Great Britain. Parliament. IMPARTIAL DETAIL OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES IN BOTH HOUSES OF THE IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, IN THE SESSION OF 1805, UPON THE CATHOLIC PETITION. To which are added, by way of Appendix, THE QUERIES SUBMITTED TO, AND THE ANSWERS RECEIVED FROM, THE LICS, RESPECTING THE KEEPING OF FAITH WITH TO ABSOLVE THEM FROM ALLEGIANCE TO PROTESTANT PRINCES. LONDON: PRINTED FOR CUTIELL AND MARTIN, MIDDLE-ROW, HOLBORN; AND GILBERT AND HODGES, DUBLIN: AND MAY BE HAD OF KEATING, DUKE-STREET, GROSVENOR-SQUARE; BOOKER, AND CARPENTER, BOND-STREET; AND ALL THE BOOKSELLERS. R. Taylor and Co. Printers, 38, Shoe-Lane, GL 3701840 itbri 6-3-26 INTRODUCTION. UPON a question admitted on all hands to be of vital importance to the British Empire, it must be gratifying to every man feeling interest or anxiety for the happiness and prosperity of that empire, to possess a faithful record of all those arguments and opinions which the collective wisdom and eloquence of both Houses of the Imperial Parliament have been able to suggest upon this great subject, the first time it has come before them for discussion. Perhaps no question ever agitated within the walls of Parliament has excited so much debate, or so much interested the public solicitude. The publishers of this work have been peculiarly exertive to lay before their readers a faithful detail of the several speeches actually delivered on this occasion; and though they have to regret the impossibility of detailing at full length the speeches of a very few members, to whom still they wish to pay every respect, yet they can truly assert, that no opinion has been intentionally misrepresented, nor an argument of any weight omitted, that could bear upon the question. 1 The Imperial Parliament, after a full hearing of all sides, have come to their first, it would be too presumptuous to say their final, decision A2 |