The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-30 00:00:00

precated. If the bill was really required than it ought to
have been introduced by the Government of the country,
and not by a private member of the house. (Hear, hear.)
Whether the measure was right or wrong, of one thing
there was no doubt, viz., that it sought to effect a very
important change in the constitution of the country—.
(hear, hear)---and a measure doing that, in his opinion,
ought to have been brought forward by the Executive
Government, and that Government ought not to be satisfied
with merely giving their support and assistance to aprivate
member. The late Sir Robert Peel regarded the Roman
Catholic oath as part of the settlement entered into in 1829,
and to the latest hour of his life he regarded it as a final
compact and arrangement that ought not to be legally
altered. The present was not the moment to adopt in all
its entirety the motion of his hon. friend. He would, how-
ever, divide the oath into four parts, and he would briefly
tell the hon. gentleman how far ho would go with him.
In the first place, he had no objection to expunge the part
of the oath which stated that excommunicated sovereigns
might be deposed or murdered by their subjects. It
was an affront and offence to common sense,
and therefore he for one could not defend it. With
respect to the jurisdiction of the Pope, or other potentate
in that country, he had no wish that that should be re-
tained. The following portion which set forth that the
person taking the oath did so without evasion, equivoca-
tion, or mental reservation. He also would gladly see
it abolished, because it was an insult to every man of
honour, and a man without honour no oath could bind.
(Hear, hear.) But the last portion of the oath, that which
referred to the preservation of the settlement of property,
as by law established, the preservation of the Church, as
by law established, and the Protestant religion, that he
felt was desirable and important to retain. He would
give his assent, thus far, to the honourable gentleman,
and it would be for him to say whether he would accept
the alteration he proposed or not.
Mr. HORSMAN said he could only regard the Roman
Catholic oath as a mark of distinction between two mem-
bers of that house, and such a distinction, he contended,
ought not to exist. Why such a distinction should be made
he could not understand, because if the Roman Catholics
were regarded as enemies of the Established Church, were
not the English Dissenters in the same position ?
(Hear, hear.) He looked upon the oath as a rem-
nant of a dark age, and the sooner it was got
rid of the better, and if he went into committee on this bill
he should do so with the earnest intention of getting a re-
vision of all the oaths now in use. (Hear, hear.) no
thought it was quite true when one oath as brief and simple
as possible
as h
ewas s
concerned,houldbe
h
takene
wouldbyall like to
s seein the
oath common,th
as
far of
allegiance the only one taken at the table. He thought
with the hon. baronet the member for Droitwich that the
matter ought to have been brought forward bythe Govern-
ment, and he hoped that when the bill came from commit-
tee it would pass through its other stages under the au-
spices of her Majesty's Government.
Sir H. CAIRNS was of opinion that the present was not
the proper time to discuss the terms of the Roman Catholic
oath, although he was free to confess that the earlier terms
of the oath with respect to excommunicated sovereigns and
the jurisdiction of the Pope were useless. With respect to
that portion of the oath relating to the disturbing or weak-
ening the Protestant religion or Protestant Government of
England, no one had yet ventured to say that the words
were oppressive in form. He believed that it was the wish
of members of the Roman Catholic faith to be free, in
order that they might subvert the Church of England, as •
by law established, if they could ; and, if for no other
purpose, he considered it wise and prudent to retain the
latter portion of the oath as a safeguard against any future
attacks that might be made on the Church of England.
Without the hon. member for Limerick gave an answer
that he would accept the proposition of the right hon.
member for Droitwich, he should cheerfully support the.
motion of the hon. member for North Warwickshire.
Lord E. HOWARD thought the oath but a snare to con-
science, and that the house would do well to remove it
from their books, especially as it was repugnant to the feel-
ings of nearly all of the British gentlemen called upon to
take it.

Mr. MONSELL said he could 'not accept the pro-
posal of the hon. member for Droitwich (Sir J. Pak-
iugton).
Sir P. BURRELL attempted for some time to address
the house, but owing to the loud calls for a division, he
resumed his seat.

The house then divided, when there appeared—
For going into committee 193
Against it
Majority —67
The house then went committee, pro forma, and the
chairman immediately reported progress.
Mr. WHITESIDE asked the right hon. baronet the
Home Secretary whether he would adopt the suggestion of
the hon. member for Cockermouth (Mr. Horsman), and take
charge of the bill.
Mr. HORSMAN said the right hon. gentleman could not
be expected to answer the question off hand.
Sir G. GREY said he was not going to give an answer
at that moment.

The debate was then adjourned, Mr. MONSELL intimat-
ing that he would inform the house in the evening when
he proposed to proceed with the committal of the bill.
The sitting of the house was then suspended.

The house resumed at six o'clock, and was
[LEFT SITTING.]

LONDON GAZE r TE—This Evening.

WAR OFFICE, MAY 30.
-
The Queen has been graciously pleased to give orders
for the appointment of Robert Gilmour Colquhoun, Esq.,
C. 8., her Majesty's Agent and Consul-General in Egypt,
to be an Ordinary Member of the Civil Division of the Se-
cond Class, or Knights Commanders of the Most Honour-
able Order of the Bath.
Her Majesty has also been graciously pleased to give
orders for the appointment of Surgeon-Major William
Munro, M.D., 93d Regiment, and Surgeon-Major Henry
Bruges Buckle, Ist Punjab Regiment of Infantry, to be
Ordinary Members of the Military Division of the Third
Class, or Companions of the said Most Honourable Order.
FOREIGN-OPFICE, MAY 15.
The Queen has been graciously pleased to appoint Col.
Edward Stanton, C. 8., now her Majesty's Consul-General
at Warsaw, to be her Majesty's Agent and Consul-General
in Egypt.

WAR OFFICE, PALL MALL, MAY 30.
Coldstream Guards—Captain and Lieutenant-Colonel
Liam Gregory Dawkins has been placed upon half-pay.
ADMIRALTY, MAY 25.
The following promotions have been made in conse-
quence of the death of Captain Thomas D. A. Fortescue,
viz.:—

Commander Isaac Newton Thos. Sanley to be Captain.
Lieut. Henry Legge Perceval to be Commander.
Mr. Wm. George Le Cocq., Sub-Lieut., to be Lieutenant.
confirming Commissions given to these Officers by Vice-
Admiral Robert Smart, K.C.8., K.H., Commander-in-Chief
of her Majesty's ships and vessels on the Mediterranean
Station, with seniority of 11th May, 1865.
MAY 29.

The following promotions have this day been made:—
Mr. James Jones to be Engineer in her Majesty's Fleet ;
Mr. George Griggs Smith to be First Class Assistant En-
gineer, with seniority of 18th May, 180.

BANKRUPTS.
The above are the only races received up to the time of
our going to press.