The Sun.
London, England, 1829-03-04 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-(LAST NIGHT.)

At Four o'clock there WAS a ballot for au Election Com-
mittee, to try the merits of a petition complaining of the
return of Daniel O'Connell, Esq., as Member of Parlia-
ment for the county of Clare.
Mr. Secretary Pete. took the oaths and his seat for the
Borough of Westbury.
Mr. TRANT presented a petition from the inhabitants
of Dover against any further concessions to the Catholics.
Lord NUGENT said, that the petition did not repre-
sent the feelings of the majority of the inhabitants of
Dever.

Mr THOMPSON said, that the petition was got up at
a private and not at a public meeting. He had himself a
petition to present from Dover, which would give a very
different view of the feelings of the people of that pLice.
Lord NuGENT and Mr. LUNT mutually explained.
CLARE ELECTION.

The Members who were ballotted for to decide upon
the validity of the election for the county of Clare were
called to the table to be sworn. The following are the names
of the Members of the Committee :—John Easthope, Esq.,
Sir George Robinson, Bart., It. H. Clive, Esq., James
Brougham, Esq., E. B. Clive, Esq., Joins Steward, Esq.,
Hon. F. Liddell, T. P. Courtenay, Esq., It. C. Carew,
Esq., James Lott, Esq., and Lord William Russell.
Mr. POWLETT THO3IPSON presented a petition
from the port of Devon in favour of Catholic Emancipa-
tion, and another petition of a similar nature from a con-
gregation of Protestant Dissenters in the same place.
Mr. F. WILSON presented sixteen petitions from places
in the county of York against any further concessions to
the Roman Cathidics,

Sir JOHN NICHOLL presented a petition from !
the Archdeacon and Clergy of Middlesex against Catholic
EMancipation, and a si n lilac one from the Archdeacon
and Clergy of London.
Mr. BROWNLOW—I have, Sir, the honour to pre-
sent to the House the most extraordinary petition that
ever came under its notice, and one to which the peti-
tioners look forward with much anxiety. It is known,
Sir, in Ireland by the name of the " Low Country
Petition," and I feel most honoured that it should
have been entrusted to my care.—(Hear, hear.)—This
most extraordinary petition comes from Ireland, and
asks for Emancipation ; I can say it is the almost general
prayer—l might say, national prayer of that country, that
this measure should be carried.—(Hear, hear.) If the
number and respectability of the signatures to a petition
entitle it to credit, then I say, without fear of contradic-
tion, that this is almost without a parallel.—(Hear, hear.)
It was agreed to at a great national meeting, it was
not a Catholic, nor Brunswick Meeting, it was not called
under the influence of any party, but Catholics and Pro-
testants joined heart and hand, and determined to forget
all differences of religious creeds, for the general good.—
(Hear, hear.)—l say, Sir, they were determined to forget
those little differences which had so long kept them asun-
der and distracted the country, and to unite in repre-
senting to this House the real state of that un-
happy country.—'Hear, hear, hear.).—They have done so,
and the petition I now hold sets forth that statement, and
that it is the opinion of the petitioners that no rerretiy can
be found except in granting emancipation. (Hear.) Who,
Sir, can doubt but the present state of the laws are most
grievous to the Roman Catholics; they not only degrade
that body, but :ire highly injurious to all other classes.
It was injustice to call this a Catholic question ; Protestants
were deeply interested in it. The Protestants of Ireland were
in that state that something. 'oust he done; discord and
confusion had got to that height, that unless the Ilonse in-
terfered ruin was the inevitable consequence. The House
would recollect the meeting at which this petition origi-
nated was held at the Rotondo, in Dublin, convened by
public advertisement. At that meeting a declaration of the
public opinion it was determined upon should be presented
to his Majesty, which had been done, and I am happy
the recommendation in his Majesty's Speech afforded
good an answer.—(Hear, hear.) lam surprised.; Sly, to,
hear Hon. Members getting up, night aft;;;; night, and
stating that the Protestants of Ireland are averse to
emancipation ; there are some Oa; ace, no duuht, but the
very great majority are deei4r4y in favour of the urea--
sure.—(Hear, !way.) This petition, Sir, contains the de-
claratie4 of Jreland on that subject, and speaks louder than
any thing I can say,—it contains, Sir, the signatures of
two Dukes, seven Marquesses, twenty-eight Earls,
Viscounts, twenty-three Barons, one Count, twenty two
Baronets, thirty-six other Members of -..'arliatnent, and
upwards of two thous:mil Gent men, all possessed o
large estates in Ireland... Hi-tear, hear, hear.)—,O,f all
the petitions that Were ev4r presente4, this, Sir, fir
exceeds them in importance. It, Wc4i signed by persons
deeply interested in the welfare of Ireland.—(Hear.)--
To Show, continued the Hon. Gentleman, to what extent
party has 4eemi carried in that unhappy' country, I Cell
state that at an election during the last Session, the only
distinction by which the candidates were sworn ~vin
those of Catholic candidate and Protestant caotiilates.
Every Member who had listened to the mllm,eet.:l-1 of a Right
Hon. Member at the beginn;nz okhis Session of Parliament
must be convinevd o the divided state of that unhappy
conrlt-ry. The Hon. Member thou moved that time petition
be brought up.
Mr. HUSKISSON said, that considering- the rbartlettT
of time petition now before the House, and the high rank,
great wealth, arid powerful influeoco of those by whom it
Was signed, lie thought the Don. Member who presented

it Was called on to enter more fully into it, subject than an
ordinary
petition tvould require; and to direct to it the par-