The Sun.
London, England, 1823-04-17 00:00:00

FREE-THINKERS.

Mr. HUME presented a petition from twenty
ealling themselves Free-Thinkers, of the City of Edinburgh.
'they stated that they had been in the habit of meeting on Sun-
itay evenings, for the literal purpose of discussing theolo-
gical questions, and that the doors were open •to any body
who chose to enter. They took no money at the doors, and
they had a library, consisting of books which treated of the
matters they met to discuss. They complained, that on the
17th of November last, the Sheriff and his Officers entered
and seized their books, and took three of them into custody.
Upon inquiry they found that the law of Scotland authons-
ed this act, and 'that accordin to an unrepealed Act of
Charles the Second, they miglt all be hanged upon the
charge of blasphemy. They prayed that the House would
take their case into consideration, and adopt such measures
as would affiird them protection. lie fully agreed with the
petitioners that their inquiries were entitled to the protection
of the law.

The LORD ADVOCATE said, that in offering a few ob-
servations upon the petition, he should not enter into the ques-
tion of the enactment of new laws upon the subject. If the
lion. ...limber would come down and propose to remove those
laws which were the protection of the Christian Religion in
Scotland, he should be fully prepared to meet him.—(Rear 1)
Re should now only remark upon the acts of this §ociety and
upon the measures which had been taken with regard to it. He
had received information that those persons met on Sundays in
a house in the suburbs of Edinburgh, for thepurpose not only
of denying the divine character of the Christian religion, but
the existence of God himself. These meetings were held with
open doors, and children were brought by The members to hear
the blasphemous doctrines which were inculcated. Finding
this to be the case, he had applied to the Clergy of the pa-
rish, in the hope of dissolving the meetings without force. As
this proved to be ineffectual, he had thought it due to the pre-
servation of the morals of the metropolis of the country, that
such a school' for blasphemy should be put down. The persons
who were taken into custody, had afterwards expressed a sense
of their improper conduct, anti he had therefore not pmceetied,
and did not intend to proceed against them. In consequence of
what they had done, a Corresponding Society at Glasgow, had
given up their meeting.
After a few observations from Mr. Morrex, anti Mr. liv3lE
in reply, the petition was laid on the table.
SCOTCII SPIRITS.
Mr. CAMPBELL wished to ask a question of the Chan-
celor of the Exchequer, as to his intention with regard to the
Scotch Spirits, on hand, at the time of lowering the duties.—
We understood the lion. Member to say that a drawback ought
to be allowed.

The CIIANCELLOR of the EXCHINUER said, that he
had stated on a former occasion his intention that the change
in the duties should not take place until the 11th of October,
in the hope that the stock on hand now would be chiefly con
stoned. liThen the whole measure was •completed, he hoped
to be able to provide for the difficulties complained of, to the
satisfaction of the parties.

IRISH TYTIIES.

M. GOULDURN presented a petition from the Vicar-tie-

neral and twelve of the Clergy of the diocese of Eltin, against
the Tythe to the Committee.
AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS.
Sir T. LETHBRIDGE rose to present a petition from the
County of Somerset, upon the subject of Agricultural Distress,
which had been put into his hands by a person of the name of
Hunt. The contents of the petition, by no means met his view
of the question of Agricultural Mistress; and he had hoped
that the County -of Somerset would have expressed a very dif-
ferent opinion upon that question. However, the Person he
had mentioned was possessed of stomach insinuation of manner
as to prevail upon them to adopt his petition, audit was, there-
fore, the petition of the county. At the same time lie knew
that a large and most respectable body' of that interest which
was most -suffering: -in the County, did not approve of its
contents. •

Mr. HODHOUSE wished to call the attention of the House
to the factthat the Sheriff had refused to sign this petition on
behalf of the Meeting, and in consequence of this, its presen-
tation hatt.been delayed for several months until the signatures
could be obtained. He thought it the duty of the Sheiiff to.?ct
on behalf of the people on such occasions.
Mr. C.,WYN x and Mr. IlawKEs expressed their opinion
that the High Sheriff was not 4outt. to sign apetition.
Lord J.. RUSSELL made an.ol34mation which we could not
hear. . rt-

After a few observations from Sir T. LETIIIIIIIDOEI the pe-
tition was ordered to be printed.
Lord MILTON presented petitions from DoncaSter and
another place, against the General Turnpike Act. Ordered to
be printed.
The Noble Lord presented petitions against any further con-
cessions to the Catholics, front the Archdeaconries of the West
and North Ridings of York.