Star.
London, England, 1824-02-07 00:00:00

AFFAIRS OF SPAIN.

Lord NUGENT said he had been anxious to discover,
by more authentic means than those ss hich had fallen
in his way hitherto, how far the Government of this
country had abided by the neutrality pointed out as the
rule of policy which became this country last year,
by the Right Honourable Secretary. He had it in con-
templation to make a motion to extract such informa-
tion on this subject as it was in the power of the Right
Honourable Secretary to afford. He now si isised to
!mow if he had any intention to lay before the House

the instructions sent by our Govetßniont tQ,ir William
A'Court, from the period of the efitranefof the French
troops, in April last, up to the timeof the King of Spain's
departure from Cadiz; and irlso copies of the commu-
nications made by Sir Willi* tot our.Goveriment in
the meantime ?
Mr. Secretary CANNING said that he had no such
intention ; and added, that the answer he should give to
any such application, if made to him by the Noble Lord,
would entirely depend on the case made out by that
Noble Lord, whenever he made such a motion.
Lord NUGENT then said, he should give notice be-
fore be left the House of a motion relative to the con-
duct of his Majesty's Ministers in preserving a strict line
of neutrality between the belligerents in the late war
in Spain. He would examine the Journals to see what
day was open or convenient for such a notice.
BURIAL OF IRISH CATHOLICS.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT moved for copies of all com-
munications which had been made by official persons
to Clergymen, sextons, and others, relative to the burial
of Catholics or Dissenters in public burial -grounds
in Ireland.

Mr. GOULBURN said he was very unwilling to
withhold anything like elucidation on the subject, but
he fel: this was one of great delicacy and irritation, and
thought these disclosures likely to produce or keep alive
bad feeling and serious inconvenience. Ile had heard
it was the intention of the Honourable Baronet to move
for the repeal of the well-known Statute of William
relative to burials in Ireland, a subject on which these
papers, if produced, would throw no light whatever.—
Ile hoped that with respect to the cases on which this
appiication was grounded, enough had been done in the
spit it of conciliation to settle the question, and hence he
thought it would be extremely unadvisable to re-agitate
the go►estion to a division, as he telt he must, from con-
scientious and prudential motives, oppose the production
of these communications.

Sir J. NEWPORT said it now became his duty to
press this question to a division. He contended that an
attempt had been made to rob the people of a certain
denomination of the right of burial-C" No, far from it,"
said Mr. Goulburn3.—lie would repeat his words ; it
was an attempt to rob them of the right of burial ac-
cording to the rites of their religion. It was high time
the subject should be discussed and settled in that House.
He would ask, why had the Episcopacy by its inter-
ference, thrown this firebrand among the Irish Catho-
lics? If the subject were delicate and dangerous, on
their heads he it. He should certainly divide the House.
Mr. GRATTAN thought as these papers were likely
to be the cause of a debate and division, that it would
be most expedient to give a few days notice of the Mu-
tion, and postpone it for the present. He regretted that
a distinguished person should have thought proper to
begin his high office by insulting a large majority of the
Irish people. If the rule continued to be acted upon,
the consequence would be, that every funeral would
prove the cause of a regular fight.
Mr.ABERCROMBY thought the knowledge of these
official circumstances was essential to enable them to
settle the question.
Mr. PEEL believed that in this case there was a pos-
sibility of deciding the case of the papers now moved
for without prejudice to the feelings of the parties
most interested in settling the question as to the right
of burial by Catholics aid Dissenters. There were two
motions contemplated by the Honourable Baronet ; the
papers were one, the repeal of the Act of William 111.
was the other. Would it not be best to separate them ?
What had occurred even this evening shewed they were
not likely to come to the general question without being
too sensibly impressed With its delicacy. Whilst the
question stood as it did, would it be prudent in the Irish
Secretary to assent to the production of information
containing inflated mistatements on a subject of such
an irritable nature ? It was clear from what had oc-
curred in the parishes, that a great deal of parochial ill
will at least had arisen. From these reasons he felt he
must support his Right Honourable Friend, and oppose
the motion.

Mr. CALCRAFT thought it was not enough the
House should be assured that the question had been
set at rest. It was high time the question should be set
at rest by a legislative enactment, so as to prevent such
an occurrence in future. He hoped his Right Hon.
Friend would press tht: question, and shew the Irish
people what sort of a Government they had gotten,
and how ready it was, by every timely concession, to
extinguish opposition and animosity. Strange it was,
that living in the present age, the Government of Ire-
land should endeavour to prevent a degraded sect from
the privilege of burying each other. He defied the
Right Honourable Gentleman to shew an equal instance
of human folly in any Government in the world.
The House then divided—Ayes, 39—Noes, 56—Majority, 17.--
The motion was lost.