The National Register. — London, England, 1821-05-28 00:00:00

lei 3mperfal Varliamtut. HOAR OF LORDS. MONDAY, MAY V. GRAMPOUND DISFRANCHISEMENT BILL. The Earl of LAUDERDALE rose, on the order for going . into a committee on this bid, and observed, that he did not nicaa to oppose it in that stage, if it could be ;mode applicable to the jusose of the case. Time LORD CHANCELLOR intimated, that lie could never ngree to the bill, unless it came out of the committee in a very differed t shape. The house then went into the committee. The Earl of LIVERPOOL objected to the words in the pre amble, which went to disfranchise all the voters of the borough of Grampound, and proposed an amendment. The LORD CHANCELLOR observed, that according to his notion of corporation law, and the right of corporators to return members to Parliament, this bill even wish the amendment, could not pass. He could not bring himself to think a consi derable number of voters for the borough of Grampound were to be disfranchised for no crime. His proposition was to insert, after the words objected to by the noble earl in the preamble, the fol lowing:—•• Frani henceforth the burgesses of Grampound not convicted of bribery shall be the only persons entitled to vote for the election of burgesses to be retnrnal to serve in the high court of parliament." That amendment, he said, would leave the house at liberty to insert other names in lieu of those found guilty of bribery. The Earl of CARNARVON thought the arrangement would defeat the object of the bill, and change die character in tour. The LORD CHANCELLOR explained in support of his proposition. Lord ERSKINE most strenuously supported the Bill upon the principle it assumed. The Marquis of LANSDOWN was ready to adopt any amendment which might carry into &Isa the intention of the Bill, which was to disfranchise persons guilty of bribery and cor rupt practices. The Earl of LIVERPOOL, to meet the wishes of the Com mince, withdrew his amendment for the purpose of moving anodic' leaving out the words :n the subsequent part of the clause. The motion then stood, to leave out these words; " The Borough of Grampound in Cornwall, shall cease to elect burgesses to elect members to sit in the high court of parliament. Viscount SIDMOUTH objected to the continuance of the above words, on the ground persons who had been guilty of no 'crime were to be disfranchised. The innocent and guilty were to be disfranchised eta muse. The Earl of HARROWBY supported the bill, and said he slinuld vote for the entire object of it. The Earl of WESTMORLAND opposed it. ♦ long discussion then occurred, during which the bill under went various amendments, and was reported to the House.— Adjourned. ECESDAY, MAY 22. The house met in a committee of privileges, on the claim to the Strathmore peerage, and after Mr. Wetherell Lad been heard for the young claimant, further proceed ings were postponed. 'file GIIAMPoUND DISFRANCHISEMENT RILL.—The report of the Graumpound disfranchisement bill, after some conversation, was received, the amendments agreed to, and the bill ordered to be read a third time ou Thurs day. TIMBER Dorms Bibb.—Earl BATHURST rose on the order of the day for going into a committee on the timber duties bill, and detailed to the house, from the report of the committee on foreign trade, the object of the bill, which was to afford protection to the North American timber trade, the Canada Ille(C11111113 hissing some claim upon the government, in consequence of the encourage ment held out to them during the blockade of the Bahia, under the system of Btionaparte. The noble earl con cluded by moving the committal of the bill. The Earl of LAUDERDALE addressed the hone. at considerable length, in answer to the noble earl, and op posed the bill in all its details. lie strongly deprecated the policy which gave advantage to the American timber trade. Nothing but the desire to keep the rotten ships in the transport service afloat, could have induced his Ma jesty's governineut to sanction the measure. It was well known that the American timber was not equal to the Baltic. The quality was inferior, inasmuch as it was sub. ject to the dry rot. In the committee on foreign trade, he put this question to one of the witnesses—Suppose a house was built in London, of Norway timber of the best finality, and you valued it at 6,0001. what value would you put on a house of the same denomination built of American timber?-The answer was, " I would -not re commend any person who employed me to purchase such a house at any rate." The noble earl considered the ad vantage given to the American timber trade no better than a colonial job. It was an arrangement which gave a bounty of 11. a ton, over and above the rate of transport and freight. He did not wish to go into all the calcula tions, because it was generally known that the bill would be most injurious to Use Baltic trade. With respect to the bounties on Baltic timber, he dept reeled the advan tage given to Russia over Norway and Sweden. Time bill gave a precedent to a new exclusion never before revue it.red in time commercial code. It was this—they laid their duties in a way that 11. Os. was imposed less on deals than upon block timber. That arrangement was injurious to the interests of the csiuntry, inasmuch as the lliitish 111 W mills were neglected. 'rue policy hail hitherto been t o encourage the saw mills, but that policy was 110 lunge' considered. Time merchants and manufacturers of this ternary could never benefit by a system of policy which si se liberal to foreigners and injitriutts to England. Under all the circimistancee, his objection to the bill was so strong, that he inured it b: committed this day six men Lit d ELLEN BOROUGH said, if this bill was thrown out, lie trusted something would be done to arm:thee this tairot taut subject. He could not admit the bill was a ....arias job, but it appeared that a great naval force was to arc kept by a tax on one description of persons, namely, the purcaaseis uf timber. That tax was cei taints unjust. It would be better policy to peas a bill making time public at large contribute lo tie support of the Canada shipping. He considered the hill lambing less than a measure estab la slung a bounty to iiltroduee the dry rot into buildings a,i.t houses. He cuticurrial in the view taken by his uubte friend. He ►hould henceforth never expect to do any good in a conuutoce upon fureign trade. 'lime report himself and other noble hods had given was satisfactory o all bat his Majesty's ministers. He could not vote los time elnynilment, because he believed the bill et/litigated F ono gond pre.skione. Lord KING opposed the hill. 'lite Earle!' LIN ER POJI, eupported it. To, ihnoomisni Nas ury . rtived , and the Lill passed the aught t h e committee. - THE NATIONAL ITER WEDNESDAY, HAY 23. Several bills were moved from the Commons, and read the first tinse.-71ie bills on the table were forwarded a stage. On the motion of Earl BATIIPRST, the Timber Duties bill was read a third time, and passed to the C0111111011S• The house then adjourned. THURSDAY, KAT 24. The Strathmore Peerage was again heard in a Com mittee of Privileges, and further proceedings postponed till to-morrow. _ _ Tile foreign witnesses bill was read a third time and passed. Lord CALTHORI'E presented a petition from the in habitants of Birmingham, praying for revision of the criminal laws. (ittAMPOtND BILL—The Earl of HARROWBY rose on the third reading of the Gramponnd Disfranchisement Bill, and expressed a desire to extend the right of voting to the adjoining district, rather than the county of York. The Earl of LIVERPOOL was adverse to any altera tion of the Bill as it then stood. Any inconvenience which might arise with 'respect to the mode of taking votes, ought to become the subject of another bill. The Earl of HA REWOOD said lie could nut sutler the bill to be read a third time without expressing his objec tion to it. There was one point which did not seem to strike the attention of the House. The County of York was told an alteration would be made in their representa tion, and no time or opportunity was given them fur op posing the arrangement. The Earl of WESTMORLAND repeated his former objections to the bill. He was astonished to find the noble lords so charmed with the measure. It was supported by Radicals and Anti.reformers, yet lie challenged any man to produce any bill so inconsistent and unjust In principle. The LORD CHANCELLOR said a few words in op position to the measure. The Lords then divided upon the question of the third reading. The numbers were—Contents, 39—Non Con tent I2.—Majority fur the third reading-97. The Bill was consequently read a !hi, d time and passed. The Earl of DONOUG el MORE presented a Petition from William Chancey, one of the principal clerks in his Majesty's Court of Common Pleas, Ireland, praying to.be heard by counsel against the Irish Law Courts Bill. The Earl of LIMERICK adverted to the abuses in the Courts of Law in It eland, and expressed a hope that the House would not delay the proposed remedy. The Petition was read, and laid on the wale. A d joni nod. FRIDAY, MAY vs. The house met at three lick( k in a committee of pri vileges on the Stratlit Te peerage, when counsel and witnesses were heard, and farther proceediugs postponed to Tuesday. On the motion of the Earl of SHAFTESBURY, a mes. sage was ordered to be seat to the commons, requesting a copy of the report of the committee appointed to in. quire into the sale of bread. Mr. M. A. Taylor brought up the Steam Engine bill from the Commons, with the amendments agreed to. The Westminster improvement bill went through a co 11111 l thee, and was reported, without amendments, to the Louse.—Adjourued to Monday. MOUSE OF COMMONS. MONDAY, NAY 21. Mr. S. WORTLEY moved the second reading of the Woollen Cloth Stamping bill. Read a second time, and ordered to he printed. The house went into a committee on the Loudon IVharfs bill. Mr. T. WILSON moved a clause to prevent any in fringement on the customary right of was, Sc. Mr. CALVER'f defied the iligenuity of his hon. friend to find what part of the bill, as it at present stood, inter fered with the m ight of way. The gallery was cleared for a division lint none took place. The amendment was egatived. The housere sumed, and the report was ordered to be received to-morrow. Mr. D. BROWNE brought forward his motion for leave to bring in a bill to amend the inland navigation laws. He implored the particular attention of the horse to the subject; it was to extend the canal from an obscure village to Bs'litigator (Londonderry); without it the go verment cuuld nut du any thing in the business. He concluded with moving for leave to bring in a bill for the extension of such canal, to afford means for the better employment of the poor.—Leave given. Mr. VENISON presented a petition from the vestry of Mitcham against the Newington Select Vestry dill, as an unjust and unconstitutional measure.—Referred to the committee cm such subject. True-Wateetts.—Mr. ELLICE presented a petition from tide-waiters mill others, who had been dismissed for taking lees in violation oI• existing regulations. They had done this with the view of forwarding the business of the merchants. In consequence of the transaction it had been found right to make a sweeping distills —260 per sons having been at once dismissed. .Many of them were most deserving prisons, having been upwards of 10 years in their sititatious. He hoped the case would be taken into consideration. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said lie should not oppose the bringing up of the petition, and that many cases were cases oh hardships. 'lke petition was presented and read. SUPPLY.—The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved, that the house go into a committee of supply. Mr. CIIEEVEY, before they went into such committee, thought it right to bung forward a resulnuon respecting the cliar:e of 5,9001. for [unifications in Barhatfues. He objecte i to this grant, because there was already created a fend to meet such expenditure, he meant the four and a half per cent. leeward island duties. Ile had already a general notice on the books on the subject. (Hear, hear, from the ministerial beaches.) He did not knew what they meant by heat ; but lie wished they would attend. There was a fund already provided, and why then was the house to agree to this go dut ?—(Checus.)-1 he hon. niem ber then desired the clerk to read the resolution of the house on this subject in Queen Anne's reign, her Majesty eventually directing those duties to be appropriated to the repairing of the forts. fortuticititons. etc. (liear.)— rhis was the way in which the fluids alight to ire used; lint, instead of so duin, the 'Hooey was divided amongst cea Liu lords their daughters and other felthlit —but more particiitari ) itlllollgal tile CUllUCCtioll of 111,11 I• hers of patliainent ; dad then when lie C 41111.: du%ll/ to Laaiplain of this, there was set up a shouting cud bouuug, as If he bad mentioned sonsething most preposteessa•-sind what was still more decent, official persons ems down and voted for themselves against the public. 'lids was ' the case respecting the three lords of the admiralty; they not only voted away the public money, but they voted the money into their own pockets. Such persons—persons who were interested in the issue, ought not to vote; and Hatsell quoted cases in 1604, and other periods, when persons under such circumstances withdrew. • Mr, H. added, that the practice had grown into disuse, but fur ther remarked, that it was indecent In the house not to revive such practice. He (Mr. C.) thought that the ex isting prataice was a scandal to the house, and concluded with moving an amendment, embodying the sentiments and facts respecting the leeward islands, &c. Sir C. LONG said, if he remained silent he should be condemned, and if he spoke he should be termed an in terested person; so that either way he should be con demned. The leeward island duties were granted, he contended, in an unconditional manner ; it was the here ditary revenue of the crown—but he admitted that there was an exception in favour of Barbadoes, for the erection of forts, &c. He should nut go into the question fully now; it had been granted, as slow, fur upwards of a cesi tory, without complaint from parliament. Besides, since that period, Barbadoes had been made a naval depot, and as that was the case, it came properly before parliament. Further, all the legal authorities had admitted the legality of the present mode of appropriation. He thought there was no case made out, and he should therefore resist the amendment. Sir F. BURDETT was surprised to hear it said that no cue was made out. The troth was, the money had been applied to the corrupting members of the house; and if the practice had lasted for a century, that might be one reason why they found themselves in the present If the funds were the crowii's still, like all its revenues, they were to be used fur the benefit and not for the detri ment of the public. (Hear, hear.) It never could be m"ant that such duties were to be granted for pensions, &c. He hoped at least that this motion would not be inefficacious; that the house would not be turned aside by such a gross mass of contradictory representations as had assailed them from all quarters. He trusted that the house would support the amendment. Mr. GOULlttlliti defended the mode of' applying the leeward island duties—it had the warrant of having long been sanctioned by parliament. Whenever the lineation should coma more distinctly before them, he should be prepared to meet it more folly; he should then be pro vided with doenments. Mr. MONCK said, that the address of the mover of the amendment had received no answer whatever. Though Barbadoes had only been named in the appropriation, and the amendment confined itself to that island, it could not be consuls red for the purpose of being squandered amongst favour lies. It was meant for national purposes. As to not having looked to the matter for a century, was that any authority for pursuing a bad course ? The island was altered in its situation, it was said—there were greater expenses; and was not that a reason for nut being more attentive to their funds? (Hear, hear.) And had not the situation of this island altered? Had it ever before such debts, such millions of debt and taxes--such an army and a navy in time of peace? Under these cir cumstances, they were bound, as honest guardians of the public purse, to take care of their resources. (Hear.) The gallery was then cleared for a division. The num bers were—For the amendment, Su—Against it, tar— Majority, 2s. THE CORONATION. —On re-entering the gallery, we found the house in a committee, and Mr. MONCK wished to learn whether there was any preparation making fur the reception of the Queen, and whether, in consequence, any sum in addition to the 100,0001. more, would in consequence be required? He had heard, but he would not believe the scandal, that vi bile seats were preparing for peeresses, none was or dered for the Queen, who was as much the Queen as the King was King of these realms. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought there was not much analogy between voting pay for artil lery and dragoons and the coronation expenditure. He had not heard that any application was to be made fur more money on account of the coronation. Lord LONDONDERRY s dd, he would not hesitate on a point of practice ; he was ready to say that neither he nor any other of the servants of the crown were not prepared to exercise the unbounded prerogative in the nay in which some seemed to desire. If any opposite. in their discretion or indiscretion, were prepared to raise a question on the subject, he was ready to meet it; but on their heads he the consequences —Hear, hear, hear.) The Queen was Consort of the King, in the eye of the law, undoubtedly, but it was the prerogative of the King to say who should and a lie should not attend him ut his co ,mation. BEOUGHA NI had not expected that any such ques would be raised here—but in Supply all pievances were fit matter of mvestigatiun. As to the question t nut had been a4itated, he should not now nay any thing respecting it; ha only is tilted to guard himself against its being imag ined, by his silence, that Ire assented to the proposition of the noble lucd, that it was the undoubted prerogative of the King to determine who should attend him in his royal coronation, to the exclusion of certain persons, ORDNANCE ESTIMATES.—Mr. WARD then moved a grant of 94,3001 for artillery, garrisons, dtc. file. HUME apposed the grant. It was Kreuter than was hail in the American war; he proposed a reduction of 23,0001. whicn could be elfTted without any reduction of the number of men, by attacking the stall, Ste. It was not a question of efficiency, but one of expense; therefore, unless some better reasons were given, he could not see how the comintttee could agree to the grant ? If a better case were not adduced, he was at a loss to imagine they could do otherwise than agree to the reduction of the grant, at least 23,0001. ( H ear. ) Sir lh llAltUlNGEdefended the grant, knowing, as a military man, its propriety t persons of a certain 6 . figure of mind" were required to keep up the full establishment of officers. A contrary course would he must pernicious. Mr. 6. BEN N ETT said, that to put in comparison a state of peace w ith that of war was to bring together opposites; but the question was, what was the integral force requisite for the country ? The grant of 5,7001. for the medical establishment ord nance was also moved; but Mr. Hume prepibed a reduction of 3.7001. A division took place—Ayes -11—N3es —Nl.ijority in favour of the original motion 'l2ll. Mr. WARD proposed 6,6001. for the pr•re,sore, Sic. of the royal withal y college, Wool iea,