Star. — London, England, 1817-05-03 00:00:00

IiALE !POSTPONED. it/FR. MUNK respectfully informs the Public, that IVII. tbe SALE el kbe celebrated MINPOWDSIL-WORES at pArrtz, advertised to take Vase art **ad' lostant. at der Melon Mart. London. is osavoftlably POSTPONED till tar dier Nona.—Walbrook, May 5, 1811. LONDON SOCIETY N FOR PROMOTING diIEISTIANITY SE WS. PATRON/. The Meat Re.. the Loa* Rumor of ST. 1110411111., ao4 high, Rev. the 4011 D Burnt of OLOCCISTZie NINTH ANNIVERSARY. THE TWO ANNIVERSARY SERMONS will be reached of Twos lIDAT keening, May e, at St. Peter's, Corslifil. by the Rev. BASIL WOOOD, M A. Service rn begin at Malf.part o'Cloeh; and on FasnaT Morning. May 9, at T i m ms & Eocopai Chapel, Dread Court. Lung Aere--Serviee to basis at Half-pa 4 Ten o'clock. The ANNUAL MEI !INC will be field nn the tame day. at Freiman's` Hall, Great Queen 'street, at TWO o.ootk. PAILMMENT'Afir PROCEEDINGS. HOUSE OF LORDS, MAY 2. , Counsel were boa, heardin tbe.Seotch cause, the Magistrates of Dembanosi v. Campbell and others.—Judgment postponed. In the case of Randall v. Doe, on the demise of Roake and others, Counsel were partly beard.—To proceed again on Wed ne,day. Mr. Attweiagir. from the Thames Navigation Company, pre ensued their annuli] amounts for the last year. Mr. Scut., from the Chamber of the City of London, pre seined the account of the reeeirs and disbursements of the Or. plains' Fund, for the law year; together with certain other ac counts from the add Chamber, all M Inch, with the foregoing do cement were ordered Cu he laid on the table. The House resolved into a Committee oh Owen 's Divorce 1311, • and same documentary evidence was received at the liar, respect ing the Marriage Settlement, and other legal carnets between the parties. In the result, the further proceedings et the Com mittee were adjourned to Monday. Lord HOLLAND presented a Petition from the town of Chesterfield. In the county of Derby, complaining of the distress mad privations they Moored tinder and praying for a modifica tion a wen the don salt. His Lord:lski took occasion to remark, . that in his opinion, some regulations, yielder to those prayed her by the Vendome'. would relieve the poor of the country Meals tulahly more than the project conceived by.bis Majesty's Govern. acne Ler Moir relief, which was introduced into soother place. The Petition being read, was ordered to be laid upon the table. The hart of acittmosT resented a Dill to autism tee laud lords to do-enter Farms which were dawned by the tenants, at the eapiraiaun of six months, instead of at the end of ow year, as prescribed by she existing law. His Lordship moved the first reading sledge Bdl, which accordingly took place, and stated his iutention to move its second reading on Monday 'I he Anna) Aecrunts ache Margate Harbour Company were presented at the Dee, and entered to he laidqui the table. 1 be Clerks of the Peace Rigida:ion T a.a and a private Act, were brought up from the Commons by F. thiamin it and others, and read the firm time. The Crown Lands Revenge Mci I was aga read, and passed. CAuIS op SPINCE. MVO. ILTC. The LORD CHANCELLOR rose for the purpose of cont. municating to their Lordships, the result of such official informs tton es be bad been able to procure, in pursuance of what he had stated as a former evening, touching the above cases. Tim Noble awl very Learn.d l.ord paid, that some decumcnta connected 'with the promodinp which had taken place, he bad nut been able to end; Out it appeared, that mom the IBth of April, tent, a palm tit the name of Searle gave information, upon oath, against • mrun minted no/you Spruce, a, authoi or üblisher ut a wink of a miry extraordinary nature and ii.n.cnisvous ictodsucs, coin phalli what was called a plan to restore society to its natural state, in consequence of which, Mr. ford, the Magistrate, held ' him to bell Mr his personal appearance on the fiist di/ of the then neat ensuing term, when, at the Instance 'of the Learned Gesekman who then tilled' the office of Attorney-General, he was called upon for his '.cognisance, and the usual proceeding. wane subsequently adopted against bin. With re-pect to the other cue, that of Alcsander Hogg, the charge against whom was toe Kitbag improper publications rrspectisg trials for adultery, be was likewt-e held to bail fur his personal appearants in the • Caen of King's Synch, txo the firs: day of the then ensuing term. 11:e intormatiun against him had been hied by the late Mr, Per cevalp.st the :props Lnef Officer of the Crown ; but in conse quence ef kis bubo:quern conduct, and his silos% up the publics • ems, Ise was not proceeded against. Earl Okla seemed to think the inhumation respecting these cases Which the Noble and Learned Lord had been able to pro cure, not sufficiently extensive to throw that light upon them which be thought desirable. After a abort observation or two te this reset, he advined to the eau upon which the opinion ti ttered to in the Circular .I.citer of Viscouit Sidmulith was founded, which, he was now more than ever convinced, was or. •cessary to be laid before the House. That proceeding on the part of the Noble Secretary of State, be was apprehensive, would be re of the most mischievous effects, and be must consider ri tt s * a c ironconatitutional interference on the part of the Executive Poseeinneet. Under these impressions, be certainly deemed it bodily to bride the subject under the consideratloo of their Ls:l%6,mM shortly move tot the production ofthe cue upon . W 0,4e1e0 fenored to in the circular letter, was founded., hest stasesseot was evidesitly necessary to be produced, as n a s .. raved so !waive a ptincipie upon which ail the Magistrates were Ballad opou to act. He Mould brims forward the modus on Mons dine se'or*bt,Wer which day he *Hunt that the Lords be sum • mined, winch was ordered accordnigly.—Adjuurned toll Monday • HOUSE OP COMMONS. ' • Voiced Meotnits moved dui from the different Public Olikes, were presented by the maritime Ulcers, and ordered to is ea the Table. • . t, r. promoted a Petition from the Parish of • St. Andre*, near the Wardrobe, %stoat the Loudon. Tit* BA segued by all the Patiadosers exctpt three. kir. IittULIGHAM also presented a Petition to the same offset from the Parish of .St. Sepidehro. • - Several other Pedtions were presented is the course of the teeming to the same pttriwrt. . Tllq , went ail ordored to lla OD the 'I able. • --* WOOD poripOried used= for the second readiOg _ _ • Cslastel _ el the flame Sop Bilk tient. Wednesday the 7th, till Wednesday the 14th instant. .Mr. F. LkW IR moved for an Account of the • quantity of Wool len Goods reported during the tau year. f.Jrdsred. .. Mr. bEN NE I' brought up the first Report, thWSession, of the Consoutter an the Pollee of the Moo ropolls. "The Honourable Member made swim eiteervations on the present unfair mode of Licrosing Public Howse% and declared Ins inteuthns ut shortli rallittg the attentiseei the Home to this subject.. . • .. ' - MIAMI oil frouvu.soca. . Ms:. BEMET said, that it was with great eon- If• cern that be felt it to be his 'duty, as Chairmen of the Committee appointed to inquire into the State of . the Police tithe Metropolis, to bring under the con sideration of the House a breach of Privilege • con tinged Sts a Book recently published, and which had been seat to the Committee by the Author, purport. ing to be— , " A Vindication of the Magistrates acting in and few the Tower Division, from the Charge• contained in a printed Worts, entitled, ' The Report et the Coussuittee on the State of the Pollee of the Nletrepoth; together with the Minutes of Evidence taktu Wont the Conwaittee ot the Horse of Commons: by *1 Maus Ihiris wall, M.A. Reece of lowers Garbed, hesat; and Magistrate for IM Counties of Middlesea and Essex.' Without making any comment on the general tone of the work, which was by no means respectful towards the Committee, he would only observe, that several passages were so extremely offensive to the feelings, and hosuk to the privileges of the Com mittee, that it was thought 6t to summon Mr. Thiel will before them, to requite some explanation of his conduct. When Mr. Thirlwall appeared before the Cotnnaittee, be avowed himself to be the author of the work he question. But before he (Mr. Bennet) 1 roceeded to state what had token place on that occa . Ce l ls would request the Clerk to read from the book the passages which were tire subject of complAint. Clerk accordingly (after repeating the Title efthe Work) read as follows: " Howe into the consitnelon of these Committees of the Howe et and the mode of their. proceedings, and I bay, so &At otben will be surprised as wetl as myself at the deecrigition.- My impression was. that a Casualties Is composed of a number of Members who personally attend, that tile ed. dente of every witness, and the whole entire evidence of each witness, eke entered 'in the Miuutes,fikratio d verktias, and printed for the use of be Hoene. " My information, however.hae taught me that my impression is most e rroneous, and that this was not the mode at least put.- toed in the rumination of witnesses, upon the charges against the Magistrates of the Tower Dividon. During the examination of several of the witnesses, the Chairman only was present; Mr. Calvert is the only Member I could learn who did assist him oc casionally, particularly when the House of Hanbury was in question. 'Mit Honourable Member very much wished Mr. Fox, of Shady's% to give his evidence, but the private esplaus tion of that Gentleman induced him not to imist•upon it. " A eon-iderable part of the evidence given in was not entered ma the Minutes, and a very material part that was offered was not' accepted. I have out the unaliew knowledge of the Chairman, other than by his occasional *percher as an Opposition Menthe e, by the same of Captain Bennet, from which I inter that he has n o t dedicated much of his time to the profession of the law, and di rected his studies to the nature of legal evidence. . _ ' " It is pretty well lutowo, my loy.lty to my King and attach. meat to the Constitution. sad I had mimosa said enthusiastic ad. sirs ion of its forms. I have contributed my part in the woe.' of times to its safety. I hope, therefore, that my observations will not be tortured into any Intentional disrespect to the Cont. mitres. I acknowledge its authority, and how to its decisions. But when I make this declaration, it does not fidlow that I am bound against my conscience to adolit either candour or impar. *thy. in the proceeding% swam tie body of Magistrates are to be tried, I should not prefer Mr. Beatintoot bringing his cliarzes before my Lard Ellenborougb, rather than before a Committee sf the House of Comnions, with even Caraln Bennet in the Chair. I am notpirtial to the Committees in the time of Cromwell, nor to the Committees in France iu the time of floe Revolution. Ido not wish to be tried by Committees. I protest against a trial.by Committees, Inquisitions, or Star Chambers." • Mr. 43ENNE1' proceeded so state, that when Mr. Thirlwall appeared' before the Cosamittee, some ex• planaiton was required from him of the passages which had been read by the Clerk. He would pass corer that part of the .explanation which related to himself personally, and coiifine himself to that which regarded the last paragraph which had been read by the Clerk, beginning with is It is pretty well known my loyalty to my King and attachment to the Con-1 stitution," and ending with , 4 I protest against a trial by Committees, Inquisitions, or Star Chambers.— The Committee observed to Mr. Thirlwall, that this passage contained an inuendo strongly pointed against - them, and proceeded to ask for explanation on the su'Sject. The Honourable Meibber proceeded to read the interrogations and replies, which were as foilow: Q. What grounds had you for accusing the Committee of wet of candour and impartiality ?—I deny doing so. Q. Do you' wish that to stand u your reply I—Yes. • u. Huw do rou reconcile that denial with the coutpar4oo of a trial by the Committee, and a trial before my Lord Ellenbo rough ?-1 merely mated:that I preferred the one to the other. Q. Did you on, in toe passage jest read, mean to insinuate that the Cummirtre had neither nodose nor impartiality I ob ject to any quedton tending to criminate myself. Q. Hulot' stated that you preferred a trial by Jury to a trial by a Cumm.ttee, you yid, " I am not partial to the Committees to the thus of ..:romwell, nor to the Cum:Woes:a he Franca In the Iliac 44 asevolu:km. Ido not wish to be tried by Commit•ees. I prrest &Watt atrial by Committers, Inquisitions or Star Cham bers." What was your meaning to that ta,sage ?—1 meant that which I Stated. Q. Did you mean to assimilate the present Committee to rn qu Pr Star Chambers 3—No, co such thins. 1 had no Ur* kat tI a kind. Q. What then did you man ?—I meant to 53 up a period. Q. It is likely that this subject will be brought before the House of Cuaunou;. Do yo+ mean to stand by the answers which you have just made?-1 dor. fl Have you any thing le add to what you have Fused ?—...1410. . The Committee endeavoured , in this examinatio n, to induce the Reverend Gentleman to make such an explanation and apology as might render it unneces sary to submit the matter to the consideration of the House; but in vain. He must say also, that Mr. Thirlwall's manner and Lone on vie occasion were' the very opposite of what might li.orr twen expected. That morning, however, he had tendered to the Com mittee an explanation of the obnoxious passages, and of some of the teplies in his examination. With re• spect to the insinuati,m, that the Committee bad nei ther candour nor impartiality, to the question on which he had answered that he objected to .any ques• tion tending to criminate himself, he now expressed his contrition for•the passage With respect to his 'an swer to t.:.e question relative to the Inquisitions or Star Chambers, that hr meant to fill up a period, he now corrected it, by stating, that it was a rhetorical figure of- speech, and that he had no intention of le dittoing a comparison between the Committee and the Inquisition or the Star Chamber. He added, that perceiving the publication had given offence to the Committee, he had directed his publisher to stop the saki of it.' Taking, however, the whole nature and circumstances of the transaction into their consi deration, the Committee deemed them to be of such importance as to require that they should be laid be. fore the House. He wished to be entirely guided by the Hausa with respect tu the farther proceeding which it night be advisable to adopt on the subject, his only anxiety being that the privileges of Parlia ment should not be compromised on the occasion. 'l'he first step, however, would be to require the at tenclanee of Mr. Thirlwall at the 'bar of the Hotise. As the:Rev. Gentleman lived at some distance from man, and as he bad his clerical datrao perform on Sunday, it might, perhaps, be inconvenient for him, to 'lood on Monday, on which day he should . othltri wise wove for his attenda nce .. H e wou ld thereto-id move, " That the Reverend Thomas .Thirlwall .do attend this House on Wednesday next." Sir. USWA.LD MOSELEY, as a Member of the Police Committee, corroborated in every - respect the statement which bad just been made by the Honour able Chairman of that Committee. As he was net a Member of that Committee at the time whin the 1 Reverend Gentleman published his book, he was not open to the charge of being influenced by any perso nal feelings in giving it as his opinion, that the passage in question sin, in his apprehension, a libel on the Committees and the House, and ought not to be passed over without due reprehension. He.mest add, that if any thing could exceed the impropriety of the Reverend Gentleman's evidence, on.being called be -1 take the Committee to explain his statements, it was the general impropriety of his whole conduct while before them. Mr. LOCKHART observed, that the House would have ample opportunities of considering whc-. then the work, from which the Honourable Gentleman, had read extracts, was a breach of privilege or not. He was totally unacquainted with thc'parties in the case; but he could nut refrain from nu,Ocing the PeCuhasity - of tbi proceedings . in Os. They were '3t least unntual o and indeed, he-believed, ' within': precedent. The Coelleittee had. entered into the consideration of a breachpf privilege. Novi hei always thought that it- w i t the . doff Of a CothMittee of that House, or of au inifividualidember'of it, under such circumstances., to make an' immediate complaint of the breach• of privilege •to the House, and to the House alone. He.al ways anderstood.that it . ComMittee of that House could never go beEond its instructions . . The ComMittee in question was in stituted to inquite into the Police of the Metropolis. and not into the nature (Army breach of privilege.— , Instead of complaining to the House of the breach of privilege committed with respect to them, they called a witness befor e them, and entered into an investi4a tiort of the breacli of privilege themselves. They put questions to this' witness nut tending to promote the inquiry which they had been appointed to pursue, but to draw from him a confession or a denial.of his guilt. He apprehended that .Cotnniiitees. of that House were not entrusted. with► inquisitorial powers of that nature. To hirn it appeared that it would be extremely dangerous, indeed, if Committeei, instead of coming -at once te• the House, should ester such Investigations. He might be wrong s but he was not aware of any instance on record of such a proceeding. 11, as he apprehended. it was contrary Ito the practice of Parliament, it behoved the House Ito pause before they agreed to the motion made by the Honourable Gentleman. He wished also to ask, with viF. A t vi e w the Honourable Gentleman had read the explanation's which had been given by the witnest of the obnoxious passages in the work ? Did he in tend to lay it on the table'of the House or not if he did, it came in the shape of evidence lit:witty a , set of Gentlemen in a Committee, which had no right to enter into any such examination ; to which the anise and the House alone was competent. He hoped that some Honourable Member; more ezperi timed in the usages of Parliament, would fevhirr she House with his opinion wn this, to say the least of it,l deubitul point. The SPEAKER said, he apprehended that .the present was the time at which the House should pro- nounce, whether the passage in (he work adverted to was or was sot a breach of privilege ? If not; the author ought not to be called on to attend at-the bar. From what had fallen from the Honourable Chairman of the Committee, he did not'collect that the Committee had inquired into the actual guilt in that respect of the author of the work. All that the Committee had done, which was not unreasonable, was to ascertain before they complained to the House whether the party advisedly persisted in the expres sions that he had used, •or whether he was disposed by explanation to do Away that which, if unexplained, might be considered by the House a breach of privi lege—(Hear, hear). As matters stood, therefore, it was tor the House to determine, aye or no, it there was a prima facie breach of privilege in the tefhections which had been cast on the Committee. If the House determined in the affirmative on that proposi tion, they would order the attendance of the party at the bar ; if in the negative, they would proceed no further in the business. Mr. CALVERT observed, that he had very regu latly attended his duty as a Member of the Police Committee, and that it gave him great satisfaction to witness the attet-tion and ability of the Honourable Chairman. It was not a fact that the Chairman sometimes examined witnesses alone. The Commit tee was in general very fully attended. He (Mr. Calvert) vindicated himself from the passage in Mr. Thiriwall's publication, ascribing to him a alit to have the evidence of Mr. Fox, of Nhadwell, on which the private explanation of that Gentleman induced ' hint not to insist. Thh simple fact was, that he asked Mr. Fox whether he came to the Committee to give evidence? to which he replied in the negative. Mr. WROTTESLEY merely wished to ask if it would be improper to defer the motion before them until the alleged libel should be laid on the table and rioted for the consideration of the House? The SPEAKER apprehended that a complaint of breach of privilege must in all cases be disposed of at once. Those who were conversant with Perliamen tary usages, knew that any publication (generally I speaking) reflecting on the proceedings of the House or of any of its Committees, was a high breach of ' privilege— ( Year, hear). The only question for the House to determine was, whether or not the extract which had been read by the Honourable Chairman 9f the Police Committee contained such a reflection ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCIIEQUER was of opinion, that the motion of the Honourable Chairman ought to be acceded to by the House-1 (Hear, hear). When the Reverend Gentleman should attend, it would be for the Hoist to take into consi deration any circumstances of extenuation which he' might submit to them. In his opinion, all that the Committee had done, was, not to extort from the party any improper declarlition, but merely to afford him the opportunity of making such an explana tion as might induce them tolorbeak their complaint to the House—( Hear, hear). -Mr. WYNN contended, that on the very face of the transaction the House had no discretion to exer cise.. .With/meet to any apology that might have hemmed, by the individual in question, the House' could take no cognisant* *fit, ior it was not officially betake them. It could not consider 'rf t e explanation of 'the party either as an extenuation, or as an, aggra vation of his conduCt, hitless ihatpart of the . evidence. were reported to them . Gy the Committee. There wasbut one course tb purseeto agree to the motion. Mr. SHAW LEFEVRE . bole testimony to the temperate, impartial, and judicious manner in Qiich the proceedings of the Committee had been conduct ed by the Hon. Chairman of hear). •• Mr. BRODERIC contended ; that the Committee, in the course which they,pursued with respect . to t h e subject in question, had not exceeded their authority. The SPEAKER ingested to the Honourable Chairman of the Committee, that after the present motion should be disposed of, it would be his duty 'II to move, that there be laid before the House so touch of the Minutes of Evidence as related to the explana tion given in the Obnimittee. The House being in possenion of that explanation, and hearing'any thing further that the party might ye to state at the Bar, would then be enabled to come to an ulterior decision on the subject. At present the ably qUestion before theni related to the attendance of the party. • The Motion for thf . atfendance of Mr. on Wednesday, war then , agreed to. 1 • • da the motion Junin ter it was the Paned, that there be: laid before the Home a Copy of finch 6f the Mi►►utes taken before the Committee a, related to the matte* complained cf. Mr. ilamt4cr immediately brought np•that portion of the Minutes, which was ordered to be primed. RIZ UMIE3IIII. • Mr. MA BERLE.Y moved the second readin g o f tbe. Rye Harbour Bal. which was Opposed by Sir Qoxittley WEBSTER and Sir EDwARD ritearcitstat.. L-rd COCHRANE and Sir JA MES GRA HAM Opposed the Bill. The latter declared, that it was ezu . em a y .d etr i menta l so the landed interests ; in fact, contained some of the most extraordinary and extravagant clauses that bad been ever enacted. It went to invest the Corporation of Rye with absolute powers over Romney and Pevenbty mix shes. Mr. JENKINSON was decidedly of opinion tht the. Bill ought not to piss. and thought that it eugin to be resisted in its present stage. _ Mr. MrII4ERLPS - was surprised that tile Hn' • Nimbir who had just sat down should call !his me 4. sine improper ; hut rn..re particularly, that lic shipti%l attack it in a mannrr si. illiberal. • • Mr. J ENK INSON roic tt• order. The :iI I LA K ER, said, that the Honolmble "Acre. her (Mr. Mab:rley ) had certainly used an unpatlia nientary expressioo —( Hear, hear.) Mr. MABERLEY ....'at a.I times ready to.sub. mit to the Chair : and iltrirt• re, if be had said any ihing incorrect, he wts pertectiy ready to wit': an . apology. The Hon3urahle Mrrtiber was prircev• when the cries at question Isec4Me general, dildw.a. gets Mere ordered to Withdraw. The Bill was withdrawn without a divisi n. The House then went into a Commettire on the subject at placing the English and Scotch ties on the vitae lontiag with respect to the draw. lank on paper. when. A Bill was ordered to be breught in for that purpose. . Mr. GI.R/1.8U11,N introduced a Bill fie regula. ting Marriages in Newtotindland; which was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time ott Monday next. IRISH GRAND JURY PRE:ENT/GMT RILL. Mr. COOPER, atter a few introductory remarks, moved that the second reading 1. t a c Btll s!lotthi to postponed till this day six motit!.s. . Mr. ABERCROMI'a c,:nsid.:red the measure rf great importance, and exincsstd a hope, that, it this Bill should. be withdraw l, some measure w0..1d be adapted fur promoting the : , lject (luting the S. ssion. Mr. PRETTIE was also- n: opinion, that this mea sure would be extremely bent ficial to Irelard ; and thought that this Bill should he suffered to pass into a law, if no better provisions were submitted. Mr. PONSONBY had lamented to hear his Han. Friend move Oat the Bill should be withdrawn. His Hon. Friend had Laboured mo.t sedulously in framing the several clauses; and he (Mr. P.) still thought, that out of this Bill a system might be made winch would be very beneficial to Ireland. • Mr. PEEL. conceived it would be the m.. 51 conve nient way to withdraw this Bill, axed to in a Bill embodying all the patty of the Repent which was laid before the House in the last session of rAt S'r J. NEWPORT considered it in vain to Hate or temporize ; and that, unless the present • :es were rooted out with a strong hand, it were better The whole system should fall to the groti.,d. He thought, too, it would be exceedingly difficult to graft this new system on the old one. It was nem sary that the grounds orldematid on the public puree should. be clearly made our, the proi.vieda well .tc ' counted for, and good steuiny given. At ?res?et the money wrung from the untorion .te peisantTy wit often missing, and new assessments were the ccn:e. quence. In one district three receivers had ()noose bankrupt, and' it was high time that speculations the expense of the public should be put an cod to. Mr. V. FITZGERALD admitted the evils of the existing system, but thought it impossible the various enactments of the new bill should pass into a law this present Session s. and it was not wise for these who wished well to Ireland to embarrass a measure which, if time were allowed, would be productive of the best consequences. Sir F. FLOOD had a multitude of ttbjectithir to the bill : it did not, sufkieotly guard the people from loss; it was complicated,- and would be better if di vided into two or three pins. There were also 13 or 14 new offices created. Mr. COOPER. said, that there were but three new offices, and the office of conservator was abolished. The queston was put, and the bill ordered to be com mitted this day six months. Mr. PONSONBY asked, whether that would not throw the bill out:of the House t The SPEAKER said, that if the title of the bill were varied it would be considered a new bill. atmmots OT sminntlPTgle. On the second reading of the bill for the repreuiss of fraudulent banki-upteies, , • Mr. COURTENAY Ohjecfe-d to the measure, &Ai alleged, that the provisions of the Bill wereimprar unable, particularly •that which enabled the Commit signers to inquire into the premien, life and circuits stances of the Bankrupt, to disallow est his certificate, a nd express in:opinion on Iris conduct. The laqviq could only be made b, meant` f the creditors; aria -tinder the law as it - stood-Ohl:when% they were alwan examined' whenever any (rand irat.suspected.''Thete was no.case of a Iraudulent.bankrupt escaping, salsa the. creditors trete passive, if not active in bit fauna. The power of examination at present intrusted to ILe Commissioners was very general, and he was aVerVI I to inveit thim with- a power of etantiuing inw the life . of a man from his earliest years. Mr. JOHN SMIsTH said, that there was but ()AC sentiment, in the City .as to the coAddct of the Com missioners of Bankrupt: they were always attenti!e and . anxious to discharge their duty ;*and yet nctb4 -was more common than fraudulent bankruptcies:7 nnd the administration of the Bankrupt Laws .Ir2l generally objected to in the Metropolis. The acorn• usudutinu latorded the Commissioners when theymel wai wholly insufficient, and their meetings, is enu* sequence, resembled a fair rather than a Court. He had 'no objection to arming - the Commissioners 10 .London,with greater powers, but he thought this not safe' in the country ; and as the Merchants of Lou , doh, he understood, were about to petition the House on the- subject' of the 4ankrupt Laws, he should isovi that the debate on the question should be ad journed to that day three weeks. Mr.- LOCKH,ART would not resist the motion, but must Add w kw observations On. What bad fallen