§ Lord Morpethpresented a Petition from Leeds, praying, that Marriages celebrated in Roman Catholic Chapels, by persons professing that religion, might be legalized. This Petition directed the attention of the House to a great defect in the existing law, for the consequence of these marriages being invalid was, that the issue were considered bastards, whereby the parishes in the manufacturing districts were seriously burthened.
Mr. O'Ferrallsaid, that in consequence of the state of the law respecting Roman Catholic Marriages, husbands were induced to desert their wives. This subject, in a moral point of view, well deserved the consideration of the House.
§ Petition to be printed.