The National Register. — London, England, 1821-03-04 00:00:00

06 3 mperial Valliament. HOUSE OF LORDS, MONDAY, FEM. 'A. The report of the c tee of the Douse of Commons upon foreign grade was brought up and laid on the table, in pursuance of it message sent trona this house. Tile AUSTRIAN DECLARATION eV WAIL—The Mar quis of L NSDOW N said, lie had received a communi canoe from a noble lord, stating that it would nut be in his power to intend the house to-morrow, in consequence of which he should his motion on the subject of Naples, %%hid, suatd for to-morrow notil Friday next. it was his intention, this day, to ask the noble lord at the head of the treasury a question, namely, whether the declaration of war issued by Austria against Naples had been received by his Majesty's (loves nuncio but he had hecii "old by the noble earl that no such information had Wen officially re ceived.—The noble earl thought proper to suggest, that when the declaration shall be received, an intimation might be given, and an opportunity afforded for moving it be produced. The order which stood for to-morrow was then discharged and fixed fur Friday. Lord DOLLAN D rose to bring In a hill,pitrimant to notice, to extend certain provisions in the Act of Kitig William, upon the law of treason, to Ireland. The End of LIMERICK said, it was in his opinion most desirable that the same laws which governed Eugland should extend to Ireland. Nothing could tend to harmonize the people of Ireland more than the knowledge that they were subject to the sime laws as the people of England. The Bill was then read a first time.—Adjourned. TUESDAY, FEB. 27. The Bishop of ST. DAVID'S presented a petition front the clergy and arch-deacons of Stafford against any alter ation in the laws restricting Roman cstliolics. The petition was read and laid on the table. Mr. Fordo), from she East India Company, presented the annnal account of receipts mid disburseuresitc—Laid on the table.—Adjourned. WISBESDAY. FEB. 2L The Lord Chancellor attended the House at the usual beu r. The Annual indemnity Bill was read a second time, and committed for to-morrow. Several petitions relating to the hearing of appeal causes were read by the Earl of Shaftesbury. The house then adjourned. TIJUItsDAY, MARCH. I. The Annual Indemnity Bill went through a committee, and was reported without amendment. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE presented a petition from the owners and occupiers of land in the county of Somerset, praying relief under agricultural distresses. The noble marquis observed, that this petition was hunted to the most indulgent consideration, it was most respectably a gned, yet he could not agree with the petitioners in the topinioa they expressed, namely, that alteration in the corn-laws would ate resent ameliorate the condition of the agriculturist. The petition was then read and laid on the table. P On the motion of the Earl of Shaftesbury the house adjourned. FRIDAY, MARCH 2. Petitions were presented from the counties of Suffolk and Berko, complaining of agrlcnltural distress. The Duke of LEINSTER presented a petition from the nobility, freeholders, and clergy of the comity of Dublin, complaining of improper interruptions by the military at a public meeting. The petitioners stated, that a meeting was convened by the high sheriff of Marlin, for the pur pose of addressing the King, when, an amendment being moved,* body of soldiers came up with loaded muskets and dispersed them. There was nothing to justify the violence, nor was the riot act read. The Earl of BLESSINOTON deprecated the cosidnet of those who called in the military, and supported the pe tition, which called for ingairy and redress. The petition was read, and laid on the table. Nalrliee.—The Marquis of LANSDOWNE rose on the order of the day, and in pursuance of notice, to call the attention of the house to those transactions carried on, and stow carrying on by the allied powers upon the continent of Europe. However he might feel upon the principles of those measures, he should not so readily have called the attention of the Lords to a subject of so mach importance, if he had not known that lie was proceeding upon the universal sentiment of the people of England. With that limitedly it would have been an omission of duty to neglect the °mot • ty of giving to the public d full satisfac tion. By a motion for all the information the subject could afford, he should enable the Lords to form their judgment upon distinct and intelligible grounds. He felt the fir:clarity of such a mentos some time ago, but that necessity was surely increased when, up to the latest moment, they found the allies at head-quarters, engaged and carrying on their plans of aggression. The most extraordinary delusion appeared to prevail with respect to the sentiments of bin Majesty's ministers, for, notwith standing what they had beard in that house, and the per usal of the circular addressed to loreign ministers, the declaration of Austria, which lie took to be an authentic document, was nut communicated to the house. They were suffered to remain in total ignorance with regard to the intentions of die allied powers, notwithstanding these iuteouonr must hare been known, lie supposed, to his Majesty's government. It was extraordinary that minis tate, during the period crisis montliadiad not Understood the Vitus of the Allied pun era, yet the uuty use lie should make of it was to impreason diets lordships the paramount duty they owed to the public. They were bound to call for ail explicit opinion on the question. lie should first advert to the upinions of the allies, and what was likely to be the result of 'here proceeding*. He did not object to Amain, Russia, ur l's tissia, in acting in their own states, but lie was tree to say, unsheathing the sword of despotism to attack independent status, must be attended with milord At the present day, it 'tented there was to be a staudard established by the great powers for all mouai chial go % crimients, with very few grams ut that alloy—liberty. It would seen' by the declaration, that this dowdy hail agreed to those obnoxious principles adopted by the sove reigns at Troppan. He tumid an expose, which lie con sidered an exposure of the aitentioto in' the part of the allies to attack an ',evildoing milependasit part of Eu rope. to the first part of ilea expose, or declaration, it was said there r silted iti Naples a elect, which was the Cathie of the proceeilkogs tat the paitut the allies. Ile dented that the existelice w di.y sell could jilt/11y an Klimek Oil the ilideptuttchc.. at any state. It nas a sect w bleb had not long existed in the I, telethon Os Naples, 'Pc kiug, according to the iltelatatow w daikuesa. 'I be THE NATIONAL REGISTER noble marquis was of opinion that political sects were dangerous to governments, yet he was not prepared to say that, were it his misfortune to live in a despotic country, i where he had no security for person and property, lie I might nut h o ok for protection to any political sect. M though this sect was said to be recent, it was of ancient origin; he had authority for saying that it was known in the time of the Emperor Leopold. In effecting the de liverance of Italy from liiionspai te, that sect Wee instru mental. It was however said; it was working in the dark. That was most extraordinary, where the power of the police was able to suppress it; but did the government of Meade expect 'a change or revolution in a government was to be made pnblic upon the church-dour before it was carried into effect? Then the declaration went on to describe the late government as a most paternal one, and that its efforts werl ent in checking the Carbonari. 11 by that was the • reform was brought about.— The Austrian gover assisted that paternal govern ment, but took no steps to reduce the burthens of the people. He did not wish to reflect on the monarch of Naples, but from his.own experience, he was enabled to say the uersonal liberty of the subject was not at all respected. About four or five years ago, said the noble marquis, there was great distress in Naples, amounting to a famine. Under that distress a person suspected of hav ing a share in the monopoly, was thrown into a dungeon. At that lime an English general officer tumid means to get to him in bit dungeon, which was half' filled with water. The person said lie could be charged with no crime, and the only thing he could recollect as being likely to injure him, was a conversation about the best mode of disposing of his corn, and for that lie was put in confinement at the mercy of the minister. The officer waited on the minister, who denied that lie put the per. sou in prison. The officer returned to the dungeon, and was told it was by order of the minister the person was detaiued. The English officer, who had • friendship for the prisoner, went again to the minister's office and was told by the secretary the person was so confined because it was understood the minister might wish to speak with him. The unfortunate mail, thus deprived of liberty, only oubtained his release in consequence of the inter ference of the British officer The noble marquis left the house to say, whether, ler such a state of things, people might not enquire for an amelioration, and whether a change of government was not to be expected ? Could any man say this was a maternal government, so pure that no change or revolution ought to take place? The allies had ventured not only to represent it as • mild beneficent government, but they had invited all the world to take op anus to maintain it. After it lung and able speech, the marquis concluded by moving au address to his Majesty, praying he would be pleased to give directions that com munications be made to all the courts of Europe, dis. claiming the proceedings of the allied powers with respect to Naples. The Earl of LIVERPOOL defended the conduct of his Majesty's government, and refused to comply with the notion, because the paper laid oa the table contained full information upon all the views and proceedings of government. Lord GREY supported the motion. After some further discussion the house divided. Not Coattails 42.—C:onions 32.—Majority W.—Ad jourued. HOUSE OF COMMONS. stioarivv, FES. 'A. Sir T. LETHBRIDGE presented a petition from 4( owners and occupiers of land iu Surnersetshire, complain ing of agricultural distress ; unless some relief were afforded, they said they should be obliged to withdraw their capitals. Similar petitions were presented from the Eastern and Western Divisions of Kent, Monmouthshire, Hertford, Limerick, Cardiff, &c. Mr. LAMB presented a petition from Royston, praying for parliamentary reform. Sir C. COLE presented a petition from Leith, praying for the restoration of the Queen's name to the limo+, Ordered to be printed, on the motion of Mr. Hume. Mr. ANSON presented a petition, which, he said, me rited the attention of the house, because the subject had occasioned considerable alarm amongst the ship-owners ; it was from Great Yarmouth against any alteration of the timber ditties.—Read, and referred to the foreign trade commiisce. Mr. Cs. BENNETT remarked, that interested indivk duals were petitioning on the subject. The object ought to be to procure a good article at a cheap rate to the consumer; but the petitioners' object was to continue to supply the public with a bad article at a dear rate. Sir M. W. RIULEY observed, that the merchants only wished to prevent that t which would follow any sud den change of these diities,they having now continued fur a long time—remarks iu which Mr. ANSON coincided. lar petitions were presented from Newcastle-upon- Tyne, Aberdeen, and Sunderland. Mr. T. WILS ON presented the petition of ship owners of London against the Hull Poor Rates' bill. SCOTCH ADMIRAILTY.—The report of the Scotch Ad miralty Compensation List was presented. On the motion that it now be agreed to, Mr. CREEVEY moved, that fur " now" be substituted " this day six months." Suck a resolution was never heard of before in this world; it proposed to make com pensation tor fees that relight be abolished, for losses that might be sustained by possible and prospective changes. Scotland seemed to have taken alarm, that the tiist clerk ship, a sinecare of I,IOM. was about to be abolished. He could not see what objection there could be to the motion. The LORD ADVOCATE ob .d, that it had been recommended by conmintees to abolish the extract system —to institute compensation in its stead. Heretofore toe gentleman received ti or tstll. a year ! lie now would re ceive nut more than our-sixth. It' the practice Mere to be abolished, it was but just that there should be this compensation. Aitivothitent withdrawn, Mr. Creevey understanding that the Lord Ad+ocale would consider himself to bland pledged to provide the house with a bill of taut when the bid was brought in. Report agreed to, and bill ordered accordingly. The General inclusive Amendment bill was read a second tune. _ ..... _ COHN VF,K AGE3.-Mr. F. ROBINSON moved that the house resolve itself Into a committee oil the Curia Averages' Act. Agreed to. The house haviug resolved itself iiitusuch committee, Alt. F. ROLSINSON said, as there wen: four •cvcial sets and a great variety of clauses, he Arnold first propose to repeal those former acts. He proposed to embody the regulations in one act, and that bill would not be more than tone-third the extent of the present laws. 'Fhe averages were now taken from the maritime districts; but the alterations lie intended to introduce would be accord ing to the recommendations of the committee of last year. The mode lie should propose extending to all the districts, which might produce a lower average t but lie intended to abolish the districts, relying on counties, Sec. As the averages were at present struck, it was possible for one individual by a small sacrifice to produce a fictitious return, which *mild affect the general average return. He proposed that the amounts. as well as the clean ti t ies, should be added together, and thus the average price obtained. Three Counties, Kent, Essex, and Middlesex, werc omitted in the returns. He proposed to introduce them, and to exempt the inland counties ate' Scotland, the returns from those places being calculated to misleads. As to the inspectors' salaries, he should propose to relieve the counties from such burdens, and transfer the power to the magistrates of counties, or the mayors of towns, to grant allowances not exceeding 901. fer any one year. The present salary was 151. He should also propose net to repeal the penalties regarding dealers not entering their names, &c. There were many alterations to which. ha might allude—but in the bill they would be flatly seen. He proposed to incorporate the inspector of corn averages with the board of trade. The Isle of Man was excludes from the former acts, but he now wished to include it. He concluded with moving, that it was expedient to repeal the corn laws, and to enact others in lieu thereof. Mr. CALCRAFT said, he ♦iewed any proposition to affect the corn laws with great jealousy, thinking that the less they were meddled with the better it would be; but lie should wait for the bringing in of the bill, which lie should follow most watclifidly. Mr. RARING lamented that this period was selected for the introduction of this bill, as it would lead to the expectation that something was going to be done with the corn laws. Nothing in fact was to be done to relieve any party; and as to the average prices, the imperfect mode had been taken into consideration when the bill corn was dosed. It was then said that 808. would in fact be more than 765.; so that if the new mode of taking the average& was to make the 80s. really such, the importation price would be advanced. He lamented that the bill was brought in at this particular period, because it would occasion alarms ou the one baud, and excite false hopes on the other. Mr. F. LEWIS said, that when the averages were spoken of, the imperfect mode of striking them was taken into consideration; it was known that the nominal were greater than the seal averages. Therefore the importa tion price would be increased, if the real average were to be raised to what the former nominal average had been ; and he must protest against any advance of the real average price, which was to coestroul the importation of corn. He objected against the Irish returus being in cluded, as they would lead to error. Mr. CIJRWEN said, this bill was most necessary. It ought to pass as rapidly as possible. The Isle of Man had afforded the means of practising time grossest fronds. Corn had been imported there direct from Dental& He heartily concurred in the necessity of the measure; but if no ulterior measure were contemplated, this would be as hopeless as it would be useless in affording relief to the farmer. He hoped the ministers would speak out—that they would let the country know what it was they Meant —that they would not let the Session pass without doing something to relieve the country's agricultural interest. Mr. W. DOUGLAS hoped, that this would not be the last measure introduced for the relief of agriculture, Mr. RICARI)O said, that the proposed mode undoubt edly would have the effect of raising the importation price; but there was no remedy except in repealing all their corn laws, and in bringing down the prices to those of the continent. He was persuaded that there was no remedy for the evils complained of, but by repealing all their corn laws.—(Cheers.) Mr. LOCKHART observed, that however useful the proposed bill might be, it would afford no real relief re the farmer. Unless something was done ruin would come. Agriculture would stop payment ; it was not banks alone that stopped payment • agricieture might do so. He implored the house to act before it was too late. Motion agreed to, and leave to bring in the bill granted. The remaining orders having been disposed of, the house adjourned. TUESDAY, TES. ItT. Mr. WYVILL presented a petition from York against the Hull poor rates' bill. Petitions complaining of agricultural distress were presented from the Truro agricultural society; Suffolk. Worcestershire, Northamptonshire, Olamorgaushire, and Sussex. Mr. H. BLAIR moved for returns of the quantity of grain and Hour of all sorts imported and exported, iron► Jan. 1791, to Jan. 1821, distinguialting each year. Also fur the return of the average price of corn and dour, .isc. Ordered. Lord ALTHORP brought in his bill for the more effec tual and summery recovery of small debts ill England and Wales. IN PILE Rot DS.—Mr. 11. GILBERT moved for leave to bring iii a hill to amend the acts regarding trusts and turnpike roads in the neighboorlioo , ' of the metropolis. Although the roads were so expensive, costing 10001. per mile each year iu some instances, they nevertheless were must disgraceful. It was out the result of any system of peculation, but of the disqualification of the individuals engaged. It was proposed to divide the roads into three districts i—urie division South of the Thames, another North East, and another North West of the Thames ; to be tinder the direction of particular trustees, who were to be elected by the general body of trustees. There might be great improvements in the mode of making the roads, by introducing better motet ials and more scientific plans of forming theist. He said there was no intention ofplacing the,,roads under the nianagerueut of the goveinment ; there never hail been such intention, and lie was anxious to take this early opportunity of contradicting an ciliation that had gut very extensive c u rrency. lle concluded with moving fur leave to bring in a bill to consolidate the turnpike trusts DI the neighbourhood of the metropolis. Atter some remarks from Mr. CALCItAFI', &c. the motion WSS !tweed to. ..... ..... _ . . . The ATTISI..NEY-GENERAL obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the law tegaiding the trailskr of *tuck belonging to lunatics. Mr. LAJAS (Dublin) obtained lcavi. to bring in a bill