The National Register. — London, England, 1821-03-18 00:00:00

P ) SMPt liaritamtnt. HOUSE OF LORDk4. MONDAY. MARCH 12. Lord MACCLESFIELD presented a petition from Chipping Norton on the subject of agricultural distress, which was read, and laid en the table. WOOLLEN Tans.—Lord CALTHORPE miksented a petition from the manufacturers and others netted with the woollen trade In Frome, (Somerse ) com -0 plaining of the duties on foreign wool , on to three half-pence per lb. as well as the finer. The petition was then read. The noble lord then presented a second petition, hav ing the same object, from Shepton Mallet, which was also read, and both were referred to the committee oil foreign trade. STATE OF IRELAND.—Lord BLESSINGTON rose upon% the order of the day, the peers being summoned for the consideration of a motion respecting the internal state of Ireland. His object was not, however, on this occasion, to enter upon that important subject—various eircum stances made it expedient to postpone the discussion.— The noble earl concluded by moving, that the order of the day for his intended motion he discharged. After some conversation between the Marquis of Lans down, the Earl of Liverpool, Lord Limerick, and Lord Darnley, the Earl of Illessingtou's notice was discharged. The house adjourned. TUESDAY, HAREM 12. The Lord Chancellor ;mended the house lit four o'olock, when prayers were read by the Bishop of Exeter. Mr. Mason, from the East India Company, presented at the Bar of the house, copies of resolutions of the directors for granting salaties, pensions, and unmake, which were laid on the table, The Lunatics' Stock Transfer Bill, the Nova Scotia Trade, and the New South Wales Duties Bill, went through a committee, and were agreed to without any amendment. _ . _ . The General Enclosure Bill went throuali a Committee, and the re,oltit ions were agreed to with no amendment. On the motion of the Marquis of Lansdumrne, Lord Beau champ was added !to the members of the committee on Foreign Trade.—The house adjourned. - WEDNESDAY, MARCH le. The Lord Chancellor attended the house at the usual hour, and disposed of appeals. The General Inclo , ure Bill was reported, and the third reading appointed for to-morrow. The Stock Transfer Bill, the Nova Scotia Trade Bill, and New South Wales Duties Bill, were read a third time and paned. The house adjourned, THURADA V, MARCH 15. Mr. Irving, from the Customs, presented an account of the Quantity and value of imports into Great Britain from the United States of America and Canton. Mr. Hall, from the Penitentiary, Milbank, brought up a report of the state of the establishment. "The above returns were laid on the table. The General Inclosure Amendment Bill was read a Blued time and passed. The Earl of SFIAFTE'I BURY prseented a petition from the Mayor, A Iderincii, mid Corporation of Colchester, against the Roman Catholic Claims. The petition was read and Laid on the table. Mr. Brogilen, and other members from the Common., brought up the Silk Manufacturers' Bill, the Cochinenl Bill, and the Glass Duties Bill, a hick were read the first time.— The house adjourned. CR !DAY, MARCH 16. Mr. Smith, from the commissioners of roads and bridges in Scotland, presented the seventh report of the said commissioners. The Earl of SHAFTESBURY presented a petition from the proprietors of land in Upper Canada, ;praying the duties on timber may not be altered. The Cochineal Bill, the Glass Doles, and Silk Manu facturers' Bills were read the second time. The Earl of DARNLEYsaid he held in his hand a petition signed by many clergymen of the church of England, praying for the restoration of her Majesty's name in the liturgy. In the absence of the right rev. prelate (the Archbishop of Cantei bury) lie was unwilling to present the petition, therefore should postpone it till Monday, in the hope that the right rev. prelate would attend. Mr. Brogilen brought up a message from the house of commons, which announced that the house had allowed J. Gladstou, Esq. and another member, to attend the lord's mitten upon foreign trade. Mr. Brogden also brought tip the Flax encouragement B U. which was read the first lime —Adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. MONDAY, MARCH 12. Mr. Sheriff %V A l I'H.IIAN presented a petition from the Common Council, London, praying to be heard against such parts of Mr. Calvert's London wharfs bill as affected the City's interests. Mr. S.FOX presented a petition from Beverley against granting the required claims to the Roman Catholics. Mr. LA NIBTON observed, that the petition came from a meeting composed from 19 persons: tour aldermen and eight chamber-men—four of whom were against the petition. Sir %V. SCOTT presented a petition from the Univer sity of Oxford against the Catholic claims. Severally read, and ordered to lie pinned. Lord A. HANDLFON presented a petition from In vet urie, Abetileeti, complaining of the law as far as af fected Scotch Burgh-. Petition ordered to be printed. The LORD ADVOCATE brought in the Scotch admi ralty regulation bill.—Read a first time, and ordered to be primed, and to be read a second time this day fort night. . . LUSIIINGTON moved that leave of absence be given to dlr. Seals( tt and to Mr. Denman, to go to the Northers) and Mi l:i i ris.ts. Agreed to. Mr. Aideslll4ll BUIDGES prownied a petition from Bridge Wait), praying to be beard by euuniel against the London %hails' bill. Mr. Altlertnan WOOD moved for • return of the debt due front Mr. Hill, late .1 tax-gatherer ut the amount of the hale of his property, &c. lie had presented a petition holt' Mr. Hill, 1141 W cotitiqed iii ll cliester ; and be elite' eil into a tif the ilia gistrates w ho had, on account of the City of London vi3itr4l tlik anteagst other lie had now ivaud Inn ilt,eninelits. the bills, ere. So far rfolll hilVilig examined the jailer, he was absent at a ; •iiii d 3 t the Sur dinner with which the magistrates entertained them. elves, he (Alderman Wood), produced the hill, which THE NATIONAL REGISTER charged for cold meat, the expellee being 11. M. for al derman Wood, Perring, Goodbehere, Mr. Deuce, Mr. Birch, and the town clerk. Mr. F. BUXTON had never intended to question the worthy alderman's statement—but he was somewhat sur prised that four aldermen, the town clerk, and a surveyor, should have dined for a guinea.—(4 laugh, and hear.) Mr. Alderman WOOD replied, that he had the bill in his pocket. (Hear, hear.) ROMAa CATHOLIC3.—Mr. HUSKISSON presented a petition from the clergy, &c. of Chichester, against the Roman Catholic claims—but he could not support the prayer of the petition. (Hear.) Yet' ' on read, and ordered to be printed. MiepUTTERWORTH presented a petition front cer tain p,rsons in St. Dunstan's in the West, also against the Roman Catholic claims. This petition, he said, met with theles c t ir cordial concurrence. ARRE said, that the lion. membox was a most zealous advocate of exploded doctrines and obsolete opi nions. He wished they would have the goodness to read the petition, for it expressed sentiments alike at variance with history and truth. The allegations were totally des. titute of foundation. The truth was, that the Protestant mind had undergone most important changes. Mr. BU'rfERWORTH said, a inure temperate petition had nut been presented. The petition, like himself; did not wish to indulge in any un-christian feeling towards our Catholic brethren. ROAsTEU WHEAT.—Sir R. WILSON asked whether it was intended to press the recent construction of the law regarding the sale of roasted wheat, or rye breakfast powder. He also hoped that the conviction against Mr. Hunt would not he pressed. (Hear, bear.) He had in some degree contributed to the offence, for he had com municated the Chancellor of the Excheqw:r's answer made to him about ten months ago, that there was no intention to prosecute for the sale of roasted wheat. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied, that he could not give any answer now—hut the subject was under consideration. . . SCOTCH Bei ns.—Sir R. FERGUSON moved, that he be excused further attendance in the Scotch Burghs com mittee, because the labour was carried on in such a way as to present no hope of any thing useful being done. He knew the people of Scotland were looking to the com mittee with considerable expectations; and as he knew that they would be disappointed, he could not lend his sanction to the inquiries.—Motion agreed to. Lord PALNIERSTON moved, that the house resolve itself into a committee. Mr. BENNETT moved, that the Finance Reports be referred to such committee.—Agreed to. Lord PALNIERS'VON then ruse to move the army estimates. Lengthened details were not so requisite now, after what bad passed. When dangers threatened, large forces were requisite ; but government said, when tran quillity was restored, diminution should follow. This promise was kept; the estimates spewed the diminutiou. There were reductions of 9,000 men-145,0001. expence; on the first class of estimates, the reduction was 367,0901. .411 the estimates evinced, he trusted, the most anxious desire to reduce the public expence. 'Fite savings, it appeared, on the whole of the estimates, would amount to about 7e0,011q. His lordship concluded with moving the first grant for the quantity of men. Colonel DAVIES took All extensive review of the esti mates, maintaining that there ought to have been still greater reductions, and that the state of the couutry called for the exercise of more extensive economy. Mr. DAWSON, without admitting the views that were entertained by some gentlemen opposite, acknowledged that the former establishment was not now called for. Mr. MACDONALD did not enter into detail, but con tended that a more rigid application of the principle of economy was called fur. After a debate wiiich continued to a very late hour, dur ing which the members on the oppostiun side divided the house at least a dozen times, Lord CAS'fLEREAGH observed, that he would not press the question further, as the estimates could not be got through in any reasonable time. The chairman Oleo reported progress, and obtained lease to sit again on Wednesday. The other orders of the day were then gone through, and the house adjourned at a quarter to tire o'clock. TUESDAY, MAliell 13. Mr. FYNES preheated a petition from the collegiate church of St. Peter's' WestlllillltCr o against the claims of the cathodes. Ordered to be printed. Sir J. GRAHAM presented a petition from the inagic Irate s and clergy of Carlisle. complaining of the previ.lency of irreligion and insubordination, and attiihuting it to the Nast of education and additicnial char:hes. Mr. CURW EN thought that t of the persons who signed it could nut have read it, as Cumberland had been must decent and orderly in its conduct. Mr. J AM ES did not agree to the allegations or the prayer of the petit . —but bole testimony to the respectability of the petit • •rs. Mr. WODElloliili presented a petition from Norwich and its neighboto hood, compl • • / of the difficulties ex perienced in consequence of the distressed state of agricul ture. Ordered to he printed. WRO y moved for leave to bring in a bill to repeal so much of the Act regarding bankrupts as related to Commis•i.tness' place of meeting. Ile made this motion with the view to the erection of the new courts Fur the coat missioaers. Agreed to. Mr. W ESTIAN postponed the of which he Ivid given notice, for the ►epeel of the last malt tax, (in roair (pence of the ebsenre, from indispositiou, of Lund Castle rea4ll) to the2lst March. Mr. CRLEV y was sorry that his lion. friend had been so courteous as to postpone his . If the noble lord were ill, it was iii consequence of the fruitless battle he had been fightiog oil the pi eceding est ning. When millions were to be voted assay, then the parties were present.—lf the motion sere postponed, the supplies also ought to he postponed ; for iitie.l n ise they would be debating the meant of raising the supplies after the supplies had been noted. Mr. WESTERN presented petitions from Saffron Wal. mimeo —Culclie.tm r, &my. coniphoulitg of the distressed state ui eri'culture, I.lLrliellialiy 1,(81111;:. 1,. be relieved from the Lea malt duty. Order. to be pi Until. !Ur. CU It WEN putaptsited his motion respecting the agricultural bib fie tell mu trw 2milth umstuot, to give way tu the mutt tax 'notion of Mr. Western. Mr. S. WORTLEY, harm d, that the report of the Grant pound 1) dranchisrameat Bill he io , :tonntitttd. Agreed to. Mr. J WOWI LAY, iu the co uutittee, tatnieJ several 1 amendments, to fill up blanks, At. Agreed to. Report to. morrow. Sir J. NEWPORT moved for accounts of all sums paid to the distributors of stamps in Dublin, &c. Ordered. Mr. S. WORTLEY brought in a bill to regulate the attendance of Jams at Assizes. 'Read a first time, and ordered to he read a second time this day three weeks. The report of the (Bass Duties' Bill was presented and ordered In be re•id a second time to-morrow. Several of the orders were then postponed till to-morrow, after which the house adjourned. WEDNESDAY. MARSH ISt Mr. C. W. moved that the report on the subject be entered as read, proposed the resolution for adoption of the 110113 C, that on au one day there be read shover) orders of the day.—Agreed to. AUSTRIAN LOAN.—Mr. JAMES presented a petition from the inhabitants of Liverpool and its neigebourhood. He did not know what sort of petitions would now be received, since the house was in the habit of rejecting the petitions of portions of th e people. The petitioners complained of the distresses under which the country laboured ; but they resulted from over taxation and they could not but recommend the calling in the debt from the imperial defaulter, the Emperor of Austria. That debt was le or 19 millions ; it had been wrongly calculated in the papers laid before the house. They added, that it would be well to eniorce the repayment of the loan now, as Austria could afford to engage in such unwarrantable inroads upon the privileges of other countries. Hfiliould not but believe that the ministers were parties to thi oly Alliance, and that they desired the destruction of the cause in which Naples had so patrioticolly engaged. Petition read. Mr. WROTTESLEY did not know what the hon. member (Mr. James) meant in saying that the petitions of portions of the people were rejected ; for his part he thought that the doors had never been thrown more open to the people of England.— As to a petition presented on a former night by the honourable member, it had been veromproperly rejected ; but that rejection was no proof of the indieflrsition of tile house to receive petitions. After sonic remarks from Mr. F. Palmer, the petition was ordered to be printed. Dr. PII I L LIM ORE obtained leave to bring M a bill to amend the marriage act. Mr. CH ETWYNDE brought his motion respecting the ex pences resulting to the country from the passing of vagrants.-- There were no less than 68 acts on the sqbject. The system was most defective, particularly those portions of it that regard the the passing of vagrants, the rewards offered for their apprehension, &c. If the laws were of so anomalous a charaeter, he thought he had established the necessity of investigating the laws on the subject, and he therefore moved that they be referred to a select committee to report their opinions, &c. Mr. HARBORD admitted the necessity of investigation on the subject, and of a revision of the laws. in support of this position, lie asserted that in St. George's, Hanover Square, there were six constables and 12 beadles, who apprehended 23 vagrants. while six persons belonging to the mendicity society, in like time, apprehended 267 vagrants. Motion agreed to, and committee appointed. Mr. R. SMITH then brought forward his mofon on the sub ject of the Austrian loan. Since 1797 not one farthing had been paid either of principal or interest ; and in interest alone this country now annually lost above one million. He adverted to the debates that had taken place on the subject—the high pro mises of Mr. Pitt. and the suspicion of .Nlr. Fox ; the latter on one occasion having quoted the confederacy, applying it to this transaction—that the price was no subject of argument; all that was haggled about was the day of ,paiyment."—(Hear, and a considered that this subject, wore than ever, tolled for the interference of the he . especi ally when land owners could hardly call their estates Ahem owu; and he thetefore deemed it incumbent on parliament to express its opinion decisively on this subject. Austria had experienced great advantages to sustain is finances; in truth, its finances were in a very improved condition. Its Italian states seemed to be deemed only as objects of plunder; and the war which it threatened against Naples, imperatively called on the house to ask why their loan was not repaid ?—(Hear !)—lt was also in • cumbent on the house to adopt some step of this kind, to show to Europe that England was not the secret friend of such trans actions as Austria was engaging in. Austria, let it he remem bered, showed us no favour in her custom-house or other regu lotions; we were as severely dealt with as any other nation... , He concluded with moving for copies of any correspondence oe the subject between the courts. Lord CASTLEREAGH had no objection to the motion. As to the sum, though, with interest, it had been named at 16 or 17 millions, the loan was only about four millions. This go vernment, however, as would appear from the correspondence, had not omitted to demand the repayment with full vigour. Sir J. NEWPORT said, it was no reason that the business should not be discussed now because it was agitated elsewhere in 115 15. It ought to be recollected that the lust principle of the holy alliance, into which this country lied entered, was good leith—the keeping of engagements that had been solemnly en tered into. Mr. Fox had prophesied that this debt would be a debt for ever—that it never would be repaid, Mr. Pitt was hurt that the good faith of such a power should be questioned; and it now because those on whom the mantle of Mr. Pitt had de scended, to see that his engagements were fultilled.—(Hear, hear.)—Motion agreed to. Anus - EST I stia Es.—The house having resolved into a com mittee of supply, the consideration of the army estimates was resumed. Air. MACDONALD rose to redeem the pledge he had given on a former evening. He proposed to reduce the three about tet),(xx). Ile considered, that, according to the showing of the gentlemen opposite, 25,000 fur the colonies, and 3.1,000 men for home service, would be amply sufficient. It' the artillery were melodist, iere would be 6.5,000 men. But if the various forces and means were taken into eonsitleratiou, and if internal circumstances should require such force, there could soon be called into action two hundred thousand men, and should the house think that reduction of expence was absolutely requisite, there was no other course to pursue, than that of resisting such giants, enormous grants, as those now proposed. Ile aniodered that the question was now about to be finally settled ; lie hoped the House would view it in such light, and he therefore concluded with moving, that instead of st,ooo men, there should be granted 71,000 men. Sir If. VIVIAN contended that the reduction proposed could not be supported. IILIAIE observed, that if the noble lord admitted what lie yroposed, it the army were reduced as was now proposed, the government would be indeed strong. As to the proceedings of the other evening, they were those of tile unreasonable persons who resiseett ; for was it to be borne that millions were to be voted away atier one and two o'clock. No ; such things were not to be done now. Sir It. Wilson, Sir R. Ferguson, and Mr. Evans, supported the amendment. Lord l'A I-MERSTON opposed it, and argued the necessity of voting the number of men named in the resolution. 111 r. GIiIFFITIIr; supported the amendment. The committee then divided cm the amendment of Mr. Mac donald :—For the original motion 211—For the amendment 115 —Majority list the amendment A second An then took place on 31r.Dawson's amendment, proposing a reduction of 5,000 men. For the amendment, 150— Against it, ltb—Nlajority, 65. The original resolutions were then agreed to, and the report was ordered to be received to morrow. The Grainpountl Dibfrwichikement Bill Waii reporttxl, and the Lill valued to Le rwAl a Wild Ova to morrow,