Star.
London, England, 1827-02-15 00:00:00

e iit
were undersigned. I thr dasTpAron!d heats it
read. thou/Ni10...44 t eves which induced
the Right Rev. etitum Ism forward for the first
,p'swi7litiolibet
leona din the moat authentic foem to
‘ll. . ktk 'entertained on certain contro-
n , d'art Jan ars desire, by every means In their
power, to contribute to theteace of the country. No person who
knew that country would venture to deny, that without their iss-
mount and unwearied exertions to maintain its peace, it would set
fur one moment exist In Ireland.
The Petition having been read, an objection was started to ka
being immediately received, on account of its being writvn awl
separate 'beets, and the names consequently detached from the
first, and on the suggestion of the Bari of Livenenot, the Mar-
quis of Lansdowne withdrew it, for the purpose of presenting
it again some other day, When the informality should have hem
corrected.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE then gave notice,
that, on the 8:12 of March, he intended to submit a pro.
position to the House founded on that Petition, and
trinved that their Lordships be summoned on that day.
It wis probable, that before that day the question
would have been discussed in another place on a simi
ler Petition ; but he gave his present notice, first, be.
cause whatever might be the result of that discussion,
be was determined to Being the subject before their Lordships;
and, secondly, because he felt that the responsibility of its not hay.
ing been discuned last year in that House rested principally epee,
him. It was possible that the day ino,lst be changed; but on some
future day be should certainly move a resolution in favour of.con.l
ceding the Catholic Claims.

Toe Earl of WINCHELSEA--sliould express his
sentiments fully when that resolution should be pro-
posed. lie trusted, that before their Lordships con-
sented to admit the nap sts to the enjoyment of all civil
rights, before they repealed the Test Act, and separated
the Church from the State, they would deeply consider
the grounds en which the wisdom of Abetr ancestors
had excluded the Catholics from power. He also fels,
no mill satisfaction, that when the discussion should
open, the question would appear with a new and striking feature.
He meant the hew IleformAtion which had taken place in many
districts in Ireland, and which he trusted would ultimately extend
over the whole country. He also hoped that the attention of their
Lordships would be directed to the no small power which the Ca-
tholic Bishops and Priests had exercised during the last year; and
be Mt confident that the House would never consent to desert that
Constitution under which the country bad enjoyed so much civil
and religions liberty.
Viscount CLIFDEN hoped, as well as the Noble
_ _

Earl, that the reformation which he had mentioned
might extend, and that all the Catholics of Ireland
might become Protestants. But the best way to obtain
that object was to abolish those exclusive laws ; and j
what danger could result to the Constitntion from the
admission of five or six Catholic Peers to that House, j
and perhaps thirty Members to the other? Had he',
been born a Catholic and become a Protestant from'
conviction, he would use the Holy Liturgy of the Esta-
blished Church ; but as long as those exclusive laws ex•
isted he would use it in secret, and with locked doers.
He would not leave his own people when discounte-
nanced, and under insult and injury. It was impossible
to sty that such sentiments might not be in many Ca-
tholic minds and hearts. Besides, if they exchanged
their faith during the existence of those laws, the ex-
ch Inge would be ascribed to undue motives or interest.
Repeal them, and the change would become free and
honourable. The Catholics increased every hour in
strength, wealth, and education, and there was no
chance of a general reformation nor of secure peace, till
those laws which all Europe had repudiated were an-
nulled. If war came, let their Lordships look to it, (or
dangers would thicken upon the cuuntry—nay, we had
just been as'near war as possible. Had the French
Minister, M. de Vallele, been turned out, the Aposto-
lies would have come in, arid the King, who he believed
was a poor creature, would not have been able to resist
tient. Once France and Spain at war with us, America would
have joined them; and though Spain was at present a cypher in
the scale, did their Lordibips think thit we now could retain Ire-
land with France and America against us?—lle Noble Viscount
then presented Petitions from the Catholics of several Parishes in
the Counties of Tipperary, Mayo, and Carlow, praying for the
concession of their claims.—Laid on the table.
'The Duke of DEVONSHIRE presented similar Petitions from
the Catholics of Bandon, Youghall„ and several Parishes in the
creeny of Roscommon.—Laid on eh* table.
The Duke of LEI NSTFR also presented Petitions to the same
effect from the Catholics of the County of Dublin, the town of
Oransrd, and several Parishes.—laid on the table.—Adjourned
HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The Sanwa took the Chair at four o'clock, when several Mem-
bers were sworn in. '
'Mr. Amery from the Court of Ring's Bench, and Mr. Wattle
from the Court of Common Pleas, severally presented Returns of
the number of causes tried in theft Courts respectively during the
last seven years; and Mr. Demob from the Dace of the King's
V 4 m
Remembrancer, presented a rn of the Aber of Bills in
Equity, filed In else Court of E uer during)* same period.—
Ordered to he priMted. .. •
Major PEELgstre notice that on Monday int he should move
that the Committee on the NNW& and Lanstoffe Navigation
Bali be an open Olaf. NNW
eh
S. RICE presented a de/tendon from H. Tuite, Esq. vho
d.ay. ha returned eine of the ICaltekts of the Shirs for the Coonty
of . , that be did not intend to defend Ms Election.
fat taking into consideration the Petition comploining
gait:units, IDection for that potty, was the enlarged to the
Ifetkitf Motifs. • 1
Mr. MASEEL }remitted it Petition from the Inhabitant'
isottaskeldem 0( the °ugh of Nottltarninon' complaining of the
Corporation l'althat rough for haying applied its funds to Elec.
tlpn to be printed. 1
. The HooottrelkJffiember then ;ye notice of his intention to
Meg forward a *fts upon the act of this likodtion on Wed. I
needay neat. . 1
Mr. MA lIIIIIIT moved that amok laid before that House an 1
Altstrect of the Ifet Prodwe of the Revenue in the grs ending on
the sth of Janitz, 1 geUr4--.7, together with a turn of the
Charges of Co los; also for an Account of the trended Debt
soda Rechetmot and Deficiency Bills outstanding on the sth of '
. January, In eats of tt years.
Mr. IMiNCOSIIIMItod a Petition to present which he thought
tintithd to the lierious comideration of that Houw. It was from
i lb. Slilpown and Shipbuilders of tko port of Burlington. in the
County of Y . It stated that a material and most unfavourable
change had t n place in their situation subsequent to the alters.
Linn le our m of commerce and navigation, and prayed the
/louse to inept' whether the a-dverslty which they now suffered,
was tl e use of that Accretion.
lain UME observed that the distress of the shipping interest
did not from the alteration of the Naviptiou Late, but frsm
alivious totally unconnected with that alteration.
Mr. It ar COM BE replied, that the Petition with which hr had
,been entrusted went no further than to pray for an investigadon of
ibeenbject.
The Petition was than laid on the table,aad ordered to be printed.
Petidens praying thatadequate protection might be afforded to
agriculture were presented by Mr. ikaCitaOrtsi from the town of
Colston, in the county of Lancaster; by Sir Cnatecla Matinee,
from the lower diviatoo of the hundred of Coitican ; by Mr. F.
Amos, from the parishes of Pomfret. and Sherhoorn, in the West
Reling.and the parish of Doggett, is the East liking of the county
of York.
Petitions praying for a modification of the Corn Laws were also
gtesented, by Me. litacitanou, from the town Of. Rochdale, in
Loneashint; by Alderman WOOO front the Journeymen Carpenters
and Joiners of Birmingham; by Jlr. Her, frusta Me Borough of
Linlithgow • by Mr. lions front the Inhabitants of Dundee; by
!lie R. graOssaie, {tons the Magistrates and Town Council of
Ddsack, in Scotland.
Petitions, praying for the removal of Catholic disabilities, were
pieaented by Mr. Jarnaoe, Irons the Catholic Inhabitants of the
twins of Mallow; by Mr. Caut.rtrizi, (tom tee Catholic. of the
town of Newport Pratt, County of Mayo; by Mr. Alas Etta
Mont tie Pariah of Dann, and front the Parish of Grey in the
Dona Edkemy; by Lord Curios from the Parish of Kilgal.

kin; by Mr. S. Lea from the Protestant Inhabitants, altdaftstior
' from the Catholic Inhabitants of the Qty of Limerick i sled from
'the Patti* of C 0,.. Csiunty of Cork; ►y Mr. It. Fernstrom.,
from the pleat of Three and the Parish OlDreslar, la the County
'of Kerry; also from the Catholic Inhabitants of Namur and
Nockehnore is t►e same minty; which were severally laid on the
table and ordered.to be printed.
Mr. MAXWELL presented Petitions against any further eon.
cession to the Roman Catholics, from the parishes of IGigally, of'
Dunmell, and of Arvagh, in the County of Cavan.—Ordered to be
printed.
Mr. HUME rose to move in pursuance to his notice
for additional papers, relating to the case of Col. Brad-
ley. He contended that the papers which had been
presented by the Noble Lord (the Secretary at War)
were incomplete and. insufficient. The documents for
which he should move were specifically referred to, in
tho e already before the House. He then moved that
a copy'of the commission signed by General Fuller, in
virtue of which Colonel Arthur assume) the military
command at Honduras be laid before the House, together with co.
pies of the correspondence of Colonels Arthur and Bradley with
the Colonial and -War Mice, as wall as copies of several other
documents. _ _ _

Lord PALMERSTON would resist the motion._
Several of the papers for which the Hon. Member had
Moved were really not in existence. In the disculsion
which took place upon this subject previous to the re•
cess, he bad shewn as he thought conclusively, and he
hoped to the entire satisfaction of the House, that Col.
Bradley had no just ground of complaint, and he then
resisted successfully the motion *of the Hon. Gentleman
for Papers upon the subject. In the course of that dis
cussion the Hon. Member had been pleased to deny the
existence of any commission confertitig aushority upon
Col. Arthur, at the time he placed Colonel Bradley
under arrest. He had affirmed the existence of such a
:commisstoo. The Hon. Member and himself were thus
at issue upon a point of fact, and he, deeming it most
respectful to the House that the point should be set at
rest, had on a subsequent.day moved for that very com-
mission, and for extracts from the letter of Col. Arthur
in which reference was made to it. These papers were
accordingly laid on the table. There never was a clearer
case than th it against 'Colonel Bradley. When he
thought he bad reason to doubt the authority of
Cc.lonel Arthur. it was unquestionably his duty to
write home for instructions how to act, instead

of which he rushed iuto an act of mutiny. His dis•
missal resulted from hisown statement of the transaction.
His arrest by Colonel Arthur had been fully justified
by a decision of the Court cif King's Bench inthe action,•
by which, not satisfied by the judgment of the Com-
mander in Chief, he sought to obtain damages. With
respect to the commission, the existence of which bad,
been so much disputed, prybably the Hon. Member
confounded it in his mind with the letter of service intoned to Col.
Arthur, which had been antedated from the time when that Meer'
was placed ou half pay. It was certain, however, that no Mb
things could be more perfectly &night. This letter of license had
nothing to du with the authority under which he acted at Hoo-
duras, and bad been issued ling after the decision of the Coon-
mander In Chief approving of that conduct.
Mr. HUME s4id, that by the Articles of War the
commission ought to have beets entered in the book of
the Secretary at War. He wished to see an extract
from that book ; and this was one of the papers called
for by his motion. The commission to command armed'
settlers, which was granted by General Fuller, was of
a very different patine Imes that running in the usual
form, and conferring the command over Officers and
soldiers. He would be judged by any military man if
this kind of commission,' which night be held by a
civilian, would authorise him to. assume an authority
over a regular Military Officer at the head of his Regi-
ment. Colonel Arthur's corps bad been reduced ; he
was on half pay, and was only entitled to be considered
as a civilian. One of the Articles of War enjoined, that
every commission should be published at the head-
quarters where it was to be acted on; but Colonel
Arthur had refused to make any such publication.—
By an Act of Parliament of Charles the Second, no
person had a right to give a commission except in
India, conferring the powers claimed and exercised in
this instance by Col. Arthur. Such commissions required
the sign manual of the King. Toe Noble Lord bad
said, it was on the representation of Colonel Bradley
himself that his dismissal took place. if so, it would
only be fair to lay that representation t dole the Hume,
for that Officer positively denied having made such a
representation. The Noble Lord had thought proper
to consider it as a personal question between them. He
utterly repudiated that idea. He was the humble tideo .
tate of an oppressed and ruined individual, and was
proud, and should always be proud, to fill that charac-
ter. But, however the Noble Lord might have thought
6t to treat the subject, he disclaimed and rejected the
notion of its being a personal question between that
Noble Lord and himself. This authority—this very
clear authority—was such, that Colonel Arthur bad
taken five months to consider whethet he should enforce
it. If the conduct of Colonel Bradley in resisting it was
to be held mutinous, thegreater blame attached to Col.
Arthur, for not promulgating in General Orders the
authority under whicb he acted. The partiality of the
military department to caiond Arthur was evident. from its con-
duct on the occasion of the trial at law. Not only were the taw
expenses of that Officer paid by Government, but when a verdict
bad been obtained against hiss, be was immediately sent off in an
official capacity to Van Dieinan's Land, so that Colonel Bradley
was deprived of all chance of getting chin his damages or expanses.
He submitted the case of this meritorious and oppressed r to
the merciful consideration of the Raise.

Mr. Secretary PEEL said, that without meaning to
undervalue the importance of this case, it must be re-
collected that the House had no time to spend upon
any case which did not possess intrinsic justice, and he
thought, that from the papers connected with this sub-
ject which had already been produced, it had been
proved that there was no occasion for protracting the
discussion, or for producing any other documents. He
certainly thought that the point at issue between his
Noble Friend and the Hon. Member for Aberdeen was,
whether there was in existence a commission granted to
M-jor Arthur. He had understood the Hon. Member
to state most distinctly, that there was no such docu-
ment, or, that if there was, there were strong grounds
fur suspecting that it had been fabricated. Now he
(Mr. Pe d).was overwhelmed with astonishment at this
statement of the Hon. Member. He was quite su'e
that most Hon. Members, and that the House, would
have given :implicit credit to the assurance of his
Noble Friend, that the document was in his possession,
and he (Mr. Peel) had not been mistaken. But what
course had his Noble Friend, the Secretary at War,
adopted? He had voluntarily laid the documents in
question upon the table, and thus set all doubts at rest.
Such WAS the state or the matter at its last discussion;
but the Hon. Member had now shifted his ground, and
contended, now that the commission was praducadoltat
a commission, enabling Major Arthur to co 'inland all
subjects of his M jesty in arms, did not warrant him in
taking the command of the military. He (Mr. Peel)
would assure the Hon. Member that he had perfectly I
understood him, and that he bad not the slishtest

what

had said. He would
pat it to the House to joage, whether he had not stated
the question fairly, and ask whether the point at issue
was not precisely as he bad put it ? Now, the question
before the Court of King's BenCh was this, and• this
Did the commission of Major Arthur warrant
him in assuming the command of the military ?" The
Loed Chief Justice had deliberately pronounced his
opinion, that in point of lbw the commission did so
warrant him. Mr. Justice Bslley and Mr. Justice
Holroyd concurred in the sanwopinion, and Mri Justice Littledale
did not dissent from the opinions of his Brother Judges- There
was also another point intro:heed at the trial, which was this—
" Did the disbanding of the Regiment at all affect the case?" and
the Judges decided, that so long u his half-pay continued, Main.
Arthur's authority was not affected by t►e circumstance of bib
regiment having been disbanded. If the opinions of the four
Judges of the Court of King's Bench upon legal points had any
weight with the House, be ( Mr. Peel) should call upon Honourable
Members to join with him in resisting the production of any more
documents upon the subject.
Mr. BERNAL was of opinion that a ease of hardship
on Colonel Bradley had been made out, and if a remedy
could not be found in that House, for his sufferings,
perhaps the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the
Home Department would represent the case to his Ma.
jest y, with a view of obtaining some mitigation.
Sir H. HARDING E said, that when Major Arthur
desired Colonel Bradley to meet at a given time in the
Government-house, it was the duty of the latter as junior
Officer, to obey him, instead of issuing counter orders,
which must of course have a dangerous tendency.
The first motion, for a copy of the Commission sent to General
Fuller, was then put and negatived without a division.
Mr. HUME then proceeded to make along series of
motions for Papers relating to Colonel Bradley s case. In
the course of one of his motions, the Hon. Gent. said,
two Commissions were granted, and that the words of
the Commission of which the House was in possession,
differed from those used in the other.
Lord. PALMERSTON said, there was only one Commis-
sion granted.
Mr. HUME said, he could not take everything for granted that
ht heard.—(A Laugh, and cries of Order).
Lord PALMERSTON asked the Hon. Gentleman whether he
meant to west that he (Lord Palmerston) gave him information
that was untrue?

---7ieBI4AIIR said. be was sure that the Hon. Gentleman
could not mean to apply the observation be had made to any Mem-
ber of the Home.
Mr. HUMS Mtended to say that the information he received
seasetinsm turned out not to be correct ; and that be did not feel
disposed to abide by general assertions, when be could ob.
taiu documents.

The motive was then negatived without a division; and Mr. Hams
having made another of his list of voodoos on the same subject,
Lord PALMERSTON said he rose now, not with
any personal feeling, but for the purpose of giving the
Hon. Member an opportunity of rendering an explanation to the
Home more satisfactory than the one be had afforded.
Mr.H UM E said, the course be had adbpted amounted
to nothing more than a retaliation, for be could not
help recollecting, that during the last meeting of Par-
liament, when he asked the Noble Lord for some peculiar
information, his reply was, he did not consider himself
bound to satisfy him (Mr. Home), but be bad no °blee-
d= to satisfying the Home. The NAM Lord having so declined
acting as a Gentleman, be (Mr. Hume) thought his Lordship could
not complain of this retaliation.—(Lend ales of Order, ostler I)
The SPEAKER said, it was his duty, on the part of
the House, to take care that its orders were complied
with, and to afford Hon. Members the opportunity of
correcting any disorderly expression that might escape
them in the wai mai of debate. As regarded the Hon.
Gentleman's first observation, he (the Speaker) was sa-
tisfied that nothing so painfully direspectful could have
been meant as might have been inferred from the
words used. He tmderstood from. the explanation af-
forded, that the Hon. Gentleman merely meant to say,
he preferred authentic documents to verbal assurances,
inasmuch as the assurance might be the peculiar con•
struction of the individual, and persons might differ in
their inference from the same document. If this was a
proper interpretation of the observation of the Hon.
Gentleman—and that it was the Hon. Member's so.
quiescing silence warranted Mm (the Speaker) in asserting—lt could
not have cast any imputation on the Nolde Lord. The last
language used by the Hon. Member was, however, so decidedly
disfirderly, that he (the Speaker) felt satisfied it could not have
been meant.

Mr. HUME said, he had been sometime in the House,
and had never intentionally dont anything to give offence
—(Hear.) He had felt it necessary to make motions at
different times,which individuals might consider as dis-
agreeable; but he had always endeavoured to render
them as little personally offensive as possible—(Hear.)
What he intended saying on the present occasion was,
that the manner in which he had treated the Noble Lord
was similar to the treatment he (Mr. H.) had betore
received. He should perhaps have said, that he thought
the Noble Lord not entitled to courtesy, as he had
himself refused to shew any.—(Hear.) The objectionable
expression was, he believed, something stronger than he
had intended.—( Hear.)
The motion before the House was then negatived without a divi.
Mots, at were all the others relating to the same subject.