The National Register. — London, England, 1819-12-05 00:00:00

film' alai) opulah 011 ttad ilOtpaVial• ayl 01 1. 0 11 Pine& e tielPWV p4411.M1 %lam aluuni.sojun agog, ll xlapaal Pali .9eydson J!.4; hq pamaa.ap pa.epul aiam apluad aq , t *Nun ▪ Iluiletioug a a! car kiluno) ato Nue luaNulni uatia awls lo lu auop sum sup llu puu LIUIIIIIIO7IA JO saljpou Wow/ Joinll.ca puutnutu, ua,j, ows (I) uuwppu sit Z.tie 1-• jonperiat iaartiament• -4. HOUSE OF LORDS. MONDAY, NOV. 49.. . _ Earl GROSVENOR presented a Petition from • person tamed Bradford, of Middleton, in the County Palatine of Lan caster, praying the House to allow him to prove at their Bar insny strong facts relating to the transactions at Manchester on the itith of August. The Noble Earl presenting the Petition, professed himself an advocate for Parluunentary enquiry into the subject alluded to by the Petitioner, and expressed an opi nion that the only way to support the honour of the Atagistrates and satisfy the Public, was to bring the subject under the con sideration of Parliament as early as ble. The Petition was read and ordered to lie on the table. TRAVERSE BILL. The Lord CHANCELLOR rose to present a Bill to provide for the better Administration of Justice. The noble and Lear ned Lord assured the House that his proposition did not arise from the state of the times. It was his intention long since to introduce a Bill of the description he held in his band. In mat ters of information in the Court of King's Bench, the defendant, by the practice of the law, has a right to say 1 will not plead in certain cases till next Term. In consequence of that right his trial is frequently delayed to a period when the object of the law is defeated. Whether it was nght or not for the Lords to adopt the regulation praponed on this subject, he should submit to the House at the second reading. The object of the Bill was to take away, in all instances, except in pleading in civil cases. the right of putting off the time of pleading, unless the Judges be of opinion that the nisi ought to be postponed. The Noble cad Learned Lord concluded by moving the Bill be read a first time. Lon! HOLLAND said, he understood the Bill was framed to prevent delay in proceeding to trial in cases of information. Ile wished to ask the Noble and Learned Lord, whether it was to extend to all misdemeanours, or to ex-officio informations, Sled by the Attorney-General. The Noble Baron' also asked, whether it was to contain any provision for furnishing a defen dant with a copy of his indictment at the public expence.— If the Noble and Leaned Lord meant to amend the law of misderneanou-s, he had no doubt material amendment might be made ; but, if it was only to remove inconveniences on one side, with respect to ex-officio inforinations, and not on the other, then the principle of the Bill would be unjust and most impo The Lord CHANCELLOR said, the Bill extended to all misdemeanours. With respect to impedance or traversing, lie meant to allow defendants to traverse, if the Court thought roper to permit it. The Bill did not apply to ex officio infor mations- With respect to copies of indictments the Bill did not make any provision. The defendant in ail cases ought to be well furnished with the charges against him before he phads, but wlie!!ier that furnishing was to be at the public expence the House might determine. The Bill was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Thursday. The Lord.' were summoned for Thursday on the occasion. THE NEW MEASURES. Viscount SIDMOUTH, rising to introduce the intended New Measures to the House. said—"• In the speech delivered from the Throne. his Royal Highness the Prince Regent states the circumstances which induced him to summon Parliament. His Royal Highness states that it was his desire to assemble Paella went for the considerati in of such measures as may be woe:airy for the counteraction of a system, which, if not checked, must draw confusion and ruin on the nation. Ilia Royal Highness the Regent's confidential servants have thought it iacunibent ate them to prepare measures for the consideration of your Lord ships and the other Howie of Parliament. It is with grief 1 have to state, and with grief your Lonlship4 will feel, it is from the Press the great (nil we complain of has arisen. It has brought the Country into the state it now is. The provision in this Bill is not to increase the punishment toe pub li.ation of seditious and blasphemous libels, but in the case of repetition of the offence, it will be in the judgment of the Court to punish with imprisonment. banishment, or transportation. The Bill gives power to seize any seditious topic. in print, or blasphemous libel. It is in ended also to lay a duty on publica tions of less than a given number of sheets, equal to that on newspapers. It will be for your Lordships to decide whether this provision is not only just, but necessary. with a view to stop the baneful effect of cheap publicatieris, scattering poison in every direction. It is further provided, that persons engaged rn panting and publishing this tort of works shall be required to cuter into recognisances for their ability to pay any penalty to which they may be liable, the same as in the case of stamps. One of the effects of these publications was to bring p people together in large bodies in different parts of the kingdom. As the law stood, it was in the power or any individual signing his name to a placard, to bring to gether all the idle, disaffected, and cutiotu, in any part of the country, on any day. No mate of civil society could exist if these practices were to remain. The Noble Viscount then ad. vented to the agitation in manufacturing districts, occasioned by the Press, and harangues of Demagogues The new law was to re medy the evil In future. any meeting might legally assemble on notice of the same meeting being sent to the magistrates, Sheriff, or btilif'ut the district, by seven householders. It will be un lawful for any person to assemble at such meetings, unless they belong to the parish or township where the meeting is held.— The magistrates are to consider all meetings illegal where flags, derma, and military array is observed. It was also proposed to prohibit military exercise in any pert of the Kingdom, without the consent of the Lord Licuter.art of tl.e County. A lid' for that object would have no effect widmat another, allowing the search for anus. It was known persons in manufacturing districts pos sessed arms. and it was to give to the magistrates power to seize arras in different districts, and also to see persons having arms, allowing them the power of appeal to the quarter eessions— Having • rated the objects of the Bills, he expressed a hope that Parliament would adopt the p.orose.i measures, If any better measure could be proposed by any Noble Lord, it would be reseh ed wifd respect and gratitude. The Prince Regent's Ministers knew, that to concede would be to increase the danger. They wished to avoid military government, and to establish a government of law. The Noble Viscount concluded by moving the first reading of his Rill, entitled an Act to prohibit the use of rotatory arms and, military exercise. The Bill was read a tint time, and ordered to he read a 'tecond time on Friday. Earl GREY considered the measures described by the Noble Viscount ill calculated to meet the danger the Noble Viscount described. He aliould be ready, lie said, to agree to diem, but looking at the danger, and believing this system of foice, coer cion, arid tenor now to be established in this free country, Lim rot calculated to arey but increase the danger. settled distrust and wait of conlideaee in the proceedings in Parliament hail occesioned, he should enter his protest against them, and contend that they were calculated to brine ruin to the country. It is sorb a blow, as never ice the history of thie country had been given by any arVitrary Minister. Bekre tb(Noble Viscount called on _.noos afloat new laws fur eke uniossion of Gossmosnt. was • pIL - - •apu agl uo all 01 pii.ipo antiwd %moon mil to witosatie aqi mew pita/ amp sem 'Awl ha* me, d , loppik .uomoa " j. 'p.111131103 aq paivataid outs j urn aK • 11 011 aryl in waiimiu.)l aqt II! Imo 'uomiad ago •jo Jaiesd ail' 0! paaiflo 4impioa POW Nogiim •H .11 •uusioau IVNOLLVN SILL a~ . THE NATIONAL REGISTER.. ready to contend they were measures of protection. There was a loud and general cal/ on the part of the loyal for protection. There was only one Bill which watt to abridge the fair rights of Englishmen, namely the search Arms BilL The Seditious Meetings Bill, so far from being a Bill ad- verse to the rights of the people to assemble fur fair discussion,no a Bin for the protection of them, by preventing ttunithuous Meetings, which were a nuisance to the whole torn nmity. With respect to the licentiousness of the Press, it would be impossible to restrain and punish the publishers of poisonous cheap pamphlets, without stronger laws than those now in force. The measure respecting anus was a temporary and local measure similar to that passed some time ago. He was anxious that two of the Bills, resp e cting Training and Search tin Arms, should pass as quickly as possible. It was then arranged that th. Lord Chancellor's Bill is to be discussed on Thursday. . . _ The Search tor Arms and Training Prohibition Dill on Mon day.—The House etijoumed. TUESDAY. NOT. 3n. BANK PAYMENTS. The Earl of LAUDERDALE ob.erved. that a rumour had Rope forth of the intention of Government to apply some mea • yore with a view to defer the return of the Danit to cash pay ments at the time limited by parliament. He wished. therefore. to ask the Noble Earl whether ►uch was the intention of Go vernment. . The Earl of LIVERPOOL said, he could assure him, that his Royal highness the Prince Regent's Government had not the least intention of interfering with the arrangements made by the Governor and Company of the Bank, relative to a return tomb payment. STATE ON THE COLLNITRY The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said, he rose in pursuance of notice to move for the appointment of a Select Committee to enquire into the State of the Country; and more particularly into the cause of distress which prevails In the manufacturing districts. The question for the Lords to consider was, whether the dangers and difficulties were of so plain a nature that Pkr liament had no other remedy than to pass such Rills as the Go- vernment might lay before them ' and then return to their places of residence ? No man ought to doubt that violence and *edit= ought to be subdued, but it was the duty of parliantent to ex amine into the cause of violence and sedition. Unless they tea • mined the cause, in they might do would be useless. The same spirit would break out again—the same miseries would occur.— Ile, for one, believed that distress was the foundation.—(Hear, hear.) That spirit, called Radicalism, had taken root, and flourished in proportion to the distress which had prevailed. In the manufactunng amulets, where distress most existed, the spi rit of Radicalism had SI ISC4I to its highest point. The workman had no means of relieiing himself in peace, and upwards of nine hundred thousand families were thrown into a state of (heiress. Could it be expected that men In such a situation should nut listen to the harangues of demagogues, promising relief from their burdens. In the melancholy business of Manchester. Mr. Hay, the meal; state, stated in a lett r, that only part of the mob were the refunning party. This being, the case, the unfortunate were oronglyintitled to feeling and humanity. If the middling classes of society once found that Parliament was cruel and in different to public distress, not all the levies of soldiers tiiey could raise would save the Constitution. A rigid enquiry into public burdens and retrenchment might be made the means of afEtriling temporary . rehet. Them were certain duties which might be taken oft in several aunties with great effect. In the article of tea. If the duty was taken off, a very great relief might be &Wonted, a, d pernaps by the extra consumption the amount of revenue might not be diminished. Much might be dune in a wininercial point of view—expoits might be allowul, which at the premix. time *wild affoid relief. He had yet :u learn how the Crown Officers bad so tong suth:red the most detestable lib.ls to grow to tat state winch threatened the entire overthrew of the country. To *hew how hods had been neglected, the Noble Marquis cited one. published in a work, inutled The litrirrarr. He read the words to the Isms& Alluding to the pits= of has Royal Highness the Prince Regent, it stated, that it fie persisted in shewing in.llfference to the sufferings of the people. they -ad but one course, namely.ito act in that spirit which drove ass y the bigot James from the throne. It went on to recommend assts. einsttion, and destruction of property ? It was else just to punish the leaders before the populace. If the Manchester Mecum; was illegal why was not Mr. limit arrested Whore the Meeting? Wny did n'ni theMakicatatre take measures to prevent an illegal meeting ? It was clear the people were led to suppose they were eau before the inter, option took place. All the untortunate colt comitahes connected with the conduct of the Magistrates ought to be the bulAjeut of Parliamentary enquiry, In the year 1117. after • riot aCOxford, at which ;it) life was lost, on the matter be.- lag mentioned to the House, the Lords went into a Committee to investigate the subject. In the case Of Captain Porcine. in foe nut at Edinburgh. the Resolution of the House to bring the Authorities of Seotlsnd to the liar, was unanimously agreed to Tile same came ougat to be &looted now, and, to give grace to the !awe. he naked their Lordships to proceed to enquiry. The Noble Marquis concluded a twig and able epeecli by moving, 'Chat a Select Commutee be aprotinet so enquire lino the State of the Country, and snore particular') into the Stew of DibUt connected with the manufacturing Distrhis, us well as the execu tion of the Laws respec:ing Public Alectings.” The Marquis it ELLESLEY nil to the general confi dence with which the most tespeetable part of the nation looked at this time to Path meat.—Amidst cis great events which had happened. the' qui:Aim] would naturally arise, what is the duty Parliament have to discharge? A (Meet project had been raised for its destruction, and they need not only to protect themselves, but to maintain the Constitution. to Ave public security . And pro tect property front violation. Th. "Islobie Marquis hail taut, if the Meeting had not been interrupted, it would have gone WI peaccahle. 'rimy would no doubt have quietly voted the destruc tion of the constitution. Ile beaeld tie scene with silent tenor. There was no time for lung examination of causes. lie dial not think it was possible to form such a Committee a: the Noble Lord proposed. It must be Maned by all the talent and integri ty of the !louse, and would they ;.wee Milt: to make sesatrches, and meet the existing danger l* Enquiry ought not to take pre cedence of the Bills so properly ilitroiltretal. The Noble Marquis most strenuously opposed dic motion. Lord ERSKINE defended the argument of his Nubl. Friend who mate the motion. Ile upon the House to consider whether they had evidence enough Is.fure rheum to uslify aver sive measures; if they had, they oug..t to pars the Rill introduced by the Noble Vtashint. lle hee fired he never felt to much re gret as he slid at the rejection of the Amendment moved by his Noble Friend (Earl Grey) the first day of thus ,inn. lle would have suffered death if ,Ministers h. •. nut receised the benefit of it. The people would Lave given up weir Aletuni.,s, feeling Mat Parliameat was disposed to do something fur wan. The Noble Lord supported the Lettion. Lords GIIEN VILLE and LIVEIIPO(4. spoke .e:ainst the motion for enquiry, and I .. , rds Gil EY and DARN LEY i.i fa vour of it.. The Marquis of LANSUOW Ng replied. He ass perfectly ready to admit Rum ••• u. the prinpole otionteot ' Geo ail Jo humming alp uo pasodad bra. Hag -ut put stim ‘ urtuJojtu as Jo saw:. u i sraid iato SuNuaa. -t.13 JO put! suosiad I3!unlioddu aul Ay •a3!uni jo uo!lansus !LLPV aqi uu gkepa utasaJd of IPS J ° 2ul Plial puwas aqi a•Gal 0 1 mai 2 4 ' I'M 1101'13014V HD CHIOI 2 41 •lits 36113AV111 •aaa 'Availed '''' •••l 5 . D 3 0:1 ~' ',%',-. s.‘ s, . DEC. 5 Coolest' pane 35 Proxies le-47 Majority for Ministers lSt Adjourned at One o'clock. wrongsnaY. DEC. 1. The LORD CHANCELLOR attended the House soon axles four o'clock, when Lord Stamford and Warrington took the oath and his seat. Mr. BULLOCK presented. plumose to order of the House. Returns relating to the Revenue, moved for by the Earl a Lauderdale. The House adjourned at five o'clock. THURSDAY. Dec. 0. EX-OFFICIO INFORMATIONS. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved, that an account c! all ex-officio informations, between the ycats 1813 and 1819, for blasphemous and seditious libels, be laid be:ore the House ; and secondly, That an account of all indictments for blasphe mous and seditious libels between 1315 and 1819, be laid before. she Housw i —The motion was .figreed to. TRAINING PREVENTION BILL, AND SEARCH FOR ARMS BILL. Viscount SIDMOUTH rose to move the second reading of the above Bills. He observed, that the House permitted them to be read a first time so Tuesday, and in moving the second reading this day, it was not his intention to occupy more than a short portion of their time, by restatement. The provisions of both these Bills were contained in the 5 , A1 oldie King, passed by their Lordships when a conspiracy prevailed in the Northern parts of the kingdom to dcstroy machinery. The provisions however, of that Rill were more rigorous tloan the Bills under discussion. Re concluded by moving the be rend a second time. Lord ERSKINE. objected to the pmvisions of both Rills, and suggested several amendments. with respect to the punish ment of trensportaties and the liability of persons to be prose. cused for being present at any Meeting for training. His intention was to propose amentiments in the Committee. Hi. Lordship expressed an opinion. reminded on experience, th;.t written evidence laid before Parliament was not to be depended on. In 1794, the evidence laid before the House was found The Lord CHANCELLOR said, when he found it his duty, AS Attorney-General in 1794. to _prefer indictments against Horne Tooke and others, for High Tr:won. he did not do it on written evidence, but whit pasted viva tear before him in his official situation. He had been charged with want of attention to the liberty of the subject, established in the Bill of Nights. The charge was unfounded. The intentiori of this Bill was net to derive men of arms sui-ablc to their condition. It was to deprive then of arms dangerous to the Constitution. He remembere I the speerh of a great man now no more; he al uded to NIL Burke, when he used the dagger in the House of Commons. Tue Lord Chancellor added, he knew where the dagger was at that moment. It was not in possession of any pessun dangerous to Parliament, and it would always remind Inns of the great man wire by the very act convinced she Douse of the dame.2r of his count).—Did the Noble Lents require a similar etkirt to convince them of the present State cf the Coun try ?—A Noble unit Learned Lord ha I argued that men atten ding training, ought to have notice that they were coannitting an ll,gal act. Ile would say. if inen are arming and training our the yin pose of giving to numeious meetings sa appearance of physical form, it was an overt act of High Treason. That was his decided opinion. Lord HOLI.AND said, if he had quoted Burke the dagger would not leave been selected. It was not. in his Iftenbie Judg ment, the best instance of his eloquence and talent. One sen tence Burke uttered which he never could forget. It was this:-- •• If the people are greatly disaffected, we must lie a very bad people, or we must have a very bad stliiiinisandion." The Bills brought in by the Noble Viscount cou'd not have his unquali fied approbation, ye: lie did not say some such law as that with respect to training, ought not to be adopted, in order to coins teract military proceedings which became an offence l'he Noble Lord did nut mean to press any great opposition to either Bill. The Marquis of BUCKINGHAM said, it was a bill to prevent the people using the arms they had a right to hold for their own defence against the Constitution. Tire moment a man used erns against the Constitution. Parliament ought to restrain hint. They rotild not admit the evil and neglect the remedy. lie had heard it said it was the duty of the House and Govern ment to conciliate the people ; but his Noble Friends did not. till very lately, tell what that conciliation was. They at last stated it to be a Reform in Parliament. On that Reform the 'Lelia& themselves could not agree. They were at variance with the Noble Lord's. I,nnl HOLLAND, in explanation, intimated that he had never declared Reform is Padiement to be conciliation. .111. Th..ar of aUeSI.X.—e I fist iis e o n , quells eof the low of areument taken by a Nislol•• dermas ohu states, that tie- .ideal of Reform ' os Radical Reform, is supported by to. I remit) wish any Noble Lind speaking of us, would be orreei iu lesquotation, wi h sespeet to the Hills tinder dis cussion this eveuing. t take the opportunity of stating my general acquiescence in the Bills proposed. I miy be al lawed Ili tiresome time hi express it is with regret I bear th on ii out en the opposite side Of 1110 House an opation that be a. e inleitieal tin the interests of the State. %%e fee l we are conteirdnig for the tranquility of the come ry ma , Is as the Noble Lind does. llusugh l tidier fc any Noble Lard, I will stair my sentiments with that respect due to him. and avoid ialimaing the public inlaid, wh.ch caution should bellOW doily observed. Upon any subject connected nlilt the Mill of Right., Nlngna Charta, oral other Marie. s of the Constitution I cannot speak without feeling sleep interest end Ihe Noble:tout Mearsied Lord will allow me io weak with respect ill mar ;mint. When he states there acre pro ceedings n ills respect to ironing a Tech he considered ties satiable, I may say I should have bren gtad if hr had been Altorney-G , nerd of the Country, because if this opin ion had licest originally psomuleated it would have saved its Isom inisny difficulties. I state to the Noble Marques, that lam not a Redoes!. Jly opinions arc r.s t 'lnstitutional us his, hut is been I find rupee c °Uri , s have not betel pursued. I. must say s those ith)sislans ii ho thi mit loot to the sysoli haus of a disease, may give ph)sle, but never ewe the die order. The Essrl of STIIATIIMOR E read a letter, tteeived friers a Clereyn to at Ns neastle• It aas in suMialice " Taeuty fasak sits demagogues, svho oured lit be hanged Or socareerat...l, hose Mew math Ito 'chief in spiraitilL distr. fee and rebellion The Justices sif tht Cowls have been uhtigeit to i. aye their hauses. and take refuter %%ills their families to this tee m."—'llse Nobs heist expiessed a hope Mao na time might he lost to pars.tig, five Boils. All would „he mint .at the ;imposed w tbr Hi Is were carried into executives. The refi , es• were dishled info