The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-08-20 00:00:00

procerbings in Parliament.

HOUSE OF LORDS.-TUESDAY,

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Lord MONTEAGLE brought under the notice of the house the
conduct of Charles Gream and Michael Alexander Gage, who
had been aware of fraudulent signatures to a petition
which had been presented on the subject of the
Liverpool Corporation Waterworks Bill. He concluded with
moving that these two persons had been respectively guilty of
a gross breach of the privileges of the house. This motion,
which gave rise to some discussion, was agreed to. Mr. Gream
and Mr. Gage were then called to the bar, and were heard in
their defence. Both of them denied that they had intention-
ally been guilty of fraud; they were, however, committed to
the custody of the Usher of .the Black Rod, and afterwards to
be taken to Newgate, and therein confined for the term of a
fortnight.
The Earl of RODEN complained of the persecution to which
persops were liable in Ireland who abandoned the Church of
Rome and became converts to the Protestant faith. Some
years ago, it would probably be known to most of their lord-
ships, that in many parts of the south and west of Ireland a
large portion of the Roman Catholic community left the
Church of Rome, and joined the Church of England. Ile
alluded in the present ►nstance particularly to the name of
Dingle, in the county of Kerry and Limerick. Somewhat more
than a year ago very serious feelings arose between those two
parties, and the most violent conduct had been used, and the
most tyrannical course pursued, not only against the poor indi-
viduals themselves, who had from conviction adopted the com-
munity of the Church of England, but also against the minis-
ters of that Church. The Rev. Jlr. Lewis had for the last year
been subject to the most tyrannical proceedings, and l►e begged
to read to their lordships shortly what those proceedings were,
as had been sworn to at the last assizes, before that e ninent
judge, Lord Chief Justice Blackburne. From this statement it
appeared that on the reverend gentleman's return in October
last to take permanent charge of the mission, he learned that
during his absence of six months both the priests of the parish
had died, and that the Roman Catholic bishop had selected in
their stead three priests who had distinguished themselves in
a different part of the diocese by the persecution of those who
exercised the right of private judgment; and, before his arri-
val, they had openly stated their intention to give him a warns
reception, and to drive him from the parish, if possible. Ac-
cordiugly, denunciations without number were hurled against
him. It was sworn by a Roman Catholic policeman that a
mob of three hundred persons pursued the rev. gentleman as
they would a mad dog. When he went to visit a sick person a
mob assembled round the house, whistling and blowing horns.
For four months he was dogged wherever he went. Public
worship in his church was disturbed for three successive Sun-
days ; the yelling rose higher than his voice, so that on the
third Sundae he was obliged to discontinue his sermon. The
substance of these statements was sworn to by the rev. gentle-
man. 'FL noble earl concluded with asking whether the go-
vernment would lay on the table any communications they had
received on the subject?
The Bishop of CHICHESTER asked the noble lord on the
woolsack whether persons who interrupted clergymen in the
discharge of their duty, as had been described to the house,
were not guilty of a misdemeanour?
The Lord CHANCELLOR said that, undoubtedly, a person who
associated with others for the purpose of booting a clergyman
would he guilty of a misdemeanour.
The Bishop of CHICHESTER, having that answer, believed
that if the government would issue instructions to the police
to seize persons so offending, the disorders complained of
would at once be put down.
The Earl of RODEN stated that the Rev. Mr. Lewis always
employed conciliatory language.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE expressed his regret that reli-
gious dissension and irritation should exist to such a great ex-
tent in Ireland, which had, to a certain degree, grown out of
the system of proselytism which had sprung up there. He
would have no object►on to grant the reports which had been
received from the police, and the instructions given by the go-
vernment. After some conversation this subject was acqui-
esced in by Lord Roden, and the subjeet dropped.
The Crime and Outrage (Ireland) Bill was read a second
time; and the standing orders having been suspended, the bill
was read a third time and passed. The Friendly Societies Bill
was also read a third time and passed.