Star.
London, England, 1829-03-27 00:00:00

LONDON AVID WESTMINSTER PROTESTANT PETITION

The EAri of ELDON said he rose for the purpo.eot
presenting the Petition of the householders and other
inhabitants of the cities of London and Westminster.
mud part. adjacent, against granting any farther politi-
cal power to the Roman Catholics. That Petition was
signed by 113.000 persons. Its prayer was as foliows:
That your Petitioners, devoted in attachment to their Sove-
reign and to the glorious Constitution of this Protestant kingdom,
have learned with deep regret that ft is the intention of be Ma-
jesty's Ministers to bring into Parliament a Bill fee the admission,
under certain restrictions, of persons professing the Roam Catho-
lic religion into the Legislature el the United Kingdom, and to
certain (Aces of political power.
That, hi the judgment of year Petitioners, it is inconsistent
with the Ant prindpies et the British °aesthetics, inconsistent
with the due protection at the Throne and Protestant establish-
meets of this empire, and with the future happiness and tranquil.
lity of his Majesty's subjects, m meads to the members of the
Kentish Church that power of kgidation which erects the rights
and liberties of their Protestant fellow-subjects.
wer " That, in the orioles of year Petitioners, eligibility to political
po is not the birsh-right of any subject of his Majesty; but is a
right which, in a het country, can only be granted by the Legisia-
tore, sad most be obtained yid esereised under such teems of qua-
lification and restriction as are coalmen with the epielt of the
Constitution, and meted by positive law.
" That, before the Lidos of the kingdom of Great IWO and
Ireland, and when the fatter country bad its smarms Paelienseet,
the Roman Catholics of Ireland were not &imbue Into the Lees-
/stereo, their owe country ; neither were they phalessil to curdle
the elective fraofigisi until 'err shard/beim the Union ; end that,
in the ophsioe of your Petitioners, the admission af IlemesCathelics
into the Pediment of the UMW Klegjbea nlr set tend to has-
qualm Ireland, hot TM greedy tleyeees the spirts of his Majesty's
Protestant whims in that emliery, and lead to further disunion
and discoid between dos MOWN, deka diseastedisa4

• -
flat the tails of the Mora of Rants am avowedly hostile
to the reformed raids, of the imbed Mesh of Euglindand
Isar/ mid the seclesiastied eupiemeety .of his Maieltf l sod t'00""*
111=1 your Petkioners submit that the members of the Rend*
, If they be Maseru lo the probed= of their doctrines, most
osiessiondously seek to destroy those emeralds establishments
whisk new adorn this enlightened country, end which your Peti-
tioners are determined ever en maintain.
"Tat as the Atari of Ikeas has always refused to acknowledge
the Protestant United AMA of England and Ireland as a !mach
of the Christian Clintekdeolaring its holy ordinances and services
to be no other than*, profane ordinances and artless of laymen, de-
eying the sacred character of itsClergyand asserting that the Protes-
tant subjects of kis Majesty cannot he saved.st the same time that the
practice edits* Romig Church denies to its members the free we
of the Holy Scriptures, your Petitioners submit to the wisdom of
your Honourable House, that these among other rea.ous ore mil-
dest to justify the exclusion of Roman Catholics from making laws
which shall be binding upon the consciences of your Petitioners.
" That, Inaba opinion of your petitioners, no necessity does, or
can. elan sulkiest to justify the subversion of our preempt Pro.
tenant Coosticution, or to Woes a doubt of the continued bless-
ings of the Assigner epos t►is,hkberto favoured country, so long
as it shall adhere to the true faith, and continue to be governed
wit► sound moral and political conslueser:
" That your Petitioners Grady belietre=ind Its that belief are
sanctioned by the recorded opinions of the moat enlightened states-
men, and by the failure of an attempts which have hitherto been
made—that it will be found impossible to frame any securities
which shall render the exercise of the powers of legislation by (to
man Catholics coosiatent with the due protection of t►e Throne
and Protestant Retabileintents of this. Empire, and the happiness
and security of his Majesty's subjects.
" Deeply impressed with the truth and great importance ci these
@nutmeats, your pedtioorn humbly pray your Hoootarable House
Dot to remove those disabilities which at present p t their Ro-
man Catholic fellow-subjects from becoming Members of the Par-
liament of the United Kingdom; but to preserve inviolate the
Protestant Ascendancy and Protestant principles of the COUStitil-
dam, and to take such ocher measures as your Honourable House
shall deem most expedient for restoring tranquillity to Ireland, and
for improving the coaditioo of its people!
" And your petitioners will ever pray," Sm.
The Noble Earl then coutinueJ. He bad been di-
rected to state that the petition was first deter onined
upon at a meetlig held at the Crown and Anchor Ta-
vern. Oa that occasion a Gentleman. whom he should
not name. but who was formerly a diitinguished orator
at Spafields, and who was ever setting up for emat•ci-
?dtioa of some kind or other, chose to disturb the meet
mg, and interfere with the objects of it. The con sequecce
was, that the public meeting was of necessity dissolved.
The petition was, however, agreed to, and kit for sig-
natures at sixty different places, and at each place an
individual was appointed to see that no improper per-
son signed it. He could not undertake to say that a
petition which bad been signed by 113.000 indiviJuals
might not have attached to it some improper signatures,
but be thought be might still venture to represent that
petition as unquestionably the petition of at least
100.000 of the inhabitants of Westmin.ter and London.
He.vrould make no farther remark than merely to move
that the petition be laid upon their Lordships table.

The Duke of SUSSEX was Willing to give full credit
to ,the explanation given by the Noble Earl with re-
spect to the interruptioo of the meeting convened for
the purpose of getting up' the Petition which had been
presented by his Noble Friend, and he had no hesita ion
to allow that many of those whose names were attached
to it were persons of respectability; but as it bad fallen
to his lot upon several occasions to p••int out. bjections
to Petitions of a similar object, he now felt it his duty
to stale some incorrectness in the minister in %hid sig-
natures were obtained to that Petition. The tact: wiric •
be had been reques•ed to state was, that a pers•.n en.
gaged in procuring signatu es called at the hoti,e of an
individual, and requested his name to the Petition, who
inquired his name, which the other did not object to
give; but when asked by whose authority be had come,
and .1 he would give the names it the persons, who
employed bin►, he refused all information. N.rw he
(the Duke of Sussex) certainly thought that persons
going about t•• procure signatures to Petitions, and not
stating by whose authotity they had undertaken it,
appeared somewhat extraordinary. He had no doubt,
as he before stated, of the respectability of the persons
who bad signed that Petition ; but he had thought it his
duty to state that fact.
The Earl of ELDON did not think that any peti•
tion could be presented to the House against which
some objection might not be made. He had thought
it his duty to 'gamine accurately every petition which
he laid before their Loidships House. and he felt pen•
reedy sati-fied, it N. 41- Lords would take so much
trouble as be (the Earl of Eldon) had done, they would
find that perso►rts were in the habit of playing tricks lor
the very purpose of exciting suspicion—(Hear, hear).-
and be might Itottier venture to say, that their Laid-
ships would find, on inquiry, that individuals had, on
frequept occasion•, represented to Members of bo tr
Houses of Pali:meat objections to petitions which e:e
not founded in truth.

Earl GREY bad nothing to say against the way in
which this petition bad hr.') brought forward by the
Noble Earl ; but he could not agree that the country
was in such a state of agitation as the Noble Earl would
have the House believe it was. He held in his hand a
printed paper calculated to excite the public mind, the
like of which, bad he not seen it, he could not have
believed could have been published. This too be un-
derstood to be published and circulated by some Tract
Society. The attempts that had been made ti ii.fiame
the public mind had greatly failed, and what ver might
be the extent of the petitioners and' number of petitions
thrust is upon the House day alter day, he believed
that the sober, steady, sound sense of the country was
ready to agree to the measure about to be proposed,
and to rely with confidence on the wisdom of Parlia-
ment ; 113,000 householders of the city of London,
Westminster, and the adjacent parts, be did not think
could be found to sign such a petition as this, because
no less than three out of the four Members who repre-
sented the city of London bad voted in the other House
in favour of the proposed measure, and their conduct
bad not induced their constituents to adopt any step
whatever, with the view of correcting or controolling
their conduct. The petitioners to the Noble Earl's
tition, denied that the eligibility to political power
was a right of the subject, arguing that it was to be
granted only by the Legislature. -Now he (Lord Grey)
denied the accuracy of that proposition. He cunwidereo
that it was the right of the subject. and to be contruulled
only by the Legislature, provided that sight operated
injuliously to the public interest.
. Lord ELDON paid, that the question would be.
whether, under the circumstances in which the State
thought proper to inveet power, it would be proper and
just to grant it, or to withhold it on the present occa
sioo? He nas no friend to declamation, nor should be
indulge in it. As to inflammatory papers, if the Home
chose to set aside a day for the purpose of bearing do-
t eenients of this description, be would plels himself to

read inflammatory papersagainat the Noble E =l as long
as ever he might wish to stay. There were revolutions
in opinions as well As in States; and when .he sat nest
to his Noble Friend endeavouring to show the value of
the petition. t.f the people of des country. his Noble
Friend at the same time endeavouring to untie value
them, it would be welt for both to recollect that there
was a time v hen and where speeches they had made (in
another House) peritaos did not very entirely actor 1
with the opinions of the people of Eosilan.l.
Earl GREY held the petittons or the people of the
country to be the most sacred acts, and so requite the
most serious attention the House c gild at all nerves be-
40w on them,, and Gon forbid that he should ever
knowingly undervalue them, or attempt to undervalue
them.
The Marquis of LANSDOWN observed that thee
was one regular and constitutittnal moire of she hou.e.
holders of London and Westminster having their opi.
niona brought before Parliament, and that was through
the voices our their represeetatis e, Tors nseavu.e had been
pending for a month,during which by far the major num-
ber of their Representatives had beers supporting the sway
sure. aad• yet no fault had been found wsth them by
their constituents Even a very short period before the
breaking up of Parliamei t last year, one of the Hon.
Representatives for Westminster had presented a peti-
tion in favour of the Catholic Claims, and declared his
imention to continue to support the Catholic Claims;
.sill no objection had Keen raised to th s member..—Tf e
'p. titi..n was ordered to lie on the t able.

- The Bart of LLDON presentedPetitinn; to the same el*
Gum Shanasten. Walston, Metbuck, Cbolesbury. Radbory. fagclas
amptou. and other places in Buckinghamshire; (tom se,ltil
fishes in Essex; from the counties of Northampton. Peuiltrolto.
and Dumfries; and from Drum. In Stalfordshire2lo all thirty.
two petitions.
I Ye Ki-bup of NORWICH presented two Petitions from places
im the diocese of Norwich in favour of concession to the Catbeiice.
The Duke of CUMBERLAND presented a number of Peti-
tions against Emancipation from 'Mummy, in the King's county;
from the Orange Institution of die city of Armagh; and from va-
rious places in the counties of Armagh, Wicklow. Monaghan. and
Dublin.

The LORD CHANCRLLOR ►ere observed. that their Lard-
Alps bad made an order requiring every Peer who .might have
petitions for presentation to eater bus name on a Rat, sod that the
names of soda Peers should be called .s they wood on 'bolls* As
that order might net Lae been generally known, be oboold mem
that it be now read by the Clerk.
The order was then read.
Lord ROLLS suggested that no person nut a Member of the
Home sboald be allowed to place a Peer's name on the list for
bint.

The Marquis of LONDONDERRY moved that a Select
Committee be appointed to Inquire into the state of the Coal
Trade, the various duties Imposed on Coal, including the charges
exacted is the pert of London., and all other matters evonected
with the Coal Trade.
The Doke of WELLINGTON had so objection to the pro.
posed inquiry, as he believed Cods could be sold at a cheaper rate
than the presets without a reduction of the accessary duties ae.
towing to Government or to the City of Loudon.
After a few words from Lord ResesoaLe.
Lord PA RN H A el said. he understood that no motion would
be made until the Peddeas had been lest beard. His Lordship
yesterday gave notice of a mocks for this day, and if the pre.
sent minion was passed, he would press his minims inuesadiately
after It.
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said be had acted under
•ebe advice of the Noble Lord on the Woolsack.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said that as there was a tlffens
once of opinion, it would be better U the Noble Marquis would
withdrew kis ma ion for the present.
The motion was th.n wklidrawn pre/empire.
The Reel of POWIS presented Petitkins against the Catitore
Claims from places in he counties of Salop, identeonstry. and
Disetbatmettorlossta.
Earl URAUCHAMP pessimted Petitions from places in the
county of Wormier against Caroaesion to the Catholics
Lard LYTTELTON, in totemic* color of th. Petit et • ( hat
from the parish of St. John's Worcester), stated that the Vicar
the parish, whose name was attached to &his Petition. had signed
two other Petitions also on the same @object. A Magi trate, too.
1 who signed the present Padden, had allied his name to several
other Petitions against concession. This, then, was the *WI ap-
pearance of these Gentlemen before Parliament on dd. quest •n ;
.nd by this contrivance they sought to add artificial weight to he
Petitions against the qsestion. It was, however, a sort of decep-
tion performed for stage effect.a• whet a few persoas wale brume-a
ea the scene of a theatre to represent a numerous body. Hood.
bills, too, bad been circulated in the parish. calling the Catholics
beaked, and wolves, sod adding that the march act time did -I:ot
mitigate the venom of the serpent, sue extract the fangs trim he
tiger. The Noble Lord concluded by depart sting such hdantaia.
tory appeals by the Clergy to the passions of the FcoP.e.
Earl BRA UCHA IIP said, that he was not aware .1 t'i. a tom.
stances relative to the signets: es alluded to by the Noble L .t d. nor
did he know. if there was any Irregularity in person. sighl g
ferret Petitions in different capacities, bow it could he pr. tent d.
As to the hand bills objected to. the Noble Earl denied ilia the
Clergyman alluded to bad .ay participation in the publicrton
them. The Noble Lord (Lyttekon) was aware of the &eidetic
of a scandalous letter by a Popish Priest in the same place.
lord LYT FELTON said, that if the Itand.bille had not bees
circulated by the authority of the Gentleman to whom' he had re.
lured (Dr. Forester). he could have no besitatinn in retractiito the
charge with expreasions of regret. As to the paean. o abed d
sa by the Noble Earl. be had seen it, and expressed his assapprosi..
slat; but that ;krona had been goaded oo by repeasid meek.—
This feeling was the result of the odious theekgicoes, whisk hail
both parties in excitement.
Earl MLA UCHA MP thought that if the printer in (pestle, AM
not published the pamphlet, be mat be a very sii.used person.
Alter a few words keen the Earl of &sox and Lord Lyre's:row
in reply, the Petitions were ordered to lie on the table.
The Rubs, of CHICHESTER presented two Petitions against
Cencemion.

The Asebbishop of YORK presented a Petition from tie Arcb.
deaconry of York agaiost the Catbolic Claims.
The Archbishop of AR Ai ACM presented Petitions containing
a similar prayer from Clugher and erber places.
bird ItiLVICSDALK presented several Petitions to the same
sleet.

Toe Committee inuved fur by the Marquis of Londonderry us
the Coal Trade was appuinted.
Lord FARNHAM unwried for Customs Returns, showing the
Ilanioent of Pay sad Pardons to Olken and Nuaeunionssilied
Mears of the Irish Militia Regimes.—Ordered.
The Duke of WELLINGTON said he had already gloved for
returns of the pensions paid within the last year to Olken of the
Militia.

The LORD CHANCLLLOR Informed the Heuer of an en-
derstaading come su that evening by their Lordsh.ps, that Peers
intending to present Petitions sisorld themselves place their names
as the list.—Their Lordships then adjourned at Seven o'Closer.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Mahe CATII•LICCIaIais.
Petitions spinet these Paints were presented by Mr..F. Wawa,
from the Clergy of the Deanery of Doncaster, and frost the .11,-
ImM:eats of Hellington. in the county of York ; by Sir It Meet,
from two villages in Es.os ; by Si, IL H. beau, from Dcbilt•oet
Stenebbre. in Klocarduseekire, and a Farb* in Reign, s ore;
in Scotland; by Mr. Sesames, from the .Corporation or Marries.
Geld; and four places la Use county of Dumfries; by Jr. C. PALL.
from Carmelites, end St. Saviour a, Southwark ; by, Mr.
—a petition of dopier brevity, being only one Stios
from three village* in arelliftlehire ; by Mr. Doscussee. tree the
Clergy a the Arctsdeacuary of --, in the coast/ el Yerk.-and
four villages in Yorkshire; and by Mr. Taiwan, from Newts.,
Lincolnsbire.—Tbey were all ordering to be Frinieri.
Petitiaas In fames of th se Chiba, were pretested by Mr. ElJl-
sew. Irons the Inhabitants of the town of Newcaole-upea-Tyse,
amides whom were the principal Merck .nts and Betters, sal the
Barristers. mat of the ether practitioners of the Ito, ands ma.
jerky of the moat intsegent and hillisential pernms of the town;
oho from the Waldemar of Gatoolorod, r the amity of Deltas -
by Mr. Laensnsu, from fagui:iipiirTrun, eall Illoslr other gm:

is the &alfordshire Potteries; by Mr. Waxes Homy, from the
Inhabitants of Neweastle.under-Lyme; by Mr. nauseous% (join
Youghall; and by Mr. STANLEY, from Solihull, in the courtly of
Tipperary.—Ordered to be printed.
Mr. D. W. HARVEY, in presenting a counter peti
tion from the Minister and Congregation of Protestant
Dissenters assembled at Beresford Chapel in Walworth,
rn thy cnunty of•Sarrey,said, that he had been directed by
tie petitioners Instate thatohnugh their feelings were de-
ei hostile to the admission of Roman Catholics to
political power, they would have been contented to leave
the matter to the decision of his Majesty's Government,
had it not been for two circumstances which had lately
occurred. In the first place, the Protestant Dissenters
who had assembled at Redcross-street, in London, to
petition on the subject, had assumed to themselves a
corpnrate character, while they denied that character to
the Protestant Dissenters in the country. It had been
said that those Dissenters who now petitioned against
Catholic Emancipation acted an ungrateful and mum-
sistent part—that they acted an ungrateful part inas-
much as they had looked for and obtained last year the
same concessions; but it should be recollected that the
repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts was a matter of
right and not of favour; and they contended that in pe-
titioning against further concessions to the Roman Ca-
tholics they acted with perfect consistency, because they
looked upon the Roman Catholics as the advocates of
a church establishment, and themselves the rivals of the
Protestant church. The Dissenters, on the contrary,
were the enemies of any church establishment. As far
as the declaration of the principles of the Dissenters
went he (Mr. Harvey) perfectly coincided with the pe-
titioners; and if he could not support the prayer of the
petition it was not because he advocated the present
measures on the principle of right or abstract justice,
. but because he thought they were expedient, if not ab-
solutely necessary.

SURRIT PSTITION.
Mr. C. PALLMER had the honour of presenting to
the House a Petition from the county of Surrey against
the intended alteration of the Constitution in favour of
the Roman Catholics. When he stated that this Peti

Con had beer. agreed to at a very numerous and highly
re•peltable meeting of that great and populous and
enlightened county, regularly convened, and at which
the High Sheriff presided ; that it had been carried,
after considerable discussion, by a very large majority,
i• must be unnecessary for him to add, that if any Peti-

ti, n of the people could be entitled to the attention of
Parliament it was such a Petition—(Mr. Ulmer then
read the Petition).—He (Mr. Pannier) could add
nothing w its irrefragable arguments, nor would he di-
pinisli their tome by the weakness of his own observa•
%ions- ;lie had too frequently renvristrated with the
House upon its dangerous and unconstitutional course,
and he Eck unspeakable gratification in the reflection
that this important Petition had proved beyond all
doubt that he had done so in common with the feelings
and the wishes ef those who had for a time entrusted

their right; and their interests to his care, and where
intelligence. educat'on, information, wealth, and every
'other qualification, enabled them to form as sound a
judgment upon this question as any other body of men
either in ni out of this linuse.

Mr. DENISON admitted all that the Hon. Member
Esad ►aid w Ills tespect to the numbers and the respeeta•
Wily of those ss his had signed the petition, but he denied
that ex vri•ssed the sentiments of the county of Surrey.
He begged t,) say one wurd of the manner in which the
petition had Linen got up. On the Jay on which the
n eeting was held the r'ads leading to Epsom were
crow ded whh peop'e actually loaded with inflammatory
placards; and the Gentleman who had seconded the
petition aro. ed on the busti igs that he had himself
distributed the placard headed " Queen Mary's Days."
The Tract S.ciety had only printed, but had not dis-
tiibuted it. The Ho,'. Men.ber dwelt on the benefits

which would be desired from passing the present Bill,
and conch ded by saying, that after his Majesty should
lave given his as eta to it, he would be die first Sove-
reign n the universe.
The Petition was ordered to be printed.
C. PA LLMER presented Petitions to the same effect from
two parishes in the county of Surrey. Ma a Petition ream.
mending the introduction of Poor Laws into Ireland.
Colonel WOOD presented a Petition against furtherCongessions
to the Boman Catholics from the county of Brecon. It bad ema-
nated from a meeting of that county regularly convened, and was
signed by 564 individuals.
Mr. STANLEY presented a Petition from the same county,
signed by the High Sheriff of the county, by eleven Magistrates,
I. Ara.: 'ma. and four Clergymen, in favour of Emancipatioo.
Mr. PONSONBY likewise presented a Petition from the pa-
rish of St. Audeon, in the city of Dublin, against the Disfranchise.
matt of the Forty Shilling Freeholders.
Sir C. COOT* presented a Petition from the Corporals and
tiinnmers of the Queeo's County Regiment against the reduction
the militia.
.Lord PALMERSTON rose to present a Peados from Mr.
George Ensor against the Bill for Didranchislog the Forty Shil-
ling Fre/Midas. The Noble Lord read the prayer of the petition.
The SPEAKER inquired whether the Petition did not refer to
something that had been said in that House?
Lord PALMERSTON replied, that the Petition certainly did
We, to what bad Plea in One of the Houses of Parliament.
The SPEAKER—Then I am sure the Noble Lord won't put
is to me so as to snake it necessary for me to put to him to with-
draw the petition.—The petition was withdrawn.
Lord MILTON prettented a Petition front the owners of war-

wed:mills in findford, privies the Horne to make some inquiry
into the practice of employing children in the manufacture of
wotsted. The Nobk Lord said, that some pear ago great com-
plaints were made of the injury done to the health of children by
-employing them in cotton mills. Those complaints led to an in-
quiry, which was attended with most satisfactory results; and the
petitioners were now anxious that an inquiry should also be insti.
towed *dative SO the state of the health of the children emyloyed in
the worsted manufacture —The petition was ordered to be printed.
Mr. H. MAXW ELL presented Petitions against any further
concessions to the Roman Catholic, from the Orangemen of the
Eastern Division of London ; from the Teachers and Supporters of
the Sunday Schools in the Western Division of Leaden; from the
Associate Congregation of Ayr; from the palish of St. Katherine.
Dublin ; from five parishes in the county of Monaghan : and from
tour parishes in the county of Down.
Similar Petition% were presentedby Mr. Weans', from the Royal
Burgh of Anstrother; by Sir IC. Koareoseu., from Northend,
bowel ; and by Me. Ceaten. from three parishes in *HMO
Mr. H. GRATTAN presented a Petition from a parish in Wick-
!ow against the Forty Shilling Freeholders' Disqualification Bill.
Sir. BKALTAIObIT Renewed a Fithian from Blythe, in favour
of the Roman Catholic Claims.
Mr. Secretary PEEL preowned Petition' from Crossboynt, in
the county of Mayo. and Kihourcey, in the earreit's Comity, is
Itvout of the Catholic Belief Bill.
Orgewy PEEL also Prefenlell a Petition from Mallow.
praying that the provhions of the MO Frettibolders' Qualification
/fill should be extended to that Borough.
After a few observations from Mr. Janine, Admiral Evans,
.arii Mr. O. Laws, the petition was ordered to he printed.
Mr. H. MAXWELL presented Pathless from the Corporal',
Sergeants. and Drummers et the Cavan Militia, and of the Mo-
naghan Militia.—Ordered to be printed.

EDINBURGH PETITION.

Sir J. MACINTOSH, in rising to present this Pcti
Orin, said, that although he was perfectly aware it vas
sutural and reasenable for the House to feel impatient
as being occupied for any 'ength of time in the discus.
6,1)11 of Petitions, yet he hoped they would not object t
hi:ur him state the noltilff as seed as some particulars of
the pteseat, and that they would not deem him pre-
buliptuous in briefly addressing them on this occasion,
More especially as he had not attempted to engross any
wriest of their attention on the schen!' emotion. The
-r4fifisw xbisb be bad the boooot of holding in his baud
was heat Ediebeigh, and in favour of the Kunsan Ca-1

tholic Claims, or, in other words, from four: fifths of
those classes of society who were, not,' the levelling
„spirit lately beaks in upon the lower benches of that
Hon e. called the most respectable classes of the com-
munity in the iicient capital of the most Protestant,
part or this great Protestant empire—a capital which in
his opinion was, by the very act of presenting this Peti-
tion to pray the Legislature to pass this Bill into a law,
performing one of the most noble duties of its high
office, as the protecting guardian of the Protestant
interests in Europe. This Petition was agreed to
is an assembly unparalleled io the history of Scot-
land—it was voted by a Meeting attended by upwards
of two thousand persons, and voted by four.fifths,
some say nine-tenths, of those who, uotil thelateinno-
vation upon the ranks of life, by some Gentlemen in
that House, were usually considered the most respect-
able clas.es of society. It was signed by a number
somewhat under 8,000; to the names of the individuals
were attaehed their several places of abode; a most
severe scrutiny was made into the identity of every sig.
nature • all the precautions which could be devised
were taken to prevent improper subscriptions; so that,
whatever imprudence might have been committed by
other persons employed in preparing Petitions, these
petitioners were free from the slightest imputation—in-
deed, they had adopted a practice which it would have
been well had been imitated by others; they had issued
notices disavowing all hand-bills and placards except
those which were issued under the signature of their
own Secretary. Very different had been the conduct
of others in the city of Edinburgh touching this
subject. An author was found to write a pamphlet,
which he (Sir J. Macintosh) would not quote, unless be
was compelled to do so by some more distinct allusion
to it, but which was one of the most daring and trea-
sonable libels against the House of Brunswick, as heirs
to the Princess Sophia, upon the throne of these realms,
under the Act of Settlement, that had ever been pub-
lished. Of all the libellous delinquencies of the last six
weeks—of all the libels upon the House of Brunswick
which had issued from the Scottish press since the battle
of Culloden, none had reached the degree of that to
which he had alluded, but would not quote, as he had
already said, unless pressed for the purpose. Indeed, of
it he would only say, that it required no little legal
discrimination to draw the line between the seditious
and treasonable import of that work. When he pto-
nounced this opinion upon its criminality, sorry should
he be that the author obtained the honours of martyr•
dons, to which he had perhaps aspired, and the law of
high treason should be applied to punish his delinquen-1
cies. In answer to the new democratists upon the lower
benches, he was under the necessity of stating the cha-
racter end names of some of the petitioners in whose
behalf he now claimed the attention of the House. This
petition from the city of Edinburgh was signed by seven'
Pees', their sons, or Privy Councillors, 2.5 Knights of
the Bath or Baronets, 155 Gentlemen of considerable
landed property, I SO practisingAdvocates at the Scottish
bar, leaving scarcely a dozen names of the profession
who had not signed it, thus completing the high and
distinguished union, w hich was formed upon this ques-
tion with the Protestant bar of England, whose Peti-
tion was last night presented by his Hon. and Learned
Friend, its head and ornament (Sir James Scarlet* and
the Protestant and Catholic bar of Ireland, proudly re-
cording the general consent of the legal profession in
all parts of Greet Britain and Ireland—of these official
professors of British law throughout the kingdom who
oppose their opinions to those invaders of the Constitu-
tion who deny the hereditary right of the reigning family
to the Crown, and assert the privilege of altering the
succession at their pleasure. These exclusive doc-
trines have now received their fullest contradiction

upon the authority of the united knowledge of the
bar of the three kingdoms. The petition was also signed
by 50 Divines, comprehending the chief Dignitary of
the Church of England and Scotland, and several Mi.
nisters o; that Church; and including likewise the sig-
natures of those who were once more anti-papal than
any other class of Divines, and in that respe t exceed-
ing in orthodox all other dissenters from the Church of
Scotland. It was likewise honoured by the signalises
of the Rev. Principal of the Scottish Metropolitan Uni-
versity, and of 16 of the Professors of that renowned
body, forming a great majority of its members. There
were the names of 21 bankers, in a city, too, be it re-
membered, where so much f the commercial business
was transacted by banking establishments : there were
the names of 60 General Officers, 40 Colonels, S 2
Admiral,, Captains, and other Officers of the Nary;
of 198 Physicians and Surgeons; and of 600 Gentle-
men of various other branches of the law, be.ides
advocates; and 250 merchants and traders of great re-
spectability. If any addition were wanting to give dis-
tinction to this list, he could add, that it was signed by
all the considerable men of the two parties who had
divided Edinburgh betwt en them in conflis.t ng opinions,
until the happy introduction of this measure, which had
sunk all party spirit into oblivion, with perhapS the ex-
ception of some few persons, opium whose
respectability he should not toseaihe one nowt. Had
these names been arrayed six weeks in a Peiitibn, they
would have been assigned to the Tories and Whigs; but
now thee distinctive appellations bad been lost in the
union of all patties to retrofits a great act of national
justice. There were, besides, appended to this petition no
common names. At the bead of the requisition. and near
the head of the Petition, was the name of a great and
illustrious man, who might justly be called the most
celebrated writer now living in the whole world, who
had given mote delight to the greatest number of human
beings, in the same space of time, than any man who
had ever preceded bun in the walks of literature could
boast of, any. what was perhaps still more pertinent to
the present subject, a man as much above the common
race of men in the attribute of common sense and sound
understandingos he was their universally admitted sow-
n r in genius and fame—he need not adJ,thal the person
to whom he alluded was the illustrious Sir Walter Scott.
Next that great name, be was entitled to place another,
as connected with this subject, though not connected
either by country or signature with this p, cation; and
here he was at the same time doomed to indulge a me-
lancholy reflection. Next to the first name in British
literature he could place the first name in British science
—he meant that of Sir H. Davy. who, though now
.:cooping on the bed of sickness, and suffering under
the pangs of debility and disease, had yet mental firm.
ness and solid judgment sufficiently unbroken. to ex-
press by letter the glow and joy he derived upon bear-
ing in a foreign land the glad tidings of the introduction
of this Bill, which, he said, he hailed as an honour to
his religion and his country—(lfeer, heat). At the bead
of those who to. k a must active part in the business
of the Llinbuigh meeting was Sir James Moncrieffe
—he who was elected by unanimous suffrage Desn of
Faculty of Advocates, and who. independent of that
high honour, enjoyed a more extensive legal practice
than any of his great pries:n*l'ot s bad ever approached.
And here he a ould cite—et to exasperate passions, but
as something to appease and conciliate them—that Sir
James Monet-idle was the son of one of the brightest
lights of the church of Scittlandothose venerable presence

atoll rose in his mind, combining is it did 40.Am:seta
of one of the primitive fathers di the shush with the
port and bearing olai Pendent= olanciept blitorfrin a
whit h he had wane 'before seettaoited :in any ,
pan. sir J. Moncrieffii inherited .811 she virtuisidfi his ;
father, and was, like him, the inviolatricandiofirmaup-
porter of the Protestant church. As, such, with heart
and hand he had -subscribed this petition, and he bad
no doubt his revered father, had he lived to this
time, would have set him the example of doing
He would call their attention, in the next instance, to an
individual who had signed-this petition, than whom no
man was moreaminent for exemplary piety. extensive
lemming and information, or for sincere anxiety for the
welfare of or attachment to the Protestant faith. Be felt
they must already be aware be alluded to that ornament
of his profession—Dr. Chalmers. Whatever might be
the sentiments of that intelligent and eminent man on
parts of this great question, he begged that no one would
imagine for a moment that it was possible Dr. Chalmers
could consider this concession as the effect of a strugee
between the Popish and Protestant religion. He, on the
contrary, begged with the utmost sincerity, that the Le-
gislature would disencumber theEstablishedChurchfrom
the deceitful protection derived from disahilities imposed I
on our Catholic fellow-countrymm•that t heH ou se would
relievereligion from the ambiguous armour which could
add nothing to its capability of defence. He felt as that
eminent father of the Church St. Austin is related to
have felt many ages since, when the aid of the civil or
armed power of the State was tendered to him by the
Pro Consul, for the protection and support of the African
Church. That excellent and exemplary Divineateplied.
that he should indeed despair of the African Church, If it
stood in need of the inter position of the Pr o-Consul of
Africa. He would ask Hon. Members who-dig/et ed with
himself, where could they find amongst the lights of
the age and country in which he lived, a name more
eminent or distinguished than Bishop Jemmy Taylor?
And that, be thought with the petitioners in this
instance. and with St. Austin in the case alluded to.
was proved from the remarkable expression to be
found in his words, where, speaking of the aids ,
which might be derived by religion Ron civil institu-
tions, he, in language forcible and bold es the subject
required, described all reliance on such aids as those as
a distrust in GOD to maintain his own cause and his own
people. He felt it necessary here to defend those who
were in the situation of the petitioners from an inference
attempted very unfairly to be drawn by the enemies of
concession—namely, that toleration was in this particu-
lar case a math of indifference to the interests of reli-
gion. As well might it be assumed that we ex?osed
our Established Church to the hazard of being sup-
planted by the idolatrous worst.ip of the lirasninical
religion, because we, in our vast empire in India,
maintained the strictest union with the professors of
that false and idolatrous faith, exercising the most
watchful care over their interests, the protection of
their persons from violence, and their plop, rty
from invasion or injustice, and contributing Wet ly.to
the maintenance of seminaries endowed for the very
purpose of dissemina in g the most absurd doctrines and
idolatrous creed—(Hear). He would only trouble the
House with one more remark, which he felt himself
called on imperatively to make; it referred to the effect
which the conduct of the Legislature in removing Ca-
tholic disabilities would probably have on the Protes-
tants scattered throughout other countries of Metope.
That effect it might be difficult to calculate. but weer-
tainly would be great. It was certain that at present
Protestants were completely shut out from a vast num-
ber of places of trust and political station in the two
countries Smith of the Pynennees; that in Italy they
were only capacitat. d by a palpable evasion ; that in
France,nbese they were very numerously scattered, they
were disqualified in many instances,although many situa-
tions were open to them both there and in Austria. There
was every reason to believe that a liberal line of con-
duct towards the Catholics of this country would pro-
duce an assimilated liberality on the part of those Go-
vernments towards their Protestants subjects; but it was
perfectly certain that the worst consequences towards
the professors of the Protestant faith would result
from the defeat of the present liberal and enlightened
attempt t f oar own Government to relieve our Catho-
lic fellow.countrymen from civil disabilities. It would
become those who professed themselves so anxious
for the Protestant cause, to ponder well what might be
the possible retaliative measures resorted to by other
Governments towards their Protestant subjects, or what
might be the injuries or injustice to which those sub
jects of Governments, in some instances arbitrary,
and in more than one tyrannical, might be exposed,
should the beneficent intentions of his Majesty and his
Majesty's Ministers be thwarted and successfully op-
posed by their own absurd prejudices and unjustifiable
hostility. Mr. Burke had denominated Sir George S -
vine's Bill in 1758, as a Bill framed for the toleration of
Protestantism all over Europe. That such was the fact
no one would deny; but how much more truly might
it be predicated of the measure sow in its progress
through Parliament? To entertain alarm, for the Pro-
.estant faith, and make it the ground for the rejection
of this measure. was none than absurd in these days
of genial enlightenment. In fact, the arguments were
all the other way, and went distinctly to prove that the
effect of these concessions would be to support, secure,
and strengthen our Protestant constitution, these Pro-
testant kingdoms, and the Protestant faith ; nor could
the opposers of the measure, he thought, after they had
reflected on the possible, or rather certain consequences
which its rejection would have on the fate of the Pro.
testants of other countries, shelter themselves from the
imputation—an imputation replete with disgrace aid
dishonour—that they had by their triumphaht opposi-
tion rather proved their hatred to their Catholic fellow-
country men, than their love for their Protestant brethren.
On anodes that the Peddos should he brought up.
Mr. TRANT did not deny the right of the distin-
guished and eminent individuals who had signed that
Petition to approach the Legislature for the porpoises
therein stated, and for declaring their opinions to the
House on the Roman Catholic question. The right of
petition was what be would be • the last man in that
House to deny, but he would never consent to surren-
der the opinions of that House in deference to the sen.
detente of any body of his Majesty's subjects; though
he confessed he felt a little surprised at hearing his
Right Honourable Friend who spoke last endeavour to
undervalue the Petitions which came to that House from
the large proportion of the community which wu
posed to the admission of Roman Catholics to political
power. In the olden times it had been the practice of
that Right Honourable Gentleman and those who
thought with him to talk of the majesty of the people
—the sovereignty• of the people. When he (Mr. Trent)
was a boy, and his Right Hon. Friend a full grown
man—(a laugh)—the world heard little from him that
was not full of the majesty of the people ; but now his
tone was changed. The present Petition he considered
any tLtng but decisive of the opinions of the people of
Scotland. True it wee, that 'in the first city in !cot-
land— a modern Athens, as it was called—some of
the laoyets, the physicians, and others of some note,

had signed the petition then before the House, but shee,
he was pomaded the House would agree with him, w"
by no means decisive of public opinion in Scotland....
His Right Hon. Friend had expressed much surprise
;th t he(%lr.T.), his friends in Parliament, and some „dd
sort of people out of doors, who contend that vi far from
religion having nothing to do with the present question,
contended that it had every thing to-do with it. Apart
from any consideration derived from history,he knew net
how any man who looked even at passing events could
doubt that the prevent was quite as much a religious as;
political question. Thus, on a recent occasion, when a
procession was hid in Ireland in honour of the Cud"
Saint, and a green flag carried, any one who did not
bow does and worship was instantly denounced;
Pi °team Church was broken into,aod the Bible burned.
With such facts before their eyes, must they not area
ith him that the time had come when they must look
to their religion? England, Wales, thePratestant pm.
tions if Ireland and Scotland, bad declared that the
time had arrived at which it was time to look to at
religious independence. That, he sincerely believed,
was the feeling of the empire at large; it seas his dose.
viction, and he would maintain it to the last hour ofilie
eistel.ce.
Sir bH. INGLIS observed, that the Right Wawa
able OE cleman had asserted that the question was oar
not between Pi otestaut and Catholic. Now be (Sir L
H. Inglis) eould observe, that it was not a question—.
as that Right Hon. Gentl-man bad said—a question
betweeo toleration and iiiioleraisce. It was one of the
greatest, and, in this cake, the most mischievous, ewer
that any man could fall into, that of stating this to be
a question of toleration. instead of describing it, as it
was, a question of admission to poli ical power ; and
he could not b t regard it-as a gross perversion of the
language of Bishop Jeremy Taylor, for what he said
had reference to religious toleiation, and by no means
to political power. The Right Honourable Gentle.
man bad said that the R 00144 Catholics had on their
side the .highest Authority in the Scotch Church. To
that be woull reply, that, on the other side, there was
,at least thesecood authority in that learned and verve.
table body. The Petitions which had been presented
to the House proved that not only a majority of the
Clergy, but a maj irity of the Laity of Scotland wee
opposed to further concessions to the Roman Catholics.
There bad been Petitions from the ministers, elders,
!litigants of parishes, synods, and almost every form
which Scotch society assumes; and yet, in the face of
all those Petitions, they were told that the people of
Scotland were favourable to the proposed innovation
upon the Consteutiro.
Sir G. MURRAY said that the Church,-the Bat, the
medical profession, and other authorities whose fame
spread into the most distant countrie., had given. the
weight of their support to the Catholic cause. Hit
wished to supply an omission of the Right Honourable
Gentleman, namely, that which related to the OCCAIIa
which gave rise to the present petiti .n. There hal bees
put forth an advertisement respecting an anti• Catholic
petition, in which the people of Edinburgh were told
that, if the Roman Catholic Claims were acceded to,
they _would have nothing but Popish Lords of &aim,
Popish Church Patrons, Popish schoolmasters in pa.
ashes. die. Ice. It was to meet the effects of such mio
representations as these that the meeting was got up,
from which the present petition proceeded. It must be
manifest to the House that such an advertisement
proved either the grossest ignorance, or a deliberate at-
tempt to create delusion.
Mr. S. BOURNE conceived, that by whatever term
the measure alluded to might be called, whether a
measure of prudence, of policy, or of necessity, it
certainly could not with propriety be denominated by
the term toleration"

cl
al

Mr. C. GRANT was quite of opinion that the peo-
ple of Scotland had manifested their opinion on the
Catholic Question. He could not but observe that it
was rather remarkable th.t the party of alarmists who,
at the time of the Union, thought the Church in danger,
I had successors in the present day who referred to the
Articles of Union for the purpose that they were ia•
leaded as safeguards of the ProtestaLt religion.
Mr. H. DRUMMOND observed, that although the
question of Catholic Emancipation had been entertained
three or four times by the Convocation in Scotland, )et
there never bad been a Petition got up by that body on
the subject. The present Petition was a proof of the in-
telligent naiad of the best class of people in Scotland.—
In proof of that assertion he would remark, that of all
the representatives of Scotland is that House, only five
were opposed to concession.
Sir J. MACINTOSH, in moving that the Petitios
should be read, remarked that the Honourable Baronet
had been guilty of something like inconsistency in re-
sorting, as the champion of the Church of England, to
the alleged opinions of Dr. Macrie, the moderator. He
had no objection biuiself to Dr. Islacrie, though there
were reasons a by the Hon. Baror.et should have refused
to avail himself of the aid of such an auxiliary; for the
Doctor was the avowed head of those seceders whose
secessinn was founded on their adherence to the solemn
league and covenant. Now that solemn league and e°.
tenant had for its object, strange to say, the upsetting
and uprooting of Prelacy and Popery. It was singular.
therefore, that the Honourable Baronet should, io hu
desire to quote eminent names on his side of the co.
tion, have overlooked the dangerous principles of that
class of Dissenters over whom the Doctor presided. It
could not but be surprising to many to find the Hon.
Baronet recruiting in such singular quarters--(Hear).
Sir R. H. INGLIS. in explanation, said, that as far
as the placard alluded to had threatened the good peo-
ple 01 Edinburgh with a Popish Government, Popish
Professors, or heads of Colleges, as these things would
be possible in the event of the Relief 8.11 passing into
law, there was no reason to charge the framers of that
placard, of whom be knew nothing, with exaggerations
—The petition was then read, and ordered to be primed.
QUALIFICATION OW PRZSNOLDIIIII(IIINLAND) SILL

Mr. DAWSON moved the Order a tie Day ter 'the farther
consideration et the Report ea the Freeholders QuoMeade' Sill.
Oa the gamins that she Speaker leave the (:hair,
Mr. MOORE (Dublin) said. that in rising to propose
his first instruction to the Committee, he whited to state
the grounds on which he was prepared to support the
BTU. There were two clans of 'persons who came far•
ward to support the measure now before the House; of
these two clues the one considered the disfranchises's.

of the elective franchise in Ireland ua pi ice for the reA.
lag of Emancipation, and the other considered it as a sr
cority to the Proteitants for the same measure ; he was
anxious, when be gave his support to the Bill, that he
should have an opportunity of explaining distinctly what
the grounds were upon which that support was gig".
As a Kew ity for the measure of Emancipation, he dr*,
claimed it altogether. He supported the Bill spoil the
general principle of raising the elective franchise, aid
of guarding and protecting it from the fraud to which
it had been subjected. He thought that it ought to he
carried into effect upon its own merits, and upon its owe
distinct grounds, and without reference to any odor
measure. As a distinct and separate measure it web!
be wise and useful ; for while it promoted the pawl'

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