1829.] Proceedings in the present Session of Parliament. gent evils to their continuance. For twenty-five years the country had seen the Cabinet divided on this question. The disagreement of the Cabinet was extended to the Irish Government, where it was usual to have a Lord Lieutenant of one opinion, and a Chief Secretary of opposite sentiments. Seeing the embarrassments this principle created, he had come to the conclusion that things ought not to remain as they were, not only for the sake of the question itself, but of the interests of that Protestant establishment, which it was their duty to protect and maintain. Convinced that any attempt to constitute a Cabinet on the principle of resistance to concession would end in failure, and finding that the difficulty of forming one united in favour of it was almost equally great, it appeared to him that the best course was, for the existing Government to proceed to the consideration of the question, with the prospect of settling it with credit and success. In the last five general elections, the House of Commons, four times out of five, had been friendly to concession. The difference that had existed between the two branches of the Legislature had strengthened the power of the Catholics, while it lowered that of the Protestants. The only remedy was, that Parliament should take up the subject with a view to its final adjustment: but the first measure must be, to establish the ascendancy of the law in Ireland, by suppressing the Association. The abolition of most disabilities, on the ground of religious distinctions, comprised the essence of the contemplated measure, subject to certain exemptions, which rested on special reasons. Parliament would be in a condition to consider the affairs of Ireland with the same impartiality as those of Scotland, when, by the removal of civil disabilities, Protestants and Catholics were placed on the same footing. The opinions he now held had not been hastily formed. In August last, he had communicated to his noble friend at the head of the Administration, that the principle of neutrality in the Cabinet was no longer desirable or useful; and that less evil would result from a change of system thau from an adherence to the present. He was persuaded that he had selected the course the most free from peril, and with that feeling he intreated the House to attend to the solemn injunction of his Majesty, and consider a question which involved not only the welfare, but the tranquillity of the United Kingdom. Mr. Brougham was satisfied with what had fallen from the Rt. Hon. Gentleman. He thought Emancipation ought to precede, not follow, the putting down of the Association. At the same time, if they took his earnest advice, the Association would put itself down, and thus anticipate the wishes of the government.-Mr. Trant and Mr. H. Maxwell both 165 expressed themselves in the strongest terms against the proposed measure.—Mr. C. Pelham thought the rights of the House and the country equally endangered by Emancipation.-Gen. Gascoyne commented strongly on the conduct of Mr. Peel, and particularly alluded to his quitting the Ministry of Mr. Canning, because that gentleman was friendly to the measure which he now advocated. Sir Francis Burdett concurred in the advice given by Mr. Brougham to the Association, by a voluntary dissolution to anticipate the wishes of the Legislature. The Address was agreed to without a division. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 6. On bringing up the report of the Address, Sir T. Lethbridge said that it was desirable the Catholic question, after being recommended by his Sovereign, should be speedily settled. Mr. L. Foster hoped the concessions to be made to the Catholics would be accompanied by adequate securities.-Mr. G. Dawson expressed great exultation at the decision come to by Ministers.-Mr. Huskisson said the communication which had been made to Parliament by his Majesty's Government, was, in his opinion, the most important and happiest event which had occurred in this country since the accession of the house of Brunswick to the throne of these realms.-Sir J. Newport, Mr. R. Smith, Lord Althorp, and Mr. C. Grant, expressed high gratification at the course taken by the Government with respect to the Catholic question.-After a few words from Mr. Peel, the Address was agreed to. HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 9. Their Lordships were occupied with receiving Petitions from various parts of the kingdom against the Catholic claims.Lords Winchelsea and Eldon, and the Bishops of Exeter, Bristol, and Bath and Wells, spoke against the intended measure, -The Bishop of Durham stated that his opinions on the policy of opposing the admission of Roman Catholics to a full share of the benefits of the constitution were unchanged, and that he was convinced, after the maturest deliberation, that the Catholic religion, by its very nature, precluded its professors from affording a satisfactory security to a Protestant State.-The Duke of Newcastle was convinced that the people of England were not only decidedly hostile to Catholic Emancipation, but also decidedly favourable to Protestant ascendancy.-Lord Bexley said, that he still adhered to his old opinions with regard to the Catholic question. No alteration had taken place in his sentiments; and, furrounded by an atmosphere charged with political conversions, he remained wholly unaffected. 168 The Catholic Claims.-Foreign News. concessions to the Catholics, by 164 votes to 48. Immediately after the petition had been disposed of, a letter was read from Mr. Peel, explaining that as he intended, in conjunction with every member of the Government, to attempt to set the Catholic Question at rest, and as he considered himself indebted for much of the support of the University to his opposition to the claims, he was prepared to tender his resignation, which was subsequently received; though his friends have again put the Right Hon. Secretary in nomination.-At Bristol, the agitation and anxiety was intense. The Bristol Journal says, "Immediately that the rumour reached our city of the change in the Duke's sentiments, the signing of a requisition to the Mayor was commenced by the principal inhabitants requesting him to call a general meeting, to petition the Legislature, that no further concessions might be made to the Roman Catholics." At the meeting which took place to petition against Emancipation, the Editor says there were present upwards of 20,000: "all the windows commanding a view of the hustings were thronged with spectators, as were also the house-tops and many of the trees immediately in front of them. In the great multitude assembled, we assert, without fear of contradiction, that not 300 friends of the Catholics, and of Civil and Religious Liberty, as their placards called them, held up their hands against the petition that was so gloriously carried."-In Dublin, a meeting of Protestants was convened by the Lord Mayor on the 13th of Feb., and held in the rear of Tyrone House. The Lord Mayor, the Earl of Rathdown, Lord Frankfort, Lord Langford, Sir A. King, Sir Edmund Hayes, Alderman Beresford, and other gentlemen spoke. A series of resolutions was passed unanimously, one of which was for a change of Ministers-a second for a dissolution of Parliament and a third for an Address to the people of England to unite with the [Feb. Protestants of Ireland.—Similar meetings have been held in different parts of the Sister Kingdom. In the mean time, the Earl of Winchelsea, Lord Kenyon, and Sir Harcourt Lees, have published addresses to the Protestants of England, calling upon them to stand forward in defence of the Protestant Constitution. Lord Kenyon observes :-" From what has fallen from the Duke of Wellington and Mr. Peel, I cannot but consider our King as an oppressed man. The Duke of Wellington says, the grant of Catholic Emancipation, as it is called, has obtained his approbation since July or August last; but that he obtained the King's assent to propose it to Parliament a very short time only previous to the commencement of the Session. Who can doubt, who knows what the King's coronation oath is, that such assent has most reluctantly been given ?" For our parts we cannot but say that the events of the last few years, the illegal and outrageous proceedings of the Irish Association, the jesuitical and sophistical principles educed by the examinations, before the House of Lords and Education Committee, of many of the higher Clergy, and the general conduct of that class at and subsequently to the Clare election, have raised farther obstacles against the admission of Catholics to hold political power; and we do apprehend that some time must yet elapse, before a measure, which Mr. Pitt declared must, to be beneficial, be conceded with the good-will of Protestants, is effected. The Duke of Wellington, indeed, supposes that the Protestants of this island are not inimical to his proposed plans; but as far as has hitherto appeared, his Grace is in error. It may, however, depend on the nature of those securities, which, we are assured, will be found effectual to preserve the Protestant Constitution in Church and State against the effects of Emancipation. FOREIGN NEW S. FRANCE. The session of the two Chambers opened on the 27th of Jan., when the King in person delivered a speech to the Peers and members of the Chamber of Deputies, which may be considered the most honourable state paper that has been promulgated in France since the French have enjoyed the advantages of a popular constitution. In tone, temper, and in clearness of detail, it is, we would almost say, a model of official eloquence. After stating that the relations with Foreign Powers continue to be friendly, it enters at some length into the intercourse between France and the other nations of the world, and though some have not fulfilled their engagements, and others have committed injuries against France, nothing like resentment or an unkindly feeling is exhibited. The allusion to the government of Hayti displays this spirit in an eminent degree. The only allusion made to Spain is, that the French troops had returned to their country with the esteem and regret of the Spaniards, and that a convention had been agreed to for the payment of the expenses of the army in the Peninsula. The feeling towards England appears to be quite friendly; and the French soldiers, it is said, in allusion to the affairs of the Morea, take pleasure in recounting the 1829.] Domestic Occurrences.-Foreign News. support which they have received from the English navy. The rest of the speech is chiefly filled with the accounts of the order and peace which prevail in France, the state of the press, the measures judged necessary for the security of religion, and the laws which are to be proposed during the session. These relate to a new code for the army, a law on the endowment of the Chamber of Peers, and some municipal laws for the internal regulation of the country. The Revenue of 1828 has exceeded the estimates for that year; but this excess will not relax the exertions of the Executive to persevere in that economical system which the Government has been endeavouring to establish. In conclusion, the King bears testimony to that truth of universal application, "that experience has dispelled the charm of insensate theories." French Statistics.-Within the last ten years, from 1817 to1 826 inclusive, 4,981,766 males and 4,674,569 females have been born in France. Of these 3,897,755 males and 3,826,523 females have died, and thus the population of the country has increased 1,932,057. At Paris in 1827, it appears that 15,074 males, and 14,732 females were born. Of these, 11,589 males and 11,944 females have died. So that the population increased in that single year 6273. SOUTH AMERICA. Intelligence has been received of a new 169 revolution in Mexico, which has led to the partial sacking of the city, and the slaughter of many individuals. This seems to have been effected by the partizans of General Guerrero, lately Minister at War, who were determined to raise him to the Presidency of the State instead of Pedrazza, the regularly elected President. On the night of the 30th of November, the Militia of the city of Mexico took possession of the general barracks, which contained their park of artillery, and fortified themselves to such an extent, that, although attacked during the next two days by the Governor's troops, they not only maintained themselves, but on the third day they issued from their walls, and drove their assailants out of the capital. They then commenced robbing and murdering the old Spaniards in their houses, and the Americans and French also suffered severely, but few British. The people joined in the pillage, and the Parian (that part of the city where most of the shops and warehouses are situated) having been forced, the loss of property was immense. The Congress and all the Ministers, together with the new president Pedrazza, had taken flight when their troops were defeated, and as Guerrero still maintained himself in Mexico, where he had restored order on the 20th of December, and Vera Cruz had declared in his favour on the 27th of the same month, it is likely that he may remain at the head of the Go vernment. DOMESTIC OCCURRENCES. INTELLIGENCE FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. MANOR SHORE, YORK. The workmen employed by the Yorkshire Philosophical Society, lately brought to light some of the most valuable relics of antiquity found since the ground was excavated, viz.-seven large statues, each five feet nine inches high. They are of a remarkably strong and robust appearance, and are clad in antique drapery. The inner vest of one of them was coloured with purple, on which were sprigs of gold. The outer vest appeared to have been covered with gold, and the face was of a flesh colour. The garment of another figure was of crimson and gold. All the figures have been splendidly coloured and gilt, but not much of it now discernible, being removed by the damp, and the cement in which they were embedded. Jan. 28.-A numerous meeting was held at Liverpool, to consider the subject of opening the trade to the East Indies. Some of the most influential merchants of Liverpool spoke upon the occasion, and it was unanimously resolved, "That the opening of a free trade to China, and the removal of GENT. MAG. February, 1829. the restrictions which impede the commerce between this country and India, would be productive of incalculable benefits, both to this kingdom and to the British territories in the East Indies." Jan. 28.-The atrocious murderer Burke, whose trial was given in our last Supplement, p. 636, was executed in the presence of an immense concourse of people; and his body given over for dissection. The confession of this wretch, made before the Sheriff-Substitute of Edinburgh, and several other gentlemen, has been published, and it confirms the reports of the unparalleled murders committed by this monster and his associate Hare, whose number of victims was sixteen. All the bodies were sold to Dr. Knox, most of them for ten pounds each. On Hare being liberated, he set off for Ireland by the Dumfries mail. Feb. 2.-The interior of that stupendous monument of past ages, York Minster, was nearly destroyed by fire. It was discovered about seven o'clock in the morning; when nearly the whole of the wood-work of the choir was in flames, which were soon communicated to the organ, and in about an hour they reached to the roof, which was 168 The Catholic Claims.-Foreign News. concessions to the Catholics, by 164 votes to 48. Immediately after the petition had been disposed of, a letter was read from Mr. Peel, explaining that as he intended, in conjunction with every member of the Government, to attempt to set the Catholic Question at rest, and as he considered himself indebted for much of the support of the University to his opposition to the claims, he was prepared to tender his resignation, which was subsequently received; though his friends have again put the Right Hon. Secretary in nomination.-At Bristol, the agitation and anxiety was intense. The Bristol Journal says, "Immediately that the rumour reached our city of the change in the Duke's sentiments, the signing of a requisition to the Mayor was commenced by the principal inhabitants requesting him to call a general meeting, to petition the Legislature, that no further concessions might be made to the Roman Catholics." At the meeting which took place to petition against Emancipation, the Editor says there were present upwards of 20,000: "all the windows commanding a view of the hustings were thronged with spectators, as were also the house-tops and many of the trees immediately in front of them. In the great multitude assembled, we assert, without fear of contradiction, that not 300 friends of the Catholics, and of Civil and Religious Liberty, as their placards called them, held up their hands against the petition that was so gloriously carried."—In Dublin, a meeting of Protestants was convened by the Lord Mayor on the 13th of Feb., and held in the rear of Tyrone House. The Lord Mayor, the Earl of Rathdown, Lord Frankfort, Lord Langford, Sir A. King, Sir Edmund Hayes, Alderman Beresford, and other gentleinen spoke. A series of resolutions was passed unanimously, one of which was for a change of Ministers-a second for a dissolution of Parliament and a third for an Address to the people of England to unite with the [Feb. Protestants of Ireland. Similar meetings have been held in different parts of the Sister Kingdom. In the mean time, the Earl of Winchelsea, Lord Kenyon, and Sir Harcourt Lees, have published addresses to the Protestants of England, calling upon them to stand forward in defence of the Protestant Constitution. Lord Kenyon observes:-" From what has fallen from the Duke of Wellington and Mr. Peel, I cannot but consider our King as an oppressed man. The Duke of Wellington says, the grant of Catholic Emancipation, as it is called, has obtained his approbation since July or August last; but that he obtained the King's assent to propose it to Parliament a very short time only previous to the commencement of the Session. Who can doubt, who knows what the King's coronation oath is, that such assent has most reluctantly been given ?" For our parts we cannot but say that the events of the last few years, the illegal and outrageous proceedings of the Irish Association, the jesuitical and sophistical principles educed by the examinations, before the House of Lords and Education Committee, of many of the higher Clergy, and the general conduct of that class at and subsequently to the Clare election, have raised farther obstacles against the admission of Catholics to hold political power; and we do apprehend that some time must yet elapse, before a measure, which Mr. Pitt declared must, to be beneficial, be conceded with the good-will of Protestants, is effected. The Duke of Wellington, indeed, supposes that the Protestants of this island are not inimical to his proposed plans; but as far as has hitherto appeared, his Grace is in error. It may, however, depend on the nature of those securities, which, we are assured, will be found effectual to preserve the Protestant Constitution in Church and State against the effects of Emancipation. FOREIGN NEW S. FRANCE. The session of the two Chambers opened on the 27th of Jan., when the King in person delivered a speech to the Peers and members of the Chamber of Deputies, which may be considered the most honourable state paper that has been promulgated in France since the French have enjoyed the advantages of a popular constitution. In tone, temper, and in clearness of detail, it is, we would almost say, a model of official eloquence. After stating that the rela tions with Foreign Powers continue to be friendly, it enters at some length into the state of intercourse between France and the other nations of the world, and though some have not fulfilled their engagements, and others have committed injuries against France, nothing like resentment or an unkindly feeling is exhibited. The allusion to the government of Hayti displays this spirit in an eminent degree. The only allusion made to Spain is, that the French troops had returned to their country with the esteem and regret of the Spaniards, and that a convention had been agreed to for the payment of the expenses of the army in the Peninsula. The feeling towards England appears to be quite friendly; and the French soldiers, it is said, in allusion to the affairs of the Morea, take pleasure in recounting the 1829.] Domestic Occurrences.-Foreign News. support which they have received from the English navy. The rest of the speech is chiefly filled with the accounts of the order and peace which prevail in France, the state of the press, the measures judged necessary for the security of religion, and the laws which are to be proposed during the session. These relate to a new code for the army, a law on the endowment of the Chamber of Peers, and some municipal laws for the internal regulation of the country. The Revenue of 1828 has exceeded the estimates for that year; but this excess will not relax the exertions of the Executive to persevere in that economical system which the Government has been endeavouring to establish. In conclusion, the King bears testimony to that truth of universal application, "that experience has dispelled the charm of insensate theories." French Statistics.-Within the last ten years, from 1817 to1 826 inclusive, 4,981,766 males and 4,674,569 females have been born in France. Of these 3,897,755 males and 3,826,523 females have died, and thus the population of the country has increased 1,932,057. At Paris in 1827, it appears that 15,074 males, and 14,732 females were born. Of these, 11,589 males and 11,944 females have died. So that the population increased in that single year 6273. SOUTH AMERICA. Intelligence has been received of a new 169 revolution in Mexico, which has led to the partial sacking of the city, and the slaughter of many individuals. This seems to have been effected by the partizans of General Guerrero, lately Minister at War, who were determined to raise him to the Presidency of the State instead of Pedrazza, the regularly elected President. On the night of the 30th of November, the Militia of the city of Mexico took possession of the general barracks, which contained their park of artillery, and fortified themselves to such an extent, that, although attacked during the next two days by the Governor's troops, they not only maintained themselves, but on the third day they issued from their walls, and drove their assailants out of the capital. They then commenced robbing and murdering the old Spaniards in their houses, and the Americans and French also suffered severely, but few British. The people joined in the pillage, and the Parian (that part of the city where most of the shops and warehouses are situated) having been forced, the loss of property was immense. The Congress and all the Ministers, together with the new president Pedrazza, had taken flight when their troops were defeated, and as Guerrero still maintained himself in Mexico, where he had restored order on the 20th of December, and Vera Cruz had declared in his favour on the 27th of the same month, it is likely that he may remain at the head of the Go vernment. DOMESTIC OCCURRENCES. INTELLIGENCE FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. MANOR SHORE, YORK. The workmen employed by the Yorkshire Philosophical Society, lately brought to light some of the most valuable relics of antiquity found since the ground was excavated, viz.-seven large statues, each five feet nine inches high. They are of a remarkably strong and robust appearance, and are clad in antique drapery. The inner vest of one of them was coloured with purple, on which were sprigs of gold. The outer vest appeared to have been covered with gold, and the face was of a flesh colour. garment of another figure was of crimson and gold. All the figures have been splendidly coloured and gilt, but not much of it now discernible, being removed by the damp, and the cement in which they were embedded. The Jan. 28.-A numerous meeting was held at Liverpool, to consider the subject of opening the trade to the East Indies. Some of the most influential merchants of Liverpool spoke upon the occasion, and it was unanimously resolved, "That the opening of a free trade to China, and the removal of GENT. MAG. February, 1829. the restrictions which impede the commerce between this country and India, would be productive of incalculable benefits, both to this kingdom and to the British territories in the East Indies." Jan. 28.-The atrocious murderer Burke, whose trial was given in our last Supplement, p. 636, was executed in the presence of an immense concourse of people; and his body given over for dissection. The confession of this wretch, made before the Sheriff-Substitute of Edinburgh, and several other gentlemen, has been published, and it confirms the reports of the unparalleled murders committed by this monster and his associate Hare, whose number of victims was sixteen. All the bodies were sold to Dr. Knox, most of them for ten pounds each. On Hare being liberated, he set off for Ireland by the Dumfries mail. Feb. 2. The interior of that stupendous monument of past ages, York Minster, was nearly destroyed by fire. It was discovered about seven o'clock in the morning; when nearly the whole of the wood-work of the choir was in flames, which were soon communicated to the organ, and in about an hour they reached to the roof, which was |