Star.
London, England, 1826-12-12 00:00:00

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THE CATHOLIO PET"

'ION.

,1

The follo6Ng %are the answers of the Marquis of
tinsdown and Sir E Burdett) to Mr. O'Gormaaton the
subject of presenting the general petition of the Catho-
lics of Ireland to Parliament

Loodea, Dee. i.

Sia—l had the honour to tetelve your letter of the 26th ult.
intimating the request of the Roman Catholics of Ireland that I
" "should take charge of their petition to the House of Lords, and this
morning's pest has brought me a Copy of the petition.
I am muck flattered by the wish whkh has been expressed. as
Well as by the obliging terms in which it has been conveyed by
you. .I shall be happy to present the petition, and am desirous of
adding, that none of the petitioners can be more convinced than I
am of the expediency of proceeding to a full discussion of its merits
In both Haloes of Parliament at as early a period of the session as
full attendance of members can be .jetted or procured.
I have the honour to be, Sir, &c.
LA NSI)OWN,

St. James's Plate, Nov 29.
Sts—l have just had the honour of receiving your letter con-
tenting the Catholic petition. I need not say how earnestly I
espouse the cause of the petitioners, as well on account of its justice
its on account of its policy, and as the only effectual means of putting
in end to enmity and ill blood on account of religious opinions
sassongst all classes filth Majesty's subjects. I remain, Sir, &c.
F. BURDETT.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
DOUSE OP LORDS, Dacastsaa 11.
The Dole of Manama= and Lord HOLLAND took the oaths
tot their seats.

MIS MAJESTY'S MESSAGE.
WAR WITH SPAIN.
Earl BATHURST brought down a Mesons from his Majesty,
nu the subject of aggression committed by the Government of
Spain on Portugal.—(Vide othcial cory in the House of Cons-
n ons' Report.)
The Message was read by the Loss Hum CH•oczu.oa.
Earl BATHURST, after the Royal Message had been read,
gave notice, that to-morrow be should move that an humble Ad-
dress be presented to his Majesty In answer to his most gracious
communication. The Noble Earl moved—" That their Lordships

be summoned for to-morrow."—Ordered.
Lord HOLLAND asked whether it was the intention of his
Majesty's Government to lay any more Papers on the table?
Earl BATHURST was not then prepared to answer in the
affirmative.

CORN LAWS.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE rose, for the purpose
of adverting to a motion he had made for Returns of
the Corn imported since the passing of the 3d of George
the Fourth to the present time. He had moved for
those Returns because he thought duties been taken
under the late Order in Council contrary to the 3d of
the King. The Noble Earl said, he understood the ports
had been opened for the importation of oats on the 15th of Novem-
ber, and since that period bonds had been taken for the payment
of two shillings the quarter, subject to the future decision of Par-
liament. He wished to know the fact, whether bonds had been
so taken; and on what authority?
Earl BATHURST said he was not prepared to an-
swer the Noble Earl's question on that occasion. He did not know
whether bonds bad or had not been taken in the manner described,
but when the ports opened the duties were taken according to the
averaTe price at that time.
The Earl of LAUDERDALE could not consider
the transaztion to which be had alluded legal, and hic
question was, on what authority were the bends taken?
The Noble Earl might think he took the opportunity
of putting questions to him in the absence of the Noble
L Ird at the head of the Tteasury, whose absence lie
must regret, as well as the cause of that absence; but
he was only anxious to obtain some information on the subject of
the intended regulation of the Corn Laws. His question was this :
was it the intention to alter the present system, by means of a pro-
hibitory duty, or was it intended to establish different prices at
Which importation might be allowed?
Earl BATHuitsr observed, that his Noble Friend
had stated on a former day that it was his intention to
bring forward a motion after the recess on the subject of the Cora
Laws, and that it would be inconvenient to introduce any partial
discussion on that subject. It was impussibk for him (Earl Ba-
thurst) under the present state of the question, to give the Noble
Earl the answer he required without bringing on a discussion.
The Earl of LAUDERDALE said, it was for his

Majesty's Ministers to give or withhold information,
but he should oppose in that House any measure cal-
. culated to injure the rights and security of the Agri-
cultural Interest.. The interest of Agriculture required
etch duties as would prevent importation. That was the only
principle on which the agriculture of the country could be protected.
The market price of corn in this country wou'd always be influ-
enced by the price in the foreign market, unless protection was
afforded by law.—No proposition which did not protect the api-
culture of the country could be supported.
The Marquis of SALISBURY said, whatever might be the
irish of persons, and the desire to obtain cheap bread, he thought
there should be laws to prohibit impartation until the price in this
country reached a probability of scarcity.
INDIMNITY BILL.

larl BATHURST stated, that the absence of his

Noble Friend, whose indisposition prevented his attend-
ance in Parliament, made it his duty to explain the
reason that induced his Majesty's Servants to issue an
Order in Council allowing Oats, &c. to be imported into
this country. The Noble Earl then detailed the causes
which had led to the adoption of the measure. Their
Lordships he said were aware, that the importation of
corn depended upon the averages at the different quar-
ters. These averages were regulated by the quantity
of grain. With respect to oats the crop last year was
deficient. In Ireland the crops were small. The crops
or potatoes also appeared bad, but they improved. In
Scotland the subsistence of the lower orders of people
Was scanty; it was the same in Lancashire and other
parts; the hay harvest was bad, and the farmer having
to provide folder for his cattle, there was an additimal
demand for oats on that account. Under all the cir-
cumstances, and consulting the interests of agriculture,
it was found expedient to admit the importation of oats.
His Majesty was advised to allow the importation of
Oats for home consumption, on payment of certain du-
ties, to be submitted to Parliament. Their Lordships
would see, that in case Parliament did not give their
consent, no duty would be paid. Parliament, by con-
senting to Ibis Bill, had allowed the duty. The next
question was, what was the duty ? It was 2s. per quar-
ter. Now, under existing Acts, the Importation of
Oats was to be prohibited until the market price was 275. If above
rts. and under Vb. a duty was expected of 4s. If it had been 275.
and under 211, on the 15th of November, the importer would have
been obliged to pay is. per quarter, by the Aet of 1822. If it bad
been above NW and under 50s. the importer would have paid in
proportion; and when his Noble Friend said bonds had been im-
properly taken, it was clear that persons were not called upon to
pay any increase of duty. The engagements into which they en-
tered was for their benefit. The Noble Earl concluded by moving
the third reading of the Bill.
The Earl of LAUDERDALE reminded the House,
that be stated on the first day of the Parliament, that
h. e would not join in the eulogy bestowed on the Order
is Council: He should not differ with the Noble Earl on
the necessity of the case. Parliament conceded last Ses-
mon,that in case of necessity the Government should be at
liberty to import 500,000 quarters, or any quantity of
corn. He should not oppose the Bill before the House,,

becanse he believed the Noble Lords had been most'
anxious to do that which was right. At the same time
the Noble Earl contended, that there was no necessity
for issuing the Order in Council. Did the Noble Lord
know that the Order in Council had been the means of
bringing Oats to this country at as increased price ? He had seen
letters from DantXic which stated that they could not send Oats,
because they expected something was to be done In the way of ad-
vantage. When the Order in Council appeared, they raised the
price 3s. The only effect of the Orders in Council was that of
making Oats dearer. In the Sd of George the IVth, there was an
express provision, that when Oats were at 285. for three months,
the duty should be Vs. more, but be bad not been able to find any
thing in that Act about £7s. to which the Noble Furl had alluded.
The fact was, the whole proceeding respecting the taking of bonds
was negatived by the 55th of di? late King.
The Bill was then read a third time, and passed.
Lord CALTHORPE presented a Petition from the Directors
of the Chamber of Commerce of Birmingham, praying fur revision
of the Corn Laws. After a few observations had been made by
the Noble Lord in support of the Petition, it was read and laid on
the table.

The Exchequer Bills' Bill, and the Transfer of Aids' Bill were
read the second time, and comnitted for t.-morrow.
The House then adjourned.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.

rive Members *ere sworn at the table.

A Person from the Office of Secretary of Bankrupts, presented a
Petition relating Bankruptcy.--Ordered to be printed.
Mr. F. WILSON presented a Petition from Crinton, in York-
shire, against further concessions to the Roman Catholics.
Mr. WILMOT-HORTON presented a Copy of the Third Re-
port of the Commissioners of Enquiry into the Administration of
Justicein the West Indies.—Ordered to be printed.
Mr. JOHN WILLIAMS, in presenting a Petition from a nu-
merous body of the operative Sawyers of Manchester, observed,
thit the effect of machinery upon their condition had been such,
that whatever might be thought of the general advantages it pro-
duced, it would require all the sternness of philosophy to disregard
the misery it had inflicted upon those unfortunate Petitioners. In
I consequence of the application of steam-engines to the sawing of
dasher, upwards of 500 of these poor men, who had previously been
enabled to support their families in comfort, had been reduced to
a state of wretchedness and privation. The prayer of the Petition
was, that such a duty might be laid upon deals and timber sawed
by steam as would equalize the price with that of deals and timber
sawed by the labour of man.—Ordered to lie on the table.
Sir H. PAR N ELL gave notice of a motion relating to Church
Rates in Ireland for the 19th February.
Mr. WARBURTON observed in:reference to the Petition just
presented by the Hon. and Learned Gentleman, that similar com-
plaints were made in every department of industry, and that they
could not be attended to unless they entirely lost sight of the interest
of the consumer and the general welfare of the country.
Mr. LUSH I N GTON moved for a new writ for the Election of '
a Member for the Borough of Saltash in the room of A. Spouts-
' woode Esq who had accepted the Chiltern Hundreds.
The SPEAKER informed the House, that Robert Smith, who
had petitioned that House complaining of an undue election for the
County of Westmeath, bad not entered into the recognizances re-
quired in order to his Petition being taken into consideration.
The SPEAK ER made also a similar communication with re-
spect to Peter Ryan and others, petitioners for the county and city
of Kilkenny; to Lord George Thomas Beresford, and to James
Paul Gee and others, petitioners for the county of Waterford.