Star.
London, England, 1828-04-22 00:00:00

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bot with those, he Alight say, who were most materially
mediately interested in supporting the Church—
ill* - he Resetend individuals who assisted the House
in its eliberatio ns—and he found that they werel
dis-
posed to approve the Bill upon the table, because the
paising of it would promote religious peace—(Hear).
Tis ans another and a very important groond on
which he recommended the Bill to the favourable con-
sideration of the House. He admitted that for about.
two hundred years the religious peace of the country
had been preserved ; but when Parliament was discuss-
ing the best means of preserving the Constitution of
th.e country, it surely was worth while to inquire whe-
ther any, and what changes, in what had been deemed
the securities of the Church, could safely be made.
'Vith regard to any objections to details, he, and no
doubt the House, would be most happy to attend to
the propositions of Noble Lords, the object being to
snake the plan as beneficial as possible. All he requested
was, that no unnecessary alteration should be made,
more particularly in the salutary spirit of the measure.
(Hear, hear.)
The Earl of HAREWOOD expressed hit surprise
that during the progress of the Bill through the other
House of Parliament so little repugnance was mani-
fested by the country. It appeared to him that both
thecOuntry and the Government had been taken by
surprise. He could no: ascribe the numerous Petitions
of the Dissenters, after an uninterrupted silence of 35
or 0 years, to any real feeling of oppression, and he
was utterly at a loss to account for them. He was de-
cidedly of opinion that a declaration might to be fronted
including an assent to the Christian religion.
. The Bishop et LLANDAFF was inclined to approve
of the amendment proposed in the existing law, as far
as related to the Church of England, and did not see
in what way tharof Scotland was involved in the Ties-
don. Our ancestors adopted such measures as they
-thought suited to the circumstances of their times; and
he could not agree with the Noble Baron (Holland),
that the Corporation and Te.t Acts were measures
adopted in haste, and in consequence of dissension.
Those measures were framed, it was true, in times of
danger, and the object was to guard against present
evils, and against a future recurrence of them ; but the
aspect of affairs had since totally changed ; the then
prevailing hostility to the Church. Establishment was at
an end, and the principles out of which the securities
arose now warranted their repeal. He admitted that',
the terms of the declaration required serious reflection,
and he was inclined to think that either an oath, or
phraseology equivalent to an oath, was preferable to
the form at present inserted in the Bill. The party
qualifying for office ought to promiseiaithfully to main•
tain the rights and privileges of the Church, and not
to employ the influence, power, or authority he might
thus acquire to assist in its subveriion. He was aware
that this was not the proper occasion for entering into
these details, and would therefore postpone further al-
lusion to modifications necessary for the Church and
`csseutial to the safety of the Bill. -
The Earl of HADDINGTON supported the Bill.—
He must contend, in opposition to the argument of the
Noble and Learned Lord, that the Church of Scotland
• was as inseparably connected with the Constitution of
Urea' Britain as the Church of England: The Act of
Union, which si cured the inviolability of the one Church,
• equally secured that of the other.- His opinion of the
: Church of England was, that no Church ever existed
which less required artificial security.
The Earl of ELDON admitted that he did say the
. .
Church and State formed the Constitution, but he did
not intend to exclude the Church of Scotland.
lb* gad of HADDING TON explained.
Lord COLCHESTER would vote for going into the
Committee. It was an oppression upon the conscience
. of a Clergyman of the Church of England to be liable
tta be ca.led on to administer the Sacrament to any
person whatever, without reference to his fitness. .He
-entirely agreed with the Right ltev. Prelate that the
declaration contained is the Bill was a sufficient pro-
' tection to.the Church. He thought it would be more
advisable for Parliament to determine finally in respect
. to what offices it should be required, than to leave this 1
• for the deterniina,ion of the Crown. .
Lord REDESDALE opposed the Pill, upon the
ground that it was incoosistent to require oaths and tests
from the Monarch, and yet to leave him at liberty to
appoint to all offices persons without reference to their
• religions opinions. . -
~.-. War Lordships then went into Committee on the Sill, the Earl
tiLiimaresamlor in the Chair,. . The Preamble baying been read--
. es the clam emit* the declaration on the taking of once,
The Earl of ELDON Moved as in•amendment, that
thine persons, being members • of the Church of Eng-
. laud, who, on taking office before the Bill, may have
taken the Sieramental Testelhould not be required to
make the declaration proposed in the Bill.
The Earl of CLARENDON thOught the Noble and
Learned Lord% Amendment -unnecessary ; not that be
'conceived any Noble Lord could' object to make ' the
. , Declaration ; but as it was the object of Ministers 'land
of Parliament to preserve the religious peace of:the
, . country, he mast object to the clakise as creating a'dii-
tinction between the Prorestatit middle Dissenter which
• .
was calculated to disturb that pitsee. He wished that
'there should be no difference made between the M'eni-
' hers of the Church of England and the' issenters. The'
. latter gave the House a solemn assurance that they
. would not use the ix wee of Office to injure the Esta
. -. blished Church. The those ogito depend on that'
assurance, and loot W1044E214 misting difficUlties,.
nor to widen the irruraidistisitiOns,butvather to place
• • . the Members of the Church and-the Dissenters on the
arise religious footine in regard to-the State:
• ~____. The Earl of H A RROWBY was of opinion that' the
" ,-No_lite and Learned Lord (Eldon's) A mendment *was'
- ' 4:::.• 'dui. el tele.. s but he rejoiced that the Noble Lord bad
i
* d it, en account of the bearing t would haienn
• .tr•
uture parts of the question? - The Noble and Learned
"'Lord had said it was hard to require those who had
taken the Sacramental Test td Make the declaration.—
.` Now, that mode of argument involved *We Concession
`• • that the Declaration was a greater iectirlif than the
' Sacramental Teit—for if the Sacramental Test was a
1
- ..
, stronger measure, what objection could the taker of it
..litre to make the Declaration proposed-inihe 'Bill ? . '
. " • The Earl of ELDON thought the declataiioi in itelf
'''. ridiculous as a security, but the object of hit-atieudmini
...•
was, not to exempt the Dissenters frorntaking that do:
' . - elire ton, such is it.was, but to except those takers of
•••• • • .51
Gime, who being of the Church of England, hid taken.
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• , . ,
Are Sacramental Test before that, on accessiotrto a for-
s* office, as in the case of such persons, •thelsre.. vioui
.'4...rtaking of the Sacramental Test ought to lit'corisidered-
' 4 sufficient security....
• ''''"The Bishop of CHESTER contended,ihietbe Noble'
-.4t- NM Learned Lord was not consistent in irk present
.ssts , • ~
puree. The Noble and Learned Lord hairs the-outset
u:',ensided-the Sacramental Test, yet now by present
his
iv.arise rislment that same Noble and Learned Lord would'
--escempt persons acquiring office from taking any Test'
,
.at- an.. it was -well known that few Dissenters coinmud.
cased with the Established Church, and when any of
them came to communicate, the Clary knowing that

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titsoiljes- ' • "r 1
efirt ktpotifachyal colltellunfoo , D 6 re.igiout .ee
ing; mast necessarily hatatialtiei7 tailiatantly on the
occasioni
the Earl.or ETAION ibetendgliitirgewas as eon:.
sistent as OW Noble and Re verend Prelate. The object
of his intendment was this—suppose a Noble Person,
such as the Noble and, rend Prolate, to.have taken
the Sacramental Test o his first accession foal:ace, 'then
'suppose "the 'sage Noble and•lieverend prelate tobere
moved to a. higher station than the
,present•A laugh)
—his (Lord Eldon's) amendment went to exempt such
Reverend person from the necessity of making the de-
claration, as the Sacramental Test which he may have,
formerly taken outfit to be held a sufficient-security.
The Bishop of CHESTER did not think it fair in the
Noble and Learned Lord to imagine a hypothetical
case, where there was no foundation for it in matter of
fact. As to the supposed change of situation to which
the Noble and Learned Lord had alluded, the declare-
firm did not apply at
sell, inasmuch as no'test was re-
quited of the persons (Bishops) on whom the Learned
Lord's hypothesis was directed.
After a short mutual explanation between the Learned Lord and
the Rev. Prelate, the Amendment was put to' the tote, and nega-
tived without a division.
On the teadlogof the next clause imposing the declaration,
Lord REDESDALe. declared the clause was ridi-
culous, The House was acting in
,direct opposition to
the Act of Settlement, by which the succession to the
Crown was limited. The present Bill was an absolute
absurdity. The House had bound the King by an oath
to be a Protestant; yet, by this Bill, they allowed every
one of his Officers to be of a different religion. That
was the entire object of the Bill.
The clause was then passed in the sifirmative.—.-On the clause
containing the declaration,
The Duke of WELLINGTON proposed as an amend-
ment, that, after the words " I do solemnly," should be
inserted the followirg words, st and sincerely, in the
presence of ALMIGHTY GOD, profess and testify."
The Bishop of LLANDAFF moved that, to the fore
going amendment, should be added the words, " and
on the faith of a Christian." Besides, as the Church of
England was connected with the Constitution, it was
but right to require of persons taking office in the State
to uphold the rights and privileges of the Established
Church without reservation.or scruple. Fur this reason
he should propose the introducti^n of the following
words into the declaration—" In all that concerns the
office which I take I shall respect and maintain the
rights of the Established Church in this kingdom."
The Earl of CLARENDON suggested that one
amendment should be disposed of before the other
should be proposed.
The Marquis of LANSDOWN said that it was com-
petent for the Reverend Prelate to put his motion as an
amendment on that of the Noble Duke (Wellington).
Lord HOLLAND stated, that though he saw no
nucessity for any alteration of the declaration as it stood,
he had no objection to the amendment proposed by the
Noble Duke.
After a few words from the Bishop of LANDAYY,
The Earl of ELDON said, he intended to move that
in place of the words "I declare," the words " I swear"
be substituted; he should also propose that the maker
of that Declaration should state that he believed in the'
DIVINE authority of the New Testament, and promise
that he would not use his office for the purpose of
injuring the rights and privileges of the Protestant
Church; yet on the general question he was convinced
that after the total repeal of the Indemnity Acts, the
Declarations even on oath would go for nothing. By
the rights and privileges of the Established Church be
intended to specify the rights and privileges of the
Bishops and the Clergy.
Lord TENTERDEN was of opinion that the amend-
ment of the Noble Duke might be well considered se
paratele from the others. The words proposed by the
Negate Duke should precede the declaration whatever it
might be; they would impart greater solemnity to-the
declaration. As to the form of the declaration, be (Lord
Tenterdeu) entirely disseived from it.
The question was then put on the Duke of Wellington's Amend-
ment, anti carried in the alEimative.
On the next Amendment, namely, the introducing the words
and" 1 declare on the faith of a Christian," muck confusion ix-
cerred;from the circumstance of several Peers siring to speak at
the same moment.
The Earl of ELDON said, that he did not think the
declaration, as amended, sufficiently solemn. He should
then. lot e move that the word " declare" be left out, and
the word " swear" be substituted.
Lord GREY thought that the House should divide
on the amendment of the Noble Lord, whether the word
swear should be introduced after protest and testify, be-
fore they coold 'come to that of the Noble Bishop, for
the introduction of" on the faith of.a Cluistian."
The Bishop of LL A NDA FF said that the word sweat
did not meet the intention of his amendment. His ob-
ject was, to introduce a declaration 'which cou:d only
be made by a Christian.
Lord TENTER DEN thought that the proper course
was to put the question, whether the woid swear should
be substituted for declare?
Lord ELLENBOROUEIH thought the House 'was
wandering altoge.her from the original question. They
were introducing amendments which were totally
unnecessary, and could only tend to render the question
extremely difficult. He would beg their Lordships 'to
consider, what were' he practical disabilities under which
the Dissentershad laboured for the last seventy or eighty
years. Had they not,in.reality, been permitted to enjoy
the benefits of the constitution without taking the
Sacramental Test? They, now came forward at the
end of nearly a century, during which they had proved
their loyalty *to be unquestionable, and claimed their
right to the enjoyment of those privileges; not by An-
nual Acts of indemnity, but by the total repeal of those
Acts,which they justly considered were insulting and de-
'grading. His (Lord E: s) wish was to conciliate ; to esta-
blish that religious peace to which' the Noble Duke had
referred. He would show all that loyal body, that the
Legislature were determined to extend to them their
confidence and protection. For this reason, he would
vote for the Bill as it at present stood.- He intreared
their Lordships not to be led step by step, so as to alter
altogether the nature of the 13i11—(hear)—not to' convert
a measure which was intended as an act of grace into
one which would display in every line jealousy and sus.
'Ficion. It was true that many amendments had been
imposed; to the nature of which it was impossible to
object; but be would oppose them because he considered
'them unnecessary—for instance, the Declarationot the
:Noble Bishop on the faith of a Christian, was one wbich
'no one could refuse to take, but did it not •esaaress
doubt andjealousy of those who had shown themselves
,undeserving' of auspitiOn for the last century?' There
was -sufficient • s'ecuiity at present against permitting'
'those to hold offices *kb were professedly hostile tO: re.
.I!genni -Bribe Act of•the oth and 10th of Willianitl3,
any- person who professed'a belief in more Gobs than
one, or denied the truth or divinity of ••theScriptifies,
was immediately obliged, on the professtion• ot• such
belief, to retire from any office which he' might hod in
the State. This he (Lord E.) considered ittSeleht to
meet every objection which might be made; security
on security had been already given ; and why, he weld

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seat is: coo,rers a measure *eke wee weeded:ileac ran concessions which had been made in the same si, .
'itiCulor , The Earl of WINCHELSEA then waived that tl
,'not 'fire the purpose of
.objeetln, g fo.O
s‘ct or grieve, into one IX knifed:en snap insnl.r? -ilei With which they had been given.
ds is in the presence of ALutonvi Goo, and of E
to defeat the intention of th& Bill. The Earl of LAUDERDALE objected tis the intertio
'The Bishop of LLANDAFF explained. The
eliebdinent, but merely to. m enet their any aihfdships npi.:
Ala-gisarS DS 'our SAVIOUR 3esus Cnatsee' be insetted.
ration which he proposed to insert, certainly or -the- words 14 as published by authority ;" the recta,
b& said Up exclude those who were not of the Church o
sign was so vague that it might mean any thing.
The B'sh I CHES•I'ER suggested that the word
• Wald e and ifften they were willing to make sat.
might Ire-ea belief irtlft&teri pt °rev= heir: 3-the Old an
cdncesaions .as werecontained in the Bill at present
could twill.' . ,
0p 0
Amendment to a
New testainenteeesie received be the Prottitant Churl
pt ion
whichion but n
o Christian reasonable
The Earl of WINCHELSEA referred to the amen
w be the revelled WOrkof Gore
beta gate House,inreturnit
could object. *awdeclaration
' Thelltil of MALMESBURY expressed his concur- The Bishop of•CHES•PER expressed his hope that
ranee in the clause, inasmuch as it appeared to him to ment he had tteproeose, when
strengthen the security of the Church; and to exclude .
division; as he would oblige the Right Rem. Prelates to
the Unitarians and others, whom he did not consider as the Noble Earl would not press his
vote against it, a circumstance which, on 'tech at subject,
Dissenters or as Christians. would be unpleasant to Aherne The Herne
Lord TENTERDER thought the Act did not make much, as possible to. abstain . from dogrrene
a sufficient-distinction between. those who bad in their thought it could not but satisfy every considers,
hands-the government oltotriss corporate; and persons bee of the Established Church, if each perenn -
holding offices of another description. This distinction to fill any publieoffice, were called upon to
was recognised in the two Acts which by the present .belief in the• Scriptures, received by the
Bill it was intended to repeal. He thought it desirable Church. as the ground of his faith.
that members of corporations should be either members The Earl of WINCHELSEA- said, his object
of the Church of England, or persons who had no exclude from offices of all kinds persons Who
objection to attend the service of that Church. wining to express their belief in the funtleunent;
The Earl of HARROWBY differed in opinion from trines of our faith. .
the Noble and Learned Lord. He thought that if any The Earl of CARNARVON said, if th en .
danger Were to be apprehended, it would be greater in should, in an evil hour. adopt the ameniessiele
the case of perions filling other offices in the State, than ' Noble Duke, he for one should oppose the
in the case of officers or members of corporations. He 'case, instead of providing for the safety of
contended that the Test and Corporation Acts were the House would bedeclaring that the Serie OM'
never intended to confine the qualification for office to •be received•according to some • established
bona fide members of the Church of England; for when it was well known that opon the doctrines l't
the latter of these were passed, there were fifte•four there were a vast variety of opinions.
Dissenters in the House of Commons, fifty-two of Lord CALTHORPE said, that she held
whoni bad recently taken the Sacrament according self the best security—that security which
to the forms of the Church of England. He did not the value of her articles, the purity of her
object to the Declaration, but at the "same time, he those Scriptures which formed the boasted
should have been free from apprehension if the Bill had of her faith... Fors this reason he would
passed in its original shape. The protection of the better pleased if the Bill bad been adni.
Church of England was the excellence and purity of her simple form in which- it was sent up Flom
doctrines, and the learning and virtue of her Prelates elcuse. The Established Church was now
and Clergy. Would it be inconsistent in any man, after ophainn of all classes—and at no time war
taking the Sacrament in the Church cf England on the cordially hailed by the Dissenters—and fin
Sunday, to sign a Petition to Parliament for the abOli- plies which it drew from the Universities, i
Lion of Episcopacy on the Monday ? Ile did not believe to stand higher than ever in the estimation o
it would. The declaration said in express terms, what He considered, therefore. that it required
could only be inferred by a forced inference from the It should be remem'sred that; in the other
acceptance of the Sacramental Test, that the person the dissenters Might be supposed to have so
accepting office would not employ the.influence of his the Bill bad passed with a large minori I
office to the injury of the Church. He did not, however, while in this House, where no such cheer nst
attach much importance to declarations; when the oc• exist, and where the• Heads of the Chur. rh
casion arose, when* the passions were etched, and the supposed to have considerable weight, the
judgment warped, they-seldom proved a very effectual received with cordiality almost amounting .
restraint upon the conduct of men. He hoped the declaration would be so ce, tali
The Bishop of DURHAM said that the omission of to destiny the twofold benefit that might ii re
any declaration of belief in Christianity had excited a benefit to iT.e.t)issenters and to the Establ i
alarm in marry minds. He regretted that the Noble Lord REDESDALE said, that ever)
Earl should have supposed that a desire had at any that had been proposed appeared to him
time existed in the Church to depend upon legislative matter worse. The law supposed that
enactments f. tees et pport. officer was a member of the Established
The Earl of HA It ROW BY, in explanation, said, that surely then the better way of • determine
he had not in the least intended to reflect on the Bench would be by the administration of the Sec,
of Bishops ; for, on the contrary, he thought that by the than by questioning about particular
course that Body had generally adopted, they had shown would be preferable that each candela
the spirit of concession, which he was not only glad, should thus show himself to bee member I
but had expected to find amongst them. The' Duke of WELLINGTON said, A
moved the insertion of the clause which I
The Earl of CARNARVON opposed the Amend- the House, he bad hoped it would be r
meut. The Le
gislatute had already gone much too far
unanimity ; but he feared this would not be
in the multiplication of oaths. he was aware it was.objectionable as rega
The Bishop of CHESTER reminded their Lordships, of the army and navy. It was not now
that by the Amendment of the Noble Duke the decla- explain why; but by his amendment,
ration now contained the words in the presence of Ale Catholic Officers might be excluded froms
suottev Gon. He did not think any additional solem• He would therefore propose the insertion ot-
nity necessary. prehensive sentence, which he conceived
The Earl of ELDON briefly replied: the declaration quite as much the effect he desired. The Om
was not a declaration by any means that the patty would meant to insert were, after the word" dell.;
make no attempt to invade the rights and privileges of the tine faith of a Christian"
the Bishops acrd 'Clergy of England, which was included A desultory conversation then arose as to the pa
in the Oath they imposed upon the King on his Corona. porno: the amendment of the Earl of Winchelse• a ,
tion, although they now said, that to require an Oath :reintegiaariett Axe. Nwobastr .4
EauS Ws admethnda t
nt
thecomin n dgl'oei
'k
from any other man, was a degradation to him. The future stage of the 130 or be proposedtoac ilsfrisoi
Annual Acts of Indemnity were not in opposition to the "declare."
principle of the Corporation and Test Acts ;on the con- Earl GREY said, the object of the eirohl
trary, they recognised and perpetuated that principle, to obtain au acknowledement of the 1)1'
senile at the same-tune they were acts of .neace, inciem• &moult, which, as the House had decided ,
nifying the Dissenters so long as that could be done the word "declare," could not now come in
with security. - He had been toe long accustomed to word. He thought the better plan woub
the administration of justice not to be sensible of the the sense of the. House upon the amendreveni
difference upon men's minds between an oath and a by the Noble Duke, that the words es upon
simple declaration. a Christian," should follow the word •" &
The Bishop of BATH and WELLS preferred a his mind, however, it would have been better
Declaration to an Oath. He was anxious that this Mee- the Test and Corporation Acts, and more
sure of peace should pass in the -spirit of peace; at the vantage of the Established Church to have
same time he trusted it would not be taken as an un- them, resting for its security upon the -
kindness towards the Dissenters if he said that he thought doctrines, and the examples of the lives ,
se'rne words recognising Christianity, such as these, "In ters; these would have been better sear
the name of our LORD and. &imam Jesus celesta any which the Legislature could have prof
should be-introduced. It would be disgraceful to this such securities the Church of Ireland I
Heuse, and to a Christian Legislature, if such words that Church was not exposed to any dot
ts ere objected to. _ it were so exposed. it was only by a series of
The Marquis of LANSDOWN opposed the amend- laws which made the greater portion of tei ,
ment, and in a speech of considerable length supported that country enemies of the Established CI
confessed that the
the principle of the Bill. He thought the Declaration anxiety which the Noble .
as now very properly amended by the clause of the head of his Majesty's Government had m.
Noble Duke, was• sufficient, and Noble Lords who meet this question fairly and liberally hi'
creased his confidence in the Noble Duke's
thought otherwise appeared to forget that this was a
tion
Declaration added to many oaths now administered to .He thought that means might be found b
persons taking office, by virtue of Acts of Parliament reconciling all parties; and he considered that the Noblyl,
already in force, and in all of which the belief of Chris- Duke had judged well in deeming it inconvenient ".
press his first amendment, and that the wads eup t
tianity was distinctly included. As this was the case,
the faith of a Christian" would be far preferable.
he thought the simplicity of the preient Declaration one
0- its greatest recommendations. He begged to remind felt that it would be more likely to pass the Babe'.
Ireland previous to the French Revolution, and as no unanimity. The Noble Doke could now put his ante!
meat, which might perhaps satisfy the Noble Earl,
evil consequences had resulted from their repeal in that
country, he thought that no danger could result from whose proposition he (Earl Grey) would decidedly
a similar measure in England. He denied that these ject, as destroying the objects of the Bill.
Acts of exclusion were any part of the Constitu- The Bari of SHAFTESBURY then pot the quest;on art,
tion. - The means devised by Parliament to support ,d
amendment,rei„ of the Duke of Wellington, viz, that a 7te- t''e !
the words " upon the true faith of a Clizitt,Llit, .
the Constitution, were not a part of the Constituion. inserted.ec
But it was a fundamental past of the Constitution Lord HOLLAND sai •d, he would hare preferred '4
chat every man who bore allegiance to the King, the Test and Corporation Acts should have beta
was free to serve under that King. The King was pealed without d •
any declaration, or, at all events, se j
the head of the Church, and in constant communion as simple a declaration that '
b as inserted
in the Bill eta
with it, and this was its best security, and not exclusive was sent
up y the other House of Paltament, to
declarations',O.
or teas, which were only vain artificial he felt no objection, and whichet ob.ected :0'
props to what derived its strength from the depths to any, either in the House
" i '' ' '''
or out of the House. .t)•,.
which it struck its-roots in the affections of the l peop e. I'n g that the amendment now proposed by the )0.
. Mt.-Howe theidivided upon the question that the word " de. Duke met the approbation of their Lordships, 1.:. 1
dare" wand part of the Bill. disposed to acquiesce •
in it so far as not to pr s' viy r
Caetenteett—Non-Contents, 100—Majority against the Amend-
meat, 68.
position, although he could not have the pleasuto
saying " con " tent.
On our readmission
to the Bar, we found that the The Earl of ELDON wished the House to rerolle
Duke of WILLIXGTOX hod proposed an amendment to
the effect that each person making the declaration that before the Noble Dul:e had intimated an! int
tion of moving this amendment, he (Lord Eldon)
should also declare his belief in the Old and New Tes-
tament, as published brenthority. pressed his desire of moving the insertion of word'
the same effect• to which considered that no I
TheArehbiskoppf.PAßlC was addressiagehe House. e•
h
!want, whether Dissenter or not, could object. It a
He felt the greatest satisfaction at the result which had indeed, his intention to have proposed the words svh.
tak
en lace and he p 0 hoped the Dissenters would receive the Noble Duke had withdrawn, He would absu

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from so doing now ; but if, upon looking into the Act.
he iound that no inconvenience would arise from it, lie
would so do on the bringing up of the Report. It wts
sea Ili, intention to off r any opposition to this amend•
n; ; but *hen the Report was brought up, he would
spin move the amendments he had himself proposed,
not •ith a view to lead to a debate, but for the purpose
of wording nn the Journals of the House that be did
make ~,ct, and such motions.
The ameedesent of the Duke of Watuncrion was thee carried
without e
'roe E • f WINCHELSEA then moved, that after,
the „olds of the Noble Duke's amendment should be
inserted the words—" and upon the faith I hold in our
lonD and SAvouti Jesus CHRIST."
Atice a few words from the Bkheip of I.4ANDATIP. the House
divided on this amendment, when the numbers appeared—
Contents, 1S; Non-contents, 113.—Majority, 98.

On our rea,frnission we found Lord TENTERDEN
addressing the House, on the clause respecting the
Chief Magistrates of Corporate Towns. The Noble
Lard ob.erved, he fully subscribed to all that had been
• said with reference to the importance to be attached to
the E-tabli-bed C.iurch. Human institutions must be
maintained by human means. Tire Church of England
was,and ought to be su ppor lc „I as pas t of theeonstitution,
and all that could elevate it in the eyes of the people wa►
important to its interests, and to the interests of the court-
try—all that upheld its dignity and gave it consequence
should be attended to. So long as we have a Church
Establishment, so long should we continue to do all
that were calculated to induce people to become parties
to it, or, at least. to treat it with reverence. He would.
therefore. pro ose that there be added to this clatre the
words. " That t entet tain no opinion on the subject of
religiirn, wr ich can prevent me from attending morning
and evening service, according to the ritual of the
Church of England."
After a few observations from the Bishop of CIIMID, Lore
Tonsevi, and Lord HOLLAND, the House divided on the Amend.
tent, when the numbers appeared
Contents 22—Non Contents M.—Majority 89.
Po oar readmission, we found the Earl of LAUDERDALE
proposing that the words" within this realm" be omitted, and the
words England and Wa:es be inserted.
After a few words from the Bishop of CHESTER, the Amend.
pent was agreed to.
The Bi,hop ..f CHESTER said, that as Dissenting
Churches were in some sense established by law, he
thought that all subterfuge would be avoided by the
adoption of the words 4i the Episcopal Church."
The Marquis of LANSDOWN said that although
the declaration was clearly meant to refer to the
F,piscolral Church and to no other, he could have no
objection to the suggestion of the Right Rev. Prelate;
but as it was now too late to propose it, it might be
done no the b,inging up of the Report.
The Earl of ELDON moved, that after the word "disturbed,"
the words "said Church of Bishop and Clergy thereof " be Inserted
—Agreed to.
The Earl of ELDON referred to the two last clauses but one
et the 13111; to which it would be impossible for him to do justice
to night.
The discussion on those clauses was therefore postponed until
the bringing up of the Report.
The Bill then went through the Committee ; the House resumed
—the Bill was ordered to be printed, and the Report to be brought
aP oo Thursday.
Their Lordships adjourned at a QUANTED !AU Timex o'Casce.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Mr. Saint, from the Chancery Office, presented Returns from
two of the Masters in Chancery.
Mr. SHIRLEY presented eight Petitions from different places
is the county of Monaghan, against the Roman Catholic Claims.—
Ordered to be printed.
Mr. R. COLLILLR N: presented a Petition from a Parish in
Cumberland in favour of the Roman Catholic Claims.—Ordered to
be printed.
Sir BY AM MARTIN presented a Petition from the Mayor,
ht. of Plymouth, against the Licensing of Alehouses.
Sit B. M A RTIN also presented a Petition from the same Body
avinsi the present Stamp Receipts.
Mr. Alderman WA urn MAN gave notice, that be should to-
morrow (this day) presents Petition relative to the losses sustained
by Government Annuities.
]lr. AIOOIIR gave notice, that be should on Thursday next
present a Petition from the Mayor and Corporation of Dublin
against the Itontan.C.stliplie Claims.
Mr. FY LER presented a Petition. from the Silk Weavers at
Taunton, relative to the depression in the Silk Trade.—Ordered to,
be printed.
Mr. Alderman WOOD presented a Petition from some Parish
la the Worth Riding of Yorkshire against the Importaticn of Lead
Ore—Ordered to Ile en the table.
Sit M. W. RIDLEY presented a Petition from the Roman
Catholics of Whittingham, in the county of Northumberland, in
favour of the Catholic Claims.—Ordered to.lie on the table.
The SOLICITOR • EN ERA L presented a Petition from the
physicians and Surgeons belonging to the Medical and Chirurgical
Society of Lotian, praying the House to inquire into the diffi-
pities that attended Students in Anatomy.—Ordered. to lie an the
Table.

Colonel CHICHESTER presented a Petition from the Roman
Catholics of some place in the County of Wexford, in favour of the
Catholic Cbinis.—eOrdered to be printed.
Colonel CHICHESTER likewise. presented a Petition from a
hlifik in the County of Susses, relative to this Wool Trader-
Osetted to be printed.
tatanote warms.
Mr C MORGAN presented four Petitions from Benefit Societies
held is the To of Newport, County Monmouth. against the
palest Friendly Sopieties BEIL--Referred to the Committee of the
aid Bill
Mr. EGERTON presented a similar Petition from Stockport.
Refund to the Cenunitteee.
Mt. 1113 RNA I. presented a Petition to the unit effect from a
Society in High Holborn, which bad been in existence 114 years.—
lteletted to the Committee.
Mr. DAVENPORT presented two similar Petitions from the,
County of Chatter.—Referred to the Committee. •
lie. J. WOOD presented five similar Petitions from Prestos:ow
Referred to the Committee.
Sr G. ROBINS presented twelve Petitions to the same of
kom Northampton.—Referred to the Committee.
Mr. Alderman W AITHhIAN presented two similar Petitions
1411 the County of Chester.— Referred to the Committee.
Mr. DUN DAS presented eight Petitions to the same effect front
'Pyle ).—Referred to the Committee.
FYLE it presented a similar Petition (tom Coventry.oot
Referred to the Committee.
Mr. Alderman THOMPSON presented Ave Petitions from
lnetttgy Societies in London.—kisferred to the Committee.
lie. Alderman WOOD presented three Petitions to the same
'fort from Cheshire.— Referre,: ,o the Committee.
Mr. LEN NAIAD presented two Petitiefll from the County of
leffolk to the some effect.—Referred to the Committee.
Mr. T. P. COURTEN AY pr.:z-n.ted a Petition from a Friendly
Ronny sailed the Smilers—'Laughter}—a. Society held in the
Imo of Stockport, in Cheshire, against the Bill for regulating
'fluidly Societies.
lir. F. BARING presented a similar Petition from the United
lonely of Shipwrights.
Mr. LEYCESTER presented two Petitions to the same effect
treat Alverstock, Hants, end from a Society held at the 11at.41 in
Hand, in Frederick-street, Potties. The Hon. Metab.or oll.zrvcd
lie the principal objections of the Petitioners to this Bill were
isond,•ci spots the clauses which compelled them to refer their db.
Mel to a Megistrete, tweed of settling them under their own
titration Laws. and those which meddled with the management of ,
lint funds. The objections to them seemed so strong among the
linens most interested in the question, that he hoped the Hon.'
Itemiser would withdraw his Hill for the moan Session.
isr FRANCIS BURDETT presented two Petitions on the
ttisse sehject, from Societies held at the Old George ht Drury-lane,
sad the !Ulf Moon and Seven Stars, Stanhope-street, Clare-market..
• Tine Petitions were referred to the Committee upon the
CORPOitATIoII OF LUDLOW: •
Sir FRANCIS I:II3RDETI presented a Petition
hem the inhabitants of Ludlow, in Shropshire, corn-.
ihining of the proceedings of the Corporation in' the
conduce of an Appeal before the House of Lords, and
choging the Earl of Powis and Lord Redesdale with
improper conduct upon the subject of that Appeal. The
114ronrable Baronet, alter observing that he conceived
one part of this Petition to involve questions of con-
tiderable imisortaoce, read a portion of the Petition,

vrltich explained the grounds of the Petitioners' corn-
pl lira. It appeared that for some considerable time
past, the burial ground of the Borough of Ludlow has
been so completely filled with bodies, that many of the

c fans appeared above the surface. and corpses were dog
up scarcely half decomposed. The inhabitants applied
to the Corporation, which consists of a body of Alder-
_

men and 25 Common Council, praying them, as they
were in pos,ession of all the lands of the Borough, and
intrusted with the trusteeship of those lands for the be-
nefit of the borough and its inhabitants, to grant a
portion of land as a receptacle for the dead. That
prayer the Corporation refused, and the inhabitants then
required them to surrender the burial ground, and site
of a Chapel in the town, which hid been left to the
inhabitants for their use and benefit by a townsman.

The Corporation refused this request also, and let the
ground for a term of 99 years to one of their own
body, at a rent of one pound fourteen shillings a
year. The inhabitants immediately commenced legal
proceedings against the Corporabon, and under the au-
thority of that Act, called Sir Samuel Romilly's, the late

Sir Thomas Plumer, then Vice-Chancellor, decided in

favour of the inhabitants, declaring the case to be one of
the most flagrant he had met with. It came out after.

wards, howeirer, after a consultation with some eminent
lawyers, that this decision of the Vice• Chancellor could

not be maintained, because the proceedings ought iict to
have been taken under S r Samuel Romaly a Act, but
by information, and upon an appeal to the House
_ _

of Lords the judgment was reversed. The Petitioners.
now complained—first, that the funds of the borough
had been used in tedious and unnecessary litigation;
and next. that the Earl of Powis had improperly inter-
fered with the Appeal while before the House of Lords;
and that the Ein of Redesdale had seen the briefs of

Counsel, and had been otherwise consulted upon the
subject of the Appeal, he being to pronounce a decision
upon it. On these grounds, And as the Petitioners had
a strong belief the tesponde(:ts in the Appeal had been
tampered with, they prayed the House to institute

. .
inquiry into the whole of the proceedings. The Hon.
Baronet having moved that the Petition be brought up,
it was read at length.
Lord CLIVE, in rising to say a few words upon the
subject of this Petition, expressed his regret that th-
Hon. Baronet had not mentioned the subject to him
before he came down to the House, as it would have
saved much time, and enabled hint to make inquiries
for a more sati,factory explanation. As tar, howeve,,
as his Noble Relation, or the Noble Lord who had
been mentioned (Lord Redesdale) was conceined, he was
sati•fied that they had no objection to the fullest and
most rigid inquiry. After observing chit the Chapel,
which had been for some time in a slate se ruinous, as
to make it the subject of presentment for a nuis-
ance, the Noble Lord proceeded to enter into a
history of the proceedings, as detailed in the Petition.
It being the opinion of Sir Anthony Hatt and others,
as well as of the late Ltd Gifford and Lord Lynd-
hurst, that the appeal ought to be lodged, hi, Noble
Relative (the Earl of Powis) felt it his duty, as Re-
corder of the Borough of Ludlow, to make inquiries
into the truth of the allegations brought against the
Corporation; and in doing so, he had certainly held
some conversation with Lord Rxdesdale, as to the pro.
priety of maintaining the appeal. It was t e opinion
of that Noble Lord, as well as of others, that the deci
sion of Sir Thomas Plumer was erroneous, and it was
constqoently reversed ; but he pledged himself to
prove, that there w as no ground for the complaints of
the Petitioners, or for the imputations of corruption
which had been cast upon his Noble Relative. The
Noble Lord concluded 4 intimating an opinion, that
this Petition had Leen got up by the Agent or the
Steward (as W e understood) of the Gentleman who had
rately presented a Petition against the return of the

sitting Member for Ludlow.
Sir JOSEPH YORK E complained that the Noble
Lord had made no observation upon the subject of the
people of Ludlow b:ing without a burying-ground.
Lord CLIVE did not speak of that, becau-e it might
seem that he wished to pi aise his Noble Relative. The
tact was, that the inhabitants claimed the chapel and
burial.ground as being parochial, and the Corporation
contended it was private, Ind that the palish had no
right to it whatever. His Noble Relative had, under
these circumstances, at a very considerable expense,
procured a piece of ground, which he had given to the
town as a burying-ground, and several bodies had been
interred in it within the last six months.
Upon Use motion, that the Petition be laid on the Table,
The SPEAKER observed, that the Petition contained
two prayers. The first, which was a perfectly just and
legitimate result of the grievances of which the Petition
complained, prayed the House to institute an inquiry
into the wasteful manner in which the Corporation
had spent the funds which it held as Trustees for
the benefit of the inhabitants at large. The second
part of the prayer of the Petition was, that an inquiry
might be instituted into the conduct of Lord Pow is and
Lord Redesdale, in the exercise of their functions
as Judges in the other House of Parliament. As this
WAS a prayer most unusual, and as it was evident that
no such proceedings or inquiry could be had at the bar
of that Ilouse, he would recommend that the Petition
be withdrawn for the purpose of amendment; and in
doing so, he trusted the House would not suppose that
be intended, in the slightest degree, to in errupt or ob-
struct the privilege of the people, in presenting Petitions
to that House.—(llear, hear).
Sir F. BURDETT could not object to this suggestion;
but ho repeated his opinion, that there seemed to him
something like a denial of justice in the facts stated by
the Petitioners. He thought it, indeed, a most eatra-
or dinary proceedin3 for a Judge to have any intercourse
with the parties, when he knew he would be called upon
to
Lord
jud3mcnt in the cause.
Lord CLIVE hoped, if the Honourable Baronet saw
any reason, upon inquiry, to abandon the intention of
praying an investigation, that he would grant him the
favour of a personal interview upon this subject. He
had a high opinion of the Honourable Baronet, and a
great respect for his character; and he was anxious
that the Honourable Baronet and others should not
abandon the subject with any doubtful impression upoi
the conduct of those who were connected with it.
Sir F. I3URDETT said he would be proud to receive]
any information from the Noble Lord upon the subject ;I
but at the time he presented the Petition, he had no idea
that he could have become so personally connected with
k. He was afraid, indeed, that he had unconsciously
drawn a very heavy burthen upon his shoulders; but
he would endeavour so to discharge himself of it, as to
give satisfaction to the Noble Lord, and fulfil his duty
to the country.

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