Star.
London, England, 1829-02-14 00:00:00

b

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, FHBRUAItY 13.
The Marquis of ANGLESEY presented a Petition from An-'
elesey against further concessions to the Roman Catholics. The
Nobloadarquis them produced his petitions in favour of those con.
cessions, which were from the Roman Catholic bahabitants of se.
veral parishes in the coeniy of Cork ; from the parish of St. Mary,
Dublin ; from Templemore; from Killagh (Cavan); from Drum-
ItOadre;- from Bailieborough; from Mayclone; Carrigone, Belli-
carry, Formatsagth Killethie;ll;lahallostri .--Twinty.four In all—To
be on the table.
. The Bebop of BRISTOLI in presenting a Petition from the
Clergy of the city and vicinity of Bristol, said, that a strong
sensation had been exalted In Bristol and its vicinity in consequence
of the announcement made respecting the Roman Catholic ques.
Men. Considering it as the second city In England, he conceived
that the prayer of the petition was well entitled to the favourable
• .consideration of the House. The petitioners stated that they could
' not conscientiously abstain from expressing to the House their sense
•et the danger likely to arise to the Constitution from the conces-
sion of political power to the Roman Catholics—they could not
allow themselves to be so indifferent to the spiritual and temporal
welfare of the rising generation, as not to approach the House with
the most earnest supplications that their Lordships would never
agree areapen the doors of Parliament to Roman. Catholics. These
were the sentiments of the petitioners. For his own part he had
merely to say that, from what he saw and had read of the Church of
Rome, he had no difficulty in asserting that he saw the utmost den-
get in admitting them to political power, at the same time that be
was not yet prepared to say that- he would offer opposition to the
measure about to be introduced by his Majesty's Government. He
thought it better to wait till that measure came regularly undet
their Lordships consideration.—The petition was read at length,
and laid upon the table.
• The Bishop of DURHAM presented a similar Petition from
the Deanery of St. Asapb.
'Me Bishop or GLOUCESTER preheated two similar Peti-
thous from the Bev. Deans and Clergy of two Deaneties in the
Diocese of Gloucester.
The Earl of WESTMORELAND then cote to present two
Petitiona—one of which was from NoithamptOn, and signed by
no less than 1,400 persons. Hi; Lateiship. said that they were per-
sons of the highest respectability, and. that their representaiiotu
well deserved their Lordships attention. Their prayer waa against
further concessions to the human Catholics( the object clearly being
to secure as completely as possible the integrity and safety of the
Protestant Establishment in Church and 3:ate. Now be thought
that he fully acted up to the principle on which the Petitioners
went lu deviating a little, in the present stare and temper of the
public, from the advice which they gave hint. The Petitioners,"
as he said, bad in view the preservation of the Protestant Eatab-
lishnieut, and sought to prevent the growth and increase's( Popish
power. For his own part, he thought that the present divisions
subsisting amongst the Protestants were infinitely more danger.
out to the Protestant interest than wets the direct attacks of the
Boman Catholics. He wished fur a temperate consideration of
the question, and for a fair inquiry into the state Of Ireland. The
great danger which he apprehended was the increase of Catholic
power, and it was therefore that be was not averse from a re-
view of the laws relating to them, in the hope that such an ar-
rangement might be made as would lead to the cordial union of
Protestants in defence of their common property—our admirable
establishments in Church and State. It was more from Noble
Lords opposite, and from the difficulties which arose in carry.
ing any great measure fur the improvement of Ireland, that be
apprehended danger, then from the mere review of the laws
ail. cling the Roman Catholics. Such were the divisions which
the unturtunate question created amongst Protestants, that his
Maj• sty's servants were actually unable to exercise the power of
the State, divided as they were upon that question. The Protes- '
tams were divided amongst themselves, and disunion brought its
natural concomitant weakness. An end to that ,was what he de-
sired to see ; and if any measure could be devised consistent with
the safety of the church, which should tend to the union of public
meta, he could not but regard it as calculated in its effects to curb
the power of the Catholics. He thought it possible to alter, with-
out diminishing the power of the Protestants; and he trusted it
would be tumid that a measure could be framed calculated at once
to allay clamour and impart security. It was not to be supposed
frortfihiat avowal that his opinions had undergone any change in
principk; le was still the opposer of Roman Catholic encroach-
ment ;. but he feared it in a form which it had not hitherto as-
sumed,• and he desired to see if there was any safe change that
could ward elf the impending danger. Mt. Peel had well said, that
Colic, sat,,,, to the Unman Catholics would be mort.injurious unless
accompai led by the acquieicence and consent of the people of
Etigl• t.d, foueded upon deliberate conviction. He, therefore,
thought it would be enfair towards his ;Majesty's Government not
to w.it and see what they intei.ded to propose before too decided
an opinion was pronounced. Ile at all times would be most anxi-
ous to support that, and that alone, which was fur the benefit of
the Prot. slant Constitution, the quiet, said strength of the empire.
The petitions were then brought up, and laid upon the table.
Earl Fl I ZW I ILIA Al presented three Petitions from parishes
in Wicklow, in Ireland. and one from a Congregation of Dissenters
in Iluil, praying for the removal of all civil and religious disabilities.
They were all laid Lyon the table.
Lord I:1:X ERSIIA M presented Petitions from Wrigshy and
horn Wenn, iu Vurk,hire, against concession to the
To lie on the table.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE said he bad •everal Petitions to
present on the same subject and breathing the same spirit—a spirit
which he could avouch tat prevail generally throughout the country
—a feeling that, from all the information he could obtain—and
his turreepond.tuce as well as personal knowledge was not very
limited—neas extremely strung; and he had no doubt that the per
Otioset coming to Parliament would prove to the full satisfactions(
the Noble Duke that a majority of the people were adverse to the
claims of the Roman Cada tins, and determined to support the
Protestant Constitution—tram every part of the country be learned
that there existed, without an exception, a degree of dismay, in-
dignation, and distrust, of which there existed no parallel; and be
therefore trussed that the Noble Duke would not hurry the mea-
sure wi bout giving the country an opportunity of manifesting the
extent of its apprehension and detestation of the proposed measure,
fraught as it was with the most direful consequences. He entreated
the Noble Duke to re consider his decision. He had been in the
.babit of doing such things, and it certainly would not be unworthy
of him to turtuagain —The petitions were then presented, read,
and laid upon the table ; amongst them were Petitions front the
Corporation of Barber-Surgeons, Dublin ; and from the Free-
holders of Mallock, Derbyshire—all against concession.,
The Earl of CLA RE presented Petitions in favour of Catholic
Claims from Castletown, Newcastle, and Kilmallock.—Oteiered to
lie on the table.
Lord SI DNIOUTH, in presenting a Petition from a place in
Oxfordshire, said that he still continued to entertain the opinions
which he had long and invariably entertained on the subject of
Cathelic Emancipation.
The ;Marquis of LA NS DOW N said he had several Petitions to
present, which were all to the same effect, viz. all in favour of Ca-
tholic Emancipation. 1 hey were from the Roman Catholic In-
habitants of various parishes in Westmeath ; from Thontrindiate,
in Limerick ; from Kilbridge, in Nleath; from Burns in-(bury ;
and from Johnstoten —Laid on the table.
Viscount LORTON presented Petitions from the Clergy of the
diocese of Elphin, and (ruin Killala, and three other places in the
• county of Mayo, against any further concessions to the Roman
Catholic,.
The Duke of RICHMOND presented similar Petitions from
the Linn and Chapter of Chichester, and from a parish in the
county of Sussex.
The Duke of DEVONSHIRE presented Petitions from his.
more, Rattan', Tallow, and Balligouff, county of Waterford.
praying for the repeal of the disabilities affecting the Roman
Catholics.