The Sun.
London, England, 1834-03-12 00:00:00

DISSENTERS.

Mr. HANDLEY presented petitions from the inhabitants
of Spalding, in Lincolnshire; one to a similar effect by Mr.
Calvert, from the Protestant Dissenters of Bishop's Stortford.
Mr. POULETT THOMSON presented a petition from the
Independent Dissenters of Manchester and Salford, praying for
the removal of the disabilities which affected that body : it was
signed by 800 persons. It did not enter into the extenisve
question of church and state. They merely begged to be al-
lowed to solemnize their own marriages, to bury their own
dead, and to be exempted from contributions towards other
religioni. The hon. member expressed his full concurrence in
the prayer of the petition.
Mr. MARK PHILLIPS said he had been requested to sup-
port the petition, which he most cordially did, as he was fully
convinced of the justice of the claims of the dissenters to be
delivered from the grievances under which they at present
laboured.

Mr. SINCLAIR said that it might bring the dissenters
into unpleasant collision with the members of the established
church, if they were allowed to perform the ceremonies of their
own religion at the burial of their dead in the same church-yard,
and at the same moment, as the ministers of the church of
England.
Mr. O'CONNELL said the prayer of the petitioners was
not without a precedent, and he could state that in Ireland the
most extensive inconvenience would arise to many if they were
prevented from adopting the course which the present
petitioners prayed for. With respect to churchyards, history
told them that they were placed in the immediate neighbour.
hood of the churches, in order that persons going to mass
might pray for the dead. This was now done away with,
and he thought it would be a much better regulation
if the churchyards were removed from the midst of
the population, and each persuasion were allowed
to have its own burial ground. He did not agree with the
hon. member who spoke last, that it would give rise to any
battling or contention if dissenters were allowed to bury their
dead according to their own rights, and he thought it only just
that those who had been separated during life should also be
separated in death. The prayer of the petition was very mode.
rate, and ought not to be treated with slight; he must, however,
say that if the petitioners had asked more they would have
been more likely to get it.
Mr. BROTHERTON said he held it a good maxim to
grant graciously what they were about to grant, and he thought
it also fair that nothing should be required but what was just
and reasonable. He hoped that, in pursuance of such a course,
the grievances of the dissenters would be redressed in a great
measure.

After a few words from Mr. BAINES and Mr. O'Diriee, in
support of the petition, it was ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. P. THOMSON presented petitions from the Baptist
congregation of York street chapel, Manchester, from the uni.
tarian congregation, and from the general baptists of Dover,
praying for the removal of the disabilities affecting dissenters.
The right hon. gentleman also presented a petition from the
medical practitioners of Manchester, praying for relief from
the present state of the law affecting them.—Referred to the
committee on medical abuses. Also a petition from the same
place in favour of the Wigan Branch Railway Company Bill.—
Referred to the committee.
CORN LAWS—TITHES.

Lord MORPETH presented a petition from the owners and
occupiers of land of Selby, in the county of York, expressing their
alarm at the attempts made for a repeal of the corn laws.
The petitioners assured the house that such repeal would pro-
duce the most ruinous consequences to agriculturists. They
complained also of the oppressive nature of the tithe system,
and prayed the house to adopt some measure to relieve them
from their burdens without risking the value of agricultural
produce, and to take the tithes into consideration, with a view
to effect an equitable commutation. With the last prayer he
fully concurred, but it would be known from the opinions he
had already stated that he could not support the first.
Mr. CAYLEY supported both the prayers of the petitioners.