Star. — London, England, 1822-04-03 00:00:00

•1 f ec ted the community generally. They comb of the great falling off in trade, in consequence severe liidress which prevailed in the country prayed that retrenchment and economy adopted in the public expenditure, and that the should be restored to their just ihare in the tore, by reforming the House of Commons. Honourable Alderman then auloved that the be brought up. Sir W. CURTIS did not rise to oppose the Peti tion, as it had been carried by the Commoh Hall with all the usual forms; but he was anxious to com plain that it conveyed the sentiments of a very small • proportion -of the Members of the Corporation of, London. It was adapted at a Meeting of SOO only, • out of a body of 14,000. He eras far from agreeing with the prayer of the Petition itself, but as it con tained nothing disrespectful in its language, he con sidered that there could be no objection to its being received. Mr. WILSON professed the greatest respect for -the Corporation of the City of London, and for the declaration of any part of them ; but on the present occasion he felt that he could not concur with the prayer of the Petitioners. He had been called on by his Constituents to support it, not only by the adver tisement, but by the Officer of the Court of Alder men. He would be happy to do so were it consistent with his principles. When he was called on to sup port the prayer of a Petition asking for economy, re form, and retrenchment, he did not know to what length it was expected he should go. He might be asked to join in every attempt at further reductions-. in every vote of the Hon. Member for Aberdeen ; per haps for Annual Parliaments—for Universal Suffrage —for Votes by Ballot : to this extent, perhaps, .he was required to go by the wishes of the Petitioners. He had too much respect for his Constituents not to believe but that they had sent him flee and un shackled into that House, and he was convinced it would be their desire that their Representative should remain there perfectly tree and independent. With regard to the Meeting at which the Petition was adopted, he must say, that it was composed of but 500 Members out of a body of 11,000. It was not supported by the Aldermen—the Lord Mayor in his official capacity, the worthy Alderman opposite (Al derman \i ood), and another worthy Alderman, not at present a Member of that House (Waithman), were the only Aldermen who attended it. He was disposed *to consider the Petition not to be that of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Corporation of Loudou, but that of a very small part of them. Alderman BRIDUES said, that the sentiments of the City of London Were by nu means contained in the Petition. Alderman THOMPSON said, as the Petition was carried at a Meeting of the City a London legally convened, it should receive the due attention of the House, though it was not numerously signed or in .accordance with the opinion of the greater part of the Corporation. He could not agree with many of the sentiments it contained; tOr, atter the retrenchments that had been exercised in every department of the State, he could not join in a request for further re duction, or go to the same length in seeking Reform. 4r. Alderman WOOD said, that the numbers who attended the Meeting were double or treble those mentioned by the Honourable Baronet. There was no necessity for the attendance of Aldermen in that character; for they attended a Common Hall onk as Liverymen : and in that capacity the Honourable Member (Mr. .1. Wilson) ought to have attended.— As for the statement, that the Petition did not express the sentiments of the Livery, he had no doubt that the Hon. Member (Mr. Alderman Bridges) thought that die only pure Common Hall was that which had elected hiniselt.—The Petition was then ordered to lip on the table, and to be pi inted. SCOTTISH Hi ESS. Mr. ABERCRO3IBY said, that there was a ques tion of very gnat public importance, which he was anxious to have brought before the notice of the licuse. He alluded to the conduct of the Lord Ad-. vocate, ss public protecutotin relation to the Press in Scotland. There had been some late occurrences of a melancholy nature, with which every person was acquainted, which strengthened his intention. He would not further allude to them. He would, on an early day after the recess, bring the subject before the itotice of the H..use; and he busted the Lord Advo cate would not give any opposition to his doing so. The LORD ADVOCATE said, that be was not di-posed tot oppose the subject being !nought forward. He trusted that he could give the most satisfactory explanations. He hoped, in the meantime, that Hon. Members would kcep their minds unprejudiced upon it, and not allow themselves to be influenced by emu news statements. great puL perhaps, under - the influence of , the very favourable wanner in which the House had taken up the sub 't. Though the • Petitioner had Oo actual claim upon thern,'yet he deserved some consideration in the feelings of the House, and might expect from them • remuneration for - the actual loss he bad incurred. Mr. P. 1400. RE thought, that if any compensa don was Oven' ia,tbe present instance; it would only - act as an inducement for men to come forward with new schemes, to the injury of old and established be neficial arrangements. It would serve as an encou ragement for innovations. It was merely an attempt of experiment on the House, which they should re sist. If it was referred to a Committee, it would be !attended there with considerable expense. He ob.s jected to it altogether. Mr. CALCRAFT ()nosed the motion. If the in dividual in question thought proper to put himself to expense, he was at perfect liberty so to do; it was not an affair in which the Public had any concern.— He thought the best course the House could adopt, was to reject the proposition of the Hon. Member. If Ministers thought proper to encourage the indivi dual, it was competent to them to mate whatever arrangements they pleased with him, provided the public purse was not called upon. Mr. S. WORTLEY said, that the expenses had not been incurred after the failure of the experiment, but during the progress of the Bill which had been introduced on the subject. Whether or not this formed a sufficient ground fur the present applica tion, it would be for the House to decide. Mr. CAL RAF 1' said, that the explanation of the Hon. Member only made the case worse. Mr. N. CA LvERT thought it very hard not to, allow the individual some remuneration, as he had undertaken the plan under the immediate sanction of the Government. It would be observed that there was always a strong prejudice against new inventions, and it was some time before the Public could be re conciled to Mail-coaches, which were now found so useful to•them: *--He was of opinion that any plan tending to facilitate commercial correspondence must be of great advantage. Mr. HUME made some observations against the motion, contending that this was the first instance of a speculator having applied to Parliament for remu minion after the failure of his experiment. lie en tirely agreed with what had been said by his Hon. Friend, the Member tim-Wareham (Mr. Calcraft), that if Ministers wished to make any arrangements with the individual they might do so, provided they made no pecuniary demand on that !louse. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER ob served, that the Petitioner had been led into expense under the impression that his plan would ultimately fie adopted, as in the first year, and part of the year, following, it received the approbation of the House. Mr. RICARDO declared himself decidedly op pose," to the claims of the party. It appeared that the Ri811: II .n. Gentleman asked remuneration for him on the score of compassi(ll ; but the House, acting as the guardian of the public pulse, could not grant it on that ground alone. Mr. M r felt eerstiadel that, to accede to this proposition, would be a precedent in favour of all spectilators whose plans might prove unsuccessful. Mr. DENISON said, that he thought the plea of humanity could not be urged in favour of this person, as he had killed several horses during the progress 'of his experiment. Sir M. W. ItIDLEY was not a little surprised to hear it argued now, for the first time, that an indivi dual ought to be remunerated merely because a plan which he had proposed happened to be rejected.— Much inconvenience, as well as a serious loss of horses, had arisen in the North from the plan in question. Mr. W. small maintained that the plan had nothing ingenious or novel to recommend it. It was nothing more than the substitution of a two-wheeled for a tour-wheeled carriage. After a few words from Mr. BF.NNET the House divided, when the numbers s% ere— For the Motion - Against it 7 - 28 56 .. -8 Alter a few avgrde from the Loan ADVOCATE Al l to the utility of the office, the motion was agreed to. Mn HUME then moved for a similar Return of, the Officers under commissions for the Herring Fshet yof Great Britain, distinguishing the arilount of bounties paid for Scotland and England.—Ordered. The Honourable Member also postponed his mo tion relative to the lonian Islands, from the 14th in, scant to the 14th of Mal.' The LORD ADVOCATE obtained leave to bring in a Bill to enforce the residence of the Shea' of Edinburghshire and Lanark. A • Mr. WALLACE brought in a Bill to regulate the Trade between the West Indies and America, which was read a first time, and ordered to be read a sot cond time on the 19th instant. OPHTHALMIC INSTITUTION. Mr. G. BANKES presented a Petition from Mr. G. R. Melin, Assistant-Surgeon to the Forces, com plaining that, in disobedience of the express injunc tions of a Committee of that House, Sir W. Adams had published part, and made animadversions upon his evidence, given before that Committee, 'relative to the Ophthalmic Hospital. The Petitioner prayed that in consequence of this, the House would order the evidence taken before that Committee to be printed, or would allow him to print parts of his own, in order to repel the charges of Sir W. Adams. He (Mr. G. flankes) prevented the Petition, as having been the Chairman of that Committee, and although he could not support the prayer of the Petition, he hare' the end would be answered by his publicly declarin?, what he had often told Mr. Nleling in pri vate, that in his opinion the statement of Sir W. Adams was in no degree justified. lie moved that tine Petition he brought up. Mr. RENNET seconded the motion. lle pledged himself some day to open the whole case to the House, and to thew that the Duke of York's decision on the subject was perfectly just and correct. Mr. WlLMOrsaid, 'that when the time came fur considering this question, it would far better become them to follow the recommendation of the ComMit- 1 tee, as contained in their Report; •iz: to consider only what amount of compensation was to be made to Sir W. Adams for his four rears constant attendance at the Ophthalmic Hospitl for the public service: they ought to discourage, rasher than encourage, the dis pute between the Medieall)oiird and Sir W. Adams. The less they entered into private quarrels the better: After a few observations from Mr. I)Awox, Mr. Huste, and Mr. flaNtits, the Petition. ivas brought up, read, and ordered to be printed. SUPPLY. The CH AStELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved tie Order of the day for receiving the Report of the Committee of Supply. Mr. BROGDEN then brought up the Report, which, after some conversation, ip.w.hich Mr. AR• RCTUNOT, Mr. RICARDO, Mr. W. SMITH, and Sir J. Yoniut participated, - was , agreed to, with the excep tion of three of the Reso luti ons , which were post poned till :diet the holidays. Mr. Allßurntni gave notice,- that on the 22d April he would submit thz postponed items to the consideration of the House; • th e -et, bet, utidng to report; the Fonds have lowered. c,,, tools opened at 791 for the Account; but are, up twthis '7911 for the Account, and 791 fur Money. It is rumoured on 'Change, that a private truer is in ton-, stating that hostilities have commenced between the and the Turks; but we cannot as yet trace the above repor t any authentic source._ Fo ß um / 31a.axe7.-111 Foreign Szeurltles are this tw.r;,:,, z rather heavy, and but few buyers. This may be attribut'Al!, the non-arrival of the French Mail, due yelttrday.—Spa;: : Bonds (Old), SS; Prussian, 901; Danish. 8611; 70/ 1; Columbian, Old, 107 ex. dlv.; Columbian, Kew, EC STOCK EXCHANGE—ONE O'CLOCK. Within the last hour the parties in the habit of rectivi: l , presses have been selling, and Consols have experienced a dt;l:r.c, and have been 24 low as 79* for the Account. Reports art , v er , general, and of an unfavourable nature. It is said that Ilu: has added to her demands on the Turkish Government, al.; that the terms are of such a nature as cannot be accetkil Unfavourable reports are also in eireubstion from Frans , , that the French Funds come lower-88f. but we ate unable trace them to any credible source. ROYA I. EXCHANGE—ONE OCLOCK. There is agcod deal doing in foreign Stocks, but the marle: looks heavy. FItICES OF STOCKS AT ONE O'CLOCK. S per Ceti% Consols 79% Vs 3 / 4 .5 per Cent. Navy Anns. 103 A; 1027 s 103 Imp. 3 per Cts. 79 3 /g—lndia Bonds, GI s. 02s. pre. Exchequer Ilins of £l,OOO, 4s. 3s. Cs. Ditto Small, ts. 4s. 7s. pre. Consols for Acct. 79% % 3/4. In oar last page will be found the Repo:t of the Select Committee on Agricillture. It is but a weal: document, and little calculated either to relieve ii.e Agriculturists or to please the Public. The principle on which it is founded is, however, highly objection able—that of relieving the Agriculturists by enhanc ing the price of grain, without at all reflecting that, low as the price is, it is still out of the reach of .1 great mass of the population. The old system c: protecting duties is to be resorted to ; and the Repo:: recommends that the import price should be Lel somewhat lower than SOs. namely, at 70s. ; and t!..it a duty from 12s. to 15s. should be imposed tip 11 foreign wheat, for home consumption, when the pike is between 70s. and 80s.: when it reaches fio:a to 85s. the duty to be ss. and when it excee,is SLi. then the duty to be Is. The only hope for the con. sumer is, that the price of grain may still, in spite cf the Committee, continue so low in England ac nr: to render foreign importation necessary to supply t:._ wants of the people. There is, however, something t) wicked in attempting to force the principal necessa of life to a price so far beyond the resources of poor countrymen, and then preventing than f: seeking relief against domestic monopoly, that it cannot be too severely condemned. The only novelty in the Report is a recommenda tion by the Committee, that whenever the average price of wheat is under 60s. a quarter, the Govern ment should be empowered to advance a loan of money upon a deposit of corn, to an amount not ex ceeding two-thirds of the value cf the corn deposited, for a limited period. This plan of Government turn ing pawnbrokers is intended to relieve the farmer without compelling him to have recourse to a market already overstocked and glutted. This is but a feeble expedient, and one of questionable policy. Its extent too must be very limited; for Government does not, we presume, contemplate erecting a granary in eves y market town, with a Commissioner to receive pled ~;e; of grain from the neighbouring farmers. This is a subject we shall again advert to. The French Papers of Friday, Saturday, and San day, have been received. In the sitting of Thursday a most stormy debate arose on the Budget, in uhic!‘ the grossest personalities were indulged in by some of the Deputies. The Minister at War concluded a silly speech, on the expenses of his department, ui:7l the following tirade —" Discord labours in the dark, under pretence of defending liberties which nobody dreams of attacking—(lnterruption on the left. A voice—' Not a word of the Charted')—Wicked men have conceived horrible expectations, but a wise and revered King keeps a vigilant eye on their detestable projects. The young soldiers crowd about that stand ard which we have all sworn to defend. Yesterday you prophecied an approaching change ; I am of that opinion; there will be a change ; the factious shall be put down, and the Monarchy shall triumph over its enemies !"—(Several voices on the left, 'the Constitutional Monarchy !'—Agitation.) ‘. M. LAFONT soon after rose, and, in allusion to a complaint made by one of the Members, that the army was commanded by Officers unknown to them, said that all the old Officers were continued on the army list, without distinction of party—(lnterrup tiox).—But neither justice nor generosity, nothing could satisfy those proud spirits who were unwilling to acknowledge the Royal clemency. At those words there was a manifestation of sur prise on the left side, which was soon followed by a movement of vehement indignation. All the Mem bers of that side simultaneously addressed the Speaker in the most energetic terms. A number of voices e:claimed—•insolent ! renegade ! wretch ! General SEM EL E then rube, and iu I loud voice el. • • 1 =—_.-7--t.... - Mr. PALM said, 010 e ineerpri . ' _ _ ,__ , ging the menu[ . .., . • l- 71 — .. , ~. ---a unplainet t ;Limns sbookfbe Teom thf. •, ^ set a for , 'ye IH h .1.4.% IN ING STA R •nce of l' betbn dor t was made . . a pplied i mg i aj oi n the yd . - ntry ;an an d i 'du al ott wi out any of- So -. , , ded by mci a eturngf th ' % LONDON. might, be ial t ippet or rose of re , pemes of the Boar u the Bee. 17 , LheNnplef . The CHAN LO of CHEQUER said, ment of Mannfactot in Sc an ; the . ...of , e . WEDNESDAY, APRIL S. 1822. e Legisla- that the individual was at considerable expense in the officers and offices, with the amounts of salaries, and ins. The experinients - he hicr - Vinige I -7 i htt a view to create a the premiums paid upon manufactures for the last STOCK EXCHANGE, TWELVE O'CLOCK: le Petition great public benefit.. That expenie was, incurred, five years. ' • • • A great deal of business has been doing this month % Hi the .. . . _ _ a_ JP - ___ -2 1r _ _ _ a _ _ _ SALE OF BREAD. Mr. CHARLES CALVERT called the attention of the Hotise to a subject on which he bad given no tike—the regulation of the sale of Bread in the Me t:opolis. There were two measures which might be re .orted to as remedies for the evils of the present system. The one by selling bread by the pound weight ; the other, by a fixed price cn each loaf. To the former there were some objections; the weight would be considerably increased by an adulteration (.1 flour. In that case, the changes in price could not be given in fractions, or made less than one permy each loaf, which amounted to 6s. 8.1. in the .sack of flour. What lie meant by a fixed price was, • that bread should be sold in loaves at 6d. Is. and Is. 6d. each. Independent of an alteration in the /node then in practice, there was an actual necessity for the attention of the House, as the present Act would expire on the 21 - 11 of June next. The plan be proposed to adopt wac, with the permission of the liouse, to bring in a Bill on that evening, to have it read a first time, to have it printed, and then re ferred to a Committee up stairs. Ile Was convince& that the subject would receive the fullest deliberation in that Committee, and some measure of effectual relief be determined on. The Hon. Member con cluded by moving for leave to bring in a Bill to re. duce into one Act all the regulations respecting Bikers, and for further enactments to regulate the side of bread in the Metropolis. Si: WILLIAM DE CRESPIGNY supported the motion.—Leave was given to bring in a Bill. VITRA POST. WORTLEY said, that he had yestbrday a Petition from Mr. Henry Burgess, which now move to ha y .! referred to Committee. Mr. S. presented lie would MISCELLANEOUS. . Mr. W. SNIITII gave notice of a motion for the 17th April the object of which was to alter part of the Liturgywith respect to Unitarian marriages. _ _ On the motion of Citawcamos of the EXCHEQUIM, a Mi nute of the Proceedings of the Directors of the Bank of Ire land was ordered to he laid before the House. The Right Ho nourable Gentleman then brought up the Paper, which was or dered to lie on the table. The Report of the Superannuation Amendment Bill was or dered to be taken into further consideration on the 18th April. The Chancery Proceedings Bill went through a Committee, the Report of whi.h was ordered to be received to morrow. The Innkeepers' Bill was read a third time and passed. Mr. BROGDEN brought up the Report of the Committee on the flax and Colton Trade, which was agreed to, and a Bill ordered. The Report on the Duties and License Acts was brought up and agreed to, and a Bill ordered. Mr. LUSHINGTON brought in a Bill to reduce the Du ties of Excise on Malt nude in Ireland, which was read a first, and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow. Majority SCOTCH JURIES- On the re-admission of strangers to the gallery, The LORD ADVOCATE was opposing a motion for Returns of the Persons appointed.to serve on Juries in the High Court of Justiciary in Scotland for the last ten .years, including the different Circuits. By the following Parliamentary Paper it appears that Lord Mr. Secretary PEEL objected to the comprehen- SIPM01:111 has taken the pension of .€5,000 a year, under Mr. sive naturrof the motion, which took in not less than GILSCIIe• Pension Act: Account of Pensions granted by his Maaxser, to Persons hold ing, or who have held, high and efficient Civil Offices, under —Considerable time must necessarily be occupied in an Act passed 57 Geo. 111. Cap. 65. making out the proposed returns with accuracy, and Date of Grant. To whom granted. Amount. he suggested to the Hon. Mover (Mr. Kennedy) December ld, 1821. ' Ilex h a t t n V o i n sco l rt G S o ll:::: - X. 13.000 whether it would not answer hi s . purpose quite as well to limit his motion to one Circuit for the period Mr. Goctstnor, now hotting the office of Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, cannot, under the above Act, re he had specified ? ceive the pension. Mr. 11. DRUi'JMOND thought that the term of Whitehall Treasury-Chambers, March 27, 1822. five years would be sufficient. W. Clarke, the publisher of Percy Bysshe Shelly's Poem of Mr. PEEL would not object to the period of ten Queen Mab, having forfeited his rccognizances in a prosecution years ; and the Hon. Member might cho ose any Cir- instituted against him by the Society for the Suppression of Vice, fur selling the abovementioned alleged blasphemou s publication, cuit he pleased. the Sheriff's Officers entered his premises, near St. Ckrnent's Mr. KENNEDY said, that three Circuits for five Church, in the &rand, on Saturday lasi, with* warrant issued years would give him 4,000 names. from the Court of Exchequer to distrain for dut amount ; but Mr. PEEL said he had a letter from the Lord Chiefr s C l ar k e had to tak abse en n th t lesit precaution self to remove hiszoc di k nz p e revl : . The oScers not Justice Clerk, stating that o ffi cial bu s i ness wou ld not cieut to pay the expenses of a safe, left the premises, and pro oMu . 4 ndk a allow the deputy clerk to make out the returns for ceeded to the house of one.of his ball, with a similar process for so long a period, time enough to come before the a like default. House this Session. Under all the circumstances of The noted Sir GREGOR MACORDOOft has started a the case, he thought it would be preferable to take new scheme, and put forth a 'flaming Proclamation, any one Circuit. in which he states that the King of the Mosquito Na- Mr. CALCItAFT said a few words to the same tion has bestowed upon him and his heirs the territory effect; after which • of POyais, adjoining to the provinces of Honduras Mr. KENNEDY acceded to the propositior., and and Nicaragua, of which he styles himself His High selected the Western Circuit. xess the Cacique, and forms a plan for its settlement The original motion was dim withdrawn, and an and cultivation, " intending there to spend the re. amended one substituted,which, after a few words on mainder of his days." The Proclamation is followed the point of order from Lord BINNING and Mr.Ba NKR.% by the printed " Reg ulations of the Poyais Land-Of was agreed to without a division. fi ve , in Edinburgh , in which the Public are told that BOARD OF TRUSTEES, SCOTLAND. the price of these lauds is now one shilling per acre; Mr. HUME, in m ov i ng f or R eturns re l at i ve to t h e but, if people do not hasten to m a k e p urc h ases , i t Board of Trustees, in Edi n bu rg h, o b serve d t h at i t W as I will be advanced, “ particula r ly. if certa i n c i rcum - I established by the Act of Union, and wax, for the pur• stances, now in a state of progress ; take place." Mr. LUSHINGTON presented an Account of the present Contracts for the Hulks, Returns from the Post Mice, and other Papers.—Ordered to lie on the table.. Tite }louse adjourned at Nine o'Clock.