The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1825-06-03 00:00:00

.; T. ; 'ART INTELLIGENCE. --mow-- HOUSE OF LORD S , THUD/DAY, Juirs 2. CORN LAWS. The Earl of ROCHPORD presented two petitiors from plum to Suffolk, against any alteration In the Corn Laws—Laid on the table. COUNTY COURTS BILL. The LORD CHANCELLOR presented a petition from Mr. Thames Dale, an officer of the Court of Exchequer, praying for compensation in the eveot of the county Courts Ball passing into a . law.—Laid on the whir. Mr. Johnson, the office of the Chief Secretary for Ireland, hated. the BRIM Report of the Commissioners of the Irish Mr. Lushlogton, Mr. A. Campbell, and other limbers of the House of Commons, brought up several Private Bills, which were read a first nine. EXCISE AND CUSTOMS ASSIMILATION BILL. The Backe and GUStM)33 Assimilation Bill went through a Can. • - Ante's, and the Reperbwas received. IRISH BURIALS. sePtir of the Day having been reed, of RADNOR requested that the Act of lot Session ntive to theropeal of the ilkh of William 111. respecting Nu. rills in Inland, oi)ght be read; which having been done, the Noble Reel observed, that he wished this subject had been plac ed: in other and abler hand& The questioes was one not of polities but of reli gion, sod required great consideration, The Bill of last Session was Iligeilkettion against all heresies. When he au a Member of Par =the Bowlwasin the habit of using good English. but it so Dow. He wielsed that a clause of that Bill might be amt. in Mkt to show its absurdity, tar it declared that the former Act should " stand and be repealed." He complained of the 11111 . ~ ! se the ground that it permitted any person in the character of a filergyrrian to libel the doetrmes of the Church of England. and also authorised blasphemy and impiety. Ile would now present a Bill, entitled " An Act to regulate interments in Ireland, in a mated,- *at .and orderly maraca ;" di erhich• he would move the first reading. The Earl of LIVERPOOL said that he (Mainly conceived it his duty to oppou this Bill. The Noble Ear l (Radnor) wee certainly privtfted to move its first reading, but he ( the Earl at Liverpool) would give his decided Apposition to its proceeding any-(prther. He tweed with the Noble Lord that this question Mut of a religious mature. When the subject wee agitated during the last Session, every pew who had paid any attention to it, had found it to be exceedingly embarrassing in all its psrts.— Whethee or not the Bill that was then putted - was grammatically sonstructed, he never knew a question more deliberately con. adered, either on the other side of the water oc on this; end at least it bad so much in its favour, that it had stcceeded in esta blishlog tranquillity en the topic. He was sure that unless their Lordships were On vinapd of its inconvenience. they would leave the low as it was. With respect to the first observation of the Noble Cad relative to the passage in the Bill, "htar.d and be repealed," be (herd Liverpool) believed it was an expression of common parlance. and a 'perfectly legal phrase. With respect to the enact. Irene ifself, the Bill certninly did restore to the Roman Catholics the right of burying the dead in monasteries, &c. but m many of those monasteries had become private property, it was deemed pro per to withhold this permission in such atm., unless with the con tient of the proprietor; this appeared to him to be quite reasonable. With respect to another subject, there had been considerable diffi ralty. The old law provided that all persons had a tight to be buried in the cluirth-yard, and the clergymen were hound to per- L.Arrn the service of the Church of England. The Roman Catholics, it was considered, would naturally object to this arrangement, and the obligation was, therefore, very rarely acted upon. The first object of the Bill art liras. Session was to do away altogether with this obligation. Then came the consideration of the more difficult question. The 1- , man Catholics claimed the right of saying prayers over the dead ac cording to their own ritual, but it war thought that this right ought out to be indiscriminately acknowledged, and therefore the law enact ed that it should be left to the discretion of the curate to determine when such permission should be granted, with a proviso, that in all cams of refusal, the curate should communicate his reasons for ' such refusal 'to the diocesan. lie (the Earl of Liverpool) knew hAit; this clause did VOL please the extremes of either party, but it appeared to him to be beneficial and good. Their Lordships, he wee sure, would think it wrong to permit this indiscriminate right so all Dissenters, when they considered the right which clergymen bad ind ought to have over the church-yards. After much pain ful and anxious consideration, he conceived this was the best enactment that could have been formed; and what was better, it' had been well received, and the practice heel gone on well. lie hoped, therefore, that their Lordships would not in any way dis turb thelaw. With this view of the subject, he would oppose the printing of the Bill, lest the subject might again go forth to the world and lead to unpleasant results. 'Tire Earl of RADNOR could scarcely believe it possible that' the Noble Earl would oppose the printing of the Bill ; but at any rate he would take the sense of the House upon it. The Earl of LIVERPOOL:aid he did not mean to oppose the beat reading of the Bill, as that was a niatter of courtesy; hut he abould certainly oppose its being printed. The Bill wan then read a first time. Lord REDBSDALE thought it would he more advisable for the Noble Earl (Radnor) to withdraw the Bill. The }ail oh RADNOR then moved that the Bill be printed. Strangers were ordered to withdraw, and the House divided, when the numbers were— Content, I I Not• Content, 31 I Majority, SO. Mr. Blackburn, and other Members of the House of Commons, brought up two private Bills, which were read a first time. EQUITABLE LOAN BILL. The Earl of FA LmouTH presented a petition from the parish of St. Andrews, Holborn, in favour of die Equitable Loan Bill, and another petition to the same effect. file House then adjourned. I'. MOUSE 'OF COMMONS, THURSDAY, Jul's& RO; ./BERT GOURLAY. Caps. WEMYSS presented a petition from certain individuals in the county of Flfe, praying that the cue of Robert (lourlay might be inquired into.—Ordered to lie on the table. Mr. T. WILSON presented a petition from the Cordwainers of the City of London, against a reoessal of the Combination Laws.— Referred to the Committee. COMMITTEES ON PRIVATE BILLS. Mr. S. WH ITBREA 1) rose to present • petition from the Inhas bitants of London and Westminster, complaining of the manner in which BR Bill for incorporating the Westminster Oil Has Company had been thrown out. He made several observations on the manner in which the business of Committees was managed up stairs, and upon the non-atteudance of Members. He had himself been the only person who for several days might be said to have formed that Committee; for be, the Chairman of it, sat alone, listening to evi. deuce and to counsel, and then all at once eight-and-thirty Mem. bees, the great majority of whom never beard a word of the evi dence, came down and decided the question. He had been told that such had been the practice for hundreds of years, Lint he trusted that tnere would speedily be an end to it. Mr. T. WILSON thought that the conduct of Committees in Brat respect called loudly for amendment. After a few words from Sir C. BURRELL, Mr. W. SMITH (Norwich) observed, that the Company would have given employment to 3,000 persons. The system under whist' private Bills were managed called, in his opinion, for most com plete reform. It was a question of much importance, and would, he hoped, be decisively taken up. He would not then take upon Mtn to determine whether the decision of the Committee in question was right or wrong; but one thing he would say, which was, that the wanner of it was most reprehensible. So much did he disap prove of such practices, that he declared the prevalence of them had striven him from all private Committees. Every body knew that Members came in droves down to such Committees, in the most eatire ignorance of the testimony, Indeed without even affecting to know any thing about it, and took their side on the division with out hoeing paid the slightest attention to what might have been said by oounad or witnesses. Mr. TREMAYNE concurred with the Honourable Members who went before him in thinking that reform was very much needed, and he earnestly hoped that early in the next Session the subject would be taken up by some Member of weight and influence. Mr. CALC RA FT thought it extremely objectionable that per enns interested should take upon themselves to sit as judges in such matters. Though fully impressed with the necessity for alter auon which on all hands was allowed Werist, he could not but admit that the subject yes one of considerable difficulty. He there fore would not undertake to say that be had matured any scheme ; yix, with a view to do something, he would suggest that they shuuld borrow from the G renvill e Aix, and adopt proceedings somewhat similar to those resorted to under that Statute. He thought Special Committees ought to be appointed, of limited member', with power to none others to vote. There might like wise be certain nominees, consisting of Honourable Gentlemen who might be considered better acquainted with the subject to be brought under their consideration than ordinary Members. Such Committees, be considered, ought to be elected by ballot. He vivid, from !Mown knowledge, bear testimony to the truth of the statement, that many Members came into those Committees, and derided the question, without having beard one word of the evi dence or the arguments of Counsel. :dr. SYKES agreed in the importance of the subject, and that main? Bills of much public utility were rejected in consequence of the votes of persons who had private interims to advance. Speaking from his own experience, he would declare, that never in his life did be see more injustice perpetrated than in those Committees. Re entirely concurred with the Honourable Member for Warehari (Me. Calcraft) in the view which he took of the sutijett. Mr. LIT rLETON could not help expressing his surprise that moo or common honesty could be guilty of such scandalous practices. After an expense of pert:Apar f two or twenty thousand pomade bad been incurred, they determined suchquestinns in perf ec t ncnorance of the facts or reasonings brought forward by the parties. The House, he thought, had nothing to do with deciding the details of such measures ; they had merely to come to a vote on principles, or at least the report of the Committee would supply cue-1 with sufficient information on matters if detail. Whatever Gnome they might adopt, whether by appointing Select Committees or otherwise, they should save themselves from ptshlic odium by thine bein g found at Last a few Members in that House. who would, *hen opportunity offered, rise up in their places, and cx preaa thrir derided reprobation of such conduct. Me. T RANT then m a d e a f ew observattons after which f ro 'r - t h j s . P ' t/ itA NT tweed to the Hous e , t h at be had been asked thin to nagthe beginnin g _ . 4, attend that Commi t t ee , an d even h a d lie had evidence, he would have horn taluct=t to do au; . but se tht matter stood, he felt it his duty to abstain altogether from giving a vote. It must have strack every one in that House with surprise, that no one present ventured to contradict a single tittle of the statement made by the Honourable Member who presented the petition. There was no grievance greater, or one that called more urger.tly for a remedy. In cases of that nature, where large sums of money had been invested, and great public benefit likely to result, Memberashould be restrained from bringing upon themselves individually, and upon the Howie generally, the discredit which such conduct necessarily entailceL After • few words from Mr. RICKFORD. Mr. BRIGHT expressed his regret that the Member for Hull had not brought forwent in the present Stasi°, some measure on the.aubject. It might still be highly beneficial to do so. The petition was then brought up, and ordered to lie on the table. Mr. WHITBREAD said that the individuals who had signed that petition, hail riot done so in the expectation of its producing any object which interested themselves individually, but merely in the hope of doing a public good by calling tbstattention of Partia -1 ment to the abuses which prevailed in Private Committees., the more especially as the Honourable Member for Winchelisen had not redeemed his pledge on that important subjec.. COTTON MILLS. Sir A. CHICHESTER presented a petition from the town and neighbourhood of Belfast, against the Bill tea regulating the boors of Children's Labour is Cotton Factories.—Ordered to lie on the The same Honourable MeMber presented a petition from the same place, in favour of the Bill for establishing Manufactories in Ireland. COMBINATION LAWS.. Mr. CURTEIS presented a petition from the journeymen saw. jers of Brighthampstead, against the renewal of the Combination Lawt—Rereered to the Committee. FISHMONGERS. Mr. CALCRAFT presented • petition from the journeymen fishmongers of London, praying that Fishmongers' shops be shut up after ten o'clock on Sunday mornings. After a few words from Sir R. Wicsow, Mr. W.Satten (Nor. with), Sir M. W. Itinccv, tfo, &c. Mr. CALCRAFT, jar, pea notice that he would bring Ins Bill to effect the end sought by the prayer of the petition. The petition was thevres& and ordered to be printed. COMBINATION LAWS. Mr. Alderman H EV:SATE presented a petition from the opera. till sawyers of Sudbury (as we .understood) against the re-enact manta& the Combination Laws. HOUSE AND WINDOW TAX. Mt. WYNG presented a petition from the churchwardens and Ovaillef • of the hamlet of Radcliffe, for the repeal of the House and Window Tax. LA-TV (SF MERCHANT AND FACTOR. Me. J. SMITH had to present a petition on a subject of consi devoid, importance, and which was signed by the principal mer. chants of Landon, and indeed by the great body of them, with the exception of three or four, who never signed their names to any petition whatsoever. The object of the petition was to obtain relief from the operation of certain commercial regulations between mer chant and factor, which were found to be extremely prejudicialto the mercantile interests of the country. It had been intended to bring in a Bill on the subject, but circumstances which took place is another place had operated to prevent it. He repeated, the pre sent petition was signed by the bulk of the commercial interests Qr the City, among: others by ten Bank Directors. The regulations in question had originated in 1742, and went to prevent the onset talky of raising money upon goods consigned from abroad to this country. He understood objections to tbe proposed alteration were entertained by the Judges, but, however he was disposed to attend to the opinions of those learned and venerable individuals upon subjects connected with the law, be did not conceive them the best authorities upon commercial affairs. Mr. Sergeant ONSLOW thought the country and the commer. cial community indebted to his Honourable Friend (Mr. J. Smith) for the exertions he had made and the view he took of the case. lilt. T. M ILSON said the petition did not merely speak the sentiments of the merchants of London, but of the commercial in. terests generally of every town-in the kingdom. After an observation from Mr. IRVING, Mr. HUSKISSON intimated hat intent&is of supporting a measure such as that contemplated by the Honourable Gendeman (Mr. J. Smith). Mr. SCA RLETT hoped when the measure alluded to came be fore the House, it would be couched In intelligible language, and not like some of the measures of his Right Honourable Friend, which he must profess himself utterly unable to understand. If the proposed Bill were intended to enable one of two parties to tbs. pose of goods without the consent of the other, he would never agree to it. With respect to the Judges, he had no objection that they should receive • lesson in political economy, at the same time be was not disposed, with his Honourable Friend (Mr. J. Smith), to underrate their opinion upon subjects of commercial property, a knowl•dge of which their situation and daily experience could not fad to afford them. The petition was then read, and ordered to be printed. TITHING SYSTEM. Sir H. PARNELL presented a petition from certain inhabitants of the diocese or Killaloe, in the county Tipperary, Ireland, com plaining of the alteration that had been adopted in the tithing system. Mr. BROUGHAM presented a petition from the inhabitants of the parish of Castle Lyons, County Cork, praying for an inquiry into the tithing system in Ireland. Referred to the Committee on the state of Ireland. GRAND JURY PRESENTMENTS (IRISH). Mr. BROUGHAM presented • petition from an individual named Robert Bell, of the parish of Tullyally, in the county Ty rone, praying for an inquiry into the state of Grand Jury present ments is Ireland—Released to the Committee on the 'state of Ire land. COMBINATION LAWS, AND RATE OF WAGES. Mr. BROUGHAM rose to present a petition from the working colliers of Mid and East Lothian, against the re-enactment of the Combination Laws, and praying so equitable adjustment of the rate of wages. The Learned and Honourable Gentleman observed, that those individuals, though hard-working men, deserved to have some attention paid to the prayer of their petition. They were better educated than many other individuals of greater pretension and higher rank, and although those persons could not lay claim to be considered as political economists, the House should have a fel low-feeling with them in that respect, for it was but lately that they were in the same situation themselves. (A laugh.) Indeed there were some Honoutable :Members in that stale at this moment; others had been but lately rescued from their ignorance; the bulk of tbe House were in the very same situation not twenty years ago, and these petitioners were quite as well informed as some of his !Majesty's Ministers at the present moment. (Hear, and laughter.) Under such circumstances he trusted the House would not Mare. gaud the prayer of the petitioners.—Laid on the table. CATHOLIC RELIEF. Mr. DROI'GHAM presented; petition from certain Members of the Established Church, in Stroud, Gloucestershire, in favour of the Catholic Claims.—laid on the table. COUNTY MAGISTRATES. Mr. BROUGHAM presented a petition from an individual named George Henry Bays, of Cambridge, an attorney of the Court of King's Bench, complaining of the deplorable ignorance manifested upon legal subjects by the Magistrates at Quarter Ses sions. Petitioner stated that these individuals afforded the strong est possible contrast to the information possessed by the Magistrates of London and Westminster; fur that the majority of them were fox-hunters, and arbitrary (a laugh), and, in short, everything but lawyers. It was the desire of the petitioner, that, previous to the admission of these individuals into the commission, they should be subjected to an examination before competent Bsrristers, and shat a suitable degree of knowledge should be instilled into them if round deficient in the necessary information. (A laugh.)—Laid on the table. I 71Fr.7 , ~~~' is 7 BREWERS' LICENCES. Mr. BROUGHA3I presented a petition from the retail and common brewers of hlanchester and Salford, praying a remission of the restrictions they were subjct to in the exercise of their trade, more particularly es it regarded licences for retailing beer.—Laid on the table. LEITH DOCKS. Mr. BROIiGIIASI presented a petition from the eight Southern Districts of Eilinbugh, against the Leith Docks bill. The Hon. Member said be would present the petition, though the prayer of it had been accomplished by the rejection of the BBL —Laid on the table. 111 R . MADAM. Mr. BROUGHAM presented • petition from an individual named Jame* Patterson, • rc:.d surveyor resident at Montrone, against the grant to Mr. Ill'Adam.—Laid on the table. RICHARD CARLILE AND lIIS SHOP3IEN. Mr. BROUGHA M presented a petition from Richard Carlile and five of his sbopmen, at present confined in Dorchester and other gaols, for the publication of blasphemous writingn. The peti tioners stated that they had been prosecuted because they were not Christians, and had published books which ware alleged to be stab versive of the Christian faith. He (31r. Brougham.) wished dia. tinctly to s:ete that he considered indecent ribaldry and libellous attack' upon the Christian religion as highly crimival in their nature, and the very worst step that individuals disbelieving the truth of the Christian religion could take for the propagation of their principles. Supposing the ieligion of the State to be wrong, and that those individuals were right in their assumption, they could in no way more affront and insult persons than by adopting such a line of conduct No course could be mare injudicious : and yet, notwithstanding thin, he did conceive the law should not be administered with a heavy hand upon indivi duals who were, he doubted not, enthusiasts and fanatics in the dis semination of their opinions. Toleration was at all times better than persecution, and if they were disposed to make a foolish attack, it was better that the State should not roake a foolish defence of the religion of the count's'. The grand argument of those who advocated proseeutionn for such offences was founded upon a miscon ception of the harm which was likely to arise from those publics- Minn to the cause of religion ; b u t he could not conceive that any harm was likely to result from free discussion of any kind, at least not until that should be permuted to exceed all bounds, and dege nerate into ribaldry and offensiveness. He considered prosecutions on account of bla..phemy as die Teat and most injudiaoun way or defending religion ; and he hardly thought toleration could be carried too far as it regarded the law or the individuals concerned. Mr. PEEL, wished to avoid such prosecutions as had been alluded to as far as possible; but the libels published by the pe titioners had been of the grossest kind, and most revolting in their attacks It Nn Christianity. Wherever contrition had been manifested by any of the individuals in question, it had received the consider ation it deserved, as in the case of Carlile's sister, a part of whose punishment had been remitted, aid beg's!' free to add, he believed THE BRI•i PRESS. her subsequent conduct had proved hes not unworthy of favourable 'nensideration. After an observation from Sir Fs BURDETT and Mr. 1110Xce, which did not reach the gallery— Mr. PEEL add, an individual convicted as those petitioners had .5 , was con fi ned for a specific period, and afterwanis till a certain was paid or bail foudd for his future good behaviour, or both. it did appear impossible to remit any portion of the punish alert till some pledge was obtained that the party would desist Bowl a similar line of couduct in future : that, and an expression af contrition, he looked upon u s sine gee two to the attainment of &pardon or remission of his sentence. C _ tlir F. BURDETT thought it would have been lute if Carlile bad been let alone, and that there was great iissuetice in instituting I ptesecutions foe opinions, however absurd and ridiculous in their pature. After an observation from Mr. Wisrsaie Snrrat and'Eord isaratwo, Air. IlitOUralAsl said it was but too evident prosecutions - AM not succeed in preventing the works complained of being openly sold; any man might have tbeit in the noon-day, end at Au ordinary price. There was great injustice in prosecuting Me. Caddie for :he publication of a cheep work, and at the same in an Mr . expen Ma rrs grtn °r f l ilt r rixn a ' d s e l 't o History l l li t ; the D rd e 'l e;i l' ti d e Awl Fall o f the Homan Empire, with its anti-Christian chapter, which, as the House knew, was one of the most dangerous avid litre poising in existence. Ir. HUME said theychad rejoiced dt the derrnfal of the laquisition in Spain, anst,they new immured individuals in tleageons, much after the same way, because they entertained 'pinions contrary to the **relent one upon points of faith. and published books expressive of their opinions. Mr. Carlile com plained that his property had been drained from him, and he was kept in prison pending the payment of a fine of 1,5001.; when, had his property been left tinder hie own control, it wo u ld have enabled him to discharge a fine double that amount. He wished to submit to the Right Hon. Gentleman whether some mitigation could not be made in his punishment, as well as in that of his sister. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the prosecution)! had -filleted the object intended to be accomplished. namely, the sup ilVi.of the works in question, which were of the Most dangerous, and blasphemous character. r:BROUGHASI said, though these persons hadbeen punished, an infamous printer named Benbow, who had lately edified the public with an edition of a celebrated speech, with certain comments thereon, had been permitted to publish a work in which he openly justified the murder of the late Mr. Perceral ; nor was he satisfied with being the apologist of that assassination, but he also added , that there were many other Ministers, who more than Mr. Perceval deserved the sante late, and begged that no time might be lost in inflicting on them sninniary punishment. (A laugh.) The foot rm, these individuals were permitted to proceed without prosecution until they went to great lengths, and then complaint was instantly made that the law was inefficient, and the Six Acts were asked for; com plaint was also made that juries would not convict, which was not the cost. He never read "Palmer's Principles of Nature,"but from what he heard of it, he did not think it half so dangerous as the combined sophistry and argument of Gibbon, and the subtlety of Hume; yet these books were generally read—read too, by his Hon. and Learned Friend (the Attorney-General) ; he had them, he made no doubt, on the shelves of his library, and he (Mr. Brougham) was sure they did not In the least injure the known orthodox theology of his Hon. Friend. (A laugh.) Then there were the works of Vol taire, containing so much mere ribaldry (hear, hear,) in the hands of every body ; ladies as well as others read them. (A laugh.) That gross ribaldry was permitted to go abroad, corrupting the morals of all the ladies and gentlemen in the west cod of the town. (A laugh.) God forbid that he (Mr. Brougham) should wish to prosecute the venders of these works ; he merely wished to point out the incon. sistency. (Hear, hear.) The Petition was ordered to be printed. ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN IRELAND. flr. BROUGHAM presented a petition from an individual named James Dowling, complaining of the administration of justice in Ireland--Referred to the Committee on'the State of Ireland. CHEAP PUBLICATION OF BOOKS. Mr. BROUGHAM presented a petition from Alr. James Gif ford, a bookseller -residing in Paternoster-row. The petitioner sub mitted to the House the propriety of diminishing—first, the duty an printing paper; secondly, of reducing the excessive tax on ad. vertisements ; thirdly, of lowering the exorbitant duty on news 'papers ; and further, of repealing forthwith (what he termed) that useless, odious, and unconstitutional restriction on the liberty of the press, already complained of ; anti lastly, of taking into considers. don the propriety of allowing periodical publications to be conveyed through the medium Of the post to all parrs of the empire, on pay ment of a moderate sum for postage, not exceeding however in any case the amount of 25 per cent. on the value of the article trans mitted.--Ordered to be printed. COMBINATION LAWS. Mr. HUME presented a petition from 7,950 persons residleg at Nottingham, against the re-enactment of the Combination Laws.— Ordered to be printed. RUM.—BRITISH SPIRITS. Mr. WESTERN wished to know from the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he would persist in allowing runt to come In competition in the manufacture of gin with bonded spirits. A strong feeling prevailed, not only among the barley brewers, but among the distillers, Mot such was his intention ; he was most anxious, therefore, that the Right Hon. Gentleman should gine information on the subject to the House. The Hop. Member concluded by moving, east there be laid before the House a copy of the memorial presented to the Chancellor of the Exchequer from the distillers of British spirits, respecting the conversion of rum into gin. Ott the question tieing put— The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEqUER said he had no wistcto oppose the motion. He did not *ink the document an official one; still he had no desire to take advantage of that tech. nical objection. As to the question put to him, he would give the same answer which he had given to the Member foe Nortl.ampton a week ago. It was his intention when the Distillery Bill should be before the House, to move the insertion ofa clause, allowing rum to be rectified ; and the difference of duty he proposed to make be tween British spirits and rum 40 admitted, was In. 3d. per gallon. He would not then discuss the measure, hut merely state, that not only did the distillers represent it as prejudicial and ruinous, but, those for whose benefit it was intended declared th a t they expected no good from :t. Being therefore (said the Right Hon. Gentleman) situated thus between both parties, I think I am pretty much in the right. (A laugh.) Sir J. SEBRIGHT wished the Right lion. Gentleman to post-, pone the measure until the next Session : in the mean time addi tional information might be obtained*on the subject. An Hon. MEMBER, whose name we could not ascertain, con curred in the Hon. Baronet's request. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied, that if the Hon. Alembers knew the difficulties he had to contend with from adverse parties, they would not be so sanguine in their request. Were he to wait until het could introduce measures satisfactory to all parties, trade must stand stock still. (Laughter.) Ordered. TRIAL BY JURY (CEYLON). Mr. HUME moved for certain Returns connected with the intro duction of Trial by Jury in the Island of Ceylon.—Ordered. COURT OF CHANCERY. Sir F. BL'RDETT (as we understood) gave notice, on the part of an Hon. Friend, that he would, on Tuesday, the 7th instant, move, that them be laid before the House the minutes of the evi dence taken before the Commissioners empowered to inquire into the practice in the Court of Chancery. (Hear, hear.) LUNATIC ASYLUMS. Mr. lIIISIE moved for Returns of the number of licensed mad houses within the bills of mortality, and also within the county of, Middlesex, in the years 1821, 1822, and 1823, distinguishing the names of the keepers, and the number of male and fe male patients, also the number under twenty-one veers of age. The Hon. Member moved for similar Returns front the years 1813 to 1821. After a few words from Mr. C. W. WYNN, the Returns were ordered. CORN RETURNS. Mr. WODEHOUSE, after • few prefatory observations, moved that an humble address be presented to his Majesty, thPt he issue instructions to his Consuls at foreign ports that their at tention be continued to the prices of foreign corn, and that they be' directed, in all the accounts hereafter to be transmitted by them, to set forth the price of co a at their respective ports ; the amount of freight; and also the prc,ible length of the voyage to England ; and further, that it be an instruction to thetwto state. as nearly as possible, any peculhaities in the difference of exchange between the two countries ; the quantity of coru granarietl in their respective ports ; the expense at which it came free on board ; and lastly, • full account of any restraints which existed, either on the import Of export of corn, to or from these places. Mr. LEICESTER seconded the motion. Mr. HUSKISSON hail no possible objection to the Address, or to any thing which could help to furnish the fullest information on the subject. The returns, however, could only be satisfactory from those ports at which Consuls resided ; there were many small porn, which had no resident Consuls, though corn was exported from them. He wished to add, that if any Hon. Gentleman wish ing to acquire information as to the price of foreign corn, or in deed on any subject connected with the corn trade, would but com municate his intention to him (.'.Jr. Huai:bison) he would as far as possible assist him, and help to forward his object. (Hear.) He feared it would be difficult for Consuls to ascertain the several ex penses at porta from which no exportation took plwe ; in these places there was no trade; all the corn wan granaried up. M r. BEN F.TT (Wiltshire) trusted no means ' , would be neglected of getting correct infortnotion. After a few words from Mr. Ctrarzie and Mr. 11 yet ago', Mr. T. WILSON said that no returns such as those then moved fur could be of any value, treess there were a free trade in corn; at present all the prices in foreign ports were regulated by the re strictions in this country. 111 r. W. WHIT:11011E (bought it right to gain all possible in. formation as to the price of corn, before the suh)ect should again come before the House. At the w.me time, he begged the Hon. Member fur Norfolk (Mr. IVodahouse) not to lay too much stress on the information to be derived through the Consuls, particularly as to freights, which must entirely depend on the circumstance of there being a trade; where there existed no trade it was impossi ble to ascertain what would be the expense of freight. „Mr. WODEHOUOE and Mr. Moxux said a few words. On the question being put— Mr. Secretary CANNING hoped the Hon. Mover would con sent that the different Consuls should be required to make the re turns only as far as might be practicable. ( Hear, hear.) How, for instance, could they say with accuracy the expense at ports when no trade existed ? lie therefore moved that the words "as far as may be practicable," be inserted in the motion. Mr. WODEIIOUSE consented, and die motion as aitientled was then agreed so. BURBLE ACT. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL hoped for the indulgence of the House for a few moments, whilst he stated his reasons for wishing to repeal so much Of the Bubble Act as related to Joint Stock Comranina tine reason was, that it had lately been des. cussed in both ('ourti of Law and Equity, when it wzs agreed on all hands to be perfectly unintelligible (hear, hear). When he coupled with that circumstance that the Act alluded to con tained a clause sulyiecting to all t'.' penalties of premmiire such persons as should violate its provisions, he thought he had established sufficient grounds for its repeal. Another ground for moving the repeal of that Act was, that those establishments which have vested large capitals for the purpose of effecting instirance upon lives and against fire. must, acconlingta the interpretations of the Act. be considered illegal,. and It there. fore became necessary to r ep eal it, as a protection to thou Compaeles which had been associated nader the full confidence of there being no law lb effect thCm. These were the grounds upon which he meatit to move for the repeal of the Act. But it might be asked whether it would not be better toolubstitete some particular enact ment applicable to the subject. instead of the total repeal. Hs would frankly confess thit such was his original intention, but after having considered the matter a little wore, he had taken up ea opinion that it would be u‘eless, and inexpedient to adopt any other measure than that which he proposed. Up to the 17th century. during all the changes of a growing commercial power, there newer had been any complaints of the evil which the Bubble Act wag supposed to repress; and when in theyear 1720 that Act was pan* which had been much misunderstood, and which actually was ia. fended as a protection to that which it was generally thought to prevent; it had remained on the Statute Book from th .t time until the yeer.lBlo or 1812, without more thane single prosecution under its provisions, and diet prosecution, he believed, by no meats well understood ; it was hardly necessary, therefore, he thought, to adopt any legislative measure in the place of claw which been been hither to practically considered as a mere dead letter., lie had therefore considered, under till the circumstances, that it would be better to move the simple repeal of the Act, leaving it, of course, in the power of any Gentleman who thought proper, to introduce a Bill for the regulation of any parts of the law which he might consider neceesary. He begged lame t say . hele,.that it was not his irden- • tion to interfere with any actions or suite at law, which - might have been commenced before the repeal of the Act t and he intended, therefore, to introdUce a clause excepting all such actions, because he did not think it just to interfere with those proceedings which had been taken under the supposed sanction of so Act el Parlia ment. Another measure he proposed to add was for the purpose or increasing the facility of obtaining grants of charters. At present, when a number of persons associated under a charter to perform certain acts or carry on business as a Company, they were not liable to the debts of that Company beyond the amount of the property actually invested. There had been, therefore, at all times, con siderable reluctance on the pen of the Crown to grant charters, and it had been the custom to bring in a Bill in the first place into Par liament, by which the Crown was enabled to gvsnt a charter, and then to apply for the charter itself, thereby doubling the expense, because there was first the cost of carrying the Bill thtough its stages in Parliament, and then the cost of thechata itself. IChee he proposed now was, to introduce a clause rendering individual members. applying for charters, liable for the debts of the com pany to the full extent of their effects, and empowering the Crown to grant charters according to its judgment of the propriety of the particular cases. Thinking, therefore, upon the grounds he had mentioned, that it was necessary to repeal the clauses of that Act, mid grant the powers alluded to, he would move, " That it is ex pedient to repeal such pans of the Act of the 6th Oco. I. chap. 18, Ili relates to Partnerships and joint-Stock Companies." (201. DAVIES made Atone observations. but from the noise of some persons leaving the gallery, we could not properly collect their purport. We understood him to say, that from the manner in which Lord Ellenborough had expounded the law of the Bubble Act, and from the confirmation of his dicta by the finding of many juries, there could be no such uncertainty or injustice as the Learned Gentleman had described. He would not, however, refuse his consent to the Bill be sought to introduce, although he thought it probable it might meet with opposition, because it repealed an Act which operated as some check to those Joiat—Stock Companies which he thought were very injurious to the country. Mr. IIUSKISSON said, the very ground the Honourable Gen tleman stated as an objection to the repeal of the Act, namely, the great increase of Joint Stock-Companies, and their consequent in jury to the country, was one of the best arguments against hie own assertion, that the law, as laid down by Lord Ellenborough, was sufficiently clear and explicit with regard to those Companies, and that it required no alteration. Lord Ellenborough might lay down the law according to his conception of its bearing on the particular case, but it was for the Jury to say whether the Cons. pany in question was or was not likely to be prejudicial. Now he would ask whether, in the present times. when a great variety of Companies were in action and contemplation, it was right that their interests or existence should depend 'mon the eloquence of a Counsel or the feelings of a Jury y The Judge might be right ia his construction of the law, but it was not fit that such important interests should be constantly left to the feelings of juries. His Honourable and Learned Friend wished to guard them ftom a want of protection, to save their properties from the consequences of pro ceedings le equity ; and he thought the commercial world were under very great obligations to his Learned Friend for the lamed and enlightened view he had taken of the questioa. [We regret to say that the continued noise from persons posplerg in and out of the gallery, prevented us from hearing several of the Right Honourable Gentleman's observational Colonel DAVIES explained. Mr. &DOUGLAS said, that numerous Companies in Scotland, placed precisely in the same situation as those described by the Learned Gentleman in England, had been going on for some time, without knowing that they were incurring penalties under certain statutory provisions. They had now however found out that their proceedings were not legal, and he wished to know if any measure was likely to be adopted with regard to them. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL replied, that he understood a Bill bad been or wax about to be introduced in the other House, ap plicable to the cases alluded to by the Hon. Gentleman (the Mem ber for Dumfries). Mr. DENMAN said, the law as it now stood left it first to the jury to say whether they considered the Company beneficial, and next to the Judge as to what construction be might think proper to put upon the Act. The Hon. Gentleman alluded to the-case of a Bread Company in Birmingham, we understood, which had been tried before Lord Ellenboroi.eh, in which the jury found that it was lima/nal. The Act had arisen from the love of occasional le gislation, which he DOW hoped was on the wane, and he had no ob. jection to its repeal. He did not, however, feel himself prepared to say that he would grant such powers to the Crown as the beamed Gentleman proposed to give it; but, as there did not seem to be any objection to the principle, be would reserve his objections to a future occasion. ,After a few words from Mr. PELHAM and Mr. J leave was given to bring in the Bill. JUDGES' SALARIES. . ' After some Conversation on the subject of precedence, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUEIt consented to go into the Committee on the Judges' Salaries Bill, provided it WWI understood that the second reading of the Grant to the Duke of Cumberland should be taken immediately after. The Right flonoutable Gentleman then said, that when he leo brought the question of the salaries of Judges before the House, he had stated it to be his intention to propose that the original Resolution of 6,000/. a year to the Puisne Judges should be reduced 5001. for the purpose of adding that sum to the retired allowance ; that was now the first Resolution he had to propose • the next was a sum of 15001. retired allowance to the V ice-Chancellor, who had been, by some singular circumstance, altoge2ter over looked in the arrangement for the other Judges—that sum being the same allowed to the Master of the Rolls and Chief Baron. He meant also to move a small additional allowauce to the Lord Chief Justice ; that Judge had now 3,000/.—it was his intention to move that his retired allowance be 4,0004, the same sum as that allowed to the Lord Chancellor of England. These were the three propo. sitions he meant to submit to the House; there was, however, one more—a resolution that the sums taken from the Judges by way of fees should go to the Consolidated Fund. The attention of Go. vernment had been directed for some time to the measurer which I might be adopted for relieving the suitor", of the Court from the va rious costs which were incurred, and whether come of them mien not with safety be abolished; he alluded particulely to the ex penses upon frivolous writs of error, which were productive of. great delays in the prosecution of suits. It Would be a great ad vantage, he thought, if these were prevepted ; at all events the fees were not to go again to increase the salaries of the Chief Justices. He would now move the first resolution—that a sum of 5001. bo granted as an additional retired allowance to the Puisne Judges. Mr. J. WILLIAMS said h 4 had stated on a former evening that he censidered it of the last importance to procure men of talent at an efficient age for the office of Judge, and had therefore pro posed that the retired allowance should be increased. He had also objected to any increase upon the present salary, because he believed that neither the Right Hon. Gentleman (the Chancellor of the Ex. chequer) nor the Right Hon. Secretary for the Rome Department, could point out a single case where a man of talent, in ths prime of life, had ever refused to accept that situation with its present salary. He conceived that there were two things most important ; first to get good Judges if they could ; and next, to get them ofrthe Bench before they were ready to tumble into their graves, and before their defects and failures became obvious to all the world. These, he knew, were the last to perceive their own inefficiency ; but he I would make the retiring sum so large as to tempt them to go from the Bench before they arrived at a state of dotage, and he thought the Hon. Member fur Montrose (Mr. Hume) would pardon him when he said that the money could not be ill applied whish went to procure a succession of able Judges, by providing for the retreat of those who became incompetent from any cause to the per-' formance of the dunes of that office. lie therefore moved that the words " five hundred pounds" be left out, and the words " nine hundred pounds" insetted. Mr. DENAIAN, while he thought no ease at all had been made out for the increase of the salaries, thought it of importance that the retiring pension should be liberal. Mr. Secretary PEEL thought that his Right lion. Friend had, according to the scale of pensions, allotted a very liberal and very impartial allowance to the Pulsar Judger'. • The Chancellor, the highest officer in the kingdom. had but 4.0001. a year. The Right Hon. Gentleman then proceeded •to defend the Judges of the Ex. chequer and Common Pleas against some alleged Imputations of the Hon. Member for Lincoln, with regard to the proportions of business, and instanced their attendance in the Lards and on pri. vate Bills, as proofs of their being employed. Mr. J. '4 ILIAAMS denied dist he ha..l ever imputed idleness to the Judges of than) Courts. 11, hail only stated his opinion of the great inequality of busine.s arising from the fashion of the employment of two or three eminent men of th.t Coun—the Attorney-General, the lion. Member for Winch:hoe. (Mr. Broligl.ani), and the Member tiw Peterborough (Mr. Scar. let). and hinted at the possibility of dividing that lousiness more equally, by admitting others thau Sergeants to prise:ire in the Common Pleas, and making some alteration with regard to the solicitors of the Exchequer. He had also said that the bas. sines, of .the Exchequer was comparatively small, hot he did not mean to throw any imputation oat the characters of the Judges who prettified there. He thought it right to state that the Chief Justice of the Common Pleat had expressed himself satisfied with the sum allotted to him, and told him (Mr. 'Williams) that he was extremely glad the objectionable method of taking the salary from fees and places was about to be abolished. Mr. Secretary PEEL said, lie was quite satisfied the Learnt Gentleman did not mean to impute any idleness to the Judges of either Court. Dr. LUSHINGTON condemned as injurious parsimony any disposition to refuse the Judges a proper retiring allowance. H had seen several melancholy instances of men remaining oo the Bench !ong after they should have retired, from the inadequacy of the sum allotted to them on retirement to support then) in the situ,. tion of life they were accustomed to while on the Bench. If Hoc. Gentlemen could but conceive the melancholy erects of one false decision, the establishment of one false precedent, and the number of years which must elapse before it was corrected, they wooly see ,the propriety and necessity of providing a sum which would secure Judges in the full enjoyment of their faculties. It was of the last importance that there should be no additional inducement held out fur persons who filled the office of Judges to remain in it after their physical faculties were so exhausted as to render them wholly imcompetent to the arduous and responsible duties of their situation. He was convinced, however, that some further regulatioo besides that of augmenting the retiring salary was necessary to insure this object. A Puisne Judge having put.- rued the profession of the law for a long series of years, and his whole ambition leading him towards the highest ranks of that profession, became to wedded to it by habit and inclination, that without any reference to pecuniary advantages, he was led and in duced to remain in his situation as long as he possibly could. The honours of the station, the cougenfality of its duties with their former pmatiits i all combined to induce then) to remain on 1.114 p Bench to a p nod when, fur the interests of the public, it would be 'Much better that their places were filled by some Ow mentel atej physical powers , had not become so i m p a i red by fgt. He, how ever. had no obj,etion to the proposed inc-ease of the retiring pen.skins, although he felt it was not a question with the Learned Ju.lges of pounds, shilling*, and pence. Considering the subject to be of great importance, he did most earrestly entreat the Right Hon. Gentlemen (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) to consides Whetlter the consequence of this augmentation would be that which was 40 much desired, and which it was intended to produce. .Mr. De.;IAIAN could not help thinking that it was a great evil to have these discuss'ons continued. The only questions for their consideration wee how might they beat secure to the country none but good and efficient oihcers in the Courts of Justice!' And whether the House could not adopt salt measures as that none might be induced to stay in office after their ability fully to discharge its duties was destroyed, in consequence of the smallteoa of the retiring pensions ? There was an observation which he would presume ‘ to melte on the practice of the Judges in giving judgments in criminal cases. It was most prepoverous that the Juth.,es should go into a private chamber, and discuss with them selves, without the intervention or pr.:settee of Counsel, questions sometimes of great importance; and when they came into Court one of them should take out a little book from his pocket, and pro: mulgate a point as decided, observing to the. Counsel, that of course they could not be aware of it, because is WIZ, time Judges, in their retiring room, had laid down that rule, or had come to that decision. H e conceived this to be a very objectionable mode of proceeding ; and that in all canes Opunscl should be present, or some means de vised for making the decisions of tile Judges kn own as soon as they had been determinel upon. The A TTORNEY.HENERAda admitted that the opinions of the Judges in the cases alluded to by the lion. and Learned Gentleman, were generally taken by their., meeting in a private chamber; but if there was any doubt cnt ermined upon the question, then it was always the lira:lice to have it argued by Counsel. Hs was desirous to say one word on the quest i on before the Com mutter. He had no hesitation in saying that he was prepared to agree with the proposition of his lion. and Learned Friend ()gr. J. Williams). It was to be recollected that the Judges were b.und to serve fifteen years before they could be entitled to the retiring pension ; and he thought that after a Judge had served so long a period he ought cot to be placed in such a situation as either to be obliged to make a great pecuniary sacrifice, or else to con tinue in his situation et a period of life when neither his physical powers nor his inclinauoa admitted of his discharging its duties in a manner which the interests of the country required. But he (the Attorney-General) had known instances where the sacri fice between the salary anti the pension was so great as to induce Judgesto remain on the bench when their personal infirmities in.. dined them to retire from it. It was now ;imposed to reduce the salary , of the Puisne J udges from 6,0001- which had beemoriginally agrcxl to, to 5.5001. Now, were the sum of 3001 thus intended to be saved, to be laid out in the purchase of an annuity, to aecueru. late during the 15 years that the Judge should continue in office, it would produce more than the sum now proposed to be added to the retiring pension. Therefore, if the Committee were to make tl,p pension 3,5001. they would do less in the way of expense than :f the sum of 6,0001. had been agreed to as originally proposed. He threw out these hints fir the consideration of his Right lion. Friend (the Chancellor of the Exchequer), and hoped they might meet his approbation. 111 J. P. GRANT spoke in support of the amendment. Dlr. WHITSIORE concurred in the opinion, that the retiring ?vision should be 3,509/. a year, and he was sure that great gocd would accrue to the country by its adoption. Mr. PEEL said, that as it appeared to be the very general MKS of the House that the retiring salary should be 9,500/. instead of the sum he had proposed, he must say that he could see no real ob jection to accede to the opinion of the Committee, although he had no wish to make the salaries of the Judges any way immodesate. He thought the House would accept what had past as a proof of this, In proposing the sum menUoned in the Resolution, it was done without any view other than that of the public interest. He de claret!, upon his honour, that he had never opened his lips to any Judge upon the subject. A feeling of delicacy to a person filling his situation would naturally prevent his going into the merits of the question so fully as it might admit of. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought himself perfectly at liberty to accede to what seemed to him to be the gene. ral sense of the House ; but he wished to apprise them that the question was not quite so simple as it might at first appear. There was the cane of the Slaster of the Rolls, the Vice-Chancellor, and the Chief Baron ; he considered there ought to be a proportiousits increase made to their retiring salaries. It would be most con sistent in principle so to act. There could not be but one object with any one in a measure of this nature. and that was to secure to the country that the Judges should not remain in office after their physical powers to sustain its arduous duties were gone. With regard to the addition to be made to the retiring salaries of the Master of the Rolls, the Vice-Chancellor, and the Chief Baron, although he would not require a proportionate increase, yet they should have something above the level of the Puisne Judges, so as to maintain that etiolation of rank which was necessary to exist, lie thought 3,750/. would be as fair a proportion as could be named. Ile should therefore propose an amendment in the next Resolution, to have that aunt inserted instead of the sum at present proposed. After a few words front Mr. CAOKER, the amendment was put, thg the addition to the sum originally pro,•,osed should be t,OOl. hatted of 5001., making the retiring salary of the Puisne Judges 3,5001. a year. which was agreed to. Upon the Resolution, that the retiring pension to the Master of the Rolls, the (Vice-ChaoceLlor, and the Chief Baron, aLould be 3,750/. being put— Mr. HI:3IE observed, that the Master of the }tolls ought to be placed on the same footing with the Puisne Judges, and the Vice- Chancellor, In regard to the increase proposed to be made to his re tiring salary. The Committee had just taken 501.11. from the salaries of the two latter, whereas the salary to the .faster of the Rolls had not been reduced. Besides it did not appear that the Master of the Rolls was bound to serve for the period of fifteen years before he should be entitled to his retirirg pension, and as it was possible that he mi g ht h e a d vance d to the Peerage long before that time arrived, he considered there should be some provison made to prevent hint from possessing this undue a d va nt age over t h e eitharJ Mr. PEEL said, that on referving to the Act ft arrested that a provision was made to meet the Hon. Gentleman's objection ; for it was provided that the retiring pension to the Abutter of the Rolls should not take place until after that Judge should have served fifteen years. Mr. 11U3IE wished to know whether it was the intention of the Right Honourable Gentleman (the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to establish the system that all the deities of all officers in d e Courts of King's Bench and Common Pleas shmild be performed in person, or whether they were still to be allowed to be done be deputy. If that was not the intention of the Right Ilonourablo Gentleman, he (Mr. Hume) thought it oucht to be; for he ter.- cited it was the most necessary reform that could possibly take place. Indeed he would vote any sum for the purpose of pur chasing up all those 'offices, and instituting this most essential regulation. - The CH.INCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that by the two Bills which he ihould have the honour to bring ain, in punt:- ance of the Resolutions. it would be made that the performance ot . the duties of all the offices which were in the gift (Witte too Chief Justices sholild be _performed in person, and the salaries hurl with reference to the nsture of the duties to be performed. But they had no right to make this regulation at present with several of them , because tbey were held by p a t ent ; b ut w h en t h ey s h ou ld fall; n by the expiring of the patents, t hey th ese regu l at i ons w ould ppy to all. Mr. lIUME mid nothing was more likely to do good to th public than such a system, and it it was good to do so wilt regar.l to the Courts of King's Bet ch and Common Pleas, he thought It would be much more so in the Court of r.xclu tiler. He therefor , hoped those obnoxious offices which he spoke of th: other n would be entirely done away with. He regretted the absence of the Member for Code Castle, who was Chairman of the Criminate , of Inquiry into the state of the Courts, as he lived to have his rasp- port to a measure so necessary. The sinecures which existed in the Court of Chancery ought not to exist another tiny. The Resolution was then agreed to. The Home then resumed, and the Report cr the Committee gal ordered to be broeght up to-mistrou. tali 7 bit B PIA Vie thin rrld Div T U! The the Tee ,IPree