The National Register.
London, England, 1822-06-09 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

pursued by the Bishop of Peterborough, in iuttiogt no leas than
123 questions to ounlidates for holy orders. The petition stated.
that toe right rev. Prelate required all curates to conform to Inn
questions, or be peremptorily rejected.—A second petition was
prevented roan a curate named Thorn:ll, who had been rejected
complaiaing of the flannel iu which candidates for holy orders
ere examined, and praying with the fire' petitioner that the sub-
ject may be taken up by l'arlianant. The noble Lord contended
that the right rev. Prelate had gone beyond all the powers given
the church, and in some instances had rejected persons who had
conformal recording to the statute of Elizabeth, and his Majes-
ty's declaration. lie trusted the House wooed concur with hint
in thinking there should be souse remedy for this grievance. The
(You u, by summoning a convocation to enquire into the subject,
might produce notch gaud. It was thezefore his intention, it the
petition* were laid on tile table, to move an address to his Majesty,
praying that an enquiry might be instituted to ascertain whether
there was reason to auipo.se any innovations had orseurrol in the
precepts of the church. The noble Lotd concluded by moving
the petition be laid on the table.
Bishop of PETERBOROUGH said, the circumstances
which gave rise to this petition had been kept out of sight. lie
bad exercised no more than the right given by the church. The
Vol canon said, no curate should be admitted to thechurch until
atter his examination by the Bishop of the diocese. Every exa-
miner had a tight to examine in his own way. He had only
tried whether candidates mon:ascii that faith the church icquireo.
—No temporal authority ion ever interfered with the right of
Bishops to exercise their own discretion with regard to the este-
ininanou of candidates for holy orders. if their conduct in that
respect was subject to the interference of temporal authority.
every person rejected would consider himself entitled to send pe-
titions of cumplaint. With respect to the petitioner :ejected, he
had weighed hint anti found nothing but mistificution in his
answers. lie had no object but to conceal his real opinion.—
The right rev. Prelate denied tile truth of the allegations in the
petitions, and having answered the case at great length expressed
a hope that the House would not receive them.
Lord 1-101.1,ANI) began by stating, that lie disapproved of
the langnage which the right rev. Prelate bad employed in
speaking se the petitioner; such language was harsh in itself,
and not becoming the quarter whence it proceeded. With regard
to the defence of the right rev, prelate to the charge of the petition,
it was the most complete instance of igarsurantia clenaki which lie
had ever heard. The question to be ultimately constdcred and
decided was this--whether the learned and rev. l'relate was jus-
tined in putting his questions. If he had that right, no man
could doubt that he had a right to choose his own mode of exa-
mination ; but it was first necessary to determine whether the
matter, substance, object, and principle of the examination
were warranted by the law of theism!, and by expediency and '
prudence ? Ile (Lord Holland) would broadly assert. that it was .
ambiguous and doubtful, a heihcr by law he hada right to do ass
and whether lie did or did not possess it, it had ale vs bees
thought most imprudent and improper in the right rev, prelate
to mama it. It was not tube disputed that the petitioner had
subscribed the Z articles, and that act hitherto bad been con•
sidereal a sufficient test. Looking at the history of these thirty-
nine ;stick-, he found that they had been put into tacit present
shape at the conimenceinent of the reign of Elizabeth, in the
year 402; and with reference to their doctrines he must say,
that from the period of the retOrmation down to the time of that
gum' man Hooker, and even of dint bad man Laud, the princi-
ples of Anduianistn were unknown to the fhnrch of England.—
Ilefore he sat down, lie would undertake to rove that one of the
greatest ornaments of the Bishops' Bench had said that those 39
articles contained opinions on which a clergyman of the Church
of England ought not to be examined. Vites the right rev. Pre-
late quite rare that such men us Parker and Sandereun could have
satisiactorily answered his questions? Was he quite sure that
not one of the answers would be such as Ili have induced hint, if
any member of the bench of Bishops had been a candidate for
holy orders in his diocese, to have rejected his claim ? it was nut
to be denied that the lii articles were drawn up by persons whose
opinions tended more to Calvinism than to Anninianistn ;,but as
Bishop Horsley bad correctly said, they were intended to admit
both within the pale of the church: they were articles of peace
and union, and obscived a perfect and judicious neutrality.—
A:chbiatiop Wake could net er have entitled himself to a curacy
in the diocese ache right rev. Ptelate. He, one of the loftiest
and ablest dignitariee of the church, must be abandoned by Mode
who thought with the present Bubup of l'eterborougla, as a re•
publiaan—as one who would be willing to bring his sovereign to
the block, and as meriting all the reproaches and epithets which
the tight rev. Prelate in his truly christian spirit had heaped
upon the petitioner. Fur the sake of the interests of religion, the
House was called upon to interfere and to take care that the basis
of the church was as broad anti solid as duty to God and the wel .
lure of the state would allow. The right rev. Prelate had done
what, till this timeahad not been attempted since the reformation.
He strove to straighten and marrow the basis of the chute!), and
the speech lie had meek showed that those who wished tor the
peace teal secality of the country ought either to put an end to
the practice he had begun, or at least to institute: an inquiry into
. its legality and policy.
Lord lALTHOUP contended that the mode of proceeding
adopted by the right rev. Prelate closed all those openings in the
so articles purposely left for the scruples of conscientious minds.
The Earl of liA ItllOlV BY said the allegations which the pe-
titions contained appeared to be of the gravest character; and
!coking to the high and important interests which might be in
sort atloacd by them, he cal Mini; that some further enquiry
ought to be lust:tonal into the matter. He was 'Ainslie:a, in
regard to the chuteh and its weltarc, that to narrow the haw was
not the best method of securing die supostruction. The cate-
gories (as we understood his lordship) of the right rev. prelate,
he considered to be clearly MAC impolitic.Winle he (Lord
liarrowby was disposed to vote for the reading and laying on the
table of tee pennon. he was far from pledging himself to support
the proposed addrese.
The 1.13111) CHANCELLOR, in voting that the petitior,
should lie on the table, denied not to be understood as imputing
any blame to the right rev. prelate.
The petition was then read, and ordered to lie on the table.
Lord DACIIE then observed, he had intended to have thliowed
up the last motion, by moving an address to the Crown on that
subject; but from what the noule and karma! Lord en the wool.
sack, and ether learned Lords had said, it was clear that he (Lord
I)acre) should find much difficulty and opposition it he perse-
vered in his intention. He was thetelore inclined to substitute
ter it a motion that this petition be related to a committee to
consider the matter thereof."
'rite LORD CHANCEI.I.OII having explained the terms
on which he would consent thut the peution be laid ern the table,
would only say that he could not cunsent to the motion. The
question being put.
Tiie Earl ut LAIINARVON could not repress his astonish-
ment on finding, that when so important a subject as this was
brought before the House, the bench of right rev. Prelates had
not declared in words—no, nor by a nod—ner even by a gesture,
whether they meant to a man, to sanction or condemn the
conduct of their right rev. brother. (Hear, hear, and a laugh.)—
On any great constitutional question, particularly a year or two
ago, tiny formerly could not complain that either the noble and
learned laurel on the woulsaek, or those right rev. l'relates, were
slow to give the House the benefit of their wisdom and and expo.
rience. But here, on a question of church policy, both were
Went. Witat would the public think, when it was informed,
that of the very many Pit:lutes who had conic down to the House
that night, not one was to be found who had a single wind to
utter upon the subject Maine their Lordships?
Strangers were then excluded from below the bar.
0:1 our re-admission we Mond the numbers to be (on the
queqion for referring the petition to a cuunnitte.)—contents, 19
...ntai-contents, in.....lajoriry, 39.

The 'Alarringe Act Amendment B:11 was read 4 :cc Jr.ti :tow,
bud ordered to by commiited on Wednesday ntast.—Ad;,,vstrusti.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
NUNDAY, JI ,I. 3.

Mr.ll.Sl.3lNEltiffthented a petition from market gardeners
of Batteisea field,, cumplaittini thut the repeal ut the ai,rietti.
tura! horse tax, iiisteatt of being hencLeill to them, had proved
a heats burtheu to them, tOr they wine how sosewied kir
horses used iu trade, and paid one ghimm, it •ti:xil of 16e. 60.
RS heretofore. Petition ordered to be whited.
Petitions u;aiitst the i,icenbing Bih t rte ptesented from the
brewers of 31am:broke, Jul turd, .Margate, the Ninth of Eit6latid,
Liverpool, Bribittou, ilastiu6s, and noutituniptott. Retell eii to
the Committee.

The 31 or: le-bone Pat ing and Lighting Bill 1% as na.l a third
time and pi.aai d.
Mr. B 1 AG brought in a Bill to amend the !‘litltllesea cnunty
rate acts, as tar as the saute regarded the tit. h 6411.1,
Read a brat time.

The Assessed Taxes Composition Bill was ordered to be rtad
a seeund time tat 'l% • Ouesos) next.
Nr. C. LiLlx hLT prm.ehti.tt a petition from an indit
hauled Cranford, late a publican at Little lrenchard, Nutted,
complaining of having been arbitrion) tleplivcd of bis lieveae
b.) the 31agistiate.
Petition read, and ordered to be referred .to the committer

ou the Dill.
Mr. BIRCH moved for returns of collectors of duty on salt,
to whom retired pensions had been allowed.—Ordered.
'NORFOLK PLIITION FOIL Reeottm.-31r. COKE presented
remonstrances and petitions, Ac. from Grteuhoe, &c. in Norfolk,
complaining of agricultural distress, of the army whieb was
maintained to keep dove u the Constitutional spirit,' end ut the
majorities of that House, which would support any adminis,
tration, however " arbitrary or tyrannical;" and praying ter
return). The hen. member said, lie tv as ashamed of what he
had seen, fur the majorities had caused the ruin they now
beheld ; and es to the reduction of taxes they had been forced
from, ministers. Had lie been present lie would not have
cheered the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Mr. I'll LE3IANTLE opposed the petition, and moved as VI
amendment Distil he rejected.
Mr. Cl KW EN said the petition spoke the truth, anti W hile
the petitioners were so disposed, how could they speak lAdt:l.
ise, as seats bad been notoriously bought and sold.
Mr. JAMES observed, that the petitioners also spoke of the
taxes being required to support the influence of the Crown;
that was a species of treason; they were wanted to suppoi t the
interest and influence of the borouglimungering faction.
Lord LONDONDERRY said, if they bad any regard for
their own character, they could not receive this petition. 't he
petition did nut come in the ordinary language; it al•peared
a decidedly worded remonstrance.
Mr. CALCRAFT said that the petitioners avowed what no
man could deny ; nay, what the ministers themselves admitted,
that places aud pensions were supported with the sole view at
supporting government. The army was tremendous, and it had
heenjused in a Nay that was somewhat suspicions.
Sir R. V ILSON observed, that the Secretary to the Trea-
sury could not deny that seats were bought and sold, and that
pensions and places were granted 011 the sole condition oi sup-
portia; the ministers. But had nut petitioners for refulin a
right to state theirreasons!
Mr. C. II YNN tteelaied that this petition was a studied
insult. If, indeed, the army were maintained to keep dents
the Constitutional spirit, and if the House were ready to sanction
all sorts of giants, then was there made out sufficient ground
fur rebellion. klitar, bear.) Then could they receive such a pe-
tition ? Was it Out an insult? If this petition and remon-
strance were received, where were they to stop? Ile thou,;tit
the House was called on to make a ►tand Places were nut
granted with the view of gaining corrupt support.
Sir J. NEW PORT said, that the petition only stated what
be had often asserted, what had frequently been declared in
that House; and after the changes that had takto place, tk.y
ought not to cavil about particular expressions. They were
told that not one farthing of tax could be reduced ; they hod
sass millions reduced ; they were told that certain places could
not be abolished—and shortly alter they were abolished : then
was it too nowli to allow thepetilioners a latitude of expressionl
Ile thought the House would not consult its diguity by reject-

ing the petition.
Mr. PEEL said, the petitioners themselves had called their
documents a " remoustrunee," and that showed the (mimes with
which they approached that House. It was meant to insult.—
If it were tree that the House was what was described iu the
petition, then ought they to abdicate their functions.
Mr..l. SMITH denied that the object of the petitioners,
front whom he dilfered in many points, was to insult the House;
but he would have the House recollect that there were many
persons who believed what was set forth in the petition.—
(Hear hear.)—It would be better, under all ciicunistences,
to
receive the petition.
*Strangers were then ordered to withdraw. The nsuthers
were the rtjectiuu, b9—Against it, ;,3—Majority for the
rejection, 34.
Mr. COKE in presenting another petition from Norfolk,
which was agreed to at the hue general county meeting, de-
clared that the last petition had no intention to insult the House.
He rejoiced in the petitioners ; they w ere men, and men worthy
of being represented ; therefore lie gloried in the petitioners.—
This petition was similar to the one that had been rejected.—
lie had no hope of its being received—but the sentiments w etc
such as should carry with him to the grave. He agt end with
them as to the corruptions of that House ; and the conduct of
ministers was calculated to increase the number of such peti-
tions, He hoped that the call fur reform would be urns ersul.
The petition was read, and ordered to be printed, amidst
the cheering of the opposition.
Mr. MARDTAT presented a petition front wholesale lad
retail grocers of the metropolis, against any ►enewa I of the
M est India Dock Company's Charter. Referred to the com-
mittee on foreign trade.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved that the
report on the naval and military pensifitui be received.
The order was then read, and, on the motion that it be
brought up,
Mr. CALCRAFT said, others had particularly complained of
the proposed iande of reducing the salt tas ; those concerned
in the lisheriee said they could not bear the remaining tax—
that it would be ruinous to them to coutimmue the 2s. tax.
...Th.; CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied, that
present exemptions and protections would continue to January
nest ; that it would cover the approaching season ; so that if
redress were required, it would be time enough nest session
to consider it.
After some further remarks, the report was brought up and

read.
On the resolution, that a portion of the 4,000,0001. should
conic lruut the sinking toad,