The National Register. — London, England, 1823-03-24 00:00:00

smotrtat iJartiaihtnt. HOUSE OF LORDS. MONDAY, MARCH 17. Sir Thomas Acland, and several Members from the Commons, brought up the Turnpike Act Amendment Bill. Mr. Wilbraham also brought up the Irish Yeomanry Corps Bill—Both were read a first time. A person from the Office of Chief Secretary of Ireland pre sented returns, pursuant to an order of the hollbe. Mr. Aude, trout the Superintending Committee of the Peni tentiary, Millbank, presented a report of the state of that institu tion.—Laid on the table. INSOLVENT 1)ERY0118' Acr.—Lord ELLENBOROUGH presented petition, praying tot the repeal of the Insolvent Debtors' Act. The noble lord expres_ed a hope that the noble and learned lord who gave his name to the hill, would direct his attention to it, although he was persuaded that learned lord had really little to do with it. No bill had clone mote mischief. The LORD CHANCELLOR said, the noble ar.d learned lord would not admit the bill had received his sanction. That noble and learned lord never gave his name to the bill. The original bill was spoiled by impnwenients elsewhere. The Karl of SHAFTESBURY presented a similar petition from the Mayor and Corporation of Oxford.—Both petitions were read, and bad on the table. the Irish Assessed Taxes Repeal Bill, and Irish Arms Bill, were read the sound time.—The house adjourned. TUESDAY, MARCH la. Lord CLIFDEN pram:null a petition from the merchants and traders of Witney, Oxlimishire, against the Insolvent Debtors' Act. Lord MORLEY presented a fictitition from the merchants, Baden, and ship owner::, interested in trade, at Plymouth, against the Insolvent Debtors Act. The petition was signed by the Mayor and COO inhabitatits. 'r he above petitiqps were mail, and laid on the table. SLAVE TRADE. — The Earl of LIVERPOOL laid on the table an additional article to a treaty between this country and the Netherlands, respecting the sieve trade. The noble earl also produced certain papers moved for by a noble earl (Darnley), respecting the supply of stationary in Ire land. MEesacm—Mr. Peel, and several other Members from the Commons, brought up the King's Property Bill. Mr. ihogden also brought up the National Debt Reduction Bill. Mr. Blackburn brought up a private bill. On the motion of the Karl of Live.apooL, the King's Property Bill wasteful the first time. Lord LIV Elt PI WI. also moved the first reading of the bill for the seduction of the National Debt. The bill was accetd ingly read the first time, ordered to he printed, and read a second time on Thursday. The Irish Arms Bill passed through a committee, after which the house adjourned. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19. The royal assent was given by commis s ion to the Transfer in Aids Bill, the Assessed Taxes Reduction, the Irish Assessed Taxes Repeal Bill, the Chancellor -of the Exchequer for Ire land's Appointment Bill, mid Inc Scotch Creditors Bill. The Earl of DElt BY presented a petition from several traders at Blackburn, laincaellire, against the I lawkers and Pedlars Act, also• a petition fiorn Liverpool, against the Insolvent Debtors' Act. Lord REIESDALE raid, the law as it stood with respect to Insolvent Debtors had occasioned great inconvenience—he could out admit he was the author of the law. The meaeure he intro duced was of a different description. Lord LANSDOWNE presented a petition from Darlington, against the Insolvent Debtors' Act. The petitions were read, and teal on the table. FRANCE AND SVAIN.—The Marquis of LANSDOWNE rose, for the purpose of imploring the noble earl (Liverpool) and the King's Ministers, in the present unfortunate state of nego • ciations for the preservation of peace, to lay before Parliament those papers upon which the negociation had been conducted. Parliament were justly entitled to see the documents at the earlicat moment with the palate interest. Ile was desirous, thereffire, of asking whether Parliament, before the holidays, might expect to put in possession of the Irian-motion they were entitled to receive, an whether any discussion would be resorted to after the holidays. That house and the country called for a full examination of all the circumstances. The Earl of LIVERPOOL said, at the first opportunity his Majesty's servants would lay before the house the documents connected with the important negotiations relative to France and Spain. It would be incumbent an them to produce with the documents a declaration of their policy, which would enable Par ' liament and the country to form a correct judgment. It was undoubtedly stated elsewhere, and he was prepared then to state o the Nome, that unless sonic unformeen occurrence should take place to put die diflatences between the two Governments in a train of speedy settlement, it was the intention of his Majesty's Government to advise the 'sovereign, on the first early opportu nity atter the recess, to lay before Parliament the documents showing what had been the policy of Government. He did not state this on the ground of peisonal convenience--on parlia mentary ground, the proposed delay was highly expedient The noble marquis had internal, that all hope of amicable procetxl ngs was at an end—the noble marquis had been misinformed on that point. It was undoubtedly stated, that the hopes of Govern ment on that subject :tad abated, hut it was not true that all hopes haa expired. Before the holidays lie should name an early tray after the ieceto for stating the policy of his Msjisay's Minis ters, and the difficulties of the negocusuon, The National Debt Reduction Bill was ordered to be rend a second time to-morrow, and the Lords buinnioneti for discussion of the message on Friday. THE KING's loan allY.—On the order of the day for the second reading of the King's Property Dill, Lord EI.LEN BOROUGH adverted to a measure in the other house for the disposal of the late King's library, and objected to such proceeding, on the ground dint his Ire alajesty died with out a will, and that his present Majeety had no more power over it thaw twer other property subject to jar corona. He altitudes' to the noble and learned lord (Eldon) for the law on the ques tion. The LORD CHANCELLOR said, if the noble lord would put the question to him, respecting the power of the King to dispose of personal chattels., he would atawer him, but not at ethat moment. The Earl of LIVERPOOL conceived that his Majesty was . f u lly r astityri **dispose of die library in an) way he might think I • was , however, a literal act on the part of the Xing to give e'it to t he pth ,.`l4., atid Parliament might say which was the bea mode of disposing . 4 i t• wersation oat the subject, the Kiag's After some further cot. Property Bill was read t... s a second time, and ordered to be printed. The Yeomanry Corps of Irclat.'d Bill went through a Com mittem—Ailjourned. THURSDAY, MARCU O. ry presen:.:(l at the bar an se- Mr. Totaling, from the treasury count of all nutlike received as drones of A-ialitalta.—Lattl tin the table. The Cameral Turnpike Act Amendment Bill was read the third time. The Yeomanry Cusps of Ireland Dill was read the third time. fhe alutiny 11111; w ac read the second time. 'f lie Neat:Nail Debt Rill was read the second time. The King's Propel', XI went through a committee, and was intermit without amendment to the flousc....Adjourntd. THE NATIONAL nEGISTEIL TRIDAT. MARCH 21. Mr. Tomlin, from the Treasury, brought up certain annual accounts. _ . _ Lord Althorpe and Mr. D. Gilben brought up from the Commons two private bills. Lord ELLE NBOROUGH said, he understood the third reading of the bill respecting his Majesty's property was fixed fir Wednesday ; he should therefore postpone a eitustion he Iwd to put relating to his Alojesty's library, until that day. APPEAI.II.—The Earl of DARNLEY called the attention of the house, and particularly that of the noble and learned lord on the woolsack, to a paper in his hand, by which it appeared, that 225 appeal cases, then before the house, remained undecided. lie gave credit to his noble and learned friend for due diligence, but he thought it impossible for that noble and learned lord to get rid of the anent in the present mode of judicial proceeding. In 1821, 36 causes were decided ; in 1822, 35 were decided; and proceedings during the present and future years. to decide in the s ame ratio, it would take ►even years to get through the armor. The noble earl asked, under this state of things, what pof,sibility the subjects of this country had of obtaining justice? He found that the greater number of those appeals came from Ireland and Scotland. The Scotch appeals were three to one compar , d with English causes. lie considered the subject well deserving the attention of the house. The Earl of LIVERPOOL said, the paper to which the noble lord had alluded had been laid on the table in consequence Of a motion made by himself, and it was his intention, after the recess., to call the attention of the house to the important question. The Lords were aware that in 1813 the subject conic under consideration, and the house came to a resolution that three clays in every week ghoul i he deviled to appeals. That rule bad been strictly adhered to. The h•nise had done its duty. The noble and learned lord had done his fluty; but sorry lie was to say, that the evil, instead of being diminished, had been aggravated. Complaints were made of delays in Chancery, and the whole [AMC of the evil was the appeals in Mat house. If they could get rid of :- , eotch appeals, the Lord Chance'lor would have time to discharge his important duties in the Court of Chancery, end the public, as well as the suitors in that house, would not have cause to complain of delay. Early after the recess he should bring forward the subject. The noble earl then moved, that the papers alluded to be printed for the infurination of the house..--Ortlered. NATIONAL DEBT REDUCTION BILL.-.The Earl of LI VER POOL rose, on the order of the day for going into a com mittee on tl:e National Debt Reduction Bill, and observed, that lie should address a few remarks to the house, to shew the pro priety of adopting the principle of the measure. Ile did not mean to take up the time of the house by going into a long dis cussion on the question. The subject 01 the national debt, so far as it was conntetei with a sinking fund, hail been frequently before Parliament. The noble narl knew that doubts had arisen on the utility of a sinking fund, but having been called on by the puldic duty of his situation to attend to the subject, he had never seen sny reason to alter the opinion he hail formai on the expediency of such a financial measure. That opinion was formed by statesmen in I 7a6 and 7Lte It was found not expedient to carry into effect the pnwisions of the measures for a sinking fund to the extent they were carried in 1818, but the present arcurn stances of the country rendered the bill then beture the house peculiarly advantageous to the country. The Marquis of LANBOOWNE. Lord KING. and Lord E 1..-- LEasonouote opposed the bill, on the ground that it held out a delusion. It purported to apply a surplus of income amounting to 5,000,0001.,, when in tact the surplus did not ex ceed 3,01,0.000 i. Alter the question had undergone coniderable discussion, the bill passed through a committee.—Adjourned. • MONDAY, MARCH 17. Mr. W. WHITMORE postponed, till April 21, his molios respecting Bent India Sugars. The Ratelia Gee Light Bill wasreadt ♦econd time . Mr. ISYNG preseett7d Petitions from St. Paul's, Middlesex, against the Insolvent Debtors' Act, and from St. George's in the East, again. the Duty on Con's. The London Bridge Bill was read a second time, and or dered to be referred to a Committee above stairs. Thei Sherlib , of the City of London presented a petition praying, on the part of the Corporation, for leave to bring in a hill to amend tie 11th Geo. 11. fur making certain improve ment is the City. At person from the Milbank Penitentiary presented a Report respectging the recent Coroners' Inquests. Ordered to he printed. Dr. Phillimore's Bill respecting the Martiage Act was post poned till this day week. Sir T. LETHBRIDGE moved the second reading of the Divisions of Counties Bill, observing that he should not press the Committee till after the recess. Sir M. W. RIDLEY Omagh' that the hill was not neces wiry. Ile moved that it be and a second time this dry six months. Mr. S. BOURNE deemed the principle of the bill to he good, but considered that it might be amended in a Commit tee ; lie therefore trusted that the amendment would nut be pressed. Sir M. W. RIDLEY withdrew his amendment, after which the hill was read a second time. Ordered to be committed April 1. The King's Property_ lill wits read a third lime and passed. Si x•tsi: Ftlivit.—he CHANCELLOR of the EKCIIE ' QUEIt moved the third reading of the National Debt Reduc tion sill I Mr. BENNET again opposed the Bill, submitting .hat to acimiesce in this measure would not be obeying the wish and prayer of the country for reduction of taxes. Ile concluded with moving an amendment, that the Bill he read a third time this day six months. Mr. W. WHITMORE held that a Sinking Fund was neees• nary for the advantage of the public faith and service. The annuity (or " dead weight" pfhti) was ridiculous, and he had hoped allot the absurdity would he abandoned ; hut if it were to be retained, considering the utility of • Sinking Fund, lie must support the hill. Fund without a surplus revenue, and it Will equally fallacious I to suppose that it would enable the country to reduce the fuses. The hind had been a sham fund, a delusion in every sense of the word. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, he had little to observe in addition to his explanations of this bill. In reply to the statements made, he had only to repeat, that in 1816 the funded and unfunded debt was 864,000,0001, : in January last it was 810,000,0001. ; so that there had been a reduction of 2-1,000,0601. richt, and 3,000,0001..harge. Ile therefore submitted to the house whether, us so much had been done, they ought not to centime!' principle further ?—(hear, hens.!) Mr. TI ERN EY was againsethe bill ; hot be regretted that he proposed postpone meet was not six weeks instead of six months, to milord theeopportunity of seeing whether some ar rangement could not le made. lle owned ; he w as favourable to a Sinking Fund, if there were surplus revenue : hot.. wider the circumstances of the country, lie was disposed to let it have the advantage of redaction of taaatioo. l'art of Use Chancel 101'd calculation was two millions from the annuity plan, so that it was borrowing from the Sinking Fund to lend to the Sinking Fund. Why not save the country the expense of such machinery 1 The details of this bill were thus contradictory. The principle of a Sinking Fund was to relieve posterity, but part of this bi:l was the reverse—it eased themselves by the dead weight scheme, by imposing a portion of the burdens on posterity. Ile Loped there would be ne objection to a post , ponemeni of six weeks. (hear, hear !) Mr. HUSIXISSON said, whatever differences there might be on some points, all appeared to admit the necessity of hav ing a surplus revenue, and of appropriating the surplus. He thought the horse had wisely deteriniiwd on a fixed strut to be applied for the redaction of debt ; if the sum were left uncer tain in its *alumni., so much success would sot attend the fund. After some further diocusoiou, the house divided on Mr. Bennet's amendment—Ayes, 59 Noes, 109 Majority against it, 50. Mr. 11.1RiNG then moved to reduce the specified amount dike Sinking Fund from 5,000 0001. to 3,000,0001. the latter being the acknowledged amount of surplus revenue. The house divided on it—Ayes, 72—Noes, 100—Majority against it, 28. The Bill was then read a third lime and passed. Mr. CREEVEY then brought forward his annual motion on the subject of the di per cent. or Barlmeloeo and Leeward Island Duties ; and proposed, as he .r.l last Session, an Ad dress to the throne un the subject. A desultory conversation followed, and a division took [doer, when the numbers were—For the motion 56—against it 80. Tin: ORDNANCE. F.SrIMATES.—The House then went into a Committee of Supply. Mr. R. WARD proposed the first item of 40,0741. for the establishments at the Tower and Pall Mall. Mr. 1.6.11 E took an early opportunity of declaring that, as he perceived there was e; desire on the part of Government to introduce economy wherever it was practicable, sad seeing that to be their wish, be would nut detain the committee by going through the estimates item by item, as lie did last years hut would content himself with directing the attention of gen tlemen opposite to any particular items which might appear to 1' to mill for observations, without dividing the committee.— The first resolution was thee agreed to. On the item for Malta and the lonian Islands, Mr. HUME strongly objected to it, and censored the con duct of Sir Thos. Maitland, who, he said, was permitted to squander the revenue of those islands on his own whims mid vagaries. After a few words from Mr. Wm Smith, the vote was agreed to. On the resolution for granting 211,0001. for the stall' of tho royal artillery, Mr.HUME pro t iosed to reduce the vote to 226,0001. After some conversation the annuilment was negatived, and the resolution agreed to. The other resolutions were also adopted, And the report was ordered to be received to-morrow. The ether orders were disposed of, and the House adjourned. TVISDAY, MAItCII IS. Cen. G.ASCOYNE presented a petition from Liverpool against the continuance of a lottery. Ordered to he printed. Sir R. IVILSON moved foe various r turns respeiding the court of requests in Southwark, the fee', Sic. Ordered. Mr. CALVERT presented a petitinn from St. Saviour'!„ Southwark, against the duties on coals carried coastwayo.— Ordered to be printed. Mr. DECEIALt presented a petition from Birmingham against the Insolvent Debtors' Act. The hon. member observed that if some alteration did not take place, the honest creditor would be driven out of the market. Ordered to he printed. Fonclux AFFAIRs.—Mr. CANNING (who evidently sp• • petered to have suffered much from indisposition, and who had one arm in a sling,) presented himself at the bar with papers. by command of his Majesty. The paper* having been laid upon the table, lie explained the nature of them. They con sisted of two additional articles to existing treaties for the abolition of the Muter trade. By the first, proof of negroom having been on board vessels would be held inefficient on ques tions regarding their condemnation. That article bad been ap proved by the Netherlaudo—but Spain had not ratified it.—The other article regarded the fitting up of ships :—if they were so fitted up as to leave no moral doubt that they were prepared for purposes of ►lsve•trading, bull fact wan to be deemed suf ficient proof. That article had also been ratified by the Netherlands, but cot by Spain; and lie was not prepared to say whether there wss any hope of Spain ratifying such articles. —lle had also to add, that though no pains bad been spared, they had not been able to get the Portuguese Government to adopt such articles. Sir J. MACKINTOSH said, he would avail himself of thi► opportunity to put some questions to the Foreign Secretary.— Though they were nut too early, lie trusted they were not put at an improper time. Ile had delayed putting such questionn incompliance with long previous caution and forbearance, lie might say almost silence ; the delay arose not from any want of proper feeling or anxiety on the subject, but because neither he nor those with whom lie acted, desired to embarrass the Government in negnciations that perhaps were no burdensome as hod ever been imposed on the shoulders of any Ministers. the question not only endangering the peace of Europe, but exposing to danger the British dominions. He hoped the Goverment bail conducted the negocintion with due regard to national independence, and to the principles of the balance of power, which secured the independence of nohow. He also trusted that due attention bad been paid to the security of those allies with whom we were in treaty. He trusted that the maxims of Elizabeth's reign, rather than those of the Charlesetx and Jaineses, had been acted upon. Having made these preli minary remarks, he wished to ask, whether Ministers thought there were any reasonable hopes of preventing the aggression s the unprovoked aggression, of Spain by France ? If that en quiry were answered in the negative, be then ;would ask,. when the house might expect the papers respecting the nego. i chtions to be laid before Parliament ? When that period should conic, he hoped that ministers would allow sufficient time for their consideration, before any discussion on the papers was pressed, in order that the ministers' conduct throughout the great crisis alight not be in any way injured or prejudged. • Mr. CANNING admitted thin it would have been competent to any member to put questions at an earlier period, but cer • minty the lerhearafice t h at had been observed had been found ' eil on wise policy. As to the preliminary observations of the boo. land teemed gentleman, he trusted, when the conduct of been o e wtid could be l e :I : d u:I n c ,: tihiehieoahm nations, e v , l e n. g t d i t i go s i : f t eht, inv est i g at ed, respecting o 's n t ) w et oc c u o ta , tia: f power in Edeitnolujygrahotaialpiniviel and ulry, lime indcpemlrnce . lie debited only to be judged by the standard that the boo, and