The Sun.
London, England, 1851-02-15 00:00:00

u ARV

sibility, and without consulting any ecclesiastical authorities.
—( Hear, hear.) But, then, his Right Hun. Friend had
stated that the letter of his Noble Friend had stirred up all
this strife in the country. It was not so. The well.kaown fact
was, that the intelligence of the Papal aggression reached the
country three weeks before that letter appeared; that in the
meanwhile the spirit of the country had been aroused ; the
bar of the country had assembled, and a very remarkable
petition had emanated from them ; and all this had occurred
before the letter was published.—(Hear, hear.) His Noble
Friend had, he considered, been moat unfairly dealt with in
this matter—a fact that he believed would yet he acknoir-
ledged when it was found that he had guided . public
opinion to a fair and just conclusion.- (Hear.) He then re-
ferred to the statement of the Hon. Member for Ayrshire.
He agreed with the Hon. Gentleman that no persons were
more opposed to Popery than Scutchtnen, and he lamented
that sometimes that feeling was carried to excess. They
were well aware, too, of this attack of the Pope on the pre-
rogative of the Crown and the Protestant liberties of the
country, and there was not a single yeoman in ecotla- d who
would not he fully prepared, if it were worth his while, to
go to a public meeting. and denounce what had occurred. As
to the Free Church of Scotland, there was no similarity between
its proceedings and those that had occur. ed in this country.
He then oherved that the penal laws had fallen into disuse
in this country, and the Roman Catholic Church was left in
the full enjoyment of every spiritual exercise. There was
no complaint of an impediment in the administration of the
sacraments, and of all other rites, as efficiently• under the
vicariate system as it had been for two hundred years. With
the exception of an occasional growl from the "ilia; Lion of
Judah," all was peace and harmony ; when, all of a sudden,
this state of things was disturbed by the decree ftona the
Court of RoMe. He could say, that in his administration
of the office he held, the Catholic soldiers, who formed no
small number of their army, were in the full enjoyment of
the ordinances of their Church • and he was sure they would
say whatever attacks were made on him, that in his office
he was no bigot. In the circumstances in which they were
placed he was determined to do his duty as became a sincere
Protestant, as became a fearless la ember of that House, and
as a servant to his Sovereign who had a paramount duty to
perform.—(Hear, hear.)
' Mr. 'SCULLY opposed the motion. He regretted that
that subject of religious discussion should have found its
way into a British. Parliament; and it was a subject which
was not wanting in that House. Such was the nature of
that measure that no Irish Member ought to sit in that
House without protesting against a Bill which proposed the
re-enactment of the penal laws. If, as it had been said,
Scotland and England were in favour of that measure, he
could tell the Secretary at War that Ireland was opposed to
it. He could tell him also, that the Presbyterian Church in
Ireland, which was a free church, would not support it,
and had refused to meet to petition in its favour, for which
conduct, as a Roman Catholic, and on behalf of his Roman-
Catholic fellow-countrymen, he begged to tender that Church
his best thanks. He called upon the Noble Lord to pause
ere he proceeded in the course which he contemplated i • he
might raise a flame in Ireland which might never be extin-
guished, except.. in confusion and blood. In conclusion, he
expressed a ,hope that when the hill was brought in, the
clauses relating to Ireland of least would be expunged from
it--(Loud cries of" Divide, divide.")
Colonel SIBTHORP said it was only his intention to ttes-
pass for a very short time on the attention of the House, for
he would not wish to interpose between the expressed seeti-
meats of the House and the division to which they seemed
desirous of coming.—(Hear.) He thought it, however, his
duty to say, that although he could not place much confi-
dence in the Government, or its capability to maintain, as
the Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary at War had said,
the dignity and security of this country, he should vote for
them on that occasion. They had seen so Much on the part
of the Noble Lord opposite and others since the passing of the
Act of 1829, that he (Colonel Sibthorp) would rather have
both arms cut off than vote for that Bill, and that he said
without having any unchristian or uncharitable feeling to-
wards any class of his countrymen. As .it was a duty be
owed his Sovereign, however, on .account of what was re-
commended in her Majesty's Speech, he should feel obliged
to register his name for the motion of the Noble Lord, how-
ever little he might think the measure calculated for the se-
curity of the state, or satisfactory to either Protestant or Ca-
tholic.—( Hear, hear, and cries of " Divide ") . _

Mr. MUNTZ trusted the House would excuse him while
he briefly stated the grounds upon which he rested his vote
in favour of the bringing in of that Bill. The present was
one of the moat disagreeable questions which had ever
arisen since he had entered upon political life. He had
taken no part in the proceedings on that subject, in order
that he might hear everything which might be said on both
sides, and do justice to all. In Birmingham, the place which
he represented, the division on the question had been so close
that no resolution had been come to. - (Hear, hear.) The
difficulty of the question lay in its religious character. Two
Churches were brought into collision, and he could not but
say, " a plague on both your Churches."—(Laughter.) With
regard to himself, he could say he had never allowed him-
self to be influenced by religious bias in the transaction of
the business of life; he was not, then, influenced by any sec-
tarian feeling on the present occasion. He had looled to the
practice of the Roman Catholic Church in other countries,
even where that religion prevailed. and he had found there was
no such authority given to the Pope as the appointment of
bishops without the consent of the sovereign power.— Wear.)
He was ready to give the Roman Catholics everything which
they had, but not more than they had in other countries.—
( Hear, hear.) He had also searched the history of other
countries, and he found that where the Roman Catholic reli-
gion prevailed no true or real liberty existed.—(Hear, hear,
and cries of "• Divide.") He would, therefore, vote for the
introduction of the present Bill, but would reserve to himself
the right of taking such steps on its future stages as to him
might seem fit.—(Hear, and cries of " Divide, divide.")
Mr. BROTHS TON said he had taken no part in the
proceedings relative to that question, nor did he intend to
have mingled in that debate. He had endeavoured to see as
clearly as he could the part which he ought to take. The
Hon. Member for Manchester (Mr. M. Gibson 1 had placed
him in rather a painful position, for most Hon. Members
knew that Manchester and Salford, the place which he re-
presented, were almost the same constituency. - (Rear. )
Now he bad reason to believe that the sentiments uttered by
the Hon. Member for Manchester were not those of a great
majority of his constituents (Hear, hear.) He had never
given a vote against the civil and religious liberty of any
class of his fellow-subjects, and he trusted lie never would do
so; but the grounds upon which ho should give his vote in
favour of the introduction of that Bill were very different
from anything like such a motive. He had seen the opinions
of eminent lawyers, enlightened statesmen, and the senti-
ments of the most experienced men in the community; and
it did appear to them that the rights of the Sovereign were
infringed upon. and the independence of the subject invaded
—(Hear, hear)—by the act of which they complained.—
( Hear, hear.) That, then, was not a religious question.—
( Hear.) In voting on that motion he was neither called
upon to defend the Established Church nor assail the Roman
Catholic Church... 4 Hear.) In introducing that Bill the
Noble Lord had said it was not his intention to infringe on
the civil or religious liberties or rights of any class of her
Majesty's subjects; and for his own part he was anxious to
see what the Bill was before he came to any final judgment
upon it.—(Hear, hear.) He believed the Bill was in favour
of a great majority of his constituents, and was in accord-
ance with the wishes of many of the Roman Catholics
themselves.—(oh, oh.) He had received letters from most
respeCtable members of that persuasion in Manchester and
Salford, brief extracts from which he would read if the
House permitted.—(Cries of" Hear,"" Read," and " Divide.")
One of the letters, after asking for a copy of ,the Bill, pro-
ceeded to say that they (the Roman Catholics) felt consider-
able interest in the measure, as one which would protect
their property invested for the benefit of churches and cha-
ritable institutions from the control and administration of a
foreign power, which as Englishmen they could not submit
to.—(Hear.) Such were their sentiments, and he would not
trespass longer on the time of the House than by stating his
intention to vote for the motion.—(Hear, and loud cries of
" Divide.")
Mr; F. O'CONNOR and other Hon. Members arose amid
the loudly expressed impatience of the House, when the for-
mer was left in possession. He said, although he intended
addressing the House on the measure, he would not den take
advantage of his having possession, but merely asked Hon.
Members to consent to go to a division at once. He hoped
as be had foregone his privilege of speaking, as there would
be other opportunities on future stages of the Bill, that other
Hon. Members would follow his example, and abstain from
addressing the House on that occasion.—(Hear, and cries of
Divide.")
Mr. SCHOLEFIELD said he would not detain the House
many moments, but as he unfortunately differed from his
Hon. Colleague and some of his constituents, he wished
briefly to state the grounds upon which he voted against
the present motion. He could not be supposed to possess any
sympathy with regard to Rome. But he regretted to say
that measure had relied feelings in this country which were
encouraged by the letter of the Noble Lord. They were told
that the disCipline of the 'Charch of Rome could not be pro-
perly carried ont unless in the manner which the Pope pro-
posed—namely, by the appointment of an hierarchy. But with
respect to the Bill of the Noble Lord, it was one ineffectual
to carry out those points which it professed to do. He eon-
. chided by saying he would vote against the motion.— (Loud
cries of " Divide divide.")
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw at about a
quarter to twelve o'clock.
....

The House then divided, when the Numbers were—
For the introduction of the Bill ... 395
Against it ... 63
Majority in favour of the Bill —332
Mr. ROCHE hoped the Noble Lord would fix the second
reading of the Bill at such a time as would enable the people
of Ireland and the people of England to understand fully its
provisions.
Lord J. RUSSELL said he hoped the Bill would be deli-
vered on Monday, and he would fix the second reading for
Friday se'nnight.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. KEOGH moved for leave to bring in a Bill to extend
the jurisdiction and improve the practice of her Majesty's
Prerogative Court in Ireland.
Mr. GROGAN objected to the Bill; and
The gallery was cleared fur a division, but none todi
place.
The Bill was then brought in and read a first time.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL brought in the Ecclesias-
tical Titles Bill, which was read a first time, and ordered to
be read a second time on Friday se'nnight.
Mr. KEOGH brought in the Prerogative Court (Ireland)
Bill, which was read a first time, and ordered to be read a
second time on Wednesday next.
The House then adjourned at Half-past Twelve.

INCREASE IN THE COAL TRADE. - CARDIFF. -
The coal trade in Monmouthshire is rapidly extending, and
so densely crowded have the Bute Docks at Cardiff been,
that notwithstanding every facility for the rapid shipment of
coal, much delay has been experienced in meeting the de-
mand. In order properly to meet this great extension of the
staple trade of the port and the district, it has been pro-
posed to construct another dock to the eastward of the pre-
sent docks, for the acco modation of large vessels, and a
project has been mooted to convert the sea-lock into a dock.
The merchants, and others interested in the trade, have taken
the matter up, and petitioned the trustees of the Bute Docks
on the subject. In the valley of Aberdare, Glamorganshire,
several very deer pits are being sunk, with every prospect of
success.

RAILWAY ACCIDENTS —lt appears, from returns
presented to Parliament, and yesterday printed, that in the
half-year ending the 30th of June last there were 93 persona
killed by railway accidents, and 68 injured, of which number
3 passengers were killed and 33 injured ft om causes beyond
their own control; 7 passengers wore killed, and 3 injured,
owing to their own misconduct or want of caution ; 25 ser-
vants of companies were killed, and 17 injured, from causes
beyond their own control ; 29 servants of compin:ies or cop-
tractors were killed, and 10 injured, owing to their own
k.mis-
conduct or want of caution ; and 26 trespassers were
and 5 injured, by crossing or walking on railways. There
were three suicides. The ,umbel of passengers conveyed in
the half-year amounted to 31,766,503. The length of rail-
way open on the 31st of December,lB49, was 6,032 miles;
and on the 30th of Junelr last the length.
to . had .tencl,„l ,a
6,308 miles, showing an increase of miles iv. the half-
year.
i .!
year.
The proprietors of the Exchange Bank of Scotland
are to have one-third of tlinir capital returned to thew, as the
balance of soots at the winding-up of the cOucena.