Star.
London, England, 1818-06-03 00:00:00

SIR J. C, HIPPESLEY.

TO THE WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR, ALDERMEN,
CAPITAL BURGESSES, AND FREEMEN OF THE
BOROUGH OF SUDBURY.
GENTLEMEN-4f is generally believed that Parlia-
ment is on the eve of dissolutions During a period of
29 years, I have been connected by intimate and ho-
nourable relations with your Borough, in the high
and delegated trust of one of its Representatives in
Parliament, or as Recorder of the Corporate Body.
I cannot flatter myself, however, that, under the dis-
adiantage of absence, and opposed, probably, by the
active personal canvass of many unexceptionable
candidates, my return to Parliament could be reas-
sured ; nor, indeed, with the recollection of the cir-
cumstances attendant upon the only subject in which
any material difference of opinion has existed be-
tween a large Portion of my constituents and myself,
is the spot of Europe from which I date my present
Address, the best selected to obliterate my recollec-
tion, or to soothe their difference of opinion.
If this difference of opinion respecting the claims
of our fellow-subjects of the communion of Rome,
ha; been the source of many regrets, I have, never-
theless, the satisfaction to remember, that the expla-•
nations of my Parliamentary conduct, as connected
with this subject, have been received with candour,
and the result has been highly flattering to my feel-
ings, though unaccompanied with an unanimity of
suffrage.
But I have reached a protracted period of life—
beyond that, indeed, usually allotted to the days of
man—and now a change
.of opinion or conduct, on
so momentous a question, is little likely to take place,
especially when that opinion has been formed on the
closest examination, and sealed with the deepest con-
viction of my judgmcat. It is an opinion, Gentlemen,
which the lapse of time, and the sanction of much
and patient study, has interwoven in the very thread
and body of my political life.—As, then, my own
sentiments on this head are unalterable, and I cannot
hope for the prevalent coincidence of yours—l con-
ceive that I best consult both the harmony of
my constituents, and the peace of my own mind, by
resigning a trust, which I should be unable to acquit
with universal satisfaction. For whatever confidence
I might feel in the integrity of my intentions, or
whatever conviction that my humble efforts have
been designed, at least, to promote the best interests
of my country—believe me, Gentlemen, any further
collision of opinion would be, to me, matter of such
painful regret, that I want resolution to meet it,—at
a time of life—little calculated to cope with political
irritation.
On a former occasion, when hereditary and habi-I
tual prejudices were not undesignedly aggravated
by misrepresentations of my Parliamentary conduct,
and when it was difficult, as indeed it is at the pre-
sent hour, to say whether Pro:estants or Catholics
were the more active in. the work of defamaticen II
ttiought it incumbent on me to endeavour to undo-
c 2ive my constituents, by placing before them some
authentic references to my sentiments on this quesH
ton of high national interest. Though the personal
motives which chiefly influenced me, at that period,
no longer exist, I am persuaded that I cannot close
my Parliamentary connection with my constituents
more consistently than by resorting to the same de-
clarations, which I shall beg to subjoin to this Ad-
dress. The question which called them forth must,
be of perpetual occurrence, as long as the law re-
mains in its present anomatoustnue, as affecting the
interests and feelings of millions of the people.
Although the Parliamentary relations which have
so long subsisted between us are now nearly drawing
to a close—as the depositary of another important
trust, in the character of Recorder of the Corporals
Body—my best services will, nevertheless, be devoted
to the maintenance of your municipal chartered
rights ; nor upon any occasion shall I be slow to mar
nifcst the deep interest I must ever feel in every
question affecting the prosperity—l may be permitted,
as a Freeman to say—of our ancient Borough.
With the sincerest sentiments of respect and invio-
lable attachment, I have the honour to be,
Gentlemen,
Your most faithful Friend and obliged
Humble Servant,
J. C. HIPPEsLIIY.

Roma, April 8a 1818.
EXTRACTS.
On the 14th of May, 1805, an Mr. Fox's Motion for a Com-
mittee, &c. Sir J. Itippisley stated in Parliament, that his Ma-
jesty bail ratified the Catholic Constitution of Corsica, as he had
before ratified that of Canada. and had also given Commissions,
under his Royal Signature, to Ronson Catholic Clergymen. to act
as Chaplains of Casholia regiments, raised in Great Britain and Ire-
lond.—ln a few days afterwards Sir J. H. published a tract of
" Additional Observations," in the form of a continuation of his
speech, in which he made use of the following expressions :
Goo forbid that any Member of Parliament, in assenting to
the prayer of the Petition, under such ntodyiustions as may be
deemed advisable, should be accused of a wish to propose to his
Majesty a departwe from the solemn obligation by which he has
bound himself • to maintain the Protestant Reformed Religion' es-
tablished by law, and to govern the people according to the &a.
totes in Parliament agreed on, and the laws and constitution of
the realm.' "—(Coronation Oath.).
", Were we to go into a Committee, I should think the outs.
aim favourable for adducing many heads of regulation, which I
conceive to be intimately connected with the concession of the
objects of the Petition—so necessary, in may own opinion, that I
should not think 'inyseffjustyied in Axing infamous of that conces-
sion, if unaccompanied with provisions of a similar tenden.y ; and
under the influencc of the same opinion, they were submitted,
by myself, to his Majesty's Ministers, while the great measure of
the Union was pending."
On the 25th of May, 1808, on Mr. Grattan's Motion for a
Committee, Sir .1. IT. again stated the regulati.ns and restrictions
which, in his opinion, were indispensable, and " which might
tend (he added) to quiet the apprehensions of the moat scrupu-
lous, whenever the See of Rome should be considered as acting under
a hostile iigtuence, and become on object of just suspicion :"
concluding, that " he voted for going into a Committee, in which
the important subject might be more odequatelyconsideved."
On the 18th of May, 1810, on a similar Motion of Mr.
Grattan, Sir J. 11. proceeded to state the grounds of his ir.so-
perable objection to any further concessions, unless they were
accompanied with all those regalatioas and restrictions which he
had before urged, concluding a speech of much detail, with
these words:—" To the Catholic and Protestant Bigot, I feel
equally indisposed—l would recommend to many Catholics to
desist from their flippant and ill-directed attacks, and not out-
strip their adversaries in the race of calumny ; they have to cam-
bat the honest prrjudiccs of a groat people, the early impremioni v
youth, and the force of inconsiderate seal, as well as tie timidity aged 1
defect in it formation of a great portion of their feßow-ssikieess. ft I
VMS a melancholy truth, that the best informed on printjects, philosophers and statesmen, were often moat el
fs
this, which vitbily affected the interests, the feelin and the'
honour, of millions of the people, and clic security Itsit Empire
it..-If. ' Our Constitution (says the great Ms. Burke) is not mods
fr. great—ceneral--proseriptint exclusions; sooner or lake k will
'destroy them, or they will destroy the. Constitution.' In the
choice of nio,asures (Sir J. 11. observed) he only wished to see
those. 461 opted that could ensure thogiest ends Of semsttiatims, by ,

the least essejitiosabieniesits--to Masse the risks gensaciessee for
every &adieus* efossrldistoctiects,ead WWII moment., airs
atn.weaxs or ova Cooperntrou, roe MI /11061,2Z1TY Of ALL."
lie therefore voted for gouig into a Committee, for taking into
consideration the objects of the Petition.
On * loth of June, 1811, on a third similar Motion of Mr.
Grattan ; Sir J. H. repeated the same arguments, and urged Me
Sante reihictions. He urged also the practice of moderation by
the Catholics—and pointed out the inconsistency of some of
their Prelates. He suggested also, that " A Select Committee
should be formed for the consideration of the subject, consisting
of the King's Law Officers, Civilians, and Common Lawyers
of eminence, as well as other Members, most competent to the
examination of such a subject; and that in the House of Lords,
the Prelates if the Establishment ought to take a material part in
sack an investigation. The oroduction of documents, and the
comminations, in such a Committee, might be followed by rear
Wiese of fact, directing the attention of the public to the ma-
terial points, and constituting the most satisfactory authority on
Minh a 11111 might hereafter be framed commensurate with the
real exigency and justice of the case. The adoption, qualifica-
tion, or even the rejection of the claims of the Petitioners wood'
thus derive a sanction not to be found in the loose discussions of
successive parliamentary debates. It should seem (said Sir J.
H.) that this expedient was too rational to be questioned by any
but those who were determined to resist inquiry in any shape
nthatmer. No Member of the House was snore sonority devoted se
the Constitution, both in Church and State,than lessulr Ile wished,
nevertheless, to give a free currency to the investigation--and
to see a great fabtic of national strength raised on the extinction
of antiquated prejudice. Union, he was persuaded, was within
our reach, though uniformity be unattainable."
On the 24th of April, 1812, on a fourth similar Modem of
Mr. Grattan, Sir J. FL pressed again the adoption and Repot
of a Committee, " for the satisfaction (as he observed) of the
public at large, on a question which involved a striking and oar
terlal departure from a system which had been the received po-
licy of ages. The mere act of legislation, however greet the
Parliamentary Majorities with which it might be carried, woad
still be comparatively unsubstantial till hailed by the accordiegpri.
So voice, enfranchised from its prejudices :—the human mind is
not so leadUy liberalized, as civil franchises are extended by le-
gislation.***
Oathe 22d of June, 1812, on the Motion of the Bight Hon.
George Canning, late on. of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries
of State, Sir J. H. again expressed himself as strongly in favour
of " regulations which should be interposed as barriers against
the encroachments of the See of Rome ; and there were not want •
ing instances, he observed, of the existence of such encroach-
ments. A prudent Legisl4ure would not dispense with the
enactment of such rittrisioos as might eventually meet the evil
whenever it might present itself—however small the probability
might be of its recurrence. He had been uniform, he said, in
his deciarationsfrom thefirst mount when he rook part in the Mica,-
' non of Liz fuestson, and he wouldneiurassent to the measure unac-
companied by those severities, uskich had been sanctioned by the wis-
doms and experience gages."
To these extracts the opinions. of some eminent
Prelates of the Establishment, may not be nnoppor.
•
tunely subjoined.
The late Bishop (Watson) of Landaff (Regina Professor of
Divinity in the University of Cambridge), in an ad-rest/sedum
prefixed to a Charge delivered to his Clergy In 1805, dies ea-
presses himself :—" A numerous and respectable part of the
Clergy of my Diocese requested ran to publish the Charge ow
submitted to the world. I excused myself from complying with
their request, because I considered the Catholic Question to
have been then settled, at least, for a time; and I was unwilling
to revive the discussion of a subject, on which I had the misfor-
tune to differ in opinion from a majority in each House of Pan.
!lament. I have still that misfortune ; but, looking upon the
situation of the empire to be abundantly more hazardous now
than it was three years ago, I have thought it a duty to declare
publicly my approbation of a measure, calculated. I sincerely
believe, above all other measures, to support the independence of
the country—to secure the see ileyof the promote peace
cons fellow subjects, end dimity essougfelloso Orristrans—end in
no probable degree dangerous to the Constitution either in Church
State."
The late Bishop (Law) of Elphin, in one of his publication.
observes, " By far the greatest part of the population Of Mir
Diocese are Roman Catholics. I know I cannot make them
good Protestants; I therefore wish to make good Catkin it
21181188821 with this intention I put into their hands the woks
el Gather, an eminent Catholic Divine."—The same Prelate, in
a debate on the Catholic Bill in 1793, declared, that, in his opi.
don, "speculative differences on some points of faith were of no
account. His Roman Catholic brethren and himself had bet
one religion—the religion of Christians ;—and that without jus-
tice to the Catholic, there could be no security for the Protestant

The various declarations in Parliament made on this subject
in concurrence with these opinions, by the present Bishop (Ba-
*burst) of Norwich, were preceded by a Marge to his Clergy
in 1808, when speaking of the Roman Catholic subjects of his
Majesty, he says—" That it would be unfair to iavolve in the
guilt of his misguided zealots of former days, a body of men of
a far different description, to whom it is our duty, and should
be our inclination, to At; every mark of benevolence, both as
brethren and as deserving fellow subjects."
And in a speech of the late Bishop (Horsley) of St. Asaph, in
1805, his Lordship says—" I do not hold that there is any thing
in the Roman Catholic Religion at variance with the prisuipks
of loyalty. Ido not believe that any Roman Catholic of the
present day thinks himself at liberty not to keep faith with He-
retics—not bound by his oath to a Protestant Government; or
that the Pope can release him from the obligation of his oath of
allegiance to his Sovereign. I have a perfect knowledge of the
questions proposed, and the answers returned by the foreign
Universities, in which these abominable principles (the dispens-
ing and deposing power) were most completely and unanimously
reprobated thin learned Bodies, and lam persuaded the
Roman Catholics are sincere in their disavowal and abjuration
of those pernicious maxims ; and I hold that the Roman Catholics
of this country are dutiful and loyal subjects of his Majesty."
Such are the extracts and references which were
circulated on the occasion alluded to, in the pre-
ceding address. In each subsequent Session, Sir J.
HIPPISLEY maintained the same ground, and reurged
the appointment of a Select Committee of Inquiry.—
That measure was at length acceded to, and on the
24th of June, 1816, the Report of the Committee
was delivered to the House. It has since been printed
by order of both Houses of Parliament.
The chief documents annexed to the Report, toge-
ther with the supplementary papers, communicated
by command of the PRINCE Rscstxr, on the 26th of
March, 1817, stand upon the authority of the Go-
vernments of the most considerable States of Europe,
of the Roman Catholic, the Greek, the Lutheran, and
the Reformed Churches—and may be considered
valuable. especially from " throwing light," to use
the words of the Report, cd upon subjects of long and
continual controversy regarding those points, in which
a regulated intercourse with a foreign spiritual juris-
diction has beer. held to be necessary or allowable,
consistently, with the rights of conscience, the integrity
of civil obligations, and the security of the State. 7

• In a note annexed to the substance of Sir J. H.'s speech on
the motion of Mr. Grattan, on the 24th cf April. the facts stat-
ed were referred to, with the following ploservation:—" If such
be the opinions of eminent Ecclesiastics of the See of Rome,
jealm:s of the independence of their Church, shall the Members
of the Establishment wholly shut their ryes against the possibi-

lily of encroachment? And shall they, who seek the prcitection
of ' their Catholic fellow-subjects, equally with their own, be
calumniated, because they are not disposed to surrender their
reason to the voice of clamour'! If the representative body of
the nation—the guardians of its interests and security—should
be so little alive to their duties, as to turn aside from whole-
some legislation, in yielding to those clamours—very little per-
manent good could be augured from concessions matted by
such ill-grounded apprehensions."
Monday, a deputation of the Electors of West.
minster waited upon Sir GEORGE ALDERSON, one of
the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex, requesting
he would offer himself as a Candidate for Westmin-
ster. The worthy Knight, however, declined, alledg-
ing that, as Sheriff he was returr.ing officer, and
incapacitated to offer himself as it Representative.