The National Register.
London, England, 1813-07-04 00:00:00

JULY 4.

whole tingdom, eegni he a machine' powerful eiOugh to produce
the most important mischief to the State. In the late distnrbaners
in. the northern counties of England, it hail been loom!, that even
the friendly •-cieieties which had been establisited under the sanction
ot.P.eltament, for the most benevolent purposes, were, in ,het, made
d.• germ's machines for fte purposes of the discontented. With res..
psct to the original institution of Oraugc Lodees, he should say little
a, they began in Ireland, to winch this act did not yet extend. He
shoebi, however, say, that the system rose there in times of great
tumalt an ! actual rebellion. Whether these societies had even in
those times been productive of any benefit, he should not pretend to
say, but this lie would ray, that since the restoration of that eonutry
to eetiee. he believed that the existence of those societies in Ireland
were highly prejudicial to the safety of that country. He believed
that in later trine- eery Government in Ireland heti found those so
cieties rather obstructions in their wa). But whatever effect those so •
eiet;es tni:rin have in !Mande he conceived that the attempt to intro-
minee them at present into this country was in the highest degree iejudis
ci".s and ill-timed. If he bid been hostile instead of friendly to the
Cceholic Claims. he should equally feel it a duty to call the attention
ef the house to this subject. No person could be so short-sighted
as nut to see, that if those Orange Societies were firmed in this
country, other societies would soon be formed on contrary princi-
ples, and that the peace of the country would be directly threatened
faon caning forth every description of patty tiny. Great pains had
been taken to distribute ammu; the Members, a pamphlet contain-
ing rules and regulations of the Orange Lodges; and it appenred
that another pamphlet of time same nature, from the same publisher,
mas to he sold so low as sixpence tbr the purpose of the most ge-
neral circulation. In this pamphlet the oath was stated as
:—" T, A. B do solenmly• swear to defend- his Majesty Knig
George 111. his heirs and successors so low, as he or they shall sup-
ra the Protestant ascendancy. the Constitution, and the lairs." The
phrase protestant ascendancy was much in use in Ireland ; but had
hardly travelled tt-, this country yet. It was, however, clear that
a man who took such an oath would think himself at liberty to put
his own corstruction upon it. Suppose the Sovereign should think
proper to sanction aim act for the relief of the Catholics, this might
appeal to many Orangemen as contrary to the Protestant ascen-
dancy, and therefore as absolving them from their allegiance. The
most datr.!erons part of this system, however, appeared to him to
be, that Orange Lodges were introduced even into reginn nts; that
there (in defiance of all discipline) the officers, non-commissioned
officer-, and privates met together on a tooting of equality in the
Orange Lodge. If this was the case in Ireland, lie must say that he
considered this system highly improper to introduce into the army
of this country. According to rules which had been printed, it
would appear that there was to be a general fund, out of whirhm the
law expence; of Orangemen would he defrayed. As to time ex-
istence te those societies he could have no doubt, alter the notice
whirl' had been taken of them in the newspapers most under the
influence of Government, and after the pamphlet published by Mr
Stockdahe. High names had publicly been mentioneo as at time head
of this institution and no contradiction had appealed. The proposed
Grand Orange Lodge, with its affiliated societies, would, as he con-
ceived, be most dangerous to the public pe ,ce, and were in direct
contravention of the existing law. He conelndefl by moving,
" that a Committee be appointed to enquire into time existence of
certain illegal Societies under the denomination of Orangemen."
Mr. B. Bathurst, Mr. S Worlky, Sir H. Montgomery, Mr.
Whitbread, Mr. Canning, and Lord Castlereagh, ail joined in repro-
b..tion of time formation of these Societies ; as it wa• e,red, how-
ever, that the notice which the House had thus taken of the ,dibject
would ih.ve the effect of deterring persons from the practices coin
plained of the motion was withdrawn.
Sir H. PARNI ELL deClDleti pressing the Committee on the Core
Laws, in consideration of the lateness of the ..lession, but &elate:l
that his opinions was not ellanged on time subject,
Mr. ROSE expressed his disapprobation of the measure, as cal
cAated to prokitice a permarent rise in the pave of corn.
Mr. W H ITER FAD conceived, that so far from producing a per
raiment rise, a high importation price wa, the best means of having
abuodance of breath, on the most moderate price's.
Mr. W. SMITH objected to the average proposed to be made
bet-weep En eland and Irelaud; the quantity of wheat being greater
in tic one, time quality better in the other.
After a few words from Sir 11. PARN ELL, the Conunittee was
p.,tpon.d..t. that day three months.
_ Five millions were voted in a Committee of Supply as a Vote of
Credit.--Adjourned.