The Sun.
London, England, 1830-02-23 00:00:00

.No. 11,684.

tion for the House to take into consideration was, the num-
ber and character of the persons seeking relief. The peti-
tion Was signed by a number of persons of the highest cha-
racter in this metropolis, distinguishes! not only usr
situation and wealth, but fur probity and worth—persons
of the most unimpeachable honour and integrity, and
deomed - so in this metropolis, which was pre-eminently
rich in such examples.—(Hear, hear.)—The petitioners
kelonged to a class that was peaceable, unoffendine, useful,
and industrious, and a more exemplary body of persons
did not exist. If
.any opportunity offered, with very few
exceptions, the great body of the Jewish persuasion
throughout the United Kingdom would attach their sig-
natures to this petition. This body may he estimated as
amounting to about thirty thousand persons; and they did
not attempt to enforce their claims, but they set them for-
ward in language of profound respect fur the Legislature.
Concessions to a body so peaceable and loyal, however
powerful they might be, could not be regarded with the
slightest degree of danger. With reference to this unfor-
tunate race, the usage to which they had been exposed he
could expatiate upon at great length, but he would forbear
from such a topic., reserving himself to a future occasion.
Considering the atrocious persecutions to which these
people had been exposes! for centuries,—considering those
persecutions iu all their horrible forms of actual and- ex-
cessive cruelty, he must say that these had given place to
scarcely a less galling martyrdom of bitter obloquy and
insult. Considering the patience under which these bad
been borne, and considering the intelligent and beneficial
exertions of this class under every law calculated to make
them bad citizens, he could not but trust that the House
and nation would see that so long an arrear of accumulated
injustice and oppression could not be atoned for by any
partial or paisimonioue concession.—(Hear, hear. )—Eng-
land had heaped injuries with extreme prodigality upon
this persecuted race, and let her not be niggardly and
sparing in her measure of reparation.
Mr. WA 1W would detain the House bet for a very few
moments, for all he meant to do was to add his testimony
to that of the Honourable Member who had just sat down,
in favour of the worthiness! of that class of persons who
were now before the House in the character of petitioners.
He had opp,atunities of knowing a very large portion of
this body of persons, and could say, without any fear of
contradiction, that a more honourable class did not exist.
As he had disapproved of the Bill in favour of concessions
to the Catholics, he felt it his duty to say that a more safe
concession could not be granted than that prayed for in the
petition. He was prepared to assist the Hon. Member in
all his views in favour of the petitioners.

Sir R. INGLIS said, that there was a clause in the
last Catholic Relief Bill, by which, among others, the
Jews were pre;:lud,d from certain civil advantages, but
part of these were withheld in order to preserve some por,
tion of Christianity at least. Two years ago the Govern-
ment had separated the Church of England from the Le-
gislature, and when they had last year made a still further
separation, he had then predicted that in another year they
would separate Christianity itself ft om the Legis'ature.—
(Coughing.)—The last Act had been spoken of as one cal-
culated to preserve inviolate all the institutions of the
country. lle regarded a Bill of this kind as separating
the last link which bound the religion of the country with
the Legislature. The Hon. Member had stated that the
number of Jews was so small as to occasion no sort of
alarm, and that their conduct, moreover, had always been
just and peaceable. It was not enough, however, that
they were to be admitted to the practice of the law, and to
corporate offices; but they required seats in Parliament,
and eligibility to all the executive functions of Govern-
ment. Here was the spirit of encroachment proceeding
with rapid strides. Ile was nut to be told that a small
body of men could not, by acting together, render essential
services to the country, or that they could not inflict very
formidable injuries. In the present form of Parliament very
many Jews might be able to enter the Legislature by means
well understood by those who heard him ; but in the event
of those reforms which some were urging, probably there
might not be a single Jew able to procure a seat in that
House. But it was not on any calculation of numbers,
but upon a point of principle, that he wished to preserve
the institutions of the country, and not to separate the
last link that bound the religion of the country to the Le-
gislature and Government.

Mr. O'CONNELL thought, that, instead of disapprov-
ing, the Hun. Member for Oxford ought to approve of
this petition, upon the ground of principle. The Hon.
Member had talked of disapproving of the petition from
Christian motives ; but, in his humble opinion, he thought
that the House would be more Christian-like if they did
unto others as they would be done by.—(Hear, hear,
hear.)—By carrying into effect that principle of conces-
sion, it would be found the more beneficial the wider it
was diffused.

After a few worts from Mr. GRANT, the petition was
ordered to be printed.
The Hon. MEMBER then presented a sitnilar petition
from Moses Solomon, of Portsei, in the county of Hants.
—Ordered to be printed.

Tile Bill to amend the Poor Laws was read a fast and
second time.

TREASURER OF THE NAVY.

Sir JAMES GRAHANI said he rose merely to post-
pone tie motion of which he bud given notice, relative to
the appointment of the Treasurership of the Navy. He
should postpone it to Friday next, as that would afford an
opportunity of procuring some statements from his Ma-
jesty's Ministers, as to the new arrangement of business in
the Navy Department.

Lord JOliN RUSSELL moved for certain returns of
wool, hides, skins, and other commodities, imported into
England, from 1792 to the last day to which they could
he made up.
Mr. PORTMAN moved the second reading of the
Poor Removal Bill.—The Bill was ordered to be com-
mitted on Friday neat.
WAYS AND MEANS.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved
the Order of the Day for bringing up the report of the
Committee of Ways and Means, and the report was
brought up by the Chairman, Sir A. Grant.