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measures as may at the same time conciliate his Majesty's Roman Catholic subjects, and provide for the security of the Protestant establishment, so as to extinguish animosity, and promote concord and unanimity, among all classes of the community. Notwithstanding the repeated discussions of this question which have taken place, and the advanced state of the session, such is the importance of this subject, that I should propose rather a distant day for bringing for ward this Resolution. Some day next week might, perhaps, be convenient for this purpose, and I should therefore suggest Wednesday se'nnight."

Earl Grey-"My conduct, my Lords, in regard to this question, is too well known to make it necessary for me to say, that when the resolution of which notice has now been given, is brought forward, it shall meet with my most cordial and zealous support. Twice in the present sessionrepeatedly in former sessions-bave I contended, to the best of my ability, that it was both just and expedient that you should go to the full extent of the relief claimed by his Majesty's Roman Catholic subjects. I cannot help congratulating the country-I cannot help congratulating myself that this question will now be submitted to your lordships' attention under new and happier auspices, and with brighter prospects of success. Your lordships must recollect what were the consequences of proposing to extend a small favour to the Roman Catholics: for it was called, and justly called, only a little concession in the Mutiny Bill. Your lordships must recollect the circumstances under which the present Parliament was chosen. It was exactly five years yesterday since this Parliament first assembled. On the 22d of June, 1807, this Parliament met, after having been elected (amidst the clamours of No Popery.

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Earl of Buckinghamshire-"I really must call the noble lord to order. A notice of motion is given, and when the motion is brought forward, then will be the time for the noble lord to deliver his sentiments on this subject. The noble lord, however, is utterly passing the limits usually allowed on a notice, and is proceeding to discuss the subject as if the motion were actually made. This, my Lords, lapprehend, is altogether irregular."

Earl Grey-"I intended to have troubled your lordships with only a very few observations at present. Perhaps, however, they may be as well preserved for the day on

which the discussion shall regularly come on.

But I had

only to move that the lords be summoned for that day, and then I might have proceeded in a regular way. I must say, however, that if I was out of order, the noble marquis who gave the notice must also have been out of order. In a question of this importance, perhaps a rigid adherence to regularity might for once have been dispensed with."

The Marquis Wellesley-" My Lords, if I have been out of order, my apology is, that I have been so with the sanction of the noble and learned lord on the woolsack"-hear, hear!)

Lord Redesdale-" The noble and learned lord' on the woolsack stated, that there was another question then before the House, but that, for the convenience of the House, the notice of the noble marquis might, notwithstanding, be given."

Marquis Wellesley-" I consulted the noble lord on the woolsack before I gave my notice. He informed me that there was a question then before the House (a question respecting the appeal, Waterpark and Austin) and that it would be irregular to give the notice; but that for the convenience of the House, the irregularity would be passed over. I say again, therefore, that if I was out of order, it was with the sanction of the learned lord on the woolsack. I did not, that I am aware of, exceed the usual limits allowed in giving notices. I entered into no discussion, but stated, as I conceived I had a right to do, the precise object of the Resolution to which I intended to call your lordships' attention. If I have exceeded the usual limits allowed in such cases, I hope the noble and learned lord will give the proper explanation, and state in what respects I have overstepped the ordinary bounds."

Lord Chancellor "I shall certainly not be so irregular as to enter into any snch explanation."

Marquis Wellesley-"Then the noble and learned lord will not be so irregular as to do me justice. It is an irregularity, it seems, to do me justice” (Order, order!)

(The Chief Justice of the Common Pleas then delivered, in a few words, the opinion of the Judges on the Appeal; and the further consideration was postponed till to-mor row.)

Earl Grey then proposed to move, that the lords be summoned for Wednesday se'nnight, and upon this question

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resumed his observations on the subject, of the Catholics. “I should not (he said) have thought it necessary to trouble your lordships at present with any further observations on this subject, were it not that my forbearance might have the appearance of giving way too much to the interruption which I met with. I was calling your lordships' attention to the time when, and the circumstances, under which, this Parliament first assembled. Your lordships remember, that for proposing a small concession to the Catholics and small I thought it, because my opinion went the length of full relief-circumstances, however, at that time rendered it impossible to make a full concession, and that alone prevented me from recommending the entire repeat of the penal laws against the Catholics:-For the slight concession that was proposed, however, the Administration of which I had the honour to form a part was dismissed. The cry of "No Popery was raised, and every means industriously used to inflame the blindest and most infuriated, passions of the, multitude, against the principles and the persons, of those who had composed that Government. Under these circumstances, and amidst these bigotted clamours, this Parliament was chosen, and met for the first time on the 22d of June, 1807. While I congratulate my country, then, on the prospect of at length accomplishing a measure which promises to be attended with so much national advantage, I must say that it is matter of congratulation to myself, that on the anniversary of the first meeting of this Puliament, elected under the circumstances which I have mentioned, a Resolution has been proposed to this same Parliament, going the full length of Catholic concession, by one of those who under such circumstances came into office; and that this Resolution has been carried by a large majority. This, my Lords, is not only matter of congratulation to me, in regard to the past, but of encouragement for the future. It is an encouragement to me to persevere in that line of conduct which my sense of duty, and the view of the interests of my country, point out as most proper for me, to follow, however my motives may be misrepresented, and to whatever obloquy I may for the moment be subjected, convinced, that sooner or later my motives and principles, the objects which I have in view, and the measures which I recommend, will be duly appreciated. It is my anxious desire that we could immediately enter upon the consideration of this question; but I doubt it is impossible to do so in the

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present session. I trust, however, it will be considered early in the next session, with a view to put an end to the political disabilities of all descriptions of Dissenters from the established Church, as far as is consistent with the safety of the constitution. There is not a man in the kingdom who is a greater friend to the Protestant establishment than he who now addresses you; but the more I consider this question, the less value I have for some of the securities about which so much has been said on former occasions. The best security for the Protestant establishment, as well as for the empire at large, is to put an end to those animosities and discords which have been, and are, such a source of national weakness, at a time when we have so much occasion for our utmost strength. Any reasonable security, how ever, I should vote for; but I trust this measure will not be clogged with limitations and conditions that may serve to render it altogether nugatory, or in a great degree defeat its object, and prevent the good effects which must otherwise result from its adoption-(hear, hear!) I again congratulate the House, and the country, on the brighter prospect of a final and satisfactory adjustment of this great and important question; and have only to repeat, that the intended resolution shall have my cordial and zealous support.

Earl Stanhope observed, that he would, in two days, fix a day for the second reading of the Dissenters Bill. He wished, the second reading to be postponed till after the discussion of the noble Marquis's resolution. But he trusted, that even those who resisted the granting of political power to the Catholics, would not support persecution.

The Duke of Norfolk expressed his regret that it was not intended immediately to take the subject of the Catholic claims into consideration; and said, that when the resolution came to be discussed, he should urge the necessity of applying themselves, without delay, to the consideration of the laws against the Catholics, especially after the manner in which the subject had been treated at the aggregate meeting of the Irish Catholics.

Earl Darnley said, he would support the resolution; and asked the noble lord behind him (Grosvenor), whether he intended to bring forward his motion on the State of the Nation.

Earl Grosvenor replied, that under the present circum-
VOL. III.-1812.
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stances, he did not think it necessary to persevere in his intention to submit that motion to the House.

Wednesday se'nnight was then fixed for bringing forward the resolution; and the Lords were ordered to be summoned for that day.

The House then went into a Committee on the Curates? Bill, when it underwent considerable discussion. Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

TUESDAY, JUNE 23.

A new writ was ordered for Bristol, in the room of the Right Hon. Charles Bragge Bathurst, who had accepted the office of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Mr. W. Bootle presented a Petition from John Higgins, the keeper of Lancaster gaol, praying inquiry. It stated that Sarssum had attempted to escape, and had in conse quence been committed to closer confinement, but had been released on expressing contrition.

Mr. Brougham bore testimony to the excellent and exemplary character of the gaoler.

The Petition was ordered to lie on the table.

The Mail Coach Exemption Bill was lost by a majority of 3;-47 being for it,and 50 against it.

ORDERS IN COUNCIL.

Mr. Brougham said, that having felt considerable anxiety with regard to the course which it was the intention of Ministers to pursue on this subject, it was peculiarly gratifying to him to learn that an Order had that day been issued by the Prince Regent in Council, which, if he might be allowed so to speak, was perfectly and in every way satis factory to himself and to his friends, who entertained a similar opinion with himself. It was on this account he now rose to move, that the order of the day for calling over the House, which stood for Thursday next, be discharged. He here wished to express his sense of the very proper, frank, and manly conduct of his Majesty's Govern ment in recalling those Orders, without attaching any conditions to the repeal, that were likely to frustrate its effects. To say more might be unnecessary, but to have said less would be unfair towards his Majesty's Government. As a

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