The National Register. — London, England, 1822-05-13 00:00:00

148 31111Periat 33aritau1titt. WANE OP Lonna. MONDAY. MAY 6. STATE OF THE COUNTRY. Earl GREY rose for the pitipon of suspending the notice of a motion respecting the state of the country, which he had given pievious to the Easter rece,s. It would be recollected, he said, that at the time he gore the notice. he asked the noble Earl (Liverpool) whether it was the intenticm of las Majesty's minims leis to propose any measure with a view to the relief of the rvtilltry. The noble Earl referred hint to the expected fermi of the committee on tiara...hurt. Nothing could be dotte. it was said, until the report of that committee was made. 01 that tie pin. he (Lord (:.)could not speak in respectful terms. Ile would nut say it had disappointed aubdc expectation, In:cause there was •it a nian, woman, or child in the canonry aciptainted with the Looms of did coincidenc e who entertained thi siightest hope of benefit luau their repo.t. Theme were, however, a hew who had supposed nothing so absurd as this report could have been sent lingo by the representat , ves of the people. It was totally wale quote to the national object. It that report bad nut picalucco a measure likely won to conic before the lit use of Lords, and lie bud nut been derived of the assistance of has noble friend (the Alarquis of Lansdowne), lie certainly should have acted in pur suance of his numice, but as tile ruca-ute auuld come btfore the llomme, he felt inclined to postpone his notice. Ile was astonished to find the measure to which lie alluded, and which was eaten • lated to reduce taxation, come from the vary men who had so long contended against a reduction of taxes. lie .11011111 not feel the least hesitation in gluing it his uequalified opposition, be cause. although it purported to diminish taxes, it did nothing beneficial to tile public interest. It violated the principles of the sinking fund: but that was not so much the ground of his ob jection. Ile was one who thought, under the present circuit). stances of the tountry, the sinking fund ought to be suspended, :mod relief given to the crying necessity tit the country. The noble Eaml then objected to tke annuity plan, which was nothing more than creating a debt to tall upon posterity. The measure lad bemn lc:toned to to veil the inconsistency of his Majesty's Government, who were obliged, although they had invariably tienied the obligation, to protect the interest of the landed pro ; ileum. The country would sustain a loss w h i c h mi g ht have been saved by a more honest proceeding. When the measure should conic before the House, he should feel it his duty to give it all the opposition in his power. The othei measure... pending in the House of Commons were equally objectionable. The ea • redient to raise the price of corn had his decided objection. Toe intended circulation of Bank notes. upon the principle of the Banks of Scotland, would never afford a perminent interest equi valent to the extension of the Bank charter for ten years. 1 his also W.IS a most extraordinary expedient. Toe men who had so lung imputed a great portion of the public distress to the mo nopoly of the Governor eta Company of the Bank, now Caine 'lnman] to extend that aionopoly ten years longer. Tsme noble earl concluded by withdrawing the notice of motion to which lie alluded. The Earl of LIVERPOOL agreed with the noble Earl, that be hod never looked tor any measure founded on the report of the ,Agrieulturall committee us likely to produce a remedy to the pi cant distress of the country ; but it did not follow that sonic remedy might he ambled to the course of law maculating the corn tack. Ile was prepared to 'move the burthen of government taxes was light tapou aaricultute. There was another species of taxation he was rca ta to admit, which fell heavy, namely. poor rates, but that was nut a government tax. The noble Earl then contended that the new plan would b e beneficial to the country, without interfering with the sinking fund. With respect to t: e circulation of Bank notes, the law, its it now stands, gave the Built of England a complete mooopely itt the issuing of notes anti it hail been propeseet to relax that monopoly , giving t h e co untry at large the benefit. The conCituation of the monopoly would extend, as the law stood, three years longer, are. for :tieing it, the Bank was to have their charter prolonged ten 3 eats. The noble Earl mid he would rather have given relief to the cutintry, without concealing to the extension of the Bank charter, but the question to lie fairly eliscuased was this t—Was it a good bargain tor the politic. and did the pubic gain or luau by it ? Ile contended that it ea. advanutgeutts. The :Marquis of LANSDOWNE did not wish to extend the conversation on this subject, but to move Mr the prodection at the corms) undone between the Genet nwent and the Bank, on the suiaeat of the renewal of the Bank charter, Ile accordingly muted for these documents. Lord KING considered the hereto:lin with the Bank extrema Fart, anti n loss to the country. The new plan, as it was called, tor throwing on' the harden of dead expense, was at varience with the ti.nlctig final. The measure rentintletlhim of a case where an apothecary was called in. 'Cite practitioner prescribed strong doses of calomel. Ile was asked whether is was not too much for the constitution of his patient. The apothecary said it might be too nviclu but lie could easily throw in a little opium.--(A laugh.)—lle (Lend King) thought it would have been best to give less calomel. and spare the opium ; but the apothecary, in • throwing in his drugs, was interested, so was the State apothe cary more. r.al in making up all his boluses and physic for the tire of the Constitution ; he procured influence by it. After a few observations num Lead Holland, the motion was loved to, and the House adjourned. vuEsIDAT. MAY I'mc The Ilouse met at four o'clock. and the bills on the table were fora - meted in their rcleetive stages. The Duke tot' NOltf It UM It LIM AND presented a petitlon Fran Newcastle upon Tyne againt a hill to alter the Navigation Laws. The petaion was laid on tie table. Lord BAY NI NG presented awn petimions from the county of Nortolk, complaining of agricultural distress.—Laid on the table. The Countervailing Duties, and the Excise Licences Bills Passed through Cuinininces.—Adjourned. WEI/NEM/AY. MAT O. Several Bdls, el titivate, were broualtt up front the Commons, and mad the hest time. Tile Excise Duties' 1i 11 was reach the third time, and passed. Time Malt Duty Bill was read a second time. Time Linen Duty Bill wits read a second time. The Countervailing Malt Duties Bill went through a Cote.. rnittic.—Adjourned. YLICIISDAY. MAY 9. The Marquis CORN %V A I.l.lSpresental three petitions from the owners of lamb in Suffolkf a ltural dis treos, and 'tidying ter rvlief. , The complaining petitions o were gricu read and laid int the table. DISTRESS IN IRELAND. Earl DARN LEY addressing the House, sa . cl, as the noble Teri (the Earl of Liverpool) wa , not in his place, and or , he un deterred not likely to be there on that occasion, he should deter what he had to tay until Lib morrow. It wius lob intentiori to call toe a attention ots the noble Earl and the ['owe to thc nielrinthely :tote of Ireland. Ile WAS sorry to find the accoums from day to Jay were more and more alarming. n c wished to know whether. and whit means had been taker, by the Government to al:eclat* the sufferings of the wretched people. The %la quit, of LANr .V N also dcfcrre I a motion which Ls intended ,o make, for tr. urns relating to country banks, until the noble Ercl wit, in hi., place. Another motion, to which be amid hot anticipate any o:,..eetion, he said he should submit to laic blouse. The ti Mencii wished to have an account of ere rep irtive between 17.4 and Inklit at which the Go •truor and Cutopony of the hulk of hoglind had applied for Cu. ttnew.-.1 of theit charier. Ile accordingly interred lur Eitount, %Leh orats.O. —A ~jowned. , •, . TILE NATIONAL. REGISTER e • * P''\ 781 DAT, MAY Id. Some private bills were brought up Iron) the Commons, and read the find time. The Earl of COVENTRY presented a petition from Worces ter, praying ter a revision of the cumin:Ll code. 'fire Olt: on the table were foraarded. L'id St: t I ELI) presented a pent ion from the owners of laud in the Ininrired of Iligliworth, Norfolk, compiaming of agtical• tural distress.-al.aid 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 o; the deepest interest. The Louie and the public knew, and his Majesty's nainisters ought to know, that in certain districts in the south-west of behind there had been a considerable deficiency in the crops of potatoes, which ocedsioneit great distress. Ile could trot help feeling it was a n., tier of much eonsolat ion to find the subject taken up so gene- rot's'' , by the • .abitante of tins country. and that a liberal subscription h e r. ucen tirade. It was a matter of exultation for the people of England to say they had ever been ready to relieve the etistresses of Ite:and, yet he could not avoid feeling there had been a retuissniss 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 takers steps to intorm themselves of the evil, and that they had taken ad the errata in their power to obviate it, much satisfaction would be felt by the unfortunate sutterets. As far as he bad been informed, that had not been the case, and in consequence of the omission the calismitoua distresses of Mut part of the country to a loch he alluded had risen to an alarming height. Ile held in his hand an extract of a letter received from a gentleman in the county et Clare, who, from his situation in that county, was entibied to make a representation upon wbrch the Lords might rely. The *able earl read the extracts. —•• The distress of the people here is beyond all possible descripition ; every part of the country is in well a state of distress, that the whole assistance raised here will not be store then a drop in the sea. Government has really done nothing ; and it' they mean to give ti‘libtariCe, it must be adinded forthwith, or it will conic 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 Ireland should be in a state of famine? If it was true that Government had been applied to, and had taken no measure% to prevent distress and injury in that unfortunate country, he expre,sed a hope that the noble earl would say sot Unless the statement could be contradicted by the noble earl, it would be the (Inv of the house to carry up an address to the Sovereign, praying him to order Ina* u res 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 produced pestilence , which fright 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 districts in Ireland to be lard before the house. The Lail of LIVERPOOL said, he 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. 11 hen 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 'Herded, without bringing the matter under the disenesion of parliament. Net only measure% of relief would be taken. but measures had been taken with as little delay as possible. heeds bad been furnished fur the ensuing crops, and money supplier'. The noble earl did not consider it necessary. unuer ail tire circumstances, - to address the Crown, and therefore opposed the n: Mon. 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 prevailed s mot only in the county of Clare, but other counties. In the mountainous districts of the south west, that dis•ress prevailed to a degree which could not be exceeded in the county . of Clare. Ile could only repeat, that Ireland must feel grateful to those int/irk:olds who had so gene mushy stood forward in Enijand. At the same time, he did not consider the assishoice afforded bis the public would be of any real assistance, without Government took up the subject. The Earl of BLESSINGTON supported the address moved the noble earl. He could not be satisfied with the promise that something would be done for the people of Ireland. The accounts of Mistress stated, that no less that liats,ntar persons wens in a state of starvation. This had been growing two years, and nothing bad been done. Some time ago, whenhe applied to the Archbishop of Tuain, respecting a statue to his late ngesty, that prelate expressed NI a wish that the money raised might be distributed among the suffering Irish, who were dying in the streets and ditches of typhus fever. Earl GREY did not feel any objection to the address moved titimhis noble friend. If it true that Government had taken mely m e a sures to provide be a remedy tor the sufferers of Ireland, it would be satisfactory to the distressed to shear, by the produc tion of the correspondence, that at the same time Government were using coercion unprecedented, they were also taking means to alleviate distress. Could there be a more horrible picture of Government than that presented on this occasion. Al it should appear that ministers had done nothing to prevent distress, the reins of Government ought to be wrested from their hands. lord ELLENBORGEG li said, no satisfactory . answer had been given by the noble earl as to the assistance which had been given to Irelands and in order to see what had been done for Ireland, they ought to have the papers moved for by the noble rani. Ile trusted the noble earl would press the motion to a division. He wished Government and parliament should prove to the people of Ireland that there was a feeling to reineely their distresses. He did not suppose that Government could remedi the distress in Ireland to any considerable extent, but all thaa could be done should be done. Earl BI.ESSI GTON said, 5,0001. had been sent oft this day for the relief of the sufferers of Clare. Lord HOLLAN ID supported the motion. Tile Marquis of LA N aDO WN E asked if the noble earl would name any precise day on which insuuctions were beet to Ireland to :Hind tenet i• The Earl of LIVERPOOL said, a few weeks since instruc • lions were sent to I reland to impart relief to the suffering paw. Earl of LAUDERDALE said, the object was not only to provide a remedy, but to guard against future calamity. I t the case was true which the noble earl hail stated, trovinutuent should have taken measures to give relief, not sonic weeks ago.lnitt some months ago; and if the Government of Ireland bad not commu nicated the approaching famine to the Government of this coun try, they had not done their duty. The house then divided. The numbers were, Contents. ; Non-contents, 35. The address was consequently lust by a majority of f 14. *the Martini, of LANSDOWNE then addressed the house on she subject of the proposed contract with the Bank for the renewal of their Charter. Toe noble marquis deprecated the purposed bargain as injurious to the pubitz. The advantage, if any could be derived, ought not to be given to any public body, but applini o the sinking fund. He did not wish to hitertcre with the machinery of - the sinking fund, but if they were obliged to conti nue it upon a principle of conipound interest, lie was persuaded that the fund ought to have the benefit of the present bargain. lie wished to recommend a short bill, to enable WC commission cis of the sinking hued to advance the Iran which was now con sidered twonsary to reduce taxation. The noble marquis move ix d for an account o all banks the country having less than s partners. a The lo.arl of LIVERPOOL said it was the opinion, lost war. that it was more to the advantage of the country to let the sink.. ing fund operate ! rather than contract with it for loans. That opinion might still remain. With respect to the present trans. helioll. to w hich the noble marquis alluded, his ittaiei.ty's t Les were anxious to contract for the benefit of the public, and if their contract was not advantageous, they would not make it. lie had no difficulty in saying there was a prospect of a contract advantageous to the country. There was no loan made by Go. vernment that was not open to parliament to negative. The motion was agreed t0..--Adjoutned. 1101:SF OF COMMONS. MONDAY, MAY li. Mr. LAMBTON presented petitions from Shields, Sun derland, &c. against the bill for repealing the nuesiation laws. If lie were to indulge in speculative opinions, lie should s.ippent this bill; but when he recollected how 71i property was likely to he &Reefed, and how exten sive a taxation was to be paid, lie feared that the puce repeal might be attended with most set ions conse quences. Mr. ELLICE spoke of the enormous expence imposed on this country by the collectors at the different ports. At Canada tile cellector received upwards of 3,0001 , while such officer at New York received nut above 5..01. The consular fees were, too, ruinously heavy. It the regula tions of trade net e to be Myren et), why were these not improved at once ? these could be remedied by the wilds te rs.—( Hear, bear.) Petitions read, and ordered to he printed. The Navigation Laws Amendment bill was read a second time. (littered to be conitunted to-muriow, as were the oilier bills connected with this subject. L rd EBRINGTON presented a petition from land occupiers in Hulditworthy, Devonshire, complaining of the unexampled pressure of taxation, atc.—•ol tiered to be printed. Mr. GORDON presented a petition from the ship ownees of Aberdeen, against Mr Wallace's bill. Capt. WESINSS piesented a petition from Fifeshire„ praying for permission to export their spirits. Such change in the law would ;Alford means of eons aaaaa iug 600,000 quarters of barley.—Oi tiered to be printed. _ Sir 'l'. LETHBRIDUE presented a petition hum (men_ piers of land in Somerectshire and 6loticestershite„ com e planting of agricultural (lioness, and expressing the-i f alarm at the resolutions brought forward tin the subject o agriculture, paiticularly the resolutions from the member for Portarlington (Mr. Ricardo.) That hon. member had been very fire in his remarks, observing, that those who complained of distress, and espoused the comae of the farmers, had no reasons to urge for their statements. That bon. member seemed to be deemed a very " God of Rea son." lie knew what had been the consequences of Int lowing the " Goddess of Reason," and lie now warned all persons not to be led away by the (facilities of the " tied of Reasou."—(Hear, and laughter.) Petition read, and ordered to be printed. LICENSING SYSTEM. Mr. HUSKISSON presented a petition from Robert Churchall, complaining of the defects of the licensing .system. The petitioner set forth, that some years ago he embanked in a large building .peculation, having built near :.U0 houses in Stepney, in the neiglibou • hood of which there were no houses, positisely no public houses. Having built upwards of lOU houses, lie erected a Noose fur a public house,one being much wanted, but lie applied year after year to the magistrates for a licence in vain. ile eventually sold it to a Mr. Brown, after having had it on his baud& for yews, for 1,1001. Mr. Brown then dealt with Barc'lay's. Desiring to get the licence, he said it was neces sat y to change his brewers. He next dealt with Hatileity's, and the application for the licence was i 1111 l e diately granted. The house then became worth 3,4,0001., and Mr. B. might have sold it instantly for that sum. The petitioner complained of this conduct. Having built 100 inure hoes es, he built another for a public house; but the application was again refused. The petitioner complained of this syst em, and attributed it to :he defective state cf lie law. lie now wished to ask again whether there was any intention to lower the price of beer? As the home had reduced the duty, the public must have the benefit of it. He now again asked fur intinmetioe--this war the dela time of asking. (Hear, and a laugh.) ,11 I'. F. BUXTON said, that the licence in question was refthied because the new house's were not itthabited; when the contrary was the case, the licence was granted. The other houses, to which licences were refused, were close by that which had previously been licensed. As to the price of porter, he had to state, that it lead been lowered one halfpenny per pot, the reduction of the tax amounting to wily one farthing. With respect to the general charge of brewers' influence and interest in public houses, there was tench misrepresentation on that subject. He v,ualii speak of his house —they served Ititi public twines ;of them, 105 were in the country ; 40 were their own lionses; . 22 were confined to them by l a r g e loans ; but upwards id 0,0 midi houses were flee and independent of them. — Another had said that the beer was not so stymie as it was 1:0 years ago; in reply to which lie had to state, that the Excise could peeve that the beer was now 115 per cent. stronger. Mr. CALVERT said, that the licensing system was muc to be coplaied uf ; and if they wanted piooti of giieva h nces, he m could n bring 100 pelitious iu a week, unfold ing great hardstiips. Mr. G. BENNET said, the present fatal system was most injurious to the morals, as well as the health of the people ; and rather than that it should continue. he %viand agree to compensate the brewers her the houses they heat. the country seemed to be parcelled out aneutigst tuie brewers, and they in too many instances eh egged the pet suns who woe obliged to deal with them with the moist beer. 'little war 11.) COI rtelion for the evil but thiowitig the trde open. Every prison w Ito ild4l Illealls to open a house a ought to be entitled to a lier•ime ; why net the sale of beer be a nude as open as that of der bak.et, grocer, kc.? elr. W HITBREAD agreed in what had fallen trout the nir inkier for 11 icy nwutlr (Mr. Buxton), and lie wAS glad that the bldienieut hail been made, to show that the trade was not so cuutined as route had imagine blloo d. shoalliap tre was 110 W very extensive competition: but lue pro ve of soy law that teu ded to thrum the trade still enure open, especially as tar as the biewen , were concerned ; liuwoiri, if any change were contemp l a t e d —the id be ea haying been mentioned th at the Da de of beer ought to t a s open as that of bread —he trusted due attention %Walt lie paid to exis!itig interest=. If the trade were thiown upeu 50 111.1 i 11l artily, it must be ism:tided s ith exteriorise : ,, a t i c t u t utocntaii7titiitcicQuopiateato,si,octottilioelpditibli i ed e t h o uu ti s e e i s o nnotwtd.in ex-