The Sun.
London, England, 1827-05-02 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

, ROUSE OF COMMONS, TUESDAY, MAY 1.
The Members' Lobby, and the steps leading to it,
were much crowded throughout the day, by persons
anxious to get a glimpse of the political characters
regarding whom there is so much public interest at
present. Considerable doubts were entertained as
to the possibility of Mr. Canning's taking his seat
to-day at all, from an impression which prevailed that
he could not take the oaths after the clock had struck
four; and it was thought that the ballot would not
admit of attention to any other business till some
time after that hour. All misapprehension was,
however, terminated by the appearance of the Right
Hon; Gentleman, followed by an attendant bearing
his " qualifications" for a seat. His entrance into
thelobby was marked by a demonstration of eager
curiosity on the part of the strangers in waiting, who
by this time formed a body so dense as to make it a
work of extreme difficulty for the High Constable,
with his numerous posse of subordinates, to keep a
clear passage for the Members. " There's Mr.
Canning!' burst from many lips as the Right Hon.
Gentleman appeared upon the scene, and began to
make his way through the crowd, not without con-
siderable impediment from the curious, to the office
aPPointed for the examination of the qualifications of
Members newly elected. Similar, although less in
•degree, was the feeling of interest excited towards
Mr. Peel.
The Gallery was not opened till near five o'clock,
at which time the appearance of the House, to eyes
accustomed to its ways, and havine-tan acquaintance
with " olden style," was highly singular and in-
teresting. " A mighty change" was visible, and it
seemed
as though some magic influence had been at
lv011s: altering the face of all things. The House of
Commons
no longer appeared as a House " divided
against itself." Hostile array there seemed none;
and conflicting interests and parties appeared now
assembled round the same standard, united as in one
mass, arid devoted to the same- cause. In other
Words, the ancient opponents of his Majesty's Go-
vernment
had-ceased to contend, and fairly grounded
their arms before one destined to attain mastery over
all his enemies, by the force of genius, and the wisdom
and integrity of his mind. "His Majesty's Oppo- ,
sition" had absolutely. fled from the field, and were
lo be seen" in dense array. behind the leading Mem-
bers of his Majesty's Adthinistration. On the Tree-
s
urY Beach was Mr. Calcraft and Mr. Western, seated
tbeside Mr. "Wynn, Mr. Croker, and subsequently,
ir. Canning, Mr. Huskisson, &e. On the second
•N ench sat Mr. Tierney, Sir Francis Burdett, Lord
"uncannon, and others. On the third Bench, Mr.
Brougham had taken his place, together with SiP R.
1,,,
ilsoo, Mr. Leycester, Mr. Fowell Buxton, Lord Nu-
gent,(\ and several other Members of the Opposition.
V-'l4 the fourth Bench were to be seen,Lord Sefton,Mr.
r°ll6, Mr. W. Smith, and so on up to the sixth
)eneh from'the floor into the remotest corner of the
!ICalse. A more full attendance, indeed, could not
be conceived—nor did it seem possible to find room
for one additional Member in any part of the build-
Z. The side galleries were crowded to excess.
MY Peers, amongst whom were Lord Bexley,
Lord Farnham, Lord Roden, the Bishops of Litch-
field and Bath and Wells, were accommodated with
Seatsi in this part of the House; the Duke of
orfolk was also here and appeared to take a deep
h/iterest in the proceedings. But that which puzzled
the
skill of the most experienced attendants of the
°llBe Was, to discover who were the Members in
rlcssession of the Opposition benches. 'With the
"Ption of Joseph Hume, Esq., who was constant,
t 4 •
leithe pillar erected for the support of the side gal-
'on the third beach, and Lord Milton in his
lia"ual seat, it was impossible, among the croivd of
take to recognize any one accustomed to shine or
Mr.
"Y part in the business of the House.
tit "'r. Peel had taken his place on. what is under-
-4470d to be the neutral ground on the Ministerial
Ce of the House, and the identical seat which Mr.
, g used to occupy during his temporary re-
b:lasot from office in 1822. Mr. Goulburn sat
",10 him•
fuse gallery was sometimes frt a state of great con-
ti,°ll, from the excessive crowding of the strangers ;
t,,_auccessful precautions had been taken to secure,
ir as possible, the convenience of the Press.
,tut he House was occupied until within twenty mi-
tes to five o'clock in balloting for the Ludlow Elec-
- Committee. On our entrance we found
t1e14,,.1% WESTERN upon_ his legs, and reporting to
mi House, from the East Retford Election Corn-
, tikttee- ire understood the Hon. Member to say,
the Committee had 'decided that the petition
t the return of the sitting Member was not
tsilt:'°us or vexatious—that Sir Robert Dundas was
104 of treating, by his agent, at the last Election
a said borough—that 'William Wrightson, Esq.'
El,eon
also guilty of treating, by his agent, at the last
'boo b__
) that it appeared from the evidence given
)10,0-e the Committee, that the corrupt state of the
too Ugh demanded the most serious attention from
tor °,use—that it was the general practice in that
gteii%lo3 for the electors to receive the sum of forty
that ." for flair exercise of the elective franchise—
bed t did not appear, however, that the electors
wards en encouraged in the expectation of such re-
regiler.°Y the sitting Members—that the Committee
to be Led that the House would order their report
-Nett: Printed before the issuing of a new Writ of
The for the borough of East Retford.
eotiside Report was then ordered to be taken into
Lo or ration on Thursday the 17th of May.
the ,dd:• RUSSELL was understood to move
4PPoitite °n of three names to the list of Members
side ,d to serve upon the Committee for the con-
titetstiotTil,of a Bill forthebetterregulation of Private
kr. Committees.
akared P"NTZ observed, that the Noble Lord
andt, an addition to the Committee of three names,
6011 neat, On a former night, he had moved the addi-
be °' six
af• e names, most of which belonged to mem-
Bill,same family, and all to promoters of the
bens "e felt perfectly convinced, that the Men'-
ver pa:toned 1). y the Noble Lord would act in the
of thre est manner, but he objected to the addition
"d e_ names as a breach of the general principle,
4,0 .wlshed to take the sense of the House upon the
,tl,°roaof the Noble Lord.n
gels were then ordered to withdraw, and the
l'kuii.;'t was proceedii a- to divide, when
Mr. CALcitApTl''
,da,nd moved that the con-
Aeration of the NobleroLsoe
2d3 motion should be ad-
the of May.
44rned to Wednesda
ad-
he SPEAKER then put the question from the
and Mr. Calcraft's motion was unanimously
ed to.

NEW WETS.
1‘4,-..
or writs were moved and ordered for the return
n1'4111%111 her to serve in Parliament for the borough
Sc.arletit,
Es ettrborough, in the room of Jam
At%),,,,110 had accepted the office of hi_sesmajesty,s
serve7Y,-General ; for the return of a Member to
the .641 rarliament for the comity o f Sutherland, in
be.en:r4,,„. of Lord Francis Lcvison Gower,. who had
h4lVhirked one of the Lords Commissioners of
toaer47tY)4 Treasury ; for the returnh of a Member
of Liskeard,
114 the r- .4 l'arliament for the boroug
°Tie °et° of Lord Eliot, who had been. appointed
duty the
• m p; Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's
Member to serve
„i•and for the return of a
-"lani • • of Cambridge,
th room o
for the University
ootti
toethe °I Lord Lyndhurst, who had been called
A n--til"se of Peers.
ParlititneW writ for the return of a Member to
.serve in
rooryi ~ent for the borough of Ashburton, in the
had
meth the -so
"'tight Hon. Wm- Sturges Bourne, who
cipal seePtett the office of one of his Majesty's prin-
, plat Plevtariet of State, having been moved for,
himself t 4,L rose amidst loud cheers, and expressed
ill'aiedist()lrhe following effect !—As this motion was
1111(11,4i-9:Y connected with the office which he
he p -er he trusted the House would not think that
treatedr -erred an unreasonable request when he en-
,ii them to allow him to take the opportunity
Se:ePriavieeinflfthegrounds on which he retired from
his Majesty. He knew how much
Zsonal
is, matter must be involved in a step
this 'kind, yet he had so frequently met with
kind indulgence of the House on former

No. 1.0,809.

occasions, that he should be disappointed in=
deed, if on the present occasion, he found
he had entertained a vain expectation that they
would allow him the opportunity he now soli-
cited. In this expectation, he bad abstained
from resorting to any other mode of explaining
his motives. Three weeks had now elapsed since
he had virtually resigned the office of Secretary of State
for the Home Department. During that interval his
silence might have subjected his conduct to much
doubt, but he had waited patiently, supported by the
confidence that he had acted on public grounds ; that
he had taken a course consistent with the maintenance
of his own character, that he had been acting with
a view to the character of that class to which 1, be-
longed, he meant that of public men, and supported
by the hope, that on this day, and in that place, lie
should have the opportunity in the 'face of
that- House, whose confidence and good opinion he
was chiefly anxious to possess, and, if he might say
so, to maintain—(hear, hear)—supported by the hope
too, that he should be able to vindicate himself from
any misconstruction of his conduct, he had rested
till the .present raiment, he said, to vindicate the
course he bad taken, because he did not conceive
that a public man 'having embarked in public
service, was entitled on light and trivial grounds
to sever the connection that subsisted be-
tween him and the public, and to withdraw
himself from those whose confidence he had
possessed. If he had acted from feelings of
inconsistency—if he had acted from levity or
vanity—if he had acted from any private pique or
personal violence, he should consider himself
though not constitutionally, yet morally, most
unjustifiable, and unworthy of the confidence his
Majesty had reposed in him. The grounds on
which he - had retired were shortly these—from
his first entrance into public life, he had entertained
an opinion, and taken an active part in a great con-
stitutional question, to viNch he was most firmly
attached,—(Loud cheers.)—For eighteen years he
had persisted in an undeviating course, offering an
uncompromising opinion, and which he considered a
.constitutional resistance to the motion brought for-
ward. During fourteen of those eighteen years he had
held office, for eleven he had been closely con-
nected with the Administration of Irish Affairs,
and he had still to this moment retained the
opinions he had originally entertained ; but above
all, having taken such an active part for some time
past, if a single Minister entertaining sentiments
in opposition to those he had cherished came into
office, he did not consider that he could, consistent
with his honour, and as a public man, he did,
not conceive that he could remain in office, if the
situation of- that Minister was calculated to maintain 1
that question under another aspect, to which, under 1

other circumstances, he himselfthadbeen in the habi

of offering a decided and undeviating resistance.
Under these circumstances, the nature of his
opposition being such as not to be constituted of
temporary difficulties, not having been such that he
could have hoped' for time to have removed,
and that opposition being necessary, as he conceived,
for the maintenance of the question in favour of the
Established Church, principally in Ireland; , he did
not think but that be was bound to retire from
public service should his Right Honourable Friend,
the First Lord of his Majesty's Treasury, be
placed at the head of that Treasury. He
should now state the reasons why he considered
that the success of the Catholic Question would be
Fromoted by the appointment of his Right Hon.
riend to the station of Prime Minister.—(Hear.)
He gave his Right Hon. Friend the fullest credit
for the honest sincerity of his intentions. He jud-
ged of him as he wished others to judge of
himself—by his acts—and he could not help recollect-
ing the uniform course be had taken in favour of the
Roman Catholics. Judging from the •Right Hon.
Gentleman's previous conduct, in his (Mr. Peel's)
opinion, duty as well as inclination would oblige
him to promote, if not the immediate, the ul-
timate concession of those Claims—(Hear, hear)*
—and, therefore, he considered it his duty to
retire from office. The change was not ,so
much because his Right Hon. Friend differed
from the Earl of Liverpool in his , opinion on
the Catholic Question, but because his Right
Honourable Friend's attaining the station of Prime
Minister, a change must take place in the
direction of all that influence which belonged
and properly belonged to the First Minister of the
Crown. That influence which lay with the most
able and powerful opponent of the Catholic Claims
was now transferred to the most powerful and the
most able advocate of those claims. With reference
to the Catholics, he was prepared to act as he had
acted from the first dictates of his feelings, which
usually pointed out the most honourable course to
pursue. Subsequently; however, he had frequent
opportunities from mature deliberation, and the
persuasion of every hour confirmed him in the first
suggestion of his feelings. Could he haveactedother-
wise, when he beheld his Right Hon. Friend, when
the period to which the restrictions were removed
_ _ .

froni his present Majesty up to the time when the
lion. Member for Westminster had brought forward
his last motion in favour of the Catholic Claims,
earnestly, consistently, and perseveringly, advo-
cating those claims, and acting as earnestly in
support of them as he (Mr. Peel) had a-ted in
opposition to them. Then what would prevent
his Right Hon. Friend from doing in 1827 what
he had previously done for a course of years.
There was no Constitutional ground to prevent him
from adopting the same course. No pledge had
been offered to him (Mr. Peel) that his Right
Honourable Friend would not adopt that course.
He had not asked for such a pledge; but if
he did, he was sure he would be refused it.
Had he accepted office under his Right Honourable
Friend, the possibility, nay, the probability would
have been, that this very Session he would
have been compelled to retire.—(Hear, hear.)—
Because it was impossible for him to acquiesce in
any motion pledging the House -to take into
consideration the Claims of the Catholics in the
next session of Parliament. From 1812 to 1827,
whenever the Catholic question had been brought
forward, his Right Hon. Friend had been its most
decided, its most powerful, its most effective, advo-
cate. When it had been brought forward by others, the
Right Hon. Gent. had given it his decided support,
arid he' hiniself had brought forward the claims of
the Catholics at different periods. In 1822, his
Right lion. Friend originated a motion for admitting
Peers of the Catholic persuasion to seats in the
House of Lords; he (Mr. Peel) opposed that motion;
and now suppose his Right Hon. Friend, invested
with the authority of Prime Minister, should bring
forward that motion, could he (Mr. P.) acquiesce in
that, which five years ago he had opposed ?
He did not mean to complain of the conduct or
opinions of his Right Hon. Friend in the remotest
degree, but he thought it due to himself that he
should state the grounds of his retirement, and essen-
tial that he should state the whole truth, and explain
the principles upon which he had acted. Then what
security had he that his Right Hon. Friend would
bring forward measures similar to those which he
had brought forward in 1812 ? The language of
his Right Honourable Friend then war, " I so-
lemnly declare that I would not have brought
forward the present measure of reparation, if
I was not convinced that in the name of po-
licy it was expedient, that in the name of hu-
manity it was charitable, and, in the name of GOD,
it was-just.—(Cheers.)—Then if it was expedient
in the name of policy, if it was charitable in the

- ..._71,74.17.01-Fit; , ;,,cr li;.,(1`; • k
~., ,
3;:j ..),...'---... •
, • . ..
. .
•,,,..-43-r.,,- ...,--- .
__,..'.,, rOw . .
i •,"..
t , *.•,'• •
. - .
-•.N. \,,, , :,-,...,!,.., P' , :',,F, -' 2 (A,:t '''''4;‘ •
t7i. tY !.l 4,.. ; '
(
(1).4; H
~.4--..---I,ll'
~''''''''. :_c..„_:-•
.t:. -_A-.....N.3-,,: :IP-,;,,—,"!....,:_-,,,..-----:,,,,,,),„ 4._ 4,
-- —•- • 4- ‘'' q , Ai' 1, A --„. ~. -.:% ~.,,. .
__,..... . .
~,,,,'-
,1... ,
~,
„7../------ \.4
C---7—' -' •,...-,,z?" -\6,- 44r
oorp - 44, qois4 -----k ,-• , _....: , ~
.._ ____. _LT.iI t,iii,i
______ _____.

PRICE 7D.

tion, I think it right to observe, that the country is now
prepared, by the progress of civilization and rational prin-
ciples, to put an end to improper distinctions between the
different classes of the community; and to promote the
operation of that general principle of conciliation and con-
cord which is so necessary for the interests, perhaps, for
the salvation of the country. When I recollect the into-
lerant bigotry which was so common some years ago in this
country, and look to the progress which liberal views and
sound principk.s have since made, I cannot help rejoicing
that a liberal Cabinet, corresponding in some measure to
the advanced state of society, has been now formed. On
that ground I heartily rejoice at the .ecession of those per-
sons who formed a component part of the late Auministra-
tion, because I think, that by this means, a great and
almost inseparable obstacle has been removed to the adop-
tion of that line of policy which is imperiously required by
the actual circumstances of the country, and the state of
society in this and other civilized nations of the world.
Sir THOMAS LETHBRIDGE observed, that he was
most anxious at the present moment to declare Ns opinions
respectiag the alteration which had recently talten place in
his Majesty's Councils, especially after ha had heard the
,peech of the Hon. Baronet who had just sat down. Of
all the changes which had recently taken place, he thought
the change indicated by the Hon. Baronet's speech the
most extraordinary. The Hon. Baronet, however, wbile
he dwelt so much on his candour and his loyalty to the
Throne, had adverted to a great leading point or principle
upon which the present Cabinet had been formed—a prin-
ciple which had led to the secession of the late Ministers,

including the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr.' Peel) who
had recently addressed the House. For many reasons he
regretted the secession of the Right Hon. Gentleman; and
yet, in some respects, he was glad of it, as it would lead

the country to a real and just view of the great and leading
public principle upon which the present Administration
was made up. The change had at least produced this good
effect, that it did show the plain public principle on which

the AdminiStration was resolved to act; and it would be
for, the people of this country to decide whether they
would support such an Administration. There were now
two clear distinctions formed in point of principle, and the
nation must be decisively divided into those who supported
and those who opposed the concessions claimed by the
Catholics. These were the views which must be taken by
those who supported and those who opposed the new Ad-
ministration ; and so far he rejoiced in the change which
had taken place. The Cabinet was now at least
united in principle, as he apprehended all Cabinets ought
to be ; and it was from that feeling that he had on a late
occasion brought forward a motion for an Address to his
Majesty, requesting him to form an Administration united
in principle.—(A laugh.)—He insisted that it was proper
that a Cabinet should exist entertaining a decided opinion
either one way or the other, and st.• Administratim
had now been formed, and was supported by the Hon.
Baronet: because he conceived that the Ministers were pre-
pared to act upon the principle which he stated to be the
sine qua non point in the formation of a Ministry—mean-
ing a full concession of all the claims made by the Catho-
lics. The present First Lord of the Treasury might, there-
fore, now be expected to come down to the House, and
broadly and openly bring forward the proposition for the
concession of these claims as a government measure.—

(Hear, hear.)-1t was well known what the opinions of
those were on this questiOn, who, if they did not ac-
tually come at once into office, had at least been very near
coming in, and probably would soon form a part of the
Administration. The question must, therefore, now come
before the House in a decided form, more particularly as
the Hon. Baronet had said, that the being prepared to make
the fullest concessions to the Catholics was a sine qua non
qualification for a Member of the Cabinet.—(Cries of no,
no.)—He certainly understood the Hon. Bart. to say so,
and that he stated that to be his reason for supporting the
present Cabinet, and the whole course of his argument
went to that point. He certainly would oppose any
further concessions to the Catholics; but he wished the
question to be brought forward in a plain and decided shape,
instead of seeing it hanging on as a matter of doubt, as it
had done for the last 20 years, from 1817.—(A laugh.)—
He meant from 1807 to the present time. Those who
had shown a disposition to support the present Cabinet, were
bound in honour and conscience to see that the Catholic
Question should be plainly and unequivocally brought for-
ward as a Government measure ; and he now called on the
First Lord of the Treasury to speak out plainly on the
subject this very evening—(Hear, hear!)—and lie hoped
that the Right Hon. Gentleman, instead of continuing to
temporize and to pare down principle, would bring the
system to a final issue. This was but fair, and he would
continually call upon the Right Hon. Gentleman to bring
the matter to a final issue.

Sir FRANCIS BURDETT, in explanation, said he
had not stated that the concession of the Catholic Ques-
tion was a sine qua non, but had only expressed his hope
that the present Cabinet would do much to insure the
tranquillity of Ireland, and follow a coarse corresponding
to the progress of, the English mind, and it was in that
hope that lie supported the present Administration.
Mr. DAWSON observed, that he was quite convinced
that in the whole of this business the Gentlemen who had
formerly sat on the Opposition Benches, and had now
joined the Ministry, had only done so from a wish to oc-
cupy the Ministerial station and authority—(a laugh.)—
lie himself did not regret that he had quitted the service
of the Crown, since he had done so for the reasons which
had been so ably and eloquently stated by the Right Hon.
Gentleman, the late Secretary of State for the Home De-
partment, and who had most honourably preferred the sup-
port of his principles to the retaining of the high situation
which he had held. The Hon, Baronet had expressed his
hope that the Catholic Question would be carried by means
of the present Cabinet ; and it was his duty, entertaining
the opinions which he professed, and of those who along
with him held these opinions, to insist that the Cabinet
should propose the granting of the Catholic Claims as a
Government measure, otherwise the Hon. Baronet and his
Friends would he parties to the basest coalition that ever
was formed—(Hear, hear ! and a laugh.)—He repeated,
that they would he parties to one of the basest coalitions
that this country had ever witnessed ; and would exhibit
the grossest abandonment of principle—(another laugh. )
He was not to be put down by laughing and sneering, and
called upon the Speaker to enforce order in the House. He
insisted that sinless the Hon. Baronet and his Friends
would cause the Catholic Question to be brought forward
as a Government measure, there never was such a base
coalition formed for party purposes. He asked, whether
the concession of the Catholic Claims was to be brought
forward ? since, if it was not, there never was such a com-
promise of principle. Almost the whole of the Press had,
by a kind of fatality, supported the First Lord of the Tree-
sury—(a. laugh)—in the whole of this business. The
Press was corrupted to the very heart's core, and hardly a
portion of it had given expression to the real opinions of
the public. He would here state same particulars which
he bad heard in different places. He had been informed
that it was designed in the highest quarter that the Ad
ministration should be essentially Protestant. This was
said to be the basis of the Administration which was to
be formed ; but the present Administration was not form-
ed on any such basis. The Catholics of Ireland would
expect that, with such a Cabinet, their claims must he
granted ; and if such hopes should be excited among the
Irish Catholics, what must be the effect on the Irish
Protestants ? The Cabinet was almost entirely Catholic ;
and what would the Protestants of Ireland say, when thel
heard that the whole of their interests were intrusted to
Lords Bexley and Lyndhurst? The Irish Protestants would
have no great confidence in either, although Lord Lynd-
hurst had made a speech in their favour in that House, em-
ploying the arguments which had been furnished to him by
Doctor Philpotts. He requested leave to state to the House
a circumstance, of which he was assured on good authority ;
and that was, that the Archbishop of Canterbury and the
Bishop of London had represented to the Prelates, assem-
bled at Lambeth—(Cries of " order !")—that his present
Majesty was as much opposed to the Catholic Claims as his
father had been, and had in 1806 desired Mr. Fox not to
trouble his father on that point He wished to be informed
whether or not this was true, and whether the Archbishop
of Canterbury had not stated that his Majesty considered
the Coronation Oath as standing in the way of any further
concessions to the Catholics.—(Cries of " Order !")
The SPEAKER here rose to order, observing, that when
lie thought it his duty to interfere, he was always anxiour.
that such interference should be founded on the clearesf
grounds. But it was one of the most fundamental rule,
of that House, that the name of his Majesty should neve:
`be introduced, either directly or circuitously, to influence
any point in debate.

Mr. G. DAWSON
,resumed. When he was inter -
Tiapted, he was making a statement relative to one of tin
greatest and most important questions that could engag,

a:?,71
I 2,e
„
•
_

4 , • •;
the attention of I'Arliament, and which, indeed', involved
the nature and essence of the Constitution itself. He was
justified, he contended, in giving his opinion as to the for-
mation of ',he new Government. The House.had been
called upon by an Hon. Baronet (Sir F. Burdett) to sup-
port the new Government, because they entertained a cer-
tain opinion upon that great question. He (Mr. Dawson)
therefore said, that if the Hon. Baronet acted on this con-
viction, and was correct in doing so, his Majesty and his
new Ministers were at variance in their opinions upon that
great question ; and the House had a right to demand some
explanation from the Right Hon. Genticman at the bead of
the Treasury, before they were required to give their support
to any set of men calling themselves his Majesty's Ministers.
—(Hear, hear !)—He was at a loss to know how he could
in a more orderly manner have stated the fact, that the
Archbishop of Canterbury had declared, ad captandum,
that the Coronation Oath stood in the way of any con-
cession to the Catholics, on -the part of a cc.,rteir distin-
guished Personage.--(Cries of order, order !)—Now, if
that was the case, and the Ministers knew that such was
the opioion of their Royal Mastcr—(Order, order! Chair,
chair !)—he begged pardon if he was out of order; but he
;lid not see that he was. He sad again, that if to this
day, the basis on which every Government had been
formed was laid with reference to the decided objection
known to exist in a certain high quarter to the Catholic
Claimi—and if it was true, as commonly reported, that
the Archbishop of Canterbury and C,e Bishop of London
had told the assembled Prelate, t Lai Lech, that that ob-
iection still continued in unabated force, the Right Ho-
oourahle Gentleman (Mr. Canning) was called upon to
give some explanation to the House, not only respecting
:he stipulation on which he had eepted office, but as to
:iis own intentions with regard to that great question, be-
`ore the House could feel in a condition 4o sit.pport him.
As to himself (Mr. Dawson), it was a matter of little aon-
;equence whether he supported the Government or not (a
!augh). The junction of the Whigs, if it had any effect en
him, would only tend to make him more decisive in his
apposition.—(Hear ! and a laugh. )—But, he maintainedi
the House ought not to be satisfied with such explanations
as might arise incidentally in the debates that were likely
to take place. They should ask, at once, fairly and Openly-,
what Was to be the public expectation with resPeet to this
measure ? He observed that if the Roman Catholics of
Ireland shotild be deluded by the prospect held out to them
those now in power, and any criminal excesses should
ollow, he would hold the present Government and the
Alinisiers.o'F the Crown responsible, and them alone re.
ponsible, for every calamity that might overtake that
:ouotry, and be thereby entailed upon this.--.-(Hear;
year ! )—He would once more repeat, before he sat down;
!-hat an explanation was necessary, and he trusted it would
lie ample and explicit. •

Mr. BROUGHAM then spoke to the following effect. :
t rise under the pressure of no inconsiderable, no ordinary
anxiety, to address myself to you, Sir, and to the House ;
end, permit me to add, in the present extraordinary state
of the Government, to the country also, on the subject c f
'his conversation. I should, perhaps, have done so after
ny Hon. Friend (Sir F. Burdett), the Member for West-
minster, had spoken, in order to prevent some sentiments
iLe uttered from being misunderstood—(Hear, hear !)••--but
,aving waited to hear, as I did with some surptire, the
,peech of the Hog. Baronet (Sir T. Lethbridge), the
Slember for Somersetehire, and still more that of the late
Under Secretary of State for the Horne Department (Mr.
3. Dawson), which I heard with increased astonishment,
can no longer defer for an instant the performance not
tnly of the duty I owe to myself as an humble individual
n this House, but of the duty which I owe to those friends
vith whom it hue been, and still continues to be, my pride
old pleasure to act since my first entrance into Parliament.
Hear.)—The Hon.. Gentleman who last addressed the
louse made an appeal personal to istysen in an ,espe-
ial degree. lie was considering the state of the !new
administration, as he is pleased to term it, and the prinei-
des that have presided in the reconstruction of the Mini-
•try, and he discovered, it seems, especially after the
peech of my Honourable Friend, the Member for West-
ninster, that there can have been no earthly motive' for
.he change of position which we have assumed, except the
lesire we must have to participate—l do not know
vhether he said in the emoluments of office ; but Übe did
not say it, more sordid natures would understand him to
.nean it—at all events in the patronage and power of the
light Honourable Gentleman' below me (Mr. Canning.)
fo whomsoever that observation may be intended to ap-
ply, be it a sober theory of the Honourable Gentleman's,
:blinded on a reason, according to his mode of reasoning—
:a laugh)—or a sarcasm, the first birth of wit in an ex-
pfficer of the Crown, less accustomed heretofore to in-
bilge in sneers than in silent votes—(order, order)—
here are, it appears, same Gentlemen whose ideas of
ustice would he well satisfied to hear the charge, but
rho refuse to listen td., the defence.—(Cheers.)—What•
ver may be my difference or agreement with the go-
vernment of the Right Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Can-
ting), of which I am disposed to augur favourably, I
'rust at any rate that his government will not be con-
hided in this -House on principles that would sanction so
;rievous a departure from the justice due to every indi-
lual—(Cheers.)—l say, then, that to whatever Member
.sr part of the House the observation of the Honourable
Gentleman (Mr. Dawson) may apply, to me, in my
-situation, application it can have none.—(Cheers.)—l
-lever dreamed of taking office under the present arrange-
neut. lam much more certainly and inevitably out of
dice, and out of office ant more likely to continue, than
he Honour: hle Gentleman himself.—(A laugh.)—But
tecause I support this Government, though Igo no further,
I ant to be charged with having acceded to an unnatural
,oalition lamto be told, there has been a monstrous
and unnatural alliance formed between the Right Honour-
tblc Gentleman below me and those friends with whom
have had, and still have, the happiness and honour of
meting. The House has heard that we joined the Govern-
ment, though we are composed of men holding various
;trinciples and opposite doctrines, having different feelings
is to individuals, and hostile sentiments as to the sum
if affairs. No doubt, Sir, this charge is true, because we
;or years have condemned every measure of the foreign
policy of the Right Honourable Gentleman—(hear,)—be-
cause since the death of the late Marquis of Londonderry,
we have been disposed against his will to rivet fast to the
wheels of the Holy Allies the triumphant chariot of the
i3ritishfortunes.—(Cheers.)-s—An unnatural coalition to be
one, with the Board of Trade, because we have always
been enemies to a liberal commercial policy--(hear, hear,)
because I never gave utterance to those principles long be-
fore they were found acceptable to those who, by their ta-
lents, and official weight and importance, were infinitely
better qualified to promote • them.—(Cheers.)—An unna-
tural coalition, undoubtedly, because we have constantly
differed from the Right Hon. Gentleman as to the internal
policy of the Empire ; because we, forsooth, have ever dis-
puted with him as to that great corner stone, the mode
fitting to be adopted for the Government of our sister king-
dom of Ireland.—(Cheers.)--Look over all the great pit-
, litieel questions that divide some men, and approximate
others at the present day. Travel with your eyes over the
affairs of Europe, or across the Atlantac, and see the dawn
of liberty in South America, where millions are blessing
the grateful light, while the hearts of millions in this
country are beating in unison with theirs, yet rejoicing in
their new-born freedom.—(Cheers.)—Whether we look, I
say, to America, or to the East ofEurope, or the policy of our
East India possessions, or our domestic policy, or the queS-
dons of trade, or the agricultural interests of the country, the
last subject on which I gave the feeble aid' of my voice and
support to Government, though the late- Under Secretary
was then silently voting on the same side-4A laugh)--
su7eying all those great questions which divide men in
their opinions, and animate conflicting parties and rival
Statesmen, I can conscientiously &dare, that passing them
all in review, I cannot discern one: single tenet or sentiment
nay, one solitary feeling, which; practically speaking, hes
influenced the Councils of his Majesty's Government during
the last three or four years gone by, and which did not find
in my opinions a firm support, and in my feelings a faith-
ful echo.—(Cheers). There was, indeed, one point in
those days in which I differed from the Right Hon. Gentle-
man. As to one question, one practical view of the state
of affairs, I could not coincide with him. When I saw a
Cabinet formed of Statesmen appearing outwardly to a:t
together, but whose opinions on the greatest question of
all not merely discorded, but differed widely as the Poles
asunder ; when I saw time opinions of one Secretary of
State, as evidenced by his votes and speeches, opposed by
another Secretaryof State ; when I saw the Government in
such a state as the late Secretary (Mr. Peel) has manfully
and honourably to himself and satisfactorily to this House
and the Country, and I will add -feelingly, described—a
state in which he found himself chiefly, as he was if not
singly opposed to his Right Hon. Friend (Mr. Canning)
so painfully situated that he had almost resolved to retire a
year or two ago from his Majesty's service; when the Go-
vernment wits in this state I could not give it a more re-
gular, constant, and, therefore, valuable support. I wee
prevented from doing so, barred out from the very attempt
because I could not lend my assistance to a Government so
constituted as to command respect from no thinking man,
and in which, from its very construction, it Was utterly inta
possible the interests of the pubiie service could be eon-
sulted.—(Cheers.)—This impediment has been removed
by the retirement from office of those who were the.
.principal elements of .this . opposition in the King's
Counsels. I wish to speak with unfeigned respect of
the Noble Lords and Right Hon. Gentlemen who have