The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-01 00:00:00

who repudiated his authority, or taken any steps to punish
them. Then, as regarded the principle of renouncing this su-
premacy, the rule was, that the bull was never repealed; other
bulls might be issued of decidedly contrary tendency, but no
bull was ever formally withdrawn. Thus it was supposed that
the dogma was still insisted upon, but no greater mistake could
possibly be made. With respect to the Act of the 13th of Eli-
zabeth, he was not at all surprised at its passing ; and when he
looked back to the period, and the circumstances by which it
was excited, and the history of those circumstances, he was not
at all surprised at that Act passing, nor could he charge the
parties through whom it became law with the spirit of persecu-
tion which his Noble Friend had ascribed to them. As to the
danger of promulgation of bulls, it need only be observed that
they were, openly passed through the post-office ; and if there
were any dangerous or treasonable matter in them, the parties
publishing them were equally liable to prosecution with any
other doctrinal offenders against the law. If the law of su-
premacy had been anything such as it was represented to be,
he would be a bad Catholic if he did not hold it up, and extol
it as his Noble Friend had done, instead of utterly and entirely
repudiating it, as he emphatically did at the present moment.
lie felt bound to say that the attempt to introduce Papal domi-
nation in temporal affairs in all the continental countries, was
without success. He would ask them to repeal those numerous
A tts with reference to persons professing the Roman Catholic
religion, and to blot them out at once in the statute. Let
their laws he a little more in accordance with the other civilised
Governments of Europe, and let measures be adopted at once
to do away with the anomaly. Their Lordships might be
assured that there was nothing to fear at the present moment
with respect to any attempted usurpation of the Papal power in
this country. They knew little of the Roman Catholic spirit
if they could think that any attempted interference on the part
of the Pope in temporal affairs would not be resisted. Were
they acquainted with the state of society on the Continent, and
with the spirit which existed in the various Roman Catholic
States ? Did they know what was the general feeling which
reigned in the society in Italy and also in Spain within the last
year or two ? Had they read the writings of various learned
authors in France? He was convinced there was no danger in
the present measure, and would willingly join in expunging
those obnoxious Acts from the statute-book. He would leave,
however, the entire management of all ulterior arrangement
to his Noble and Learned Friends.
Lord COLCHESTER said the Noble Lord had referred to
the temporal changes in the Pope's supremacy which had been
made in other countries. He thought that the Pope had acted
very wisely in interfering in Spain, Portugal, and other coun-
tries, because the state of men's minds in those countries was
such as not to admit of any interference en the part of the Pope
in their temporal affairs. He thought that very great changes
were taking place among the clergy in our country, and it
was not altogether clear that their domination might not ul-
teriorly be greatly increased if steps were not taken to prevent
it. He was quite willing to acquiesce in the principles of that
Bill which provided that no penalty should be inflicted on any
person professing any religion, whether he were a Roman Ca-
tholic, a Jew, or a Mahornedan.
Lord CAMPBELL said he did not wish to throw any ob-
stacle in the way of his Noble and Learned Friend, but he
thought at all events he ought to have introduced the two Bills
together, that they might be passed pari passu, and their
Lordships might have the opportunity of judging of both. The
state of the law with respect to Raman Catholics was most dis-
graceful. Roman Catholics were obliged to say that it was no
part of their religion to say that they did not believe it was
lawful to murder a man who had been excommunicated by the
Pope, before accepting any office of trust. Noble Lords pro-
fessing the Roman Catholic religion, before they could take a
seat in that house, were compelled to take an oath that they
did not think it lawful, if her Majesty were excommunicated,
that she could be dethroned by her subjects. The Bill, in its
present form, met with his most hearty approval. He felt solin .
fled, that unless some understanding was come to between this
country and the Pope of Rome, the Roman Catholic clergy in
Great Britain would never be at rest with respect to the re-
ligious powers they might possess and exercise. An arrange-
ment might easily be made which would settle all differences.
He hoped that the Bill would pass with the almost unanimous
opinion of the House, and trusted that the Noble and Learned
Lord on the Woolsack would bring his other Bill before the
House.

The LORD CHANCELLOR, in reply, said he would deal
with the case of supremacy. It had been suggested by a Right
Rev. Prelate, that toe Judges should be summoned, in order to
give their opinion upon that point. He objected to such a pro-
ceeding, because that point was so clear, that the Judges would
think it a mere waste of time for them to attend. A very high
authority had been consulted, and his opinion was clearly in
accordance with his own, which had been expressed on a former
occasion. Another question with respect to the promulgation
of bulls from the see of Rome, had arisen. Bulls had, however,
been imported with impunity into Scotland, and no harm had
arisen, nor had any harm been anticipated. Why, then, was
there any danger to apprehend from their importation into
England? The harm was purely imaginary, and was not
worth a moment's consideration.
Lord CAMPBELL wanted to know when they might ex-
pect to see the other Bill of his Noble and Learned Friend ?
The LORD CHANCELLOR said that perhaps his Noble
and Leaaned Friend would take charge of it himself.—
( Hear.) He believed that " bulls " were included in the
new tariff, and would perhaps be admitted under a Custom-
house regulation.

The Al! was then read a second time, and ordered to be
committed.

Their Lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, April 30.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.
NEW MEMBER.

Mr. EDWARD LASCELLES took the oaths and his seat for
the borough of Ripon.
YORK NEW WATERWORKS.
The Lords' amendments on the York New Waterworks Bill
were read and agreed to.
METROPOLITAN SEWAGE MANURE COMPANY.
Colonel T. WOOD moved the second reading of this Bill.
Sir DE LACY EVANS presented two petitions against the
Bill, and moved that the second reading be adjourned for a
fortnight.
After a few words from Mr. MANNERS SUTTON,
Colonel WOOD consented that the second reading of the
Bill should be postponed for a fortnight.
NORTH AND SOUTH JUNCTION RAILWAY BILL.
Mr. GREENE moved that the order, referring the North
and South Junction Railway Bill to the Committee of Selection.
be read ; that the said order be discharged, and that the said Bill
be withdrawn.—The motion was agreed to.
RAILWAY COMMITTEES.
Mr. DUNCOM BE moved the discharge of the order for in-
struction to Committees on railway Bills, and to move amended
instruction, namely, by substituting for the words, " And that
the Committee report special!) on each of the foregoing par-
ticulars," the words, " And that the Committee immediately,
on having completed this branch of their inquiry, report sperm
cially on each of the foregoing particulars."—The amended in-
structions were agreed to.
NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN CONNECTING
RAILWAY BILL.

Colonel T. WOOD moved for leave to present the Northern
and Southern Connecting Railway Bill, notwithstanding the
order of the House.—The motion was agreed to.
FORTH AND CLYDE NAVIGATION.

Mr. LOCH moved that the petition of the Company of Pro-
prietors of the Forth and Clyde Navigation, praying for leave
to withdraw their former petition against the Stirlingshire
Midland Junction Railway Bill, be read, and that the Bill be
treated as an unopposed Bill, and referred to Mr. Greene, and
the Members ordered to prepare and bring in the Bill.
This motion was also agreed to.
RESOLUTIONS ON RAILWAYS.

Mr. RI6ARSO observed there was some difficulty in the
minds of railway proprietors as to the interpretation of
one of the resolutions that had recently been passed
with respect to railways. He wished to know whether the
production of scrip would be sufficient to meet the order of the
House, without the attendance of the holders ?
Sir GEORGE CLERK replied that the resolution was
sufficiently explicit, and the best answer he could make to the
Hon. Gentle►nan was to read it. The Right Hun. Baronet
then read the resolution of the House, which only required the
production of scrip without the attendance of the holders,
either personally or by proxy.
Mr. HOPE JOHNS TONE moved that the Committee on
Group No. 8 of Railway Bills have leave to sit and proceed
on Monday next upon the Caledonian Railway (Leith Junc-
tion) Bill, and Caledonian Railway ( Nlid Lothian Branches)
Bill, notwithstanding that seven clear days' notice of the sitting
of the Committee on those Bills has not been given at the Pri-
vate Bill-office.—Agreed