The Earl of Mountcashelpresented a Petition from the Rev. James Patrick Kenney, who had once been a Roman Catholic Priest, but had since become a Protestant. The petitioner stated, that he knew a number of priests of his former communion, who would abjure the errors of their church, provided they were allowed some means of subsistence. A Catholic priest became, upon conversion, ipso facto, a clergyman of the Church of England, and ought, as indeed the old law authorized, to have some provision assigned to him.
The Earl of Limerickreprobated in the strongest terms any pecuniary encouragement for converts, or the buying men over from one religion to another: sure he was, that the class of converts hitherto obtained in this manner were a good riddance for the one church, and a disgrace to the other."
The Earl of Mountcashelsaid, that the allowance, by the Act of Anne, was only 30l. a year—a sum too insignificant to be a bribe for such a purpose.
Lord Hollandapprehended this petition could not be received—it prayed for a grant of money. Noble Lords might, if they pleased, give advowsons to converts of this kind, where they had such patronage, but he would not consent to give them public money.
The Earl of Rosslynsaid, that the petition was quite irregular. It was an application for public money, and made in an informal manner.
The Earl of Mountcashelwithdrew the petition. He gave notice, that on Tuesday week he would present the Cork Petition for a Reform of the Established Church, and on the same day submit a motion corresponding with the views of the petitioners.
The Marquis of Londonderrywished to know from the noble Earl whether he meant to confine his motion to the Church of Ireland?
The Earl of Mountcashelreplied, that he did not: he meant it to include England as well as Ireland.