The National Register. — London, England, 1818-05-24 00:00:00

:r- 162 THE NATIONAL REGISTER MAY QC or en approval of, the =astir,: it: contemplation. Bat r.et tine word hat beeri advanced to shew why the Bill was necessary or propel t , .vti. Any !note than at former period when no ouch measure w...s proposed or thought of. He was not disposed to object to the climee relative to the suppplyinj members incidentally to the Queen's Council, but he ,r by no means peeper:el to approve of the mode by which it was pro posed to be etfectei, and he thought the origir.cl Act would have painted out a much better regulation. He should net however, de tail: their Lordships further than to press, in the strongeA terms that 1w could urge, his objections to the ground and principle of the Bill ; and the course which appeared to him then must fit to be taken, was te move the previous question. The Earl of Livetcooot said, the question at. present was, if the pto'ositions contained in the Bill were fit to be entertained.— Whether it would he wise to prose-et thriller was quite another sub ject, on which there might be a dilterexce of opinion. It had nuscoa nexian with the present Bill. which relied entirely upon the ground of expviivncy. Looking to the present circumstances of the Council, la) pencil could entertain any doubt of the necessity of making some eictitioe to it, Two of the 'timbers were at present entirely pre• tiudel from attendance, and two more, from the importance and extent of their public duties, could attend but seldom. This was a sarfietent motive ter the ineasnre, so far as regarded the particular paint under considert'ion. number Lamed was true thee eight was the Lamed in the original Aet to constitute the Council. They were nominated by Parliament, bat it contained a provision at the same ten:, enabling her Majesty to fill up any vacancy Which might occur. This power was exercised by her Majesty in one instance, in come quence of the death of a }uglily respectable individual. If in the soothe of nature. the majority, or even the whole of the Council should die, the wliole as well as a part would be in the nomination many days would not elapse, before the Committee would make a specilie Report to the House. For the sake of era.- rect Mg these abuses. he hoped the House would pa-A the 13111. —lie noped no party views, or jobning, would influence the choice of any of them. Ile Mimed himself to Minisws, as one of the six Commis,ionets j and it even that they should be incompatible with his seat in Parliament, he even then wished to have the refusal of it. lie did this, because he was cow vinced the House was never engaged iu so import.mt an in. vestigation. If the Bill should pat: that House, be trusted it would meet with no opposition elsewhere. The Bill thou went tkromgli a lie-gonimittee, and was or dered to be reported to-morrow. Mr. ItuovntlAst could not silently bear that Parliament o Itursliiy designated, which had, by their act, saved us from Nun arbitrary and Popish Government. Whether they did well or ill, in allowing the remedy so long to survive the evil, was another question. If, however, the net which had been alluded to by his Honourable Friend, dc..-rvecl the character he Inutgiven it, so tlids‘everal other great and beneficial arts. wheels had since been .ivassed by the Parliamente of England and Ircland. The House then divis.:ed—For the Motion 42—Against it 117—Majority 7.1. ALIEN BILL. Lord CASTLEREAGH moved the Committee on the Alien Bill. Mr. BEPINETT was surprises! at the hurry of this measure through the House; and also ut the apathy slew. by the House to it. It was not the small her of persons scot out of the country that was the question of objection to this Bill ; but the intinber of there who had been prevented coaling into it. He .entierstoed that it was the practice of foreigners to write tot this country to know whether it was likely they would be suffered to remain in it. It was absurd to suppose. that this country stood in any danger from the residence of a handful of foreigners amougst as. He could nut help be_ lit-vine that this us: a measure mu:mating from the Holy Al liance, if it could he callettse. Mr. ELL!SON defended thismeasnre. Ministers had never been convicted of any eruelty , or oppression under this Bill and therefore there was tio ground of ot position to it. ME. BATHURST cousended, that the seine ►easons which induced the House to enact this Bill sifter the peace, existed now in as much force as then, and therefore the House Goalie toe 01101111 e the measure. They wanted this measure to pre vent tile turbulent from coming here ; and that it shoold be publicly kneel' that none would be allowed to remain in this country except the quiet, the holiest and the industibuos._ He denied that any one had been bent salt or prevented from coining into this country at the suggestion of..any foreign Minisier whatever. BANK RESTRICTION. Mr. VAWITTART moved the further consideration of the Report of the Bank Restriction. Mr. T. F. LEwis proposed un Amendment on the Preamble, stating that it was expedient to continue the restrictions for a limited time, to enable the Batik to sdiminish their CllTUia tion of one piiiind notes. nas negatived on a division, by as to 21. Mr.Tieracy then proposed, that the blank should be tilled up with the words, 25th ui March, 1819, instead of .511 i of July. .Upon this Amendinent-a division also took place. This Amendment shared the fate of the List ; being negathed by a majority of SS to 27. The Bill was then ordered to he read a third (lute to. morrow. WAYS ANT) MEANS. o: her Majesty. The Earl of Car.Naavom opposed the Bill. Tile only inconve nience against which it was intended to gaard was a merely possible nontingency. To obviate this it was proposed; that they should with draw themselves from, all cure of hi 4 Nlajesty's F161.)11 from the Cave of one Session of Parliament to the commencement of another. They ought not. theyelaro not think his recovery beyond hope. and in that event he shoold think it the duty of Ministers immediately to assem ble Parliament as in the case of a Regency. Why shook/ they think s.s little of the careof Isis Majesty as totleprive tkeinselves of themeans efprovicliagfor it? It was true that the kiecutive Government might, even though the Bill passed, call a meeting of Parliament, but upon 'tat pounthey were left at tile mercy of another branch of the Legis- Lone. if the state of his Alajesty's health required additional as atance, he lied no election that it should he granted by an increase i 3 the nitilthers of the Council. lle should not give a direct negative to the secoal reading of the 'Bill. but he woual think it more ad visablz to withdraw it altogether, for the rt71.1 , 44C of introducing two separate measures upon the subjects it erriflrc..:ed, vi'aieh were as distinct as pris•ible. The Berl -of LAITDERINALT. throUght that a good case led been made not, to prove the necessity of a further addition to the Council, for the purpose of assisting her Majesty in tie discharge of her fat-scrim:is. The Lonn Uttasient.r.ou did not thin* he could prepare a Bill IraITC applicable to the circumstancsrs than the present. The A mendment of the previous question was then put, and ncga t.vori without a division, and the Bill was iced a second tirue:—Ad sulrued. HOUSE OF COMMONS. MONDAY, MAY 18. Lord A. TIAMILTOC sold he had to present a Petition frcm 1. Ferguson, who had unfor tintately intim - red the displeasure of the House. As far as he himself was concerned he had acted on public grounds ; anti as the House had asserted its privileges, they might perhaps think the delinquent stifilcient ly punished. The Petition, which expressed the deepest contrition for his offence, and prayed to be discharged, was 1.161 on the table. The Justice General of Scotlaed's Bill was, after some oh.. fervations from fir, J. P. Grant, Mr. Bankes, &c. postponed for three Inenths. GAME LAWS. ME. R. HANKES moved the second , reading of the Bill for Preventing the sale of Game. Mr. Clittwex considered this Bill as highly objectionable, and would hot answer the purpose af the Hon. Gentleman.— ile linped the }louse wciald parse bet - ore it adopted a measure which would increase the number of unfortunate persons con ..riell under the Game Laws. He therefore moved that the Y. ill be root' a second time that day six months. Woo:, was adverse to this Bill. -Nothing could prevent ntthin~, but inakiiiegame private property. • sir S. Iti.amt.x considered the number of penalees con- , ttutfed la tie Game Laws as a great evil; but at the same L:ale he thought this Bill would materially amend the present stem. 1. it was illegal to sell game, which it was, sorely it iis iiiegal to buy it. - If there were no purchasers of game, would be no sellers of it. He put it to Gentlemen then si Ives, if it was fair to encourage pon!tercrs to sell.game, by refusing to deal with them if they did not supply 'them with game, theridsy exposing the poor trailesint a to heavy penalties: That system was also an encouragement for poaching, which lied them to-had company, and perhaps 7natle them thieves. — Gentlemen felt no compunction ' or au!' stain on their morality, by violating the Game Laws, white they themselves punished} as ith•nnrelentiog tigoar, the poor for similar violations. He agreed that these penalties shouti be done away altogether bet nntil that was done away, it was absurd, that siiaii an !nconsistency should rernainmn the Statute }took; arid that as the receiver of stolen goods is punished more than the thief, so ought tim•purehaser of are to be punished more than the seller. _ COL WOOD said,he voted agaicst this Bill, because he was ..nwillieg to prop up a bad system. Mr. LAMB could not vote for this Bill ; and he hoped the 11. m. Member for Hertfordshire (Mr. Brand) would bring in his Bill to amend the whole system of the Came Laws. Mr. 0. BANIISS thought it right that (be the inconvenience et . the Game Laws what they may) the rich ought to he liable to them, add the punishisient consequent on them as the poor. It was with this view that he had brought in this (till. The Home then divided—Fur the second reading 116— Against.it 21—Majority 97. EDUCATION OF THE 'POOR. Mr. WIOUGLIA4 moved the further consideration of the 4.ducatiun of the Poor Bill. Suet the last discussion of this subject a vast fond of information relating to aLnses in the funds•ot - the Poor had been received. Ar Hartly there is a free C ranar at. school, having some Scholarships at Cambridge; but foctO years no scholars had been sent there. For the count.; ut Essex. there was a legacy of 200 acres of land for a school ;, but no school had been erected. lie mentioned other similar instances in Devonshire, and Dorietsliire. . In the former rearity, se estate of 10001.11-year was left fur a school, and the W otehiptel *C or p ora ti on a ppr o priated 41. a-year fir that parpuse. 'IN some pleees, Scholarships were left to he fil'etiup by Gamekeepers:A:it Leicentei shire, a School Charity of VIOLA-year had lately beet publicly. advertised fur sale by ...lesion. Another its Nottinaltin had been let on a pepper eas -rot rut 999 years. These were estates cujo)ed at 3 or fear eactt, %%Inch wese worth theusands. IL bopel tllat Mr. VANsirranT moved the Order of the Day for the House going into a Committee of Ways and Means.—He also moved a Resolution fur iarsing•a sum of 20U,WVI. by way of Lottery. Mr. LimrcEroyropposed this Resolution, and repeated all his former arguments against this mode of raising money, which lie desei ibed as most profligate and immortal. Mr. VANSITTAKT defended the 'practice of Lotteries for the public aid, on the ground that his predecessors had re sorted to the same practices. -- Sir M. W. RtipLest contemled that Lotteries were destruc tive of the public. morals. Sir J. NEWPORT adverted to the conviction of the present Sheriff of Dublin, as detailed iii the Dublin Papers, for illegal Lottery gambling, lie being a Lottery Office Keeper. NE. VANsITTART Misery, d, f‘at he had not heard of any • Lottery Office Keeper in England having been charged win; such a crime. Mr. WILBERFOIMB complained of the evils arising from Lotteries. After some ,observations from Mr. Howard and Mr. W. Smith. thy Committee divided—Ayes 7.r—tines 33—Majority 42.—The Resolution was of course agreed to.—Report to_ morrow. -In a Committee of Simply, Mr. PEEL moved the following Grants for toe Service of It eland 83001. ler Works at Dituirorc Harbour. 50001. for Works et llowth Harbour. 15,0001. for thr Fever Hospital. 18,4611. for Churches and Glebe Houses. 15,0001. for Inland Nevigation. Lord PALMER,TON then moved — the following Grants : 207,8 1 3 1 . for Disembodied Militia. I 1-1,6511. for Irish Dine 'Fite Report was ordered to •I:e brought up. The other o tiers ofth . e dry were then disposes of , and the House adjourned at twelve o'clock. ra S D . On the third reading of . the Saving Bank Bills, Mr. LAMB strongly objected to the cllnse new introduced into the Bill, by which the deposits of individuals were coctined to 501. for the fist year, and 151. for each succeeding year. The Hon. Member was of opinion, this restraint would tend materially to injure the Saving Pants. tie should therefore move to omit this clause, and leave it as it at present stood. Mr. P. Moene presented a Petition firm the Proprietors of Drury-lane Theatre, stating, that, from unforeseen cir cumstances, they had incurred a debt which they were unable to discharge, and praying for leave to bring in a Bill to enable them to give recurity fur the same. The Petition was ordered to be referred to a Committee. The Bank Restriction Bill was read a third time and sent to the Lords By the previsions of this Bill, the restriction on the cash payments by the Bank is extended to the 3th of July ISI9. hi the course of the discussion on the 3d reading, Mr. Lushiagton, in a reply to a question put to him by Mr. Tierney, stated, that the 9,000,0001. advanced to Government by the Bank would be timid in the coarse of the present year. DISCUARGF. OF MR. FERGUSON, Lore X. llAsir Lk . ° N moved that Air. T. Ferguson should be brought to the bar of the House tonnurrow, in under to his being discharged.—Agreed to. PARLIAMENTARY REFORM. Sir R. HERON rose to bring forward his Motion on thcssnb ject of Reform in Parliament. liis object would be to reader the House, in tact, what it was in name, the CoMmmis House of Parliament. rat one period, the corruption of Elections was so universally allow , A, that it was considered necessary to pass the Act called the firrenville Act, to restrain that cor rnption. A right ut petitioning, and tribunals fer judging, were erected; but the expense of petltioning was so great, that individuals were in many cases unable to seek justice.— tie was aware of the objections which were made to the question of Reform, whenever it was brought forward. .1f brought forward in a time of prosperity, it was said we wanted no Heforns; if brought fortrard in a time of distress, the danger of attempting innovalion at such a period was urged against it. • Another argument against it was, that no two persons agreed on any plait of Reform; but that was no reason why we should not go on into enquiry. Parliaments elected every 3 years was the object of his motion. He watt not favour able to annual Parliaments ; he did not consider they were fitted to the present times, though they had suited the reign of a Mary and a Henry. After the Retribution, Parliarneets were made triennial, aml so they contrirried down to I7lt, when eirrcrinistances arose which caused the duratiou of Par. limns:at to-be extended to seven guars. The•Septermial Bill was introdireed at a titee•ef with the avowed intention of strengthening the Crown ; but I his was a tempo rary insurrection, and the measure- adopted to meet it ought also to have been temporary. The Hon. Gentleman concluded by moving for leave to bring it: a Bill to repeal the Scpteu_ Mal Act. Sir S. ROMILLY fully agreed in the motion of 114 Honour able Friend. Mr. W. SMITH was also in favour of the motion ; and he particularly rejoiced in having this opportunity of declaring His sentiments on ono of the most flagitious acts of tyranny and injustice that ever was commuted; namely, that of a Parliament elected for three years deciding that it would exist for 61.Ve11. LwyTtvrox mentioned the case of a foreigner of con siderable property, who was sent out of the country at four lots notire. This pei son was not accused of plotting against this country. .This measure had a very bad effect on the liberty of this count y Mr. BATUURST said, the person alluded to by the last Speaker was not scut out of the country tor plotting against the Government, but for practices dangerous to the peace of the country. Sir S. lto m ILLY Said, this measure would arm this Govern. ment against a certain political party, obnoxious to fort ign Governments. Ilia only view of this measure was, that we were the agents and willing slaves of the tyranny of foreign Golltilltnelils. It tad been said that Ministershad notasbused this power but were Ministeis•such idiots as to abuse the ex.tension•of power acquired by them in their system of gra dually depriving the people of their liberties? ?louse who would vote fur this measure on such grounds, would have no objection that Proclamations should have the force of laws, provided the posvix were not abusint Mr. Set jeaut COPLEY considered this Bill was highly neces sary. ." . Sir. J. MACKINTOSH contended that there ought to be acorn. mon right of 111 all the States of. Europe. At hail hem/ argued that the moral characte.r of someindividitals, exiled by foreign -12.11iUlIS being bad, this measure was necessary. more dangerous def.:trine than this could not be. He felt great soil ow at the carelessness and gaiety with which this House treated such subjects, so vital to the inthrtsts of a de fenceless set et men. In former times, it was our boast and glory to be despised by 'pants and slaves, because we did not possess the power of acting tyrannically. But now, this Bill was passed to keep the bellow Dwarfol the Netherlands, and two other Newspapers, and 36 exiles, from coming iitto • this country. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL contencle, that the prerogative of the Crown to send out Aliens from the country existed by tli coalition law, and by Magna Charts, which says, that mer chant foreigners may come lute the country, unless prohibited ; slicwing clearly,. that the.lkiaig .had the power of that prohibi tion. This measure was one of expediency; and was the !:louse prepared to say, that this country should be trade the depot tor all the turbulent and mischievous spirits of Europe The House then divided—For going into the Committee '39 --Against 32--Majority b 7. • The HOMO then went into the Committee„when it was pro posed to till up the blank with the words " two years" for the duration of the Bilf.—Agreed to.—Adjourned. WEDNESDAY. A Petition was presented by 'lr. P. Moore from Coventry, praying for an effectual Reform in Parliament, and that the Members shoidd render au account of their stewardship to their constittients. _ . Mr. BUINET brought up the Report of the Committee to inquire into the state of contagious fever in die metropolis. The Committee had coned, that in last year the ineiease of fever had been sevenful,l.—The House would learn with s r prize, that in most of the h ...entail, the habit was, to mix co:- tagiotts lever patients with common lever patients. Some times, therefore, fever was generated among the patierts themselves, of which nurses, surgeons, physicians, and dents, had died. It was therefore recommended to Govern• meat to give an additional sum of 2000!. to the Fever institu tion, in order to increase their number of beds front 6! to IPO ; which would <nline them to remove the fever patients fronithe ordinary hospitals altogether. The Report was vi. tiered to he printed. lord A. Hann:run moved that Thomas Ferguson he brought to the liar of. the Home, in order lobe discharged. Mit had not known that it was the ordinary duty of the Speaker to repeiniand a person in Mr. Ferguson's situation. he should have felt it his duty to have moved a special rein L. mood for his otletiee. Mr. l'ergaison being brought to the bar, St*L.t hEit stated the offence of which he had been de. elated guilty by the House, and which it had voted to in a corrupt attempt to influence the election of a Member of Parliament, mid a high breach of the pet v ileges of that House. .Yet the House, in consideration of his toll acknow ledgurent of his offence, dna hoping that hip plinishinelit would operate as a warning to himself, and an example to others, had ordered him to be discharged on payment of Wafers. Mr. Ferguson was then taken from the Hai. • WEST IN DIA SLAVES. Eir S. ROMILLY rose to move that certain papers, relative to the treatment of Slaves in the island of Nevis, should be ieferred to a Committee. Er was surprised to understand that this Motion was to be opposed. It related to the treat ment of slat vs in the island be had Lamed; especially or t )utaths, who bad beau vuutabetl, ea appeared, wtth great at,