The Sun.
London, England, 1848-02-17 00:00:00

JEWISH DISABILITIES.

Lord ELLENDOROUGri presented several peti-
tions from various denominatious of Dissenters in
favour of this Bill. The Noble Lord said he could
not coincide in the prayer of the petitions.

DIPLOMATIC. R'ELATIOAS/ S WITH THE
COURT OF ROME.

' The Marquis of LANSDOWNE (after pre
senting several petitions and some official papers)
moved the second reading of• this Bill.
I.le said the object of the Bill was to
empower her Majesty to enter int) diplomatic
relations with the Court of Rome. The measure
was a novel one both in that and the other House
of Parliament, although, when a discussion inci-
dentally arose in Ithat House on the subject, he
expressed his opinion that such relations should
be entered into. He had now the satisfaction
of proposing a measure for their acceptance to ac-
complish this, to his mind, desirable end, which, he
believed, would meet with the Liberal support
of the other House of Parliament and of the
people. Her Majesty was authorised to enter
into diplomatic relations with all foreign powers, save
that of Rome. She was prevented from doing so by
two Acts—namely, the Bill of Rights, passed in the
reign of William and Mary, and the Act for settling
the succession to the Crown of these realms. He was
not one of those who would lightly interfere with
either of these Acts, because he believed the consti-
tution and the rights of the people were based on
them.—(Hear, hear.) Some thought that the inten-
tion of these Acts was utterly to prevent diplomatic
intercourse with the Court of Rome, that it was illegal,
but his opinion was that it was not intended to shut
out intercouse altogether, after tracing the events
that led to the passing of those measures. The mis-
sion of Lord Castlemain to the Court of Rome, in the
time of James IL, was generally understood to be for
the purpose of affecting a reconciliation between this
country and the Papal see; and the House of Com•
mons of that day passed a resolution to the effect
that his Lordship should be sent to the Tower,
charged with high treason, for accepting the office;
showing that it would be unsafe to open such inter-
course, as it would be a contravention of these
Acts. The mission was at the time now a
most unfortunate one, and was suggested by
a Monarch who was in the habit of doing
everything wrong, and at the wrong time.
Burnet and Sir James Macintpsh, men of high
authority, agreed in opinion that whilst these Acts
stood as they were such a mission was illegal.
Hence the necessity of introducing the present mea-
sure. A century and a half had elapsed since
these proceedings took place ; wonderful changes
had taken place, and the time, he thought,
had arrived when communication with the Court
of Rome was expedient. The greatest advan-
tages could not fail to ensue from such intercourse.
During► the various reigns since the time of Janes IL,
foreigners and others visiting the Court of Rome
were etuployed to transact any business that was
necessary between the Papal See and this
country; but he considered that such indirect and
irresponsible intercourse was far more objectionable
than direct and open intercourse.—(Cheers.) One
of the greatest Ministers of this country, on whom
the whole weight of the realm rested during a season
of peculiar difficulty and danger—Sir Robert Walpole,
entered into repeated communication with the Pope
through the instrumentality of his brother Horace
Walpole. At the time of the Hanoverian succession
it was customary fur this country to have a repre-
sentative at Rome. He now came to time of the
French Revolution. Sir John Cox Simpson, a Mem-
ber of the Parliament, resided at Rome, and kept
tip negotiations, not only with the Cardinals,
but with the Pretender himself—(Hear, hear)—and
his negotiations were attended with happy results.
Lord Hood, at that time, finding he could not get
supplies from any place but the Papal See, and nut
being a lawyer or a theologian, and not having
any one to advise him at hand, (lid
not hesitate to avail himself of the opportunity
of obtaining them. Mr. Burke said a man
' must be exceedingly squeamish to refuse aid
under the circumstances which Lord Hood was
placed, and that he fur one would not be guilty of
such bigotry as to refuse them ; and many other
eminent men entertained a similar opinion. By a
blue book, published some years ego by the
House of Commons, he found that the late Duke of
Portland entered into negotiations with Rome for the
establishment of an institution there in which he was
interested. Communications went on for some time,
and in the end his Grace expressed himself obliged to
the Pope for the part he had taken in the matter. He
would not trouble their Lordships with many other
instances which he could cite. It was said that the
Queen could not enter into negociations with the
Papal See. Why, the Pope was a contracting party
to the Treaty of Vienna, and Lord Eldon, who was
more opposed to the Catholic Church, placed the
great seal to the compact.—(Cheers) Nay, more,
when George IV. ascended the throne the Pope
sent him a congratulatory letter—(Hear)---and the
Minister of the day not only acknowledged the
misseive, but thanked the Pope for his kind expres-
sions. The letter was, however, recalled, and a
messenger was sent off towards Italy to intercept
it, but he was too late. (Laughter.) And
might it not, therefore, be said that George
IV. forfeited his crown by this act.—(Laughter.)
There were numberless other instances on record of
intercourse with the Papal See. He trusted their
Lordships would not reject this measure, because
a Sovereign of this country a century and a half ago
entered into a guilty mission with the Court of Rome.
He solicited them, at this advanced and enlightened
period, not to refuse her Majesty power to enter
into intercourse with Rome from which so much
gocd could not fail to spring. He should not object to
the amendment of the minor features of the Bill.

The Duke of NEWCASTLE rose, and was
(LEFT SPEAKING.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The SPEAKER took the Chair a few minutes before
Four o'clock.

MARLOW ELECTION.

Sir J. PAKINGTON reporte-d—f;om the Com-
mittee appointed to try the merits of the petition of
certai❑ electors of the borongh of Great Marlow
again,t the return of Mr. Thomas Price Williams
and Colonel Brownlow Knox, that they had decided
that both these gentlemen had been duly elected.
THE WINDOW DUTIES.

Mr. MACGREGOR presented a petition from
schoolmasters in Glasgow, praying for the repeal of
the window duties.
Lord ALFRED PAGET presented a petition
to the same effect from Lichfield.
THE DEFENCES OF THE COUNTRY.

Ait.l3lolllEß7FONpresented suveral petitions
against any increase in our war establishments.
Similar petitions were presented by Mr. Wyhl,
from Bodrnin ; by Dr. 13owring ; by Mr. Bouverie ;
by Mr. Cobden, from the West Riding of Yorkshire,
and other places • and by Mr. Osborne, from Staines.
HEALTH OF TOWNS.
_ _

Mr. BUSFEILD presented a petition from the
mayor and aldermen of Bradford in favour of this
UM.

JEWISH DISABILITIES BILL.
Dr. I3OWRING presented several petitions in
favour of this Bill.
Similar petitions were presented by Mr. Cowan,
from Dalkeith ; by an Hon. Member, from New-
castle; by another Hon. Member, from Portarlington ;
and by Lord A. Paget (s): from Lichfield.