Star.
London, England, 1828-04-22 00:00:00

FOREIGN %V OW. AND WHEAT.

The Eirl of NA ES BC It moved fur the number of quar-
ters of Foreign Wheat exported to the Isle of 'Alan from Liverpool,
from January sth, 1857, up to the latest period. The Nobk, Earl
also moved for an Account of the Weekly Returns of Foreign
Wool imported from the sth January up to the latest period. He
understood that the import.,tion of Foreign IVoul within this last
three months had been exceedingly great, and as it would be im-
portant that their Lordship: should have all possible information
on the subject, he was induced to move for the Returns in ques-
tion. The Noble Earl then moved for an Account of the several
Sums received by the Treasurer and the Colkctors of Counties on
account of the County listes, front 18Et to 1327, both inclusive.
TEST AND CORPoRATIoN ACTS.
Several Petitions were presented respecting the rsepezd of the
Corporation and 'fest Acts.
. . .....

The Earl of ROSEBERRY wished, before the Order
of the Day was moved for the House going into a
Committee upon the Test and Corporation Acts' Bill,
t•i say a few words up( n its effects upon the inhabitants
of Scotland. The Noble Lord then expatiated at con-
siderable length on the grievances which the Scotch felt
by those Acts, even while they resided cn the other side
of the Tweed, in 4smuch as that, unless for the operation
of the Indemnity Act. they we:e totally incomp: tent to
hold either a civil office in Engl mil, or a commission
in the Army or Navy. llis Al.ij...sty, too, on his acces-
sion to the Throne, had pledged himself to protect the
Pre.byterian Religion in Scotland, as the e,tablished
religion of that country, and yet he, by the Acts that
we e now so much complained of, had not the pox,
to grant a conimiss;on or office to a Presb., terian except
under the Indemnity Act—a greater anomaly than this
the Noble Lord could not conceive existed in any coun-
try whatever governed by reasonable laves. Ile should

therefore support this Bill for the repeal of those Acts,
for the purpose of removing the impediments that ob-
structed the just exercise ( f the itoyal Prerogative, for
the sake of strengthening the Church of England
itself, by putting down those feelings of disccntent and
acrimony which he feared too strongly prevailed
amongst those who dissented from it, and for various
other

The Earl of ELDON considered this an extremely
delicate question as between England and Scotland. -AL
the Union, the Scotch were extremely anxious to have
an enactment that no Englishman should hold office in
that country unless he subscribed to their profession of
faith ; and there could not be the least doubt that there
was a Test there at this moment as well as in England.
In the Act of finials there was a declaration that tin.
Church of England Should be kept inviolably preserved
by the statutes tf at had been made, and then mentioned
for that purpose, fur ever. Ile was aware that no Le-
gislature could legislate for posterity t. but when such
a declination ,was to be formed% it was a strong proof
that posterity ought not to alter the. statutes without
the clearest .and most cogeht reasons. Though his
MAjesty had undertaken to preserve the Presbyterian
religion, yet he had also equally pledged himself to
.9r-eseitt inviolable the Church of England ; and if any

:the•Earl of ELDON explained.—lle had not said
that the Test and Corporation Acts•wele parts of thee •
Co.nttitution ; what he said was, that the union •of
Church a7lcl State arts a part of the Constitutlitn—
fheir Lordships might determine to alter the Constitu-
tion, but in this act he would be no accomplice. He
would divide against it, if he stood alone below the Bar.
lie had not denied that -the Sacramental Test had been
objected to; but he had expressed the surprise he felt
at thenovel doctrine, that tny religious test was a.pro•
fa:ration. lie was not struggling for this particular 7,',,.
test, or that particular test ; but he was strugAling. for
the alliar.ce beteeseen Church arid State, which, in his
•,p'nkn, requited some test for its maintenance, and
was at the sirre time an es.sential.t.are of the Coustitu-
tion of the country.
Lord MELVILLE described the liardsh;p to which
the'se Acts subjected the people of Scotland. %Viten he
heard it insinuated that the people of Scotland co,j-iyed
too large a shire of office in this country, he n.ust .say
that, but for the Annual Indemnity Dill, they would be
excluded from all local offices, from the Magistracy,
and from the Army and Navy. There,was in the Act of
Union a clause recoil subtcri;•tion to certain Atti-
cles of Faith as a Tralification for certain offices inScot-
land ; tau his Noble and Learned ft.ie rid had faded to
convey his meaning accurately, if Noble Lords supposed
hiM to assert that this applied to offices.gererally..
Lord ELDON said, this Bill. before the, house ap.t
pliel to a te,t which Scotland fold nothing ti do. .
Lord FALMOUTHwas to.soffer the pre. .
sent opp-ittinity to pass sei.hotit stating i.is views
the subject ; brit he would occupy the attention cif the
11,tise for a very short pet rod,as his ideas were exactly
in unison with those which the Noble and
,Learned
‘;
Lord had so forcibly expaeised. IJe. was not disposed
to think dial the circumstance of this bra having passed
the other House of Parliament ought to waig much .
with their Lordshii-s. It was woi thy :I some attention
from the Ministers o!. the CI o ; hut as an in..l.!prn,dero: -
branch of the Le.lisl.eture, their Lordships were net at
liberty to deter to it. Ile tly•ro,lit tlor declaration posi-
lively good for nothirg. mei) Wee men.,
it :night be of some value,
.but they had to legi,late for
the obliquities of Lutnan nature. IN-!:y w.,s not the de- ,
claration more solemn ? For the worst and most
incipled of men had generally some regard to public
npinion. He had also a decided objection to that part :•
31. the Bill which gave the Crown a dispensing power.
The Duke of WELLINGTON did not: rise to pro- .
long this incidental discussi in, but merely to offer. art
explanation regarding certain expressions that hed been
erroneously imputed to him.. lie had never s tid
his only reason for supporting the BM was, that it had
met with the approbation of the house of. Commons,
although that certainly formed one ground. on which
he recommended the measure to their I.mdshipi. On
the former night he had stated that he had consulted
upon this question with those who were. not most
terested, fur all clas,es..were equally inrarested in the
preservation if the Conitiva:l-!!1 ift

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