Lord Hollandrose to call their lordships' attention to a bill which he was about to introduce and which had for its object to enable the Earl Marshal or his deputy to execute that office without the necessity of taking certain oaths at present required by law. In offering such a bill at that period of the session he would briefly explain the reasons which induced him to bring it forward at the present moment. Their lordships were aware, that when a noble relation of his lately introduced a bill for the relief of the Roman Catholics of England, what he now proposed to do formed one of its enactments. The measure proposed by his noble relation had three distinct objects: 1st, to render Roman Catholics capable of executing the duties of justices of the peace; 2nd,to render them capable of serving as officers of the revenue; and 3dly to place any Roman Catholic Earl Marshal in such a situation as would enable him to execute his office. To making Roman Catholics justices of the peace, several noble lords objected on principle; but no objection on the ground of principle was made to the other objects, which were even considered proper. The repeal of the objectionable oaths with regard to revenue officers was confessed to be not only just, but desirable. In fact, a bill for that purpose was introduced by the noble earl opposite, and it had already passed. The object of the bill he now recommended was the same with that, the justice of the principle of which, had been acknowledged. It involved no principle which would lead their lordships' one step further than they had already advanced. He had in favour of his propositions the declarations and professions of many noble lords, most jealous on subjects of this kind. They had all owned that they conceived no danger could arise from carrying this object into effect. Indeed, how could it be supposed that there was more danger to 1456 the church from the stick of the Earl Marshal than from the sword of the army and navy? It being, then, acknowledged that there was no danger in carrying this object into effect, he had reasons which induced him to propose the measure at the present moment. Their lordships were aware, that the noble duke who held the office of Earl Marshal did not stand in the same situation as he did when this subject was formerly before them. The noble duke was aware of the general sentiments of their lordships on the subject of his office and was sensible of the justice that was done him. He had, however by a stroke of Providence, just been deprived of that person who, on account of the ties of blood and affection, he should have wished to exercise the duties of his office. If their lordships were disposed to agree to the bill he proposed, this was precisely the time at which the boon it was intended to confer could be given with the greatest effect and generosity. It was part of the duty of Earl Marshal to attend on the prorogation of parliament; and now when that period was approaching, the country was placed in the situation of having no one to discharge that office. The noble duke, while labouring under affliction, must be called upon to appoint a deputy, and in the urgency of the case would have to transfer to some distant relation or connexion that duty which he would be proud to discharge himself. Upon the whole, therefore, he thought that this was a time at which he need not be discouraged from presenting this bill to their lordships for a first reading.
§ The bill was read a first time.