Star. — London, England, 1811-03-02 00:00:00

~;. • HOUSE OF LORDS; MARCH 1. WOTS APPEAL: The LORD Arivec&rt and W. Hea to were hoard it costal derable length ou the part of the Appellants. Janet Durham, 84 Ale'. Weir, her hushand, e. Mrs.:, Durham and Major Shl.‘" )inglaw, after which the further consideration of the case was ad•: jourr.cil till Monday. LATE EARL BERKELEY. The I.ORD CHANCELLOR, pursuant tothe notice he had yesterday giver, seitnr.e4 foe an instruction iii:the Committee of Privileges, that due care should be taken by their Lordships, with reference to the interests of such children of the late Earl of-Eerke ley, as were born after the 19:h or May, 1796 ; and that the Committee of Privileges do ait on Monday—which was ordered accordingly. PLACES IN REVERSION. Earl GROSVENOR presented a Bill, fer the prevention of grants of certain Places in Reversion, or Joint Survlvorahips ; which was read a first time—when his Lordship said, that he should move for its second reading on Thursday. Mr. JOHNSON presented the 37th Report of the Commis sioners of Public Inquiry, and Accounts in Ireland, which were ordered to lie on the table. PETITION FOR DIVORCE. Lord ERSKINE presented a petition from Anne Palmer, otherwise Rea, the substance and effect of which appeared to be .Praying their Lordships to grant leave for the introduction of a bill, to dissolve her marriage with Thomas Rea, her now husband, on the grounds of gross misbehaviour to her, cruelty, &c. and his living in adultery with another woman. On the ques tion that the petition do lie on the table, The Duke of NORFOLK expressed his regret, that considerations of duty obliged him decidedly to object to the principle of applications of this kind, or to granting the prayer of the petition, which, if their Lordships were to countenance, would lead to inde finite applications of the kind. He regretted that the sex should lie under such disadvantages in cases of the kind. He felt for their situation in this respect, and he was desirous that every relief and redress af forded by the laws might be administered to them, but he felt it his duty to set his face against applica tions to the Legislature for such a purpose as the pe tition was framed for. The petition being ordered to lie on the table, Lord ERSKINE observed, he should take an op portunity, on a future day, of delivering his sentiments on the inbject to which the bill referred. TAUNTON'S DIVORCE amt. Mr. DAMPIER, as Counsel for the Petitioner, was again called in. He informed their Lordships that -the additional evidence he should now produce, would state particularly the obscurity of the place where Mr. Wyburn and Mrs. Taunton used to hold their meet ings ; the number of avenues which led to the spot, whereby they were enabled to depart separately and by different ways ; the nature of the shutters, which being without holes, totally excluded the light ; and also the state of Mrs. Taunton's linen during the time this criminal correspondence continued. These were circumstances which would tend to leave rio doubt on their Lordships' minds as to what passed on such oc casions. He delivered to their Lordships a plan of Old Boswell-court, whereby they would - perceive its convenience for such improper assignations. Mary Hill deposed, that the shutters had no holes in them, and consequently, when shut, the room must be in a state of darkness. Mrs. M'Donald, a washerwoman, lived in the same ' house, andrecollected the Gentleman and Lady being there, and having come to the bottom of the stairs, elk saw them kiss one another. The Lady departed, but the Gentleman remained for ten minutes after wards. Being-interrogated by the Earl of LAUDERDALE, she said she did not see the Lady depart, nor did she see the Gentleman during the ten minutes ; but she heard the former %hen she went out, and she heard the Gentleman during the ten minutes walking about in the hall. The Loan Cii.kwcztr.oa" Did you hear, or did you see them kiss each other at the foot of the stairs ?" Witness —" 0, I saw them as plainly as I see you now." , Sophia Cox, a servant in Me. Taunton's family, proved that Mr.'Wyburn came to their house always on that part of the morning when Mr. T. was in the habit of being from home ; and that he on such oc casions went up stairs to Mri. Taunton, and remained with her an hour and a half, or two hours. She alsa was corioborated by a Mrs. Hughes, a washerwoman, as to some peculiar circumstances re lative to the linen; This being the whole of the evidence on the part of the petitioner, age LORD Cumtcra.z.on moved, "That the consideration on the second reading of this Bill be adjourned to Tuesday next." Ordered—Adjourned. Sir JOHN NYIRTORT owed torn Maur of the prods., of the duties on With, in Ireland, distinguishing the several spa des of wine ; with an Account of the produce of the Duties int Teat, the produce of the Wiudow Tax, &c. kc. in the yeast 1808, 9, 10.—Ordered. Mr. FOSTER stated, that be wished to send over the Vedas* of the Proprietors of bleachbelds in Ireland, calling for a cams mutation of the capital punishment for stealing the linen from their fields, that it might be considered by the whole trade, and desired an order of the House for that purpose. The SPEAKER ,aid, this was a new way of dealing with a pe shim, and therefore he called die attention of the House to it. Mr. FOSTER then, however, withdrew his motion, it being understood that he might have full time for the consideration of the Petition, which le would send aver to Ireland without an T formal order. Mr. HUTCHINSON adverted to his former statement, that he intended to move for i repeal of the Irish Convention Act.— He now supposed, from what bad passed to-night, that the goes-, Lion, as to the late proceeding under that Act, was disposed of; and therefore he now gave notice, that on Monday, the 11th of March, be would move for leave to bring in a Bill to repeal that Act. - - P4RLIAMENTiIt7 PROCEEDINGS. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Mr. ROBERT WARD moved for leave to bring in 4 Bill for dividing into Svc Livings the Rectory of Sinionboorne, in the County of Northunibrrland.—Leave given. The Malt Duty Bill. the Trn Million Exchequer Bills Bill, the One Million and a half Exchequer Bills Bill, and the Irish Trea sury Bills NU, were read a third time and passed. BULLION. Mr. VANSITTART moved for a return of the priced paid for bullion by the Bank, in each year, from February 1797 to the latest period at which the account could be tuade op.—Ordered. ARMY. An Account was ordered to be laid on the table of the number and rank of the different Officers at pre►ent employed on the Mi litary Staff in the different districts of Great Britain ; and an At eoont of the number of Desertions from the Army from Decem ber 1809, to December 1810. THE PRESS IN INDIA. • • • Lord ARCHIBALD HAMILTON postponed the modon for Orders relative to the Press is India, but we could not ascertain to what day. Mr R DUNDAS inquired with what view these Orders were to be moved fors Lord A.HAMILTON answered, that in his opinion, a very undue power wi:h n-sp:ct to the press had been exercised in In dia. and that he wished to sail the attention of the House to that circumstance. IRISH ,AFFAIRS. Mr. WARD understanding that Mr. Pole bad arrived in town, 'tithed to know whether he had brought any information rela tive to the proceeding with regard to the Catholics in Ireland, which the Right Hon. Geredentio opposite intended to communi cate to the House P - • - • The CHANCELLOR of the ECHEQUER answered., that the matter waa•notvin such a stare that it was unnecessary, be apprehends:l,4o agftate the subject any farther. . Sir JOHN NEWPORT gave nitrite, that on Tuesday next, he should submit a inotion'to the House for the purpose a placing the public and private business of Ireland on the same footing, . _ %Atli regard'to the time allowed before Bills could be passed. The CH ANCELLOR , of the EPCHIVUER said, that any ineortvl Menet sue( red from any Public 13111 in one Swam', might be wholly, or partially, repealed in the next. Sir JOHN NEWPORT was suing to reply, when the Speaker stated, that thete was no question before the House. . •s t • 4•/ COLVILLE. Mr. DUNDAS brought up the Report of the Committee written on Colville, the prisoner in Cold- Bath-fields. The Report stated briefly, that on mature examination, there appeared to be sufficient grounds for the confinement ' • and that nothing appeared in the circumstances of the confinement deserving of cen sure. The Committee, however, thought that Cold- Bath-fields prison was not the most suitable for this person, who was to be kept from all communication with others. The Report concluded with saying, that from the peculiar and public nature of the circum stances, it was not thought proper to go farther into detail. The Report was ordered to be printed, and a copy of it to be sent to the Secretary of State's Office. Lord FOLKESTONE said, in a low voice, that the opinion of the Committee was unanimous. IMPERIAL ASSOCIATION FISHIARY. On the motion for the second reading of the Im perial Association Fishery Bill, Mr. CALCRAFT objected to its principle, as one of three bills now before Parliament for incorporating Joint Stock Companies. Competition, he said, was the soul of trade, and every attempt to , establish a monopoly was consequently hostile to the public, as well as the fair trader. At all events, he was anxious that a Bill of this nature should not be hurried through the House, but that time should be given to persons who might feel themselves aggrieved, to lay their complaints before Parliament. He did not, however, absolutely object to the second reading of the Bill, but wished, for the reason he had mentioned, that its commitment be postponed to a distant day. Mr. ROSE supported the principle of the Bill, It was well known that foreigners had been long em ployed in the British Fisheries, and had derived very considerable gain from them. It was desirable that this country should avail itself of its natural advan tages in this respect, and employ a portion of its in dustry in so profitable a way; but no individual, he contended, could afford capital sufficient for such an undertaking, and a Joint Stock Company was there. fore necessary. If it was not done in this way, he was certain it would not be done at all. Mr. DAVIS GIDDY was convinced of the pro priety of encouraging our own fisheries, but was un certain if the present Bill was the best way of carry ing this into effect. If the fact was made out, that Joint Stock Companies were prejudicial to the public in general, it would form a very good ground for op , posing this Bill.—The Bill was then ordered to be committed; and a Committee nominated to situp stairs. The SPEAKER here took an opportunity of ob serving that Monday next was the last day for receiv ing Reports on the introduction of private Bills. He should, therefore, come down to the House on that day, at three o'clock, that every possible facility might be given to the private business. COMMERCIAL CREDIT. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated, that he rose in pursuance of his notice to move for the appointment of a Committee to inquire into the state of commercial credit in this country. He had no difficulty in stating to the House that various _applications had been made to him by the manufac turing and commercial interests of the country, in consequence of the suspension of public credit, and in consequence of the losses which had been sustained from the interruption of trade. To these representa tions lie was disinclined to pay any particular atten tion : but they had from various quarters so much multiplied, that he thought fit to submit the subject to the consideration of the House, that a Committee might be named who should present a Report to the House on the subject. He wished to refrain from en tering into any discussion of the subject at present, as premature and improper. He thought that the Com mittee should consist of 21 Members. In that num ber the four surviving Members of the Committee of 1793, now in the House, were included. The names proposed, as far as we could collect, were the Chan- I cellor of the Exchequer, Sir John Sinclair, Mr. Brag- den, Mr. Manning, the Lord Advocate of Scotland, Mr. Rose, Sir Thomas Baring, Sir . James Shaw, Mr.l Baring, Mr. Henry Thornton, Mr. Foster, Mr. Al derman Shaw of Dublin, Mr. Chas. Long, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Irvine, Mr. Marryott, Mr. Hart Davis, and Mt. Staniforth. Mr. TIERNEY made some objections to the mo tion. ... The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, the Right Honourable Gentleman had objected to the employment of the terms Commercial Credit, as ton loose and vague, and not sufficiently distin guishable from the Public Credit of the Country.— He thought, however, that the two subjects were per fectly distinct, and that no difficulty could arisefrom the terms of the motion. On this subject he thought it adviseable to avoid delay as much as possible; and that something should speedily be laid before Parliament, to enable them to take the matter under their consideration. The Committee would naturally inquire into the nature of the mischief, and of the causes by which that mischief has been produced, for the sake of providing a remedy to that mischief. If the mischief is found to admit of remedy, the nature of the remedy will next become naturally the object of their consideration. He thought, that in every way, it was adviseable that this Report of the Com mittee should not be protracted, but that at an early period they should communicate their views to the - House. Mr. CURWEN said, that undoubtedly the causes of the mischief ought to be taken into the consider*. I lion of the Committee. These causes, he believed, 'were nothing else than the Orders in Council. The pressure no doubt was put ; but he did not see how that pressure could at present be removed. He • the Chancellor of the Erchegner lead avoided. Tie s thought it was not adviseable to hold out to the was extraordinary, as the Chancellor of she Excheepter country that the evil might be remedied, that those in- , had immediately assented the moment the Hon. G en . dividuals who have been induced on account of high : tleman had keen named. He had never doubted but wages to leave agriculture for manufactures, may be l the Hon. Gentleman would have been willing to hire induced to return back to agriculture, for which pur- l given his services upon the Com m i ttee ,--e eee e es pose greater facility was afforded at present than at ' which, in his view of the case, would be of greet le:- any former period, from the great number of Inclo- pity. It appeared to him, that this would be an ope. sure Bills. ration of finance founded on a commercial difficulty; Mr. HORNER thought the Chancellor of the Ex. and it was important, even with a v i ew to t h e proti chequer had taken a more correct view of the subject , mate causes of that difficulty, that some p erson accus. than his Right Hon. Friend. It was better, in his 1 tomed to the operations of finance, should be on the opinion, to confine the inquiry at present to the na• ; spot. Although he was sorry that the services of the lure of the measures to be adopted, than to enter ; Hon. Gentleman on this Committee should be lost. upon the causes which have led to these measures. If yet, as he was averse to become one o f t h e mem b ers, the measures were good they ought to be adopted, he certainly would not press his motion. and acted on without delay ; but the cause will pro- ; Mr. CANNING did not mean to impute any im. perly form a subject of after-discussion. He wished propriety to the last speaker. to express, however, no opinion at present of the re. Mr. TIERNEY moved an amendment to the pro medy necessary to the evil ; or even to express an position to the following purport : opinion of the possibility of affording any such re. " That the Committee should examine into the State of the medy. He rose to move for the addition of another Trade of the United Kingdom, and report open the causes that name to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's.list. No- produced the same." thing, he owned, could be more respectable than the Mr. A. BARING thought that th e i nqu i r y i nto names of which that list was composed ; but he could the general state of trade ought to be p o s t p one d: Th e not avoid thinking that it would have been better if object at present he understood to be, t o ascerta i n it had contained fewer commercial names. He whether commercial credit was not in a sta t e requ i r . g thought that, at any rate, the late Secretary to the in relief, if such relief could be a d m i n i stere d, A t Treasury should be on the Committee, ande there a future period of the Session, no doubt, it wo u ld b e fore moved that the name of Mr. Huskisson should proper to go into the more general inquiry, a n d to be added. expose completely the causes which had led to the la- Mr. HUSKISSON wished to decline the honour rentable situation in which commerce at p resent of being a Member of the Committee. He stated the stood, that they might be aware in time to come.— points in which he thought the present distresses re- But it was better to defer the more extended conside. sembled, and in which they did not resemble, those ration. Whether the system of the Orders in Conn of 1793.—As present there was no interruption to cil, the plan of licences, and other measures of Go. public credit, in 1793 it was otherwise ; and at vernmen had not tended strongly to produce this present there was a great spirit of overtrading in the sad effect would be a question at another time. B ut country. He disclaimed the having any particular the fact was clear, that commerce was in a deplorable Mate, and he owned the measures of the Right Hon. opportunities for information on this subject; and Gentleman were a material cause of it. If a house thought that perhaps the opinions he had now ex. pressed, might disqualify him from forming one of the was on fire, the first consideration was to put it out. "Committee. .- • and afterwards to inquire into the causes which had The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER occasioned it. The questions were distinct, and there would be a disadvantage in involvieg'them ; and, be. rose to support the motion of the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Homer). He agreed with the Gentleman who sides, if they were to proceed upon the more enlarged in -view, the Report could-mot be presented in lets than last spoke, that the present circumstances differed some cases from those of 1793, and 'resembled them a month. The Right Hon. Gentleman had said that in others. He thought, however, that should the our relations with America had no connection with distresses of the present day be even traced to over- the present commercial distress. Whether or not we L trading, yet if the result of that over-trading has been were right in our dispute with America, he would I .such as not only to occasion mischief to those who not new discuss ; but when it was con s id er ed t h at 'have over-traded, but those who have not over-traded, America was a customer for twelve millions annu a lly ofs. elation, if possible. He had no hesitation in saying, the House could have no objection to afford an elle our manufactures, it must appear a most extradinary supposition that the stoppage of this t ra d e that whatever opinion may be formed of the policy would add nothing to ou r com mercia l di stress . I t of the Orders in Council, these, on inquiry, would not was not to be doubted but this would add very consi. be found to be the cause of the present commercial derthlyto the distress under which tradenow laboured. ;distress. These measures, however, of the Orders in The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER Council, he had no doubt, would admit of every jus- had not said that the stoppage of so considerable a tification, as wise and expedient for the country. trade as that with America, had no connection with Mr. TIERNEY said, that it was not sufficient to the depressed state of commerce. What he had sta. induce the House to vote an issue of Exchequer Bills, ted was this, that it was not connected with it through to state that numbers of merchants have over-traded any fault of the Government. themselves. Upon such a Report to be presented to Mr. H. THORNTON took it for granted that the the House, he would not think himself justified in object was to inquire into the state of trade only so givingiiis vote. He did not mean to say, that under far as this was connected with the means of giving certain circumstances of distress he might be willing relief. To answer this purpose, the original motiaa, enough to give assistance; but these circumstances, was sufficiently well expressed. The amendment pro he thought, should differ materially from the present. posed would lead into too large a field. He owned, he did not see how a remedy could be af- The first part of the Amendment—that the Com forded to the present evils. The Right Hon. Gentle- mittee should inquire into the state of the trade of man (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) spoke of the the United Kingdom, was then put and negatived. necessity of a speedy report ; but he hoped that suffi- The question being upon the latter part, that the cleat time would be taken to make the necessary Committee should report on the causes that produced inquiries, and for this purpose a week at least would t h e same. be necessary. Were he to be a member of the Corn- The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER mittee, he would wish to examine a number of mer- observed, that the Right Honourable Gentleman had chants on the subject, and enter upon other inqui- surely fallen into some mistake. Was it meant that ries, which would all take up a good deal of time.— there should be an inquiry into the causes that pro- It would be proper for the House to know what was duced commercial credit ? the state of the present distress, what had produced Mr. TIERNEY—No ; into the causes of the pre that state, and what was likely to be the duration of sent state of commercial credit. that state ? and it would be foolish to give issues of The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER Exchequer Bills at present, if at the end of a twelve. .4.-Even in that sense it was too large, and would carry month the evil should still continue. It was improe t duties of the Committee much beyond what any per to afford assistance, without knowing the cause . and the likelihood of duration. bee appeared to have in view. Mr. WILBERFORCE concurred with the List The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER speaker, that the words of the amendment were too said, that he should certainly think the Committee large—and that the inquiry ought to be confined to were going beyond their duty Were they to enter upon the state of trade, so far as this was connected with so large a field of investigation as the Hon. Gentleman would force upon them. To what extent the Holm the means of relief. ' The latter part of the amendment was also nega might think fit to go into the ultimate and proximate causes of the subject was another consideration ; but hued, and the motion, as originally worded, agreed to without a division. it was the Committee's duty to inquire into the na- Upon the reading of the names of the Membersfor tore of the present distress. The House will consider the degree and extent of the distress, and whether it the Committee, Mr. WHITBREAD rose and stated, that in his be advisable to afford a remedy ? Whether the House i will take the subject of the duration of the evil, or the opinion there were too many commercial men pro. diminution of pressure into consideration, will be af- posed, thirteen out of the twenty-one being of that description, and thereby constituting a majority of terwards decided. ch iefly Mr. whole. The remaining names too, were Mr. CANNING observed, that. from the narrow description of the investigation proposed, he appre. i those connected with the Right Hon. Gentleman in h Office. The Right Hon. Gentleman seemed to hold ended the qualities for which his Honourable out, that he bad at first rather turned a deaf ear to Friend had been stated to be particularly distinguish ed, were not necessary, especially if it was intende d : was a convert to the opinions contained in these re the representations on this subject, and whether he that the Report should be speedily laid on the table. presentations, or had brought forward the subject on The qualities alluded to would only have been of es sential advantage if the Committee were to inquire account of the number of applications, and the res of stability of the quarters from whence they came, not only into the immediate but the remote causes had not mentioned. But if the commerce of the the present state of commercial credit. He therefore , country was in an embarrassed state, and it was clear e thought it would be better to leave the names as ori- that it was, this Committee was improperly ccmstitu ginally moved, and any one, after the Report should : ted. That there ought to be some commercial men be presented, would be at liberty, if he pleased, to was certain—but that they must have a strong bias propose a larger investigation. His Hon. Friend to recommend the granting of relief, even though it would not perhaps choose to state this ground exactly might be doubtful to others whether such a measure to the House, but it was not improbable that he might , go into this Committee under considerable disadvan. i f ority. He was would they ought not to constitute a ma ld be proper, he thought self-evident, and there tage. His principles with respect to public credit had surprised that the name of Mr. Huskisson had not j lately excited a great deal of attention ;and it might been originally proposed, and surprised that there be supposed that he would be too much inclined to should be any objection on his part when he was last refer facts, as they came out, to these principles which would deprive his authority of its due weight. mentioned. He hoped some other names would be proposed. The commercial majority was objection - As his Hon. Friend, therefore, was rather averse to able in the first place, and almost the whole of the be one of the members of this Committee, he appeal ed to the custom of the House, whether it was not rest would be under a vote for any measure of relief contrary to its ordinary courtesy to appoint him.? His which th e Chancellor of' the Exchequer might have ~ already suggested. peculiar talents were not wanted here, otherwise his The CHANCELLOR. of the EXCHEQUER. willingness to undertake, and his ability to execute ; stated, that he had taken the principal merchants his duties were unquestionable. Mr. HORNER expressed his surprise, that the from both sides of the House—persons best acquain „Right Hon. Gentleman had spoken as if he (Mr . ted with the subject, and at the same time not likely R omer) had fallen into some impropriety in naming to be se much affected as less eminent traders , by the o ob. the Hon. Gentleman near him (Mr. Huskisson) as a Present depressed state of commerce. He had n member of this Committee, and an impropriety which jection , however , to some more names, though it was Y 1