Star. — London, England, 1819-03-26 00:00:00

-- - FOR THE USE OF SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES. This day day published, . A new Edition carefully corrected, being the Slatelath, of THE ILIAD of HOMER, with Dr. SAMUEL CLARKE's NOTES, in onelarge Volume, Octavo, price, bound, Its. or in two Volumes, with the Latin Trans/ation at the End, price, bound, U. Printed for Rivingtons. Scatcherd and Letterman, Lowndes, Lackington and Co. J. Richardson, J. M. Richardson, Long man and Co . Williams , Mawnsan, Baldwin and Co. Fenner, Robinson, and Whittakers. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. HOUSE OF LORDS, MARCH 25. -- - , Counsel were heard in. part on a Scots Appeal, which i 1 ex pected to be proceeded farther upon on Monday. The Earls of EOSIXOWT and COUSTOWN, Viscount Hamm+, and the Lords Custom and Roux, took the oaths and their seats. Mr. BULLOCK,, from tha Treasury. presented Accounts re specting the blithe Debt, and the Public Expenditure, in the year ending the sth of January, 1819. Mr. Jrataxit, from the Commissioners for the Erection of the New Churches, presented an Account of the Moneys expended by order of the Commissioners for that purpose, Estimates laid before the same, Ice. which, with the foregoing documents, were ordered to lie en the table. The farther consideration of Dunn's Divorce Bill was post poned till Tuesday. The Amendments made to Trelawney's Divorce Bill were agreed to by the House. The Earl of LAUDERDALE called to the recollection of their Lordships, the circumstance of his having brought forward, not long since, certain Petitions from particular districts in a Northern County, respecting the rendering Lead and certain other Mines liable to the Poor's Rates. Some of these Peti tions he had declined presenting at th• limb, oa the grisund of irregularity. He had since, however, Petitions of a similar na ture put into his hands, which were free from those objections, and which be would now present to their Lordships. The Noble Earl then presented two or more Petitions, from Grandy, and certain other l'arishes in the County of York, pray-' ing that Lead 51inzs may be rendered liable to the Poor's Rates. Lord ARDEN presented a Petition froth the Town of Bran don, in the County of Cork, against the Claims of the Irish Cathol i es. Th.: Earl of W INC lIILSEA presented a Petition from Up plrgham, in the County of Rutland, in favour of a modified re r.'wal of the Insolvent Debtors' Act; which Os were the fore g Petitions) was ordered to lie on the table. The Exchequer Aids Bill—the Wellington Estate, Consoli dated Fund Surplus, and the Netherlands Slave Trade Bills, severally passed through Committees of the whole 'louse, and . . were reported. The Portugal Slave Trade Bill was read the third time and passed. The Report of the Poor's Laws' Amendment Bill was agreed to by the House, and the Amendment ordered to be engrossed. Adjourned till to-morrow. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The following Members were reported as those • chosen by bal lot to try the merits of the Pe! pion on the CameNord Election : Wm.. Manning, Esq. G. Pocock, Esq. Sir P. S. Mildmay, Esq. V. Archttle, Esq. E. Newman, Esq. SirJ. Lubbock, Esq. -- Longman, Esq. Lord J. Stuart, Sir W. W. Wynn, W. it. Douglas, Esq. W. lio:dsworth, Esq. James Macdonald, Esq. Sir R. Vaughan, Sir 6. Anson, Wm. Borne. Esq. These Members w...re then sworn in the :anal scar•. A Message from the Lords announced their Lordship? assent to iaveral public and private Rills. The Regent's Canal Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. ....... Mr. 11. sumNr.n. presented the Report of the Committre adi the Darlington Rail-way Petition. It stated that the Stand ing Orders with respect to the plans and drawings required in sue% caws, Lid hot been complial with. The Iteport w-s brought up, and on the motion of Mr. I,ittyros, the kiinates of Evidence taken befom the Committee otdercd to be laid before the f.:215181WN then presented a Petition from the former Pet:tiorters, praying that they might now be allowed to comply with the Standira which they had nua oeen oaserved. _ After a few words from Mr. S. Sum-ss, Mr. LAMITON, Mr. W. Wrwor, Mr.WsiantoN, and the Swan., the Petition was ordellto lie on the table. 'The entire Appeared at the Bar with the reduced list of the I Members ballotted to serve on the Committee to try the merits of the Election for the Borough of Bossiney. The names were called over as follows Hon. H. Percy, Titchfield, Esq. J. Carroll, Esq. lion. Lygon, T. P k Macquern, Esq. 11. Willoughby, Esq. A. Allen, Esq. W. V. Meld, Esq. Bradshaw, Esq. -- Wes tenra, Esq. Lord Lowther, C. B. Wall, Esq. Lord Robert Manners, P. Gronfell, Esq. Right Hon. W. Iluskinson. They were sworn accordingly. Sir G. HEATIICOTE presented a Petition from the Inha bitants of Uppingham, for the repeal or alteration of the Insol vent Debtors Act.— Read, and ordered to lie on the table. Mr. BOSWELL gave notice, that en Wednesday next he would move for leave to bring in a Bill to repeal certain Acts a the Parliament of Scotland. Mr. BASTARD presented a Petition from the Inhabitants of Stoke DamereU, in the county of Devon, for the equalization of the Coal Duties. lie expressed his cordial concurrence in the prayer of the Petition. Lord EBRINGTON also stated his concurrence in the sen timents of the Petitioners, and hoped the House would agree to the motion for equalising the Coal Duties, of which notice had been given. The Paid= was read, ordered to lie on the table, and to be printed. Similar Petitions were prc.zented by Mr. BASTARD, from Ilfracombe and Bideford, which were disposed of in the same way. The consideration of the Report of the Barnstaple Election Committee was postponed from Monday to CHIII.3frOW se'nnight. Mr. 8. COCKS presented a Petition from Reigate, in Surrey, for the Finalization of the Coal Duties.—Bead, and ordered to IL on the table. WORCESTER ELECTION. .• _ _._ __ "Mr. F. LEWIS withdrew his Motion relative to die Worcester Election. But he said that he thought it of much importance that the attention of the House should be called to cases in which two Petitions were presented complaining of an undue Election. He therefore gave notice, that at some future period, during the present Session, he iniended to bring the subject before the House. The SPEAKER said, that on this subject he wish ed to call the attention of the House to a Section of the Act '2B George 111. which enacted that if any Petitioner should neglect to appear by himself or his agents before the Committee to prosecute his Peti tion, that he should be held to have made default in, his recognizances, and that in every such case the Speaker should certify. the same to the Court of Ex chequer. The present case he believed was the first' that had occurred as falling within this Section of the Act. But the Act deafly kilted out his duty, and he had acted accordingly. POOR LAW. 1 Mr. S. BOURNE, pursuant to his notice, rose to move for leave to bring in a bill to amend the laws relative to the settlement of the poor. He wished to call the attention of the House to the Act 13 and 14 Charles 11. which was the foundation of that super strature on which the law of settlement had been erected. That Act made it the interest of parish of filters to remove new comers within forty days. In n "nsegtience of this, paupers concealed their resi ee till the time which entitled them to a settle rent was expired. When this was found to be the ease, an Act was passed requiring that notice of re lidence should be publicly given at the commence bent df it, in order to entitle any individual to a set tlement. He was sure that many gentlemen, who • . . had not attended to this part..of the law, would be surprised to find that. the parish sofficers Had : the, power of removing from parishes .perrns likely W. become paupers. In 1795 a bill was introduced to modify this defect, and it passed, sub silentio. The Honourable Member then dwelt some time on what he described as the three chief evils of the existing laws —the first regarded the incredible expense frequently incurred by litigations ; the second arose from the ' doubt and inconvenieace of ascertaining the true and proper place of settlement r and the third was the impolicy, if not cruelty, of removing the object of relief to a remote par ish, where, perhaps, he might have had a right originally to a settlement, but where, on account of his long absence from it, he had at last become almost a perfect stranger. The person thus circumstanced had to encounter many difficulties—if at any time able to work for his own maintenance, he was deprived of that gratification by his being totally estranged in a manner from every kind of recommendation, unless that of a pauper, and where, at last, lie was reduced to pass, perhaps; the remainder of his days in the workhuuse. But otherinconveniencies rendered this mode of settle ment objectionable. By the ancient laws, a settle ment was frequently fixed by recurring to the place of birth. This gave rise to inconveniencies.and vex ations a hundredfold more than that which could be advanced against the system which he meant to sub- , suit to the House. A pauper, for instance, who passed his more mature years on the sea-coast, wit liable at this time to be sent to the interior of the country, where, as a fisherman, or seafaring man, he could find no employment. Another instance (it.; curred of a person returned as a pauper to the place•Of his birth, where, as a printer, he could not find any printing-office to aid hint by employment. After all, the objections which he heard against the various modes of settlement, the Honourable Member be lieved that residence atone would be found the most eligible. By one enactment a residence of three years entitled a person to a settlement—by another, a re currence was made to parentage, to the place where the father or mother had made good a settlement— but this plan was only adopted when the object of relief could not clearly, and in time, establish the place of his birth. The time ssf residence which he should think proper to entitle the person to a settle ment, would be either three or five years, as the Committee or the House thought proper. The con sequence would be, every man would have a right to a settlement in the parish where he had last resided the period proposed. Questions, however, might arise even by this plan of settlement; but they would be easily solved by rendering the Act as explicit as possible. In short, the question at issue would then become more a matter of fact than that of law. The person had only to go before a Magistrate to prove his residence, and thence he would immediately be entitled to his settlement. It would not depend upon the arbitrary will of the Overseer, but the Magistrate alone. fully empowered to decided:: every case sub mitted to him. This part of his plan, the I lonour able Member was certain, would be attended with much convenience and benefit to all parties, and be the means of preventing future litigations. For ser varas of hire, who at any time should come under the description of paupers, some specific and distinct clause Nl, ould be round requisite. Some had sug gested a residence of forty days ; he would propose ninety days. Another part of the Bill he had to notice—it was a clause compelling parish officers to keep a correct list of the persons thus unfortunately situated, with instructions also to place thelist in such a manner as to be ready at any time for general in spection. These were the outlines of the Bill which he was now about to introduce. It had little or no connexion with the laws of Scotland. He had attend ed to the maxim of Dr. Burn, whohad recommended on any proposed amendment of the Poor Laws, to go back to the natural standard, to original princi ples. He had thus endeavoured to explain the nature of his Bill, with the extent of its operations; and if any Gentleman wished for a farther explanation, he was ready to satisfy him. He then moved for leave to bring in a Bill for better ascertaining Parish Settle ments for the Poor. Mr. ATKINS WRIGHT disapproved of the pro posed Bill. Instead of preventing litigation, it would be the means of greatly increasing it. Residence alone was not a pi q ier . or fair mode of settlement. Mr. CURWEN thought very differently from the last Honourable Member, and declared himself friendly to the principle and operation of the Bill. The settlement of birth he condmined, as impolitic and unjust; and the transfer from the coast to the interior, where, after all, the unfortunate was some times denied a settlement, became a species of cruelty that deserved general execration. He approved very much of the new system, as explained by the ho nourable Mover. It would not only remove many parochial inconveniences, but put an end to vexatious litigation. Mr. WESTERN agreed to the principles of the Bill; and whatever objections might be advanced to it could easily be reconciled by some qualifying amendments. A question might sometimes , arise in the mind of the Magistrate whether or not the person applying for relief should be gratified by a com pliance with his request, or sent to hard labour? If the person so situated were of an industrious inclina tion, and free from bodily infirmities, he would un doubtedly prefer employment to a settlement on the parish. As water will always find its level, so la bour might be said to find its level also; for where there is a demand for labour, thither will labour go. With regard to the poor -rates, they had so rapidly increased within these few years, and appeared still to be so alarmingly increasing every year, that he wished it were possible to limit them to their present ' amount, if no plan could be suggested for their dimi nution. If the laws were entirely done away, he was lapprehensive that it would be only shifting the bur ' thens from one to another, and thence would una voidably arise much cOnfusion and perplexity. In the aggregate burthens of the poor a competition for labour ought to be encouraged. In this view thela* appeared exceedingly defective, and he thought the Magistrate would be invested with too great power and authority. Although he recommended a com petition for labour in the emgoyment of the poor, yet he was well aware. that demands for labour depended upon the general prosperity of the country. Among other expedients, atterapts.to keep down the price of provisions, , for the benefit of the poor, had uniformly ended in disappointment. Looking upon the genera mass of society, the lloaourable Member thought that the poor were losers by being deprived, as paupers, bf the full benefit of thir labour. The Motion was then carried, and leave given to bring in a Bill for the Relief of the Poor. Mr. &tracts 13ouatst and other Gentlemen were ordered to prepare and bring in the same. POOR RATES. Mr. STURGES BOURNE then stated, that in order to confirm the system which he now proposed, he found it necessary to move for leave to bring in a Bill to provide against the misapplication of the Poor Rates. Great complaints had long been pre valent respecting the wages of the Poor. By an Act of George I. power was given to the Parish Officers to assess the quantum of relief, instead of sending the pauper to the work-house; this plan, however, had been found inadequate, and many alterations had consequently taken place. The money which had been given fdr the labour of children had been mis applied frequently, by administering to the profligacy of their worthless parents, and thus the purposes of the charitable donors were defeated. The Bill which he now meant td introduce would prevent such mis application. It was no new suggestion, for in the days of William 111. Mr. Locke had proposed a simi lar law, it having been then discovered that parochial monies were improperly expended. To parents ac• tuated by virtuous feelings, it would afford the greatest happiness, to find that by the plan which he Should propose schools would unite the advantage of combining industry with education. 'Thus their chil- , siren would be brought -up in principles of sound morality and religion, and lodged and educated in the. same parish, and. even in some measure under their own eyes. The persons entrusted with monies belonging to the parish would be prevented or pro hibited from paying any thing to able-bodied pau pers, because employment would be fixtnd to answer for their relief. If they refused such an accommo dation, they were no longer entitled to any attention from the Parish Officers or Magistrates, having for feited all claims. 'The Bill would also provide ade quate wages for labour, by empowering the Magis trates, in difficult cases, to decide the quantum. — Thus many shameful abuses, which had been long the subject of grievous complaints, would be preven ted, and an end or a check put to the infamous mis application of parish monies. He concluded, by a Motion for leave to bring in a Bill to the above effect, Mr. N. CALVERT most cheerfully supported the Motion. The Bill, he was convinced, would afford great benefit to the community at large. A NEW Mennen thought, that so tar as regarded the appreciation of labour, the Bill would requir e some amendments. In the county to which he belonged,. he had been accustomed to attend meetings of Gen tlemen appointed to investigate subjects connected . with Poor Rates, and they had found that a person busily employed for sixteen or seventeen hours, had not been able to earn more than seven shillings aweek, a sum very inadequate to the maintenance of a wife and family of children. Mr. RI CARDO had no objection to the general principle of the Bill, although it appeared to him containing grievances which might be removed in the Committee. In one view, it held out an encou-_ ragement or a premium to the pauper, by inducing him to accept of the asylum of the work-house, instead of labour, by which he might perhaps be enabled to maintain himself and his family. The Honourable Member suggested some other requisitealterations, but would defer particulars till the Bill .came before them in its proper shape and form. The Motion was then put and carried, and leave granted accordingly. BLNEFIT SOCIETIES. Mr. COURTNEY, as an introduction to his in tended motion, explained the nature of the Bill which he was now about to submit to the House. He be stowed many encomiums on the happy effects of the Savings Banks, and thought they might be extended to Scotland. New regulations would be necessary [for these Institutions ; and Trustees appointed under proper controul, and ultimately responsible to the Quarter Sessions for their conduct. In seme instances persons who had made good their settlement on the parish had been refused relief, because it had been discovered that they belonged to Benefit Societies.— To remedy this and many other grievances was the object of the present Bill. It would also prevent the improper expenditure of monies entrusted to those who officiated as Trustees. Ile had the honour of proposing a similar Bill last Session of Parliament. The provissons were nearly the same ; and he hoped the [louse would permit it to be brought in, promis ing that he would gladly accept of any improve ments which might be suggested. It would in some degree tend to prevent persons entitled to parochial relief from coming upon the parish. He moved—' That leave be given to bring in a Bill for the farther Encouragement and Protection of Friendly Societies. Sir W. DOUGLAS praised the principle of the Bill, and offered to give the Honourable Mover every assistance in his power. He knew several instances in which the Parish Officers had refused to. grant relief because the paupers were found to belong to Benefit Societies. - . Mr. COURTNEY thanked the Hon. Baronet, and said he would avail himielf of his kind offer. The question was then put and carried. Leave was alsO given to bring in a Bill for the better establishment of Parochial Benefit Societies. The second reading of the Scots Savings Bank Bill was post poned till tomorrow. Mr. COURTNEY brought up the Report of a Resolution for invading or continuing the Duties on Snuff and Tobacco.— It was read a first and second time, agreed to, and leave given to bring in a IRII on the same. Dr. PHIJAIMORE, to accommodate some Gentlemen who wished to be presert at the discussion, postponed his in tended motion on the Salt Duties to the 29th of April • . The piker Orders of the Day were disposed of, after which the House adjourned. The Fft Y eport of the Commissioners for inquir ing into the Duties, Salaries, Fees, and Emoluments, got theseveralOfficers, Clerks, and Ministers of Jus tice of the Courts in Scotland, has been printed, by order of the House of Commons. It recommends an increase of the allowance to the Judges for their ex penses on Circuit, tke present rates having been fixed so far back as the year 1748, in which interval these l expenses must have considerably increased. It also recommends the abolition of the right of sale of all subordinate OiSces in those Courts, and that the Clerks.of Justiciary apd Vacers should have a fixed salary in lieu of tees ant ptrquisites. CAPE of GOOD HOPE, FROM THE CAPE TOWN GAZETTE, " Nearly a twelvemonth has elapsed sinc - e ' th i at tention of our readers has been called to the of ou ion r ft f ogee n ff t eco i e u r ttly i s i rte e s,:u n thi c tei re ngp a rar en d s ~, , v. t i h ugiti c il o ha n n ce hoard ol eibee,:i;;; r c i er ed s for all robberies 'committed, and the good fad shown by the Caller Chief Gaika, and h‘s adlrn in restoring all such stolen cattle as they cou ui. cure, had rendered the system of plundering th e : bony so precarious, that the frequency of inroal is gan sensibly to diminish, and at length our f. 11 , 7. citizens on the eastern frontier bega n to eifjoyl:4- security and quiet which it had been so long f• anxious wish of this Government to procnrc But it is natural to suppose, that so could not have taken place in Caffer creating a strong sensation am,ml Chiefs. Frustrated in their attemi, tranquillity of the border, they seem buted the check they had received to of conduct which Gaika and the had adopted. No one of the bora to have writhed more under the coast the new order of things had subje 'TSambie. Arrogant and restless, studied, from the moment of Major in January last, how he could soonest rauding system ; for this purpose bination of the Caffer Chiefs aga• called in Ilinza to his assistance latter Chief with a jealousy of G: affected a superiority over him, a. Hinza, who otherwise from his pos! netted with the border Chiefs and -* Bey, to take up arms again. t Gaik, " It was not long before the serious storm was brondin.", over ill those measures which were calc , the line he had adopted was, hog and he therefore could not anticipa .tance on his own side the Fish Inv( other quarrel, he might have con eumstanced, he scut messengers tc to pray for assistance, in case his quire it ; and, as soon as his Estelle: was apprised of what was going to sary instructions were given for Gail port. Meanwhile, however, his adv, impidly upon him, and coming up Ghonap, their numbers overpowi short conflict, in which he lost ne., was forced to retire towards the faAni terberg. Flushed with this first sr enemies, as usual, abused their vice 'they are reported to have commi repeating ; they have been probabl those who were sent to Glahant'sT , but they are said to have burnt Gaika 's people, to have put the v:oi to have thrown the children into the favourite son (the fine young man cellency at the kat River in IS: hands, and was put to death in ccid 6000 head of Gaika's cattle wen combined Chiefs. Every support Chief who had so severely suffered Colonel Brereton prep: ri l / 4 1 to carry instructions into effect. Major Fraser to Gaika, to ascertain precisely his concert with him upon his future • difficult and dangerous service the with his usual zeal, activity, and • having returned to Graham's Town, taken for the punishment of 'TS: herents. " The necessary preparations haN pleted, Lieutenant-Colonel Brerett Graham's Town on the Ist of Deceml him two pieces of ordnance, as mi force as could be spared from the tier, and mounted burghers from and Utenhage districts ; these last the orders of Major Fraser; he on the same day, at De Bruin's Dritt. was joined by Gaika, at the head of 6000 the sth he crossed the Kat River inhabitants fell upon Phoonah's took 6000 head of cattle, and pui flight with great loss. On the 7th, nel Brereton crossed the Chumie rivers, and reached 'TSambi's residences however (although at the head of men), had not ventured to await ' had retreated to those impenetrabl whence he had so long carried on ..._ offence against the colonists ; meanwhi scoured the Kraals of 'TSambie's their affrighted inhabitants before main force remained in the forests, . vantage of the artillery was manifested, which were thrown in amongst _ persed them in every sdirection, and abandon their cattle, 10,000 head becasion were captured—these, Lieut. ton placed under the protection inot to lessen his own force ; but in the alarm which so large a number in their rear appeared to have excr mounted inhabitants, he requested them to deposit their assagays wit forming this service, a request wind complied with. " Such a mark of confidence the known to have shewn upon any oti, ing thereby not only their reliance faith, but their opinion of the con,' of our force over that to which - The straggling parties of Callers sively attacked and dispersed; and large convoy of cattle fell into our ter having destroyed the kraals who had combined with "ISambie, sessed Gaika of the lands from w) driven, having captured as mite/ cessary to replace the losses sustaii by our own farmers, from former . Lieutenant-Colonel Brereton returned from his successful incursion into ' lost only one man, who was killed Phoonah's Kraals, and one wounded period. Gaika's gratitude is best describe words, as reported by the Lieutenant-Colon el. expresses himself' indebted to his !OPE, TF., J. IN. psed since the a t led to the [lance e t „ ch had bee n ear , :ion or ectais a i e. , t I the good fib and h‘s achee w , as they c ou l d ; pondering the tb , ncy of inroaas ength our ;an to eal.,iy lz4 been so long f. procnre fora: so great a Oar. ,:!.r policy, sei;„ mg the maraccio ipts to dis - .l.es , ' em to Iris, to the decided ii ! . ! Chiefs u:lder '4:s t der Citief Ar )z „ onstraint to sda4 !ected them, I . 3at he seems to - a: at )r Fraser's re-... 4; iest restore he excited a on. ;ainst Gaika, : he inspired iaika, as if Gai4 an.! thus indcce..l position is ones. their peculiar ;s r ca. atrer learnt tha: a him, and he :uiated to iweVer, ilp0011.; pate all that ver, which, in a l mmanded; so to Graham's atfArs slicull :e. lency the Clove .. forward, thu aika's eirectual esP with advaact him o il the ered him alter a tearly 300 men; he stnesses of the Wins success, his sar;ge :tory ; the cnielties lined, hardly • bly etraggeeazd Oy Town term Gill; the habitations omen to death, ant the. flames. Gaikis n who met his 7) fell into thtir d blood, and nearly re captured by the was now due to a d :a ci:r ry his EacclL.cy'f iser was dispate:,:.' tis posirion, ala , n re operations: the .litjor execute id intelligence, .r.:d measures we ;ambie and his ad• having been corn• eton moved from cerr.ber, taking ri'dk much of the regular duties of the fron• the Graaffleinet t were placed under crossed the frontier )rift. On the 3d he f6OOO Caffers. On r, and the mounted Kraals, where thel nit these Caffers to :h, Lieutenant-Colo - ie and Keiskanina idences ; that chief, of more than 1:;,00 0 his approach, but ble fastnesses from n his operations ci meanwhile, part . ies ; adherents, driving e them. 'Thambies 1, but here the ad- anifested, the shells, t them having d in i o ct o ri f h f l o ow i G G : h d aaa h i a e si nri r ii ik kc n i t h a a o : ay s upon th d eo t i j e e s ao i a im p a t irp t le r e i t e: t r sr i S } : s . e i iir t : ' o eha n s i oc h xe ur n e en e ‘ cu . d ‘ r ep, it teu Ct il occasion , d eipo C l a evt ' f f e o eln l ni ecausedao le r so runeios it() a arv nr s I i n er tn p ge u e tice k :•;. e ter hands. Thus :i: ; of all those Chi ' :f' tbie, having relc s. which he had Lc' : :h cattle as was re: lined Caller depredator... :urned on the o Caffrarira. 11 .” 1- 4: ed in the air Air l ad a t a subsclu ci ! described in his inant-Colonel. E xc ellency the Li• • .