Star.
London, England, 1828-03-07 00:00:00

MALT TAX.

Mr. DUGDALE presented a Petition from the Malitters of
the County of Warwick, praying the repeal of the Malt Tax.—
Ordered to be printed.
Mr. LITTLETON presented a Petition from the Magistrates
of the County of Stafford relative to the increase of Crime...-Or-
dered to be referred to the Committee on Criminal Laws.
N A Til A N Ixol-EAST TILT FORD*

Mr. LUMLEY presented a Petition from Jonathan
Fas, committed to Newgate a few evenings since by
the Committee en the East ltetfurd Disfranchisement
bill for prevarication; the Petitioner prayed that his
case might be considered, and he solemnly declared
that he was unacquainted with the rules of the House;
that he had ne intention to suppress the truth, but to
disclose all he knew ; but that from indisposition and
a serious bilious attack he was unfit to give evidence
before the House, He regretted the judgment passed
uponhim by the House, while he did not deny its jus-
tice; and, in conclusion, he entreated the compassion
ar.d indulgence of the House.--The Petition was then
ordered to be laid on the table.
Mr. LUMLEY moved, that Jonathan Fox be dis-
charged.
M. DAWSON said, he knew nothing of the Pea-
Cotter, but several representations had been made to him
by ptrsons of very great consideration, stating that he
(14)x) was a person of great respectability, and was now
"feting most severely in consequence of the disgrace
which had been brought upon him. He (Mr. Dawson)
thought that the petitioner was entitled to some indul
ge..cr. He was in a confidential situation, and looking

at the difficulty in which he was placed, particularly
when asked questions spreading over a period of many
years ; taking also into account the great suffering of
the petitioner, and his repentance, he appeared here as
his advocate.
The SPEAKER said, there was no motion before
the House, when
Mr. LUMLEY then moved, that Jonathan Fox be
called to the Bar of this House to-morrow, and then
discharged.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT did not wish to oppose the
discharge, but it was solely on the ground of his re-
pentance, and not for the reasons stated by the Hon.
Member (Mr. Dawson).
Mr. SPRING RICE admitted there should be great
hesitation in committing persons from this House to
Newgate, but there should be also great hesitation in
discharging them without notice. If the Honourable
Member consented to give a notice, in place of making
a motion for to-morrow, he would not object to it. It
should not be forgotten, that this case was still pend-
ing, and others of a similar nature, and if witnesses
were not strictly looked after, all inquiry into election
bribery would be useless.
Mr. LUMLEY said, that all the other witnesses were
cautioned but the petitioner; he (Mr. Lumley) gave no-
tice for to-morrow.
Mr. GRATTAN presented a Petition from the Governors and
Directors of the Hibernian Joint Stock Company, praying that the
Bill in progress for their dissolution may not pan into a Law.—
Ordered to be laid on the table.
Sir. GB ATTA N presented several Petitions from various places
in Ireland (fifteen in number), praying for Catholic Emancipation.
—Ordered io be printed.
A new writ was moved for a Member for the Port of Sandwich,
in the place of Sir E. °weal, who was appointed one of the Coun-
cil to the Lord High AdmiraL
CATHOLIC QUESTION.
Sir FRANCIS BURDETT said he rose to present a
most important Petition to the consideration of the
House—it was the Petition of the Roman Catholics of
Ireland, praying for the repeal of those odious and op-
pressive laws whiclisstill fettered them in the exercise
of those rights and enjoyments to which, as British sub-
jects, they were entitled. He did not mean on the pre-
sent occasion to enter into those considerations which
the presentation of such a Petition would well justify";
and the more so, because the cause of liberality was
every day making rapid strides; and he hoped that this
House and the country would very shortly be relieved;
from the consideration of the just claims of the Korean
Catholics of the two countries. The Catholics of Ire-
land and England suffered the most unmerited hard-
ships—though some persons were not disposed to lay
any great stress upon them as practical grievances.—
For his own part, he thought nothing could be more
galling to the mind of an honourable man than in his
own country to be considered as proscribed—and have
as it were a mark set upon him on account of his te•
!igloos belief; to treat him as unoorthy of trust, anti
incapacitated from securing any marks of honour. The
Catholic was now, and had for years been arrested in
the career of honourable ambition; and nothing could
be more irksome than to have the finger of scorn pointed
at one, while he was obliged to look up to others not
more deserving, as of the privileged classes. The pre-
tences on which these disabilities continue, seemed
to weaken every day ; and, when they considered
that millions of people, nearly one halt of the popu-
lation of the kingdom, were Petitioners at their
Bar, praying for the restoration of their rights, they
could not pay too great attention to their Petition.
Their cause was now aided by all the liberal Protestants
in both countries, and the manife,tation of good feelings
which he had seen the other night, gave him ground
for hope that the Catholics would not much longer be
disappointed. Public opinion was setting in strongly in
their favour, and it was high time that justice should at
length be done them. In behalf of the Catholics of
England and Ireland, he totally denied any charge made
against them. He denied that they held a divided
allegiance; he denied that they had not a community
of interests with other men; and he denied that they
were less desirous than others of upholding all the insti-
tutions of the country. He appealed in their favour
from their professed calumniators and monopolizers of
all power—such persons could not be judges between
the Catholics and the country. From such persons, and
such opinions, he appealed to the equity of Parliament
—and on reason, justice, and policy, he should found
his claim for consideration when he brought the merits
of the Petition under discussion. On the broad principle
of religious liberty—on that principle on which the
Church of England itself was founded, he called for
concession to the Catholics—for Protestants could not,
with any degree of consistency, deny them their rights,
without inflicting a great injustice on themselves. This
Petition was entitled to the best attention of the House—
it was very numerously and respectably signed—it was
couched in temperate, but forcible and energetic lan
guage; and again he repeated his hope, that the time
was fast approaching when it would no longer occupy
the consideration of the House—(Hear, hear).
The Petition was ordered to be printed.
Sir F. BURDETT gave notice that on Tuesday, the 29th of
April next, he should bring the general subject before the notice of
the House.
On the motion of Mr. COURTENAY, the Friendly Societies'
Bill was ordered to he read a second time on Friday week.
Mr. Secretary I'EEL presented a Petition from the University
'of Oxford, against a Bill now in progress through this House, for
the purpose of a Commutation of Tithes. The University com-
plained of the principle contained in the Bill. by which the value to
be now fixed was to be held as the value of the land for ever.—
Ordered to be printed.
Mr. F. LEWIS brought up Returns connected with the price of
Corn. The Hon. Member then moved for Returns of Foreign Silk
imported 'into this country for the last five years, and the Amount
of Duties paid thereon.—Ordered.
The Smuts's called upon Mr. Wilmot-Horton.
Mr. WILMOT-HORTON said, he was in the hands of the
Speaker and the House with respect to his motion which stood for
this evening. ' He had consented to delay it, to suit the convenience
of the Hon: Member ( Mr. Brougham) whom be did not now see
in his place. If it was the pleasure of the House, he would not
bring it on—or if they felt otherwise, be was quite ready to proceed.
The House intimated a wish for delay, and the Hon. Member
sat down.