fore it all proceedings, in the way of negociation, or all attempts at negociation, on either side, which had failed. This point it was hardly necessary to enforce; for when they were to decide on the propriety of war, it was obvious that the House should be in possession of all the circumstances by which it might by possibility be averted. If, therefore, there was no objection to the production of this information, the communication on Monday, with a notice for Tuesday, would hardly afford time enough for deliberation. As he had no wish to postpone the consideration of the question, except from a desire to be in possession of all the circumstances on so important a question, he should have no objection if the communication could be made to-morrow, with the documents to which he had alluded, to come to the discussion on Tuesday, or even on Monday; but if that information could not be laid before them till Monday, he thought some further delay would be convenient. The Earl of Liverpool observed, that the usual method was to take into consideration a Message from the Crown on the first day of business after it was brought down. He believed, he should be able to show, that no ground existed for a departure from the usual practice in the present instance. The ratifications of 'two of the Treaties had been received, duly executed; and of the third the ratification was not yet received, though notice was received that it had been ratified. The ratified Treaties were precisely the same as those which had already been laid, in substance, before the House. The declaration also which had been affixed by this Government to one of the Treaties, had met with the approbation of all the Allies. As to the communication from the Government of France, he had mentioned before, that an overture had been made, and that it was referred to the Allies at Vienna; and he had now to state, that no negociation would be entered into on that overture. Such being the state of the case as to facts, he thought no delay was necessary. The Marquis of Lansdowne observed, that the nature of the overture from France was not known to the House; but it was material that it should be produced, before their lordships decided that the Government had acted properly in rejecting it. The Earl of Liverpool said he had no objection to the production of it, The Marquis of Buckinghnm said, it was necessary to know, not only whether the Allies had agreed to our Declaration, but whether they had subjoined any proviso to their own ratification. The Earl of Liverpool said, that the Allies bad subjoined no proviso. Earl Grey expressed a hope, that as there was no objection to the production of the communication from the French Government, it would be laid before the House. The Earl of Liverpool said, that overture might be contained in a sheet of paper, and might be laid before the House either to-morrow or Monday. Earl Grey said, the Treaties then, as ratified, are precisely the same as those which are in substance before the House? The Earl of Liverpool. Exactly the same. Earl Stanhope said, that a very material piece of information had not been mentioned by the noble earl, but which it was necessary their lordships should have before them-the state of the finances of our Allies. Those finances were in a most miserable state, so that in the end he feared we should be obliged to pay all. The Earl of Liverpool said, that lest he should have misled the House by what he had said, he should observe that subsidiary Treaties had been concluded, which would be laid before the House at the same time, with the others. Earl Stanhope. The noble earl has given no answer to my question, but has shirked it altogether. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Thursday, May 18. FUNERAL CERTIFICATES BILL.] Sir Egerton Brydges moved for leave to bring in a Bill to revive the use of funeral certificates. He said that funeral certificates contained a record of the time and place of the deaths and burial of the nobility and gentry, and upper classes of society, which were certified by the executors or administrators and some near relation of the deceased, together with their mar riages and issue, if any; and were filed and registered in the College of Arms. These had been in regular use from 1568 to 1680; indeed, one existed in the case of sir Thomas Brandon, K. G. as early as 1509. Of all the records which had ever been used as evidence in questions of inheritance as well to property as to titles of honour, these had been found the most PRINCE REGENT'S OUTFIT.] Lord Althorpe gave notice of his intention to submit a motion to the House on Tuesday next, with respect to the application of the sum of 100,000l. voted to the Prince Regent for the purpose of an outfit, on his Royal Highness's becoming unrestricted Regent. Lord Castlereagh stated, that the application of the sum alluded to had been explained by a communication from authority to the House. beneficial, satisfactory, and perfect. The hon. member concluded with moving, abolition of inquisitiones post mortem, which" That leave be given to bring in a Bill ceased with feudal tenures before the Re- to prevent the waste or embezzlement of storation, had been severely felt in pro- certain property provided for the use of ving pedigrees; and the disuse of funeral the poor, and for other purposes relating certificates soon after, left the main proof to places provided for their reception."of these pedigrees to depend on parish Leave was given. registers. Now, every one must be aware of the many defects attaching to this last species of evidence. The inconvenience of resort to them, from their dispersion all over the kingdom, was not small. But it was a still worse defect of these parish registers, that they were from their nature for the most part deficient in that which fixed the identity of persons; an inconvenience of the most serious sort. Under these circumstances he was induced to bring forward the present measure. He trusted that the provisions he was about to propose for effecting it, would be found simple and practicable. The machinery was easy; and nothing of an inquisitorial or objectionable nature was intended. He proposed the returns to be obtained through the surrogates or other ecclesias- Lord Castlereagh replied, that the comtical officers, employed to grant probates munication to which he referred had been and letters of administration, at the time made to the committee appointed to inthose instruments were applied for. No-vestigate the expenditure of the Civil thing would be required beyond that, List, through which committee that comwhich must necessarily in almost all cases munication would naturally come before come within the knowledge of the exe- the House. cutor or administrator. But he would not fatigue the House with the detail of his intended provisions, which would best be seen in the words of the Bill itself, if leave was given to bring it in. He concluded with moving, "That leave be given to bring in a Bill to revive the use of funeral certificates, to record the time and place of the deaths and burials of testators and intestates." Leave was accordingly given. PROPERTY OF THE POOR EMBEZZLEMENT BILL.] Mr. W. Smith rose, pursuant to notice, to move for leave to bring in a Bill for the purpose of rendering general certain provisions which were at present to be found in several local acts, with a view to prevent the embezzlement or waste of any property provided for the poor. The first object of his Bill, the hon. member described to be, to subject to a certain penalty, any persons who should knowingly purchase any of the property alluded to; and the second to prevent trustees or overseers of the poor from selling any articles for the use of the poor, from which they could derive profit. The Mr. Wynn professed himself unable to imagine the nature of the authority referred to by the noble lord. Did the noble lord mean his own statement in the course of a late discussion ? Mr. Tierney asked when this communication was made to the committee, for he had not yet heard of it, although a member of that committee. Lord Castlereagh said, that steps bad been taken some days ago to present it, and he presumed that it had been made. Lord Althorpe observed, that the motion of which he had given notice would not refer to the view which the noble lord appeared to have taken of the subject, but to what he (lord A.) considered the unconstitutional mode of applying the 100,000. contrary to the spirit and letter of the act of parliament under which it was granted. MOTION RESPECTING RIOTOUS ASSEMBLIES.] General Thornton rose, pursuant to notice, to move for leave to bring in a Bill to amend certain parts of the Act commonly called the Riot Act. By that Act, those persons who should not disperse within an hour after the reading of the Act, were to be subject even to the loss of their lives. His object was, not to require so long a period as an hour to elapse, but to provide that upon the reading of the Act, the mob should disperse immediately. He therefore wished to propose, that those who did not immediately disperse, upon the reading of the Riot Act, should be subject to punishment by fine and imprisonment; and for the second offence he should propose transportation. He also should wish to propose, that not only constables, but that every person present might be empowered to arrest persons acting in breach of the law. At present, if serious injuries, such as pulling a house down, were incurred by the violence of the mob, indemnity could be obtained under the provisions of the Riot Act. He should propose, that for lesser injuries, such as the breaking of windows, compensation might also be obtained. There was another practice that he felt very anxious to suppress. He thought illuminations were almost always productive of riot and tumult. He, therefore, never wished to see an illumination, and thought that the practice should be stopped. He should, therefore, propose certain penalties on those who illuminated. The hon. general concluded with moving, "That leave be given to bring in a Bill for more effectually preventing tumults and riotous assemblies, and for the more speedy and effectual punishing the rioters.' "" The Speaker then, as no member rose to speak on it, proceeded to put the question. On his putting the question in the affirmative, we did not hear a single aye: but on his putting the negative, there was a loud cry of No. Mr. Yorke rose at the same time, and said, that perhaps it would have been sufficient for him to join his 'no' to the general negative that the motion seemed likely to experience. He was sure that the principles which the hon. general had stated as the reasons for this Bill would not be supported by the House. The question was again put, and the motion was negatived without a division. Sir ROMAN CATHOLIC QUESTION.] Henry Parnell rose, pursuant to notice, to submit certain Resolutions to the House with respect to the claims of the Roman Catholics of Ireland. In these Resolutions it was his object to explain the course of proceeding which he proposed to pursue, with a view to satisfy the parties referred to, without meaning to lead the House into any premature discussion. The House, he observed, was now placed in different circumstances from those which existed upon any former discussion (VOL. XXXI.) of this interesting question, in consequence of the Resolution adopted on the motion of the right hon. member for Liverpool (Mr. Canning). For by that Resolution it was decided, that it was expedient to repeal the penal laws affecting the Catholic body, and therefore the House was not again called upon to vote on the principle of the measure, but to consider the details necessary in order to give effect to that Resolution. He had been informed by the Speaker, that as this question related to religion, it must be considered in a committee of the whole House. The Speaker. Such is the standing order. Then in this instance (resumed Sir H. Parnell) he meant only to bring forward these Resolutions in order to have them laid on the table, as containing the subject matter of what he proposed subsequently to submit to the consideration of the House. In framing these Resolutions, he. had been aided by the suggestions of those gentlemen who had waited upon him with the Catholic petition in Dublin, and to whom he naturally said that it would be very desirable to know what were the views of the petitioners-what the exact nature of the claims to which they wished Parliament to accede. Mr. Yorke rose to order, and asked whether the hon. baronet meant to conclude with any motion, because his observations would otherwise be irregular. Sir Henry Parnell replied, that it was not his intention to have concluded with any motion; but in order to conform to order, he now meant to move his first Resolution, after stating the nature of the several Resolutions which he held in his hand, and which contained a precise description of what the Catholics of Ireland required Parliament to do in their behalf. These Resolutions, which he meant on a future day to submit to the consideration of a committee of the whole House, he proposed to have printed; and in making this proposition, he was governed by the precedent established by the House in the case of the right honourable member for Liverpool, whose clauses for the security of the Protestant Establishment, as those clauses were denominated, were ordered to be printed. The hon. baronet then read the following Resolutions : 1st. That it is expedient the Roman Catholic inhabitants of these realms shall not be liable or subject to any laws, for the limitation, charging, or discovering of (S) their estates, real or personal, or touching | the acquiring, enjoying, holding, or disposing of property of any kind or nature, save such as the Protestant inhabitants of these realms are liable and subject to. Quakers, are by the said Act excepted from the operation thereof. 4th."That it shall and may be lawful to and for any person or persons whomsoever, to give, grant, transfer, or convey to any person or persons (and for such person or persons to take, receive, and hold), any lands, tenements, hereditaments, goods, money, or other property, for the maintenance, support, or benefit of any Roman Catholic chapel, or house of worship, priest, or minister of worship, school, hospital, or other pious or charitable foundation or establishment, of such or the like nature, in the like manner, and to the same extent as his Majesty's Protestant Dissenting subjects are now enabled and authorized by law to make and execute gifts, grants, and conveyances, as aforesaid, for the maintenance, support, or benefit of any Pro 2d. "That it shall not be necessary (in order to enable or to entitle any Roman Catholic inhabitant of these realms to vote at any election of a member or members to serve in Parliament, or any other election; or to vote at any election of a representative peer of Scotland; or to be enrolled as a freeholder in any shire or stewartry of Scotland; or to vote in any proceeding of the court of freeholders, or to be chosen præses or clerk of such court; or to be chosen a commissioner or delegate for choosing burgesses to serve in Parliament for any district of boroughs in Scotland; or to enable or entitle any peer of Ireland to vote at any election of a re-testant Dissenting chapel, or house of presentative temporal peer; or to make or worship, minister of worship, school, hossign any return to the writ of election of pital, or other pious or charitable foundaa temporal peer, pursuant to an Act made tion or establishment of such or the like for that purpose by the late parliament of nature. Ireland, in the 40th year of the reign of his present Majesty), that any such inhabitant or peer should, at or previous to the time of his so voting or being so enrolled or chosen, or so making or signing a return to any writ of election, respectively as aforesaid, take or subscribe the oaths of allegiance, abjuration, and supremacy or make or subscribe the declaration against transubstantiation, the sacrifice of the mass, and the invocation of saints. 5th."That, if any person or persons shall maliciously disturb any congregation or meeting of persons assembled in any Roman Catholic chapel, or other place, for the purpose of religious worship, according to the forms of the Roman Catholic religion; or shall or maliciously prevent, hinder, or disturb 3rd. "That whereas doubts have been entertained whether the provisions of an Act made by the late Parliament of Great Britain, in the 26th year of the reign of his late Majesty King George the second, intituled An Act for the better preventing of Clandestine Marriages,' extend or ought to extend to or affect marriages between Roman Catholics : "It is expedient that the said Act, and the provisions therein contained, shall be deemed, taken and construed, not to extend or to affect any marriages of Roman Catholics (where both the parties shall be Roman Catholics); but that all such marriages of Roman Catholics, being duly solemnized according to the forms of the Roman Catholic religion, shall be excepted from the operation of the said Act, in like manner as marriages amongst persons professing the Jewish religion, and marriages amongst the people called it is expedient that every such person so offending shall forfeit and pay for every such offence, a sum of twenty pounds sterling, British currency. 6th. That whereas by an Act made by the late Parliament of Ireland, in the sixth year of the reign of her late Majesty Queen Anne, and by another Act made by the said Parliament, in the 23d year of the reign of his late majesty King George the second, any Roman Catholic priest, solemnizing marriage between any two persons (being Protestants, or either of them being a Protestant,) is rendered subject to certain punishments mentioned in the said Acts respectively; it is expedient, that the said provisions of the said Acts be repealed so far as the same relate to such punishments as aforesaid; and that any Roman Catholic clergyman, who shall hereafter solemnize taking and subscribing the oath and declaration following: (instead of the oaths of allegiance, abjuration, and supremacy, and instead of making and subscribing the declaration against transubstantiation, the sacrifice of the mass, and the invocation of saints, now by law required, and instead of taking the sacrament, according to the forms of the Protestant religion); that is to say, upon taking and subscribing the following Oath and Decla ration: "I, A. B. do hereby declare that I profess the Roman Catholic religion. "I, A. B, do sincerely promise and swear, that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to his Majesty King George 3, and him will defend to the utmost of my power, against all conspiracies and attempts whatever that shall be made against his person, crown or dignity: and I will do my utmost to disclose and make known to his Majesty, his heirs and successors, all treasons and traitorous conspiracies which may be formed against him or them. "And I do promise to maintain, defend, and support, to the utmost of my power, the succession to the crown (which succession by law now stands limited to the princess Sophia, electress and duchess dowager of Hanover, deceased, and the heirs of her body, being Protestants). Hereby utterly renouncing and abjuring any obedience or allegiance unto any other person, claiming, or pretending a right to the crown of these realms. "And I do not believe, that any foreign prince, prelate, state, or potentate, hath or ought to have, any temporal or civil jurisdiction, power, superiority, or pre-eminence, within these realms. "And I do declare, that I swear this oath, and every part thereof, in the plain and ordinary sense of the words of this oath. So help me God." marriage between two Protestants, or be tween any Protestant or Roman Catholic (such Protestant and Roman Catholic not having been previously married by a Protestant clergyman, and the said Roman Catholic clergyman knowing such party to be a Protestant), shall forfeit a sum of 100l. to his Majesty for the same, on conviction thereof. 7th. "That if any officer, or person holding any military or naval office, or situation, under his Majesty, his heirs, or successors, shall by punishment, force, menaces, or otherwise, compel, or endeavour to compel any Roman Catholic soldier, sailor or marine, to assist or be present at the celebration of divine worship, according to any other form than the form of the Roman Catholic religion, it is expedient such officer or person, so offending, shall forfeit and pay for every such offence a sum of one hundred pounds sterling of British cur rency. 8th. "That it shall and may be lawful to and for the Roman Catholic inhabitants of these realms, to sit and vote in either House of Parliament; and to hold, exercise, and enjoy all civil, judicial, and military and naval offices, and places of trust or profit, under his Majesty, his heirs, and successors, within these realms, and the dominions, dependencies, and colonies thereunto belonging, and to take and receive any degrees of medicine, law, or arts, in any of the universities of Great Britain or Ireland, and to be students, exhibitioners, scholars, professors, and lay-fellows for any of the said universities or colleges belonging thereto; and to hold, exercise, and enjoy the offices of mayor, sovereign, bailiff, alderman, treasurer, sheriff, town-clerk, councilman, master or warden, of any guild or frater nity; and all such offices (by whatever name the same may be called), in any city or town within these realms; The hon. baronet then proceeded to observe, that the House was now in posand also the offices of session of a statement of all that was regovernors, deputy governors, and directors quired to be granted; and he trusted that of the banks of England and Ireland re- when these Resolutions should be exaspectively, and all other offices therein; mined, they would be found to contain and also to be members of any nothing more than what was fair and other lay body corporate, and to enjoy equitable in regard to the Catholic subjects the freedom, franchises, and immunities of the realm. He should therefore move thereof; and to hold, exercise, and enjoy" That these Resolutions be brought up.” any office or place of trust therein, any statute, charter, bye-law, or usage to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding, upon The Speaker apprehended that the hon. member had not distinctly made himself understood as to what was the nature and object of his motion. |