The Sun.
London, England, 1836-03-15 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, Meßeg 14.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his scat on the Woolsack at
the usual hour.

A RIGHT REV. PRELATE presentei a petition against the
probate clause of the Ecclesiastical Courts Consolidation Bill.
Lord HATHERTON presented a petition to the same
effect.

Lord GLENELG moved that the order of the day for the
House going into Committee on the Bill for improving the
administration of justice in the West Indies be discharged, and
that this Committee be postponed till Friday.
NEWSPAPER STAMPS. _ _ .

Lord RADNOR presented a petition from some place in
Cumberland, praying for a repeal of the Stamp Duty on
Newspaper:.

IRISH CLERGY.
Lord RODEN rose to present the petition of which he had
given notice on a former day—a petition emanating from a
most respectable and praiseworthy body of men in Ireland,
namely, the Protestant clergy of the diocese of Tuam, Arda,
Kilalla, A thenry, and Clonfert.—( Hear.) The petitioners
stated that many untoward circumstances had hitherto pre-
vented them from enforcing their just rights and collecting
their tithes—that an extensive combination existed against them,
which, from their poverty they were unable to resist, by maintain-
ing expensive suits.. That many kind and benevolent persons
pitying their distresied situation, came forward and formed
themselves into a Society, called the Lay Association. That
the object of the Society was the protection of.the Protestant
Clergy of Ireland against this combination ; and that from
measures pursued by this body it had been already proved
that the present law was found fully sufficient to enforce
their rights, and their incomes were as recoverable by
law as any other description of debt. Petitioners, therefore,
prayed that their Lordships would not sanction any alteration
in the law which would have the effect of reducing their
incomes. The Noble Lord would not enter into a dis-
cussion on the topics referred to in the petition at that time,
but he could assure their Lordships that the Protestant clergy
of Ireland would never consent to a reduction of a single iota
of their incomes.

Lord WINCHILSEA supported the views of the peti-
tioners. and declared his determination to stand or
fall by the principle. Such was the state of the
unfortunate Protestant clergy of Ireland, that Insurance
Companies would not effect an insurance on the lives of a
Protestant clergyman, without inserting a clause in the policy
that no benefit should result from such insurance if the party
insured came to a violent death. Was it possible that such
things could take place in a land of liberty. Surely it was
afoul disgrace to the Legislature of the country.—(Hear.)
If the present course was pursued by his Majesty's Minis-
ters, he would stand forward and raise in this country such a
feeling as should compel them to do justice to this body of
'men, and to take their case into comideraticn. He hoped and
i_rusted that some Noble Lord would bring the subject under
the consideration of the House, and that the House would give
prove it a full, fair, and impartial consideration ; and •he
would venture to say that he would prove such a
conspiracy against liberty and property—(Hear)—not
confined
ucth a
o thecaPserootfesctirtunetlicylearngdy—op(pHreesasri,onheaasr)nTshuenpv'oruaild
_
Yelled in the history of this country..
The petition was then laid on the table.
ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS' BILL. .

Lord KENYON presented a petition from some place in
the county of Worcester, against the probate clause of this
Bill.

Lord WHARNCLIFFE presented a similar petition from
some place in the North Riding of Yorkshire.
AFFAIRS OF SPAIN.

The Marquis of LONDONDERRYapoIogized to the
House for not being able to submit to their consideration those
papers and correspondence for which he had moved. He
wished, however, to call their Lordships' attention to the
course pursued by the Noble Viscount opposite on Thursday.
The Noble Viscount told him when he asked for a particular
despatch that it was lost. He conceived this to be a very
extraordinary circumstance, but it reminded him of a Dutch
despatch that had been lost on a former occasion.—( A laugh.)
The Noble Viscount had since put in a supplementary pa-
per, which turned out to be the very despatch that had been
lost. He wished to know further, whether to the last letter of
the correspondence, which was dated so far back as September,
Any answer had been received in the Foreign Office. It was
hardly possible that between September and March no com-
munication on these important points should have been re-
ceived by the Foreign Office. He had asked the Noble
Viscount to state whether this was the case or not, and the
answer was given in the Noble Viscount's off-hand way, that
no communication had been received. But be thought he
could convict the Noble Viscount from his own mouth ; for the
Noble Viscount the other night stated that these prisoners
were transported from Cadiz to Porto Rico. From
whence had the Noble Viscount received this information if
there had been no answer to the last letter ?—( Cries of Hear,
hear, hear.) He would not make any further observations

at present, as from the lateness of the hour at which the pa.
per was put in it was totally impossible for him to be prepared
to go fully into the case. Therefore, with the permission of
the House, he would withdraw his motion for to-day, and fix it
for Friday or Monday, when he would go into the considera-
tion of the whole of these papers, with a view of framing a
motion upon them.
Lord MELBOURNE did not know that the Noble Lord
had stated sufficient grounds for postponing his motion ; but
the Noble Lord was master of his own proceedings. In point
of common sense, however, he had never heard a more
insufficient or unsatisfactory ground for postponing a mo-
tion.—( Hear.) The paper to which the Noble Lord alluded
anybody might read in five minutes, and fully consider in ten
minutes. The paper did not vary the case in the slightest
degree. He would make no observations on the withdrawing
of this motion ; he would only state that he did not acquiesce
in the validity of the reasons assigned by the Noble Lord for
so doing. The Noble Lord was the most difficult man to
satisfy that he ever had to deal with.---( Hoar, and laughter. )
He was extremely discontented when he was told that this
paper was lost, and now he is equally discontented when it is
found. They were told when it was lost that it was a most
important paper, and now that it was found he requires
time to consider whether it is important or not.—
( Hear, hear.) The letter had been sent to him (Lord
Melbourne) from the Foreign Office. 1-1 had put it in a
box with other papers, and it was missing in the office. He
had instituted a search, and had discovered the paper; and
having discovered it, he thought the best way was to lay it on
the table, in order that it might be printed. He had re-
quested the Clerk to inform the Noble Lord of the circumstance,
and if he (Lord M.) had seen the Noble Lord, he would have
informed him himself. He could assure the Noble Lord that until
within these few weeks there had been no further information
on the subject whatever, and no further official application had
been made to the Spanish Government.—( Hear, hear.)
These prisoners were young men of very respectable
families, and had they joined the army of Don Carlos they
would have given him considerable influence. These were the
facts, though ho had no official knowledge of them; but it was
not to be supposed that our Ambassador would be • en-
tirely inactive upon the subject, or that he would
not do every thing in his power to protect . the safety
of these individuals, and procure their liberation.—( Hear.)
He did not think it would be prudent in the Government to
make an official application to which a decided refusal might
be given. As an additional reason why . the Noble Lord
should put off his motion, he begged to say that he
had a number of supplementary papers which might
supply him with further information.--( Hear, hear.)
The Duke of WELLINGTON was most anxious that his
Noble Friend should state specifically what his charges were
against his Majesty's late and present Government.—( Hear.)
It was not quite fair if charges were to be made and then
abandoned, and he thought his Noble Friend should state speci-
fically what the charges were, and name a day for their dis-
cussion.—( Hear, hear.)
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY had hot had the ad-
vantage of the advice of the Noble Dele, as to the course
which he intended to pursue in tile present instance. As,
however, he had been so rirsessed (and he must say a little
unfairlya he had ho objection to state what his in-
tentions we'n relative to these unfortunate individuals,
who, according to the Noble Viscount's statement, were trans-
ported to Porto Rico. In looking at that correspondence it was
impossible not to admire the statesmanlike and sound princi-
ples laid down in the despatches of the Noble Duke. If their
spirit had been followed up, he (the Marquis of Londonderry)
would not have any occasion to take up their Lordships' time.
But he would maintain, that from the first document up to the
present time, the question regarding these individuals had re-
mained in abeyance. It appeared now, that notwithstanding
the application that had been made ,these individuals, after six
' months' confinement, were to be sent to Botany nay—to Porto
Rico—and they would be probably drowned or subject to work
as galley slaves for life. Look at the state in which Great
Britain stood—was she not actually, aiding and abetting to
keep up the Queen's power in Spain, and had she not sent
arms out to the amount of five hundred thousand pounds—
and yet with all this she could not obtain from that Govern-
ment the release or discharge of these twenty-seven officers.
The Carlists had 300 Christino officers in their custody, and
if their friends were used in this barbarous manner, would
they not retaliate, and then the war must go on in the same mur-
derous manner in which it had already been conducted. He was
most anxious only that these things should be put an end to.
It was seen that nine months had elapsed since the Noble
Duke had written the despatch alluded to, ani they were now
told there had yet been no answer; did that show any energy
on the part of the Government. They were doubly interested
now in the question, as there was now a legion of English-
men in that country. Surely it was our duty to put an
end to such scenes of blood, or the subjects of his Majesty
might be the victims. He did not complain of the despatch
of the Noble Duke, but because it had not been followed up.
The Noble Lord was all energy when an unfortunate Bishop
was to be castigated, but where had it been these nine months?
All he wanted was some expression on the part of the House,
so that the Government might be induced to insist upon the
war being carried on in a civilized and proper manner.
The Duke of WELLINGTON felt that he was personally
interested in this question ; and when the Noble Marquis
thought proper to bring forward his motion, he would be able
to show clearly that ,he and his Majesty's late Government
were implicated in character in it. The Noble Marquis had
deemed fit to enter upon the subject, but he (the Duke of
Wellington) would not now follow him. That was not the
first time or the first occasion on which the Noble Marquis in-
troduced the matter. He did so last year, and if be
(the Duke of Wellington) was not mistaken, lie told him that
that he and the late Government were interested in character
in it; and when the subject was brought under discussion
he would be able to show that they did their duty
in the matter, and that if any thing had been
left undone which the Noble Marquis wished to be done, it
was because it was found impossible to go further, and if he
brought on a further discussion, he would show that there
were other interests depending on tle,question.
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY thought the Noble
Duke had taken a view of the question not warranted by what
fell from him. He did not charge the late Government with
any neglect in this matter. What he complained of was
that the despatch being dated the 17th of February, 1835,
and it being now March, 1836, he wished to know why
some arrangement had not been effected, or some an-
swer obtained ?—( Hear, hear.) What he had done was
in consequence of his conscientious conviction that his
Majesty's Ministers had not taken steps to avert in
that country the horrors of civil war, and be only
did his duty by bringing the matter under discussion. In the
present temper of the House, he would not, however, pro-
ceed further.
The Duke of WELLINGTON hoped the Noble Lord
would give notice of a specific motion. He (the Duke of
Wellington) would then, as far as the late Government was
concerned, be prepared to meet the charge.
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY—.In consequence of
the feeling which seemed to pervade the House, he would recal
the motion, also the one regarding Spain which stood for a
future day.
ECCESIASTICAL LEASES RESTRICTION BILL.
This Bill went through a Committee, after which their
Lordships adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, MARcH 14.

The SPEAKER took the Chair at the usual hour.

The Sheriffs of London appeared at the far io present a
petition from the Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council cf
the city of London, praying to be heard by Counsel against
the London Grand Junction Railway Bill.
Mr. BOWES presented two petitions against the same Bill.
SOUTH DURHAM JUNCTION RAILWAY.
Mr. fIUTT presented two petitions against this Bill.
After a short conversation respecting the Standing Orders,
the Bill was read a second time.

Lord EASTNOR presented a petition, from an individc.al,
against the Brighton Railway Bill.
LONDON AND CAMBRIDGE RAILWAY.

The London and Cambridge Railway Bill was read a second
time, arid ordered to be committed.
DUBLIN AND DROGHEDA RAILWAY.

Mr. E VANS brought in a Bill for making a Railway
from Dublin to Drogheda, to be called the Grad Northern
Trunk Railway, with several branches therefrom, which was
read a first time.

Mr. PEASE presented petitions against the Bridlington
Pier and Harbour Bill.

Mr. CIIILDERS presented petitions from the trustees of
some road, against the Hull and Selby Railway Bill, and
against the River Dunn Navigation Bill.
Mr. WILKS presented a petition from the Romford Na-
vigation Company against the Midland Counties Railway Bill.