The Sun. — London, England, 1827-03-03 00:00:00

Ward in any manner to participate in the consideration of a merely political question, but they added that they would be wanting in duty, .both to the Government and the people, if they abstained from communicating‘their sentiments in the present crisis. They .stated that they would be wanting in their solemn duty, if they did not, at this alarming moment, raise their warning voice against the continuance of disabilities which prevented them from the discharge of their proper functions for the people. Thev pointed out the deep sense of degradation under which the Catholics laboured, and the galling superiority evinced by their Protestant brethren, in many instances not so meekly as it were to be wished it should be evinced. The petitioners did, in the most solemn and deliberate man ner, refute those calumnies which had been thrown upon them, and they repeated, once more, what they had before declared upon their oaths. It had been asserted that their religious tenets pre cluded them from being either good subjects, good citizens, or good members of society. Nothing could be more incorrect than these assertions, and whatever opinions Honourable Members might entertain upon the great question, he was quite sure that every impartial person would join with him in giving these respectable individuals credit for that good order and honesty of conduct which had always characterised the body to which they belonged. If the laws were obeyed in Ireland, as they now were, it was en tirely owing to the superintendence of the great body of Catholic clergy, and to them that quiescence of the people was to be at tributed. It was then quite impossible that any extensive public body should be without some slur upon their conduct, but he would contend that, with respect to this body, impropriety formed the exception, and that any dereliction from duty in individuals was always reprimanded. by the great body as soon as it was men tioned to them. He would not trespass any further on the at tention of the House, - but he trusted that they would not think their time thrown away in hearing the petition read. He would now move that the petition be brought up. Mr. AGAR ELLIS was anxious to say a few words upon this petition. As an individual Member of Parlia ment he might not have any claim upon the attention of the, House, but as a person interested in a question which so nearly concerned Ireland, and as a holder of property in that country, he could not help standing up to say that on 'the decision of this great question depended the peace and happiness of Ireland. He wished that his voice could be heard, not only in this House, but in another also; he wished that it could penetrate the ears of the blind and obstinate opponents of Catholic Emancipation elsewhere, and remind them that the moment was at hand which would fur nish them probably with the last opportunity of meeting this question with the sward still slcAering in the scabbard, and that the only means of preventing dissension and bloodshed, was to grant to Ireland the rights which bad so long been 'denied - to it. Sir GEORGE HILL said, that with the objec tions which be entertained to these claims, it was impossible for him to refrain from one or two arguments, in opposition to the Pantnricwhich had been passed on the Roman Catholic clergy. It was notorious in Ireland, and it ought to be quite as no torious !n • this country, that the whole body of the Roman Catholic clergy had identified themselves with the Catholic Association; that it had joined them in all their projects; and that the demagogues and agitators of the public peace by whom that Association had Leen established, were encouraged by them. He would ask the House to look over the petition, and see if the name of Dr. Doyle was attached to it : was the name of that in dividual attached to it who was so well known in Ireland by the initials J. K. L. ? He did not mean to dispute with his Majesty's At torney -General for Ireland the cause of the peace of that coun t, but he would ask where the Roman Catholic Clergy were from 1819 to 1823, when the western and southern parts of Ireland were in a state little short of rebellion ? Did they put d°wil those disturbances ? No. They were put down by a two fold number of troops. He had attended to the trials in the south of Ireland for a conspiracy, and it was proved upon those trials that 17 counties had sent delegates to a meeting, the object of which w as t o separa t e th e t wo coun tries; but he had never discovered that the Roman Catholic Clergy had used any means to prevent such meeting, or to divert the peoplo from the object Which they h a d i n view., Mr. H. MAXWELL said, that he also found it impossible to agree in the 'panegyric which had been passed upon th e Roman Catholic Clergy of Ireland. What had been their conduct during the last general election ?—(Hear.)--He had himself be held the es p • t s heading large mobs, and heard them exciting the Catholics- pries ts the mos t inflammatory language. He had seen them driving b he'peopleto the hustings, and attending them to the poll ing b ooths, one pr i est b e i ng before and one behind them.—(A L "' u gh.)--11e would relate to the House a fact respecting one of the _Priests, w hi c h was supported by a ffi davit. There was a f ree - newer who had voted contrary to the wishes and directions of a -o P f riett, and who wa s blind of one eye.—(A laugh.)—This mis rtuoe, sever e enoug h o f i tse lf, oug ht, it wou ld b e supposed, at least to have protected him from insult because he had been vi si a ted nd with it. The priest, however, was of a different opinion, after the election was over he one day called out to the people, from the altar, and said—" Look at that blind-eyed ras cal Who voted so and so- at the late election. Ile is blind of one eye, and he shall never open it but in the flames of bell." ---(Laughter, and cries of hear. ) He had so many facts related etneoaah respecting this priest, that he would mention his name to (we eliouse—he was the Rev. Patrick Corr, parish priest of —, said, that were unable to catch the name ). The same priest had also a at b e (m r. 1/. Maxwell) and his Hon. Colleague "should b edmned to all eternity, and might his curse light up on them and the curse of God - likewise." The - Hon. Member said that he would not trouble the House with any further instances of this nature ; but he would contend, that so far from the conduct of the Roman Catholic clergy of Ireland deserving the approbation or the thank s of the country. the fact was the very reverse. The Hon. Member concluded by expressing a hope that the people of Ireland would be shortly emancipated from the power of their priests, and learn to think for themselves. Ireland would then be very dif ferent to what it now was—the Catholic would join with the Pro testant in friendly intercourse, and England and Ireland, no longer separated, would form one happy country.--(Hear.) Mr. M. FITZGERALD said, that an expression of his Right Honourable Friend the Attorney-General for Ireland .--na melY, that th e peace and tranquillity of Ireland was ma i n l y attr ibutable t o th e R oman Catholic clergy—had brought up ten 1-Imourable Gentlemen who had endeavoured to invalidate this P l iti° a• The H ouse must certa i n l y h ave perce i ve d th a t it was a math ,- 7 . 1 of myst ery t h at persons connec t e d w ith the Government t -- at come forward with such contradictory statements. From the Right IT ao• M em b er (Si r G. Hill) had issued some expressions, by Which i- " e i mported almost treason to the Catholic prelates of Ireland. --e lam of th at H en. M em b er ' s o bj ec tions to the Catholic priest e°4 of Ireland was , that they interfered with the election. Now, D it r L eall Y aPpeared to him to - be very unreasonable that Catholic ' --' should be refused an interference which was constantly exercised b ni; : -1 the Protestant Clergy.—(Cheers.)--If it were im- P IN" m the one, by what argument was it attempted to be ' ".11 tha t it was improper in the other ? Was it meant to be Zdtended that an act was bad when committed by those who had Power at all, and good only when exercised by those who Neitherall the Power in their own hands ?_.(Loud cheers.) — ti , a Protestant nor as a politician did he see why the t iL te _ of our Clergy should be contended for in this par reqlri, and those of the Catholics denied.—(Hear, hear !) ann 0: e ' v ° Part he would say, that during the various rebellions j ug ikeeethr‘eats of invasion, he had had an opportunity of observ ounct of the Catholic clergy, and he must declare that th i n e o r tb e s e to ° a n t a i of peace in some places, and the preservation of it It was rs b , were almost wholly attributable to the Catholic Clergy. coast o Y il: eir means that, although the French were on the withdraw al th e ultY (RerrY) that his Majesty was enabled to Bay he beheld a zeal which could the tr oops, ainl when tbe French were in Bantry P e asantry dragging his Majesty's cannon with ....r. ___ _ not be surpasged. IN I WILMn-r to look to the terms of the petition before them, ' HORTON besought the House Mr.Theentit'Aon,AsothNen read throughout, eesaarily to le h eervations in),c_oeszepience although he had no wish unne en the discusaion, was induced to make a few ob the Atterne of the importance to which theßight Hon. It mid at . length. r • a r i for Ireland had conferred upon it by having they, otterea for heir petitioners Petitioners stated that the surety which never yet bad any mean good intentions o ug ht to be received, but of the Roman Catholi s be en di scovered by which the alleg i ance numerous inst ances : re p e r o i r e d st in ho o d co u ld b e b oun d. There were had off ere d their oaths which the Roman Catholic clergy fester], and afterwards to eionfirm the allegiance which they pro- Pope Was opposed to that drew that oath when the power of the to serve. In the grace was reigntendered G to the f of the monarch whom they bad sworn ° ' Tame s I. particularly, the oath of alle lii,verY of the Roman Catholic priests just a ft er the and even the po ,unpowder Plot. All the Catholic prelates, it Was tlien sent tpoes legate in this country, took the oath, and but as it Was found ome to receive the sanction of the Pope deposing kings that the oath denied the Pope's power of agreed totake it was sent back again; the persons who had tip, _ the oath were ordered to recant, which the o and the oath of elle ' they 1799 never taken. In the ear , to take a _ glance was . y . Was bip e d , touch more recent instance, a declaration shop,, oy four metropolitan bishops, arid six other bi .y_n consenting that the King should have the power of fp i K a veto in the election of their bishops. This declare tion received the sanction of a great number of Catholics and their friends. Dr. Millner, their champion and advocate, Lord Grenville, Mr. Ponsonby, and many others, had . declared their approbation of it, and it was regarded generally as the means of settling the Roman Catholic claims. At the very moment that this declaration was beginning to have the effect which, if it was earnest and true, it was entitled to, they turned round and re canted. They professed attachment to the Constitution, and of respect for the religion of the country in this petition, and in the letter which the Hon. Member for Cavan (Mr. Maxwell) had read, Dr. Doyle had described that religion as an incubus on the nation, and had compared its worship to that of the idol of Jug gernaut, to which human victims were sacrificed. And yet, after this, the same Dr. Doyle came to add his voice to the expressions of attachment and respect he had alluded to.—(Hear, hear.)—He had had occasion before to notice some of the inconsistencies of this Right Rev. Prelate, but never had the occasion seemed to him more urgent, or the inconsistency more glaring, than the pre sent.—(Cheers.) Lord F. L. GOWER was as willing as any person could be to appeal to the evidence of history for the regulation of existing politics. But there were more ways than one of making this appeal. One way was, by raking up facts which had become obsolete, and the causes by which they bad been prc;duced were passing away. Another way, and that, which as a representative of that House and a Christian he preferred, was by investigating the sins and frailties of humanity to learn a lesson of Christian charity. He would not advocate the excesses of the Rev. Patrick Corr er of Mr. Doyle, but they would probably learn, from the indications which these persons had presented, some notion of the tremendous power of that Catholic clergy which was now excited in opposition to the Government.—(Loud cheers.)—The Hon. Member for Cavan believed that conversion would afford a suffi cient remedy for the evils which agitated Ireland. He wished, with all his heart, that the design might be seconded ; but this was by no means a new notion. It was proposed, in the reign of Charles H., by Lord Tyrconnel to Lord Bellasise, who, iu his reply, displayed that acrimony which had unhappily so often characterized the discussions of this subject, by saying that Lord Tyrconnel was fool and madman enough to ruin ten kingdoms,— (Cheers.) Sir W. PLUNKETT, after the speech of the Noble Lord, would have been well contented that the subject should drop, but that it was impossible for him to let what had fallen from the Honourable Member for the county of Derry (Mr. Dawson) pass without observation. The House would recollect that; in opening this subject, he (Sir W. Plunkett) had abstained from touching on any of the topics which belonged to it, wishing that as little as possible should be said on them until Monday, which had been fixed for the discussion of the question, and being desirous not to excite any feeling on the subject before that day; he did hope that the Members of the House would, with alacrity have joined him in the testimony which he bore, and which his conscience obliged him to utter, to the loyalty, goad conduct, and constitutional principles of the great body of the Roman Catholic Clergy of Ireland. *He repeated, and he did not find that there had been any attempt to contradict the assertion he had made, that they were distinguished for uniform obedience to the laws: But how had the Hon. Members for the City and the County of Derry (Mr. Dawson and Sir G. Hill), and the Hon. Member for Cavan (Mr. Maxwell), endeavoured to shake this well-earned re putation? By impeaching the conduct of the general body? No, but by bringing before the notice of the House and the Country, some circumstances which they did not approve of in the con duct of individuals. If any person should follow a similar course with respect to the great body - of the Protestant clergy of Ireland, and seek to impeach the whole body by dragging before the public view the excesses of any One individual belonging to it, was this a test which they could abide by?—(Cheers.)—Such a practice would lead to an odious and unsatisfactory system of re crimination, into which he could not condescend to be led.— (Hear.) —As to Dr. Doyle's letter, he did not hesitate to say that he utterly condemned the sentiments it contained, and the manner in which those sentiments were expressed. But was the great body of the Catholic priesthood therefore to be condemned? The Hon. Member for Cavan said, this letter was addressed to a noble relative of his, but had the Hon. Gentleman caited the attention of the House to the proceedings - of - that noble relative? He had no doubt that the Noble Lord (Farnham) had been induced to adopt that conduct from purely conscientious motives. He had taken upon himself to convert the Roman Catholics of Ireland to the Protestant religion. Had he, however, in the cru sade which he had thought fit, for the peace of Ireland, to undertake at this . moment, done nothing_ wh:..,11 might have provoked, although nothing could justify, the sentiments and expressions of the letter which had been alluded to ? (Hear, hear.)—To the endeavour of converting the Catholics he wished from the bottom of his heart the fullest success ; but, at the same time, he must add, that it was without the least hope, the pursuit being, in his opinion, the merest chimera that ever be wildered the mind of man.—(Laughter.)—Was it likely that the Roman Catholic Clergy should stand quietly, with their arms folded, before their assailants, and make no effort of defence when - their religion was impugned ? Did any man who was attacked by another, sword in hand, content himself with parrying only ; did he not thrust in return ? If any men, or set of men, were out raged, could it be expected that they would not outrage in return, and when, in addition to this, the nature of the contest was consi dered the odium plusquam civil. which theological disputes en gendered, it was not to be wondered at that the conflict should be carried on with pertinacity and rancour. lie had reason to know that it was his duty to tell the House, that from these disputes dangers must spring, which he prayed to God Might be averted, but which, if they were not, must be, in their consequences of a most alarming tendency. He knew that since this wild crusade had been commenced, a d e termination, which no man could blame, had been formed by the Catholic Clergy to discuss openly the merits of the two religions, and for this purpose to meet. their adversaries openly. This Was occasioned by the conduct of the Protestant Clergy, none of whom he should at this moment name, but who, not content with exercising their labours in their own emh parisahssies throughout es, andrfotvgmhotuhteirthowemepouulnptirty, pulpits, h e a n d al g le o n n g e in e g n j t o i u ie rni ß es om an an d Catholic Clergy to meet and discuss the doctrines of the two religions, and even appealing to lay tribunals to decide between them. The conduct of the clergy of the Catholics had been ab stinent and becoming in a remarkable degree. They had refused to accept the challenges which were thus repeatedly sent to them, and they had in consequence been taunted for their forbearance and told that it sprung from fear of their opponents. That ab stinence and that fear, if it had ever existed, were now at an end. The Catholic clergy had, resolved to accept the invitation which had been given them for discussing the tenets of their faith, and unless the interference of common sense should put a stop to the headlong career of the persons he had alluded to, the whole force of the Catholic priesthood would be called out in this theological warfare ; they would have J. K. L.'s, and all the other letters in the alphabet, taking part in the controversy, but it was clear that, after it had begun, this controversy would not continue to be merely theological. Was it not to be apprehended that the Catholic po pulation of Ireland, who had been represented as an ignorant people, under the influence of a strong attachment to their clergy, would not be merely calm observers of a contest in which their f ee lings and their passions, if not their interests, must be engaged? These disputes were to be carriedjon in their presence, and they were to be the judges of them. Was nothing to be feared from the excitement to which such displays must give rise, and was this additional ingredient to be thrown into the cauldron of dis content and mischief which was boiling over in that country ?-- (Hear.)—He eared not for J. K. L. ; lie condemned him altoge ther ; but at the same time he could not shut his eyes to the pro vocation which the noble relative of the Hon. Member for Cavan had given him. The objections of the Hon. Member for Derry to the petitioners seemed to be unreasonable beyond all measure. He had taken the pains to collect instances of objectionable conduct on the part of Catholics formerly, and he argued that because the Catholics of the present day renounced and disproved of such con duct, they were not to be trusted.—(Hear.) —This was an extra. ordinary reason for objecting to them. In former times, such as re fused to recant their errors were doomed to the stake and faggot ; now, the Hon. Member for Derry would have them treated in the same way because they were willing to recant.—(Cheers.)—A great deal had been said respecting the conduct of the Roman Ca tholic Clergy at elections. Did any one in that House mean to say that such interference was against any principle of the con stitntion ? He was always sorry to see the clergy taking part, in any political question whatever, because it had the inevitable effect of bringing some degree of disgrace or discredit on religion itself. But if such an interference was bad on one side, it was as bad on the other; but he did not think the charge in this respect bore so heavily on the Roman Catholic as on the Protestant clergy. The law which laid the Catholics under disabilities and restrictions of itself, excited them to endeavour, by all meant in their power, to procure an alteration of that law. The Protestant clergy, who had nothing to complain of, had no such cause for interference. — The practice, he was aware, had prevailed in many counties to a great extent; but he knew, also, that a very considerable degree of exaggeration had been used in representing the interference of the clergy. Whatever the charge was, however it devolved, he would not say as much on one side as on the other; because, on the one side there was some excuse for it, and there was none on the other.—(The Right Hon. Gentleman sat down amidst loud and universal cheering.) Mr. L. FOSTER was desirous to make some ob servations respecting the allusion which had been made to the conduct of his noble relative, as connected with the most extra ordinary speech which had been just delivered. His Right Hon. Friend had been particularly mistaken in two points—the first in considering Lord •Farnham, for there was no reason why his name should not be mentioned, as the author of that proceeding which he called a crusade, and the second in believing it to be a chimaera. These were both equally unfounded. He, (Mr. Foster) wished to 'explain this affair in order to set the public right with respect to the part which Lord Farnham had taken, and he felt it the more incumbent to do so, because he was aware that the country would soon be in possession of the present dis cussion, through the medium of the published debates, when one of those extraordinary scenes which were going on in Ireland and which might well be called the first page of a new history of that country, would be laid before the public.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. J. GRATTAN thought that the principle of fair play should be extended on both sides. The letter of J.K.L. might be unwise and inflammatory, but he thought it could be matched in violence of party feeling by a speech which was lately delivered in Ireland by the Noble Lord whose motives had been advocated by the Hon. and Learned Gentleman who last address ed the House. The Hon. Member read an extract from a news paper, of a speech purporting to be delivered by Lord Farnham, at (we believe) a bible meeting in Ireland. The first sentence of the extract was to this effect—that notwithstanding all the efforts that bad lately been made in Ireland to spread the light of the Gospel over that benighted land, so strongly had bigotry and su perstition taken root in the country, owing to the control of the priests, that those efforts were likely to prove unavailing. The Hon. Gentleman, after quoting another extract from the same speech, said the Noble Lord imputed to the Catholics a desire to subvert the established religion. The speech of the Noble Lord was printed in London : if it was falsely ascribed to him, let' him deny it, but let us not impute censure to others unless we were free ourselves from blame.—( Hear, hear, hear.) _ Sir G. HILL observed, that as the petitioners had identified themselves .with tire Catholic Association, he did not think that they were entitled to much attention. Mr. F. LEWIS said, that the situation which the petitioners held in the country was one of the first importance, and he had no doubt but that the power which they possessed was used fur good purposes. It was a power, however, which was greater than it ought to be, because it was estranged from the law of the land.—(Hear, hear.)- . --Would to. God that the causes of aniinosity in Ireland were healed for ever, and that the distinction of sect was no longer in existence.—(Hear.)—lt wassaid, that the Roman Catholic Bishops had identified themselves with the Catholic Asso ciation, but he denied that they had done so. He looked upon tke Catholic Association with no very favourable eyes, but its origin and existence could be traced to the peculiar situation of Ire land. The,Association was the necessary consequence of the state in which the Catholic's were placed. It was idle to think of crushing the only medium by which the Catholics of Ireland could be heard: They must have an organ to give expression to their wrongs.— He believed that the Catholic Association acted on a mistaken feeling with regard to the means which they took to effect their object. They appeared to be in total error al to the nature of the English people in supposing that by threats they could frighten them into terms. It , was not, however, by menaces or intimida tion that the people of this country were to be gained over. He denied that the Roman Catholic Bishops had ever identified them selves with the proceedings of the Catholic Association, in proof of which he would give this as an instance of their disinclination to act in conjunction with that body. It was well known that the Catholic Association were at one time very desirous of ori ginating a Catholic system of education in Ireland, for which pur pose they wished to apply a part of their funds which they de rived from the rent. They applied to the Roman Catholic Bi shops to sanction the proceeding, but the Bishops declined giving their consent, observing that they had already petitioned Parliament for its sanction to a measure of the same nature, and that they would act disrespectfally to the legislature if they did not await its decision. They therefore declined having any thing to do with the Catholic Association.—(Hear, hear.) Sir G. HILL did not mean to infer that the Catholic Bishops had identified themselves with the Catholic Association. It was notorious, however, that the Catholic priesthood generally, though perhaps not any of those individual petitions, were guilty of meddling in matters beyond their province. (Hear, hear.) Mr. V. HOMRIGH (Member for Drogheda) de fended the Catholic Bishop Dr. Curtis from the charge of im properly interfering in matters of state. There could not be a more loyal Man' than Dr. Curtis, Wbo, in fact, owed his appoint ment to the good opinion of the Duke of Wellington, who brought him from Salamanca. The Honourable Gentleman proceeded further to observe, that at a dinner lately given by a distinguished Nobleman at which Dr. Curtis was present, the memory of his Royal Highness the Duke of York being proposed, Dr. Curtis made a most eloquent speech, in which he eulogized the virtues of the deceased Prince, and paid a high tribute to his memory. (Hear.) Mr. PEEL before he came down to the House had formed a resolution not to express any opinion on the subject which was now under discussion. He should, therefore, cautiously abstain from offering any remarks at present on a question that was marked out for discussion on an early day. If no other alternative re mained, he should then state the same opinion he had formerly ex pressed with regard to this subject. If, therefore, he carefully ab stained from entering on topics that would soon be fully treated, he hoped no one would suppose that on that account he felt less interest in the question. He preferred, however, to reserve his opinions for the occasion, when he could state them more at length than it would be proper to do new. His object in rising was to present two petitions. The first was a petition from the University of Orford, which prayed that no further concessions might be made to the Roman Catholics. The next petition which he should have the honour to present was from the undersigned Protestant Noblemen, Gentlemen, and Landed Proprietors of Ireland, and if any petition was ever entitled to respect, it was this. He be lieved that there were no less than 1,200 signatures attached to it.—(Hear, hear !)—When he stated that twenty-seven Irish Peers had signed this petition, he might add that every man whose name was attached to it was a resident land-owner. Not feeling eling : sentence no ac orw eity word in the p e titi on cou ld b e t rac ed to any hostile of language was used. The petitioners merely prayed for a continuance of the laws by which Roman Catholics were excluded from power, and they proceeded to state the grounds on which they conceived that continuance necessary. He was grateful to them for having selected him as the organ to make their wishes known to the Commons House of Parliament, on this most important of all important subjects. The petition was then laid on the table, and ordered to be printed, as were also petitions with the same prayer, which Mr. PEEL afterwards presented from the clergy of the diocess of Louth, from the parish of St. Nicholas, Guildford ; from the clergy of Manchester ; from the bishop and clergy of the diocese of Cork and Ross; from the Protestant noblemen, gentry, and freeholders, of the barony of Kilbarney, in the county of Tip perary ; from the barony of Bally-Collin, in the county of Lon donderry; and from the clergy of some deanery in the county of Denbigh. Lord NUGENT presented a petition from the Catholics of Great Britain, praying to be relieved from the legal disabilities under which they laboured at present. They prayed for emancipation not only for themselves, but for every species of Dissenters from the Established Church, who were liable to any disqualifications on account of their religious tenets. He then moved that the petition be brought up. The petition was laid upon the table, and ordered to be printed, n dthe of inter ference their exerting their spiritual a uthorit y to p romote p urposes which were purely temporal. as were similar petitions from Roscrea, and a parish in the count y of Galway, presented by Lord Nuoarr. Mr. MOORE presented petitions ag ainst an y fur ther concessions to the Catholics from sever al p laces in Ireland. T he petition of from he stated, the Waterford,Catholic clergy in the lateelections, Mr. V. STUART , wished - to a sk the Ron. Mem berwheth erhehad read the petition wh ich he Was presenting from Waterford?Mr. MOORE—Yes, I have. Mr. V. STUART.—Has he read a sentence in it in which the petitioners state that I am ready to go all lengths for the Catholics ? Mr. MOORE.—No, I have not. Mr. V. STUART.—Has the Hon. Member Ths SPEAKER interfered, and called Mr. Stuart to order. The petition from Waterford was then read at length. It con tained no suc h sen t ence as Mr. Stuart anticipated. Mr. V. STUART, when the pr o p er t i me o f dis cussion arrived, should know how to parry the attacks which the petition made on the Catholic clergy. Mr: R. POWER .stated, that the majority of the Protestant populati ur of the county of Waterford was decidedly in favour of Catholic emancipation . The petitions were then ordered to he printed. On the presentation of a similar petition from some place in the county of Monaghan, Mr. R. MARTIN rose to give a contradiction, as respectful as it was possible for him to give it (a laugh), to the Hon. Gentleman on the floor, who had said that the Roman Ca tholic clergy interfered with their spiritual authority, and coerced the vote of the poorer freeholders at the late general election. It . - . was his opinion that no Catholic clergyman had e ver made use- of of Peterborough; and a seventh, signed by 25,000 inhabitants. spiritual authority for political purposes. — ( Roars of lau g h t er Arma g h, p ra y ing that no farther c•on cession s m i g h t b e made to from all sides of the House.)--Ile hoped that the Hon. Member, the Catholics. if lie persisted in his assertion, would give him the name of any Mr. H. GR ATTAN said that the charges contained clergyman who had so 'n i s ei:inducted himself; for he thought that in these petitions against the Catholics were foul and unjustifiable. if any clergyman had employed the terro rs of excommunication to Mr. CAULFIELD presented a petition from Pro secure votes at an election, he richly deserved to be exposed. Ile testant freeholders of Armagh, in favour of Catholic Emancipation. repeated that he gave the Hon. Member as respectful a contradic- Mr. wish WHITMORE expressed a that, the as he could.—(Laughter.)—lf that did not give the Hon. Gen amendment which he intended to move to the Resolutions of the tleman satisfaction, he was ready to give him another kind of con- Right Hon. Foreign Secretary, on the subject of the Corn Lave, tradiction as unqualified as might be. — ( Lau g hter, and cries of might be printed for the information of the House. order.) The SPEAKER—it Mr. -I‘IOORE received the remarks which the Hon. Member for Galway had made with regard to the petition o f t he House, must be done with the con sent_.ole, and not upon a motion. . . Lord HOWICK presented four petitions from the county of Galway in favour of Emancipation. n h o e o h b a j d en j t u io s n t ptoresetnbteedlionwit3hiemthbeeuetsmgoisvtinggoott humour. He He unqualifiedliad contradiction to what the petition said, but he appealed to the Mr. BROWNLOW begged to know if the Right House whether he (Mr. Moore) bad said any thing of the kind of Hon. Chancellor of the Exchequer meant to do any thing in the which he (Mr. Martin) had represented. present Session towards assimilating the malt laws in Scotland The petition was ordered to be printed. and Ireland. Mr. MOORE presented a petition from certain The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER freeholders of the county of Cork, respecting the present state of had a motion in preparation for that purpose. the elective franchise in that county.—To be printed. DUKE AND DUCHESS OF CLARENCE'S ANNUITY General ARCHDALL presented a petition (to BILL. which 13,300 signatures were annexed):from the Clergy, Gentry, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER and Freeholders of the County. of Fermanagh, against any farther moved the second reading of the Duke and Duchess of Cla cs's concessions to the Roman Catholics.—Ordered to be printed. annuity bill. R. Sir HERON observed that the Duke of Cla- Mr. H. MAXWELL presented 45 petitions fr om, different parishes in the county of Cavan against any farther con- rence, he thought, should be satisfied with what the country had cessions to the Roman Catholics. He moved that these petitions already done for him. The Hon. Member concluded by moving, be printed. (Murmurs, and " No, no.")--The petitions were as an amendment, that the bill be read it second time this day six ordered to be printed. months. Mr. DAVENPORT supported the amendment.— Mr. SAUNDERSON presented a petition from the Nobility, Gentry, and Freeholders of the county of Cavan, lie observed, that there was a contingency not provided for i n th e against any further concession to the Roman Catholics. bill. Suppose his Majesty should contract another matrimonial alliance.—(A loud laugh.)—lt was not a thing impossible; and The SPEAKER, on looking at the petition, ob - would any Minister be bold enough to vote back the 9,000/. ? , served that it contained three erasures and two interlineations, which, as every person who was acquainted with the uniform prat- O iv n ir th . e wr qu E es Ta tio L n s bei s n u gpppuorted the amendment ; he could t tice of the House must know, rendered it unfit to he received. — The petition was withdrawn. not conscientiously approve of the addition to the Duke's allowance. Sir R. VAUGHAN presented five petitions from Mr. Alderman WAITHMAN would not object Merionethshire, against any farther concession to the Roman Ca- to a liberal allowance to every branch of the Royal Family ; but tholics.—To be printed. he looked upon the present proposition as an iniult.—(Hear !)-- Mr. L. FOSTER presented a similar petition from The very day it was introduced,- the House had heard from the Drogheda.—To be printed. Right Hon. Gentleman the most gloomy description of the con dition Mr. PRITTIE presented ten petitions, from thehad' ever heard. In his (the of the people it( . "Mom- Mr. magisterial capacity, upwards of 80 persons had been `sum county of Tipperary, in favour of the Roman Catholic Claims.— ruoned before him for non-payment of church-rates andl-poor To be printed. rates, which could not be enforced against more than ten. - .- Mr. HUTCHINSON presented eleven petitions Two Hon. Members, whose names we could ' not learn, -, sip _ _. _ . from the county of Cork, in favour of the Roman Catholic claims. —To he printed. Colonel BERNARD presented petitions from Rynagh and Gallen ; also from Rapen and Rinally, in the King's county, in favour of the Catholic claims. Sir N. COLTHURST presented a petition from Cork, praying to be relieved from their disabilities.—To be printed. Sir E. KNATCHBULL presented petitions against the Roman Catholic claims from Margate, and 12 parishes in Kent.—To be printed. Sir R. HILL presented two petitions—one from Salop, and Flintshire—against the Roman Catholic claims. Sir G. H. SMYTH presented a petition from Col chester, against the Roman Catholic claims.—To be printed. Sir C. HASTINGS preser.ted a petition from Lei cester, against any further concession to the Roman Catholics. Lord MILTON wished the petition to be read at length, in order that the House might have a taste of the spirit with which the petitioners were imbued.—(Hear). The petition was then read at length. It was interlarded with a great many scriptural and metaphorical phrases, which were not always introduced very appropriately, or with the happiest effect, and indeed the language of it was throughout so very curi ous and singular that it more than once excited the risibility of the House. Sir C. HA(TINGS should not hesitate to say that he himself agreed with the substance of the petition, which was at any rate respectfully worded. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER did not wish to enter upou a discussion of this question on the present occasion ; but could not avoid observing, that the peti tion which had just been read was replete with a figure of speech commonly called rigmarole. His object in rising, however, was to observe, that if the time of the House should he similarly taken up on Monday night for five or six hours, in the presenting of petitions, it would be extremely inconvenient ; he should, therefore, beg to suggest to honourable gentlemen the propriety of abstaining on that evening from presenting petitions after half past five o'clock. ported the amendment. Mr. MONCK opposed the Bill. Mr. HUME wished to ask the Right Hon. Gen tleman how be could propose such 'a vote, when he must know that as a financier he was bankrupt ? It was a. mean and. scan dalous waste of the public money. When he lOoked at the dis tress of he country—(coughing)—. If he could lay on the table of the House proofs of the distress occasioned by taxation, he could prove that for the 9,000/..proposed,'l6,ooo perkiis had been turned out of their homes.—(Loud murmurs, cheers, and cries of " No.")—lf by legal exactions this sum was taken. from the people to be spent in extravagance and waste, as this would be—(coughing, which prevented our hearing the conclusion of the sentence.) The question was now loudly called for, and the House di vided :—For the second reading, 128 ; against it, S 9 ; majo rity, 89. Mr. PEEL said, that if the same course had been adopted of having the petitions in favour of the other side of the question read at length, many might have been found quite as full of absurdity as the one just read. He would refer to one in par ticular, which was presented on the 7th of December last, from a parish in the county of Wexford. In this petition the names of Judge Blackstone, Sarsfield, Tyrconnell, Julius Caesar, Agrippa, Numa Pompilius, King David, Jeremiah, Marcus Atilius Regulus, Festus, and Artaxerxes, King of Persia, were jumbled together. These two petitions were of about equal merit in point of compo sition, and perhaps the best course would have been to have suf fered them silently to have paired off together. • - Lord MILTON had no intention of objecting. to the printing of this petition. Mr. J. SMITH wished to observe, that the indi vidual who was reported to have drawn up this petition, had lately published a very seditious work, which had only been permitted to escape with impunity , on account of its excessive absurdity. Sir T. ACLAND objected to the printing of the petition. Mr. W. SMITH observed, that as all sorts of peti tions were ordered to be printed, it would be a kind of compliment to the present one to deny it that privilege. General HART presented eight petitions from the county of Donegal, praying that no further concessions should be made to the Catholics. Several similar petitions were presented from the county of Derry by Sir G. Hill ; from various places in Essex by Sir E. Harvey; from Lewes by Mr. Kemp; and from the Clergy of Bath and Wells by Sir T. Lethbridge. Petitions praying for Catholic Emancipation were presented by Lord Bective, from two parishes in the county of Meath ; by Mr. O'Hara, from the county of Galway ; by Mr. Carew, from 27 parishes in the county of Wexford; by Mr. Butler Clark, from three parishes in the county of Kilkenny. Lord CASTLEREAGH, in presenting several similar petitions from the county of Down, observed, that it would not be possible for any argument he could adduce to add weight to so just a cause. Mr. G. LAMB presented. a petition from Dun. garvan, in Ireland, praying for batholic Emancipation, and hoped that it was the last petition on the subject be should ever have oc casion to present. Lord E. SOMERSET presented seven petitions from Gloucestershire, against Emancipation. Sir G. ROBINSON presented a petition from Northampton in favour of the Catholics. It was the first, the Hon. Member said, that had been presented from that town upon the subject. Mr. H. GRATTAN presented five petitions from Dublin, Cavan, and Kilkenny, praying for concession. Mr. Alderman WAITHMAN postponed his mo tion on the subject of the Refuge for the Destitute until Tuesday next. Mr. Kerry, N Mr. BANKES presented a petition from Dorset- Mr. a county petition o f D Down, from praying t e Pro from l pr F a l yi T ng Z f G or E E ß ina A nc L ip D atio p n r . esented t petitions _ wo shire against concession. testa n for Catholic Emancipa tion. Mr. BARING supp orted the p etition. Mr. G. DAWSON thought it rather hard that the B t Dissentersß°W of ° B NLanWgo presented in the Hon. Member (Mr. Brownlow) should endeavour to cast an odium upon the Protestants of Bangor. The Hon. Member, how ever, only displayed those feelings whiCh converts were very much in the habit of evincing. Mr. BROWNLOW, in bringing up two other pe titions from the count:es of Antrim and Galway, said that the course which he had chosen was that which he was convinced was for the benefit of Ireland ; and, 'ventually, he should find the Right Hon. Gentleman near him advocating the same opinions.— (Hear, hear.) Lord NORM ANBY presented two petitions from Meath, to the same effect. Mr. GOULBURN presented a petition from the Primate of all Ireland and the Clergy of Armagh ; a second from the Archbishop and Clergy of Dublin ; a third from the Bishop and Clergy of Clogher ; a fourth from Killala ; a fifth from the Clergy of Down and Connor; a sixth from the Dean and Clergy THE MUTINY BILL. On the re-admission of strangers, Lord PALMERSTON was on his legs, pressing upon Mr. Hume the expediency of deferring his amendment to the mutinYibill, until the third reading; on account of the lateness of the hour. Mr. HUME wished that public business, agreeably to the old rule of the House, should always end at 12. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER wished the new Members of the House to understand, that this supposed rule of the House was merely a rule of the Hon. Mem ber's. He hoped, however, that the Hon. Member would consent to the proposition. Sir R. FERGUSON urged the same suggestion. Mr. HUME consented, on condition that an open day should be appointed for the third reading. - . The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was too happy to a ccommodate the Hon. Member.—(A laugh.) He might have the pleasure of opening a debate on Friday, the 9th of March. • Mr. HUME hoped that good faith would be kept with him.—(Laughter.) The Report was then brought up and agreed to, and the Bill was ordered to be read a third time on the 9th of March-. The other orders of the day were then disposed of and the House adjourned at half-past 12 o'clock. THE MINORITY Of Thirty-nine who voted against the Grant to Baring, Sir T. Guise, Sir W. Baring, S. Harvey, D. W. Bernal, Ralph Hobhouse, J. C. Caulfield, Hon. H. Langston, J. H. Clifton, Lord Lornbe,.E. Crompton, S. Lumley, J. S. Davenport E. Martin, J. Denison,Joseph Monck, J. B. , Easthope, J. Ponsonby, Hon. G. Fane, John _ Ponsonby, Hon. W. • Fergusson, Sir R. Protheroe, - Ed. Folkstone Viscount Rancliffe, Loni Gordon, hebert Rice, T. S. Guest, J. J. Rickford, W. • • the Duke of Clarence . Robarts, A. W Sebright, Sir J. S. Thompson, C. Walthman, ALL Warburton, H. Webb, Coload Was, John Whitbread, W. H. Whitmore, W. W. wood, Ald. Wood, J. , izu.stx.s. Heron, Sir Robert Hume, Joseph YOUNG DUTCH SAM'S BENEFIT. The conqueror of Gypsey Cooper had a Benefit on Thursday, at the Tennis Court, and in addition to the.fruits of his victory, ob tained some " pretty pickings" among his friends. Barney Aaron and Cooper, the two losing men, arrived in time to ahoy. The punishment of Barney was decidedly the most severe. Both his eyes were dreadfully swollen and black, although leeches had been applied to allay the inflammation ; his mouth, too, sheaved that Dick's fives had been on a visit in no gentle mood. - He com plained much of the hit in the neck—the effects of which he still feels, and can scarcely bear his neckerchief to - touch it. He con soles himself with the consciousness that he'has done his • best, and mainly regrets the losses of his friends. 'The Pet was also visible. The right side of his head was a good deal swollen from the effects of Barney Aaron's left-handed jobbers; but his good condition seemed to have enabled him to throw off the effects with unusual quickness. As for young Dutch 'Sam, he scarcely chewed a mark; and Cooper, from the swelling of his head having gone down, did not afford very strong testimony of Sam's severity of hitting. He had a cut under his left eye, and that side of his face was much larger thin the proportions of Mature would justify. The setting-to was imnsuallyt good, Among the performers were.L--Murphy and Ryan ; Latham and the Bristol Baker; John stone and WCarthy ; Bittoon and Tom,-Oliver ; J. Belasco and Young ; Castles and Robinson ; The. Sprit of Shilleish an d Murphy ; Turner and Evans ; Randall and Scroggins ; and young Dutch Sam and Ned Stockman. Sam showed off with as much vigour as if he had never fought, and had the complete " whip-hand" of " The Lively Kid." A great treat is in store for Wednesday next, when Yorlair e Robinson will take his benefit, and intends again chriknging Young Gas to fight for 2001. a-side. The Ex-Champion, Tom Spring, will also be "among us." He will be accompanied by Brown, of Bridgenorth, who intends renewing his challenge, and staking, if necessary, to fight any man in England for 5001. a-aide. • - • We feel satisfied it is only necessary to bring under the cognizance of the Right Hon. Gentleman who fills the chair of the House of Commons, any sordid and vexatious impediments thrown in the way of those gentlemen, whose arduous duty it is to report the proceedings of Parliament, by the subordinate officers of the House, to have them at once removed. It is from this conviction that we recur to the manner in which the gallery was pre-occupied on Thursday evening, when Mr. Canning brought forward his Corn Resolutions, so as virtually to exclude the Re porters from their seats, or, at least, to render it almost impossi ble that they could attend to what was passing. The notice which has been taken of this proceeding, by most of our contents praries, has only had the effect, we u.: , !erstand, of offending the dignity of the gentlemen doorkeepers and messengers, and of quisk ening ti.. it disposition to multiply, as far as they dare d so, every species of petty annoyance. We have no doubt, however, they will be taught their duty. It would be idle now to affect not to recognise the presence of the gentlemen who attend for their nspective establishments, or to deny the public importance of the duties they have to perform ; and it is intolerable, that, while the House itself tacitly sanctions, and the country at large eagerly expects, the results of their nightly toil, it should be in the power of the door-keepers and messengers to exercise a harassing and capricious authority. They receive a large annual.surn from each Paper; enough, at least, to purchase civility, if not to obtain accommodations.—New