Star.
London, England, 1817-04-22 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS.

HOUSE OF LuitUs. APRIL 111.
Tile Bishop (tt Killala took the oaths and his seat.
A Penn 'rum the National Debt Redact ))))) Commisdontes
pneented Aectomts to the Hott.e, which were laid en the table.
Lord SIDMOU f H hid cm the table the I bird Report Nit-
fore to the proceeslings of the time" Jury Court.
LS D ilk nUTltr>; CIRCO-AR LB
Lord SIDMOU l'H l'id on the table Lis circular
letter to, the Lords Lieutenants of Counties in Eng.
land and IVales, relative to the apprehension of per-
sons selling seditious writings, moved for by rani

Croy. -
Lord HOLLAND observed, that this lettrr alone
was not sufficient for the purpose rif bringino the
whole ease :mime their Lordships. When his Noble
Friend moved for this letter, lie had stated that it was
his intention to move also, on another occasion, for
the opinion of the law officers of the Crown, referred
to in that letter; and for the case laid before these
officers, upon which the opinion was funded. His
Noble Friend, h.e understood. most undoubtedly
meant to make that motion ; and he was anxious that
Vie Noble Secretary n' Suite should Now state wire.
then he would have any objection to the production
of these priV-rs ? The circular letter, of the Noble
Secretary certainly gave rise to a most important
question with respect to the administration of justice
in this country; end he understood it was intended
to bring the subject formally tinder discussion, on.
less, on the production of the case submitted to the
low-officers of the Crown, and the Opinion iif these
talkers upon it, it should appear that euchiliscussion
was unnecessary. The letter of the Noble Laid had
been, as there was reason to believe, already produc-
tive of some consequences, which, probably. the
Noble Secretary himself never intended. The Noble
Lord, some time ago, supported a Bill which had
been brought into Parliament for the repeal of the
only obnoxious clause which disgraced that
.glos ions
law the Toleration Act : yet, since the passing of a
late Act (the Seditious Meeting Act). a person had
been molested for preaching in a chapel or meeting.
house, such doctrines as pewits of his religious pee.
suasion thought it their duty to teach, and which they
had been permitted to teach for thirty, or forty, or
fifty years past. This transaction had taken place at
Liverpool. It miiiht indeed be said, that it would
probably have happened though this circular letter had
n vcr been publiiiii d yet the pees nto whom he al.
I had been lied to bail ; and this at least war-
ranted a strong suspicion that the circular in question
Was the cause of the proceeding. Hu did not mean
to say that the N ble Secretary of State, or ail' of
the persons concerned, were to blame ; but it was a
matter- of very great importance that the subject
should be discussed ; and that, in order to bring be-
fore the House the requisite iitiormation for drat dis-
cussion, the case and opinion should be laid On the
table: The person who had been molested in the
manner he had. stated was an. Unitarian preacher,
Mr. Wright, of Liverpool.
Lord SI umour H.—Their Lordships' order had
been crmplied with. and the circular letter which he
had thought it Ms duty to publish was now on their
table. He would not now enter into the .dhcussion
of the subject, but he was most anxious that it should
be discussed, and that an opportunity should be al-
. forded to the Ministers of the Crown to justify the
proceeding. When the discussions should be brought
fotwatd, he would be perfectly ready to state the
reasons why he thotight himself—he did not say jot-
tified, buto-bound to publish this circular to the
L ,rd Lit:accents of Counties in England and Wales,
tandee the peculiar circumstances of the present times.
Certainly it. was not Iris intention that persons should
be disturbed in their religious worship. Of the tam
which the Noble Lord had mentioned he had heard
nothing, except what he had just head from his
Let &chip t but it was a case which would probably
have occurred though no such circular letter had
beets published ; and he did not see bow it was par.
.;:euiatly connected with that letter.
The Earl a LAUDER DALE.—The Noble Se.
cretary had not stated whether he was willing to lay
before the House the opinion of the Law Marrs of
the Clown, end the case submitted to them upon.
which that opinion was given. It was utterly iris.
possible to form a correct idea of the soundness of the
opinion. unless • the case were also produced. The
Noble Lord on the Woolsack must be aware that this
was the fact, and therefore the House could not be
properly informed for the discussion without the case
as ptll as the opinion ; he trusted that, as the Noble
Secretary was so anxious for discussion,• be would
have no objection to supply the proper information
for that purpose.
Lard HOLLAND—He did no mean to say that
the subject would certainly be brought into discussion
by his Noble Friend, cr any other Noble Lord. In
the production of the case and opinion. it might pos.'
ably appear that there was no ground for discussion;
but at 'vend, it was very importerytiliselbe
nion and die case should be laid before the House.
With regard to the case of Mr. Wright, of Liverpool.
he cid not mean to say that the circumstance might
not have happened though the circular letter had not
been pohlistred ; but Mr. Wright bad been held to
ba;1; ad this circumstance wat rutted a strong sus-
picion at lean that the proceeding was the con*
quence of the circular letter.
The Bishop of CHESTER—It was not in conse.,
qeence ot pteechisg the Unitarian doctrines that Mr.
Wright had met With any. interruption or molesta.
tion. He bad been charged on oath, by a most reC
spectable gentleman. a merchant of Liverpool, with
having preached, that the notion of the immortality
of die soul was a mere delusion; and that the idea
' of a future state was an okerdrry, and this was the
season that Mr. Wright had been proceeded with in
the manner mentioned by the Noble Lord.
HOLLAND—The doctrines mentioned by
APrd light Rev. Prelate were such as one Would
. warmly have .espected to hear front a pulpitwelput it
was mot to the doctrines that he referred, .but M the
.der is vobiels the individual had he!is priceeded
ndth, 11hateter *e doctrines were.
l af *MEAN requested the Noble Sc.
geosolainform the House whether he had
aor groheproduction of the case laid betorr
•ef the Crown,. and their opinion
wit r.
Lied SIDMOUtH f *avow* was no ob.
Owne to riodece the *aim, but that he would op.
the posited*" Id tin moo avid would state bib