The National Register. — London, England, 1823-03-17 00:00:00

- Nit., BRIGHT was sorry to hear that the Crown Officers had no intention to orig inate some measu re o n thi s su b jec t ; as t h e law stood, the credtor was without that protection which he ought to have. Mr. BENNET said, the government ought to examine the labs, and provide remedies. Pm what were they paid ? But Puy amelioration of the laws WWI sure to be resisted by the Lord Chancellor Eldon. The government ought to come to terms with that personage. The law, as it stood, legalized feud, Mr. PEEL defedded the government and the learned lord, wad said they were engaged " from morning till night" in the Service of the public. Petition ordered to he printed. A new writ was ordered fur Inverness for a member, in the loom of Charles Grant, who had accepted the office of Vice- President of Trade. Mr. G. BENNET, for an hon. friatid, gave notice, that en the 25th April a motion would be made ou the anhject of the state of the currency. Mr. B. MOORE, in presenting a petition from Coventry against the Insolvent Debtors' Act, gave notice that on Toes- Say or Wednesday next he aboold move for the repeal of those Acts altogether. These who approved of the principle of the laws could easily introduce inure corrected measures. Sir T. LETHBRIDGE presented a petition from Wood bridge, Sullblk, complaining of agricultural distress. Toe pe titioners represented that their ditlienlties were by no memo %bated ; that the Ministers had not afforded relief of which they felt the benefit ; and that without much other relief they saw little hope of redress. Petition ordered io be printed . Mr. LEN N AHD in consequence of the absence, from indis position of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, post poned his motion to the 25th instant, respecting the savings in the third class of the Civil List. Mr. HUTCHINSON presented a petition from the distillers of Cork, praying that the House would take the State of their trade into consideration. Mr. HUTCHINSON presented • petition from Cork, praying for the repeal of the coal duties. Sir J. NEWPORT presented a petition from St. Mary, Dublin, prayin; the revival of the local maiden Committee. Mr. PLUN KETT said, that to-morrow he should move the revival of such Committee. Colonel WOOL gave notice, that on April 23 he should sub slit resolutions respecting the law of Settlement. The CHANCELLOR of t h e EXCHEQUER presented papers, by command of his Majesty, respecting the King's Library. The right bon. gent. said, that 110 Tuesday neat he should submit a motion to the House on the subject. Lord CRAN BOURN broeght forward his minion on the sub ject of the Game Laws. His Lordship spoke in a low tone ; and dwelt on the iucreasing number of convictions under , he • game laws. He concluded with moving for a committee on the subject. Sir J. SEBRIGHT neconded the motion, He said, the game laws bad materially effected the morals of the labouring classes of the community. As a magistrate, be bait seen the pernicious consequences resulting from melt laws. Crowds of young seem who would have been iucapable of committing any robbery, were sent to jail ander these laws. Ile hail learned what they were before they went to prison, and Isis Julie. as a magistrate gave him but teo many opportunities to witness what they were when they left the jail. He did rot eoneider the subject as a game question—he viewed it as one of the greate►t importance to • large class of the labouring com munity. Sir J. SHELLY spoke in a very low tone, but be was nne dentate! to defend the game laws' system. eli. GIPPS thought the convictions bad diminished Mum 1520, mid that correct returns for 1822 ought to be obtained. Mr. PEEL supported the . After the ststeemeM that there were 800 convictions in 18SO. and laUft in 1519, he thought there was fair ground fur enquiry. lie would not pledge himself to any particular course—but lie thought an act to consolidate the laws would be useful, iu simplifying them and making them better known. Col. 11 UOD was glad to find-that there were more liberal notions op this subject entertained in the House. Ile had not 'altered his mind on this subject; ho was glad to Gild that the Douse had altered their's. Motion agreed to; Committee appointed. NATIONAL 1./BBL—Mr. BitOCDEN presented the Report of the National Debt Reduction Bill. Mr. TIERN EY said, he wanted to understand this Bill. By a resolution it was agreed that there should be a certain serplea of revenue for a Sinking Fond—but if there should be any failure of revenee—aud if the specific sum were to be rueintelited—there must he an increase of taxes. There was to he a positive surplus ; the !louse did not say that if there were surplus of the revennee of 5,0110,0001. it should be ap plied to such purpose—it proposed to enact that such sum should lie so set apart. lie hail not yet learned where the surplus of five millions was discovered ;he wield not find it out—no documents had proved it. If this Bill were agreed to, how could the House agree to the reduction of other taxes ? Their Lauds were tied up. The first question was, whether there was a surplus of fire ruiilione ; thee where it came from —how it was proved—end supposing the revenue should fail, were they still to supply the sum of Gee millions—whether Me Put there was that amount of surplus ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was anxious that the subject ►hould be clearly understood. lie took the revenue at 30,000,0001, the expenditure at 47,000,0001. That left a balance of 3,000,00UL-11y the arrangement re specting pensions, it was considered that there would 1.. 9,1/00,001.11. saved. That would reduce the expenditure to 45,000,0001. se that of the 90,0011,C001. revenue, there was N ►lear surplus of 3,000,0091. to be applied to the reduction of debt. Under these circumstance's he felt that ho had been warranted in assuming that there would be a surplus of 6,000,0001. As to another part, he would Dither hays a sur plus of more than 5,000,0001.; but he thought that it would be better to give the country the be nefit of the remiss/ea of tees.—(llear.)—lle looked forward to great admits/we le the revenue from a remission of taxes.—(llear.)--11., sea the ministers generally, were most melees to relieve the country as much as possible; and if there were intros ement, es lie confidently expected. he should be glad to Word further /mita to the lioeutry.—(ll.-ar, hear.) Mr. HUME did net know bow the right l i on, ge ntl em a n Dame to his conclusions. If the wintry were to derive so much benefit from the remission of fixes to the amount of 2,200,0001. how emelt mote benefit would be derived by a remission to the anima of 6,000,11001.1—(!leer, hear.)--Ile again maintained, that sty surplus but that of income beyond expenditure would be a mere mockery ; and lie urged that the bill contained contradictory principles mid sham regulations. De should propose, as ru amendment. that, instead of 5.000.0001.—. t h e surplus of the revenue not exceediug 9,000,000 I." THE NATIONAL REOISTER Tlie House divided on the amendment. Ayes 38--Noes 12. Report agreed ordered to be read • third time to-marrow. Mr. .111:SKISSON obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the lane regarding apinentici, to the sea service._ The r,nsuioing orders having' hero divosed or, the House adjourned. FRIDAY, MARCH 11. A petition was presented from Leicester, for more effectual means to recover swill debts. Sir J. MACINIONII gave notice, that on the 13th of May, he should submit a motion on the suhject of the criminal laws. —•ale named so late a dry io eino.oequence of the absence of various learned gentlemen on the Circuit, &e. Mr. H. 'MISS brought in a hill to regulator the appoint ment of assessors at elections. Read a first time. Mr. EVANS gave notice. that lois lion. fa lend (Mr. Wilber force) would, on Monday, present a petition f the Quakers, praying that the Moulin world adopt uscasures for the gradual abolition of the slave trade in every part of the British domi nions. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved, that the House go into a committee on Ilia hitiz'a Property Bill. Mr. G. BENNET thought the property in question was pub lic) property, at least from what he recollected of Lard Lon donderry's explanation on the suhjert. Mr. Pli'EL said the hon. gent. latioured under a mist' ke.— The hill was to grant to the Kitt.; power over that properly which he posseseed, and tat power over as Prince of Wiles. The property at Brighton, for instance, was private properly, having brew purchased with the Prince of Wales's private funds. Mr. D. BENNAT explained. _ . Bill rartred to a tioilituiitte. Mr. WARRE ob d, that, If he did not much mistake, according to the Civil List Report of 1616, much of the lur niture at the Pavilion hail been paid fur by the Lord Chamber lain, out of the Civil List. Mr. PEEL said. that the bill did not apply to personal or Crowns property ; it only regarded freehold property, Report on Mouday. Lard PALNIERSTON moved, that the House go into • committee on the Mutiny Bill. Colonel DAVIS moved, that it be an instruction to the com mittee to introduce a clause to prevent the Crown iron dismis. • sing officers from the army without their being first subj-eted to a court-martial. Ile expected to hear much of prerogative, of its uninterrupted exeretes ; lie had partaken of the commonly received notion, but the inquiry *Odell he instituted, on the dismission of a much esteemed friend, (Sir R. Wilson), per . leaded Itim that the power was not warranted by the law. It was, be maintained, iu the teeth of the Annual Mutiny Act. — That act gave power in divers cases ; so that all persmis, whe• thee o Leers or soldieru, were protected under the of the law., The bill expressly gave the power to erect court.* martial to try officers who might be charged with any improper °Gime. The power of the Crown was to punish fur utiencer apinst the articles of war : if those articles were lint violated, no offence had been committed ; and to ascertain whether any offence had been committed, courts-martial must be Gained. Blackstone was against the severe power even of tryin,l for violation of articles arbitrarily made by the Crown; but what would Black stone have said had lie contemplated such dismissals without points-martial ? By such practice the Crown became legislator os well as Judge and Jury, and could it ever have been in t tended to give the Crown such power? Shiite 17U3 there bad been (M 9 eases of injustice. Yes, ho wcu d contend that they • I had been eases of injustice.—(llear, hear, from both sides.) — I If a men committed murder in the street in the presenco of hundreds of witnesses, lie was not hanged at the next lamp ! poet; lie was tried according to the laws; and why were ollirers to be treated with so much less ceremony ? Why were ullicers of the army, who hail an extra code of laws or articles' to obey, to he treated so unceremoniously ? The lion. member silver:ad to many of the cases of injustice, the number of which wan proved by a parliamentary return. Ile cuidended, ' that the power exercised over officers by the Crown was most pernicious, and of injurious tendency. Ile concluded by 'moving the instruction to the ennwuillet, to insert a clause to prerList the Crow', dismissing oUicers wbo have cot been tried by oourta martial. &c. . . . . _ Lord PALMEitSTON maintained the motion could not he supported by the 'louse. It was the prerogative of the Crown, and had been well from the earliest time ; and it was not a prerogative for the gratification of the Sovereign, but fnr the maintensace of the constitution. The right had been invariably exercised. Ile need not make long quotations—he would abide by the natnre of the case, and the recoguition of various acts of Pur!lament. The supreme government of the army had always been vested in the Crown, and there was nothing in the matiny act which limited such power. That act was intiuded to give the Crown the summary mode of proceeding in Inns mary cases. nut fur such act, how could the Crowts proceed against such men, hut by the slow and ordinary mode which regarded the suLject generally? And that might be dangerous where men had arms in their hands. It was clear, by the construction that bail always beets put on the prerogatives, that the King bad the sui•reme co ttttt mod of the uriny• Mier some remarks frons Mr. Home, kc. the amendment was negatived without a division. The bill went through a , committee. 'Lewin on Monday. Navy ESTIIMATES.—TIir !louse hating resolved into a Cum mittee of supply, Sir J. OSBORNE brought forward the Navy Estimates. Ile stated, that with the exception of the number of men, 113,1 PX), granted for the service of the year, being an increase, as compared with lust year, the estimates were nearly the Caine as last year. The grant for the men had already been taken and on the other items be would give such explanations as might be required. Where sstrin.os could b.: effected, they had been Attended to ; but reductions that might garret the naval service certainly had not been proposed. The fuHowing is an abstract of the Estimates :- I.—Wages, v!ctuala, wear and tent, and Ordnance for 25,000 men £1,543,750 0 0 11—Ordinary Estimate Wier abating I t 2,0001 for Navy, aid 9,000/ for Victualling Old Stores, receive lin 1822) 3,365.490 6 R 111.—lixtra Latin/ate% 535,100 0 0 £:,,442,540 6 Ile eonelutied with moving the several grants making up the above grand total*. . . . The several resolution■ were agreed to, and tho report wea oniered to he received on blonds). The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER proposed Ilia third reading of the National Del it Redociion Bill. Mr. BENNET and bard A. lIAMILToN opposed the reed log of the bill et 1141 late in hoar, cod declared they would tike the sense of the House un the question for.readiog the order of the Day. 03 The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHSQUER consented to postpone the third reatthig to Nlenday, The House then went into a Committee of Ways sad Mesas. The CII ANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER proposed re solutions for cppl3ing the Ways and Means of the present year —the minium of mollies remaining it satisfy certain grants of former y ears outstanding ; the balaace of toe Wet • and MCIIIIII of former year. unapplied ; the sums reueivable, in 1823, from tie bustees f naval and military pensions, tinder the act of the la•t Session of Parliamert ; the amount of the balances of unclaimed dividentla and lottery prizes remaining in the hands of the Hank of Euuland ; all sums which may be paid nth the Exchequer in the year 1828, on account of Esettequer Bills adv*nced for public works ; the estimated amount of the unappropriated produce of the Connolidated rued in the year ending the sth of April, 1823. The several Resolution:, were agreed to, report on Monday. The other orders were disposed of, and the House adjourned. CAPITAL CONTICTIONS IN FRANCE AND ENGLAND. A work re .ntly published in Paris, entitled " Situation de rAngleterre,' par M. Monist:ran, has the following statement of crime in England and France, punishable by death, in 1801 and 1811, which presents a striking contrast between the two kingdoms:— FRANCE. ENGLAND. Condemn- I Cond ee nh- Inhabitants. ed to Years. I Inhabitants. ed In Death. Death. 31,100,000 882 thin I 10,000,0110 5,400 4::, 400 M 100 394 1811 17,000,060 I 6,400 M. Motitveran declares, in his work, he CaTI sub *tont-late the above by authentic documents. If ae• curate, it is obvious that, in 1801, in Prance, twenty.six out of a million of inhabitants ware con demned to death ; and that, in 1811—ten years af ter—the number of condemned had diminished two-thirds, leaving the proportion of only nine to a million. In England, on the contrary, when, in 1801, the criminals condemned to death were 212 out of e million of inhabitants, the amount increased by more than one-half—there king, in 181 1, 376 mat of a million. It also appears, that the condemns& Lions in England, compared witi. those in France. were as 376 to 9, or as 42 i: The report of the state of mendicity in France. compared with those of the parish poor in England, by M. Montversn, also presents a prodigious differ ence—the French list, in 1812, exhibiting only thirty thousand individuals out. of forty-three mul lions of inhabitants ; while in England, in the Sante year, a fourth of the population, or 4,240,000 poor, were thrown upon the parishes. Two convicts, upwards of 70 years old, ton' demned to hard labour for life, and who had open' some years in the galleys, having been Rent to the House of Correction at Rennes, cast lots which of them thou Id put the otht r to death, and then murder himself. The lot having fallen c.n Louis Maitre, the old miscreant took one of the posts of his bed, and at five o'clock in the morning of the IStli of November last, commenced his work of murder. He struck his companion several blows on the head, but the groans of the victim discovered 'him. He was tried on February 12, at Rennes, for an attempt to comb mit assassination, but the laws had not prodded a severer punishment for his crime than imprisonment fur 10 years, to which he was sentenced ) with, hews ever, but little chance of his completing that period. His coinpanion recovered within three Weeks after the attempt. Tut Ap-M1LL.....0ne of those excellent inVentaans was put into operation a short time or for the eni ployment of the prisoners in the county glad gad house of correction at Reading, Pennsylvania. The prisoners, it is stated, performed the lahour appa. rently well for several days, when 12 mutinied, and retliseci to go upon the wheels, stating, that they must have extra provisions and leather-bottomed shoes, or they would not perf►rnt the labour. They considered confinement in cells was all the punish. mitt that awaited their disobedience, but in that idea they were deceived; the keeper and as►istants were under the necessity of having recourse to arms and bludgeons, and compelled every man to go upon the whe:l to perfiirm the allotted labour. The eel. cieney of this ►node of punishment is SO very apps. rent, that we were surprised the legisla ure of Maryland has not before this directed the erection cf a mill in the :tate penitentiary. In the Penn. Sylvania Legislature we observe a bill fur this object has been passed by a large vote. The planet Mercury is seLn at present in great perfection about en hour after sunset, in the wes. tern quarter of the heavens. It resembles a fixed star of the first magnitude, both in size and by its twinkling, differing only in having u paler white We understand that Edwards, the spy, of Cato. street notoriety, is now residing at Truro, in Corn. wall. •He has no ostensible employment, and his finances appear to be in a very nourishing condition. It is confidently reported that ten sail of the Use be iratuLdilittly to be put in maw:imam.