claim, in the event of a concession of the Catholic claims"We will have this check-we will have an annual Bill of Indemnity!" I do not mean to say that they could have this for ever, but I will assert, that if such a proposition were moved previously to the introduction of the Catholic question, it would raise new obstacles to the accomplishment of that measure.

There is another point of view, in which I would wish this motion to be considered by the friends of the Catholics. The Test Act was framed originally for the purpose of their exclusion; every gentleman knows the strong and honest, and sincere apprehensions which are still entertained in this country against their admission to power; every body admits that some civil tests and securities are necessary. Now, let me ask of gentlemen to consider whether, with many, who have a friendly inclination to the Catholics, something like this mode of reasoning may not have its weight?

Should the Catholics be admitted to power, by a modification of the oaths against transubstantiation and supremacy, which particularly affect them, in the absence of other securities which might be satisfactory, this of the Test Act would still remain. It would remain a possible check upon them, subject to annual indemnity, so long as they did nothing to provoke its application; but with the possibility of withholding that indemnity, should there exist sufficient cause to do so.

I say this is not an impossible view of the subject to be taken by many an honest and timorous Protestant, who might be inclined to afford relief to the Catholics; and I would not have the Catholics make too sure that, if the Test Act were repealed, many a Dissenter would not find in the loss of that check an additional motive against yielding to his Catholic brethren the same measure of emancipation which he now seeks for himself.

Entertaining this view of the question, I for one, Sir, am not prepared to support the noble lord's motion. I thank the noble lord for the moderate, yet able manner, in which he has brought forward his case. I am quite sure, if the discussion leads to dissension out of doors, or to any exasperation of those feelings which are generally mixed up with questions of this kind, that such an effect cannot be traced to the way in which the subject has been introduced. Such disssension and evil feelings can only arise from the nature of the case itself, and cannot be attributed to the tone or temper in which the noble lord has approached the subject. Nothing, I am bound to say, can be more mild, more prudent, or more discreet, than the way in which the noble lord has brought the question before the House. `Such, Sir, are my feelings upon the subject; and being strongly impressed with the truth and justice of the important principle contained in the Correspondence of Mr. Pitt with his late Majesty, to which I have referred, I have deemed it to be my duty to take the position which I have done upon this occasion.

The House divided: For the motion, 237. Against it

EMIGRATION-PASSENGERS REGULATION BILL.

March 4.

Mr. Wilmot Horton moved for a copy of the Report laid before the Cabinet Department by Lieutenant Colonel Cockburn, on the subject of Emigration; together with the Instructions received from that Department in January 1827; and also for leave to bring in a Bill to regulate the conveyance of Passengers in Merchant Vessels from the United Kingdom to foreign parts. Sir James Graham having asked, whether it really was the intention of Government to revive the Passengers' Act, after the report of the last session?

Mr. Secretary HUSKISSON said, he felt in common with his right honourable friend, that no matter required earlier attention than the revival of certain provisions of the Pas

sengers Act. If the honourable baronet had seen all the reports from New Brunswick and the other colonies, to which there had been a considerable emigration last year, he would be satisfied of the propriety of such a course. Those who arrived had carried with them contagious disorders of the worst description. In some instances, the gaol fever devastated whole townships, to the destruction of not less than one-tenth of the population. The interests of humanity loudly demanded that immediate measures should be taken to secure for the passengers in those vessels a sufficient space, and a due attention to their comforts and accommodation. There were many provisions in the old act of an objectionable nature; but no time should be lost in reviving the material provisions of that act, as the season was fast approaching when vessels with passengers would be clearing for the Colonies and North America. He would not enter then upon the discussion of the subject immediately before the House, nor examine whether there existed an excess of population beyond that for which employment could be found. But, while that was an evil in itself, there were other evils and other considerations which should be attended to. One of the greatest of these-an evil not impossible in any country, and not improbable in this-was, that there might exist a great emigration from amongst the population, without a corresponding emigration of capital; and thus they would be only transferring a portion of the existing mischief to other quarters of the world. If individuals were encouraged to emigrate, they should be enabled to employ themselves profitably, in the new countries to which they were sent, and the capital at present lying idle in this country might be advantageously put in requisition for that purpose.

Mr. Hume said, that the Emigration Committee had recommended the repeal of the Act which it was now proposed to revive, on the ground that it had prevented the emigration of thousands to America.

Mr. Secretary HUSKISSON Confessed that he was unable to understand the nature of those pure abstract principles, which were to prevent them from interfering where the interests of humanity were at stake. He could not conceive the meaning of those general principles, which should never bend to circumstances. The honourable gentleman seemed to doubt whether Government had received any documents upon which they could found the proposed measure. Now, during the short time that he had been in his present office, a variety of documents had reached him upon the matter, and amongst others a letter from that gallant officer, Sir James Kempt, who was commander on the Halifax station. He wrote, that during the last season the ship James' arrived there from Ireland, with emigrants. She sailed with a hundred and sixty on board, of whom five died on the passage, and thirty-five were left at Newfoundland, being unable to proceed. The remaining hundred and twenty, with the crew, arrived at Halifax, all labouring under typhus fever. At that time, the population of Halifax amounted to seven thousand, and in the lapse of ten months eight hundred had fallen victims to the contagion. Last year nearly two-thirds of the emigrants from Ireland had been carried off by fever. Care ought to be taken to prevent the crowding of these poor people into a smaller space than was compatible with health and comfort. All he asked for, however, was,-and he stated this to allay the fears of those who were adverse to an alteration in the present system,-not that unnecessary regulations should be introduced, which must, necessarily, have the effect of throwing obstacles in the way of the improvement of the colonies, but that care should be taken to provide sufficient quarters and sufficient diet, so as to prevent the introduction of those dangerous fevers, which were often fatal to the parties themselves, to those employed in navigating the

ships carrying the emigrants, and to the people amongst whom the emigrants went to reside. All this might be avoided, by adopting necessary precautions; and he might be permitted to observe, that regulations were enforced in various of the British colonies, much more strict than any that this law would impose. With respect to the way in which these poor people were sent out of Ireland, it was, in many instances, most lamentable. The law had no power to interfere, and the consequences were horrible. In one instance, the passengers, in a state of despair, had taken possession of the vessel, and a melancholy shipwreck was the consequence. He therefore thought it absolutely neces sary to introduce some measure to rectify so great an evil. Leave was given to bring in the bill.

March 18.

On the order of the day for the second reading of the Bill, it was supported by Mr. Villiers Stuart, and opposed by Mr. Warburton and Mr. James Grattan, on the ground that it was calculated to impede emigration rather than promote it, and that a previous com mittee on the bill was necessary.

Mr. Secretary HUSKISSON said, he wished to call the attention of the House to the real question before it. He was not disposed to enter into a discussion upon the general question of emigration. That was a subject which would require a more extended line of argument than honourable members would be inclined to listen to, at that late period of the evening. He could not agree that the question of emigration was one so extremely simple, that the House would be justified in saying if it be right to encourage emigration, then it is unnecessary to take any care of the manner in which the parties emigrating are transported to the country of their destination." The honourable member for Bridport had spoken of those parties as if they had no claim whatever