The National Register. — London, England, 1822-05-12 00:00:00

K t .• •1 • • 146 3mptrtal lea' HOUSE OF LORDS. MONDAY. MAY 6. STATE OF THE COUNTRY. Earl GREY rose ter the purpose of suspending the notice of a motion respecting the state of the country, which he had given previous to the Easter recess. It would be recollected, he said. that at the time he gave the notice, lie asked the noble Earl (Liverpool) whether it was the intention of his Majesty's minis ters to propose any measure with a view to the relief of the country. The noble Earl referred hint to the expected report of the committee on agriculture. Nothing could be done, it was said. until the report of that committee was made. Of that te. port lie (Lord (..)could not speak in respectful terms. Ile would not say it had disappointed public expectation, because there was - sot a man. woman, or child in the country acquainted with the wimurs of that committee. who entertained the slightest hope of benefit from their report. There were, however, a few who had supposed nothing so absurd as this report could have been sent forth by the representatives of the people. it was totally inade quate to the national object. It that report had nut produce° a measure likely soon to come before the lit use of Lords, and he had net been deprived of the assistance of his noble friend (the Marquis of Lansdowne), lie certainly should have acted in pur- SUllliCe of his notice, but as the measure would come before the House, he felt inclined to postpone his notice. lie was astonished to find the measure to which he alluded, and which was calcu • Isted to reduce taxation, come front the very men who had so long contended against a reduction of taxes. He should not fed the least hesitation in giving it his unqualified opposition, be souse, although it purported to diminish taxes. it did nothing beneficial to the public interest. It violated the principles of the sinking fund : but that was not so much the ground of his oh- jection. He was one who thought. under the present circum stances of the country. the sinking fund ought to be suspended. and relief given to the crying necessity of the country. The noble Etul then objected to the annuity plan, which was nothing More than creating a debt to fall upon posterity. The measure had beim, roweled to to veil the inconsistency of his Majesty's Government, who were obliged, although they had invariably denied the obligation, to protect the interest of the landed pro prietors. The country wuukl sustain a loss which might have been saved by a more honest proceeding. When the measure should come before the House. lie should feel it his duty to give it all the opposition in his power. The other nieasures pending in the House et Commons were equally objectionable. The ex • pedient to raise the price of corn had his decided objection. The intended circulation of Bank notes, upon the principle of the Banks of Scotland, would never 'Herd a permanent interest equis valent to the extension of the Bank charter ter ten years. This also was a most extraordinary expedient. The men who hail so long imputed a great portion of the public distress to the too impel, of the Governor tool Company of the Hank, now came froward to extend that monopoly ten years longer. The noble earl concluded by withdrawing the notice of motion to which he alluded. The Earl of LIVERPOOL agreed with the noble Earl, that he had never looked ter any measure founded on the report of the Agricultural committee as likely to produce a remedy to the present distress of the country ; but it did not follow that some ieniedy might be applied to the course of law regulating the corn trade. He was prepared to prove the burthen of government taxes was light upon agriculture. There was another species of taxation he was ready to admit, which fell hrtvy, namely, pour rates, but that was not a government tax. The noble Earl then contended that the new plan would be beneficial to the country. without interfering with the sinking fund. With respect to tile circulation of Bank notes, the law, as it now stands, gave the Bank of England a coincomplete monopoly in the issuing of notes ; and it had been pro to relax that monopoly, giving the oe s country at large the benefit. The continuation of the monopoly would extend, as the law stood, three years longer. anti ter waiving it, the Bank was to have their ctiartet prolonged ten years. The noble Earl said he would rather have given relief to the country. without conceding to the extension of the Bank charter. but the question to be fairly discussed was this :—Was it a good bargain for the public, and did the public gain or lose by it ? He contended that it was advantageous. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE did not wish to extend the conversation on this subject, but to move ter the production of the correspondence between the Government and the Bank, on the subject of the renewal of the Bank charter. He accordingly moved for these documents. Lord KING considered the bar g aain with the Bank unitive gent, and a loss to the country. The new plan, as it was called, toe throwing off the burden of dead expence was at varience with the sinking fund. The measure remindedliint of a case where an apothecary was called in. The practitioner prescribed strong doses of calomel. He was asked whether it was not too much for the constitution of his patient. The apothecary said it might be too much , but he could easily throw in a little opium.—(A laugh.)—lle (Lord King) thought it would have been best to give less calomel. and spare theopium ; but the apothecary. in throwing in his drug., was interested, so was the State apothe cary interested in making up all his boluses and physic ter the ure of the Constitution ; he procured influence by it. After a few observations from Laid Holland, the motion was agreed to, and the House adjourned. Tuts:, MAY T. The House met at four o'clock, and the bills on the table were forwarded in their respective stairs. The Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND presented a petition from Newcastle upon Tyne a,laitit u bill to alter the Navigation Laws. The petition was laid on the table. Lord RAINING preserited two petitions from the county of Nortell, complaining of agricultural distress.—Laid on the table. The Countervailing Duties, and the Excise Licences Bills passed through Committees.—Adjourned. WLDNEALIAY, MAY A. Several Bills, all private, were brought up from the Commons, anti read the lirst time. The Excise Duties Bill was read the third time, and passed. The Malt I Bill was read a second time. The Linen Duty Bill was read a second time. The Countervailing Malt Duties; Bill went through a Con- rniitee.-- nal .. .na• • • • THURSDAY, MAY 9. The Nlarqui , CORNWALLIS presented three petitions from the owners of land in Suffolk, complaining of agricultural dis tress. and praying for relief. The petitions were read and laid on the table. DISTRESS IN IRELAND. Earl DARNLEY addressing the House, Blvd, as the noble Earl (the Earl of Liverpool) wa, not in his place. and as he un derstood not likely to be there on that occasion, he should- defer wht lie had to say until to morrow. It was his intention to call the a attention of the noble Eall and the House to the melancholy state it Ireland. Ile was "arty to find the accounts from day to day we more and mme alai ming. H e wished to It now ivhethet, end what means hod been taken by the Government to alleviate the stiffecings of the wretched people. The 3latquis of LANSDOWN also deferred a motion which he intended to make, for returns relating to country hank., until the noble Earl was in his place. Another motion, to which he could nut anticipate any objection, he said he should submit to tht House. The nolde Jl..rquis wished to have an account of the respective periods, betwon lila and IB2L, at which the Go vernor and Colopany of the Rank of England had apt lied for the i,newal of their charter. 1.1 c accordingly mov:.l lot tjle account, which was ordered ...Adjourned. I kTIONA I. REGISTER, THE N. TIMMY, MAY 10. Some private bills were brought up From the Commons, and read the first time. The Earl of COVENTRY presented a petition from Worces ter, praying for a revision of the criminal aide. The bills on the table were forwarded. Lind SU FFI E L D presented a petition from the owners of land in the bundled of Highworth. Norfolk, complaining of avicul ture' distress.—Laid on the table. DISTRESS IN IRELAND. Earl DARNLEY, rising to address the house, said it was then his duty to put a question to the noble earl (Liverpool) upon a subject which all must admit to be of the deepest interest. The Lords and the public knew, and his Majesty's ministers ought to know. that in certain districts in the south-west of Ireland there had been a consideruble deficiency in the crops of potatoes. which occasioned great distress He could not help feeling it was a matter of much consolation to find the subject taken up so gene rously by the inhabitants of this country, and that a liberal subscription had been made. It was a matter of exultation for the people of England to say they had ever been ready to relieve the distressea of Ireland, yet he could not avoid feeling there had been a remissness on the part of his Majesty's ministers, in not foreseeing the evil, and providing something like a remedy. If the noble earl was prepared to tell hint the Government had taken steps to inform themselves of the evil, and that they had taken all the means in their power to obviate it, much satisfaction would be felt by the unfortunate sufferers. As far as he had been informed, that had not been the ease, and in consequence of the omission the calamitous distresses of that pare of the country to wldch he alluded had risen to an alarming height. He held in his hand an extract of a letter received from a gentleman in the county of Clare, who, from his situation in that county, was enabled to make a representation upon which the Lords might rely. The aoble earl read the extracts—'s The distress of the people here is beyond all possible descripition ; every part of the country is in such a state of distress, that the whole assistance raised here will not be more than a drop in the sea. Government has really done nothing ; and if they mean to give assistance, it must be aftbrded forthwith, or it will come too late." Here the noble earl asked, whether it was not monstrous, in an empire calling itself united, and where they had been told that super abundance abounds, that a part of Iteland should be in a state of famine? If it was true that Government hail been applied to, and had taken no measures to prevent distress and injury in that unfortunate country, he expressed a hope that the noble carl would say so. Unless the statement could be contradicted by the noble earl, it would be the duty of the house to carry up an address to the Sovereign, praying him to order measures the most effective to relieve the sufferings of Ireland. Nothing but the interference of Government could be effective. The noble earl said, on a former day, that the distress was confined to a small part of Ireland, but it ought to be known that famine generally p r oduced pestilence, which might spread all over Ireland. The noble earl concluded by moving an address to the King, praying his Majesty to order a copy of the correspondence with Government on the subject of distress in Ireland to be laid before the house. The Earl of LIVERPOOL said, lie should trouble the house with but few words in answer to the observations of the noble earl. Upon some questions Government might shield itself under theories, but there was excessive difficulty in calling upon parlia ment to interfere with supplies of provisions. When first the state of Ireland was known in this country, he alluded to distress arising from local circumstances, he was anxious that aid might be affernled, without bringing the matter under the discussion of parliament. Not only measures of relief would be taken, but measures had been taken with as little delay as possible, /Weds had been furnished for the ensuing crops, and money supplied. The noble earl did not consider it necessary, under all the circumstances, to address the Crown, and therefore opposed the motion. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE was not desirous of saying much on the conduct of Government, but to give a melancholy testimony of the calamity which prevailel.not only in the county of Clare. but other counties. In the mountainous districts of the south west, that distress prevailed to a degree which could not be exceeded in the county of Clare. He could only repeat, that Ireland must feel grateful to those individuals who had so gene mushy stood forward in England. At the same time. he did not consider the assistance afforded by the public would be of any seal assistance, without Government took up the subject. The Earl of BLESSINGTON supported the address moved iy the noble earl. He could not be satisfied with the promise that something would be done for the people of Irelan& The amounts of distress stated. that no less that 6441,000 persons were in a state of starvation. This had been growing two yeas, and nothing had been done. Some time ago, when applied to the Archbishop of Tuant, respecting a statue to his late Majesty, that prelate expressed a wish that the money raised might be distributed among the suffering Irish, who were dying to the streets and ditches of typhus fever. Earl GREY did not feel any ohjection to the address moved by his noble friend. If it be true that Government had taken timely measures to provide a remedy for the sufferers of Ireland, it would be satisfactory to the distressed to shew, by the produc tion of the correspondence, that at the same time Government were using coercion unpreeedented. they were also taking means to alleviate distress. Could there be a more horrible picture of Government than that presented on this occasion. If it should appear that ministers had done nothing to prevent distress, the reins of Government ought to be wrested from their hands. Lord ELLEN BOROUGH said, no satisfactory answer had been given by the noble earl as to the assistance which had been given to Ireland. and in order to see what had been done for Ireland, they ought to have the papers moved for by the noble earl. lie trusted the noble earl would press the motion to a division. He wished Government and parliament should move to the people of Ireland that there was a feeling to remedy their distresses. lie did not suppose that Government could reined, the distress in Ireland to any considerable extent, but all that could be done should be done. Earl BLESSI SGTON said, 5,0001. had been sent off this day for the relief of the sufferers of Clare. Lord HOLLAND supported ;he motion. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE asked if the noble earl would none any precise day un which instructions were scut to Ireland to afford relief? The Earl of LIVERPOOL said, a few weeks since instruc • tions were sent to Ireland to impart relief to the su ff ering poor. The Earl of LAUDERDALE said, the object was nut only to provide a remedy. but to guard against future calamity. It the case was true which the noble earl had stated, Government should have taken measures to give relief, not some weeks ago, but mote mouths ago; and if the Government of Ireland had not commu nicated the approaching famine to the Government of Um coun try, they had not done their duty. The house then divided. The numbers were, Contents, 171 Non-contents, 35. The address was consequently lost by a majority of 'lime Marquis of LANSDOWNE then addressed the house on she subject of the purposed contract with the Batik for the renewal of their Charter, The noble marquis deprecated the proposed b a rgain as injurious to the public. T h e advantage, if any conld be derived, ought not to be given to any public body, but applied w the sinking fund. lie did not wish[ to interfere with the machinery of the sinking fund, but if they were obliged to conti nue it upon a princif,ie tit compound interest, lie was persuaded that the fund ought to have. the benefit of the present bargain. He wished to tecoremend a short bill, to enable the comme,ston els of die sinking fund to sdvance lotto which Mali nUw con udered necessary to reduce taxation. The noble marquis moved for an account of all batiks in the country liavu4; lets Wan sue partners. The Earl of I.IV EIIPOOL said it was the opinion. last war. that it was more to the advantage of the country to let the sink. ing fond operate. rather than contract with it for loans. That opinion might still remain. With respect to the present trans. action, to which the noble marquis alluded, his Majesty's !Mins ter,' were anxious to contract for the benefit of the public, and if their contract was not advantageous. they would not make it. He had no difficulty in saying there was a prospect of a contract advantageous to the country. There was no loan made by Go. vernnient that was not open to parliament to negative. The motion was agreed too—Adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. MONDAY, MAY 6. Mr. LAMBTON presented petitions from Shields, Sen. derland. &c. against the bill fin repealing the navigation laws. If lie were to indolge in speculative opinions, he should support this bill ; but when he recollected how much property was likely to he affected, and how exten sive a taxation was to be paid, he feared that the com plete repeal might be attended with most serious conse quences. Mr. ELLICE spoke of the enormous expense imposed on this cottony by the collectors at the different punts. At Gillette the collector received upwards of 3,0001 , while ,ucli officer at New Yak received nut above VOL The consular fees were, too, ruinously heavy. If the regula tions of trade were to be improved, why were these not improved at once ? these could be remedied by the unuis ters.—(Hear, hear.) Petitions read, and ordered to he printed. The Navigation Laws Amendment bill was read a second time. Ordered to be committed to-mortuw, as were the oilier bills connected with this subject. L-rd EBRINGTON presented a petititm frum land occupiers in Holdsworthy, Devonshire, complaining of the unexampled pressure of taxation, ecc.--Ordered to be pouted. Mr. GORDON presented a petition front the ship owners of Aberdeen, against Mr Wallace's bill. Capt. WEMYSS presented a petition from Fifeshire, praying for permission to export their spirits. Such change in the law would *Herd means of coos 00000 ing 500,000 quarters of barley.—Ordered to be printed. Sir T. LETHBRIDGE presented a petition front occu piers of laud in Somersetshire and Gloucestershire, cow, plaining of agricultural distress, and caressing thei f alarm at the resolutions brought forward Ull the subject u agriculture, paiticularly the resolutions from the member for Portarlington (Mr. Ricardo.) That lion. member had been very free in his remarks, observing, that those who complained of distress, and espoused the cause of the farmers, had no reasons to urge for their statentents. That lion. member seemed to be deemed a very " God of Rea , 11011." He knew what had been the consequences of fol lowing the " Goddess of Reason," and he now warned all persons not to be led away by the doctrines of the " God of Reason."—(Hear, and laughter.) Petition read, and ordered to be printed. LICENSING SYSTEM. Mr. MAMMON presented a petition from Robert Churchill, complaining of the detects of the licensing system. The petitioner set forth, that some years ago he embarked io a large building speculation, havilig built near 500 houses in Stepney, its the neighbourhood of which there were no houses, positively no public houses. Having built upwards of 1 00 houses, he erected a house for a public house,one being much wanted, but he applied year after year to the magistrstes for a licence in vain. He eventually sold it to a Mr. Brown, after having bad it on his hands ter years, fur 1,1001. Mt. Brown then dealt with Barclay's. De • •ig to get the licence, he said it was necessary to change his brewers. He next dealt with Hanbury's, and the application for the licence was imme diately granted. The house then became worth 3,0004., and Mr. B. might have sold it instantly for that sum. The petitioner complained of this conduct. Having built 100 more houses, lie built another for a public-house; but the application was again refused. The petitioner complained ul this system, and attributed it to the defective state of be law. He now wished to ask again whether there was any intention to lower the price of beer? As the house bad reduced the duty, the public must have the benefit of it. He now again asked for information--this was the Mird time *leaking. (Heat, and a laugh.) Mr. F. BUXTON timid, that the licence in question was refused because the new houses were not inhabited; when the contrary was the case, the licence was granted. The other houses, to which licences were refused, were cline by that which had previously been licensed. As to the price of porter, lie had to state, that it had been lowered one halfpenny per pot, the reductiuu of the tax amounting to only one farthing. With respect to the general charge of brewers' influence and juiciest in public houses, theta was much misrepresentetion on that subject. He would speak of his house—they served ItAi public houses ;of them, lea were in the country ; 46 were their own houses; 22 were confined to them by large loans; but upwards of 6/0 such houses were free and independent of them. — Another bad said that the beer was not so strong as it was 2U years ago ; in reply to which he had to state, that the Excise could prove that the beer was now 44 per ma. stronger. Mr. CALVERT said, that the licensing system was much to be complained of; and if they wanted proofs of grievances, he could bring ItrOpetitioos in a week, unfold. tug great hardships. Mr. G. BENNET said, the present fatal system was must injurious to the morals, as well as the health of the people ; and rather thau that it should continue, he would agree to compensate the brewers for the houses they held. 1 lee country seemed to be parcelled out amongst the brewers, and they in too aunty instances (hugged the pri sons who were obliged to deal with them with the wont beer. There was 110 correction for the evil but throwilig the trade open. Every person also had means to open it house might to be entitled to a licence ; why should not the roc s e a r l , e & it er be a trade as open as that of the bake', g lioni.rt.ii‘eVnliblertillfoßrEWBeDyniaogurelleid(iMn rw.ißlaitultitaujii)f,alalenndirloientat'haier. trade n hat re w gi a d s i l l i h o ts a v :t t s v l t e r ); 814:1-14:CteeOnn11:fi:,1111: die' competition; s p b o e e m t e i a a ; d d eb. ii at etTelot t uld h e prove of any law that tended to throw the trade still inure open, especially as tar as the brewers were concericd • however,it: lteeiiii. as open as that of bread—he trusted due attennunthwr throw! he paid to existing interests. the trade wer e CC t:eniVitiociiileadngtleia t w t e ll r e e t c r c o in t i b ' e a • r r d o; e t t 0 0 l e b e ( e a _ open info tc s oc o : t t ek t ru • the attended u d i oribideeswis, now e e : t .i e n ti sei •