The Sun.
London, England, 1824-06-01 00:00:00

PARLIAMENT,

iIOUSE OF LORDS, MAY 31.
Mr. Tomxixs, from the Treasury, presented an account of
oaths taken in the Excise Office.-l Aid on the table.
Lord ELLENBOROUGH presented a Petition from the
Inhabitants of Islington against the Islington Improvement
Bill.

The Duke of LEINSTER- presented a Petition from cer-
tain Freemasons in Ireland, praying to be excepted from the
operation of the Act for suppressing Secret Societies.—Laid on
the table.

The Earl of KINGSTON presented a similar Petition from
another body of Irish Freemasons.—Laid on the table.
Several private Bills were read a third time, and passed.
The Earl of SHAFTESBURY brought up the Report of
the Committee appointed to search for precedents, with re-
ference to the restoration of the Scotch titles.—Ordered to be
printed.

SLAVERY.
Lord SUFFIELD presented Petitions from a place in Nor.
folk, the Parish of St. Mary, Wilts, and from Shaftesbury,
praying for the Abolition of Colonial Slavery.—Laid on the
table.

The Marquis of LANSDOWN-presentied a similar Peti-
tion from Whitby, in Yorkshire —Laid on the table.
SMALL DEBTS.
_. _ _

The. Marquis of EciISSOWN7 presented. Petitions from
Ross, in Herefordshire, and Calne, in Wilts, praying for some
legislative enactment for the more speedy recovery of small
debts.—Laid on the table.
JOINT STOCK COMPANIES.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE moved some ;erbal amend-
ments to his resolutions respecting Joint Stock Companies, and
adverted to some typographical errors, one of which related to
the word " as we understood.

The Marquis of LANSDOWN suggested how far it might
not be expedient in acting upon the principle of public security,
to consider whether Ireland might not be excepted from the
operation of the proposed measure to its full extent. However
proper it might be to check extensive speculations in this coun-
try, the case was very different with respect to Ireland, where
there was little prospect of capital being employed if legislative
restraint were imposed. It was known that the want of capital
was one of the greatest privations which Ireland experienced,
for there was not a sufficient number of monied persons in the
country to give effect to its natural resources. The best thing,
therefore, that the Legislature could do, was to encourage,
rather than check the transmission of capital from England.--
But he did not see how individuals would be induced to enter
into speculations in Ireland, if not upon the principle that they
were not to be made liable for any larger sum than the amount
of their subscription. By enforcing the measure with respect
to Ireland much greater mischief would be done than was ap-
prehended from the risk against which it professed to guard, for
it would have the effect of extinguishing all English capitals in
that part of the United Kingdom.
The Earl of LAUDERDALE deprecated the idea of dis-
countenancing the application of capital in Ireland. The ob-
ject of his motion was not to discourage persons from speculat-
ing, but to make those who did speculate really apply the ca-
pital to the' proposed undertaking. He knew very well that
where the capital of a Company was announced at 1,000,0001.,
not more than 50,000/. was actually subscribed.
The Marquis of LANSDOWN was not against the prin-
ciple of fair security ; all he objected to was such a deposit as
would deter persons from embarking their capital in Ireland.—
For instance, it was not to be expected that the individuals who
at present contemplated the working of the mines in that coun-
try would risk large sums till they saw. whether-it was likely
that the speculation would prove advantag,e.ous or not. It was
quite impossible to suppose that they Woltid deposit four-fifths
of the stipulated amount., till they ascertained whether or not
two- fifths 'would be necessary. •
The Earl of LAUDERDALE said, that the four-fifths might
be invested in the Funds, or in EPiircer I nis, for the use of
the parties. The resolutions wouht-not have the effect of pre-
venting capital from going to Ireland, but of preventing per-
sons from speculating who had no capital at all. The amend-
ments were then agreed to, and the further consideration of the
question, reserved for a future day (Wednesday next, as we
understood).
CATHOLIC PETITIONS.
Earl GREY held a petition from certain Catholics in Ire-
land, assembled under the name of the Catholic Association..
They stated that they approached their Lordships with senti-
ments-of sincere respect and
gratitude for the disposition which
they had shown to inquire into the grievances of Ireland, and
that, convinced of the sincerity of that disposition, they came
forward to explain the nature of those grievances. They de-
clared that the Union, instead
ofrealizing had disappointed the
,
expectations which had led to its taking place; that none of
the anticipated benefits had resulted from it, and that it had
aggravated the evils of Ireland by the introduction of an addi-
tional one—the withdrawing of a great proportion of the pro-
prietors of the country, which had deprived the people of -the
natural protectors, and of the beneficial influence of their moral
example. They complained not only that the tythes were
collected in an Injurious manner, but that it was a heavy
grievance that seven-eighths of the population should be
forced to contribute to the support of a Church from which
they derived no advantage, but had recently received injury,
greatly augmented by insult, contumely, and reproach. They
of justice was pure and impartial, but complained that in the
subordinate
that in in the Courts,
nof King's Bench the administration
Court
questions
between Catholics and Pro-
testants, nothing but injustice to the former was administered.
They represented Corporations as a great evil to Catholics,. as
causing them to be insulted and reproached, "and ;is producing
oppression and faction. They stated that the com Plaints laid
against Magistrates, more particularly at Waterford, had not
been attended to, and they desired that, in confirmation of
pa would call for the report of Ser-
sSed their conviction that it would
be heaa
vain
at
rllredress or for a settlement of dis-
turbances,
unless the state of the income of the Church was
looked into. They therefore prayed for a thorough reform of
the Church; for the disfranchisement of all corporations which
had violated their Charters ; for the removal of all Orangemen
from the Magistracy, and for the abolition of all the disabi-
lities under which the Catholics laboured, by -general eman-
cipation l Such were the statements and prayer of that peti.
tion. Before presenting it, he (Earl Grey) had read it atten-
tively to ascertain that it contained nothing informal and no
language disrespectful to their Lordships. Beyond this he did
not feel that his responsibility extended. He considered the duty
of a Member of that House, with respect to the presenting of
Petitions tube purely Ministerial, and that he should not he
justified, because he differed from the statements or prayers of
the Petitioners,- in denying them the means of access to that
House, and of stating their grievances in the fullest manner,
and the mode in which they conceived that redress might be
obtained. He had said this, because in the present Petition,
though he concurred in its main object, there were many state-
ments and prayers to which he could not agree. He had
thought it.his duty to mention that to the Petitioners, and to
put it to them whether they would not wish it to be presented
by some other individual. But in their answer they had re-
quested him to present it, and to support it, as far as it was
consistent with his own opinion ; in consequence of which be had
now the honour of doing so. As to the main object of the Pe-
tition, namely, relief from those disabilities which still excluded
Catholics from the benefits of the British Constitution, and
kept them in a state of political degradation, lie had already
stated that he entirely concurred. In his conscience he thought
that those disabilities, as the Petition stated, were connected
remotely and directly, with all the evils which afflicted Ireland.
As far as their removal extended, therefore
required both by policy and justice' he agreed with the Peti-
tion ; and he earnestly hoped that the time would not be dis-
tant, when their Lordships would reconsider their former deci-
sions on that question. He should then certainly endeavour to
support it with the same zeal -that he had already done. That
this object should have been mixed up with others in the peti-
tion was to him a matter of regret. In proportion as he thought
that the concession t
e,in
the
ofh
tCatholicsameproportion did he disapprove
Claims was a matter of ex-
pediencyof the introduction of any subject calculated to increase the
"difficulties attendant on that concession. He was sorry that
some statements should have been made, which, he was con-
vinced were unfounded. After speaking of the violent con-
duct of Orangemen, the petitioners stated falsely, no doubt,
that
the Orange faction had the support and encourage-
ment of an Illustrious person. Now, he thought it most im-
proper to have introduced such an assertion at all; as he was
convinced that the Illustrious individual alluded to, however
he might differ with the petitioners and himself on that
question; and feel'the necessity of withholding his assent from