Star.
London, England, 1803-04-01 00:00:00

CLERGY SUSPENSION BILL.

The Houle, purluant to the Order of the Day,
refolved into Committee on the Bill for fufpending
profecutions againd Clergymen for non-refidence
in their pardhcs.

The Bill being read through to the enalling
cl ode, for further continuing the provifions of the
Bill already in force until the Bth of July next.
'fire Bilhop of Sr. As Ar N role to move his pro-
mired amendment, which, he Paid, he fhould be
inclined to dn, without trefpaßing on the time of
the Houle by any further arguments in addition
to what he laid yefterday; but as he was happy to
oblerve a much fuller attendance of his Reverend
Brethren in the Houle this day than was frequent-
ly Irina), he wifhei to Rate, in their hearing, the
morives which influenced his conduCt in relation
to this Bill. It was now above two ye s fince it
had been thought proper, by fume per sin an•
other place, to bring forward, for dircuLlion, the
fiibjed of certain profecutions then, and for Tome
time previous, carrying on againil Clergymen for
n•'n•reftdence in their relpeCiive parilhes ; and to
bring forward a Bill for fufpending the Ad oldie
:tit of Henry VIII. tinder which thole profecu-
tions were carried on, in order to give time for
bringing forward futile more eligible law on this
fubisirt. From that time to the prefent four fuc-
cerlive Bills of Sufpenrion had been puffed in per-
petuation of the first : but Rill no Bill was ready.
Convinced lie was, that inilead of this feandallous
continnance of the fufpenfion, better would it have
hem that the law of Henry VIII. had Rill re-
mained in full force ; and much lefs would have
been the injury in conviding a few individuals rn-
der penalti, s, coon of which had been defervedly
incurred, than that the public flrould have fo long
remained without a law on this important fubjed,
in materially affe&ing the religion and morals nt
tl•c C oinery. .lod here he was certain that it
iheir Lorstfilips al:fatted to the prefent Bill to the
rud period ut the tuipentivu ri.iputed, the

would he, that no other Bill w,-•uld eomej
t -I in the courfe of the prefent Se(ll,in ; and,l
•f comic, another Bill of Sof-pen:lon on the open-
ing of next, while the mO Icanslalous negleCt of
religious duties on tile part of the nr,n-1 efident
Clergy would continne to pals unpunifhed and
unchecked. Much had been Lid of the miferies
which would be intailed upon the refident Curates,
by compelling the Clergy, at prefent non refident,
to do the duty of their own parifhes, and thus let
a-drift the refident Curates, who did the duty fur
them. But, fpcaking from what he knew, he
could affure the Houfe the confequcnce would in
no fort of proportion fulfil what was fo predifted.
There were many of the opulent Clergy who would
Rill keep Curates ; there were many others, ad-
vanced in years, who mutt alfo be obliged to keep
Curates; and, as to thole who would he thrown
out of employment by forcing reCtors to retidence,
he would fay, that a refident Cur ate was as much
a Rara Avis as a refident ReCtor. It was by no
means to be imagined that every non-relident
cler-
gyman kept a Curate in the parilh, wh.) would be
difplaced by compelling him to do his own duty ;
on the contrary, the praftice was to confign the
duty of the abfentee to fume clergyman holding a
fmaller living in the vicinage, who, to encreafe his
(Upend, by doing one half of the duties of the
Locd's..llay for his abfentee neighbour,could only
devote the other half to his own parithioners. In
many inflances the Clergyman, when ti,e weather
permitted his coming at all, walked ten miles to
do his duty on a Sunday, while, for the other fix
days, the lick and the dying were left to them.
felves, dellitute of fpiritual rites, or religious con-
folation : but by obliging the Reetor to reticle, and
do his own duty, no Curate fuffered privation ;
and he who did the duty would be induced to im-
prove his own living. In other cafes again, a Cie!,
gyman was appointed to a (Mall living, poffibly
in a remote or obfcitre part of the country, where
he confidered himfelf too much fequeftered from
company and amufements, his fine talents buried
alive, and himfelf configned to the drudgery of
calling the pearls of hit eloquence before the
fwinifh peafantry. To avoid which, he configns
the duty to fome needy Clergyman in the vicinage,
whom he remunerates by a paltry ftiriend, and ac-
cepts for himfelf a lucrative curacy ii' Come great
provincial town, where he has a better opportunity
of focial enjoyments, and of fhining off to advan-
tage. The contemptible trafh on this fubjeft,that
had teemed from the prefs for the IA two years,
was truly ridiculous. But none of their Lordfhips,
he was fure, would refufe to agree with him in the
necelfity of checking a fpecies of negligence fo fla.
grant, and the inflances of which were lo nume•
rous. Feeling, therefore, that compelling the
Parochial Clergy to Refidence would be by no
means fo injurious to the Curates as was Rated—
feeling that no injury could refult from the revival
of the rift of Henry VIII. equal to what the pub-
lic mutt fullain from the want of law on this rub•
jeft, and convinced that if the fulpention was pro-
longed to the Bth of July, no Bill would be brought
forward this Sefton on the fubjea, he fbould pro
pole, in amendment, that in place of the words
—" Bth of July,"—the words---. 4 z 3th of May",
be inferted.

The LORD CHANCELLOI obferved, that in con-
fequence of the long continuance of Non .refidence
on the part of the Parochial Clergy, which had
been permitted to pals without check or controul,
a duty was impofed upon the humanity of Par.
liament to make fome provifion for numbers of
deferving men, who, notwithitanding what had
fallen from the Rev. Prelate, were, he feared,much
more numerous than was apprehended ; and who,
by compelling the refidence of the Rdlors, would
be deprived of bread. On the principle of fur-
penfion, he fully coincided with the Rev. Prelate;
and no argument could poffibly induce him to
vote for any Bill that would carry the fufpcnfion
beyond the Bth of July. As to the difference be-
tween that day and the fhorter period propofed by
the Rev. Prelate, it would be of no great import-
ance to the Public, further than as the longer day
would give a full opportunity for thofe who had
a more lubrfantial meafure in preparation (but had
alfo other important duties to difcharge), to bring
it forward in as perfea a fhape as poffible, be
fhould on this account only oppote the amendment.

The Bifhop of DURHAM allo fupported the ori-
ginal clank, if it µ•as only in deference to the
Learned Gentleman (Sir William Scott) who had
employed fo much time in methodizing and ar-
ranging this very laborious fyfiem of the laws of
refidence ; an intenfe application to which, had
thrown that Learned Gentleman into a Imre in.
difpofition, from which he was now but fluwly
recovering. He paid the higheft compliments to
the talents, and profound erudition of that excel-
lent man, who, from his long profdrionAl abili-
ties, was better qualified than any other perfon for
fo arduous :In undertaking ; which, however, he
had not volunteered, but confented to engage in,
at the folicitation of others.

The LORD CHANCELLOR reminded the Houk
that he did not promile, with certainty, the pro-
dation of a plan, and only laid, that at the more
diflant period there would be a better chance for it.
Lord At.v.sh Li v flrenuoully enforced the ado!).
tion of the original elaufe, principally on the fame
grounds as the Noble Lords who preceded him.
He, however, declared, that if the general Bill
was not brought before the Houle at di feafonable
period of the Seflions,before the Learned Prelates
Ihould be called to their other facred avocations in
the country, that was to fay fome time in June, he
fhould oppofe that, as well as the further continu-
ation of this meafure. In his Lordlhip's fpeeeh he
feemed, he faid, to glance at fome promife formerly
held out by the Bench of BiLhops, that a remedial
plan would be fubmitted by one of their body in
that Honk, which promife however had not yet
been fulfilled. That he thought might yet be done,
AS it was not unulual to have two concurrent bills
relating to the fame fubjed.
Lord Aue K LAND delivered his fentiments on the
queftion at fome length : he noticed the improper
died of fuch hills of cofpenlion, which in I,,mc
meafure m.ty he laid to leave that part of the corn-
mut,ity without law. He argued in favour of a
general Amending Bill, and whit!., among other

Good (fleets, would go to ameliorate the condition
of the pourer orders of the Clergy. With refpeft
to fhortening the term, the other Houfe in the
view of its pecuniary operation, would, on that ac-
count, be induced to rejeet the bill. Adverting to
the circurnaanee of a general Amending Bill, ti.e
Noble Lord expreffed his opinion that loch a Mea-
fare may, very properly, originate in that Houfe ;
and he alluded to certain regulatians, which is
Bich a LegifWive Provifion, would be attended
with the molt falutary dirc&s. In allusion to
what had been laid of the Rate of the attendance
in that Houfe, particularly towards the dole of a
Salon, his Lordfhip made Come admirable philn-
imhical remarks on the nature and propenfutes cf
man, the almoft irretiftable attra6tions of rural re-
tirement or occupations, at certain feafons of the
year, with a view to palla.ate that occafiunal, an.l
fometimes frequent feceflion from Parliamentary
attendance, at the feafons of the year alluded to.

Lord ALWILEY fuggelled to the Noble Lord.
that, according to his principles, he had better...•
bring in a Bill to qui tarn the Pcer to prevent them
from non•refidence.

The LORD CHANCELLOR adverting to what WEE
Enid of invellingt the Bilhops with the necetrary
powers, laid, that from converfations he had with
Come leading Members of the other Houfe, he was
convinced Inch a meafure would have no chance
in the Houfe of Commons.

Lord ELLEN BOROUGH delivered his opinions on
the general fubjett at fume length. He was un-
favourable to the prallice of Sufpenfion. A
praftice which was never warranted, Cave by con-
tiderations of public neceffity. He took occafion
to pronounce a fplendid panegyric on the charatter
and talents of the Right Hon. and Learned Gen-
tleman (Sir IV. Scott) fo often alluded to in the
courfe of the difcuffion. He adverted to the great
difficulties, as well as the importance of framing
Legillative provifions to remedy the evils corn.
plained of, but though they could not do all the
good they withed, they fhould do all the good
they could ;—they fhould as far as in them lay
ameliorate the Statute of Henry VIII. by a ge-
neral bill. The Noble Lord adverted to a variety
of provifions which could in fuch a meafure be
introduced with the molt falutary effett. He allud-
ed to certain defcriptions of the Clergy whom he
thought fhould not be exempted from refidenez
on pleas which were at prefent held as adrniffible.
The confideration of how the Commons may after-
wards treat the bill, fhould not prevent them from
originating the meafure in that Hoare, in which
work he would be molt happpy to dna, as far as
the very little leifure his official duty afforded him.
Lord AUCKLAND role apain, and Paid, the No-
ble and Learned Lord's propofition to make non-
rcfnicnce a mifdemeanor, had entirely relieved his
mind from the ernharraffinents under which he had
laboured. His, Lordlhip repeated bis opinion, that
the Bill Ihould originate in that Houle.
The Loan Ceamcett.oa had no hefitation in
giving it as his opinion, that fuch a meafure as the
one alluded to, could not originate in that Houfe.
If it did, it would certainly be 101 l in the Houfe of
Commons ; and even if it fhould frit be brought
into the Commons, and afterwards fent up to that
Houle, ft might require Come amendments from
their Lerdthips, which would be equally fatal to
the bill. With refpett to the bill at prefent before
the Houfe, Le approved of it only as a matter of
temporary and immediate neceffity, hoping that
Tome effedual meafure would Ihortly be adopted:
but did not think that the amendment propofed by
the Learned Prelate, would, in any degree, acce-
lerate fuch a meafure.

Lord Pettiest contended, that they ought not
to rely upon the idea, that any individual. howe-
ver learned, was preparing a Bill. In his idea,
the heft way to have a proper Bill, refpalably
drawn and adapted to its obje& would be for the
Reverend Bench of Prelates to prepare a Bill and
introduce it.

The Bilhop of DURHAM faid, if the Bifhops
brought in a Bill upon Refidence, it might :ilea
with oppofition in the other Houle, from the idea
that they were invefting themfelves with new and
improper powers.
The Bilhnp of Sr. ASAPH, or. the afforance nF
the three Noble and Learned Lords, that they
would oppofe any future Bill of Sufpenfion, con-
fasted to withdraw his amendment.

The Houfc then returned. and the report was
ordered for to morrow.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Mr. JOHN Surrit brought up the minutes of the lichefter
Committee, which were ordered to be printed.
The Roman Catholic Bill wu mod a third time, and pato&
The following are the names of the Members on the reduced
Lift fora Committee to try the muiu of the Conceited kite-
Lion car Harwich.

W. Mitford, FN. Robert Holt Le;gh,
Charles Chaplin, Ffq. Hon. Ales. Cochrane
Marquis of Douglas Lord F. A. Spencer
Sir FL Inglis, Ban. Ruben Fellowes.
lion. John O'Neal Sir Robert Barclay, Bart.
Hon. John Scott Right Hon. T. Grenville
Thomas Everitt. FN.
Lord Vikount Dunlop; Hun. St. Andrew St. John, Nominees.
The Extrafts of the Minutes-of the Dunfermline Median,
fo tar as relate to James Trotter, were brought up, and or•
tiered to be printed.
Mr. Drees e s mewed for leave to hring in a 8.11 for erne-ling
a new Work•houk in the Pardh of St. Jame►, Weltmiutter.—
Granted.

The following are the Names forming the Committee to try
the Eledtion .1 Berwick on Tweed.

Thomas Ffteourt. Efq. Sir Robert Peele, But.
Hon. A. Atchefoo John Buller, Esq.
Hon. G.T. Bert-steed ohn Calvert. Efq.
Hon. Henry LakeliesSir Robert Buxton, Bart.
Wm. Odell, Efq. Albemarle B. rtic,
Lord Hervey Lord Kcntington
John 11.11dalson, Efq.
Hon. C. Grey ; Sir J S. Enikine, Nominees.
Sir JAMS/ P reported from the Carmarthen Coun-
ty Committee, that the Committee beg lease 'hey may adjourn
to Monday next, In order that the Counted and Agents on both
fides may make arrangements to accelerate the butincts.-The
Report was ordered to be brought up, and then
Sir pima' PU L 7 IN P.T stated, that both parties had agreed
on this, and the Committee were convinced the bufine(s won't'
be expedited by an arrangement, in ctiffing the witneffes, ate.
The Sr aaaaa tai i, th application depended on the precife
words of an AIR of Parliament, in wtukh the content of all
parties was abfolutely rifec:Tary. The Houfe would, therefore.
detemine .11 the Itaten.tnt they had heard.—l ease granted.
The Isla for Inercating the Rates of Slibbflence to Innkeepers
for gitartering was read a brit, and ceder:4 to be
real a lecoal tiaillC —.Adjuurt: