The Sun.
London, England, 1842-06-28 00:00:00

before in a Committee of the House of Commons. When
these persons were asked how it happened that they had
stated things before the House of Commons which they
"contradicted afterwards upon oath, their answer was,
that before the House of Commons they were not upon
oath.—(Hear. hear.) He believed, to all religious men,
the sanctity of an oath was of the most solemn nature,
and that it was generally observed. He had a great re-
sefur t
mustyery• excellentsay, that the Quakers ;
t: ts
till he
examined in a Court of Justice, he found none so diffi-
class
of all of
the men,
witnesses he ever
cuit to fence with as Quakers— (Hear and a laugh)—so
difficult, indeed, that he often was led to think that it
was part of their religion never to give a direct answer.
—(Hear, and a laugh.) He did not mean to say any-
thing to disparage the Quakers.—(" Hear, hear,' from
Lord Denman and a laugh.) Well, if his Noble and
Learned Friend wished him (Lord Abinger) to be more
explicit, he would say, that with the experience which
he now possessed, he would not have supported the law
which gate that sect their present exemption from
taking oaths, and he certainly would not vote for the exe
tension of that privilege any further.
Lord BROUGHAM was sorry to find that his Noble
and Learned Friend had, but he hoped inadvertently,
cast a grave imputation on the Quakers, He (L4d
Brougham) had known them long, and he would venture
to say that no sect paid more regard to truth, or had
ti
greater abhorrence of violating an affirmation. He
thought the Noble and Learned Lord had mistaken their
great respect for their affirmation for their taking nice
distinctions, when, in fact, they were as solemnly con.
vineed of the sanctity of that affirmation, as others were
of t:te sanctity of an oath.—(Hear, hear.) With respect
to the Bill, the man as completely violated his con-
scienee by violating the affirmation he had to take under
.this Bill, as he would in violating an oath. With respect
to the term "sect," would not any conscientious difference
on religious points entitle the person to be termed a
sectarian ? It was not on account of the opinions upon
religion, held by the Quakers, that they were
relieved from taking an oath, but on their eon-
sciencious objection to do so. It did not mat-
ter what the man's belief was with respect to religion,
provided he conceived that it was criminal to take an
oath. Was he not, with respect to this question, upon
the same footing as the Quaker, Moravian,. or separatist,
who were relieved, not on account of their religious be-
lief, but from their conscientious objection to taking an
oath ? He would suggest to his Noble and Learned
Friend whether it would not be advisable to refer the
Bill to a Committee before whom evidence might be taken
on the subject, and an inquiry entered into, He (Lord
Brougham) had no doubt but that the result of tlee
investigation would be to show the necessity for
such a measure as had been introduced by his
Noble and Learned Friend. He believed that it would
also appear, after inquiry, that a greater number of per..
sons than many supposed, shared in the objection to the
taking of oaths.
The Bishop of LONDON would make a suggestion
differing somewhat front that of the Noble and Learned
Lord who had just addressed the House. He would propose that the subject, and not the Bill merely, .should
be referred to a Committee of the House.
Lord PENMAN said, that after what had fallen from
the Right Reverend Prelate, and others of their -7- ree.
ships, ho could have no objection to have the whole wee-
ject referred to a Committee cf their Lordship` Ucusp,
But, at the same time, he should say that hie conviction
as to the necessity of such a measure as 1w lead intro.
duced was in no way changed. With respect to the state-
meat of his Noble and Learned Friend (Lord ..A.hinger) as
to the manner in which Quakers gave their evidence, he
legged leave to say that from that staternenthe entirely
differed. For his part, so far from thinking that.
Quakers seemed to fence in giving their evidence, he hud
always found that they delivered itewith more than usual
sincerity, and he had been repeatedly struck by the care
and the solemnity which they maLifested. He believed
that the men who came conscientiously forward and said.
that they could not take an oath without violating, what.
they believed to be the law of God, would be as faithful
witnesses as the most obsequious followers of any sect.
The LORD CHANCELLOR recommended to the
House to adopt the suggestion of the Rev. Prelate (the
Bishop of London). and refer to a Committee the whole:
question of the Administration of Oaths, not only int
Courts of Justice, but elsewhere.
After a short conversation, Lord DENMAN witinkele
the Bill, and

The Bishop of LONDON gave notice that he would,
to-morrow, make a motion on the subject.
The Drainage of Lands Bill (Ireland), the Slave Trade-
Treaties Bill, and other Bills on the table, were advanced:
a stage.
The LORD CHANCELLOR brought in a Bill to ex-
tend to Ireland certain provisions of the Limitation of
Actions Bill.
Their Lordships then adjourned at Half-past Sean
o'Clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, June 27.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'Clock.
A Messenger from the Batik of England app eared at
he bar, with a return furnished by the Bank, itmording
:o an order of the House.

DUKE OF ARGYLL'S ESTATE BILL.
The l)uke of Argyll's Estate Bill was revaied,
The Reports on Lesbaizeille's NaturpAhation BA and Rottma's Naturalization Bill were ttl3o received. GOVERNM T' EN OF N.F.7rFOUNDLAND. i'.
Mr. WALLACE preseut':a a petition froth New fogad-
lat.d, against the Bill ur,tr before the House for tha better
re,. utation of the government of that colony.
~
POOR-LAWS.
Mr. f•iCIIOI..EFIELD presented rictitions front the
t,:wii of ghats, in favour Qr
Local .ul continuance of the
Acts of that tuts t J
or th.t management of the poor..
An Hox. MotnEit 011 etie Ministerial side presented n petition from foiriteen parishes in the Montgomery and
Pool district, in favour of the Local Acts for the manage-
ment of the poor.
13111.0YMENT IN COLLIERIES.
Alr. B, -B. DENISON presented a petition from..a
place in Yorkshire, in favour of Lord Ashley's Bill for
I regulating the employment of children in collieries.
POOR-LAWS.
Mr. I-ERRAND presented a petition front the rate-
payers of the township of Wighill, in Yorkshire, h :Oily
approving of the constitution and working of the unions
formed under the Gilbert Act, and against the •flinciple.
of the Poor-law Bill, which takes away the cowrol of the
local guardians. The lion. Member also presented a
petition from John Brampton, and Betty-, his wife,
claiming redress of the House for cruelty practised to-
wards them by the ComPlissioners of Somerset House,.
by whom they had bee discharged front their situations,
of Master and Matron of the Huddersfield workhouse.
The Hon. Member Concluded by givino, notice• that he
would to-morrow move that the petition be printed with
the Votes, as,it was his intention to call the attention of
the House to the subject of the petition, when the Hon.
Member for Finsbury brought forward his motion for
the postponement of the first clause of the New Poor-
law Bill.

Mr. STUART WORTLEY presented several pe.et-
Lions from miners and others of Dewsbury, and ot.ner
places in Yorkshire, against the passing of any A% for
regulating the employment of women and children in
mines.

Lord ASHLEY presented two petitions—one from
Woolwich, and the other from the calico manufac-
turers ot Manchester—in favour ot a Bill for regulating,.
the hours of labour in factories.
The NOBLE LORD presented petitions also from Hide
and female workers in coal mines, employed in the
neighbourhood of Wakefield, in favour of the Bill for re-
gulating the employment of females and children in
mines.

BUILDINGS REGULATION BILL.
The Report of the Committee on this Bill was brought
up and laid on the table.
ATHLONE ELECTION.
The SPEAKER informed the House that the sureties
of Patrick Kelly and other petitioners, complaining (X an
undue election for the borough of Athlone were unex-
ceptionable,