The National Register. — London, England, 1822-07-08 00:00:00

. • • • . 111 ‘ -J• 110 9nipertal Varlianient. -11110 — HOUSE OF LORDS. Noy:liar. JULY 1. The royal assent was given by commission to the army and navy pension bill, the Edinnurgli and Lanai k Sheriff's Depute Hid, and several private bills. The coinini,sioners were the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of Slinfteabisry, and the 'Marquis of 'W inchester. The Scotch Distilleries Dill, and the Westminster Improve• meat Bill, went through Committees. NIA It It lAG h.: ACT. . . The Marquis of CAMDEN said, he had to present a petition against the Marriage Act Amendment Bill from a lady extremely respectsble. It would appear that she went with her husband to h.: monied, after tie had obtained a licence by a fake representa tion. A discovery visa made by her relations before cohabitation, and the marriage had hitherto been considered invalid. On rend- Mg the retrospective clause in the bill, doubts had arisen upon the invalidity of such marriag, and therefore die lady was desirous of stating her case in the hope that it might induce the Must to tender nugatory her said marriage, rather than make it 'valid. 'the petition being read. purpormi to be the petition of Charlotte Anne Hayward, witiow, residing in the town of Bre con, in Wales. The petitioner stated, that die was so unfortu• nate as to become the dope of one Josiah Cruteliley, of Aberga satiny, who prevailed on her to b.: married on the id of March last without the consent of her mother. By a false allegation he obtained the license, and a few hours after the marriage the relation:l was seen by her brother, who restored her to her mother. rue latter then pursued measures to annul the marriage in the Arches Court, and no divorce or dissolution of marriage had yet taken place. The petitioner petitioned against the bah befote the lloase, because, if it passed, her marriage with the said Joseph Crutchley would be affirmed. Lord ELLEN BOROUGII said, the petition chewed the pro priety of the wind., introduced to the bill, winch clearly excluded the ease they had just heard. This young lady having never lived with the person to whom she was married, suswithin the exception. The Douse would see the policy;of the prospective clause, because in tins very ca,e, had the bill been in force, the man might have been punished for swearing fisely, by transpor tation for Me. NVitli respect to the validity of the marriage of tile young lady, there could be no doubt the decision would be in her favour. The LORD CIIANC Eu,oa did not wish to make any ob jection to the petition, but the noble and learned Lord expressed his intention to make a few observations on the case to-morrow, at the third reading of the bill. He was desirous of heating from tine noble Lord why the regulation with respect to licenses was to take place in September, and the regulation with respect to Latins when tins bill passed ? There was also a departure train the 261.1 i of George 11. which must mill. ad the clergy. Lord ELLE:NW/ROUGH said, tile noble and learned Lord alluded to trifles which could be amended. The LORD CIIANCELLOR then observed, that he was sure the noide Lords who supported the bill would not give their assent if they understood it. The Earl of LAUDERDALE said, there was no man more able to inform others than the noble and learned Lord, and if there were any who did not understand the Bell, perhaps the noble and learned lord would enlighten the individual. Lord ELL E N BOROU G 11—'• I think l understand the bill ; but if the clauses of the noble and learned Lord are added, I should not understand it. I have nut been so fortunate as to un derstand the clauses, nor have 1 found one individual who does. The LORD CHANCELLOR.—•• 1 have not an idea that the Noble Lord knows enough of law to understand it." Lord ELLEN BOHOL The Marriage Act ought to be so clear that every one can understand it." The I.OHD CLIANCEI.I.OO,—•• 1 mean to say, this act of rarliament will be considered inconsistent by liiwyerr, and it is to be preauated they will not know whet to do with la." Tim eonvetsatiuu then ended, end die petition was laid on the table. Sir J. Gitausat and others, from the Commons, brought up the Metropolis !'mice Bill, time Irish Exchiapier Bill, and the Middlesex County Hates Bill, which were read the lust time. Ott the motion us the Earl of wEsTmutta.AND, in the absence of the Earl of Liverpool, and his Majesty ministers, the committee on the corn bill was pOStpUtlcal to salustlay.— Adjourned. TUESDAY, JULY 2. Two bills were brought up froui the Commons. The Earl of LAUDERDALE presented a petition from a person named Price, complaining of a denial of justice, in con sequence of irregular proceedings against him iu one of the courts of justice in Scuilavid. The petition was referred t t the ai.peal committee. STA rE OF THE COV %TR Y.—Earl GREY presented a petition Lout owners and occupiers of land in Yorkshire, complaining of agrioulturul distress. The noble Earl took the opportunity to state, that he some time ago declared his intention to bring forward a motion on the state of the country, with a view to do ail iu his power for a larger reduction of taxation. Ile bad postponed that motion under the expectation that a measure in the other House of Parliament would reduce taxatiou, but that measure had certainly deceived his expectations. if lie aban -1.011 d his intention of bringing forward the motion, it was nut because ti.e mealtime 14 wilich be alluded was effective, nor that he was satisfied with the amount of reduction of taxes, hut simply because he despaired of being able to do any good by iiiipusitiou. He should let things take their course, hoping they might not lead to transfer of the lauded property into other 1141116, in which event the constitution must sutler. The noble Earl concluded his observations by presenting a second petition from the sutfering agriculturists in the neighbourhood of Warwick. The Earl of LIVERPOOL said, he should be ready to meet the noble. Earl oar the subject of general reduction in taxes whenever it canto fairly before the House. He was sere no rums cosld contemplate a change of property in the country with wore diem. than hint:le:l,lml lie saw no prospect of such a resitlt. The noble Earl then adverted to the expected discus NOM on the Corn Bill, and expressed a wish to know, as he was not in his place yesterday, whether it really was the desire of the Howie to go into a committee on the subject to-morrow ! The Earl of LAUDERDALE said, it would be mute conve nient if the discussion were liked for Friday. The Estl of LIVERPOOL then withdrew the notice for the committee on the Bill to-morrow, and fixed it for Friday. MARRIAGE ACT AMENDMENT BILL. Lord STOW ELL presented a petition from Mr. Pritchard, ..e of the Proctors of Doctors' Commons, who applied in be- ' halt of n person named A. F, 131)111e, whose suit fur nullity of I arriage, in the Court of Arches. he was couducting. The ' tition stated the particulars of a marriage illegally contracted between Xr. Blythe and a persou who eloped with him from Part* to Dover, where the wattage was sulemnized. The pe taiois r prayed that the Lords would not allow the 51urriage Act Amendment Bill, then before the noose, to pass into • law, because h would demise the said A. F. Blythe of his jast rights. The Larl of LAUDERDALE said be had a petition also from the Pr.ctor of the lady, satin that the lic.7nro for the Joss rin4e , was obtAiro tri by a false rept( sentation, tad perhaps the Boast world put listeu to bin petition. . . • A NATTOSTA L ,♦,;ter a few observations from the Lord Chancellor, both pe. titian» were withdrawn as irregular. The House then proceeded to the order of the day, for the third reading of the Mari iage Act Amendment Bill. Lord sTowEL i.hjected to the retrospective clause. The noble slid learned Lord said. as the bill stood, minors had nothing to do but enter the church and solemnize matrimony, and then they were united for ever against their happinesillithi interest, and the consent of parents and guardians. In such improper marriages, what could be expected but elopement on the part of the woman, and desertion on the part of the mem-- T:te marriage get had been concocted in evil, and looked upon with horror, but they had overlooked the advantages which had been derived. Many families had been restored, to hap piness by the effect of that law. 'I lie miseries introduced to thatilies by imprudent marriages was one of the greatest evils in society. He concluded by moving to omit the clause. Lord ELLENBOROUGH said, after the bill had been enter tained thirteen days by the (louse, lie did not expect to hear ■ funeral oration over it. The noble and learned Lord's argument was contradictory, and founded upon the belief that marriagas were made fur the happiness of parents and guardians, not the young persons themselves. Ile waa not surprised the noble and learned Lord should urge that line of argument an one suited to his views and situation in society ; but others like himself, who were inure in life suit gaily than the noble and learned Lord, certainly saw the question in a very ditlerent point of view. He certainly was able to state, that the right rev. Prelates had sanctioned the principle, that marriages once solemnized, could not be dissolved; and if that was admitted, the retrospective clause followed as the necessary consequence. The LORD CIIANCtiLLOR said he wished to understand on what authority the noble and learned Lord quoted the opinion of the right rev. Prelates, and therekore should ask them the question whether because it had happened dint marriages had been solemnized under the sanction of the purative father, those marriages were valid in the eye of the church? '[he noble and learned Lord held that no marriages ought to be valid with out the consent of the lawful father, where the parties kuew the father was living. The ARCHBISHOP of CANTERBURY said, in no in stance had the Bishops held that marriage under the consent of the putative .father was valid, where the consent of the real father was known to he withheld. The LORD CHANCELLOR - could not suppose the noble ' lord wished to make all the marriages since 1733 valid. He could tell the noble lord, whose heart lie believed to be good, that in twelvemonths after the Bill before the loose passed in its then shape, his heart would be torn with anguish, occasioned by the distress of families. Lord WiLLENDORJUGH said the Right Re►erend Pre. hates held their doctrine upon morals. They held that mar riage once solemnized ought not not to be set aside. In sup port of that doctrine lie might cite these word.:—" Tle•se whom God Lath joined let no Mel put asundcr." Alter considerable discussion, tLe Bill was read the third time and passed.—Adjourned. WEDNESDAY, JULY 3. The Brighton Harbour Chain Bill—the Metropolis Police Bill —and the Roasted Corn Bill, were read the third tune and passed. The Irish Land Revenue Bill was read the second time. The Irish Exchequer Offices Bill went through a committee.— The Welch Coals Bill also went through a committee. The Howe then adjourned. THURSDAY, JULT 4. • A person from the St. Niclwlsa Bay Company presented the annual account of their expenditure, made un to June, tin. The Welch Coal Regulation Bill, and the Exchequer Offices in Ireland Bill, were road the third time, The Irish Land Re venue Bill was read the second time. Lord Eli KINE presented a petition from the owners and occupiers of land in Northumberland also petitions from Essex, Southampton, and ,Curnwall, against the Corn Importation Bill.—The above were read and laid on the table. The Earl of LAUDERDALE gave notice, that on Tuesday next he Aiould move the second reading of the Scotch Juries Bill. A message front the Commons brought up the Five per Cent. Contracts Bill, which was read tae tirst time. 60111111 AIIEaIISAN TRADC.—The Nlarquis of LANS DOWNE said, in case a noble Earl (Liverpool) had been in his place, he should have put a question to him respecting the poli tical and commercial relations subsisting between this country and the Independent States of South America. As the noble Earl was absent, he should reserve what he had to say until to- IliOrli/W. The House then adjourned. FRIDAY, JULYS. The royal assent was given by commission 'to the Roasted Goan Bill, Irish Window Tax, Scotch Disdllerier, aNletropolis Police, Irish Exchequer ()dices, Welch Coals, and two local bill:, the Kilinainhain Hospital, and Brighton Harbour Bill. —'fire commissioners were the Lord Chancellor, Earl Bathurst, and the Earl of Shaftesbury. Petitions, complaining of agricultural distress, were presented from owners and occupiers of land in Suffolk—Oxford—city of Bristol—Hereford —Warwickshire—the NN olds in the county of York--Somerwt--York—liertford--Denbigh,—Gloucester, and other places. Lord DUN DAS presented a petition from a numerous body of Dissenters, complaining of hardship under the existing marriage service. The above petitions were laid on the table. A person from the Secretary of State's Office pit:sewed an ac count of the population of Great Britain in t , pursuant to the Ist olGeOrge IV.—Laid on the table. CORN BILL. Earl BATHURST rose on the crrder of the day for the second reading of the Corn Bill, and observed, that the unavoidable absence of a noble Earl (Liverpool) had induced him to postpone the discussion on this bill, but having recently understood that several noble Lords were waiting in town to give their opinions on the men sate, he considered it better to proceed forthwith. In opening to the House the provisions of the Bill, it would not be necessary to occupy much of their Lordships' time. He should not discuss the tame of agricultural distress. The bill proposed all alteration in the old Corn Bill. By that Act the importation of all wheat was prohibited until the price rose to eighty shillings. There was then unlimited importation. and the warehouses were tilled with foreign grain. So soon as the ports closed the foreign grain in warehouses was brought into the marker, and the glut sat. as it were, like the night mare on the English grower. The bill before the House provided a remedy. The agriculturists would &rive benefit and security from the scale of potating duties. The noble Earl stated all the objects of the bill, and concluded by moving the second reading. Lord ERSKINE said, this bill, fur laying a protecting duty, was u repeal of the bill brought in by tl.e agriculturists thtvt selves for their relief. During the war the agriculturists derived great advantage from their produce. When peace came a change took place. Distress was general, and then ante the bill which the noble Lord called a night mare. The government had many difficulties to encounter at the time they passed the Corn Dill; but lie could not avoid saying, it was the duty of governments to provide measures not for the interest of any one class of the po pulation, but for the general advantage of tile whole community. Corn might be brought from the Continent at 31s. or 3/s. and how, he might ask, would they expect to benefit tile growers in this country by the proposed protecting ditties ? Excessive tax - adon in England denied the lava a tenitunteung price. If • `,. faxation was reduced, a remunerating price might be procured. The firmer had to pay tithes upon the hold brought to perfection by his own capital. Ile had to pay assessed taxes fin roads and bridges over which he travelled, and even for the light of Heaven. If this state of things continued the poorer lands would ba thrown out of cultivation. The farmers did not ask protecting duties, but a temunerating pike. Before they proceeded with u law pike this, they ought to equalise the public burdens. In a bill brought into the other 110.110 e. by Mr. S. Bourne, there was a statement that Parliament did did not mean to depart from the act of Elisa beth, which provides for the sustentation of the poor. No man desired to sec the poor well supplied with provis ions more thug himself, but what were they doing by the bill? They were let. dug in foreign corn to the market ut Sos. (it would not be more with the protecting duty), when the English landholder could not raise his corn under *)s. They were told by Government and those who supported the bill, that it was fur the good of the agriculturists. '1 lie remedy could not cure. but it would increase the illness of the party. The promoters of the bill mitt be compared to a bad physician, who, mistaking his patients case, put him into a slioiver bath. The bill, which he considered the shower bath, did nut contain a moderate fall of water, hut a deluge ; a torrent bearing down every thing like a whisp of straw in a flowing canal. The first thing to be dune was to equaiiac the public burthens. Unless the agriculturist was relieved train the weight of taxation, it would be in vain to look for remunera ting prices fur his commodity. No man looked with more respect to the members of the House of Commons than he did, yet he could not help observing, that they frequently appeared to forget themselves. Private interest seemed to be preferred to public good; cud he might soy, in the languag - of Hamlet, " There are more things passing In !leaven and Barth—than Are dreamed of in our philosophy." The landholder must be supported in common with other classes of the community • and the noble Lord was most desirous to pro mote the general interest by liberal policy and free trade. The bill appeared so objectionable, that he should conclude by moving that it be real a second time this day toree mouths. The AIM nil men t having been put, Lord DACIIE said he had long been of opinion that nothing could be done at present to afford effectual relict to the distresses, and he might say the destruction of agriculture, and he should be happy to induce the House to throw out the bill, at least for the present session. A discussion then ensued between die Lords most interested in the question, and the amendment having been negatived, the bill was read the second time. Adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. MONDAY, 1. Mr. QrARME, the Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod, sum moned the House to attend in the House of Peer*, to hear the royal assent given, by commission to sundry bills.—(See Lords.) Ihe Highgate Chapel Bill was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Friday. The County Rate Bill was read a third time and passed. SALT TA s.—Mr. LUSHINGTON brought in the Salt Ts: Repeal Bill. Mr. CURWEN gave notice, that he should oppose the second reading, or on the question that the Bill be committed, when he 'Mould move that the duration of the bill Le limited to January, IS= Mr. LUSHINGTON said, that as the question might he on the committee, he should muse the s em md reading to morrow. Read a first time ,and ordered to be read • second time to-morrow. TNL Iltrtatt•dttAat ELECTION.—Mr. MOBHOUSE pre tented a petition from Chides Maddox, confined in Warn irk castle. He was one of the persons who had been found guilty of being concerned in the election of a" Legislatorial Attorney ;' and be had received heavier sentences than any Oilier of the defendants. Eallnoloia had nine months ; Wooller 1.1 months ; and Maddox, this petitioner, IS months ; and he had under stood that the reason of this difikrence was, not that he was deemed more guilty titan the other parties, but in consequence of the mode in which he had conducted his defence. Against such made of proceeding the House ought to interfere. The petitioner prayed the House to address his Majesty to relieve from prison all reformers now confined ; also to remunerate them out of the produce of some of the sinecures, for the pro• ceedings they bad endured. The petition was read, and ordered to be printed, after Mr. Twice had denied that the Judges punished in consequence of the mode in which defences were cooduetede Mr. DAWSON move(' the third reading of the Police Rill of the metropolis. Read accordingly and passed. Sir J. GRAHAM moved the second reading of the Surrey New Roads' Bill. Alderman WOOD enquired whether the bill was to be raj ferred to a committee above stairs Sir J. GRAHAM answered in the affirmative. Bill read 8 second time, and ordered to be committed. Moat:et:AT 1N EDINBURGIL — Lord BINNING presented a petition from Edinburgh, praying fur • grant from the sum set apart for the building of new churches, towards building the monument in Edinburgh, to commemorate the victories of the late war, which was to be converted into &place of worship, where there were to be many free seats. Sir W. DE CRESPIGNY presented a petition from stage coach proprietors of Camberwell, praying to be heard by Counsel against a bill affecting them now before t h e House. — Read and ordered to be printed. WAYS AND MEANS—THE BUDGET. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved, that the House go into a committee of ways and means—Agreed tn. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in the commit tee, rose to bring forward his statement of the finances, gene rally termed " The Budget." He said hr had some apology to make for br'nging forward his general statement before all the supplies had been voted ; it lied generally been considered that those supplies ought to be first voted. Why the delay 11..41 been, he would not stop to inquire; but it would be essential that lie should make his statements now, and that certain pro visions should be mule on account of the sinking fund, which were voted from July to July. A quarter would be lost, if the votes were not flow proposed. He would make some reference to the amounts already voted. For the army there had been granted 7,700,0001.; for the navy 5,100,0901.; for the ord nance 1,200,0001. There had been granted for Ireland 100,0001. for artiular services. Te noti that ad been voted was abo u t 15, c 000,01101. there re h inain mi ed to nt be vot h ed shout 3,000,0001. the whole amount would be 17,1i00,0001. however, for the services of the year. There was a grant of 200,0001. which he should have to ask for, to make up the sinking fund. The out-pensioners fell on the public, in consequence of the hospital having decided against certain payments ; and that lied compelled hint to resort to money that might have been applied to other purposes. Adding this and other sums which were in the nature of debt, Se. the gross amount would he 21,1L 1 6,1361. Be then give th e following r eca p itulation:— / .1.1.•••....