The Earl of Winchilseasaid, that in presenting a Petition from the Loyal Free Barons of the Town and Port of Dover, complaining of the cruel situation in which Protestant Officers and Soldiers were placed in being compelled upon foreign stations to join in the superstitious rites of the Greek and Roman Catholic Church, he would take the opportunity of asking the noble Duke opposite, whether it was the intention of Government to issue an order giving the relief sought for by the petitioners.
§ The Duke of Wellington.—Until the petition is read, I cannot tell what that relief is.
§ On the Petition being read,
§ The Duke of Wellingtonobserved, that he certainly could not say that Government had given any order to put an end to the military practices complained of in the Petition. There were many statements in the Petition which he knew to be untrue, more particularly that which declared that Pagans and others did not attend on the ceremonies of the Protestant Church of England. That attendance he had himself witnessed.
The Earl of Winchilseadid not mean to conceal from the House, that this petition was founded upon circumstances which had come out upon a recent court-martial. He would not enter, at present, into the merits of that court-martial, nor would he say one word upon its judgment. He had, however, a sincere hope that Protestants would be placed forthwith upon an equality with their Catholic fellow-subjects who were not compelled to participate in, nor be present at, any ceremonies of the Church of England, which were repugnant to their feelings. Attendance at ceremonies of the Greek or Roman Catholic Church must necessarily be repugnant to the feelings of any man who conscientiously professed the Protestant religion. He hoped that some measure would be speedily adopted to relieve the scruples of tender consciences.