Star. — London, England, 1826-05-20 00:00:00

PARLIA' r ENTARY PROCEEDINGS. " HOUSE OF LORDS: MAY 19. Mr. BLoorms, and others from the Commons, brought up the WarehoiW and Importation Corn Bills, and the Ale hottse Licensing Bill, which were read a first time. The Earl of LIVERPOOL moved that -tlictvrer first • Bills be printed, and gave notice, that on Tuesday nest he should move that they be read a second time. . . The Fad of NI A Lhf ES BU RI presented Petitions from Gran tham, Sleaford, Batton, Folliensham, and other places, in the County of Lincola, against those Bills.—Laid on the table. Mr. CRATTSIOfrom the Treasury, presented Accounts of the several periods at which the Ports of this Country had been open to Foreign Corn during the last six years.—Laid on the table. Mr. Swinsuan presented the four Quarterly Accounts of the Commissioners of Westminster Bridge.—Laid on the table. Mr. Jennies, from the Office of Chief Secretary for Ireland, presented the last Report of the Commissioners on Irish Fisheries. Laid on the table. The Marquis of BUTE presented Petitions from Trowbridge, and Needs, in the County of Glamorgan, in favour of the Debtors and Creditors Arrangement Bill.—Laid on the table. Lord EI.I.EN BO ROU GII gave notice that he should move the second reading of that Bill on Monday. The Bishop of FERNS m-'ved for certain Papers relative to the value of Benefices in Ireland, and for a Return of the number of Parishes in Ireland to which-the provisions of the Tithe Composi tion Aft bad been extended. distinguishing the Parishes belonging to impropriators.. His Lordship observed that his Object was to shtw that the amount of Church property in Ireland had bass greatly over-rated. From an account which he had made of the value of benefices in three dioceses, it appeared that the average amount of each benefice in those dioceses was 2581. and when the. Returns were laid before their Lordships, be had no doubt but it would appear that the income of the Parochial Clergy in Ireland.' was much smaller than bad been supposed. Lord CLEF DEN thought it would be desirable to ascertain the number of Protestants in each parish, that Parliament might know the number of the luck, as well as the income of the Rectors.— The Returns were then ordered. Their Lot dships resolved into a Committee upon the Irish Pri sons' Bill. Tile Duke of MONTROSE proposed an Amendment, which would entitle Members of the University of Glasgow to practise in Prisons in Ireland. The Earl'of LIVERPOOL objected to the clank, as it wadi make a special eveniption in favour of the University of Glasgow. while those of Oxford; Cambridge, Dublin, and Edinburgh, wil jeyed no such advantage. As th e Bill sto od, that privilege was allowitosly to the Royal Colleges of Surgeons and Physicians of Lrndoo, Edinburgh, and Dublin. and it would not be liberal to extend it to one University without allowing it to alL—The clause was then negatived; the 818 passed through the Courant*. and Th was reported. 'eir Lordshipi resolved into a Committee upon the Metropo litan Turnpike Trust Bill. when Leak REDESDALE moved an amendment, to exclude the Harrow Turnpike Trust and the Uxbridge from the operation of the 111, Which was opposed by die Earl of LAIMILSDALL Their Lordships divided. when there appeared— Contents . Non-Contents., . . Mailliel.llfinh, _Of - chaos The Bill passed ibresgb tbi Colinsikos, find journed Lid Monday. . 10 . 15 . -5 HOUSE OF COMMONS. 41611111111011111TH restated* a' Padden from the Catholics of Las* is the of L einstec, praying a removal of the dim. / bifida ins upon them. Mr. H ME said the whole of :the panisetty in Ireland was deteriorated under the present gates,. If that Gantry were put on the same footing as Scotland, there, wool& be a relief to the amount of two or three millions of taxes. This was not merely a question of religion; sad be put it to the Olaneellar of the &chapter whether it was not at this period, when the revenue was known tole deficient. viards his while to adopt any available lamas for its increase ? That this might be effected, by attending to the' prayer of the Petitioners, he hid no hesitation in saying. The Petition was ordered to be printed.. Mr. ^ CAN then moved, that the House adjourn at its rising to ridoy Mr. HUME ealil o bu wished to bring before the House the sub ject of regulationsnaer mistiog respecting promotions in the Army, and be feared by this adjournment proposed he should be deprived 01 au uPloult!sratr - 11r,Socretary CANNlNG.said.the Home would meet on Fri day, when the Hoe. Menthe would be *able to bring forwatd the business propose a. Mr. I.llll4Esaid he had been before disappointed on such °cu.- atlas, by a certain knock at the door.- of the lloute--(A He wished the Right lion: Gentleinan would guarantee him a heating. Mr. Secretary CANNING said be could guarantee the lion. Member's House, but' he eateinly could not guarantee him a bear ing;--Ctitsch latWiter.) IrUSKISSO.N laid he bad to present to the House two Pedtkita. from two bodies of his constituents 'The PellAisetaappioved of the course which had been adopted by his ETA 's Ministers,' and were not anxious for the preservation of tkesfitent of Slavbry ; bat they prayed the House not by unman: nary discussion to keep the question in such agitation, and the dare in such estate of excitement, as mightlave she effect of precluding Menistere4rOm• earning the measures they ceatempkted into calm They stated that their poverty in the Indies bad been snagbdameriorated by matinued agitation of the queulum—Okdered to be printed. sa s lr±:a bire tir4W srssokse4 Petitions . against _slavery from keen the Congregation of alftlitint Chapels' kina,..Evish %grad ; from Coppola from Harwich, Roxburgh ; Ravenby, Booddy, and ether plages in 1- 111 CuloAbite; .aati. front Pullocksbant. In the Parish of Eastwood. Ortkro‘ id be bleed. --Ellasiu Petitions were presented by Mr. Scuts, from West Auckland, Durham.; front Ghoul, and from Meldredt ; and by Mr. Cuanza. (rain' Sussex..--4.aid on the table. _ _ Mr. HU M L thptesrly ia March he mend for a recurs at the number of persons who are now confined, having been ceem :nitwit: for contempt et the. Court Clianany. As it had not yet been funthhed, he should mem that the return be made forthwith: }le bad moved also for • return of the expenses incurred in the repairs of Windsor Castle, and Buckingham House s which had' sire not been furni.hed ;, and he therefore made a similar motion in relation to this.,--Ordered forthwith. Mr. HUME said, he lan night presented a Petition from an in. divided named David Latouche, complaining that the Marshal had charged him 2071. for the Rules of dm Lees Bench Prison, and subsequently confined him within the walk. The Petition contained other allegations which he (llr. Hume) did not think it necessary to notice. lie kid since made himself acquainted with the cisemmatances of Mr. JOUlret conduct. Oa secretive to the rules and regulations, he found that Mr. Jones was 'militarised in retaking Ibis charge ; that he was entitled to Sl. tames/ after bun- • dred. He (Mr. Hume) sow objected to the law, which enabled the Marshal So make these medians. On Institu ting an inquiry, he fend that Mr. Jens amid Vie Mr. Leto/ache thinks again if he gave fondly for hisdidstptind to beep the peace. H. should men under theAreuntstanees, that the Petition be breeellt sp. Mr. DA WSON said, the Mirsilid•nas renariebk foe his huma nity sad cicada. gamiest. He might have dinged SSW. if he pleased for the rulaillebad gives. The Madiesitef the Petitioner had been cue - oesragenusi_be bred plink at the panel, aad guilty of - - he -• 141 r. _ foundati•n rot Warranted UMW 1 Petition was then laid on the table. HUME presented a Petition from =ln the county of Fife, prayin g the liaise to take Into COna the use of *lr. Oeurlay.--_,__Laid maths table. • Mr. mat% presented a ,Petition from s Why*. in Glas gow, complaining that he did not get more than from five to six shillings the week as wages. The reads:taw prayed the House to Mt a otirthnow,ot wages. as Parliament had faxed afinississons of the pries 4( corn.—OrJered tt, be printed.. gg r ; HUME gave notice, in reference to Lordt.aoralorperrattt slidublliresent a Petiti on front Col. linidley tin next. gold JO Htl RUSSELL• postponed his motion relating to Bribery'and COrruptioits at Elections to next Friday. ills Lard: ship also presented a Petition front rider, in the county of property, ...—ordered to be printed. Sir A. CAMPBELL presented a Petition from the.Mercha a nts and Traders of Glasgow, for the Abolition of Slavery.—Ordered to be printed. Dr. LUSHINGTON presented Petitions from Warrender, Darlington, Southampton, Kitcherhurgh, and some other places, praying for the Abolition of Slavery.—Ordered to be printed. Mr. DA LY presented a Petition from the Protestant Noblemen and Gentlemen of the county of Galway, in favour of Catholic Emancipation.—Ordered to be printed. Mr. m. A. TAYLOR said, that Wise bad the honour of a soot in that House during the next Parliament, he intended, at the earliest period, to bring forward a motion for the total removal of all bank ruptcy cases from the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery. Lord F. SOMERSET wished to know whether it was the in tention of the Hon. Gentleman opposite (Mr. H. Beaumont), who had introduced the case respecting the Cape of Good Hope Admi nistration, or of the lion. the Secretary for the Colonies (Mr. W. Horton) to lay before the House all the Papers relative to the tram actions in which the conduct of his noble relative (Lord C. Somer. set) was implicated ? His noble relative had arrived in this coun try since the question had been last agitated in that House, and felt the greatest anxiety that every facility for the immediate investiga don of all charges preferred against him, during his Administration at the Cape of Good Hope, might be afforded: as be was convinced that the more speedy the inquiry, the sooner would the integrity and propriety of his proceedings be established. Dlr. WILMOT-HORTON, in answer to the question which the Noble Lord. had asked, stated that he was desirous that the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. H. Beaumont) should bring forward what ever measures he proposed to institute on the subject, as, if that Hon. Member declined, he (Mr. W. Horton) intended to propose some coursethat might settle any difference of opinion on the ques tion. He had last night received a communication. from that lion. Gentleman, from which he concluded that it was not his intention to suggest any thing further on the matter at present. Mr. BEAUMONT did not see any benefit which could be de rived from bringing forward the documents before the House at this late period of the Session; when nothing could be done in re floonee to them. Should he, however, be in possession of a seat in r est House during the ensuing Parliament, be pledged himself to press forward the matter at the earliest time and opportunity. . Mr. W. WHITMORE begged leave to refer to the notice of a 011Oslon which he had given Ns a former night, and which stood fir Lnett, relative to the *ties ea East Mina and Foreign a Sugar. As the resolutions which ke mint to propose 40011-not be brought formird on theisight ap towe l's/EN* of the Intimation given last night % -- eed to wait insdl the next Parliament. The Orders of the Day were then tads . _ On the order that the Report a 4 die Regional Addressee lie received, _ . Meal.. GURNEY rose and said that , he mai not allow the Sessional Addressees to lass withestApiardig to a paper which had been dreamed very suasively among the Members, respect iseg.the resseneritia for the services of the High Constable of Wa nniegter. whose date , was devoted dicing their sittings webs] performance of services highly useful, lent for which the individual who meritoriously held the office of WA • Castable received no requitaL An objection had been made to the introdection of an item of this lad on a forage occasige by as Hee. Member, on a snieundereaadag that the dice if Pala C r oosiable had bag per chaed and was •frim•Wve. He mwpa shit a date to the Ant of osenpensation would be heuvelnat&- After a few words front Ms. cAp Tows, the &port was b up. . The rought Parochial Clergy Raidelliffiva disco*, a third time sal passed, and the remainleig lies of the na l vim disposed of. Tilt 0 Ilan. Sir R H. IWGLIS, rose to proem a Pelitien-ikint the Parish ef White Retaking, in Essex, on behalf of the Greeks. It was numerously and he believed respectably signed. It was not, bow. over, on account of the number, it the_ respectabtilta the parties, whose names were subscribed to this Pedtiosi. that be was induced wan the attention alas House to it 4-44 isseg i ghleSy on account of the fact, that with one solitary ezneption,. and that four years ago, was the signs el of Oldie • Silk* cub behalf of the Greeks which as yet had reached the,Homithfiarthe commence. meat of the great stooge, in which they lief Ma @opted. The Petitioners prayed, net for way or foe the -threat of war; neither among nations sr individuals would be • wit aihrest *hick be did not mean to tamest...they did not ask for any luterfersoce with Turkey in respect to the Greeks, except by arm expostulation and remonstrance nor would be wish for my other application, &Of he could concise say shade of &Skeen, in the degree of den of a treaty or anyother engsgooseat between States or between individuals, it was when cue party was strong and the other was week, when one was Cbrisdau and the ether was Infidel. It was In these c asks that nations and individuals . were snore immediately heitid to show the purity sad integrity of their principles an d t h e generosity/sof their strength. He therefore would net wish to t h rea t en T o rhoy, or to inmate* in any compulsory manner with her in beAaN of the Greeks. He felt the delicacy and the difficulty of the duty which the circumstances of the Greek Revolution im. =Lapels his Majesty's Geverament but he trust e d t h at they used and would 000tIs .t.,,,Tbet-110l only with Turkey, but with Airstria and *tort other wow. ouch mane es would obtain pot merely protection and security to the Greeks, but h e tru st e d h e affilliit sea say, their indoPOOdikom MeI•SK SMITH kind that awli would be some indication =tilt H o we, and from the Lynes slde,that the people of were net b a elate of den or apathy towards the condition ertkeir fellow.cbeistians. the Greeki. t, ROBERT WILSON trusted. CPU toinstking would be done' to met Christian people from that extermination w hi c h menace d them. Though the violence is( their foes was of a Most inveterate description, nothing could bitiesidate dont, or armpit theeeordon of that brave spirit by which they were ,tonohly dielloguidied. It woo se be feared however that their drank* wellld:stst he so son 3cessfil as they deserved, under the eirrAtinsilacts in . which they wets placed. They preferred to deltswitheisselvea and children, tar in a late disastrous instance was manifest, rather than surrender. lue.h heseic pause was highly meritorimis, and limpid excite ;commiseration. The Muck an Algiers, was made on the very prin. ;Girlie which should operate on the presses Diadem. Why should a foreign power be allowed to domieeer is any country in Europe, .under French auspices? French Officers were freelpoerndeted to :devote their services to the opponents of Greece, while thew of England who might be desirous so assist the latter were precluded .from exerting themselves in a cause which was truly of a sacred •th ar a e t e r. He did pot moo to assert that the Crown should not possess the power of preventing any of its subjects from enlisting In foreign services. but he hoped that next Parliament the law on th e • asetter would be altered as to distinguish the forefgn services, from sways( which the exclusion deist he excepted: Mr. HOBHOUSE said that be would, long before the present time, have taken up the subject, if he did not conceive that the Go- . - vernment bad some nseasure in contemplation, which might be em barrassed. by any anticipation, in questions proposed in that. House. He confided in the intentions of the Government, whose conduct he thought would justify that opinion of their liberality. In ref°. retire to the great blow which had been Struck against the rising liberties of Greta by the tall of Missolinghi, be did net look on it in the same light of terror as his Hon. Friend. Every hope was to be indulged, that the very siege of that place would tend to in , vigorate the snirit which had beep enkindled in Greece. He be lieved, and the opinion was confirmed by men of judgment and ahilitlel, that if the Greeks evinced a degree of energy and valour similar to that at Minolonghl, in the defence of the seat of Govern meat, that they would be able effectually to withstand any opposi tion which the Turks could bring against them. It he had brought forward the subject, which dependence on the motives or hnen , duns of Government bad preveated, be could have proved that France had acted with dli lcky and perfidy, while this country bad adhered to a is of integrity and bononr. He bad spoken with a Gentlest/it ratelyttrrived frum Alexandria, and by him it was 1 styled Bait' tbo'exertiens of the French were notorions in favour of 'the Turks. He bad gotten"; list of French ships in the service of ' the NINA of Nypt, and he bad also been assured that a French ship Iliad been employed by him in the conveyance of specie. He had alsolinderstood that it was the intention of some part of the French Ministry to assist the Turks in the meet unequivocal manner. Wh.t 1 the night Hen. Gentleman opposite ( Mr. Secretary Canning) would do when Such circumstances as were apprehended should be de ' veloped, it was not for hiM to express his conjectures concerning. The stand which was made at hilssolanghl, however, instead of disheartening, would, he thought, inspire the Greek nation with increased energy, and would aviiken and stimulate the sympathy of the British public. The Nation was than ordered to be printed. Sir 11.1 f lii:ltT IE GUS 'maned for in Address,. for informs dun 'dative to the ems Of the Protestants in respect to tbvir %VOL- Mr. DEN MAN thought that even if the Right lion. Gent. did not object to the motion,it was one which the House of Commons ought not to entertain. it was, obvious with what intention and for what purpose this Information was sought, and would be used ; but even if it could.be proved that the condition of the Protestants In Roman Catholic countries were as bad as bigotry could make it, it could be no argument for a nation enlightened as this was, which had outgrown all the prejudices of other countries, to continue a degrading oppression upon Roman Catholics, because Protestants were elsewhere oppressed. It was the last resource of bigotry.— The motion was one , of which notice ought to have been given. It ought to have embraced an additional salary for the officers abroad, who ware M furnish this new information. Mr. Secretary CANNING hoped that the Honourable Baronet would have no objection to withdraw his motion, and give no tice of it for this day week. He would then be prepared with his amendment. Sir ROBERT INGLIS stated that he had shewn the motion to the Right Hon. Gentleman, and had understood from him that he had no objection to it. The motion was a parallel one to that adopt ed by the House some 'fears since for the production of information relative to the state of Roman Catholic subjects. He then gave notice for Friday next. conasscr—CAPE OP GOOD HOPE. Mr. BARING presented a Petition from Colonel lErd, upon the part of the Governors of the Cape of Good Hope, complaining of the depreciation in tbe value of their riz dollars, is consequence of certain acts of this country. The Hon. Geutleman entered into a detail of the inconveniences experienced by the settlers in the Cape of Good Hope. by the adoption of measures detrimental is the currency of that Colony in this country, and thought the House would not refuse to take the case into their serious consideration. - The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, he should soon be in possession of valuable documents relating to the griev ances complained of. He could not now enter into a discussion on the subject, but when the papers to which he alluded were in his possession, he would not fail to enter fully into the question. It was considered to be an act of condescension in Ministers to pay the la bium, in the Cape of Good Hope 7s. ed. for a rix dollar, origi nally issued for 4s. He earnestly hoped these unfortunate persons would meet with justice. Mr. HERRIES thought It would be most desirable to postpone discussion on this subject till all the necessary documents would be laid before the House. The deterioration of that paper was owing to its not being payable on demand. The Dutch residents bad made 18.6 d. British equal to es. of their own currency, which provision would go far to remedy the evil complained of in the Petition. Mr. BARING admitted that an indiscriminate issue of silver, or metallic currency, would be attended with great peril—The Petitioners justly complained of the injury they have, and must ex perience in their contracts, from the deterioration of the rix dollar currency; sad he thought the Ordinance of the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, which enabled Spanish dollars to circulate at a value of es. 4d. would afford them but very partial relief. After a few words (tom Mr. W. Satan and Mr. H. Gamer, the Petitions were ordered to be printed. MANUFACTURING DISTRESS. Mc. BARING presented a Petition from the Merchants liana. facturen, and Cotton Spinners of Paisley, representing that many of their commodities were calcalated for the West Indies, and complaining that the discussion and agitation of the subject of Negto.slavery were Injurious to their interests. Lord MILTON asked the Right Hon. Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether it was the intention of Ministers to propose a grant of a particular sum for the relief of the distress in the manufacturing districts? He asked the question then, as an Hon. Friend (Mr. P. Moore) who had a motion to that effect for this night, was not then in the House. Mr. Secretary CANNING bad no objection to answer the goes- Lion of the Noble Lord. The House would bear in mind that a case demanding the interference of the Government for the purpose of affording pecuniary relief, must be one not only of extraordinary emergency and undoubted magnitude of distress, but ako one to the remelty of which all ordinary modes had been applied in vain. Unless such was the case, a vote of that House, for the purpose of relief; would be a violation of sound general principle. New. Oft distress, great and lamentable as It was, of the manufacturing class, was not one the relief of which was beyond the reach of out-of doors charity ; for be was sure that the current of private charity was far front beingeabausted—in fact, that It only now bad began to now. He was the more convinced of this, as he knew that many benevolent persons had kept back their contributions till the expectation of Government interference had ceased to exist. This was a sufficient reason, he thought, for Parliament not voting a sum for the relief of these distresses. It would stop the current of pri vate charity, and impede the benevolent stuns of opulent indivi duals. Besides, the present distress was, be was happy to say, of a very temporary and transient nature. The worst had passed, and it never amounted in magnitude ti the agricultural distress which prevailed a few years since, to the relict of which Parliament was compelled to apply itself. If the Howse now voted a sum for the relief of the current distresses, a sound general principle would be sinned against. To this concl usion Ministers had arrived after the most anxious enquiry and deliberate consideration, in which feel ings of the purest and most deep-felt sympathy contended with the policy of acting on sound salutary general principles; and he anx iously trusted the House and the country would arrive at the same conclusion, or at least exonerate Ministers from every charge of insensibility to the sufferings of a most iniportant class of the com munity—( Hear, bear.) The Petition was then read and ordered to be printed. Lord A RCHIBALD HAMILTON said he rose to present a Petition which referred to the subject about to be submitted to their MasMeistion *by his lionourable and Learned Friend. The Petition was signed by 31 . 1,000 persons in the City of Glasgow, and it teinkrately called on the House to carry into effect as soon as possible the three resolutiOns which it bad already passed on the * em of the abolition of slavery in the West Indies. The tem pest aid ledguige of the Petitioners would, he believed, be found wittily to correspond with the humane objects they had in view. The• Petition was read and ordered to be printed. The Nomo Loan also presented a similar Petition from another town in Siodand, when he was interruptedby Mr. BLAIR, who said he felt it his duty in consequence of what the Noble Lord bad said, as to the getting up of the Petition from Glasgow. that the Petition was another instance of the tricks whisk the Methodists and Dissenters bad recourse to for the pur pose of inflaming the public mind by misrepresentation. In order to swell the number of •sighatures to that Petition, the subscribers were, in ninety nine cases out of a hundred, scho ol boys, colliers and carters, or persons who had no property. Lord HAMILTON said, he spoke on the . representation of another, Mr. Thomas Addison; he himself being in London when the Petition was signed. Mr. BLAIR was perfectly certain be spoke from good authority, Indeed he had been fully authorised to use the name of his inform ant. Charles S. Parker, a man of great respectability.. Mr. A: CAMPBELL corroborated the preceding speaker. In many schools all the boys were obliged to sign, some of them sign. bag six or seven times over.—(A laugh.) A respectable merchant's sons were compelled by their schoolmaster to sign their punts two and three times over, to eke out the signatures. _ Mr. BROD GHAII said nothing was more frequent than such charges as these, where a considerable anxiety prevailed on any important subject under parliamentary discussion. It was only a , cue of conflicting evidence. Mr. T. WILSON said, a good cans; was injured by the dia. , L Fireceful manner in which signatures like those to the Slave Petitions were procured. The Petitions were ordered to be pruned. Lord STANLEY presented a similar Petition from Manchester, Wined by 41,000 persons. Mr. PHILLIPS supported the Petition, and bore testimony to the fairness and respectability of the signatures. Mr. WA RR E said, as this Petition deprecated the protecting duty on East India sugar, he thought it merited the attention of the Colonial Secretary. Mr. W I LMOT-HORTON said, the subject of free labour was as yet but an experiment. Petition was ordered to be printed. Mr. 13ROU GII A M said he rose to presan several similar Peti tions from different districts, and, in order to stew how far Me thodists and Dissenters had ken instrumental in "getting them up," as has been said on the other side, be found attached to one the Vicar of one Parish, and the Rector of another ; to a second were the names of some Clergymen of the Church of England; and to another was a name which be was glad to see, as it savoured not of Methodism or+ Mr. I'. WILSON—I said nothing of all this. Mr. BILOUGHAM—No, Sir; but the lion. Member for the City of London will please to recollect, that t h e are one or two Members in the House besides himself. (Bear: and a laugh.)— The lion. Gentleman went on to observe, that to one of the Peti tions be found the name of Mr. Wordsworth, who certainly was not a favourer et Dissenters or Methodists. To another he ( "ad the harms of the Ministers and }Ciders of the district. lie prayed that the Petitions be brought up.--The norm:m.l,le and Learned Gentleman then presented Petitions, prayinn for the gradual Abeli tion of Slavery, from the Students of the University of Glasgow; from the Inhabitants of Dalisith, of Nlilnetitorpe, of Cowgate, ad of Ambleside; which were all brought up and read. CUR RLNCY. Mr. TIRRNEY alluded to the Report of the Committee, et which he had been a Member, to inquire into the propriety at abolishing Small Notes in Scotland and Ireland, and gave notice teat he should, on the day the House met after the adjournmgpt, at al' Friday next, caU the attentiou of the House to an important subjectd AIIELIORATION OF SLAVERY. Mr. BRUHTG HA SI rose to bang forward his motion. HPSI' desired that the following Resolutions of the House, agreed to sal May 15th, 1823, should be read : " That, it is expedient to adopt effectual and derisive Menet& for ameliorating the condition of the Slave Population in his Wks jesty's Colonies. " That, through a determined and per4evering, attbenine rider . . judicious and temperate, enforcement of such Measures, this Hnsive• looks forward to progreuive improvements in the character of di/ Slave Population, suck as may prepare them for a participation id those rights and privileges which are enjoyed by other classes of Mt Majesty's subjects. " That this Home is anxious for the accomplishment of this pore pose at the earliest period that shall be compatible with the well. being of the Slaves themselves, with the safety of the Colonies, and with a fair and equitabk consideration of the interests of private property." The Hon. and Learned Gentleman then proceeded. The Resolutions, Sir, which have just been -read, were adopted by the unanimous vote of this House, and all men agreed, and declared it by their votes, that they were the least measure of justice which could, or ought to be meted out to the slaves of our colonies. In what way did the Government proceed after the Resolutions were passed, to carry them into effect, or reco amend them to the Colonial Legislatures, to carry the pro, posed object of the British Parliament into effect-? With respect to those colonies which are immediately under the Crown, the inquiry will be much shot tened by the course which has been pursued. First, I shall advert to Trinidad, for which the Government issued an Order in Council for the better treatment of slaves. It was the basis of all the proceedings adopted on this subject, both in Trinidad and in the other conquered Colonies; and I object to this Order in Council, that it does not call on them to do enough. With this abatement, it merits all the praise I can be stow on it. Its advantages are great, and it is founded on a wise scheme of legislation. It however falls short in one most important point, that relative to:the admis sion of slave evidence; that evidence was limited, not only as regards persons, and as it applies to-crimes, but the slaves themselves must obtain a certificate - that they are religious and moral individuals, and sensible of the l obligation of an oath. Pagans, Mahom dans, men of no religion at all, are considered as qualified witnesses; ne objection is made to them, provided they believe in GOD, and in the existence of a future state of rewards and punishments—and I see no reason why the slaves should not be placed on the same footing. My next objection to this Order in Council does not apply to the slaves, but to that officer who is appointed their pro- . tector. By the Order in Council this officer cannot hold' plantations or slave property in Trinidad ; but he may own both plantations and slaves in other colonies; and what is worse, he may own domestic slaves in Trinidad it self. But the restriction, even as to plantations and slaver, applies only to the Protector in Chief, and the subordinate Protectors, those who tome more immediately, into con tact with the Slaves, are not subject to this restiiction, ,and they may hold plantations and Slaves in Trinidad. . The next point to*hich I shall advert is, the.abolitiais of the Sunday Markets. The Order only limits Sunday Markets to the hour of ten o'clock on Sunday morning,• and thus provides only very imperfectly for.the better observance of the Sabbath. When the market is.in the vicinity of the Plantation, the rest of the Sabbath may be kept free from violation, but when the market is at a distance of ten or twenty miles from the planta'ion, the whole day must be occupied in going to and return ing from the market, and in attending it till ten o'clock. Then, I find no provision made to compensate the slave who shall not work at his own garden on Sunday; so that there are no means taken either to provide for the better observance of the Sabbath, or compel its better observance. I object also to that part of the Order in Council which relates to the separation of families in the Case of sales. By the Order in Council, the separation in case of voluntary sale, is allowed; but not in cases of a sale by order of some court of law. My next ob jection applies to the penalty imposed on slaves who shall make false accusations. This recommendatiun of the Order in Council fell in with the views of the inha bitants of the Colonies, and they had adopted it.— If the slave charge his master with having punished him illegally, and the charge is proved, the master is fined ten pounds, but if the slave's charge is declared to be groundless by the Magistrate, he is delivered , back to his master, who is authorised to inflict on him any number of stripes, not exceeding twenty-five. I see no reason why the justice should be summary—. why the slave should not be tried and regularly pu nished by law for his offence; and I see very strong reasons why the accused master—the individual most irritated and offended—should not, precisely at the time also when his feelings are most roused, be the executioner of this summary justice—the judge in his own case. With these defects in the Order in Council, I am bound, Sir, to say, that if its general provisions be rigorously carried into execution, they are such as so satisfy my mind in many essential points, to t ectify some of the worst abuses, and to abolish some of t e worst practices in the Colonies. On every other part of the Order in Council, Sir, I must bestow great praise. 'the Order in Council had been sent slso to Demerara, but the Court of Policy had thought proper, in its discretion, to adopt it only imperfectly. - With respect to slave evidence, they will not admit it in causes involving capital punish. ment. They admit evidence in other cases, against slaves for example, but not against whites. They did not allow the slaves the privileges of what is called in that House compulsory manumission; that is, when the slave has found means of' purchasing his own freedom, the law appoints persons to fix the price at which be shall obtain it. This part of the Order Council. as well as seve ral other parts, has been wholly unnoticed in Demerara —in the five ocher colonies under the Crown, noibtog whatever has been done. I now come to the thirteen Colonies which have Legislatures of' their own. When the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite bad, in an early period of the Seuion, stated what had been adapted in those Colonies, what had been begun, or what at was in contemplation to begin, I put a question to him relative to the amount of the real substantial improvement el= fected, and arranged the question under several heads; the answer showed, that except in five or six of thow thirteen Colonies, nothing whatever has been done. la six of them there is not even the shadow of a pretence of any thing having been done. As to Antigua, Bermuda, Montserrat, St. Kitt's, Tortola, and the other Vir,;in Islands, containing a pspulation -of 80,0(0 slaves, I cannot find in the whole eorrespotta 4 bass sass tresrageslats; be dyed pistols at the petrel, aed was thy of esihermtorSara. The Magistrate had reconsineuded that should he.eandhant within the walls. Mr. A. TATLEPTesiId a nate cortect or humane ofßeer than w p m, fr. Jones 'he did ' ' i fintie. Op stria sire there - could be no Li:dation for the '' , . _P R tlOLiktli, tigi• Mr. HMIE . , - ' of t 'c'ttitst tOttskied ist the cations: being c syltitinAf .*ith , _maul a money he was' jus t fen War - ldie 'Rib, Se (It ,#ought Ir. Jones was just in matigg'gisallifgeu t reety °Messed, ter what he had &inn of illicharatterlt de Petithinerate was nor/arcuated in saying any thing pardfularly id Ms favour.--The —_, _ _ . . .. . : praying the House to inquire into the bribery and corruption prat- 1 sised at that place.-4.aid on the to - . • ‘.• 1 Mr. W. SAIIT II pie-rented a PtPion trim 1(4 -slickfillutrlif ' - oiorgue the iostif3kverf.--4.ald g1if,........ r , •,.., .Mr. F. XTON t ir:sepoel. 41 Fetid% from Wigratn, Wes-, fop), pea g diatom ecuigibon of Min *OW In Deland may not e undergo alteration.— reds to be prints*" . ..1.1 0 ,‘ e Mr. C. It. ELLIS presented a Petition from &., Planters and Owners of Estates in the British 'West India Colonies, against any e alteraticin of their property, without allowing an adequate maven- ship and their burial in Roman Catholic countries ; to the produc- tion oGythiolkinfprmation he understood gm the Right.tion• Gyro. the ~1t• /my of ate for Foreign Affairs; bad no objection, and to vrldehimmeatitellat the liolse wogld hpe no objection. Mi...Actutary CANN lOW had up objection to ihe nantionj: knendepent were made tir it, 40 givg a return of the rig is ,elciged hg Roman Catholic sitbjecti in ?cotenant countries,a similar circumstances. - - - - - . .rt.t