Star. — London, England, 1820-07-19 00:00:00

• .."7 . composed of various States, loMe of them but Aewiy united, • add ivhict of course tart/reit prejudices; butt this he would undertake to saY, ihitt there were not, in Europe, Provinces more happy—Provinces l which possessed more of real practical liberty-:-Pro vinces which cherished a more sincere and affectioulte attachment to the Government, than some of those Austrian Provinces. He (Lord Liverpool) would not do his duty, if he did not repel imputations cast upbn a Government whose relationi, internal and external, were conducted with purity, mild Less, and with thei best and fairest intentions. Lord HOLLAND, in explanation, said he did not sprak of the conduct of the Austrian Government with respect to its men subjects; but he did say, and he would now repeat it, that not merely from the examination of history—not merely from the con sideration of modern events, but from his own per sonal observation—for he was in Austria, though certainly he never was in any of those happy pro vinces which the Noble Lord had described—he did say, that there never was a Government, which, from its conduct towards• inditiduals, from the days of Charles the Fifth to the present time, had more uni• formly displayed more meanness, more severity, and more injustice, than the Austrian Government. Any ' persons who had ever lived in any of the provinces dependent on that Government, would justify him in that assertion. From what had fallen from the Noble Earl at the head of the Treas try, he (Lord Holland) must suppose, that Governm:nt had last night re ceived payment of the large sums due by Aus.ria to Great Britain—(A lough).—lie was inclined to think so from the very animated m inner in which the Noble Lord bore testimony to the extraordinary hottest!, of that Government—(A laugh):—He would, however, again declare, that he never knew, that he never read, of a Government that had been more uniformly mean and unjust than the Government of Austria. Lord CA ItNARVON strongly opposed ,the Bill. He contended that there was nothing in the state of Europe, nothing in the affairs of this country, that went to justify a Bill which he ovoid call oppressive and tyrannical. Lord CALTHORPE said, that whilst he would be willing to support Government to meet every dangerous emergency, he could not agree to a mea sure which he did not think called for by circumstances, and which, to strangers, ignorant of the language and manners of the country, was peculiarly severe. The House then divided, when there appeared, For the second reading, Contents, 17—Non-Con tents, 7—Majority in favour of the Bill, 10. The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed.—Adjourned at Half-past Nine. forihe Censorship of Press had &sad, the Spit. nish Ambassador called - on the French Government to restrain some remarks which appeared in the pub lic papers, on the affairs of Spain. He told the French Government, that by the law for the Censorship of the Press, the Press became a concern of the Govern ment; and that though Spain had no army to enforce its demands, it could hoist the tri-coloured flag on the Pyrennees. He did not admire the conduct of the Spanish Government on this occasion, buthe adduced it to illustrate the course of argument which might be taken. There was a view of the question, which, as connected with the Green Bag, might receive some attention. He had presented, the other day, a Peti tion, which stated among other things, as he thought correctlyAhat while this law existed, the evidence of foreigners, in the inquiry that was about tp take Ile. would be unworthy of credit—Wear, •hear!) Ile.. as a Member of a judicatory, should treat 'with scorn the assertion, that such a power pos sessed by one party over the witnesses would not be 'aly. , sel It was not only necessary that the power should not be abused, but that the people should be satisfied that it would not be abused, and that the witnesses themselves should know that it would not he exerted. What equality, while such a law existed, would there be between the two parties in the in quiry ? There was no compulsory process on the witnesses on either side, and he would not now hint at the indirect compulsion which one party might resort to, but he would Flit a case, in the entire igno rance of the real facts, in which ignorance he sho u ld be glad to see a prospect that he should die. Sup pose a subject of the Austrian Government should have it in his power to give evidence in favour of the Queen. He mentioned the Austrian Government merely because, if anything mean was to he done towards an individual, the probability was that it would be done by that Government. Suppose him to have incurred the displeasure of that Government, probably for some meritorious act, -for under that Government virtue was often a crime, and to have taken refuge in France or the Netherlands, would he, on the me: e chivalrous desire to bear testimony to the innoce:,ce of a persecuted Princess, who could never do him any service, come to this country, the irritated Government of which might send hi:n to a port of Austria ? The Noble Lord concluded by strongly protesting against the Bill, as the mere fact of its being passed in ISIS did not reconcile him to its adopzion now. The Lail of LIVER POOL said, that the opponents of the Bill allots ed that there was a power in the country to excliide or to expel aliens. If so, it must be a practical power, and where could a practical power reside but in the Crown, subject of course to the superintendence and revision bf Parliament?— By the common law, a power unquestionably existed the Crown—not such a power as that given by the Bill, but a power to carry into effect the purposes of Cie Bill by • Proclamation. In support of this posi. tion, the Noble Earl quoted Magna 'Charm and va rious precedents, more especially one in the reign of Elizabeth. No one doubted the right of the Crown to send an alien enemy out of the country. To that right, however, all the arguments grounded on the evils of arbitrary power, were quite as applicable as to the right conferred by the present Bill. It was essential to the very existence of society, that every State should possess the means of preventing from coming in, and, on the same principle, of sending out any persons not being members of that State, and of course notianving the same rights and interests, pro vided their residence was dangerous to the public safety and tranquillity. This was a right which die common law gave the Crown, to be exercised by Proclamation; and if that Proclamation should to disobeyed, by process in the Courts—(Hear). — The delay and inconvenience of this course were re medied by the Bill before their Lordships. If this rower were allowed to have been formerly neces sary, lie wished to know what there was in the state of this country, in the state of Europe, or in the state of the world, which should induce Parliament to ab stain front continuing to the Executive Government the possession of the same discretionary authority? He submitted that the consideration, whether or not it was likely that the power would not be abused, ought tcs form no part of the argument. The rea sons which, in his opinion, ought to induce their Lordships to re-enact this measure, were of a much more satisfactory and convincing nature. With re spect to the argument, that the Bill put into the hands of Government the power of sending out of the coun try witnesses that might be necessary for the defence of her Majesty on the approaching trial, to this he would say, even if the object of Government were to act towards the Queen in the most harsh and unjust manner, and Gen forbid that such should be the in tention of Government, they could not possibly take a coarse more likely to defeat that object than by enact ing a measure which would throw an obstruction in the v..ty of testimony for the defence of her Majesty.— TLit Illustrious Individual, no doubt, will have able Counsel at their Lordships' Bar to state her defence, to avail themselves of every point, and to dwell on every grievance. He irould ask their Lordships, could they suppose any Government that would— not indeed obstruct—but could they suppose any Go -1%.-rumetit that would not, for its own sake, give every facility to witnesses for the defence to an accu sation of such a nature as was preferred against the (, ueen? As to what a Noble Lord said respecting individuals who had landed at Dover, he might ask that Noble Lord whether he would not, at such a }lace, have been more anxious to appear as a witness 4 . 7:linst the Queen than for her--(A laugh).—He !Lord Liverpool) could not but consider that treat mmt of these individuals as very shameful. The Noble Lord (Holland) had thought right to bring tnarges of harshness and meanness against the Aus trian Government. He thought right to stiAmatine that Government in a manner which it by no means, merited—a Government, he hesitated not to say, which, in all its reltitions,wis peculiarly honourable— eGovernment to which we owed peculiar obliga tions. The Austrian Goiernment, during 20 years of war, reflected nothing buthonour urn that country. It never submitted but through necessity, and it was always ready to take up the sword for the vindica tion of its own rights, and the rights of others; id deed, he might here be permitted to refer to a Noble Baron who, for a certain part of that war, was Secre tary of State, and who moved an Address, the first Paragraph of which was in' commendation of the atastriau Government. The Austrian Empire was HOUSE OF COMMONS. Mr. Jonsrsow, from the Irish Secretary's Office, presented at the Bar the Copy of a Memorial with respect to the Irish rishcrics.—Ordered to lie on the table. Mr. W. DUNDAS presented a Ictition from the Convention of the Royal Burghs of Scotland, praying the removal of the Restrictions upon Trade.—Ordered to lie on the table, and to be printed. l'ellew's Divorce Bill was read a third time and pissed, as was the Witnesses in India Rill. THE DUCHESS OF KENT. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated, that he was under the necessity of trespassing on Parliament for a small addition to the grants already made for the proiision of the different Members of the Royal Family. In consequence of the hard situation in which one of its branches, the Duchess of Kent, was placed, from the peculiar circumstances of the late Duke's death, several of the annuities granted to his late %nal Highness, in conformity with a simile arrangement made for his Royal Brothers, having ceased on the sth of April last, his Illustrious Relative found herself emsarrassed with many of the charges of her Royal Consort's establishment, which he now called upon the House to provide for. He con cluded..by moving, " That an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, praying him to be graciously pleased to authorize the payment of £6OOO to flier Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, to defray certain charges appertaining to the establish ment of the late Duke of Kent, for one quarter of the year, which remained to be liquidated, in consequence of the period t at which his late Royal Highness died, several annuities having ceased on the sth of April last, which had been granted to his Royal Highness, together with the other branches of the Royal Family; and that that House would make good the same." The motion was *evil to mess. con. ACCOUNTANT-GENERAL OF THE COURT OF CHANCERY. Mr. CALCRAFT said, he understood 'the Ac- ' countant-General of the Court of Chancery at pre sent, besides his salary, received a portion of the brokerage with the broker of the Court. He was ready to acknowledge that this officer ought to be liberally paid, but he thought the payment should be made in the way of salary and without disguise, that it might be apparent to the Public what he did receive. He should, therefore, now move for "An Account of the Brokerage received by the Broker, and the manner in which it had been applied for a certain period." Mr. COURTNEY had no intention of opposing the motion; as far as it could be complied with it should have his support ; he would new only state the nature of the office and of the salary received. By the 12th of Geo. 11. the Accountant-General had certain duties to perform, and he received a salary of about £l5OO a year ; besides these duties, he had others, relating to the buying and selling of stock, and for his trouble ►n perform►ng these duties he re cei►ced a certain portion of the brokerage, paying the broker the remaining part of the brokerage. The only difficulty he felt as regarded this motion was as to the time mentioned; namely, ten years. Now the present Accountant-General had been in office only about eight months, and could not make re turns for other persons, his predecessors. Mr. ABERCROMBIE thought there would.be no difficulty in making this return, as the present Bro ker had been Broker to the Court for many years. After a few words from Mr. CALCRAFT ) the mo tion was agreed to. BARRACK IN THt REGENT'S PARK. Upon the motion for the third reading of the Bar rack Agreement Mr. LOCKHART tose . and said, that upon the first introduction of this measure, he was rather in clined to favour its adoption, but from farther consi deration, and especially from the calculation of the Honourable Member for London (Mr. Wilson), as to the improvidence of the arrangement for defraying the expense of the proposed building, he felt it his duty to give it a decided opposition. He could not see the necessity of inclosing so much as eight acres of ground, merely for the purpose of Barracks of this nature, particularly as the erection of the bare walls for such an extent of inclosure, must be attended With considerable expense. He was ready to ad mit that, amidst the densitl of the _population, the activity of the popular m►nd, and the light shed upon it by the Pre►s, with the pressure of taxation I ,ri; • , J- ' . . .. J •• - • . . .. • . • - . land the progleis if diatostent, it was ftecestary to matted between himself and the Right Ron. Gentle rovide for the preseroation of the trannallity of inan-opon the subject .of the Irish Distilleries ; but the Metropolis an armed force. of . some kind . 'still he must &One to withdraw the Motion, as he But he could hot consider a regular artny by any was desirous to record hii opinion up Al the Jourriki. Means the moat effectual or the safest agent for that The Motion for the previous question was carried purpose; and he recognized in this Bill, which pro- without a division. . . sided a certain annuity for thirty-one years for the , RESTAttfthigs UPON TRADE. ~ • construction of Barracks, an attempt to rest upon the Mr. WALLACE, on bringing Op .the• Report of regular army alone for the protection of the public the Corhmittee, to which were referred the several peace, to the exclusion of every other system. - No Petitions with regard to Restrictions upor. our Eo. man could be more unwilling than himself to' dis- rein Trade, expressed his regret that his Honourable* parage the merits of our gallant soldiery , or more Friend, who usually sat upon the other side of the ready to acknowledge the brilliancy of their exploits. House (Mr. Baring), and by whom a - most interest- Their claims to the gratitude and coafidence of their ins and instructive Petition had been presented upon country could not, in his opinion, be over-rated. But this subject, was not present on this occasion, espe our regular army, at the end of thirty years, might cially as his absence was caused by a severe do• be composed of a very different set of men. The mestic affliction. The Committee felt with the Gen army of that-day would have, no doubt, the recol- tlemen who subs:ribed that Petition, that any attempt lection of their predecessors to regulate and animate at an immediate remedy for the Restrictions upon their conduct; but then the confidence which such Trade must be ineffectual. But the Committee were predecessors must naturally inspire, that they never fully impressed with the scundness of the principle, would employ their arms against the stability of the that all Restrictions tri•on Trade were an evil only to Monarchy, or against the liberties of the people, be justified by some considerations of great political could not, with perfect safety, be transferred to their expedidncy, and that every such evil ought to be re successors. The spirit of a r e g iment mi g ht, no doubt, moved as soon as the consideration of expediency , continue for a considerable period; hut it was too ceased, unless where we were bound to maintain it much to calculate that it would exist for thirty years. through some compact with a foreign State, or with our especially when that regiment should be composed own subjects, unless when its existence was necessary of different persons from those by whom that spirit to the encouragement of some infant manufacture, had been created.— His wish then was, not to rely from which the support of the Restriction could not at exclusively upon such men for the protection of the once- be withdrawn consistently with a due regard to Metropolis, or for the security of the Constitution. the capital embarked, or the persons employed in it. He should much rather, indeed, have these import- The first great object that engaged the attention of ant objects provided' for by a different description of the Committee was the Navigation Law, which pro force. Therefore he' would prefer the arming of hibited the import of any article which was not the Men of character and property, w,ho, from their produce of a foreign State, unless in British shipping, stake in the country, and from the nature of their and in this ' law the Committee recommended some intellect, must feel an increased interest in the main-- relaxation. The next object for the consideration of tenance of tranquillity, in the stability of the Throne, the Committee was the warehousing system, and if and in the freedom of the people. Nothing was. it were meant to render this country the great mart farther from his intention than to joinin any idle or emporium for the supply of the world, which it outcry against the army, to whom he thought the' was eminently qualified to be, the Committee felt ountry extremely indebted, not only for its glorious . that this system should be extended as widely as pos. .services abroad, but for its very important services sible, so that all articles of foreign produce, whether at home, in guarding the public peace, and in saving in a manufactured or unmanufactured state, might the country from commotion. But still he should be imported and warehoused, excepting in one case, recommend the other description of force which he he meant that of linen; the' grounds upon which had mentioned, not, howevere with a view to have those recommendations rested, on the part of the this description of force calieJ mto action upon every Committee, would be fully stated when the proposi occasion, " nisi diguus vindice 'naus." He by no tions should' be made for carrying them into effect.— means intended to implx that any part of the exist- The Committee were peculiarly struck by an evil ing army was in any respect of an inferior character which was found extremely embarrassing to trade— to any this or any other country had ever known.— he meant the multiplicity and complexi,y of the laws. But it was indubitable that any set of men confined They found fi um a Report made in 1815, that there together in barracks, were but too likely to partake of were 2000 laws upon the subject of trade, of which that moroseness and ill temper which generally chai- there were no less than 1100 in actual operation, • racterized those who were confined in manufactories. while to these several more had been since added. The It was indeed evident, from universal exoerience, grievance of such a multiplication must be felt by that those were always least morose and ill-natured any reflecting mind, when it was considered, that by who-enjoyed A general intercourse with mankiad, the slightest deviation from any one of those laws, a while the morose and ill-tempered were most liable ship atid its cargo were liable to be seized. _ What a to be disaffected. Upon this ground, then, as well restriction and obstacle then to trade • must such a as the other which he had stated, he disapproved of system produce I A radical change in that system this system of barrack establishment. He did not was indeed obviously necessary. But in the desire to intend by any means to deprecate the existence of remove restrictions, the Committee were impressed a regular army, but he would be understood to main- that regard must be had to those trades which had tain that the country should be defended by another grown up under the peculiar protection of the Le• armed force as well as that. army. No country could gislature, and to which the public faith was pledged. indeed be safe that relied exclusively upon a regular It was also felt that any change attempted in a sys army, and therefore in all free States another force tem which the country had so long observed, must - was in existence, as was the case at present in be gradual and slow, in order to produce the effects some of the minor States of Germany. In support desired ; for the country could not suddenly retrace of the opinion, that no country could safely rely its steps in a course which she had so long pursued. upon the army alone, he felt it unnecessary to refer —lt might be thought by some, that the Committee to ancient periods, as the history of our own had not recommended change oncugh ; but even one times was so fully instructive upon the -subject.— step of departure from an injudicious system of com- Three different events in the course of the French Re- mercial policy, would be bailed by wise men as a volution shewed the danger of any such reliance for return to those right principles from which we had the cootection of public liberty. But the late Rev°. too much receded, especially in the opinion of foreign lotion in Spain demonstrated that an army could be Nations. Our restrictive system was, indeed, a re as little relied upon for the protection of Kings ; and proach upon our character for wisdom and liberality, if the history of the past was. to be regarded in a as well as a provocation to hostile reciprocity, through- • great degree as the history of the future, it behoved out the Continent, and for the vindication of that cha those whose duty it was to provide for the protection ratter it would become us to give up that system, of the King, and for the freedom of the People, to. from a sense of its injustice. At all events, it would take care how far they placed confidence in an Army, become us to shew to foreign Nations, that if they lest Muncks and La Fayettes, Bonapartes and Qui- violated the sound principles of Commerce hereafter, ' togas, should again rise in the world--(Hear). they should not have the example of Great Britain to Here a division took place, and the numbers were, quote in justification of their conduct—(Hear, hear). For the motion 80—Against it 45—Majority 35. The Report , was ordered to lie on the table, and The Bill was accordingly passed. to be printed. ADJOURNMENT AND THE QUEEN. Lord CASTLEREAGH moved that the House should, at its rising, Adjourn till Monday next. Mr. CALCRAFT asked, to what period it was proposed to Adjourn from Monday next ? Lord CASTLEREAGH stated, in reply, that it was proposed to adjourn to nearly about the same. time with.the other House, and to repeat the adjourn ment from time to time, in order to await the pro ceedings of that House, with regard to the important measure which was at present pending before their Lordships. Should that measure be brought down from their. Lordships, it would, of course, be desirable that that House should be assembled as soon as pos sible, and it was intended to move a call, in order to ensure a full attendance.--Motion agreed to. IRISH pisTlLLEatta. Mr. HUTCHINSON stated his objections to the measure, as being contrary to the wishes and opi nions of a majority of the Irish distillers. The Ho nourable Gentleman concluded by moving for a copy of the Report of the Excise Board of Ireland, con taining their opinion on the proposed Regulations in the Distilleries ; also for a copy of a Report of Messrs. Doyle and Can, made on an inspection of the Irish , Distilleries in the autumn of 1819. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER ob jected to the motion, on the grounds that the papers moved for formed a part of a correspondence not yet complete, and therefore he submitted, it would be better the motion should be withdrawn for the present. Mr. CHICHESTER considered the measure now under consideration as one tliat would go to destroy the Distilleries of Ireland, and under that impression he should, previous to these Bills pas s ing, move for a Committee to inquire generally into the subject. General HART spoke in favour of small Stills, the establishment of which in Ireland would, be was persuaded, serve, among other advantages, to double the produce of the Revenue in that country, as they had done in Scotland. The gallant °dicer also re peated his complaint as to the manner in which Still tines were levied in Ireland. Mr. HUTCHINSON declared, that he was very unwilling to interrupt the harmony which had coat- SIR.WILLIAM MANNERS. Mr. TENNISON said, he held in his band a Petition from this Gentleman, who, it would be recollected, had been foe eight days a prisoner in Newgate, labouring under the displea sure of the House. The Petitioner would sooner have prilented his Petition, but that he feared to be premature ; and he would not now presumed to intrude on their attention had he not been informed the House was about to adjourn for a time. Sir William, in his Petition, stated, that as loon as he received notice of the order of the House he hastened to London with as much speed as his inirm state of health would permit; that he immediately surrendered himself to the custody of the. Ser. jeant at Arms ; and he now expressed his sincere .contri. don for the offence he had committed, which had sub• jected him to the displeasure of the House; and expressed his sincere hope that the House would now, in its mercy, order him to be dischaged on paying his fees. He should not now move anything on this Petition, but merely that i t should lie on the table, having understo od that Sir Won Manners' health was in so shattered a state that his frame would not support the agitation which would be excited4;x i tend. ante at the Bar of the House, and a reprimand, as it would be in the impressive language of the Chair. He did not state this on his own knowledge, but he believed the stat e o f Sir William's health was well known to many Gentlemen in the House, and a medical Gentleman was also in attendance who would certify the fact, if called in and examined. He (Ml. Tennison) hoped the House would feel disposed to spare t hi s unhappy Gentleman, prostrate as he now was, the pain of an exhibition at the Bar of that House, which might be attended ,with the most serious consequences, and that they would not perinit him to languish in jail for several months, when they had departed for their enjoyments in the country. Mr. Box, the Surgeon-of Newgate, being called to the Bar of the House, said that he bad seen Sir William Manners that day, and that, in his opinion, he could not attend at the Bar of the House without considerable risk. The Marquis of TITCII FIELD moved that Sir Wit Man. ners be discharged upon payment of his fees. Mr. M. A. TAY i.. 012 bore testimony to the infirm state of Sir William hlanners's health. After a few words from Mr. GXANT, Mr. R. Maine, Mr. W. Wissusts, and the Marquis , of 'rerenriasts, the Motion was agreed to. Mr. HUME snit, that as many erroneous opinions had gone abroad with respect to the expense incurred by the Government of this country in the lonian Isles, be should move' , That there be laid before the House an Abstract of. the Expense Inclined ,by the Government of Great Britain in the lonian Ides, for the year ending December ee, 1819."—Ordered. The Irish Promissory /stoles Bill went through a Committee, after alien; conversation, in which the Cuaecet.s.oa of the E. cent/mai, Messrs. Hurcuiesox and Hums, took a part. The BIM was reported, and Ordhred tole printed. The other Orders or the Day were disposed of, and the Raw adjourned. b e- re 1 • F'