Sir John Newport, Mr. Brougham, Mr. Wynn, lord Milton, Mr. Spring Rice, and a large number of members from the Commons, brought up this bill. Sir John Newport, in handing it to the Lord Chancellor, said, that the Commons had passed a bill for the relief of his majesty's Catholic subjects, and prayed that their lordships would concur with them in the same.
The Earl of Donoughmoremoved, that the bill be read a first time; which being 563 ordered, the noble earl proceeded to appoint a day for the second reading. His Catholic fellow-subjects having, he said, long done him the honour to place their petitions in his hands, and make him the medium for communicating their grievances to their lordships, he could but feel the greatest satisfaction at welcoming from the other House of parliament a bill which was a signal pledge of justice, and of a spirit of conciliation. With a measure of such importance, it was necessary that their lordships should have as long a time as possible for consideration. At the same time, under the circumstances of the House, and the near approach of the holidays, he found it necessary to propose that the second reading should take place on Tuesday next.—Ordered.