The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1824-02-11 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE. HOUSE OF LORDS, TUISDAY, Pap. I. The F.a►l of ST. GERMANS took the oaths and his wed. Hla Lorilehip being called to the House by patent, R 44 introdaced the Earls of Harrowby and Santora. TIIIJ CALL, OF Tlil; The House then proceed to ballot for P:cwit, for the purpose of /miring appeals. At the conclusion of the ballot, the order of the Peers to attend to this duty was hied to the 20th of July. STATE 4W lIViI.AND. ...... . The Earl of DAAN LEY retnindiA the /louse, that on the firm day of the Session lie haul promised, a; nil distant period, to bring the present 'meteor Ireland umber their hordships'ininice, should he not be anticipated in that cent and Mira:tont suhjrct by Kane one better qualified to do it justice than he was, lie was anxious to chew their I.ordships that he had not forgotten the pledge he had Made in the last Session, which induced him thus early in the pre sent to draw the attention of the !louse to that ;.,rave question. Ile thought that Ireland had of htte been regarded with more care by his Majesty's Government, and that her situation had partially amended ; but still there was much required to be done. If their Lordships should not lie prepared to go into the full question, ha thought it would be expedient for them to consider if the adoption of another line of policy for the government of Ireland might not be beneficial to that country. The present, he believed, was pre dimly the time to take new plats into consideration, and calmly to: select upon them. It was his intention to submit a motion to their Lordships, on Tuesday, the 211 March, relative to the state of Ire land ; but as he was anxious for the attendance of Noble Lords connected with that part of the Empire, particularly the Noble Viscount who so ably itenniled the Adder's, he would alter the day, to suit the conernimice of those Noble horns he was s. desi. rout of taking part in the discussion, should they wish it. It was important that all the information that could ht obtained on the subject should be laid before the Ilmise. Ile hoped the Noble' Earl opposite would produce all documents that could shrw their I Lordships what had been the operation of the Tithe Bull ; and he should move that a message be sent to the lon ...... for a copy of the Reportof the Committee appointrd by that lloust. relative to the employment of the tinny in Ireland. together with the evidence produced before the said Committee. Ilia lordship roncluded by moving for several other papers connected with the subject of his motion, and that the Peers be summoned fur Tuesday, the 3d of Marsh.--Adjuurned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, TUESDAY, Fes. 10. The ' I ANf 'ELIA /R of the EMI' FA)IIYER presented his Majesty's Answer to the Address, which was received, reed, and ordered to he entered upon theJounisis BANK N 4 )T Es. Mr. fiRENFEI,I. n;;;;;lfrrtiett;iof the Rank notes and Rank bilhi in weekly circulation, front January, 1823, to the latest period, specifying the her and the value of earh.—Ortlered. The same Hon. Member moved for • return of the ripper ire_ pored into this country within the bud year: also, for a stattsuent of the quantity of copper exported. and the name of the ports fruni which the export took I /efferent.. I:1)1{1.111N tiltAIN. 1111. CI YIRTEIS moral, that there be laid before the !louse a return of the quantity of colonial corn, Hour, and meet, at pre sent warehoused in England ; specifying the exact quantity of esch, and distinguishing the quantity warehoused in London front that in the out-pmts.-1 Srderetf. WOOI. Lad LOWTIIF:It presented a petition from certain sheep farms!, m the county of Wes land, against the intr.ltictilm tit foreign wool: also, for a reduction of the tax upon shepherds' dogs. Mr. eI'RWEN supported the prayer of the petition. Ordered to lie upon the table. Lord 1.011" I'll Ell presented a petition from the sheep farmers of the sante district, against the introduction of foreign woollen raga..—lirdered to lie on the table. POOR HATES. Mr. STI IRISES BIM TRbil.: moved for an account of the vari ous sums paid by vestries during the last year, for the support of the poor of the kingdom of Wales.7.-9nlevett. sUPPI,I'. On 'the motion of Mr. RlRXilii;iol, the Report of the Com mittee of Supply II SA brought up and reed a second time. On the motion of the same lion. Member, it waa readved that the House do go to-morrow into a C ' tee of the whole Ilutur to consider the same. ESTI3IATES. The usual addresses fur the estimates ot the year were read, and laid upon the table. (1)M1111TTAl. UNDER THE VAGRANT ACT. Mr. lIITAIE preaented • petition Imm Lotchu, labourer. The petitionet, he was aware, woe a poor man, and therefore colit i l not be considered to posaelus, himself, much importance; but the purport and nature of this petition wire well worthy of the serious attention and consideration of the House, ea they complained of a hegross interference with the liberty of the subject. Th e li on . 31eut r then read as follows : To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingston' of Grim Itritainand Ireland,inyarliament assioidolsal. .. The humble Petition of William Lotcho, Labourer, Sbeiretli,—That your petitioner is a young man, who has been bred up under an uncle as a labourer; that until the lith of last Septamber his sobriety, diligence, and honesty, were never called in question, nor Ina character impeached for any one blannable act in the neighbourhood where he wax born and bard. That your petitioner, on Sunday the 7th of last September, paid a visit to a friend at (laptop, with whom he staid till half past eleven in theevening, when on passing through a thoroughfare, called Angel-alley, on his way lamas tsaErsex-street, Whitt-chapel, he was accosted by a female, who inqUired of him her nearest way to Brick-lane, Spitallielda That while he was giving her the re quital direetitm the watchnisn came up, and charging the woman and your petitioner with an indecent exposure of their persons, took them both to the watchouu•. That your petitioner, on the *ante day, was taken before Sir Daniel Williams, Knight, Justice of the Note, sitting at I am heth-street, il'hitechapel, who, upon the single oath of the watch'. convicted your petitioner. under the Vagrseit Am, tut being a rogre and etgatiomi, and adjudged him (with the unfortunate woman) to one month's confinement and hard labour in the !louse re l orrection, Ihith-lielthe. That your petitioner (with the woman) was acconlingly eimmiitted on the same day to the !louse of* l'orrection, where he was confined until the nest succeeding Thursday, during which time he was daily compelled to work at the tread.mill. In the interval between Mondsy the Hilt and Thurs day the 11th, the Mends of your petitioner, having been informed of his distressing situation, waited upset Sir Daniel Williams, and from their representation of his past conduct and character, he was on the latter day brought frum prison to Imnibeth.street Office., and was allowed, with two friends, to enter into recognisance to pnwecute an appeal against the conviction. Your Prilli4 , llrTN appeal caner on to be !leant at the Quarter Sessions on Thursday the ith day of last Ikeember, when the con. erection wan clumsiest. Your petitioner humbly, but earnestly, Im plores the attention of your Ileinenahle Douse to the serious .11141 C , 111.111111( injuries of a hi g h lie blue to complain. In the first pbecc, your !slimmer odeninle Ohm's that the oath of the watchman was wholly Lase, and a very slight attention to the facts of the case n.ust convince every reasonable man that nothing like intheent ex• Veil re 11)11111 possibly, in such a situation, have taken place. The offence wax sworn to late been cos aaaaaa meal between twelve and one o'clock in themorning, in a narrow dark alley, when the inhabi_ tants had retired to nest, when no window lights were to be sees, an d wilco the moon was only three days old. Indeed, the watchman distinctly adniittml on oath, that but fur the light of his lantern, 1 , . shied.' nut have been :.ble to perceive either the woman or your petitioner. Second—That your petitioner was not left in doubt as to the real motive of his SCCIINT for, as the latter ninveyed firm to the watch. house. lie complained of being allowed no more than live shilling. for all his extra trouble; and your petitioner is well persuaded, that had he posse s sed ten shillings at the time, he and the WOISS/1 nue , ' have gone where they pleased. The character and liberties of British subjects being thus made to depend on the single and unsupported oath of a watchman, who belongs to a class eel mcn, pro•ovhial for their poverty. cupidity, and ignorance, IN 10 reduce Vnglishmen to the alternative of either submitting to venation or to tie infamous labour of the tread-mill. 'Third. -'Phut your pesititmer, although innocent of any offence. ha. hero convicted, and branded with the oil* s character of rogue a, .1 vagabond, by which he has been undeservedly sunk in the esti mat ttttt of those whose good opinion it was his pride as well AN his 1: - terest to preserve. Vitirth--That your petitioner, being too poor to pmaecute an ap peal without assistance, It now indebted to another person in the sum of fifteen pound., advanced for that purpose, for which the earnings of his daily labour are nom.taged for at least a year to conic; while the unfortunate woman. destitute of all peettnisry re *moves, was compelled to work out her month at the tread...MlL . . four petitioner having been thus injured in his character, and ruined in his circum*Linces, without being guilty of offence, handily prays, that your Honourable House, which PI cosiatituitsl as the refuge for the pone and dir oppre***ll, will grant him such re dress and relief as to it* wwlnm and iniden shall item nuet. And your petitioner will ewer pray, Ike. (Signed) W 11.1.14134 LOTCIIO. This was the ~eve of the petitioner; and the Ifon. klenther et:ought it to be a Maner of the highest importance to investigate the various exercimsof sit;liority and the general conduct of Messrs. seesbay, Dyer ' !build*, *oil all those Daniels, as detailed by the public press, for the last live or sis hit as connected with the whitici.tration of the powers vested in the m by the Vagrant .Ict. He did cot undertake to carry the House along with him ; but he would affirm, that in rc.pect to the power of bailing, there was no middle course of proceedinit, as far we the exereise of a sound dis_ e'en ion was required. As an instance of his sastetion, he would feet Ind the House that IMMIC time since a distinguished Prelate was atmOted to moderate tend imme.liste hail; and that, about three day. 'once. some stolen plants were blond in the pororution of a gardener, hitherto of the meat unimpeachable character, and bail 05 the most respectable nature was attired and refused. The !Magis trate declared he would not take it, and to prism he should go. lie thought it of impottance that these matters shoold he known to the Secretary of state for the Dome Department. in whose power and %object to whet,. (wont' eh-se paid Magistrates were, tic tt mig'et it important to the piddle that the extent of sound discie. emsh odd be defined in matters of boil. With respect 10 tins ?vier, everything depended upon the attention 1111141 caution of these Magistrates, and the manner in which they were selected to was ready to admit that, in three or tour cases of tie Act to which he alluded. petitions were Wit Secremert of State, who, upon examination t, devoted it his duty to extend relief to the parties; but In the matter before the noose no each relief was' granted. In the case of this petitioner, three days elapsed, from Monday to Thursday, before his friends knew where he was, or before he could muster the means of making an application for rickets. .1t Se contrived to enter an 'epee to the Quarter Saslow ; pnicexiimi, however, cost the pouf man the sum of Ibt., and to obtain it he was compelled to mortgage his labour fee the next year. At the Soriano to which he appealed, the prose cutor di! not :limn!, I nil he was in comequencedismissed. But as to tie: intrortisn.te woman, she could not procure so much looney, and erns oblihed to remain in prison and at hard labour for the sptce of a month. What system of justice, he would ask, was this ? It was true, there were laws in abundance, but if there were not money to po;chase them, they were found to be of no value whatever. lie hoped the htinging this petition before the House would be productive of this benefit, if of no other, that the discussion upon it would prevent its happening again. Hr had plan.d this petition in the hands of the Secretary for the Home fhpartatent, and he was happy to think, that by this proceeding these aggravated injuries would not in future be committed upon the personal liberties of the subject and the laws of the land. Whilst upon this subject, be would wish to enter into a comparison of the number of persons committed by the paid officers of police, and the Magistrates of the City of London. The number of - rnittals by the latter was comparatively small, and those tried were generally convicted t so careful and anxious were them Magistrates in the discharge of their du i lzid so cautious were they in send ing any persons to those of confinement, where many of them must, of necessity, contract stains which could not be effaced. lie would show to the Cruse by authentic documents, that in the year there were committed by the Police Magistrates 11;52 persons ; of these, 4711 were acquitted ; the number of bills not found amounted to PM, and there were 20 who were not prosecuted at all ; the aggregate of these wee Me. The number of those com mitted by the Magistrates of London in the sante time, was 420; of these, 79 were acs witted • • and the bills nut found were 35; making a total of 114. The committals front the City and County acre 2072 ; of those convicted, there were 135 fined and ilschargril ; privately whipped and discharged, 29; and there were, ' by his calculation, discharged front the Courts, 2911--from Lon don, 114; thus, nearly one half of these comntitted were discharged at the Asides, injured in character, degraded by the committal, and rendered worse, if not totally ruined, by bad example and so-' tidy. Thus it was evident that the great majority was sent by the Police Magistracy to that sink of Iniquity, the Old Bailey. It was therefore 'subject for the most *minus consideration of the Ministers, whilst the country was expendinz large sous for the purpose of improving the moral feelings of the people, and of giving a higher tone to those of the lower class, that such large numbers should he sent to a place of moral contagion; it win, he would repeat. a subject of grave consideration with the Ministers, to select proper persons to fill the situation of Police Magistrates. firest judgment shook, be exerted in this choice, and it it were,' nothing none would be heard of such acts as those lately committe d by Messrs. Dyer and Swabey. lie did not wish to cramp the au thority which Magistrates should have, but it should be placed under a wholesome !heck. Ile did not know what steps the Secre tary of State had taken upon the present occasion, or if he had taken any ; he might have easily directed inquiries to be made respecting the watchman. Ile was sorry for trespassing on the pattenceof the House so long, but he hoped that a discumion on the subject would prevent a recurrence of such circumstances. In the statenorin which he made, he did not mean to condemn the committal of the petitioner upon the testimimy of one person ; this he was aware was not a new pmceetliog. The bill itself was toes pirc next September, and before that time there would be an op. portnitity of investigating it mere at large. There was, as it stood at present, one clause which produced much of the mischief com plained of; he meant that which offered a reward of five shillings it head for those umeriard ender the ifcr. Upon the question for re ceiving of the petition being put, Mr. 111111"se N was obliged to the lion. Member for the courtesy which he exhibited in giving hint a copy of the petition which he had that night presented ; and he would maintain, that when the matter was fairly examined, it would not he found to contain any feature whatever of that hardship which the Honourable 31ember had represented. The farts of the raw were, that upon the night mentioned, the petitioner was deteord by the watchman, in com pany with a common woman of the town. The fact was deposed to by the watchman, and was not at the time denied by the other party. There was no money paid to the watchman. lie did not receive sixpence; there was a discretionary power respecting this vested in the Magistrate. Irpon petitioner s' appeal to the sessions, he was admitted to bail ; and, upon the trial. he was acquitted, not upon the merits of the cause, —din they were not at all examined, — but he escaped in consequence of terrine technical error in the pro ceedings. 'With respect to the female, she was a common woman of the town, and suffered the sentence passed upon her. On the entire rase the Magistrates had no discretionary power. The con duct of the parties was an act of vagrancy, and was punished as such. lie would therefore maintain, that the allegations contained in the petition respecting harshness of conduct were untrue. Mr. I.ITTLETON hoped that certain impressions which had gone abroad respecting the Vagrant Act should not attach them. solves to his lion. Friend the Afereber for Staffirrd, who was known to he the mover and framer of the Act in question. The okjeet of all his labours was, the mitigation of the severity of the old Acts respecting vagrancy ; and, as a proof of the success of his friend, he would mention, that offences, which under the old Act would be punished with tramportation for seven years, were now only liable to imprisonment for two years. Formerly whipping could be in flicted by one Alagistratc ; at present it required the sanction of a Court of Quarter helPlitWlS. And such was the constant endeavour of his friend to mitigate the severity of the old Acts, that in his 1191 he has inserted a clause, giving to the Magistrates before whom the conviction had taken place, a discretionary power Mdiandining the party unpunished, though an actual act of vagrancy had been committed. lie hoped the House would not proceed to a discus sion of the measure until his Honourable Friend, of whom it would not be unjust to say, that he knew more of the subject than others, was recovered front a fit of illness which at present detained him from the House. Mr. PEEL said, that he could not refrain from thanking the Hon. Member for the courtesy which had governed him in the course which he pursued, in giving him a copy of the petition which he had this night laid before the 'louse; but in adverting to this, he must also declare that the courtesy of the lion. Member was near misleading him. lie did not think the lion. Member would have mixed up other matters of discussion. Ile did not think lie would have used the comments which lie had made upon the conduct of the Magistrate... He did nut think that he would softer inure comments to pass without remark. It was pertectly correct that in some former cases he had received unite petitions from persons convicted; and he thus had an opportunity of ad vising the Crown upon the subject; but in the present case he had gavel% eel no inhuman 111 l , and therefore he had no such opportunity. %Vitt' respect to the injury complained of by the petitioner that he was nmileimied upon the oath of a single watchman, whose only object was to extort money, and that, as I matter of course, a watetionen lining proverbial for poverty, cupidity, and avarice, he should not he thus convicted. This he would admit was an ar. moment iwrfectly natural to the persons convicted, but it was not equally PO to the Magistrates before whom he was convicted, and a 110 il,siteel it proper to credit the oath of that watchman. As to the reward of live shilling*, which, according to the honourable 31,niber, was the temptation to these Acts • in the old Act s the r..warel was ten shillings • and thus, in the present Act the inducement was d' • 'shed ; 'besides, it did not follow that the re. ward was to follow the conviction, for the Magistrates, with w h om he had moat intercourse, had his direction% not to certify to the pa. Ti1111(11 for this reward unless they ascertained that the conduct of the peace-officer was influenced by a seal for justice. Ile would aglec most cordially with the Honourable Member who had ;itst sat down, that the design and object of the member for Stallind were to mitigate as Acts with respect to the offence with which the petitioner was charged. Ilediel nut think there was a • flagrant or atrocious one than indecent exposure of the person, and few persons had an idea to what a length such practices were at one time carried in the rade, and of the nundwrlues insults which were offered to fe. males ; but he would make a wide distinction between these esposur... which were intentional and those winch were acci dental and without design. lie thought the scale of punishment as at present allotted to these Acts, was incorrect ' • In the one case i was too severe; in the other it was not suflicientli so. lle agreed with the honourable Member, that the val ue a n utility of stipen. diary Magistrates depended entirely upon the care and attention with which they attended to the duties of their situation ; and he would take merit fi.r himself, as well as for his predecessor in office, fir attending as strictly as possible to this principle. Lord Sitimouth, whose example in this matter he followed, did rot ap. point am individual to the otlice of Magistrate, unless he had been called to the bar, and hail practised three years; and by this 11111114 C a certain portion of legal knowledge was required in and possessed by the person thus appointed. For himself he never made any engagements; lie merely attended to those who were best fCCO 11111111111111 l and who possessed die necessary legal attain. tents. The hon. 3lember had commented freely on the con_ duct of Mr. Swabey and utiles Magistrates. On this subject he would al , stain from saying anything, as these miners were not properly before the house. As to his remarks upon the bail taken tor a certain prelate, by Mr. Dyer, the hon. Member must know, that upon %Mlle subjects a Magistrate had no discretion ; he conld not refose it, and he was obliged to be moderate in his conduct. There were other arts, as in the ease alluded to by the honourable Member, in which bail could not by any means be taken, and this mar he th e c as e, th oug h th e crime which was bailable might be of a more loathsome die than that which could not be :ailed. With respect to the difference of the committals made by the country Magistrates and those of !motion, lie hate madcap-ism Peir ease of great importance; and it was for this he disapproved of the conduct of the honourable Member, in alluding at since to so many important topics; but the disproportion may not, after all, be so great as it was stated; many of those committed by the po llee were row • ed by those who laid the pown• of summary punishment. Anti in eases like these there could lie no subsequent conviction, for there could be no trial. Ile was ready to grant that the Vagrant Art required amendment, and he would give his o(tinions when the matter OMes before the house for discussion. 'I here was, for example, one clause elf it of which he disapproved, --that which oblige-el a Magistrate to senten ce to a mont h' s labour, and hard labour. Here the Magistrate had no discretion. lie ought, in his opinion, to have the power of reducing this penis' to a lea% as circumstances required. Ile would state his sentiments more hilly when there was a distinct notice before the lint se. Mr. HUME Insisted, that with respect to the conviction of the petitioner. it depended merely upon the 'moment of tine individual against the other. and in regard to the act for which he was punished, crowded with lesitaks as the streets of die metropolis were, there wax not a Member of the house who was not liable to be found in the vine situation. llmud laughing.) The I immutable Member said, he moult that every gentleman was liable to he accosted by a woman inquiring her way, and sit course be should except from the chirp those who had not the civility to make her a reply. ,\tiers few words in explanation fruit Mr. PEEL, 'l'he SPEAKER put the qui:bairn, that the petition Or printed. iMa e an ii llll th eTblrs exclaiming " No," as *ell al many in the al: nn , gallery was cleared for a division. Upon our return, we found no division had taken place, and the petition was ordered to lie on the table. C4I3IIIINATIC/N LAWS. Mr. STUART N'ORTLEY presented a petition from certain artisans, mechanics, and labourers for hire, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, complaining of the injury dune to the country at large by the Combination Laws, and praying for their repeal. Ordered to lie on the table. 1111511 CLERGY, BARRISTERS, Ike. hotel ALTHORP, in bringing his motion before the House, was aware that he was liable to the objection that he was making a motion respecting a part of the empire with which he had no im mediate connexion. To this he would answer, that he was in fluenced by toe expectation and hope of being able to confer some public benefit& and, as he meant to suhmit at a later period of the Session a motion respecting the general state of Ireland, the pro duction of the papers he thought would give great facility to the measure which he had in contemplation. Ile would first move for papers respecting the state of the Church and the state of the Clergy. He would next moist for a return of the appointments of Roman Catholics to those plat-es which they were by law authorised to till. To the production of these documents he did cut anticipate any objection; it was not likely that ally would be given. lie also wished to know die gross and net amount of the Revenue collected in Ireland, from the year IBM to the year 1024, specifying the va rious articles on which duties are charged. Ile also trusted that there would be no objection to his motion for knowing the 'mother of Clergymen resident in their parishes and the nanon of these parishes; the residence of good Clergymen was at all times desir able, particularly in Ireland, on account of the alrience of so many of the landholders. It was particularly desirable that the Clergy should be resident, and should, in the education of the poor, do all the good in their power, and should imitate the conduct of a dis tinguished individual whose preferment to the see of Limerick he stated with pleasure and 'satisfaction. Ile was not acquainted with Jebb, butt he was proud to see the elevation sit a Clergyman in whose pariah, amidst all the scenes of violence that had occumsl in that part of the country, not a single outrage was committed. Ile would ask for papers which would tend to outrag e the amount of, church property, and he wished to be distinctly understood as not wishing or intending to injure that property. His object would he not to injure; it would be to serve the property of the Church. Ile also required a return of the rumbas of acres of which the church landed property consisted. Ile would ask to know generally in what proportion the Roman Catholics filled those situations, which the laws enabled them to fill. It would be recollected that the Act of IBC pointed out and spectfied by exceptions those offices not at tainable by Catholics & thereferse those not excepted were by law within their reach, and it would tiptiesw from the mode adopted by the tiovernment is bestowing those situations, how far arid to what extent the Catholic's of Ireland ought or ought not be satisfied. Ile also would wish to know how many Roman Catholic Ilarristers had patents of precedence within the last live years, how flinty of them had been appointodio the situation of Coininissionerc of Appeals in revenue cans; and bow many of them were Clerks of the Peace and Crown Solicitors. Mr. IiOULBURk said he did not intend to offer any opposi tion to the motion which the Noble Lord opposite (Lord A hhurp) then held in his hand. lie was sure that every Member in the House would bear tatimony to the zeal lie had at all times tbs. played on subjects which related to the clergy of Ireland. And he now pledged himself, as well as the Lord Lieutenant of that coun try, that everything should be done which it was practicable to do. Ile rose, because he conceived it his duty, to give notice, that he intended shortly to Introduce a Bill into the House on the subject. Mr. HUME observed, that clergymen were often put down in the returns as resident clergymen, when it was notorious that they were absent from their parishes, eleven months out of the twelve. lie wished, therefore, that the time of their residence should be particularly aoted--whether it was for six, nine, or eleven months an the year. Lad A LTHORP agreed in the propriety of thesuggestion made by his Hon. Friend. Mr. HUME said, that he should propose their division into four classes s as madams of three, six, nine, and twelve months. Mr-CHOKER did not know such an arrangement could be made without an application to each individual on the subject. Mr HUME observed, that there were but 1,280 clergymen to ' question, and that they might be easily asked. Mr. V. IiTZOERA LB said that he thought It would he most nto avoid casting any stigma on the Bishops of Ireland ; and h a hot we how such an inquiry could be made without do ing so. lie would detain the House on another point. It was im possible for any one who haul attended to the debates on such af. airs, not to know that the government of Ireland had used every exertion to induce the residence of clergymen in their parishes, and in some instances to enforce it. Mr. HUME then moved an amendmait to the motion of the Noble Lord tAltborp), that the number of months each incum bent VMS resident in his parish should be particularly specified ; and that they should be divided into four classes, those whose re sidence was of 3, G. V, or 12 months. lie would take this oppor tunity to observe that no stigma could be eat on the Irish Bishops. His Majesty' s Ministers (he believes! in 11119 and 1820) had issued an order that the Bishops should make such a return as WM now moved for, and two only out of the number did so. Ile thought the House owed them but little delicacy. Sir J. NEWPORT did nut recollect any such return having been called for. Mr. V. FlTZGERAl.Dobcierved, that Mr. flume had mis taken his meaning. He did not say that the house ought to treat the !rah Bishops with delicacy I but he said that any amendment pounded on a debate in the House, as to the residence of their cler gymen of one month out of twelve, would be stigmatizing their conduct. --- 1 r. --- 111 1 ME said • , that the Ilmiourable Member had not under stood what he (Mr. Hume) had said. Ile only wished to know what the term of their residence was. Mr. 1101111.1111 RN thought there mut another objection to the amendment. The law distinctly stated, with respect to many cler gymen, that the residence of a certain number of 1111 l nths should he considered a residence. He thought it wrong to question persons who had done what the law required them to do. Dlr. PEEI. wished to know to what time the mover of the amendment intended to refer, as it would be necessary that some time should be specified in the inquiry. Mr. 111! ME mentioned the term of one year. Mr. PEEI, thought it would be unfair to form an opinion on such a limited period. l'arious causes might render neces sary the absence of an incumbent front his parish. himself or his family might have been iIL Ile conceived it could not be done fairly without specifying a number of years. Mr. 11l HIERTSI thought it an imperative duty on the Irish clergymen to reside in their parishes, particularly as the Catholics were increasing. Ile thanked the Noble Lord for the observations he had made, and entreated him to persevere in bringing forward his motion ; and he hoped the British menibers would support it, because he conceited that more good would arise to Ireland from it than from any other course which could be suggested. The motion, as amended, was agreed to. Alr. in reference to the motion respecting the glebe lands, observed, that it was not an easy matter to comply with what the Noble Mover required ; and any permin who had, like himself, looked into the affairs of Ireland, must be perfectly aware of it. It was quite impossible that the return which had been moved for could be made uutil the number of acres in Ireland had been ascertained. Sir J. NEWPORT observed, that it was true we could not tell the number of acres in Ireland ; but it was also taste that the Irish Bishops must know from how many acres they obtain their dues. The only church lands in Ireland are the lands held tinder the chapter and the glebe lands. In neither instance could there be ignorance of their extent. Ile thought if there were no objection to the utility of the measure, there could be none to the Act. Lord A LTHORP agreed in the opinion of the Him. Baronet. Mr. MA BER lA' thought the House might as well abandon the subject of Ireland, if the secretary would retain papers on subjevoi, which, like the present, were of inch importance. Mr. 0013.11.1 1 RN observed, that he never objected to grant any papers. On the contrary, he had recently postured to the number of 30,0110 at the request of the lion. Baronet opposite (Sir J. Newport). Sir J. NLIP I'OllT declared that Mr. Goulburn had granted no such thing, although he (Sir J. Newport) certainly did apply for papers on a Immix night, relating to parish rights ; and, if they were voluminous, he thought the people had a right to know how and why they were taxed. The motion was agreed to. Mr. IR LIB RN (on the subject of the Assistant Barristers of Ireland) was aware that there could be no difficulty in tile con , sideration of it; the only difficulty was is ascertaining who were Poitestants„ who were Catholitx,, and who were Presbyterians, without going further than the !louse had alright to go, in obliging individuals to reveal their private opinions. Mr. 111 'M E said that nothing could be more simple; it was only mask the question, and the thing was done ; aud lie thought it of the utmost importance that it should be is.. laird A 1.1 111 could not we the difficulty which the Hon. lientleman (31r. Peel) had seen because it was as notorious in Ireland who were Catholics and who wch Protestants, Who were Barristers and who were not ; and he could not conceive that t h ere was any indelicacy in asking the question. The motion was for the purpose of ascertaining how many Assistant B a r r i s t ers were Catholics. Mr. :HARI:IIIA' observed, that although the Irish Sec►etary might he informed on the subject, the English Members were not. Ile thought that if the Secretary was irclined to withhold the papers on this subject, whirl' the House was entitled to, many others would also he withheld. Ile t Mr. lalierly) was sorry that a conversation on Ireland should irritate.; but he feared tbe ob_ sercoinn would apply to every question On the subject of that . . . 1111r.1'ROK Ell wished to say a few words on the question. Ile observed that under the old laws which applied to Ireland, every man who offered a vote was obliged to take an oath Cutt he was not a papist. of allegiance to his 31:linty. which was called the " Test Oath." The laws were in such a state, he would not say disgraceful, but they site confused and absurd. Ile would give an instance in ex emplification :—every body knew, indeed he had just stated, that, at first, every Min who came to rote was obliged to swear that he was nut a papist ; and that afterwards he was allowed to vote on taking the oath of allegiance. Ile (Mr. had seen; at an election. a Catholic come to give his vote Ile was asked fin the certificate of his having taken the oath, which he had lost. The man had the pre sence of mind to sat that lie had lust it, and to add—`• I will not rot: as aratholit, I will votes's,' Protestant:* A nil he ( Mr. C.)saw that man give his oath, as a Protestant, mewl.; because he had lost the oath he had taken as a Catholic. lie believed the laws respecting ta!helics, when considered as they are executed. can never remain a s they are. Ile apprehended, when barristers w e r e admitted, they now took the Catholic oath of alleginace, 111 c. PEEL said, that a law already existed, which required a The Unman PlitEss commenced publishing yestaday morning at five o'clock. LONIX/N. IVEDNESDAY, FEBIWARY li, 1824. The great West India Meeting took place yesterday, at the City of London Tavern. It was most respectably at tended. The great room was filled by an assemblage of gentlemen of the first wealth and intelligence connected with the Colenies. No meeting of more importance, whe ther we consider the immense stake and interest at issue, or the personal safety of thousands committed in the result, has taken place for years. None of the " Saints" or West India Legislators per excellence, thought proper to at tend : the African Association, and Bible Societies, are the scenes of their " holy " labours, where they can pour out their pious sighs and aspirations, for sable redemp tion, in full fervour undisturbed ; but their absence was not felt. One individual however did put himself for ' ward, on what assumption we know not, and proposed a string of counter-resolutions, which were heard and nega tived by an overwhelming majority. ( ht what ground of principle or possessions, this sable philanthropist con ceived himselfjtutified in coming forward, his own zealous piety and modesty must answer. But those professions of humanity and zeal are cheaply made, which involve neither the property nor liossescions of the individual urging th em, but are all conceived at the risk and cost of others. Thus it was Mr. or Major Dalbiae, we know not which, pl aye d the part of negro emancipator on this occasion, and we e abundantly speculative and generous, at the unbounded cost of his neighbours. We request attention to the speeches of Mr. Rose Ellis, of Mr. Palmer, Mr. Carring ton, and Mr. Ilibbert ; they present a jest view of this important subject. There can be no question, as the Chair man stated, " that attempts have been made to misrepre sen t " the condition of the negroes, and calumniate the chase " ter of their toasters, and by those means to raise a flame " in the public mind, that may urge the Parliament and " :overninent to adopt measures involving a violation of the " property of the West India planters and merchants." Th e discussion on this dangerous and agitating question last Sts lion was brought on by surprise; it was thrust upon the House with all the mock sanctity and solemnity which the holy sectaries, who got up the pious farce of preparation, knew so well how to assume. They had their tears and groans at command. The romance of suffering by the " hapless" aegrocs was stuffed full of sufferings and horrors. Mr. Buxton, as a new performer, full of the " spirit," took the place of the veteran I Vilberforee, and in solemn accents, and most lugubrious tones of lamenta tion, played leis part most successfully. The delusion, however, has since become manifest. The country, iq general, is awakened to the gross and utter humbug. The %Vest Indians, with insurrection and ruin around them, have been roomed to self-preservation ; and they now come forward to make, in the names of justice, of prudence, and real humanity, their appeal to the highest authority in the country. " The Committee (Mr. Ellis said) have thought that in the present disturbed state of the " %Vest India Colonies it is peculiarly proper to appeal " to the King, as the authority alone to which all the " inhabitants of these countries can alike look up with " deference and respect, unmixed with any portion of " disgust or jealousy." The Committee are right: the highest appeal in inch a case is the best : there can be no paltering on such an occasion : the rights, the property, and the lives of thousands are at stake, involved by the fanaticism of worse than visionaries ; and the strongest arm in the State can alone arrest the ruinous torrent of de struction. The appeal to the Crown, therefore, in this case, is the legitimate and rightful one. The Paitioa is strongly worded—some will say violently ; but courtly or half-language would now be out of season. The West Indies are menaced with nothing short of ruin : if the career of the abolitionists be not stopped, their destruc tion is certain. We arc as warm friends to general liberty as any of the party whose ficry zeal is so prominent on the negro question. We trust, also, that a sensible ameliora tion of the condition of the African race throughout the West Indies will gradually take place; but in the session of IHW., and many previous ones, when the dreadful Insurrection Act was again extended to Ire land, and it was even a question whether the horrors of Martial Law, with the halberds, pickcttings, and free quer. wrings of another dreadful period, should not be renewed in that country, we heard even the Members on the Oppo sition benches say, that, when insurrection and murders were desolating that island, it was no hour for conciliation or measures of amelioration—that force was then the legislation that could be used. Pacify and tranquillise, Mr. Calcraft and others said, first, and then deal oul --- benefits and reform after. If such arguments were good and available in the ease of the white population Ireland, ó j;wriuri they are now more applicable in way to the Negro race and the West India islands. the " Saints" have reserved all their pious solicitude. blacks, and the millions of Ireland create no interest the breasts of Mr. Wilberforce and his pupil Mr. Burton. We trust this Session will put an extinguisher on the structive measures of these men and their partisans, that the influence of the Crown, which is now solnin.ly appealed to, with the wisdom of Parliament, will as West Indies from destruction, and protect the lives millions of property now in imminent hazard. The ing of yesterday, in rank, influence, and numbers, every way worthy the cause in which it assembled, and deliberations will, we trust, be attended with the most neficial results. The RESOLUTION pilstted by the Magistrates of . ford, a copy of which appeared in our Paper of Saturda our readers will remember, runs thus : " That the Earl Talbot be requested, on behalf eta the: trates present, to express to George Chetwynd, Esq. Chairman , the Quarter Sessions of this Country, their totasiSlONL approba tion of his upright and impartial conduct tektite to the prosecul and trial of Climaxes FLINT seal others, fur a misdemeanour.' We were somewhat startled, as may wail be supposed. learn that this Resolution was NOT unanimous; and though put thus deliberately upon record, the Pet . true! The following distinguished persons were among numlxr of the Magistrates present, Lut whose signatures not appear to the Resolution, viz. the Earl of IlarrowL. John Smith, Esq., Thomas Kirkpatrick Hall, Esq., George Whiedon, Esq., and Thomas Sueyd Kynneraley, This is a strong and marked feature in the proccedil and throws an air of suspicion over the whole piney' We regret that persons of high character, and, we hat . doubt, of honourable feeling, should lend thernsel , any attempt to impose upon the public, by affirming thing that is not. Persons holding the rank of Magian. and who arc, or at least ought to be, looked up to public, should be cautious of weakening their dente, especially by putting their attestation to fact in which truth will not bear them out. a lawyer gets into a dilemma (and Mr. Chetwynd a lawyer) it is permitted to I hat he should cxerci• ingenuity, and that he should extricate himself wii least possible injury, and with the best possible grace. boundary line of a last yer's conscience not being very I defined, he has, in such a case, the excuse of liabi going beyond it. Hut this privilege does not extend beyond the profession ; it does not, for example, e: itself to such personages as East TALBOT, nor even I Rerercnd Magistrates whose names are affixed to this lution: it makes no part of Me henefit of Clergy. Mr Cleve, Clerk, Rieliard Levert, Clerk, William Leigh, t George Augustus, Clerk, may, fur aught we know, very good Bishops; but they must make very bad ,11, trees, if their recorded approbation of the conduct t'hetwynd is to be taken as their interpretation Christian precept, which enjoins us " to do justice, love mercy.- But t t return to the Resolution. There is one rani able circumstance, of which we would take leave some explanation. how happens it that the local 11 trates—the Magistrates living in the neighbourhood, arc best informed on the facts of the case—the Ilonoui 11. Cavendish, the Honourable H. Vruoo, 11. Greaves, Esq., &e.—how happens it that Resolution has been passrd is their absence, and that attendance teal not solicited? Did Mr. Chetwynd I dent offices. lle . w; convicting under the behe• the Home S tot the mitstuistances, Catholic! Barrister to state on oath, " I profess the Catholic reli gion." No objection could be made to the motion, because if any person acquainted with the Barristers, were asked how many of them were I :atholies, it could be ascertained in a week. Sir. F. isiiittiEl"r observed that several Members seemed to think that this would be a sort of inquisition set up to know what sort of religion certain individuals professed ; and that they would dislike giving an answer. But he thought nothing would be mere gratifying to them than such an inquiry. And nothing was more easy to procure than such information. He hoped, therefore, the House would not object to getting it, because, though easily ob tained, it was very necessary to hare it. Mr. PEEL acquiesced, and agreed to the motion, which was passed. Mr. Ilfilll,lll'llN said, it might be as well to add--" And tboae who have patents of precedence." Mr. V. FITZ( EliAlA) replied, that no such patents existed, with the exception of two. The proposal was withdrawn. RELATIONS WITH SPAIN. Lord NI ENT moved for I COpy Of the correspondence between the British Government and the late Government of Spain ; and of all the Instructions issued b• the British Government to Sir William A'Court. The Noble Lord said, he moved for these papers in the absence of the Foreign secretary, but that he had intimated to him his intention so to do. A le•etage was received from the lards requiring a report rela tive to the State of the Poor of Ireland. 111 ) .\ NELIANG OF 317 MS. Mr. WESTERN rose to complain of what he considered a want of courtesy net the part of the Right lion. Gent.opposite(Mr. ('eel), with regard to the bill which he was about to introduce re lative to the =panelling of juries, as from what he (Mr. Wes tern) understood of it, it yea almost a transcript of that which he intended to bring forward to-morrow night, and which the Right lion. Secretary had so strenuously opposed last session, and he therefore was very much surprised to find that the Right lion. Gem. had, during the interval of the session, taken up the subject on the very same ground with him (Mr. Western). Mr. PEEL was quite astonished at the charge of plagiarism brought against him by the lion. Member for Essex ; but lie could assure him there was very little connexion between the bill brought thrward by him (Mr. % estem), and that which he should shortly inure the honour to propose to the House ; hut the fact was, he had looked into the subject, and had found that there were 411 or 50 statutes touching the iinpanelling• of juries, and he did not think thut he was travelling out of his line as Secretary of State for the I lonie liepartinent, in investigating the matter (hear, hear), and he hail moreover persuaded a gentleman of acknowledged talent and experience, to turn his sapid= to the subject, and he certain- ly was now prepared with a bill for the coneolidation of these sta tutes. But his hill was quite distinct front that of the lion. Mem ber's, as in his (Mr. Western's) bill, red a word was said about these numerous and conflicting laws. lie had, however, purposely postponed the introduction of his view of the question, that he might not deprive the lion. Member for Essex of any credit that might attach to his, although, whatever might be the result of the lion. Member's motion, he certainly should persevere in the mea sure he had &dunks'. Mr. I I l:31 1: hoped that the iiight I lonourahle Secretary meant to extend the operation of his bill to the striking of Specal Jo ries. Mr. PEEL—Certainly. REPEAL OF THE USURY LAWS. _____ . ......... Mr. Sergeant ONSIA/W having been called on by the Speaker, stated that he should trespass very little on the patience of the House in introducing the auction of which he hail given notice. At former periods, when he had brought forward the subject, and argued for the policy of repealing the I 'sury Laws. he VIM answer ed, that the time was unfavourable for the consideration of such a matter ; he thought, however, that Bach art objection would not now be urged, as he could not conceive that a title? period ever would arrive for the repeal of these laws. Ile would not occupy the time of the house any longer. but conclude by moving for leave to bring in a bill to repeal the laws regulating and restraining the interest of money. The motion having been seconded, leave was given. Mr. 'SKISSON moved for a return of all Exchequer Bills issued between the Soh of January, 11123, and the sth January, 11;24, and for an estimate of the sum required to pay Exchequer Bills to be issued for the year 11124. The motion wait agreed to, and the returns brought up, laid on the table, and, . _ . ......... ..... )n the mutton of the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, ordered to be printed. The House adjourned. I•RENCII LOAN of 1823, for 23,114,516 Rental, contracted by Mews. DE ROTHSCHILD BROTHERS, Paris. _ The Holden of t'ertificates, issued under this Loan, are informed that at the time of the Eighth Payment, which is fixed for the Bth of March next, the DI% IDEND tilling due on the .1.2 d of that Month on Fifteen Coupons, that is, on the Thirteen last Instal ments, and on the Two First which are held as security, will be admitted in psrt payment. Thus the Amount to be paid on the Bth of March will be as fol lows: RENTES. F. C. On a Certificate of 3110 200 25 1,000 . . 520 AO 2.500 1,301 23 3,1100 . 2.002 50 The Holders of such Certificates are moreover notified, that the Coupons of the 3d, oth, Sth, 6th, and 7th Instalments should be detached immediately, so that they may be sent to Paris, and con verted into Inscriptions prior to the 11th of March next, as the Parties wiU otherwise experience delay in the receipt of the Interest on these Instalments. TH. LIONNE.T, Iklegate of the Itoyal Treasury of France. To prevent delay in receiving the various twentieths, it is re itivated that the proper Blank }Wins may be sent for by the Parties front New -court, a few days previous to the payments. PRICES OF BRITISH 8' Bank stock sui 114 3 per Cent. Reduced - . 92} I If 3 per Cent. ('.ms. 911 3.1 per Cent. 10Of 4 pet Cent. 102} New 4 per ('ents. 116 i I bong Annuities. 22 7-16 Imperial 3 per Cents. Bank tOr Account (;ons. for Acct. Mit PRICES OF FOREIGN Austrian Scrip, Al 4 1 Pr. Chilian Bonds, 701 Ditto for Account. 7K colonth. Hank, 7of 701 Do. for Account, 701 Neapolitan Bonds, $2 Prussian Bonds, :121 i 13 Ditto for Account Ditto Bonds (11112 ), ,„1 1 Russian DiroldNi4ll 4 1 Ditto for Acct. 911 a Portuguese Bonds, Ira Mex. Scrip, 5 I j 3 a pr. Mex. Mines, Unite.' do. 24 21 1 a 11 COURSE (IF EXCH. Amsterdam C. F. 12 2 Ditto, at sight - 11 19 ilintertlain 12 3 Antwerp - - 12 4 Ilaniburgh - 37 6 Altima - 37 a - Paris, 3 days' sight 26 all Ditto - - 25 HO litairdeaux - 23 HO Herlin - 7 10 - Frankfort-on-tlic.3laiii 15.4 Petershurgh - II Vienna - 10 10 Trieste - 1010 Madrid . 36 ir.iii - - 331 IliHam . - 34 Barcelona 351 Seville _ . 35. Gibraltar - 110 MA A v E amburgh and 1 Nritifsit Woo. 'TOMS YESTERDA Y. India Stock, .2784 7 India Bonds. 80 81 84 MI pr. India for Account, South Sea Stock, Sow! , Sea Old Annuities South Sea New Annuities Ex. Dills.l,oool. 47 63 61 pr. Ditto, 5001. 47 33 61 pr. Ditto, Small, 47 64 pr. Lottery Tickets, 191. lb. STOCKS YESTERDAY. /*unix!' 5 per Ct. Cons. 24 344 14 5 Ditto for Acct. 211 b Ditto 170 & 255 Bonds, Ditto 5 per Cts. (lan) 1174 17} Ditto 1001. ss. Monk Fr. Renter. 971. 75c. 50c. 25c. Do. Ex. 2.1 f. 50c. 5.1 c. 50c. Do. Scrip, Danish Bonds, 97 Ditto Marks Banco, 921 921 Dutch lkintis Exchange Itusrian Inscription Exchange NOE YESTERDAY. _ _____ _ . Leghorn - . 4 1 I ienoa . - Venice - - 27 Malta - - 45 Naples - . 384 Palermo - 116 Lisbon . 514 Oporto - 514 - II to Janeiro . 46 Bahia - . 51 ' Dohltn - 104 Cork - 114 'BULLION. s. d. Portugal fold in coin U 0 0 Foreign fluid in bars 3 17 Ncw Thwhloons 3 14 New Dollars U 4 11 Silver in bars 0 4 Ili I IS. F►ench. D u —1 Dottenburgh. rrors of ee guar. renewed P e Oppo. St murders to tciliation the only Dt iquillize, Pa out your • we then lation of in every to But le for the 7i l Wrest in Buxton. '2 the de. el ins, and ..1 Boletat.ly save the ives ana se meet. INS , and its Bost be. h of Staf- starchy, It Megis. airman of • s approba• 1 oseruccos . nosed, to nd that, .t is not tong the 'tures do irrowhy, , George EN. emit:lg, ,negyric. have no elves to ling ge riatraks, by the r confi• to any Wilt n wynd is rcise his with tl.e cc. The y nicely abit for nd itself extend ti to the its Rem- Ir. John 1, Clerk, r, make t of Mr. n of the , and to remark- re to ask 11asis - od, wbo wurable White, hat this bat their d know, t