The Sun.
London, England, 1850-07-26 00:00:00

PRIVILEGE.-BARON ROTHSCEIILD.

At this moment Baron Rothschild appeared at the
bar of the House, introduced by Mr. rage Wood and
Mr. John Abet Smitb. As the Honourable
Gentleman advanced up the floor of the
House o the table he was loudly cheered
by Members on both sides. The clerk at the table
placed the customary oath in his hands and was about
to swear the Honourable Gentleman upon the New Tes-
tament, when he was interrupted by
Baron ROTHSCHILD, who said in a loud and clear
voice, "1 desire to be sworn on the Old Testament."—
(Loud cheers.)
Sir R. H. INGLIS—I protest against that.— (Load
cries of disapprobation.)

The Hon: -Gentleman was then ordered to withdraw.
Sir R. H. INGLIS then rose and said—He believed
that he beard distinctly the words " I desire to be sworn
on the Old Testament." From the time that this bad
been a Christian nation, and that House had been a Chris-
tian,Legialature, no man had ever presumed to take his
seat there unless he was sworn in the name of the Com-
mon Redeemer upon that Book which contained His re-
vealed will, or at least upon some symbol of the common
redemption. He did not undervalue—and God forbid
that he should undervalue—the Old Testament, but if
the Hon. Individual who came to the table of the House
and asked to be sworn upon the Bible, though he had
known what his mind was, he should have objected to
that; but when, by the terms of his proposition, he vir-
tually abrogates the second part, bow much more was
he bound to object? They had not an Old Testament in
their collection. It might be found in courts of criminal
judicature—(Hear, hear)—and if this were a court
of criminal judicature, and the Hon. Individual had
been a witness, the case would have been entirely
different, but when they knew that he came forward to
claim his right to legislate for a Christian people, he
should never, waffle he had strength to resist, have his
sanction.

Mr. P. WOOD—Sir, I rise to order.
The SPEAKER—The Hoe. Gentleman has posses.
sion of the Howie, and is quite in order.
Sir R. H. INGLIS resumed—He never would, what
ever might be, the decision of the House on the present
occasion, cease from striviug to render the House, in
name and profession, as he prayed it always might be
in heart and mind, a Christian Legislature for a
Christian people. If it were necessary to conclude
with a if oti on,' he would do so in these terms:—
That it had been the practice ef this country ever since
it had been Christian to regard all the Members of its
supreme legislature, whether Lords or Commons, as
bound by Christian obligations; and, therefore, when any
one approached that table to take part in the delibera.
tions of that House. he ought not to be permitted to take
such part without first having taken upon him the obli-
tions of a Christian solemnity. The Hon. Member then
reduced his motion to writing, having first substituted
the name of Baron Rothschild for the words " Honour-
able Member," and handed it to the Speaker.
Mr. HUME asked if the Hon. Baronet would have any
objection to embody in his motion the words that Baron
Rothschild bad been chosen and elected by the citizens
of London ?—(Cheers and uproar, in the midst of which
Sir R. Inglis's reply was lost, if reply he made.)
Mr. HOPE rose to order.--(Loud cries of " Order,"
whereupon the Hon Member resumed his seat.)
The SPEAKER having rend the motion,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said—Mr. Speaker,
I rise to suggest to the House that it should take that
course which I apprehend will be consistent with the
due dignity of the House upon an occasion of the present
importance and gravity. The House will observe that it
has in this case a judicial duty to perform—(Hear, hear)
—and that no feelings of party consideration ought to
enter into the decision which the Hou-e comes to on ihe
present occasion.—(Hear, hear.) I propose. therefore,
without at present expressing any opinion of my
own—(Hear, hear)—upon tan suhject which is now
before the House, to ask the House to adopt a
course similar to that which it adopted when
Mr. O'Connell was elected for the county of Clare, and
came to the table of this House and declined to take the
oaths which were then in usage in this House to be taken.
On that occasion, after an adjoa rued debate, it was moved
by Sir Robert Peel that Mr. O'Connell be heard ;sit the
bar of this House upon his clan ;,.and .lipropose to ask
the House to follow aisieellar' role on this occasion, and
to Adopt a resettitient in conformity with the one come to
oft-thit occasion. I propose, as an amendment to the
motion of the Hon. Baronet (Sir R. Inglis), to ask the
House to leave out all the words after the word " that,"
for the purpose of inserting " that Baron Rothschild, a
Member for the city of London; be heard at the bar by him-
self, his counsel, or agents in respect to his claim to vote
and sit in parliament."— [Up to this point the resolution