The National Register. — London, England, 1822-06-10 00:00:00

Mr. HUM E proposed, u an amendment, that it should be co mpulsory to go to the sinking fund for the whole amount. After some discussion, in which Lord Londonderry, Mr. Cale raft, &c. took part, the House divided. The numbers were—For the amendment 54, Against it dl, Majority against it 2T. The report was, after some further debate, agreed to, and the bill was ordered to be read a third time. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER then brought forward his resolutions for the repeal of the salt duty, upon which a long conversation followed, and an amendment was proposed by Mr. Caloraft, that the whole of the duly should be repealed, instead of the partial repeal proposed by the right Lon. gentleman. . _ _ The amendment was supported by Mr. Brougham and others, on the ground that keeping up the partial duty would give ministers as much influence and patrons g •, and cost the country as much as the collection of the whole duty would do. The amendment was opposed by Lord Londonderry and others, and the llouse ultimately divided upon it. For the amendment 62—Against it 111.—Majority against the amend ment 41. On the order of the day for the House going into a commit tee on the Corn Importation Bill, Mr. CANNING proposed (lint it should be en instruction to the committee to prepare a clause to enable the holders of fo• reign corn to grind it for exportation. Lord LONDONDERRY had no objection to this instruction viol; to the committee. As to the bill itself, lie did not con soler it as the hest corn bill which the ingenuity of parliament might contrive, but he thought it would be useful to prevent the conntry heing inundated by the influx of foreign corn. liar. CURW EN opposed the bill, and said be wculd take the sense of the house on going into committee . Mr. T. LETHBRIDGE also opposed the bill. Mr. 11. SUMNER stated that he should vote against the Speaker leaving the chair ; but (be ground he took for doing so did not reach the gallery. A division then took place on the question that the Speaker do leave the chair—Ayes, 149—Noes, 41—Majority, 10S. On our re-admission, we found the house in a committee, sod Mr. Droplet), who was in the chair, was going through the various clauses. When be arrived at that which fixed the price a► 795., 31r. WHITMORE rose to move his amendment. Netwith at ending the lateness of the hour, lie felt it his duty to make a few remarks upon one or two poiate, and especially upon the attempt made in this bill to raise the price of corn in Great R. itain higher than in other parts of the world. To this pur rise lie entertained the most decided objections, and was eon inced that if the system were pursued, the manufactures of the country could not continue in prosperity. The hon. gent. concluded with moving that the words 6 Is.be substituted for 70s. Sir J. NEWPORT wss of opinion, that the arguments of the hi n. mutate -1., however fit they might be with regard to this country, were totally inapplicable to the state of Ireland. where fe.w manufactures existed. He opposed the amendment. Mr. WODEHOUSE, after adverting to an opinion given by Lord Liverpool in 1819, that not less than Sits. would be a re touneratin4 price, moved as au amendieent, that the words 755. be substituted for 70s. Mr. RICARDO expressed his surprise at the amendment proposed by the bun. member for Norfolk. Even the most active of the agricultural interest in that house had declared, that a price of 675. would afford Jo ufficient protection to the farmer. Tile Marquis of LONDONDERRY disapproved of the amendment of the hon. member of Bridgenorth, as tending to etteet too extiosive and rapid a chanze in the present system. Aner s few words from Mr. N. Calvert, the gallery was cleared, and the committee divided upon Mr. Whitmore's a.n,ndment. For the amendment, 42—Against it, 87—Majo nty, li. :dr. WODEHOUSE then withdrew his amendment, and the original resolution was agreed to. Mr. BANKES, after a few oliservations,ninved as an amend ment, that the words " the doty to be paid when admitted for home consumption," should he left nut, for the purpose of in troducing the words, " the duty to be paid at the time of im portation." Mr. F. ROBINSON saw no sufficient reason for adopting the amendment. It would, in fact, if agreed to, have the effect of prcv-mting the warehousing of cora in this country under any circumstances. Mr. M.tRRYAT also opposed the amendment, whirl) he contended wu in opposition to the whole warehousing system of this country. That system was introduced to male England tba etap,riusit of Europe ; but if the princit•le of the amendment were allowed, the object which those who introduced the ware housing sy slem bad in view most be defeated. . . Mr. J. ItENET contended that there was little or no analogy between the warehousing of corn and other ariieles. After a few words from Lord Crsnborne and the Marquis of Londonderry, the house divided, when there appeared—For the amendment, 33—Against it, 70-31ajorit • 37. On our re-admission to the gallery, we found 111 r. T. WI LNON on his legs, speaking ou the subject of the admission of Canadian flour into this country, to which (as we tiders!cod him) a preference ought to he given. Mr. J. BENET had no of to givinr, to Canadian grain a fair protection ; but he could not sacrifice the interest of the British to that of the Canadian farmer. Mr. MARRYATT was favourable to a due consideration of "tZe colonial interest. `N..r E. KNATCHRULL expressed himself hostile to the srbolessill, as Dot calculated to all'ord the desired or expected relief. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY supported the measure as tine that would in the end be very beneficial. Mr. CANNING proposed a t lamie relative to the grinding anti making use of foreign corn, with a view to the prevention of any frauds which might be committed by the Improper intro duction of foreign cora into Lorne consomption. 'lr. 11. WILBRAHAM said this amendment was founded en n resolution which had before been oared to the House, and withdrawn. It would he 'letter to make it a separate measure, than la allow it to be incorporated with the bill. .1 short conversation ensued hetoeen the Marquis of Lon donder.7, Mr. (tannin.., Mr. I). Gilbert, Mr, Ricardo, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Bennet, bard Cranhorne, and Sir E. Kt-Melt bull, which enr!.4l in the nmenildient being agreed to, with the ondersinalinl that it should he debated iu another stage of the bill. The House then re3umed. The otheir orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned. JUNE 3. The Greenwich New Church Bill was read a third time and pipped. Petitions were presented from Rnyatnn, Shafieshory, Col theater, Ipswich, Illaitisahead, &c. pray in,; for a recision of the atitriaal cede. THE NATIONAL REGISTER VEGETABLE POWDER.—The Howie, on the motion of Mr. LUSHINGTJN, went into a committee on the subject of Vegetable Powder. The Excise Acts were referred .to the said committee. Mr. LUSIIINGTON proposed two resolutions to regulate the sale of roasted grain, &c. Sir It. WI LiON expressed the hope that the proposed Bill might be permitted to have a retrospective operation, for there were several prosecutions of a most severe character ; one where the penalties where to the amount of 400,0tt0l fur haying cocoa pasta. Mr. LUSHINGTON replied in an indistinct tone, but he was understood to state, that existing prosecutions would be sus pended by an order from the Treasury, and that where verdicts had passed they would Ne referred the Lords of the Treasury tc deride on them in the spirit of these resolutions. Resolutions agreed to—Report to morrow. Mr. F. PALMER moved for a return of the information against Mr. Henry Hunt for selling breakfast powder, &c.— Ordered. CHELSEA 0 l'T PENSION E R S.—Sir C. LONG moved for leave to bring in a bill to transfer from commissioners of Kiltuainham hospital to the commissioners of Chelsea hospital the payment of out-pensions. The bill did not result from any complaint— but to promote savings. Mr. HUME was glad that this bill was brought in; he had contended for the change for the last three years , its principle might be much further extended with advantage. Sir C. LONG said, that the hon. member had no right to take credit to himself ; it did not result from any suggestion or his ; it had long been under the consideration of government. Mr. CALCRAFT said, it was very remarkable that all the improvements forced on government turned out to have been previously thought of; but why had this bill, then, been delayed for three years? Motion agreed to, Mr. BEN NET moved for returns of the prices of pigs, calves, meat, bread, &c. from 1790.—Ordered. The Scotch Juries Bill was postponed till Friday next. Mr. WESTERN presented a petition from Rochford against the Corn Importation Bill, contending that it would only acre terms that universal insolvency to whirl, all concerned in the cultivation of laud were rapidly approaching. Ordered to be printed. Sir W. CURTIS presented a petition from the clock and watch makers of Clerkenwell, complaining of the distressed state of their trade. Its prayer was not read by the clerk.— Petition ordered to be printed. Sir R. FERGUSON presented a petition from ship-owners, &c. of Leith, complaining of distress. After remarks from Mr. Hume and Sir I. Coffin, _ _ Mr. WALLACE said, that the committee shove stairs had particularly considered the charges for tonnage, lights, and and consular fees, and be expected soon to be able to mako a report on the subject. Ordered to be printed. Mr. W YNN brought in a bill to alter and amend the East India Trade Acts, particularly regarding the tonnage of ships. —Read a first time, and ordered to be printed. PRISON DISCIPLINE.—Mr. LEYCESTER presented a pe tition from Salford and Manchester, praying for a revision of the criminal laws. Sir F. BURDETT, adverting to sonic language of the pe tition, spoke of the esils and horrors that had resulted from secret imprisonment. That subject would come particularly before the House, on the motion regarding Hamster jail : but, in the mean time, lie begged to stab:, that somehow or another, those jails that were most praised, and that were said to be moat regularly attended to by visiting magistrates, were in re lity amongst the worst prisons in the kingdom.—P.Aition ordered to be printed. Dr. LUSIIINCTON presented ■ petition from SG persons who had served the office of Juror in the city of London, pray ing a revision of the criminal laws. The petitioners spoke of the painfully embarrassing situation in which they were fre quently placed. They implored the house to take the subject into consideration, for otherwise jurors would be compelled to decide according to the nature mid extent of the offence, rather than as concerned the legal guilt—a result that would be most injurious to the laws, and an event that ought to be averted. Petition ordered to be printed, as were other similar peti tions from Lewes, &c. Sir J. NEW PORT brought in the bill to render Grand Jury Presentments' Receipts payable in tarot payment of rents, Ire land. Read a first time, and ordered to be printed. He said he should not move the second reading of the hill this session. Mr. F. BUXTON presented a petition fruin Mr. Wedge wood, of 315, Oxford-street, complaining of the severity of the criminal laws. He bad been umpelled to appear against a man, named Rivera, who passed a forged note iu his shop ; and the man was in consequence executed ; an event that had ever since been a source of deep regret to the petitioner, and which, could be have foreseen, be would not have appeared against the prisoner. —Petition ordered to be printed. AGRICULTURAL DIsTR COK Eipresented a peti tion from certain land occupiers, &c. in Norfolk, complaining of agricultural distress, and of the pressure of taxes. Hitherto there had been no relief to agriculture. Sir T. LETIIBRIDGE again protested against the indiFer ence of his Majesty's Ministers. Their pi inciples were what would lead to the destruction of the country ; they would lead to the uplifting of man's hands against each other. He spoke of what he knew. The country would not sit down quietly with the indiffeeence that was shown. The taxes and burdens :wposed by Parliament dwelt with two-fold severity on agri culture, as he should hereafter show. Lord LONDONDERRY condemned the biflaininatory cha racter of the speech that they had just heard. He was most anxious tohear what were to be the lionourahlebaronets specifics The government had not been supine : much taxation had been reduced; hilt whenever practical relief was proposed by the Ministers, it was invariably the subject of j..culurity with the Mr. BENNET added, that the compleints of the country mat he nttended to; the rejecticn of Petitions or " Remon• strences" would have no effect. Air. G BENNET spoke oTille advantage of constantly de bating the petitions as presented : the property tea was de- reeled by such means. Ile cared nothing Omit the majorities or minorities of the House; what he looked to was the discus sion that was promoted out of doors.—(Cheers.)—As to the jocularity that was matter ofcharge, he and his Mends laughed, not at the measures of relief, but at the noble lord's power of face, in talking about the voluntary dimamtioa of taws. They took credit to themselves, for going to tie oinking fund, and yet they went in a filching and larcenary manner, not in an open style. Who, then, could but hog!' et such thinhi ? AIONCK ngreed in what had fallen from the hon. mem ber who last spoke, aril condemned the Corn BM as a tax on the country, to broad the farmers, to which he would never agree. Mr. LEICESTER observed that the late King, on review ing a yeomanry corps, said be liked those men, not arrow of their appearance, but because they hal i.wacy in their ti,;l4.ete. i 7,? —(Hear); but now their pockets were turned inside out.— (Hear, hear.) Sir F. BURDETT said he fslt no gratitude towards the mi nisters for reducing the taxes; they had no right to one farthing more than was wanted for th- public service ; but owing to the change of the currency the pressure of taxes was greater than ewer. The reductions that had taken place ought to have been made years ago. There ought to he further reductions. lie should be merry if there were relief—but he must first see relief—as yet there was none. But they must hear a little more about reform. It was in that House where there MBA all the cause of complaint. It must be reformed even before ilia ministers could inake those concessions which they might deem to be necessary. But much of the evil that had resulted origi nated with the Currency Bill. When that was done, there ought to have been reductions of salaries, expenditure, &c. however, those who presided over the destinies of the country were i„;norant of its real situation. But if inflammatory lan guage iisw alarmed the ministers, if the ministers ex pected the laud own!rs, who got no rents, to pay taxes , they would hear something a little more intla:utnatory than what hail yet been heard.—(Hear! ) Mr. PEEL said, if the unjust character of the hill were so obnoxious, why bad not the hon. hart. denounced it at the time! Why bad he neglected his duty ? And why did he now come down with a holiday speech endeavouring to dissatisfy the country with what he ought to have entice% oared to overt, if its injurious tendency were so apparent?—(Cheers.) Tae bill, under all the circuonstunces, was the best that could be devised ; and he saw no reason to change his opinion on the subject, After some remarks from Mr. Denman, &c. the petition was read, and ordered to be printed. Sir J. MACINTOSH then called the attention of the House to the present state of the criminal code. The hon. gentleman entered into a review of the subject of capital pu nishments, and the consequent uncertainty of punishment in capital conviction. He re-urged all his former arguments ou this subject, and called on Parliament to interpose and revise this part of our judicial system. The hon. and learned Kent. expressed himself folly aware of the importance of thin in quiry, the extent to which it would branch out, and the time which would he required for its investigation. He should, therefore, on the present occasion, content himself with moving a resolution, pledging the House to enter on the consideration of the subject early next session. He concluded by moving a resolution—" That the House would, at an early period of the next session, take into its serious consideration the means of increasing the efficacy of the criminal law, by abating its un due rigour incertain cases, together with the proper measures. for strengthening the police, and make the punishments of transportation and impsisomueut effective for the ends of ex ample and reformation." The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, in a speech of coosideralile length, defended the present system, and combatted the ar,., J - meats of the lion. and learned mover of the resolution, and concluded by moving, as an amendment, the previcos question: Mr. F. BUXTON supported the motion. The present sys tem of our criminal code rather cyerated as au encouragement than a repression of crime. The punishment of death was, in • majority of cases, changed to transportation. Offenders calculated upon this circumstance ; and the punisbmt et of transportation to New South NV tiles operated rather as a revisit .1 than a punishment to those subjected to it. COUIITNAY and Mr. PEEL opposed the motion. Sir J. MACINTOSH, in reply, said, he should, in conse quence of what bad fallen from other members, omit a part of his fiction as originally proposed ; and it would now he to this effect--" That this House do take into its moat serious cone sideration the means of increasing the efficacy of the laws h, moderating their undue rigour." Alter two committees had sat on the state of the criminal law, and now that three succes sive sessions had elapsed since the appoietment of the lust of them, the criminal law remained unaltered, unimpeded in its operation, and undisturbed in its authority. ( Ilear.) The ad vantage of that house acceding to such is he (Sir James Macin tosh) demanded, would be this: it would prose to the pnblia what was the disposition of Parliament. It would ham e the effect of giving pre; ions information to the whcle profession of the law, of what the Howse intended to do the next session ; and thus it would procure for them all Cie light which could lie ob tained en such a subject. (The cries of " di; ide" here became very general. The hon. and learned gent. concluded by sayieg that he would take the sense of the House upon the resolution in its altered state. The House then dim ided, when the num bers appeared—For the resolution, 117—Against it, 101— Majority, 16. Loud cheering followed the annunciation of the mini hers. THE NAVIGATION BILL. Mr. WALLACE moved that the above Bill be read a time. Mr. DAVENPORT moved, as an amendment, that the Bi:t be read a third time this day tix months. Mr. ROBERTsON als opposed th nal. on the gmund that it would prove injurious to the general industry of the country. Mr. WALLACE maMtaned that no injury to the manufac turers of the cauntry would be t'ffirted by the bill. The gallery was cleared fur a division, when there appeared— For the third reud.ng of the bill, 48—Against it, Ss—Maturity, 9. The Ancient Commercial Statutes Repeal was read a third time and passel. The Nlarquis of LONDONDERRY postponed till Friday, the receiving of the report of the Corn Importation Bill ; observ ing, that it would be. the first introduce, for iliesus..,.on on that day. The report of the 111 treatment of Cattle Bill was agreed to.— Third Wading on Friday.—Adjourned at two o'clock. ll f.I):StSDAY, JI.NI: 5. A pet lion was presented from the victuallers of 'Macclesfield, vgailist a clause in the licensing bill. Referred to the com mittee. .... „. Mr. ELLICE resented the report of the committee on DuMitt taxation. lit trusted that lie would Li reafter have the opportunity of presenting a bill that wuuld remote the ditheui tiescomptained Mr, S. RICE said, when the contents of this report becalm.* known, the couutty would be surprised ; it unfolded a ease of extraordinary delinqutory. Lord taxation la na a great ell!; whosoever it! ould correct it would Lu the minister of mu, It good. Report ordered to be printed. Sir F. autwErr presented a petition from speed, fluk shire, in favour of the Cruelty to Animals Pleven:icon Ordered to lie on the table. Gen. BARRY olitnitted leave hi bring in a till to 3utitorimit the side of quit reitt4 connected with crown lauds in Iraiattti. Tho further consideration of the report of the Baker's Re n lotion Bill was postp,,attl till Fritlay next, on the 'notion of Mr. C. Cul% ert. The report of the 'Warehousing Bill was ordered to be tstwa into cnn,ide•dinn on Ft iday nest. The Gouda importation Bill was read a third time and pa,s. d, (For contiliauti3.l see pip , 182.)