Star.
London, England, 1823-04-22 00:00:00

IRISH CHURCH RATES BILL.

Mr. GOULBURN moved the second reading of
the Irish Church Rates Bill.
Sir J. NEWPORT stated his intention to have the
Bill wholly discussed oft its going into the Commit-
tee, as he thought pasts of it extremely objectionable.
Mr. GOULBURN assured the House that this,
Bill did sot extend the powers of the Ecclesiastical
Courts. They would remain precisely in the same
situation, whether this Bill were passed or not.
Mr. HUME contended that the principles on which

Ecclesiastical Courts prOt eeded were totally inconsis-
tent with the prinsiples..ofjustite, . He thought that
These 're' tes ,tythres• were an enormous
frrritalltr the le, upon the great majority
.6f vriooin they ere peculiarly oppressive, would
rot y'them much longer, but effect the cure
themselves by iesisting.the payment. He hoped they
woulirdo. what•ivas • necessary to 'attain this object.
Supposing the fact to be according to thicalcula-
tion of the Hon. Member for Kerry, that the test-
ant population, at present one-fifth of the agftate
population, should soon be reduced really to a hun-
dred-and-fifth part, could it be supposed that the,
great Roman Catholic majority which must then re-
main, would consent to contribute these enormous
sums to the support of the Protestant Clergy ? He
hoped they would never bear it—(Rear, hear); but
see rather what physical force would do for them
(Hear). The Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. V. Fitz-
gerald) cried 66 hear, heir," and seemed alarmed at
this expression; but he (Mr. Hume) repeated ii ; for it
was his firm conviction that if these things were per-
sisted in, matters must come to that extremity at last.
Mr. V. FITZGERALD protested against the use
of such language as the Hon. Gentleman had held in
expressing a hope that the Irish people might oppose,
to the demands made on them for the support of the
established Clergy, physical force (Hear). This
doctrine was as calculated to inflame the minds of
that people, as it was unbecoming any Member of
Parliament to use in that House—(Hear).
Mr. HUME had expressedmo opinion in regard to
this particular question which he had not expressed
before, and which he would not express again, and
within even the walls of that House. It might be said
that he was wrong, nr that the Right Honourable
Gentleman was right; but ~nch was his (Nlr: Hume's)
sincere opinion. The Right Hon. urable Gentleman
had very materially altered Iris own opinions cm these
matters within the short space of twelve months, for
he was now found supporting Ministers in a proposi-
tion for the comnairtation of tithes ; whereas, when
he (Mr. Hume) proposed, about a year ago, a revi-
sion of the system of Irish tithes, he was told that he
was broaching a wild and frightful theory. Ile could
assure the Right Honourable Gentleman, that what
he had to-night uttered was his own conscientious
opinion respecting Ireland; and feeling it to be so, he
did not conceive that any harm could arise there or
elsewhere from speaking the truth —(Hear). —The
truth would be known, though fifty different ways
might be adopted in broaching it ; and having stated
what he believed would be the event, he hoped that
Government would profit by experience, and endea-
vour to avert•the calamity—(Hear).
Mr. FITZGERALD repeated his proteit against
the language of the lion. Member.
The Rill was then read a second time, and ordered
to be committed on Thursday next.

IRISH CUSTOMS BILL.
The House resolved itself into a Committee on ibis Bill.

In answer to a question from Mr. S. Rice,
Mr. lIERRIES said, it was not at present in the contempla-
tion of Government to make any alteration in the amount of the
duties paid on foreign timber imported into Ireland.
The Bill having passed through the Committee, the House re-
sumed, and the Itrport was ordered to be received to-morrow.
The House adjourned at 11 °Tina.

THE EVENING STAR.

LONDON.

TUESDAY. APRIL 22, 1823.
THE FUND&

STOCK EXCHANGE. TWELVE O'CLOCK.
Consols opened this morning at 76i, with a steady Market.