The National Register. — London, England, 1822-06-09 00:00:00

:Ir. HUME proposed, as an amendment, that it should be compulsory to go to the sinkitig fund for the whole amount. After some discussion, in which Lord Londonderry, Mr. Caloraft, :sc. took pert, the House divided. The numbers were—For the amendment 34, Against it til, Majority against it 27. The report was, after some farther debate, agreed to, and the bill was ordered to he rend a third time. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER then brought forward his resolutions for the repeal of the salt duty, upon which a long conversation followed, and an amendment was ',imposed by Mr. Calcnsti, tlyst the whole oldie duty should be repealed, instead of tlic partial repeal proposed by the right bon. gentleman. The amendment was supported by Mr. Brougham and others, OD the ground that keeping up the partial duty would give ministers as much iulbience and patronize, and cost the country as mach as the cnlleetiost of the whole duly would do. . . Ine amendment was opposed by Lord Londonderry and others, and the House ultimately divided upon it. For the amendment 62—Against it 111.—Majority against the amend ment 44. Ui. the order of the day for the House going into a commit tee on the Corn Importation Bill, Mr. CANNING proposed tint it should be an instruction to the cum:titles to prepare a clause to unable the holders of fo reign corn to grind it for exportation. Lord lAA DON DERRY had uo ob;.tetion to this instruction going to the committee. As to the bill itself, he did not con sider it ■s the best corn bill which the ingenuity of parliament might contrite, but he thought it would be useful to prevent the country being inundated by the influx of foreign corn. Mr. CUBAN' EN opposed the bill, and said lie would take the sense of the house on going into committee Mr. T. LETHBRIDGE also opposed the bill. Mr. H. SUMNER stated that lie should vote against the Speaker leasing the chair ; but the ground he took fur doing so did not reach the gallery. A division then took place on the question that the Speaker do trace the chair—Ayes, 13U—Noes, .11—Majority. 10S. . - On our re-admission, we found the house in a committee, and Mr. Brogden, who was in tilt. chair, was going through the various clanses. 1N hen he arrived at that which fixed the price at 705., Mr. WHITMORE rose to move his amendment. Notwith standing the lateness of the hour, lie felt it his duty to make a tew remarks upon one or two points, and especially upon the attempt made in this bill to raise the price of corn in Great Britain higher than in other parts of the world. To this pur pose he entertained the most decided objections, and was con vinced that if the system were pursued, the manufactures of the country could nut continue in prosperity. The lion. gent. concluded with moving that the words 64a.be substituted for 70s. Sir J. NEI% PORT Ass of opinion, that the arguments of the 11011. member, however fit they might be with reprd to this country, were totally inapplicable to the state of Ireland, where few manufactures existed. He opposed the amendment. Mr. WODEHOUSE, nfter adverting to an opinion given by Lord Liverpool in 1815, that not less than 80s. would be a re munerating- price, moved as an amendment, that the words 7.55. be substituted for 70e. Mr. RICARDO expressed his surprise at the amendment proposed by the hon. member for Norfolk. Et en the most acti%e of the agricultural ioterest in that house laud declared, that a price of GU. would afford •ullicieut protection to the farmer. The Marqnis of LONDONDERRY disapproved of the amendment of the hon. member of Bridgenorth, as tending to ceitct too evtensiae and rapid a change in the present system. After s few words from Air. N. Calvert, the gallery was cleared, and the committee divided upon Mr. Whitmore's amendment. For the amendment, 42—Against it, ti7—Majo rit 45. Afr. WODEITOUSE then withdrew his amendment, and the original resolution was agreed to. Mr. FIANKES, after a few observations, moved as an amend ment, that the words " the duty to be paid when admitted for home consumptiow," should he left out, for the purpose of is.- troduciog the words, " the duty to be paid at the time of im- purtution." Mr. F. ROBINSON saw no an flicient reason for adopting the amendment. It world, in fact, if agreed to, !me the effect of prey rating the warehouwing of cora in this country tinder any circutustances. Mr. MAIIIIYAT also opposed the amendment, which he contended was in opposition to the whole warehousing system of th:s country. That system was introduced to maLu England the enepqriuns of Europe ; bat if the principle of the amendment were allowed, the object which those whn introduced the ware housing system had in view must be defeated. Mr. J. BEN ET contended that there was little or no analogy between the warehousing of corn and oilier articles. After a few words from Lord Crothorne and the Marquis of Londonderry, the house divided, when there appeared—For the amendment, 33—Against it, '7o—Majority, 37. On our re-admission to the gallery, we found Mr. T. WILSON on his logs, speaking on the subject of the admission of Canadian flour into this country, to which (as we understood him) a preference ought to be given. 111 r. J. BEN ET bad no objection to giving to Canadian grain a fair protection ; but be could not sacrifice the interest of the British to that of the Canadian farmer. )1.. MAR itTATT was favourable to a doe consideration of the colnaial i•,terest. Sir E. KNATCHBLTLL expressed himself hostile to the whale bill, as sot calculated to allbrd the desired or expected reli. f. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY supported the 'sensate as one that would in the end be very beneficial. Mr. CANNING proposed a clause relative to the grinding and waking use of foreign corn, with a slew to the prevention of any frauds which might be committed by the improper intro duction of In:rigs corn intelmine consumption. Mr. D. %V I L,1311.111.1:11 said this amendment was founded on a resolution abide hind before been offered to the Muse, and withdrawn. It would be better to make it a separate measure, than to allow it to be incorporated with the bill. A short conversation ensued between the Malvin of Lon donderry, Mr. Csnitin,, Mr. D. Gilbert, Mr. Ricardo, Thompson, Mr. Rennet, Lord Crateborne, and Sir E. Knatch wl.ich ended in the ataendineut being agreed to, with the utak:standing Olt it slimed be debated in 'pother stage of the bill. The House then resumed. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourued. TUESDAY, JUNE S. The Greenwich New Church Bill was read a third time And pao4ed.. Petitions were present. front 12. , ,•=t0n, Shaftest.nry, Col chester, Ipswich, Ilsitlethcad, &c. itri9in; fors ret i3ion of the cantina code. THE NATIONAL REGISTER VEGETABLE PowDEE.—Th• Hesse, on the motion of Mr. LESHINGTON, went into • committee on the subject of Vegetable Powder. The Excise Acts were referred to the said committee. Mr. LUSHINGTON proposed two resolutions to regulate the sale of roasted grain, etc. Sir R. WILSON expressed the hope that the proposed Bill might be permitted to have a retrospective operation, for there were several prosecutions of a most severe character; one where the penalties where to the amount of -MUNI. for having cocoa pasta. Mr. LUSHINGTON replied in an indistinct tone, hut he was understood to state, that existing proseeations would be sus pended by an order from the Treasury, and that %bete verdicts had passed they would he referred the Lords of the Tressory tc decide on them in the spirit of these resolutions. R e solutions agreed to—Report to morrow. Mr. F. PALMER tooled for a return of the information against Mr. Henry Hunt for selling breakfast powder, &e.— Ordered. CHELSEA OUT PENSIONERS.—Sir C. LONG muted for leave to bring in a bill to transfer from commissioners of Kilmainham hospital to the commissioners of Chelsea hospital the payment of out-pensions. The bill did not result from any cosuplaiat-- hut to promote savings. Mr. HUME was glad that this bill was brought in; he had contended for the change for the last three years , its principle might he much lorther extended with advantage. Sir C. LONG said, that the lion. member had no right to take credit to himself; it did not result front any suggestion of his ; it bad long been under the consideration of government. Mr. CALCRAFT said, it was very remarkable that all the improvements • rced on government turned out to hate been rev lonely thought of; but why had this bill, then, been delayed for three years Motion agr. ed to, Mr. BEN NET moved for returns of the prices of pigs, calves, meat, bread, Scc. from 1790.—Ordered. The Scotch Juries Bill was postponed till Friday next. Mr. WESTERN presented a petition from Rockford against the Corn Importation Bill, contending that it would only acce lerate that universal insolvency to which all concerned in the cultivation of laud were rapidly approaching. Ordered to be printed. Sir W. CURTIS presented a petition from the clock and watchmakers of Clerkenwell, complaining of the distressed state of their trade. Its prayer was not read by the clerk.— Petition ordered to he printed. Sir H. FERGUSON presented a petition from ship-owners, &c. of Leith, complai gof distress. After remarks from Mr. Hume sad Sir I. Coffin, Mr. WALLACE said, that the committee above stairs had particularly considered the charges for tonnage, lights, and and consular fees, sold lie expected soon to he able to make a report on the subject. Ordered to be printed. Mr. WYNN brought in a bill to alter and metal the East India Trade Acts, particularly regarding the tonnage of ships.—Read a first time, and ordered to be printed. Pa Nos DISCIPLINE.—Mr. LEYCESTER presented ■ pe- I tition from Salford and Manchester, praying fur a revision of the criminal laws. Sir F. BURDETT, adverting to some lsngnsge of the pe tition, spoke of the evils and horrors t h at had resulted front secret imprisonment. That subject would come particularly before the House, on the mi.tion regarding IleAester jail : but, in the mean time, he begged to state, that somehow or auothcr, those jails that were most praised, and that were said to be most regularly attended to It, visiting magistrates, were in re lity amongst the worst prisons iu thu kingdom.—Petition ordered to be printed. Dr. LUSIHNGTON presented a petition from 86 persons who had served the office of Juror in the city of London, pray ing • revision of the criminal laws. The petitioners spoke of the painfully vnt, ing situation in which they were fre quently placed. They implored the house to take the subject into consideration, for otherwise jurors would be compelled to decide according to the nature and extent of the offence, rather than as concerned the legal guilt—A result that would be most injurious to the laws, and an event third ought to be averted. Petition ordered to he printed, as were other similar peti tions from Lewes, &o. Sir J. NEW PORT brought in the bill to render Grand Jury Presentments' Receipts pay able in mut 113,ment of rents, Ire land. Read ■ first time, and ordered to be printed. lie said h• should not move the second reading of the hill this session. Mr. F. BUXTON presented a petition from Mr. Wedge wood, of 345, Oxford-scree•, complaining of the severity of the criminal laws. He bad been compelled to appear against a man. named Rivers, who passed a forged note in his shop ; and the man was in consequence executed ; an event that had ever since been a source of deep regret to the petitioner, sad whirl', could he have foreseen, he would not bare appeared against the prisoner.—Petition ordered to he printed. AG II ICI:LTITR AL DISTRESS.-Mr. COKl4presented • peti tion from certain land occupiers, &c. in No. folk, complaining of agricultural distress, and of the pressure of taxes. Hitherto there had been no relief to agriculture. Sir T. LETH BRIDGE again protested against the indifier core of his Majesty's Ministers. Their principles were what would lead to the destruction of the country : they would lead to the uplifting of maa's hands against each other. Ile spoke of what he knew. The country would not sit down quietly with the indittevenee that was shown. The taxes and burdens imposed by Parliament dwelt with two-fold severity on agri culture, as he should hereafter show. Lord LONDONDERRY condemned the inflammatory cha racter of the speech that they had just beard. He was most anxious tollear what were to be the booleurable baronets specifics The government had not been supine ; nitwit taxation had hecu reduced; but whenever practical relief wa. proposed by the Ministers, it was invariably the subject of jocularity with the opposition. _ _ Mr. BENNET added, that the compininta of the conntr . , most be attended to; the rejection of Petitions or Remon• strences" would hate no effeet. Mr. G BENNET spoke of the ad% antize of constnntly dr bating the petitions as presented : the property tax Kit' , de feated by such means. He cared nothing about the mak , ' ities or minorities of the House; what be locked to was the discus sion that was promoted out of doors.—(Cheers.)—As to the jocularity that was matter of charge, he and his friends laughed. not at the measure/ of relief, but at the noble lord's power of face, in talking about the voluntary diminution of taxes. They took credit to themselves for going to the sinking fund, and yet they went iu a filching and larcenan manner, not in au open style. AS bo, then, could but laugh at such things t Mr. MONCK agreed in what bad fallen float the hon. mem ber who last spoke, sod condemned the Coto Bill as n tax on the country, to benefi; the farmers, to which he would never aurce. Mr. LEICESTER observed that the late King, on review ing a v eolllllllr, corps, a.id he liked those men, 0.4 reenant of (Mir appearance, but because they had muuey iu Oath. pacts. IVO —(Hear); but now their pockets were turned inside out.— (Hear, hear.) Sir F. BURDETT said he felt no gratitude towards the mi nisters for reducing the taxes; they had no right to one Nellie; more than was wanted for the public service; but owing to the change of the currency the pressure of taxes was greater than ever. The reductions that had taken place ought to have been made years ago. There ought to be further reductions. He should be merry if there were relief—but lie must first see relief—tva yet there was none. But they must hear a little more about reform. It was in that House where there was all the cause of complaint. It must be reformed even before 1113 ministers could make those concessions which they might deem to be necessary. But much of the et it that had resulted origi nated with the Currency Bill. When that was done, there ought to have been reductions of salaries, espenditure, &e. fumes er, those who presided over the destinies of the country were ignortuat of its real situation. But if inflamtnalory lan gunge now alarmed the ministers, if the ministers ex pected the land owners, who got no rents, to pay taxes „ they would hear something a little more isiflationatory than what had yet been he trd.—( Ilear ! Mr. PEEL said, if the unjust character of the hill were so obnoxious, why had not the lion. hart. delirium-eel it et the time N 1 by had he neglected his duty ? And why did lie now , come down with a holiday speech endeavouring to dissatisfy the country with what he ought to base endeavoured to avert. if its injurirms tendency were so apparent I—(Cheers.) The bill, under all the circumstances, was the beat that could lie devised ; and lie saw no reason to change his opinion on the subject, After some remarks from Mr. Denman, &e. the petition *a • read, and ordered to be printed. Sir J. MACINTOSH then called the attention of the House to the present state of the criminal code. The bon. gentleman entered into a review of the subject of capital pu nishments, and the consequent uncertainty of punishment in capital conviction. He re-urged all his former arguments on this subject, and called on Parliament to interpose and revise this part of our judicial system. The hon. and learned gent. expressed himself fully aware of the importance of this in quiry, the extent to which it would branch out, and the time which would he required for its investigation. Ile shonlil, therefore, on the present occasion, content himself with mos ins a resolution, pledging the House to enter on the consideratioe of the subject early next session. He concluded by moving a resolution—" That the /louse would, at an early period of the next session, take into its serious consideration the means of increasing the efficacy of the criminal law, by abating its un due rigour incertain cases. t o gether with the pr o per measures. for strengthening the police, and make the punishments of transportation and imprisonment effective for the ends of ex ample and Term nation." The ATTO RN EY- CEN ER AL, in a speech of coesiderable length, defended the presem system, and creuhattrd the argu ments of the lion. and learned mover of the resolution, WA concluded by moving, as an amendment, the previous question. Mr. F. BUXTON supported tlte motion. The present ay s• tem of our criminal code rather oierated as an encouragement than a repression of crime. The punishment of death was, iii a majority of cases, changed to transportation. Offenders calculated upon this circumstance ; and the punish:lo nt of transportation to New South Wales operated rather as a reward than a punishment to those subjected to it. Mr. COURTN AY and Mr. PEEL opposed the motion. Sir J. MACINTOSH, in reply. said, he should, in conse quence of what had fallen flow other members, omit a part of his motion as originally proposed ; and it would now be to thin etlect—" That this House do take into its most serioui con sideration the means of Mei-easing the efficacy of the laws by moderating their undue rigour." After two committees hail sat on the state of the criminal law, rril now that three succet sire sessions hail elapsed since the appointment of the first of them, the criminal law remained unaltered, unimpeded in its operatics, and undisturbed in its authority. (Hear.) The ad vantage of that house acceding to inch as he (Sir James Macin tosh) demanded, would be this: it would pore to the publics what was the disposition of Parliament. It would bare the effect of giving previous information to the wilole profession of the law, of what the House intended to do the next session; and thus it would procure for thetn all the light which (mold be ob tained on such a subject. (The cries of " di , het y. became very general. The loon. and learned gent, concluded hi ssyilo; that he would take the sense of the House spun the rcsolution in its altered state. The House then divided, when the num bers appear, d—Fir the resolution, 117—Against it, 101 --- Majority, 16. Loud cheering followed the annunciation of the numbers. TIIE NAVIGATION R 1!.!.. . ...... Mr. WALLACE moved that the above Bill be read a third time. Mr. DAVENPORT moved, as an amendment, that . I .e BEI be read a third time this day six months. Mr. RORP:RTSON also opposed th • Bill, or the ground that it would prove injurious to the general industry of tbc country. Mr. WALLACE. maMtained that no injury to the manuf..c turas of the country would be effected by the bill. The gallery wus cleared lilt a division, when there appeared— For the third oldie bill, 414—Again,t it, 38—Majority. Y. The Ancient Commercial Statutes Repeal Rill was read a third time and passed. The .MaNitis of LONDONDERRY postponed till Friday, the receiving of the report of the Corn Importation Gill ; obstrvs ing, that it would be the first introduceu tbr dicsussion on that day. The report of the 11l treatment of Cattle Bill.was agreed to.— Third Reading on Friday.—Adjourned at two o'clock. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5. A petition wan presente , l from the victuallers of Macclesfield, vgainst a clause in the licensing bill. Referred to the com mittee. ..... Mr. ELLICE presented the report of the committee on Dublin taxation. He trusted that he would hereafter have the opportunity of presenting a bill that would remove the Mica. ties complained of. Mr, S. RICE said, when the contents of this report became known, the c..untry would he surprised ; it unfolded ■ case of extrsorilioary deluqueney. L.eul taxation wan a great et ; whosoever s'.ould correct it would be the minister of •Int: h good. Report ordered to he printed. . Sir F. BURDETT piesented a petition from Speed, Berk shire, in favour of the Cruelty to Animals Prevention Bill.— Ordered to lie on the table. Gen. BARRY obtained leave to bring in a bill to authorize the sale of quit rents connected with crown lands in Ireland. The further consideration of the report of the Baker's lle4n latiiin Bill was postponed till Friday next, on the notion of Mr. C. Calvert. The report of the Warehousing Bill wag ordered to be tarn into consideltion on Fria ey oral. T.e Goods 'importation Bill was read a third time and passed, (For eadinaation ee Faye