Lords Sitting of 3 February 1813

PETITIONS AGAINST THE CLAIMS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLICS.
The Bishop of Chichester presented a Petition from the archdeacon, clergy, and others, of Chichester, against the Catholic Claims.—He also presented a Petition from the bishop, dean, and chapter of Ely, against the Catholic Claims.—Earl Nelson presented a Petition from the archdeacons of Norwich and Norfolk, against the Catholic Claims.
The Bishop of Norwich observed, that the Petition was contrary to his sentiments, and he could not but give his public testimony against the propriety of the clergy interfering in this question—a question which nearly concerned the welfare of several thousands of his Majesty's loyal and faithful subjects, and which

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ought to be left to the unbiassed decision of the legislature. He could not but lament that any part of the clergy should lead the way in contributing to raise the detestable cry of No Popery, which on a former occasion had produced so much mischief, and he deeply regretted that those illiberal and uncharitable sentiments which petitions of this nature upheld, and which had been banished from the rest of the world, should leave their last footsteps in the sanctuaries of our religion and our temples of literature.
The Petition having been read,
The Duke of Norfolk observed, that one expression in it, that the Catholics enjoyed the same privileges as the Protestant Dissenters, was not founded in fact, Protestant Dissenters being allowed to sit in parliament, whilst a part of the oaths tendered was levelled expressly at Catholics to prevent their sitting there.
The Bishop of Salisbury presented a Petition from the dean and chapter of Salisbury against the Catholic Claims.—He also presented a Petition to the same effect from the archdeacon and clergy of Berks, and the dean, archdeacon, and clergy of Salisbury, and two other jurisdictions within the diocese of Salisbury.—On one of these Petitions,
The Duke of Norfolk observed, that it stated that the Catholics still believed in the infallibility of the Pope; and on another, that it charged the Catholics with still holding the tenet, that sovereigns might be excommunicated by the Pope. On the language of Petitions which were now lying for signature in every alehouse in Westminster, it would not be worth while to remark; but when a Petition came from a learned body, it was natural to expect that it would be correctly expressed. It was, therefore, with surprise, he found the Catholics still charged, in Petitions from learned persons, with holding the tenets of the infallibility of the Pope, and the excommunication of sovereigns; although, by the strongest oaths that could be put to man, they had absolutely denied that they entertained any such tenets. These Petitions, therefore, asserted that which was not the fact, and it was of importance that the misrepresentation should be contradicted.
Lord Hollandthought the noble duke entitled to thanks for thus vindicating the Catholics from misrepresentation, it being notorious that all the Catholics of Ireland had, by the strongest oaths that could be
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devised, and by the most solemn appeal to God, denied that they entertained any such tenets.
The Bishop of Salisbury also presented a Petition from the dean and chapter, the archdeacon and clergy of Exeter, against the Catholic Claims.—Viscount Sidmouth presented a Petition to the same effect from the mayor, aldermen and assistants of the borough of Leeds Ordered to lie upon the table.

EAST INDIA COMPANY'S CHARTER.
Viscount Melville presented Petitions from the chamber of commerce of Edinburgh, the convention of the royal burghs in Scotland, and the corporation of Stirling, assembled in guild, against the continuance of the monopoly of the East India Company.