Repeal of the
Test Laws,
Petitions for:
(Proteftant
Diffenting
Minifters in
London &
Westminster:)

"Religion, that the Sovereign may poffefs the Con-
"ftitutional Exercife of His Prerogative, their Fellow
"Citizens the due Exercife of their Elective Rights in
"the Choice of Officers to Places of Public Truft, and
that all Claffes of His Majefty's Subjects may be freed
"from any Stigma on account of their Faith and Mode
of Worship, and may equally participate the Benefits
"of the Conftitution :"

"Clafs of their Fellow Citizens into their immediate
"Confideration, and by the entire Abolition of fuch
"Difqualifications, to begin the great Work of uniting
"all Claffes of His Majefty's Subjects, of whatever
"Religious Denomination, in one common and indiffo."
"luble Bond of Intereft and Sympathy; an Object
"eminently defirable, even in the most peaceable and
"profperous Times, but which, in the prefent awful
"Crifis, cannot, they humbly conceive, be purchased
"by too large a Sacrifice of Prejudice and Error:"

It is ORDERED, That the faid Petition do lie on the
Table.

Upon reading the Petition of the Proteftant Diffenting Minifters of the Three Denominations, refiding in and about the Cities of London and Westminster, whofe Names are thereunto fubfcribed; fetting forth, "That "the Petitioners conceiving the Right of worshiping "God according to the dictates of their own Con"fciences, to be derived from the Author of their being, "and confirmed by the Founder of their Christian

r

It is ORDERED, That the faid Petition do lie on the
Table.

Honiton :

Upon reading the Petition of the Proteftant Diffenters Proteftant attending Divine Worship in the Town of Honiton, in the Diffenters of County of Devon, whofe Names are thereunto fubfcribed; fetting forth, "That the Petitioners having obferved "with great Concern, that an Attempt is making to

tr

convey to the Legiflature of the Country the Idea that "the Proteftant Diffenters are hoftile to any Relaxation "of the difqualifying Laws by which His Majefty's Ro"man Catholic Snbjects are excluded from Parliament "and Office, the Petitioners humbly beg Leave to lay "their Sentiments before this Houfe: The Petitioners regard abfolute Liberty of Confcience respecting Religion as the unalienable Right of ail Men, and they cannot but confider all Laws which tend to injure the Interests or Reputation of any Perfons by fubjecting them to Difgrace, Disability or Privation of Rights "on account of their Religious Opinions as inconfiftent "with that unalienable Right: The Petitioners there"fore (though warmly attached to the Principles of "Proteftantifm and to the preient Conftitution) do, with

especial reference to the important Subject now about "to call the Attention of Parliament, humbly petition "this Houfe that all fuch Laws may be repealed, they

confiding in the Wisdom of the Legislature to devife
"all neceffary Means to prevent any real Danger to the
"Protestant Religion, and to the prefent Conftitution
"and Government of thefe Realms :"

It is ORDERED, That the faid Petition do lie on the
Table.

Faith, and therefore not to be subject to the controul
"of Human Authority, cannot but regard with deep
"Concern thofe Statutes which reftrain and limit the
"exercise of this Right, and impofe Conditions and
"Penalties that seem to them as unjust in their Principle,"
"as they are injurious to the vital Interests of true Re-"
ligion: That the Petitioners confider thofe Statutes
"as originally defigned to guard again ft Evils which no
"longer exift, and as expreffive of Sentiments with
"regard to the nature and extent of Religious Liberty
"which no longer prevail; at a Period when the Sub-
jects of the British Empire, however they may differ
"with regard to the Principles of their Religion, and
"their Mode of profeffing it, concur in a cordial Attach-
"ment to the Family on the Throne, and when
"enlightened Views of Religious Liberty, and a corre-
"fponding Liberality of Spirit, have been diffufed
among Religious Profeffors of all Denominations:
"That the Petitioners, expreffing their lively Gratitude
"for the Conceffions made to their Religious Rights in
"the courfe of the prefent Reign, earnestly but refpect.
fully pray, that every remaining Penal Statute, which
"extends its Operation to the province of Religion,
may be repealed, and that whilst they conduct them-
"felves as loyal, obedient, and peaceable Subjects to
"the State, they in common with all their Fellow
"Citizens may be put in poffeffion of complete Reli-
gious Freedom, and allowed to worship their Maker,
"and maintain their Chriftian Profeffion, according to
"their own Views and their incumbent Duty, without
being fubjected, under the Sanction of Law, to any
"Penalties or Difabilities in confequence of their Diffent
"from the Established Church: That the Petitioners,
"confiding in the Wisdom and Juftice of this House,
pray that their Caufe may be taken into Confideration,
" and the Relief granted to them for which they
fupplicate :"

66

66

Westminster.

Upon reading the Petition of the Proteftant Diffenters Proteftant of the Three Denominations, refiding in and near the Diffenters of Cities of London and Westminster, whofe Names are there- London & unto fubfcribed; fetting forth, "That the Petitioners "efteem the capacity frReligious Worship as the highest "Diftinction of their Nature, and regard the Practice "of it as a facred Duty enjoined by Divine Authority, "but which can be acceptable in the Individual only "when performed with Sincerity and agreeably to the "dictates of Confcience; that they are hereby inevitably "led to deprecate the Interference of the Civil Magiftrate "in Religious Concerns, and to confider the unfettered "exercife of private Judgement in all Matters thereto

Upon reading the Petition of the Inhabitants of
Harlow, and adjacent Villages in the County of Effex,
whose Names are thereunto fubfcribed; fetting forth," they cannot but contemplate as inconfiftent with the free
"That the Petitioners are firmly convinced, that to
worship God agreeably to the dictates of Confcience,
"unreftricted by Human Authority, is the natural and
"unalienable Right of every rational Creature, con-
"firmed by the New Teftament, the Grand Charter of
Christianity: That the Petitioners regard with ex-
treme regret the existence on our Statute Book of
"Penal Laws refpecting Religion, fome of which,
"awing to the increafed Liberality of the Times, are
"too obnoxious to be executed, and all manifeftly in-
❝ confiftent with the Rights of Men, of Britons, and of
"Chriftians: That as all the Right they claim on the
"behalf of themselves and others, is Eligibility to
"Office, they do most earnestly petition this House
"for the Repeal of all Penal Statutes in Matters of

σε

VOL. XLIX.

"exercife of Religious Worship, and which, if ever they
"deferved to be confidered as proper guards against
"the Dangers of any former Periods, may now even
"on their own Principle be fafely abrogated, when
" thofe Dangers have fo long ceafed to exiit: The Peti-
"tioners therefore cannot but indulge the Hope that
"the fame wife and liberal Spirit, the prevalence of
"which has already effected fo much in their favor,
"will break every remaining Bond, and abolish every
"Shackle on the entire Freedom of Religious Profeffion,
" and that they in common with all their Fellow Sub-
"jects of every Perfuafion may, while they conduct
"themselves as peaceable and obedient Subjects, be
"permitted to reap the legitimate Fruits of upright and
"loyal Conduct in the aliowance to maintain their

Roman Catholic Claims, Petition of the Nobility, &c. of Flint in favor of.

Cotterftock cum Glap thorn Enclofure Bill.

Adjourn.

Upon reading the Petition of the Nobility, Gentry, Freeholders and others, of the County of Flint, whose Names are thereunto fubfcribed; fetting forth," That "the Petitioners being anxious that the Question of "what further Conceffions may be fafely made in the "Catholic Code, fhould be fairly difcuffed and fully "confidered by Parliament, unfettered by Petitions of "a hoftile Complexion to the Catholic Caufe, humbly "requeft their Lordships to believe that while they are impreffed with fuch Hope and Expectations, they are not lefs attached to the Civil and Religious Establish"ment of their Country :"

It is ORDERED, That the faid Petition do lie on the
Table.

The Lord Walfingham reported from the Lords Com-
mittees, to whom the Bill, intituled, "An A&t for
"enclofing Lands in the Parish of Cotterstock cum Glap-
"thorn, in the County of Northampton," was com-
was com-
mitted; "That they had confidered the faid Bill, and
❝ examined the Allegations thereof, which were found to
"be true; that the Parties concerned had given their Con-
"fents to the Satisfaction of the Committee; and that the
"Committee had gone through the Bill, and directed him
"to
to report the fame to the House, without any Amend-

"ment."

Dominus Cancellarius declaravit præfens Parliamentum continuandum effe ufque ad et in diem Veneris, quintum diem inftantis Martii, horâ undecimâ Aurora, Dominis fic decernentibus.

IE Veneris, 5° Martii 1813.

DIE

PRAYERS.

Johnes:

The House proceeded to take into further Confidera- Eaft India
tion the Cause wherein The United Company of Mer- Co against
chants of England trading to the East Indies are Appel-
lants, and The Reverend Samuel Johnes Clerk is Re-
spondent:

And Confideration being had thereof accordingly;
The following Order and Judgement was made:

After hearing Counfel as well on Monday the 14th,
Tuesday the 15th, Wednesday the 16th, as Thursday the
17th Days of December laft, upon the Petition and
Appeal of The United Company of Merchants of England
trading to the Eaft Indies, complaining of a Decree of
the Court of Chancery of the 11th Day of June 1804,
which was figned and enrolled in the faid Court on the
6th Day of November 1809; and praying, "That the fame
"might be reverfed, or that the Appellants might have
"fuch other Relief in the Premifes, as to this House, in
"their Lordships great Wisdom, thould seem meet ;" as
alfo, upon the Anfwer of The Reverend Samuel Johnes
Clerk, put in to the faid Appeal; and due Confideration
had of what was offered in this Caufe:

It is ORDERED and Adjudged, by the Lords Spiritual Decree
and Temporal in Parliament affembled, That the faid Affirmed!
Petition and Appeal be, and is hereby difmiffed this
Houfe, and that the faid Decree therein complained
of, be, and the fame is hereby Affirmed.

Watfon.

After hearing Counsel in Part, in the Caufe wherein Bank of Scote The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland, land againft and Robert Forrester Efquire, their Treafurer, are Ap pellants, and James Watson, Baker in Brechin, is Respondent:

It is ORDERED, That the further Hearing of the faid

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præfentes Cause be put off to Tuesday next.

fuerunt:

This Day John Earl Strange and Peter Lord King Lords take Ds. St.John of Bletfoe. took the Oaths, and made and fubfcribed the Decla- the Oaths. ration, and alfo took and fubfcribed the Oath of Abjuration, pursuant to the Statutes.

Dux CUMBERLAND. Ds. Clinton.
Dux CAMBRIDGE.
Ds. Eldon, Cancella.

Ds. King.
Ds. Holland.

Ds. Walfingham.
Ds. Kenyon.
Ds. Hood of Cather-
ington.
Ds. Saltersford.
Ds. Rolle.
Ds. Bolton.
Ds. Wodehouse.
Ds. Butler.
Ds. Redefdale.
Ds. Ellenborough.
Ds. Gambier.

Bill.

The Lord Walfingham reported from the Lords Com- Greystoke mittees, to whom the Bill, intituled, "An Act for Enclosure "enclosing Lands in the Parish of Greystoke, in the "That "County of Cumberland," was committed; "they had confidered the faid Bill, and examined the "Allegations thereof, which were found to be true; "that the Parties concerned had given their Confents "to the Satisfaction of the Committee; and that the "Committee had gone through the Bill, and directed "him to report the fame to the House, without any "Amendment."

The Lord Walfingham made the like Report from the Geift Enclo Lords Committees, to whom the Bill, intituled, "An fure Bill. "Act for enclosing Lands in the Parish of Geist, in the "County of Norfolk," was committed.

The Lord Walfingham reported from the Lords Com- Rochdale mittees, to whom the Bill, intituled, "An Act to Road Bill. "enlarge the Term and Powers of an Act of His pre"fent Majefty, for repairing the Road from the Guide "Poft near Sudden Bridge, in the Parish of Rochdale, to "Bury, and a Branch therefrom, all in the County "Palatine of Lancaster," was committed; "That they "had confidered the faid Bill, and examined the Alle "gations thereof, which were found to be true; and "that the Committee had gone through the Bill, and "directed him to report the fame to the House, without any Amendment."

The

Starch Pro

With a Bill, intituled, " An Act for authorizing the
"Commiffioners of Cuftoms and Excife to make an
"Allowance for the neceffary Subfiftence of Poor Per-
"fons confined for Debts or Penalties fued for under
"their Orders;" to which they defire the Concurrence
of this House.

The faid Bill was read the First Time.
ORDERED, That the faid Bill be printed.

A Meffage was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Lufhington and others;

With a Bill, intituled, "An A&t for empowering the "Commiffioners of Excife to fell Salt feized, Duty "free, either for Exportation or for curing Fish, and "to reward the feizing Officer;" to which they defire

the Concurrence of this House.

A Meffage was brought from the House of Commons, hibition Act, by Mr. Lufhington and others;

brepeal, Bill.

Windeler's

Naturalization Bill.

Llantrillent

With a Bill, intituled, " An Act to repeal fo much
"of an Act of this Seffion, as continues the Prohibition
"of the making of Starch from Wheat, and other
"Articles of Food;" to which they defire the Con-
currence of this House.

The faid Two Bills were, feverally, read the First
Time.

A Meffage was brought from the Houfe of Commons, by Mr. Lushington and others;

To return the Bill, intituled, "An A&t for naturalizing John Diederich Windeler ;" and to acquaint this House, That they have agreed to the fame, without any Amendment.

Roads Bill. by Mr. Lufhington and others;

A Meffage was brought from the Houfe of Commons,

Hanwell En

With a Bill, intituled, "An A&t for continuing and "amending Two Acts of His prefent Majefty, for re"pairing feveral Roads in the County of Glamorgan, fo "far as they relate to the Roads comprized in the Llantriffent Diftri&t;" to which they defire the Concurrence of this House.

A Meffage was brought from the House of Commons, Miners inliftby Mr. Addington and others;

With a Bill, intituled, "An Act to allow a limited
Proportion of the Corps of Miners to inlift into the
"Regular Forces ;" to which they defire the Concur-
rence of this House.

The faid Bill was read the First Time.
ORDERED, That the faid Bill be printed.

ing Bill.

The Viscount Sidmouth (by the Command of His Returns re-
Royal Highness The Prince Regent) laid before the fpecting Ro
House, pursuant to an Addrefs of Friday the 19th of man Catholics
February last;

"Returns made to the Privy Council of Names of
"Roman Catholics, who have, within the last Ten
"Years, taken the Oaths, and made the Declaration
"contained in the Act, C. 32. of the 31ft Year of His
present Majesty."

And the Title thereof being read by the Clerk;
ORDERED, That the faid Returns do lie on the
Table.

delivered.

in the County of Lancaster, whofe Names are thereunto Co. Petitions
Upon reading the Petition of the Inhabitants of Prefton East India
fubfcribed; fetting forth, "That upon Application being

refpecting:
"made to the laft Parliament on behalf of The East of Prefton :)
(Inhabitants
"India Company, for a Renewal of their Charter, the
"Petitioners felt themfelves called upon to join the
"general Voice of their Fellow Subjects in Oppofition
"to fuch Application, and they accordingly prefented a
"Petition to The Honorable The House of Commons in
"that Parliament, expreffive of the Sentiments then
"entertained by the Petitioners on the Subject of an

66

Open Trade to all the Countries Eastward of the "Cape of Good Hope: That the additional Light which "has been fince thrown upon the Subject from various "Difcuffions, has confirmed the Sentiments then ex"preffed by the Petitioners as to all the leading Principles affecting this important Question; and it now appears to the Petitioners both just and expedient, "that a Free and Open Trade fhould be allowed with "the East Indies and China, to and from all the Ports " of Great Britain and Ireland, in which the System of "Bonded Warehouses has been or may hereafter be "established under the Control of the Officers of His

(6

Majefty's Revenue, fubject only to fuch Regulations "as are abfolutely neceffary for the Security of the "British Poffeffions, and the regular Payment of the "King's Duties: That with refpect to India and all "the Countries of the Eaft except China, these Sen"timents of the Petitioners appear to be fo generally "admitted, that they deem it unneceffary to offer any "further Arguments in fupport thereof; the Peti"tioners will therefore only fubmit to their Lord"fhips the Neceffity of effectually providing for the "Perfonal Security and Protection of all British Sub«jects who may refide or travel in thofe Countries, "or engage in Commercial Intercourfe with the InhaWith a Bill, intituled, "An A&t for enclofing Lands "bitants thereof; and that such Restrictions as may be "in the Parish of Hanwell, in the County of Middlefex;"" deemed neceffary in this refpect, may be exercised "only by the King's Officers and Magiftrates, without

A Meffage was brought from the House of Commons,

colure Bill, by Mr. Mellish and others;

to which they defire the Concurrence of this House.

ΙΟ

"the

therefore praying, "That no exclufive Right of trading
"with any of the Countries Eastward of the Cape
of Good Hope may in future be granted, by Charter
or otherwise, either to the prefent Eaft India Com-
pany or to any other Perfons, but that, from
"and after the Expiration of the prefent Charter
"of The Eaft India Company, it may be lawful for
"all British Subjects to carry on a free Commercial
"Intercourfe with the East Indies and China, and all
"other Countries Eastward of the Cape of Good Hope,
"from every Port in the United Kingdom, in which the

66

Syftem of Bonded Warehouses is or may be established
"under the Control of the King's Revenue Officers,
"and to import the Produce and Manufactures of all
"fuch Eaftern Countries into any of fuch British Ports,
"there to be landed and difpofed of, fubject only to
"fuch Regulations as may appear to their Lordships to
"be abfolutely neceffary for the Political Security of the
"British Territories and their Dependencies, and a due
"Collection of the Revenues; and the Petitioners
"further pray, That they may be heard by their Coun-
"fel or Agents, at their Lordships Bar:"

It is ORDERED, That the faid Petition do lie on the
Table.

"the Direction or Control of any Perfon connected
"with The Eaft India Company: That the Policy of
"continuing the Government of fo extensive an Empire
66 as India in the Hands of a Commercial Company of
"British Subjects, with an Army and Revenue diftin&
"from thofe of their Sovereign, appears to the Peti-
❝tioners to be very queftionable, and worthy of the
"most serious Attention of Parliament; fuch a System
"of Government is, as well as the Commercial Mono-
poly hitherto enjoyed by the Company, directly op-
pofite to the received Maxims of Political Economy
"laid down by the most eminent Writers; the Inftances
"of practical Inconvenience arifing from the former,
"have been too ferious and recent to require any Detail
"from the Petitioners; the Grievances of the latter are
"fo conftant and oppreffive, as to have called forth a
"ftrong and general expreffion of the Public Voice
"against them; ftill there may be Difficulties attending
66 an entire change in the Government of India at the
"present moment of which the Petitioners are not fully
66 aware; the Petitioners therefore do not prefume to
"offer a decided Opinion on the Expediency of an en-
"tire and immediate change, but they rely with confi-
"dence on the Wisdom of their Lordships for a due
"Confideration of this important branch of the Subject,
"fo difficult and complicated in its Nature: That, with
"refpect to China, the Petitioners have not been able to
discover any juft Foundation for The East India Com-
"pany's Claim to a Monopoly of the Trade with that
"Country: The leading grounds of Conqueft and
"Establishment, on which the Company found their
"Right to an exclufive Trade with other Countries of
"the Eaft, are wholly inapplicable to China, and the
"Petitioners fee no reafon to doubt that the Duties on
"Tea may be fo regulated at the Out-ports as to pre-
"vent Frauds on the Revenue, and that the due Pay-
"ment of fuch Duties at thofe Ports may be fecured as
effectually as the Duties arifing from other Articles of
"Eaftern Produce; the Jealoufies and Prejudices of the
"Chinese may occafionally give rife to Difficulties in the
"Intercourfe of Foreigners with them, but the Petitioners
"are induced to believe that fuch Difficulties may be
"avoided by prudent Regulations, and if (as The Eaft«
"India Company cannot deny) other Foreigners, par-
"ticularly Americans, have for many Years carried on
"an extenfive and fuccefsful Commercial Intercourse
"with China, without ferious Interruptions, whilst the
"Company themselves, with all their Advantages, have
"not been able entirely to avoid them, the Petitioners
"cannot but feel convinced that a free Trade with China

65

may safely be allowed to private British Merchants, un"der proper Regulations, to be established by the Wifdom " of Parliament: That the greatest Part of the Peti"tioners are engaged in Trade and Manufactures, and "feel a direct and immediate Intereft in the open Exten"fion of the Trade to the Eaft: The Petitioners have "no fear of a Competition to arife from the Introduc"tion of Indian Piece Goods, they wish only to have an open field for the exercife of their own Ingenuity "and Industry: Many of the Petitioners have no im"mediate connection with Trade, but they join with "their Fellow Townsmen and the Public at large in "these Sentiments, upon broad and general grounds of Expediency: The Petitioners believe, that on the "opening of the Trade, fome Individuals may enter "into it at firft without due Confideration and previous Arrangement, the natural confequence of which must "be a Failure in their Speculations; but the Inconve"niences arifing therefrom can only be partial and tem

porary, and ought therefore to be entirely left out of "the Confideration of the Legislature: The Petitioners "feel a well-grounded Confidence in the found Judge "ment of private British Merchants in general, and have "no doubt that their Enterprize and Capital employed, "in the different branches of Eastern Commerce, free "from odious and unneceffary Reftrictions, will, after a "few Years Experience, produce great and important "National Advantages, extending to every Clafs of "Perfons, and ftrengthening the finews of Government "by a confiderable Increase of the Revenue;" and

facturers and Traders in the Town and Neighbourhood &c. of Ah-
Upon reading the Petition of the Merchants, Manu- Merchants,
of Ashton-under-Line, in the County of Lancaster, whose ton-under-
Names are thereunto fubfcribed; fetting forth, "That Line.

"the Petitioners are principally fupported by various
"Branches of the Cotton Trade, and other Manufac-
"tures which have become of confiderable Importance
"to this Kingdom, and which from the Improvements
"which have been made in various Articles of Machi.
66 nery added to the Ingenuity and Induftry of the Inha-
«bitants would (had they a fufficient Demand for that

Purpose) in all Probability not only become a Source "of National Wealth, but of great Advantage to the "various Perfons employed therein: That from the pre"fent Situation of Affairs, the Petitioners have to regret a want of Trade, by which means the Value of Labour "has been greatly reduced and vaft Numbers indeed brought to a state of extreme Poverty and Distress: "That as the British Empire and its Dependencies "cannot poffibly confume the whole of its Manufac "tures, and as moft of the Ports and Harbours on the "Continent are now shut against them, they are natu"rally led to look round in what Part of the World a "Market can be obtained for the Purpose of their Goods, "and in India and China they perceive there are immense "Territories, which, if laid open to the Skill, the Enter

prize and Affiduity of the British Artizan, Merchant"and Manufacturer, and a fair Competition encouraged, "would be productive of the happiest Events to this

66

Country at large;" and therefore praying, "That
"the Charter hitherto poffeffed by The East India Com-
pany for an exclufive Trade to India and China may
"not again be renewed, but that they together with
« the whole of their Fellow Subjects of this Realm may
"have free and unconstrained Liberty to communicate
"and trade with the feveral Countries beyond the Cape
Houfe fhall deem expedient for fecuring His Majefty's
of Good Hope, with fuch Reservations only as this
"Revenue, and effecting fuch other Purposes as they
" in their Wisdom shall think right and proper :"

It is ORDERED, That the faid Petition do lie on the
Table,

Petition of

Inhabitants

Upon reading the Petition of the Inhabitants of the Roman CaUnited Parishes of Clayton and Keymer, in the County of tholic Claims, Suffex, whofe Names are thereunto fubfcribed; fetting tits forth, "That the Petitioners view with a Mixture of of Clayton & "Sorrow and Aftonishment the Conduct of the Roman Keymer "Catholics in petitioning their Lordships Year after against.

Year, on a Subject which is called, however impro"perly, Emancipation, enjoying as the Roman Catholics "do, full Protection in their Perfons and Property, and "the free and undisturbed exercife of Religious Worship, "agreeably to the dictates of their Confciences, they 7

" conceive

Bill.

conceive their Aim to be nothing lefs than the Acqui-
"fition of Political Afcendancy, and as connected with
"this the Overthrow of Proteftantifm, and the ultimate
Establishment of Popery itfelf; in thefe Sentiments
"they are fupported by the avowed Declarations of
"their most diftinguifhed modern Advocates, who
*maintain that the Roman Catholic Religion has under-
"gone no Change, and that if any one fays or pretends
"to infinuate, that the modern Roman Catholics differ
"in one iota from their Ancestors, he either deceives
"himfelf, or he wishes to deceive others; the fame
"Reasons therefore ftill exift which influenced the Con-
"duct of their Ancestors at the glorious Revolution,
"and imperiously call for the Continuance of those
"Laws, which place the Power of the State in the Hands
"of Proteftants; Laws which they have been taught
"to confider as fundamental Parts of the British Con-
"ftitution, and the Bulwarks of their Liberties; against
ແ any Attempt to procure the Repeal of thefe Laws,
they feel it their bounden Duty folemnly to protest,
"because they view the Conftitution in the light of a
"Pledge depofited in their Hands for the Safety and

Integrity of which they are refponfible to their Chil-
"dren, that they too may enjoy the numerous Bleffings
"of which they are fenfible, and of the Dependence of
"these Bleflings, under Divine Providence, on a Pro-
"testant King and a Protestant Parliament, the Expe-
"rience of a Century, and the Hiftory of our own
"Nation afford them convincing Proofs: The Petition-
"ers therefore humbly implore their Lordships fted-
"faftly to refift every Attempt to procure the repeal
"of those Laws which place the Executive and Legisla-
"tive Authority in the Hands of Protestants :"

It is ORDERED, That the faid Petition do lie on the
Table.

E. Albe
Hodie 2 vice lecta eft Billa, intituled, " An A&t for
narle's Eftate" vesting certain Estates of the Right Honourable Wil-
"liam Charles Earl of Albemarle, at Elveden otherwise
"Elden, and Bardwell, in the County of Suffolk, devifed
"by the Will of the Right Honourable Auguftus Vil-
"count Keppel, in Trustees, upon Truft to fell the fame,
"and to apply the Money arifing from the Sale thereof
"in the Purchase of Eftates contiguous to the Family
"Estates of the said Earl in the County of Norfolk, to
"be fettled to the fubfifting Uses of the faid Will of the
"faid Auguftus Viscount Keppel."

Riddell's

Bill.

" and for investing the Refidue of fuch Money in the
"Purchase of other Eftates in the County of Northum-
"berland, to be fettled to the fame Ufes."

ORDERED, That the faid Bill be committed to the

Confideration of the Lords Committees aforenamed :

Their Lordships, or any Five of them, to meet on
Tuesday the 23d of this inftant March, at the
ufual Time and Place; and to adjourn as they
please.

Hodie 2a vice lecta eft Billa, intituled, " An A&t for Abp. York's "vefting certain Eftates belonging to the See of Estate Bill. "York, in Trustees for Sale, and for applying the "Monies thence arifing, in the Purchase of other "Eftates, to be fettled to the fame Ufes as the Estates "fold."

ORDERED, That the faid Bill be committed to the Confideration of the Lords Committees aforenamed: Their Lordships, or any Five of them, to meet on Wednesday the 24th of this instant March, at the ufual Time and Place; and to adjourn as they please.

Hodie 3 vice lecta eft Billa, intituled, " An Act for Cotterstock cum Glap"enclofing Lands in the Parish of Cotterstock cum thorn Enclo Glapthorn, in the County of Northampton."

The Question was put, "Whether this Bill fhall
"pafs?"

It was refolved in the Affirmative.

fure Bill:

A Meffage was fent to the House of Commons, by the Meffage to former Messengers;

H. C. with

Amendments

To return the faid Bill, and acquaint them, That the to it.
ORDERED, That the faid Bill be committed to the Lords have agreed to the fame with fome Amendments,
Confideration of the Lords following:

to which their Lordships defire their Concurrence.

Upon reading the Petition of William John Campion, Campion's et of Danny, in the Parish of Hurft Pierrepoint, in the Ux. Petition to change the County of Suffex, Efquire, and Jane Campion, his Wife; Judges. fetting forth," That the Petitioners prefented a Petition "to this Houfe on the Tenth of February laft, praying "Leave to bring in a Private Bill, for the Purpofes "therein mentioned, which Petition their Lordships "were pleafed to refer to the Confideration of Mr. "Juftice Grofe and Mr. Baron Wood: That on applying "to the faid Judges for an Appointment to attend "them on the faid Petition, the Petitioners Agent was "informed, that the faid Judges had fet out on their re"fpective Circuits, and are not expected to return "before the Time limited by their Lordships for receiving Reports from the Judges will expire; and that the "faid Judges have not met on the faid Petition, nor have any Proceedings been had thereon ;" and therefore praying their Lordfhips "To refer the faid Petition to The Lord Chief Baron of the Court of Exchequer "and Mr. Juftice Heath :"