The National Register.
London, England, 1813-03-07 00:00:00

AfIk.RCH 7.

the Clergy had stepped forward in the business. He believed in his
conscience, that instead of the Protestants being more adverse than
formerly, they were now by many degrees more favourable ro the
claims of the Catholics.
The Hon. F. ROBINSON said, he thought the question was now
coe to that point when it wit; impossible to -refuse corssideration
them claims of the Catholics. He was therefore for going into a Com-
mitre:, and for securities being given.
Sir T. ACKLAND, ol)sereed, that the question was not about leav-
ing our Consti talon in Church and State withont securities, but
Nvhether, in the room of the securities now existin, others might not
he sub aituted that were as free from danger, and less objectionable.
If no real good were to be expected from the House going unto a Com-
mittee, he should nut vote for it. He believed, however, that it
would nut he difficult to find other securities, which woull remove
ti e apprehended. As to the effectual preservation and guard
of the Protestant Church, he thought it almost as necessary as the
preservation of our Monarchy and of our liberties. In the laws which .
were passed at the time of the Union between England and Scotland,
there was an express reservation of the power of Parliament to alter
the provisions of those enactments, if they thought proper. He
could not avoid recollecting that many of the greatest Statesmen of
our age, however they diffi:red on other points of policy, were agreed
on this, that there was a possibility of making a safe arrangement of
the Catholic claims, without danger to the present constitution.
Last year it had appeared to the majority of the House, that the time
was come for taking into consideration those Catholic petitions. He
mac a new Member of that House, but he considered the resolution
of the House last Session to be a legacy which the present Parliament
should be anxious to ratify and confirm. He would certainly have
wished that the foundations of freedom to the Catholics had been
gradually and silently laid, in such a manner as would have afforded
effectual security. Among a number of arguments which he could
hi ing to chew an alteration of late years in the Catholic mind, he
must observe that Catholics in Ireland frequently sent their children
to be educated by Protestant Clergymen; he would also mention the
great increase of late years of Itcanan Catholics as students in the
College of Dublin. He had spent some short time in Ireland, and
among the siany hospitaliti:. lie received there, he was at the house
at a Protestant Gentleman, where the Catholic servants came up
WIT hour scruple, and with the permission of their titular Bishop, to
j,,in in the general fnmily worship, which was taken from the liturgy
of the Church of England. He considered that their conduct was,
in every situation of life, such as to induce the House to remove
the remaining disabilities under which they now labour.
Sir T. sur lost spoke in a low tone of voice, it is believed against
the mot inn.
Lord P. LcasaszoN considered the danger apprehended from ad-
m:ttieg Catholics to power to be visionary and impossible. On the
contrary, he thought great danger was to be apprehended from the
coiltinoari,o of the present system. He urgeii that we ought to enlist
the great body of Catli,.;;L: talent on our side ; and, that we had al-
realv given them too much to refuse what now remained.
Mr. H ART Das' r opposed the motion.—The debate was then, on
the motion of Mr. Ponsonby, further adjourned.

IU!i9UAY 11.% nne it 2.

lIETt. 'ROYAL HIGHNESS TILE PRINCESS OF WALES.
Soon a f:er the SPF AKER had taken the Chair, he rose, and addressed
the Hou,e to the following effect ;
" It 1 n“- duty to aLquaint the 'louse, that yesterday ewning
ort.., as
I was sit ti.,e in this Chair, a Letter was brought me,
which purp
ed to be from her RI) al Highness the Princess of Wales. As the •
letter was with Jut date and simiture, and as it wai given by an un-
known parson to one of the Mes:;engers at the door of the House, I
test it to be due to the r...'spect which I owe to her Royal Higlines
as well as to the house, not to take any st,:p on the receipt of it until
I hat fully ascertained its authenticity. I hope that so far I shall not
he considered a-; having failed in the discharge of the trust reposed in
vie, or as having shown a disposition to iw:rpose unnecessary impe-
diments in the way of any persons who might wish to lay their cases
b,..fore this House. Hear, hear, hear!) lam now enabled to state to the
Ilous-% that the Letter which I received yesterday was authentic ,•
. and w;th the leave of the House, I will read to them a Letter which I
have this thiy recched from her Royal Highness, enclosing a dated du-
plicate of her Royal Highness's original communication.— I'
it the
pleasure ofthe House that these Letters should be read ?" (Genera
cries of Read, read ! )
The SPiIAKZR t hen read the Envelope, and the original Letter. They •
were In substance as foLows :
ENVELOPE.
" Nlontague House, Blackheath, March 2, 1813.
" The Princess of Wales, by her own desire, as well as by the advice
of her Counsellors, did yesterday transmit to Mr. Speaker, a Letter
which she was anxious should Lave been read, %iihout delay, to the
Hou,e of Commons, and which she requests may he read to the House
this very day ; for which pr pose her Reyel Highness encloses a
daplicata."