Many petitions were then presented against the Catholics, several oflative to the abuses of the elective franchise in Ireland; it was enough them from Congregations of Protestant Dissenters! Wednesday, May 11. Petitions were presented against the Catholic Claims; one from Con gleton, Cheshire, by the Bishop of Chester, who said that the head boys of a school there had asked leave and been permitted to sign it!-The" take away from" half a million of people a franchise of this sort-why Catholic Relief Bill was introduced from the Commons House, read a first time, and ordered for a second reading on Tuesday. Friday, May 13. Some conversation, arose as to the influence that had occasioned so many petitions to be presented against the Roman Catholic Bill KING repeated that the Bishops had promoted them, by the exercise of Lord undue influence.-The Bishop of EXETER expressed bis atonishment that any Noble Lord should persevere in such statements, and again denied that the Bishops or the Clergy had exercised any undue influence! The petitions were the spontaneous efforts of the people.-The LORD CHAN CELLOR observed that the people of England were not willing to hear the Clergy held up to odium as they had been; that he verily believed that many of the petitions bad resulted from such remarks as had been made by Lord KING.-Lord, HOLLAND declared that he had heard with astonish ment the opinion expressed by the Lord Chancellor, that a great majority of the people were against the Claims, and denied that anything had as yet appeared to warrant the expression of such an opinion. HOUSE OF COMMONS. CATHOLIC CLAIMS. SIR T. LETHBRIDGE'S IGNORANCE, &c. On the presentation of a petition against the Catholics by Sir T Lethbridge, Mr. S RICE noticed what had fallen from the Hon Baronet re ́specting certain notes to a Catholic edition of the Bible. Mr. S. Rice said, that no sooner was this publication known to the Irish Catholic Hierarchy, than the notes were unequivocally denied by the entire body, and that edition was no longer in circulation -Sir T. Lethbringe observed, that he was not aware of the fact when he made his remarks upon the notes in question; but nevertheless, he should not withdraw his ob jections to the relief bill, since he believed that the sentiments of the Roman Catholic Church towards the Protestant Church were the same now as ever! Lord G. CAVENDISU alluded to certain observations lately made by Sir T Lethbridge, respecting a Roman Catholic Gentleman in the neigh bourhood of Wetherby, in Yorkshire. His Lordship said, two Catholic gentlemen had written to him on the subject, each denying the uttering any such sentiments as those noticed by the Hon Baronet. He (Lord C) therefore supposed the Hon Baronet had been imposed upon-Sir Thos. LETHBRIDGE said (very truly) that he was placed in a situation in which it was not usual for a Member to stand. He was perfectly ready to state that he did not allude to those gentlemen, and for this very good reason➡ that he did not know who they were. He did not feel called upon to explain the motives which induced him to make the statements in question. He claimed the privilege of expressing his opinions as one of the representatives of the people of England in the uianner which he thought best calculated to serve the canse which he was advocating It was not con sistent with the practice of the Honse, that a Member should be attacked on account of a speech which he had made three or four days previously In all that he had said he mentioned no persous' names-be merely put a supposed case.-Mr. N. CALVERT was of opinion that no member could be called to account for what he had said; but thought that it would not be too much to expect that he should give some explanation when the feelings of individuals had been hurt by something which had been stated by him.-Lord G. CAVENDISH declared that he was not satisfied with the Hon. Member's explanation. No one was warranted in bringing forward statement which he could not substantiate. It was for the House to judge whether the Hon Baronet had exonerated himself—it was for them to judge whether there were grounds for the statement he had made. If there were not, the Hon. Baronet would lie under the imputation of having advanced that which he was incapable of maintaining!-Sir T. LETH BRIDGE said, that he was capable of maintaining what he had stated, at any time and in any place; the present was neither the time nor the place. ELECTIVE FRANCHISE (IRELAND) bill. Mr. LITTLETON moved, that the House do resolve itself into a Committee on the above bill. Mr GRATTAN entered his protest against the bill, as one of the most unjust and unconstitutional measures ever brought under the consideration of Parliament. If the House distrusted the Catholics, why did they grant hem emancipation ? Mr HUME opposed the bill. He declared, that had the substance of this measure been introduced as a clause into the bill for the emancipation of the Catholics, he would rather have voted against that great bill itself, than support for one moment such an enormous invasion of the rights of so Irge a class of the people, as this bill for the abolition of the forty shilling freeholders' franchise went to commit. (Hear, Hear!) There was no evidence before Parliament, of a nature to be relied on, that could' at all bear out the recital in the preamble of the abuses and cansés which were said to render this bill necessary. If there was one principle which more than another ought ever to be kept in view by those who were friendly to reform, it was the further extension of the elective franchise; and upon that princip'e he now called on all the advocates of parliamentary reform to oppose this obnoxious bill. (Hear!) He needed no information re for him to know that this bill would affect the franchises of about half a million of people. (Hear! and an expression of dissent) He would ask Hear, hear!)-he would say (for it amounted to much the same thing) of the man who would rob half a million of people-Cries of order, and he would persist in clogging the operation of the emancipation bilt with a measure of this kind, which must defeat its good effect, and would not fail tended to benefit? (Hear!) He begged to move, "That a Select to sow the seeds of discord and, animosity among those whom it was inexercise of the elective franchise in Ireland; and to ascertain whether any Committee be appointed to inquire what faults and abuses exist in the and what measures can be adopted with a view to correct the same." Colonel JOHNSON seconded this amendment Mr. S. RICE said, he approved of this bill because he was a friend to the object of the great measure. The question for going into the Committee was carried by 168 to 53. Mr. BROUGHAM earnestly entreated his Hon. Friends not to oppose the Mr. LAMBTON replied, that he could not vote for the Catholic Relief Bill vote from interested motives, but from deep conviction—(heur !) and not if it were accompanied by a bill of disfranchisement (Hear!) He did not been in the habit of acting, could induce him to abandon his opinion.→ even the threatened displeasure of any of those with whom he had long (Hear!) the blanks were filled up pro formu. Tuesday, May 10. CATHOLIC PETITIONS- MR, BUTTERWORTH CASTIGATED. Several petitions, for and against the Catholic Claims (chiefly against) in the course of which Mr. BUTTERWORTH said that the Protestant were presented and laid on the table; and some conversation took place, Petitions from Ireland in favour of the Catholics were obtained by threats and menaces.-Cries of "No, no,” followed this assertion; it was warmly when he said he had obtained his information from Clergymen to whom he denied by several frish Members, and Mr. B. was called upon for proof; had sent circulars on the subject. Hear, hear!)—Mr. M. FITZGERALD compliment, when, in his outrageous zeal, he asserted that they could bow told Mr. Butterworth, that be paid the Protestants of Ireland a very bad this country for the receipt of tales of bigotry, hypocrisy, and intolerance to motives so mean and base. (Hear!) If any person opened a shop in if he opened a shop for the collection of motives, such as those which that shop would command abundant communications. (Hear, and the Hon. Member was so ready to attribute to others, he would find that laughter) His constituents were full of as genuine and sincere Protesfaut Christianity as the Hon Member was, and yet they advocated the intimidated or cajoled cause of the Roman Catholics. They were incapable of being either calumnious statements reached that House, and they despised it. · (Hear !) [Mr. Butterworth made no reply to this philippie ] They well knew the source from which those Mr. PEEL presented an Anti-Catholic petition from Manchester, signed PHILLIPS observed, that this petition did not utter the opinion of that by 12 Magistrates and 28,000 of the inhabitants: upon which Mr. by the most unfair means, by collecting signatures in the streets, and by town; it had not been voted at a public meeting, but had been obtained getting whole gangs of boys to put their names to it. It had been sent, too, to all the dissenting Chapels; but, with the exception of the Metho corner" production.-To this Mr. PEEL replied, that he was instructed dist, it had been rejected by them. It was, in a word, a true "hole andto say, that though the signatures of boys had been procured, it had been done by those who wanted to bring discredit on the petition, which however bore the names of 28,000 inhabitants of Manchester-Lord STANLEY then presented a petition agreed to at a public meeting at Manchester, Catholic Claims. and signed by upwards of 10,000 persons in a few, hours, in favour of the CATHOLIC RELIEF BILL.. which he then strenuously advocated. intolerant, as ambitious, and as dangerous as ever. Mr. HORACE Twiss maintained quite an opposite opinion, and urged, that all the original causes for enacting the present restrictions had ceased to exist; the vindicators of those laws therefore stood just in the same position as though they had expired, and they were demanding to re enact them. What dangers had England now to apprehend? Did not every man feel, that cruelty, and bigotry, and intolerance, had belonged rather to ages and to individuals, than to systems? (Hear, hear!) If Mary had burned Protestants, and Cranmer tortured Catholics; and if Henry VIII. had plundered either side, and tyrau nized over both, did any Hon. Member believe that such courses could he repeated, or were likely again to be attempted, in the present day? Let the House be sure that it was better for England to make the concession now, than to make it-when she must make it-whenever next a war broke out. (Hear, hear!) Mr. HART DAVIS contended, that the constitution of England being essentially Protestant, no concession of power should be made to the Roman Catholics beyond that which they possessed at present, Mr. C. GRANT argued strongly in favour of the measure. We had, he said, hitherto been legislating for the people of Ireland, as for men quite passive-not as for a nation of sensitive beings, who had feelings and passions like other men, and who were more bound by feelings of attach ment for kindness conferred, than by coercion; we lost sight of the moral nfluence of the penal laws, which were calenlated to degrade those on whom they operated; and when it was objected to any enlightened foreigner, that the Government had not accommodated itself to the more i beral spirit of the age, his ready answer was, "Look at the state in which you keep Ireland." From such degradation he would wish to have Ireland emancipated; he would also wish to see the English nation freed from the stain which had so long rested on them by the continuance of the penal code. He maintained, that wherever a good and enlightened Government prevailed, the Roman Catholics were as tolerant as the Pro testants. This measure might be delayed for one or two years; but that it must pass before any great lapse of time, was the conviction of every man who paid the slightest attention to public affairs. He therefore called upon the Honse to render that boon which the progress of knowledge and of religious charity showed must ultimately be granted, delightful and acceptable to those on whom it was to be conferred, by not post poning it to any distant period. (Hear, hear!) › loss which the country experienced in consequence of these restrictions Mr. PEEL observed, that his opinions on this most momentous subject were already on record; and it would be, trifling with that indulgence which the House had shown towards him on other occasions, if he were merely to repeat now what he had so often advanced to them before. He merely wished to take this opportunity of re-stating, that the opinions he had formerly held on this matter remained still unaltered. When he looked at the numbers of the Roman Catholics, and at the circumstances under which the transfer of Church property from theirs to Protestant hands took place at the Revolution, he could not feel satisfied or convinced that it was either wise or expedient to remove those barriers, which he thought much better calculated to protect the Protestant ascendancy in this country, than those ecclesiastical securities which it was now proposed to substitute in their stead. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL opposed the bill, as well as the measure respecting the Irish 40s. freeholders. The character, he observed, which he would give to the elective franchise bill, was contained in two words-it was magnum latrocinium. (Hear, hear!) He could not conjecture by Mr. BROUGHAM remarked, that great danger was 'still apprehended, it what means Mr. O'Connell could make it palatable to the lower orders of seemed, to the Protestant establishment, if the Roman Catholics were to his countrymen; but he could conjecture that a dialogue of the following be allowed access to office. The very same alarm was experienced in, nature might ensue between that gentleman and some of the peasantry :— England 120 years ago; but as no harm had happened, he had a right to "Well, Mr O'Connell, what have you got for us by your journey to En-anticipate, that 120 years hence our posterity would laugh at our fears, as "gland ?”—“ Oh," Mr. O'Connell might reply, the Duke of Norfolk is we now did at those of our ancestors. " When the Scottish union was to to sit, in Parliament; Lord Fingall is to sit in Parliament; I may have a introduce into the House of Lords 16 Presbyterian Peers at once, the silk gown and may sit in Parliament, if I am elected.""This is all very Bishop of Bath earnestly besought the Lords to consider that they were, good," the peasant might reply; but now that you have told us what you by such admission of the Presbyterian Peers, exposing themselves to a have got, pray tell us what we have got."-"You have got !" Mr. O'Con- danger, the greatness of which no tongue could speak! A laugh.) He nell might reply, "O you have got well-robbed." (A laugh)-Mr. had heard a great deal about the Jesuits of the Charch of Rome; and WETHERAL also opposed the measure regarding the Catholic Clergy, which, they had been flourished in the faces of Gentlemen, to do away, if possihe said, would be the establishment of a Papal Church, armed with all the ble, with the idea of their having any communion with them. But what jurisdiction belonging to the Papacy (Hear, hear!) It was contended would they say to a Protestant Bishopone of the flowers of Episcopacy(continued Mr. W.) that circumstances were so altered, that Popery was not a friend to the Catholic cause, but one who agreed perfectly with the no longer dangerous, and still less obnoxious-that the atrocities charged Secretary of State for the Home department-if, when you signed the 39 against it were taken from the iron ages of superstition and violence. They Articles, he said (he, be it observed, hating Jesuitism) “Though you were, therefore, to look at its present state, green and fresh as it appeared. sign the 39 Articles, you do not agree with them separately; but in the [Here the Learned Gentleman read several passages from balls and other tump you admit of their propriety! (Hear!) Your belief with respect to instruments of the Pope, of recent date, in which Bible Societies are de some of them is an overflow-with reference to others, it is an ebb tide; nounced, and the reading of the Scriptures forbidden.]-He concluded by and so far, as certain other points are concerned, it is nearly a spring tide. moving an amendment, that the Bill be read a third time this day six You therefore can make a sort of average statement of your belief, and months." you may take your living for having swallowed the whole of the 39 Articles in this manner." (Laughter). Such was the doctrine held out by that Learned Prelate! In the course of the debate, he had heard it said that the principle of persecution was inherent in the Catholic church. There trad been persecutions in all Churches. Persecution was the effect of superior power, and superior domination. Let the priests of any religion have power, and let men speak for themselves in opposition to their doctrines; in that case, persecution was sure to follow. Luther himself was not free from the charge of intolerancy. But the establishment of the country, it would be said, was Calvinistic. What had Lord Chatham said on this subject? He had declared, that we had a Calvinistic creed, an Arminian clergy, and a Popish ritual. Calvin, whose precepts they followed, was himself a persecutor the persecutor of Servetus, whom he caused to be burned. But they need not go back to so distant a period, to show how persecution was engendered by power. He called on the house to look at the scenes which, at no very remote period, had been acted in this coun try. He alluded to those infernal torments which, 150 years ago, were inflicted on the people of Scotland, under that tyrant, who, alike contemning the law of God and the sacredness of the Constitution, sent his people to die the death of martyrs on account of the Covenant. On the one side were the priests, who possessed power; on the other side were the honest men, who dared to deny that their doctrines were right; and the result was that persecution, which he defied the man best read in matters of this kind to equal in the history of this country or of Europe. (Hear!) He would call on the house to remove all those disabilities, which, while they created ill feelings amongst one party, produced no benefit for the Mr HUSKISSON said, he thought that the argument had ran too much upon the question of establishing a Roman Catholic Chureb, instead of the ques tion of tolerating one which was established. With their spiritual tenets and doctrines he had nothing to do. In the practices and intentions of the Romish hierarchy he could see nothing to dread, were they even wickedly inelined. He owed it to justice to vote for the removal of every enactment against the Catholics, or any other body of men who remained exposed to pains and disabilities long after the evils and dangers anticipated by those enactments had ceased. It was on this ground that the Catholics were entitled to his vote, to which his country had a heavier claim. To with hold their rights was to keep alive divisions among them, to make the dangers increase to retard the prosperity of the country in time of peace to render that peace less durable-to make the difficulties of the country more injurious, should war considerably impair the resources-to distract our energies when they ought to be combined against the common enemy. He considered the opposition to the adjuncts of the bill as of very little weight, because they came before the house rather as matters of detail. He considered all argument on the principle as having been long ago set at rest for ever. Could they hope to convert the Roman Catholics? The speculation was idle, and too frivolous to discuss. What then was there left to do Remove the causes of discontent, by providing for the safety of Ireland. He assumed that there must be some danger in altering the system of law which had for so long a time excluded them but whether it was at present inconsiderable, or whether it was really appalling as it had been represented, now was the best time to deal with it. By far the greater H THE EXAMINER. other. What must be the situation of this country, if her power in Ireland was only to be kept up at the point of the bayonet? Could any one hope to preserve harmony between the two countries, while one of them was kept down by punishment, by penalties, and by chains? (Hear!) If they wished to secure the happiness of the empire, if they wished to complete its safety, let no foreign country have the opportunity of looking with a malign aspect towards Ireland. Let England throw aside her long prized and he once thought exploded Irish impolicy. Let her leave to foreign powers no spot on which they could dwell in the hope that there the empire might be weakened. (Hear!) Some of them at this moment dwelt with delight on Ireland. Let there no longer be a spot in the empire on which foreign enemies could suffer their eye to dwell with malicious plea sure. Make it as unpleasant for them to look on Dublin or on Cork as it was at present for them to view Edinburgh or London. Peace, it was true, was now established: but would war never come? and when it did come, let them, unless they changed their conduct towards Ireland, look to that country then. (Hear!) After they had put down the Catholic Association-after they had increased their military power-after they had done much to irritate, and little to produce a kind feeling, he did not believe there was any man who would be vain enough to answer for the peace of Ireland, even if a firm peace prevailed in every other part of Europe, if this measure were thrown out. this he would say, that if they sent up this Bill to the other House by a (Hear, hear!) Jarge majority-loud cries of hear!)-he thought that they might depend But on the tranquillity of that country. (Hear, hear!) But if it did not become a law in that manner-if it were not carried by such a majority, and that at the present moment, in this very reign-in the reign of his Gracious Majesty the King who now sat on the throne-then he could only say, that he had exonerated himself from any blame that might attach to future consequences, by calling on the House to be wise-by imploring them to act while it was day-by entreating them not to wait till the dark night shrouded them, "when no man can tell what will come!" (Cheers.) Sir F. BLAKE rose amidst tremendous shouts of "Question." He supported the Bill. The House then divided, when the numbers were-For the motion, 248; Against it, 227; Majority, 21.-The announcement of the majority was received with cheers. The Bill was then read a third time, and passed. The House adjourned at Two o'clock. ་ Mr. ABERCROMBY complained that several Honourable Gentleman who Wednesday, May 11. bad been nained on the Leith Docks Bill Committee, and who had never attended any of the meetings but the last, nor had heard the evidence or the counsel, had voted in favour of the bill! Mr. HUSKISSON presented a petition from the Members of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Liverpool, praying that the House would adopt such measures as would supply surgical students with dead bodies. Mr. SCARLETT presented a petition from certain Attornies of the Court of King's Bench and Common Pleas, complaining of the inadequate accommodation they received in attending the Judges' chambers. Thursday, May 12. IRISH ELECTIVE FRANCHISE BILL. POOR LAWS. the present system, and more particularly exposed the practice so preva- labourers' wages out of the poor's rates. Leave was then given to bring in the bill. the Assimilation of Currency Acts, when 8 from the want of an uniform currency throughout the empire The fluc Mr. WALLACE pointed oat the incouveniences to trade which resulted draw from circulation every local medium of circulation, and to substitute tuations of exchanges produced the greatest uncertainty, and opened wide door to frauds. The object of the present proposition was, to withsaving clause for all existing contracts. one uniform currency between the two countries. There should be a made with reference to English currency. All payments should be regu-~All new contracts should be lated in the proportion of twelve thirteenths, which was, in fact, "the relative state of the currency at present. The notes of the Bank of Ireland coming in after a certain day were not to be re-issued, but new notes were make the measures more complete, and to conciliate the lower classes of to be put in circulation corresponding in value with English notes. To Ireland, it was the intention of Government to issue a new copper coinage. The Right Hon. Gentleman concluded by moving several Resolutions to the above effect, which were carried unanimously. Friday, May 14. salaries are to be increased. Mr. HOME complained of the power of re- ་་ Mr. M'ADAM, which, after some opposition by Mr. HUME and others, The presentation of a petition from Monaghan, by Mr. GRATTAN, against the Irish Elective Franchise Bill, last night, occasioned a conversation as to proceeding with or postponing that Bill till it was ascertained what the House of Lords would do with the Roman Catholic Relief Bill. -Mr. GRATTAN declared it to contain a monstrous proposition, and to ask the House most injuriously to limit the elective franchise. Mr. S. RICE denied that it would do anything of the kind; so far from limiting the real and honest franchise of the freeholders, it would extend their influence, but it would limit the fraudulent votes of leaseholders.-Lord ALTHORP Supported this view of the Bill, and said it would prevent the counties in Ireland from being controlled like so many close boroughs.Mr.LITTLETON lamented that the principle of the Bill had been so much misrepresented, but he felt assured, that when it came to be understood, it would be sanctioned by the whole country -Mr. MONCK replied, that the principle of the Bill was not misunderstood by the country, nor had the disfranchising character of the measure been misrepresented: had not the voters, who perhaps might have been created in many instances for corTupt purposes, been found too strong, this effort to deprive them of power would never have been attempted. But supposing the 40s. freeholders were all that had been represented, be wished to ask why the measure was not made general, and extended to the "pot-walloping" voters of the English boroughs?-Sir F. BURDETT said he was prepared to defend the Bill as a Reformer, and contended that its principles might be advanta- would move for a Committee, to take into consideration a proposed angeously applied to this country. Throughout this arduous struggle, hementation of the Judges' Salaries; and he added, that the subject had The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER gave notice, that on Monday he ad felt that though the Roman Catholics were entitled to civil and reli- received the sanction of his Majesty. -ious freedom, something ought to be done to conciliate the Protestant mind, and be therefore had agreed to these accompanying measures; but nother grounds, on principle, he had satisfied his mind of their propriety. -Mr. R. MARTIN urged the necessity of postponing this Bill. The conersation then dropped; but in a subsequent part of the evening Dr. ILLIMORE moved that the further consideration of this Bill be "postned till the 27th inst." which motion was adopted without any com ents. Notice was given for Mr, J. Williams, that on the 19th inst. he would -ain call the attention of the House to the delays in the Court of Chan y. HUSKISSON intimated, that his present intention was only to remove some FROM THE LONDON GAZETTES. BANKRUPTS. J. Edmond, Sise-lane, warehouseman. Solicitor, Mr. Lawledge, Temple R. Yorston, Mure-court, Fleet-street, law-stationer. Solicitor, Mr. Bar T. Dixon, jun. Clitheroe, Lancashire, corn-merchant. Solicitors, Messrs. J. Payne, Sidmouth, Devonshire, linen draper. Solicitors, Messrs. R. Mathews, Watling-street, warehouseman. Solicitors, Messrs. Walker M. Frearson and J. Gordon, Holborn, linen drapers. Solicitors, Messrs. J. Carter, Hanover-street, Hanover-square, milliner. Solicitor, Mr. Kay, W. Alexander, Bath, hatter. Solicitors, Messrs. Ellis and Blackmore, J. Hollins, Ard wick, Lancashire, iron-founder. Solicitors, Messrs. Hurd S. and S. Hodgson, Hebden-bridge, Yorkshire, iron-founders. Solicitors, to be ebbing; the latest quotations exhibiting a shadow of improvement in our favour. The French Professor Cousin, so despotically arrested and detained in Berlin, on a suspicion of revolutionary intentions and practices, has been honourably acquitted and released.He is indebted for the respect with which he has been treated," says the Berlin letter, with great humour, "not only to the generous protection of his Sovereign, but to the principle recently adopted in all the late political investigations, that it is better to amend than to punish.” Very fine! Theodore Hook, who has been for some time in prison for robbing the public, is stated to be now at large. It is thought to be a curious coincidence, that the cause of the printers of the John Bull against the agents of the Crown, for an unlawful seizure of their goods, should apparently be dropped sub silentio. Certam it is, that on Friday week, the 6th instant, that cause was called on in the Court of Exchequer ; that the counsel for the defence, the ATTORNEY-GENERAL, proved to be very unaccountably absent; and that the Judge thereupon very obligingly postposted the trial-which has since been heard no more of. On the very same day, Friday, according to some of the daily papers, Theodore Hook walked out of "durance vile." Will the Smutty Gazette explain this mystery? THE FUNDS.-The English Market during the week has been exceed-measure-the pretended inherent intolerance of the Catholic faith. ingly heavy, and still continues so, although the fluctuations have been very trifling. The Foreign Market has been equally dull, but all the South American Stocks firmly maintain their prices. In the Share Market, the chief business has been in the Potosi Mine Shares, those of the Rock-Salt and Plate-Glass Companies, and of the Foreign Agricultural Associations. Latest quotations:Consols, pi New 4 per Cents, 105 Reduced, yo Consols for Account, 91 34 per Cents. 974 1 dis. dis. Greek Scrip for Acc. 5 The Catholic Relief Bill has passed the Lower House this week and been received by the Upper. It did not leave the Commons however without another debate, which was admirably closed by a speech of Mr. BROUGHAM, worth in our estimation all that had been previously said on the subject during the Session. The Learned Gentleman grappled with what is the only plausible objection to the He showed, that if bigotry and persecution in former times are to be admitted as proofs of the unalterable intolerance of any sect, there is hardly a religious body fit to be trusted with power; and that the Protestants have bloody crimes of persecution to answer for, of far more recent date than the so much talked-of Catholic horrors.-What the Lords will do with the Bill, however, depends on anything but the reason of the case. In looking forward to next Tuesday, therefore, when its fate will be decided by that body, we can only hope, that the Earl of LIVERPOOL, who appears to be a lover of quiet government, has at length seen the necessity of conciliating the Irish by an act of justice, of which other less pretending states have long set an example to our boasted liberality. We would also remind certain loyal Members of the House, both lay and clerical, of his MAJESTY'S Proclamation to his Hanoverian subjects last autumn; a Royal declaration which, being the voluntary act of the Monarch, and coming at so significant a time, must be deemed no equivocal expression of the individual opinion of GEORGE the Fourth. An accident has happened to the Count de Survilliers (Joseph Bonaparte). It appears that the horses harnessed to his carriage having taken fright, he was thrown out, and received several wounds. His life is despaired of.-Etoile. SIR F. BURDETT.-The Annual Dinner, we perceive, is announced, in commemoration of Sir FRANCIS BURDETT's Election for Westminster. We hear that several individuals are most strenuously exerting themselves to lower the Hon. Baronet in the estimation of his constituents, on the ground, as they give out, of the line of conduct he has pursued in regard to the Catholic Relief Bill. That there are Intolerants among the Reformers, we have long known and regretted; but that any friends able, enlightened, and disinterested advocates of Reform that ever graced the benches of the House of Commons, merely because he differs with them on some minor matters, is an example of intolerance which, we confess, we should have been glad to have been spared. If we beg to ask such persons, the walls of Parliament contained but one hundred even of such mien as Sir FRANCIS BURDETT, how much longer should we want that very Reform, which it has been the chief labour of his useful life to recommend and produce? Shame! Shame! THE principal foreign news of interest received during the week is contained in accounts from Smyrna, and through the Austrian Observer, of the landing of a large body of Egyptian troops, under IBRA-to liberty should go about depreciating the character of one of the most HIM PACHA, in the Morea. According to these authorities, he landed on the 22d February, at Modon, and immediately took Navarino and Calamata; but letters from Corfu, dated 8th April, prove the usual exaggeration of these vehicles of the interested enemies of Grecian freedom; and what is still more to the purpose, on Friday, an official dispatch reached the Metropolis, from GEORGE CONDURIOTTIS, President of the Executive Body, to the Greek Deputies, ORLANDO and LURIOTTIS, which letters announce a sanguinary engagement near Navarino, on the 27th March, in which the Greeks, after a great slaughter, put the enemy to flight, and so effectually surrounded an Egyptian force of 3000 men, that all were either killed or made prisoners. On the other hand, it is asserted in letters from Zante, that an Egyptian fleet had sailed to the relief of Patras, and will most likely succeed. The struggle is no doubt growing eventful, and the greatest exertions are making on both sides. About 10,000 of the French army, infantry and cavalry, stationed in the neighbourhood of Vittoria, have re-entered France, leaving a force at Madrid and the garrison towns, of 33,000 men, including the Swiss regiment. FERDINAND, it seems, has been trying to raise a loan in Amsterdam; but neither he nor his " exterminating angels," as the Spanisle monks so judiciously style themselves, can inspire the due confidence. The exchanges against us in the Netherlands seem Parliament (says the Globe and Traveller of last night) will not be dissolved this year. The Game Laws Amendment Bill was thrown out, after a short debate, on Monday night by a majority of 15, in the House of Lords. Thus has a measure which, however imperfect, was nevertheless some improvement in a most pernicious and sanguinary code,-a measure which had been loudly called for by nine-tenths of the people of England, and been sanctioned after the fullest discussion by the largest legislative body in the nation,-been at once set aside by the proud will of thirty-eight interested individuals! It is really hopeless to originate any measure of reform which is to be referred to a self-appointed tribunal like this, inaccessible to any impression of popular feeling, and disdaining all sympathy with its plel beian countrymen. We poor mortals on such occasions must stifle ourindi gnation, but surely these "fantastic tricks” of authority, though part and p: ircel of our glorious constitution, are enough to make the angels weep," anless, as Lord Byron asserts, the angels are all Tories.— Kent Herald. OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION. Mr. Rippon, from the Bank of England, yesterday made communication to the Stock Exchange, to this effect, that the holders of the stock created in 1797, called the Loyalty Loan, will have the option of taking Consols for the amount of their stock at 75; or if they do not accept of this boon, Government will pay off the amount at par, on or before the 3d of July next. This would give the holders 4 per cent. for the money advanced. In the Court of King's Bench, yesterday, Mr. Brougham applied for a crimal information against Edward Martin Livermore, the printer, and Edward Dunlop, Esq. proprietor of a paper called the Telescope. He moved it upon the part of Lord Kennedy, who stated, that when he came to town on Friday morning, he perceived for the first time, the following paragraph, relating to himself, in the paper alluded to-" It was reported yesterday that Lord Ky, the celebrated shot, had been detected in a situation with the wife of a respectable Commoner, which may lead to the employment of the gentlemen of the long robe, if the injured husband be not already satisfied with the chastisement he inflicted on the spot.”— Mr. Brougham stated, he moved for the criminal information upon the affidavit of Lord Kennedy, that he believed the paragraph in question related to himself, and most positively denying every thing stated in it.— The Court immediately granted the rule to show cause. NEWSPAPER CHAT. L THE DEFENDER OF THE FAITH'S LETTERS!-Some curious proceedings have taken place in the Insolvent Debtors' Court, in the case of one Pope. The Insolvent had advanced a sum of money upon certain letters. The creditors, of course, think they have a right to the property thus put in pledge for what was really their money. But the letters had run a course somewhat similar to that of Sterne's starling, that could not get out." The Insolvent had handed them over to a Mr. Knight, his confidential Solicitor at the time of the delivery-Mr. Knight to Mr. F. Pollock, the Counsellor; Mr. Pollock had re-delivered them to Mr. Knight; and it now seems likely that this gentleman will suffer them to be perused by Mr. Dance, the officer of the Court, who may ascertain their value. It seems to us, however," says the Times," that Mr. Stockdale, the publisher, would be a marvellously more proper person for undertaking this duty than Mr. Dance: for he could say at once what he would give for the copyright."-The Duke of York is the "illustrious person" from whom these letters derive their interest, and Mrs. Clark is said to be his chief correspondent. "But it is most unlucky," adds the Times. "that the discovery of the letters should take place at this precise period of pious zeal against the Catholics. "God will help" those who serve him. But with all our attachment to the Church, we cannot help think ing that pure morals are of more value than pure orthodoxy. It was bigotry, united to impurity, that brought the Stuart dynasty to an end in this country." TAUNTON MEETING.-A very numerous meeting was held in Taunton on Monday last, for the purpose of petitioning Parliament in favour of the Catholic Relief Bill.-Mr. LEIGH, in an able speech, moved a ResoJution, declaring the expediency of extending perfect liberty of conscience to our Catholic fellow-subjects, and removing their present civil disabi-weaker party-less able to be sure to bear them-but of what avail such lities. Dr. KINGLAKE and Mr. BUNTER eloquently and argumentatively supported the Resolution, and pointed out the assurance which other countries both in Europe and America now afforded us of the fact, that Catholics and Protestants might live in perfect harmony together on an equal footing, if absurd and intolerant laws did not interfere to sow dis-other case whatever. Disgrace and privation, by way of punishment, trust and hatred between them. Mr. Bunter also vindicated the Dissenters from the suspicion of opposing the Catholic claims.-A Mr. WILKINSON was the only speaker on the other side, who exposed himself to the laughter of the Meeting by reading, as a convincing proof of the Catholic spirit, a bungling forgery which lie fancied was a Papal Bull of 1758, anathematizing a person in Dorsetshire for being a heretic! The intolerants, however, were determined to make up in noise for their desperate lack of argument: they violently interrupted Mr. Bunter as soon as he opened his lips; and notwithstanding the general respect and kind feeling entertained for that Gentleman by his fellow townsmen, the clamour increased so much during the progress of his speech, that the Bailiff thought proper to interfere, and dissolved the Meeting before he had concluded, thus rendering the assembly entirely abortive. MAY-DAY.-The 18th No. (and a charming one it is) of Mr. Hone's very agreeable weekly sheet, The Every Day Book, is entirely filled by accounts of the customs, sports, &c. now or formerly practised on this day, whether in town or country. The delightful passages from the English poets of all times, with which he has adorned his prose descriptions, evince excellent taste, as well as extensive reading. APPEAL OF WOMEN.-Under this title, a very able performance, the joint work of a lady named WHEELER and Mr. WM. THOMPSON, has just been published, from which we extract the following most just and striking passage:-"In the whole treatment of women by men, such is the public opinion which men club together to form, and which they call morality, that in almost all cases where all the evil of a vice or a crime can be made to fall on the woman, and the enjoyment can be reserved for the man, such an arrangement of pain and pleasure is made. All the benefits are reserved to the stronger, the privations are thrown upon the claim to humanity and justice, as they are at the same time less able to complain, or to make their complaints efficient? With respect to illegitimate children, particularly daughters, this hypocritical and most perë nicious inequality of censure and pain is perhaps as flagrant as in any are inflicted on the unoffending child, who could have committed no offence, on whom therefore punishment, by way of reformation or intinidation, is thrown away; while in the way of example it strikes not fathers or any men capable of becoming such on the contrary, it relieves them from the fear of punishment, by throwing all its burthen on the shoulders of others: punishment is inflicted on those only whom men's vicions conduct has thrown upon a world of misery. Men keeping each other in countenance, no disgrace alights on them, nor does any privation follow in the train of such disgrace. The real criminal holds up his head and smiles, if not glories, while the victim only is punished.” THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE'S CONCERT AT DEVONSHIRE-HOUSE, on FRIDAY WEEK." The whole of the fashionable world, without any distinction as it relates to party, were assembled in this splendid mansion, to hear, for the first time in England, the powerful and thrilling strains of Signor Veluti. The songs chosen on this occasion by this extraordi PUFF PARAGRAPHS.-A Correspondent appears to think, that a short notice, inserted last week, of certain very beautiful works of art on view at Messrs. SQUIBB's Auction-room, was what is termed a " Puff Para-nary person were," La notte bella" composed by Perucchini, and. graph" that is, a paragraph sent to the paper by interested parties, the insertion of which is paid for. As this is a practice we have always reprobated in others as degrading to the character of the press, we beg to inform our correspondent, that he is altogether in error. No one ever has procured, or ever shall procure, the insertion of any paragraph or article for hire in the Examiner; but neither shall we refrain, at any proper time, from noticing works of beauty or merit, merely because such notice may happen to be of use to particular individuals. Indeed, that would be an additional motive with us for calling public attention to matters which we deemed deserving general attention. We know that a large proportion of our readers are great admirers of every thing connected with LITERATURE and the FINE ARTS, and that information on such subjects is at all times very acceptable. Our correspondent, therefore, must pardon us, should we again offend in this way; which we most likely soon shall, as the season is arrived when Works of Taste are usually offered to the public eye; and should they chance to meet our own, as they often do, we shall certainly veuture to speak of them in our usual manner. "Notte tremenda," by Morlacchi. The effect produced by the Signor was prodigious, and perfectly original. The remainder of the concert consisted of English airs, which were sung by English artists. The whole suite of rooms in this palace were thrown open, aud in the intervals of the music, Lord Grey, the Marquis of Lansdown, Lord Rosslyn, Lord Darnley, Lord Derby, Mr. Tierney, Mr. Lambton, Mr. Brougham, Lord Liverpool, the Duke of Wellington, the Duke of Brunswick, Lord Burford,, Mrs. Coutts, and nearly the whole Bench of Bishops, mingled together without distinction! There was a profusion of delicacies, especially hot-house grapes and Roman punch, which were exquisite of their kind. Nothing could equal the kind attentions of the noble host to all his distinguished visiters."-Evening Paper.-[We quote this paragraph chiefly for the sake of saying a word on the appearance of Signor Veluti in this country. Besides Mrs. Coutts, numerous other ladies of wealth, or rank, or fashion, were present at the exhibition of this poor victim of the sacrifice made by the avarice of Italian parents to the unnatural taste of selfcalled musical amateurs. We certainly have no right to meddle with A case in the Court of King's Bench, on Wednesday, affords an illus- the tastes of the rich and powerful, so long as those tastes are confined to tration of the oppression which may be practised under our laws. A their private circles; neither is it any business of ours if the ladies in Mr. Penny, a Welch attorney, and Lord Vaughan, quarrelled about the private revive the fashion of a past age, and doat on Veluti, as their right to shoot on an estate, and high words led to blows. His Lordship grandmothers did on Farinelli, or any other ambiguous creature without preferred a bill of indictment at the Quarter Sessions against Mr. Penny, a sex. But while we disclaim all wish and all right to interfere with the and immediately after it was found, moved the case by Certiorari into amusements of private society, we do, in the name of public decency and the Court of King's Bench. The consequence was, that the poor man, public morals, protest against the design which we learn is entertained who intended to plead guilty, was obliged to travel 270 miles to town.- in a certain fashionable quarter, of insulting the public eye with the exMr. Justice Bayley animadverted severely on the conduct of Lord hibition of this unhappy creature, whom we must not call a man, and Vaughan,and as justice might have been properly administered at the Sessions, whose very appearance must present the complex idea of parental avathe defendant was only sentenced to pay a fine of 51.—But if it was wrong rice, deliberate cruelty, and unnatural taste. No term of reprobation in Lord Vaughan to do this, the law that allows it cannot be what it can be found sufficiently strong to designate the depraved and vicious ought to be.-Why is a matter of this kind left to the discretion of in- taste which would force this singer on the public boards. We hope, dividuals? Mr. Justice Bayley may be sure that a rich man, who con- however, indeed we are confident,—that the party to whom we allude ceives himselfinjured by a poor man, will always adopt the course which must abandon the project: the opinion of more than one respectable Nohe conceives will put him to the greatest trouble and the greatest ex-bleman has been strongly expressed on the subject; and the firmness of pence.-Chronicle. the Manager, so backed, will doubtless not give way.-Times.] |