said, he had to present a petition from the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, to which he begged the attention of the House. Some years ago, a committee of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland was appointed for the purpose of collecting and recovering various manuscripts connected with their ecclesiastical establishment: and, among other objects to which this committee were required to direct their attention, they were specially instructed to print the ancient record entitled "The Book of the Universal Kirk of Scotland." It was discovered that this book, extending to three volumes, was extant in the library of Sion college, London; but, after repeated applications, the governors a the college not only refused to restore the volumes, but even to permit a copy of the work to be taken, or to allow a collation, with the partial Abbreviates of it preserved in Scotland; the college stating, that they should not be justified in so doing, under the deed of trust by which the possession of these volumes was acquired by the college. Now the history of these three volumes of records was this:—it appeared that they, together with other documents of a similar nature, had been, for some time prior to the Revolution, interested to private individuals, for the sake of secrecy, the safety of them depending upon it not being known where they were. The three volumes fell into the hands of the hon. and rev. Archibald Campbell, and, about the year 1733, that person wishing to make the most of them, offered to restore them to their rightful owners upon certain terms. These terms were the most unreasonable imaginable. Not only was the sum he demanded extremely large, but he required also, that the book should be published under his superintendence, and with the understanding, that no member of the church of Scotland was to be suffered to revise the sheets as they passed through the press. It was, of course, impossible that the church of Scotland could accede to these humiliating terms; and upon their refusal Mr. Campbell executed some deed of trust, by which he conveyed the books to Sion college, on condition, as it was supposed, that neither the originals nor a copy of them should be seen by the church of Scotland. Now, the commissioners merely asked for an authentic copy of these books; but the fellows of Sion College, had refused to accede to their request. The petitioners stated, that the donor of the books to the college could have no legal right to them, and that the documents are theirs. They do not reflect upon the fellows of Sion College; but they deem it necessary, as a last resource, to make an application to parliament by petition, in the hope that some means may be devised by the wisdom of the legislature for relieving the members of Sion College from the restraint under which they feel themselves, and enabling them either to restore these ancient records to the church of Scotland, or to allow an authentic copy of them to be taken.—He would only add, that he trusted the Bishop of London, and others connected with the college, would be induced to view this matter in its proper light; and that, now that publicity was given to the subject, the strong expression of public feeling would show them, that they ought not to abide by the absurd conditions of a man who had no legal right to the property he gave.

said, he trusted that hon. members would see that this was a case of the greatest hardship on the church of Scotland, and that the petitioners had been compelled to throw themselves on the House and on the public for redress. He thought there must be some fact unknown to him, which made the fellows of Sion College refuse that which, in common literary courtesy, was usually granted to every historical inquirer. It was said, that hard conditions were annexed to the deed by the donor. But, who was the donor? A man who could not have come honestly by the property he gave, and who, having failed in his attempt to extort money from the church of Scotland, conveyed the property to Sion College, under conditions which he hoped would hide his fraud. Could the fellows of Sion College feel themselves bound by the condition of a deed, which every moralist and lawyer must feel was void from the beginning? He could not believe they would act thus. He was glad, however, the subject had been brought forward.

said, that the college might at least give a copy of these documents. He could not help thinking, that if the matter rested with the bishop of London, the respect which that right rev. prelate was known to entertain for litera- ture, and for the reformed religion, would prevail with him to grant the request of the petitioners.

said, there could be no doubt that the claim of the petitioners was founded in justice, and he hoped that some motion would be brought forward, which would elicit the feeling of the House on the subject. If the public mind were kept alive to it, the college would be compelled to perform this act of justice.

said, that if the college refused to accede to the request of the petitioners, he thought that the House, without improper interference, might inquire into the means by which a remedy might be applied to the case.

hoped, that the publicity which would now be given to the transaction would render any further step unnecessary. If not, he should feel it his duty to bring the matter before the House in another form.

Ordered to be printed.