Star. — London, England, 1816-04-25 00:00:00

I P.IRLIAMENTARr PROCEEDINGS. HOUSE OP COMMONS. APRIL 24. • • This evening the Right Hon. Gaottoe PONSONSY took the oaths and his seat, as Member for the County of Wicklow, in the room of WILLIAM TIOHa, Esq. deceased= also, the Hon: W. LAMB. for the City of Peterborough, in the room of the Right Hon. Gan RGE PONSONst: Mr. Joimstm, from the Office of the Chief Secre• tary for Ireland, brought up a report from the Com• picsioners of the Board of Excise of that kingdom, detailing the proceedings of that Board ; aisn an ACC Milt of the quantity of . Corn Warehoused in that kingdom, and exported therefrom ; alto an Recount of the noMber . of Freeholders registered there within the last year.—The papers were ordered to be printed. An account of the contingent expences of the Array Pay Office during the last year, was brought up, and ordered to he printed. o n t he motion (If Sir' J. GRAHAM, the House tesulved itselt into a C•numittee of the whole House, nu Sir Ge•trge Barlow's Divorce Bill. In the Com mittee, (mime' was heard on the part of Sir George Barlow, :ind evidence adduced to prove the criminal act. and 'the present cohabitation of Lady Barlow with Major Barlow. her paramour. The evidence leas the same in substance as had been already ad wAnced in the SheriffV Court; bet when the young Lady, who on that occasion had proved the fact, presented herself at the bar to repeat her evidence, she appeared so much affected. that Sir J. Grahull: • - the thaltilift of the Committee, suggested to the Counsel, that as the present cohabitation oT the par. sties at Edinburgh had been already proved, the Committee would, to save the young Lady's feelings, disiente with ber further evidence. • The House assentOd to the proposition with cheers, ind the young Lady having several times in vain attempted to give utterance to her gratitude, could only express it by clasping ter hands with emotion, and retired. The Bill then passed the Committee, and the re port -.vas ordered to be brought up to-morrow. On the motion of Mr. Paw., the Speaker was directed to issue his warrant to the Clerk of the C:•twn, to make out a new writ for the election of a Keni)t r to serve in the 'present Parliament for the City of Armagh, -in the room of Doctor Duige nan, deceased. Mr. PEEL gave notice, that he would to-morrow move tor leave to bring in a Bill for regultting the office of Clerk of the Exchequer in Irel.ind, vdcant by the death of the E•irl of Butkinglimmhire. Sir W. LEMON presented a Yeti:4 , n brim the Freeholders and Inhaisitants of the County of Can- wall, praying the House to enforce a strict Economy in every Department of the State. He stated, on the authority of the High Shetitf of the Comity, that the Petition had been agreed to uttanimunaly, at vt:y numerous and respectable meeting. The Petition being re a d— Mr. TR.EMAYNE said, that however be might agree generally With his constituents, in the expect'. eacy andnecessity of retrenchment, yet there were same expressions in the Petition, in the propriety of which he did nut equally concur. The Petition charged his Majesty's Ministers and Parliament with breach of promise, and contempt of plighted faith— ch.trges which, in his opinion, were wholly unmerit ed. He•was well assured that, without detriment to the public service, the army might undergo a much grater reduction, and he feared that the Ministers would forfeit all claim to tlie . confidence of the coun try, if they did not pursue iystem of rigid economy. -a—The Petition was laid on the table. _ The following Petitions were presented against the Leather 'fax : Owe from Cornwall, by Sir W. Lemon; from Tram, in Corn wall, by Mr. Gore Langton; from 'favistoek, by Lord John Rowell; fawn Selkirk, by Mr. Mott; from Glastonbury, by lord William Russell; and from Beeismaria, by Mr. F. Lewis. The Petitions were laid on the table. _ A Peti.ion was presented from the Licensed Vic tuallers of Warwick, praying for a Repeal of the Additional Duties on Licenses.—Laid on tire table. Lord CASTLEREAGH presented a Petition from the Inhabitants of Belfast, against a Bill pen& ing in Parliament for the I.ighting and Paving of that town.— Referred to the Committee. , Lord CASTLEREAGH gave notice that he would to-morrow move for leave to bring in a Bill for continuing the provisions of the Alien Act. Mr. KEITH DOUGLAS presented a Petition from the inbabitaots of Dumfries, praying for the in t !rference of the House . in the case of several British s..bjects, one of whom was a young Gentleman of tbe Panne of Welly:ood Hyslop, a native of Dumfries, who about seventy other persons had been seized by 04 Spanish Authorities, in the Spanish Main, and c(fuJenined to death. Those persons, subjtets of Giza Britain, were, he understood, ordered to be soit to Old S pain, to be treated by the Spanish Go va,inment according to its pleasure. This case had been represented to his Majesty's . Government, who bad transmitted orders couched in the strongest terms so lior Ambassador at the Cann of. Illadract. quire into the circumstances most miamtely. He would for the present cement himself with moving that the Petition be read. The Petition being read— Lord CASTLEREAGH said, that his Majesty's Government had sent instructions to our Ambassador at Madrid, respecting the circumstance, and saw no reason to fear that those persons would be treated unjustly. The Government of the Spanish Main bad displayed great indulgence and lenity - in transmitting them home, and placing them under the immediate di!T(.1,41 of the Spanish Government. , The Petition was Then laid on the table. Lord LASCELLES pesented a Petition from the lik'nollen Manufacturers of the parish of Shuttle worth, in the County of York. praying the House not to facilitate the exportation of native Wool.— Laid on the Table. Mr. C. GRANT presented a Petition from the Cotton and other Manufacturers of New Lanark; %raying the House in favour of the bill now pending 1 ;the better regulating the working hours of Oil. dren in manufactartes.—Laid on the Table. Lot d CASTI.EREAGH gave notice, that he %%wild, un Wedesiday, the Ist of May, move for ls.ve to Wing in a Bid for regulating the Civil List. Air. V. Fl I'ZGERALD, on rising to move the, second reading of the Dunlean; Harbour Bill, es. puled hie surptize at hating leaned ti . iat, the way, chants and inhabitants of Dublin Were hostile to the measure. He had conceived it to be parecularlyaa. vfntageous to that City. and had expected that the advance of money offered by Government, and sanc tioned by Parliament. wont.' have been received with far different expressions. If, however, the sense of the City of Dublin continued to be strongly ditected against the Bill, he would not press on them even a beneficial measure. The Bill was then read a second time, and irderest to be committed. Lord ALTHORP thought it extremely severe on all persons concerned in leather manufactures, that the tradeshould not enjoy advantages equal to those which had been long possessed by others. He pur posed to submit a Motion to the Haase to that effect, and to facilitate the consideration of the subject, he begged leave to move for returns of all exports of leather manufacture, together with that of woollen, cotton, and iron, for the Eve years ending the sth of January, 1711, and also a similar return for the five years ending the sth of January, 181 i. that the House might, by comparison of their relative int provement, estimate what advantages might be yet extended to the trade in leather. The Motion was put and agreed to. Mr. COOPER gave notice, that he would, on Monday next, submit a Motion to the House respect ing Grand Jury Presentments in Ireland. Tilt BANK OF ENGLAND. Mr. HORNER gave notice, that he would, on Wednesday next, move for a Select Committee to inquire into the expediency for continues% the fts. strictions on Cash Payments by the Batik of Eng land. The Honourable and Learned Member then moved, " That there be laid before the House, a de tailed Account of the number of Bank of England Notes in circulation, every week, from the 9th of February, 1814, to the date of the order. Also an Account of the highest and lowest aggrega , e amount of Bank of England Notes in circulation at any one period during the same space." Mr. GRENFELL hoped that the Right Honour able Gentleman (Mr. Vansittart) would find it con• venient to defer the Committee on the Bank Restric tion Act until after his Learned Friend's motion had been disposed of. `The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER saw no sufficient reason to induce him to accede to the suggestion. Mr. HORNER: observed, that by postponing the Committee until after his motion on Wednesday, no inconvenience could possibly be felt, as the Act now in exi i'ence would not expire until the sth of July. The Right Honourable Gentleman shookd also re mene;er, that the present Bill had been hurried already through two stages with an unprece dented rapidity, and in a manner equally unusual. It was brought in one morning, at one o'clock, when the House had been exhausted by a tedious debate, and when few Members were present. lie had, in consequence, been extremely anxious to oppose its progress at the second reading, and for that purpose came down to the House as early as five o'clock in the evening; but, to his surprize, he found that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had anticipated him, and that the Bill had been already read a second time without opposition. The Committee was appointed for Monday, and, perhaps, that was in consequence of every preceding day having been abroad! Itscupleill Such a measure. in itself of extreme importance, and now become entirely new from the change of affairs, should not be thus precipitated. It should receive the fullest inquiry, for the principle on which the re-, strictions had been at first proposed, and since conti. !sued, was no longer in operation. Mr. FRANKLAND LEWIS contended for the propriety of postponing the Committee on the Bill until after the decision of the House on Isis Learned Friend's proposition. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER observed, that the reasons on which he had founded the Bill, were matter of public notoriety, or at least of such a nature as might be examined by the Cern. UAW on the Bill, unassisted by the Select Commit tee for which the Learned Gentleman had expressed his intention to move. He would readily acknow ledge that the state of foreign exchanges was at pre sent favourable to this country, and might be advan ced with an apparept force against his measure; but the House should consider how many and variops circumstances militated on the other side, which would effectually neutralize its operation. Mr. J. P. GRANT rose to remark on one, obser vation of the Right Honourable Gentleman. which could not be passed over in silence ; he meant the as sertion, that matters of notoriety justified the conti. nuance of the Bank Restrictions. He feared that notoriety would have a very contrary effect, for it was notorious, that the unfavourable state of the fio reign exchanges was avowedly the principal cause of restricting the cash payments, which should be dis continued as soon as the cause had terminated. The exchanges were now favourable, and it remained for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to shew what other reasons now exist for continuing that measure. Ha .was one of some lb or 20 Members who were prese when the resolution was passed, on which the Bill founded. What kind of discussion the measure coal then have undergone, might easily be imagined. He therefore hoped that the Right 'Honourable Gentle man would postpone the Committee. Mr. BROUGHAM remarked, that every dap before Wednesday was already filled with Notices, so that unless the Chancellor of the Exchequer was re: solved to bring on his motion at one or two o'clock in the Morning, after a long debate, he would not have it fairly before the Home until after his Hon. Friend's motion had been decided. The Right Hon. Gentleman had spoken of notoriety, as a sufficient ground 'for pressing his Bill, but notoriety appeared on the contrary, a reason for postponing it—particu larly if credit were given to a rumour that had been very prevalent in the city, of the Bank having under taken to accommodate Government to the amount of even ten millions from their unknotvn funds, , on dull ' understanding . that the restriction should be still cone tinned ; for, in reality, it seemed as if there would not be nese without the other—(flea►. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER' I rise merely for the purpose of giving the most direct contradiction to the alleged rumour mentioned by the Honourable Measlier. It is not true that the , measure which r have had the honour of submitting •no Parliament, bears the most distant relation to any accommoaation that the Bank might think proper to laving* to Government. There is no connection be tweet tkem ; the present measure appears to be ren dered necessary by the circumatances of the toes*y, and must stand on its own distinct merits." • Mr. TIERNEY—" The notoriety that appeats tb the Right Hon. Gentleman to justify the continuance of this measure, seems to be pretty nearly confined to the Gentlemen in Downing -street, and the Direc tors of the Bank. Now all that I want is to be let into this sear" and though I am well aware that it is in its present suite sufficiently secured from all disco very, yet give me the Select Committee, and it will be hard indeed if I do not obtain a tolerably correct idea of its merits. The Right Hon. Gentleman as sures us th4t there is no connection between the re striction and the accommodation given by the Bank. I have heard so muck every time these ten years, but Ido not believe one word of it —(Hear, hear.) We are even told that the Bank Directors them elves are the most anzioul people in the world to have those restrictions removed, and that they sigh for the day when they can issue their specie again. These Gen• demen listen to all this, and keep their countenances most Admirably • but I should be glad to examine them before a Se lect Committee of tee Home, and I fancy that some diffaence would be found between ,their confessions to us, and their conversations in Downing-street."— (Hear, hear.) Lord CASTLEREAGH agreed with his Right Hon. Friend (the Chanceilor of the Exchequer) that' there was no sufficient mason for postponing the Com mittee. Sir JOHN NEWPORT observed, that as noto ‘riety seemed to be so much dwelt on, it might not perhaps be irrelevant to state, as a matter or noto riety, that Bank Stock had sisal 18 per cent. since the intention of continuing the restrictions on cash payment had been learned. Such a fact told at least the opinion of the Proprietors on the proposed mea sure.—(Hear, hear.) After a few words more from Mr. Homer, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Mr. Tierney, the returns were ordered. Mr. J. P. GRANT said, that in looking over some papers that had been laid on the table, he ob served a sum of 42,500,000 for the miscellaneous services of Ireland. He begged leave to ask whether that sum bad been included in the Estimate for the General Miscellaneous Service of the entire country ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied, that it had been so included, and expressed a hope that some reduction might be effected in it. POOR LAWS.. Mr. CURWEN begged leave to ask of the Noble Lord opposite, whether it was the intention of his Majesty's Ministers to submit any measure to Par. Hament for the better regulation of the Poor Laws ? The necessity of some complete alteration was gene rally felt in thesountry, and particularly in that part with which he was more immediately connected, where numbers of paupers from Ireland and Scot land were assembled without employment, or any means of support. The grievance called for a remedy, and he would suggest the advantage of appointing a Committee to examine into the subject. Lord CASTLEREAGH was not prepared to bold out any expectation to the House, that his Ma jesty's Ministers intended to bring lot ward any pro- position connected with that important subject. Such is expectation would, he feared, diseenstage the 'set.' tions of the country gentlemen, who, from their local information, were best calculated to undertake that duty. It might even discourage the Hon. Member opposite, who was so well enabled to fulfil the best expectations of the country. Let that Honourable Member introduce a measure, and he should be ready to afford it his best assistance. _ _ Mr. CURWEN thought that, instead of discou raging the country gentlemen, it would, on the con trary, be hailed with real satisfaction, it Government would introduce some measure. lf, however, no other Member would undertake the subject, he should, in a very few days, submit a motion to the House on it. General ARCHDALL moved, that certain Re turns from the Excise of Ireland, ordered by the House in February last, should be presented forth with. This motion be was induced to make for the purpose of having an opportunity to read to the House some extracts from letters he had lately • re ceived from the North of Ireland, stating the digrace. ful abuses Committed in that country by the Officers, of the Excise: The letters represented that part of Ireland as labouring under the most poignant dis• tresses, aggravated in every instance by the wanton insolence of those petty tyrants, who, encouraged by severe or injudicious laws, arrogated to themselves powers which they exercised to the injury of the re- venue, and the frequent ruin of innocent persons.— r He expressed in strong . terms his hope that such a disorganised state of society would be strictly inquired into.—The returns were then ordered. Lord ALTHORP postponed his motion on the subject of the Leather Tax to Tuesday week. On the motion or Mr. Timm, the papers presen ted to the House respecting the Lord Chamberlain's 'department were ordered to be printed. PORGBD BANK NOTES. General THORNTON rose, in pursuance of his notice to move for a return of the Forged Bask-notes presented at the Bank of England for payment, and rejected. He observed, that he had worded this mo tion in terms similar to a motion of the same kind, made about four years back. His object for bring-1 ing the subject before the House wasi to induce the House to consider whether some remedy could not be adopted whereby the present alarming circulation, of foned Bank-notes might be remediedi The pub lk had suffered much from these notes, which were so well executed as to render detection to a common observer almost impossible. While the Bank Re striction Bill was before Parliament, he conceived some plan might be suggested to render the notes of di Bank of England less liable to forgery. Various suggestions, be understood, ha d been made for effect ing this desirable end—among others, one had been made to the Bank by the Earl of Stanhope, whose in ventions had produced so much advantageto the public. -z-It was said, that the Noble Earl's plan was too ex pensive. but he apprehebded there was hardly any exposer too great to protest the public from an evil so oppressive. It lead been rumoured, that since the Pew this evil . bad ccinsideraoly increased, a vast number of bad notes having been brought trom the Continent. Ile should be happy ki'fsad nituselt illib• taken, and 'Atli a dew to plitlfl 'he atte t " ; s ki' prnper light, he begged leAve to move _ es That there be laid before the Howe as Aitetunt oldie te a t nominal value of Bank notes precented at the Pank of F.ngiand for payment, and refs's• don accrputst of their being N T • during the last four years, specifying the tonenal value for euk year.—Ordered. INCODiIt TAX. Mr. BROUGHAM whited to put a qnestinn t o the Right Honourable Gentli.l2Mll ( the Chancellor of the Exchequer) , th e ahsw..r to w!uch, lie wa s sar i s . fled, would give great relief to a very num erous c l ass of his Majesty's subjects ir. carious parts of the coun try. He wished to know whetht :my orders bad re. en i ss ued by the Commisc.ioncrs of th e D es . Bury, t upon the subject of collecting the Assess e d an d Income Taxea payable in the current half-year This question arose ov.t of a letter which he had rt . cl y been ceived from a Gentleman at Edinburgh, who ha ? . pened to owe about sel23 Income Tax, whi c h w,s due on the sth of Apr i l l a st, and who about ten days dtler.% received a ch cular letter from t h e Collector af iru g ighbourhood, peremptorily de s i r i ng up that arrcar forthwith. He (Mr. was no n t aware what might be the pr hßrtmeoiftoh w Brougham) Ipmaasn)y his tice with respect to the Assessed Taxes. but h. 1.21 well knew that by the Income T.:x Act itself, t'e assessment due on the sth of April was not payable before the Midsummer tollowin7. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that no new order had been given of a more rigorous description than common by the Commis sinters of his Majesty's Treasury, upon the subieet of the collection of Tax-s. With respect to the Pro perty Tax, he begged to state, as be had brie upon a former occasion, that he should, in a Eery few don submit a measure to the House, the object of whie% would be twafford a relief from the payment of that tax for a short time.—(Hear.) Mr. BROUGHAM said, he anticipated this an. swer, and was satisfied it would be satisfactory to the country. The Indemnity Bill was read the third time, and passed. The Exchequer Bills in Aid Bill went through a Committee.—Report to-morrow. A Person from the Stamp Office presented as Account of the contingent Expenses of that depart. aunt for the last ten years. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER brought up a Bill to render perpetual certain War Duties.—Read a first time, and ordered to be read to second time to-morrow. Mr. LUSH INGToN moved for leave to bring is a Bill for the more Speedy collection of Tonnage Dudes.—Leave given.—Adjourned till tamonow•. AMERICAN TRADE. The'following is an extract of a letter enclosed the official ratification of the Commercial Treaty sent by express froni Washington to New York: " YOU may rely there will be great alterations in the proposed tariff, of new duties ; it k colfidently belies-03, the duty on your cotton and woollen goods will be fixed at 20, in place of '2B and 33 one•third, per cent. ad volvem. The Bank Bill, that important national measure, has at length passed the House of Ittpresentatives by a majority of nine, and set.t to the Senate." AM ACT CONCERNING TUE CONTENTION TO REGULATE. Tra COMMERCE Ili CETREN TNE TERRITORIES Or TUE ENtILD STATCS, AND NIS NIIITANNIC MAJESTY. " Be it enacted and declared, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Coo;ress assembled, that so much of any Act as imposes a higher dory of tonnage, or of imposts on vessels and articles imported in vessels of Great Britain ; than on vessels and articles intimated in vessels of the United States, contrary to the provisions of the Cum°. don between the United States and his Britannic Majesty, the ratificadons whereof were mutually exchanged the £4J day ci December, 1815, be, front and after the ratification of the end Convention, and during the continuance thereof, deemed and taken to be of no effect or force. • " a. CLAY, Speaker of the House of Reprewntatives. yours oast sa.a u, Pzesident of the Senate, pro tens. • " Mardi 1, Hitt Approved, " JAMES MADISON. GERMAN PAPERS. _ . FROM THE LOWER RHINE, APRII. 14. On the 11 th instant the Privy Counsellor of State Saek, High President of the Prussian Rhenish Pro. vinces, who has acquired such general esteem, left Aix la Charlie. Public papers state, that on the fhli of January he addressed the following Circular to the Chief Authorities under his Government : " His Majesty the King has been pleased, by a Cabinet Order of the 7 fid of. this month, to prohibit the continuation of the Rhenish Mercury. His Ma jesty has at the same time acquainted me, that 4 the Ministry is employed upon a law about the Liberty of the Press, which will contain such regulations for the future as will answer to the public opinion, and the good of the State ; ' and at the same time With expression.of his supreme displeasure, at the licence that has hitherto been allowed, matte it my express duty ' till that time, to keep the Newspapers and Journals especially in check.' At the same time that 1 announce to you his Majesty's will, I chary you to double the strictness of the censure of all Newspaper and political journals which appear in your juriiclic• tion by means of adequate iastriictions, so . that no passage whatever may pass which shall contain often. sive attacks upon a foreign Government, or unauthi• rised criticisms and judgments upon acts of Our Ce" , vernment, or upon objects of our internal policy cr our foreign relations. For the exact observance of these injunctions till the time, when the annoumed law shall dissolve these bonds laid on the liberty of public discussion, I must make you, &c. personallY responsible to me, as I am myself re s p onsibl e to lirs Majesty the King." The following anecdote is from a German paper: ••••• 14 In the war before last of Prussia against France, the wellAnown Major Von Scow. had taken with his free corps, four uncommonly fi ne horses, which sere destined for the Emperor NAPOLEON. When the latter knew it, he directed a later to be sent to die onor Major, o ff ering him 1,000 dollars coalpcnsatiTo the each horse. The letter was superscrtbed—' ,robber-ehief Set:lLL.' SCHILL replied .to him by another letter as follows :..4 Sir, Brother, I feel the more gratification in having taken your four hors, as I understand from your letter that you bet a hie value upon them. I cannot return them to you tor the 1,000 dollars apiece; but if you will restore to their places the four horses which you stole from the Brandenburg gate at Betlin, then the four ho rses *Bichl have lit Ell tit quite at your service.'" •I