Lords Sitting of 6 June 1842

Preamble
MINUTES.] BILLS. Public.—1a Affirmations.
Reported.—Australia and New Zealand.
3aand passed:—Tyne Fisheries; Incumbents Leasing (H. C).
Private.—1a. Ely Place Improvement; Camberwell and Peckham Lighting; Brentford Gas: Thames Haven Dock and Railway; St. Pancras Improvement; Boston Harbour (No. 2); Lincoln Roads.
2a. Ashton's Divorce; Gravesend Terrace Pier; Dundalk Road; Liverpool Improvement; Stockton and Hartlepool Railway; Cambuslang and Muirkirk Roads; Lord Sherborne's Estate.
Reported.—Yarmouth and Norwich Railway (specially); Jurisdiction of Justices; Clerkenwell Improvement; Rouma's Naturalization; Lesbazeille's Naturalization.
3a. and passed:—Warwick and Leamington Union Railway; New Cross Roads; Yate Inclosure; Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal.
PETITIONS PRESENTED. From Donaughmore, for the Encouragement of Schools in connexion with the Church Education Society (Ireland).—By Lord Melboururn, from Yarmouth, and Rickmansworth, against the Property Tax.—From Mossley, Glossop, Meltham, Radcliffe, Staleybridge, and Yeardsley-cum-Whalley, for the Repeal of the Poor-law Amendment Bill.—By the Marquess of Lansdowne, from the Ministers forming the Baptist Southern Association of England, and from Dunferin-

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line, for the substitution of Affirmations in lieu of Oaths, and for the Abolition of Church Rates and Ecclesiastical Courts, and against any further Grant of Money for Church Extension.

CATHOLICS IN WORKHOUSES.
Lord Camoyspresented petitions from Roman Catholics in Manchester and other towns, on the subject of the grievances with respect to which several petitions had been already presented. The petition from Manchester was signed by 8,000 persons, and might have had the signatures of 50,000 if exertions had been made to procure them. He understood, that the number of Roman Catholics in the town of Manchester was not less than from 70,000 to 80,000, and that, including those of surrounding districts, they would amount to 100,000. He did not mention this by way of any boast of the numbers, but in order to call the attention of their Lordships, particularly the Members of the Government, to one subject of which the petitioners complained. Most of these were very poor persons, and of course many of them became inhabitants of union workhouses, and as the clause relating to the religious instruction of inmates, now stood, the guardians would have it in their power to deprive them of the benefit of religious instruction according to their own form of worship. He did not ask that Catholic chaplains should be appointed to workhouses; but he hoped, that attention might be given to the framing of this clause before it was too late; and that it should not be left in the power of hostile guardians to frustrate the intentions of the Legislature.
The petitions were laid on the Table.

AFFIRMATIONS.
Lord Denmanhad to lay on their Lordships' Table a bill entitled,
" An act to provide for the Affirmation of persons who had conscientious objections to taking oaths."
This bill was not intended for the abolition of oaths in general, but went to release from the necessity of taking oaths all those who had conscientious objections thereto. It was not his intention to have a registration of those classes who were to be exempted; but if any noble Lord wished to have some security that the parties exempted should be so on some peculiar ground, he would not object, though he did not think it necessary.
Bill read a first time.

THE QUEEN'S LETTER.
Lord Kinnairdasked, what parties were to be entrusted with the distribution of the funds collected by the Queen's letter? If the funds were to be distributed by the Government, it followed that this was only an appeal of the Government to relieve itself.
The Duke of Wellingtonrose to order. If the noble Lord had a question to put, he would be kind enough to put it, and not argue upon the consequences of the answer he might receive. He begged to remind the noble Lord that he should conform to the usual practice, and give notice of his intention to ask a question, and then he would have some chance of getting an answer.
Lord Kinnairdhad no idea that there was so much difficulty in getting an answer to a simple question, but he would give notice, that on the earliest day he would repeat the question.
The Duke of Wellington:If the noble Lord pleased, to-morrow.
Adjourned.