r to throw light upon this important subject; and the witnesses,
chiefly persons who had occupied high stations in India, were generally
against opening the trade, or allowing missionaries to repair to
the East for the purpose of converting the natives to the Christian
religion. Finally, a bill was enacted for the prolongation of the
company's territorial power to April, 1834. At the same time it was
resolved that such measures ought to be adopted as might tend to the
introduction of useful knowledge, and of religious and moral improvement
among the natives. The church establishment of the British territories
in India was now, indeed, placed under the direction of a bishop
and three archdeacons, and missionaries were to be licensed for the
propagation of the gospel among the natives.

THE CATHOLIC QUESTION.

During this session Mr. Grattan carried a motion for referring the
Catholic claims to a committee of the whole house. On the 30th of
April, he presented to the house a bill for the removal of the civil
and military disqualifications under which his majesty's Roman Catholic
subjects laboured; but this bill, though read a second time, was lost
on its passage through the committee, Mr. Abbott, the speaker, having
divided the house on the clause by which Catholic members were to be
admitted to a seat in Parliament. This was rejected by a majority of two
hundred and fifty-one against two hundred and forty-seven, and then the
bill was abandoned by its supporters.

CURATES' BILL, ETC.

The toleration displayed in the debates on the Catholic question induced
Mr. Smith, one of the members for Norwich, to bring in a bill for the
relief of Unitarian dissenters from the pains and penalties to which
they were subject by a statute of William III. This bill passed into
a law; neither the ministers nor the bench of bishops opposing its
principle. Another bill, introduced by Lord Harrowby, was also passed,
for the augmentation of stipends payable to curates; a class of divines
who, though they bear "the burden and heat of the day," have always,
even to the present hour, been inadequately paid for their labours.

APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHANCELLOR.

In consequence of the great accumulation of business in the court of
chancery, a bill, proposed by Lord Redesdale, was passed this session,
for the appointment of a vice-chancellor of England. This new official
was to have full power to determine all cases of law and e