Star.
London, England, 1829-03-04 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS. MARCH S.
The Archbishop of YORK rose to present a Petition
from the Clergy of an Archdeaconry in the C.unty of
York against further Concessions to the Roman Catho-
lics. The Hight Reverend Prelate said that he was en-
tirely ignorant of the nature and strength of the pro.
visions to be introd.sced into the intended Bill for the
removal of the civil disabilities of the Roman Catholics,
and it was therefore impossible for him to say what line
of conduct he would adopt with respect to that Bill.
The course he would take depended much upon the
character of the securities to be given ; upon them
rested whether he should feel justified in giving his sup-
port to the Bill.. If they were not satisfactory he would
be compelled. however he might lament the necessity
of doing so—he repeated, he would be compelled to
oppose the Bill. The Right Reverend Pielste conclu-
ded by presenting the petition.
ldr. W. Satan and other Members of the House of Commons,
brought up a message on a private Bill.
Lord BEXLEY presented two Petitions from places in the
county of Norfolk against the Catholic Claims.
The Earl of ELDON presented fiftrone Petitions against fur-
ther Concessions to the human Catholics; from the inhabitants of
places in the counties of Essex, Norfolk, Devon, Oxford. Cam-
bridge, Denbigh, York, Somerset, Suffolk. Fife, Limerick, Ross,
Gloucester, Warwick, and Buckingham; from the Ministers and
Elders of the General Session in Glasgow i • from the Corporation
of Curdwaioers, Glasgow ; from the Alayor,,,Baihffs,, and Bur-
gesses of Letcrter ; from the Corporation of Tailors. Maltmen,
and Coopers, Glasgow; from the Alinisier and Congregation of
Protestant Dissenters assembling in Mount-street Chapel, Soho,
parish of St. Anne's, Westminster; from the Minister and Con-
gregation of Old Chapel, Church-street, Brighton ; from the parish
of Saint Julio's, Southwark. a petition signed by all the lute*.
holders of the parish ; and from the parish of Shoreditch. In pre-
senting the last petition the Noble and Learned Lord said that he
did not consider it a fitting time to occupy the attention of the
House. He would merely observe that the petition was very
numerouely signed, and that it had originated at a public. meeting
held hi the parish church, where the resolution to petition was car-
ried by a large majority. The petitions were ordered to lie on the
table.

The Earl of DARNLEY rose to pre,ent a counter
petition to the petition from Shoreditch, j.ist presented
Isom the Noble and Learned Lord. He admitted that
it was less numerously signed than the other, and also
that the resoluti•in calling on the palish to petition
against the Catholic Claims had been carried by a ma-
jority of 149 to 69; but he had authority for stating
that the anti-Catholic petition was signed by many not
belonging to the parish. He agreed with the N .ble
and Learned Lo d in thinking that the pre entation of
a petition was not a suitable time for discussion; but he
could not help taking the opportunity of saying that
the number of signatures to retitions was no decisive
proof of the sentiments of the nation, As to the pro-
position that there was a majority of the people against
the Catholic CI ins, he would answer that there were
seven millions of Irish Catholics, who would, of course,
be on the opposi.e side, and he might therefore safely
assume that one-third of the p pulaiion of Great Bri-
tain was in favour of the questa 4i. He admitted, how-
ever, that there was a majority of the Protestant popu-
lation against it. Signatures were easily procured to
such petitions as the one that had been presented, but.
lie fe t justified in saying that, with the single excels-
tio.i of the N .ble and Leal ned Lord (Eldon), who, lie
acknowledged was in hiswelf " a towel os streogth,"
there was not one individual of learning or talent in
that House but had I. and out that it was both just and
Christian-like to grant the claims of the Catholics. The
House of Commons had declared itself for the measure
by repeated majorities, and he had no doubt would do
so no* by an overwhelming majority. The Noble
Lord adverted to Vie oppositiim if the Clergy of the
Established Church, and to their speeches at the Biuns-
wick Clubs, and in particular to the speeches of the
Rev. Dr. Robinson, of Armagh, and concluded by ob-
serving, that if they (the Clergy) hoped to counteract
his Blrjesty's wishes by their opposition, they would
not only find themselves mistaken, but would deeply
wound the interests of the Church.

The counter petition from Shoredheh was presented, and ow.
doted to Us on the table.
The Earl of ELDON, in reply, stated that he had
presented fifty-one Petitions, of which that (tom the
parish of Shoreditch had happened unfortunately to be
the last. Ot fifty of these nothing had been said, while
of one nothing bad been left unsaid. It had been ob-
jected to another petition that females had affixed emir
names to it. He had examined the present one, and if
any Ladiei had signed it hew fished the Noble Lord
would introduce him to them—(A laugh). The Noble
Earl had set down all the Members of that House who
thought with him (Lord Eldon) as blockheads, and bad
reprobated the conduct of the Clergy of the E,tablisbed
Church. If it was upon such teams be was to gain a