Star.
London, England, 1828-01-25 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL

Yesterday, after the minutes of the last Court were
read, and the various City officers voted in for the year

ensuing,
Mr. Etym.!. moved, that the Resolutions of the 9th
of MAT, 1827, relating to the Test and Corporation
Acts, should be read.

The Clerk of the Court having read them,
Mr. FAT-Etc:rose and said, he haJ often had the
honour of moving Resolutions in that Ceutt, but he
never moved a Resoletimmith more pleasure and con-
fidence than on this occasion. He was confident that the
Members of that Court !Mild be unanimous in their
feelings, in going up to the Legislature 'Sidi the ewes-
_

•ion of those enlightened sentiments which characterised
the Resolutions of that Court in May last. He was sure
that, howelrer much be might at times.differ front some

of his respected friends, these would be one feeling of
heart with regard to this petition. He rejoiced that on

this occasion he was called upon to advocate. not the

cause of any particular party or country, but the tight*

of conscience and religious liberty—(hear hear)—and
he would venture to say, that he was now pleading the
cause of every Protestant Member of 'that Church,
whose interest must be supported by the adoption of
his resolutions. It was certain when those Acts (the
Tests and Corporation Acts) were first passed. they
never were intended to affect the rights of Dissenters
though the Dissenters had now been scourged by them
1150 years. It was an usurpation of the prerogative of
Deity for any man to judge of questions of conscience.
Man was left to judge for himself upon all questions of
this nature. He (Mr. Favell) would say no more upon
this point. But there was another; it might be said to
Dissenters, you talk about your rights of conscience,
but are you good.subje-cts? Is it safe to trust you with civil
offices ? He acknowledged that Dissenters did not come
canting with their professions in times of danger ; they
had been tried on stronger grounds. Two rebellions
had taken place during the earlier reigns of the House
of Brunswick; and the Dissenters then came forward,
not with their professions, but with their blood---(Hear).
Mr. Canning had himself admitted it would be impossi-
ble to carry into effect the provisions of the Test and
Corporation Acts, for it would affect almost all the
property in the kingdom; and there was scarcely an
individual who bad filled the office of executor, but=
Would have to refund money out of his own poach
These Acts carried with them an unjustifiable in-
sinumion that Dissenters were not to be trusted.—
He felt rest pleasure in being able to present to the
Court an Act of Parliament passed in the year 1824,
which, however, tended to undermine these Acts, and
whist) enabled persons to hold and execute various ffices
in the Customs, Excise, &c. The worthy Member then
read the Act, and proceeded to state, that in 1801 Mr.
Pitt confidentially advised the repeal of these Acts,
though 1e (Mr. Pavel!) had heard him (Mr.Pitt)in the
year 1789 speak against it for two hours. He (Mr.
Pavel') bad never found a member of the Church of
England inclined to say any thing improper on those
occasions; and he hoped he should always live in
fellowship with all good Christians ; but now the
time had come to a point, and something must be
done. A Learned Sergeant had said, in allusion to
the peseta state of the laws, that a man could hold
any situation under Government without submitting
to the Test, except that of cleansing the common
sewer. No man could take upon himself that office
without submitting to the cost-,(clear and a laugh).—
There Acts fettered the King; for his Majesty could
appoint no officer in his establishment, from the Lead
Chamberlain down to the bug•destroyer, unless be, the
officer, submitted to the test. The influence of these
Acts extended themselves even to the female departmeet;
His Majesty could not appoint a maid of honour, haw
ever virtuous, unless she submitted to the test—fllledt
laughter). Lord Melville was educated a Presbyterian,
and he (Mr. Favell) understood he had never qualified,
though he had held the highest offices in the state.
Mr. Favell concluded by moving, 4. That petitions to
both Houses of Parliament should to presented by this
Court, founded on the resolutions of May last, praying
for the repeal of the said Acts; especially those which
selated to the sacrament and qualification."
Mr. PIACOCIC considered it a high honout to be per-
mitted to second this motion. He knew that its sen-
timents identified themselves with those of every liberal
minded man: The Dissenters had voluntarily imposed
upon themselves the burden of these Acts at a time
when a strong struggle took place to preserve the Pro-
testant Church. All brew what took place two hundred
years ago. A great deal had been said about the
66 march of intellect," and be was glad to find it
going on ; for he was sure the ge march of liberty"
would go with it. There was now no occasion for
one man to be afraid of another ; there was not the
least probability of Popery ever again becoming the
established religion of the country ; but be believed the
Dissenters of the present day. would be ready to mai-
fice more than ever their ancestors bad done, if occasion
required it. He was sure that thremfourths of the
members of the Church of England were ashamed of
these acts. He knew the time when it was difficult,
upon their return to office, to get near the Council
table to take the necessary oaths; but not so now
there was evidently a falling off of the members every
year. (Hear.) He therefore begged to second the motion.
Previous to its being put Messrs. &raven*, PILLATT,
and Ricuannson, severally addressed the Court in its
favour, and open being put to the vote, only three
hands were held up against it.
It was then carried unanimously, that the Members
of Parliament who sat in that Court, should be re-
quested to present the Petitions to the Home.
Messrs. Aldermen WooD and Tuourstiw came for-
ward, and promised to give the Petition their Facet
hearty support.