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London, England, 1810-02-23 00:00:00

in the midst of their fellow-subjects--excluded
from the benefit of the free Goserittueut they sup-
port end defend—excluded from these oppoiteni-
iel of exertion in the conniry's defence, which, its
i s perilous crisis, every English heart would be
sires to obtain. It is much and deeply to be
lamented, there should exist soy difficulty that
should have the effect of making it necessary to
:
tpone, for a single hour, your Lordsbitstoking
• Petition into your conridorstiou, with a view
to affordieg effectual, prompt, and complete !Chef;
and I regret it the mores with respect to the parti-
cular class of individuals with whose interests I am
charged; because their situutiun is, in seine degree,
peculiar to theiuselves; inasmuch as the disabilities
of which they complain are infinitely wore severe
and toore extensive than those which affect other
persous, professing the same religious tent ts.in other
. parts of the empire. I have said, Wet their situa-
tion is particularly severe ; and as lam fearful that
this subject may sot have raised that degree of atten-
tion which its importance deserves, it may act be un-
ut emery to stute in what that extraordinary severity
consists. Your Lordships will recollect, that in
Cituada, for instance, in corsequence of the
ravish)°, which were made after its .couquest,
in the ‘ reign of Its present .Majesty, the sub-
jects of His Majesty in Canada enjoy com-
plete toleration. In other words, there exists
uo differeuce as to the enjoyment of civil rights be-
ta ten the Catholic and Protestaut subjects. I do
not mean to found any argument on tins circum-
stance; I state it only as a fact, which, I trust4ont
Lordships will bear in your recollectiou. In Ire•
land, unfortunately for the peace of the English
empire—unfortunately for our own security, there
is a different state of things. In Ireland, His Ma-
jesty's subjects are still hable to disabilities, which
cannot be supported upon any principles, if they
are not required with a view to our own-safely. But
even so Ireland atany privileges are extended to Ca-
t holies.which are denied to the Catholics in Englsod.
They are capable of being elected to all lay corpo-
rations, situ the esceptiou of Trinity College,
Dublin; where, however, they may take degrees.—
They may be ill the commission of the peace ; they
way vote for Members of Parliament; they may
bold civil offices of trust and emolument under the
Crown, subject to certain exceptions. In Ireland,
all the ranks of the army, tinder that of a General
of the Sted; are open to the Catholics. Fruits all
those edema:ire the English Ca.linlies are exclud-
ed; they are not eligible to corporations; they
cannot take degrees; they cannot act in the com-
mis-ion of the peace ; they are not allowed to vote
at di-coons ; they are incapable cf holding ,dlices
of tribe ender the Crown ; all the ranks uf the
army and the navy are denied to them. The Ca-
tholic, deeply interested as he is, in the femur,'

- - .
defence of the country, is denied the means of
assi-tiog it. At this moment, when you are calling
ui on all chimes of the community for assistance.
the Catholic hes the heart breaking moitilication
of himpelVeseluded, not only from the
higher rank, of the army, but even, if descending
from his stations in life, he should consent to be in
the lower ranks, be must depend upon his officer
for the free exercise of his own religion, and for not
being compelled to attend to the ceremonies of an-
other. which hie conscience forbids him to approve.

'Three are the evil., in addition to others, whiCh the

English CAtholics softer, in common 'with other
•versos:li of Ilse s.inse isersussion, in other parts of the
.empire. In stating their complaints, they assert,
with sin unbecoming coofideuce, that their conduct
has nut beets such as justly to subject them to a
1111 l i.hinent of so sever- a nature. Upon this head.
I think l may spinal to the personal knowledge of
many of your Lordships, whether you are not con-
vinced, that there do not exist men, whose conduit
hus unifornile Breit more exemplary, as loyal pub.
ircts of the king, and zealous supporters of the
Government, than the English Catholics. I hare
some kiwis ledge of persons of that protesston, in the
county to which I belong :—They are persons as dis-
t ng 'shed for their loyalty and grio.l conduct as their
grwit rinulim • , mad I will vent ure to assert, that the
iotte of the country would join with me its iisj iog.
that, as friends and neighbours, laudh rds, fathers

sf ismilles. a. 'scrims filling all the relatioos cf
life, there do not exist meu who have established
nooer just claims to the 011ieetall esteem of all man.
kind. It is in this character that the petitioners
present themselves, u men complaining of severe
&privations. mid NA having deserved, by their con.
duct, a very dilferent treatment. And, my Lords,
1 have, in snaking this ststenient, the satisfaction
of being authorised to add, that, while they pray
for relief, they are stilling to accept it, accomps-
Mel with such provisions. nut contrary te their
fe tint., as ton sissy think rc•cessary to the secu-
rity of your own establishment, and that an ar-
r.r.g-isient on this haws will be thankfully accepted
pry the ti. The declamation of what I have stated
i. c,m'ained in the second petition which 1 have
presented to your Lordships. It was adopted lately
at is meeting iis the metropolis, and is signed by
several Ilidiops. and by no less than six Pmts.—.
I sin persuaded you will think that such
conduct entitles their petition to an impertial
sal favourable consideration; but I will say
further, that it is on the principle stated in this pr.
tition alone, and with a vane trims arrengment such
as 1 have described, that this measure !tar toy sup-
port. If 1 do not deceive myself. I think there
cannot be a more sincere and determined friend to
the true principles of toleration, in the fullest ai:11
man extensive sense of the word, than the individual
who ha, the hinounr to addresa you ; ItaYt I will go
farther. and state it to be my firm belief, that not
only policy iu the general sense of the word, but
that the immediate calls of our own -..f, ty. never
more imperiously required a ri cognition of those
principles. by the adoption of a arise system, with
respect to the Church. which only have the elect
of tanitin4 in the bonds of uttectiot.. all classes of
Elie Maierty's subject., and of producing that real
swims or amino,..fr without a hiai the nodlnn i union
of :a. is illefreetUlti; bat with which, we nosy look
inutistwevid at all the dangers which threiten os.
fa speaking an this subject, 1111ve tin Iltnltlititin
iu 111CeirtiaK it as my settled minion, that no go-
reaurent ran disc:targe the rimier. imposed umin it
at the present rrioi.; uo government ran afford is
11.);,e of exit icsting us from the drffieulties of
'he pr.-sent meat, and of ortt:i•g through
tic petits that i rronewl us. if rt duns not without
..easy apply all its faculties to the accomplish-

• The instrument hive ethnicil to nit being the general
art et the Body of Eogli.h Catholics, h•t only of • ert•in
another, ti is wt neesea•ry to insert it.

dies's, the ho follusys them with Loin„ slid re
ties. By the articles of war, if so!dier, refute t
tend to the religfous worship of the
Chard,, they are punishaMe Isy line, itolttny
inent, and death. Thus the Catholic soldier.
incessantly exposed to the cruel alternative oft.
making a sacrifice of their religion. 01 itsCU!
the extreme of legal punishment; than
Petitioners humbly conceive, there never heal
and cannot be a more direct religious p,rsecu,
To au alternatsve equally oppressive, de
Roman Catholics are exposed on their units:
the law requires. for the legal validity of a
ridge in England, that it should be eel, bated
psrish church ; as PQM) Catholic.) believe
riage to be a sacrament, the Eng Hyman
tholies naturally feel great repugnance to a
bration of their marriages in other churches
their own.

" They are cruelly debarred from any rn,
which their fellow-subjects possess, of primi
fur their families, by emplo) ir.euts of hone,
emolument ; so that, whill tl.ey bear evil
shore of the general contrilmtion to the wa,
the State, they are denied even a hope of p.
pating in those advantages by which the bind
their fellow-subjects is elle% iited.
Gs In other occurrences of life, the law hat
same humiliating and depress'ng operation oa
Petitioners : thus, every Romano Catholic sill
of His Majesty, is forced below his fair lit
society, and the general body is a walked and
:ated

4' Yet the Roman Catholics form more
one-fourth of the whole mess of the subjects;
United Empire—whatever there is of genii
talent, or of energy among them, is shushed
for public use; :Lod this at it time, when the
ed Empire is engaged io a conflict, forusidala
yood example; and it therefore seems imp,
if not essenti +lto her preservation, that oh-
call into action, withowt qualification, or O.:,
soy religious test, or declaration; the gonius,
lents, sod energies, of all her !objects.

ei It is true. that your Petitioalars profess
religious principles. which are not professeel
Established Church ; end to this, and to thi,
their refusal of certaiu tests. oath., se:d de
tionris is owing, which subjects them to the
and disabilities they complain of; but 13011 e
principles, which roccasion their r.lassil,
their morel. civil, or political integrity ; and
Petiti leers humbly submit to this [loner
[loose. that no princilde, which lesives ore
political integrity unimpaired. is • proper
Of religious persecution ; besides, the whole
of your Petitioners was once the creed of the
kingdoms—it is the actual creed of four•fif
Ireland, and of much the grearicr part of Ei
It was•the creed of there who founded
betty at Ituaymeade, who conquered e.t
Poictiers, and Agincourt : among those wl
pelkd and annihilated the Spanish Armada,
bore • nobler part than those by whom thee
was professed. In all these achievements, in
other scene. in which the ancient valour, or
wisdo D. of this country has been displayed,
systems of several of your Petitioners have be
tingnishvd. Their creed did not lessen the
fur their king and country—it does not leas.
of their descendants.

" Every disloyal or immoral principle,
malice or credulity has imputed to them, yi
titioaers have solemnly and repeatedly disc
They believe there does not now exirt an I
able man who imputes these principles to
they have sworn to be faithful, and bear true
glance to His Majesty. and have acted up
professions; they most confidently appeal
floopuraltie Nonce, and to the whole empire,
ther, in loyalty to His Majesty, attachment
Coustbution. or seal fur their country's goed,
are aot equal, sod are nut universally kne
acknowledged to be equal, to 11:s Sl,jestS
bubje ti.

• " Therefore, conscious of the truth of t
presentations, and with the most perfect fel:
the wirchiso and justice of your Honourable

" Your Petitioners humbly pray for a I,
peal of every test, oith, declarrtion, or I'
which Las the effect of nalij•cting your Pe,
to any penalty or di.nbilutf whatsoever, on
of their religious

PORTUGAL.
The Order of the Day lief •t:real, a
Majesty's Messatie being rend by order
I louse, Nlarquis WELLZSLIAr rose and ipok
rollassing purpose :
" Lords, t rase for the purpose of rub
to the attentiJn of this House, the 31e.01324
your Lordships lass just heard. The anon
which have been made between this ernisitri.
tug.d. is the subject which more nu in stli 'rely
der your consideration. I shall, iu the first in
port ly apply m% self to the ntuteO.tL
O.
r nistvi•Mettt• ihtuisr:v es, anal afierwards to ill.
upon Wllleib they were founded. If I can
thut,ll the faith which rubststs betwerta
anal the (lovermaent of Portugal, that tl•
ratigeinents were made with a due reguril
fidelity, that they were snide for the illy.
Portugal, it.d with a proprr retard
dentin, tonduet of this c..catry, if I a..
Ih. policy which rlietaicd theiu nssooi:at.
a nth that which Il.s ever tae-itt.l our rip a
reaps.* t to that kingllo,O. I Stull Ctert
COCICUITrIECO to ere ry thiOU due
tt.:s 3.l,crosse. My Lords, it 11.3 bee