The Sun.
London, England, 1825-05-11 00:00:00

WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 11, 1825.

inhabitants of Maidstone, praying that some regulations should
take place relative to their Elective Franchise.
Sir J. OWEN presented a petition from Pembroke against
any further concessions to the Roman Catholics.
11Ir. F. CLINTON presented a similar petition from the
Rector of St. Peter's, Westminster.—Ordered to be printed.
Mr. HUME postponed his motion relative to Sierra Leone
to the 24th inst.

Mr. J. DOH ERTY, in the absence of the Right lion. Se-
cretary for Foreign Affairs, presented a petition from the Pro-
testants of the county of Galway, in favour of the Catholic
Claims. It was signed, amongst others, by the Marquis of
Sligo, the Earl of Clanricarde, and other equally respectable
persons.

Mr. V. FITZGERALD bore testimony to .the respecta-
bility of the petitioners. There was not a respectable Pro-
testant in the county of Galway 4which was admitted a Roman
Catholic county), who did not sign this petition. Such a pe-
tition did honour to the hearts and heads of those who forwarded
it to this House.

Mr. DOMINICK BROWNE Was satisfied that the same
kind feeling prevailed throughout the Protestant Gentry of
Ireland.

Mr. J. DOHERTY begged leave to state the number of
petitions in favour of and against the Catholic Claims. From
Ireland there were but nine petitions against the claims ; and
in favour of concession, no less than eighteen. This was a
small number of petitions, but yet it shewed the feeling which
now prevailed. The Catholics never could be conciliated, if
the Protestants were not secured ; and now he thought the
time had arrived when concession could be granted with every
safety to the State.
Mr. S. RICE said, that there was a growing feeling in Ire-
land, in favour of Emancipation. The evidence taken up stairs
and the votes in this House proved the fact. The great mass of
the Irish Representatives were in favour of this measure, and
if British interest and feeling defeated it, it would certainly
tend to weaken that necssary connection which ought to subsist
between the two countries.
Mr. BUTTER WORTH said, that many Protestants in Ire-
land had subscribed Catholic petitions, not from regard, but
through intimidation.
Mr. FITZGERALD, as an Irish Gentleman, took upon
himself broadly to deny the truth of a statement, which the
Hon. Member could have learnt only by hearsay. The Pro-
testants in Ireland were in favour of Emancipation ; and every
fresh discussion obtained for that measure new friends. The
Representatives of the people were in favour of the measure,
whatever its fate might be in another House.
Lord ALTHORPE said, that the Hon. Gentleman (Mr.
Butterworth) had an opportunity of putting the Committee in
possession of any threats which might have been used to obtain
signatures.—(Cries of hear, hear I)—Several Protestant Gentle-
men were examined by the Committee, and he was sure that,
although they were favourable to Emancipation, no threat had
been used to get at their evidence.
Mr. SYKES said the authority of the Hon. Gentleman (Mr.
Butterworth's) statement ought to be given ; and if the infor-
mation was derived through a letter, it ought to be read.
Mr. ROBERTSON contended that many persons who voted
for Emancipation, might now vote against it, when coupled
with the Bill for disfranchising so many thousands of the Irish
people.
Sir J. NEWPORT observed, that it was very easy to pro-
duce anonymous correspondence, but he thought that such a
correspondence ought not to be put into competition with the
fair and open testimony given to the Committee, not only by
respectable gentlemen but by Members of this House.
Mr. BUTTERWORTII did not make his statement on
light grounds. He had sent a circular letter—(Hear, hear !)
tomanype
hadrso fallen fromasinlrel him.
d,alndironi _ respectable authority lie
stated what

Mr. J. DOHERTY said, that he also had received several
letters on this subject frpm persons not influenced by him to
state their opinions.—(dear, near!)—All these letters came
from persons formerly in opposition to emancipation, but who
ware now most anxious that that great questiorr should be set
at rest for ever.

Mr. 111. FITZGERALD said, that the Protestants of Gal-
way were not to be intimidated. But if persons opened a shop
to receive higotted contributions—(l-fear, hear !)—they would
find very many ready to fill up their shops. He himself owed
much to his constituents, who were neither to be intimidated
nor cajoled. The Protestants of Ireland knew the despicable
sources from which anonymous calumnies were vented: but,
on their part, he repelled it with that indignation which it
merited. He hoped such dark and insidious misrepresenta-
tions would be disregarded by the House.—(Cries of hear !)
The petition was then ordered to be printed.
Sir J. NEWPORT presented two petitions from the Ship-
owners of Greenock and others against the Clyde Navigation
Bill.—Referred to the Committee on the said Bill.

Mr. S. WORTLEY presented a petition from Leeds in fa-
vour of the County Courts' Bill.—Laid on the table.
Lord. NUGENT presented a petition from Leighton Buz-
zard, in the county of Bedford, in favour of the Bill for the
Relief of the Roman Catholics. lie felt pride,and pleasure in
presenting this petition, which was signed by the Protestant
Dissenters of that town, who wished that others should enjoy
the privileges to which the petitioners were entitled.
31r. S. RICE presented a petition from the Merchants of
Belfast, complaining of the duties upon the trade of Ireland at
the port of Liverpool.—Ordered to be laid on the table.
Mr. S. RICE presented a petition from the Inhabitants of
Limerick, relative to deserted children in Ireland. Ile hoped
this subject would be speedily attended to-by his Majesty's Go-
vernment.—Ordered to be printed.
Sir R. WILSON presented a petition from the operative
Sawyers of Southwark, praying that no change should take
place in the Combination Laws until after a full and fair
inquiry.
Mr. Alderman WOOD presented a similar petition from the
Shoemakers of the City of London.
On the motion that the Liverpool and Ireland Postage Bill
be read a second time,
Sir M. W. RIDLEY begged to know from the Right Hon.
Gentleman whether any alteration was to take place in the
mode of travelling from London to Edinburgh ? The rapid
rate at which the mail went endangered the lives of the passen-
gers.
Mr. HERRIES said, a measure was in contemplation which
would meet the object of the Hon. Gentleman. When Mr.
Telford made his report to the Treasury on the line of commit-
-1 rication, it would then be seen whether a greater acceleration
of the mail was practical, or would be attended with conveni-
cnze. It was supposed that the time of arrival might be short.
ened by one day.
Sir N. COLTHURST asked if any inquiry had taken place
about the high rates of postage in Ireland.
Mr. HERRIES replied that inquiries had been made to as-
certain the distinct difference between the rates of postage in
England and Ireland.
The Bill was then ordered to be committed to-morrow.
CATHOLIC CLAIMS.
Mr. Secretary PEEL presented Petitions from Norwich, Pel-
lin, Aldmanick, in the county of Buckingham, the Indepen-
dant Congregation in Beresford.street, Walworth, the parish
of St. Anne, Westminster, the parish of Edmonton and West.
cock, in the West Riding of York ; also from the Minister,
Deacons, and Congregation of the Protestant Dissenters Lyon-
street, Leicester-square, the Minister and Elders of Dissenters,
(Scotland), and another front Birmshiels, in the county of Ren-
frew_, against any further concessions to the Catholics. The
Right Hon. Gentleman presented a similar petition from cer-
tain inhabitants of the town of Manchester. The petition was
subscribed by twelve Magistrates in the county of Lancaster,
and by 28,000 inhabitants of Manchester.—(Jl ear, hear !)
Mr. PHILIPS said the persons who subscribed the petition
had not dared to-call a public meeting in Manchester, knowing
well that they would have the majority against them. Various
means had been employed to procure signatures. Sheets were
placed in public places, at the end of streets, and out of the town ;
and every artifice was tried to delude the House into the belief
that the petition came from the inhabitants of Manchester. The
Magistrates who did not subscribe it had certainly set an example
of superior liberality of principle, opinion, and action ; and
these would be the more appreciated when it
.was recollected
that they were the zealous advocates of Orange Societies in
Lancaster.—(Hear ! )—Application was made to the Methodists,
1_ Friend (Lord
Unitarians, Baptists, and Independents, to receive sheets into
their Chapels; but with the exception of the 3lethodists only,
all had refused the request. Since the petition hod been signed
—and it might come under the designation of one of the hole-
and-corner petitions, which had been frequently spoken of—a
Stanley)
Public Meeting was called to peti,toiobnePTliarnent, in favour of
would present to-night. It contained 8,600 signatures, which
obtained in two days and a quarter; while those in the
were
in less than fifteen
petition could not e got
the Catholic Claims, which his
other
liberal d • days: He
did not hesitate to say, that thenitelligent rim of