The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-02-28 00:00:00

DIGESTION.

`f All organic substances possess the power of taking
from the external world certain solid and liquid matters,
which assimilate to their own nature, and thus repair the
waste they are continually undergoing. It is to this re-
newal of their blood from without that digestion is in-
strumental. If we follow the food from the month to its
incorporation with the previously existing tissues of the
body, the waste of which it is its office to supply, we shall
gain a sufficient knowledge of the function of digestion,
and see how important to the preservance of health is the
integrity of its operations. _ .

" The food, reduced to a pulp by the movements of the
teeth and the admixture of the saliva secreted by the
salivary glands, is swallowed by a somewhat complex
muscular action. It is moved about in the stomach by
the contraction of muscular fibres ; and, being there mixed
with the gastric juice—a peculiar fluid secreted by the
lining membrane of the stomach—it is called chyme : this
chyme is then, in successive portions, transmitted, by
muscular contraction, into the highest part of the intesti-
nal tube, termed the duodenum, which is a kind of second
stomach, where the partially assimilated food is first
mixed with the bile, and then with the secretion derived
from the sweet-bread or pancreas. From this mass a
whitish fluid—the chyle—for the immediate nourishment
of the blood, is now extracted by the absorbent vessels,
termed lacteals, the extremities of which abut on the
lining membrane of the highest parts of the intestinal
tube, while the residue, or excrementitious portion, is sent
downwards by what is termed the peristaltic action of the
tube, for evacuation. The chyle, taken up on a very
wonderful plan by the lacteal tubes, is transmitted through
small organs termed mesenteric glands, whence, after
important changes, it is again collected by what are named
the efferent lacteal tubes ; these by degrees unite together
into a trunk, to form the thoraic duct, which, commencing
in the abdomen, passes through the chest, and terminates
at the point of junction of the internal jugular and sub-
clavian veins on the left side of the neck, and into which
it pours its contents. The chyle, being thus mixed with
the venous blood, is carried with it to the right side of the
heart ; and, by the motion of the heart, is thoroughly
mingled with that blood which now, reinforced by the
chyle, is transmitted to the lungs, where, by exposure to
the air, the venous blood is converted into arterial ; the
arterial blood, so rendered fit for the nutrition of the body,
being sent forth from the left side of the heart, is conveyed
by the great arterial trunk and its branches, to the capil-
lary blood-vessels, which pervade all the sensible parts of
the body. From these capillary blood-vessels the several
component textures of the living frame attract the new
matter, of which they stand in need ; while that which is
already reduced to the state of debris, re-enters the blood
of the capillary system, and returns with the blood, now
become venous, to the right side of the heart. The blood,
having become impure by the admixture of the debris of
the tissues, and from other causes, is purified, partly by
the lungs, by which a superfluity of carbon is thrown off,
while, by the slow combustion which it sustains, animal
heat is developed; and partly by the kidney, of which last
organ the particular office plainly is to keep the blood free
from the various chemical products generated during the
successive decompositions which the textures and their
first debris undergo.

Having in this brief, but connected manner,
stated the organs, functions, and processes of
digestion, the author next proceeds to show the
vital importance of their harmonious action in
securing the enjoyment of health ; and points out
the irretrievable ruin imposed upon the constitu-
tion by subversion of the laws which govern the
operations of digestion. In treating of specific
diseases, the best authorities are quoted ; and such
a simplification of their views is laid before the
reader as will enable any one to comprehend, in an
ordinary way, the rationale of treatment inculcated.
If carried out in the manner in which it has begun,
this will prove indeed a valuable popular handbook.

The Mercantile Marine Magazine and Nautical
Record. London : W. Foster ; Liverpool : J.

R. Cameron.

This periodical, of which the second number only
has reached us, is devoted to an exposition of nau-
tical and other sciences affecting, in a peculiar
degree, our mercantile marine. In the present
number we find interesting papers on the subjects
of " Storm Charts of the Atlantic," " The Mari-
ner's Compass and its Deviations," both very im-
portant subjects of discussion. We also find the
introductory portion of two admirable papers lately
read in Liverpool by our talented townsman, Mr.
J. T. Towson, on Great Circle Sailing." The
remainder of these papers is promised in subsequent
numbers of the Magazine. The publication ap-
pears to be judiciously conducted, and must prove
useful.

The Monthly Journal of Industrial Progress.
Edited by W. R. Sullivan. No. 2. A well con-
sidered repertory and chronicle of industrial pro-
gress.—The Irish Church Journal, and Literary
and Theological Review. Nos. 1 and 2. This is
a spirited effort for bringing the state of theologi-
cal literature, and the value of its operations upon
general society in Ireland, prominently and favour-
ably before the public.

An Account of the Present State of the Eccle-
siastical Courts of Record ; with Proporls.-
for their complete Reformation. By William
Downing Bruce. London : H. Adams.
In this pamphlet, which is a well-timed one,
and one devoted to a subject of much importance,
the author reviews and exhibits, from extensive
practical observation and study, the deplorably
imperfect system and arrangements which pervade
our ecclesiastical courts of record. After• a tren-
chant exposition of the defects, he submits the
annexed

PLAN POR THE REFORM OP PROCEEDItISOS IX
ECCLESIASTICAL COIJETS.

All the original wills throughout England should be
deposited with the officer appointed by the crown ; they
should all be printed in the form of the present Chancery
proceedings, and an index of the whole should be formed.
A copy should be sent to each county court. In future,
all the wills should be printed at the expense of the
executor, and a copy sent free to the Stamp-office. This
would save the country a considerable sum per annum.
One copy should be sent to the county court of the dis-
trict in which the person died. These wills and indexes
should be placed under the care of a proper civil
officer, and really for such a purpose none appears so pro-
per as the principal registrar of marriages, &c., for that
county. Each person named is the will should have a
printed notice from the principal officer of the court. The
county courts might decide all eases under £5O, and in
disputes of a larger amount the superior courts should
have jurisdiction. All proceedings should be exercised in
the name of Her Majesty, and all proceedings headed
" Her Majesty's Court of P;obate."
From the above extract, it will be seen that Mr.
Bruce has directed his attention to a practical
remedy for the evils he exposes, and of which he
complains,

Limited Liability Partnerships. London :
Longmans.
A pamphlet on the right of the public to form
limited liability partnerships, and on the theory,
practice, and cost of commercial charters, by
Edward Wilkins Field, who claims a right to be
heard on this important subject, on the ground of
his being a solicitor, who has for thirty years been
engaged in the construction and repair of partner-
ships and companies, and dealing with their
remains when decayed. Of the main subject of
his pamphlet we have treated more at length, but
in an appendix he has given replies to objections
made to granting a limited liability charter to any
American screw steam-packet company, extracted
from papers printed by the Rouse of Commons.
These replies are couched in such a tone of flip-
pancy and insolence as to be beneath contempt,
and those whose cause he has attempted to espouse
may well say : " Save me from my friends."

Little Ferns for Fanny's Little Friends. By
the author of " Fern Leaves from Fanny's
Portfolio. London.: Nathaniel Cooke.

IN this elegant gift-book we have presented to us
a number of pleasantly told stories, in which the
humanities are admirably blended with the amuse-
ments, and in which the teachings of experience
are interestingly mixed up with the routine of
youthful enjoyments, The aim of the author, and
it is happily carried out, is to sweeten instruction,

arouse reflection, and open up the fountains of
practical generosity and kindly feeling. These
objects are accomplished by the introduction of
thrilling pathos, of sly humour, and of broad,
stirring mirth. The volume is a most attractive
one for children, embellished as it is by charmingly
executed little engravings, illustrative of yet more
fascinatingly instructive moral lessons.

PARLIAMENTARY OATHS- BILL.-
TOWN'S MEETING.
DISCREDITABLE PROCEEDINGS.

The Mayor at once complied with the request so gene-
rally and respectfully addressed, and called a meeting; to
take place in the Borough Sessions-house, on Friday, at
twelve o'clock.

The announcement proved greatly exciting to the Radi-
cal and Popish party. A conjoint opposition was, at once
resolved on, and the following circular was extensively
distributed in the course of Thursday :

TO THE FRIENDS OF CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS
LIBERTY.

Sir,—You are requested to attend the meeting, called by
the worshipful the Mayor,, at the Sessions-house, to-morrow
(Friday), at twelve o'clock, and support the bill proposed by
her Majesty's government for dispensing with useless and
offensive oaths. Bring as many of your friends as possible.
—James Aikin, W. Rathbone, W, Earle, John Yates, pin.,
James Crosfield, Richard Shell, J. It. Jeffery, J. B. Aspinall,
T. Ltoyd, James H. Macrae.
Liverpool, 23rd February, 18151.

In some degree to counteract the effects of this circular,
and to prevent the meeting from being packed by the
opponent* of its objects, and in the belief that, as on
several farmer occasions, adjourning: the meeting to the
Amphitheatre, as being larger and. more commodidus,
would be complied with in this instance, arrangements
were made- for securing the use of the building. The
Working Men's Branch of the Refonnation Society, like-
wise, issued the annexed circular :

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, AND GENERAL. COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER.

A BILL having been introduced into the House of Com-
mons by Lord John Russell, for altering the oaths admi-
nistered to members of parliament on taking their seats ;
and in the belief that this bill is a measure fraught with
danger to the Protestant institutions of this country, it
was resolved that the inhabitants of Liverpool should have
an opportunity of expressing their disapprobation of . the
proposed alteration, and of adopting a petition to the
legislature against its adoption. In furtherance of this
object, a requisition, addressed to the Mayor, soliciting
him to convene a public meeting, for adopting measures
to carry out these views, in the form of a petition against
the bill being allowed to pass into a law, was presented to
his worship on Tuesday last. The requisition, which
was, within a few hours, signed by two hundred highly
respectable and influential gentlemen, was as follows :
" We, the undersigned inhabitants of the borough of
Liverpool, valuing the Protestant constitution of our coun-
try, and the privilege of giving free expression to our
sentiments on all important measures brought before the
legislature ; and perceiving that a bill proposing to remove
the only securities for our Protestant religion contained
in the Emancipation Bill, has been read a first time in the
House of Commons, and is announced for the second
reading on the 27th instant, request your worship to con-
vene, at your earliest convenience, a public meeting, for
the purpose of considering the propriety of a petition to
the two Houses of Parliament, deprecating the dangerous
character of the said bill, and imploring that it may not
be allowed to pass into a law."

which was empty a little before, but they did not do it.
They relied upon the justice and truth of the cause that
they advocated, and they did not resort to any trick. He
moved an adjournment to the area of the Exchange.
(Cries of "No, no," and great confusion.)
Mr. AsruvALL.-TMake it Clayton-square.

The REV. Dr. M'NEllac here made his appearance, and
was greeted with alternate cheering and hooting. He
said—Mr. Mayor, I rise to second the proposal Mr. Bushell
has made. If fair discussion be the object, the opportunity
is now given for fair-play. (Applause and uproar.) If the
object be to take advantage of a mistake on the part of the
public going elsewhere. (No, no, laughter, and uproar.) But
I say was it not a mistake ? (No, no ; and a voice " Did not
the mayor call a meeting here ?") If the object be fair
discussion, why will you put it on record that, because you
seem to have a majority in this room, you refuse to go to
the area of the Exchange ? (No, no, and uproar). It will
go all over the world that you are afraid of discussion.
You have got a few hundreds of people in a small room,
and you are afraid to meet the question. Liverpool—
(groans.) I second the motion. (Laughter and uproar).
Mr. JAMES TYRER supported the motion. He was pro-
ceeding to address the meeting, but was prevented by
noise and uproar.
The MAYOR said if they did not listen to every gentle-
man who wished to address them, he should take the
matter into his own hands and adjourn the meeting sine
dia. (Applause and uproar.)
Mr. RATHBONE.—Mr. Mayor, I wish to move an
amendment. (Cries of " Vote, vote," " The foxes," &c.)
The MAYOR said that the amendment was in order.

Mr. RATHBONE.—I ask any man of common sense
whether we, upon this grave question—and an important
question it is—l ask anybody' whether a discussion in the
open air or on the Exchange would be of such a character
as so grave a question requires ? I say it would not ; and
therefore I move, as an amendment, that the mayor
remain here, and that the discussion goes on here. (Ap-
plause, uproar, and cries of " Adjourn.")
Mr. MAXWELI. seconded the amendment. _

After some discussion, in which Mr. CHARLES Tu'Rwau
contended that it was not a proper amendment, inasmuch
as it was only a negative,
Mr. Taos. BOLTON' said he had attended there puthr-
tually. The building was not full, and he never knew an,
adjournment under such circumstances. (Cries of " Vote,
vote.")
The Tows-ciamx then read over the resolution and
amendment, when the latter was put and carried by a
very small majority, followed by cries of "oh, oh," and
loud applause. _ _

TheMs.ron then announcettthat the Rev. Mr. PoLLocs
bad a resolution to submit. Mr. Pollocls stood forward,
and. was received with mingled, applause and disappro-
bobien. •

Mr:. Thos. BOLD would move• that the meeting be ad-
journed till twelve o'clock on the morrow at the Amphi-
theatre: ("No, no," and laughter:)
Mn- kruru then stood forwards-when the Mayor said
that Mn. Bold was in possession of the-chair..
Mr. Boom said his reason for the. motion was). that he
did not think that either party was. prepared. to enter into
the discussion in the way that they shonldi (Laughter.)
They had better adjourn till next day at twelve; and. then
there would-be no charge of packing. (Laughter.)
Mr. JAmus, TYREE believed, with Mr. Bolds that it
would not give-satisfaction to the town: or the country to
have a packediplace any way. He was against any peek-
ing at the Amphitheatre ; but let a public building• be
selected by his worship, and have fair play, on,to.morrow,
or some other day. Could that meeting,. he should ask
the Mayor, possibly show the feeling of thelown.?
A protracted altercation took place in reference to Mr..
Bold's motion, which was participated in by-Mr. J. Aikini.
Mr. J. R. Jefferyrand others.
The MAYOR decided that Mr. Bold's amendment was-
in order, and put k; to the meeting ; but it was-lost by a,
large majority. The declaration of this result was the -
signal for renewed cheering, hissing, and uproar. •
The Rev. W. PonLoca then rose, and said,—lt, is not,
in my humble judgment, upon any trifling oirlight occa-
sion that the chief magistrate of this borouglvshould be
called upon to convene a public meeting of the inha-
bitants of this town ; and especially if, as appears to have
taken place already, the: subject under discussion, is likely
to elicit or provoke any-division of the public mind— And
I am most willing to admit that, at a moment like the •
present, the true friends-of the country ought net to .be
easily induced to array themselves on any question in open
opposition to the responsible advisers of the crows;.. (Rear,
bear.) Never ministry needed more than they at the.pre- -
sent crisis the blessing: of God, from above and below,
the cordial support of a united nation. But, sir„---
Litt this juncture, the-numbers who had hitherto been
patiently waiting at the Ampitheatre, having hef=e4 that
the proceedings had commenced, rushed into the-room,
and for some minutes amsiderable confusion enstted.
The comparitively small,. room. was spedily filled, the
passages and various approaches being crowded. by
struggling crowds, who stamped upon the floors and
battered at the walls almost, unceasingly, producing_the
greatest uproar. Order having been partially restored.]

The Rev. W. PoLtocx. resumed his address.. But
there were occasions in which it was forbidden them to
take council with inaction and inexpediency, or eve= with
their own earnest longings lifter unanimity and peace;
and he, for one, believed that such an occsasion hadorisen
—an occasion which justifiedi them in imposing e,.u. the
public the burden of the present meeting, and whichcalled
also for their prompt and „peremptory resistance-- to a
measure now in progress tt rough the Lower House of Par-
liament. Mr. Mayor, (said he,) I shall endeavour, asbriefly
as• possible, and in justice -to. nay own feelings, and.m.
manner as little painful as- possible to the feelings of
others for I utterly disclaim a desire to wean & the
J; of any man ; and, if I do wound any man's
feelings, I wound my °malty doing so—l shall endeavour
in this way to state as briefly, and, I trust, as fairly as
possible the facts of the case,,. (Hear, hear.) There-have
been hitherto oaths imposed, upon all members ofparlia-
ment, upon their admission:A° seats in the house.. Someof
these oaths are of very ancient date, and they are, and
always have been, imposed arpon the Protestant members
of the house. One of these is of a more recent origin,
having been enacted for the first time, so lately as 1.829; as
part of the Roman Catholic Emancipation It is
now proposed by Lord John Russell, and, therefore,. by
Her Majesty's Government, to abolish all the - oaths at
present in existence, and-to, substitute for them. one new
oath to be taken by alt... members of the house. Now,.
sir, we believe—we who-.have signed this requisition—
believe in our consciences,that the most serious.objectiens
are to be taken to the.emeasure in question, and we are
here to state them. I think I should best ds. so.by con-
sidering the oaths of which I have spoken separately :
first, the oaths which. , have hitherto been. taken by
Protestant members of the legislature, and afterward,
the oath which has been. taken since 1829, hy.-the Roman
Catholic members of the house. By the Protestant oaths
the members were bound to true and faithful e.liegionce to
the crown ; they were further bound to acknowledge the
right and lawful succession of the sovereigns of this
country; they were bound to declare that thesovtreigns
of this country ware supreme over all estates of men
therein, both ecclesiastical and civil; they were farther
bound to the denialthat the subjects of these sovereigns
might be absolved, by the Pope from their alkgiance•
! ah ! and greet groaning.) That was,the• oath at all
events. (Cheering) They were bound; to deny that
princes excommunicated by the Pope might be lawfully
deposed or murde,red ; and, in addition, they were bound
to acknowledge .in every thing the entire supremacy of
I the crown.

[The interruption by which Mr. Perock had been met
throughout hi-s-addreas here became so,loud and incessant,
that the rev. gentleman was forced to .desist from speak-
ing, his observations being entirely. drowned in the
tumult, loud cries for adjournment forming a considerable
portion of the-interruption. In the- body of the hall an
individual raised upon the shoulders-of those surrounding
him endeavoured to say something,hut he entirely failed
in being heard, the cries for adjournment becoming still
more loudand more urgent than before.]
The MAXOR said that as the. meeting had already.-
decided on the question of adjournment, he could only:
regret that the parties who now, demanded it had not:
attended when the meeting commenced.
[The• clamour, instead of diminishing,. if possible became
still greater, the people outside battering the doors coml.
municating from the magistrates' room, which, like-the.
pass Ages, was crammed with b4unan beings.]
The MAYOR announced that he had sent for the Town--
clerk, in order that he might consult with him as to, the
ccurse best for adoption.
Mr. J2tstas AMID, who said he rose to a point otorder,
was heard amid the deafening noises, to assert that the
disturbance arose entirely from the supporters of the requi,-.
sitionists. (Cheers and <vies of "Question.")

Mr. PoLioc*.—That is not .a point of order.
The MAYou.--Gentlomen, Mr. Pollock is ready to pro.
eeed if you will listen to; him.
Mr. POLLOCIL—WiII you let me speak or not ?- (Cries
of " Yes, yes," and "-no, no.") The further oath to which
he was alluding, bound them to declare " that no foreign
prince, prelate, person, state, or potentate, had or ought to
have any jurisdiction, power, superiority,. pre-Eminence,
or anything ecclesiastical, or spiritual within, this realm."
(" So you say I" from a man of formidable pretensions,
with a huge patch on the nose, who was reared upon one
of the witness-boxes.)
A VOICE.---" He's a freeman 1" (Cheers, confusion, and
laughter.)

POLiocs.—Come, now, keen your temper my good
fellow, I am trying to keep mine. This is what the oath
says. It is, I say to all you Englishmen, what, at the
present moment, the British constitution says by the oath ;
and upon the face of them these oaths, whether rightly or
wrongly, were distinctly directed against the assumptions,
the pretensions and the dogmas of the papacy. Rightly or
wrongly, (the speaker continued,) this was the law ; and
in almost every one of its provisions some accredited
dogma of the papacy was impugned and attacked, and, in
one instance, the Pope was mentioned by name. ( A
Roman Catholic : " They might let him" alone then.")
Prom all this it distinctly followed that, rightly or
wrongly, from the day of the Reformation up to the pre-
sent moment, it had been considered wise on the part of
the British legislature to maintain a firm protest against
the See of Rome, and to throw the defences to which he
had alluded around the cherished protestantism of the
British nation. (Hear, hear, loud cheering, and groans.)
He begged further to draw attention to the fact that the
protest contained in this declaration was as strong as it
possibly could be. It did not deny the civil or temporal
power that the pope might assume or usurp, but it went
to the root of the matter—it denied that he had any supe-
riority, pre-eminence, jurisdiction, or power, ecclesiastical
or spiritual, within this realm. This was the language of
the oath. By such a declaration, the whole power of the
pope was absolutely denied by the British legislature—
rightly or wrongly, it mattered not for his present purpose;
because when it was declared that " within this realm he
had no spiritual or ecclesiastical authority," this was a dis-
tinct protest upon the part of the country against his claims
to be acknowledged as the head of the universal church, and
therefore the protest contained in these oaths struck at the
very root of the whole pretensions of the papacy, and of the
faith of the Church of Rome. (Cheers and violent interrup-
tions from the Roman Catholic with the patch on his nose.)
This being the clear design and force of the oaths until now
imposed upon the protestant members of parliament, he put
it to any fair, honest, and candid man—of whatever party
—whether the abolition of these oaths did not involve a dis-
tinct and deliberate retirement from the position taken by
their forefathers, and by the lotion, ever since the reforma-
tion—(hear, hear, cheers, 'and oppos.ition from the Roman
CAtholico)—whether it did int tblituntly Wyche the eon-

fession that until now they had been in error in this
matter, and they were either ashamed or afraid to legislate
any longer in the distinctive character and attitude of a
Protestant nation. (Great cheering and opposition.) It
was upon these grounds that, in the first instance, he
should have the honour to submit the following resolution,
which, as far as he understood the case, and could enter
into the minds of others, he could not see that any man
in that meeting ought to oppose. The resolution was—
" That in the opinion of this meeting the measure pro-
posed by Lord J. Russell for the abolition of the oaths at
present taken by members of parliament, and for the
substitution of a new oath instead thereof, involved a
serious invasion of the Protestant character of the con-
stitution." (Groans,"„hisses, and cheers—the former pre-
ponderating.) And here he wished to advert to the
arguments which were brought forward in favour of the .
present measure by Lord John Russell, and by his sup-
porters. It had been said—and he should endeavour to
state those arguments as fairly as possible—that the
oaths in question were only safeguards ; that they were
adopted from time to time, as occasion seemed to
arise : but that the dangers which they were intended to
meet had passed away, and the oaths themselves had
passed away also. Who believed that, in the present day,
the Pope had the power of absolving subjects from their
allegiance ? Who believed that a king could be murdered ?
(Groans and hisses.) Was not the last scion of the house
of Stuart, whose pretensions were denied in the oath of
abjuration, gathered to the !deep of his fathers ? (Laugh-
ter.) Then, again, was there any man who would any
longer, in the face of this Protestant nation, stand up and
advocate mental reservation or equivocation as a right and
moral thing ? (Laughter.) Then, again, it had been
said that it was quite enough to oppose and to deny the
temporal power of the Pope ; but as• to denying his spi-
ritual power, it was doing so in the very teeth of the
facts of the ease, whether they liked It or not. On
all these grounds men were in favour of the measure
which was sought to be introduced. And they said, once
for all, our liberties and faith were to be entrusted to some
other safeguards than oaths, for if men were otherwise
disposed to be faithless to their vows of allegiance, and
their duty to their country and their sovereign; a sworn
oath would never bind them. That was the argument
fairly stated, as far as his knowledge knew it. What was the
sensible and comprehensive reply to it all ? (A voice:
"' The Town's-clerk's here now." A second voice :. "We
don't want him.") It wae that there was a false impression
abroad on this matter The oaths in question were not
mere safeguards, end newer were intended to be reeeh.
They were more than this ethey were —and he had shown:
it —they were protests also. (Cheers, laughter, and hisses.)
They were not merely intended to be defences against
invasion from without, but for'what he, for one, considered%
a thoneand times more knporeant, to be testimonies from
within to the Protestantisne of the nation. (Cheers.)
Aye, and they were the only remaining traces of the
Protestantism which once belonged to the British legis-
lature. (Hear, hear, and cheers.)' It was on these grounds
that he protested that these oaths should not be sur-
rendered.- (Cheers and hisses.)' If he regarded those
oaths in the light of mere safeguards, then his regard
for them would be very light indeed. He had been com-
pelled, by a-very painful and very humiliating experience,
to come to• the conclusion that oaths however strong,
would never-be binding' on disloyal hearts. (Hear, hear.)
But, regarding the declarations in the light of protests,
he placed upon them the very highest value; and he
trusted that they would not be allowed/ tee be withdrawn,
for he believed that if they were, they would so far
stultify the past,. and also become disloyal to the cove-
nant which exlvted between God and thiS country, and
, they would lost. accordingly. (Cheers' and laughter.)
It was said by some,, after all, that the doctrines and
practices allude& to in the oaths were utterly bygones,
and so entirely obsolete, that surely it' was nothing
short of folly stilt to declaim against them: (Hear,
hear.) He wanted some indisputable authority for the
teeth of the statement that these doctrines •and practices
were entirely out of date. He wanted Lordelohn Russell,
or any other man who. agreed with him, to-show him, on
stelicient authority, that the opinions, practioes, dogmas,
and pretensions of the- Church of Rome, whieh-veere com-
plained of and deielaineed in these declarations, were
absolutely out of date: He should like ton know when
ae single pretension; of the Papacy had been, abated, or
one dogma changed: (A voice, " Ex-
actlye. infallible ; 'Lord John Russell does not believe
that, but I do, you. know. (Confusion and uproar for
several minutes.) Let my Lord John Russele.if he can—
(" There cheers for Lord John Russell ;" cries of" Noe')
let hks show me where•l can meet with an sathoritative
and authenticated repeal of the 3rd canon of the 4th
Lateran council, an infallible dogma and decree in: which
the absolution of the snlejeets of excommunicateieprinces
from their vows of allegiance is distinctly and accurately
defined. Let him tell me, again, where I can dieetwerthit
the Bitifti Ccence Domini=was included in the friar Ha-
purgatorius ; or that the Bull of Pope Pins tie sth,. by
which hnexcommunicatott our Queen Elizabeth, and ab-
solved 'her subjects from: their allegience had, upon, any
occasionxebeen abjured'and condemned by his infallible,
successor-Pope Pius thr 9the (Great cheering, followed
by immense hooting andluproar from the Roman-Catho-
lics.) I wish to know, again, where it is that the Church
of Rome, through any ofelier authenticated channali, has
abjured the.doctrines of 'mental reservation and equivoca.
tion ; those doctrines which she has just canonised' he
their worst form by caranising St. Alphonso Liguori.. I
want Lord john Russells to tell me how it is that the so-
called spiritual powers of theleepe cannot possibly interfere•
with the temporal affairs of the-realm ; and I would sanest
that he illltrate his argument by the present relations be-
tween the Grand Duchy of 'Baden and the ArchNishop or
Freiburg. (Great laughter and cheering.) I wish toknow
from Lon:Wan Russell and his friends how it 763-we are•
to know that ultra-montanism has been utterly given up•
in all its dbotrines in the. present day, and that it ut-
terly out of slate ; and I. would suggest that he- should;
give us some explanation of 'tile statements of the Uriivii-&
in France, and of Mr. Lucas and Dr. Cahill amongst our-
selves. (Renewed cheering and uproar.) Ageene if I
am told that-the Queen's.- supremacy is acknowledged• by
all classes of the community, I should like to know-how it
is that at many public (linnets in this country, andl be-
lieve in this town, the health, of the Pope has been drunk
before the, health of the • Queen. (Cries of " Question,"
"question," laughter, cheers, and a voice —" Why not ?")
Now, sir, if any person 'can show me that these things are
out of date; are obsolete, upon sufficient authority; and' not
upon his own indiViduat statement, I for one do,say that
the time %roue protest upon this matter has, gone- by;
but as long-ns I am able to, read these things upon the-
page of history; as lonwaathe Roman canon law exists- •
as long asthe Church ofßome boasts that server ead#4.
is her motto ; so .long Be by her law of infallibility she
has cut herself off from: all possibility of reformation, or
of change;: so long,l maintain that those who conscien-
tiously differ from )ier in this matter, are bound to main-
tain their- protest. against her, and to deal with- her. as
history deals with her—as the disturber of that -peace of
nations.. One word, more upon this part of* the -subject.
I am ruse every person will readily see thatethere is a
great difference-between the supposition that, we. might
be called ?npoin to legislate for the first time- in this
matters. and' the• fact that we are not called upon to
legislate for the first time ; but, on the ether - hand,, to
sweepuway enactments which have been long-found upon
the statute books- of this country. (A voice, " high
time!" and cheers:) If we were a new country, and had
for the -first time to constitute a new house of parliament,
I don't say that I am prepared to go so fir A* to •maintain
that-, we ought Wing these protests into .the declarations
of members of parliament ; but, seeing that they have ex-
isted for now 30Cr years, I do say some good and sufficient
cause shouldbe‘shosvn why we are to sweep them all away.
(Cheers, and continued uproar.) Whore as that sufficient
caw ? (Cheers and confusion.) Have- the protestants
complained upon the one hand, or the Roman Catholics
upon the other? They have not. The -Roman Catholic
body came forward, very much to their cxedit, before the
passing of the Emancipation Bill, midi declared that they
were willing to take the oaths. I don't mean to say they
were willing to take the very protestant oath which I have
read, but another ; the only difference, however, being
the denial of civil instead of spiritual power. (Cheers and
eaueasiona But where is the necessity. for this change ?
There is no call for it in the country. (Renewed cheering.)
It has come about in a very shabby and discreditable way.
Lord John Russell, being defeated in all other efforts, he
has made for a given purpose, and having solemnly
pledged himself, as I believe, in 1852; that he would not
do, the very thing he is now doing, at length proposed—
(" Question, question")—Lord- John Russell, in violation
of his distinct pledge, now oomes forward and proposes to .1
abolish these oaths, not that he has any objection to them
in themselves, or their' protestant character, but simply
that he may do what he said: he not do—bring in, by
a side wind, the Jews into, parliament. (Great cheering,
with hooting from the Roman Catholics, and other
radicals.) Upon the, question. of the admission of the:
Jews to parliament, I am not going to say a single word„
except that it is a matter which ought to be brouglne
forward on its own merits, and not attempted to be
foisted upon the nation by a side wind. (Cheering.) And I
say moreiet is too great a price to pay for it, even if it is
as desirable a measure as some may think, that we should
utterly obliterate,, for its sake, the Protestantism of the
English nation. (Renewed cheering and groans from the
opposition.) And now, sir, I come to consider the oath,
imposed by the legislature upon Roman Catholic members
on their admission into parliament, by the bill of 1829.
It is notorious—and I defy any man to contradict me—
that that oath was owed—rightly or wrongly, wisely or
unwisely—offered by the promoters of the emancipation
bill as a, security for the protection and maintenance of
the Protestant religion, the Protestant Church, and the
Protestant government of this country. (Loud cheers.)
I say, accordingly, that upon the very face- of the thing, if
you withdraw that oath, you make a most important
change in the constitution of both houses of parliament.
I will read to you the words :—" And li do declare that no
foreign prince, person, prelate, state, or potentate hath, or
ought to have, any jurisdiction, power, superiority, pre-
eminence, or authority, temporal or civil, within this
realm. And I do solemnly swear that I never will
exercise any privilege to which I am or may become en,
titled, to disturb or weaken the Protestant religion of the
Protestant government of the United Kingdom ; and I do
solemnly, and in the presence of God, profess, testify, and
declare, that I do make this declaration in the plain and
common-sense words of this oath, without . any mental
reservation or equivocation whatsoever." My position
(the speaker continued) is this, that Roman Catholics
were not admitted—whatever you may say about it—
upon equal terms into the House of Commons. They
were permitted in all other matters to enjoy and share
the common privileges of the Protestant members ; but
there were restrictions laid on them with regard to a cer-
tain number of questions, which were intended to bind their
hands. They were bound by an oath ; and he would put it
to any man—would the Duke of Wellington or Sir Robert
Peel have supported the bill, and would any member of the
opposition have gone over to the side of the supporters,
unless the oath had been proposed to be taken by the
Catholics as a guarantee not to weaken or disturb, the
Protestant government of this country, and not to
subvert the church as it was established ? (Hear,
hear, and loud cheering.) He would not stay to
inquire whether that oath was good for the per-
formance of the bond. He stood by the simple fact that
Roman Catholics never had -sat on equal terms in either
houses of parliament. (Hear, hear.) And when they
were called upon to abolish the existing oath, it was a
call most distinctly to commit a serious invasion on the
Protestant constitution of England. (Cheers and laugh.
ter.) f3e long Re the present 94 taken by Catholics re-