The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-02-07 00:00:00

SPAIN,

Lord J. RUSSELL pre notice of a motion for the 3d March,
? log the evacuation of Spain.
Sr
CANNING hoped the Noble Lord would fix some other
day for his motion. He thought that something like an arrange-
ment had taken place, by which 3londays, Tuesdays, and Fridays
were left open for the ordinary business of ibc country. He did not
MOOD that this implied arrangement was to be binding upon the
discretion of 31embers, but it there days were not left open, great
inconvenience would occur, from the vast accumulation of business,
sometimes disputed, and sometimes not, which must unavoidably
take place. He would iherefae request the Noble Lord, if he had
DO particulaz objection, to name some middle day of the week for
his motion.

Lord J. RUSSELL had not the least unwillingness to meet the
wishes of the Right Ron. Geolernan. He would therefore fix him
motion for Thursday, the 12th .larch.
AUSTRIAN LOAN.

Mr. JAMES wished to ask the Right Hon. Seem:sty of State
for Foreign Mikis' a question respecting the mode in which the
settlement of the Austrian Debt took place. When the Right Hon.
Gentletnan bad placed upon the table a copy of the Convention en-
tered into between 'Nis Majesty and the Austrian Emperor. respect-
ing the debt, he came to the conclusion that the Right lion. Gen-
tleman intended to conic to the Noose and ask its sanction for the
measure • but in this he wait disappointed, for he found in the last
cilium dies the Convention was 'dread.: ratified. He would there-
I'm maintain, the conduct of the Right Hon. Gentleman, in
advising his Majesty w ratify this Convention without the consent
and sanction of the House, to be illegal and unconstitutional. This
might perhaps appear to many Hon. Members • Radical view of
the question (a laugh), but be would maintain it to be the correct
one. The act of which he spoke was one which Mr. Pitt, in the
plenitude of his power, would not have ventured to commit.
Mr. CANNING was sure the Hon. Member would not be dis-
pleased with him for the interruption, but if he affirmed that lie
(Mr. Canning) had acted illegally or unconstitutionally in laying
the Convention, just ratified, before the House, he would answer
most decidedly, " No.': An opposite course would be hostile to
the fundaniental principles of the Constitution ; and to meet the
views of the lion. Member that Constitution should be new-
modelled. It was competent to the Hon. nleinbir, if he pleased,
to make a motion upon the subject.
Mr. JAMES said it would, perhaps, have been agrerablito the
convenience of the House if his had been suffered to proceed with-
out interruption. Ile did not mean to trespass on them long. Ile
would not make a motion on the subject at present ' • but he would
repeat, that when the Right Hon. Gentleman advised his Majesty
to give up a large sum of money beionAing to the people of Eng.
land, without the consent or sanction of Parliament, he would be
justifiable, can ration, in giving his Majesty advice to levy taxes
without their consent. There was another question growing
out of this subject, which he also thought it his duty to ask. By
a clause in the Convention, his Majesty the King of England was
empowered and authofised to sue his Majesty the Emperor of
Austria in his own Courts. Why, he would ask, was he not seed
according to the words of the clause ? It would give him plc.:sure
to see the Austrian Emperor in the Gazette. (Laughing.)
DOCUME:SM: RESPECTING SPAIN.
Lord NUGENT wished to know from the Right lion. Gentle-
man (the Secretary for Foreign Affairs), as the neutral policy
adopted by this country had been made the subject of approbation
in the Address, how r.tr and haw strictly that neutral policy had
bra observed ? This would, in his opinion, be beet demonstrated
by the production of the documents, and the instructions sent to
Sir W. AToun by the Government of this country, in the interval
between the invasion of Spain and the liberation of the King at
Cwlis. He would also wish for the ptoduction of the correspond-
ence between Sir W. A'Court arid the Sinrish Authorities during
the same Period. If the Right lion. Secretary did not object to
the granung of these papers, be would make no motion on the
subject.

Mr. Secretary CANNING said, he eertainly had no intention
of laying these papers before the House, until the Noble Lord had
asswed some ewe to rrnd.r the production necessary.
Lord IC ENT said be thought it wao the production of these
papers alor.e that would enlighten the Holm on the subject. Ile
would therefime give limice ui motion for the production of these
papers on Thursday next.
I'SCRI. LAWS.

Mr. Sergeant ON.,LOW gave notice of motion for the repeal of
the Inlet Lawa. on neat.

RONAN CATHOLIEfiiRIALS IN IRELAND.

Sit J. NEWPORT moved for the production of certain papers.
which were, in his opinion Important to preserve lbr the iiotala
Catholics and other Disscr.ters mini the Church of Ireland—the
right of buriaL Ile had also another object in view. Ile wished
to place the whole lustier btfure the House. Ile would not antici-
pite the least opposition on the part of Ministers to his motion.
The document to which he refared ought to be considered in the
light of public papers, and should be instantly granted. The pa-
pers, for the production of which he asked, were—the copies of all
the correspondence which had been addressed to the Lord Lieute-
nant and the Secretary of State for Ireland, in consequence of
these burials.

IHr.f.IOI2I.BI'RN said, he was always most willing to grant '
any papers which could be thought necessary to the elucidation of
any subject ; and it was with regret that he felt himself compelled
to withhold any documents which might be looked fisr ; but the
House must be aware, that asses did sometimes occur, when,
disclosures similar to that sought for at present, would he to pro-
duce injury, that could not be atoned fur by any cons sponding
benefit. It became, therefore, his duty under such circumstances,:
to oppose the production of the papers, which would be attended
by such a remit. And he did not despair of prevailirg upon the
Right Honourable Baronet to agree with him. that it wuuld rot be
proper to lay before she Howse documents which would rot by ally
means tend to the success of the measure which he had in view,
and which would be accompanied by 'serious inconveniences, mg
compersated for by any countervailing bentl4,.. The °kites of tne
Afro Honourable Baronet was to procure the repeal of the lath of
William. And the production of the documents sought fur had
no reference whatever to this ret, eat. The discussion would be, whe-
ther it was a matter of toopriety that this act sht.uld be re:haled, or
whether it should remain in &foto quo anti it was impossible far
Lan to conceive how the papers sought for could place the right
lion. Baronet in any better state with respect to the repeal he
sought ; and the production would be only giving to the house,
and to the world, the expression of the heated, and perhaps im-
proper feelings of both petits. (Hear.) If there ever was a sub-
ject more than another that inflamed the pass and the minds of
men, it was adiscu t ion respecting these interments. (Meer, hear,
from Sir J. Newport.) lie immured to think that confidence,
should be repotted in the Gevernment which deemed it *iv to sup.'
press the statements med_ by the one party respecting the other,
and to keep from the public a series of discussions nut precisely
the most moderate or tensperate : considered in any point of view,'
the object of the worthy Baronet bad no reference Trhatcya to tbcse

interments; and bilsonld express the strongest disapprobs.,
tion at laying bears the public statements addressed to the Irish
Ouvannsent, iss which the parties thought themselves justified in •
giving =au tomb stronger feeling than they would if they
IMO W di* Assembly. He hoped, therefore, that the Right
Haw. Halewet had net the intention of enforcing his motion. 11141
fed enseth parties were strong, and were suitably expressed;
ims and he valid appeal to the Hon. Baronet if he wished to revive the
animosity which had to a certain extent gone off without any Inter-
vention whatever. He would ask him if he deemed it consistent
with expediency, or with prudence, to obtain the production of do.-
..cm:tents-which -would not allay these feelings of irritation, and
which were utterly unnecessary to the attainment of his object.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT in•isted that the production of the
papers sought foe was due to justice; it wee due to the people of
I Mend. As se what the Right Hon. Secretary had said of pru-
dence,,it did not apply to him : whatever imprudence wee in the
measure, should fall upon the heads of the Episcopal and Clerical
order, who bad thrown firebrands amongst the people, who had
provoked discord, and had endeavoured to strip the Roman Catho-
lics of the privileges of burial according to the rites of their reli-
gion:7(01:11ot Heir. Hear, and No, No !) He would repeat his
assertions; lo had taken a strong view of the question—a view,
he was sorry to say, not warranted by the conduct of the present
Government ; but by the fanner, tinder which he held a eta ion.
At that period the mine dispute originated ; it cane officially under
tits observation • and the Dovernment, of wirLb he was a mem-
ber, put a speedy tetruiaation to the contest. Warmth of feel-
ing on this subject were not confined to the people of Ireland ;
it was a subject upon which all the inhabitants of the globe were
alive. With regard to the assertion of the Right Honourabie
Secretary, that his object was confined to the repeal of the Act of
William, that wee a mistake • his object was not confined to that
repeal ; his wish and his endeavour were to secure to the Roman
Catholic and the Dissenter, who composed much more than five-
tenths of the whole population, the privileges of burial; and as it
was his decided opinion that the measure could not be fairly dis-
cussed without the production of the papers for which be sought, be
would take therefore of Mc House on the subject.

Mr. (RATTAN was in doubt whether it mould be more expe.
dient to divide the House at present, or to make a motion upon the
subject. It was evident that the papers would be refused. The
Hon. Member made an allusion to a distinguished Prelate, whose
first act upon the attainment of power was to ore; insult to the peo-
ple. Of one thing he was apprehensive, that uhtil the matter was
fairly discussed, every funeral in Ireland would be a scene of tumult
and fight.
Mr. A BERCROM Br was of opinion that this discussion was
one of the most frightful Interest to Ireland. It was a question
which excited the warmest feelings af the peiple; and to prevent a
publication of these feelings; he would feel rather diets) all to coin-
cide with the Right Hon. the Secretary for Ireland fur refusing the
production of the papers: but as he air no reason to expect an
amicable adjustment, he-deemed the production of the document
to be a matter of indispensable necessity. The Right Hen. Chen-
deman had assumed that the general question was settled.
Mr. GOULBURN explained. He did not state that the Rene-
eel question was settled ; but that the feeling as to this particular
.affair had subsided. _ _ _

resumed. He contended that it was evl-
dent that the strongest feeling existed as to this question, and that
it was impossible for the Government to shrink from it ; For it was
a question of that character which must be clearly and distinctly
settled. The evert that was otherwise most likely to happen was,
he perfectly aarrced with his Honourable Friend (Mr. Grattan),
that the interment of the dead would become an occasion for per-
gonad conflicts of the most disgraceful description. (Hear, hoar.)
Upon what ground did the Right Honourable Gentleman oppose'
the motion ? Did he state that any measure wan in progress that
Government intended to bring leeward ? Did he appeal to the
good sense of the House, not to excite the feelings of the people an
a subject which Government intended to dispose of legislatively ?
Did he, therefore, pray them not to raise obstacles to this salutary
enactment, which the wisdom of colleagues had prepared to air.
pease the popular irritation ? Nothing of the sort. lie did not
promise any legislative remedy.: on the contra-y, the few words
that had fallen from hint increased beyond expression the
extent to which the mischief might be carried, unless some rigorous
and decisive measure was brought forward in that House to stop it
A stronger case for legislative interference could hardly be nos-
gined. No difficulty was presented by the actual state of Ireland,
while it was evident, that first, with respect to the practice, and
secondly, with respect to the law, grave and serious doubts might
be entertained. It was therefore the first duty of :he House to tor-
oth!) itself with the fullest information, and afterwards to apply that
information to the removal of the existing doubts, and redress of the'
I existing evils. The greatest excitement might, and probably did,
prevail generally ; and it was, indeed, only from considerations of
personal respect towards individuals of great rank and importance
in the church of Ireland, that he (Mr. A.) was restrained front'
speaking more strongly on the subject. He knew that the practice •
was different in different parts of Ireland, and that the mostaliffer-'
ent opinions were entertained as to the law. Unless, there, they'
had R solemn pledge of a speedy and specific remedy, bethought^
the House was bound in duty to require the information which hi
was the object of the motion to lay before them. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. PEEL was apprehensive that the course the debate was fol.'
lowing was calculated to take many Members by surprise. It *as
certainly not understood that it was intended to bring on the general
discussion that night. The Right Horourable Damn (Sir J.
Newport) had given two notices, one for the discussion& the main
question, and the other for me production of certain papers which
he supposes to be calculated to ellieitlate thationstion. In liu
(Mr. Peel's) opinion, it was desirable to keep the two questions
separate, aid on the discussion of each to avoid whatever related
to the other. On the present occasion, the attention of the House
ought to be confined to the question of the production of the
papers, and he was particularly anxious that nothing might pass
then which would be likely to prevent the debate on the general
question from being conducted with that temper with which every-
body most wish to see it argued. His Right Honourable Friend
(Mr. Goulburn) had not contended against the settlement of the
general question, but he thought with him (Mr. Peel) that the
production of these papers was not fleetest. y to the settlement of
that question. He should reserve his opinion on that, until it came
on regularly. before the House. It was enough for him to state then,
in explanation of his vote, that he did not conceive the papers DC'

Mr. CA IrCRA FT said the simple question was, whether the'
papers were to appear in a regular way on the table of the House,
or whether the members were to obtain a knowledge of them in an
unparliamentary manna? The papers were not private (Inctl-
ments. Every member might obtain access to them if he pleased,
bat it was proper that he should be furnished under the sanction
of authority. If the Ministers persisted in refusing them, he
trusted his Right Honourable Friend would press the question to
a division, in order that Ireland might dearly see to what sort of ,
an administration its happiness wan intrusted. The strongest sen-
sation was known generally to exist on the subject. Here was the
most numsrous religious body in the country, treated as a degraded
sect, aid disallowed the rite of burial ! Where was a similar in.
stance to be found ? What sound reason could be assigned foe the
refusal of information on such a subject?
The House then divided, when there appeared—
Ayes - 36 I Noes - 56
Majority against the Motion - 17
IRISH CIII7RCH RATES.

On re-entering the gallery, we found
Sir J. NEWPORT'moving for an account of all sums paid in
each parish of Ireland by the vestry, for building and repairing the
churches, and for the salaries of parish clerk* and ocher officers,
distinguishing the sums expended for the purchase of organs and
I stoves, and for the salaries of the officer*. tot the twelve years last
I past, and specifying the amount for each year, anti the number of
persons constituting each vestry.
Mr. (14/111.111C RN submitted to the Right Honourable Baronet,
whether a shorter period would not answer his purpose as well.
He (Mr. 6.) was apprehensive there would he some difficulty to
discover, in some instances, who had been the churchwardens
twelve years ago.
Sir J. NEWPORT said, he did not apprehend any difficulty
whatever in making this return. The parish books were in the
custody of the officers for the time being, to whom they were
regularly handed by their predecessors. His object was to thew
the I louse how enormously this rate had increased on thr people of
Ireland. In some instances the amount bad been doubled, and
even trebled.

111 r. IiOIILBURN rejoined, that, if some difficulty was likely to
occur in each polish, the Right Honourable Hamlet's motion
would multiply 2,500 difficulties by 12.
The motion was then agreed to.

Sir J NEWPORT then moved for an account of the several
Cathedrals of Ireland. which had been consolidated with parish
chuteltes under the lit and 2d George 11. cap. II; and of the
sums that had been contributed severally from the economy fund,
and front the parish rates for the repairing of the Churches for the
last twelve years, distinguishing each year. The Right lion.
Baronet, in support of this motion, reminded the House of a petition
piesented last Session from 'Tam, complaining of the pressure of
the church rates. The Right lion. °endemic% (.11r. Goulburti
was in error if he supposed it would he necessary to make out 2.500
accounts. In a great many parishes there were no Protestants,
and consequently mere were no vestries. But where the people
were so heavily taxed, It was surely reasonable they should know'
how the money was raised.

The inotion'vras agreed to.
Sir J. NEWPORT then asked the Right Hon. Secretary for
Ireland whether he had any objection to lay before the 111/U.O the
rtturov under the Population Act. They would furnish considerable
ir.fonnation on this subject, and he understood they were ready to
be delivered.

Mr. 601.'LBURN said he hardly knew to what the Right
Ron. Baronet alluded. lla had laid all the papers under that Act
on the table, and they Were in a course of printing.
Sir J. NEWPORT explained. lle Was particularly desirous to
have the numbts of houses and families in each barony.