The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1810-02-23 00:00:00

merit of this great, difficult, and national object.—
But, in statiog this matter as I bete done, I beg
your Lordships to he enured, that I never shall
urge you to grant relief, where it CAe wily be grant-
ed, without having e due regard to your own secu-
rities ; that I shall never urge you to take up this
subject, but oo a comprehensive alit: greens' view
of all the iuteresei connected with it. I em reuei-
ble that. is affording relief, we ought to look at
these securities, which may be demanded fur our
own religious establishments; that we ought to
strengthen, and confirm, and consolidate them ;
to remove from them the real dangers, which, un-
der the false name of pretended security, are
inseparable from the present 41ystrin. To con-
solidate, and confirm, and strengthen them, by
reaeoneble provisions, will be- always regarded
by me as a sacred and indispensable duty. In team.
tinning the doctrine of civil liberty in favour of the
Catholics, I am persuaded I vaunt maintain it on
other grounds than those which I have stated. In
esteieling to them the enjoyment of civil liberty. I
consider it as cot existing in exemption from all
restraint whetever, but from all restraint other
Than what the common interest nrd safety of our
own e.t iblialeneues essentially and indisperviably re-
quire. Keeping this principle in view, we shall
steer a right course; and the way we have to act is,
to comiiler, without pastime what ere the elenger*
.with which we have to contend. and then to apply
provision* tensed tic dangers, and adopt the mea-
sures of precaution that may he necessary. Limit-
ing these as much us possible in their applica-
tion, we shall not act in coutradiction to the
I principles of our own religion ; but if we *ere
le act otherwise, we should act contrarli to the
priociples of the Government %eider which we
live. and contrary to the doctrines of our religion.
The particular provisions which, for this purpose, it
may be expedient to propose, it is cut now time to
discuss—it would be premature. I sincerely re-
joice, that, in makiug their declaration. the Eng-
lish Catholics, without entering into a discussion
of particular meapures, have confined themselves
to a general statement. More than this will not be
required of me. It will be considered sufficient
fur the present. It leaves the whole subject open
to future consideration ; and, 1 hope, the time is not
far distant, when we may enter upon it with such
a disposition as will tend to proillice an arrange-
ment satisfactory to all parties—an arrainernent,
in the wads of the Petition, on the sound bales
of mutual astisfaction and security.' I have
said, that I did not intend to press the subject
further at present ;that de:eriniuution is founded
on the consideration, that, wit 'lever distinctions
there may be betweeft the English Catholic's and
other persons professing the muse religion, in
other points, no advantages can arise from a se-
parate discussion. With regard to considerations.
it is nut toy purpose now to trouble our Lord-
ships. I ant content to refer myself.,y to the ex-
cellent letter of my /Coble Friend—to every letter,
principle, and word of which, I beg to be under-
stood as implicitly subscribing. So dignified
an appeal to the good sense of the Catholics,
will lint he without its etrtet. • Even the proceed•
inga of this Jay will not lie useless. I hope and
trust it will produce a temper and dispositiou, on all
sides, which will enable sue to decide dispe.siosece-
ly the most momentous question that was ever ante
'salved to our consideration. 1 shall not trouble
your Lordships further; but content myself with
moving, it That this petition do lie upon the table."
Ordered accordingly.
The Petition. which was read, is as fellows:
TO THE HONOURABLE THE COMMONS Or THE
UNITED KINGDOM Or GREAT BRITAIN AND
IRELAND, IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED.

We, whose names are underwritten, Roman
Catholics of England. I bly beg leave to repre-
sent to your honourable H•atse---
•' That, et the time of His Majesty's accession to
the Throw, the laws in force against his English
Roman Catholic 3itbjce t a, deprived them of most
of the rights of Englishmen, and of several of the
common rights of mankind.
66 That, by the Acts of the lath and 31st years
of Ms Majesty's reign, several of the penalties and
disabilities under which the English Roman Catho-
lics laboured, were removed.

" That the English Roman Catholics are most
gratefel for the relief granted by these Acts, and
have taken and subscribed tbr oaths and declara-
tions contained in them.
" That their conduct hash been. conformable to
their profew,Mos ; in peaceable submission to the
laws, and in the discharge of moral or civil duty,
they have not been exceeded by any of His Ha-
jesty's subjects ; they have served him effectively
and hooouralily in his fleets ■nd armies; there
never has been a call upon Englishmen to do their
duty, which the English Roman Catholics have not
been forward to answer.

" That several penal and, di•abling laws are yet
in fiiice spurn them: They are not equally entitled,
with their teilow-vubjet•ts, to vote at the election of
any Member of 3 nor Honourable House; they are
excluded front a scat in either !louse of Ptatia-
meta ; they are not ailmissable into Corporations;
every civil and militate office is denied them; even•
laudable object of ambition, all that elevates a man
among his fellow-sulijrcts. all hopes of public dm.,
thiction, all tile:111i of attracting the notice of their
country, or the favour or their Sovereign, are placed
without their reach.

" The more they &serve of the it country, the
more sensibly their country moles them feel this
etteluston. In the ranks sloe suffers them to tight
her battles, but to them victory is seri:leant its re-
ward ; promotion is wholly denied them ; no be: -
viees can advance, rri merit ena'..lle them to protit
of their country'. favour.

" Evros in their hutaii.le idnation of private vol.