Star.
London, England, 1827-03-03 00:00:00

11l 'Want, as it would prevent the'decision of
• yr-
.sestion during the present Session. He did net
aides the Resolutions adopted by the other House so
Tbiletionable as other Noble Lords seemed to do. At
interns it would be better to pass the measure, which
ridir be amended at future times than to do anything
q
Zch woeld prevent a settlement of thequestion before
the close of the Session.
ROSSLYN wished to know whether the Noble
Esti opposite still intended to consent to an inquiry
.pieb should be limited to the price at which foreign
tem could be imported? Considering the seasonable
saner in which the Resolutions had been brought
foetid in the other House, he should be unwilling to
deride se
as nce whether further inquiry should be ne-
logy, be wished to do nothing that could delay
decision.
Eel BATHURST begged not to be understood as
i4,isieg or calling for an enquiry of any kind. He
gply said, that if it were demanded, its necessity should
ow, and it should be as limited as possible, so as
viable the House to come to a decision this Session.
The Earl of NAL MESBURY having just discovered
amongst the Returns one from the British Consul at
One, which stated that in September last there were
to hundred thousand quarters of wheat at that place
whirs could be had at 7s. per quarter, altered his Ad-
dress :0 as to limit it to Returns from Alexandria
odßopldort.--The Address so altered was agreed to.
£d 11A'THU Riff Lad 'pea 'the tilde the id Report of the
Cenainimers for inykin Lets the Adedeletradon of Juttc in
lb, Casks, and pee notion that in a sheet time he should albeit
tithe consideration of their Lordships fee the bet= adfaMis-
mac of justice b the Colonies.
Lard LING bad a redden from the Catholics of Ireland re-
yang the primates wlMch they mitered from Vestries. As it
ip,pd tow encroachments= die part of the Protestant Clergy,
isthmoid not present it tin Monday, in the hope that some of the
Spintu.l Lords connected with that counuy might attend to impel
tie =rpm
Loa WHARNCLIFFR fixed the second reading of the Dense
Lees ,btac Monday the ibth instant, and snorted that the LOCI'S

be sumazoooL—Ordered.
Lord 888 YON presented a Petition from Peckham against the
Catholic CW5s.
Lad BM LYN presented one from Hull is favour. Both Peti-
tion were laid on the table.
Mr. Limo, from the Board of Trade, presented same Consular
Immo respecting foreign Coro.—Laid OR the table.
Adjourned at Saves ii'Ccecz.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The Home met at four o'clock, when several Umbers took the
tans u the table.
Mr. .1011111T011, from the dice of the Ckief Secretary for Ireland,
reeeated au Account of the Sums received by the Commissioners
ti Fest Fruits during the year 1826.
Mr. Tonuss, from the Treasury, presented an Account of the,
Duties received on Foreign Cern in the year 1826.
The several Bills before the House were forwarded ht their go- I
tredve stages.
The Marquis of CHANDOS presented a Petition from the
Owners and Occupiers of Land in the Hundred of Bernard, in the
County of Bucks, against the Importation of Foreign Corn; and'
alto a similar Petition front the Labourers in Husbandry of the same
. .

•
Hooked—Ordered to be printed.
PETITIONS ON THE CATHOLIC QUESTION.
The MASTER of the ROLLS presented a Petition against
further monisions to the Roman Catholics from the Clergy of the
Archdescoary of the Isk of Ely.
The Marquis of CH &ROOS had some Petitions to proem of a
near nature, sod he could not but exptess his testa that the
pridon was not set at rest; and his opinion that Government
ask to take a decided Due of conduct, and not suffer the country
to be agitued as it now was by the inflammatory language of the
Cathok Leaders.

Mr. A. DAWSON referred to tie situation al the English Ca-
tholics as a prOof that the most cautious abstimies *ma an vio-
l/we of language or modest would avail
After a few words from Mr. J. Csaasla anod~
ar Hon.
Menus, the Pathan treeten places in tie of Ducks,
were read, and ordered to be printed.
Mr. rd'l4lA GIITEN presented a Petition from the Gentrp, Free-
bolJers, and Protestant Inhabitants of the County of Antrim,
gains the Whelk Claims.
hfr. BASTARD prevented six Petitions front Parishes in De-
vonshire to the same effect.

Mr. 6. DAWSON presented a similar Petition from
the County of. Londonderry, signed by 2,000 inhabi-
tants (Protestants) from the County of Wicklow and
the County of Westmeath. The Hon. Member stated
the Derry Petition was the result of a public Meeting,
which the Protestants felt themselves obliged to hold
from the taunts of the Catholic Association, and of the
baleful and pestilential influence of the Roman Catholic
Priesthood upon the minds of the peasantry during the
late General Election.— (Hear, hear, from the Opposi-
Membeis might jeer and cry hear, hear 1
bit that would not prevent bum directing the attention
of the People of England to the incalculable mischiefs
of this influence, and of the acts of that turbulent and
illegal body, the Catholic Association, who had almost
succeeded by their seditious harangues to alienate the
Landlord from the Tmsant, to deteriorate the value of
private property, and in rendering the lives of the Pro-
testants—(Hear, hear, and laughter from the Opposi-,
tion)—hooriy perilous and irksome. This they accom-
plished by terror; but the time was come when the loyal
might speak out their minds without fear of the
consequences.
Mr. J. GRATTAN was sure nothing could tend
more to distract Ireland, to render property insecure,
and live, unsafe, than seditious speeches like that of the
Hon. Member (Dawson)—(Hear). That Hon. Member
presented a Petition from the County of Wicklow, which
he (Mr. GI attan) represented, as that of the Protestant
inhabitants of that county. He denied the fact; two-
thirds of the Nobility were friendly to Emancipation, the
whole or the constituency. and a great portion of the
body frt ro %hum the Petition properly emanated, the
Yeomanry. The majority of that body were hostile to
the measure, from confounding the rebellion of 1798
with the Emancipation; of the Catholics, who bad in ne
instance fair pl..y dealt to them, and who were traduced"
and ,mistepresented in violent seditious harangues, like
that of the Hon. Men.ber—(Cheers.)
Lord NORM ANBY agreed as to the necessity of
LOOM measure fur era, quillizing Ireland, so long the
victim of misrule and oppression—(Heat). That reme-
dial measure was Emancipation—.(Hear)—and till that
was granted, the perilous condition of the Protestant
inhabitants would, and ought, to exist—(Cheers.)
Mr. MOORE or Dnblin, maintained the Petition to
speak the sentiments of the Protestants of Wicklow.
M. PROBY, as a Member of the County, acid long
attp.inted with the Gentry and people in it, gave the
a.sertion of the Hon. Member (Moore) the most explicit

Mr. BROWNLOW said, be had a Petition to present
horn the Protestants of the County of Derry to the oppo-
site tendency of that now presented by the Hon. Member
(Dawson). The Petition was signed by 5000 Inhabitants,
and Was sent to him to present, in the absence of the
other Hon. Member for the County.
Sir G. HILL was sure there were not 10 honest Pro-
testant sign,turea to the Pet ition—(Langhter).
Sir J. NEWPORT was sure the Catholic Association
never made use of language half so inflammatory and
wantons as that Quested by the Hon. Member (Dawson)

to the 'Prentice Boys of Derry, and in his place in Par-
liiament—(Hear, hear). If language so violent were
used in the South of Ireland, the consequence would
be rebellion (Hear, hear). If the Association was
violent, they took a lesson out of the Hon. Member's
book.

Mr. DAWSON denied that he ever used seditious
language there, or elsewhere ; but such language as
he ever would continue to make u 2 of. to express
his hostility to Catholic Emancipation—(Hear, hear).
Mr. H. GRATTAN said, the violent irritating con-
duct and language, originated with the Protestants, or
rather Orangemen, of Dublin, who gave an insulting
toast, contrary to the express commands of the King,
which had been still loudly approved of, by Members
holding official situations under .his Government—as
Mr. Dawson's letter to the Dublin Lord Mayor,proved.
Mr. DAWSON complained of being made the butt
of animadversion, extending not only to his Speech, but
to his taking a glass of wine—(Hear, hear).
Mr. S. RICE trusted, for the sake of their common

courtesy, the warmth of discussion would not lead
either of his Hon. Friends to mix up petty p ivate stories
with a great national question.
The Petitions were then ordered to be printed.
Mr. PLUNKETT had a Petition to present, which was
expressed in language exceedingly moderate, and
which he would request to have read at length, in the
hope that it 'Might bring the House back to Its wonted
moderation and composure. The Petition from several
sailed Parishes in the County of Cork, playing for the
Misoval of Catholic disabilities, was then read at length,

ird ordered to be printed.
PLUNIEtIT recreated a similar Peddon from the brisk
Iljheickham, In the County of Cork.

fITITION 01 ROMAN CATHOLIC PRILATRII.
Mr. PLUNKETT grAs particularly anxious w call
the attention of the House to this Petition. He had

given notice of his intention to present it. because
he thought it entitled to the fullest attention of the
House. It was a Petition from the Roman Catho•

lic Prelates of Ireland, and they prayed that re-
lief might be granted to that country from all disabili•
ties on account of religion. He felt particularly do.
sirous of calling the attention of the House to this Peti-
tion, because, from the high station of the Petitioners,
and from the intimate knowledge they possessed.of Ire-
land, they were better qualified than any other persons
to convey accurate information to the House as to the
state of the people in that country. They expressed their
reluctance to interfere upon this question; but in the pre-'I
sent state of the country they felt it to be their duty to
lay their opinions and wishes before Parliament. They
would willingly have followed the eaansple of their pre.
decessors, and have left the subject to be disposed of by
the wisdom of the Legislature; but they felt that in the
alarming crisis in which the country was now placed, if
they did not raise their warning voice they would be guilty
of a great dereliction of duty. They said that the disa-
bilities under which their countrymen laboured operated
'as an impediment to them in the discharge of their cc.
cksiastical duties ; they said that these disabilities pros
duced a sense of degradation in the minds of the Ca..,
tholics, who bad reason to complain that the superiority,
of their Protestant brethren was not exercised with so
much meekness as befitted their Christian profession.
They stated that it was their constant endeavour to in..
eulcate upon the people the duty of obedience to the,
law, and of respect to all lawful authority. They wok
the opportunity of stating their opinions, and of de-
nying and *Outing the emiernoecoes assertions made :to
the Country and the House respecting the conduct of
the Catholic Clergy -generally. They took this op.
portunity of professing their sentiments, and they were
such as would do honour to any body of men. This
Petition they had entrusted to him, overrating the ser-
*ices he had rendered to their cause; and whatever
might be the decision of the House upon that
cause, he hoped they would join with him in doing
justice to the conduct and the motives of these petitiesk
Cl l. To their meritorious conduct it was owing that
mischievous spirit which existed sin Ireland had not.
broken out in acts of violence. and outrage. It was
perhaps more prudent not to describe that spirit, any
further than to say that if it had not exhibited itself in
outrage, the merit was in a great measure due to the
body of the Irish Clergy. It would be invidious to
make exceptions when speaking of the conduct of great
bodies of men. There were, no doubt, instances of a
different conduct, but these were only exceptions to the
general rule. And, in no instance, when application
had been made to the Heads of the Church on occasion
of individual misconduct, that the person so offending
escaped censure, or been continued in the situation from
which be bad derived the power of doing mischief. He
had thought it his duty to say thus much, and he should
be doing injury to the Petitioners if he were to detain
the House longer. The Petition was rather long, but
the time of the House would not be misemployed in
bearing it read. They had inserted in it the contentsof
an Admonitory Address, which they had issued to the
people under their care.
Mr. AGAR ELLIS would take this opportunity ell
offering a few words upon the general question. He
thought the welfare of Ireland depended upon the de-
cision of Parliament. Leland was upon the brink of an
awful precipice, and it was even now, perhaps, too late,
to rescue her from the danger. He entertained sanguine
hopes as to the decision of that House, and he only
wished that his warning voice could reach to another
place, where stronger prejudices were known to prevail.
Sir G. HILL could not agree with the Attorney-
General of Ireland, that the Catholic Prelates were so
deserving of the approbation of the country. Where
was their lo'alty during the rebellion that smouldered
in the South of Ireland from 1819 to 1825' Or did
the Right Hog. Gentleman include in his commenda-
tions J. K. L Dr. Doyle, who had, within the last three
weeks, denounced the stablished Church to.the pea-
santry of Ireland ?
Mr. MAXWELL (of Cavan) could bear the testimony
of personal experience to the mischievous influence of
the Catholic Priesthood during the contested election
of the County which he represented. The Priests at
that election urged the peasantry to disregard their
Landlords and vote for the Catholic Candidates; they
brought them up to poll in droves, one Priest before
and another behind.(—Laughter.)—One of them, the
Rev. P. Corr, from his altar, told one of his voters, who
was blind of an eye—(A laugh)—that "he was a blind-
eyed rascal, that would never open his eyes but in the
lames of bell"—(Continued laughter)--and yet this
man was one of a body who, forsooth, deserved the
highest commendation of the country. And so wilt
Dr. Doyle, who, in a recent letter to a Noble Relative
(Lord tarnbam) spoke of the Established Church as an
incubus upon the moral and physical energies of the
people.of Ireland.
Mr. M. FITZGERALD was sure, but for the Cathc-

--•-- . •
lic.Priestaittebuid walla time be free trom rebellion,•
•till either the Catholics were free or the country sepa-
rated from England. He witnessed this well directed
influence of that bildy- es is Magistrate; and %their the
French Bert anchored in Halm, B ,y, be there saw the
peasantry, urged by their Pastors, dragging up steep
hills pieces of artillery That it was thought impossible
to remove. He wished the opponents of the Cashblice
would bring forward some measure of their own to
Itranquilize Ireland. Tbey praised, as a virtue, the
interference of Protestant Clergymen in politics; and
condemned, as a vice, the interference of the Catholic
Clergy. This was as•unfair as it was absurd.
Mr. MAXWELL said the• remedy for Ireland was
the ( °eversion to Protestantism of the Catholics ; of
whom 700 of-certified good character; had, within the
last five months, renounced the errors of Popery in
his county.

Mr. WILtsfOT-HORTON saict, k would, in his
' opinion, be much better to attend to what the Peti-
tioners set forth than to prolong the discussion. The
charge against Roman Catholics was, that they-enter-
tained opinions hostile to the Constitution. •These
opinions they denied, and professed themklves ready
to deny them upon oath. Now if their oath wis to be
believed, how could a better security be had for the sin-
cerity of their professions?. With respect to Dr. Doyle,
whatever he might hate said in the publication alluded
to, he maintained the integrity cif 'the Church property
in another publication.—The Petition was cheer read.
Mr. G. DAWSON would tot admit • that the pro-
leased sentiments of - she Petitioners, of being free from
all civil or political influence ol skas Pope or other Fo-
reign Powers, were binding, or. could be depended
upon, history gave it the lie. The. Catholic Clergy of
Ireland took the Test Oath, tendered by James 1. as a
peace-offering after the Gunpowder Plot; and though
it was merely an oath of allegiance, still fsom its con-
tamping a denial of the Pope's supremacy, the Pope de-
nied them to recant it; and they did recant it, and the
oath was never taken since. Again, in 1799, four
Metropolitan Archbishops and six Bishops, with the
majority of the Clergy, consented with Lord Grenville,
Dr. Milner, and Mr. Poasottby, to allow his Majesty a
oda on their appointment; but since then recanted
their opinions, and by their opposition have exclu-
ded the measure ever since. • This chews• their profes-
sions of allegiance could not be depended en.
Lord L. GOWER wished, when Hon. Members ap-
pealed to history, that instead of raking up the obsolete
arguments on one side of the question, or temporary
acts of a party, they would quote those more nume-
rous incidents, from which they would learn how despi-
cable in all ages has been, and will be, narrow minded
intolerance--(Cheers). This would be the more en-
lightened, the more Christian course. The reformation
project of an kion. Member (Maxwell) was not now 1.
it was as old as Earl Tyrcunuel, :oho in the reign of
Charles. 11. recommended the project to Lord Bellas.
Bellas answered, H You fool and madman, in your
ab-
surdities you would destroy ten kingdoms." It was a
foolish scheme at best; madness, at this time, without

emancipation.
Mr.PLUNKETT complained of the want of cordiality
among all interested in the prosperity of Ireland, as to
the justice of the claims of the Catholic Prelates upon
.shis comma d miens of the House and Country—the more
so, as none bad impugned these respectable characters as,
a bode, but merely levelled their attacks at some indiei-
duels. Hence as a body be stated, they deserved the
he:nese-of the House ; for if they were to se attacked
kedividually; be would like to know what class of men
*ere free from strong animadversion—(Hear, hear):—
Were the Protestant Clergy to be judged thus, What
would the friends of the Church say ?—(Hear. hear).
A great deal had bees said about the interference of
the Catholic Clergy at Elections; but even admitting
that they had interfered in the manner stated, there was
nothing against the Constitution in their so doing. . If
recrimination was permitted at length on one side of
the question, it ought to have the same privilege on
the other. . •
After a few observations front Mr. L. Foasexa, Mr.
J. GRATTAN, and Mr. P. LEWIS, the Petition misread;
and ordered to b printed. • • '•
Mr. Secretary PEEL laid, that he rose to present some
Petitions, and that, before coming down to the House, lie
had formed a decision to which be still adhered, namely,
that if the House would permit him to give the names
of the parties from whom the Petitions came, he would
cautiously abstain from entering into any of the topics
which they embraced.—(Hear, hears) He was afraid,
that, when he came to state his opinions on Monday, upon
the subject, which was commonly called the Catholic
Question, there would be found so alteration in them; bat
until then he woad refrain from doing so. While be thus
abstained at present, he hoped that no one would enter-
tain the idea that be did so either from an uncertainty
in his opinions, or from his being unprepared with his
reasons in support of them. He would, therefore, pre-
feet a Petition fiom the. University of Oxford, which had
done him the honour to select him as their representa-
,tive, against any further concession to the Roman Ca-
tholics.—[The Petition was then read, and laid upon
the table.] The Right Hoe. Gentleman then proceeded
to say, that he had another Petition upon the same sub-
ject, which, under the circumstances, was deserving of
the serious consideration' f the House. It was the Pe-
tition of the Piotestant Noblemen, Gentlemen, and
Landlords of Ireland, against the Catholic Claims. If
any petition was entitled to the consideration of • the
House, this was peculiarly so, from the names of-the
persons, attached to it. There were no less than twelve
hundred names of Noblemen and Gentlemen who
performed the duties attached to their stations as such.
The greater, part .uf Ahem filled the offices of Grand
Jowls and Magistrates, and there were no,less than tie
names of twenty-seven Peers.amongst the Petitioners;
and he understated the amount of the property they
possessed, when he Said that they had one million, it
sear arising out of land. He knew, from a iesideoce
of many years in Ireland, a great number of the Peti
.tioners, and he appealed, to every one, no matter how
they might differ from, them in political opinions.
whether any country coOld present any number of men
who beiter exercised their duties as public meo, or who
*ere more kind in their private transactions ? As
Landlords they made no distinction, and no persons
made greater efforts to lower those exacerbations which
'prevailed. When he stated that there were so.many
names, and that there were 27 Peers amongst the Peti-
tioners, he should add that they were, every man of them,
resident in the county. Those who had been most active
in preparing the Petition, had excluded (whatever might
be their fortune or their rank in society) every man
who was not a resident proprietor. That was a parti-
colas' which he deemed worthy of the most serious con-
sideration, for it was plain that none could be more
interested than sash persons in the preservation of

• •
'peace Ireland.- The lion. Mimber for Kerry hast -
observed that thrte A poemed a growing acerbity in the •
Petitions which were presented upon the present ques-
tion, bot io the present-Mein, was nothing like any such
feeling. The Petition fairly and temperately expressed
the grounds why.the Catholics should be, in their opi.
nion, excluded Iran further powers He could not ob-
serve the numbe; of Magistrates and Gentlemen—all
entitled to the highest respect—whose signatures the
present Petition hors, without feeling grateful for the
proof of their ennidireee, which he experienced in their
having selected him as the individual to present it.
Upon this distinction thus conferred on him, he sincerely
declared that he set the highest truing.
The Petition was then brought up and ordered to be printed.
The Right Host. • Secretary then presented similar Petitions
from the Bishop and Clergy of the D.oceae of blearh, the Parish
,n 1 St. Nicholas (Guildford, Surrey),the Clergy and other Residents
of the Parish of Manchester, the Clergy of the Diocese of Cork
and Rhos, the Protestant Li:nduerners of the Barony of Slievest.
dagh (Tipperary), and the Perish of BaUinaciana.--All sacred to
lie on the tibia.

Lord NUGENT ptesented a Petition from the Ro-
man Catholic InhaSitants of Galway, praying for
Catholic Emancipation. The N 'hie • Lnrd said, the
Petition 'WAS signed by upwards of 23,000 individuals,
including the Peers and other distinguished persons of
Ireland. He did not advance this tact as otvedemand-
ing the attention of the House; for if the Petition was
signed by only one person, and that individual was the
poorest person in the realm, the Petition would still
have as much claim ,for consideration as any nth* in
the House.

Mr. MOORE presented munerosi Petitions from Moore MI6
lick, County of Waterford, and other pliers spinet coy farther
concession to the Roman Catholics.

Mr. R. MARTIN begged permission to be allowed
to embrace the opportunity of assuring the House, that
statements bad been made wholly incorrect, as respected •
the interference of the Catholic Priests at the late Elec-
tioos in Ireland. The Priests bad not interfered, or
taken part in any of the contests; and he thought ittnat
due to their dignity to exonerate them.
Mr.MOORE contended, that the House had not been
misinformed on the subject—(Hear, hear!) He had it
do the veracity of 10.000 petitioners. The floo.Gsmtle-
man presented a Petition against Concessions to the
Cachaticti from the Joiners of the City of Dublin. He
also presented a Petition from the Mayor. S!ieriffs. and
Cititens of cork, respecting the existing state of their
elective franchises.