Star. — London, England, 1816-04-30 00:00:00

. - gone through, and the first reading had been moved on the following morning at two-o'clock. This was stealing a march on the House, [Hear, hear!) who ought to have had more time to consider this impor tant subject. He therefore wished that a certain day should be fixed for the second reading. • Mr. H. ADDINGTON observed, that it was ne cessary to have the present Bill passed without any great delay, as the former Alien Act was nearly ex pired. However he should have nn objection to fix the second readinz of the Bill fbr Wednesday. Sir J. MACKINTOSH thought Wednesday would be too early. Mr. H. ADDINGTON then moved, that the Bill be read a second time on Wednesday. Sir S. ROMILLY observed, that the expiration of tile late Act WAS no sufficient reason why Minis ters should wish to press this measure with such haste through the House. The country could not be in any danger from the number of Aliens who were now in it, more particularly as we were at peace. . Mr. H. ADDINGTON observed, that if any great mass of business should occur on Wednesday, the second reading might then be further postponed• till Friday. Mr. HORNER thought it better to have a certain day fixed at which the Bill should certainly come on. It it were fixed for Friday, it would come in the or ders, and shnuld therefore take precedence of any ISO- Cons which might be for that day. • After atew words from •Mr. SHARP andlklr. LONG, Mr. BROUGHAM contended that a Bill of such importance should have a fair time for discussion, which it could not have it it %vele to be brought on at a late hour of the evening. He reprobated the haste with which this Bill was intended to be passed through the House, and ridiculed the fears which seemed to be entertained of the Aliens who were in this country.—He suggested the propriety of having the second reading postponed till Monday. Mr. LONG supported the second reading for Wednesday, but observed that it might then be fur- Aber Postponed if a press of other business rendered it necessary. Mr. Doecnets and Sir F. BURDETT were anxious to have the second reading postponed to Friday. Mr. ABERCROMBY moved as an amendment, that the Bill be read a second time on Friday. Lord BINNING opposed the amendment. Mr. HORNER supported it. After which Mr. H. ADDING TON ob.erved that he was not various to hurry the Bill through the House, but he . had beard no sufficieut reason assigned for its being postponed. The House then divided, when there appeared For the Atnendni;nt - • • - SS For the origiccl melon - • - 117 Majority for the see and reading on Wednesday TH4NICS Ti LOAD EDWARD S. , MERSET• The SPEAKER, in delivering the Thanks of the House to Lord Edward Somerset, on his first ap pearance there since the battle of Waterloo. expressed himself as foliose::: Major General Lord EDWARD Somme sev—At length we are gratified by seeing amougst us one of thow.distiliguislied 0111- ee-rs to whom this Howe has voted Its I hanks for their eminent services in the ba; tie of Waterloo, a victory eclipsing the fame of *Bother Davies fought in those celebrated fields of war, and con. summating the glob y of the Duke of Wellington, with whose great name the grad . tele of this Hoot.' has justly associated that et Field-Marshal blucher. " In the Donations of that gigantic conflict, our historians will sdways relate that Major•GeneTal Lord Edward Somerset, al ready known by his boiliant winces in the southern Provinces of Franc.: held a s igh and forward command hi those gallant charges by r:.e Walsh cavalry which defeated and destroyed the boasted squadrons of eusraasiers. They will relate also, that lieutenant-General Sir Henry Clinton, who had in five tormer battles commanded divisions of that heroic army which rescued Portugal and Spain, maintained alto a conspicuous post in the support of the embattled hue, where the British Guards repulsed and get to flight the Imperial Guard. or France. Nor will those ' other illustrious mess be forgotten who might now .have been standing up amongst us :o receive our thanks, if the fate of war had not laid them low in the grave of glory t—soldiers long dear to the alkections and remembrance of their country, which will never cease to revere and regret the veteran but ardent valour of Picton, or she bright an I rising honours of Ponsunby. "'I he days, indeed, of these our mingled triumphs and griefs ar e now costa:Wel. Other scenes have opened, and other cares have arisen to demand our vigilance. troth the long contest, however, fl uor happily clued, this durable advantage has resulted to our coturry. We leave I.roved to out selves the value of those manly habits and itutitutir.ns wli;:h have established the superi ority of our national character; and such splendid examples of skill, valour, and constancy as we have hail this day to comme morale, will deeply impress upon our enemies and upon our Allies, to all 32,e5, a just respect lot the counsels and arms of this Empire. " Thespecial ditty which I have this day to discharge Is, to deliver to you the Thanks of this lluuie fur your last great sec • vices. And 1 do therefore now, in the name and by the com mand of the Commons of Great Britain and Ireland in Parlia ment assembled, deliver to 1 01, Major-General Lord Edward Somerset, their unanimous 'a banks fur your iedefatigable zeal • and exertions open the 1;i:h of June, 1815, when the French army, commanded by Brit:air:we, received a signal and 4onipk:e defeat."— (Loud chews.) Lord EDWARD SOMERSET begged to ex press to the House the high sense he cn:crtained of so distinguished a mark of their approbation of his conduct in the memorable battle of Waterloo. The House would .naturally believe that the impression made by so honourable a testitnony to his humble exertions, deprived him of words to express his feel ings in adequate terms.—( Hear, hear).—Whatever might have been his merits in that great coaflict, however, he begged to state, that his success was mainly attributable to the brigade which the Com tnander-iteChief had thought proper to place under his command, whose persevering valoui', and admi. rable discipline, contributed so much to the success of that important day ; animated as they were by the example of that man under whom they had the honour to serve. and whose presence instilled but one feeling in the breasts of every individual iu the British array, namely, the full and unshaken detere reination to bring the battle to a succesful issue.— (Hear, hear). —it having been his lot to form a part' of the army on that day, and his conduct having been deemed worthy of the notice of that House, were circumstances which should be remembered by Lim with pride and gratitude to the latest hour of his rife.—(Hear, hear). —He had now only further to express his acknowledgments for the handsome man. ter in which the vote of the House had been com municated by Mr. Speaker.—(Nesr, hoar). IMPEACHMENT OF LOUD ELI.ENBOROUGII. • Lord 'CDC H RA NE moved for certain Accoimts and Papers in proof of the charges brought forward isy him against the Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench, bat from the low tone .of voice in which he spoke, the nature of the papers could not be learnt. mr. lipitNtß said, before any evidence could he, received. the House-mutt first cletermint whether they would entertain the charges. The SPEAKER said he .h;d stated on a former day, that till the House entertained the Charges, it would be premature to adduce evidence. Mr. LAW was proceeding to remark on the na ture of the Papers moved for by the Noble L or d , but The SPEAKER interrupted him by observing, that till the House enttitained the Charges, all re marks on the evidence were alsoapremature. • WOOL TRADE. Mr. FRANKLAND LEWIS, Chairman of the Committee lately appointed to inquire into the Trade in Seeds, and into the Laws relative to the Woollen Trade, before bringing up the Report of the Com mittee on the subject of Wool, wished to observe to the House, that from the evidence taken, it appeared that the price of Wool from 1780 down to the pre sent time, and pat ticularly during the last ten years, bad been rising, and therefore a majority of the Committee concluded that no part of the agricultural distresses had arisen from the low price of Wool, and that no alteration in the laws was at present necessary on that account. But the main question had not been taken into consideration; and whatever might be the expediency of an increased duty on the impOrtation of Wool, or taking off the prohibition on exporta tion, on this subject the Report afforded no infor mation. Lord LASCELLES stated, that the apprehen sions entertained in the districts where the woollen manufacture was carried on, when they understood this subject had been referred to a Committee, were .not that the importation of foreign wool would be prohibited; but they thought that any duty which could be of service to the agriculturalist must be a duty amountieg in fact to a prohibition. A brisk domestic trade would be found most to the interest of the wool grower, when well considered. ' Mr. WESTERN stated, that the Committee Jad closed their Report, while he was absent at the Ses sions, in the County which he represented. He vim. plained that the Committee had made no inquiries respecting the monopoly of home wool, enjoyed by the manufacturers, and the protection of the grower against foreign importation. Mr. BROUGHAM said, it appeared that instead of considering the whole subject, the Committee had considered only a part of it.—They had reported a fact which no man would deny, the fact that the dis tresses of this country were not occasioned by the low price of Wool. But would this high, price continue ? The large Russian orders at present kept up the price ; but were there not strong reasons fur appre hending, that in a short time, Wool would be as low as all other productions. He felt a strong disposition to oppose the bringing up of the Report, that it might again be referred back to the Committee, that they might discharge the duty committed to them by the House. Mr. CALCRAFT vindicated the conduct of the Committee.—They had exercised their discretion as to how far they were bound to go into the subject. He certainly thought this was the last moment in which they ought to disturb a large manufacture, such as the Staple Manufacture of Wool, without the strongest grounds. Mr BROUGHAM explained. Lord MILTON thought this House, when they saw the evidence, would agree, that there ought at present to be nu duty on importation. Mr. FRANKLAND LLWIS and Mr. CALCRAFT mu tually explained. Sir JOHN NEWPORT, he had hoped to have received notice, at least a day or two, of the intention of closing the Committee. But he had only received notice at 11 o'clock to attend at one o'clock that day. He could not attend that day, and the same thing he supposed bad happened to others. Two or three days notice ought at least to have been given. It was out of the usual line to close a great question on two days evidence. Lord LAUCELLES and Sir Jon. NEWPORT mutually explained. • Mr. J. P. GRANT had also received notice at 11 o'clock, and could not attend that day. Mr. THOMPSON was of opinion, that the Com mittee had reported, with very great propriety, be cause they had reported soon. There was no desire in the Country at present, that the subject should be I agitated at all. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER ohberved, that the conversation had gone to-a great length, on a question respecting which there was no difference of opinion, and the Report had been de bated in detail, though the House, both in form and reality, knew nothing of it. When the Report was really before them, it would be competent for any Member either to move an instruction to the Com mittee to push their inquiries farther, or to send back the Report for their consideration. Sir J. GRAHAM said, the Committee had sat three days, and not two only, ss had been repre. sented. The Committee had conceived that it lay with the Agricultural Interest to produce evidence in support of their case, but when they found none had been produced, they called upon the Wool staplers as the persons from whom they would be most likely to obtain information. The evidence of these persons had not been attempted to be con troverted. Sir J. NEWPORT explained. He had complain ed that evidence had not been called fur on the part of the Agriculturist, and he had stated before the Committee, that the Honourable Member for Essex (Mr. Western) was not in town, and had requested that the decision might be postponed on that account. He had had notice, that it was intended to close the inquiry only two hours before the Committe met. Mr. BARHAM disapproved of the proceedings of the Committee, the Report of which had been also founded on ex-ftarts evidence. Lord STANLEY defended the conduct of the Committee. So far was the Committee from wishing to proceed on an as pane case, that before any deci sion had been come to he had inquired particularly whether there was any evidence offered on the part of the agricultural interest ? There was sufficient time for the persons interested to offer evidence, as the Committee had adjourned over Easter ; but the fact was, the farmers were perfectly satisfied with the price of wool. Mr. FINLAY thought that the Committee was wise in coming to an early decision on a subject re- i specting which much alarm was excited. The motion was carried, and the Report was brought up and read. It stated, that the Committeel having inquired into the state of the Wool Trade, were of opinion that no part of the present agricul tural distress had arisen from the state of Wool, and that it was not therefore expedient to make any al teration in the laws affecting that article. Mr. THORNTON said, that great alarm had been excited among the manufacturing interest, and that it could not be set at rest too soon. Mr. F. LEWIS observed, that the proposition which he had made to the Committee at the outset of the business having been negatived by a large rnajo rity, and another motion having been adopte!, their subsequent proceedings had been consistent enougb with those decisions. It was, in his opinion, ur,t at all necessary that the agricultural interest should be obliged to make out a case, Link was the ditty of the Committee itself to institute any inquiry which they might think necessary. No evidence was, however, necessary to prove that a duty on importation w;,uld be a protection to the home grower, or that dl~ ex tension of his market would be a benefit to him. The committee had, however, so early decided on the main point, that all subsequent inquiry was una vailing Sir M. RIDLEY did not approve of the line of con duct adopted by the Committee, though he thought, as far as the evidence went, they hadgivea a just opi mon as to the result. Lord STANLEY explained. • ' ROUGHAM said, it was very doubtful Repoit was worth the expense of print . had heard of the -influence under which it up, viz. of the manufacturing interest on , .n these occasions, with a zeal worthy of imitati. . the agricultural interest; were always ready with their agents and their evidence. As the agricultural interest did -not nor could display the same activity, it became the duty of the House to at tend to their interests for them. The ferment which had been dreaded was now laid, and lie hoped the Report would be taken only for as much as it was worth—which was little or nothing. It consisted of a truism, and a non sequitur. It stated that the price of wool had not been a cause of the agricultural dis tress. No one could say it had been, but it had been imagined that it might be the means of affording re lief to that distress. The inference which the Com mittee had drawn from their first proposition was any thing but a legitimate one—that therefore there was no cause to alter the laws on this subject. On the other hind he thought, that to legislate under diffi culties was the worst mode of proceeding in the world ; and that therefore, if the wool laws were in a defective state, the present was a better moment for amending them than if the market had been in a bad state. It was on the same principle that he ol:jected to the motion on the Usury Laws, the repeal cf which would be an extremely good measure, but which he did not think should be considered under the pressure of temporary difficulties. Mr. THORNTON explained. Lord LASCELLES hoped early notice would be given of any intended notice -.n this subject, that the persons interested might have time to make their re- - presentations. Lord MILTON observed, in reply to Mr. Brougham, that the consideration of the wool trade land been re ferred to the Committee as a subject connected with the agricultural distress, and not as an abstract question. • Mr. CAI.CRAFT thought the wcol growers might expect better support from our ()an manufac ' turers, than front a foreign market. The Report was then laid on the table, and ordered to be printed. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved that the Order of the Day for a Committee on the Bank Restriction Bill be read. Mr. HORNER proposed that it shonld be post poned to Wednesday, as some Bank accounts which had been moved for had not been presented. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he should consent to postpone it to Wednesday, if the Honourable and Learned Gentleman (Mr. Hamer), who had a motion, which had precedence on that evening, would consent to go into the COm mittee after that motion was disposed of. Mr. HORNER said he should proceed with his motion early in the evening. but a would depend upon the time when that motion was disposed of, whether the House could afterwards go into the Committee. Mr. FORBES wished to know whether there was any law to prevent individuals from sending gold and silver to the Mint to be coined Silver WAS now be. the Mint price. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that a law was passed in 1797, to prevent indi ividnals rending silver to the Mint to be coined--there was nothing to prevent persons from sending gold t o be coined. The present favourable circumstances would, he hoped, facilitate the reformation of the state of the coinage. The Committee on the Bank Restriction Dill was then postponed to Wednesday. Mr. BROUGHAM then postponed his motion re specting the Liberty of the Press from to-morrow to Wednesday, the.Bth of May, as the motion respecting Lord Ellenborough stood for the former day. Lord CASTLEREAGH suggested the postpone. ment of the Committee on Agriculture, which stood for Friday next, as it would be advisable to bring on the motion respecting the Civil List on that day, which now stood for Wednesday, for he intended to propose on Wednesday that the House shauld ad journ over Thursday. After a short conversation between Mr. TIERNPY and Lord CASTLEREAGH, Mr. W. WYNN observed, than when the charges against Lord Ellenborough were once entered uptln, it would be of importance, it the discussion should occupy more than one night, to continue it till it'w•as decided. Lord CASTLEREAGH thought the decision on these charges was a matter of urgency, but he did not think it essential to discuss them to the exclusion of other business. Mr. WESTERN then postponed the Committee on Agriculture to Friday se'nnight. Lord CASTLEREAGH postponed from Wed nesday triad Friday the motion of which he had given notice, with respect to the Civil List. Mr. TIERNEY moved for a Return of the Pro duce of the Revenue of Stamps, Customs, and Ex cise for the last quarter,,ending the sth ultimo; and after some conversation between Mover and the CHANCELLOR of the respect to the produce of the Stami Act of the last Session, the motion citnwN LANns. Mr. TIERNEY for a detai predate and application of the Croy! This motion he v:as induced to rn of the return on the table cf the which it appeared tlytt reBooo w; amount of salaries to the Cornrrissi arid Forests, &c. wh3 superinterhik and £3,O(X) were set down for the of the office, while the hole amounted only to 031,000. It appe, of the surplus, the sum of re13,1.;00 houses in Pall Mall. Mr. GREN hr LL stated, that one of t!lnce bo w vas purchased from him upon the esti:mre of veyor co the part of the Crown, and Mr. Clai, ; ; ? ,. * * l his bit. TIERNEY rt a question to t!'e Charcei.. of tilt. Exchequer, wita regard t!) tie current tap,: 01 the office of the Cwrimissioners of 14 (w , Forests ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCT- 7 .Er.72 1 1, professed himself unable to answer the c :lem i„ 4 o : therefore suggested to the Right Hon. ceneinn to o put his question in the shape of a metion. Lord CASTLE R EACH stated, that the cu tio alluded to were expended, not for mere official cc. penses, but for other purposes, which would be p!ained in the items of the Return to the tight Hu Gentleman's motion. The motion was agreed to. CONTINGENT WCPRNIIIL Mr. C. WYNN remarked upon the delay of t h e Returns to the Motion of the 2d of April, with re. spect to the contingent expenses of the several Publi c Offices, for the last ten years, and moved that the Returns presented on this subject should be printed , also that the other Returns should be presented lotth l with. Mr. CROKER assured the Honeurab:e Gent: MAn, that the utmost exertion was used in the Adni: ralty and Navy Offices, to comply with the ore alluded to, and that considerable difficulty and titlA must necessarily occur from the nature of the order. After some further observations, the motions were agreed to. A Copy of the new indenture of his Majesty etitb respect to the Mint, ~ vas ordered to be laid before the House, en the motion of Mr. HORNER. On the motion of gr. J. P. GRANT, a Return of tit Advances from the Bank to Government upon the Land and Nixie Tar, from January, 1797, to 1916, was tirefred, aster some conversation between the Mover mlti the CHANCELLOR of the Fatalism:re. A. Copy of the Resolution of the Bank in 1787 with respect to its affairs, and the suspension of payments in cath, was ordered to be laid before the House, on the motion of Mr. J. P. Guam.. Sir M. W. RIDLEY took occasion' to ask the Secretary at War, as he (Sir M. W. Ridley) understood three Officers of the Dragoons serving ill Frarce, had not recently been granted leave sec ce, in order that they might return to College, ad also whet!!er another officer (a Major) had not lately ohtpieied brave of absence for three rears, in order that he might accompany a young Nobleman in the tour of Europe ? Such pmcecdings must, be tho l Or, excite universal surprise, and thtrefore he 'poled he explanation. Lord PALNIERSTON said. that he was onage to answer' the Honourable Baronet's lis• department bad nothing to do with the grant of al leave of absence; but as to 11iese three Olt:ers, be cresumed, they .belonged to the senior rank of et College of Sandhurst, and were allowed to return tar the completion of their educntiDn- Sir M. W. RIDLEY observed, that ttce three thr.- cers to wh,m he tilluded did not b t lung to O le Sal;Li. huts: College, but that two of them had gone to Oxford. and the other to CambrLige. Mr. 1). BROWN then moved the recommitmei t cf the Irish E.l,—:tion Bill ; which, after some obser. rations from S;r FLoon, Sir .1. Isliswaou'r, Sir 11. PAtturr.t., and Mr. PONSGNEY, WAS re-committed ha Friday. tHa lea 1 00 Hof Mr. PRETTY presented a Petition from the Free holders of the county of Tipperary aping the DA which was read, and ordered to lie on the t Mr. LUSH INGTON brought up the Report on the Assessed Taxes, which was read, and a Bid dered to be brought in pursuant to the said resoluti titi 'hi ..---. Inl In, se' le w • • the Right _lt EXCIiNt•ER , ....lt 1 ip Duty under s Bill ,I,7la.rtieal.erds','l:g.tietrbt(e,idie-0,:n;Ins::i :t iler' afettifici be in A n Lind Re... TT The I ke, in c.mi,, sne , s t till i s e,e s : ic crue n errt e h r e: s slisto t it g ettx : :pti v f , tfl iatc : i. t. nce'nf the tev e7 the I I was paid IJr LW! did I CLERK TIIE PLEAS IN IL:ELAM:I. Mr. Ps;;El. rose, pursuant to not c to move fi.r leave to bring in a Bill for securing the fres of the above office. I le said he was anxious, in consequence of what had passed on a preceding evening, to talc.: the earliest opportunity of explaining the nature rind of jec.t of the proposed r•il. It was matter e,f flvt , • Tlety, that upon the death of the late Earl ot B ,;;- irghaa hire, the . effice of Clerk of the Pleas in lre hind bee tme vacant, and it was a statics o: eqtril no toriety that the office itt.elf was one er?iich Parhan.t. t Lid 'declared required Ti Right 1 - iro. Baronet, the Member for Wateiford, bad draws attention of the lionse to that offite in the entitle tt the last scsslen, and a pletlge was then given, that whenever h shiluld become vacant PAW rwaivircs would be adopted for its revision. When the LAI Bnekinthamshire died, he certainly thought tha tls• right of app einiment to the cifize rested in.the Crwae and it was his intention to fuitil the pledge for regu ' lating it before any aprintment was nude: mean time, however, did Chief Baron of the hi Exchequer conceiving the right to belong to hiin, itsd \.. nominai'd a person to the office, and the worst ! . • nee had her re.. ulatly sworn in.—(l/ear, hear!)—' Tile 11,11 which lie nicatit to propose visuld uot" fere in any way w;L-1 that appointment, as the qu:s. tion wlittlier the heiongcd to the Crown or to that individual would be detetmined by the deciriou of a Court of law. But then, when it was consi. dered how great a delay might arise before that deci sion was given, and the great extent of emolanierss attached to the office, the legality of many el whit t was much doubtcd, a question naturally arese what way they were to be eiisposed ot. respezt to the Crown, no appointment would be ma f.: by it, except for the mere purpose of trying the right, aid therefore, whoever the person might be so app hinted, he would have no claim to the lees or emoluments. He certainly could not think it would be expedient to leave profits so immense at the uncontrouled