The Sun.
London, England, 1845-02-18 00:00:00

CATHOLICS.

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Lord BEAUMONT rose to put a question to the
Noble and Learned Lord on the Woolsack, on the
subject of the penal laws which still affected the
Roman Catholics. He was of opinion that the
time had arrived when all Acts which involved pains
and penalties for religion's sake ought to be re-
pealed. The Roman Catholics did not expect that
those Acts which only imposed disabilities as safe-
guards to the Established Church would be dealt
with. Again, with regard to one Act he begged to
make particular allusion, and that was the 13th of
Elizabeth, chap. 2. He had been told by the Noble
and Learned Lord on the Woolsack, that this Act
had been repealed by a subsequent Act. It appeared
that a portion of this Act had been repealed by the
Customs Duties Consolidation Act.—(Laughter.)
Any person introducing an Agnus Dei, or beads, or
anything of that sort, was, before the passing of the
Customs Consolidation Act, liable to penalties. At
present those articles could be introduced at two per
cent. ad valorem. But any person at present re-
ceiving from the Court of Rome a letter or document,
even though it should inculcate abstinence from agi-
tation, or call upon the priests to abstain from inter-
ference with politics—or any person receiving a re-
script of that letter or document, and publishing it,
was held guilty of high treason by the 13th of Eliza-
beth. He thought that while the law stood in this
position a change was required.
The LORD CHANCELLOR—In the first place
he begged leave to remind their Lordships that in the
last session of Parliament he stated that he intended
to extend the law reforms which he then commenced.
He had referred the subject to the Common-law Com-
missioners, and they were now considering the whole
matter. He had recommended her Majesty to add to
the Commission the names of Sir Edward Ryan, Mr.
Amos, and Mr. Richards ; and, founded upon the re-
port of the Commissioners, a draft Bill would be pre-
pared, which he should submit to their Lordships at
the earliest opportunity.
Their Lordships then adjourned.

ROUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 17.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at the usual hour.
Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT, the new Secretary-at-War,
took the oaths and his seat for South Wiltshire.
THE MALT-TAX.

Mr. TUITE presented thirteen petitions, praying
for the repeal of the malt-tax.
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.
Mr. BROADLEY presented petitions from places
in Yorkshire, praying for the repeal of the Act of the
7th and Bth Victoria, doing away with imprisonment
for debt in certain cases.
THE MEDICAL REFORM BILL.

Sir J. TROLLOPE presented petitions, signed
by all the respectable medical practitioners in the
towns of Spalding and Holbeach, in Lincolnshire,
against the Medical Reform Bill, and praying
the House to afford them that adequate protection to
which they were entitled from the time and expense
required for their education.
THE CALEDONIAN RAILWAY.

Mr. HOPE JOHNSTONE presented petitions
from various places (one of them signed by 500 of
the leading firms in Glasgow), in favour of the Cale-
donian Railway Bill.
PAPER- STAIN E RS.

Mr. MACAULAY presented a petition from a
large body of paper-stainers, complaining of the pre-
sent state of the law with regard to the manufacture
of paper and the importation of foreign ornamental
paper.
CURRENCY.

The HON. MEMBER also presented two petitions
against any alteration in the currency of Scotland.
CHARITABLE BEQUESTS ACT.
Sergeant MURPHY presented a petition from the
inhabitants of the city of Cork, adopted at a large
meeting, and signed by several thousands, praying for
the repeal of the Charitable Bequests Act.
POST-OFFICE ESPIONAGE.

Mr. T. DUNCOMBE presented a petition from
Capt. Stalbey and another, complaining of the unsa-
Vl3lli4tory state of the report of the Secret Committee
appointed last year to inquire into this subject. These
two gentlemen had had their letters opened ; and, in
the event of the House appointing another Committee
to inquire further into the matter, they prayed the
House to allow them to be heard before that Com-
mittee, inasmuch as imputations had been cast upon
them in the former Committee, and no opportunity
had been afforded them for vindicating their cha-
racters. The Hon. Member intimated that to-morrow
he would move that this petition be printed with the
Votes at the same time that, according to notice, he
would bring under the consideration of the House
the unsatisfactory and evasive character of the report
made by the late Secret Committee.
• The HoN. MEMBER also moved that the petition
of Mr. Joseph Mazzini, presented on the 14th inst.,
be printed with the vot is.
THE NAVY ESTIMATES.
Mr. CORRIE laid on the table the navy estimates,
which were ordered to be printed.
MEDICAL REFORM.

Mr. KELLY presented a petition, numerously
Piped, from most respectable gentlemen of the medi-
cal profession, against the Medical Reform Bill, and
praying that the House would not pass it into a law
• without material amendments.
xiEWSPAI INCREASE OF THE NAVY.
MTAFFORD O'BRIEN presented a petition
AttzeWellinborough, in the county of Northampton,
Est preparations for war, and praying that the

House would not consent to an increase of the navy.
SALE OF LIQUORS ON SUNDAY.
Mr. BRIGHT presented petitions fron Carnarvon,
and other places, against the sale of liquors on the
Sabbath.