certainly should oppose them. Notwithstanding, the repeal of the Test
Acts was immediately followed by a motion for removing the Catholic
disabilities. On the 8th of May Sir Francis Burdett moved, "That the
house do now resolve itself into a committee of the whole house, for the
purpose of taking into consideration the state of the laws affecting his
majesty's subjects in Great Britain and Ireland, with a view to such a
final and conciliatory adjustment as may be conducive to the peace
and strength of the United Kingdom, to the stability of the Protestant
establishment, and to the general satisfaction and concord of all
classes of his majesty's subjects." The debate lasted two nights; but
as the speeches were merely repetitions of former arguments, it would
be tedious and useless to give even a sketch, of them. The principal
speakers in favour of the motion were Messrs. Brougham, Fitzgerald,
North, Grant, and Huskisson, and Sirs J. Newport and J. Mackintosh. It
was opposed by the attorney-general, Sir R. Inglis, and Messrs. Moore,
Foster, Bankes, and Peel. On a division the motion for a committee was
carried by a majority of six; and in the committee this resolution was
agreed to:--"That it is expedient to consider the state of the laws
affecting his majesty's Roman Catholic subjects, with the view of
effecting such a final adjustment of them as may be conducive to
the peace and strength of the United Kingdom, the stability of the
Protestant establishment, and the general satisfaction and concord of
all classes." Here, however, the commons stopped. Instead of forming
resolutions in detail, it was determined to seek a conference with the
lords, in order to ascertain whether their sentiments on the subject had
changed. This proposal was agreed to by the peers; and a conference was
held on the 19th of May, when the resolution of the commons, after being
read in the upper house, was ordered to be taken into consideration on
the 9th of June. The debate lasted two days; but the proposition of
the Marquis of Lansdowne, "that their lordships should concur in that
resolution," was lost by a majority of one hundred and eighty-one
against one hundred and thirty-seven. In this debate, however, the
Duke of Wellington's speech was marked by a conciliatory tone; and the
friends of emancipation augured from this that their wishes on a future
day would meet-with a less obstinate and uncompromising opposition.

MOTION ON THE STATE O