The Sun.
London, England, 1823-02-19 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Mr. !Iv SKISSo.ti and Mr. ARBIT T OT took the Oaths
4na their Seats.
Several Petitions relative to Private Bills were brought up
ar.4 read.
INSOLVENT DEBTORS' ACT.
Mr. WYVILL presented a Petition against the Insolvent
Debtors' Act, from the City of York.
Mr. DICKINSON presented-one ,on the same subject from
Shepton
Sir T. LETHBRIDGE supported the prayer of the Petition.
The Hon. Baronet &iid lie had never pledged himself, as-some
Llentlemen seemed to understand, to originate a measure he
'on the subject ; but he would zealously supportany Aem-
ber who- should bring forward any measure to amend the Law
in 'this respect. There was no subject, he s convinced,
ti? which the great mass of the people looked was
,with more
anxiety.

MARRIAGE -ACT.
Mr. DICKENSON presented a 'nation from Walton
agamst the Marriage Act, complaining in particular of its being
appointed to be read in Churches.
INSOLVENT DEBTORS' ACT. •
Mr. W. H. WHITBREAD presented a petition from the
Merchants and Bankers of Bedford ag,ainet the Insolvent
Debtors' Act. •
STAFF ,AND M ILITIA OF IRELAND.
Colonel.sKErrisoTON moved that there be laid before
• the House Copies of all Letters addressed from Dublin Castle
to the Colonels Commandants of the regiments of Irish Mi-
litia; as also Copies of the Remonstrance of the same date ;
and also fur a Return of the Strength of the Staff of these Regi-
ments on June 24, 1817, and,on the same day of every sub-se-
quent year.
INSOLVENT DEBTORS' ACT.
Mr. CORBETT
_presented a petition from Shrewsbury,
against the Insolvent Debtors' Act.
Mr. GREY BENNET supported the Petition, and sug-
gested that a Committee should be 'appointed, to which ail
these Petitions might be referred.
Alderman WOOD rose to ask the 'Hon: Secretary opposite
(Mr. Betties) if the sum which had been appropriated for a
Building' for the Insolvent Debtors' Court had yet been ex-
Fended ? If not, it seemed to be an extravagant expenditure
without a cause. The Court already occupied other apartments
nearer all the prisons, from which Insolvent Debtors could be
brought.
Mr. BERRIES, Secretary to the-Treasury, said the money
had been appropriated in making additions And improvements
in the Insolvent Debtors' Court, and that at a future time
all the details of the expenditure would be laid before the
House.

SMALL DEBTS.
Lord ALTIIORP, after a few remarks. upon the great ad.
vantage that would arise to the public from 11, more cheap and
speedy mode of recovering small debts, and after alluding to the
method pursued in . Scotland, where debts to the amount of Si.
were obtained by summary process before two Magistrates,
moved for a Selecttunlnlittee to inquire into the mode in which
debts nnounting to less than 15/. were recovered in England

and Wales.
Mr. WARRE seconded the motion: a legislative measure.
for the purpose named would be of etreat value:
Mr. LITTLETON thought that the Magistrates of Eng-
land would object to exercising such a jurisdiction as the Nable
Lord ioetried to propose.
Lord A IeTHORP explained, that he, did not, intend to re-
commend the Scotch system, but merely to throw it out as one
of the points fur the consideration of the, Conunittee.
The Committee was then appointed, of which the following
• Lehi Viscount Altiverp,,,llr. Attorney-Gesievil, Mr., Soliel,
tor-Gemara, Lord Viscount Normanby, Sir Edward linatch-
bull, Mr. Abeacromby, Mr. Fowell Buxton, Mr. Chetwynd,
Mr. James Drummond, tieneral Uascoyne, Mr. Maephereon
()rent, Sir Elieb Harvey, Mr. liobliouile, Mr. Lennart), Mr.
,l,,fittleton, Mr. Lockhart, Mr. John. Smith, Mr. Robert Smith
('of Lincoln), Mr. Tennyson, Mr. Warne, air. John Williams,_
and Mr. Thomas Wilson.•
CATTioiiie QUESTWN.
Sir NEWI)OII,T wished to call the attention of the House'
for a, few moments to a subject whichwas nearer his heart. than
any other. Ile hail come to London with a perfect conviction
Of the propriety of the time named for bringing forward the mo-
mentous question regarding the claims of the Roman Catho-
lics; but he found, Witch to his regret, that the state of Ire:
)seal was at, this moment so little understeod,in all its bearings
and relations by the English Members of the House, that it
would not be dealing fairly by the subject' if it were brought
irandiscussion without an opportunity being afforded to Mein.,
bent to make themselves more intimately acquainted with it.-;-
11.rhatevea might be the event,' It was most important that those
Svirt Were to 'decide shout be thlly apprised of the real condition
'of Ireland.-et Hear, heir !)—Under these circumstances, with
great reluctance he abandoned his first wish, anti now earnestly
pri:ferred i.is requeet to the Right Honourable Gentleman op.
pinta (Mr. Pliankett), that he would postpone the debate antil
after the recess. He did so as. a sincere friend of the measure,
and from a due regard to the dignity of the House, which ought
not to proceed to determine without full infinmation. He hoped
abet the question would be brought ferward at as early it period
Easter as possible.—( Hier!)
..11r. CA NNIN(i agreed entirely in what had fallen from the
Hon: Baronet, thought, had nut so tried a friend of Ireland and
of • the Catholic Claims afforded hint countenance, he should
have helitated to express,sucli an opinion. He was clearly and
decidedly convinced, that the temper of the country and of the
house on the present situation of Ireland wet not such as to
;allow the Catholic question afair bearinge—(Cheers.)—t)n the
cotrary, the diecussion of that topic, it it were now brought
ferward, would be mixed up with many temporary, end, he
.bupe4l, transitory matters, which in 4 short, tnno might be di-
vested of all the false colouring that appeered to attend them.
tic therdore heartily joined with the Hon. Itaronet iti the ,eile-
4eatiort he had made, hoping that it would, not be thought that
sny..oiedge was thereby abandoned, but that the object Was to
• itnprove the chance of ultimate snecess.---( tie" !)
4i r STEWART, in a very low tone, from under the right
hand Ipiliert, was understood to advert with some severity to
the hue law proceedings in Ireland, observing that many of the
.most loyal ixihhabi.tantsa of that country felt sore regarding them.
Fyn collected also, thst he Intimated an intention of bringing
them under the notieu of die House in Borne
.shape or other
liereatler. He wits proceeding, when
Tile SPE'AKER interpoved, and bogged to know if the Finn.. Member intended to conclude with a motion. Ona reqtiest of
ehts kind vow before the House, it had been usual to iillow the
statement of reasons in proportion to the importanceof thu sub-
j:!et. ; but the Hon. Gentleman appeared to be tlercending to
theasartieulars of some charge or imputation, coupling with it
. various observations. It appeared, therefore, to be his (the
4ctitker'st duty to ieterfere, in order to learn if the Honour.
able Gentleman meant ;to conclude With any definite primp.;
sition ?
wrow.utt replied in the negative, and resumedhis seat: •
Mr. vr.AINKSTT, without the warning of the admonition
juet • given from the chair,did not intend 'Linen) have occupied
the attention of the. House. Perlinpa lie .should he excused;
however for seying„..in reference to what had been last said
that hati'bould feel happy that the 'subject alluded to would fall
into the hands of a gentleman who would treat it with ability
and temper at. hetet, the introduction of it would not be by an
enemy, and it would proceed; no doubt, front a strong seem;
of duty. a Whenever thek treso.oll wits brought forward, he
should not Ahriok 'from meeting it, .anti hoped to be able to
give the house and the cult ntry the fullest satisfaction.—(lieer,
hear.)--With reeerd to the request originating with the Right
,lfon. Baronet, arid eilfurcol by his Right non. Friend, he
felt: placed in i situation, not of entharrassment,eabecause, un-
alai, the eirconistanee:s, he lied no difficulty in deciding, how he
aet,—bitz in a situation of grime impleesantniets as to'
varioos menibers to tvlioni he must owe a can iderable apology,
and who, petty :TN .at t; ill inconvenience, bait felt
rt
their duty to come tr London to attend on this important ques-
tion. In consenting to the postponement, he was influenced
by no relUOtallt-;e On his-own part to discharge ilia duty--byno
feelings of
..personal convenience. lied lie differed from his
friends on oils point, he could 110tilaVe been so rash as to hring
forward the Catholic claiins so early es lie had intended, but-
es his fueling% entirely coincided 'with those of °then m,
ereedpect-
ing the unfortunete circumatancee existing in Irelad, n still
relipeeting the vneral Went of informationin this Muse'
and country,upon the subject, be could dot but conourin the
impassibility of discussing the question without all the infor-
mation it. nate-aurae required._ On tins point he was sure
cvety Zlgniter would agree, whether inclined to support or to
oppose that chOlot of the Roman Cattiolites—they ought not to
be contused without the cOmplatest lights and tim
e
m perfect
;temper.--(Hear, hear !)—The only remaining point ws,
tll the
there-
fore, to.fix day for the debate, that would tto justice