The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-07-24 00:00:00

HOUSE OF LORDS.-THURSDAY.

OATHS ABOLITI.O.N HILL.
Lord DENMAN presented several petitions in favcr.ur of the
bill which he had introduced for the abolition of unnecessary
oaths. Amongst others from the Separatists, from the society
of Quakers in Manchester and Salford, and also from certain
inhabitants of London, all of whom stated that the ends
of justice were often defeated by persons entertaining re-
ligious prejudices against taking oaths being- ,compelled to do
so in criminal proceedings in the courts of justice. The
noble and learned lord then moved the third reading of the
oaths abolition bill.
After some observations in opposition to tlus bill from the
Earl of WICKLOW and Lord As HBURTON, thebouse divided.
For the the third reading, 16; against it, 32; majority,
16. The bill was therefore lust.
The Earl of WICKLOW announced his intention of bring-
ing in another bill, confining the relief to those parties who
have seceded from the Society of Friends.

HOUSE OF COMMONS..--THURSDAY.
VESTRIES IN CHURCHES. RILL.
The order of the day for the committal of this bill having
been read,
Mr. HUME moved that it be further considered that day
three months.
Mr. HODGES seconded the amendment. In many parishes I
the bill would cause great expense—(hear) —and the whole
measure was as objectionable as unnecessary.
Mr. J. GRATTAN hoped the hon. member would exclude.
Ireland.
Colonel PEricavAL hoped the hon. and learned member
would include Ireland, as he was convinced that such a bill
was rinch more necessary for that country than England.
Dr. NICHOLI said the hon, gentleman asked hitn to ex-
cept Ireland from this bill, saying it would introduce a new
church rate for Ireland. tie denied this. It there were any $
part of the empire which ought to be submitted to the opera-
tion of this bill, it was Ireland.
The house divined. when there anpe red—For the motion;
76; for the amendment, 78; map: against the bill, 2.
Dr. NICHOLL said, considering tne numbers on the divi-
sion, he did not despair of some such a bill being carried in !•
the ensuing session.
TITHES (IRELAND). BILL.
The house then went into committee on the tithes (Ire-
land) issue of Exchequer bills bill.
Mr. Husex rose to move, that the grant of one million to
the church in Ireland would be highly unjust to the people of
England and Scotland, and subversive of those principles on
which good government and equal justice could alone be
maintained. In his opinion the house was violating the best
principles of good government, and was telling the people of
Ireland that if they would only resist the law for one or two
years, they would have a premium for doing so; but that
those who had yielded to the law, and paid their tithes, were
to be punished. Was that, he would ask, a sound state of
ttsinttar awl bury c.....1.1-4hnes who had rs,npnskett this grant
reconcile their feelings to it? If a sum of money would settle
the peace of Ireland, he would readily pay it; but what mea-
sures had the government not tried to settle this question?
and where could be the hope of their succeeding now better
than before? He should say that the causes of failure
were in the pretenied friends of the church, and in the
other house of parliament, which bad rejected three bills
which had been sent there. As the house of lords load re-
jected this bill, and as the government had been courpelled,
by the resistance on the other side of the house, to withdraw
that on which alone the peace of Ireland could be settle d—a
better appropriation of the revenues of the church, by dike re-
duction of the establishment, and a more equal distribution
of its funds and revenues—the grant of a million would not
effect the object, but hold out a temptation to the violation of
the law. On all these grounds he was opposed to the propo-
position ; and, therefore, he would press the motion of which
he 'had given notice.
Mr. WARD said he objected to the measure, which was
equally supported by her majesty's ministers and her majesty's
opposition. What was the mode of proceeding now pro-
posed ? Government was to take upon itself the duty of tithe
proctor—to have an advance of £260,000. in exchequer bills,
on which money was to be advanced at the Bank of England
or the Bank of Ireland. An account was to be opened, to
bear the ominous name of tithe arrear advances. This rniight
be advances. This might be opened; but if the present plan
was persisted in, the account would not be closed before tie
day of judgment. (Hear and laughter.) No one was moles
desirable of seeing a settlement of Irish questions than hs-
was. It would be worth a million of money to get rid e
theta, because they stood in the way of every other species of
legislation. (Hear, hear.) But when he looked for a settle-
ment, he should like it to be an honourable, permanent, and
satisfactory one; and he knew no settlement could be per-
manent which was not honourable, and no settlement could
be satisfactory which was not both lasting and honourable in
its conditiOn. It was impossible that after the alterations
which had been made in the corporation bill, any arrange-
ment of the three great questions could be come to.
Sir R. PEEL said he had made a proposition for the ad-
vance of a certain definite sum, to be placed under the con-
trol of commissioners, who were to make inquiry as to the
report of the tithe-owners, the government retaining the
power, in the case of refractory persons, of enforcing the pay-
ment of tithes; and also that of purchasing from the tithe-
owner should not accept that offer, then he should still have
his legal remedy for the recovery of his tithes. (Hear. hear.)
The noble lord, however, had not assented to that plan, but
proposed another. He could vote for the resolution of the
noble lord as it stood to-night; but it was but fair he should
state to him, that he could not hold himself bound to vote for
any other resolution. After a long discussion, which we have
not space to report, the house divided :—For the clause, 170;
for the amendment, 61; mojority, 109.
The Trading Companies Bill was read a third time and
passed. Adjourned.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—FRIDAY
The Vagrant Act Amendment Bill was read the third time,
and passed.
Lord PORTMAN withdrew the Highway Rate Bill, stating
that he should renew it next session.
Lord WHARNCLIFFE having presented a petition from
members of St. John's, Oxford, for the support of the esta-
blished church in Canada,
A conversation ensued. in which the Bishop of EXETER,
Lord GLENELG, &c. took part.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE deferred, from Monday till
Tuesday, the third reading of the International Copyright
Bill; and he gave notice that on that day he should move
the second reading of the Royal Exchange Rebuilding Bill.
The Turpentine Bill, the Prisons (West Indies) Bill, &c.,
were forwarded a stage.
On the report of the Benefices Pluralities Bill, the Arch-
bishop of CANTERBURY proposed some new clauses and
amendments.
_ . .

The Earl of CAWDOR also proposed some amendments,
which, after remarks from the Archbishop of Canterbury
and the Bishop of Chichester, were ordered to be printed,
and considered on the third reading of the bill (on Monday).
Adjourned.