The Sun.
London, England, 1825-07-01 00:00:00

ations of the Magistrates, and said that he would inquire into
the circumstances on going into the country.
CA RLI LE.
Mr. BROUGHAM presented a petition from Richard Car-
lile, complaining of the heavy penalties and long imprisonment
in consequence of having published libels. He had been sen-
tenced to three years' imprisonment and a fine of 1,000/. Be
(Mr. Brougham) hoped that in three years more he would be
released, otherwise the pecuniary penalty would operate as a
sentence of continual imprisonment. The petitioner adverted
to the legal principles laid down at his trial by the Court ; which
among other things, stated that blasphemy still remained (as
every body knew it did) an offence at common law, notwith-
standing the statutes that had been parsed for the relief of cer-
tain Dissenters from the penalties to which they might other-
wise be liable by reason of impugning particular doctrines.
Now the petitioner submitted, that to his untutored judgment,
there were evidently very great discrepancies between the highest
law authorities on subjects of this kind ; that Sir Mathew
Hale held that blasphemy, or any attack upon the religion of
the land, was an offence punishable at common law; and this
venerable judge was always acknowledged for one of the high
authorities on this question. Yet Lord Coke, whose opinion
was always received as of a still higher character, had de-
clared in one part of his Institute, that cases of blasphemy,
and impugning the religion of the land, were not remitted
to the King's twelve Judges ; but to the Judges of the
Ecclesiastical Courts, which alone had cognizance of the
vane. Mr. Carlile further represented, that he had been
misled by the inconsistency that existed between these
authorities, and between the operation of the common
law, and the 53t1 of Geo. lll.,—that he had suffered-very
, greatly inconsequence ;—that he had lost all his property, and
that, after undergoing a long term of imprisonment in pur-
suance of his sentence, he had been confined for a period of
neerly three years more, in consequence of total inability to pay
the. fines and expences to which he was subjected. 'The Hon.
and Learned Gentleman expressed a hope that the duty he'had
now discharged, in presenting this petition, would not involve
him in a cUarge of entertaining the opinions which have been
avowed by Mr. Carlile, or of approving that individual's mode
of promulgating them. He though it was the duty-of a Mem-
ber of Parliament to present all petitions that were confided to
him, if they were properly worded. In the present case, that.
was his opinion ; for he was not to be deterred by the mere
word blasphemy. ; " anti he would be to repeat—what he
heartily wished he could induce other Gentlemen to concur
with him in thinking—that, in point of fact, it was no offence
by the law of the land to hold certain teligious opinions'which
were at variance with those usually-received by the country=
that no man was to be blamed or praised for the opinions lie
held, let them be whatever they might. If a man were an
atheist, a deist, or a professor of- arty similar opinions, his pe-
culiar notions were not his crime, but his misfortune. But
here the distinction was to be taken :• he was not to publish or
promulgate such tenets, in opposition to those which were re-,
cognized by the law of the land, in--an improper or indecent'
manner; for it was in the mode of promulgation that the of-
fence against the law consisted. The 'More sacred the tsubject,l
ttte greater was a man's right to entertain his own opinions
, upon it, however peculiar in themselves. This principle',
was to be extended even to the atheiste If there. was such
, a person as an atheist, he (Mr. Brougham) looked at him with
pity ; but he would not visit him with punishment.
The petition was then brought up, read, and ordered to be
printed.
Mr. THOMAS COURTENAY moved, that the Clerk of
the House do prepare and lay on the table an account of all the
_ monies expended for relief of the poor in -the several counties
of England and Wales, in the year ending the sth 'of March,
, 1325.—Ordered.
31r. SPRING RICE presented two petitions, submitting to
--the House the expediency of providing employment for the
Irish poor; the one from the city of Limerick, the other from
, the county of Westmeath.
MR. BURGOYNE.

Mr. PEEL, in answer to some observations that were sug-
gested to him on a former night, relative to the case of a clergy-
man, who was alluded to in a petition presented 'to the House
on behalf of Montague Burgoyne, (alluding to certain
proceedings that had been instituted against tile Rev. Gentle-
man in the spiritual courts), begged to state-that he had pro-
ceeded to make some inquiry into the'eitie:' He had therefore
desired the King's Proctor to report to him the progress of the
proceedings in question; -and that officer' hadinstructed' him,
- that in consequence of an applicatiOn*,,,hiCh had-been made in
tie cause to the Court of :King'S "the-proceedings at
Doctors' Commons were necessarily- itnided-for• the present ;
' but as it was likely that-the •i4iit‘ to..beAried in the King's
Bench. would come on the,OWittitig sessl6ivinf that Court, it was
most probable the cause wouldibe.reniitted tfiand'disCusied in
Cie Ecclesiastical Court, in the beginning of -the next term.—
, lie was further informed by. the -King's -ProctOr; that in the
mean tune no step which .he could take would .haire the effect
..of expediting the hearing.
MACHINERY COMMITTEE.
On the bringing up of the Committee's Report,
Mr. HU:IIE moved that it be printed, in order that Hon.
Gentlemen might have -an opportunity, during the recess, of
. thoroughly informing themselves upon the important objects to
which the attention of the Committee had been directed.—Or-
iered to he printed.
Mi. FYSHE PALMER moyed,•that an "humble address
be presented to His Majesty, praying him . to be graciously
pleaz4ed to direct that there. be laid before this,-House a return
of all parishes, and all townships, and all-seelions or divisions
of oariShes in the United 'kingdom that extend into two or
more counties.—Agreetilo... - -
Sir FRANCIS BURDETT moved for a copy of the.final
decision in the case of SamueLFletcher, referred to in the King's
letter of the 22d-of JOT; -441,4 i to the Board of Treasury, and
r'speclfor in the said. Vletchqr's petition to this House, pre-
- sensed on the 22d of.APril.last.,--Ordered.
COUPT or pIIANCERY.
Sir F. BURDETT.-theu ,moved for a list of all the cases
that have been tried by the Lord-Chancellor within the last 18
years, wherein no Judgment haslet been given specifying, in
Sill bankruptcy cases, those in which petitions havei been- bled,
but bare net yet been heard.
The ITTORNEY-GENERAL thought that all the in.
formation called for by The foraier part of this motion was al-
ready before the Ilanse.—The return was then-ordered.
-lir. WALLACE moved the third reading of the
COMBINATION OF WORKMEN BILL.

Mr. WHITMORE rose to submit a resolution of two in
.pursuance of his notice-of yesterday.
Mr. BARING suggested that it -was not competent for his
Hun. Friend to do so, until the question on the third read-
ing had been first di.yosal of.—Tha Bill was then read a third
time.

Thz SPEAKER.--'
Tide: ?"

.' Any clauses to be propose&by way of

The ATTORNEY.GE.N'ERAh desired to call the atten-
tior of the House to two verbal alterations of some importance.
first regardea the limitation of time within which, as to
. the snenmary clause now in. the bill, prosecutions could be in-
stituted. He proposer a regulation by which fimouths would
_be the-limited d. perio . Then as to the existing clause to compel
,aorzimarY attendance of witnesses, it enacted, that if wit-
. nefeiee did not appear, or would notappear, they should be liable
to' be. kept in prison, until they should answer the questions put
to them. This, however, might be considered a hard power
to 4c extended to. the jurisdiction of the Magistrates.; and as
the priOcipalS. .offences under this bill, could only be
imprisoned for a. terra not exceeding .3 Months, it would be
rather harsh in.any case •to have the witnesses liable to a longer
term, of. imprisoranene: he had, therefore, in respect of them,
introduced .the-lienitation of 3 calendar months. There was also
a third.alteratiOn to be introduced with regard to appealed cases.
He had thought it necessary, in pursuance of the general prac-
flee. 'observed in cases of this. kind, to suggest another clause,
to provide that.. convictions should be engrossed on parch-
ment. and certified at the. aes.t quarter-sessions ; and after that,
the party entering an appeal.snould bind himself in the penalty
of lot, and two ulre;tes in, a like penalty of 101. each, to ap-
pear at the Court of Quarter-sessions; forin case of failure in
hie appeal, it was but reasonable that the appellant should pay
the. expencas of such a proceeding.
Sir F. flunDETi! aud Rusin wished to know upon
whom the costs would fall, in the event of an appeal's being
affirmed ?—(Hear.)
Mr. DENMAN thought it would be extremely hard to com-
pel a poor man to give security of this kind against the event of
his failure; and yet, in case of his success, to leave him saddled
with the expences of.obtaining justice by such appeal. .
The ATTORNEY=GENERAL consented to modify Ins
clause so as to give costs to the appellant in the case of his sac.
ceed ing in his appeal. The Hon. Baronet and the Hon. Gentle-
man would see that the former part of the clause had already
given the Magistrates_ the pOwer of awarding costs co either
party on appeal.
These clauses were brought up, and read a first time.
General GASCOYNE .suggested the propriety of limiting
the duration of this act to one year only.
Mr. HUSKISSON contended, that, in that case, at the ex-
piration of one year, the old common law penalties against
combinations, under any circumstances, would revive.
Mr. DENIIIAN begged the Right Hon. Gentleman's par-
don : the Act of last session would be revived.

The House having resolved itself into a Committee on some
Terbst alteration in one of the former clauses, which was read a
first and second time, the House resumed ; the Chairman re-
ported ; and the clause was brought up, read a third time, and
added 'to the Bill by way of rider.
..,es
Mr. HUME said; objections to this Bill had bewgreatly
mitigated by the tions introduced by the Ron. and
Leagued Attorney eral--(Hear, hear !)—but he,still ob_
ieettett to those *rolls in that part of the preamble of the Bill