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mast innovations would be pressed
forun the
tai‘e, and would at last proceed so far a render
~eepossible for Peri:an:cut to maintain the tesrs
AO esperience had proved to be so useful. The
one sort of arguments wnuld go to admit all
lesenters into all offices and pl tees of public sp-
.:int:rel even those which 4. large emeriti), ef
,A House, formeily, and wheel the nation et
"at
had considered as dangerous to the religious
stakolihatent of the country. It was not to be en
wee,s that he and his Honourable Friends were in
0 tele, they argued as it they lived in the d.irk
ises, and that it was of no importance what sort of
seligious establishment it was, for that these este-
dishmens were to be considered merely in refer-
too to their political importance. The adoption
of such lax principles, he considered as one sty
runts pulling down that stage,
nowhich th
th is
s
.untry had st-nd for ages. was
me when the House and the C tuntry were
eperionily called upon to make a stand; and so
ter e as bed been insinuated, from their shutting
err eyes to the light, he tru,ted, that their resist-
ice to the present measure would affoid a proof,
ha: tiny were sufficiently enlighteeed to see, that
by it the peace and sanity of their country were
weleueeretl. If this Bill were enacted into a
w, one, two, or even ten 'tannish pi tests, might
bs found rearing teeir heals, and openly preech-
i
eag Popish doarines in a ship of war ; and
f
eeete menial tenets of religien were thus to be
ietrodreed into the N avy, nothing bat discord
mad confusion might he tens fled to ensue...a
f titre a ride,t roughing, and marks of dinorni,tion
!rem Me liiiiiiiterial ,isle of the Houle,
,1,,e. tome tome
teterratted INC 11m. ilesibi.ei who at /nit prtreened)•
fie declared. that no interruption of ties sort should
peewee him trolls stating his sentiments calmly, yet
lieelly- Let Gentlemen but look hack to the tits-
racefal riots in 1780, on the subjeet of religion.
Wotrld the Noble Lore (1-lowick) say, that disputes
upon religion only existed between Dodoes of lei-
sitety i And it the Norte of this country should
anerehend that there is an attempt to tear doe n
the Pettectant religion by piece-meal. the promoters
at this measure may feel themselves in danger;
tzar cure the house of the Noble Lord (hlowick)
t ircepe their attack. Will Noble Lords or Honour-
able Gentlemen then tell him, hat this was
peen measure ? Will they pietentd tu say, that
e R,Ciltn. Catholics are without toleration,
et present, or that those of them in the army
aie psevented from attending their own places
or Wel ship. %hen such permission can be granted,
enliven inconvenience to tee service.—lie felt a
atmoy suspicien, that the present measure was only
one ei th- greater steps intended to he introduced.
—(Cesigt,i7 ) —Addressing the Speaker, he said,
het: it teat, that he would not stiff r any party ende se
veer to be yawed to prevent him, or any hooey
inesteendeat Member of Perliement, from speaking
his sentietems holdiy. He w.uld not be put down,
-eel it any person thought to hear him down by un-
oiesonable interruptions, lie declared they little knew
U is or the audience whom he had the honour or ad•
arming. He begged that thismeesure might be con-
sidered noteleeraeledly, but in reference to the event
thi which the Mica seemed to be to car: y it; for it was
aNaitted by some persons, th,:t it was intended to
carry concessions to the Catnolics nniz:i farther.
lie entered, that when he heard measures of this
sort proposed by Members of Adminietration, it
seemed to him as if some pewee laid hold of the very
pillars of the House in which they sat, and threaten-
ed its destruaion.
Mr. FR EEMANTLE declared, that in his view
Of the subject, the measure now proposed tl.d not
bear upon the constitution of the country. These
was no clause in this Bill that Went to provide for
the establishment of the Catholic Clergy. either in
the army or navy. It did not militate either against
the 13.11 of Rights or the Aa of Settlement, and he
should feel su:ry if such an impression as this were
made upon the public mind.
Mr. VAW KES said, this measure appeared to
him to be tete which called for the set ious attentiun
of the Hoese. Tee country appeased to have been
depriv :d tar a long time of the services of a large
bade of people. aad now that a fair opportunity
rufei ei fur granting the present boon, he linseed the
time was conic, %then no busiest Catholic would he
deprived of the opportunity of servieg his ciluno y.
Mr. coRRx lamented, that upon the introduc-
tion of this measure. an alarm should have been ten-
et 23 if h would draw the Protestant Esteblishments
ut Engierail and itelend into danger. He entreated
Gentlemen would come to the consideration of this
question withcut pieindice. It was a question of
importance, :Ind its tendency was to prevent the n o
lives of Ireland from being banished tram the ranks
re military fame and glory at home. And being
drawn Imo the service Of foreign countries. This
Immure went to secure their services at home, and
siaght th7tefore to he examined upon its own
nierits. The principles of the Revolution ought
always to be held in the greatest veneration ;
bat when they looked to the objets of that
revolution. there would he found to be two prin-
cipal oteeets in view, namely, the terigioiss and
civil liberties of the country. %%lilt tespeet to
the Liter, he t, ii.ted they were never nut of mind
by a lerif'sh Perlierceat. aira that that House wouli
I.sok tete incessant jeeltaisy to any measure that
.e.ide.i to overihrow the liberties of the country ;
Lau, withrespea to the other own% the Protestant
telsgsen, it terould be remembined, that the questi in
was then, whether a Popish House should sit upon
the throne! But would any man pretend, that there
7:4e. I similar danger now i or tine the Popish re-
hems was ever likely to gain such an attehliment
tittsPerhentent. as to endanger the Protestant re.
ligenn ? lie was sure that such danger was remote
'mime ; and that in the present nuoure, no grin
siti'a of danger of this sort was likely to arise ; and
h.-. also trotted. that the Home would not partake
of that alarm. which the Learned Gentleman had
endeavoured to create.
Mr. HAWKINS BtiOWNE th-ueht that Gen-
/Innen should not be too heely to take en alarm,
till they sate the Rill. With regard to the Cetfrolic
venison.
.he considered i:r spirit to be as hostile to
the t*ltriltes t:f this country, as any iiihitrery power
senuld be. Ho trusted that there was no dread of
say foreign conqueror ; but stead, a seccessful and
formidable usurper, who has cemented tyranny
eibetever he has gone. penetrete to Ireland. and avail
bats& of the Pope's BA for the reeestablishnscut

of the ettliehe relieinn in that eonetry, be eoUld
not think, that additional indulgences would ensure
the ley:thy of that body. Ile was fee from think-
ing, that concession after concession would conci-
liate the affraions, or ensure the obedience, of the
Irish Catholics. He foresaw considerable danger
from these concessions, as it tended to prepossess
the mind, of the Catholics with eepeaations of still
farther concess:ons. He was averse to innovations,
iteless An existing evil could be proved, which torrid
not be remedied but by law I but in the present in-
stance, he was not aware that any such rue-tic:a
inconvenient.: existed. Unless the House was pre-
p.', ed cu go tl.e length of saying, that every officein the
United Kingdom was to be open to persons of ail
religions. he could see no good argument for advanc-
ing
Catholics to the highest appoiseinentt in !hearsay.
He should, however, have no objeehon to put all the
Roman Catholics is the United Kingdom upon the
same footing as the Irish Catholics now are. The
Irish Roman Catholics had at present every thing
which they could reasonably wish for: their pro-
petty was secure ; provi.ion WAS made for the r du-
cation of their priests ; the military and legal pro-
fessions were opened to them ; in short, they had
every thing they could wish for, excepting political
power. Ought they, then, to be insensible of the
blessings they enjoy, or ungrateful for the benefits
they possess under the best of Sovereigns, merely be-
cause they do not possess political power ? It had
been the wisdom of our ancestors to restrain the
Executive Power from et:interring the highest MS:es
upon Roman Catholics, at sl we ought to revere
their n'v !polies. and also .0 do jestice to our pos-
terity, by mainteinii g the tences which our ancestor*
inive erected.—/Bile the Ilea. tlenster cuaderiati,
mr,tine with repeated seterriarians by coughing,
arc champ his speech
Lied HOW ICK, in reply, said, he had been in
hopes that his motion for introducing the Bill,
would have passed without any discussion. 1;e
wished this question to be treated on its own me-
rit,. He did not consider it as standing upon the
ground of toleration ; but that it rested on the
tooting, that, in consecinence of what had for-
merly passed in the Irish Parliament, it was neces-
sary to make the liars in the two countries con-
sistent with themselves, and not to suffer the Catho-
lics to be in that anomalous situation is which no
people were ever placed before. He saw no reason
for that alarm which some Hon. Gentlemen had
endeavoured to create ; for, as to this measure, it
could be attended with no danger to the religion or
establishment of the country. He could not concur
in opinion with the Hos. and Learned Gentleman,
that it a person in the Army was called out in obe-
dienvc to the order of his superior, and at the peril
of his life, that therefore he could not incur any
penalty under possible circutostances ; he could
not subscribe to thc Learned Gentleman's expo-
'Viva of the law, particularly on the subjeet of
compulsory service, and more especially enen he
recolleated the opinion which that Learned Gentle-
man had fat merly given on toe ot the Vo-
lunteers. The Irish AO of Parliament eoald only
regulate the Army of Ireland ; and it an Irish re-
giment removed to England, it was then upon the
English Establishment, to which the Afts of the
Irish Parliament could not extend, and consequent•
ly its officers were tu*,jea to all the penalties which
a British Legislature had enacted. But tram the
momeut of the Union taking. place between the
two countries, and when there is no longer an Irish
Army, but the Army of the United Kingdom, and
to which the Aas of the United Parliament can
alone extend, he doubted whether the Irish Catho-
lic ei uld receive any commission in the army. He
acknowledged, that, de ps., the Catholics did hold
commissions, but it was cannery to existing laws ;
and although no advantage I ad been taken of this
breach of the law, he would ask, whether it were
fair to place the Catholics in such a situation, and
to pass that over by connivesece, which the
law forbad, instead of giving it a legal senelion ?
—The I Innoitrable and Learned Gentleman had
proless:sl himself a friend to the principle of tole-
ration; but tuleratinn, to be complete, must he free
from any exclusion whatever, and the only true
principle of exclusion, on account of religious opi-
nions, wite alien these opinions were conaeaed
with unlit:cal principles ho tile to the State; but
whets this cease, to exist, he would contend, that
then all disqualiticetione ought to erase. An Hon.
Gentleman (Mr. Browne) had contended, that
the Catholics were only excluded from political
power, but was not that an important ob-
jeet ? For, how could civil rights be secured
to any considerable degree, without the posse..
siren of political power? And must not stub
persons as are iiisquelifiel from the acquisition d
political power, feel discontented? And ought
such exclusions to be considered as necessary, ten-
t::: when den..er wu uld arise from conferring it?
lite in granting the pr. sent boon, no such danger
would arise, the Irish Parliament 1 •td already
sanaioned the measure, and forme 1 the precedent.
It was true, that Irish Catholics might at present
enter as soldiers and sailors; but a clause in this Bill
vet; provided to grant ths m security for the free ex-
ercise of their religithe end it Weald afford the Ca-
tholic Officers a greater facility of recruiting for the
army and navy. When an lion. Gentleman (Mr.
Montague) had carried his Alarm so tar as to doubt
whether this Ihll woad not change the navy into a
religious disputing club, aitd that when all hands
were piped up, the ship would become a scene of
religious controversy; rte must say that he could nut
treat such an argument with his accustomed grAvity ;
but it was reserved tor this night's debate te assert,
that the way to excite religious .aerate was to soften
down differences. The Hon. Gentleman remireied
the House ot the year 1760, and the fires which
were then lighted up. He well remembered that
disgraceful scene; but what was the cause? Was
it in consequence of the Catholics having had new
privileges greeted them, that they eirred up divisi-
on? And wes it not rather, on the cox tar y, thatsome
persons then in the House (somewhat in the spirit
which has been dts..overed this night) had made
use of inflammatory language, which had produced
the fatal effect. When the Hon. Gent. spoke of the
danger to which this Hoare might be exposed, he
had only to Ittl.ltsl, ot the Hunourable Gentleman,
not to promote that danger, because it such cala-
mity arose, in couinquenee of such false alarms, he
should know wixeuce his danger had originated
but far bimlt be eacen4iued so such appeases.

sir, ;s. After tLe ettina:on of the riots in 1780,
when liberty was granted to the C4thnlics, and when
the question of similar cnncessions with the present
was aritaeed in that House, no such con,equerces
ensued : nor wruld they, at the present, unless the
spirit of big,,try should ag..ia excite, false alarms of
dangers, without reality, 40 as to excite an Attack
upon men's lives and properties. He declared no
man was A more sincere friend to •he protestant
Church of England than himself; but he did not
think that the best way of supporting it was by pains,
penalties, and exclusions ; but, on the contrary, by
moderation ar.d c sndr ur. The present, he cunti-
dered to be a beneficial measure, and that not oniy
to the Catholics but to the Country, and on the
principle of general advantage ; not did he consi-
der that there was any thing disgraceful in making
conceci•>rs, when occasion required. He only
wished this measure might nnde.g> a fair exami-
nation, being convinced that the tdStlit of free d;s-
cussion always was, that the cause of troth would
flourish and prevail.

iSri
The question was then pet, And carried wirheut
a division, that leave be given to bring ia the Bill.
Lord Howick, Earl Temple, the Secretary at
War, and Mr. Corr wcre direeted to prepare and
bring in the Bill accordingly.
Mr. Ilublieuse brought up the Report of the
Committee nt Supply.
Mr. BAN KES rose to state some objelions to
the plan of subsidizing the King of Prussia. The
experience of the past had proved how improperly
applied the approor.ation of our resources in that
wey had been In titis opinion he was justified, when
he ~skived in how small a degree the country was
served 'ay the subsidies voted to Sardinia. Hesse-
Dermstad:, the Courts of Russia and Germany.
[Tee rim. Gent. was proceeding to prove the
inefficacy of making further advences to the Prus-
sian Monarch, when Lord Henry Petty mentioned
across the Table, that His Majesty's Government
hat no such intention.] If that be the fel, said
the Hon. Member, it is unnecessary fur me longer
to trouble the House, as my objeCtions were founded
on a contrary supposition.
The Resolutions were then severally put and
agreed to.
WEeTseteISTER ILLECTION.
Lord FOLKESTONE moved the Order of the
Day far taking into further consideration, the
petition of James Paull, Esq.
Mt. SHERIDAN declared, he had no objeCtion
to Mr. Paull's continuance de tieg the discussion.
Mr. Plomer appeared at the Liar, in behalf of
the Petitioner ; and, in a speech of considerable
length, observed upon the immure of the evidence
which had been produced in support of the allega-
tions of the Petition. As sure as Counsel bad
withdrawn,
Mr. SHERIDAN commenced in expressing
his surprise that the Learned Counsel had not
thrown up his brief, and that the Petitioner, instead
of persevering in his supeart of the allegations
of his Petition, had not come forward with
one expressive of his contrition and repentance.
In the present ease, he felt disgusted, that even the
necessity of ceiling witnesses, in centsadiaion of
the charges brought against him, produced, in his
mind, the feelings of abasement and humiliation.
Bat he thought it due to the characters of some
respeetable friends, to the honour of the House, and
the credit of a tespedabie body of his constituents,
is enter on a full investigation of the merits of that
Petition. That duty was more particularly neer&
sary, after the observations which had fallen from
the Learned Counsel. Indeed he could not limit the
latitude, which Counsel, speaking tiom their brief,
were permitted to take; ncr had he legal knowledge
sufficient to convince him when a &crater was tra-
velling our of the range of his professional duty.
At the same time, he could not reconcile the pro-
priety of a learned and enlighteaed lawyer, assum-
ing that as fad, which was only asserted, and garb-
ling evidence, as he should conceive it either his
iokerest or inclination. Ile could not tee in such
con.luit any thing which he should wish to imi-
tate. He trusted, he never. would be the advocate
of prevericatton. If he had the baseness or auda-
city to intrude on the attention of the Hones state-
ments whica he knew to be (else, he would be
ashamed to sheet his face in society, unless he night
expel some excuse in that vapidity, which
set ;d imagine that the House would believe him.
No man, of geatlensanly mind, would have so alert;
nor did he believe the tespeetenle professors of the
bar could produce many similar examples. The
Learned Counsel had thought proper to assume
whet he should not hive attempted. What right
had he to take for granted an alliance which was not
oved ? With regard to the chareiftets of the soli-
tit Ks, he had never spoken disiespeCtfully. Two
things he knew of them : fit st, that they were men
of high integrity; next, that they had no concern,
but alually resigned a connexion with his opponent.
He hoped Mr. Paull and Mr. l'owel would be
found equally clear, and that they would rather
appear the dupes of others, than the advisers of
the unfortunate deluded wretches who were ex-
hibited in support of the allegations of the petition.
But he le .red that a scene of baseness, of suborna-
tion of perjury, and malice, would be disclosed, such
AS never before insulted and affronted the heart of
mankind. As to the witeerses Drake and Weather-
heed, hs had never heard of them from the mo-
ment he had ordered them to come nest day, for
the purpose of having them taken into custody,
until they were tootle together in a hackney-coach.
with Mr. Paull, on the 24th at February last. He
had documents in his pocket to prove that Weather-
head was .disgracefully dismissed by Capt. Trol-
lope from the tier/hater, and that lie could not pass
the Admiralty, for having attempted to pass forged
certificates.
A long and uninteresting conversation took place
with respell to the propriety of examining Fre-
derick Human, Esq. he being implicated by the
allegations of the petition. However, on the mo-
tion of Mr. Percevel, it was carried, that the allege.
teens against Mr. liomen were not well grounded
area he eves, therefore, admitted as a competent

witness.
Mr. Homan, examined by Mr. Sheridan. said, that
he was at Mr. Sheridan's, at Somerset House, oa the
19th February, and there saw ID: ake arid Weather-
need : Drake was very anxious to se* Mr. Shetiden
four of them ut in the parlour until Mr. S. cams
in ; the convention was pang i Drake saki be bad

'~"'

ecently parchaeed a cottage in Hampshire, sad hid
been hunting in that country with kir Cobbett ;
that he was at that Gerdeman't house; it was a good
one, bat that the passage to it was though the ti..•
qles and apig yard. ‘Veatherhead wa.mtroductst
by D'ak as a clergymar. ; witness remained with
Mr. Stetid.n during t! is whole tine; Drake sat at
s considerable dittanee. ; was nothing In the
way of offer or pi orn4e made either to him, r
Weathee•ead Ake said, he WAS appointed to the
Thisbe- sloop, and tha he must have town for Hamp-
shire in the morning ; Mr. St eridan particularly told
him not to be out of town, at the time the Speaker's
Warrant ordered his attendance. Mr. Sheridan had
to' d witnessthSt hesuspefted Drake to he a zreat liar.
as he was convinced Mr. Cobbett would nr,t know
such a Fellow. Witness was also informed by bier,
that it was his intention to commit Drake and Wes-
therhead to Bowstreet. Witness went, at the re.
quest of Mr. Sherdan, with a message to Mr. Gra-
ham, for the purpose of having the letter taken
from Harris, and kept by Mr. Graham ; and slat
a communication of his having it, should he sent to
the Speaker, and to the Solicitor of Mr. Paull.
Harris went through an examination on the 9th.
Cros.examined by Mr. Warren, one of Petition-
.

er's Counsel.
Witnets was not at present of any profession;
WAS concerned formerly in the flour business. Has
a property in Ireland ; knew a person whom he sup.
posed to be the father of Drake ; wrote a letter to
him. O. Shrove Tuesday last, Drake, juniors
called on witness, in consequence of his wish to in-
vestigate the nature of the letter which Drake gave
to Harris, who said he would get it from him, and
made use of language no: proper to repeat. Does
not know the date of the last note, but supposes it
might be on Saturday the 2ed of February, and net
Mr. Sheridan fleet day, in consequence of an ro
• pointment with Drake. Is not certain whether tl
sr
appointment vo.s kept. at Mr. Sheridan's, or the
bowie of the witness.
Mr. Homan was, after a number of other inter-
rogatories, ordered to withdraw; and a Mr. Ward
was rest called, who confirmed the testimony of
Mr. Homan, relative to what had passed at Sorrier-
set-house, when Drake and Weather head were
present.
Mr. Graham, Magistrate of Bow-street. wag
next exatnineJ, and stated, he had received from a-
person of the name of .Harris, a letter of rams..
men hation to the Captains of His Majesty's ships of
war, for the purpose of supplying them with slops.
Mr. Sheridan, he said, had denied to him he bad
ever written such a letter, and declared it to be a
mere elation trick.
Emanuel Harris, a Jew slop-dealer, said. he had
received the letter in question from Drake ; that be
had afterwards been applied to for it by Mr. Bos-
well. He was afterwards brought to Somerset-
house, by Mr. Burgess, when in the presence of Mr.
Sheridan he was requested to give up the letter :
this he refused, alleging as his reason, that he had
been served with the Speaker's warrant. to produce
it on the examination before the Committee.—
The witness said, before that evening he had never
seen Mr. Sheridan, 'rho then assured him it was •
gross and atrocious forgery; be had :weer used
this letter for the purpose of obtaining orders for she
navy, and thought an Admiral's order woeM bit
much more efficacious for that purpose.
Mrs. Butler, publican, in Covent-Garden, knew
the witness. Wetherhead, to be a person of infamous
chars :ter. with whom, OA account of ber situation
in she had unfoitenately become acquainted ;41
'wit would not, on his oath, take his restiau.ny in any
affair. provided he could gain one farthing by for-
swearing himself.
Mr. Barnes Hart was also examined, but his tes-
timon not teing deemed relevant, on the motion
of Mry . JAMES GRAHAM, it WAS ordered to be
expunged.
Steele was also examined ; when
Mr. SHERI DAN observed, be had, he hoped.
given sufficient evidence to prove, that a conspiracy
existed rather against him than his opponent, and
avowed his intention of :losing, with the last wit-
ness, the evidence in his defence.
Lord HOW ICK then moved, "That the depo-
sitions of the witnesses be printed for the use of this
House, and the further consideration of this Peti-
tion be adjourned until tomorrow (this day) sets-
night,' when the witnesses" were ordered to attend ;
which was unanimously agreed to.
'I he other orders of the day were then disposed
of, and the House adjourned at HALF Mir
FOUR O'CLOCK.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

FROM ME FRF.SCH All) DUTCH PAPERS'

Ft FTY. SIXTH BULLETIN.
This Bulletin, which is dated from Arensdorf, Fe-
bruary 5, states, that after the battle of Mohringen.
in which the Russian advanced guard was defuased,
the enemy retreated upon Leobstadt ; but that th
corps of General Essen, which was at first darr d
for Moldavia, and also a number of fresh regimetse
from different parts of the Russian Empire, having
:pined the Russian army in Poland, the enemy again.
so early as the Vfth, advanced in great force, with
the design of remecing the theatre of the war to the
Lower Vistula. The Emperor being informed of
these events, ordered the Prince of Poore Corvo
to retreat, and also r. favour the offensive operations
of the enemy, in order to draw them towards rte
Lower Vistula. His Majesty, ad. the same tint-, or-
dered the whole army to break up from -minty-
quarters. He also left Watsaw himself, and arrived
ou the evening of the 31st at Willenberg. trbither
the Grand Duke of Berg had already collected all
the cavalry. On the lit of Febrraiy we began to
advancer At Passenheim, we fell in with the ene-
my, who constantly assumed the offeusivey but
here the Grand Duke fell upon them with several
columns of cavalry, and entered the town sword in
hand. By three in the me•ning, the enemy was
on the Lower Vistula, which he bad determ red to
pass, but where he now found his kft wing tut..
rounded. The Russians. however, formed them.
selves in order et battle, and now commenced
,tte battle of Bergftied, where the Emiterur at-
ticked the enemy with the corps of Ney, Ans.
rrau, and Souk, and his life guards as a corps of
reserve. The contest wail for a long time get(
at last, however, the enemy having been consiltbeir

,