The National Register.
London, England, 1821-04-09 00:00:00

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31mocrial Varitamtnt.

HOUSE OF LOR DS,
110%114Y. APRIL Y.
Viscount HAMPDEN presented a petition from the owners
and occupiers of land, in the Eastein part of Susi•ex, complaining
of agricultural distress. TM: petition read and laid on the table.
Lord GNANVI [-LE presented a petition from the solicitors
and attorneys of Stat!Ord against the County Count Bill. Laid
on the table.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE. presented a variety of Peti•
lions from various parts in the West of England, in which the
manufacturers rind others concerned in the woollen trade prayed
for repeal of the tax on 'imported wool. The noble marquis
observed, that as fir as his knowledge upon this important sub-
ject went, he knew the existing tax had proved injurious, instead
of at all being beneficial to the clothiers, therefore this petition
tame before their Lordships with strong claims to their attention.
He was satisfied Government were disposer) to act upon liberal
views, and that they might be induced to withdraw this tax,
which was generally considered injurious to the interests of the
woollen trade and the best policy of the country. The petition
was laid on the table.

The Bishop of CIIItr.TER said, he had the honour to present
a petition, signed by the archticaconry and chapter of Chester,
tinst the Roman Catholic claims. The petition was read and
lard on the table. The house adjourned.

TUESDAY, APRIL 3.
Lord ERSKINE presentel several petitions from owners and
occupiers of laud in the county of Sussex, eotnplaining of agri-
cultural distress.
The Irish Witchcraft Bill wets read a third time and passed.
Petitions were presented from Sudbury, and the clergy and
archdeseonry of Hereford, against further concessions to the
Roman Catholics.

___..._.. .....
TUE BILL Or CONCESSIONS, JOHN NEW •
PORT and a numerous deputation of Irish members brought up
the bill to relieve Boman Catholics, which passed yesterday
morning in the Commons. It was received by the Lord Chan-
cellor, the title read. end laid on the table.
The Earl of f/ONOUOI I Moll E, some time o'cr the bill was
brought up, moved it be read the fit 't time. The bill was :le
conlingly read the first time without any observation.
The EarIofDONOUGIIMOIIE then said, it was impossible
lie should not feel the deepest impression, as to the ndvecate of
the Roman Catholic claims, on the arrival of such a hill as that
which had just been brought from the other house of parliament.
He could not avoid feeling the full weight of responsibility which
which attached to him in his then situation. It would be a total
neglect of duty on his pert rn decline becoming the advocate of the
bill, but he could not undertake to advocate it in the precise
form in which it had been received from the other house. From
somecommunicarion recently had with a number of the foremost
tin among tnc Roman Catholics, lie had the best grounds for
suppoung,that in the progress of the measure, such amendments
could be made as would do away every objection resting in the
mind of any reasonable man. Concesseals might be matte to the
Roman Catholics, without surrendering one itifn of the securities
which the professors of the Protestant faith had certainly a right
to receive. In consequence of the recent communication to which
lie had alluded, he undertook to be the advocate of the bill, and
he expressed a hope it might be sn modified as to do away every
objection on the part of Catholics and Protestants, by the former
giving full securities. In that view he moved the bill be read a
second time on Tuesday next.
The Earl of LI V ERPOOL—'r My Lords, I certainly do not
rise for the purpose o' making any objection to the motion of
the noble lord for the second reading. I wish merely toobserve,
that as this bill collies from the commons in a most important
shape, it will doubtless receive from your lordships the most
serious consideration, end whatever the decision of the house
may be, I trust: the discussion will be temperate, and that it will
be conducted with that moderation which has characterized the
ether house of parliament. It would be irregular to enter into
the matter of this bill on the present ocessiong a but hissing ou
former day taken an extensive part in the discussion of the sub-
ject of this bill, I feel I should not deal fairly witlathe house if
did not say, that when the proposition is made for the secouid
reading of the bill, I shall feel it my duty to object to it—(llear,
hear.)—The bill contains two parts:—one is to remove disabili-
ties; the second part contains regulations respecting the ceded-
astical establishment of the Roman Catholics. ]fly Londe, I aim
sorry to say, that those parts forming enactments in this bill.
arc so objectionable, teat I shall feel it my duty to object to both.
I cannot agree to grant the privileges it is proposed to grant the
Roman Catholics. Rut even if my mind, and the mind of every
noble lord in the house, was made up to concede these privileges,
I should feel it my ditty strongly to object to those clauses in the
bill which relate to the human Catholic clergy, because I think
ifsuch a clause could stand, permit's niust make out theme is not
that danger arising from it, whicii I think, with others, is to be
apprehended, I feel that many of the enactments are unjust,
and many extremely impolitic. They will never answer the
purpose, nor meet the end proposed. 1 thought it fair, after the
part I have taken on this subject, to speak as an individual, and
state the turn, of my opinion. When the second reading is
moved, I will state my objections to both parts of this bill mote
at large."
The Earl of DONOUG 11 MORE felt as the noble earl did
upon particular enactments. The Catholics should feel that
they ought to make sacrifices to the apprehensions of Protestants.
whether those apprehensions and prejudices were right or wrong.
The LORD CD ANC h:1.1.0lt expressed some diffidence,
rising to address their lordships at that moment, upon so inte-
resting a subject; but having observed in the bill laid upon their
Leine, that it did not interfere with the Lord Chancellor, whose
duty it might be to enusider whether lie ought to approve of the
proposed alteration in chutch and state of this country, he should
as a few words. The house knew well the part lie had previously
taken on this subject, and out of respect to the opinions of per-
sons in that house, and in the other house, lie had no difficulty
in saying. he would most willingly avoid a change of his own
opinion, if any such change could by possibility occur; but upon
full consideration and conviction, lie felt that the essential inte-
rest of this country, and its state of civil liberty, would not
permit him to change his opinion. It was impossible to consent
to tins bill, under any alteration or modification. On the
contrary lie would promise the house to conduct himself with
care and caution, in order to guard against it. It was impossible
to reconcile this bill with the principles of die Constitution, and
no modification could make it admissible.
The order for the second reading of the bill was then fixed fur
Tuesday, and the lords were summoned Mr that day.
'WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4.
___ . .

The LORD CHANCELLOR met this day at an early hour
to hear appeals.
After irrayers, I.ord CoLVILLE presented a PetitiOn front
Chippenlism against the Roman Catholic Claims.
'1 he Petition was read and laid on the table.
The Innkeeper's Subsistence Bill was rest' a second time.—
The House then adjourned.