The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-01 00:00:00

grievance to any man when inflicted by law for some
, strong principle of necessity. If Gentlemen made out the
necessity, just in the same manner as they argued for this,
they might argue for all sorts of punishment for religious
opinions, for whipping or burning.—( Cheers.) But it
was said that the Jews were few—(Hear, hear)—and
therefore it did not matter whether they lay under a
grievance or net.—(Hear, hear.) The Irish Catholics
were six or seven millions, the Protestant Dissenters
were some millions. The Irish Catholics wished to re-
turn Members to Parliament, they did return a Member
for Clare, and the Duke of Wellington, who had cou-
rage to resist the utmost power of Bonaparte, had not
nerve enough to face the consequences of the hostility of
disaffected millions. But the Jews were few, we need not
apprehend an insurrection in Petticoat-lane or in Duke's-
place. We need not dread formidable meetings like
those in the Corn Exchange, if we withheld from them their
rights, and therefore it was said they should be withheld.
Tbis argument would be equally strong against the
Quakers. The number of Quakers was smaller than that
of the Jove, and on what principle did they admit the one
and exclude the ether ? It must be remembered also that
this argument told both ways. If on the one hand serious
injury to the State was not to be apprehended from the
hostility of the Jewish population, on the other hand, there
was no reason to apprehend their predominance among
the people in such a manner as to diminish the numbers
who belonged to the established religion. They were a
small sect, and not a proselyting one, and therefore, if
these circumstances were urged to show there would be no
danger in refusing their claims, it might also be used to
show that there would be no danger in granting them.—
(Hear, hear.) The House of Commons used to exercise
functions much more important than now belonged to
them. They were formerly called upon to make articles
end forms, and modes of worship, duties which it was
not likely they would be again called upon to exe-
cute. For his own part, he (Mr. Macaulay) had
of late seen so much proof how little Articles were able to
bind the ingenuity of casuists, that he should be sorry to
see them occupied in framing any more such cobwebs.—
(Cheers.) He could only wish for that which would put
an end to this Bill and all such• Bills—enlightened tolera-
tion; but if learned persons elsewhere would teach the
Jews some of their own ingenuity, there could not then be
the slightest doubt but that, as they swallowed confession
and absolution, so these tests also would be swallowed
without the slightest hesitation.—(Cheers.) He would
venture to say that a better gloss could be found for a
Jewish declaration than other glosses which he had seen—
( Hear, hear)—and that not merely for the purpose of ob-
taining civil offices, but in order to hold the faith of Rome
with the endowments of the English Church.—(Load
cheers.) He regretted that the Hon. Gentleman who had
seconded the motion, bad introduced some topics which
might, in his (Mr. Macaulay's) opinion, have better been
omitted. The Eon. Gentleman had alluded to the great
national crime committed by the Jewish people more than
eighteen hundred years ago; but he (Mr. Macaulay) did
not think that House was a proper place in which to
make such an allusion. He should at all events say that,
from that event, the most solemn which man could con-
template, there was one lesson to be derived which should
not be forgotten. They should remember that the greatest
crime ever committed upon earth was committed by men who
knew not what they did under the influence of religious I
intolerance. For his own part he should say that on every

occasion in which an attempt was made in that House to
take away any civil disability imposed upon men in con-
sequence of their religious opinions, it should receive his
most strenuous support. —( Cheers. )
Mr. GOULBURN was surprised tohave heardtheHon,

Gentleman state in one part a his speech that there was
no greater difference between Christians and Jews than be-
tween different sects of Christians._(" Nu, uo.")
Nlr. MACAULA Y said that what he had stated was

that there was not a single question of a religious cha-
racter which his Hon. Friend had alluded to in which be
could possibly differ more widely from the Jews than he
differed from Member■ of that Housc.

Mr. GOULBURN—Then the Right Hun. Gentleman
pre up that point. The difference between them was
this :—Were they or were they not to admit to a Chris-
tian community those who held the Christian religion in
abhorrence ?—( Hear, hear.) Could any body deny that
this measure was only the forerunner of a Bill for the ge-
neral admission of the Jews into all :aces. He thought,
according to the statements of his Honourablo Fiend,
the Jews could not he ad.nitted to the administra•iou
cf the law in a Christian community. If such was the
case, what, he would ask, would a Jex do when he was
called on to enforce the law with respect to blasphemy, or
the keeping holy the Sebh•th day? The non. Gentletnan
had spoken of the liberality of the Jews. Could there be
any doubt if a Jew was asked to admit the heathen or the
Mahonsedan, that he would refuse to do so ? In condo.
sign, be felt baund to support the amendment of his Hon.
Friend.

Sir R. INGLIS opposed the third reading of the Bill ;
on a former occasion be felt that the Bill now under con-
shc-ation involved she whole question of the admission cf
the Jews into all offices, and he was of the same opinion still.
W;th regard to the centuries of misrule to which his lion.
Friend had referred, he must observe, that whatever mil-
rule there was in Ireland, it existed long before the dis.
tinction of Protestant and Romeo Catholic could be traced
in their history, and must be attributed to a different order
of things. His opinions remained unchanged, and he
should vote for the amendment of his lion. Friend.—
(Loudcriesof " Divide.")

Lord SANDON (lid not think that any good grounds
had been stated for refusing to confer corporate offices upon
a very respectable class of reen.—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. MILNES must vote against the motion of his Hon.
Fliend, the Member for Newark,—(HeAr, hoar.) He
regretted to see the spirit in which religious subjects
were discussed in that House, and if he wished for any
further proof of their utter incompetency to discuss reli-
gious questions, he could ask for nothing better than the
speech of his Right Hon. Friend, the Secretary at War,
who delivered over, ex cathedra, to the Church of Rome, a
body of men who considered themselves the best and most
faithful sons, or, he might say, fathers of the Church.
After a fow words from Mr. ESTCOURT, which
wore quite inaudible in the gallery,
Mr. DIVETT, having undertaken the conduct of the
Bill through the House, begged to make a few remarks.
_ .

He regretted to see the jobbing spirit which prevailed in
the Universities, and that their repre3entativcs in that
. .

House exhibited those institutions as places where reli-
gion was not regarded, inasmuch as it made men better
and wiser, in order to make it a job.—(" Oh," and
cheers.) They had seen that spirit evinced in the grossest
way lately in proceedings at law.—(Hear, bear. ) He
confessed he was anxious that they should exhibit a more
becoming spirit, and that, instead of endeavouring to keep
people out of their civil rights, they should exten charity
to men of all sects.—( Cries of " Divide.")
The House then divided. The numbers were—
For the third reading
For the amendment...
Majority for the Bill _____77
The Bill was then passed.
The Parish Constables Bill was read a second time.

The Charitable Trusts Bill was read a second time, and
ordered to be committed on the 28th of April.
The Double Costs Bill went through Committee. The
Report was brought up, and ordered to be taken into con-
sideration on to-morrow (this day.)
The Houghing of Cattle (Ireland) Bill then went
through Committee, and the Report was ordered to be
brought up to-morrow.
Mr. BAINBRIDGE moved for certain returns con-
nected with the distillation and importation of spirits.—
Ordered.

The ether Orders of the Day were then disposed of,
and the House adjourned at Half-past Seven.

ANTI-CORN-LAW MEETING.

The second annual meeting of the Metropolitan Anti-
Corn-law Association was held yesterday in the Crown
and Anchor Tavern, Strand.
The Chair was taken soon after one o'clock by H. WAR-
who was supported by Mr. Place,
BURTON, Esq., M.P.,
Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Villiers, M.P., Mr. R.
Stuart, M. P., Mr. Thornely, M. P., Mr. Easthope,
M. P., Mr. Ewart, M. P., Mr. Milner Gibson, and several
other gentlemen of eminence.
The Secretary (Mr. Sidney Smith) was called upon to
read the Report, which was as follows:
The Business Committee of the Metropolitan Anti-Corn-law
Association, appointed to transact all the business of the As-
sociation in its details, beg leave to report as follows :
That the first Report of your Committee was made at a
meeting of the Members of the Association, held at the Crown
and Anchor Tavern, in the Strand, on the 3d of Augast, 1840.
That Report contained an account of the origin of the As-
sociation, and of the difficulties it had to encounter—First,
from the general apathy of the middle class ; and second, from
the hostility of the more political portion of the working class.
It congratulated the meeting upon the decline of apathy in
the one class, and upon the cessation, to a considerable extent,
of the hostility of the other.
Your Committee have now the pleasure to report that a very
large portion of the middle class, as well as vast numbers
the working people,have become
all over the metropolis, of
active promoters of the objects of this Association.
That no fewer than Seventeen Local Associations have been
formed in and around London, each em bracing a numerous
population ; that similar Associations are in course of forma-
tion, and your Committee doubt not that in a short time every
district of this vast metropolis and its suburbs will establish an
Anti-Corn-law Association.
Your Committee feel justified in considering this great pro-
gress, within the short period of thirteen months, tobetts
portant 29 it is unparalleled ; and that it is a strong practical,
and conclusive testimony of the sound understanding of the
people, and of the manly and energetic spirit with which the
great cause of Cern-law Repeal has been embraced.
Your Committee have great pleasure in being able to report
that the same spirit is spreading rapidly in every direction, and
will, ere long, animate the whole country.
he great, varied, and judicious exertions of the Members
of the National Anti-Cora Law League have been extended
' over a large portion of the United Kingdom.
Energetic and well-qualified gentlemen, under the auspices
of the League, have been eminently successful in their efforts
to convey useful instruction to the people. They have been
well received in every part of the kingdom. Their lectures
have been numerously attended, and in no part ofthe countryw
snore satisfactorily than in the south-western counties,) inoa y which
the the supporters of the Corn Laws declared, l
they dared not show themselves. So broad, so
strong, s'o'
genial is the light these gentlemen have diffused, that the
League have only to continue their exertions, in conjunction
with this Association and other Central Associations, to cause
the enrolment, in aid of the Repeal of the Corn Laws, of the
whole of the thinking portion of the population of this great
empire.
Their useful and well-conducted publications, and their
individual and collective exertions, each and all deserve the
cordial approbation, not only of this Association, but of every
man who is an enlightened friend of his country, its trade, com-
merce, manufactures, and the well-being of its people, and
more especially of those who, while their labour mainly crtri-
butes to its pre-eminence, are more than others oppressed by
the unjust laws which it is the object of the League to abolish.
Your Committee have also great satisfaction in noticing the
active and successful efforts of the "Glasgow Anti-Corn-law
Association," from which has just issued an admirable " Ad-
dress to the people of Scotland."
Since the date of the last. Report, several new features in the
progress of the Anti-Corn-law movement have presented them
selves. Of these, none is more worthy of notice than the effect
p•roduced on the station by the important evidence which was ,
given last year before a Committee of the House of Com-