The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1807-07-09 00:00:00

ye t' t Member of re.eament. and petitioned for hie en latgernent. From the notes of the debate that then to place, preserved upon the Journals, it appearid • that every Member considered it as a lamentable ease for the creditors, but that the Home were bound to grant his enlargement, by the privileges of Parliament. These were privileges not given for the sake of the individual so indulged, but for the sake of the House, and for the sake of the country itself. Supposing the Has to be true, as stated in the Petittone, the House must consider what would be the situation of Eletines. The freedom of ar rest was for the benefit of those who sent repre sentatives to Parliament, in order that nothing should prevent them from taking their seats, and discharging those duties they had eleeled them to perform. It such he a ground for preventing a Member fiom claiming the privilege of discharge from custedy, it was likewise a ground for declar ing the eleetion void. A body of Eleetors, ignorant of this subjea, might be thereby unrepresented in this House. If this be a ground for setting aside the eleetion, there might be a Petition presented next day. when the matter must be fully dis cussed ; and, then fore, any other course of pro cedure would be prejudging the subjeß. He never found a single instance on the Journals. where the House had refused to assent to a privilege, where it was clearly defined. When party ran high, he would wish the House to consider how great would be the power they would be conceding to Ministers. by leaving them at liberty either to grant this privi lege to a Member or not, as they pleased It was a matter of great importance. and ore which could not be sufficiently considered, by confinirg it to the House of Commons alone. It was ii-cesssry that the per leges of the two WIINCi should be kept commensura•a, for it might be cnasidere whether a person in custody. beceming afterwards a Mem ber of the House of Lorda wrs not also to be privilegee. li the Trla't!r was at all to be brought forward, ht it, said he, be dacus•eil upon the point of geeerel prop•ie•y and expedieray, so oat it may be aecertamei weeeher or not any more ad. vantageous line can be drawn. Th.s may, v•ty probably, be the ease; hut be wetild recernmend that the question should he brorialit forward breed- : fy. up:.,l :el these grounds, he hoped the Huse 'mule concur w:ih their Committee in the Report they have this day presented. Mr. COCHIIANF. JOHNSTONE said, that he being a Member of the Commune, OW:led that all the precedents which have been lound, weie such as warranted the Report ; yet, he was r o te o thought that. owing to the peculiar cirsu nstances of the case, a special Reoort should be presented to the House. steel refieetions havirg been thrown tynn the charafter of one nt its Members. The Pe:items stated. hat Mr. Galway Mills di.: obtain a sect in ; this House f•r the express purpo .e of going to the Wet Indies, so alto 'knee the payment of his ;aw ful d hts If the P.:mai eh, iled determine that the privileges of the Heuer en:i.ler Mr. Kat to his liberation, he anderstoed that there were five other persons in a similar peeeicament in the King's Bench Prima wh r , ;:ily wetted to know the decisieri, i t order also to b • lieeratee. Leader such circure stances,hesholiel cern-seiy entreat ihe fI suee,before they cave an order fi r the ltheration of Mr Mills, to refer the matter again fer a fur ter investig item to a Conienitee of Privileges, or Chit the House should itseP take the subject into t lei/ grave and serious ernsideration. Mr. EL LISON. another Member of the Com• entree, said, that he was convinced the gentlerunn who composed the Committee did enter into the con sideretion with a strong impression as to the toulne•s anti enormity of the condo& of the individual im• pli.ated by these Petitians. He himself was so strongly convinced of the imprereety of his (Mills's) condua, that nn honourable man ought to sit in the House with him ; l•ecause, he continued. the purity of character of the Members of that House ought to be considered as affeaing the cha rafter of the kingdom. This particular case being so strong, there was no man that would ge further than he would do to rescue the House from such infamy, and adopt another line of condua ; but still he could not help thinking, that the House had a mast solemn duty to perform, because it was neces sary that the privileges of the House should be sup ported. however necessary it mia,lit be to adopt some other made of freeing the Members from imputation, that they might sand fair in the eyes of the community He really thought that the Resolution of the Committee sheald be acquiesced in by the House. Mr. SIMEON said, that whatever turpitude there might be in tar case now before the House, the Committee were jestitied, by the established Rules of the House, in making that Report ; and he did not think it would be consistent to refer it to another Committee. Mr RA RINE sa i d. he th• n ight it ra:htttr a Cafe of hardship againa Mr. Mills, m d:scuss this ques t:fn. when h: h;td not en opportunity to reply. lie did hope, that those who had •::erred he attain ed his seat for fr•udelent purposes, would present a petiti , n against his cit eion. l'he CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought that the I louse could not find fault wicks the conduet of the Cttrnmittre is not entering into a tu7ther cor.siderati^n of the farts set forth in the lan.ause, although the all.'; itines had been fi t t:y ,Libst,d,.l.a•cd, it c•-,u;,! have mad: no d.fference as to their decisihn, that he was a MemKer of the House, and conscirt•otiy entitled vs the privileges. The tiisct-..trge nt sir. Nli:ls arr.se cut of the known law of Parliament. It was a very different thing to cansichu- w:ist the law ought to be, and what the law was. The pubb.: cc:lee:Unice was to be con atilernd as well as tha. of private individuals. pt ,s. n• i;:e particulars of the case were not properly b foie the (louse. If it s ho u ld turn out to be a ease ad sufli argraysting circumstances, it might aft:rwards justoy the eap;ilsi,:n of that Member scorn the Fl.rute ; hut, in order to dial that, it was "'emery that the ilis';vidual accused shonld first be admitted within we wills; so that he might have an opportunity of justifying hisusel. On these gottinds, he agreed with the motion. After souse turther nbse, esti , ns from Mr. iVynne. Mt. 1.4 Metall. Mr. Il•lrtscrt. 4. .1 kr. W. Smith. the resolutions of the Report were a, re td to; and, nn the motion of Mr. WM.. Mr. A:ills was ordered was ni 'too of the M•rsliAl : F.AST INDIES. Mr..R. DUNDAS moved for leave to bring in Bills for the following purposes : viz. to regulate the Government and Polite cf Fist S. (temp and Bombay ; to regulate the public Banks in India, and invest theta with the powers of other Corporate Bodies ; and to regulate the Periods in which the Civil Servants of the Company may be engaged iu their servicc,ahroad.—Lt , ave given. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved for, and obtained leave to bring its a pill for repealing two clauses of the A& for regulating the management of Windsor Forest. Mr. FOSTER presented the Annual Petitions from the several Charitable Invitutions in Ireland, being the same as those presented at the end of last Parliament ; and afterwards moved, 6. That the several Estimates of the of supporting them for one year, up to the sth of Jan. 1:4(!9, be laid before the House."—Otdered. He then moved for leave to bring in a Bill far regulating the Retailing Spirituous Liquors in Ireland. Also a Bill for regulating the Celli-aims of Ditties on Spi rits distilled in Ireland Also a Bill fur recovering and levying penalties under said Aas, and to alter the conditions of certain bonds given by Brewers iu Ireland ; and a Bill for abolishing certain fe. s le eeived by Officers of the Custom% in several Ports ; and for regulating the number of holidays obsessed in the Custom-houses in Ireland.—Leave given accordingly. 1410t 1 1.SH %\ , l II &e. . - Sir H. MILDMAY said, that since the late discussion on the subjedit of his agreement Kith Government for the lettial of Moulsham &c. near Chelmsford, and the want of s nisfac tion relative to the transaCtion, as stated by a Noble Lord ( Howiik), he had hid the opportunity of receiving Inters from certain Gentlemen who were upon the Jo: y appointed to ascertain the sum to be awarded liint tor damages, Er.c. That Jury had ailor:e.: him 13001. of which 9.:)0.1. was to cover the expenses of C.e inquest, and 7001. was considered as an rqui o+lent for the expense of restoring the land to its former state, and which was to he done at his own ex;•erse. He then proceed id to read lett.trs from Gmeral Stun, and others of the Jury, con firming his former statement, via. that the cimpen ▪ nion aearded was not to be considered as a rent for the house, but as a compemati o for the i• jury sorL;ch the estate had sustained by the occupation • i!Sitsty. Sir Hem• colclusied by nt "That the copy of the supplement to the Memo rial, presented by Sir H. Mild , u,ty to the Commis sioners of Military Inquiry, be laid upon the sable of the HOVse." L• rd HOWICK still declared that this transac tion had not been so statisfaftnri/y explained As l.e could wish. It appeared that this sum had been awarded for the injtity done to the e,tate, b u t the rent cf Oil a-year was an extraordinary sum fur 20 acres of land. 'Pia tenants, in his opinion, ought to have received the whole or this tiU3I. a year. . . . Mr. CANNING expressed his surprise that the Nobla Lord should still continue to entertain any doubt on a plint that WAS so clear. Whatever the award of the Jury was, the Hon. Baronet had h..sl no concern in it. and it Was to be consi.tered, that if Government should choose to maintain possession of the le Ise, the Hon. Baronet must consione to sustain all the inconveniences of the bargain, and therefore the compensation of 7001. could only be made good then. Mr. HILF.Y ADDINGTON spoke in general terms of approbation of the Hon. Baronet's 'we aunt. as well as of the Adininistrati n of his Noble Friend (Lord Sidnicaph), which had male the original bargain with ttse Hon. Baronet. • Sir H. Mildmay's motion was then put and car ried. PURCHASF. OF ARMY COMMISSIONS, ite. Mr COCHRANE JOHNS-lONE moved, 1 4 That there be laid before the House an account of the various sums of money received by the Sale of Commissions in the Army, since January 1793, specifying the names of the Officers by whom such monies have been paid, with the particular dates affixed to the receipt and payment of all such sums." He concluded with exprevueg some doubt whether the more proper way was by moving an Address to His Majesty for the papers wanted. The SPEAKER said, that if there was any doubt on the subjed, the most respedful mode of address would be the most proper. In point of form, the usual m , cle WAS, if any measure originated with Iles Majesty's confidential servants, then to move an Address to His Majesty for the requisite papers; but if any trans. , dion originated with the head of an office, it was then sufficient for the House to order that the proper officer do prepare and present the papers that may be required. Mr. COCHR AN E JOHNS TONE then moved, " That an humble Address be preserard to His Ni Jesty, that he would be pleased to girt: direaions for the Papers already stated to be latsl upon the *fable of the House." The SECRETARY at WAR said, that although he had no °Nation to the su4stance (.1 the motion, it must universally be allowed, that the sole disposal of Commissions in the Army was vested in His Majesty, and be demisted whether it were quite pee.. per for the House to inquire into the exercise of :his right ; however, as he knew that the Illustrious Cum mander-in-Chief was exceedingly desirous to give information and satistaaion on this business, he should not ohjea to the substance of the Motion now made. The mode was for Military Conimis- mons to be presented to His Majesty, upon which His Majesty's pleasure was taken, as to filling thtim up. 1 Ire purposes for which stay Commissions were sold, were two-fold, and which shew that the Illustrious Commander-in-Chief both studied pulp lic ce:outinty, and the private advantage of duals, and that at the expense of his own private patronage. The first object in the wile of Com missions was for the h a lf pay f un d and, slboadlya for the 'chef of the families of sperit , rims MENAI. in order to put their familial in circumstances of comfort. He particularly instanced the case of Col. Vaand's Widow. The bulk of Commissions was rascally by purdnese,,panicularly in time of peace; so time of war there generally remained a number of vacant• appointments. for which DO purchasers were to by found Al the conclusion of the late war no Ensigns were to be found. It Mad been proposed en liestreoarits onion ball-swe to serve on the pay of be sold. The price of 391. was fixed for the site °Nisch Commissions ; but if every Commission had been sold us it became vacant. it would have proved injurious to many Oili'.ers. The Comtparder in Chiet therefore suffered promotion in many in stances to go on in a regular co:.rse ; but still. from time — to titne, commissions were . sold, and the money was vested in the Half-pay Fund.— Another s,lirce Irons which this fund received sup- port, wA , i when an officer wished to colc the army, . - he was allowed to sell what he had purchased, al though not to sell the rank shich be already pru seised ; thus the difference between the price of an Lnsigncy and of a Majority went to the same fund. The Illustrious Person now at the head tht army had done much for its benefit, for formerly great abuses had crept into the purchase and sale of com missions. In the year 1793. officers had been ad virced ft-im the lowest tanks .01 the army up as hikh as to that of Lieutenant-Colonel. This srs tem had been put a stop to, and a salutary regula tion had been estabh,hed, that an Officer, under two years standii;g, could not be made • Captain; nor a Field Officer under six years standing. The praaice of giving exorb;tant prices for commis. sinus, the effect of which tended to the ecteriorati n of the army, had also been check,d by the Coat- Mr. COCHRANE JOHNSTON:: said, he hail never given credit so any reports be might have heard of an improper use of the Half-pay Fund ; bur he felt it his duty to call for the account he had moved tor, and his opinion was, that it ought to Le annually laid b:lore the Howe'. It had been se ported that army conimiss:ons had been s.ild to the -mount of one million sterling. The SECRE l'AttY at V% , AR replied, that no credit should to given to such rumours. The motion for an Address to His Majesty was then put and carried. _ _ _ SECRE LARY at WAR then moved an Ad dress to His Moi-sty. •• That he would be pleawd Clint to be laid before the House a statement rd the saving of expense to Government from Officers taken from the Half• Pay, since the year 1795," which was ordered accordingly. • Mr. C. JOHNSTONE then said, that if the Hon. Secretary at War had .no intention to bring forward a motion respeai. , g the present merle of army clothing, he now gave notice, that he should bring such a motion forwardon that day fortnWit. Mr. HUSICISSON said, this suhjeoft was to be taken up by the Military Committee. ELECTION PETITIONS. The following Pes.tions, zomplaining of nndue El •ictions, were ordered to be taken into considera tion in the order in which they were delivered in, on the days specified— : I.lticater, on this 23d ineant. Ltverp”ol, Ditto. University Dublin, Ditto. County of keohew, 24t0 Leto. FINANCE, Lord HENRY PE 1' I'Y rose, pursuant to nnt7ee, I to move for leave to bring in a Bill for the Reduc tion of the National Debt. His objea was the com pletion of that system of finance which had been acted upon by the preceding Parliament t and with this view he moved the reading of the. Resolutions of last year. [ rimy were read accordingly.] His objed was to complete the systeM of finance which rem:int.! unaccomplished. By the plan if finance which had been adopted by the last Parliament..a considerable increase had been made to the sum of this year for diminishing the national debt. His object was to persevere in the same. plan, and to apply father sums. in the same proportion, for the reduction of the national debt. In the original for mation of the Sinking Fund, it had been agreed. that at the period when the one million should ac cumulate beyond four millions, the remainder (with other sums added to the Sinking Fund, the 200,0001. &c.) should go to that accumUlation. The Noble Lord then went over the plan of last Session, with a view to revive the original plan of the. Sinking Fund, by paying off that existing debt, and also the flesh contra fed debt. One objeaion that had been started to his plan was, that it was legislating for the future: but he had proposed nothing but what was capable of being altered or repealed. A material benefit sill have aftually accrued to the Willie from the recorded declaration en this suhj:Et by the last Par liament. 'fhe Bill he was now about to propose hid been lying on the table of the House at the time of the dissolution of Parliament. lie then moved for leave to bring in a Bill to alter and amend a veral Atli relativr to the Rrduetion of the National Debt. and for making farther providion to parrot its fu. lure increase. The SPEAKER observed, that the Bill now `proposed to be revived, had originated in the Report of the Committee, in consequence of s-veral reso lutimis come to by the last House of Parliament. the question was, whether the Noble Lord now saw any need' for adopting a different mode of proceeding from what had been formerly adopted ? Lord HENRY PETTY agreed that it was most expedient to adopt the same mode. He would, therefore, move, .4 That the House du resolve itself, to•morrow. into a Committee, to consider certain Ails relative to the reduetion of the National Debt." The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER observed, that the House would not bY pledged. by suffering the Bill to be read a first time, to suffer it ro proceed to a future stage, nor could he agree, that the Noble Lord should record. on the Journals. the Resolution which he had opposed in the List Par liament. In a future stage of proceeding. he should state reasons, which appeared to him sum cient. why this Parliament should not legislate now. merely for the sake of legislating. for the future; that pail of the plan is aft for the future having been carried into execution, he saw no necessity for pressing this subject sooner than next Session of Parliament. He should objefl to the present Mo tion, the ohjeß of which was, to carry forward, un necessarily. a Measure of Finance, which ought to uesdergo the most mature deliberation ; and which right, therefore, to stay over another Session of Paeliament. The time that has already elapsed, since this Measure was first brought forw.ad. had served to enlighten the public mind on the sub. ' jta ; and the greater extension of time allowed. the more, he was persuaded, would the public mind be awakened to a sense of the inexpediency of the Noble Lnrd's plan. Lewd H. PE CST said. that as the Right Hon. . . fer his intended McCort till Tuesday next; which d.tv, aft., sortie rene.irks, in a low tone of voice, be Mr. HUSKIiSON, was at L* fixed. Tier SEC.iE i'AitY at ‘N, i n0 ,, 7 1, t Up a p tition Direetors.ece. of the V 'el !nary c... lege, raying Wl' aid; which WAG ordered to be laid the table. ANIEIICAN ISM:cot/est: HILL. Mr. ROSE said. that by old lets of Patliarneet, there had h. en no intercourse with Amtt Ica ter co:: life ship length of time, bin in British shippi r New rifts for regule , ing the intercourse the two .conntrits had !alters place, partieuletia u-- tween 17133 and 170, hut no proper artanemte• bed been made till 1805 ; to tbm fi two pric e d r; • yeais, the trade had been carried WHIOUt 4r PitiliArrirot to regul.de it. A patter I regulation of this trade had, from time to tit..., been given to His Mej s yin Council. He w. ei ld now, therefore. move, •• Dim the Speaker do ierl. the Chair. in order to the Howe resolvine i nto a C ‘millit•ec, for the purpose of cod i:. • the several A 3i: for r.-gtil tring the tiade be: this country ant America " Lord :1O101C! uhwrved, e:at the 7! - • Gentleman (Mt. !foie) 114:1 aCrtirate:v 6;at,.: , causes and reaso. a 0: that Ad, by width our '1. , . course and cornmercill r gulati-eis with A in-r. had heretofore been eendufted ; but he contee,i that his 1:e-tem.-int did not beer mien the per,- case, nor did it amount to an applicatle jes'ilaa-• tem. The Left WA:, that IlloilSters 1144 retOttA t the measnre of a Pat liamentary clicumvAnces, in his opinion, utijustifiehl,, were, by their own expelite,t, reduced s it cessity of viol tr=oy the law et the land. i' • • . laiitm they had eaeel upon t I,ir osn res t s,. • .. • a nd were r. :yr Applying :or nit A.ti of la Heretofore it leaf the usage of the blouse to, a great and laudaide jealeteie in gra:eine .• of in lemnity 1. never gra:i!t..l ::car up4n full proof Of it Y. lest' , itoripc:tra 4 1 .,1 foreseen; or tat it •cre, - --n, (Mee was ite: a v::.i cieor time tor htiihhig IcAts:4tiee iare•:,r.”,(.? t - twcrn the viol itio- of the 141 r ar,J the, in: ;cal the to. met aft expired. If tho p csent were attentive to their ditties, try ntu,t have ite. seen, tram tii • Report td tne Exalting Larts ; Lot the American Regulation Aft would, within a ea u it lOW, expire ; and, there•ore with such a ko la. ledge, they were culpable in twit ling to a mea-we which Atiuslly forced them to e violation of the law of the lends and, in this case, of a sacred canstitae Ilona principle. foe Right f 1 , 0. Genrle.nen tfd stated, that there were nu duties levied; bar. he could .not deny that it was a m.-asure et G.verr in.-nt for which an Aft of ff.:Adieu - ice:: Wdi But though no ditty was levied, it was still . lion arid mood Rcetin of duties; and could the Hon e. co•isisteatly w'th that correft principle of je.lcmy which ilia:fenced it to ri • 1 a Money Bill in white the elighest alteration was introduced by the Hour of Peers, sanetion the Kinit's Ministers in era only an uncalled tor, but a foreseen violation of great Constitutional iiijundion ; and, perhaps, at the very moment wilt n this modification of the des ties was made in favour of America, that cotscry had Ritually violated those conditions of the titer with this kingdom, which alone en; itled her to to, ceive, or Ministers to grant, that modificatinn. lite Noble Lord was aware that a different entertained by a majority of the 1-base. as well on the expediency of the di.s..lution. as on the claims of Ministers to the ploposed itidemnity. Yet, feel ing he did on • botti points, he should, witlicat Wither observation, nest ieeidedly p l at e n a ga inst this unnecessary and u justifiable violation of the law and the constitwion. The CHANCELLOR of the EXC:IIEQUiTa admitted, that to those who disapproved of Ow ay.:- sure of Parliamentary Diesolution, the cum when led to the Bill then before the Ileuse, must appear a considerable aggravation. Bat, on the contrat all who supposed tne previous occurrence highly et peetent, must feel convinced. that, from the sta ture and jr ivisions of the American freely Bill, i: could not, cud ought not to mend in ilia way of that resort, which so many. under existing cis cutostances, had declared to be necessary. Sir ARTHUR PIGGOIr contended, that, io place of the Distolutit.n being expedient, the ad vice which induced t! at exercise of the Royal Pre rogative was tat:salutary and unwholesome, and not only that, but was aftually wanton. The Hon. Mr. BRAND could not suffer such a opportunity to escape without giving his solemn pr. test against a praelice inimical to the dearest me. rests of the country, and to the unalterable priv leges of that House. He could not see with whit claim to c)nsistency Ministers could call upon th House to indemnify them for aftine against law, ii consequence of having had recourse to the me asur of Dissoiution, when in the Speech from I Throne they arrogated to themselves the merit having chosen the most opportune time for dissolv ing the late Parliament. The Bill went through. the Committee, the RN port made, and ordered to be read a third time ten i moo row. The Report of the College of Physicians on ' eituvion was ordered to be printed. of l ts Colleges. was agreed to, and ordered to be rea.. sra bro l ;ht up, li f uepP Repor t reversionsrt and tie l t eor Reversio n t a e n rui amendment bo r in!esn R est ri c tion i r e v b e s i prevent ‘, 7t third time to-morrow, it eagrossed• The Commit:re of Su a Tly Was postponed Friday. an T d h :epo l l i t i • Bi ll went through e The Smuggling Prevention d or o d n e P re o a rt to lt . e n g l :l r a , t , i i. c . n . Bill was commilt..;. Committee, and the Report oraered to be tutu,. considered on Monday croght. The Kilmainhana Hospital Bat was rea d 8 ill" time and passed. Bills, were severally committed , and The Patten Apprentices', and Irish G the lebe ß H e o r to r c t ' ordered to be brou=ght up to-morrow. time Sir a J n o d h pa n St sse u d a . res Annuity Bill w a s a i read h 4 throne n e t b Mr. Hoblususe brought in two 4 _ raising tl:tee millions for the service of tlis bi jetty. by way of Exchequer ; the other f i l6 or I. x , one million live hundred e.ousauti pounds, i n • same way. tot the year 1807. TO -Y were saverall teat* a first time. 46/1.. SKIM , ia.t.tlT.V.••••••••A.-FP, tilts, goilmel ( IComma e v , ?mei 11 11141 ills r ,i. s inned GrAnted, The co p ,,pnned o'clock. Liit of Houie of t ins. for Or Net, A.,i:rov. Sir ortati Adam, W: A'thotin . 1 A n s.,llther , \ L : %C,D' ".ri • s..triAl4, S no .• /IC , • . d., b'l oh, WA.. art, c.1.-31t, eAlcratt, I Comb", I Cave.wit,. Carearhs Caw-M.l CamPl'el carripbull ,J. CUtl,berl Dt, D. D 'Pm, 1 pandas, j) 'Ol, 11 Eu+ton s Vitutt, I ~r~~~:w Frank,i Folk. st. .'• ( rem hs tlt a•ta I::e• nb I Gn? •ers 11.krY, Manua, J 'yes, I: J rnsep. riox. Lambe, La, t nc Les: h. Lemon, Le mon, Lemon. Lambtei Lu 411144 Lyttleft • • •1 Oennig' copied 1111/17 IN Immo f TIH off es Yam A fa' CiTI sail quenl gent the r terlit Z.ty, Pqf hrlk