The National Register. — London, England, 1820-05-07 00:00:00

mine witnesses relative to charges against tieorge Ed wards. lie miderstood that Edwards was about to leave the country, and lie had written to Lord Sidmoitilt, de fining that such person might be prevented from leaving the kingdom. Mr. S. WOIITLEY presented a Petition from the West Riding of Yorkshire, complaining of the impolitic Tax on V 4 001, observing that his mind was made up on the subject. Lord MILTON presented a similar Petition ' remark log that the Tax had been imposed when the trade was in a ruinous state ; as a measure of revenue the tax had failed. It was within his knowledge that an important contract, to clothe the Russian army, had been lust to this country, mid owing, he amity believed to this tax, which was most impotent as a measure of relief to agticulture. It had been equally useless in protecting the manufactures. Even if the tax were necessary, was this the time to im pose it ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER observed,' that as a measure of revenue the tax had not been feisty tried—it could not yet be said to have failed. The Petition was front Leeds and its neighbourhood. Read and ordered to be printed. Mr. GORDON moved for accounts of the progress made in building the New Post Office, in getting plans, &c. He did not object to the new office, but he still complained of the mode of raising the money, namely, by burdeming the Orphan'. Fond. Accounts ordered. Sir H. PARNEL brought forward his motion for cer tain Civil List Accounts. He considered the expence of the Civil Government of these kingdoms to be little less than 2.000,0001. a year, made sip by grants from Parlia ment, the Fee Fond, ace. He sliouLl therefore require accounts of the produce of the Fee Faun Office, &e.; of the Revenue and other emoluments of the Duchy of Lancaster; and of the several additions made to the Civil List during the late reign, and of the charges taken away from such fund. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied, that many of these accounts were ttttt lece-sary, as must of the intormation was atirady before the House. As to the report of 1816, lie thought there could be no objec tion to re-print it. (Hear!) The accounts being mute cessiry, lie should move the previous question. Mr.TIEUNEY was satisfied that the papers, or some such documents were requisite; but, even if the question were waived, he begged to be understood nut to give up Lis right to have papers on the subject. Mr. CALLRAFT and Sir H. Parnell ob d, that if the motion were abaudoned, it was on the understanding, that the report should be re-printed.—(Hear!) Previous question carried, and the report of 1818 was afterwards ordered to lie re-printed; Mr. Tierney hav ing remarked, that what he wanted to know was, what bad happened since 1815 and 1818. Mr. CALCRAFT (for Sir J. Newport) obtained leave to bring in a bill to regulate the office of Clerk of the Peace in Ireland. Mr. HUNIF. brought forward his motion, also for Ac counts illustrative of the state of the Civil List. He re quited the sums total fur previous years, hut lie wished to have all the items for the last year. The House knew that many sums ceased to be paid out of the Civil List, about 600.0001.; but it would be impossible to understand the sub ject without having the items of the Bth class,aod the details of the occasional class. The information be required was no where to be obtained without immense labour; lie there fore thought there could be no such objecti tttt urged to his motion us had been made against the previous propositions ! lie conclud .d with moving for a series of accounts of the alllolllll in total paid on each class since ISIS, of the con tinecocies. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that the A.. Wills were ordered to be laid regularly before Par liament, by Act of Parliament I if such direction had not been complied with. let the instance be pointed out. He concluded with moving the previous question. Mr. HUME hoped that the House would assist him in calling fur these accounts, and nut stiller his motion to be thus met. Mr. HUSKISSON said, it was a new doctrine to hold, that the House was entitled to accounts regarding the Civil List, whenever they were called for. Mr. Fox had held that the House ought not to call fur detailed accounts regarding the Civil List, except where the Crown came for assistance to the Civil List,--(Hcar, from the opposition benches.) All the fluorination required could be obtaiiied from the estimate of the preceding year; and therefore why ahould the mot' be acquiesced its to grAify the curiosity of any Holt. Vlember, of how touch might have hero paid for wine, sir iii the Lord Chainherhon's departmeiit.— (Hear, hear.) Mr. TIERNEY said this speech nal noon extraordinary. It was argued, as ifs Gad Lis, existed, w hereas the quest inn was, how to inake a Civil List ; and the whole was iiilW to he begun sir 11110 . 'resides, to piupurtiou to the indelicacy of agitating the solij..ct a hen "finally arrait A ed," the more incumbeet was it on them to enquire Hun. S thought that all the money granted had ion been expended ; at all sweats thi y sought to know ahe ther 101 l much or Ism little had been grunted. When the sums had been perinaneutly arranged, then it would be indelicate to Heir ; but HUN' when they were its agitation, sorely it became theiu to enquire. Lord J. RUSSELL thought the motion extremely fair.— To refuse the A CCOUIIIt, its the present distressed sate of the people, itould he timing the country extremely ill, and cer tainly to say that a Report was made in 1815 or IslB, was not such an suss% er as Ile I 11011•: hl the !loose roi4lit to !creole. The gallery was Ili is cleared for a dlvision.—Some iliscus ttion took place w hile stiangers were excluded. Nu division took place , soul alien strani,tera were rt.admitte.l, Lord ON Nil% . llllBllllng that ever) tittle of evidence should h.• rcfosed alien the, were called ill lO urrange th C'. .1 LI t dt the commencement of a new reigif. Sttauger• wei.• .Pain ordered to withdraw fur a dis him!. The ounitoov were— rt)cs GO—Noes 113—Majority us 53 against 11w 111111111. Mr. II U DI L, on our ;e-entering the gallery, arging his neat uu.tion for Papers respecting the Civil C 1111•• tending that the details of Ihe last year were now hese to he found. Hu concluded w ith moving for oilier hurts were severalls refused by negativing the snot. ttttt , Ihe Chan cellor ut tar Esc loopier mosiog " the pi csious Ques • ." Air. lIU.tII. Ural 11111% , ed for au Aelllll.llll of his Majest) '3 ROW, vl d Revell al, of Scotland, &c. force accounts he considered most 1111 1 /1111 $lll 10 a right adjudication of the Civil List. The Itesecuev were applied to petiblotts to sup port Ministers fialuente, and to enable them to c.,rrupt the Members of that llouve.—(Hear, hear !)—tic should move au account to such purport, in a few days, as an mower to 1 47 Inoue, taxes on billard tables, besides public lotteries.— Whether all these sums were sent home Ile knew net ; bat they were raised to be sent home to the King's pri vjr purse. Thus she Sovereign exercised a power of raising mosey for his own private use. As so the economy of the place, he mentioned that in war there was one Town. Major, now there were two; in war, these were two Barrack Masters, uow there were three! and so on.— Supposing the money was raised tOr the rubiic service, it ought to be carried to the public accounts, and not to the pi ivy purse. If they were Crown Revenues, be con sidered them to have been viimally given by the first of Geo. 111., which re-settled the Civil List. Far too murk was raised, considering the smallness of she place ; and while a million was voted for the boilding of churches— a vote which he deemed unuecessary—he regretted that more attention was not paid to the religious establish menu, schools, &c. of Gibraltar. He concluded with moving for returns of the duties raised in Gibraltar in 1800 and 1818; of the number and nature of the officer in the Garrison Establishment ; of the total amount of revenues and how disposed of, &c. Mr. HOB HOUSE seconded she motion. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER lamented that she Hon. 51embae had deemed it necessary to go in') 0101 detail, enlarging on the general government of Gib raltar. He should move an Amendment for a general ac count for the produce (luring a series of years—an ac coons that might boon be produced. Sir J. M'INTOSH thought the Rights of she Garrison had nut been nested with that consideration to which they were entitled. He hoped the amendment would by accepted for the present. Mr. HUM E's two first papers were ordered, and the third was altered as suggested by the Cirancellor of the Exelrequer and agreed to. The remaining orders having been disposed of, the House adjourned. FRIDAY, PLAY S. Leave was given to bring hi a Bill to light the City tar Norwich with Gas. Mr. M. A. TAYLOR brought in a Bill to punish cri• persons found guilty of the negligent driving of stage coaches.--Read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time ou Monday nett. The Committee of Supply was postponed to Monday nest. The House went into a Committee on the Insolvent Debtors' Act Continuance Rill. The blanks were tilled up, and the Report ordered to be received on Monday. Mr. W. SMITH moved for Returns of all Extents in Aid issued since .1 y Itil9.—Ordered. REVENUES OF THE CROWN. Mr. BROUGHAM rose to tiling I'm ward his motion on the subject of the Revenues of the Crown and the Civil List. The motion had not been songlit by Ilion; he felt pledged by what passed in 11412 to bring the subject be fore the Honse, in the event of Alihisters, ou G .orge death, not doing so. In bringing it furs% aril, be did not contemplate any degradation of the Crown, or of the means by which its dignity was supported. 'these were not times to tamper with such subjects ; but he desired not the support of any man who was nut convinced of the expediency, as well as safety, of his motion. It was according to precedent, and conformed to principle. It kept within the strict lines of those principles which had been previously recognised; and lie submitted that he should be able to show that it would support the dignity of the Crown, and advance its security. He deemed further preface unnecessary. 4s to Ike King's property and revenue, it was au unquestionable principle of the Constitution, admitted by the ablest writers, that th e Sovereign of England was incapable of holding any sepa rate property. He was prepared to prove tins at length, if it were deemed necessary; but the principle, lie would take it for granted, was not to he disputed. It was esta blished by the cam of the Duchy of Lancaster, and by a celebrated cause that arose regarding certain old stores, reported by Lord Coke, where it was disputed how those stores could be granted, whether by the King's sign ma nual or otherwise. Lord Clarendon also detailed a simi lar case. It arose in those times when there were pro ceeding most important disputes between the Commons and the Crown. It was then held to be an unnatural docti toe to hold, that the King could have any sums that did not pass through the customary channels, and were not accounted for in the usual way. Lord Clarendon declared, that, if a contrary doctrine were held and acted upon, the King might live to repent the day when he lis tened to such principles. That doctrine was long held... till Mr. Pitt attacked it, and he was the first to attack the principle, by the a9th of George 111. Turn it was esta blished that the King could have separate property, by which the Monarch might get together resources sufficient to defeat even the votes of Parliament.—Farther, the King was enabled to hold copyliolds, and of the subject toot and yet those who supported this doctrine also talked of upholding the dignity and 'mite of the Crown. (Hear, hear!)--The Constitution recognized no such principle. — What cr.... MS.•'••••••• •••••••••••• Or igiliAllY granted to enable t h e Sovereign to early on the Gut rrninent, and were devoted to the payment of officers. &c. lie had to admit that at great change had taken place in the mode of managing the money concerns of tl:e Guset 1111 l ent—the Parliament paying tor all those se!. vices of defence, Ste. which were usually 11i - frayed by the Crown Revenues, Droits, &e. without wholly approp: sting the rev enues,tlse Crown having nevertheless received upwards of 13,000,0001. during the last Nor nail such changes been confined to the The tythea possessed by the Church were bartietteit wills the main tenance of the poor till the reigns of Mary, Elisabeth. and Edward. Hcre was an analogous case. The CIIUICh had tyrues and maintained the poor; the Clown had re venues, but they were burdened with evenditure. A bargain was made with the church , thi y retained the tytlics, but were deemed 14y.propei ty eltaigvahle with the poor like other property. Let a sine:ar proceeifing be adopted regarding the Crown revenins. As it wst•, nu one knew what the King's Income was. They kne o the amount of the King of France's—oh the President's—of the StadtholdeCs,&e.;—bst the great. , st adept cool l not find the exact minutia of the King of England's ineame. This exposed the Crown to misrepresentation, Amigo on. misrepresentation.—Mr. Paine, for installer, in his bout. declared, that the King of Eitgl.mil cost the country lie. tweet 8 and 900, 1 001. per mini um ; adding, in his e./Olhe but strong manner, that he could get an able bodied mar to do it for atial. a year. (A was the mains' consequence of the jumblitig that now took place to Ill.! THE NATIONAL REGISTER. the cheers amine Hon. Mrinbers.—( No cheers.)—lle cen clnded with moving for the Account of the Hereditary Revenues, /tr. Mr. RICARDO seconded the motion. The CH A NUELLOR of the EXCH EQUER again moved the previous question. Motion negatived. Mr. HUMP. moved for Accounts of the Items constituting Miscellaneous Services, Pensions, &c.— Motion negatived. Mr. FIUME gave notice, that to-runt - low lie should move for accounts re.•pectiog the Revenues of Gibraltar. The Bill declaring the Insolvent Deblois' Act to be in force was br ought in and read a first time—secund time to- Morrow. . . Some further Accounts having been ordered, and the re maining Orders disposed of, the iiahbe adjourned. THURSDAY, MAT 4. Mr. Coke and several other Members took the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, and their seats. The SPEAKER said, that a misanderstauding had arisen amongst the Agents of the House engaged in the private bossiness. They had imagined that the busisiews of last , ession was to be ►e-taken up where it had been left at the dissolution of the last Parliament ; whereas it Was only intended that the parties, to save expense, abonld have the benefit of all the evidence previously received. The misunderstanding, however, had produced such in convenience that fresh time was required for the receiv ing of private petitions ; the time was afterwards en larged from to-morrow till to-morrow week. Mr. S. WHITBRP.AI) presented a Petition front the Waternien of the. Middlesex side of the Thames, com plaining of the slate of London Bridge Sir W. CURTIS denied that the Bridge was in the dangerous slate which had been represented, and added that inquiry ought to be instituted. Mr. Alderman W 001) said that he did not expect any Thing effectual from the Hun. Baronet, but he thought sonic of the parties who had presented petitions complain ing of the state of London Bridge, ought to move for a Committee. The petition was received and ordered to lie ou the The Drury-lane Theatre Acts Amendment Bill was brought iu by Mr. Cu!craft, and read a that time. WOOL TRADE. Mr. WILSON presented a petition from the mannfac lecturers, &e. resident in London, on the subject of the Wool trade. While the lax continued, he considered it as a bounty given to fineigners. He implored the Mi nisters to reconsider the wool-tax, and to repeal it before the distress of the trade would render such a proceeding wholly unnecessary. Mr. BARING also begged the Government to re-con• sides a tax which affected the oldest manufacture of the country. It had been hastily imposed, and merely to in duce certain gentlemen to acquiesce more readily in par. ocular duties. It' it continued, he was quite sure that the English manufacturer cuutd not meet the foreign trader. It would most materially affect the existence of the trade. He would take this opportunity to state, that on Monday next he should present a Petition f Merchants of London, on the subject of the restriction on trade and commerce in general. Mr. WILSON said he hail no intention to move for a Committee on the subject, as that might occupy the whole year ; but he intended to follow rip his motion by moving that Counsel be beard at the Bar un the subject. The Petition read, and ordered to be printed. Mr. DENNISON gave notice on Tuesday next he should move for leave to bring in a Bill to enable Laud lords more easily to recover the possession of Lands held from them by their Tenants. Sir M. W. RIDLEY presented a Petition from Protes tant Dissenters of Newcastle-upon:rpm, praying for an alteration of the Marriage Act, Mr. Sheriff Bothwell presented a Petition for enlarging the New Post Office Act, to enable more money to be raised. Sergeant ONSLOW protested against any money being raised by Coal Duty for any such purpose. Mr. It. GORDON spoke to a similar effect, observing, that 255,0001. had been expended without ■ single brick being yet laid. The first estimate of the whole expense did not exceed 200,0001. Mr. Alderman WOOD said, the course to be pursued was to refer it to a Committee. The advantage of the new office would benefit the whole country, not London alone. So long as the duty continued, the Corporation of London alone paid 12,0001. a year. The LORD ADVOCATE moved for the report of that office on the sixth report of the Commissioners regarding. the utility of continuing a fourth Baron of the Excite truer in Scotland. He observed that the office had been tilled on the recommendation of Commissioners Adams, Shepherd, &c. Mr. ABERCROMBY lamented that the Crown had been so ill advised as to fill up this office, when the House hail stated that the office might be dispensed with. After remarks from Sir J. Newport and Mr. Huskisson, the motion was agreed to. Dr. PHILLI MORE moved for leave to bring in a bill to amend the Marriage Acts, 'mein remarking on the de nciencies of the law as it now stood, the proposed bill being similar to what had already passed the House. — Motion agreed to. . CROWN REVENUES. Mr. HUME rose to move for the acconnts of the Reve nue of Gibraltar. It had been said, that the House had no right to interfere here—but in reply, it had only to state, that those for 1794, 5,6, 7, and 8 had been ordered. and laid betuie the House. But the most important ;me tion of the subject was, the principle on which the money hail been raised; for lie contended that his Majesty had lei right to impose any duties on 'oily portion of the sub jects, in any colony whatever. In fonr years 2•A,litiol. had been raised by the Crown fur duties in Gibraltar, and appropriated to its own use. He submitted that it was interfering with the privileges of that House to im pose serh duties. It was said that the ditties were un posed and appropriated, according to immonorial usage, but that he denied to be the ease, founding sorb opinion 011 Queen A .'a declaration in 1703, to encourage set tlers in Gibraltar. The taxes now imposed were of a heavy and disgraceful nature. After encouraging all classes, of whatever religion, particular (Sulks were im posed 'es Catholics and Jews making will, as well as a Capitation Tax of to dollars on each Jew and Catholic— a tax that existed no where but in Turisil. deniedthe right of the ministers, above all of Governor Don, to impose any taxes; but the latter had laid on malty new taxes; for instance 911. a year for each wine and spirit ( I.%ar cuiliquation src pusc ) .s. GGGGG • 1 1.• SUS 11%. a — r • • •b•aw •••••• ....... ••••••• 4 n 0•41,1 •••• eMberS Urinal 110the• - ( Hear, hear !)— lie should move to Impose ally taxes; but the latter had laid O malty new au account to such purport, tut& few dor, as au answer to taxes; for iustauce 911. a year for each wine and spirit cumequeuce Ul JUMUIIIig mat now won place 111 lu , M (Far onsliquation src pusc I :'l-1.)