The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-05-08 00:00:00

queatitm of esthetic Emancipation. Such a subject,
involving so 'nuns pnlitirei roosiaessoloos, he should
lease lie lea wooer time to abler halide. Indeed, one
of hia strongest reasons for presving his motion at the.
present was, that its discussion did not clashi
with the qaevtion to which he alluded. Ile coneider'-
ted it altogether a Protestant question, inasmuch as
it, in in' jedement. &rooted from the liberal cha-
rge,' of that Chutch to reqeire such a declaration
from other Christian pervnaaions. He was glad to
find that the counts), entertained a similar opinion. as
en Petition was presented against it.—{A laugh.)—
It ',peered to him most extraordinary that such a
declaration should have ever become law. It could
only be accounted for from the nature of the pre.
.ailing prejudices sod irritation of those times.—
Them esisted great belief as to Popish plots, which
were now, he Wined, universally allowed to
be wholly false and groundless. As to the security
of the Protestant Establishment, these Acts were
wholly unuecevsary. The Act of Supremacy was the
tree sod complete test. The oaths enjoined by that
law, sod the Act of Abjuration, were sufficient with.
oat keeping on the Statute Book so abominable and
impious a declaradou. He should therefore wish to
see it expunged, and as it was not his intention to sit
in the nest Parliament—[d laugh)—he begged to-
move for its repeal.
' Some delay having occurred, and the SPEASER hey
log asked who seconded the motion,' Mr. W. Smut
rase to second it. •
Lord CASTLERP.AGH begged to be understood
as imputing to the Honourable and Gallant General
the bestintientions is sehmittingthe proposition then,
before the Mom He believed, however, that it
was imperfect in point of order, as the motion should
have been for a Committee to consider of the Lows
whose repeal was proposed. But his objection to it
was not on the ground of form; it arose from the
conviction that no practicable conclusion could be in-
ferred from its adoption. The laws moved to be re-
pealed were associated with other enactments, whit*
many persons in the country deemed of the highest
importance. Se strongly was this felt by the etIVOI
cotes of the Catholics, that in 1812, when a Bill for
their relief was introduced, the measure of in-
dulgence was wisely separated from any general re-
peal of the Test Laws, and even a special law of
that nature was proposed for the Catholic. To urge,
therefore, any such repeal, solely on abstract
grounds, was to commit the House on a most em.
barrassing question, without the chance of any prac-
ticable object being the result. It would be impos-
sible to keep such a discussion distinct from the con-
sideration of. the Catholic question • and the 110.
nourable and Gallant General mast feel, that if en-
tered into, it would have the effect of forcing the
consideration, in opposition to the intentions-of those
most interested. Without any feeling of disrespect
to the Honourable and Gallant Mover, he felt it his
dote to move the previous question.
Mr. WM. SMITH observed, that although he se.
vended the Motion, be still felt the justness of the
observation of the Noble Lord—it was a question
from which no practical purpose was likely to fol-
low. But whilst he admitted that, he still believed
that the repeal of the Declaration against Transob-
Caption (a doctrine on which he, in common with the
House, had but one opinion) would be beneficial.—
It was an old saying, that words did not alter the
constitution of nature. But words did give a very
strong colouring to impressions, which, without such
colouring, would have little influence on the human
mind. It was so felt as to this Declaration against
Transubstantiation. The Acts of Supremacy and
Abjuration were fully sufficient, end he should,
therefore, wish to see the other expunged. We should
abstain from all reproaches against other persuasions,
es they could answer no good purpose, but were al-
ways productive of much evil.
The blotion of Gen. Thornton was then put and
negatived.

CROWN LANDS.
Mr. HU:KISiON brought in a Bill for amending
the B►erkuock Forest lnclosure Act—for granting to
the Crown, in severalty, certain Lands in Sherwood
Forest ; and a like Bill with respect to a certain por-
tio•n of the F.•rest of Ilsinault.
Mr BROUGIIANI had no objection to extending
to the Crown the fullest power, in order to make the
pr►►perty of the Crown Lands moat available to the
pohlic interest. What he had to express his autptize
at. w+►s the diversity exemplified in the manner in
which these sale: were negotiated. In looking into
the voluminou. Reports o►► the subject, he saw items
which, to understand, required some explanation ;
and others which. in his judgment, no eaplanation
could clear up. The divetsity with which the ho-
nours and forestal privileges were disposed of, re•
gaited at least some exploitation. in some instances,
as appeared by the Reports, large sums were paid by
individuals, while in others they were bestowed with.
out any remuneration. In the purchases a great di.
versity was also observable: for instance, a sale was
effected in favour of a Noble Lord, a Cabinet Minis.
ter, for 10 years purchase,whilst in other instances the
transfers were made at 25 or 30 years. Nine thousand
pounds and a few hundreds, were all that the Noble
Lord paid frtr 9001. per annum. Had it been an open
sale, he had good reasons for believing -that a very
large sum would base been received for such a pur-
chase. It was, indeed, evident fPorn the Reports, that
where a public competition was allowed, 80 years
purchase was given. It was, however, but a solitary
instance, as after a minute search, he could no public
sale, but the one be alluded to, namely, a portion of
Crown Land purchased by a Gentleman of the
name (he could mention the name, as there was
no undue favour, of Corbet, in Merionethshire.
As to honours, he bad an instance in a Worthy
Baronet, a Member of that House. That Worthy
Baronet, he would name him, Sir Walter Stirling, so-
licitous of this description of glory and honour—
barren as they were, had actually paid three thousand
pounds for such a privilege, while io a variety of
other Instances they were lavished on individuals
without any pecuniary consideration. He would in-
stance soother case, which it was his intention ou
some film day, to bring specifically under the con-
sideration of the Howselwhich was that of the Barony
f Kendal, which had been °lnsisted by Lord Lona.
dale at thirty years purchase; his Lordship not has.
Jag paid a farthing, as the Hon. Baronet bad done,
for the honours of the acquisition. There was no
competition in this case more than in the others which