Star.
London, England, 1813-05-20 00:00:00

ROMAN CATHOLICS.

On the motion of Mr. GRATTAN, the House resol-
ved itself into a Committee on the Roman Catholic
Relief Bill.

Mr. CA NNING, in bringing up some new clauses
which were not read, obsery ed, that in them he had
endeavoured to combine and meet the views of most
of those whit whom he had communication on this
most important subject; and he bad been particularly
anxious io avail himself of the suggestions of a Noble
Lord (Castlereagh), and he hoped he had been suc-
cessful. He trusted, that he had now succeeded in
arranging effectual securities, not only for the Pro-
testant, but also fi r Catholic freedom--(hear.) He
should not now detain the Committee for the purpose
of explaining his clauses, except it was desired; but
he would wait, as had been previously arranged, un-
til the whole had been printed, and had regularly
come to the hands of every Member—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. PLUNKETT observed, that in the present
state of the Bill, he should not occupy much of their
time in expressing his complete approbation of all
that was now before them ; but if the Committee
would pardon him, he would trespass on them for
one moment more, as this might be the last opportu-
nity he should have of addressing them on the pre.
' sent subject, as he was about to absent himself from
this part of the kingdom for some time--(hear.) He
had paid the greatest attention to the clauses pro-
posed by the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Canning),
as well as to the labour of the Right Hon. Gentle-
' man (Mr. Grattan). He was happy to say, that the
entire of the clauses, as they now stood, had his most
'cordial approbation—(hear.) More he would not
I say on the present occasion, but he was rejoiced to
see that the Right Hon. Gentleman had succeeded so
well in the accomplishment of the two great objects
of the measure—security to the principles and estab-
lishments of the Protestant, and also to the free exer-
cise of the opinion of the Catholic, at the same time
that he was admitted to participate in the benefits of
the Constitution. It was his opinion that those ob-
jects had been most clearly and satisfactorily accom-
plished by the Bill in its present state ; that such se-
curities had been proposed as ought to satisfy even
the most jealous of the Protestants, as well as the
most inimical amongst the Catholics. In thus briefly
stating his cordial approbation of the whole of the
clauses, he could not sit down without expressing his
hope, though he might not be present in his place to
support the Bill, that he might not be useless-in pro.
moting,its objects, and in more clearly explaining its
'views, in the country to which he was going (Loud
' cries of Bear, hear.)
Lord CASTLEREAGH expressed his concern
at the intended departure of the Hon. Member who
had just spoke ; but he drew some consolation from
that circumstance, as it was to be hoped that he (Mr.
Plunkett) would remove those false impressions which
had been Made on the minds of SQIIIC men in Ireland
respecting the nature of the Bill—(Hear!) Now that
he was on his legs, he could not but bear testimony
to the success which had attended the Right Hon.
Member's (Mr. Canning's) endeavours to meet his
(Lord Castlereagh's) views in the clauses which had
jiist been presented ; and he hoped, in the course of
the progress of the gill, that he should be able to
give his cordial support to the Bill ; at present it had
his concurrence—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. LOCKHART thought, that further time
ought to be given for the consideration of the new
clauses, as they would not be printed for two or
three days, and on'Monclay they were to be discussed.
He wished for further time, not only on account of
the Members of that House, but also on account of
the people of England. He disliked precipitation on
a subject of so much importance.
Mr. CANNING had no objection to go into a
toll eiplanation 'of all his views in proposing the
clauses, if the Committee wished him to do so at the
resent Foment (No; ere!) but he head deemed i; to

be understood, that nothing should be said this night
that could call fgrth any thing like debate, (Hear,
hear,) that the clauses should be proposed, pro forma,
for the purpose of having them printed, which would
be done in twenty-four hours, and therefore he had
abstained from any thing like remark or explanation.
But at present, he really thought they were not in a
state to go•into that explanation (Hear); and as there
were only shades of difference between many of the
friends of the Bill, imperfect statements might have
an injurious effect, and which could only be avoided
by waiting till the clauses were printed, and in the
hands of every Member. The time occupied by the
printing would be very short; but he was ready to
give full explanation now, if required.—(No, no!)
Lord CASTLEREAGH thought, that on so deli-
cate a subject, explanation, at the present moment,
was very unadvisable ; that it would be much better
to wait till the clauses should be printed—chear.)
Mr. RYDER differed from his Noble Friend—he
thought some,explanation of the clauses ought to be
given, before the House came to the discussion of
them. They had just received clauses which would
not be printed, perhaps, before Saturday—and on
Monday they were to be discussed. The subject was
one of delicacy—but ought it therefore to be so pre-
cipitated ?—The clauses might be of great length ;
and they ought first to be printed, then to be ex-
plained after they were in the hands of the Members,
and further time ought to be given for the discussion
of them. He could not but express his regret at the
intended departure of an Hon. Member. opposite
(Mr. Plunkett), though, possibly, he (Mr. Ryder),
might have reason to dread his talents; yet he could
not but regret that the House would not have the
benefit of his talents in' the further discussions that
might take place on the Bill--:-( Hear, hear).—Though
* that Hon. Member had expressed his cordial appro-
bation of the entire of the clauses, he (Mr. Ryder)
still retained the opinion which he had already ex-
pressed against the principle of the Bill ; and he had
little hope that any thing would be adduced which
could induce him, in the future opportunities which
he should have of expressing his sentiments, of alter-
ing the opinion which he had already given.
Mr. CANNING stated, that the clauses would
be ready for every Member long before Saturday—
that they would be printed by to-morrow evening at
latest ; and therefore the complaints that had been
made were not well-founded. Ht, however, could
not but express his hope, as well as his firm belief,
that the endeavours of the Right Hon. Gentleman
to disparage the Bill would be futile, especially as
the attempts had been made in a somewhat irregular
manner, at a moment when it was understood on all
sides that nothing should be said this night that could
call forth any thing like debate.
The clauses were passed, as having been read a
first time, after which the House resumed, when
Mr. ABERCROMBIE, the Chairman, obtained leave to
sit again on Monday next.—The clauses were order-
!
ed to be printed.—Adjourned.
•