Star. — London, England, 1818-02-05 00:00:00

This iby was published, in &Selarge Volumes. 4to. pries 6 1 . e < l w i t h steps by Arrowsmith, ICOR HISTORY OF by BRITISH INDIA. I If; JAMBS MILL, Esq. Landes : Printed for Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy, Paw. noster-row. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. HOUSE OF COMMONS, FEBRUARY 4. Lord BINNING brought in a AU to establish Lunatic Asy lums in Scotland, which was read a first time, and ordered to be printed. A number of private Bills were received. Leave was given to bring in the Indemnity all, for persons holding offices, tad not having qualified according to law. Mr. BENSON gave notice of a modal on Monday, the 24th of February, to enable trustees sod spiritual persons to make certain exchanges of landed property, Mr. MELLISH gave notice, for Wednesday, of a motion respecting Coroners' Fees. SUPPLY. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER mov ed the Order of the Day for going into the Commit tee of Supply, to which he moved that various ac counts of Exchequer Bills should be referred.—Ots the question for the Speaker's leaving the Chair— Lord FOLKESTONE made some observations on recent alterations in the mode of the proceedings in the House, as to the manner of publishing the votes. The change was in some respects convenient ; bat he saw objections as to the not printineef Petitions, un less the printing of them was ordered)xy vote. The printing of those Petitions certainly tended to delay the publication of the votes. Yet it was possible that it might be injurious to the people, and therefore he regretted itt tendency in that way. The printing of the Votes of the House was the only regular way in which their proceeding: were made public to the; country at large. He should do no more than men tion the circumstance, hoping that the House would never be inattentive to Petitioners. The SPE.A[EIt then left'the Chair ; and Sir GEORGE WARRENDER rose and me e 4 that there were some small increases in some . the public charges. Of these, in the Admiralty de partment, some arose from expense: at St. Helena, and on the South American station ; but all the Esti mates hid been founded on mature cbnsideration.— Gentlemen must be aware that an increase had oc curred is point of wages to Seamen, by the employ ment of those of a superior description. The number employed was smaller in proportion as to the men. A 50 gun ship might, during war, have required 500 men, but in peace be reduced to 300 men, al though the number of guns remained the same. It was proper to notice this, in looking at the charges of ordnance. He then moved for 90,000 seamen Tor 13 lunar months, which um, agreed to ; also for granting the sum 41611,00 a. for pay ; for 510,0001. for victuals, ate.; and for a sum for wear and tear ; which motions were also carried. . The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER inti mated his intention to propose a replacement of money ander the grant of 24,000,000 of Exchequer Bills, and alio a further grant of nine millions. He begged to state, that the amount of Exchequer Bills Was now less than had been predicted by some Gen tlemen. It had laten said, that on the sth of Janu ary, 1418, they would be at 60 millimis ; but he was happy to say that they were three millions and a half less than that. They amounted only tb, 56 millions and a half, and a small sum That was the an mol ec whole amount. On the other h 't was to be con sidered that the funded debt ha d ceased 19 mil= lions. Instead of a deficiency in revenue, there was a diminution of public debt. He moved for the suns of Twenty-five Millions, on the account of Exchequer Bills issued. ___, Mr. CURWEN made several remarks Ais •the financial affairs of the country ; more particularly as they regarded Ireland, where he believed the-expen diture had been eleven millions, while thelepannts receipts had berm six millions. - _ ________. • •• The .CHANCELLOR of the E w X O 3 O iFAI:EIL made some explanations. He wished t h e SeVlber AO examine the accounts, which him to a different conclusion. Mr. TIERNEY observed, that there was some difficulty in understanding the estimates and their results. Itievharges on the unfunded debt must be paid of. The IMMA amount of stock in the hands of the Commissiaitteild never exceeded 15 millions. The Right Hon: ()rodent= had taken the opportu nity to gave a favourable and promising character to the situation of the Revenue ; the details of which would, no doubt, be productive of future discussions. Mr. CHARLES GRANT briefly adverted to for mer statements of his own, as tothe probable state .. of public affairs. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said,: that if he entered upon the subject be anitillt only snake a short and superficial statement. He bad only wished to take an early opportunity,tonotige parti cular circumstances, in the view of *Pplartstitssiceis.' —The motion was then agreed. to. . ' i,,„ , , Further conversation ensued, lit wit% , 2 0, '" • , ... -1 Mr. TIERNEY requested to'ktursr•vfhii'ftes ilipi amount of out-staturrng Exchequer . BiEi Us ' ~ k iat. of the deficiency of revenue? ' '.-' , 'i - , ••:;, The CHANCELLOR OidieIIOCCREQUIVR cottli rot theft exactly answer ; Wit he belie► 'not abort one million. _ _ _ On the Cluatcriton of the Exotic:Alan's motion, l a vote yaw payied for 9,000 000 on no.ganding Ex chequer Bills, not funded; also for 6,000,000 en. Pehequer Bills for 1816, - outstanding and not, pro vided for. - _ - The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER eb-, served, that there was a surplus of 3,000,000 lasti year, considering the operations respecting the re duction of the funded debt. The issue of Exche quer Bills had been 12,000,000 more last year than l in the year preceding. Mr. CURWEN was rejoiced to understand that only 3,000,000 had been added to the public debt. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that the Honourable Gentleman might have still greater season to rejoice, inasmuch as there was n o t an addition of 3,000,009, but, in the true view of the subject, a saving to that amount. The Motions were pihsed in the Committee. Mr. PASCOE GRENFELL then rose to take no tice of slight misrepresentation, which he be lieved h quite unintentionally crept into a Morning Piper. object was merely to explain and re-state his meanilt. He had said on the last night that be considered an extensive paper currency as of incalcu lable advantage to the country, and that in this view hi thought country banks founded upon solid princi ples, and that all other modes by which an extension' could be given to that circulation ought to be fos tered and encouraged ;.but that, in order to render that currency permanent and safe, it appeared to him indispensable that it should be founded upon, and referable to, some fixed definite standard, and that gold and silver appeared to him to be the best, if not the only standard, hitherto discovered by mankind, adapted for that purpose. He had no new object in view except to explain himself, and therefore should not trespass further on the House. POOR LAWS. Mr. STURGES BOURNE moved the renewal of the Committee on the Poor Laws, which he regret ted he could not propose to revive as to all those Ho nourable Members who formerly composed it. Two active members of it had departed from this life. One of them was Mr. Bell, the. late Member for Glamorgan, who possessed an enlightened and in quiring mind, and was well qualified for matters of public business. The other was the deceased Mr. Rose, who had so long and so diligently distinguished himself; by his industry, activity, and assiduity in 'public affairs, and by his general knowledge of:par liamentary business ; and whose loss would be felt by Parliament and by the country. He was a Um tleman still better known and estimated in private life, by his attentions and exertions in favour of entry wise measure for the relief of the poorer classes of society. Mr. Hall died in the prime of life. Mr. Rose left the world in advanced years. He wished by his motion to renew the original Committee, as far as it was practicable to do it. Mr. CURWEN expressed his objections to the ex isting state of the Poor Laws, in this country, the operation of which, under all the circumstances, tended. to break down the spirit of the people, by driving them to look to the Poors' Rates as a relief and a refuge. No representation as to the present system would be too strong ; and in order to do good, it was necessary toprobe it to the bottom. Sir FRANCIS BURDETT did not mean to pose the the appointment of the' Committee. He could not exit tly accord with what had just been said. He did not believe that• any great alteration had taken place in the character of the people of this country, but he did believe that much alteration had occurred in their circumstances. They were, in his judgment, the same active and industrious people as they ilad formerly been ; but they had not the same means of being comfortable as they formerly had, from the want of the necessary funds. As to the price of la bour, no employer could give more than his means ; the question must be reciprocal, and the interest was, in fact, the same, to both parties. It would be un fair to view the subject in another way. He consi dered the people of England as the most active and industrious people on the face of the earth. He eiv• tertained no doubt that the real cause of their wants sprung' from enormous taxation. As to inquiries into the Poor Laws, so much spoken of during the last two years, those laws had existed for centuries, and while the poor were in a much better condition. He was not himself an old man, yet could he remember, even in his own time, when a boy playing about his father's house, that labouring persons took pride against coming to the poor-house, and even boasted that none of their family had ever done so. Where, then, was a remedy to the existing evils to he sought? It could be found only in reduction, in retrenchment, and in economy in the application of the public mo ney. The nation had been thrown into immense debt, and had had unnecessary burdens thrown upon it, with unnecessary salaries and pensions, not for la bour, but for no labour. That system ought to be stopped; and acting on such a principle would have a more beneficial effect than any measure which might originate with this Committee. In truth, the enormous extent and weight of the public debt, drew up . ,and, devoured the resources of the country.-- He s aid, the tendency which the appointment of such a Committee would have, in his opinion, was rather to delude the public with regard to the nature of the evil, than to oppose any effective check w its growth. It had been complained that the present system, op pressive as it was to the country, 'gave no effectual relief to the poor, at the same time that it encou raged habits of indolence and improvidence. The people of this country he believed to be the most ac tive, industrious, and laborious people on earth.— (Hear, hear.) He could not therefore believe that the evil originated in the habits of the people ; but in the unfortunate state of the country, and the enor mous increase of taxation, which sapped the founda tions of our country's prosperity, and took out of the rich man's pocket the funds destined for the sup port of the industrious poor. Such was the obvious tendency of the taxes upon leather, salt, and of the income tax. But the most scandalous of all taxes, , and that which affected the poor most directly, Was the stamp-tax, and especially upon law-proceeeffigs: This *tee ta4bi e loisding legal preceedingt melt such'eek. ty , `reedited tbe protection Etta laws, Whieli'dtak t `rendered be equally accessible ties* rich.and poor, in many instances, inaccessible tO the latter, and tlaus'reridered the best laws* of no Weil. The &mentor Poor laws hid exitted - TOr centtiskt in this, copetry,. bud , it, was only witAtit the last.' two yeries that it ailiiitsel:its' preserti:itirming appear ance—and, Talt ii ifatisottnA momsires of rigid.eco nosily i .141! ' eviieuditure, -the evil must eon dais( ta ' ' • ita, they would ' find it impossible li f itses 'to tsi+Eal itl'''llielaitouthietlasses,* he believed, in genera WA tilt inmost estitleinince at the idea of , buromiiieereeeeident pp t4f "beitevolence of the public, whilst lay any stretcb of Agitation they could avoid it. They felt themselves degraded by becom ing the objects of public charity, and there was no thing they regarded as a greater calamity, than finding themselves obliged to have recourse to parish relief. The Honourable Baronet concluded by saying that although he thought it proper to make these , observations on the subject, he had no intention of opposing the appointment of the Committee. Lord CASTLEREAGH remarked, that the Ho nourable Baronet's obeervationswere more connected with the general policy of the country than with the particular subject of the Poor Laws. As many op portunities would afterwards occur of combating such general observations, he would not now advert to them at greater length. He hoped that neither , the House nor die public would entertain the)anie desponding views of the poor laws with the Hasa. 1 Baronet. Great good had already been done by the Committee. The distinct and clear view which they had given in their Report, of the various branches of this complicated ,object, and the wide circulation of this Report through the country, had been pro ductive of the happiest effects. It was not correct that there were as many °piracies eptertained by the Committee as there were Members. He had given his attendance as much as it was in his power, and bad often borne a part in the discussion—he could, therefore, with confidence affirm, that although dif ferent opinions necessarily prevailed on the subject, so difficult and so complicated, the Committee were unanimous on many leading points. Besides, should it be impossible to agree in opinion, or to adopt any legislative measure on the subject, he had often Ob served much good to arise from the mind often work ing on a subject by way of discussion. The further discussion of this subject in the Committee, and in the House, would thus do good, by ascertaining prin ciples, and suggesting improvements which would be acted upon in the several parishes, although no legislative act should pass on the subject. He hoped, therefore, that the Honourable Baronets desponding represai, tation of the inutility of investigation, would have no weight in that House, or with the public. Sir F. BURDETT explained. He had not disap proved of investigation, but he had stated what he would 'now • testate, that no investigation or dis cussion vtould ever afford any relief, without such a reduction of the establishments of the Government, aad such a rigid economy in the expeniliture, as could reduce the enormous taxation of the country ,to a scale compatible with the fair employment of the industrious population, and the full enjoyment of the fruits of industry. Mr. CALCRAFT had not very sanguine expecta tions from the labours of the Committee. The Re port, he would admit, had done some good, but no effectual relief could be expected without the power ful co-operation of Government. Two points of gnat importance and considerable nicety would de serve the attention of the Committee. The one was, whether funded property should not be subjected to poor-rates as well as landed property? The other was, whether petty sessions might not take consideration of many subjects at present devolved upon the quar ter sessions? More good could be done by country Magistrates than by any act of Legislation. He had heard much. said of the advantages of permanent Overseers ; but the principal cause of mismanagement was, that thcise who had a right to attend and to in quire into the system of management , in their parish, neglected to do.so. Why did they not attend and satisfy themselves of the necessity of every burden imposed upon them, and detect every attempt at im position or peculation ? , Lord CASTLEREAGH explained.--The Cdm nlittee was then re-appointed. The SPEAKER informed the Howe that the ab stracts of the poor-rates for 1748, 49, 50, formerly ordered, were now laid upon the table, . . COMMITTEE ON THE omen: -SA-0. Mr. BROUGHAM said, that seeing a Noble Lord ' not exactly in itii.place (a laugh), but on his way to it, he was anxious to ask for some information re specting the select Committee to beappointed : Did the No ble Lord intend to accede to the taropCmition which Ile had taken the liberty to make on the first night of the Session? Having then obtained no satis factory answer, he now again asked, whether the Committee to be appointed should be furnished with powers to call for witnesses, papers, and every ne cessary source of accurate information ? Lord CASTLEREAGH replied, that it was in tended to follow the precedent of former cases of a similar nature. . Mr. BROUGHAM—Am I to understand that the powers I have mentioned are among those usual ? Lord CASTLEREAGH answered in the negative; and that if any Member should propose to grant such powers, he should feel it his duty to oppose it. Mr. BROUGHAM stated, that an Honourable . Friend of his would, in these circumstances, submit , a motion to the House on the subject. Friday was an inconvenient day, he therefore regretted that his, Noble Friend, the Member for Lanark (Lord A. Ha milton), was not in his place, that he might put off ' his motion, on the State Trials in Scotland, which stood for Tuesday, to Thursday next, in order that the motion of his Hon. Friend might be fixed for Tuesday. MISCELLANIES. Mr. W. WYNNE moved for leave to bring in a bill to shorten the number of poll-days, and make other improvements in elec tions. The great objects he had in view were brat, to shorten the period for polling ; next, to enable Magistrates to regulate the number of booths ; then to prohibit the use of cockades, and in certain cases to authorise the Returning Officer to declare a Candidate duly elected, although another Candidate should de mand a poll.—Leave granted. Mr. CA LCRA FT said, that he had last year introduced a Bill for the remuneration of the High and Deputy Constable of Westminster, for their attendance on Parliament, but it had faded for want of previous inquiry. He therefore now gave .netice on the Buhr for tO4TIOITOW week. Mr. CUR WE N moved for a Return of the number of Sur charges of the Assessed Taxes during the year lhi7, the Ap- j pealsapinst these Surchatges, specifying Use parishes from which .they came, and the decisions upon them—Ordered. Sir FRANCIS BURDETT presented a Petition from eer ,min inhabitants of Bath; praying for universal suffrage and an nual parliaments. It was read, and ordered to lie on the table: The Honourable Baronet afterwards presented other Petitions for Parliamentary Reform, but not, having been read, it could . Dot Be learnt from what places they bad come, or to what extent they prayed for reform.--They were ordered to lie on the table. Dr. PHILLIMORE moved for a Return of aU Vessels en gaged is] the Slave Trade captured by British shim, and brought under the view of the Court of Admiralty in this country, since lot of January, lgls, and also the number of those vessels restored, the number of condemned, and the number still pend ing ; together with an account of Slaves found in each vesseL— Ordered. Serjeant ONSLOW presented a Petition from ale who had been removed from his house in consequence of the New Street Act, and by this means lost his business. Mr. HUSKISSON bad no objection that the petition should lie on the table, as a respect due to petitions to that House ; but if it were intended to be followed up by any further proceeding, he would, in the consent Me Commissioners, object to it. The Honourable and Learned Gentleman never hesitated to give his legal advice to persons in an inferior situation. If, then, he should bring the question into a Court of Law, the Commis sioners would readily meet the question. Serjeant ONSLOW said, that the petitioner had sustained an Injury not in the immediate contemplation of the Act,' and therefore he applied to the House to consider his case and re commend it to the attention of the Commissioriers. • The-pet:dos was ordered to he on the table. Mr. COURTENAY moved, that the accounu of Saving Banta ;minted yesterday should be printed.—Ordered. Mr. . WYNNE brought in his MI to resulate Polls.—lt was read a first and a second time, committed, reported, and the Igniter consideration of the .repon was ordered fat Ftiday se's ntght. The Bill volts ordered is the Mean drew to k The House adjourned at a quarter past sa. THE EVENING STAR. LONDON. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, is TILE FUNDS. TRICE OF STOCKS TILLS DAY AT TWELVE 0.0 Reduced 8O —Cons. 79if—Cons. for Fe! 4 per Cent. 981-1-I!!Avy Annuities 10511 India Bonds 98 99 pe.--aßxdsequer Bills 11 From a statement which our Readers trio was made last night in the House of c orm the CHANCELLOR of the Exciteoueß, tt ?;; ?• on the accounts of last year up to the sth of, 1818, as compred with the year :nding nary 1 . 817, there has been a diminutio n o f tional Debt to the amount of about three trail 10 . 3 debt of 700 millions this is a trifling 6.7 certainly, but it is some satisfaction to find are beginning at last to retrograde to any e our expenditure,. The CIIANCRUAR admitte% same time that there might be some deficier‘ yet unprovided for, which would lessen thi s I it; law of the country. . I The'Parii Papers of Monday arrived dist; nu but es repi the tragical eient at Algiers, sr i, hare detailed in another part of our Piper, t . ; wholly destitute of intelligence. Five Mails from Hamburgh arrived at a :1 this forenoon, but the Papers which they h: not (+luny later date than those received a-. 1 yesterday. Only one Mail, that of the 3L, t ; nuary, is now due. A Flanders Mail has brought us to-day th sell Papers down to the Scl instant. The Pon is stated to have interceded in b M. de Baootto, Bishop .of Ghent. The KING of PRUSSIw in consequence t by which he hurt his leg, is indisposed, ba The Vienna Qfficial Gazette contains an 0- establishing an uniform system of Land-T;. the German and Italian Provinces of the Empire. The Patiscz Itzoarr will hold a Levee at House, on Thursday. It is believed that the chief object of t'e REGENT'S jourraey to Wipdsor was to ce" MAJESTY on the intended marriage of the ELIZABETH with the Prince of HESSE RCIII 'lt if finally settl ed . . . Our-Reiders.will remember the indecent n cenary conduct of some persons =Ached George's Chapel at Windsor, on the ce:emer Rsneratof the lamented Princess ennaLcrrr only were immense stuns demanded for adr the body of the Chapel, but the Pains A Pages, and other Members of the Royal Ho were excluded to make rodm for the p traffic. The subject has justly brought 2134- arrangement. By order of the PR INCIt nevi Canons are removed from the Stalls which t] occupied for many years, and are now to s the:poor Knights! ' Thursday, the LORD CHANCELLOR of lan Lady MANNIRS g a ve a grand dinner, at tht in Stephen's Green, Dublin, which was hors the presence of the LORD LIEUTENANT, and bee of other distinguished personages. General MITCHEL, and Captain STACELL 16th Lancers, are arrived in Dublin. 'lle Earl and Countess Vzsaman and family are their house in Grosvenor-square, foe the season, troy %Meets. Tte Fart of ROIMLTII is arrived at his house, Si square, from a tour. The Duchess of lioneasio is arrived at her koala Man-meare, from her seat Broarnouth, Scotland. The Earl of Suaarr arrived yesterday nabs st House, from his father the Duke of Noarot.es gest, I Among the papers of the late Mr. M. o man's-fields, who died worth 163,0001. was lowing curious document, to spew how be the greater part of his property. He had a which be put 1000 small cards, numbered fi 1000 ; and, after well turning it, drew as DU SIRS . 23 there were THOUSANDS in the State at .the time he used it ; that is, if there weir Tickets. (as in the present Lottery) he woe 18 promiscuous Numbers—these he noted numbers between No. 1 and No. 1000. He ihe whole againinto.the w h eel, and, after ti ,tiresso 18 more, which he noted down as nun tween No. 1001 and No. 2000 ; and so on, had 18 numbers for every thousand, which case, would be 324 numbers : he then put t numbers only into the wheel, and drew IS r from these he made his purchases, and aril greater fart of his wealth by Capital Priies, THZ Nit Caysx.—This important case, N excited great interestin Scotland, as involving to a large amount, has just been decided by t of Session in favour of the Earl of Fin. JAMES Earl of Fife, his uncle, had acquir life-time by purchase, estates to the value of of 20,0001. a-year, which he conveyed to tru rents of which were to accumulate for an iud4 riod, excluding his nephew and heir at law, th Earl, from any futurebenefit whatever in dins An action was brought before the Supreme Scotland for reducing the deeds, on the grol in the year 1808, when they were executed,l ship was so blind as not to be able to read ten instrument or printed book, and that t 1 not read over to him and signed in the pr all the subscribing witnesses, as the law of requires. These allegations were proved, alt trial before the new Jury Court, %ivy ma Report accordingly to the Court of Session hearing Counsel at great length on the imps verdict of the Jury, the Court gave Judi favour of the Plaintiff, thereby reducing the question: . '