for all social ieterconrse of every kind: retaho sub iiarkis sit trabibus.—airsh and horrid us the expression must sound in your Lordships' ears, he ought to be exterminated from the face of the earth ; ay a elesut be should be banished for life to Botany Bay; and even. when arrived there, he should be driven back into the sea ; for there is no den of thieves, so gang of robbers, no banditti so tho roughly profligate, and at the same time eo devoid of common underetimiling , as to admit that man a member of their community. upon whose titlehty In his engagements no reliance con be placed even for a siugte .hour. I cove now to the second ob kctiou my answer to which will be ver y eliort.— Civil a nd military appointirieuts are, it seems, mat ters of favour, not of right, and, therefore. the i e e tholics hive no just meow to eOlllOllll that y are e x c luded from them. I can hardly , my rib, conceive any mini itt earnest aho regards this distinetioa as applicable to the presesvz case, .bacissese no one pleads for an abstract right to these situatiesos. bat for a capacity of holding them. No one contends for ties absiedute possiessioe of civil and military . 01E44, hot for equal eligiu:lity to them; end naviug endeavtiured to prove tirv. all use, are equally eligible, who give to the Govern ment under which they live such a security, upon oath, (or their conduct as lielijects, as that. Govern ment itself prescribes, and who maintain 110 °pl.. 111011$ destructive of moral obligation, or sabverenve of civil society, I shall may add here, that they are so consider ed to be in almost all the Govern ments of Europe, and over the whole Coutinent ef America; and 1 shall be sorry to see England the last to follow so good en example. ' But it is inex pedient,' we are told, 'to repeal statutes which pre passed with much del ! w ration, and are consi dered by many us the bulwarks of the Constitution in Church and State! flow long, my Lords, it may be thought expedient, or necessary, that the reninining part of these r estietive disqualifying statutes should be ens ,recd against the Catholics, or at what precise period tlfeir operations shall en I, is a question. not for a Divide, but fur Lawyers and . Statesmeu to decide. I may, however , be per mitted to obsenv, that ander any Governm ent, however free, though peculiar circumstances ruby, perhaps, call for statutes of a very strict, and even of a very severe nature, for a limited period of time ; yet no wise statesmen would, I iinegete, wish these statutes to remain unrepealed a moment after the circumstances which occasioned them cease to exist. Those who are acquainted with the history of the statutes hers alluded to, and of the times in which they passed, will anticipate my application of this remark ; the application of it is. indeed, made for me by a very eminent lawyer, and e very asedial friend to the Ecclesiastical, es well as to the Civil Constitution of this realm. This able writer observes, more then since in his Commentaries, that ' whenever the period shall arrive when the rawer of the Pope is weak and insiguiticant, and there is no Pretender to the Throne, that thea will be time tolerant full indulgence to the Catho les! That time. my Lords, is now come ; there is aI Pretender to the Throne ; and, with respect to the Papal Power, not a single person present ap ds, I am thoroughly persuaded. any stranger. T r rO t at ir rt. In trut'i, that mice gigantic power • arapi, stet norsimis umbra,' and nothing more. Vl'here then cam be the o yection to granting the Petitioit of the Catholics • Leland ? A Petition foundes we the immutable pauciples of reason and of jus tice; a Petition also which worldly policy lucidly calls upon us to accede to in the present very serious crisis ; a crisis which demands the urim o(the wise and brave, of every description, and of every deeo mination; that cordial union, I mean, which is most aso uredly the best s upport, and indeed the only secure bulwark of every Government upon earth. It is notiecessary to add, that an anion of this kind can be obtained only by confidence and isenriliation. But if worldly policy did not thus letedly call upon us. a principle of gratitude should IMO aa to pay all the attention in our sower to these asiseross, loyal, and respectable petitioners, to whoa we are, in a great measure, indebted, f.r tbe noblest monument of wisdom and beueficence combined, which modern lima have scum. I mean the Cuien of Ireland with England—au Union which, without their cordial co-operation, could waver have been effected. In reply to these obses lakier, which appear to inc to curry some weight wi.ll them, there. ere souse who maintauethat,if there mgas as ether o tneetion, the words of the COlJtlee ion Oath preheat an itemperable bar to the claims of the Catbolies of Ireland. Of all the argu ments, Ise : : Lords, which either principle or preju dice has s ogge.e.cil„ or which imagination has started, there is not one which appeavi to me to revt upon so we..k a f o undation, as that which is built upon the cords of the Coronation Oath. This smith, as pour IM Ps all knowoinder *ad some alteration at the period of the Bevolu tom in hied, at which period that great Prince, Wiliiatu the Third, entered tato the following *G lenn) inigageosent when he ascended the Thome of this kiiloin :—• I will inaletain the laws of God, the true ir profesoion of the Galosh and tbe Reform oil Protestant Church, established e nem y ; Dart ad .• .1 will preserve to the Bishops and y i riedin, and to the churches committed to their 1 c l i nrge all such rid and privileges. at, by law, do, ur 'shall apperiAin unto theta, or ally of them.' If, my Lords, even intelligent and honest men were not sometimes disposed to adept any mode of reasoisiag. however weak, which coinci les with their preironesived ideas upon a subject, it would be no easy imam' to find ou.. upon whet principle of fair elonstructiou, the words, which I hive just reiseetel from the Coronation Oath, can he thought to militate asai not the claim.; of the Cstiiiiiies of Ireland. It well not, I triist, Ise said, for lem sure it elintbibt lie proved, that it is either repug meat to the taws of tied, or to the unconfiaed and benevolent tendency of the Gospel, or to those liberal and euligAiteued principles upon which the reforinatiou was founded ; to: admit to eituufwais of honour, or of profit, in the State, men of ta lents, and of virtue, to ahem no objection van IN's eddy be made, but their apeetilative op' ! of merely a religious maitre. Nor can I eisuceiveNiii what manner the rights and privile , .;:w of the bi shops and Clergy of this realm, or of the Churches committed to their charge, can be of by granting civil and military appointments to men. cordially devoted to the Civil Constitution, and who have solemnly declared, upon oath, that it is neither their intention or their wish to injure or disturb the Ecclesiastical. For my own part, my ! Lords, as an individual Clergyman of the Church of England. sincerely attached to the Established Church, and proud of the situation which L bold in it, I should be exceedingly sorry if I could think. for 14 moment that I possessed any rights or privileges incompatible with the just claims of so many ex cellent subjects end conscientious fellow-christitins. Be it however admitted, my Lords, that the words of the Coronation Oath will bear the construc tion which has been put upon them ; I wish to ask where was the objection drawn from this oath. when, in l7ni, so many indulgencies were wisely and justly granted ta the Catholics of Ire land ? Indulgences precisely of the same kind, though differing in degree from those which are now .petitioned for. But I forbear to push this argument any further ; various considerations restrain me : and perhaps enough has been said, to !wove that the words of the Coronation Oath have been iiiindvised%r and inconrlu-ively brought forward, during the discussion of that im portant question, which has etigivgl.l the attention of the public for more than three years. I will now detain your Lordships no longer ; indeed. I should not hove presumed to intrude so long upon your patience, had 1 not thought it incumbent upon ms to assign the best reasons in my power for differing so widely from those around me. whose judgment I respect. though 1 cannot im plicitly bowls it against the clearest conviction of my understanding, and the b est feelin g s of my Mort." IMPEnrifL PARLIAMENT. House or LORDS--FagoAT, Jame 17, Mr. Clarke finished his reply in the Roxburgh Appeal Came spoil a competition of Brieves , o n behalf of Mr. Beimudes Kerr, alien it was ordered by the House, that the Agents for the three parties concerned in this Appeal, appear , M their Lordships' bar, tomorrow, at three o'clock, alien the House would eomader of the best means to be adopted .is suspect to the muse, bef o re the Committee of privileges. The Lunatic Pauper Bill and the Loon Bill were maul a thirst thee. The F.echequer Bills' Bill sad the Irish Loan Bill were read a secoad time. The Irish Malt Doty Bill, and the Auditors' Franking Bill, passed through Committees, and were reported without say ansendsorut. The Report lathe Barrack Property Bill easel*" received. Mr. Rosa. Mr. WILIZTON, Mr. Illet.t.lsm, and others, from the House of Comnsous, baciusht he t ' the Pilot Kerala ties Bill, the Breed Trade Bill, the British t ishery Bill, and the !Promissory Notes Bill, which were laid upon the table, maimed a tint time. Mr. BOUIRPM preweated Papers frees the bustyHet% which were ordered to be laid upon the table. Atter some isloservatioas from the Earl orLku- DEUDALK and the Loan CRANCELLOR, the Teinds Augmentation Bill was read a second time. _ ____ DROITS OF THE ADMIRALTY. The Earl of Su Fro I.IL rose to make his promised motion iu respect to the Deere, of the Admiralty, observed, - he was not in the habit of troubling their Lordships in regard to any subject which he might think proper to present to their attention. Previous to the present, he had taken several op portunities of making inquiries relative to the M appropriation of the JA., of the Admiralty, the amount of which now in the bends of the Crown was certainly greater than it had been at any former 4seriod. hems highly important, as he had again and again stated en former occasions. that the peo rot:v:l:lns country should know what was likely to of the property now vested in the Crown, and accruing from the seizure of the Danish pro perty. Count Stehremberg, before his departure, had said, that unless the Danish property was restored,he had audio:wit, from his Court tunny that no peace on the part of Europe could possibly take place with this country. No reflection could be more melan choly than the event of this tramactioil ; it had disgraced the English character in the eyes of the continent ; and when he recollected the marble of Great Brits's, in respect to the seizure of the Spanish frigates, when • Nellie Lard who sat near him (Holland) was compelled to leave that country, it impressed upon his mind, how much were beneficial it might have been for the suc cess of our warfare with France, and our situation in respect to the Spanish fleet at Cadiz, if our behaviour at that time lied Lean more honourable. adore that period, the name of an Enshsuan was& purport through every province of t ha t king dom, hut afterwards our character sunk, Cr o wn came almost despised. Indeed, if the without ally inquiry on the part of the public, were permitted to devote this money, particularly such an enormous sum, to its own purpose% he conceived it possible for an Administration to coin -111• rice and protract a war foe the objectof plunder which might he gained from the enemy in this way. On ibis groilad the public anxiety was justly rinsed. awl they haul a right to consider this question of the greatest importance. In the present reign we might have n othing to apprehend, but still it was extraordinary, tip it no answer had been returned to the frequent inquiries made respecting the appro priation of this tummy. During the reign of that unpzioripled Monarch. Charles the Second. Whose being pensioned by the French King, justly entitled him to be rolled an unprincipled Monarch, such sums of money 'might have been disposed of in the most unconstitutional manner. The A:nerican or: proilaced to the Crown a vast accession of this property, hut he believed only a certain por tion was a?plirit to its own use. Perhaps the an swer returned by the Noble Secretary opposite would he, that the amount of the property taken from the Danes was not yet ascertained. but he thought the amount must have been kimono, by its having heels eetimatnd at a inillini, and a half. llowevez, the public satiety had been a euSeient sult. Itowever Iltat may lie, it would lie policy tan our pert to ororala fur the aunt, and consular in what situation le•laiel traiiiil i.. vested, if time ene my bot•alue . poseeseel itf every 1 -art in Seal') awl Poi tu gal. lie ineutimeril this, only for the pur pose at intitnetino his seatiniente iii respect to the ,iefenee of Irelaiel. 111 TeA:ll*.l to the measure befure tie• !louse, he lied 0e!..• to repeat, that it met with Lis 111..4 0 1 1 111:11111111e0101t1011. The Earl of e l 01R A 16H1.1. 60 iii the present state of affairs, et cry eie.ii,• %death could prod lltrt. :: ~;itHt. er defenve of the reining, was one of tia !nest nu• portant of measures. Cut he did not feel disposed to give that unqualified ,reprohation which hail hem expressed by the Noble Cool (kliirkinghanislare) on the Cross Bench. NVliicaver 'night be the me re of a Once to he raised iii this a ay, he could not believe that it would easily become as efficient, or as well disciplined, as the Volittiteers. lie laid a particular op portunity of witnessing their zeal and good discipl ine when he was in Scotland. 'fliers w ight be slime defect in regar d to their offi cers, but he would say, from what he witnessed in that comitty, of their high spirit and martial discipline, under all jealousy which lie might be disposed to possess for his own character as a Ge neral, he would Hi 5000 have put !ourself at the head of thew, Volunteers, us of any disciplined body of men whatever. It might be said, tea LOCAL MILITIA BILL. the vuluntnere of the south of Englund were Upon the Order of the Day beige; read, that the not equally, as those of the North, to be relied Joust , go IMO a Committee upon this Bill, upon, as un efficient force. lie did not be- Lord II AWitESSURY new, and stated the nature lieve it was so; but supposing it, fur the sake of of the measure which hail been brought before that argument, how could this difference arise but Irmo House, fur the better defence of the country. lie some inattention to their discipline? Those of the conceived that what he might be disposed to state South were animated by tiw seine zeal, were en upon this occasion would not occupy a great psi- gorged in the same cause, for their liberties and tion of their Lordships' time, and the explarietion their country ; gull if a proper appeal were made of the Bill itself would be contiited Within concise to them, there was not one man but would submit and narrow bounderier. It was a measure which to every regulation neve-retry to discipline. He did had met with the general approbatioe of all parts not intend to oppose the present measure, but he of this kingdom, aud, be believed, of all classes of must say, that wore attention ought to have been people. It would raise six times the number of paid to the volunteer spawn, ohicli, if it bad been exe the old militia, and would become a useful forte, tended, would have been a more efficient one to the either is time of war or peace. The origiu of the country. 'the observation of the Noble Secretary volunteer system would he well recollected, and at (Ilaskesbury) was in his mind unwarranted, when. the time that force was formed, it was one of the he described the deficiency of the volunteers, by best which could be possiby adopted ;it was raised saying, that tins zeal which produced them was the in a time also of emergency, and roused by the enthusiasm of the moment. Now, he must spy. laudable enthusiasm of the moment. But still that be grievously wronged the volunteers: the a more preeminent system was wanted in the sam e zeal an d patr i o ti s m w hi c h first embodied present circumstances of this empire; and he them in their country's cause, stilt continued to conceived that permanency particularly pro- fine their souls; and be was coatidelit'would dis vided in this force of a local militia. Still, in play itself in the hour of danger. He thought the respect to the former system of defending the coun- volunteer a better force than that of a local mi try •by its volunteers, it was not that measure litia ; he did not cnut:eive that the discipline of the which, in the present instance, they cotild act latter -.could equal the former, neither would they upon practically ; but there was uo wish or desire be composed of men so likely to display a manly to make any shock in the volunteer system. Their zeal in defence of their country, sad he was sorry Lordship might be inclined to tiniii, that the old they should be substituted for the volunteers. Ello militia principle would have answered all the per- could not agree with the Noble Earl (Bucking poses of defence, by extending it much further : hatnehire) that the right did mist of balling out but he be ieved it would be found impracticable to the whole people of the realm, and compelling extend that principle, if a duo attention should be them to bear arms at the pleasure of the Crown, paid to our regular army. The plan now tendered wthout the intert e re nce of Parliament ; if it did, to the consideration of that House had been par- there would be an cud of all our liberties as Eng ticularly approved of by that great statesman now lishinen. no more ; and in a conversation with that distal), Lord Havvaususe rose to explain. He said ho 'united character, while in administration, he did loot wish it to be understood that he Theylea cast heard him express, that he truly f elt the value of the smallest reflection upon the volunteers. that priuciple by which men might be arm e d and were entitled to the prunes , the throats. and doe disciplined in the way of the present intended gratitude of every menus this country. When too wanner. Under these eircumstancea, he offered used the word " withusiasm," he meant in that way it to the House, not taking upon himself to say, which would allow every oaken. be laudably wee but that in an undertaking of so great magnitude, eidetic in defence of the kittgdom. ' fie ekrtainly there might be some objection totems of the Bill i did not express himself, nor did he mean,that the but taking it as the best national force which could l ama ' Militia s h ou ld b e sgbstituted'in the place of be provided to act as a regular woe, he thought it th e v o l un te e :es. must matt with the approbation of every man de- Lord Hoeeetero--" My Lords, to do justice to sirous to pay attention to his country's cause. the Noble Secretary, the Noble Earl (Moira) a ili There might be exceptions, but this tneaeure would give me leave to cheery', that I think the term "sub have a gradual tendency to arm and discipline the stitution" was not made use of by him in the early whole kingdom. It would be better dna an armed part of the debate, and that it was perhaps an in- PeasantrY •in twi n made liable to complete midi- cornet way of representing the N oble Secretar t 's Lary regala.ions. It would be ready for the pin- statement. But still. if we look to the coase pose of co-operating with our army, if the enemy piens-es which mast result from this or any other should ever make a landing upon our thorn ; and measure so opposite to that of the voiunteer st s it would produce men in the field, animated by the I tem, they must produce what might be termed a same seal which roused every patriotic soldier. In i substitution in point of fact. I .I'4ll state to your times of peace it would not be discontinued, and i Lordships, in as short a meaner an possviblotee, ito th the ose it might be woefully employed ia aiding the civil rea.rions which dispose me to give my power, and would also have a tendency to preserve Ivey I shall do upon the present question. One the ace. and tranquillity of this kingdom. Noble Lord has given his hearty approbation to The Earl of SeLltrue spoke at ,cousideralde the measure, another has given it under centre' length. lie slid not conceive that the Volunteer I qualitii•ations ; but, my Lords, I shall give an system was an efficient one. nor did he approve al- unq ualified opposition to the present. mcwoures together of the present measure. The institution At the same time that this measure is in oppo itself would be brought into degradation, by sition to the Volunteer system, it is more con h souant its atfierding exemption to the hiter classes, t o m y f e elings upoe this subject. Wen the through the means of that part of t he Bill which Noble Secrete.) , applied his (doer tatioas to the permitted a certain fine to be paid in lien of !per- difference between the !,resent Bil t and the volunteer aortal service.. Now, it certainly would be the case, system, lie said no more than what had been set that all persons of rank would Pa) . this fine ra- pressed by a Right lion. Friend of mine, whew thew than serve; their example would be followed observations hate been the theme or calumny and by others ; and none would compose this force but abuse in every part of tiler country. The present the very lowest of society. hill cannot meet with my support, un this ground, The Earl of Beim' NI:NAOMI; would net take that it will not be so effective as it Les been re ap much of their Lordship' time in expressing the presented to he, and besides it is a tissue of . coo few-sentiments he had to offer upon the present tradiction. The force ellieh wiU be raised can be question. It ought to be tukeo into considerat e ram, neither a regular Nor a popular One, to, it that it was Hn Martesty's undoubted right, in times the advantages of neither. Tbe Noble iC 1 :74 1 of danger and alarm, to call upon all the people seemed to rev:Monte:4 it upon the basis of its beiug of the realm capable of bearing arms ; which differsat from u volunteer Reece; atidemperior to au measure had been resorted to in r es p ect to the mined peasantry. 1 um n ot prepared to My what key en anise; and in passing this Ilill into it hot , may be effected by en stated peavaatry, trod hy a they were only applying a similar power, under cer- love of their i•utritry, and .; e, ailiously hums e. tain regulations, to a portion a the body of the their lives to shake off the pea! of oppression. M c people,. lie entertained a high opinion of the vu -1 unteer system, as far as it %%cut ; but it was mit and it will tie tried if such It Omit, so %animated by an effectual as the present, which hail his most one common feeliiig ICY' the easing* they sutler, hearty concurneum. The militia of th is country, may riot do more than all the reeular armies which in their present situation, were entitled to much Bare hitherto been oppostal to the great poser of praise, and perticnlarly the Officers, who had et- Pretax. if Borieparie Le checked on the wijust elle(' themselves as much as ally mete. without any an d „,„, m i ne er e eette . p e,, i n r aka 'ire is now eie great reinutieration. He should propose to the 1 g a g ed, it .curl Le the first time t'eat the career . of consideration of His Maje s ty's Ministers , that some I hie success is staved. 1 coin me acipinintance wan particular attention ought to be paid to !relied ;he !ep e e, having r: .idel Gere it considenible pre, would leave it to their judgment to determine how taw of my lite. 1 s mitiot tii,;) reeassiant , far it would he prudent to hare the Intl" intlitia in we h ave a r i.,,t e to ex per , this country. and that the English shonlil replace 1 t h e past et' t e e ~t „ ,,e , r e, ; e e them in that kingdoni. The f oul atrocity of the the pi esent cote*im le me elf a.• sir-. ,• O tlie .• , Bubo. of F raa rn had made rapid orneress in ma y h e e n tertairied thet tome exertival may not . .ie Sped,; he trusted that the t'3!* v ies of that in s ulted i n „i„. Th e „e„.„,,,,,, is I h ere mi m e i n respect to people might br modeled, by Coen. euthusiastie ..e let i„. d o not i..,„„.,h„,,e ) „ pi t y to t he roe; et lore of tilwrty, elite to comiteract hie ilrogi r. n... 1. ~,,,,tion, wily sa lit ras they ttlikl to sLle‘A t hat Armee R"nal"irte lid 1 " 'en univ''''‘allY ini" "'IA , gadthing limy he ex pee cul fleet an aimed peetotei, perlia toe we might he disposed to rut e rr eai too eo'rt ,e'a t • we r il eang Act ~ is ray 0') ., 10 Oils I" . .t. hi ii'' .. sanguine hopes eolleeillillg what would be the re- alt awns:atilt to the ab' onlio; of au effeaciit lit il • grown] for his troll t the House tii,on this ocea moo, and therefore he should tom•r. "'That certain Harper , , relative to the alumna of proverty taken from the Mures. should he laid u H,u the ta ble Loot II 4WILSSIBURY eirwrvM. that he ititoul.l not tulthcai the !louse poi i icillai ty upon this Cull- ject, on account of the boshiess before their Lard- Alps ; lint in res:ieet to the iiiiia:ll it of the Druit ; of the Alutirtlty, he aid not know of any c nku;.i! :`ll but what :might have been dr.0...:1 :'oho riiii i eeti:e. . Ile should wisli the No ble Ea t i to Nu:l'3llw kis motion. at 'vast fo:. the present. Lord Ilutr.stso observed, that this cie:tl,l, sins of great importance to that /louse and the. 1 country, and he was aurpriet'd that any reluctalice should be sliewn on the part of Ministers. Alter 1 supporting the Noble Earl' s motion, he still mu A allow, that it might be better to defer it till a future period, on account of the business then before the House. Lord I lAN' ICESSURY said, that whenever the No ble Earl choose to bring forward his motion, lie had no hesitation to declare that he would give every necessary information. Upon the motion of the Earl of SUFFOLK, who pledged himself to bring forward this question ;again next Session of Parliament, it was withdrawn. 51rd CAertiont 0n foil, that 10 Lary Ter store re tainly 1 pl., it .1 whethe t the Ne t s o ny th Ills ship an .aud na means Miser/ for the is, *is Local how s e •twcm. ~u~r. cued guest TI tuem Ter t *Null the t teal sll.)t ihci •ny inst , abil P! 1/ veal had ran I