The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1805-05-15 00:00:00

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plc to those who may feel themselves disposed to 'mfhaeys
Colrtahitn)litcnEraninaciipcoiptiaotnic.,ll
nAlesaknil/2sanyanirdf
what gi
oppose it.• • t; ;
Sir W. SCOTT, in a very learned and argumen- will honestly tell you, they do not Inidw. One sol
tative speech, thrcugh which, from the very low he expo is he will be freed ft oat tythes by it ;
an-0.1
,one of his voice, we found it impossible to follow Cher, that he is to pay no taxes ; but that it is to
him exally, contended, that from the very forma- confer on certain persons of the higher orders .1
tion of the Constitution, the political was indisso- right to sit in the two !louses of Parliament, is,
lubly and nniformly connefted with the religious am sure, what not one in authority drearitnd of.
state of this country, and being founded by our an- If yon come now to iwinsider, Sirnavbas it is that is 6
cestors, it was our duty to mani:co ourselves the be granted, the question is fairly this: VIII you give
supporters and preservers of that State. From the political power or will you not ? Is it In your 1,„„.,r
fundamental principles of this Constitution, not only to give it? I say it is not: you cannot give ,t
the Sovereign himself. but those who held the high The Engli,ll llom in Catholics by no means stand ii;
offices of State under him, must profess thr: Protest- so favourable a situation as those ot Ireland. y
ant Religion, and above all things it was necessary must t!ierehn e first.put the. Catholics in England on
for that House to support them, and this was his the same tooting wish thsae in Ireland. You mu,:
contant and most fervent prayer. It vas impossible ialso allow th.tot seats in Parliament, and it you do,
to extend those privileges to the Romau Catholics, what security have yolk far the constianinn ? ss.Lit
which their Petition now prayed, without it direct is to become of your church establishment ? Who
violation of those laws. In this position he was not makes the laws which craft prodsinris for the main.
only borne out by the general principles on which reliance of the clergy, for the security and protec-
the prerogative powers of the Constitution were tion of the' chuich and its rights ? Why certainly
established, but by the local circumstances of that the Parliament. Would you then biing into faeitia.
part of the country to which the Petition related. • ment men belonging to another church, which
hay
With respell to the arguments of the lion. Gent. always been jealous of yours and inimical to its in-
( Mr. Grattan) who had spoke on the other site terests, and who have ever fdt themselves interesteil
with so much wit and eloquence in the Debate of in the complete overthrow and downfall of sour
last night; who had expatiated upon the loyalty of own ? The Catholics in Ireland have had mani
that body with so much earnestness, he considered concessions made to them at various times, with
that we were far from being able to anticipate that I which they have never been contented. In l'lan
confidence which he so much relied upon. It was they did not indeed get moth ; but in 1793 they
that sort of loyalty which required to be animated got a great deal. Parliament gave them even
by a boon, aid from which, he had intimated, he saw more than they asked, in hopes they would rest
the extreme possible danger of granting that boon. .hushed, and nut require more. Let Parliament
The Hon. Gent. held out a menace that it the prayer now grit the prayer of the Petition, and. look.
of this Petition was reje&ed, a separation from Ire- Mg to what they will do by what they have done,
land must ensue ; and because we have given so I think I may failly draw the conclusion, that tbq
much, it would be improvident not to give more. will want stilt more. I may plainly say, that if rots
He considered that we have already given the sub- give them power, they will endeavour to increase
stance, and what was left. was but a short append- that power. I Isove'no doubt but they would conic
age of the whole. He gave credit to the Parliament forward and say, we do not approve the Chow,
of Ireland for making such a scleaion at that time ; establishments we think the Roman Catholic pot_
but he contended that more could not now be suasion is by far preferable ; and, as numhers
granted. to govern, incases of this nature; we, the Cathoh
Mr. GRATTAN, in explanation, said, that the consisting of four millions, insist on it, that you, n,
Hon. G. ntleman had alluded to some words rela- Protestants, who are only one million, should sutinnt
tive to what had fallen from him ; the Hon. Gen- to us. Away then goes the Protestant establishment,
demon had said, that "if you re jell the Petition and that of the Roman Catholics rises on its ruins.
you cause the separation of the country." 1-k de- Let us suppose, Sir, that these Gentlemen get into
nied he had said any such thing, but he did say, not Parliament by the division of this !louse.
We am
that it was the rcjeaion of the Petition, but the adop- told, by the lion. Gentleman who brought forward
tion of the calumny which might produce the sepa- the Petition; they do so from an abstract right ;
ration. and by this right, fifty, sixty, or eighty, thus
Sir W. SCOTT explained. obtain a right to seats: in their usual Way, they
Ja
Dr. LAURENCE said, that after what had fallen not feel they hate got enough—they find that eighty
from the Gentlemen on the other side, he was sorry members cast do little or nothing here, against 35e
to say, be could not again behold that'Constitutioo, English and Scotch ; but if they can restore the
which he had always considered the bond of the Irish Parliament, the busines4 will be done. By
Empire, with the same pleasure and satisfaCtion ; it the Union. the Protestant boroughs are all gone.
equality of protection was not to be extended to all In popular eleaions numbers will prevail, and as
ranks and degrees of His Majesty's sublets. The the Catholics are in much more numerous, von
arguments which had been used on the other side, will soon have a Catholic Parliament ; and then
were studiously and systematically degrading to the I leave you to j.:Jge bow long it hill be borne
Constitution of the country and the religion we a separation between the two countries takes place.
profess. in answer to the various quotations which I beg to explain, Sir, what 1 mean by Protestant
were cited on the other side from hits and scraps of Boroughs. At the time of the Union it was found
pamphlets and old books of a century ago, as he necessary to make satisfaainn to those who wen,
termed them, he refereed to the celebrated Edmund owners of Jloruitglis ; and the sum of t,t00,0.,
Burke, Mr. Locke, William I 11. and Lord Som. was paid on that account to Protestants, with. ~
mers, all of whom had declared, that it was perfectly single shillingbeinikrund to a.tatholic (a lee" I:
compatible with the Constitution of the country, to One argument used, Sir, in behalf of this Pett.,
take off eh-se restrictions. If they behaved well is that of conciliation. I have not heard that i!.e
upon cet tale occasions, their consciences were not to Catholics are not conciliated, they go into the ain.y
be direfted by men, but left to their God ; and, for- and into the navy in consequence of :hi
tified by all these authorities, he thought he might numerous concessions that have been made to them ;
differ from his Right Hon. and ',tinned Friend and it you attempt to eonciiiate them further by
(the Attorney General) who spoke last night. In panting the prayer of this Petition, you shut )nia•
answer to the several arguments, " that a Protect- eyes to the interests of a million of Protestant,
ant King could not have a Roman Catholic in his whom your ancestors encouraged to settle in tha:
Councils." upon the cardinal virtues of prudence, country, to whims both they and you have promis..l
and the expediency of the times, he considered the proteaion ; who are depeodent on you for the sects-
former as fallacious and absurd, and the construe- ray of their property, their liberties, and their reli•
clan which had been put upon the latter was little, gins, and to whom, if you do not extend your pit
seining, and shuffling. Any man of sense, who teaiim, they can have no safety. You will deceive
thought up--41 the subject with candour, temper, and betray them. They will love the Protestant ass
and liberal principle'. and bad (examined the falls cendaticy ; that is, a Protestant King, Protestant
with reasoc, wadd be satisfied of the expediency of Lords, and a Protestant House of Cotrarions ; the a.
the measure; be concluded by declaring, he should torm the Protestant ascendancy t I never knew ivy
give his vote for this measure. with pleasure, with other ; and that I wientlll c
emen onthinaveue tosaid, in proclaim w
supporhtile
ni
satisFaaion. and conscientiously. have breath. G
Mr. FOSTER spoke nearly as follows :—" I beg this Petition —ss It is little yon give, though it it
leave, Sir, to request the attention of the House to a much to them who receive."—l really think, Sir,
few observations which I wish to submit to them this position ought to be inverted. What are we
at the present question ; and, lam the more in- called on to gave ? a right to sit in Parliament,
caned to do so, as it will be, in some degree, expla' right to fill the first of ces of the state. Is ilia
aatory of my sentiments on a former occasion. I a little to give ? It it he deemed so, I call yo
%N O begin, Sir, by stating the situation in which tu give all your political power, and then yol
the Catholics now stand, according to the laws of will soon be convinced of the fatal consequences
outs
Ireland now in force respetang them. They en- not knowing Where to Stop in making coocessiont.
joy, already, Sir, the elettive franchise ; and in- We have been desired, Sir, to look at the situaticn
deed, I may say, all civil rights, in an equal of other countries; to look at Sully, to hick it
degree with the Protestants. They now want.' Neckar. These, Sir, are fallacious arguments. Na-
ir' addition to those. to possess themselves of ther Sully nor Neckar were bound, by any tits
political power. It is owned by their Petition, whatever, to a foreign Sovereign; the Catholics ar;
this is what they require. It is owned by the and, therefore, the arginnent drops with regard to
Hon. Gentleman who brought forward and so ably them. The lion. Gentlemati has also desired tiro
supported that Petition; this is what they aim at; look at Venice. I see no kind of good in doings°,
and lam here desirous to deliver my plain reasons and am at a loss to account for his washing as
why I think these claims thus urged ought not to take any sort of example front a COW"
to be granted. I have a right, Sir, I think, to which I think may now be fairly mond a
judge of them as to the future, by what I know nation lost to the world. We have been
of them from the past, and from that I do Sir, of the zeal and loyalty of the Catholics, asi
not think any further concessions should be made their attachment to the Government. I have se
to the Catholics, than those they have at present. doubt of it, Sir. I know personalls several of awe
What is the language, Sir, that has been held gentlemen whose names are signed to thin
out to the House on this subject by the Honour- whom I know to be persons of worth and hoeing,
able Gentleman who brought forward the Yeti- and of whose loyalty and attachmoit to the i;, ivy
tion, and by others who support it? Why, Sir, ment, I have not the least doubt ; but oil' Of
that there are in Ireland, from three to four millions the prayer of the Petition ought not to be
01"
of men, who, they say, form nearly a fourth part of ed. I could wish that the I lonoorohle Genaanas
His Majesty's European subjeas, and that you would pay a visit to Ireland, and stay there s
ought to grant to those four millions the prayer of months. He would then be a witness to ate f
es
eel*
their Petition, because you should endeavour to ings of the honest loyal Protestants, and wouid
unite their affeEtions, in order to attach their zeal that they %vete not wanting in loyalty and Awls-
and loyalty to the Government, and to secure ment, and that they deserved the prate tion of ('d
those men to stand firmly by you in time of verninent and the Legislature also, aping any far
war. Sir, I do say those men are already. at- ther claims of the Catholics I conceive, Sir, there*
tached by their zeal and loyalty, and that they much danger in this question. I consider it as tendirl
have hitherto uniformly stood by us without our to break down the pale ot ihe constitution and
' claims. The viaories of Lord Nei- this i. the first attempt. I think we slniuld beeP
•• ;Jinn!

granting these cl_
son and Lord Hutchinson, in Egypt, are proofs of
this, for they were gained chiefly by the Irish, in
our fleet and army, and yet you are kold you must
totter and throw down your Constitution, in order
to gain those men you had before. What is it; Sir,
the Catholics get by it ? I will tell you ; they will
obtain what the great mass of them will never bone.
fit by, and know not the meaning of the word;

view tile old adage, p;illoair u.Ssta, and intineJtat.
give the Catholics to understand that we e.1^74
grant the prayer o; their Petition; and, therefvti
will not deceive them by holding out any tallsoo°'
hopes on a subjeet so truly important and intercsi4
to the whole empire."
Mr. LEE said a few word. in explanation.
Mr. G. PONSUNI3I—" hiving 101 l bits

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