Star. — London, England, 1818-06-02 00:00:00

I • he could net avoid envying then, and that was, that t h e y alone should be the people who had the power of the courage to afford an asylum to the persecuted id oppressed of other countries. With respect to the clause, of which the Noble Viscount had given no tice, he certainly should not oppose it, if its ope rttion was made prospective; hut he could not con tent to its being made retrospective, and thus to be !nay of a breach of faith towards those persons who had vested their property in our Funds under the gection of an Act of Parliament. Lord HARROWBY supported the Bill, on the rounds that it was necessary for the preservation of tranquillity both at home and abroad. The Noble lord denied that this Bill would have the effect of driving foreigners out of the country ; the contrary vas the fact; there were at present some thousands more Aliens in Ere country than there were a year ago. The House then divided—For going into a Com mittee, 3l—Against it, 15.—The House then went iatn a Committee. Lord SIDMOUTIT proposed his clause of which he gave notice, for repealing the old Scotch Act, to v;lnch he alluded in Lis openilig speech. Lord LAUDERDALE wished that the Clerk roculd read the Act in question. The Clerk read the title of the Act. • Lord LAUDERDALE wished to have the whole Act read. Lord 3IELVILLE said, the Act could not be read, as it was in the Record Office in Edinburgh. Lord LAUDERDALE said, the Chairman oug ht t!:ea to r eport progress, and ask leave to sit ag ain' t ' when the Act could be produced. The Duke of SUSSEX was of the same opinion. The LORD CHANCELLOR said, several Acts of Parlianiert had been passed since the Union, in which f•is Act of 1695 had been alluded to, and, therefore, castittitionally speaking, their Lordship's must be uken to know that Act. Lord HOLLAND could not allow an Act to be re: waled thus upon the assertion of a Noble Lord, might go to affect the interests of every person erected with the Bank of Scotland, and that Noble Lod a Governor td . the Bank of Scotland, and one she ought to be alive to protect the interests of those tc.r.etted with that Establishment. Lord LIVERPOOL said, the clause did not go to :•pc.ll the Law, or to affect the rights of any persons i , i , rmancittly, but only to suspend it during the con tuziance of the present Act ; and further, that its e ? cr.ition of the clause should only commence from :nth or (29th of April, the day on which notice of t . .:e Bill was given. Lo:-‘1 Gl{E;l could not consent to legislate on the sotoriety of an Act of Parliament; whilst by thus legislating in ignorance, they might affect the inte pit> of individuals. The dame was however read and agreed to. The Earl of CAItNARVON moved an Amend ment, that the Bill should not extend to any Aliens bmiciliated in this country for five years, or before tile war; but it was negatived without a division. The LORD CHANCELLOR moved a clause ex empting all Aliens from the operation of this Act, Irho had money in the Bank of Scotland previous to the 28th of April, 1818. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved to insert h the clause, instead of the 28th of April, " from and tier the passing of this Act." After some observations, the House divided—For the Clause 40—For Lord Lansdowne's Amendment of it 20—Majority 20. Lord GAGE proposed a clause, that Aliens should be suffered to go to any part of the world they please ; lr.lt the clause was negatived on a division of 42 to 20. The Bill then went through the Committee, and tr 2.; reported. Lord SID3IOUTII then moved the Suspension of ‘k:tli Standing Order, that the Bill be read a third ti-e to-morrow. Lord HOLLAND opposed this motion ; as did Lords LANSDOWNE, LatTA)Eitom.y, and RossLaN Lt.it was carried without a division. EDCCATION OF THE POOR BILL. Oa the motion of the Earl of ItOSSLYN, their Lordships proceeded to take into consideration the Report on this Bill, when several Amendments were made. On the crestion being put, that the Bill be read a third time, The LORD CHANCELLOR rose and said, that this Bill had been very much improved since it came np here. With respect to the part which he had taken in it, he felt very strong objections to make any allusion, because, in the hrst place, it was the duty of every Member there, and particularly of the person who held the situation which he filled, not to i.Ssilve on any thing that passed in another place ; LA, secondly, because it was extremely difficult to ascertain what really had passed; but if what he had read as having passed was correct, he felt himself bound to observe to their Lordships, that his conduct had not been treated with justice or propriety. He left it to the judgment of those who had known him Ag, both as a Judge and as a Member of that House, whether he ought to have been treated in that manner ?_(Hear, hear.),-He would now merely add, that whatever effect might have been intended to be produced, i t s h ould never operate as a check on b 5 mind to diminish the respect, civility, and atten tion; with which he had always treated every :11cm ber of Parliament, every Gentleman, and particu lay every Gentleman of his own profession. lire Lill v..as then ordered to be read a third time tcutt:rov:. Adjourned at one o'clock. ROUSE OF COMMONS. • TS: !Line was suramored to attend in that of the Peers, litard the Ro-cf Assent iti•!ell by Commission to several and private wh:ch ace cur Peers' Report. ..7.yrts were Ism' .eht . ..2 of the Bankrupt Commitsioners ...441 all, th e I r i s h Bill, the Master of the R o ll s o f ....11111, the Salt Laws Bill, and that ct the Committee on Pcisairs. ` • J. SMITH bionght in the ILinki-4 : Laws Amend ment t•-•itead a fi rst , and ordered to be read a second ti me to `.after a few e:i . ,•lari.ticie observations. I,,!•y.i.racr.dratnt of the Practice of the Coart of Chancery in kl!: was brocih: in, and read a Eret ••• • PEEL MOVtot tor .A.zco•ar.ts of she Imports into, and Ex fr's Irei.:ed to the sth of lam:are, 18 :V.—Agreed to. ?res.:aced a Petition from certain Post k,••'' KLep, r.:lkshi- r , zrenplainisig cf tlie sev er it y o f pro ,. .- 4 in rcl.4eac:eiticor. e . of trivail c: - .:(:111 in their ticke ts , an d ▪ ILL P.; resent:A a Petition against the Tax on }Lilts ricu It ,•:- to lie on tLc treble. atcl order,o co Ikon the titisl2. Itp.,:t of the Commissioners for complerina the w,O broitgb: up, and ordered to be printed. V defytde.l thy Contractor for the district is 11 -IL-LI .Le 1;:r 10 yt,.rs; and out oi 378 persons who had licottes, he had only found it necessary to prosecute 25 in the whole period alluded to. Accounts of the Importations of Hemp and Flax, from 1814 to 1816, were ordered. Alderman WOOD presented a Petition from certain House holders iu Westminster; praying for Annual Parliaments and Universal Suffrage.—Laid on the table, On the order for the third reading of the Cutlery Trade Bill, Mr. WHARTON thought the Bill ought either to be mate rially altered, or rejected altogether, as it had been so changed in its features as to be inadequate to afford the protection to the manufacturers of cast steel which they required. He stated the difference in the pro.-esses of making wrought and cast steel, and sheaved that hardware of the latter kind could be exported at one third of the price of the former. He thought that every new manufacture that increased the export of the country ought to be encouraged, and therefore proposed to offer amendments to some of the clauses in favour of the branch in question. Lord LASCF.LLES supported the Bill en the ground that its principal object was to protect the superior articles of manu facture. After some farther conversation between Mr. Felines, Dlr. WHARTON and Lord litscentns, the Bill was read a third time. Dlr. NV HA RTON then proposed his principal amendment, on which the Gallery was cleared for a division, but none took place; and the amendments were withdrawn. The Bill was then passed. Sir R. FERGUSON presented a Petition from the Guild Brethren of Cupar, praying for a redress of grievances, and to be admitted to the right of voting at Elections. Lord BINNING, front eke manner in which the meeting had been called and conducted, objected to the Petition being received as that of the Guild Body. Sir R. FERGUSON stated the meeting to have been regu larly .gilled. The SPEAKER decided in favour of the. Petition, which was then received, and ordered to be printed. Sir JAM ES DI ACKINTOSI I moved dust twn Accounts of the I)roits of Admiralty which were before the House, should be printed, and that there should he produced two other papers, namely, a statement of the number of persons capitally con victed, specifying their offences, and of those ev:euted in Lon don and Middle.es, from the year 1719 to ISIB : and a return of the numbers committed in England and Wales, from 1905 to 1817, both included—Ordered. Lord Li' :•peal the inuance of ;?oration :nth or e Bill wa Lord GP notoriety 0: legidating reit> of rod The clan The Earl meat, that domiciliate tile war; hi The LO] empting al v:ho had tr. the 28th d The Ma. h the duo tier the p After sc the Claus( of it 20— Lord G be :ufferet ly.lt the cl:. The Bil. 11'2'• report Lord SI S tt:re to-mc Lord fit Lords LA >:_t ;t was On the r Lordships Report on made. Or read a thir The LO ,t'.:isßill 111 op here. ' taken in it, , any ailusio duty of evi • per:on wht I ( . Ssi.nre on ▪ Lad, xcon r ascertain N • read as ha ; bound to had not bl t left it tot t h ot : }louse, it that many add, that to he proc mind t tion, with ber of Pa .• C•ie r The Bd . tc•mc:roz Tr. ; lbw! ` •• • p V 1 t Rcad K 1: • PEE • l• a •4 - SEV Read ki r t• A z 6 at'( t • F.ftv. SLAVE. TRADE TREATY. Lord CASTLEREAGH, in alluding to the Treaty with the King of the Netherlands for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, lately laid before the House, ob. served that two or three slight alterations had been made in it since the subject WAS mentioned, and which he deemed it his duty to specify. They related to a more accurate determination of the latitudes in which the right of search should be made, anel that the Me diterranean and the Channel were to be excepted.— The object of Government in these alterations had been to meet on•the fairest grounds every principle of jealousy that could be started by other Powers ; and he had only to congratulate the House on the ' accession to this grand object, of so important a Power as that of the Netherlands. Mr. W. SMITH had not the least dcuht that the Treaty would produce the best effect, and he wished to be amongst the first to congratulate the House on its completion. Lord CASTLEREAGH presented a Petition from the inhabitants of Belfast, praying that a chapel for them might be included in the arrangements tOr in- I creasing places of worship.—Laid on the table. DON DIEGO CORREA. Lord MORPETH, on rising to present a Petition from this person, related the proceedings which had taken place respecting him, in 1614-1815, when his case was advocated by, an Hon. Member, now no more (Mr. Whitbread). He was one of the Patriot Officers, who, on the return of Ferdinand, were de manded by his Government, and were surrendered by the British authorities at Cadiz ; after which, he and his companion were sentenced to ten years' im prisonment at Ceuta ; but in consequence of the re presentations of our Government, they were delive= red up to us, and M. Correa had ever since resided in England. It now appeared, that wishing, on ac count of ill healea, and for other reasons, to return to Spain, he had so icited a passport from the Spanish Consul in London, who had refused it, on the ground that as he had been claimed by the British Govern mein, he had no longer any claims upon Spain. The Petition, amongst other circumstances, contained a prayer that the House would grant him such relief as might enable him to subsist in this country till be could return to Spain. Lord CASTLEREAGH said he did not rile to op..' pose the Petition ; but it was material that the llouse should consider how they could interfere in the prayer of such a Petition, if it was intended to found any ulterior motion upon it. After detailing the circumstances which had led to the petitioner's arri val in this country, where he was brought, at his own desire, and free of expense, the Noble Lord said, what he wished the House to understand was, that tile petitioner had no claim on Government, which ought not to be called on to recommend him to the Crown. His conduct had been adverse to the Bri tish Government ; but as he had been delivered up by a British Officer under an erroneous notion, Mini sters had thought it proper to interfere in his behalf; bue they had never telt themselves called upon to do more than erect his liberation. Sir JAMES MACKINTOSH said, that having taken an active part in this affair, at a former period, he wished to make a single ohi,ervation. He had no desire to revive the warmth of that discussion, or t'S reflect on the memory oC the dead (alluding to the late Briti,it Consul General of Cadiz). But even if the Petition contained a prayer for pecuniary relief, which he believed it would be found it did not, there were still grievances stated in it which the House might properly consider. The British Government had thought itself bound in honoar to obtain the re lease of this Gentleman, and he was released accor dingly. But now the Consul of his nation informed him that he was divested of the character of a Spa niard, and of all protection from his native Govern ment ; and this sentence was pronounced upon him on account of our obtaining his release. Thus, he belonged to no country, was the subject of no Power, and was declared to have forfeited every privilege of a Spaniard, if a Spaniard could be said to have any privileges--(Latc,y.ter.)—lt was an act of ill will to punish this individual, because he had applied for our protection. In short, this unfortunate Gentleman having suffered through the misconduct of a British Officer, had an undoubted claim on the liberality and generosity of the British nation. Lord CASTLEREAGH, in reply, observed, that his sentence had not been executed through our in. terference, and he was consequently in a much bet ter situation than he had been. His egress from this country was perfectly free, and the only utility of the Spanish passport was to recommend him to the pro tection of other States. If he had not been arrested at Gibraltar, he would probably have been now in a Spaaish prison. Therefore, though we must lamer.t . . this has happened, yet the inconvenience he now suf. fens is front the view his sown Governittent takes of his conduct. Sir JAMES MACKINTOSH repeated, that the only reason Which appeased for the refusal of the passport was, that he had been claimed by the Bri tish Government, and therefore could rink be consi dered under the protection of that of Spilt. Mr. BROUGHAM wished to ask the Noble Lord whether any efforts had been made to effect the res toration of those unhappy persons to liberty, who had fought the battles of Ferdinand, and were now confined in loathsome dungeons, almost in sight of a British garrison? He should abstain from using any severe epithets against that Monarch, as they were so unpleasant to certain ears; but he wished to know whether any remonstrances or appeals had been made, and with what effect, to what, out of compli ment, he would call the liberal id enlightened po licy of the grateful Ferdinand ?—(Laughter.) Lord CASTLEREAGH answered, that such re presentations had been made to as great an extent as was prudent towards the individuals themselves. But the ill juiged efforts and language of the Hon. Gen tleman might rather be expected to retard than ob tain the object in view. Mr. BROUGHAM replied that it was no fault of ' his if he had uttered what might be deemed bitter sarcasm. The odious nature of the case qualified any language that might have been used. Mr. BENNET was of opinion that if such language had not been used, no interference would have taken place. The SPEAKER said, with respect to the Petition, it was quite unusual to bring up any Pe~•:ion pray ing for pecuniary relief without the previous consent of the Crown. In this Petition the word money cer tainly was not mentioned, yet it came so near to a prayer for pecuniary aid, that he begged to call the attention of the House as to the difficulty of admit ting such a precedent. This being the first instance of any thing running so very near the line of distinc tion, he hoped the Noble Lord (Morpeth) would not take it ill of him, that he had endeavoured to call the attention of the House to that part of the Petition. The Petition was then brought up and read.-- After stating the sufferings of the Petitioner, as al ready described, it prayed for such relief as the House might think fit, in consideration . of what he had en dured through the conduct of a British Officer, and also to enable him to subsist while he remained in this country. On the question that the Petition do lie on the table, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCIIEQU ER briefly opposed the motion. Lord COCHRANE apprehended that the House' could not reject the Petition because it prayed for re • lief. It was quite obvious that it could not receive the sanction of Ministers, who would give no relief to those who differed in opinion from them. He hoped some Member in the next Parliament (and this Parliament was, happily for the Nblic, near its end) would relieve the people from some portion of that oppression under which they now laboured. Lord MORPETH then consented that the Peti • tion should be withdrawn. LAND TAX ASSESSMENT. Mr. BROUGHAM, alluding to the conduct of the Commissioners for the Land Tax in Westmoreland, said, he held in his hand a paper which stated that an order for the Assessment, dated the 23d of May, signed and sealed by two Commissioners, by which it appeared, that instead of holding their first meet ing on the day appointed, they issued an order, re quiring the assessment not to be made till the 27th of June. Thus, supposing an Election to take place in a few days, no voter could have his assessment corrected, and be able to redeem his land tax, till the assessment was made. The names of the Com missioners were ChristopberWilson and John Hudson. The latter, who was a Vicar, and a very•respectable man, it was very likely had been practised upon.— He had been informed by a very respectable person, that Vilson is Chairman of the principal Election Committee in that part of the country on the l!elialf of those who were to benefit by the delay in the as sessment. These were rather awkward coincidences ; but having noticed this matter, and expressed his opinion, and feeling confident that those Gentlemen will not take on themselves to exercise a discretion which may cause the disfranchisement of a large body of Electors, he should trust to the effect which this exposure would have, and was willing to hope that what had happened had arisen from an over weening zeal in electioneering interests. But he ac quitted the Noble Lord and his colleagues of any interference, if it were only from the circumstance of its being a weak measure, calculated to do more harm than good. He therefore trusted that no far ther notice would be taken, till he heard respecting the Letter of Thompson, when he might deem it necessary to offer a few more observations. Lord LOWTHER believed this was the only in stance in the kingdom where the people, instead of waiting for the .assessment, h a d come forward and desired to be taxed. He defended the conduct of the Commissioners, who in consequence of these applica tions had deemed it necessary to write to the Tax office for instructions. He proceeded to shew that the delay arose from the difficulty of making the as sessments of land in extensive p ar i s h es , an d the in quiries with the Tax-office. The Noble Lord con cluded with observing, that he believed the Honour able and Learned Gentleman had made an unjusti fiable use of Johnson's name. Mr. BROUGHAM denied that he had passed the smallest censure on Johnson. He had called him an Election Agent, because he had called himself so. His observation was on the Tax-eflice, and all he had since heard had not removed his opinion that it was indecent in that Board to recognise an Election Agent in that capacity. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER con tended that the Tax•ofllce had done no more than their duty. They were bound to give such informa tion when called for. Mr. WYNNE was of the same opinion, and added, that if they had withheld such information or created any delay in affording it, they would have been guilty of a gross dereliction of heir duty, and liable to be brought to the Bar of the Ilouse, and punished for it. Whether they had done so in this case would be a subject of inquiry for an Election Committee, if there were grounds for it. But the other case was more important, though it waL quite impossible for the House to investigate it at preinit% and therefore the less that was said about k the bettei-: Sir S. GRAHAM bore testimony to ihC Conur.i goners in the part of the country in piestion heir more active, and their assessments at this period forward;"than those of any others in the kingdoi Mr. WALDEGR AVE said, if the assessment delayed, all those persons who were net proper]: sessed would be disqualified in the event of an tion.. He hoped the subject would be taken ul anothei Parliament.—The conversation then drop r • 4 • .. 1 . • . herefore .0/71171:S- • 3 being xi mote dom. iti were erly as- in elee- I up in rapped: t . second . . said, it , ate the divided • i was in; itie% for s, from On the m difre- i ible her i $ : incil on ich was cesiary. i se diffe- i - , it corn- t present I . .ment— its most ed prin- , e of the i t. , lout de- .ve been r is to re- w • ~ Cron • I ng of A +r e if the the old , i : ar.)--- ich also le to the her M.i- :onfidod I • t i li t i I, should . , e of the t, i- e highly f 1 fruits of .4 ve taken that the that the . 4 1 ). . utmost, * 1 would, . mpletely • ' I in it could a, there- . ! me. t did not t nstances ~ Regency , 1 ct to the t.s.! It'aVe 'l'o him c • • i Ls of opi- -1 as some- oade by Majesty's Govern- ✓ na...es (/ ..1. 1 1 Spencer, ie could • :Lich tlyst - . i e might i 1 I, i hat part C of the • . It 1 I l ordinary 1 ild have 'or sixty tight be ..? t' I incil.— . 1 stable to ie Mean- di..,solve t ad bt en I• . 1 i to trap- t , I Arden, 1 , . racter of • [ways be ~. Winchil. , I to her . i i . - t he Com- : had not a good •.e admit- ) ' .ke place et, much was glad I 4 but it I and Mi- ent. The t ~,, Queen, lit thence igistrates • i --(hear). i i , motives, t 1 lt ould be ' I little at- is . whichl t ' ' lity. In . . had been ~ ! i riportant course to t Regent. ' Duke of 1 1 ,. r t i as nut he , ( 1 nil ? and t . i k liament ? i . . . not Par- • • or later, r..ct ? The ,d was of , • 1 mo I S ring with V. a see any , . . gdet,o that 11 e i 1 Ilk t • it could , i r a present ty saving i :ed. lie the expe- . " 1 niily into , Insist the i without . I ' # ;ht Ilea. 4' • 1 • i REGENCY ACT ANIENDMENT BILL. _ . Lord CASTLEREAGH, on moving the second reading of the Regency Amendment Bill, said " might be expected that he should s! u state purview and the object of it. These might be div." into two branches. In the first instance, it W2' tended to afford her Majesty greater facilities leaving the residence of the King, when this, the state of her health, should be necessity. On policy and propriety of this there could be no rence of opinion, as the Bill only went to enable to call in the aid of the Members of her Counci. such occasions, and this was a provision which w. essentially expedient, if not absolutely necesTary, The other branch of the Bill might cause some d' rence of opinion, but to him the regulations it prehended appeared wise and prudent. The present Bill went to make no alteration—no infringement no innovation on the former Regency Bill, in its important enactments. It was an established pi ciple of the Constitution, that on the demise of Crown the Parliament should assemble withow lay, and, if Parliament at the time should have dissolved, in that case the last Parliament was assemble. But, should the demise of the CI take place at the very eve of the as s embling new Parliament, less delay would take place if new Parliament should assemble, than if the one was- called together again— (Near, hear. This was provided I'or in the present Bill, which provided, that unless Parliament should decide ' contrary, that in the event of the deMise of her jesty the cure of the King's person should be cons to her Majesty's Council. It was considered, she the demise of the Crown take place on the eve of meeting of a new Parlianient, that it would aehigl inexpedient that the cointry should lose the fruits the General Election which would then have place. The present Bill, therefore provided that old Parliament should not re-assemble, but that new one should meet within sixty days, at the utmost, of the demise of the Crown. This measure wont , ' therefore, prevent the Election from being comple• annulled. To him such an Act appeared in respect desirable, and it was impossible that it be productive of any inconvenience. and he, t fore, moved that the Bill be read a second time. Mr. TIERNEY blamed the Bill fur what it di contain, rather than for what it did. Circumstai, were now different from those on which the Regent Bill of 1810 was founded. He did not object to arrangement made for enabling her Majesty to Windsor when her health should require. To this appeared quite proper; he, however, was of nion, that in forming the Commission there was thing of party feeling. The arrangement mai this Bill went to exclude all those from her Maj Council who were of the party opposed to Go , ment. He should have- thought some other - might have been introduced—that of Lord Spell for instance, and other Noble Personages he name. Now that her Majesty's health was sac; she was considered no longer in danger, he say, what he could not a fortnight ago, on that of the sill which provided for the demise of Queen. To him it appeared somewhat extraordi that no member of the Royal Family should been included in her 'Majesty's Council. For days, under this Act, the King's person miglo confided to the care of her Majesty's Counci' lle could not but think that names more palatal the country might have been introduced. The ing of this Bill was to enable Ministers to di.. Parliament without inconvenience. It had brought in for reasons that were not suGred to spire. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord the Master of the Horse (who, from the characo his office, it might be expected, would alw: , about the person of his Majesty), and Lord Wi sea, would always be ready to be called in ti Majesty's aid, and therefore no addition to the missioners would have been thought of, if it h: occurred to Ministers that the present was a time for the dissolution of Parliament. He ai ted, if the demise of the Crown should take about the time a new Parliament were to meet, inconvenience would be esperienced, and lie was that a cure for the evil had been supplied. h was not impossible for the Regent to die, and nisters had made no provision for such an event nation, however, might be left without King, Qi or Regent, and what infinite confusion might 0 arise ! On such an occasion as this, the 3lagif of the country would not know how to act—(s Some, no doubt, would. front very laudable mot: act on their own responsibility ; but others woul at a loss what course to take, and be too littl quainted with the world to take those steps might be necessary to secure public tranquillity the present instance, the Regency question had c taken into consideration without the most import: question being at all discussed, namely, the cour be pursued in the event of the death of the II( In such a case, could any one doubt that the Du, York would succeed the Prince Regent ? Was • to be considered the future King of England. why should not this be now declared by Parliamei Why, he would ask, in this instance, should not ' liament exercise those functions which, sooner or it would be called on to exercise on this subject Windsor Establishment he next noticed, and opinion it might be reduced, without interfering his Majesty's comfort. He should be sorry to see alteration made, that would be unpleasing Queen, bat .tit arrangement might be made, would cause a vet y considerable saving, but it not be casuLted that the King, if he knew the p? situation of the country, would rejoice in any of unnecessary expense that might be effected. concluded by again pressing on the !louse the diency of introducing sonic of the Royal Fantil the Queen's Council, and of providing again st demise of the Regent, which would leave us w; :my sort of Executive Government. I Mr. CANNING coniFlime.ited the Hight