Star. — London, England, 1808-06-15 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARr PROCEEDINGS. HOUSE OF LORDS, JUNE 14. A deputation from the Commons biotight up the Sugar Distil lation Bill, the New Loan Bill, the Irish Customs and Excise Bill, and the Paddington Canal Coal Bill, with two Private Bills, whish mere severally read a first, and ordered to be read a second time. SUGAR DISTILLATION. After the first reading the Sugar Distillation Bill, Lord LAUDERDALE rose, and observing that this was a most important measure, in which the agricultural interests of the kingdom were materially involved, and which requiredthe utmost consideration of their Lordships; for the purpose of possessing their Lordships with every possible information upon the subject, ke moved that a message be sent to the Commons, requesting them to furnish their Lordships with copies of the three reports of their Committees respecting the propriety of adopting the distilla tion of spirits from sugai.—Ordered: • L MR. PALMER. Lord ELLIOTT (Chairman of the Committee upon Mr. Pal tner's claim), moved that a message be sent to the Commons, re questing tha t the Commons would lay before that House copies of the reports of their Committee upon Mr. Palmer'. claim, respect ing the reform and improvement of his Majesty's Post Office, and of the cause of that Gentleman's suspension and dismissal front the office of Comptroller General. Also, that Mr. Charles Lorg, a Member of the House of Commons, be summoned to attend, and be examined befoie their Lordships' Committee upon this ANNUAL VOTE OF CREDIT. Lord HAWXESBURY having moved the Order of the fly for taking Into consideration his Majesty i Message respecting the annual Vote of Credit, observed, that this being the usual Mes- sage from his Majesty towards the close of every Session, it was not his intention to detain their Lordships with any observatiens, but merely to move the usual address of thanks to his Majesty, for his most gracious communication. Should any Noble Lbrd think it necessary to enter into a discussion upon the subject he should reserve himself for thireply. He concluded by mov ing, an humble Address to his Majesty, expressive of the thanks of that House for his most gracious communication, and assuring his Majesty that that House would most cheerfully concur in any ex pence necessary to counteract the designs of the enemy, &c. The motion was then put and carried IMP. sea. MOLTS OF ADMIRALTY. The Earl of SUFFOLK begged leave once more to ask the Noble Secretary of State (Lord Hawkesbury), when the returns respecting the Droits of the Admiralty were likely to be laid on the table of the House. He had moved for them upwards of six weeks ago ; and as he conceived the Droits to be properly the money of the public, and amounting to more than one million, he thought the public bad a right to be informed of the manner in which they were disposed of. Lord HANVKESBURY said, he could net himself specifically state at what time these returns would be ready to be laid before their Lordships—he was assured, that no unnecessary time should be lost. • After a few words in reply from Lord SUFFOLK, the matter dropped. Some routine business was then disposed of, and the House adjourned until to-morrow, When their I.ordships stand sum - - mooed on the second reading of the Local Militia Bill. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Mr, VILLIERS gave notice, that on Thursday, he would mole for - leave to bring in a Bill for explaining and amending the laws respecting Co py-rights. The Subdivision Clerks, Post Horse, Farming Duty, Prize Goods, Wine and Spirit Regulation, and Brazil Trade Bills, seve rally went through the Commfttee, and were ordered to be re ported to-morrow. The English Promissory Note Restriction 1W went through the Committee.--Report ordered to be made to-morrow. The Smuggling, Exchequer Bills, Hackney Coach Licence, Irish Permit, Pilots, Irish Court of Exchequer Compensation, and Irish Loan Bills were reported, and ordered to be read a third time to-morrow. The several resolutions voted last night in the Committee of Ways and Means were reported, read a second time, agreed to, and Bills ordered to be brought in on the same. The Welch Coals Duties Bill went through the Committee, and was reported. ' Tie Coffee Excise and Duty Redaction Bills were read a Ant time, and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow. TOWER HAMLETS. Mr. JENKINSON gave notice, that he would, en-morrow, Lying in a Bill for indemnifying certain persons iq the Tower Hamlets, for certain acts done in execution of the Militia Laws. GRENADA LOAN. Mr. HUSKISSON gave notice, that he would', to-morrow, move for leave to bring in a Bill to extend the time for making payment on the Grenada Loan, conformable to the Act of the 46th of the King. SCOTS LOCAL MILITIA. - - Mr. YORKE wished to know when it was intended that the Scots Lecal Militia Bill should be read a third time. Not having been present at the third reading of the English Bill, it was hit in tention to offer some observations on the Bill now in progress through the 1-luuse. The LORD ADVOCATE replied, on Monday next. MISLAY POLICE BILL. On the motion of Sir A. WFLLESLEY, the Dublin Police Bill was read a third time, passed, and ordered to be sent to the Lords. KING'S PROCTOR IN PRIZE COURTS. Sir CHARLES POLE, in pursuance of his notice, ; rose to make his motion upon this subject, for the ; purpose of permiftir.g Officers of his Majesty's navy to have the select,ort of more than one King's Proctor ; in conducting their prize causes. It was so long ago as the yea; f'666 that the appointment of that officer took ptece—a period when our navy was but of corn.' pat-461 , 6y small extent to what it is at the present ; day. Now, by the papers upon the table it would ap pear that more than three thousand prize causes had passed through that person's hands in the space of the Last four years—a mass of business which it was im possible could be overtaken by one individual. Be sides conducting these causes, the King's Proctor was often called upon to address the Privy Council, by way of memorial, and in all these duties none was allowed to act but him. The bill of costs, upon an average on each of these causes, would amount to £lO5 each, so that the total would amount to £300,000 during the last four years. If, however, the costs should amount to ten times that sum, that would not constitute his objection—but what princi pally operated upon his mind was the impossibility of that person transacting such a quantity of business in a manner advantageous to the public, or as it ought to be done. That o ffi cer was, therefore, under the necessity of taking a partner, who was not a King's Proctor, and 20 or 25 clerks. His wish, therefore; was, that the House should come to a resolution, ex- I ' eressing their opinion— "'That the duties of the Office of his Majesty's Proctor or Pro curator-General, touching matters of Prizes in the high: Court of Ada ir3lty, are so numerous that it is expedient that three or more Froctors be appointtd to undertake the business of bis Ma jestv's Navy." The ADVOCATE GENERAL opposed this on the ground of policy and public advantage. It was absolutely necessary from the nature of captures, and their connexion with other States, that the Crown should manage these things by its own officer. The Ministers of the Crown ought to know where to resort to for information in cases of complaint by neutrals. It was besi , !es for the advantage of the Navy itself that the King's Officer should conduct these causes, fur it prevented a great deal of imposition that might oche wise be practised upon naval captors ; and, in proof of this he instanced the vexatious proceedings in cases of captures by privateers. ; As to the great number of causes, there was no instance statcd in which any cause had been improperly managed: It Would be injustice to fhe present Proctor to alter the system, as all his private clients had gone to other asannels. But, at any rate, in every point of view, a change would be attended with no good effects.— The great multiplicity of business was no ground for an alteration, for the King's Proctor might have as many clerks as he should find necessary, and it was easy fot one man to superintend the whole of the business. Mr. MARTIN supported the motion. Neither the prerogative of the Grown, nor the interests of the Nation would be at all injured by the appointment of more than one Proctor, for all the proceedings would be as much under the eye of Government as before. The Proctor considered himself as totally independent of the captors. It would be much better for the Navy that they should be enabled to choose a Proctor who would be responsible to themselves. He stated various inconveniencies that resulted to the captors from the present mode of proceeding, and said, that the Navy felt the utmost anxiety for the success of this motion. If it were adopted, the pro ceedings would be much more rapid—the Captors would be much benefited, and no disadvantage what ever would result to the Crown or to the Public. Mr. STEPHEN observed, that the business could not be better managed than it was by the King's Proctor and his assistants. He had heard no reason for an alteration in the system. Every reason on the tontrary was against it. He affirmed that the Offi cers of the Navy would be very much injured by having the choice of their own Proctors, as appeared from what actually took place from their having the appointment of their own agents. They had at pre sent all the advantage that resulted from the connec tion between the King's Proctor and the Xing's Ad vocate. A vast expence was often saved to the cap tors, which they would be put to in prosecuting bad causes, if they choose their own proctors: Mr. BA STARD supported the resolution. He stated that complaints had been made of the great abuses that had resulted from the present mode of conducting the business, and complaints so serious, that the Admiralty had been obliged to resort to means for stifling them. The Navy itself were the best judges of their own interests, and they conside red those interests as very much injured by their being forced to employ one particular proctor. Mr. FARQUHAR opposed the Resolution, stating that the present mode of management was attended with advantages which could not be attained in any other way. Mr. JOHNSTONE observed, that all the advan tages which at present resulted from the King's Ad vocate having the management of the prize causes would exist, though there should be two or more King's proctors ; and that all the arguments about the injurious effect of an unrestricted liberty of choice' were altogether inapplicable. Proceedings, he said, had often been retarded, owing to the management being in one person, and justice to the neutrals, as well as to the captors, required that some alteration should take place ; and he could not see why the in conveniencies might not be remedied, without sacrifi cing any of the advantages. The SOLICITOR GENERAL dissented from the motion of the Honourable Admiral, because if any inconveniencies were felt from the present mode of conducting business in the Admiralty Courts, it would not tend to remedy them. He opposed it, in the second place, because it was perfectly novel in its nature. 3dly, Because it was directly contrary to a former decision of the House, by which it had been rejected when it was formerly proposed. 4thly, Because it proceeded upon a principle directly the re verse of that on which all causes are instituted in the Court of Appeals, namely, that these suits are con ducted, not for the bene6t Of the captor, but for the benefit of the Crown. He contended, that the Navy were not interested in the fate of the motion, and also that no inconvenience had been shewn to result from the business being confined to a single proctor. Mr. WHITBREAD remarked, that the corps of legal Gentlemen had mustered very strong to-night ; he did not know whether they had spirit or not. Of this the House would judge from tne speeches that had been delivered. lie asserted, that so far from the question being indifferent to the Navy, there was a general outcry, he might say, in the Navy respect ing it. He was willing to concur in all the praises • which had been bestowed upon the person at present holding the office of King's proctor. Butabus es had taken place before he filled the office, and such abuses might occur again. The Honourable and Learned Gentleman might as well argue, that it would be pro -1 per and fit for him to conduct every cause in the Court of King's Bench, as that one proctor should engross the whole business of the Court of Ap peals. Formerly two clerks did the business of the House of Commons, and continued to do so till the 1 time of the Union, when the increase of business made it necessary to have three. But the Honourable and Learned Gentleman, upon his principles, would I argue, that because two had been sufficient at one time, they would be sufficient still. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER opposed the motion, because he had not been shewn that the delays which took place in the decision of causes in the Courts of Prize Jurisdiction arose from a want of proctors. On the contrary, it would be easy to shew, that the interests of the captors were ' materially benefited by a vast number of causes pass ing through tho hands of a single person. Sir SAMUEL ROMILLY thought, that the best 1 time to reform the constitution of a court of justice was, when the offices in the court were respectably and unexceptionably filled, because at such a time all personal and party motives must necessarily be exclu ded. He did not pretend to be intimately. acquaint. ed with the mode of proceeding in the Admiralty Courts ; but he conceived it to be a very extraordi nary principle, and one contrary to that which was recognized in all other courts, that one person, how ever able, and how - ever distinguished either by his ta lents or integrity, should engross the whole practice of the Court. Mr. ROBERT WARD said, that if it had occur red in times past, that the King's proctor had been employed pn both sides of a cause, such regulations were now adopted as to preclude the possibility of its happening in future. Mr. WINDtIAM argued, that if. the King was doming: Eris when there was only one proctor, he would be equally dominur kir were there three proc tots, and that therefore there was no objection to the motion• of his gallant Friend, from its tending .to alter the principle upon which causes were conducted in the Pnr.c . Courts. And if it had no-injurious ten dency in this way, he thought it desirable tá adopt -a measure which would be highly satisfactory to so nu merous and meritorious a class of persons, as the Offi• cers of the Royal Navy. Sir CHARLES POLE made a short reply, in which he stated, that some causes had been pending in the Admiralty Courts more than ten years, and that a majority had been pending more than seven years, and . he should think that he was wanting in his duty if he did not take the sense of the House upon the motion which he had had the honour to propose. The House divided upon Sir Charles Pole's motion —Ayes 18—Noes 35—Majority 19. DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZE-MONEY WITSI ALLIES. On our return to the gallery, we found the AD VOCATE GENERAL on his legs, stating the pro priety of enabling his Majesty to cause the payment of such division of prize-money as the troor; of his Sicilian Majesty were deemed entitled to; who had co-operated With the British forces against the com mon enemy; He observed, that the best mode to be adopted for this piirpose would be, to have the money advanced here to the Minister of that Sovereign resi ding-at our Court, to be by him 'transmitted to his Master for distribUtion accordingly. The Honour able and Learned Gentleman observed) that this woi.ild.'be accomplished by extending the powers of the 47ih of. the King for that purpose, and by adding a clause extending this principle to all other States co-operating with us. He then moved for leave so bring in a Bill to extend the powers of the 47th of the - King, for the payment and distribution of Prize- Money to Foreign States and Foreign Ships co-ope rating with British Ships or British Forces.—Ordered. Leave was given, and the Bill was brought up and read a first time. CURATES' BILL: The I louse having gone into a Cominittee on the Curates Bill, Lord POR CHESTER proposed a Clause for pre venting persons holding more than one Curacy, from enjoying the benefit of any increase to such Curacy. The Clatise was negatived. On the Clause authorising the Bishop to decide on the value of the living, a long conversation ensued, in which, while most Gentlemen seemed to approve of the omission of the oath proposed to be administered to the incumbent, they objected to that omission, if in the case of the metropolitans-of Canterbury and York, there was to be no appeal. The SPEAKER said, he approved of the omission of the oath, but at the same time, he thought a dis tinction Qught to be made between the powers of the Archbishops in their diocesan and metropolitan ca pacity. It was, therefore, his intention, in the proper clause, to move an amendment to this effect. Mr. WINDHAM said it was simply the impossi bility of judging what might be the decision of the House on this clause, when it should come to be con sidered, which had produced any misunderstanding on the Clause now under consideration. The Clause, as amended, was then agreed to. Lord PORCHESTER, as a penalty against the Curate, in case of non-residence, without cause, for a month at a time, proposed that the incumbent should have right to inflict a fine of one third; if two month's, of one half; and if three months, to displace him altogether. • • Mr. PERCEVAL, instead of making the incum bent the person to complain, to judge, and to execute, his own judgment, thought it sufficient that the mat ter should rest, as it did by the Bill, with the Bishop,. on the complaint of the incumbent, of a stranger, ~or on, the observation of the Bishop himself. • Lard PORCHESTER's amendment was pont and negatived. In the proper clause, the SPEAKER proposed; . _ that in case of an order being made or refused to be' made by any Archbishop as Diocesan, of which the incumbent or curate might think they had a right to complain, an appeal might be made to the Kmg in Council. Sir W. SCOTT dwelt upon the difficulties, delays and expense, attending on appeals of this kind, and submitted to his Learned Friend the danger of invol ving incumbents and curates in such contests. Lord PORCHESTER, till it could be shewn that there was some other Court of Appeal, great as the inconveniences might be, must insist that some ap peal should be suffered to lie. Mr. H. BROWN also supported the motion. Mr. WINDHAM thought the difficulties attend. ing the appeal, presented a strong objection to the Bill altogether, as affording a shew of relief where little or none was given. He, however, approved of the motion, elusory as the relief might be, rather than that there should be no appeal. The SPEAKER said, the Cbmmittee had been of opinion, that justice required that an Appeal should be given against the decisions within all the Dioceses, except those of the Archbishops ; and they were now called on to say, if, in the Archiepiscopal Diocese no such justice should be given ? The House saw that the Privy Council had already corresponded among the different Diocesans on this very subject; and all he asked was, that in the event of an Archbishop be ing called on to act, as it were in his own cause, or, at all events, in the first instance, an appeal should .lie to the King, with the assistance of some of these Bishops as his Commissioners. Lord H. PETTY supported the motion. The SOLICITOR GENERAL thought the re medy would do much more evil than good. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought uniformity was desirable as much as possible; and with some trifling modification, he believed the mode proposed by his Right Honourable Friend the best that eould be adopted. He should propose that the appeal should not be to the King in Council, but to die King, who should appoint certain of the Bi shops to be his Commissioners, or Delegates, as a standing Court of Appeal in all such cases ; and in this manner a great many of the evils 'apprehended would be remedied. _ _ The SPEAKER acquiesced in this Amendment, and the motion so arrrended was put and agreed to. The several clauses of the Bill were gone through, without any material amendment or division, and the Report was ordered to be received to-morrow. The other Orders of the Day being disposed of, the House adjouTued at two o'clock. • t•• La:ls • . DUTJZT.ON COFFEE. . The CligitiaLLait of the EXCHEQUER having moo, redilealid at the liittles'oit Coffee, to'fivour the more get... consurapflon of it in this Country, live consider the measure be so interesting to manroctatraders, that we s , ,bjuin an exer. 4 from the Preface to the Letters on the subject, advenistd this Paper, and We will continue to insert sonic [usher eztrac•, from the publication, during the progress of the hill to %du ct the Duties. • The follinving letters wtre printed separately, in Compliance with the desire.of various respected friends ; and they are now submitted to the public, as an ap. peal to the. wisdom and justice of the legislature and the nation, in behalf ofhose loyal and deserving Ir.t. LOW-SUBJECTS OF A EREEGOVERNMENT, who are' toil. ing under a burning sun,. in an unwholesome cli; " mate, the West India Planters, struggling for every " thing dear to men." In the year 1791, the colonial ascendency, of Great • Britain excited the jealousy of France, and the pr:.. sperity of the Welt India Planters and Merchantc. cited the envy of their less industrious or less pros e ous fellow.subjecti 'at 'home. It was the brief. r b) : -. emphatic, argument of Brissot at that time, to those of his associates who were adverse to a war with this ceuntry, thit whilst France coal suffering from contending factions, .EngOnd net be 'allowed to rem tin at rett. From the.unhappy co-operation of jealont . enemies and. envious friencil,. the. melancholy but singular re sult has beep prdticed, of a ?maritime War, successful • in evry cppteii with th^. enemy heynnd all former exatii‘c. nycoArrilik the West • Ind'a ant l ers its ruin . ' and kteoyl4 .in Severe diss.ss..the victims of inipnlictiitOppressive duties on colonial produce. —The 4ittick4 etorti of an open enemy, would have ,been : a fieble annoyance to the enterpriseof the West India Planters and Merchants of this United Kingdom, in maintaining the colonial ascen, dency of the Mother Country in peace or in war ; if they had not been at the same time exposed to preju dices excited in the public mind against their conduct, by open and secret calumnies against their principles and character, for being engaged in a commerce, sanctioned by the Legislature, by the example of their ancestors, and by the practice of all the nations in Eu rope who possessed colonial dominions. It therefore merits enquiry,from what sources the ' public mind had suffered so injurious an impression, to the prejudice of any class of our fellow subjects.— The writer of the following letters has long been in , dined to believe, that the origin of the distress of the West India Planters and Merchants may be justly as cribed to the influence of interested persons, and of public and private associations convened by thorn.--: THEY GAVE THE. TONE TO THE PUBLIC MIND, AND PAR , LIAMENT BECAME THE ORGAN OF THE PUBLIC VOICE. Thus, whatever opposition was made to other ne• cessaty taxes, every new tax .on colonial produce and industry was cheered with hear him, hear him," in the Hou.e of Commons, and with approbation by great majorities out of doors ; and the Minister was sure of popularity who proposed new duties on su. gar, which, it was alledged, the consumers, and not the planters, were to pay. If the consumers had paid those additional duties imposed in the last ten years, the West India Planters and Merchants would hot byte occasion to lament theruin and distress so deeply felt by.ihemsolv.es, and, sozenerally, acknowledged by all.those who have takin the trouble to inform them. selies on the subject. THE EVENING STAR. LONDON, • : • WEDNESDAY, _JUNE 15. STOf?KS THIS DAt'llT ONE O'CLOCK . Consols, for July 70ii,—iteduced694.—Ommium 4 pr.. • Etchiquer Bills is. 6s. pretn.—Ludii Bona par to Is pre, PRICE OF STOCKS YESTERDAY. tank Sioek t4B} . 24s I ' "India litinds is. pr pat - 3 per C. Red Ann. ssi 69 .681 My. Ann. 7 9-16thi 3 pee Cent. Cons. shut • ; Irish. 5 per Cent. 94 4 per Corti. 851 a if: . 35. to 6s. 5 per Cent. Navy shut Otnniuri, ss. 4s. prem. Long Ann. 1 laf I 5-16 . ths English Tickets, 211. India Stock; 182 Console for acc. 70fit The Mercury,WlLLlA.ms, and the Kingsmill,WAnt are arrived at Liverpool, from Barbadoes, which place they' left on the 13th ultimo, when it wg repotted that his Majesty's brig EXPRESS had had a severe engage• went with two French brigs, each of equal force, in which she captured one, but had suffered severely herself. His Majesty's ship HALIFAX, with the fleet under her convoy, which sailed from Cork on the £2d March, arrived at Barbadoes on the 7th May: The Lady Isabella packet arrived there on the 26th Of April, from Falniouth, and sailed on the 28th to Leeward. The Jean Jack, from Bourdeaux for Gua daloupe, is capture." to windward of Desea is, by his Majesty's ship MosAmmuz, after an engagement of two 'purl,. _ 8 treoP lad 6 •I'b logra' to' 'wag few _ Ti so etP 4 l A4 the swa Au Pr° d tat I dt Yoi dan dir ha( tra thl yoi an Yesterday Ministers received dispatches from Ad miral-Purim ; but they do not confirm the rumour of the British having been received into Cadiz. All that is yet known of the state of the insurrection is, that it certainly exists in the provinces on the coast ; but we are totally ignorant of the internal condition of Spain. Enough, however, has been manifested to convince NAPOLEON that he must keep a formidable army in that kingdom, and that may interrupt his schemes of aggression in other parts. A confidential person will, it is said, proceed im; mediately in a frigate to Cadiz, that he may have an opportunity of conferring with the authorities that have raised the standard of freedom, before the force which is to be sent thither shall arrive: And he is to have full powers to act, according as he shall find the country.to be situated. This is certainly at once prompt and prudent. The urgency of the case is so apparent, that we trust no time will be allowed to any man who is to make a part of the expedition, to re• main one hour beyond the date of his last dispatch. It is obvious, that in a moment so critical, it would F