The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1825-03-11 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE. 1101.75 t OF LORDS, TattatariAT, Vale* 10. —• • Mr. Gaskell. from the Council OfSee, presented Copies of all Orders in Council relative to the Export and Import Trade with Sweden. The Duke of MONTROSE replotted his Majesty's Answet to . the Address praying for a Copy of the Etzventh Report of the Com. . miseionen of Charity, with the Appendix thereto ; and his Ma jest) 's most gracious permission that such Copy should be granted. Mr. Brogden and several Members from the House of Commons brought op the Weighttand Measures Hill, which was read a first Wale. Alf. AV hitmore nisei biought up a Private GLEBE LANDS BILL. The Glebe Lands Bill was nerd a third time, and returned to the Counrioni with amendments. ASSESSED TAXES. Lord ROSEBERY presented a petition from the inhabitants of the wish of St. Peter, Coenhill, praying fora Reduction of the Assessed Taxes.—Laid on the table. Baring's and Green's Divorce Bills were read a third time. SCOTCH JUDICATURE BILL. On the motion of the LORD CH ANCELIAM the House went Into a Committee on the Scorch Judicature Bill. Lead ROSEBERY said, he approved highly of the general principles of the Bill. Some verbal amendments were propose/ by ord Al wrivt.r.n, the Earl of LAVDERDALE, and the LOAD CHLANCELLOR. i The Report was then received with amendments, and the Bill was ordered to be printed as amended. On the motion of Lord MELVILLE, the Committee on the Scotch Jury Bill war adjourned till this day week. The House then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, TatUltSpat, 111eacii10. LIVERPOOL RAILWAY. Mr. WILBRAHAM presented two petitions from the Earls of Wilton and Derby against the Liverpool Railway. The Hon. Member presented a simiLm petition from certain inhabitan.s of the district through which the Railway was to pass. The petitions were ordered to be referred to the Committee on the Bill. ROYAL EXCHANGE ASSURANCE BILL. Mr. ORENFELL obtained leave to bring in the Royal Ex change Assuranee Bill. ASSESSED TAXES. Me. GOSSET presented a petition front Chipperiiiarn, praying for the repeal of the Assessed Taxes. Mr. Alderman BRIDGES presented • similar petition 'from the parish of St. Peter, Cornhill. The petitions were then ordered to be printed. RANK OF IRELAND. Mr. SPRING RICE presented a petition from certain Noble. men and Gentlemen of Ireland, respecting the claims on the Batik of Ireland, as we understood. COUNTY COURTS BILL. Mr. PIKES presented a petition from Kingstar-tar.Hull, in Lsatr of the County Courts Bill. Mr. MANNING presented a similar peti:ion from Lymington. The petitions were ordered to be printed. ABERCRO3IBY presented a petition from a Mr. Dawson, against the County Courts Bill.—Referred to the Committee on the Bill. • CATHOLIC EMANCIPATION. Colonel PONSON BY presented a petition from Kilkenny, In .favour of the Catholic claims. Mr. G. LAMB presented a similar petition from Kenmore, in as county of Kerry. Mr. M. FITZGERALD presented a similar petition from the Protestants of the county of Kerry.—The petitions were ordered to be printed. COTTON TRADE OF IRELAND. Mr. SPRING RICE moved for certain Returns connected with . the Cotton Trade of - 'LEITH DOCKS. Mr. A BERCRO3IBY presented a petition against the Leith D BM, After a few words firm Mr. W. DUNDAS, the petition was tred to be referred to the Committee on the 13ilh STAMP ACTS. A prition way presented from Dumfries against the present Stamp Acts.—Ordered to be printed. IRISH PROVINCIAL BANKS. N-. PA WSON presented a petition from certain Noblemen a , ;cattlemen of Ireland, in favour of the measure for establishing Pr,...7 Banks.—Ordered to be printed. MARINE MUTINY BILL. 07 the motion of Mr. CROKER, the Marine Mutiny Bill was retv: A second time, and to-morrow was fixed for going into a Com mittte on it. PERSONAL INTEREST OF MEMBERS IN PRIVATE BI LLS. Mr. HUME rose to make his promised motion on the subject of Me 'them voting where they had a pecuniary interest. He enured the House, that he wished the subject had fallen into the hands of some individual more equal to the performance of the task than fie was. He had looked into the practice of Parliament as determined be the Resolutions of the House, and the result of his research was, that there were on the Journals many Resolutions declaring that MO Member should vote when he had anything to gain. Yet there was no case to which a direct decision was made, that no Member Monad vote in a case where lie had an interest opposed to the Bill. Thus stood the usage of Parliament as far as he could collect. He hoped the House would not, out of any distaste for innovation, re. fuse to meddle with its practice ; on the contrary, he trusted they would torn their attention to the subject, and where they found the laws unjust, reconsider them with a view to their amendment. (Hear, hear.) Such a course he felt was not beneath the dignity of Parliament—it was nth beneath them to look over their Journals for the purpose of altering those laws capable of admitting of alteration for the better, or of abrogating them if gone beyond amendment. There was no course more calculated to raise Parlia ment high in the respect and estimation of the community. and to keep Parliament equally pure and free from challenge, as the other tribucals of the country were. So anxious had their ances tors been at all times to preserve unsuspected and free from imput ation the administration of justice, that long-established laws gave to either party in a suit the rigid of challenging. If then the evils of partiality were guarded against in mimor and inferior Courts, how much more necessary was it that the Parliament, the highest tri bunal in the kingdom, should be free not only from absolute par. etiality, but even from the suspicion of it. It should not only be fre- from suspicion, but above it. The Hon. Member then said, the course he meant to adopt on the present occasion was, to bring under the notice of the House the practice and proceeding". of Par liament at different times, and then leave them to deal with his motion as they should think fit. He assured the House, that in preparing the Resolution, he had much more difficulty to encourter alien be anticipated. Many of the Hon. Members he had consulted on the subject bad expressed opinions and views so different and , 1 contradictory that he felt at a loss how to proceed, yet he thought himself called on to proceed. The question was one which em braced the whole country. The cheracter of Parliament was inti mately connected with it; for it was impossible not to compare the proceedings in that House with the proceedings before inferior trilamals; and any oae comparing them must see an evident sn periority in the latter. The flop. Member went on to say, that so strongly impressed or. his mind was the necessity of impartiality, sled a few days back he felt himself bound to oject to the votes of' certain Members who had an interest in the Bill then before fee House; that course he pursued, although he approved of the Bill and its objees ; he looked on it as a measure likely to destroy a dirty monopoly, and to give the comsnunity at large the ad stm 'age of competition. In eontinuction, the lion. Member stated that there did rat appear on the Journals soy Results an that could La lucked on ass precedent. Before the year 1604 a Mr. Seymour, a Alen:her of the House, had his vote set aside, on the motion of Sir E. Stafford, because he had an interest in a Bill. It did did mit state whether for or against ; it merely says that he was challenged ; and the disallowing his vote was according to former orders and precedents. The circumstance was not very distinctly set forth ; it MSS said that it was moved that Mr. S. walk oft, and that he accordingly did walk off. The lion. Member next ad verted to the case of Sir IL Tarston, which occurred en she stat of Feld'ultre, 1664. No other case in point took place till the year 1797, when a Ball was introduced to reduce the debt of public interest, and it was proposed to give a bonus of five per cent. to the proprietors of certain stuck. An objection was then taken to the votes of the subscribers to the Loyalty Loan, in asmuch as they were interested in the mining the BiU, which was to plate money in their own pockets, and that objection was urged by the hoe Mr. Sheridan among others. Mr. Speaker then de. claret, that he always considered there existed a manifest dithrence between an immeltate interest end an eventual contingent one. After that Mr. Manning, who was one of the persons so Interested, did not vote. The votes of two or three other% were also challenged; they however arose and intended to vote, but finally their votes were rot accepted. That opposition was not succeeded in without earesideratile exertion and work—so far did it go, that a Mr. Ryder declared the principle laid down would ifts to incapacitate any Mem ber from voting on ley question of taxation. The then Speaker declared, that in the case of taxes the interest was merely eventual, and that there the Member hail an interest concurrent with the rest of the community. That de , tinction bet Nlr. H.) thought quite clear, and ought to guide the House on all similar eases. A short time afterwards, a case analogous occurred with respect to the Grand Junction Canal. The next case bearing on the question was that which came before the House in 1911—it was the Bank Note Bill. On that OCCMIOII the Member for Appleby, and now for Thetford, objected to the rotes of those interested in the measure. lie counted their number, and found there were forty-five Bank proprieturs in the ilouse, anti to their votes he made a sweeping objection, Inas much as the passing of the Bill would bring an increasing profit to them 3 they were therefore deeply interested, and, as hecoeccived, disouelified from impartially voting. To that it was replied by 111 i. Manning and other proprietors that, be they interested or not, they had nothing to do with the introduct ion of the Bill; that Hort ni nemt originated it for the general interest and welfare of the COW swanky, awl that they misfit out to be disqualified from voting be. catme they hut an interest in it, when that interest wan concurrent with the mt.:fent of the public. The Speaker at the time decided that, according to the usage of l'arhainent for the preceding three bunched years, the practice wont to make a distinction between iguana.* of tlate policy and merely private interest, and cited it case where Sr. Act Mai brought in to reverse a decree of the Court of Chancery respecting some houses and lands in Aldeate. Meer °mach, a Member el the House, and connected with the cause, lawl his You duallowca ; he was permitted to address the House, ilk:.::: -, MI . but not to vote. There was another case, when a Bill was brought forward for the improvement of free trade. On the second reading an objection was taken to the votes of all Members for Corporations, it was considered they must be advocates for monopoly, and there fore have a private interest in opposirg the Bill; and the important decision was come to that they be not allowed to vote. The case occurred on the 211th of April., 108, and every' Member as he voted protested dm he was no Member of a Corporation—on pro. tesmt . on his vote was allowed. These were the only cases that pre sented themselves to his notice. He was sure the House would duly consult their own dignity and gain favour in the eyes of the country, if they adopted some Pleasure to ensure an impartial con sideration of alt questions that came before them. After some fur. ther remarks, the lion. Member moved the following Resolution : " That no Member shall vote for or against any question in which he has a direct pecuniary interest." Mr. LITTLETON opposed the resolution. He had two years ago brought forwards similar one, and gave it up. He considered the usage as it now stood infinitely preferable to any alteration that could be made ; it had the advantage over the proposed measure ; at present they knew who the persons interested were, and gave an opportunity of challenging them. If the House passed the present measure a Member would not himself subscribe, but would get his attorney to do it for him ; and then would urge the measures in which he had a private interest ; at the same time the House had no means of ascertaining the fact. Another evil would follow front it. Suppose a Member belong to a Corporation, and that the Corporation petition one way or the other, according to the doctrine urged the Member could not vote on the question about which the petition was. The Hon. Member stated at some length several other objections to the resolutions ; amongst others, he said, that many Slembers for counties for instance would dia. qualify themselves from voting, in order to be able to steer clear of the little jealousies and bickering' so collision to the country. The Hon. Gentleman thought it far better to leave Parliamentto itself, and to allow it to cocault its own character, whenever a case came b.tfore it where it would be necessary to interfere. Because such was his view he would oppose the resolution, and more the Previous Question. Mr. GRENFELL thought every principle of justice required that it those who were to profit by a Dill he disqualified, those who on the other hand had an oppusite interest be also subjected to the same incapacity. The Hon. Member complained that while he was excluded from voting a few nights back on a question where he was interested, one of the Members for Drampound had voted, though the saute Member had that day signed apetition against the Bill as a Proprietor of the London Docks. He objected to the Resolution, because he thought hall the time I f the Meuse would be taken up in determining who had and who bad not an interest. Still, however, on erety occasion he was determined to challenge the vote of every Member who had an interest opposed to a Bill. Mr. H. SUM NER thought it better to leave it to the honourable heeling, of eve's , Member whether he voted or not where he was to gain or lose by any Bill. Sir 11. W RIDLEY, after • few observations, said he should prefer that the House come to a resolution marking the impro. priety of a Member's voting where he had a pecuniary interest involved ; that he thought would be sufficient to produce the de sired Meet. It would then be left to his conscience and honour, than which lie could not see a stronger tie. Mr. PEEL then said, he thbught the present was not agitated until agitation became absolutely necessary. He, bower—. would not wish to conic to any decision that might preclude 1 ins from turning his attention to the subject hereafter. At present thee were three courses, any of .sich the House may adopt :—First, to agree to the Resolution moved by the Hon. Member for Montrose (Mr. Hume), which would go positively to disqualify esety 31ern ber having the slightest pecuniary :nterest one way or ti • other in any 11111. Another course open to the House was, to folio* up the suggestion of the Hon. Baronet, and declare its sense of the im propriety any Member would be guilty of in voting where he had Li interest, and leave it to the honoor of the Member, and to his feelings, of what was due to his own character as to how be should act. The third course the House may pursue was going to the previous question. For his own part he confessed that he felt great difficulty in agreeing to the original Resolution, and thought Par liament taught not to be too hasty in doing any th:ng that went to disqualify the rote of any Member. (Hear, heat.) They should use great caution before they agreed to a Resolution that, so far as in operation went, would disfranchise the Constituents of any Member. They were sent to that House to represent and promote the interests of their respective Constituents, and he lever would consent to a proposition that was to deptiye them of the services of their Representatives. (Hear, hear.) In his life he never for a moment entertained a doubt as to the policy of pre venting the interference of any Me nber in a measure where he had a private pecuniary interest; but it was monstrous to suppose a Member incompetent to vote, merely because he had an interest concurrent with the rest of the community, or that such an interest should extend to an utter disqualification. (Hear, hear.) inde pendent of the objections before stated, he had • dislike to any innovation with tho practice of Parliament, and the present mea sure was of that ctmntexion. (" No !" from Mr. Hume.) If there be nothing new in it, why bring it forward? For his pert he thought it bad some consideration of novelty to recommend it. (A laugh.) After some further observations, the Right lion. Gentleman proceeded to arty, that if the House had any thing to contend with—lf any thing stood in the way of justice—let it be open, let it be tangible, let it be within its ken. Such a state of things would be far preferable to having to contend with privacy and conccahnedt. If they passed a measure disqualifying sub scribers from voting, they would drive them to the mean and despi cable artifice of subscribing in the names of others; and they would in the Rouse then be supporting more effectually, and quite out of the reach of any order of the House, those measures in which their interest was just the same as if they had subscribed in their own names. Though such practices were bad, there were others which he blamed more, far mote—he meant private canvassing. (Hear.) That he dreaded mote than any thing else, because there was no way of meeting and checking its corrupt influence. In the case of perms voting who were directly interested there was a etre for the disease ; an opportunity was afforded of challenging; so that no great mischief could arise from them; but he must declare his conviction that great and glaring injustice was often done to the country by the system of canvassing (hear, bear.); and that such a system was practised was notorious. Nothing wiz more common than for Honourable Members to go about soliciting the support of others for any Bill in which they had an interest. Such conduct was resorted to—conduct which could not be ton highly reprobated. (Hear, hear.) Then as to the proposition of the lionourable Baronet (Sir M. Ridley), there were strong and he would add insuperable objections. It was proposed that a resolu tion be agreed to declaring it derogatory from the character of any Member to voce where he had a pecuniary interest involved. lie (Mr. Peel) did not look on such a measure calculated to answer or advance the proposed end. Every individual in the House must already know that to be the case. No resolution of the House could make its truth more apparent, or its impmptiety more glar ing. At the same time, then, that nothing would be gained by it, much might be loot ; for it would lessen the power of the House in interfering, inasmuch as there was another tribunal established by •itself, namely, the conscience and honour of the Members individu ally. The !louse then would allow the private honour of the indivi, dual to supersede its own laws; such must be the evident effect of it, and he never could consent to the House so disarming itself. He would prefer that matters :Mould rest as they were to such an alternative. The Right lion. Gentleman went on to say, that though he entertained the most profound respect for the law of Parliament as it then mood, and though he did not mean to im pugn its propriety, still if he were to argue the case a priori, and without reference to precedent or former decision, he must say, that perhaps lie should not be prepared to go quite so far in disqualifying Members from voting as the resolution of the !louse and their exposition by the former lion. Member went. lie saw, he coofesssed, so many difficulties likely to attend upon their interference, that he for one must give his vote for their pa sing to the Order of the Day. There was some injustice, bethought, in their laying down an inflexible rule from which there was to be no departure as to the votes of Members interested (0 questions before the House. It would put a stop to all improveanents, if they were to declare that no man was to exert any influence in carrying or opposing any measure to which he might happen to be favour able. Since the year 1798, when an attempt was made by some Members of that House to vote away certain sums to themselves, under the name of the Loyalty Loan, and which attempt the House had promptly discouraged, he had not heard of any case in which this exertion of pr gate favour had proved detrimental to the public business ; and looking at the extraonlinary extent Prods*. business at present before them, he thought lie should discharge Ms duty by not tying himself up to a Resolution which must materially retard its progress. Mr. GURNEY said, the practice which prevailed with regard to the formation and support of new soetulations ought. if possi ble. to be checked. Ile knew a Member of that House who bad applied for some shares in a new Company. The application had been complied with,but in •postscript it was stated,thst theDirectols relied upon his best exertions to support the success of the project on all tcsasions. The lion. Person he alluded to, upon the re ceipt of this notice, immediately refused the proffered WOW', and actually went into the market, and purchased the shares he wanted at a premium of SO per cent. (Hear. hear.) It was not to be supposed that this was a singular instance, or that the con duct pursued on this occasion had been universal ; and he, for one, thought an evil so great ought to be visited with severe reFe. henmon. (Hear, hear.) Mr. C. W. IVY NN thought no Member of that House could have a doubt that suds proceedings as Close detailed by the Hoe. Member for Norwich should be visited with the severest animad versions. If it could be proved to his satisfaction that any such proceedings had taken place in any measure now before that House, he should consider it his duty to exert himself to throw out that measure, and thereby provide an effectual remedy against a re currence of the evil; and he tbought the lion. Member would confer a public benefit, by bringing such a case before the notice of the Muse. (lkar, hear.) If a direct pecuniary interest could be proved in any case, so as to leave fair presumption of comipt motives, he (Mr. Wynne) should consider it a good ground for inquiry; but until such motives were brought home to any indi vidual, he thought it better to abide by the old custom of Parlia ment. There were a number of anomalous cases for the direction both of the !louse and its Members in any question relating to private interest!, without having recourse to any new regulation. For instance, in questions relating to a seat in that House, or in questions connected with its privileges, it was usual for the Mem ber to withdraw before a division, although he had been heard in his place upon the subject before the House. In cases of im peachment, too, the Member might be heard in his place before the House came to a decision upon the question. As the same course might be pursued by any Member knowing himself to have a direct pecuniary interest n any measure which might tend to cad an imputation upon the impartiality of his vote, lie thought it THE gRITISII would be better, quiebt now moverit, not to make any new rule. but to stand by tke ancient law and custom of Parliament. (Hear, hear.) If a ease of corrupt motive should arise. he would din. allow the vote ; but he would not consent to any regulation which would prevent a Member from exercising his eliocretion as to how far he could gn in support of a question without being liable to the accusation of partiality. Nothing, he thought, could be more subversive of the spirit of the Constitution as an extension of disallowing votes; nothing so injurions to the interests of the country, as any prevention On a Member's taking part in a debate where he might have an interest. They would, by such a course, prohibit, perhaps, the person best qualified from stating his views for the information of the House, while they commuted a wrong by hindering him from serving his cause in promulgating those views. (I dear, hear.) lie thought every purpose would be answered by their ►eaving to the Member his discretionary power of withdrawing after having stated his view of the question, and lie would therefore withstand the present motion upon the ground of the sufficiency of the ad law of Parliament. (llear, hear.) ltlr. ABE iIf . RO3IBY said, he would trouble the house with • few observations, while he gave the Hon. Member for Mont rose credit for the temperate and modest manner in +ditch he had brought this question before them. Ile could not hesitate in con. cueing with the Right Hon. Secretary for the Home Department in regretting that it had been Introduced. and expressing his satis faction if it could be expunged from the Journals. Nothing he knew was more likely to gain popularity—nothing more likely to any men's minds away with it than an imputation of pecuniary interest interfering with public duties ; but if they allowed them selves to entertain such opinions, and permit an inestigation into the motives of the votes given in that House. they would be ob liged to carry it to such a length that they would render themselves perfectly obnoxious to the public. So long as men were human— s° long as they were subject to 'human frailty, they would be go verned by motives, and he knew of no remedy for any improper acts into which they might be led b}• those motives, but the force of public opinion. (Hear, heir.) It was the only cheek upon the infirmity of human nature. There was no better safeguard agatost evil—no better guide to rectitude than our own conscience, sup ported by the dread of public opinion. If men, having a share of one hundred pounds on one side, and tb t e interests of a bode they have been called open to moment on the other—if men so situated cannot be trusted to their conscientious feelings of rectitude in the exercise of their duty, he would say, in Genre name, let them de part from that house. lie was not surprised at the present pio. ceediugs in that Howe; they arose from that vast Twisty of speeu. lotions which had created an interest so unusual in its Members; but he thought it was very great injustice to say that they were governed by conupt motives to such an extent as Seas asserted. Ile thought it would be inexperie it to form any Resolution at such • time, and much Infer, as he had already said, to trust to the in. fluerce of public onittion. lie agreed with the Right Hon. Secre tary. that they had no light to impose a restraint upon the conduct of Members in this exercise of whet they may conceive to be their duty. The Resolution, if carried into effect, would too much re semble the right of expulsion, against which he had always ex pressed lilt opinion. It was highly unjust to deprive Constituents of the benefit of a Member's services ; they had a right to them for the time they heel sent him there, and he considered the power the House had occasionally assumed as a pool infringement upon the Constitution of the country. If he caul I take the liberty of eug g • ing anything, it wood be gist a Committee should be appointed to inquire if there were any or what precedent for this motion, in older that, if possible. the whole might be expunged from the Journals. One word more he begged to say :—the abuse in the Committees of canvassing for votes, and asking, Whom do you attend for? and whom do you attend for? was one of the greatest magnitude, and which, undoubtedly, deserved the severest repre hension. (Meat.) Mr. S. WORTLEY agreed in opinion with the Hon. Gentleman who ir seeded him, that the Hon. Member for nlootrose had been vtry if. utvised n bringing forward the present proposition. ,If they were to cone it to the Resolution no business could be ear. tied on—nothing could be done without their being continually called upon to inquire in o the merits of the votes upon those which came before them—a pram 'ice which would create a loss of time fatal to all public business. Ile thought nothing could be more scandalous and disgraceful than the canvasses which he haelbenrd of, or the practices which it was said prevailed in Committees; hut nothing, lie believed, was better calculated to repress that evil than the dezaunteneunrn of County Members, whose defy it was, as Chairmen, to set their faces against any attempt to influence the Committee. Mr. LOCKHART said • few words in apposition to the Re solution. Sir E. KNATCHBULL said the Resolution was founded upon the as iumption that public business was carried on in w very cor rupt and partial manner, • fact which lie meet firmly denied. If the practice was general, lie would admit it; but from all that had come to 144 knowledge in is a attendance above stairs he must say that he knew it was not, an 1 that he believed those who supported this proposition knew it. No interference was necessary; for if any parties felt themselves aggrieved by the practice of a Com mittee, that House was always open to any complaint which they might think proper to br ng forward. But lie begged to deny that the conduct of the Committees at all warranted the charges pre ferred against them. Mr. ROBERTSON thought there was some ground for the charges preferred against Members on this occasion. He knew that no new scheme was set attiat in the City without its Directors or Projectors appropriating several hundred thousand pounds worth of shares for the Members of that House; and he thought that these npeculatie its, many of them delusive, received their principal support from the countenance afforded them by Members of Par liament. Mr. lICME then rose to reply. lie had been censured by the Right lion. Secretary for the Home Deputinent as having at tempted to introduce something new and unknown to Parlianient ; but he thought the President or the Board of Controul had satis factorily proved that it was the ancient law of Parliament. The R ght Hon. Secretary, and the Hon. Member for Yorkshire, had said they wruld 'cave this question to the honour of the Gentlemen of this House, while they admitted that practices had been going on of a nature to outrage the feelings. Such had not been the practice of our eeecestors. Judges, juries, and witnesses haul been disqualified by, them co constitutional principles, if they were sup posed to have any lout rest In the questions before them. They did not trust to the effect of honour or conscience, but introduced re strictions which provided against the poisibility of partial influ ence. Ile therefore asked nothing new—nothing unknown to the Constitution. lie was happy to hear that what had fallen from the President of the Mend of' Controul was applicable to those who voted both for and against any measure upon other than public grounds, and that the House must take upon itself to decide the question when fairly brought before it. He had consulted the honour and character of the House in the measure he proposed ; but as they seemed to be averse from its reception, he would not press it to a division. It had been said that he had not acted wisely to try this question, hut he felt fully satisfied with it. He had gained the opinion of the President of the Board of Controul that the House had the authority ro apply a remedy to this evil ; and he had heard both aides of the House disclaim the practice* he complained of. The motion was accordingly negatived. CALEDONIAN CANAL. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that as the time had arrived when the votes of money for the Caledonian Canal had ceased, and as there were many calls for compensation under the Act for lands through which it had pasted, it became necessary to put some limit to the period when those demands may be brought forward, that the House might be freed in some pro bable time from all claims upon that subject. Ile should therefore move fur leave to bring in a Hill to amend and limit the operation of the Act commonly called " The Caledonian Canal Act. Mr. lIUME took occasion to observe, that he hoped the Right Hon. Gentleman, as he was so anxious to protect the Treasury against individuals, would be equally willing to protect individuals against the Treasury—he alluded to the claims of military and naval officers and °trim, which he had mentioned a few evenings ago to the House. The motion was then agreed to. DUTIES UPON FOREIGN PRODUCE. Colonel DAVIES rose to bring forward his promised motion upon the subject of the Duties upon Foreign Produce. The lion. Gentleman began by observing that high duties counteracted the effect intended, and that they invariably lessened the revenue by the diminution of consumption. In his attempt to persuade lion. Gentlemen opposite that a great reductlon or total repeal of many of those duties would be of great benefit to the country, he knew that his arguments would not be met in that spirit which formerly swayed the councils of the Treasury Bench—a spirit which re- girded every improvement or suggestion of relief only as it might increase or diminish patronage; but that those who now fortu nately presided over our finances would hear with attention and adopt with candour whatever might seem likely to bandit the re venue of the country, decrease the comforts of its in . rabitanta, or relieve their burdens. The conduct they had hitherto pur sued deserved the highest praise, and lie (Col. Davies) trusted they would continue a course, which, while it enabled them to rule the people, would at the same time, through them, give them the power to comma' that House. The paradox, that reduction of the duty would increase the revenue, had now been solved; and he hoped to persuade them to profit by the knowledge they had ac quired. The Honourable Gentleman then proceeded to argue, that a reduction of the duties on tobacco, tea, and spirits, would be much more likely to put an end to the practice of smuggling, than the reduction upon wine ; first, because wine was not, from its packages, so easily stowed away for the convenience of the smuggler, and next, because the articles of tea, tobacco, and sprits, being in more general demand amongst the poorer classes of the community, were more likely to create a temptation to that tilicit traffic both in the smuggler and corsumer. lie adduced several instances of die deStructive effects attendant upon the con flicts between the blockade-men and the smugglers, and implored the Chancellorof the Exchequer to put an end to a system which cost the country upwards rat 322,090/. per annum; which en geidered ill.will and hatred, and proved totally inefficient to the purposes for which it was intended. The Hon. Gentleman then entered into some comparative oatements of the duty upon foreign spirits at different periods, to prove that it was greater when the duty was 12s. 74d. per gallon, than when it was 19s. Ile re commended that duty to be tried again. The same, he argued, had happened in the case of tobacco, which had de creased in consumption as it hail been advanced by duties. He then adverted to a memorial which had been presented to the Lords of the Treasury, and read some extracts in support of his opininns. From the tenth report of the Commissioners of Irish Revenue, the Hon. Gentleman also read some passages, and dwelt upon the strung temptations which existed in Ireland fur the smuggling of tobacco, it being almost a necessary of life to the peasantry of that country. So soon an the str.u3gler is driven from one partof the met of Ireland, lie immediately has recourse t another, and unless the coast be hermetically seeded (a laugh), the system cannot be put down. In further confirmation of the opinion that the :avenue would be materially augmented by the measures proposed, the reduction which took place in 1745 was ,likewise noticed by him; and the lion. Member, in conclusion, ex pensed his strong conviction that, taking into account the augmen tation of duty, and the diminution of revenue, there would be a saving of 400.000/. by the adoption of his proposal. The motion which he submitted to the House was to the following effeet : " That a Select Committee be appoints: to inquire how far a di ruin:4.oon can he effected in the duties on foreign spirits, tobacco, and tea, without injury to the public revenue." Mr. CURL' EIS, in seconding the motion of his lion. Friend, amongst other topics. observed, that the great basis of smuggling was spirhs.distilled front rye or malt, and urged the reduction of ditty on those and other articles. The view lie always took of the subject was. that no matter whether the crimes arising tilt of smeggling were called manslaughter or murder, the lose of lifeless so dreadful that a remedy should he no longer delayed. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, if he dif- , feral in principle from the Hon. Gentleman, or disputed the details which had been brought forward by him, he might perhaps be: under the necessity of troubling the House on the subject under consideration at greater length than he then thought at all ramie. site. The Hon. Gentleman did him no more than justice in the course of his observations; but he owned that lie did think there was no ground for taking this duty—Ao he would call it—of pro posirg measures respecting this subject out of the hands of the •.rovernment, and transferring it to a Select Committee. lie did not dispute that a reduction of the duties r.ould have the effect of , putting an end to smuggling, 'and at ths same time of increasing l the revenue. The duties to wine he hail reduced to what they were at a very early period of the war: but that was not the only reduction : the duty on silk was also diminished, and, with teepee; to several minor branches, his lion. l'riend near him in tended bringing propositions before the House. He himself pro posed to deal with spina, and, in accomplishing what was require& in that department, he felt that a great point was gained, that a great object was effected in thus attacking the outworks of the foe-1 tifiew ion. One of the redoubts he had already gained, teem which lie hoped to reduce the citadel itself. With his mind fixed on one ' great object, be felt be should best illscharge his duty 'by objecting to the motion of the lion. Gentleman opposite. Mr. BRIGHT was of opinion that, taking the duty off tobseeo wee attacking smuggling in its strongest hold. The Hon. Gentle man, Rite- relating some eircumetancee respecting numerous seizures of tobacco and brandy on the coast of Ireland, near Dungarvoo, and referring to the Tenth Report of the Commissioners appointee to inquire into the crate of the Irish Revenue, stated a loss by smuggling which the revenue sustained in one district amounted to 728,00 N. To prove the extent to which smuggling prevailed Ireland, lie stated that machines for spinning tobacco were at work in the mountains there ; and contended, that with the facts which were then before the Howse, there was sufficient ground to justify his lion. Friend in moving for a Committee. It was urged that the proposal of measures on this subject should be left to the Chan cellor of the Exchequer, and certainly, though he gave every credit to that Right lion. Gentleman, it 'would be fur the House, if in their judgment it was expedient, to adopt such course as was best calculved to remedy the evils complained of. lie maintained that the reduction of these duties was of sitat importance, not only to the ccrinforts but to the morality of the people, for smuggling was a course of life which perhaps. more than any other tended to sap and destroy every moral principle; it was therefore incumbent on the Government to remove all temptations of this nature that could influence the minds of the lower classes.. Mr. HUME called on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to do all in his power to put. down 'amtigglitig. Ile (31r. Hume) did not want to have more of the articles in question used : what he wished was, that the portion consumed should all be paid for. There was evidence in that vtlume (the 18th itepoit) of the deli. liberate opinion of the Commissioners thht tobieco was principally the object of illicit trade. The Honourable Gentleman then entered info some further statements in support of the motion, and related arcurdetances which had come wider his observation during a re cent chat to the coast. In the vicinity of W signal station, he met several men With casks on their shoulders, and on his inquiring what they cri.'; ained, war informed that it was tobficco. When h: mentioned thislo the Lieutenant at the station, that or icer assured him that the smugglers were in the habit of landing contraband articles, to allure the guard to a spot remote from the place where they purposed making a landing of goods to a much hieger amount. If such be the success of smuggling in England, how much worse must be the state of Ireland in this particular ? One other circum stance he would state, to show that than by whom such, a traffic ought to be discouraged were found thernseives to (tarts ,e of its gains. A clergyman's family were supplied with various smuggled articles, and he (the clergyman) was connected with a company which had been formed for the purpose of carrying on illicit trade. There was no country every plated in such a disgraceful situa tion as England was at present, in regard to its internal arrange ments. After the knowledge the House bad obtained of the pre sent system of smuggling, he certainly thought that 'Ministers were answerable for every life that was lost in the deiperate conflicts which sometimes took place. Another evil of the pee. sent system was, that it tended to degrade the character of the seamen employed in the Preventive Service. If it were looked at in a pecuniary point of view, they would find that during the years 1821, 1822, 1823, the expenses of the Preventive Service amounted to two millions; this expense ought to be avoided. He concluded, hy hoping, that the House would remember that smug• feting increased in the saute ratio as the duties. Mr. H. DAVIS observed, that by the reduction of the duty on spirits, smuggling was not put an end to; but merely driven to tobacco, and would increase. It was clear the revenue would not suttee ; for in Ireland, at a period when the population was two million lees than at present, at the duty infinitely below the pre sent standard, the revenue amounted to 9,000,0001.„ whilst, at pre sent. under tlio increased duty, it only amounted to 3,000, 8 00 1 . In England the reduction would double the revenue, and in Ire land quadruple it. The fair trader was to be protected. Under the present system he was obliged to become a smuggler, or ruin his family. lie, therefore, hoped that Ministers would next re duce the duty on this article. Mr. Alderman BRIDGES was surprised, that among the re duction of duties the articles of tea and tobacco was left untouched. The proceedings of smugglers were as regular as those of any mer chant in the city. He did not wish to take die measure of out the hands of the Honourable Gentleman who framed it, but he hoped his attention would be directed to those articles in order that proper alterations might be made. An Honourable Member whose name we could not ascertain observed, that the reason why Ministers did not like to reduce all the duties at once was, that they might not, to speak in com mon language, let go with one hand before they had caught bold with the other. Mr. HOBHOUSE said, he could not imagine why the reduc tion in these articles should be delayed,' as had been suggested by some lion. Gen lenien. The objection on his side of the House was not that the meatus was founded on false principles, but that their practice did no: tend to carry the objects foe which they were ca'ru wed lie considered it to be imperative on the House, that, as the evil had been exposed and acknowledged. it ought, if possi hie, to be immediately done away with, The House ought, if he might so speak, to oblige the Chancellor of the Exchequer to strike at once at the root of the evil. He would take this opportunity to make some observations on something like a threat which had been held nut the other night to wine-merchants. lie hail stated that spe cula, lens had taken place among the wine dealers, who had all doubled their stock, and proposed to raise the price to the amount of the duty taken off: Now he (Mr. liobhouse) knew that specu lations had taken place, but it was in colonial produce, and perhaps , in wine. but not among the wine dealers. So far from what the Chancellor of the Exchequer lad stated, the whole of them had, upon the notice of the reduction which had been given in that House, immediately sent round to their connection to delay giving orders, and to go on upon their present stock till they could be sup plied axording to die reduced duties. This would hare the effect of Inenging down those persons who had speculated on a rise; and also enabling them to supply French wines Is. ed. and Portugal and Madeira Is. cheaper than heretofore. Mr. HUSKISSON did not recollect the *ads the lion. Gen detrain mentioned. 'What he said was, that, and lie had had it front good authority, they had added to the price of the wine the amount of the duty taken off, and that he thought the removal of the duty might be postponed till the present stock was consumed. lie stated what he then believed, but he hal since received offers to supply him with wine at the reduced rates ; and indeed such nu. menus oilers, that had he given an order to each, he should have had a greater stock than ever he had in his life. Ile thought he might congratulate the wine merchant upon the increased con sumption that was likely to take place. lVith regard to smuggling, he must gay that he thought that that in spirits was much more pernicious than that in tobacco; and the Hun. Member fee Mon trose (Mr. Hume) would have found, had he examined the casks said to contain tobacco he mentioned having met with on the coast, he would have found that they were spirits. Ile did not think that by any reduction of duty they could raise more than 3,000.0001. the present amount. After a few words from Mr. LOCICIIART and Mr. MONCE, COL DAVIES, in reply, said Ise would not press a division, and the motion was negatived. The house then resolved itself into a Committee on ths Fishery Acts, and the Report ordered to be brought up to-morrow. The Mutiny Bill was then read a second dine without opposi tion. The other Orders of the Day being disposed of, the House ad joarned at a quarter to ten. PRICES OF BRITISH Rank Stack Bank fur Acc. 239 3 per ( eat. efwa. 931 Ihtto Acct. 24 3.1 per Cm% 101} New 4 per Cent.. 106 f iTOCKS YESTERDAY. India Bend% 89 90 pm Ditto Acct 2130 251 2110 x.Billa,led.l.ooo/. 33 34 57 pm Ditto, 600/. 34 57 pm Ditto, Small 34 RI pm Lottery Tickets, 19A 19s. PRICES OF FORIt',ION Buenos Ayres Bond* 221 Chilton Bonds 214 1 Ditto Acct. 110 f Colombian Bonds 94 Ditto Bonds 111124) 1,21 j 2 1 j 2 Ditto Acct. 211 1 lj French items lO6f. 2Sc. 1115 f. 75c. Exchange 26f. 10c. Greek Bon& alla 6 L)itto Scrip (I 82) a I di. Ditto Acct. If i f dis sTocKs YESTERDAY. IMexican Bonds 814 a i Ditto Acct. 811 1 Ditto Scrip (1624) n I I pm Ilitto Acct. 3 1 4 pm Peruvian Bonds 1101. Ditto Acct. 88 4 8 Portuguese Bond. 904 1 Russian Bonds UM) 994 4 a Ditto Acct. 954 Spanish Cons. 244 1 4 Ditto Acct. 241 i I Ditto Cons. (1823) 19; i PRICES OF SHARES VESTEIWAV. /ow nAticE COMPANIES. Sl:see. Pala. Per Share. Alliance Brit. and For f 11.00 10 104 Ditto .Marine 100 5 84 1071 115 la 134 204 21 204 40 19 174 3; 3lit 1 4# pin 30 314 Anglo-Mexican. - 100 15 A nglo-C 1111/08 ... 100 5 Brazilian 100 b Chilian 100 5 Colombian, 100 5 Usneral Mining Association 100 5 Pasco Peruvian 100 5 Royal Irish — Rio do la Plata -- 100 5 United Mexican 4O 20 Ditto New lO 5 Welcb Iron and Coal 25 5 GIS LIGHT AND CORE CQMPtNIES. Continental. 100 8 IRON RAILWAYS. Birmingham and Liverpool. 5O 3 Donlon and Northern. 100 1 saiscEit.axtotta. 35 37 84 Di 13.1 11/ 101 11:1 39 - 4 U 6 :4 pm 14 16pm 1/ 7 3 4/ 5/ pm 194 18 3 2a 94 9 23 A 13/ - 14 5a 2 . 1/ 5? k _ Atlantic and Pacific _ _ 100 10 British Iron Company lin 5 Canada Company 100 10 Chilian cod Peruvian Company.... Colombian Colonial Company Equitable Loan Back 5O 1 Gold Coast Association 100 5 Great Westminster Dairy 25 2 Hibernian Joint Stock Company Mediterranean Steam lOU A Mexican Company 100 10 Metropolitan Fish Company 25 1 Sew torn Exchange 5O 3 Pearl Fishery (Yellow) 25 2 Provincial Bank of Ireland 100 5 Patent Bricks — 5 O 2 Patent Steam Carriage Royal Stannary A GREE: mat portion of amount of colon:- 5% B'B 837 10 0 3 1014 1015 1047 ►OlB ►039 1346 11:19 1490 11:4:1 240! 2482 2493 K LOAN.—Pursuant to the condition which des the Contractors of this Loan to puteisse o certain dur Loan of 1824, they . have relearned Bonds to the 20,0K1/. Stock, of whic h the following are the rani- 211 779 353 780 264 811 263 812 236 813 537 814 269 615 270 816 271 876 367 877 371 878 60U 870 607 880 608 881 609 862 610 1193 621 1122 623 18 259 19 260 63 261 162 262 106 263 117 264 157 265 154 266 160 267 161 269 271 173 272 179 271 2tlo 274 20! 306 203 307 !.'O4 30t 210 376 214 :192 216 401 216 45U 217 218 219 4'; Bonds 232 of 3001. 263 each. 11111onds of 100/. each. 6 7 271 39 Unnds 776 of loot. 777 rad'. 773 Elie Orttisift THEATREROTAJ„ DRURY-LANE. tinning. SATNIIIIANf t !Sues It, will De rerforrced PCR FRBISCHOI'Z. Ottocar, the Prince, Mr. Mercer t Bernhard, Mead Ranger. Mr. Red ford ; Hern.lt. Mr. G. Smith: Adolpli, Mr. T. Cooke; Casper, Mr Morn: Killen, Kinsman to the Reid Ranger, Mr. Fltzwill : Usmoft of the Hartz. Mi. Howell; Zannel, Mr.O. Smith; Witch of the Kr. Blanchard. Linda, Mae Gradtfon ; Rho, Mrs. Redford. After which, (24 time) a new Farce, called CHANGE PARTNERS. _ . . . . . . The Princelpal Charaete - ra 'Dy Meeas. M altuti. Knight, and Harley; hit's' Pow/. and /in-Yates. E ATRF: ROE 4 COVENT-GARDE N. To-morrow Evening. SYTUR DAY, Mareh 12. will be performed SIM STOOPS TO CONOVER. Rardeastle, /dr. Fawcett ; Young Marlow, Mr. Jones Tony Lurnykin. Mr. Keeley. Miss Hardeletie, Miss Foote. After which, TWELVE PRECISELY. Amelia Wildlove. Mrs. Chatterley. To conclude with N AIMAL MAGNETISM. Marquie de Laney, Mr. Cooper; Dt etor, Mr W. Farrell: La Fleur, Mr. Fsweett ; Jeffrey. Ur. ideadows. Lisette, lire. Gibbi. THEATRE ROYAL. DRURY-LANE. ORATORIOS. Tbls Evening, FRIDAY, March 11, under the Direction of Hr. H. R. Bishop, who will preside at the Organ and Piano Forte. a GRAND SELECTION of MUSIC. from the Warks of popular and classical Composers, interspersed with some Sacred Piece% Pear commence with Karl Maria Von Weber's Overture to Euryanthe. After which, for the F 4 time In this country, and Ly permission of his Most Gracious Majesty, Weber's celebrated Cantata. called "Kempf and Sits." lit rotrimeinoration of the Ilmttles of La Belle Alliance and Waterloo. It ith Selections from the Oratorios of the 'Messiah, the Mount of olives, and the Creation. End of Part I. • Concerto on the Violoncello by Mr. Lindley. Patty ll.—Selections from Weber's Abu Damian: Mozart's Requiem: Israel In Egy pt; Handel. Peptise), Frederica, Bishop, &e. Between the Second tun[ Third Parts a Concerto on the Oboe by Signor Alvarez. PART lll.—Sclections from Weber's Preclosa and Handers Arts and Galatea; anti from Dr. Clarke, Mozart, Principal Vocal Performers—Mesdames Stephens. Love, fledf,rd, and Graddon Madame Caradorl: Messrs. Brahmin, Dorn, Bedford, Robinson, and flimsy; Master Edmonds: and Mr. Bellamy. The Orchestra will be on the extensive scale usual MI such occm- • stuns, and led by Mr. T. Cooke. The Choruses under the Superin tendence of Mr. %ration. The Dramatic Free List does not extend to these Oratorios. THEATRE ROYAL,FTNGLISHOPERA HOUSE, STRAND, Ommlte Waterloo Blida,. LECTURE ON ASTRONOMY A tethe PHENOMEN of _ the HEAVENS and of the EARTH, To t,‘: de I,rered by Mr. BAII:I3,....on . tht . WEDNESDAYS and Eltf.. D.~Y9duiina LF\T. The Theatre will be constantig warmed by large Stove, In various parts of the House. Tickets of Admission for Famll%a to be had on m 'aerate Terms at tee llok-odiee.—lloors to be opened sithalf-past Six, and begin at Seven. Th031'111,1( PRESS commenced publishing yesterday owning at fire o'clock. LONDON, FRIDAY, MARCH 11, I 523. The Paris Papers of Tuesday bring the continuation of the details on the Law of Indemnity. Before the order of the day was resumed on Monday, several petitions were re ported. Among these was one, praying that the stipennis of the old Ecclesiastics may be paid to them without dimi nution on account of any benefice they may at pres:iit enjoy. On the question of referring this petition for fur ther consideration to the Ministry, M. us CIIARANCEY took occasion to observe, that the right of the Clergy to their confiscated estates was not less certain nor sacred than that of the Emigrants to theirs, which the Chamber had recognised by the adoption of the first article of the Project of Indemnity. No Deputy made any observation in contradiction or reply to this declaration. "No doubt," as the Courrier Francais remarks, " this notice may be considered a fair advertisement to France that the next turn of indemnity will be for the Clergy, and that after closing the 'last wounds of the Revolution by the thousand mil lions given to the Emigrants, there will be found other wounds which it will be equally indispensable to heal with the gold of the nation." The petition was referred to the Ministers for Ecclesiastical Affairs and the Finances. The next reported petition prayed, that some relief should be granted to the children of those who suffered on the scaffold during the Revolution. This solicitation the Chamber passed over, on the pretence that the claimants would be too numerous. The further consideration of the amendment for appropriating the Sinking Fund to the purposes of the indemnity, was then resumed. The Mi nisters opposed it strenuously, and it was finally rejected by a large majority. Two other amendments of no im portance subsequently fell to the ground, from want of seconders. The twenty-second Anniversary of the Independence of llayti was celebrated at Port-au-Prince on the tat of Ja nuary with great pomp and solemnity. The Abbe CAIL -1 lAt's, who distinguished himself for his benevolence to the negroes of Martinique, where he formerly resided, has been nominated by the President ROVER to the charge of eleven seaports in the sable republic. The new King of NA rt.i.s is justifying the expectations of his people. He has renewed, with earnestness, his applications for the immediate evacuation of his kingdom 35 90 110 122 184 185 220 234 275 286 226 337 13 Bones of :kW/. each. I , • . ~~ 1 r * r; 1 •