The National Register.
London, England, 1819-03-21 00:00:00

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[PRICE 911.1.

among those by our venerable and afflicted Sovereiitit
himself, as an insuperable bar to any eoficession, in
die Catholics, we mean the Corfmation Oath. if the
proper interpretation of this oath be to sanction and
enforce the principle of civil exclusions on the sole
ground of speculative opinions in religion, then we
have no hesitation in saying that it is an obligation which
cen never justly be imposed, which is better broke
than kept, and which, in fact, has been broken above a
hundred (lines. But we must contend that it fairly ad-
mits of no such harsh and unnatural construction, and
that poverty explained, it neither imposes nor justifies
any interference, on the score of religious opinions, with
the civ it capacities of our fellow-subjects. Such then is
the real state and eh-erect: 1. of this inti.ortant
.11:'; we need nut hesitate to assert that the sentiments
sse have pqt together upon* it, are those of all the liberal
and enlightened part of the community. We sq no-
thing of a mild and tolerant spirit of conciliation being
both best suited to our professions, and the best policy
for the interests of the Church Establishment, nor of
persecution being.ahe strongest ligament we can apply
for cementing and keeping together the whole body of
those who dissent from it. Our argument rests upon
the highei•growtd. of. imprescriptible right and moral
justice; and upon this firm foundation we shall now
leave it, adding only a few words upon the peculiar fea-
tures of the RtitiOn presented to the House. 'lt was
signed by upwards of 10,000 names, amongst which
are, 13 Peers, 12 Baronets, and, what furnishes a cu-
rious and very interesting fact, the only five names that
now remain of those who signed Magna Charta, and
thus laid the foundation of British liberty, aye subscribed
to this document, now prajing to be achuitte 1 to share
the blesiings their fercfathers procured to the country,
and, to use his Lordship', beautiful and inipress:ve lan-
guage, that they may no longer be " aliens in their na-
tive land."

We are sorry to observe, that the Political Horizon in
France wears but a lowering and uncheering aspect to
the friends of peace. The Ministry over and over again
defeated by the Opposition in the Upper Chamber, hare
had recourse to an unprecedented creation of 64 new
Peen; and amongst these are nuurlsered 34 of the old
Officers and adherents of Napoleon. The profession of
these men is arms, and no workman is well-pleased to
Le long destitute of employment.

Extract of a letter from Buenos-Ayres, dated
Dec. 16.—" Lord Cochrane has arrived in Chili,
end en the 4th inst. entered St. Jag°, where he has
been received with every mark of respect. lie has
been offered the command of the Chili squadron,
which he is expected immediately to assume. The
merchant vessels in Valparaiso arc like!" to be much
distressed for seamen, every one is running to join
Lord Cochrane.

French papers of ISlonday and Tuesday have j..:st
reached us ; they arc totally devoid of interest.
The French Funds are 66.40. Bank 1500.

The Penitentiary at Milbank contains at present log
males and 143 females ; it is to hold ultimately 400 ;
the prison is extremely healthy.
On Monday last Captain Mosby. exhibited at the bar-
racks, Yarmouth, his apparatus fur extinguishing ire. He
had politely invited the Mayor, Edmond Preston, Esq. the
deputy Mayor, and whet gentlemen, to inspect and wit-
nes the advantages amending its application. All present
were much gratified, but it appeal. d to be the grue►al
pension that the ingenious contrivance is better adapted
to private than to public use. The ■pporatas consists of a
copper vessel about SO inches long, aml of a sufficient ea-
piteity to hold four gallons of impregnated water and
condensed air, having as a neck a brass pipe wills a stop
cock, on taming of which the water is propelled by nor
conipteased air a height of 35 nr 40 fret. The weight of
the whole when filled, is about 401 h., and so portable
as to be easily conveyed to tiny room, or part of a house,
where a fire is breaking out, mud played upon it with cc*.
lain aid great effect.

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