n should report progress,
and sit again for the further consideration of the proposed grant. The
principal plea of the opponents of the grant was, that no additional
expenses were entailed on his royal highness; but it was finally voted
by a majority of ninety-nine against fifteen.

CATHOLIC QUESTION.

At this period circumstances seemed peculiarly favourable to the claims
of the Roman Catholics. The Duke of York was dead, Lord Liverpool was
seriously ill, and the influence of Mr. Canning was all potent in the
cabinet. Public attention had been fixed on this subject, from the
opening of the session, more eagerly than any other which promised to
occupy the attention of parliament; and petitions against their claims
nightly covered the tables of both houses from the Protestant community.
On the other hand, the Catholics were equally active; and at length,
on the 5th of March, after having presented their general petition, Sir
Francis Burdett brought the question before the house of commons. He
moved--"That this house is deeply impressed with the necessity of
taking into immediate consideration the laws inflicting penalties on his
majesty's Roman Catholic subjects, with the view of removing them." The
speech which Sir Francis Burdett delivered on this occasion gave rise
to a debate that lasted two nights. In the course of his speech, he
remarked, that the claims of the Catholics rested on more undeniable
grounds than were supplied by general justice, or by historical
deductions--they had been secured to them by treaty. "Every hour," he
said, "that the disqualifications were allowed to continue, was a new
violation of our solemn engagements, and a breach of public faith. What,
the Catholics asked, had been secured to them by the treaty of Limerick?
The first article of that treaty was the following:--'The loyal
Catholics of this kingdom shall enjoy such privileges in the exercise
of their religion as are consistent with the laws of Ireland, or as they
did enjoy in the reign of King Charles II.; and their majesties, so
soon as their affairs will permit them to summon a parliament in this
kingdom, will endeavour to procure the said Roman Catholics such further
security in that particular as may preserve them from any disturbance
upon the account of their said religion,' Now he apprehended that
Catholic peers sat in parliament in the reign of Charles II., so that
here was an express stipulation for the benefit of Cathol