ACT TO RELIEVE CATHOLICS, ETC.
Before the Easter recess, an act was passed to relieve Roman Catholics from certain penalties and disabilities, on subscribing the declaration and oaths contained in the act of the 31st of George III. A bill was also introduced into the upper house by Lord Ellenborough, which made the maliciously maiming, wounding, and disfiguring of any of his majesty’s subjects, a capital felony; attempts also to discharge loaded fire-arms, with intent to kill or wound, were made subject to the penalty of death. The attention of both houses was also occupied by a clergy residence bill, the coroner’s bill, debates on the Paneras workhouse, &c. After the Easter holidays, a bill was unanimously carried which was intended to put down the rioting which had occurred among the electors of Nottingham, by allowing the magistrates of the county a concurrent jurisdiction in the town of Nottingham with the magistrates residing in that town. A bill was likewise passed for continuing the militia in Ireland, as well as in England and Scotland, but which substituted in that country the giving of bounties for the system of ballot.