The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1826-05-27 00:00:00

HOUSE OF LORDS, FRIDAY, MAT 2i. . a i. I ~~~ 4. PARLIAMENTARY INTELUGENCEC. The Royal Ameent was given by Commission to 112 Public and Nivel* Bd4. The Commissioners were, the Lord Chancellor, the .Earl of Shaftesbury. and Lord Melville. Lined Lowther, bend Clive, Mr. Brogden. and other Members of the House of Commons, brought up several Bills. to which some amendments had been made by their 'Lordships, and which amend ments had been agreed to by the Commons. Amount these was the Metropolitan Turnpike Truitt Bill. Mr. Tierney, from the Tax Office. presented an account of the eapenees meowed by the ails and redemption of the Land-tax du ring the last yew.. lily. Richardson, from the Commissioners for erecting New Churches, presented an account of their expenses for the year end. to March I. 11128. Mr. Mason, from the East India House, presented the annual statement of the accounts of the Company. CU RRENC V. Lord DACRE presented a petition from a person of the name of Morgan, who la the owner of some mines in Monmouth and Waniorgan shires, prayitfg their Lordship" to take came measures to improve the currency of the touutry. The petitioner stated, that using to the late alterations In the currency, he bad not been able so ere employment to the number of persons usually employed by him, and that that Inability did not arise from want of demand. but from want of means. His Lordship stated his regret that the messure respecting the currency had been passed without precious inquiry. Ile had agreed in the propriety of the measures, but upon consideeation he regretted that some other course had not been put. sued. and his regret arose principally from his having heard that there was no probability of the Bank of England establishing branches', as he hail been led to expect. The Earl of LIVERPOOL said the Bank was seriously occu. pied in considering the propriety of establishing branch batiks, and, from all that he could learn, with every prospect of carrying their intentions into effect. The petition was read and laid on the table. MINT. The Eel of LAUDERDALE rose to give notice of his inten tion, esti, ii the next Session of Parliament, to move for an in. spiry into the present state of the Mint. lint lendehie's object was to ascertain whether it would not be desirable to establish a free mint in silver as well as in gold. He could not see why the blint of this country should not conform in its regulations to what was the system of all the rtstions of Europe. WEST INDIA PROPERTY. Lord DUDLEY and SVARD presemed a petition from the merchants of Liverpool trading to the West Indies. praying their Lordships not to interfere with colonial property without granting lull compeheation to the owners. His Igeolidiip said that the petl. timers dfd not approve of the principle of appraisement which had been laid down by come persons for the adjustosent of slave pro perry. by which the value of the slaver was the only property to be t tken into account. whereas, by the manumission of slaves the value of estates in the coloniec was very much depredated: and his Lord ship thought this a material consideration in deciding the amount of compensation. He would also wish to interests upon their Lord. s'fips the necessity of consulting the wishes of the Colonial Legis latures in any new measures which might be inrredeeed to the Co lonies; but if they should obstinately refuse a compliance with the reasonable soggeetions of the Government, it would then be full time to tetecoercive measures. His Lordship had &similar petition to present from Montserrat, but he feared that an Informality in preparing it would prevent their Lordships from receiving it.—The latter petition was then withdrawn. The petition from Liverpool was read and laid on the table. ROMAN CATHOLICS. The Marquis of LONDONDERY presented a petition from the Catholics of the county of Monaghan, praying to ae relieved town certain disabilities under Which they labour. The petitioners did not call for any discussion upon the petition ; but his Lordship hoped that it would not be inferred from that circumstance that they were lukewarm respecting their claims. As there was such a general opinion in favour of free trade, and for the removal of re strictioo, he did not see why there should not be freedom of religion. His Lordship /mated the time was not far distant when the Calludies would enjoy an equal participation of privileges With their fellow-subjects; and he thought such an event would add to the happiness and security of the kingdom.—Laid on the table. s GREECE. Earl DARNLEY wirhsd to obtain some information respecting the conduct of the French Government towards the belligerent power. of Turkey and Greece. From what he cauld collect, the French Government allowed munitions of wsr to be sent out to the Turks, whilst thee deprived such of their officers as served In the army of the Greeks of half.psy. In one instance he had heard of • French man.of.sar convoying vessels which were carrying muni. thins of war to the Turks. Ills Lordship concluded by moving for a espy of all correspondence received from Briii.h Consuls at Mar seille., respecting thelitting out of vessels in French ports for the g er% ice of the Turks. The Earl of LIVERPOOL said that he was quite surprised at bearing such an extraordinary motion without any previous notice. It wa. a motion which interfered with the King's prerogative, and which could not be passed unless a case of strong necessity silo ild be node out. He had no reason to know that the French had not übserved a strict neutrality between the Turks and the Greeks. There were two ways of preserving that neutrality, either by pre venting their subjects from joining either party. or by allowing them at their own risk to espouse the close of either; and he be lieved that some distinguished French officers were at present en. faaedOrd the cheek cause. He thought the present motion cairn tide to counteract the object which the Noble Earl had in view ; and if agreed to. would lead perhaps to calamitous consequences. , Earl DARNLEY explained,.and withdrew his motion. SLAVERY. ...—. —.... Lord CALTHORPE presente d petitions against Slavery, from several parishes in Essex and Warwickshire. WAREHOUSED CORN BILL. The Earl of LIVERPOOL moved the Order of the Day for the third reading of the Warehoused Corn Bill. The Earl of MA LMSBURY regretted that certain words had been introduced into the Bill, by which it became uncertain what quantity of corn there was in the country, as, under the wording of the Act, the cargoes of vessels that had not reported on the 2d of May were entitled to the same privilege as that of which there had been a return before their Lordships. The Earl of LIVERPOOL would have no objection to ex punge the words, but he feared it would be the Pause of much in convenience. The Bill was then read a third time and passed. CORN IMPORTATION BILL. The Order of the Day for the third reading of this Bill being read, The Earl of !II AI,MSBURY evpreesed an earnest hope that the 'Government would use the power which that Bill gave them with great discretion. The Earl of LIVERPOOL said that he had no difficulty Io airing that he hoped no occasiod would arise to mnke It necessary for the Government to use the discretion which the Bill allowed; boy such power must be exercised according to the circumstances of the country. The Earl of LAUDERDALE hoped the Noble Earl would, in admitting foreign corn, take into consideration the quantity of warehoused corn which is to be allowed to get into the market. Lord CA I,THORPE approved of the measures which had been proposed by his Majesty's Government, although he wished that there had been an inquiry previous to the passing of such measures. After a few observations from Lord CALTHORPE and the Earl of Li vs: a pool., The Earl of LIMERICK said he had before stated, that he was adverse to this measure, and so he still continued. Much of his feeling of opposition. however, was softened by the statements of the Noble Earl, and his understanding more especially that inisters would not use the power entrusted to them, unless urged to do so by the most dire necessity. The Earl of LIVERPOOL said he wished to correct the Noble Lord. Ministers had not said they should not use the power granted them, except in a case of dire necessity ; but that they should not use it, unless urged to do so by such an emergency as in the opinion of every reasonable man would folly justify them. . . The Earl of LIMERICK said that erns what he understood. though he might have conveyed his weaning in rather a bungling niannes. The Bill then went through the Committee, and was reported without soy amendments. CURRF:NeV. On the motion that thekeut ";t '' the Committee to inquire into the eapetiiency of making any alteration in the Scotch currency be Lid nn the table._ flie Earl of CARNARVON said, • petition which had been presented this evening was • sufficient proof of the evils which resulted from altering the currency. Alioisters had found, after instituting inquiry, that, in reference to Scotland, it would be better not to place the currency of that country on the same foot ing with that of England. He had no doubt the proposition in referenze to Ireland would be found equally vague. If they had taken the same time to inquire into the currency of England, his opinion was, that they would have come to the same practical conclusions. One thing that he had formerly stated turned out to be true ; which was, that giving the English bankers three years to withdraw their one.potind notes would throw almost the whole 1113117 out of circulation. The result of this was, that they now had • contracted currency. • The Karl of LI%'ERPOf)I, said, as respected Scotland and Ireland, it was nut intended to introduce any new legislative mea sures this Session. Ile admitted lie had thought it desirable to place the cureney of these two countries on the same footing with that of England, and he still retained that opinion. As respected Scotiattd,'he felt no difficulty in saying, that circumstances had recdused it more advisable to abstain ; but it was his opinion, and the opinion of at least some of the Committee, that if a paper eir:ulation of small notes in either Scotland or Ireland could he with safety maintained, it was because we had a me allic circula lido an England. which woula mist the principal difference grow ing out of the exchanges to the Briti►h empire with all parts of the world. The Earl of CA 6kIIL4RVON said a few words in reply. The motion wan then agreed to, and their Lordships adjourned at Peru) o'clock 1* 10-morrow (tine day)• HOUSE OF COMMONS, FRIDAY ' MAY M. At three o'clock tby Speaker wax yummoned to attend at the 1100.: of ',only. to .b r the Royal Assent given by commission to sivr:4l 5111 a (for which see Lord's' Report). COMMERCE. A Copy of the Convention of Navigation and Commerce entered into between his Majesty and the King of Nurorsy and Sweden weu laid on the table. _ -.....- ADJOURNMENT. Mr. CANNING moved that the House at its rising do adjourn to %Wednesday next. Sir ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL moved that a petition which he presented on a former night should be printed. MR. LATOUCHE. Mr. DAWSON said he was desirous of correcting a mistake which had appeared in a statement of the proceedings of the House, In the usual way in which they went forth to the public. Some day last week a petition, from a gentleman of the name of Latouche, hid been presented. and an error occurred In represent ing what had been uttered by him (Mr. 11).) on that occasion. The misconception was probably caused by the low tune of voice in which he spoke. and by the confusion which then prevailed. Though unacquainted with the individual himself, he was in. timate with several of his connexions, which were highly re spectable. He was supposed to hare given as his own opinion, that 3lr. Latnuelie was in the constant habit of getting drunk, foul of committing all kinds of nonage* when in that state..and that tie fre (plena, transgre.sed the rules. What he (Mr. D.) then state d w a s read from an affidavit of Mr. Jones, the Marshal of the King's Bench, In reply to the petitioner's charges. The heti which lie had mentioned were derived entirely from the substance of the affidavit, and did not involve any expression of his own sentiments. As to breaking the rules, it appeared that Mr. ',atomse had never bean beyond the precincts. The observation which occasioned an allusion to the rules was general, and in answer to a question from the Honourable Member for Montrose (Mr. flume), and not in tended to apply to the case of Mr. Latouche. RELIEF OF DISTRESS. Mr. GRATTAN presented a petition from the operatives of the dry of Dublin and its vicinity, praying that, as ft-r as it could be effected, the supply of store* requisite for the tromps stationed in the barracks in and near that city should be furnished by the petitioners. After some obseir-'stions of the Hon. Gentleman, call ing on the Government to adopt effectual modes of relief for the distress of the people of Dublin, in which city the system of poor rates did not prevail. the petition was ordered to he printed. CATHOLIC EMANCIPATION. Mr. GRATTAN presented • petition from the Colluding of the county of Monaghan, for the removal of the political disabilities which affect their holy.—Ordered to be printed. WESTMINSTER IMPROVEMENT BILL. On the motion of Mr. BA NKES, leave was given to the Com mittee on the Westminster Improvement Bill to sit, notwithstand ing the adjournment of the House. IRISH PRESENTMENTS. General HART presented • petition from the inhabitants of the county of Donegal, convened by the High Sheriff, in which they complained of the evils of the Grand Joey Presentment System in Ireland.—Ordered to be printed. • METROPOLITAN TURNPIKE TRUSTS BILL. Lord LOWTHER moved that some clauses which had been introduced as amendments into the Metropolitan Turnpike Trusts Bill should be read. This was accordingly done, and the clauses agreed to. COLONEL BRADLEY. Mr. HUM E said he had a petition to present from Col. Brad ley, from which certain allegations directed against two individuals, and considered on a former presentation too offensive to be received. were expunged. The subject of the petition was a matter which affected all officers in the service. Ile alluded to the practice whereby his Majesty, as in the present Instance had been the case, summarily removed an officer, without affording him the opportu nity of a court martial, or any mode of inquiry whereby lie could rebut the charges preferred. if the dismissal had proceeded from the Commander•in-Chief, for an act of mutiny, neither he (Mr. 11.) nor the petitioner would object to that course ; but it wos a great hardship to have a dispute between two brother officers made the occasion of dismissing one of the parties without any explanation. The Noble Lord (Palmerston), on the former night when the peti tion was presented to the House, had produced papers from Hon duras, by which he endeavoured to persuade the house that Col. Arthur was the superior officer. !that, been stated, that in the year 1814, Government had even a commission to Colonel Arthur, but it was strange it should have been so long latent, and that the dia. covery of its existence was only made two years ago, when the trial instituted by Colonel Bradley took place. The honourable Member then read a letter from Mr. Merry (we believe Secretary to Lord Palmerston), from which he inferred that no reduced officer, auch as Colonel Arthur was, could be considered the supe rior in command. In page 30, of the General Regulations, h was also stated expressly that all appointments should be published. On these grounds the petitioner was justified in not supposing that Colonel Arthur was his superior ; and that he himself was bound in duty to assume the chief command. General Fuller had no authority to grant the commission. or letter of service; and it he did so. it was not promulgated, which was a sufficient justifica tion of Colonel Bradley, alto, in fact, was thus compelled by a sense of duty to consider himself as chief In command. A letter written by Colonel Arthur. in 1817, also showed that his'opi nion was that if Colonel Evans had arrived there, he would have been immediately superseded, though Colonel Evans had been appointed by General Conran, who was the successor of General Fuller. A letter from Colonel Arthur to the «'u-office, dated 16th July, 1820, mentioned that he remained in a state of suspense as to his military authority. It should be remem bered that the letter was written while Colonel Bradley. was under arrest. Colonel Arthur wished to have the uncertainty of his situation remedied at the War-office, at the very time when, as it was alleged, he was in poseessien of the commission from General Fuller. In December, 1821, an answer was sent from the War-office to the letter of Col. Arthur, in which it was stated that though he was reduced from the York Chasseurs, yet, that as he was in the situation of Civil Superintendent, be could not be entitled to half-pay. Thus his civil capacity was consi dered to supersede his military claim. The Hon. Member then adverted to a letter from the office of Greenwood and Cox, the army agents, to prove that their sense of his situation was to the same effect. Under all the circumstances, it was a case of great hardship that a meritorious officer, who had spent twenty years in the service, with great credit, should be removed from a high state of emolument and rank and honour, for a compliance with his duty, and only allowed to sell the two commissions which he had purchased, so that he only got back what he had actually paid. It was also a rule thatoHicers, retiring after twenty 'sari service, should be allowed to dispose of all their Commissions. The eighteen years in the II eat Indies was equivalent to thirty- aix in Europe, or, according to the usual rated proportion, to thirty years. For the space of three hundred and twelve days Colonel Bradley had been detained in arrest ; and though he obtained a verdict he could not get the costs, because the Crown was the defender. That was cruel treatment to an indivi. dual who had expended 14001. in endeavouring to procure retirees 1 for conduct which was unjust towards him. The petition would lie on the table; and lie hoped that in the next Parliament some Member would bring forward a measure to relieve officers from subjection to a grievance similar to that which had been experi. mud by the petitioner. Lord PALMERSTON said it was not his intention to go through the details which he had given on a former night, in refe rence to this subject. Ile could not, however, but feel surprises' the series of mistakes into which the Hun. Member had fallen. Ile did not mean to offend that lion. Gentleman, but he could not avoid reflecting on the property which was said to belong to a per. son in ancient times, who had the quality of converting whatever he ' touched into gold. The lion. Member's statements were of a simi. far character, fur they formed a tissue of error. (A laugh.) The lion. Gentleman said that the commission from General Fuller was not in existence when the arrest took place. But the contrary was fully proved on the trial ; and as to what was insisted on the opposite side, that Colonel Arthur's own opinion was that the commission we; cancelled, he (Lord Palmerston) had on the former occasion read a letter from that gentleman in contradiction of the supposition. It was not his wish to repeat the details of the master, but he felt no hesitation in asserting that the conduct of Colonel Bradley comprised acts of insubordination, in consequence of which it was necessary that he should be removed from the ser vice. His removal, however, had been attended with rheum stances of great lenity, as he was allowed the indulgence of selling his commissions. The statement of the Honourable Gentleman, that minty years' service entitled retiring officers to sell all their coninduions, was not applicable in the present instance, where the officer bad hero dismissed fur impropriety of conduct, and the title of claim was founded on contrary behaviour. The allowance for the eighteen years' rervice in the West Indies to which the Honourable Gentleman had adverted, was only appli cable to the use of priest.- eoldiera, anti not intended to comprise commissioned officers. As to the statement respecting Colonel Arthur'elosing his command when reduced to half-pay, the fact was, that fie - did retain the command after the reduction, and it was therefore not requisite for him to show his authority, as it was one which he continued to exercise long after the reduction of the York Chssseurs. The proper course tor Colonel Bradley would have been, to apply to the Military Governor at Jamaica, from whom he could have ascertained what was to be done. The great motive of Colonel Bradley appeared to be, not a regard for the interest of the service, as alleged, but a desire to profit by the allowances and emoluments of the situation. The Honourable Gentleman had alio mistaken the purport of the letter which was sent to Colonel Arthur from the War. Office. The question was, whether or not Colonel Arthur, being a civil auperiatendent, was entitled to receive half-pay 7 The answer was in the negative; because there was a general rule which precluded the holder of any civil employment from the benefit of military half-pay. The case of Colonel Arthur was, of course, Included ; but it did not follow from that admis sion that his civil and military ranks were incompatible. Colonel Bradley was not in actual confinement but for a short time, and the Court gave damages accordingly. The cause of not recovering them was not that the Crown was defendant in the suit, but in con sequence of the absence of Colonel Arthur from this country. As to the power of the Crown to remove officers in the manner to which the Ilonourable Member objected, he would only say that it was deemed by competent judges to be essential to the iuterests of the service. The petition wrs ordered to lie on the table. Mr. IIU3IE said the question was whether Col. Arthur was In military command at the period of the arrest; and he (Mr. Hume) contended that Col. Arthur was not ; for would he, being on half. pay, be tried by a Court M a r t i a l f or any o ff ence w hi c h he might commit, and for which such a course would be pursued, if the offender were really In a7tive military servke ? lie would be re ferred to the ordinary civil tribunal. That appeared decisive. The petition was then ordered to be printed. Mr. S. RICE prearded a petition from the manufacturers of yarn from MAC place hi Ireland, the narue of which we could not hear. THE BRITISH PRESS. ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN. Mr. 0 ROSSET moved that there be laid before the House on account of the sums of money levied during the preceding year for the maintenance of bastard children.—Ordered. KRU P TCY 'Aft% ABERCROMItA Y taunted for a return of the number of bankruptcy cases in which dockets had been struck and certificates given during the last twelve years.—Agreed Mr. 110 IifIOUSE presented a petition from Ellse Bentham, complaining of grievances suffered at the Lunatic Asylum.—Laid on the table. • NAVIGATION LAWS. Mr. T. WILSON presented a petition from the ship-owners of the city of Cork, praying for protection against the injuries which they sustained from the late alteration in the Navigation Laws.— Ordered robe printed. Mr. SYKES, in preventing a petition froth the ship-owners of Klngsvon-upon-Htill, adverted to the evils of which the pet i!ioneti complained. m resulting from the Navigation Laws. By these too great advantages were allowed to foreign vessels in the carrying trade. much to the detriment of the ship-owners of this country. The danger of the system thus acted on might be Inferred from the fact that, in the year 11125, the foreign shipping which entered the port of Bull exceeded the English by 8,400 tons. If we went on at this rate the use of the foreign shipping WOVid Ruperiedt the use of British shipping. In conclusion, the p 41.1- tioners prayed for a reduction of those taxes which bore peculiarly upon the British shipping interest. The lion. Member expressed his own concurrence in the prayer of the petitioners. He hoped the petition would receive the favourable attention of the House, and that his Modesty's Ministers would consithr the peculiar state of the ahippii' interest, which, from the best informatton he could derive,te believed to he in a most depressed state. Mr. ROBERTSON regretted that the House had not hail a sufficient opportunity of discussing the various questions arising out of the statement made by the President of the Board of Trade on a former evening. Ile hoped, however, that during the inter regnum that must mitre between the dissolution of this and the meeting of the next Parliament, Hon. Members would give this important subject their best attention. The petition was then brought up and read, and after a few words in explanation from Mr. Sli . .KES,wits ordered to be prided. IRISH CURRENCY. Mr. V. FITZGERALD presented a petition from the inhabi tanut of the County Clare, agaiost the extension of the Small Note Bill to Ireland. After a few words from Mr. GRATTAN, the petition was ordered to be printed. NEW CHURCHES. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER brought up the Sixth Report of the Commissioners for building new Churches.— Ordered to be printed. ANNUITY ENROLMENT BILL. _ _ The SOLICITOR-GENERA I. moved the Order of the Day for the second reading of the Annuity Enrolment BM. l'pon the question that the House should resolve into a Committee on the Rill. 3lr. DE MAN mid that the HOLM was going on very fast, but he conceived. belore they were called upon to assent to the pto posed measure. some explanatiorr ahould he given by the Hon. and Learned Gentleman who Introduced the Bill. The sOLICITOR-CIENERAI. explained and after a few words from Mr. SCARLETT in favour of the Bill, the House te aolved it>elf into a Committee; and the clauses having pained through the Committee, the House resumed, and the Bill was read a third tune and preied. BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION AT ELECTIONS. Lord J. RUSSELL rose, in pursuance of notice, to submit a series of Resolutions to the House, upon the subject of bribery and corruption at elections. The Noble Lord said he hod brought the subject before the House in the shape of a Bill In the early part of the Sellsion, and as it had then undergone conside-able discussion, he did not now think it necestary to dwell on the details. Many objections had been advanced, which he endeavoured to meet in the Committee; net' as he did not think tt essential to the measure that it should retain the shape of a Bill, he meant to conclude by moving that various Resolutions, already in the hands of Members, should be entered upon the Journals of the House, in the same manner as the usual Sessional Orders. That species of corruption which the first Resolution was intended peculiarly to afiect, was quite noto rious. Fourteen days ass the period appointed by the House for receiving election petitions, and that period was no sooner expired than the voters, in many instances, regularly received their money, and passed a receipt for it in exchange for their votes. The prac tice was quite notorious, and if the House did not interfere to pre , vent its continuance, it was better to say at once that it was just and laudable to sell votes like any other commodities. It was a mere mockery to pronounce such practices corrupt and illegal. whilst it was well known that a majority of the Members of that House entered it by means of bribery and corrupt practices. The Noble Lord concluded by submitting the following Resolutions ' "I. That whenever a petition shall be presented to this House. after the expiration of the time allowed for presenting petitions against the validity of the return of any Member of this House, by any person or persons, affirming that, at any time within 1 eighteen calendar months previous to presenting the said petition. general bribery or corruption has been practised, for the purpose of procuring the election or return of any Member or Members to serve In Parliament for any borough, envie port or place, and it shall appear to the said House, that such petition contains allege, tions sufficiently specific to require further investigation, a day and hour shall be appointed by the said House, for taking the *aid pe tition into consideration, so that the space of twenty days shall in. tervene between the day on which the said petition shall have been presented, and the day appointed by the said House for taking the same into consideration ; and notice of such day and hour shall be inserted, by order of the Speaker, in one of the two next London Gazelles, and shall also be sent by him to the returning officer of the borough, clnque port or place, to which such petition shall re. late; and a true copy of such notice shall by such returning officer be affixed to the door of the town ball or parish church nearest to the place where the election of Members to serve in Parliament for such borough, clnque port or place, has been usually held. " 2. That, at the hour appointed by the said House for taking each petition into consideration, the said House shall proceed to appoint a Select Committee to inquire into the truth of the matters contained in the said petition, and report the result of their inquiry to the said House; and such Select Committee shall consist of thirteen Members, to be chosen by lot, according to the directions, provisions, rules, and regulations, and subject to the exemptions for choosing forty-nine Members by let, contained in the various Acts to regulate the trials of controverted elections, or returns of Members-to serve in Parliament, so far as they are applicable thereto, and of two other :limbers to be appointed by the said (louse, nut of the Members then present in the said Howe; and the thi rteen Members so chosen by lot, together with the two Members to be so appointed by the said House, shall be a Select Committee, and shall Inquire into and try the matter of such peti tion, and shall report their opinion thereof, together with the evi dence given before them, to the said House." Mr. W. WYNN by no means objected to the principle of the resolutions proposed by the Noble Lord ; but though he was always most desirous to enter into the investigation of instances of gross corruption, when brought to the notice of the House, he thought it by no means desirable to enter Into a general inquiry ; because the law, as it existed, and the Constitution, had given sufficient power to Parliament to remedy cases of particular abuse. He was by no means certain that the proposal submitted by the Noble Lord would be a convenient substitute for the existing practice. Under the present laws, it was necessary, in eases of gross abuse, that the House should wait for petitions—the (louse might act upon the statement of any individual Member. The Committee proposed to be constituted by the Noble Lord's Act, too, was merely a Committee of inquiry ; whereas it was now left to the disere. don of •the /louse to call the parties in any cave to the bar, or to order them to be prosecuted by the Attorney. General. The House WAS also at liberty to refer election petitions to a Committee of Privileges, a select Committee, a Commiitee of the whole House, or, in fact, to dispose of it in any way the House thought fit. He did not think that abridging the power of the House in this palicular would he in any degree advantageous. Under all the circumstances, he thought it was a more prudent course to en. devour to bring particular cases of abuse before the House, and to prosecute the guilty individuals; or, where the corruption was proved to have been general, to proceed to a disfranchisement. If any care occurred of gross corruption, he hoped the Noble Lord would bring It forward during the next Session of Parliament ; and if he did so, the Noble bard might depend upon finding the House ready to support him in suppressing so vicious, corrupt, and mischievous a system. Ile should therefore suggest to the Noble Lord the propriety of not pressing his motion at present, but of postponing it until after th e experience of another S ess i on . Mr. W. SMI TH understood that the Noble Lord's intention was, to exceed the period at which redress might be claimed, th e period at present allowed being evidently too short. He did not see that this proposition was open to any serious objection and he gave it his hearty concurrence. Lord .1. RUSsELI, was aware that the several modes pointed out by the President of the Board of Control (Mr. Wynn), might be adopted under the existing law. Ile was also aware that, not withstanding these various modes of redress, a system of general corruption at present prevailed. He did not think the proposed measure very hazardous; for if it was found to be objectionable, any Member in the new Parliament might move that the resolutions should be rescinded. Dlr. W. IVYNN intimated his intention of moving the previous question, if the Noble Lord persevered in pressing his resolution. Mr. Secretary PEEL thought it would be much more gratif) ing to postpone the ccrxideration of this subject than to press it to a division. The proposition he conceived was one of much too great importance to be adopted by the House precipitately on the last day of the Session. Atthe same time he was by no means in. disposed to the principle of the measure, which lie allowed was well worth the most grave consideration. But when he considered the many discussions anti debates which had arisen upon Mr. Grenville's Bill, lie thought the House would be open to a reflec tion of acting without sufficient deliberation, if they decided tor a measure of such importance as that now submitted, without examining more particularly into its details. It was a question, lie thought, whether the Noble Lord's principle could be carried fully into elfeet, if It was not embodied in an Act of I'arliament. If this was the case, it was much better to wait rather than hasten oa a measure of such grave importance. Mr. WA RIM thought his Noble Friend was hardly treated. %Mien he brought down a Bill, lie was advised to submit a Reim. lution ; and when he proposed a Resolution, he was told he ought to have embodied it in a Bill. He agreed with the blight Hon. Se cretary, that the principle which the proposition Involved was Well worthy of consideravinn. The present proposition, however, wu only intended to prolong the time at which petitions should be re ceived in cases of bribery and corruption at elections ; and he was at a loss to know what serious objection could be urged against such a proposition. The Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Wynn) had re ferred to Orampound, which was disfranchised after a hard strug gle ; but the (louse must be aware how very rarely a case of such gross corruption as that at Granipound could be submitted. Vet it could not be denied that corrupt practices generally prevailed. If the Right lion. Gentleman meant to say that the House might proceed at any time to inquire into the allegations of an election pe tition, his Noble Friend's proposition was anticipsted ; but he(Mr. Warre) was not aware that this was the existing law. The exten sive system of corruption that prevailed, however, was notorious, and, until it vita checked, Parliamentmust be considered as sanc tioning those corrupt practices. Mr. W. WYNN explained. We sndentood him To say, that the practice of not receiving election petitions after fourteen days, was one adopted for the convenience of the House, rather than as involving any principle. Under the proposed Bill, no petition to set aside an election could be of any avail; it only affected cases of individual corruption ; and under the present practice, a juriedie. Lion existed in the House to punish bribery or corruption, when it was proved to have taken place. Lord MILTON said, that if he undflstood right, every election petition under the present practice. must have re ference to the teat of sonic individual Member ; but those pe titions were not at all in allusion to instances of general corrup tion, which his Noble Friend's Bill was intended to affect. The prestnt period of this Session of Parliament appeared to him to be precisely the time at which it would be most useful to pass Resolutions of this kind. If the House were to reserve itself till i the next year, he was afraid that the boroughs in which illegal prac ticesexisted, would, upon falling under the jurisdiction of the House for any malpractices at the ensuing general election, hay: reason to complain of not having had notice of the purpose of any legislative enactinert by Parlitmem, and that they had fallen into the trap in ignorance. Ile did not mean to say that that would he an argument to stop turiceedinge against such boroughs, but he certainly thought it would be an argument to induce persons to look at the practicer of those boroughs with a more lenient eye than they would if the Resolutions now proposed were to be adopted by the present Parliament. Mr. G. LOCKHART would not object to any measure that was caledlated to put an end to the illegal practices that prevailed at elections. but be thought the wording of the Resolutions might be amended ; especially as to the practice of giving money to voters after Cu election was over, though such a proceeding might not be traced to the Candidate himself. Mr. BROUGHAM thought his lion. and Learned Friend could not mean to deny that the practice to which he had referred, that of giving money to voters after the election, thollgh unconnected with any previous promise, was illegal and corrupt. He was sure his Hon. and Learned Friend did not mean to support so very dan gerous a proposition. There could not be the slightest doubt but that such tat act was full of corruption, though unconnected with any previous promise But although he had no manner of doubt i that such a gift was an act of bribery, yet it would be a matter of evidence whethee it could be connected with the Member. so as to deprive hint of the benefit of that person's vote to whom the money was given. Ile could not help agreeing with his Noble Friend, the Member for Yorkshire, in the opinion he had expressed of the great propriety of passing these resolutions this Session. If the sanction of this House were given to these resolutions, lie should not despair of a very great practical good being done at the ap proaching general election. They were in a very delicate crisis at the present moment. The machinery of corruption was now be. ginning to work. The forces of bribery were gathering together; various were the methods now about to be resorted to, and nu. inerous were the iustrumenu that were in the act of being forged,to effect the objects of corruption. He looked with very great con fidence, indeed, to the expression of the opinion of this House as to such practices ; and had no doubt that it would be an effectual in terruption of those proceedings which were now taking place in all quarters, arid would operate as a still further interruption of them when the elections should begin. He therefore adjured every Hon. Gentlemamas he valued his own interests (anti this he thought was a pretty powerful motive) to give his vote this night for these reso lutions, assured, as he well might be, that it would be the means of preventing those engines of corruption from being used thereafter against himself. Mr. 111331 E said he would, as an argument why the resolution ought to pass, read a letter which had been written by a person belonging to a certain city, stating that the Corporation was pre. pared to receive a candidate for the next election, provided one would make his appearance, and was disposed to expend 30001. (Hear ! and laughter.) That had been the regular price, said the writer, for the last 21 years. Each elector received U. for his vote, which amounted to 2,5001., and the other 5001. was for expenses. When such proceedings as these were so openly . avowed, the House would be neglecting its duty if it did not seek instantly to suppress them by some adequate and effective measure. Mr. HUDSON GURNEY would support the previous clues lion, because he considered all each Resolutions as perfectly futile and inoperative. Mond cries of " Heart") There was not an lion. Member whom he had now the honour to address, who did not know that every Member who had a seat in Parliament, either in meal or in malt must pay for it. (Loud cries of Hear, hear, from all parts of the House, and much laughter.) If the Noble Lord (Russell) undertook the question of bribery, he (Mr. H. Gurney) hob tsl the Noble Lord would attempt to make the Bribery Laws altogether more reasonable and more precise than they were at present. He believed it totally impossible for any person what. ever to be returned fur any great place without committing a thou• sand things which were infractions of the law as it at present stood. If they entered upon the subject of these laws at all, they were b)und to make them simple and intelligible s at present it was im possible to know what was bribery anti corruption, and what was not. Mr. Alderman WOOD could not but notice the extraordinary assert' n of the Hon. Member for Newtown (Mr. 11. (Gurney), who had stated that every Member in that House must pay for his seat either in meal or in malt. Now he would tell that lion. Member that for the three times which he (Alderman Wood) had been re turned to that House by`the citizens of London, he never had spent one shilling, not even for the convenience of a hackney coach. He had not even paid for a bowl of punch a thing which he dared to say was perfectly well understood by the Hon. Member who had spoken so freely to-night, and whose speech did not do much credit to his borough of Newtown ; the voters In which, he (Al derman Wood) could not but conclude, fixed their prima pretty highly. Sir ROBERT WILSON also solemnly declared that he had never paid a farthing to any voter of the borough of Southwark, for which he had been returned a Nlember twice to Patliament, for their vote, either directly or indirectly. With regard to ilte Reso. lutions before the House, he felt it was their duty to pass them, in order to show that they were honestly bent upon endeavouring to prevent, as much as possible, all those practices which had long been a source of odium towards the present system of represen. tatlon. Sir M. W. RIDLEY rose to throw out a suggestion to the House, by which they might avoid prolonging this discussion. It was, by every Hon. Member who felt the injustice of the observe. lion, and the mistake into which the lion. hlember for Newtown had fallen, voting (as he should) for the Resolutions. This would at once be expressing their sense of the injustice of the accusation, and be the means of saving the House a long discussion. General GASCOY NE considered the accusation of the lion. Gentleman (Ylr. 11. Gurney) to he as much against the electors as the elected. For himself he could say, that he had been six times elected for Liverpool, and solemnly declared that he never, either in meal or in malt, had been called upon to pay the voters. Mr. FYSSIIE PALMER wished his Honourable Friend (Mr. El. Gurney) would attend the Snowball Society (laughter) at Reading, which met every Tuesday. He (Mr. F. Palmer) should be most happy to give him a lesson on the purity of election, which he had no doubt would induce his Honourable Friend to alter his opinion as to the manner in which elections were io some places conducted. Mr. T. NV! LSON said there was not such a thing understood in the City of London as bribery and corruption. But he had at the same time no doubt that it was very possible that persons might render themselves liable to the existing laws upon that subject. Mr. 11. GURNEY explained. What he meant to say was, that according to the present state of the law no man knew whether he was acting legally or illegally. The Honourable Member was proceeding to make other observations, when he was interrupted by cries of "Spoke!" " Spoke!" Mr. P. OR ENFELL gal::: his cordial support to the Resolu. tions of the Noble Lord, which he thought went to strike at the root of practices which were not only detrimental to the interests of the country at large, but highly incurious to the character of that House without being at all conscious of it, so exten s i ve an d doubtful were the words of the different statutes relating to it. Lord J. RUSSELL, in reply, returned his very sincere thanks to the lion. Member for Newtown for having made so effective a speech in favour of the Resolutions. No stronger argument could be urged for the necessity of passing those Resolutions than the Met that the lion. Gentleman had found the practices which those Resolutions condemned so very common, that he conceived them to be quite universal, Although it might be possible that the terms of the Resolutions might be improved, yet he considered their be. ing passed this Session of so essential importance, that, defective as they might be, lie should feel it his ditty to press the House to a division, as he thought they would serve as a warning to those electors who were about to receive their five and ten guineas, that by doing so they were pursuing an illegal course. Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and a division took place on the amendment, when the numbers appeared to be— For the previous question 62 Against it 62 The numbers being even, the SPEAKER gave his casting vote against the previous question, thereby deciding the question against inisters. On our return to the gallery, the SPEAYER was putting the Re. solutions sr, lathy,. On the second Resolution being put, 3lr. W. WYNN said it was tint his intention to oppose the Re solution, but he would submit whether the course pointed out by that Resolution would not be inconvenient to the House, and wile. titer a Inure general declaration of their intentions would not be bettcr. Mr. BROUGHAM was happy to hear the declaration of the Right Hon. Gentleman, that it was not his intention to oppose the Resolutions, and he (Mr. Brougham) trusted that that declaration and the Resolutions would go forth to the country, and make an impression on the minds of the public, that as far at least as the opinion of the present House went, there was but one tiverniina. Lion as to the illegal practices that were pursued at elections ; and that was, to unite heart in hand in taking the most rigorous and severe measures for detecting and punishing every species of bri. bevy and corruption at elections. Mr. W. IVl'NN—lt was only for that reason that be thought some more general declaration to that effect would be much better than the precise manner In which the present R,-so:ution couches, The several Resolutions were then read and agreed to. SEAT-SELLING. Lord J. RUSSELL said that a few dap ago he presenter! petition from a gentleman named Day,complaining of a stat in p„ liament for the Borough or Tralee, in the county of Kerry, b ei , • successively sold for a family provision. The pe t i t i on stated n.,11 In 1793 an agreement was made between certain patties, sod ed„,„, - was introduced into a marriage settlement, that a rest for Borough in Parliament should be sold from time to tiirie, in sole to make a provision for the younger branches of that man! ; Petition should s; The seat had, accordingly, from time to time. been sold, and money arising from such sales had, up to 1819. been invested the public funds, for the bentdit of the % • yellows," as the party designated. The Eames of the individuals making the a freeen , that the it be ad—ot er , * was mentioned in the petition ; and one of them, it appeal afterwards become a Juege in Ireland. The seat had b e ", twice since 1819. He hid foreborne, on account of the n a va,. printed; teee but he EMIGRATIGN._ b fo e r g m gm er acaa n itooomtnlymet Mr. MAXWELL, presented a petition from the Inhabitants sr Burtenshaw, in Itentrewaltire, praying for Parliamrntary r d, er - for a grant to enable them to emigrate to the ll.ittsh t•ri:ite! merits in North America ; that an allotment of land be ants,/ them ; and that, if the latter prayer of their petition should g granted, they wished to be sent to the neighbourhood of the kw ment which was formed by the manufae•urera who went from the :: borough in Md. The honourable Gentleman supp orted prayer of the petitioners by bearing testimony to their gr eet teemed condition, and to the great forbearance and patienc e , b , they had uniformly shown under their sufferings, lie wished know of the Right Honourable Gentleman opposite whether t 6L s was any reason to hope that either of the requests male by tp e titioners would be granted by his Majesty's Government ? Mr. Secretary PEG!, said that with regard to the first to m ., of the Honourable Member, he could say that it wan tention of his Majesty's Government to propose any vote of tarry for the purpose of relit. With respect to the second questi on, to whether it was in the contemplation of Government to pr o ; o 7, to Parliament a grant for giving facility to emigration, h eeeekt only state, that it was a subject which had occupied the etteetim of Parliament, and that a Committee had been appointed to re% skier what ought to be done respecting it. Tliereport pt thattog. miner had been brought up this day, but he had not had Sr op pr . tunity to read the evidence, or the recommendations contained is the report, so as to enable him to say anything positively of tpe subject. The petition was then brought up, read, and ordered is printed. Mr. HI/SKISSON then moved that it be referred to the Cam mittee.—Ordered. SCOTCH AND IRISH CURRENCY. Mr. Secretary PEEL, brought up tire Report of the Cornicing appointed to inquire into the present Banking System in Scotland and Ireland. On the motion that the Report be read, „..... M - . TIERNEY rose and said, as this was the lut act lAA the House had taken in pursuance of the system recommended by nis Majesty at the opening of the present Session of Yet Maroon, he was desirous of availing himself of this opportunity to state his opinion upon the transaction, that had taken place relative to that new system. The House would bear in mind that they were re. commended by his Majesty's Speech to take such steps's o oKi k put the currency of the country upon s more solid and permanent footing. In consequence of that recommendation several no s . sures had been brought forward by his Majesty's Gnap ft , merit, all of which would be in the recollection of the flow. The principle upon which he underatood Lord Liroat to have acted, with respect to those measures, was this. Re '3le Tierney) took it chiefly from the letter which was signed he him and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and sarha so a by them to the Bank of England. Whatever might be hit opinion of that letter in other respects, it certainly very clearly explained the grounds upon which it was recommended tint:. House and the country to adopt those improvements which se t proposed. It was stated in this letter, that however much the recent distresses might have been aggratated by incidenulv4 particular measures , yet there could be no doubt that the principal source of it was to be found in overtrading. Whether he agreed to that proposition was another question, which it was not necessary now to enter upon. But to the following part of the letter he did agree, that whether overtrading was the cause of the distress or re, it had been encouraged, fostered, and supported, by the agency et the country banks. The remedy proposed by Lord Liverpool as this,to get rid in a limited timeof all the listed 9/.country hank soot But it was stated that that measure by itsclf would not be a soil. cient remedy, and therefore it was suggested that, with the concur. tenet of the Bank of England, some arrangements might be woe to permit the establishment of banks with more than sic parinen. He hoped the House would recollect that nothing could equal the vigour with which Lord Liverpool set about the execution of his plans. Not a moment was lost in stopping the issue of stamps. He did not blame Ministers for their despatch in that instance. but after that order had been sent to the Stamp Office to cut °lithe advance of stamps, the next step taken was to bring in a Bill to prevent the issue of small notes In 11;29. On this occasion des was a great variety . of opinions ; but he, for one, did think that Ministers were acting on a soun system, in endeavouring to stn. blish a metallic currency, and he accordingly gave them his vote. The situation in which lie was then placed was ore of great ditii. culty, because he seemed to oppose men of the greatest respect/dn. lit' and experience; but so convinced was he of the rectitudeof the principle he acted on, that if the same circumstances were again to occur, he would vote as he did before. All went on smoothly then, until it was proposed by an Hon. Gentleman (who was cot then in his place) that the measure might undergo some mitigation in favour of the Bank of England. He (Mr. Tierney) did not approve heartily of the alteration, but, however, lie still continued to support the measure; and if the Bank really meant well, and would supply only such a quantity of paper as would till up the vacancy left by country Bank notes withdrawn from circulation. he was nut much to blame ; but having the impression on his mind—. an impression originating in experience —that the BanksofEngload would endeavour to push cut their notes, he thought that a great part of the advantages of the measure were done away with by that alteration. All went on well, then, until they came to Scotland; of Ireland he would say nothing, because there was nothing con clusive with respect to that country, in the report ; but with Scat. land the case was different. The'effect of the projected ;UMW! was so great, that since the rebellion in 1745 there had not been such convulsions • felt in that country. (Laughter.) All the Gentlemen, too, from that country, except one, hailed sith acclamations the measures of Ministers. Nothing could ea. teed the cheerfulness with which they promoted the measure except perhaps the firmness, or even tie obstinacy, with which they resisted its application. More petitions came from Scotland, and a greater hubbub was created there, than lie ever remembered OD former occasion. Ile hoped at that time that Ministers were acting on a steady system ; but he was sorry to find that they had no sys tem at all, and were only acting on expediency from day to day: that was fully proved, when on the last day of the Session a report was brought up, which admitted that the principles of currency In Scotland are different from those in England. For, what were Lord Liverpool's principles ? That in England gold ahoold drive out paper; but that in Scotland paper should drive out gold. With re. specs to Scotland an inquiry was set on foot ; with respect to Eng land there was no inquiry. In Scotland, the respectability of tbe na tional character, anti the regularity of their dealings, seemed to throw a sort of sanctity over the banking system ; but in England mea sures had been adopted to put down that system, w hich were seemly telt throughout the country. When early in the Session meson had been introduced, which couched the currency in the most tender part, lie was aware of the inconveniences which resulted front them, as well as from those arising from paper circulation; harsh measures had been applies to the latter; but Scotland found that she had • right, and by dint of menaces stilt persevered in her system. I'lle grounds of the defence were. that Scotland had foe a long series of years acted on a system excluding the precious moss from circulation, and that this conduct had Lecn attended with much advantage to commerce. IVith respect to the long conti nuance of that system, he thought it no good argument ; time and circumstances had operated. Scotland was not now what she Wll6 formerly ; what might be tolerated or expected in a rising COW , try, might become an outrage in a country as mature and flourish ing as our own. There was no country in the world (and he was glad to ray it) which had made, within, the last thirty years. 0 great a proper; in wealth and p asperity as Scotland. He'beaered that the prosperity of Scotlan d was the prosperity of England, and he hoped that the people of Scotland were not indifferent to the prosperity of this country. Scotland had derived great ndranothe from the Indian trade. One witness had stated the amount of wealth arising from the banking system ; but let him titan. alp ibe wealth poured into Scotland from India. and compare it with what resulted solely from the system of cash credits. It was part of Lord Liverpool's plan, to enlarge the number of partners in this country, in order to assimilate its banking s y s tem with thatof_. Scotland. But why was not that scheme of assimilation pen:sten in 1 It was replied, that it would totally destroy the Scotch cur rency. The whole circulation of Scotland was paper, and all the capital of the Scotch bankers was profitably employed in bond”' It he were a Scotch banker, he wergild no doubt be as glad so 0" to maintain so advantageous a system. 't he whisk system of ls•Pst circulation had its origin in cash credits. Now he would state w wa h n a t t e r a ose a u C al a i 0 1 f C . T n e o d n i t e s y _ w s e u re p . rose llf o a ne m h a u n n , d7 bc oa ginnine the world. friends who would be secttriiies for hint to that t rm ulgi6 ount " , heal had ht draw on the banker for any portion of that one hundred pounds, and pay back any port of it when lie pleased, interest being charged only for the sum which he actually had. Thin worn of cash credits, as it gave rice to indefinite demards on the the bankers, necessarily excluded a nietallk circulation from Scatland. If a man in the course of business received ten sovereigns. or guineas, and paid them Into the bank. he world afterwards receive for them ten promissory notes. Cash credits es' eluded gold Iron' Scotland; and if the evidence were correct, the pre. sent amount of cash credits was not less than nix millions. Another distinction of the Scotch banking system was, that it was moteadsens tageous to those who made deposits in the banloa as they received 4 per cent. and paid 5 per cent. on an advance. That certainly was a great advantage to those living in Scotland ; but lie could rot tee why a man should have those advantages because lie need in :Foote land. This country was a loser by allowing such advantages to is neighbours. In a rising country,, he would shut his eyes to such an advantage ; but advanced, as Scotland had been, by the union with Ergland, he thought it inatipnortable. It had been said that such a system could not exist in England ; hut he had heard that very day that it did exi s t. H e was i n f orme d that morning that nothing was more usual than for a man of respectable OW. racier to obtain WOOL on credit from a bank, and to have the in meat calculated to • day. It appeared to him, therefore, that the tnia tha WAS the spi he an cu tee co: no de in ~i