Star.
London, England, 1828-04-29 00:00:00

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bef7re2=wwilla it adinirted him tizioirstes. Ind thrttNah religions
were alike—if this was the thfy. chose Its adopt.
no d-opbt they had n right\to adopt it ; hut he must
say, thlst*doing so. they reversed the whole dextrine
of the Revolution. The declaration in the present Bill he
considered to he really good for nothing. A man. the
most inimical to the Church, might say thist.bfeVOlst
do nothing agahist the Church by the power of his office,
because it would be alwaysln his power.to deceive both
others and himself by the pretence that he had done
nothing but what he- should have done if he had not
been in office. He should now take the *ease of the
House once more upon the *orris be proposed to insert
itrthe declaratiOn, "lam a Protestant." The Monarch
who sat upon the Throne sat there to support the Pro•
testant religion; and it was for no other purpose his
family was brought to this country. They had the other
night a debate upon the effect of the Test Act, in
which his opinion and that of the Noble and Learnet
Lord upon the Woolsack were different. He heard
they were different still. For his Noble and Learited
Friend he had the highest respect, and he hoped he
would long continue to preside over the deliberations of
that House. and maintain his title to be considered as the
highest legal authority in it; but he had the fullest con-
viction that his own opinion was correct, and ire could
not relin uish it in deference to any man. The discus-
sion which had taken place had indeed confirmed his
previous opinion upon that subject. If he was defeated
upon the present. question, he should afterwards move,
an amendment, in the form of a declaratory clause, to
remove all doubt upon the subject, and to Ls and de-
termine the law to be what his Noble and Learned
Friend thought it was, and which be thought at present
it was nor. Nothing in the course of his long Parlia-
mentary life had ever given him greater pain than to be
compelled to differ, as he had done on the present occa-
sion, from men for whom he entertained the highest pos.
sibleresp, ct. But he thought it his duty to act as he had
done, and he was at this moment convinced, that it they
passed the Bill in its present shape. they would invade
the constitution, which was essentially Protestant. On
these grounds he would move his clause, after the
amendment of the Noble Baron had been disposed of.
Whatever Noble Lords might say, this Rill would affect
the Catholic Question,• and must affect the Catholic
Question. If the alterations, he now meant to propose
were negatived. it would be visible to all the world,
and to the Catholics themselves in particular, that they,
had made a most important step towards the attain-
ment of their object.
The Duke of WELLINGTON reminded their Lord-
ships that there ss as ne question before the House.
Lord HOLLAND said that he had moved an amend-
ment, and proceeded to sive that the Noble and Learned
Lord had misconceived him. He did not mean to re-
lieve the Quakers from any declaration they were now
called upon to take. He could not allow the words
"upon the faith of a Christian" to restrain in the decla-
tation, -without recording his disapprobation of them.
The Earl of WINCHILSEA- opposed the motion
for leasing out the words. He thought a Jew might
take the D.claration. which did nut imply that th- per,
son taking it was a Christian. any mote than his saying
upon the faith of a Jew would imply that he was a;
Jew. He had been disposed,upon a loge and liberal pin"
citric to extend relief to the Dissenters, so far as should:
be found consistent with the security of the religion and
Constitution of the country ; but he must lament the
baste and precipitation with which this measure had
been pressed through both Houses of Parliament.
The Bishop ot DURHAM expressed his approbation
of the present Bill, although in the progress of the dis-
cussion he had been placed in the painful situation of
differing from individual Members of their L,,rdships'
House. for whom he entertained sentiments of the
highest esteem and respect. He differed, however,
still more in opinion from many ot the supporters
of the measure, as to the grounds on which it ought
to be defended. He and his Right Reverend Bre-
thren were placed in a situation of peculiar difficulty.
The number of Petitions on the table showed that
public opinion was decidedly in favour of the
measure, and they could nut, Aeay that
,the sacra-
mental test was the cause of profanation. If any other
test but this had been in estistence,be for oneshouid not
have been disposed to agree to its repeal. But as he
could not consider the exclusion to be essential to the
security of the Cho,* an 4 as it was not originally in-
tended to operate igaing Di,septers. and as besides it
produced profanation, he felt birand to support its re-
OIL th had not a very'cordSdentfrope that this Mea-,
sure whisld produce perbiaremit satiefactitm—further
claims would be adiancedebut if he had not confidence
in this particular BM, he had confidence in the wisdom
of Paililment, that any attempt inconsistent with the
security of the Church would be effectually resisted;-,..
The Church of England was tinder peculiar obligations'
to the N.,ble and Learned Earl, and it must give pain
to any of its Prelates to differ from him with segard-to
her interests;

The Earl of ELDON expressed the consolation he'
derived from the testimony of the Right Rev. Prelate,
to which it was impossible to attach tuo high a value.
He knew that there were objections to the Sacramental
Test. and he did not oppose the present Bill because it
was to get rid of that test, but because it omitted to
provide any other to supply its place. The Declaration.
its the gin was not,in his opinion, worth a single farthing.
The Duke of WELLINGTON mist take the liberty
of sayings few words, with reference to what had just
fallen from the Right Reverend Prelate. If this were
intended only as an incipient measure—if say one
wished or intended to found other measures upon it—
be could only say, that he was no party to any such
intention. He supported the measure upon the same
grounds as the Right Reverend Prelate. He Wks hilly
aware that the system of law now established could
not be peryetual, and that the present distiision most
constantly bare recurred ; and he was, iherifete, de-
termined to laid his utmost support to the nitasoie,
With a view to its being diSposed of during thWines
sent Session of Piirliaiiient. fle now came to the
amendment of the Rob% baron. lle adniittetl !bat
it Was not the original intention of these Taws le ex
elude Dissenters. We bad, besides, one on lei,
eighty years annually snspedding.tbeita—illuilt thileff
period many Dissenters bid. in lae:t, 'got bab tb
Corporations of the kingdoth. It appitretibit thettitutt.
Book, in laws passed for the regiletioi4 tleitairatibni;
that the Legislature had full ittiarlei4e if, add 'b4.'
distinctly recognised the feet, *Chit niltileeters.trere ea--
mined into Corporations. But with 14'4414.64We 'leis,.
tte ease was entirely different ; and this ittetfile
ateitibs would oppose the *olds beiig,eifibted. Ba
their: was another reason. 'The idtilision tit theliWs
leis an entirely new principle, wllWh it filifitlmeisibils+
to adopt, or it might net..Bisezi!'iltglit;tro - •
it"litight to be ititicidited net incidentellt, 'Mk 'IV
dtstioct Bill.
The- bliticitdr of LAtitOVVVI
Kit* tin* *kb the !V&A( boW,
recondition of theu 'Oder% end to Om lot ,
their prikeediegsr teitiCh 1 std bit% dtritallrftertts'bi