good-will amongst men, with the lawless and practised by the heroes who first spread plunder of the Petitioners' property, and the renown of English valour throughout. the sanguinary destruction of their lives; the universe; a religion which the Petisuch is the case of the Petitioners, and tioners firmly believe to have been instifrom the situation to which they are thus tuted by the Divine Redeemer of all manreduced, they appeal for relief to the kind, and transmitted in unbroken succeswisdom and the justice of the House; this sion to the present day, forbidding vice, the afflicting state of the Petitioners is an crime, and immorality of every description, unmixed evil to the British Empire; the teaching all social and moral duties, inindividual advantages which a few of the culcating all practical virtues, and sancProtestants derive from it are perfectly tioning and commanding all domestic and undeserving of regard, when contrasted private charities; the Petitioners respectwith the dangers which must necessarily fully, and in the spirit of perfect charity, menace the lives and properties of every state their conscientious conviction that class of his majesty's subjects, from the this the religion of the ancestors of the results of the present system of injustice, House, and of the Petitioners, is the best and with the insecurity to the Throne, and form of Christian faith; but the Petitioners the instability of the Constitution, created do not rest any part whatsoever of their by the long-stored and just discontent of claim to relief on such, to them, undoubted the Irish nation: for, may it please the superiority; the Petitioners claim for reHouse to understand, that the Petitioners lief is founded solely and exclusively on are discontented, deeply, universally dis- the principle of freedom of conscience, not contented at being excluded and degraded as applicable to their particular case or in their native land, without there being creed, but as belonging of right equally to any just or natural cause whatsoever for every sect and persuasion of Christians: such degradation or exclusion, and with- the Petitioners respectfully call on the out there being a plausible pretext, how- House to recognize that sacred principle, ever slight, for continuing the present to leave conscience free and unfettered, to system: the Petitioners respectfully sub- allow to man the right of worshipping mit that they would be undeserving the God as to him may seem best, and not to attention of the high-minded and the good, interfere between conscientious man and if they were capable of suffering injustice his Creator; the principle of such interwithout feeling discontent and indigna- ference cannot be admitted by any human tion; and the Petitioners respectfully beg institution, tribunal, or legislature, without leave to state, that they would endure with affording a justification of the horrors of uncomplaining submission, the evils atten- every religious inquisition, and of all the dant on their degradation in their native cruelties of the Pagan emperors to the land, if they had merited that degrada- primitive Christians: the Petitioners, theretion by any crime, or if it were palliated fore, most respectfully and humbly implore by any natural or moral inferiority on the House to establish at length that their part but the fact is otherwise; no sacred principle, to do to others what crime can be imputed to the Petitioners, they would wish to be done to themselves, save the conscientious adherence to the and to grant to the Catholics of Ireland pure and holy faith of their ancestors, and the opportunity of adhering to the faith of the ancestors of the House; that faith of their fathers without suffering in conwhich confessedly was the religion of all sequence thereof, any pains, penalties, exEngland for more than eight hundred clusion, or deprivation, whatsoever: the years; a religion introduced to our Saxon Petitioners further respectively show that, ancestors by a Catholic monk, whose by acceding to the prayer of this their name stands high in our Calendar, Saint humble Petition, and granting them what Austin, a religion which was so introduced they ask, namely, an equalization of civil by the command and under the directions rights with their Protestant fellow-subjects, of a pope, a man whose name has won the House will make an holy alliance universal esteem from all English scholars with the inhabitants of that fertile but and divines, Saint Gregory the Great; a re- hitherto wretched island; the House will ligion which was firmly believed and faith- combine all classes of his majesty's subfully practised by the patriots and states-jects in the indissoluble bonds of mutual men, who founded and framed the British affection and mutual interest; the House constitution; a religion which was believed will increase the strength of the govern

ment, they will add to the security of the throne, and give permanent stability to the British constitution. May it, therefore, please the House, in its justice, wisdom, and generosity, to grant to the Petitioners the restoration of their long withheld rights, by giving them an equalization of civil rights with their Protestant fellowsubjects, unfettered by any conditions, qualifications, or restrictions, whatsoever." Ordered to lie on the table and to be printed.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Friday, February 9.

The

a full participation in all civil rights and privileges.

Ordered to lie on the table.

CORN LAWS PETITION OF THE STARVING WEAVERS OF BLACKBURN.] Mr. Hume said, he rose to present a petition, which was certainly couched in very strong language; but the letter by which it was accompanied expressed a hope, that the House would not cavil at strong language, when it came from men who were in a starving condition. The petitioners described themselves as "The Starving Weavers of Blackburn and its neighbourhood;" and the petition set forth;

"That the starving petitioners, with the rectitude of injured men, presume to approach the House in order to lay before the House a statement of their complaints and wishes, to the end that the House may grant them that relief which their unmerited sufferings require: the petitioners, for many years, have suffered more than language can express, but within the last two years they have not had half food, of the worst kind, for their support, consequently hundreds of weavers, their wives and children, have died from absolute want of food: the petitioners, being able-bodied men, cannot earn more than 5s. per week each, and, with two workers in each family, averaging six souls, 10s. weekly is the whole for food, clothing, fuel and rent; and this scanty pittance the petitioners are necessitated to live

CATHOLIC EMANCIPATION.] Hon. William Hare rose to present a petition from the Roman Catholics of Listowell, in the county of Kerry, praying for a removal of those civil disabilities under which persons of their religious persuasion laboured. The hon. gentleman said, he had himself witnessed the many evils which resulted from the system of exclusion which was acted on towards his Roman Catholic fellow-subjects. All the disunion, ill-feeling, and animosity, public and private, which prevailed in Ireland, might be traced to that source, nor could he conceive how permanent tranquillity could be secured in that country, so long as such a penal code was suffered to exist. It was a matter of infinite moment to conciliate the feelings of the people of Ireland, and by that means to restore peace, order, and unanimity; and he was con-upon: that the petitioners, with all due vinced, that nothing could effect that most desirable object but complete and unqualified emancipation. Such a measure might be said to carry its own security along with it, since it was calculated to excite the warm gratitude, and to draw forth the friendly and affectionate feelings, of the millions for whose benefit it was intended. He was as ardently at-beings, and worship the same God, wheretached to the constitution as any man could be. He gloried in it as the proudest boast of the country; and if granting a participation in all its immunities to his Roman Catholic fellow-subjects was likely, in the slightest degree, to impair the constitution, he would oppose any further concession. But he denied the assertion. Such a measure would strengthen, instead of weakening it; and he could not see how it was incompatible with its safety, to admit those who bore their full share of the taxes and burthens of the state to

deference to the House, would respectfully ask, is the sum above stated sufficient for the moderate wants of a man? If it is not, then are they perishing for want of food. The petitioners humbly conceive, that they cannot bear affection to the House while that House manifests no disposition to relieve them: the petitioners are human

fore then should they be so oppressed in their native land? Why should they, who labour sixteen hours per day, not obtain for that labour food and clothing for comfortable existence; there is a point when endurance becomes a crime, and to that point the petitioners have arrived: the petitioners cannot do much longer; they are dying daily for want of food, and to be silent under such circumstances would be highly criminal: that the petitioners have calmly and considerately examined into the causes which have produced such

calamities to the working classes of this particular distinction, that he was brought county, and are convinced that all have up and educated together with his majesty. originated from the people not being repre- It might, perhaps, have been said, that sented in the House; that the national differences of opinion sometimes existed debt, the enormous church revenues, all between them, but in a country constithe unmerited placemen, pensioners, sine- tuted as this was, how could differences of cures, a standing army to murder the opinion be avoided? There had always, people if they complain, all the bloody however, existed between them the strongwars that the nation has been plunged est brotherly affection. With respect to into, are all owing to a want of a reform in their lordships and the public, they had the House; the Corn Bill, that monstrous however to contemplate the illustrious monopoly of the landed interest, and which deceased, not only in the relation which bill was passed while the House was sur- he bore to the royal family, but in the rounded with soldiers, all may be traced relation in which he stood, as having for to the people not being represented in the a period of more than thirty years filled House believing, therefore, that a re- the high and important situation of comformed parliament, chosen by ballot, and mander-in-chief. He certainly, for one, by the whole of the population, would remembered the appointment of his royal grant unto the people relief, the petition-highness. He was so circumstanced as to ers, as the forlorn hope, humbly hope, that the House will begin the god-like work by repealing the Corn Bill."

Ordered to lie on the table and to be printed.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

know something of the army at that time; he was enabled to watch the progress of all the acts of that illustrious individual; and it was impossible for any person who had so observed him to withhold from him the highest praise. With respect to the command of the army, it had been made a question with some whether a person so Monday, February 12. near the throne ought to hold such an DEATH OF THE DUKE OF YORK- office; that was to say, whether such an ADDRESS OF CONDOLENCE TO HIS MA- arrangement was for the public interest. JESTY.] The Earl of Liverpool rose to He was of opinion, that if this question move an Address of Condolence to his Ma- was looked at as an abstract proposition, jesty on the Death of his royal highness it would be impossible to come to any the Duke of York. He was sensible that general conclusion upon it. But, leaving the general feeling of regret was so much that question undecided, he had no hesitain accordance with his own, that it might tion in admitting, that inefficiency on the be thought even intrusive in him to say appointment to office of princes of the any thing in proposing the motion which blood, would be far worse than any inhe intended to submit to the House. But efficiency which might occur in the hands he confessed that he felt it as a melan- of other persons. But he could himself choly duty-a duty imposed upon him by say from experience, and all who knew recollections both pleasing and painful any thing of the British army, and he that in proposing the address which he believed the greater part of the public, should submit to the House, he should would also say, that the interests of the make a few observations, in which he army had derived most essential benefit meant humbly to bear testimony to the from the administration of the illustrious merits of that illustrious individual now no individual, who, he was sure their lordships more, who had been the first subject of would concur with him in saying, had, in this realm, and who stood in the situation his situation, done much good, had done of heir presumptive to the British Throne. all the good in his power, and had in They had likewise many and strong in- many instances done much good, which ducements to approach the throne on this none but himself could have done. If occasion with their sentiments, and to their lordships would look at the state of state to his majesty their feelings of regret. the army at any period before the late No man, at all acquainted with his majes-illustrious person was appointed comty, could doubt the feelings of affection mander-in-chief,-if they wished to comwhich he entertained to every part of his pare its efficiency, they must look at what family. But with respect to his late royal the army was before and after the royal highness the Duke of York, there was this duke was appointed to that high situation.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Monday, Feb. 12.

of a nation are offered up in support of those measures which the House is called upon to sanction by its approbation; and if to this numerical preponderance you add the weight and influence of a vast proportion of landed property in the hands of Irish Protestant proprietors, it must, I think, be conceded, that few questions ever came to the consideration of the House, backed by so powerful and mighty an advocacy as does that which now, on the part of the petitioners, claim the de

CATHOLIC EMANCIPATION.] Mr. Villiers Stuart said :-I rise for the purpose of presenting petitions from sundry bodies of Irish Catholics. The first, on the part of the Catholic bishop and clergy of the diocese of Waterford, and the rest from various parishes in that county, praying to be emancipated from the political disabilities to which they are now subjected. I should not venture to accom-cision of the legislature in its behalf. A pany the presentation of these memorials favourite topic of those opposed to the with any remarks at length, if it had not claims of the Catholics, has hitherto been been the wish of many of my constituents, the apathy with which these have been rewhose names are attached to them, that I garded by all but, as it was stated, a facshould press the consideration of this ques- tion belonging to the Roman Catholic pertion upon the House, in as strong a manner suasion; and the indifference with which, as possible. I cannot help feeling that I, excepting a few among the higher classes, who am a very young member of society the subject of their disabilities has been and of this House, should offer some treated by the great proportion of those apology in rising to address it on a subject who have laboured under the pressure of of such vast importance as that contained them. The day is past, the hour is gone in the prayer of the petitions I now hold for ever, when such an allegation as this in my hand; but the very importance of could be resorted to as an argument against the question, connected as it intimately is concession. Aye, if it were matter of with the well-being, bound up as it is with doubt on the minds of any before the disthe dearest interests, of those whom I have solution of the late parliament, the event the honour to represent, will, I trust and of the general election must have flashed believe, be accepted as no trivial excuse conviction on the minds of all how deeply for my coming forward on this occasion. interested are the feelings of every class Sir, I have not the presumption to request of Roman Catholics in the question of attention to my own opinions, merely as their emancipation; and how false, how those of the individual who has the honour utterly false, have been the charges of into address the House. I am aware, that, difference, under which those in the if what I say shall be considered to humbler grades of society have laboured. have any claim at all upon its considera- The Catholics have shewn they know their tion, it must arise from the sanction of rights, and knowing dare assert them. those who have deputed me to speak their They have given ample proof, that the prayers, and from the circumstance of love of liberty and those rights is with those prayers being offered up by the peti- them superior to the considerations which tioners, in common with nearly the entire commonly influence men in their humble nation to which they belong; and, Sir, in walks of life; they, even the lowliest of making this assertion, I would not wish to them, have, for the sake of emancipation be understood as putting forward any ex- from the political disabilities under which aggerated statement of facts. In Water- they labour, been content to incur the ford, with which I am more particularly weight of their landlord's heaviest displeaconnected, Catholics are to Protestants as sure; they have dared to brook his anger, twenty-three to one; in the province of and the poverty and oppression incident Munster, of which that county forms a to it: they have confronted, undismayed, part, the proportion is still more favourable disease and famine; but turned indignantly to them; and in the two provinces of away from the bribe which, perhaps, might Leinster and Connaught, it is, perhaps, have saved them from the ravages of both. scarcely less so; and these calculations, Such has been the conduct of, such the founded as they are upon a census taken noble refutation given by, the peasantry of with the closest investigation and most Ireland-the much calumniated forty-shilaccurate research, bear me out in the as-ling freeholders-to the slanders of their sertion, that nothing less than the prayers enemies, when an opportunity offered to VOL. XVI,

P