Star.
London, England, 1824-06-19 00:00:00

PETITION OF THE REV. ROBEIII"TAYLOR.

Mr. HU AI E presented a Petition from the Rev. Robert Taylor,
Secretary to tke Irish Benevolent Society in Dublin, praying that
he might be permitted to open a Chapel for the Worship of Coo
without reference to any doctrines of antiquity The Petitioner
stated that he was regularly ordained as a Clergyman of the Esta-
blished Church at one of the Universities. The Honourable Mem-
ber lamented that the recent prosecutions for selling certain works
which were said to be blasphemous, should have occurred, and be
was sorry to observe that the Recorder of London had sentenced
different individuals who were guilty of precisely the same offence
'selling Prtine's ..4te of Itt.ason, he believed) to different punishments.
One man, he understood, was sentenced for this offence to six
months, and another to three ye at. 4 imprisonment. If the Judges
were to imitate this conduct of the Recorder, the whole Bench
would be brought into contempt thereby.
Mr. C. W. WYNN lamented that the I honourable Member had
not brought forward the Petition when sonic of the Law Officers
of the Crown were in the !louse, or when his Right lion. Friend
the Secretary of State for the Home Department was present.
The Honourable Gentleman had not stated in what way the Pea-
ltioner's views differed fram other Dissenters, or whether his case
was not already protected by laws. It was worth while for the
llouourable Member to inquire, whether the Petitioner might not
have a license granted him now, without having recourse to the
House in support of his prayer ?
Mr. MONCK was of opinion, that the sooner those prosecutions
which had been alluded to by his Honourable Friend (Mr. Hume)
were done away with the better. Amines could be more dis-
graceful, in his opinion, than those wretched attempts to put down
opinions by force of law, instead of endeavouring to conquer thvin
by argument and persuasion.
Mr. HUME said, that the Petitioner did open a Chapel, in Dub-
lin, for his congregation ; but in consequence of the proceedings of
the mob he was compelled to close it again. With respect to an
observation made by the Right Honourable Gentleman opposite
(Mr. C. W. Wynn) as regarded the laws applicable to licensing
places of worship, he (Mr. Hume) understood that the Petitioner
could not obtain a license to preach under those !AWL—The Peti-
tion was then ordered to be printed.

CAPE BRETON, NOVA SCOTIA.
Mr. lIIJME said, be held hi his hand another Petition, of consi-
derable importance to the inhabitants of Cape Breton. The Peti-
tion had been delayed by an accident; baying left Cape Breton in
November last, it ought to have reached him in February. The
Petition was of considerable importance, involving no less a ques-
tion than this, viz. Whether his .Nlajesty, by an Order in Council,
should have the right of depriving the Colenies of their laws?—
The petitioners stated, that they had always considered themselves
in the
Possession of the right of enjoying the privileges of the laws
of their country; but that they were now deprived of them, being
subject to
those of Nova Scotia. This statement, said the Honour-
able Member, was strengthened by the documents, which had been
examined, and which were before the House. He conceived the
very act of Liking from one Colony it. independence and annexing