The Sun.
London, England, 1825-05-27 00:00:00

NATURALIZATION.

Viscount MELVILLE rose to move the first reading of the
Bill, of which he had given notice yesterday, for making some
alteration in the mode of obtaining naturalization. As the law
now stood, it was not only required that persons should have
taken the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance, but that within
one month before naturalization they should have received the
Sacrament according- to the forms of the Church of England.—
It was the same with respect to restoration of blood ; for though
by the Act of Union it was settled that no religious test should
be required from individuals belonging to Scotland, yet persons
so situated as the Earl of Mar, whose blood had been restored
by Act of Parliament, were obliged by the present law to take
the sacrament according to the forms of the English Church.—
No w it happened that many individuals, though Protes tent, n ever
were or could be of the Church of England, and it was a great
hardship for them to be subjected to such a test. That a person
should be a Protestant was all that was requisite, and the taking
the Oath of Supremacy sufficiently proved it. Their Lordships
knew that an Alien, even when naturalized, did not enjoy all
the prerogatives of a natural born subject. With respect to the
mode of naturalizations as in the case of persons restored in
I blood, and the present Bill would put itin their Lordships'
power, and sufficient cause being shewn to justify absence, to
allow the Naturalization Oaths to be taken elsewhere, and
proofs-of them being so taken to be received at the Bar. He
should now move the first reading of the Bill. •
After a few indistinct words from the Earl of LAUDERDALE
and LIVERPOOL, the Bill was read a first time.
SLAVERY.
Earl BATHURST presented printed papers relative to the
situation of Slavery in the Colonies.—Laid on the table.
LAWS OF FORFEITURE_AND ATTAINT OF

BLOOD.
Lord HOLLAND moved the Order of the Day for the se•
cond reading of the Attainder Bill.
On the motion of the Noble Lord the Act of 7th of Queen
Elizabeth, sec. 10, chap. 21; that of the lith Geo. II.; and
that of the Geo. 111. were read pro forma.
Lord HOLLAND then said, that in submitting the motion
to their Lordships, although he was satisfied that it was found-
ed on principles that were natural, that were just, that were
those of sound policy and good faith, he felt it necessary to
make some apology, lest he might be subjected to a charge of
presumption, in attempting to induce their Lordships to do
that which they had not been induced to do, although solicited
by some of the highest characters this country had ever pro-
duced : for in the attempt he now made. he remembered that
Lord Somers, Lord Hardwick, Justice Blackstone' and Sir S.
Romilly, had failed ; if then he, who had neither the weight or
the knowledge of some eminent men, came forward in the hope
of doing that which they had been unable to do, he feared he
should be accused of vanity. But he had been induced to make
the attempt because of many little circumstances to which it was
not material to revert, because there was someting in the na-
ture of the times encouraged him, and because the House had
been for two seasons occupied,
.at the suggestion of a Noble
Lord( Melville)opposite, in improving thelaws of that part of the
united kingdom called Scotland ; and occupied also in removing
some of those laws which had prevented the restoration of noble
families to the rank to which they were entitled by birth. At the
present time there was no competitor for the crown, nor no fear
of treason among any part of his Majesty's subjects. He was
induced therefore to hope that the present time was a most au-
spicious one, and that unable as he was to do justice to so im-
portant a subject, the circumstances under which he brought it
might warrant him in the
beforeanticipation
th notice
its
so
sf u
ct
elrs
fresult.
Ile should have been more
pleased if the Noble Viscount (Melville) had himself proposed
it, but that Noble Viscount was'oecupied with other subjects,
and had that day brought in a Bill to remove some of those
evil consequences that flowed from laws which affected that
part of the country to which the Noble Viscount was naturally
attached. The object of the Bill of which he (Lord Holland)
now moved the
was not in any degree to lessen
the punishment for high treason. It was merely to Unlit that
second reading,