The Statesman. — London, England, 1815-06-08 00:00:00

The question then is, how long, in all probability, can Joust Burr. contrive to produce the enormous sums which will be required of him. The subject of the depredation of Bank Notes (or of the increased price of Guinea., which is the same thing) was in troduced in the House of Commons on Tuesday last. It appears by the London Price Current, that light Guineas (for none other, of course, can be publicly sold) are worth about 31s. 81.; which is, in other words, that Bunk Notes are at a depreciation of upward: of Fifty per Cent! ! ! And this, at the opening of the war ! This fact, undeniable at it is, speaks more intelligibly the real feelings of the country than can be conveyed by the most powerful majority the Minister can muster in the House cf C o mmons, together with the bornbastical addresses of Placemen, Pensioners, and the whole band of Government retainers, and even with the powerful ' aid of those elegant and delicate Journals, the 77.!er. Courier, and Posi. One word more on these highly countenanced spe cimeos of the literature of the country. The wretched attempts of the Times and Courier to support the present unprincipled war are, in go netal, unworthy of notice. But when they out HEaoo Herron, in vulgarity and abuse, when the most chosen ilowers of Billingsgate are culled to grace their polluted columns, when the vocabulary of St. Giles's is no longer able to produce a fresh supply of language for the delightful rivalry in which those two most polished Journals are so anxiously engaged, then it is that we can no longer refrain, in justice to our country, from expressing the indig nation which such a detestable system must, of ne cessity, excite. We have heard of a Dictionary of " Slang Language:" it is now no longer ne ceriary. The Times and the Courier are ample sub stitutes for such an interesting work, and we can venture to assert, without fear of contradiction, that they conclusively, and decidedly, exceed, in vul garity, any thing ever yet produced in the annals of blackguardism. The proposition which we had hoped the Cu.►ti. CELLOK of the EXCHEQUER, on better reflection, had abandoned., was last night brought forward, in a Collin:Mee of Ways and Artemis. He still in tends to lay en additional impost of sixpence on every Advertisement in , ,rerted in a Newspaper, and a hal!'penny on the Paper itself. In other words we fear he intends if he can, and this is certainly the way to effect it, to lessen the number of Newspapers, and particularly those Journals that may now be considered as the chief bulwarks of British freedom. If this shall be the case; if the l'ress is to be bowed dose by burthen after burthen, till it shall cease to brtuthe, or breathe only by the favour of Power— adieu to the boasted liberties of Britons—adieu to the last remains of our birthright. NEW LOAN. At length Ministers have given notice of the Loan for the present year.—This day, about half-past one o'clock, M-. lIASE communicated to the Gentle. iron of tlic Steck Exchange, that on Saturday he would be ready to see the Contractors for the Loan, LI order to arrange the necessary preliminaries.— Three per Cents reduced at the time were 54, and Three per Cents Consols at sn, for the opening, when both kinds of Stork declined about a half per cent. The nmoinst of tl:o Loan has not transpired; but it i estimated at 2S millions, all of which is to be raised in En : Jantl. 'flto bidding for the Loan will be made known on Saturday. some further American Papers were received yes te-day, both from Virginia and the State of New► York. A Court of I.'nquiry was held at New York, to investigate the catt,ws of the capture of the United States' frigate the Pre,irl. , rd, which they pronounced to be owing to her haviag struck on the bar, when she was leaving the poll. A Court. Martial lir,d twit held on the conduct of Gen. WILKINSON, in Canada, for tutglect of duty.— Ile has been honourably acquitted. The Republican Navy Board has been cr,vanised, and Commodore Ront:Etts, with Captains flur.t.aud l'ormit, hate been nominated Commissioners. ''Ai'TUIZES PI" Till.: LIIICANS. The Windsor Castle packet, from Falmouth for Halifax, wag taken on the 15!ti of March, by the Roger privateer, and was carried into Norfolk. The James and Charlotte, from Newfoundland to Alicant, were taken on the 21st of March, off the coast of Portugal, by the Mrtcedonian privateer, and arrived at Cape Ann about the 23d of April, but has been restored. The Ocean, --, from Messina to Petersburgh, Ishich was taken by the Macedonian privateer on the 'l4th of February, arrived at Boston on the 23t1 of April. The Tagus, Farmer, from Smyrna to London, is taken by the Brutus privateer, and arrived at Bos ton en t h e '2sth of April. The Dundee, Anderson, from London to Bahia, taken by the Warrior privateer, near Bahia, on the 13th of March, arrived at New York on the 28th of April. The Pomona, Currie, from Antigua to London, taken '2lst of March, in lat. 35. long. 51. by an American privateer, arrived at New York on the 27th of Apia. but is restored. WirrEft .corT's Lady of the Lake is likely to become more admired than ever, from one of the Summer Theatres exhibiting a Melo-Drama founded on that Poen,. written by T. DJBDIN, and which is really got up in a very superior ni.iiner :—we allude to the Royal Circus, Blackfriars'-road. One of the most bustling Pantomimes we ever saw was the After-piece, in wisich the Clown and Columbine were %%al mly greeted with the plaudits of the audi ence. The nicks do great credit to the Machinist and Author. ,tnt STATESMAN. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. IIoUSE OF LORDS, Jong 7. The Royal Assent was given by Commission In the Notthern Lights Bill, Exchequer Bills Bill, Lottery Bill, Longitude Bill, Scotch Mad-,oases Bill. Court of Sebsittrt Records Bill, Highways Bill, Glamorgatishire Election Bill, acid a great number of private Bills. Commissioners, Lords Ellenburough, Shaftesbury, and IL:di-Jai?. The Irish Prisons Bill, Oak Bark Bill, and Caledonian Asylum Bill, were read a second time. The African Good: Bill, Irish S:mmr BBL White Herring Fishery Bill, nod Foreign Eclistment Bill. were committed. The Gk.1) , 2 !louses Bill ss as also committed, nod several amendments of minor importuner, proposed by the Bishop of PETERBOROUGH. agreed tic—Report to-morrow. The Irish Imports Drawback Duty Bill, the Militta Bill, and Irish Asaults Redress Bill, were read a third time, and passed. instead of 42 days, as in the former Act, and it was not intended actuaity to resort to the measure unless it should be found neceseary. Under these circum stances, be trusted their Lordships would think it expedient that the Government should have the power to accept of these services in the manner in which it was modified. The maters would leel much le , s in convenience in sparing the services of their servants for the 28 days, than they must have felt ss hen de prived of them for 4'2 days. Lord ST. JOHN requested some explanation as to the power of Government under the Act to call them out for this purpose of vol tinter.' jog. Lord sir:mount said that Government had the power to call the men nut for exercise, or in case of invasion ; and the law nificers of the Crown had given it as their opinion, that when cilled out, their sor vices in this %I - RV might he accepted. Bow the chose was worded in this Bill he did not then exactly know. Tin. Bill was then read a third time, and passed.— Adjourtivd. HMS!' OF COMMONS. The !moil% ent Mil, in the nhs , :nce of Mr. Serjennt Rest. was poqpon ine 'notion of Air. LOCKHART to this da:, three months. The Trish Law Stamp and Irish Exchange Sttimp Bills, were read a third time. Mr, %% I L HER FORCE gave notice, that he should move on Tuesday next flr I nc to bring in a hill to prevent the claudelo tine Import.,tion of Negroes into the West t. dies. The l'otd-Offree Bill Newt through the Committee,—lteport to be eunsidrred on Monday. On the motion of Sir S. ROMILLY, an account tras ordered of the 615 persons of colour in Dominica stated to have been re- stored, specifying names, ages, &c. On the second reading of the Irish Nester of the Rolls 8111, Mr. HORN Ea repeated his objection to equaliz ing the income of that Officer in England and Ire land, as in the latter country his duties were so much less. Mr. PEELF. defended the Bill, and propo s ed an instruction to the Committee to regulate the offices of the Six Clerks in Ireland, which had hitherto been saleable. Sir S. ROMILLY doubted the legality of such sales. These places were formerly sold in England, but had not been so since Lord Kenyon's holding the Rolls. Sales of such offices ought not to be looked at as a legitimate source of profit, for which compen sation should be made. The frequent additions to Judges' salaries were objectionable, as it made them more dependent on the Crown, with whom such ad ditions originated. Mr. PEELEeTplained. The sale of the offices was recognized by an Act of Parliament. _ _ Sir F. FLOOD was in favour of the Bill. Serjeant ONSI.OW felt many objections to it. I Sir J. NEWPORT said a few word. ! After some further observations from Mr. J. P. GR NNT,whocontended,that it was a new principle to put the salaries of Jokes in Ireland on the same •ting as those of English Judges, and from Sir JOHN STUART and Mr. SHAW in support of the motion, the Resolution was carried in the af. firmative. Mr. HORNER thought it his duty to state, that the sale of any office, supposing such sale to have taken place by the Mosier of the Rolls in Ireland, or any other judicial officer who had a neg dive on the election to such office, was in law a high misde meanour. Mr. PEELS explained. GRI:EN HOSPITAL. Sir. CHARLES MONCK moved, pursuant to a notice he had given, for an account of the eipences incurred in the management of the estates belooging to Greenwich 11..41,ita1, in the county of Northum berland, daring the years 1811, 12, 13, 14, jade ." sire. Mr. CRORER agreed with the Honourable Baro net, that the expenditure had been larger than upon many other estates of the same extent, but he be lieved that the system of management had also been much superior. The rental had been raised within a few years, and since iuclosures had become so fre quent, from 18,0001. to 40,0001. per annum. There were no bad debts or runaway tenants, nor did the receivers pockets any thing by the expences laid out, which belonged entirely to the discretion of the farmers. lie had no objection to the production of the account in question, but he did lint see how this alone would serve the purpose of the lion. Mover, or show whether or not the expence had been profitably employed. Sir M. W. RIDLEY commended the management of the estates referred to, and was happy to see that the enquiry was not refused. Ile understood that there were, however, two receivers at 15001. per annum each, and other agents who had large allow ances. Some of those agents he thought unnecessary, and that one receiver would be sufficient. Mr. BROKER said there were two receivers, but they received no fixed salary whatever. They were' remunerated by a commission of five per cent. on all money and rents they received, and were intended to act as a controul on each other. Mr. BARING thought it would create a saving of one half to sell the property, and invest the purchase money in the funds. Mr. C. LONG said a few words. Accounts were then ordered of the gross rental, with its different branches of net produce arising from all farms, houses, woods, &c. belonging, to Greenwich Hospital, in the county of Northumber land, together with the names and salaries of the agents employed. Mr. PEELS obtained leave to bring in a 8;11 to regulate the office of Master of the Rolls in Ireland. Mr. BENNETT gave notice, that in the Commit tee on the Militia Bill, he should submit two clauses for limiting the power of the Crown in the itiflic , ion of corporal punishments, and the dismissal of Officers without Courts-Martial. CONSENT OF PARTIES TO PRIVATE RILLS. The Fart of 1)Elt BY moved, that the Sta.,ding Order kl hich required the consent of parties to lie given to Private Bills in which tbey were interested before the Committee, might be sus pended, for the pm pose of enabling him now to give his con sent in the lim,: on the second reading.. The Order being suspended, his Lordship gave his consent to Lori Stanley's Lstates Bill as it stood, or as their Loidthips might choose to alter it. Lord ELLEN BOROUGH said, the consent most he taken only to the Bill as it stood, for a tain , eat to a Bill, boss ever it might be afterwards altered, could not be legally taken. After some observations by Lord Bedevil-de. the Marquis of Lansdowne. and Lord Shaftesbury, it appeared to be admitted on all hands. that .n case any material alteration were mode in the Bill , the foment must he !They% ed. The eignet:t was then ta!ten to the Bill as it stood. LOCAL Lord SIDMOUTH moved the third reading of the Local Militia Bill. Lord ST. J O UN rose to state some observations and doubts with respect to this Bill, at the same time declaring that nothing could be further from his intentions than to throw any obstacle or difficulty in the way of the measures of defence and vigorous pro secution of the war which Government might find it necessary to adopt at the present crisis. The Local Militia had been found, be believed, a most valuable and efficient domestic military, which was in no small degree owing to the zeal end alacrity with which Gentlemen of counties came forward as officers to assist in bringing this species of force to the utmost perfection of which it was susceptible, for the pur pose of defending their own property and that of others. Nothing could be more impolitic, therefore, than to do any thing that might disgust these officers. But last year a part of this force had been called out for the purpose of enabling the men to volunteer their services for forty-two days out of their coun ties, a bounty of one guinea being given to each man so volunteering. While this volunteering con tinued, the regiments were in a state of the greatest derangement, and scenes of riot and drunkenness were permitted, subversive of Military discipline, and not very creditable to the service itself. He spoke from his own experience, having commanded a regiment of Local Militia, in which these scenes had been exhibited to a veiy considerable extent.— These things were apt to disgust the officers, and it was on this ground that he had doubts as to the policy of calling out the Local Militia for the pun. poses of this volunteering. He recollected also, that doubts had then been entertained whether Govern ment had a right under the Act to call out the Local Militia for this species of volunteering; the Act only giving power to call them out 1 . .4- the purposes of exercise, or in case of invasion. He again repeated, that it was not his object to throw any obstructions in the way of the military exertions now making. Lord ROLLE stated, that he himself marched into a place, which he named, at the head of a thousand men, called out for the purpose of this volunteering, and that all the officers had encouraged the volun teering to the utmost of their power. Ihe men at first thought there was some trick in it, but after wards they were satisfied, and volunteered cheerfully. Lord SIDMOU said, that nothing could be more fair and candid that, the manner in which the Noble Lord (St. John) had stat:q! his objections to this Bill, or rather his doubts and observations upon it. Ile admitted that every thing ought to be avoid. ed, if possible, which could give offence or disgust to the officers of this valuable species of force. No. thing could exceed the zeal and alacrity with which the Gentlemen of the country had come forward in behalf of their country, and the exertions which all of them made to promote the views of Government in this particular. Their Lordships had to consider, first, whether the same occasion now existed for this measure as had existed when it was before resorted to: and if they thought that en equally pressing oc. casiun did exist, they had then decided, in a great measure, on the principle of this Bill: that an equally pressing occasion did exist he was sure their Lord. ships would feel, and therefore he need say nothing further on that point. The reasons which induced Government to have recourse to a measure of this kind, for it was not exactly the same as this, at a former period, was this :—ln order to procure a large supply for the disposable force of the country, it had been thought expedient to allow a volunteering from the regular militia into the line to an amount of about the half of the whole number of the Militia. The Militia amounted to 70,000 men, and it was expect ed that about 30,000 men might be precored for the army. This, however, would trench materially on the domestic force, and as it was intended, if possi. ble, to avoid the mode of filling up the Regular Mi. litia by ballot, it was resolved to invite a certain por. Lion of the Local Militia to volunteer their services beyond their counties for 42 days. By this means 17,000 men had been induced to volnuteer, and therefore the expedient in a great degree, though not to the full extent, answered the purpose. It was true that a notion had spread among the men, that if , they accepted the bounty of a guinea, they would be liable to serve for an indefinite time, and in any part of the country, instead of being limited to the ad. I joining counties. But, however, they must now I have been satisfied by the fact that such a notion was ! erroneous. With respect to the present measure, the' Militia had, at the conclusion of the late peace, been mostly disembodied. In calling them out again, it was desirable to avoid the inconveniences and personal I vexations of the ballot, if it was possible to avoid it. He had now to state, that great progress had been made in raising them by beat of drum, and it was hoped that the mode of ballot might be avoided. But this mode of raising the men by beat of drum must take up some time, the duration of which could not he exactly calculated; and, therefore, it had been thought expedient that Government should be em. powered, in case of necessity, to accept the services of a portion of the Local Militia out of their ow', counties. The sertice was to be only for 28 days COMMITTEE: OF WAYS AND MEANS. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in a very low tone of voice, unposed some Resolu tions on the new schedule. As to the stamps on the law papers used in the proceedings of the inferior Courts of Scotland, they had been carefully revised, and he did not believe they would he considered ex cessive. A Resolution which he then proposed was agreed to• STA DUTI ES.-- WS The House having resolved itself into a Committee f Ways and Means; ~!-~~ The CHANCELLOR. of the EXC to propose the Schedule of Stamp j) t e had given notice. 11(.10)44.'1 , d, that which Ike additional Stamp w posed, west , liw dutks and new•i»pers. Tho firs) of these subiocts, the taxation of law proce;Nlingss was one on which too much attcw.ion- could not be bestowed. Ho bad submitted the present schedules to seicial very experi, , Tlced persons in the profession of the law, and silice the schedule had been beforg produced, I:my w ere many alti , iation 4 mo de in it %slii;:h. would render it less irljectiouable. Coe alte ration W RS, ra:111 the increas , ll duties were tot made progrresire on the size of the instruffirtit stamped, hot flint a certain increase of duty ou each proc2ed. ing should take I,lare. Atm objertioo also had brew startad agnitict the schedule, which was. thpt the in. crease of tho duties would have an unequal erect upon the proceedings in small Courts. This alsmv ; had been remedied by a dirnim , i-hed sc:le of duties applied to the small Courts. Though the taxes ott law proceediags were on general ground; objection !able, yet ts lien it n s considered how small a pro, i portion of the expences in a lawsuit consisted of law duties, the objections would not appear so great as at first might be imagined. In a suit in which the solicitor's hill was 401. the amount of the old law duties, together with the new, was 40s. another, in which the expellee was 351. the stamp duties were, 31. There was not, therefore, the samo obj-c!iort to these duties which at first sight seemed t., ;mttaelt to them.—As to the duties on Newspapers, the fit Et idea which he had was to lay an additional lax of on each paper; but as it was represented that this tax would have the most disadvantageous effect Impa the circulation of the papers, he had imagined th.t increase of the duty on advertisements in proporolon to their length ; but though this seemed a fair pro. position it was strongly objected to by the proprie. tors of the newspapers, and an additional stamp duty of one halfpenny on each paper, and sixpence ott each advertisement was pre errrel by time m4jority the persons occupied in this line. To protect the public from an increase of the price of papers beyend the amount of the tar, an additional discount would be allowed to those who only increased the price of their paper from sixpence -halfpenny to setett-pence ] which di.count wou:d not be allowed to those who increased the price to a greater sum. Although the Proprietors of the London Papers were no: equally willing to coincide in the arrangement which he lied made, he was convinced that no duty would be more cheerfully paid by the public than an increase of one halfpenny on the price of a newspaper. The sale of these publications depending aintost wholly on the situation of public affairs, and as at the pre sent time, and probably for some years to come, a laudable curiositt• would be directed to the ev en ts which were passing, and which exceeded in import. ante any which for ages before had occut red, the additional price of one halfpenny on the in•biica. tions through which the public derived their juror. motion would not be grudged, by the purchasers. Sir J. NEWPORT thought the. Tax on News. papers injudicious, as tending to stop the suurcea through which the public derived its information as to their own affairs. The curiosity of the public was kept alirein proportion of the pressure of public calamities, from the wish to know when there w•,st. probability that the prossar' would c.•ase. In :he present situation of atT•irs the public curiosity bu:tht to be awake as to public events, and tie introduc tion of a tax, the object of which teas to larclude them from obtaining information, could not fail to sour their minds, more c h ap any other TUC which could be introduced. Even at the preAA•ti time if the extent of the circulation of informati.,• by Newspapers were compared with other countries, America for instance, it was a piece nullity. . The Tax also would be very far from being productive; because the addition which. would be made to the price of the paper would diminish the circolatioo, and thus have a re-action on the revenue. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had said that he had guarded the public against an increase of price be youd the amount of the increased duty, by the allow ance of a discount to those who only increased the price of their papers one.halfpenny. Now it would always bea matter of calculation for the Proprietors, whether they should receive the discount or lay eit the increase of one-penny. The taxation on News. papers had been overdone already, when the propor tion of the tax to the price of the article was coasi dered ; and lie thought it was the worst policy in the Chancellor of the Exchequer to lay an unfair tax on those who might, if not totally misrepresent, at least very Iligly colour every measure he rniOlt here. after propose. Sir M. RIDLEY said he did not object to the tax on Newspapers, on account of the effect it would have on the Proprietors, but bAcause it would dimi nish the cirrulition of information, he should Appose that part of the Resolution. As to the addition of Gd. on advertisements, he (lid not object to it. 110 understood the charge for the insertion of advertise ments in the London Papers was very great, and the delay considerahle; for though a laudable practice! existed at the offices of inserting advertisements by rotation, yet a practice as much to be reprobated ex hied, that advertisements were inserted out of their rotation on the payment of an additional sum. At the last.general Election, when he bad occasion to ad vertise a circular to the freemen of the town which he represented, resident. in London, he had selected four London Papers fur that purpose, and was surpris-d to find the eapence so much for the iusertinn of tho advertisement twice in those Papers. Ile seas informed, on examining the accounts, tha it wzs the custom to charge twice as toed' fur advertisements at the time of a general election, a rule whieit not exist, he belie‘ed, with the counlry Papers. It was alto i.r markable that there was a difference in these charge,: The Papers were two Evening and two I%l,lmin-s -nipers—the Morning Chronicle, the llurnthy, Pes:, the Globe, and Courier; in the Nor:4!ng Chronicle he was charged 10 guineas, in the .:llctrting Post p'2 guineas, in the Globe 12 guineas and its the Courier 16 ~u ineas. This variety seemed singnlar to him, and it was not the less singular ti , nr (nose P,pers who ad heted to the principles of the Chancellor of the Ex. / citequer -barged most for their advertisements. At the duty bore so small a proportion to the charge on advertislicilli he should not oppose it. • Sir C. :410NC!i oppnsed the tax on Newspapers, and thought thac cou!tl not be a time mere ill chasm • T r"""'"—""911111111:1116 11111111 11EQU ER rood . sties of which ha i...r t the suijectii nit Kole to_he • • `l\ I .\. I, T. l r• I i 4 r .' on ly Lit test kit .1„ , um :m4 ited n itly A- nW3 ;arel r. r• of r ill