Star.
London, England, 1808-04-12 00:00:00

CATIVIL4C PETITION.

Lord GRENVII.LE presented a Petition from a large body of
Irish Catholics, for the repeal of the various disqnalifying statutes
to which they are still subject. His Lordship stated, that there
was some informality in the mode of annexir.g several of the names
to the Petition. Many thousands of them were the actual signa-
tures of the persons petitioning, but others, undoubtedly from ig-
norance of the forms necessary to be observed in such matters,
purported to have been subscribed by the authority of the indivi-
4uals whose names were subjoined. The result of his inquiry
into the usage of the House on similar occasions, was, that the
Petition might he received, as that of the persons whose names
were regularly subscribed, without paying any attention to the i
ether signatures. Uatler this impression, therefore, he should
move that it lie upon the table, ireending, should this proposition
be acceded to, to follow it tap by another, for taking the Petition
into consideration on the 12th of May.
Lord 'MOIR A said, no man could be a more sealous supporter
of the cane of the Petitioners than himself. This he had evinced,
and should continue to evince, without regard to any inconveni-
encies rtsulting from that line of conduct to his personal interests.
But the more friendly he was to the object of the Petition, the
more did he regret to hear the second motion which his Noble
Friend announced his intention of submitting on a future day.—
He was always Inclined to call in question his own judgment,
when he happened to differ from his Noble Friend; but he could
not help thinking the present an unfavourable period to any spe-
cific motion on the subject. He was convinced that the justice,
the wisdom, and the necessity of granting Its request would be
speedily acknowledged by all descriptions of persons; but after
the recent adverse decision of that House, and while there were
so considerable a number who might take a degree of interest in
maintaining the opinions they had so lately expressed, he concei-
ved, that to press the claims of the Petitioners upon the attention
of Parliament, under such circumstances, might tend rather to
retard than accelerate the period of their ultimate success.
I.ord GRENVILLE said, it would be in their Lordships' re-
collection, that he had last year distinctly stated, that if his advice
could have any irfiuence with the Catholic body of Ireland, that
advi-e would be, to induce them to exercise every degree of mo-
derating ani forbearance in the prosecution of their claims. He
could, however, assure his Noble Friend and the House, that he
bad not been consulted on the propriety of again submitting the
subject for discussion. On the other hand, he begged it to be
understood, that he would not say that, had he been so consulted,
he should have dissuaded the Petitioners from the course which
they had punned.
1 he LORD CHANCELLOR had no objection to the Peti-
tion lying on the table ; but wished this to be considered in the
present, and in every case where an informality occurred in peti-
tions, as resulting from their Lordships' indulgence, rather than
any rule of proceeding generally binding upon the House.
Lord GRENVILLE acquiesced in the propriety of the distinc-
tion taken by the Noble and Learned Lord.
The Petition was then ordered to lie on the table, and their
Lordships were ordered to be summoned for the 13th, instead of
the 12th of May, previously mentioned.
Lord SIDMOUTH stated, that there had been only a partial
return made to the Address and Order, which their Lordships
had agreed to about three weeks ago, for further information re•
spectirg the seizure of the Danish vessels previous to the declara-
tion of hostilities. No return was yet on the table of the num-
ber of vessels, prisoners, ie.:.
Lord HAWKE.SBURY suggested, that the delay might have
arisen from the return from the cutports not having yet been re-
ceived.

Prince of Wales's Island, she having been driven thi,
ther instead of proceeding, as she ought, to Bombay.
ORDERS IN COiIiCIL.
A short conversation took place between Mr. TIERNEY and
the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER relative to the fur-
ther examination of witnesses against the Orders in Council, in
which the Chancellor of the Exchequer intimated his intentionto
proceed in the examination of the witnesses to-morrow, and to
close on '.Vednesday.
Mr. CAI.CRAFr gave notice that he would, on Tuesday the
3d of May next, make a motion relative to the Papers concern-
ing the Rochefort Squadron which lay on the table.
Mr. TIERNEY moved, that an account be made forthwith of
the value of the stores taken at Copenhagen.
Mr. D. GIDDY gave notice that he would to-morrow move
for the postponement of the proceedings on the Grampound pe-
tition.