against her, whilst, notwithstanding the state of oppression of seven millions of Catholics, England passes in the eyes of the multitude for the classical country of toleration, and the generous protector of civil and religious liberty.

PARLIAMENTARY. Petition of Mr. Blunt, complaining of Calumnies against Roman Catholics, in a Pamphlet circulated by the "Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge."

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
MAY 28, 1824.

Lord ALTHORP presented a petition from Mr. Blunt, a Roman-Catholic gentleman, complaining of the conduct of a clergyman, in circulating among his (Mr. Blunt's) tenants, a pamphlet containing false and scandalous imputations on Roman Catholics. This pamphlet was printed some years ago for the Protestant Chartered Schools in Ireland, but had been subsequently withdrawn, and was now again brought into circulation by the Society calling itself the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge. It contained all those false and scandalous imputations on the Roman Catholic religion, which had been solemnly disclaimed by the six Catholic Universities.-Mr. Blunt had taken the oath of allegiance, and solemnly disclaimed all the tenets which were imputed to him in this pamphlet. In presenting this petition he (Lord A.) could not but observe, that he thought the House would do right in expressing its disapprobation of this attempt to impute base and disloyal principles to the Catholics, whose loyalty and exemplary conduct had been recognized by the Legislature. Neither Mr. Blunt nor any other Catholic had a right to complain of a Protestant minister, who endeavoured to convince others of the truth of the doctrines of the Church of England; but he had a right to complain of a clergyman of the Church of England who disseminated a scandalous pamphlet in his neighbourhood, for the purpose of making him odious in the eyes of his fellowsubjects. The conduct of the Society for the propagation of Christian Knowledge was still more culpable; for they ought to have known that this pamphlet had been withdrawn by the Chartered Schools in Ireland, as containing injurious imputations on the Catholics, which had been solemnly disclaimed.

Mr. Secretary PEEL said, that as he was not aware that he had ever seen this pamphlet, and as he knew nothing of the clergyman alluded to, he could say little on this subject. If this clergyman, or any other individual or society had circu

lated a pamphlet, the object of which was to sow religious animosities, he could only say, that such an act met with his decided disapprobation. He did recollect that the Protestant Chartered Schools in Ireland, formerly used a catechism which was liable to objection, and which had been subsequently withdrawn. He should be sorry to find that any public institution had again circulated a publication, which had been withdrawn in consequence of its objectionable character by the Protes

tant Society in Ireland. From the frequent experience, however, which he had had in matters of this kind, he thought it would be right for the House to suspend its judgment, until the fact were ascertained. He repeated, that if any clergyman of the Church of England had taken the course of which the petitioner complained, it was impossible for him (Mr. P.) to give his approbation to such à proceeding.

Mr. PHILLIPS bore testimony to the highly respectable and amiable character of the petitioner. He thought the conduct of the Society, calling itself a Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, could not be too strongly reprobated. It appeared that they had printed and circulated a scandalous pamphlet, imputing to the great body of the Roman Catholics tenets and principles which they had dis. claimed upon oath, for the express purpose of exciting hatred and persecution against a large portion of their fellowcountrymen.

Mr. CURWEN, as a member of the Society, expressed his unwillingness to believe the accuracy of the statement which had been just made. He trusted the charge would turn out, upon inquiry, to be unfounded.

Sir JOHN NEWPORT said, he would take upon himself to say that the pamphlet in question was printed by the Society's printer, circulated by their booksellers, and appeared upon the face of it to be circulated by their authority and sanction. He could conceive nothing more disgraceful, than that a public Institution, the professed object of which was to promote Christian Knowledge, of which they ought to consider Christian charity a main ingredient, should give fresh circulation to a publication, containing slanderous imputations on the Roman Catholics, which had been disclaimed upon oath-a publication which had been withdrawn from the Chartered Schools of Ireland by the Protestants themselves.

Sir F. BURDETT said a few words in so low a tone, as to be inaudible in the gallery.

The petition was ordered to lie on the

table.

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No. CCXXVIII.]

JAMES II. had not been long seated on the throne, before the storm of persecution began to rage with all its former violence. The Papists were openly favoured and protected by the Court, while the meeting-houses of the Protestant Dissenters were shut up, and the most rigorous measures employed, to prevent their ministers' officiating amongst them even in private houses.

On the Irish Catholics the King placed great dependence; and matters had been so managed that all the civil and military offices in Ireland were put into their hands. A regular Popish hierarchy was established. Many Protestants, apprehensive of the most direful visitations of arbitrary power, transported themselves into England and other more distant countries.

William and Mary were no sooner seated on the throne, than the Dissenting ministers in London and its vicinity waited on their Majesties with an address of congratulation.

In Ireland, the Presbyterian ministers were so forward in their zeal, that they commissioned two of their number, Patrick Adair and John Abernethy, to wait upon the Prince of Orange, before he was proclaimed King, to congratulate him on his safe arrival, and to encourage him in the great enterprize which he had undertaken. They concerted measures with some of the nobility and most eminent gentry of the Established Church, for putting the country in a state of defence against King James and his adherents.

[They adhered to his interest during his contest with James II. in the most devoted manner : the more distinguished champions in Derry, during the siege, were of the Presbyterian persuasion; and throughout the province they were the foremost to take up arms in defence of the Protestant religion.]

That King William was entirely

VOL. XIX.

4 x

[Vol. XIX.

sensible of their attachment to his person and government, is apparent from various testimonials published in their favour. One of these is a letter from the King to the Duke of Schomberg, General of the land forces, dated Whitehall, Nov. 9th, 1689. In this he states, that some Presbyterian ministers have humbly besought for themselves, their brethren and their congregations in the province of Ul ster, that he would take them under his gracious protection-and that he, being entirely satisfied of their loyalty and fidelity, and commiserating their late sufferings and calamities, thinks fit to grant their request; and, therefore, recommends them to the Duke, in a particular manner, requiring him to give them that protection and sup port which they deserve, for their af, fection to his service.

Previous to this, Mr. Adair and Mr. Abernethy had waited on the King with a petition, praying that he would prevent all farther persecution on account of Nonconformity-that he would encourage a pure gospel ministry, and that he would grant some relief to those ministers who had suffered in the late public calamities. To this application his Majesty was pleased to give a most gracious answer.*

Another testimonial relates to a grant of Royal Bounty. The order was issued at Hillsborough, June 19th, 1690, for the payment of £1200 into the hands of seven ministers therein named, for the use of them and the other Presbyterian ministers in the North, and was directed to Christopher Carleton, Esq., Collector of the port of Belfast. Whether or not there was any thing informal in this order, does not appear: but on the

* When in London, the ministers wrote for farther directions to their brethren, who were then in Scotland, having been banished from their country by the Irish. Loy. Presb. p. 408.