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London, England, 1824-04-03 00:00:00

The Marquis of LANSDOW34 He continuation) remarked,
that in the mew he had been taking he had only been explaining
the subject of the petitions that he held in his hand. But if it
would be more agreeable to the Noblesad Learned Lord. by being
more in unison with his ideas of order, sod to keep himself strictly
within the bounds of decorum, he walk say, that he had heard
that a measure such as he had desathed was contemplated some.
where. He would beg to recall to the attention of the House what
was stated last year relative to the averages, which were in many
instances thought too high. But it ma stated then that if they did
run too high, at an average of seven an opportunity would
be afforded of revising them at the of three years. But by the
new Bill the composition could nee be altered under seven years ;
and those who were subjected to hinset remain at an excessive
payment for the whole of seven prig Such enactment* were far
from being a remedy for the evil* We hare so long afflicted Ire.
land. He could assure their Lortiellipi, that in stating these objec-
tions he was actuated ally by a aim desire to see the peinciplei
of the Bill of last year ended rein Oa erect. Although be had
spoken in favour of holders of certain property in Ireland being
dealt with on fair and equitable terms, and their rights being con-
sidered inviolate, still he should reeagrnend to them to make the
patriotic sacrifice, and take their gamin this payment ; but that
sacrifice *bald be of their own free will. The compulsory mea-
sure was not to be adopted towards ebe clergy or the tithe payer,
and it was not fair to compel a weaker party, holding their property
tithe-free, under rights as sacred as the clergy held their tithes, to
come under these compositions.
The petition, which cane from a palish in the county of Tip-
perary, was then read by the clerk.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL observed, that after the speech just
delivered by the Noble Marquis oppeette, it would be necessary
for him to trouble their Lordships with a few observations. Be
should not, in consequence of anything that had been said, go into
discussion on the measure that had been so pointedly alluded to by
the Noble 3larquia. When the other House of Parliament thought
it right to introduce the Bill to their Lordships' notice, and it
came regularly before them, he should he prepared to offer his sen-
timents upon it. Bat he would now eensider for a few minutes
the measure that had passed through Parliament last Session. The
House would do him the justice to reeellog, that when he proposed
the second reading of the Bill, he haggled that it could be corgi.
dead in no other light than as an impedes ',assure, which mold
at first do no more than establish iple. It was with this
view that he had declared to their I his opinion of the Bill
of last Session; and it was singular thee the great difference be.
tween those who opposed it and bitadr was, whether it should
be eotnpulsory or not. He contended that it should not be com-
pulsory, and that was the great peat at issue between them.
When lie looked at the probable SUM= of the Bill, he should
hare said, if it had answered in twenty instances, it was as much
as could be expected from it the first year. If it had boo suc-
cessful in fifty instances, he should hare said that the measure was
not in universal but In general operation. He was prepared to say,
under all the circumstances attending it, that the measure had suc-
ceeded beyond the most sanguine expegations of the opposers and
supporters of the BilL In the course elite operation, one tenth of
the country had bean included, for 278 parishes had taken advan-
tage of it.
The Marquis of LANSDOWN digested.
The Earl of LIVERPeIOL, in continuation, said that the
Noble Marquis would find that a grater number of parishes had
been led to the adoption of this Bill by the Clergy than by the tithe
payers. There had Items 23 new applies/dem and 1H a to since
the meeting of Parliament on the 3d of re;oaary. With regard to
what the Noble Marquis bad said as b tile Clergy claiming more
under the composition in woe instances, with reference to the Bill,
than they would otherwise receive, hi would only say, that less
than their right they could not receive. He would allow that they
would do more wisely not to claim theft full tight on many occa-
sions; but dealing with it as a quesdea of property, they were
bound to make the whole extent of their claim. They had no
alternative; it was not optional with them; they could, under that
view oldie case,do no otherwise than deolposi the whole that was their
does. He thought it right sr gas dee Commissioners the power
that had been complained of; without they were to be mere non-
entities, they must possess it, and less mold not be given to them.
Looking at the whole course of the transaction upon the meat ex-
tended view, be would maintain that it had succeeded ; and he
would ask if it had not operated liberally towards the tithe payer ?
According to the papers that had been presented relative to this
Act, the accuracy of which he had no reason to doubt, the tithe
payers bad been treated most liberally. As far as the account had
been made out, it was most satisfactory. Ten places were included
in it in various dioceses, and it appeared by it that in the diocese
of Cashel the tithes were let at Is. 3d. per acre English. In the
diocese of Clonfert the whole had been dime at Pa ; in the diocese
of Elphin they were at I id. and in that of Meath at Ild. This
was the state of the question where the returns had been made out,
and he had given them as a proof how reasonable were the demands
of the clergy. He would not trouble their Lordships further to-
deed, he was incapable of doing so from the state of his health ;
but he could not help repeating, that this measure had succeeded
as far as it had been tried, and be hoped that he had clearly proved
in a degree far beyond doubt.
The petition was then laid on the table.
Lord KINGSTON, in presenting a petition from Templecarick,
against the compulsory clauses in the Adjustment of Tithes Bill,
took occasion to observe, that in the neighbourhood where he re-
sided the rector refused to allow 701. a year to a curate, and ob-
jected also to the building of an additional church. There were
only four clergymen in that neighbourhood to preside over thirteen
parishes, the consequence of which was, that all those who were
Protestants had become Catholics, actually from the want of a
place in which they might hear divine service, and rather than
I give up their attendance altogether they had preferred going to
DIEM,.

Lord KING regretted to see such a petition as that now brought
forward presented to their Lordships, recollecting the sums of
money that had been voted for the building of churches, and the
House must be sorely vexed to hear such a petition ; but it seemed
now that the clergy were in arrear. He hoped that some one on '
the opposite side of the Muse would stand up to defend the
clergyman whose conduct had been arraigned. lie thought it un-
fair that one should be singled out, where it wax notorious there
were so many delinquents.
The petition was then ordered to lie on the table.
Lord KINGSTON presented similar petitions from the parishes
of Kilbeggin, Ballymandel, and Marchestown, in the county of
Cork.—Laid on the table.

Lord KIN(i&TON observed, that if it were necessary he could
bring forward persons to swear that they were obliged to change
their religion for want of Protestant places of worship.
Lord CLARE, in allusion to the operation of the Tithe Com-
position Dill, remarked, that he considered the property of the
church to be as sacred as the property of any other body or indivi-
dual and he regarded the measure then under discussion to be
essential to the salvation of that property.
Lord DARNLEY Minutest that the clergyman did not receive
the full amount of his tithe in Ireland, and he was not surprised at
it, after the declaration that the House had heard from the Noble
Lord on his left (Lord Kingston). That Noble lord had made
use of the mast incontrovertible argument, and had laid before the
House matters of fact, which it was impossible to refute, and to
which be should have occasion to advert when he brought that sub-
ject forward on Monday next. He certainly did not concur in all
sub-
ject at had been said by the Noble Lord (Lord Clare) relative to
thurch property, but the time was now arrived when the subject
emust undergo a full and thorough investigation.
Lord KINGSTON suggested that a Commission should be sent
to Ireland (similar to that which had been sent to inquire into the
duties of the Excise and Customs, and he considered the church
establishment to be of far greater importance), to ascertain the truth
of what he had stated, with rtgard to the non-resldence of the
clergy, and the number of unions of paiislies that bad taken place
in consequence.
Lord LIVERPOOL requested that the Noble Earl (Darnley)
would postpone the motion to which he had alluded, front Monday
till Thursday.
Lord D.t RNLEV acceded to the request of the Noble Earl (Li-
verpool), with the understanding that it should come on on that
day, as number of his Noble Friends, who were anxious to be
resent at the discussion, were detained in town for that purpose.
The Noble Lord then moved for a return of the number of per-
sons who had been tried fur minder at the Assizes for King's
County'during the last year, specifying their names.—Onlered.
Lord HA R ROW ll V (adverting to the suggestion of hie Noble
Friend, the Earl of Liverpool) put It to the Noble Earl (Darnley),
I if the purposes of his motion would not be better answered by its
postponement till some time after Easter, as the House would then
be in possession of papers elucidatory of the state of Ireland, and
which he thought might be beneficial to the motion itself.
Lord DARNLEY said that, for the reasons he had already
given, he could not accede to the proposition of the Noble Earl,
but that he should persevere in bringing it on on Thursday next.
Loud KINGSTON moved, that a return should be made from
the Irish Court of Exchequer, stating whether Thoinas Mostyn,
who had filled the office of sub-sherifrof the county of Sligo, had
taken the oaths necessary to qualify him fur that office in that or
any Court of Justice in Ireland.
A conversation took place between the Lord Chancellor. Lord
Holland, and Lord liarrowby, as to the regularity of the above
motion.

After which Lord KINGSTON *greed in withdraw it, for the
purpose of shaping it in a leas objectionable form.
MARRIAGE OF UNITARIANS.

Ltd LA ----- to move the see md

degree 01
of the world, the moat lasting effects. He did not desire to speak
at all disrespectfully of existing institutions, and he begged that
in what he was about to urge he might not be misunderstood. He
had stated that his object was to provide chieky against &lades-
tine marriages, and after that it was his intention to give to Dis-
senters, in the performance of this ceremony, every facility they
could require, with as little hindrance SA possible that might arke
ht point of form. It was on that ground that he thought it sums-
nary to adopt the provisions of the Bill, and he was desirous of
explaining himself distinctly, as it had been stated that he wished
to propose alterations in the Liturgy. So far from that, it was his
intention to leave that part of the ceremony untouched. He was
sure that Noble Lords would not require that the celebration
of the marriage ceremony, by a deaf of persons is end by Is..
should be made a vehicle of violating the eesselennee of shoes
people, by compelling them to **nib, a feeling whieb the WI is
other respects did nut call on them to signify ; and it was that that
important contract should be made iq {mans'" meet binding' on
their consciences, that it ought to take plass in the way that de
parties interested' considered as the Need biding. Irliew=
that the proper security should be takeaketheikur
of the ceremony, and that the fees and deal to the Mime ehenhl
be regularly made ; and that after those Magi had hen emplied
with, the parties should be married in their min chapels. He felt
that the measure would have been more satisfactory if k could
have included all classes of Dissenters; btu he spoke fiens
rience that such a course would have been impractical/in It yi
been stated from a quarter to which he always felt disynealideas
the greatest attention, that the objections of on WA= dodo
were merely formal, and that therefore the in alt
bound to relieve therm It was then urged that the individuals
whose dissent from the Protestant Hstablislunent took the widest
rage,
_previsions might be made to meet their objecti end
diis RBI eseerilingly provided for those who its fore uiea
the strongest reasons to dissent. Now, the Bill on their Lefeag
table provided that the pieces of worship of theorising.*
Unitarians should be registered, and that after kik been
registered for one year, upon. due notice, and the pa of might be therein celebrated. It provided olio spied
guy fraud or collusion in the performance of the ceremony, es it
awarded a punishment against a minister who celebrated marriage
otherwise than in the form prescribed by the Act. The extent of I
ads punishment was not defined, as he had left it to be filled up
by the Committee, in case the Bill should proceed so far; but he '
should suggest that it might be transportation for life. Now, al-
though the promoters of that Bill had exerted all their ingenuity to
prevent clandestine marriages, yet, if in the Committee any add.
Bond security should be suggested, there would be no difficulty*
Inserting it. He bad now touched on all the principal femesse Ice
the Bill, and he hoped that he should not bear it objeolagthat she
parties were so far removed from the Church of Engleal mita dor
serve no relief; that could be no reason for withholding it, beans
being tolerated by law, the law ought to furnish them wish she
full means of enjoying their scruples, and not compel them WM
against diem ; stating as they did, most solemnly, that it we has.possible for them, conscientiously, to assent to the language a die
ceremony. lie could not nnusive what objection could -be Asia
to the passing of this Bill, unless it was contended that Unftailass
were out of the pale of society, or that they should not marry et
all ; or it might be intended to enact a penalty for the feelings of
conscience, which, the law not only tolerated but respected. He
had endeavoured to confine himself as much as possible in
explaining the objects of the Bill, and he should now move that it
be read a second time.

The Archbishop of CANTERBURY was of opinion, that the
mode of giving relief to the Unitarians, as proposed by the pro.
sent Bill, was very objectionable. The Bill that had been before
brought in proceeded on a different principle; that Bill, on Its
second reading, was supported by many of their Lordships, among
wham he was one; it was opposed by others, and opposed success-
fully. lie conceived that there were but two methods of giving
relief to the Unitarians—by enabling them to intermarry agreeably
to their own form, am alter the Liturgy to their mode of feeling :
to the last method he objected most decidedly. He was told that
ao shasotion in the Liturgy was bonded, that it wars merely
meant to omit a prayer. or two, but that nothing was to be subtler-
toted ; but lie conceived that alterations might be as broadly
brought about by omission as by substitution; and it must
of course be intended to omit all those parts relative to the Tri-
nity, and thereby make the Church the handmaid to dissent,
which he thought never ought to be conceded. The Noble Mar-
quis had said, that he was anxious to admit other Dissenters to
this favour; now he could not admit that this could be called a
favour. Scruples of conscience were the ground-work of what
was to be granted ; if those scruples did exist, and he really
believed they did, he thought they ought to be relieved; but he
still thought that the publication of banns should take place in the
parish church. The Unitarian chapel might be ten miles from the
parish church : this would open a door to clandestine marriages.
No place was so fitted for the celebration of the marriage as the
church, as it imparted a solemnity to the proceeding which it
could not derive from any other place. He coacluded by stating
tbs., he should vote for the second reading, as he was favourable
to Om Bill going into a Committee.
The LORD CHANCELLOR began by observing that the
deep interest he felt for the preservation of the Protestant re-
ligion must be taken as his apology for addressing the House
on the present question. When he came to look at the principles
on which the Bill rested, lie thought they presented matter
for deep and grace consideration. If he understood general words
at all in discussing the doctrines which the Church of England
maintained and supported, he was net to enter into speculations of
individuals about the doctrine of the Trinity, and these denial of it.
He thought that their first inquiry should be as to whether those
speculations were not illegal. The Bth and 10th of William 111.
were misunderstood; if it was supposed that the repeal of those Acts
made the denial of the Trinity perfectly legal, it was incumbent
on the friends and supporters of the Bill then before their Lord-
ships, to remove all doubts on that subject. In the recital of the
preamble of that Act it would be found to contain nothing more
than the common law of the land, and it was remarkable that the
Scotch Act, published about the same period, made the denial
of the doctrine of the Trinity highly penal, and punished it very
severely. He had no idea that in repealing that Act of
they were repealing the common law of the land. He fell that he
was called on so make that statement, and that it was the business
of those who now came forward to support the Unitarians, to re-
move those impressions. Suppose there was no common law on
the subject, still his objection was the same; those who denied the'
doctrine of the Trinity could not reconcile their religious opinions
with those of the Church of England. It might be said that there
were Jews and Quakers who formed no pain or the Church of Eng-
land ; this was true, and let those who denied the doctrine of the
Trinity withdraw themselves from the establishment altogether.
If there was one doctrine more essential to the Church of England
than another, it was the doctrine of the Trinity. For the reasons
that he had dated, however, he would nut give his consent to the
passing of any Bill similar to the present.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL said, that if the question came to
a division he should vote for the second reading, and kr the Bill's
going into a Committee; but if the Bill came out of the Com-
mittee in its present shape he should oppose It. lie was inclined
to grant relief to Uni 'wad Unitarians, in the same man.
ner that be would grant it to ews or to Quakers • sod by so doing
the consciences of the Dissenters would be respected, and the reh-
gion of the State upheld. The relief that he proposed should be
given where both parties were Unitarians, but where one party was
Unitarian, and the other of the Established Church, there the re-
remony should be twice gone through, as in other cases,--Catholic
and Protestant foe instance,—to render it valid. If the Bill should
come out of the Committee so modified, he would give it his
support.

The Bishop of CHESTER declared himself friendly to every
principle of civil and religious liberty ; in those principles he had
been bred and educated, and he now *Measly said that—" dual
hos Spiritus elegat arta"— he would as sincerely continue in them.
No human laws either could or should restrain the natural pato-
guise of man.--his power of thinking; and the question now he.
fore them, he was happy Co say, was not one of doctrine, but merely
one of discipline. The principles upon which he had always
acted were those which were put forward by a great and eloquent
Divine, who needed no eulogium from him or any other individual
—he alluded to the great and eloquent Dr. Paley, who was such an
ornament to this country. If, however, a state religion were fie-
aviary—And being necessary, was established--all its peculiarities
and privileges should be preserved inviolate and intact- The mea.
sure now before them principally related to the ceremony of marriage,
which was both a civil and religious ordinance, or at least was so con-
sidered by the Church of England. Supposing, then, as all must sup-
pose, that the Church, founded in Scripture, was the true Church,
it must be admitted to be essential to the interests of siciety,
that all persona should be obedient to the Church ; and thence he
saw no reason why the Unitarians should particularly complain.
The fair way to view this question was, first, to what was the Unita-
rian bound to subscribe? He was bound to repels', " with this ring
I thee wed, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy (Thom
and he asked, were not these the words of Scripture? lie be-
lieved they were, and so the Unitarian believed. Our liturgy
was like our Articles, scriptural and generous, and to be in-
terpreted as each person thought proper. But if any objec-
tion were made to these words, he could only say the objec-
tion was strange in the Unitarian, who made use of than in bap-
tism. They were also used by him in some other ceremonies;
and so far then the Unitarian had no just cause of complaint. The
Church of England after added her benediction ; but he would ask
if the Unitarian did not think himself the better for receiving the
blessing of that Deity whom they as alike adored There was no
force, no compulsion on the I. who might Interpret that

.., shat
mentary in.._
__,, arising from afar:riga should not be teas! oil ism, especially am they were Peld i
a pious andlaborions inibibetof respecuth'.• Individuals fit by
friendly to Wishner tokwation l but has Obnertfition of the iii,:th id,
duced him to think those pasterns who most clainoured ibt • 0
opinion were not the most dlepated to slide the different* it. N..
neon in chem. He was amities Plato scd meta writes. Ile
in what be had oil be had given no offence; and he wooig;
conclude by stating, with all his heart, Nitioniis kzes Eceksfik;
molest.
Lord HARROWBY add, that no man Would loom; sipidid
this measure than himself, if he thought it calculated to injure die
Established Church. He had heard that the Unitarians in out ear-
ice used ••• in the name of the Father," hi Mentor, " lord the 1111114
of the Father," and he must say he could not conceive air retinal
difference between them, plthough the Unitarian/ gild their. cos-
mine& were pressed on die difference. The object for shed t ;,bad:
dip he ese was, whether the scruple Wit cm which might, be non-
=entertained. Senses the siatiaeo amescing oil tei
he di NOW of Staliemet Rub some answer, tfhidi vel
meld not heat, was given by the Lord Chancellorj. Matridge, as
emesusidered it, was a civil contract, to which was ;Soli • nth-
eolinion. In order to make it binding sta the iinsotate td
its donee. They now, &Meyer, proposed to best" br "fra
that very doctrine which alone made thdee Undarith cos.
ssiendbusly discharge the duties they ctintenixed be enterio into
matrimony. He would object to malting the Establisbeil Church
subsidiary to the marringee of the Distends, Mitt he did eft see
thee such nu the case. It was not in the eiciatastical, but the
WI capacity of the State, that the register, of the pith where
the marripe took place: was nos to be found. The inffilkatioa
r of the bums in the church was not as good it security agate* clam-
destine marriages, as if they were also pub fished in the chapels of
the Disinters. He wished topro-note the dignity, and the ad-
vancement 6f the Established Church. and as the Hill now was, hi
Mai oppose it. If, however, is Were properly altered in the Ceen-
sidNee, an mild lee oo reasonable objection to it. flaring te-
legation should he promoted as Well ucifil, and de this Bill, in big
' vim of 14 bid only the promotion of such desirable objoets, ft
ial whit the exception he had already nude, obtain the sanc..
tier of ready approbation.
Lord CALTHORPH did not with to hale say hid, of men
phased in their consciences i but the church estabhabniept owed it
so herself, strong as she was, to reline respectable individual, if
she Was setithed that such toleration would lead to no lithdry to her
awn in She should not force othets against their conscience!:
but at ' same time rot to tolerate opinions hoot& to the funda-
mental of the church. He believed, with the Noble mead
L
Learned Lord on the Woolsack, that the doctrine of the Trinity wee
interwoven with our existence, and was the substratunt of be ponce.
dignity, end importance; Inn still preventing her beetng Say
outdid oo.operation with the Unitarians. He believed Stony
aneengst, them to be good tnen, who were din limend
in the mane of liberty and humanity ; bet he was cit Wei
to their laminable opinions, which were against el idilliesty,
011 the grace, and hope of Christbn eonsolation,berselloe. 'their
opinion were against the Scripttues ; and thouel wet onion in
life were amiable and pious, be still could ant bat bent= they were from being scriptural Christiana. The Chirehof
England maintained the doctrine of the Trinity, not al kipsailsOni
memo of grace, bat as the active cause of every good. ik Inima.
ad the iron of the Unitarians, but still he allowed every mist
lsus the subject of religion, to think for himself.. As a mow or
'judos to the superior purity of out church., and imp me.-
1 dittoing, he thought they were perfectly right esesei eh dle-
silt generally from the Unitarians on the subjoins, the
Such an avowal should not be withheld on art ereinice
present. He thanked the Right Rev. Prelates for ob any
alteration in our marriage service, for he thought if R be
made it would be full of danger to the church establialmer" on is
example it would have been had, hectic it would Minna MM.
spect upoa that holy Liturgy which he .rected only Ws dinalbe
Holy M'ord of God himself. He thorst thanhad the
Hew. Beelsoferaidzireitien they Ned. exptseasiff
of ear ustuneiet mieteles mei
'11.24 niabiail were subjected. soaiiteed NOM sec end .
Ow tinsoladeas necessary to sustain them than those profaned
by the Visitations. They were not like ether sects, whose religion
was in a great measure made up of ceremonies and rites, whisk hod
secured for their church so much respect from the people. Hs
would, however, support the present Bill. so far as to let it go into
a Committee, but beyond that he was not now prepared es ad-
vised to go.
The Liar' of WESTMORLAND said he altogether objected to
the principle of this measure, not to the toleration of all hosed
faith and morals 1 but be opposed it beceause it sought to give
partial benefit against the law. of the land and the church. Akin-
non was made to the Quakers and the Jews ; and if alterations
were to be made, and if privileges were granted to the Unitsthis
now, all, he thought, should be included. This Bill went to
alter the regulations of and also to make the church the
handmaid of the Unitarians. he church should not be made the
advertiser of such marriages; and if the law says that all ease-
risges are to be solemnized in the church, he saw no reason why
cue class of persons should be exempted from its operation. He
objected to the principle of the Bill, both looking to its ecclesias-
tical and civil bearing, and did not see how those persons who cos.
tiered the existence of the Protestant church necessary to the
security of our liberty and property, could at once become friendly
to a measure which be was firmly persuaded would have a direct
uodency to endanger both. Holding these opinions, he should
seta against the ascend reading the Bill.
The Bishop of LONDON begged very briefly to replan his
reasons foe the support of this Bill. The policy ad allowing mat-
rices to be celebrated in the churches was good, not only for the
incidental benefits of securing a sacred ceremony, and great pub-
licity, but for much higher objects and considerations. If a man,
however, came to be married in the Church, he did not thereby
sabeeribe to the doctrines of the Church ; and if the law of die
Lad was not violated, he saw no reason why the conscientious
seenyies of persons differing from the Established Church should
rest be attended to. Persons coming into the Church were not
bored to make any profession of faith, nor subscribe to any ?sa-
tiable ankles. They were married—•• In the name of the Father,
Sea. and Holy Ghost," and lie did not think they were entitled to
interpret the meanings of these words as they thought proper. The
' smpples of the Unltaiilllo. TIM not to overbear all notions of po-
H*; and they should certainly give us security that their mar-
tillgel were performed with decency, and the practice of all
fraud prevented in obtaining licences, as well as all fraud in
the actual celebration of mamage. M ith respect to the permis-
sion to Jews and Quakers, it was only extended where bolt
parties were Jews and Quakers, bar rot when one of the coo-
tutting parties was of the EstablishedsChurch. In these eases
there existed securities which the Unitarians bad nut yet offered,
and which should be obtained before they received any further be-
nefits. In the case of the marriage of the Jews, there were great
securities . • In their religion—in their witnesses required to see it
performed--in the very rites and ceremonies which attended it t
and it was only very recently that a Jewish marriage was set
aside, in consequence of the insufficiency of witnesses. Their
very language of itself WWI a certain degree of security, and,
besides that, they were all obliged to be registered according vs
, their own regula•ions. He never met with any danger result.
ing from the toleration extended to them, or to the sect known
byethe denomination of Quakers. The Unitarians only objected
to our marriage ceremony ; in all others they concurred with
us . • and, as yet, they had offered no security that proper
plates would be appointed for the celebration of marriage, nor for
the respectability of the ministers, nor the decency ells a lmiait tea-
don. If all these matters ere not fully attended to in the Ctrntnit-
tee, he would feel it his duty to oppoee the Bill. And a word with
respect to the diminution of the fees of the clergyman; and
although it was a matter proper to be considered, yet he thought
it of little comparative value to the loss of persons professing the
established faith. The performance of the marriage ceretnorty was
often the most grateful ceremony which could be performed ;—it
' was often the cause of our associating with it a great degree of bene-
volence between the pities, and this Bill would go to make the
Pmustant clergyman look like a tax collector. He would not girt
a premium to any man to be a Dissenter, though he would not maks
his being one the ground of any act of injustice against him ; but
in conferring benefits, care should be taken that the best interests
of our own establiihnieut were not surrendered to hint upon mitt-
taken views of religious or civil toleration. He saw no danger
front the recognition of the principle contained in the Bill before
them • but to some of its clauses he had very strong objection..
He hid no objection to the second reading of t'e Bdl, or to its
going into a Committ se, where he hoped that its licensing clause
would be altogether omitted, and certain other alterations made,
which, while conferring a boon upon the Unitarians, would not
make the Established Church subsidiary to the views of any class
of persons who might even conscientiously dissent from her long-
established, wholesome, and Christian doctrines. _ _

'1

Lord HOLLAND said that the principle of this Bill was so
clearly stated by bier Noble Friend (the Marquis of Lowdown), tint
little was left him to say upon that subject. He also thought that
the heads of the Chow& of England deserved praise for the senti-
ments they had uttered, far they were, with few exception,, senti-
ments reflecting bower en those who uttered them, and replete
with Christian charity. The principle then in his view being
established, it only remained for him to consider a few of the obi
jections made to It by his Noble and Learned Friend on the Wools
sack, and also by the Learned Prelate (the Bishop of Cht-ta). It
was in the first place seaman to coil upon his Noble ea,
learned Friend, to state more fully his objections, and above all as
offer s-mc explanation of than for more strange °bite ions Fe ha:,
never heard. There was a feeling very common in all phe a eto
li ' tot etattiog their; Lordships Hum, alisl it was this, that