prove but too true. The catholics felt they had lent their support to the union, and that they were entitled for that support to have their claims attended to. But they are now told those claims will not be even discussed. Mr. Ponsonby contrasted the tone of the honourable gentleman who had just sat down, with that which he maintained when similar objections, as to time, circumstances, and the discontent of the subjects to which it applied, were advanced against his measure for the abolition of the slave trade. What the honourable gentleman offered to refute such objections, was equally forcible on this occasion. From this the right honourable gentleman proceeded to comment upon the observations of Mr. Canning, which he conceived to betray an indifference to the opinions of Burke, Pitt, and Fox, who were, however, authorities quite beneath the consideration of the minister for foreign affairs. As to the danger to be apprebended from the pope's connection with the Irish catholics, arising out of the dominion of Buonaparte over that personage, he appealed to the common sense of the house, whether any thing was to be apprehended from that quarter. What motive could the pope have to promote the wishes of Buonaparte? He certainly could not be prompted by affection or interest to do so. But in order to remove all apprehensions on that head, he was authorized to say that the catholic clergy were willing, in the event of the measure before the house being acceded to, that the appointment of every catholic bishop in Ireland should in future finally vest in the king. To prove that the Irish protestants had ceased to feel any alarm at the idea of catholic emancipation, and that they had rather become friendly to the measure, the right honourable gentleman referred to a letter from Mr. Plunkett, the late attorney-general of that country, which letter was dictated by the resolutions of several county meetings. Mr. Plunkett mentioned in his letter, that he had no doubt nine-tenths of the protestants would poll in favour of the measure of catholic emancipation. With regard to what took place upon this subject during the adminis tration of the duke of Bedford, he was ready to state, as a member of that administration, that when the catholics brought forward their claims, reference was had to the government here, in consequence of which reference, the catholics were asked not to press their claims to the ex tent originally mentioned. But as to the measure proposed by the late administration, he was prepared to affirm, that it would have given great satisfaction to the catholics. The right honourable gentleman argued in favour of the frequent discussion of this question, as the surest way to produce the triumph of reason over prejudice and error. Lord Castlereagh in explanation averred, that upon the resignation of Mr. Pitt, and the government of which he formed a part, in 181, no pledge or condition was entered into which could in any degree fetter the conduct of the several members of that government, with regard to the catholic question. General Archdale spoke against the measure of emancipation as adverse to the constitution, and to the sentiment of such Irish protestants as he was acquainted with. Mr. Windham contradicted the statement of lord Castlereagh, respecting the motives which urged Mr. Pitt and his colleagues to abdicate the government in 1801.. Mr. Yorke expressed a particular wish to know upon what authority the right honourable gentleman (Mr. Ponsonby) grounded his statement relative to the disposition of the Irish clergy as to the future appointment of their bishops; as that circumstance, if well-founded, must serve to remove a principal objection to the catholic claims? Mr. Ponsonby answered, that he made the statement upon the authority of Dr. Milner, who was a catholic. bishop in this country, and who was authorised by the catholic bishops of Ireland to make the proposition, in case the measure of catholic emancipation should be acceded to. The proposition was this: that the person to be nominated to any vacant bishopric should be submitted for the king's approbation; and that if the approba tion were refused, another person should be proposed, and so on in succession, until his majesty's approbation should be obtained, so that the appointment should finally rest with the king. The Chancellor of the Exchequer deprecated any intemperance or party feeling on this occasion, and compli miented the manner in which the question had been treated by the right honourable mover. Although he was ad verse to this proposition, he begged to be understood as anxious for any measure that should serve to content and conciliate the Irish. This proposition did not appear to him likely to produce that effect, and therefore he should oppose it. It might serve to tranquillize the catholics, and even that was problematical; but it would create discontent among the protestants and dissenters. There was a petition on the table that justified that apprehension, he meant the petition from the corporation of Dublin (a laugh.) The right honourable gentleman desired to record his sentiments, that notwithstanding his present objections to the claims of the catholics, he should not conceive himself precluded from supporting these claims under different circumstances; in the event, for instance, of a change taking place in the catholic religion itself. Mr. Whitbread thought that at so late an hour the debate should be adjourned. Mr. C. Hutchinson concurred in this opinion. But the cry of Go on! becoming general, Mr. Whitbread proceeded to discuss the question. He remarked upon the apparent resolution of the gentlemen on the treasury bench to avoid discussion altogether; which resolution was violated only in consequence of the wish of the secretary for foreign affairs, that he should not appear as a mere unit in the train of lord Hawkesbury. The honourable gentleman exhorted parliament to concede in due time to the claims of the people; to imitate the policy of the wise Elizabeth rather than that of the weak and wavering Charles, whose concessions were always too late, and whose impolitic attention to public opi nion at length led him to the block. Mr. Hutchinson rose amidst a general call for the question. After some pause he observed, that that very cry was in itself a sufficient reason for his making the propo sition which he was then about to submit to the house. In the exhausted state in which gentlemen must be, when they could not bear to hear a man who was anxious to deliver his sentiments, it was not much to ask of the house to adjourn the debate; especially as it was to be observed that there were many gentlemen of considerably greater weight than he, who had not had an opportunity of speaking on the subject. He therefore proposed that the further debate should be adjourned till to-morrow. Upon this question being put from the chair, General Matthew endeavoured to obtain a hearing amidst a general buz, and call from some for the question, and from others to proceed with the debate. Although he observed a smile upon the countenance of a noble lord opposite (Castlereagh), it ill became a person in his official situation, to treat with so much levity, a question in which the interest of so large a portion of his Irish fellow-subjects were most deeply involved. But he had some consolation in the reflection, that the noble lord was not a representative of the Irish people. No, he had been rejected in that part of Ireland where he was best known; and he did not believe, in fact, that there was a county, borough, or individual in Ireland, that would not reject the service of the noble lord.. He most cordially seconded the motion. Colonel Martin also spoke for the adjournment. A division then took place, and the numbers were: For the adjournment Majority The house then proceeded with the debate, but the gallery was not re-opened. On a division upon the main question there were, For the committee Majority 128 231 153 After the division, it was suggested that it would be more convenient if the discussion of the local militia bill was postponed till Friday; but Lord Castlereagh persisted in his orignal intention, and the debate stands for tomorrow. Adjourned. LIST OF THE MINORITY ON THE SECOND DIVISION. Abercromby, Hon. J. Althorpe, Viscount Bagenal, W. Bligh, Thomas Bradshaw, Hon. A. C. Browne, Anthony Brown, Right Hon. D. Burton, Hon. F. N. Butler, Hon. James Byng, George |