Star.
London, England, 1829-02-18 00:00:00

to 43. Thus, notwithstanding all the activity that had
been exerted against the Roman Catholics in the year
1812, yet the difference between the 'dative numlows.
p o and con the question, in that year. and t' e last
occasion on which the subject, was discussed, was be-
tween one and forty-five. The Noble E tit had
stated that, 'in the rejection of the proposed met ure,
there was left to them the choice of two evils, OM
of which was the lireaking up of the present Adminis-
tration. 11 (the Earl of Falmouth) certainly would
look upon the breaking up of the Noble Duke's Ada
ministration as a great evil to the country ; he also, too,
deeply Mt that the moral effect of such a measure as
that proposed would be a great evil ; but the greatest
of all evils, in his opinion, and in the opinion of the
vast majority of the country, was, the yielding up of
that glorious Conctitotion for which our ancestors had
so often and so nobly bled. Those petitions prayed
• that the-glorious basis upon which the British Consti-
tution rested might continue unshaken, and that the
circumstances of the glorious Revolution which con-
firmed and established that Constitutioe_ might still
• continue to preserve in safety the State. The breaking
up of the Noble Duke's Administration would be, in-
- deed, a great evil; but he could never consent to so
peat a sacrifice as the breaking up of the glorious
Constitution under which they had enjoyed the greatest
privileges that Could be possessed by a people for so
loug 'a
-time. And now that he saw tht Constitution
to be in danger, now he felt it his bounden duty to exert
all his powers to uphold and support • the totter ing
fabric—(Hear, hear). When the vessel had struck
upoea rock-:-a sunken rock—(Heir, hear)—were the
sailors to think. then, only of securing the masts and
rigging? - Would they not be most likely to turn their
if ghts to the most effectual means to secure the entire
ship? Whatever might be the result of the storm, the
mast would float upon the surface; but, unless every
exertion were made for recovery, the bark must sink
into tie deep. He alsrihende 1 that a false ground of
tear had influenced the Noble Duke and the other
Members of the Administration in adopting the course
they pursued. He could not help looking at this as a
sulking instance of political intimidation. It was like
a man meeting a person in the sow, and asking him
to give him, something, threatening, in case he did not
comply, to knock him down. This appeared to him
..,(Lard Falmouth) perfectly analogous to what had taken
place among his Majesty's Ministers. The Noble Earl
apologised for taking up their Lordships attention. He
felt it his duty to be unwavering in the sentiments he
lead early imbibed ; and therefore he should, notwith-
standing the respect he entertained for the Noble Duke
and t' e .I.hike's Administration, continue his opposition
to the measure proposed—(Hear, hear).
The Petitions, which were from Truro. and another place in
Cornwall, were then read, and ordered tulle on the table.
Earl GREY felt himself called upon to reply to one
Or two &nervations that had fallen horn the Noble
Earl, particularly t s those which alluded to him. The
Noble Earl seemed to think he (Earl Grey) had said
that the return of Mr. Pendarves went to prove that
the great majority of the inhabitants of Cornwall were
favourable to the Catholic Claims'. Now, w hat he did
say the other night was, that the people of Cornwall
were not so adverse to the Catholic Ciaims as a Noble
Lrd had stated. He had further said that Mr. Pen.
darves was well known to be favourable to Parliamen-
tary lief rm, and had been long an advocate of that
no.assoe; hut he did nit say he was suppoitad solely by
thtoe who were the ft tends to Catholic Emancipation.
He. how eve', did contend that lie was chosen by a great
majority, not% it,stioding the exertions of the opposite
party, and tha• the great majority of his supporters
were persons of the most liberal political opinions. Mr.
Pendarves strength on that roc Asian was so great, that
the other candidate would not date to go to the poll,
and 4r. Pendarves CAMeoff with a triumphant victory.
He (Earl G.) thereto, e, most contend, that he had good
pound for statiog what he did. Now, with regard to
the difference in the relative numbers in the Houses
of Lords and Commons for the last twenty years.
to which the Noble Earl alluded, all he (Earl Grey)
said was, that the House of Commons changed
their opinion on the question, as the people of Eng-
land seemed favourable to the suhi.ct. He would
recommend the N .ble Earl to get the particulars of
tho.e decisions. He would find that in the year 1827.,
when the question was thrown out of the House of
Commons by .a majority of twenty-six, 308 Members
did not vote at all. The next year the question was
carried in that House by a majority, when the Mesh-
bets who voted amounted to 600; and this was a strong
proof that the majority of the Members were always
favourable t i the scheme. He, however, would con-
tend that the House of Commons, even constituted as it
was, was not always a true criterion to judge of the
sentiments if the people at large; and, therefore, what-
e er might have been the decision of the House of
Coon ons at any time upon the question, the opinion
that be (Earl Grey) had stated on a previous occasion
remained unshaken. The Noble Earl said, that in 1812
the majority in the House of Peers against the measure
was one. whereas that of last year amounted to forty-
five; but it was fully known to their Lordships, that
eine the period alluded to fifty Peers bad been created,
and that the majority of those Peers were known to be
decidedly adverse to the Csohnlic Q.sestion. With re-
gard to the remaining ob,eivations that had fallen
fr. in the N, ble Lord, he had only this much to say,
that the Noble Lard and he (Earl Grey) wereagieed as
to the neces.ity of supporting the Constitution of she
country ; yet be certainly did not think that the admis.
won of Winton Catholics into p litical power would be
any infringement • f it. They were agreed as to tie
end, hut were at variance as to the means nec• ssary to
arrive at that end. He seemed to think that, in order
to support the Croistitution. it was tweets .1' to refuse
the Roman Catholic Claims; whereas he (Earl Grey)
thought that the only means was to give the people
of Ireland those Claims which were founded upon
justice and tight—(Hear. hear). As to the Cornials
metaphor that the Noble Earl introduced—(A 1 ugh),
he did net agree with the Noble Ertl in his apish, anion.
Who would think of caring about the masts when the
bull was in danger? Or how 'could the Noble Esti
compare the scanty crew to the vast bulk of a nation
ti at had been long groaning under the weight of op.
pression? He would rather reverse the metaphor, and
say. that when the hull of the vessel was in danger. as
it was by ti e reclusion of the Roman Catholics, those
laws that excluded them were to be considered as the
rigging that most be cut away in order to save the yes
sel—(Hear, hers). But he would ask the Noble Eirl,
was there any danger in keeping the crew in a divided
state ?—(kfrar, heat ). Would there not be less danger
last all were to join theme. Ives together in seeking the
• resteral safety ? He only wished the question to be
dispassionately considered. Did the Noble Earl believe
that the vessel would be surely saved by throwing out
the Bit ? He would ask the Noble Eart whether, in case
the present Adininistration was broken up, theme were
weans ro forming another ? arid if sn, where were those
weans to be found? Het believed there were none. Ile