The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-04-21 00:00:00

I.ICIiNCEq.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE gave notice of a
Motion for Friday, for the forms of Licences gratited
for the export from France to the Baltic, and for the
trade between this country and France.—Adjourned
till to-morrow (this day).

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
•
The SpaAker was summoned to the Peers by the Deputy
Usher of the Slack Rod, to hear the Commission read for giving
the Rand Assent to several public and private Bills, for which
lies the Lords.
A. blionsge from the Peers informed the House, their Lord-
ships had agreed to the Legal Quays'• Bill.
• Mr. BATIIURST presented three Petitions against the re-
newal of the East India Company's Charter; 1. From the In-
habitants; 2. From the Corporation ; 3. From the Dock Com-
" Bristol.— ' and laid on the table.

pony of 11,....m.—They were ieverally read,. _ ... on ._. -
Mr. STANIFORTH postponed his notice relative to instruc- from the Protestant Proprietors of Ireland, and is
to the Irish Finance Committee, from this day until Wed-
-1 perfectly unprecedented, not only in amount of pro-
Next.
, whose name we could notlearn, gave notice that perty belonging to individuals who have annexed their
SIB Ikeda next, he should move for a Committee on the. State names at any former time to" a Petitiou upon this
se on.
=e
Suunp Office, Accounts were presented of the nom- i subject, but it is the first instance of any general appli-
ligi fit Licences granted for the issue of Promissory Notes, and cation on the part of the Protestants of Ireland on
Wed ember of Stamps granted for the same. They were laid behalf of their Catholic fellow-subjects. TO establish
sertototable. f
the importance of the Petition, it is sufficient for Inc
the Exchequer, the Annual Accounts of the issue of ,
lixelbeqwer Bilb were presented, laid upon the table, and upon to state what, without an approach to .exaggeration,
111. Nation of Mg. PONSONBY, it was ordered that they he I may confidently assert, that it expresses the seuti-
printed.
Mr. Hose' from the Bank of England, presented ao Account ments of a decided majority of the Protestant Propri-
erthe number of Stamped Milani and Tokens issued by the etors of Ireland.—[llenr, hear !]—l am desirous of
Bank during the but year, repeating the fact, because if it be thought that I
On the motion of Mr. FREEMANTLE, it was ordered that .
there be laid before the House an Account of the Buildings overstate it, I am desirous to be contradicted, that I
erected, and quantity of Land purchased in Gloucestershire for . may resort to the proofs with which I am provided.
the erection of Barracks, and an estimate of the expences of the i -
Artillery Barracks in Mary-le-bone Park. 1 i repeat, therefore, that the Petition expresses the
DISTILLATION OF GRAIN IN IRELAND. I sense of a decided majority of the Protestant Pro-
,
Mr. .MAURICE FITZGER.ALD gave notice prietori of Ireland, both landed and commercial. I
that he would, to-morrow, move that an Address be, feel it right further to explain, that this Petition,
presented to the Prince Regent, praying his Royal although most respectably and numerously signed,
Highness to put a stop to the Distillation of grain in it by no means contains the names of all those 4Pro-
Ireland. I testants who are favourable to Catholic Emancileition
Mr. W. POLE immediately rose and gave notice on principle; and I wish; with the utmost tonfi-
_ ~ _ .

that he would, to-morrow, mow for leave to bring
in a Bill to stop the Distillation of Grain in Ireland.
[44 laugh.]
Mr. M. FITZGERALD said, that notwithstand-
ing what had just passed, he should not withdraw his
notice, as he thought an Act of Parliament extremely
inadequate to answer the urgency of the occasion.
Mr. W. POLE added, that the measure he should
propose would be adequate to the urgency of the
occasion.

deuce in the fact, to mention the reason why the
names of several who are favourable to it on plinci-
ple, do not appear to this Address. A great Ytum-
ber of Protestants in Ireland did entertain a notion
that it would be proper, in any Petition presented
to Parliament, to include conditions and securities.
A largeproportion, therefore, declined affixing their
signatures, because it did not comprize the stipula-
tions they required to be inserted. I wish- further
to state, that many of those whose names are affixed

ROMAN CATHOLICS OF ENGLAND.
Mr. ELLIOT rose and said—" I hold in my
hand the Petition of a very loyal, and I May add, Of
a very illustrious portion of his Majesty's subjects, I
mean the Roman Catholics of England, who have se-
lected me to be the bearer of their claims; it will, I
have no doubt, create in this House and in the em-
pire at large, a melancholy reflection, that tWo years
ago, these claims were entrusted to the hands of an
individual endowed with powers to do ample justice
to any cause, however great—Wear, hoer!]—The
lustre these splendid talents shed is now withdrawn,
and, according to the narrow views of human wis-
dom, we may say, that there never was a period in
our history when•ne stood more in need of that light
to guide us through thegloom of error that surrounds
us, and of those stupendous powers to stem the aw-
ful tide of danger which threatens to overwhelm
us. The details of the grievances complained
of are to be found in the Petition presented
to this House by Mr. Windham,. in 'lBlO, and
it is cons yoently needless for me t 0,.. go at I
length iute,the topics touched upon; haat •
perhaps, not be improper to recal the reConeloilbsrb,
Parliament to.the fact, that the Catholics of England
stand in a situation different to that of any persons
of the same persuasion under the dominion of the
Crown. In Canada they are on the same footing as
their Protestant brethren ; but the English Roman
Catholics are excluded from many of the privileges
that the Irish enjoy. The English Catholic cannot
vote for a Member of Parliament ; he is shut out 'of
all corporations, and is inadmissible to degre a in
our Universities; he is not allowed to act as a Ma-
gistrate, and, in short, is excluded from all
both civil and military, so that he cannot even hold
a commission in the army "or navy. [Mar, hearn
This is the condition, or rather this is the state of
disfranchisement of the individuals who have signed
this Petition, whose names cannot be read by Eng-
lishmen, without kindling within their breasts re-;
collections of the past achievements of their ancestors,'
for the renown of their native country. They are
the descen3ants of those persons, who, when the ,
Catholic faith was the religion of the realm, were
the fires opponents of foreign influence; they are the
descendants of those who were not • only the proud
assertore of the external independence of the country, 1
.but e hose names will be found enrolled with those
of the most strenuous supporters of domestic rights'
--[Hear, hear!]—who, at the period of religious I
animosity immediately succeeding the •reformation,
were still admissible to the martial' professions, and
sometimes were seen, not only aecompanying our
tleets and armies, but leadiutthem to battle and to
victory against invaders and enemies Professing the
Catholic faith. The Petitioners state, that "in of--}
fection to his Majesty'S gracious persotrtadippvero-
. )

S

,

do not desire Catholic Emancipation unconditionally, man to deal hi those insinuations.
but it appears to all who have signed, that it was not I Mr. M. FITZGERALD said helstal not the least
a-proper matter to be mentioned in a Petition, but / hesitation to name cases, and the county to which he
that it ought to be left to the misdom of Parliament : I alluded was the County of Carlow. He had no
' there are numbers who would willingly have added i doubt of the fact, and he would restate it. The no-
their signatures, if those conditions had been in- mination of Sheriff to that County had been promised
serted. Many who expressed themselves decidedly; to a gentleman, and he had mentioned the promise to
favourable to the object in view, have refused to sign several of his friends • but shortly after he was in-
it on account of the violence of the .secent dif- formed that he had been set aside, because he had
ferences between the Irish Government and ti part signed the Protestant Petition : the chrievalty was
of the Catholic Body. —I think I have now promised to another Gentleman, but he having also
stated enough to entitle this Petition to the se- signed the Petition, and knowing why his predeces-
; vious consideration of Parliament. I have, how- sor had been rejected, he declared that he could not
ever, to add, what I am sorry to be obliged to therefore accept the office. lie had heard also,and from
mention, that against the Petition (conducted in the ; authority that he could not doubt, of individuals who
most moderate manner, intentionally guarded against had been menaced by the Irish Government, with the
the slightest imputation-of an attempt to agitate the loss of their situations, if they signed the Petition.—
: public feelings) all the influence that could possibly He would not mention their names, because that
be used by the Irish Government hai been directed. a would be to involve them in that very danger arida.
[Mr. W. Pole said " No, no;" very audibly across hung over them. He knave an instance, and could
the House.] The Right Honourable Gentleman says prove it, rif a person friendly in principle to the Ca-
No; and having so asserted, I feel myself bound to 'tholic Claims, with villein) a Petition had been. left for
.go into proofs of the fact. I say again, uotwith- his signature: when called for-the next day, he.salti
standing-this contradletion, that the influence of Go- fo The' person cvho ulitr,--slete yor
verument has been most notoriously and indecetitly yesterday I have been threatened with the loss of my
! directed against the Petition I hold in nerhand— place, if I suffer it to remain in my house."—[llear,
[Hear, hear!]-The office of Sheriff, a place or .hear !]
' Sl=
Most sacred mist, and of the utmost importance to Mr. WELLEfibtr POLE protested that •be
the due distribution of justice, has been tamperePknew nothing of the circumstance of the Sheriff Of
with..—[ Hear !]—Personswho had beets proidised Carlow.
to be made Sheriffs for the next year: have been set Dr. DUIGENAN maintained that the Petititio‘
aside, because the ibdividual recommending one of had been smuggled about for signatures in a clandeia
them had signed 'the Protestant Petition. I sae, that tine underhand manner.- Not one-third of those Who
another person who was actually understo'al to be had signed it knew any thing of its contents: he hin:
appointed, did signify to the Irish Government,-that, self had not rend it ;: but from the cowardly way in
having. also signed the Petition, he apprehended he which it was handed about, he did not believe it con-
should be deemed an improper person to fulfil the' tained the names of one hundredth part of the Pro-
duties, as his predecessor was rendered incapable on testant property of Ireland. - lie could speak pada
a similar account.---[/pear, bear !]'•-.4 know that in- *hasty as to the North of Ireland, and from thence
-dividuals possessing -public situations, I will not- say the signatures, he knew, were very insigitiectiet;
directly, but indirectly, received menaced • from those from the County of Down excepted.
the 'Government, that they shout, forfeit their ; Mr. PARNELL thought the Right lion. Doctor
places if they favoured the Petitioti. I knew, • was quite incompetent: to deny the respectability of
too, that the partizans of Government have held the signatures to the Petition, as he confessed he
out threats to people, if they •sulterail the. Pe, had hot seint the Petition, and of course could know
tition even' to remain iw terrors their houses.; the terro of nothing 'about the signatures. He himself had no
inflicted vengeance have been used in the most undis. doubt that- they did represent the-Protestant majority
rased manner fur the avowed purpose of defeating of commercial
.and
the Petition. Under all these circumstances, it I knew that the-pitt tWOCatholic Petitions were sign-
stands a proud proof of the rapidly extending rbe b st !ended property ie Ireland. He
ratify of the Protestants of' Ireland far- 'lnd, therefore, be
Catholic Emancipation,. [lic I - t
.y a__ oev Irish bleni_bessiik that Hot.c ; and
is to site an extreme • gratifi4
the most numerous' sigc
the North of Ireland,
are' peculiarly Protestant,
'of ft, bedauta. it shoat c
only. part Ii Ireland formeri

S

tts of ' Ireland in favour of ;if the Protestant property of Ireland, therefore, be
L. [Hear, hear, hear!]. It; properly represented, 'lad spoke 'that . 'la spoke a volume.
gratificatiou to' state, that . Chen was otiljr one Petition against the Catholic
gnatures are obtained Irons I claims, and that 'was from the Corporation of the
the inhabitaata trf width Cliy.4K,Dublin,; but when he recolleated how much
4. il, PRI thf moist sreo that Corpossitiot was under the influence of 'Govern-
a'sbabge ,of. opinion In libe jeeeil he wee. pot Much-surprised at it.. •
Imo4l/ pest Gaveled to tidy Sir GEtiitt E 1111%1% denied that Gower/101(1a -iu"
. ..
•