The National Register. — London, England, 1816-06-24 00:00:00

Dr Salionat Uttitittr+ Our Sing, ennultttutton anD No. 437.—V0L. IX. 1 1 01.171C.1L DISQCISITION. RETROSPECT OF THE SESSION. THE labours of Parliament may now be considered as closed. It is expected that the Commons ►will adjourn next Wednesday for a few days, to give time to the Peers to come up with them, and that both Houses will be pro rogued about the 4th or sth of July. Of the Session we may therefore speak as of the past. It is now mat ter for history, to which it will afford a varied and im rwtant page. Short in its duration, and for the first time after '45 years of universal cares, confined to the limits and interests of this country ; it compensated by vigour and activity for what it lost in extent of operation. Notwithstanding the greatness of the subjects that had hitherto engrossed the attention of Parliament, it never displayed so much firmness and true national spirit, as during the few months which have now brought round the close of its sittings. Never, on the other hand, was the country more feelingly awake to its least proceedings, or more ready to support them, and give them effect by throwing into the legislative scale the timely and de cisive weight of her petitions. The first occasion on which all her force was marshalled to sustain the stand made by her representatives, was indeed well calculated to call forth her voice and her exertions. An impost universally abhorred, long borne with detestation, but with patience, because it was confidently expected to terminate with the war, was once more presented to the public eye, under forms vainly softened by modifications intended to reduce both its amount and its powers. The absolute necessity the Income Tax to enable Go vernment to wind up the expenses of the late contest, was urged with plausibility and obstinacy, but urged in vain. Parliament conceived that its revival would only serve to encourage extravagance in the Ministers. Its opposition roused the land. Petitions on petitions besieged the House ; and the favourite measure of an administration admired for the success of all its plans for the liberation of the world, was rejected by a majority of :;7, though supported by all the influence of the Crown, both in Parliament and in its ramifications throughout the kingdom. The results of this triumph on the part of the country and her representatives were not long doubtful. —Ministers withdrew their own estimates and reduced them. The salaries of certain officers had been increased when they anticipated a successful issue to their attempts at reviving the Income Tax. They would not appear so totally defeated as to tread hack their steps in this instance. But whilst they suffered the augmentation to remain, they lopped off other offices, so as to effect upon the whole a considerable reduction in that branch of public expenditure. The regulation of the Civil List to prevent all excess in future, may also be considered as one of the consequences attendant on the loss of the Property Tax; as well as the advantageous arrangement with the Bank, which enabled Ministers, together with the diminution of national expenses, to supply the wants of the country without creating a single additional impost. To the state of Agriculture did Parliament next direct its wisdom. The farmers and landholders, who during the whole period of the war had enjoyed a revenue four fold increased at the expense of manufacturers and traders, no sooner found that peace introduced plenty into the land, and compelled them to return to low prices, than they exclaimed, that they were ruined, and a cry of desolation resounded from one end of the king dom to the other. It cannot be denied, that in comparison with their former profits they suffered severely; and theta sudden and alarming depreciation took place in landed pro perty. Agriculture was neglected, and films relinquish ed, for other speculations which bore at the time a more promising aspect. The alarm spread to the House, and petitions loaded its table front those who were affected by the passing calamity. Parliament once more inter fered, but with soberness and judgment. A general committee was funned, to examine into the state of agri culture, and the means of remedying existing evils. MONDAY, JUNE 24, 1816. Full and temperate discussions, flillowed; wise measures were proposed ; and in the mean time, the scarcity which began to he felt in France having closed the ports of that country to exportation, and rendered her on the con trary an importer of corn, the price of grain rose of it self in our land, and our farmers found themselves re lieved from their greatest apprehensions and ditliaulties. A subject of almost equal interest soon arose to claim par liamentary investigation. The restrictions on cash pay ments at the Bank were to expire early in the year: an enormous rush might take place on that establishment, before it should have had time to collet a sufficient amount of specie to answer the demands of the public. Ministers proposed to remove the danger, and obviate the difficulty, by continuing the sestrictions for two years longer. Though frequently combated, they ultimately triumphed ; and the measure was no sooner adopted, than the exchange rose so considerably in our favour, that our paper became, and still remains, more valuable than gold. The necessity of a new silver coinage was next investigated, and means taken to carry it into effect. The renovation of the Alien Bill, although on a milder principle, occasioned repeated discussions; and the consideration of the Catholic claims, the con solidation of the English and Irish Exchequers, and many other subjects of importance, though of minor moment, rendered the session no less laborious than usefuL During its course, awl after the severe lesson which the loss of the Property Tax gave them, Ministers displayed much self-restraint, and the Opposition much moderation after their frequent triumphs. l'arty spirit, in a greater degree than usual, gave way to zeal for the public good ; and the country will have derived more real advantage from this short session, than from those of which length of duration, universality of objects, and pomp of discussion, formed the characteristics. xr IMPERIAL P.i IlLifil3f ENT. HOUSE or Loftus, mciAr,JUNE.I7. Abdy's Divorce Dill was r..ad a third time and passed. THE Lord LAVIIERRALE rose, pinatiant to notice, to call the at tention of the house to the measure proposed by government with respect to the New Coinage of Silver. The Noble Earl considered that the ancestors to be pursued relative to the new Silver Coinage would involve the people in great ilidieo ties and expense, without being of any earthly benefit to them. He should state what he hail to says-au this subject, more a ith a view to direct the attention of :Blisters to certain points, than to bring over the House to hisaopinions. He contended, that they would do a thing fatal to tbe country, if they did not make silver the coin of legal tender:and the standard of value. With proper alloy it was harder, and preaery ell its impressiou longer, than gold. Silver was a less eilcunragement to eiitin • terfeiting or defacing the coin thou gold. From the disappear ance of the Gold Coin, he proved that silver was the most proper for coin, because it afforded less temptation for sending it out of the country. A ccording to the opinion of dealers in exchanges, it was impossible for any country. whoa'. standard was gold, to have an exchange at par. He concluded by 1110 V. ing for a Committee to inquire, 11 hether there was any pro bability of the new Silver Coin remaining in circulation ; and also to inquire into the policy of making a silver legal tender beyond aga. ? The Earl of T.IVERPOOL said, his opinion on this subject remained the sante as when he brought the Pr ince licredus Message on the new Coin before the Howse. lie believed, that gold had been made the standar measure of liable, because it was necessary for the extenai dealings of the t•onittry. IVhen our gold Coin was defective,. ie exchanges were against us, and when it was re-established, the changes came roomd in our favour. It was also a recommendation of gold as a standard of value, that it was an article nut so generally used in manufacture as silver, and thenethre must be notch less fluctuating in value. He did nut behest., that the whole amount of Shillinga and Si xpencea in circulation was more thau a million sterling. There was no intention to keep the Batik Tokens in circulation more than about two, or lit most three months, after the issue of new Shillings and Sixpences ; because, by that time, the new Coinage of Half-crowns, and Crown. pieces, would be ready for circulation, to supply the place of the Bank Tokena. tic considered that all the arguments, and facts, and inbtrmation that existed oa this subject, were before the Home and the Public ; for which reasou, he would oppose the present motion. After a shoat reply from the Fin of LAUOEItII , II.E, the motion was negatived without a diejsioo.--Adjourned. TIJEIIIAN, ,Il Ha lit. Earl GWEN asked the Noble Vs/unlit (Sitlmonth), whether Mr. Burr, the late Vice-President a United States, was nut sent out of the country soma) ears since, as an Alien ? Lord Sinatocau answered in the negative. A debate then ensued on the third reading of the Alien Rill. The Marquis of BUCKINGHAM moved as ait Auleadaieut, that it lot read that day biz mouths. PRICE 9 ,!41. 'fhc Amendieruit wits lost, stud the BLit pits3ed ; there being fur it, lob; agaiiiht it, 4b. IVFONESDAT. JUNE 19. Lord GREY moved the second reading of the Freehold Es. tales Bill, and at some length supported the measure. Lord REUEWALE uppOScil it, and the Bill was rejected.— Adjourned. TIICRSOtY, Ji.dir 20. The Royal I"e•nt was given by eimitnibsion to the Rank Re striction. Lottery, and Waterloo Bridge Hills, and to venous others, both politic and private. The other orders of the day were gone through without material discussion ; and the Houle adjourned. FRIDAY' JUNP. 1. The Earl of LAUDVHDALE pre/opted a Petition against the GUS Light Hill, which was ordered to lie on the Table. The Earl of Dosot wit mon E presented a Petition from the Protestant Noblemen, Gentlemen, and Clergy, of the county of Galsey,infaeour of the Catholic Claims. The Petition having been Will on the 'fable, — The Noble Earl addressed the House at considerate:. length on the claim of the Catholics of Ireland to be relieved frolll dis abilities ; and concluded by %%%%%% in; a resolution, calling on the House to ',ledge itself fur a due discussion of their grievances earl , : in the ne•t Session of Parliament. The motiou was opposed by Lord Longford, Lord Bathurst, the Lord Chancellor, Lord Itedesdale and Lord Liverpool ; and supported by the Duke of Susses, Earl of Aberdeen, and Lou st Grey. After a detailed debate, the proposition was uegattscil ; the numbers being : Content. 10 —llioxies 29-69 i Not contents 37—Proxies 36-73.—Ailjourned. _ _ SATURDAY, JUNE 22. This day the Royal Assent was given, by commission, to the Irish National Debt Bill, the Silver Coinage Bill, the Stamp Duties, the Soldiers"fraile Bill, the Militia Amendment Bill, the It kb Yeomanry Bill, the Ilinthandry Horse Dilly, the Edin burgh Police Bill, the Millbank Penitentiary House Bill, and several private Bills. 'the several Bills on the table were also forwarded a stage, and their Lordship then adjourned to Monday. HOUSE OF COMMONS, MONDAY, Julie 17. Mr. CANNING took the oaths and Iris seat as Member for Liverpool. Gen. THORNTON Cave notice that he would on the 2:ith inst. mote an Address to the Prince Regent, fur erecting three Churches, in honour of the Victories of Salamanca, Trafalgar, and Waterloo. . _ Mr. Rose brought up the Report of the Mad•Honse Bill. Lord It. SPA moult eousiilm ed that great praise was due to the Right Bon. Gentleman for the pains he had taken to bring this subject before the consideration of the House. The Noble Lord proceeded to make vat ions observatious on the NIA- House :Ict of 177 f, and it: provisions which, be coutended, were wholly inefficient. The Noble Lord then proceeded to state several most aggravated cases of the neglect to which these 'unhappy wretches were subjected. One house he al• hided to, in which 13 female patients were put to sleep nightly in four cells; the straw on which they laid was saturated witk their own urine; and the air-holes of the cell (the only means by,whith air could be admitted) were stupt up with filth, whirls the unhappy wretches had no other means of getting rid of. I■ another house lie knew an instance where male keepers and mutate patients had fire egress to the females, and he mentioned the consequences of it. The Noble Lord then adverted to the cruelty with which pauper 11111.16 CA in workhouses were treat ed ; and said, a clause should be introduced into the present Bill, enabling Magistrates to send pauper lunatics, at the e - pence of their parishes, for cur: to the nearest luuatic asylum. Mr. Rost: declared he had no objection to this amendment. Mr. W. WYNNII also wished a clause should he introduced, requiring that no lunatic should be token into a private house as hoarder, or otherwise, without a certificate being obtained from a physician. The Bill Was I v-commi tt PROPERTN"fAX PAPERS. Mr. BROUGHAM asked, whether the destruction of the Pro perty 'Fax Paper, as fair as the names were concerned, had vet been begun? 'fhe Cu A SCELLOR of the EXCHEQUFR (we believe) answered in the affirmative. Mr. BROLGH AM expressed his joy to hear this; and he should be glad to learn, as many persons in the country had alarms ..a the subject, whether there was any inteutiou to relive the la. come Tax next sear, with modifications? (The answer could not be heard.) VICE-TItE, %SURER OF IRELAND. The Report of the Committee respecting. the Vice•Trcaseree of Ireland was brought up ; and on the motion that the Reso lutions be agrci d to, .ind that the salary be 3,5001. Mr. PoNsiixav re-moved his former amendment, that the sa lary be 2,0001. lle said, if lie had erred at all in his amend ment, It was in proposing too large an amount: and lie was finite slice, that 110 person out of that house, whether in Ire land or England, would think his amendment improper. :llr. VA NSITTAIIT defended flit• Original propOSititill. The Opposition loudly calling tbr the question, stranger, were ordered to withdraw . ; when the House divided. The hers were—Fur the Amendment lOU —Against it 9S--Ma jority against the Ministers Y. Mr. C tssING now entered the House; he not having been present 'hiring the previous bu-mess and division ; nod on per ceiving the Right Hon. Gentleman, the Opposition greeted him with a loud cheer. He took his scat un the left of Lord Castlereagh, and on the right of the Chancellor of the }Ache quer. On the question that the amendments be engrossed, 1 Mr. PiiNSONII% observed, that he should reserve Ids opposi tion to the clause respecting the Vice-Treasurer being qua lified to take a seat iu Parliament, till the tkird 'leading at the Bill. t • ( • . t 4 **. ( • \‘r