The Sun.
London, England, 1813-02-04 00:00:00

CATHOLIC CLAIMS.

The Bishqp of CutCH ESTER presented a Pea; •
tion .from the Clergy and Laity of Chichester,
against the Roman Catholic Claims, which, being
read, was ordered to lie on the table.
The Bishop of CARLISLE preSented a PetitiOn
of a similar; -nature, from the Pettit and Chapter'
of Ely.—Drilered to lie on the table.
Earl NEI.SON presented IL Petition to the same
effect from the Archdeacons-of Norwich.
Lord Hoi,LAtiv inquired whether it were from
all the Arcinleacons of the Diocese of Norwich
Earl Nig...3°N answered, it was from the Arch-
deacons of Norwich and Norfolk. The Petition
was then,readi after Which •
The Duke of NORFOLK rose to observe, that as
he understood the wording of the Petition, it con-
tained an allegation, which was not founded in
fact, inasmuch ,as it went •to state that the Ca-.
tholics, by the existing laws, were allowed'as free
a participation in the advantages and benefits of
the State and Constitution as the Protestant Dis-
senters. That such was not 'the case was well
known, for among other points, those Diisente,rs
tVet a admissible to seats in Parlianient, whereaS,
on the other hand, a considerable portion of
the oaths
,required of Members, was expressly
framed for tlie exclusion of Catholics frihn the *Le-
gislature.
- • The Bishdp of NOIMICIV took occasion. to et• 7;.
press his strong disapprobation of the conduct of
the Established Clergy, in thus coming forward
• and interfering on an occaSion, which was, more
than any other, a consideration of State policy,
Such a line-of conduct he did not think warranted,
either by propriety or expediency. 'lie did not
envy the preference given by a part of the Clergy
of his own diocese, to the Noble and Reverend
Earl, for presenting such a Petition. The ftev.
Prelate added his opinion, that from time and cir-
cumstances, the ,nature of the question* to Which
the Petition referred had been greatly changed,—
Tbat none of those apprehensions with respect to
their,Catholic fellow-subjects, which formerly ob-
tained, need be entertained at present ; and. he
thought that a moderate and liberal line of conduct
with -resptzt to 9„tent, particularly.. on the part of
the clergy, was such as would be more wise, po-
litic, and proper in every respect.

The Peiitio'n was ordered to lie on the table.
The Bishop of SALISBURY presented a Petition
to their Lordships from the Dean and Chapter
of Salisbury, to a similar effect with the fore-
going.
• Lord HoLLAND expressed his wish to be inform-
ed by the Rev. Prelate, of how many persons the
Dean and Chapter of Salisbury coilisted, and what
portion of themumber was necesiary to decide for
the whole ?
The Bishop of SALISBURY replied, the body in
question consisted of seven, and that the decision
of the majority preponderated.
The Petition was ordered to lie on the table;
as-Avere also Petitions to the like effect, presented
byhisLordihip, from the Clergy of the C;onnty of
Wilts, and the Archdeacon and Clergy of Berk-
shire.
The 'ReVerend Prelate then presented another
iletition from the Archdeacon and Clergy of
Simon.

The Petition being read,
The Duke of NontmLic rose to observe, that the
Petitioners went to assert, Olathe Catholics were
not altered in MI iota with respect to those tenets
with which they formerly were charged. The
Noble Duke seemed to allude to certain points
of the alleged Papal powers—powers which, he
said, were completely disclaimed by the Catholics
of Ireland. He 'regretted that such ideas should
be held forth by any respectable body of men
to persons of common understandings, who limy
bt; induced to font( their conclusions accordingly.
Lord Hot,LAtin avowed his sentiments to the

same effect, gild Sakt, the Petitioo appeared to
Itimto impute, in direct and positive retails, tenets
which every Catholic in Ireiand disclaimed upon
his Solemn oath. He particularly alluded to the
supposed infallibility' of the Pope, a dogma
which those Catholics disclaimed, qua oatb,
be-
fore their God, lie thought it necessary that'such
misrepresentations on the subject should be car;
The Petition ras Ordered to lie on the table, as
was another, to the same effect, presented by the'
Bishop of 'Salisbury, 'from the Dean and 'Chapter
of Exeter.
Lord Viscount SIDMOV7'IT presented a Petition
of a similar tendency, from the Alayor and
rough of Leeds, which being also read was or-
dared to lie on the table.
4.101 INDIA QUE:NI, lON.
Lord Visc,v u
tit 11Int.vti.t.e preseutad a Petition
to their Lordships, from the Chamber of Commerce
and :Manufactures at Edinbrgh, against ire-
hews' of •the monopoly of the Cast
pony as alio one from the Ralal Burghs of
SPotland, ugktindt a renewal of the eXclusive pri
,-;vileges of the Lust India Company, and a third
teat effect front the Corporation of Stir-
r4l:4l,es of thesp doc►ttt enta Wog rend, they
werk4everally ordered to lie on the table.
Ijihke of -Nottro.t.K 'expressed his wish to
be, inforiii•2a how soon the•disenssion of the im-
vortant subject to which. thi 'Petitions referred
„ Ogs. iikaf to be„brought forward
•

The Earl of LIVIIRPOOL rep,lied actoss the table,
In a low voice, that at present he was not. pre-
\pared to state the exact time : they,' had to wuit
until the Last India Company should come for-
ward with an application to the Legislature ; a
number of the Ont-ports had already come for-
ward oti the subject.
After some routine and jtulicial business wa.;
disposekpf, their Lordships adjourned to Friday.