The Sun.
London, England, 1828-04-18 00:00:00

ROMAN CATHOLICS.

Mr. H. MAXWELL presented petitions from
three parishes in the county of Cavan, praying that i
no further concessions might be granted to the Ro-
man Catholics. The Hon. Member read the petition
~vhich stated that the emancipation the Catholics )
most required was emancipation from their bigotted
and factions priesthood, who made them their tools,
and from the seditious Catholic Association, which
indulged in the most decided hostility to the
Protectant Church, and threatened with one hand
-;,'lnlst it soothed with the other. The petition con-,
ciuded by expressing a hope that the Government
would sup press the Catholic Association, and adopt a
rra hue of policy, which would convince the Catholics
;la they had nothing more to expect in the way of
ponces:4cm than they had already obtained. He
approved of the pia, er of the pitition, but before
lie brought it up, he begged to put a question to
the Right Hon. Secretary for the Home Depart-
snent on a very important subject. During the re-
cess reports had been industriously circulated that,
negotiations had actually taken and were now
pending, between the English Govern lent and the
Court of Rome, for the purpose of ob lining a eon-
cordat.—(Hear, and a laugh.) Thee reports had
created great alarm among all classes o his Majesty's
Protestant subjects. He was web aware of the dif-
ficulty under which he must place I. Majesty's Go-
vernment in calling- for a direct ansr-er to this ques-
tion, seeing that if any of its Members had really
been engaged in such negotiations, they would
thereby have become liable to the penalties of a
prentunire.—(A laugh.) it was his duty, however,
to propound the question he had alluded to. .He
v:ishe'd to know whether these reports were or were
no', totally destitute of foundation—whether such
communications had taken place, directly or indi-
redly, by the immediate acts of this Government, or
through. its agency—and also whether any other ne-
gociataons to the smile effect had been pit on foot
by other powers, but to which England now was,
or hereafter was likely to become a party?—(Hear,
hear.) .

Mr. Secretary PEEL said that he was much
obliged to his Hon. Friend for suggesting the only
safe answer which could be given to a question in-
voicing the penalties of a premunire (a laugh); and
nithough he did not exactly feel that his Hon.
Friend was entitled to put such a question to him
inn mere surmise, yet the sincere respect which he
(Mr, Peel) entertained for him, induced him to de-.
(lire that he had never even heard of the reports to
which his. Hon. Friend had alluded, until the ether
day, and then only in the most cursory manner ; and
he would only beg to add, that there was not the
:lightest foundation whatever for them.
Sir J. NEWPORT gave notice, that on the 13th
of May next he would move for leave to bring in a
Bill to repeal the statute creating the liability to pre-
munire on account of such communications with
the, Court of Rome.
The petitions were then brought up, read, and
orc,:erea to be printed.
A Message from the Lords announced that their
Lordshir, had passed two Bills--one relative to
Offence.4 :igainst the Person; the other respecting
the Law .0( Evidenee; and to both of which they
(le:iretl the _eoneurrence of the House.
The Lords' Messengers having withdrawn,
Mr. Secretary PEEL moved that the two Bilk
ire q.o%c read a first time, and a second time on Mon-
day nest. On the occasion of the second reading of
she former especially,• he wtkild tale occasion, as
being a more convenient opportunity, to explain to
the house the important nature of its enactments,
and othef matters relative to the consolidation of the
laws respecting offences against the person.
The two bills were than severally read a first
time, and the second reading was fixed for Monday

r.ext accordingly,
Mr. BURRELL gave notice, that on Menday the
2Stli of May, he Ivould move certain resolutions re-
lating to the Wool Trade. •
;Hr. LEONARD presented a •Fatition from the
Tarisb of Croome, county of Monaghan, in favour of
Catholic Emancipation.
Mr.KELTH DOUGLAS presented a petition from
,the Ministers and Elders of Arran, against the Test
And Corporation Acts.