Star.
London, England, 1819-03-23 00:00:00

The Marquis of DOWNSHIRE, pursuant to his
notice, presented two Petitions, numerously signed,
by Protestants in the City of Dublin, among Whom,
he described, were several of the most respectable
Nobility of Ireland ; the second was from Househol-
ders and others of the Irish capital ; both in support
of the Claims of their Catholic fellow subjects in Ire-
land. The Noble Marquis observed, that among the
Petitioners were' several Noblemen of the higher
ranks, and of the most extensive landed properties in
that county. The prayer of the Petitioners well de-
served their Lordships most favourable attention.—
The subject was one in which the important interests
of the United Kingdom were involved. He was quite
convinced of this important consideration, and at the
same time he was aware that this was not the regu-
lar stage for entering into any discussion upon the
general subject. Yet he could not avoid offering
these leading opinions to their Lordships. There
were, he knew, different opinions upon this great
question in Ireland, as well as in this country. But
he begged leave to say that when he looked at the
present state of the two countries, as well as the pre-
sent state of Continental relations, he was pleased to
see that the general opinion was assuming more of a
liberal and benevolent character ; and, as far as his
own observation arid opinion went, he was led to be-
lieve their Catholic fellow subjects were as sincerely
well disposed to the Constitution and Government of
the United Kingdom, as any other set of men could
'be ; their sentiments in which respect could not be,
he thought, better or more clearly expressed than by
two of the Resolutions lately adopted at one of the
principal Catholic Meetings in IMand.,—L-These the
Noble Marquis read as part of his speech.] These
were the sentiments by which they declared them-
selves actuated as men and subjects, and they were
cetainly such as deserved to be treated with every
mark of attention and respect.
The Earl of ENNISKILLEN entertained very dif-
ferent sentiments from a great part of what had fal-
len from the Noble Marquis, on the important sub.
lect referred to ; and he must be allowed to say, that
in the County to which he had the honour to belong
(Fermanagh), he believed there was not a single man
who was favourably inclined to these claims. In a
few days he should have a Petition to present to
their Lordships, which would declare their senti-
ments—.a Petition which would be signed by a vast
body of Protestants, in one of the most Protestant
parts of Ireland.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE observed, in re-
ference to one of the Petitions alluded to, that he be-
lieved there were very few of the great landed pro,
prietors, not resident in Ireland, that would not have
signed it, if a longer opportunity had been afforded.
lirevery circumstance under which the Petitioners
came forward was duly considered, no body of Peti-
tioners ever deserved, or were entitled to more atten-
tion or respect ; they came forward for the purpose
of soliciting those few remaining privileges; the with-
holding of which from them was mischievous to the
community at large. One of the Petitions came
from a large body of the resident proprietors, princi-
pal merchantl, of that City in Ireland, emphatically
called the " /Protestant City of Dublin,' the City
where the memory of that most tolerating of Sove-
reigns, King William 111. was idolized. These Petio
tioners prayed for it as a boon, that these disabilities
should be removed; this bore evidence of theribeing
among them persons, who thought and felt that,thetr
Catholic fellow7subjects were in a state of degiada-
'tion, in which persons of that persuasion were not
placed in any other part of the world. There were
many who might have entertained rather unfavour-
able apprehensions as to the consequences of admit:
sing a number of their Catholic fellow-subjects into
the Legislature, and into offices of trust and autho-
rity under the executive Government ; but he cer-
tainly thought the number of persons who had re-
nounced these apprehensions was considerably. The
prayer of these Petitions, he thought, when he con-
sidered the circumstances of the case, or the impor•
tance of the subject to which they related, was every
way entitled to the most favourable consideration of
'Parliament.
The Marquis of BUCKINGHAM rose to declare,
'on his own behalf, that if it had been thought ad-
visable for non-resident lanti-owners to sign the Peti-
tion, be should have readily subscribed it. He also
expressed the great satisfaction he experienced at
perceiving the spirit_of conciliation which actuated
the parties in Ireland by whom this question was
brought forward.
The Marquis of DOWNSHIRE. explained. 114
Petitions hehad.presented mast of course be regard-,
cd only as the Petitions of those who had stgned
them. He could not have presumed so far as to
state that they expressed the opinion of all the Pro-