The Sun.
London, England, 1829-02-26 00:00:00

If I bad stood up and nominated to you a young man, I
might have proposed a young man who had adorned
all the paths of the Literature of this celebrated Univer-
sity—who had been endowed with all the honourable
principles and feelings of Religious Liberty, which it has
always been the object of this University to instruct in,—
but I might have felt that I wanted the best of all possible
testa--the test of experience ; I have now to sup-
port a gentleman, who, for twelve years of most active ex-
ertion, has been unremitting in his public career, when
called to various official sitoationa, where his great powers
of mind have been employed ever since—partly for our-
selves, and partly in the service of his King and his min-
try.—(Very great cheers, and cries of Poll, poll, poll.)
I pass on therefore at once, Sir, to that question, upon
wl.ich alone I apprehend any thing will be raised by way
of objection to the elution of Mr. Peel on the present oc-
casion-1 mean the question of Catholic Emancipation.—
(Hear, hear, and Poll, poll, poll.) It does so happen that
I am, perhaps, the only pet son of my age, in his Majssty%,
dominions, and holding, the situation I do, who has not
had an opportunity
of recording his sentiments of this
great question. I conceive it to he a most important
question. I find by the law
s regarding that question as it
now stand
Ma-
jesty's subjects to those rights and privileges which, if they
, on the one side exclusion of many of his
are entitled to have, ought to be common to all mankind.
(Cries of " Papery !" Pull, Poll, Poll.)-1 know,
Sir, that there is a divided Council, and that there is a
divided Parliament on this question, which all have
to lament. On the other hand I know, and
am sensible of the restless—the domineering feel-
ing of the Church of Rome—(Great cries of Hear,
hear)—and I rasa ITS SI.•VERY. (Immense cheers and
applause, which lasted for several minutes.) I fear, Sir,
the arguments of those who oppose me—(hear, hear)—
because I state candidly that I wish to have the question
fairly brought forward. I wish to state mY own opinion
upon the subject. (Hear, hear.) The question isaskielt
why should these number of men have been exclnated
so long from the privileges which others have enjoyed,
but for the benefit of the community that it should have
been so ? Sir, I know that under the constitution of this
country—constituted as it has been for a century and a
half, this country has flourished more than ever it did be-
fore those persons having been thus excluded.—(Great
cries of hear, hear ; and go to poll then ! go to poll then.)
—Under these circumstances, Sir, I sin led to state then,
that the question appears to me to be one of the greatest
difficulty—and I sin induced, in Christian charity, to
admit that there are persons who are bound to support
both sides of this great and important question. (Isreidfiil
uproar and cries of Poll! Poll ! which were reiterated along
the menders of the convocation in the outer halls, %Oita
did not know what was going forward, but who tragedy
caught up any sounds they heard front within.) Sir, it
is not to he denied that the course which this great Univer-
sity has taken is invariably adverse to the Catholic Faith—
(Cries of " Surely, surely—aye, and it ever will be," with
immense uproar and commotion ; and break the windows,
break the windows, the heat and suffocation were so in-
supportable.) Nor is it to be denied that one of the great
motives, and which in my humble judgment and belief,
of all others ought -to have been so, which induced this
University in former times to return Mr. Peel to Parlia-
ment was the course lie had avowed, and which lie had
hitherto taken with respect to this question.—(Applause.)
Neither is it to he denied that this great University upon
various occasions has declared to—l had almost said in-
structed the Legislature what its views on this great ques-
tion ought to he.—(Hear, hear, hear.)--Sir, I come now
to a circumstance which took place on the sth March last.
It is perfectly well known that a Convocation at that time
was held here for the purpose of petitioning Parliament
on this subject. Now, on that occasion it appeared to
a vast majority that that petition should be presented.—
(Hear, hear.)—The petition was conceived in strong but
temperate language. I feel it my duty to acknowledge
that that petition, supported, as it was, by a very large
majority roust be taken as having at that time spoken the
views and sentiments of this majority on that important
question.—(Shouts of Hear, bear, hear, and very great
commotion.)—l know, Sir, that there was attached
to that petition the names of persons honourable,
aosi ao,;slad +1,,, roots profound respect every where, and
on all occasions—names for liberality, morality, and reli-
gion, that stand unrivalled.—(lmmense applause, great
confusion, and cries of poll, poll! which lasted for several
minutes.)—lf the measures that have been now proposed
had then been known to have been about to he proposed,
that petition would in all probability have been prat-
poned—(Great confusion and uproar, with cries of
"No, no, no, no? Poll, poll, poll !)—(The confu-
sion here continued very peat for some rtinutea,
amidst deafening shouts of adjourn to the Theatre, which
was represented to he twice as large as the Convocation-
hall ; and the windows were broken with great indignation,
and cries of that's right, that's right.)
The Vice CHANCELLOR. at length arose, and entreated
:hat the meeting would show respectful conduct on this

occasion.
Mr. Elms°le (a gentleman apparently of great,re-
speetability, called out from one of the outer doors-)
The VICE-CnaNcettort—Clear the house of the under
Graduates, and make room for the Members of the Cativo-
cation.—(Shouts of laughter and great confusion.)
Dr. kaasesaat again obtained a partial hearing, and en-
deavoured to proceed. Sir, Mr. Peel thought proper to
tender his resignation, and in having done so, he has been
actuated by every honest, honourable, and every proper
principle—(Cries of no, no, with continued cries of "snake
room for the Masters ! adjourn to the Theatre ! and !meek
the windows, for this is too hot and too CatinOts
however, help thinking that his resignation hag placed. us
in this very unpleasant dilemma.—(lmmense laughter, and
cries of poll ! poll !)—Sir, he has been tried for the last
twelve years—and I now consider him placed upon his
trial.—(Great confusion.)—That he has been actuated
by the firmest principles of virtue, and the most honour-
able motives I firmly believe, and that he will hereafter
be able to prove that he has done ao—(here the *Parable
speaker's voice was drowned in 'fries of Poll, PolV gni
immense uproar.) On restnning, he continued
I insist, Sir, thaLl consider Mt: Peel now on his trial,
(deafening and repeated cries of Poll, poll, which resounded
with confounding echosfrom the adjoining courts and halls.)
Sir, I recommend with all due deference (Cries of 66 Sit
down, poll,.poll")—I recommend with all due deference..sp.-.
(Repeated calls of " Sit down, sit down," and dreadful
confusion)—Sir, I recommend, with all due dekreniei
Mr. Peel, to be again your RepresentatiVe.—(lm-
neense cries of " no—poll, poll," and great confusion.)
It appears to me that all the disabilities under which the:
Roman Catholics labour can be removed,--affording at the
same time permanent security to our Protestant Religion
and Institutions. (Poll, Poll.) I say that I consider
(pa, pc:11) this, Sir, is the time of danger to ourselvee.
(Hear, hear.)-1 cannot but express my high satis-
faction at the manner in 3ehieli this great ques-
tion has been discussed at this FJoiversity—it
has been deliberated upon—(Cries of quite enough,
quite PRoggh, poll, poll,)—it has been deliberated
upon with the gyeateat calmness—in the most dispas-
sionate manner, and f trust 441 this kindly feeling
will continue to exist. (Cries of Poll, IA pone_
sit down, sit down—we want to get home by Sunday%)
I wish only to state, Sir, that I have net the least
4,30/4 that the measures which Mr. Peel and his
colleagues 11„..m *iv . proposed, (Ha ! ha ! ha !) will be
found to be that whigh they .stated to be.—(Cries of
no, no--what's your plea ?) They will be fund tc be 9.uite
sufficient for the relief of the Catholics and the security
of the Protestants.—(lmmense confusion, and cries of
" Have mercy on the Clergy, for we have come a great
diatate."—lnnense laughter in the hall, and confusion
re-echoed from the ria,l" ; Mb,. Dr. Meridiem, finding that
he could not proceed any further, se; d 91:,)
Dr. INGRA7,I, Headvef Trinity, then rose, to put io
mination Sir Robert Inglis. He made but very few ob-