The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1826-02-04 00:00:00

P.4RLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE. HOUSE Ot COMMONS, FRIDAY, FER. S. The Speaker entered the House a few minutes before four o'clock, and 'fleetly Ayr the NOOSE proceeded to business. Mr. 11001 ES presented the Report of the Commissioners of the Port of ,Irondel —Ordered to lie on the table. Sr. STRUTT presented a petition from the inhabitants of SVhit: ham, in Essex, praying for the abolition of slavery. Alr. Alderman IVOOO moved for returns of the number of ba-reds of strong table beer exported from England, Ireland, and Wales, from Jule 11124 to July 11375. distinguishing the number of barrels brewed within the limits of the chief office of Exeiee: also fur a return of the number of persons licensed to brew beer under be 4th Geo. IV, c. 46, anti under the 11th Gat. IV, c. 54, and the number of barrels so brewed from January 11124 to January 111211. The Honourable Member also moved for an account of the number of acres of ground under the cultivation of hops in the year 11125, and the amount of ditty paid on hops for the same year. Also for hops .charged_ an account of the number of bushels of withduty in the year 11125. distinguishing the quantity used by brewers and licensed victuallers.—Orilered. General I.IASCOVNE presented a petition in favour of the Liverpool Improvement Bill. the appointment of the Standing Committees of the House of Commons for the Session, Mr. BROODEN rose. He said that his situation of Chairman of Committees of the House was. he was well convinced, not due to him from his merits, or conferred upon him in homage to his talents; he had, however, at all times endeavoured todischarge the duties of that situation with the strictest fidelity. He hail to apologise for rising at that moment, but he eat anxious. Iron re. polls which had gone abroad, to set himself sigh with the House as early as possible. The public papers had animadverted very harshly, and with notch unfairness, upon his connexion with the Athena Coal Mining Company ; he hopes (whatever might have been his deficiencies in the discharge of his official duties) that the kindness which lie had so often experienced at the hands of the Douse would not be withdrawn from him. in consequence of his connexion with that Company. He would, he was confident, satisfy the Hoose of the purity of his COOdOrt, however he.might be 'nixed up with guilty transactions. Ile regretted that the last observation had fallen from him; the transactions of that affair were at present under investigation, and he would be sorry to pre. judge their decision. Ile suffered the animadversions which ap peared in the newspapers to pass unnoticed, though it was a com mon observation that a man would net u!low an imputation inju. rims to his character to pass disregarded. unless he was conscious that blame could be attached to hint. Ile was contented with a consciousness of his own rectitude, and was nut to be alarmed by aaiinadversions, however severe, which were not founded on facts. " 31endax infertile tenet, Quem nisi mendosum." 1411 character and conduct in that transaction rested on a better foundation than public rumour. A meeting of one hundred and fi'ty gentlemen of the highest character, among whom were several merchants of the first eminence in the city, and who were concerned in the affairs of that Company. as well as .Ir. Ricardo. the brother of the late highly-distinguished Member of that name, exculpated him and Mr. Bent from all implication in the transac t•on to which he had already alluded, and which was under in. vestigation. lie had received a letter from those gentlemen to ex. press their opinion that he was free from the slightest imputation of improper conduct ; he had not brought that letter with him, or with the permission of the Gouge he would have read it ; in that letter Mr. Bent and himself were exculpated from any improper conduct; they were, in fact, thanked for their conduct in the Directcrship, and requested still to hold the situation of Di rectors. He had unfortunately received money from the Corn. pany, but when that was transmitted to hint, he thought and was fully penuttled that it arose out of the sale of the s'istrea which entitled him to act as a Director. He wished to have his couduct investigated ; he courted publicitct and it it was posodble, consistently with the regulations of the House, to have a pets ate Committee, of the house to inquire into his conduct. he ais fore that the result of such an intcstigation would be honour able to his character. PRIVATE BILLS. It was then ordered that no petitions tOT Prints Bills should be Received after Friday ' February 17; that DO Bill should be re. Calved after the 34 of Match ; and no report en a Bill after the 3d Of 'lay. SINECURES, OFFICF.S HELD BY DEPUTY, &e. 31r. HU3IE gave notice of a motion fur a Select Committee to inquire into the sinecures and offices now held by deputy. Also for a return of the number of officers belonging to two troops of the Oxford Blues who were placed upon half-pay s and *stilt received full pee : and the number of officers who had "died since that reduction, and how their VADDICieII bad been filled ep. InViaking this motion, the lion. Gent. said he regretted that . the Secretary of War was not In his place, as he could perhaps in form the House what claims (from services re tiered to the country) those gentlemen had to receive full pay. Fur his part he was at a loss to conceive wltarthose gentlemen had date to entitle them to such indulgence. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that he del not object to the motion of the Hon. Gentleman, nor to his being unacquainted with the matters to which his motion referred, but be put it to the Hon. Member whether he would press his mo tion in the absence of the Noble Lord (Palmerston). The correct mode would be for him to give notice of his motion, and he thought it was not candid to bring forward a charge of so grave nature without giving the responsible person an opportunity of explaining. Ile saw no necessity for pressing the motion at pre sent, as he was sure the official Members of the House would receive abundance of reprehension from the lion. Member in the course of the Session. For hie own part he ILO nbstained from rising any Information on matters connected with the taxes, be cause he wished to riven full and satisfactory statement on the sub ject at one time, and was determined not to advert to then in a partial manner. He thought he would have ample opportunity for that in the course of the month. It was his intention to submit to the House, on the 24th of this month, a full statement relative to • those matters, which he trusted would give satisfaction. He hoped the lion. Member would consent to ere notice of his motion for . Tuesday next. Mr. RUNE said that he could not be answerable for the non. attetakinee of Members in their places. Ile had, in 11122,determined to briht: forward thepresent motion, but it had escaped his memory in the varied and multiplied business in which he was then engaged. lie could no longer postpone it, hut rather than appear to take the r,entlenien by surprise, he would give notice of his motion for uesday next. He certainly did conclude, Iron: the silence of the Eight Honourable (ientleman ' that he had no disposition to reduce the taxes • and he felt he had aright to refer to that subject, because he and other Members of the House had given their support to the Eight HonourableGentleman's motion for a sinking fund, under an idea that taxation would be reduced. lie hoped the absence of the Secretary fur Foreign Affairs would not be made an argument aeattro his adverting to the difference of taxation between the year and those that - followed. From the year 11116 to the year 1323 there had been an increase of taxation. To say that there was a reduction of taxation was to make a statement contrary to fact. There had been no reduction since the year 11117: the average amount of taxation previous to that year wa553,307,000/., while the average amount, from the year 1816 to the year latti inclusive, was 0001. being an increase of mare than a million. The eely way to come to a real and perfect knowledge of the matter was to have an abstract from the accounts. This was the only method to come to a clear understanding of the subject. If tile statement he had made was correct, it would spree, by a comparison with elLetal returns ; but if it was denied, it would not be the firettime that a Minister had denied what was stated in the public records of the country. The Honourable Member then argued to show that there had been an increase of taxation Instead of a diminution, and concluded' by moving for " Returns of the Amount of Revenue paid (exclusive of drawbacks, and deducting all repayment ofloans to Austria) in the year' 1322, 1323, and 1624." CHANCELIAG4 of the EXCHEQUER said he would weittire to assure tfte Honourable Member that, when this subject came before the House he would disprove all the reasonings of the Ilona Gentleman, if he fould not his facts (hear. hear), and per haps the lionourable Member would find himself at a 100 when he came to examine the documents referred to. Mr. HOME said that if the papers laid on etc table were m ime. the Right Honourable Gentleman would not be able to perform weaehe io confidently promised. When those papers were produced the House could judge for itself. He should also like to have an account of the average value of bullion; which would throw addi tional light on the subject. CHANCERY INQUIRY. Mr. JOAN WILLIAMS, seeing the Right Ilon. Gentleman opposite In his place, begged to ask whether any report was to be exposed during this Session from the Commission of Inquiry into the Court of Chancery, and, if so. in what state of progress it was, and when the probability was that it would be laid on the table ? Mr. Secretary PEEL stated that it was nod his intention to op pose the slightest obstacle to the object of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman's question. In the course of the last Session he stated that the report in question would be presented at an early period ; it was however deemed to be a snore satisfactory course of proceeding to drily the report until the evidence on the subject mull accompany It. Great progress had been made in this respect. and he there fore might undertake to say that the report would be laid on the table in a very short period. Mr. J. WILMA 31i was perfectly satisfied with the Right lion. Gentleman's answer. NURSE-STEALING AND SHEEP-STEALING. Mr. LOCKHART morel that an Address be presented to his iletetty for a return of the number of persons convicted of stealing horses in the years 1024, and 1325, distinguishing thole who were left for execution, those who were reprieved, and in what manner the reprieved were disposed of.—Ordued. A similar application was made in respect to those convicted of • sheep.atealing during the sam- period.—Ordered. A 310ITNT OF BANK-NOTES. Mr. E. ELLICE stated that as a Right Hon. Gentleman on the apposite side of the House had given notice of a motion respecting the currency, lie gave notice that he would move for the amount of bank-notes in circulation on the Ist and 15th of every month for the list six meths. CONDUCT OF A lIIAGISTRATE. Mr. DEN 3IA N said that as the proceedings in the last Seesinn of Parliament respecting the conduct of a Magistrate (31r. Ken de:l:i in a neighbouring coiory haul been suspended, he felt hint &it bound to proceed with the business immediately. Ile there fore moved that the witnesses who remained for examination in this matter be examined on Friday at the bar of the House.--Agreed to. SLAVES IN JA3I.IICA. 5 1 , ItENIIAN gave notife that lie would on Twesday„ the 21st Et g le•fute the consideration of the House the proceedings which ' had been adopted reapecting the trial of the slaves accused of in surrection in Jamaica. The CHANCF.I.I.OR of the ENCITEQIJEft suggested the propriety of appointing another day. as be had already timed the 2lst inst. for the important questions concerning the banking artem, and the currency of the country. Mr. DEN3IAN was willing to necommodate, and with this view, as also not to delay the witnesses, he would select Monday aennight. RECOVERY OF SMALL DEBTS. The ATTIMNEY-GENERA I. gave notice of a motion which hod for its object a wore summary movery of debts under the amount of 131. BANK OF ENGLAND. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved for copies of the correspondence which occurred between the First Lord ot the Treasury and the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the D irectors of the Bank of England, in reference to the exclusive privileges en. joycd by that Corporation.—Ordered. • - • EXPENDITURE. Mr. HERR I ES moved thet a Return of the Income and E:pen• diture of England a nd Ireland during the preceding year be laid before the Ilouvc.—Ordered. • • CORN LAWii. • Mr. W. WHITMORE wished to offer s few observations nn what fell from the oppositeside of the Cootie on the laatnight. Prom many topics which had been introduced he did not mean to dissent. It waa a sin of omission which excited his remarks at present. No allusion had been made, either in the Speech from the Throne or by his Majesty's Ministers, to a subject of paramount importance, which, during the last Meeting of Parliament, they had pledged themselves to bring forward. lie regretted exceedingly that his Majesty's Minister* had altered their determination in this respect, for he was fully convinced that no measure was more calculated than the one in contemplation to rivet the attention of Parliament. Ile did not, however, mean to assert that his Majesty's Ministers had giren this pledge without any intention of redemption. On the contrary, he entertained no doubt, under the circumstances of the case, the charge of duplicity cotild not be imputed. They had evinced on many occasions a very laudable anxiety to promote the interests, and to relieve the distil:4sta of the community. For what they had thus done he gave them credit. lint he asked them how could the Corn Laws hz omitted in the system which they were recently punning ? Ministers must be aware that this sub ject should form the groundwork of any measure which respected freedom of trade. Under the conception, therefore, that they were nut insincere in the promise, ignorant of the efficacy of the proposed measure, or disinclined to relieve the community, he must suppose that some potent cause exists to account foe the omission. The question is decidedly of primary Importance. but some secret in. fluence operates to control their feeling. He regretted that the question was left in his hands, but so fully convinced was he that the system of free trade could not be carried on iwithout the intro. duction of this subject to the notice of Parliament, that he felt himself warranted and compelled by the refusal of Ministers, to agitate the proceeding. The Government might he restrained by respect to conflicting interests, but such a plea had no validity in the direction of his conduct. Ile heard with satisfaction that Ministers were not to he deterred from pursuing the policy which they recommended to Parliament to the fast Session. Though the opposed interests to which he had alluded might prevent them Rom starting the question, he did not look for any resistance on their part if the question was proposed front another quarter. He did not mean to detail the specific nature of his measure, but he was anxious to point out to the House, and to those suffering under the Infliction of the Corn Laws, that they might look forward to the change. It was impossible to avoid seeing with concern that which, if deranged Itself, deranges every thing between man and man. He agreed with the suggestion advanced last night, that silver as well as gold should be a atrun'ard metal. Many objections would be made, but there was a plan which in his mind would be sufficient to obviate them. lie would trouble the House with no further observation, but he gave notice that he would ow a future day make a motion on the subject. INDIAN AFFAIRS. Sir C. FORBES agreed with what had been stated concerning the origin and progress of the Burmese war. He did not wish to interfere with the policy of that war in the commencement, but whatever occasion might then hove existed for its origin, was coun teracted at present by a necessity for its immediate termination. His 31ajesty's Speech held out hopes to this effect, but it appeared to hint that now, at the expiration of two years, there was no greater prospect of such an event titan at the beginning. It was a war of extermination, of which he could see no end. The British ttuops might reach the capital of the Burmese without effecting this con summation. All succeeding intelligence from India confirmed his &arson this subject. it was stated in the Speech from the Throne last Sessions that the Native Powers were friendly to this country. He would have felt gratified at a repetition of this assurance in the Speech of the present Session. But a hostile disposition had been evinced in more than one quarter. Tke Honourable Gentleman then proceeded to recommend the removal of the British troops from the Burmese territory. lithe original aggression was unjust, such a course was necessary. but in any case it was desirable to finish a war of useless expenditure of blood and treasure. Ile regretted that the expectations of all the people of sense in this country had not been gratified by the real of Lord Amherst. He should also enter his protest against the measures which had been adopted towards the East India silk. Was it not sufficient that the cotton and silk of that country were excluded ? Mr. CURWEN, after a few observations concerning India, the purport of which could not be collected in the gallery, expressed his conviction that it was incorrect to ascribe all the existing disttess to the operation of the Corn Laws. lie did not, however, think that this was the moment for agitating the question. The Right Hon. C. W. WYNN felt that the conduct pursued in India was the result of sound discretion. The question which had been introduced, however, appeared in the nature of an epi code. He expected that the lion. Gentleman would have given him an opportunity of speaking on the topic, and he therefore passed it over. The Honourable Gentleman denied last year the neces sity and justice of the Burmese war, but the decl,tration of Lord Amherst proved that the war had been provoked. From that do cument it was clear that the Burmese had exercised every species of aggreasiou to excite hostilities, until at last it was impossible, in regard to honour or safety, to allow them to proceed with impu nity. They had by various encroachments extended the line of their atrocities so far that it was no difficult matter for them to at tack the British capital in that country. But the Hon. Gentleman has stated that the British troops exhibited no bravery. Whenever they appeared, however, the enemy fled before them. In the last campaign at Rangoon were not the Burmese repulsed? Did they not retreat because they were beaten, and could make no stand ? He did not like to express a sanguine opinion on a subject, where the operations connected with it are so remote; hut he was satisfies! in his own mind that the Burmese war would be brought to an honourable conclusion. The lion. Gentleman had designated it as "'a war from which neither honour nor profit could be derived."— Profit! If by this term prize-money was meant, perhaps there would not. But was it not profitable to repress insolence and to maintain the dignity of the British name? The Right Hon. Gent. then denied that there had been any unfriendlydisposition manifested by the Native Powers. When the family of Berampoor differed, the British Government refused to interfere at the suggestion of Sir David Ochterloney. The refusal was grounded on the absence of offence, and as the dowager widow was favourable to the successful party. If Sir David Ochterloney's intention had been executed what clamours would hare been raised ! The Government would have been charged with wantonly attacking one of the strongest (outcast. in India. Another objection was founded on the impoliey of carrying the war into the enemy's country ; but front the extent of terrnoty an offensive war was more easily conducted than a de. fensive one. By this mode the British troops had obtained posses sion of Armen and other conatderable places, anti the natives have expressed the highest gratification at their deliverance from the shackles of the Burmese. The Right Hon. Gentleman then pro ceeded to detail the operations of the four divisions of the British army, and stated that they had expnrienced uniform success. They had, indeed, been seriously afflicted by sickness, hut the last ac. counts represented the return of the troops to health and activity. The Right Hon. Gentleman would conclude with impressing the necessity which existed for a demonstration of vigour on the part of the British to repel insult. Situated as the Government is there, however it may regret, it cannot decline war. Mr. C. 11. HUTCHINSON rose to defend his friends who had spoken on the subject of the war in India from the attack of the Right lion. Gentleman of the Treasury Bench. Those friends had never Intended to cast any impt.tation upon the army generally ; their observations applied only to the conduct nt those alto lied in. •tituted the war, and to the difficulties to which that conduct bad led. The Right lion. Gentleman, the Secretary of the Board of Control, had charged his Hon. Friend (Mr. Hume) with having introduced episodes into his speech • he hoped he would go on without fear of being put down by the Treasury Bench, in a line of conduct which had proved so honourable to himself and useful to the country. The Speech from the Throne had one great omis pion, though he could not but say it was highly creditable gener ally, from its noticing in the first paragraph the pecuniary distresses of the country, and the determination of his Majesty's Government to meet them ; wal he (Mr. Hutchinson) could not but give his Majesty's Ministers great credit for the anxiety they had evinced in meeting them; indeed. if they did nut do so, the Ilouses of Per 'lament would. Ile could not but highly approve of the commer cial regulations which had been of late adopted ; he fully concurred also In the happiness expressed for the continuance of peace among all nations, but what he had wished to have heard was, and that was the omission of which he complained, that Ministers, in the twice of Ireland in that Speech. did not say they would promote such measures as would do good to that country, although certainly its prosperity was noticed as matter of amgrattilation. It was stated by his Majesty's Ministers, that the improved state of in. &tatty in Ireland was owing to the tranquillity it enjoyed. lie (Mr. Mitchinson) believed such to be the case, but he wished to know what assurance the House ball of its continuaece, for until the great questions that respected that country had been entertained by Parliament, the prosperity of that country rested on no stable foundation. Seven millions of persons would not be satisfied until their grievances were redressed ; and when he looked to the mili tary possession of Spain by Frazee, and remembered the combina tion of the forces of those countries in the time of Napoleon against England, he could not but look with extreme anxiety to the situa tion of those seven millions of , tubjects, and feared this country could not be considered inn state of security until the measures that respected their happiness had been carried in both Houses of Par. liament. The situation of Bavaria, and the conduct of the Sove reign of that State, was a bright example of liberal policy. lie (Mr. Hutchinson) had seen the address of the King of • France, wbo intimated therein his intention of relieving his people from nineteen millions of taxation; Iris Majesty also said, in the same address, that he had recognised the independence of St. Domingo, ter that it was necessary that the wounu which had t '' THE BRITISH PR' - , „ been so long open should be healed, and he (Mt. Ilutchineon) begged to call the attention of his Majesty's Ministers to this observation tit' the French Monarch, and hoped that eve long t h ey would conic to the game conclusion with respect to Ireland—tint the wooed which had been so long open should be heisted. lo con. elution he was bound to say that he was thankful, as an Irishman: to his Majesty's Government, for many measures which...bey hell *opted for the improvement of the state of Ireland, and its burped .tMst that pert of the Cabinet which was supposed to be in oppotn. Lion to granting relief, would aot put off the manure until some great question should sender further delay impossible. Mr. LOCKHART, in referent* to that part of the Speech frum the Throne lt allueed to the recant distress, and to the remedy proposed his Majesty's Ministers, said that he could not admire the con ed view of the Rank of ct Eriegletwi in retain ing to themselvea radios of sixty-five miles sound London, in whi was situated such a vast population, end such an immense tr They heti by this measure eliown an attention their minor int to when they had a major one before them—that of support. ing the interests of public credit. How could. they hope to be secure if other establishments should fall ? lie (Mr. Lockhart) did not wish to throw a damp upon the public mind on this sub ject; but he doubted much If the extension of the number of partners in a banking concern would add to he stability ; and it wa• sn extraordinary loin that in the country banks, amounting In number to near five hundred, few instances would be found of • partnership comprehending the number allowed by law, and it mast be inferred front that circumstance 'het the profits would not bear it. According to the view of the Right llonouruble Gentlemen oppo site, the House was to suppose that in the new joint-stock banks men of capital and property would combine. Ile (Mr. Lockhart) very much doubted that proposition, foe he could out suppose that such would be the case, when, front the improvidence of one of their body, they would be subject to bankruptcy, arrest, and ruin. Numbers would be no additional security ; public credit was not supported by numberse.•• Testes pooderenter non remunerattto." Ile (Mr. Lockhart) would look at the character of the men, and not at their num'ier. Ile would look at their chaeacter fur honesty, integrity, knowledge of business and of mankind ; those were the questions he would put, and those were the description of persons in whom alone he should have confidence; and he was sure that in possession of those requisites failure would not take place. It was those reflections that led him to doubt the efficacy of the remedy. He could have wished that a plan similar to that pursued in France had been offered instead of the one now proposed. lie alluded to common-deed partnerships, by which the parties were not liable fur a larger sum than that embarked in the concern. lie (Mr. Lock hart) regretted very much the absence of an Honourable Member from the House, hut who had been preemie in the course of the evening, as he could have given the House some valuable informa tion an to these partnerships, he having himself been concerned in some of them. As to landed property, to which the public were disposed to look, lie could say that lorded property could not be brought in aid of present relief, and this would be fully proved by looking into the law of conveyancing, and the practice of the Courts of Equity. The Honourable Gentleman said he feared he had troubled the House too long, but he was anxious to impart such information as he possessed to the House. Sir THOMAS LETHBRIDGE rose to express the diffirence of opinion he felt in respect to that part of his lion. Friend's (Mr. Lockhart) speech which regarded the joint-stock hank corn. rides, and to express his dissent front the deductions drawn by his Hon. Friend. It gave him (Sir T. Lethbridge) great satis faction to observe that part of his Majesty's Speech which al luded to the late distress; and also that his Majesty's Govern ment had met that difficulty In so manly a manner. in regard to the other parts of the Speech from the Throne, lie would confine himself to a general expression of approbation, and was glad to find such a feeling of conciliation both in and out of that House. Ile (Sir T. Lethbridge) should have abstained from any further observations, hut for something which had fallen trout his Hon. Friend the 'Member for Bridgewater. in respect to the Corn Laws. The question respecting the Corn Laws was ad_ mitred on all hands to be one of the greatest importance, and most intimately connected with, and allied to, that of the currency; and , it was impossible that any alteration of the Corn Laws could take place in the present unsettled state of the currency. as the question of currency must form the basis of such an alteration. lie felt considerable delight in thinking that a great alteration had taken place in the minds of the manufacturing classes of the empire ; they looked at it in a different point of view than they did three years ago. In the county from which lie (Sir T. Lethbridge) came, there had been some large establishments formed for the manufacturing of silk, and lie had found that the manufacturers employed possessed a far more chaste idea on the subject of the Corn Laws than they had done formerly. They saw clearly the impropriety of touching . that question, and that they were not dissatisfied with the existing agricultural prices. They felt that the present prices were at a medium rate, not so high as they were two years since, nor so low as they were in the years 1820 and 1821. It now became necessary fur him (Sir T. Lethbridge) to refer to the distress of the individuals employed in the silk trade ; and he had to make a most earnest appeal to the Bight Hon. Gentleman the President of the Board of Trade to pause before lie carried his plan of extension in this department of the manu factures of the country into operation. in a few days he should be called upon to present to the House many petitions against the measure, though he had little hopes of success, when lie recol. lected what hail fallen from the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday, and the sanction and favour with which those views of commercial policy of the Right Hon. Gentlemen of the Treasury Bench had been received by Honourable Members on the other side of the House. He (Sir T. Lethbridge) could not, under such circum. stances but feel rather startled at his own opinion,when he recollected the talents of those to whom he stood in opposition on that subject; to his own mind, however, lie felt convinced of the necessity of shaping the policy of England by reference to that of other states. Hi they were newly created, or all beginning de nova, then it mght be perfectly proper to pursue such a line of conduct ; but in an ancient State like that of England, it was necessary to proceed with the greatest caution and circumspection in the alteration of ancient usage. It was true that other countries were comparatively ancient, but still it was necessary for commercial gentlemen to look at all the circumstances, to class them together, and to ask if it was proper to throw down those ancient barriers in favour of a new system. The Right Honourable Gentleman would say lie (Sir Thomas Lethbridge) had overstated the case, but they had said they would follow that course as far as they could, and that all principles were to tend to that point; but there was no doubt in the execution of their project they had found considerable and unex. petted difficulty. lie should like to know from the Right Ho nourable Gentleman, the President of the Boanl of Trade, all that had past on this subject on his late vied to the continent ; lie had no doubt it would present a large picture of the difficulty that was felt on carrying on the system of the extension of the principles of the commercial regulations, though the blouse were assured it was WI easily accomplished as possible. Ile was confident that the inten tions of the Right Hui. Gentlemen were good, and that it was their anxious wish to do all for the beat A Right Ilonourable Gentle man had said last night, that the-regulation as regarded the silk trade was not before the (louse, and therefore, he could not give an opinion, but that he understood the difficulty arose front the market being overstocked. lie (Sir T. L.) understood from persons con. nected with the throwing and weaving department that there was no more material on hand than that required for usual consumption. He had held a conversation with a master manufacturer in the trade, and had represented to him the circumstances of the protect ing duty of' thirty per cent. The master replied that the protecting duty was altogether delusive, anti could be evaded at pleasure; that a manufacturer at Lyons had offered to supply him at ten or fifteen per cent lower than the nierket price ; and this information was nom a gentleman of great respectability. He (Sir Thomas Leth bridge) had been desired by his constituents to call upon his Ms. jesty's Ministers, and he had done so; but was anxious that what lie had said might be taken with allowance ; at the sante time the information he had submitted eight to he received as information cooling from those most anxious on a subject of the greatest in. serest to their affairs. In regard to the banking system, he was convinced that the proposition of his Majesty's Government for the establishment of joint-stock companies, auth as those enacted last session fur Ireland, and as had existed some years in Scotland, wou.d have the happiest effect, and be of the greatest advantage. Those countries had suffered little or no panic from the recent state of the country. Thirty-five years' experience, the Honourable Gentleman said, had proved to him that the grand question to be settled was that of the currency; when that was dose, prices would not fluctuate—not be high at one time nor low as they had been in 1821. lie feared that the issuing of one and two pound notes would lead to great inconvenience, inasmuch as they would be paid into the hands of poor people, who would re. quire immediately to change them, and for which a supply of gold or silver coin must be supplied. He thought silver would be the best hate, because if an mane of gold coin took place, and the ex. change came against England, Beery gold coin would be exported. The Hon. Gentleman then proceeded to deprecate the project of withdrawing small mites from circulation ; it was in this currency that the dealings of the lower classes were carried on, it was in this they were paid their wages; then what would be their eituati A under the new measure? It was proposed when the paper was with drawn to till up the-vacancy with gold and silver; but the precious metals were liable to variation, circumstances altered their worth, and might expose the holders of them to considerable lose. The lion. Gentleman declined entering any further into details, and concluded by observing that lie returned his sincere thanks to his Majesty's Ministers for taking tip the question and giving it a con. opicuous position. Ile would then say no more at present, panieu. tarty as die Right Hon. Gentleivan had given notice of bringing forward his one:mire in a more detailed form. . _ Mr. HUME rose merely in order, before the separation of the House, to make some observations on what had fallen from the Hon. Bart. whose speech exceeded in inconsistency any thing he ever heard. The lion. Gent. had said that the question of Corn Laws was closely allied with that of the currency. lie might as well have said that the clingier of the East India Comnany was related to the currency. The Hon. Gent. could not believe that the people were generally averse to corn laws, or that they prefer red paying one shilling than only sixpence fora loaf. He wished the Hon. Bart. would call to mind what had been said to him In a public address at Manchester in favour of the corn laws or that he would recollect the period so.en he himself evinced •the greatest anxiety to make the alteration proposed. Prices of agricultural produce were then low, but now when they are high the Hon. Burt. evinces an equal degree of anxiety that they should remain FO, nor is he to be blamed in obeying the dictates of his interest. It is the public that pays in every instance of monopoly. The public pays the East India Company, the public pays the flank, and in like manner it will pay the landholders among other moor. polists, unless the corn laws be revised. With respect to the silk trade the lion. Gent. applied to it the principle that it was impos. slide to carry on trayle without competition—from competition trade has nothing to fear, but owes to it MLitt' energy. lie hail taken cure to consult some of the most eminent manufamirers in this PILICHS OF SHARES ?ESTER:DAV. NINEs. Share. Patti. Premium per Share. Anglo-Mexican £lOO 40 4 5 4dis Brazilian Chilittn Engtish Ns:co-Peru limn Itsul del Monte 4OO 400 par Ditto New 5O 20 Ailed 31exican Mao New IVelsh Iron and Coal 40 20 -- 40 10 3A 2i 25 20 7 ills • ASSURANCE C 0 SIPA N lES. flaiSOCe British and Foreign... 100 10 1 MIRCEI.I.ANIMITS• . Australian Ilritish Iror General Steam Navigation lOO 5 If dis (kohl Coast Association Metropolitap A Merin , Dairy 23 4 1 die Provincial Bank of Ireland lOO 10 branch, and they had all agreed in replying that they feared no thing from the rivahy of France hi plain article., though unable to contend with her in work* of a fancy description ; this latter, how. ever, was an inconsiderable matter, and no valid objection to a free trade. lie hoped therefore Ministers would proceed with &ter mination in their plans of emancipating commerce from unnatural restraints, nor be deterred from pushing the application of these principles even to the corn laws. Ile did not wish to see the land ed intermit depressed, but merely desired the abolition of a pernicious system ; he regretted that constitution of Parlia ment which made Ministers afraid to bring forward a mew sure, in which he believed the reasons of all acquiesced; but they dreaded the powerful influence opposed to it, topes. cially in another house. But let them do their duty. Let them bring the measure before this House, and if it be afterwards rejected in another place, then we are exempt from blame. lie again protested against the truth of the statement mode by !he Hon. 'Baronet respecting the prevailing sentiments of the people on this measure, or that the manufacturers ever.intimated a wash.to buy r their bread at a dear rate. The Hon. Gentleman regretted ex tremely that so little care had been expended in the speech from the Throne on the concerns of nearly one million of people. They had been thought hardly wort notice, yet the manner in which the liberty of the press had been crushed in India was deserving of the graves: consideration. The liberty of the press may, perhaps, be legally restrained in this country, but certainly there is not any statute for that purpose. Now, the Governors-General of India are only inipowered to make such alterations in the internal police of that country as are not inconsistent with the law of England ; in this instance,•however, they have deviated widely from time laws of England, for they have crushed the freedom of the press in India, without the shadow of a legal proceeding. This Instance of op pression is iniportant, not merely in •its individual application, but also as a speethien of thotvranny which galls a hundral millions of his 31njesty's subjects. Ile had called the war in India unprofit able as well as unjust, and lie repeated the term, although some lion. Gentlemen affected to be blind to the connexion between war and profit; but Government had always considered the wars in India in that point of vicir; it was de. m A the lc ettest mu rit of the Marquis Wel lesky to have added a large revenue to our Indian dominionv. The Hon. Gentleman said he participated in the ge neral mistrust of Lord Amherst's capacity; he would ask the Right lion. Gentleman opposite whether the Court of Directors did not unanimously declare their want of confidence in his Lordship ? Since there is no answer (said the lion. Gentleman, looking at the Treasury benches), I take the silence as an admission of the fact. The lion. Gentleman the° proceeded to state that lie had ;most re ceived letters from India, wuitten by persons of character and good sense, all which corroborated the low opinion he entertained of Lord Amherst, not in his private capacity (for he might be an amiable or even an able man in domestic life), but solely as arbiter of the destinies of so many millions. The Hon. Gentleman then read a few sentences from his letters, which generally comb la ned of the imbecility of the present Government of India. He then I proceeded to say these were the opinions of persons the best cal. ciliated to judge of Indian affairs, and whether Lord Amherst was capable or not, he was unfit to preside over a great empire, while Cie unanimous voice of the people was against him. India was filled with alarm ;• twelve regiments had been despatched to the ,western country, and no one could account for it, while every little disaster spread a double gloom, from the want of confidence in the presiding authority. 31r. FREE3IANTLE assured the lion. Gentleman that the tone of Indian correspondence was not uniformly melancholy. Every letter he read afforded expectations of a speedy and honour. able termination to the war; with respect to the degree of confi dence which the Court of Directors reposed in Lord Amherst, the Hun. Gentleman ought to know that, if the Court of Directors were dissatisfied with his 'Lordship, they had it in their power to recall him ; therefore that point was also replied to. Put what could be more unbecoming than to attack the character of Lord Amherst with scraps from anonymous leturs. (Mr. HOME denied that they were anonymous.) The lion. Gentleman proceeded—Would the House believe— would the country believe that Lord Amherst was to be decided on by this sort of evidence. It did not become the Hon. Gentleman to endeavour to raise an odium against an individual by vague and sweeping declarations. Let him not rely on letters penned, per haps, by ignorance or malice; but if he has any precise point for any specific cause of disatisfaction let him bring it forward in a deliuite shape, and he had no dou bti his Right Hon. Friend (Mr. Wynne) would lend him his aid in its investigation. The report was then brought up. On the motion that it be'read a third time, Sir C. FORBES said a few words in explanation. Mr. WYNNE thought that nothing could be more unfair then to judge of the conduct of the Governor General from the innumer able letters of idle gossip of which India was so prolific, and which seemed as if written for amusement, merely to try how far the cre dulity of those who read them would go. Mr. 11U311: said they were good letters, and as much to be de pended on as any read by the flight Honourable Gentleman, but facts that were viewed with cold indifference here made a deep impression on those who were near the scene of action. In the un fortunate affair at Barrackpore, the native troops had represented to Government that they were unable to march from the effects of disease, and no notice whatever was taken of their complaints. If this report be true, does not some blame attach to Government? When it took the resolution of dismissing the regiment, did it not involve indiscriminately the innocent and the guilty. It subjected to indignities men of high religious caste, an imprudence, the consequences of which could be only estimated by persons practi cally acquainted with the country, If he did not produce docu ments to support his allegations, it was only because lie was unable to procure them, they were refused to him at the India House and wherever else he sought them. lie was taunted for not producing papers which the possessors of them were uniformly careful to withhold. Mr. FREEMANTLE assured the lion. Gentleman that he was mistaken when he asserted that the complaints of the troops in India were not listened to ; on the contrary, no cessation of cor respondence between the Government and the troops occurred up to the fatal moment; but every exertion had been made to prevent the ripening of the discontent. The Government had even consented to treat with any person in whom the troops could confide. hut found all their overtures towards an explanation rejected. With respect to the health of the native army many mistatements had gone abroad, of which one fact might serve as an example. In the course of last year it was reported that in one regiment (the 30th) there was not one soldier capable of doing duty, Now the fact was that that regiment never had less than 300 men capable of fiervice. This was one example of the nature of gossiping in ormation. Air. HUME said a few words in explanation. The Report on the Address was then read a third time, and was ordered to be presented to his Majesty by such of the Members of the House as are also Members of the Privy Council. The House then adjourned at Eight o'clock till Monday. PRICES OF BRITISH Bank Stock 214 Ditto Acct. 212 214 3 per Cent. Red. tlq, 3 ner Cent. Cons. 79 3 Ditto Acct. 80 7t 7t03 731 34 per Cent. 89 IA per Cent. Red. 811 givr 4 per Cent. ittit 37 34 TACKS YESTERDAY. Long Ann. 19 13-16 13-16 India Stock 2361 234 i India Bonds 6 S 6 pm South Vies Stock a 51.6601 par 1 die Ditto. hOO/. par 1 pat Ditto Smell 2 4 pm Lottery Ticketa IW. 19s. PRICES (►F FOREIGN Austrian Bonds 924 Braidllan Bonds 6n4 GO I Yitto Acct. 60 Milian Bonds Colombian Bonds 491 Diao Bonds (1824) 58i 9 1 Ditto Acct. oGi a :II La 4 banish Bonds 54 Week Bonds (1825) 15.1 Ditto Acct. 16 Guadalajara Bonds STOCKS I'ESTERDA V. Mexican Bonds Ditto Bonds (1620 87 6} I Ditto Acct. ti 7 6} } t $ $ Peruvian Bonds 42 1 Prussian Bonds 93. Ditto Bonds (1822) 02} 2 Russian Bonds 641 i t Ditto Acct. 64} Spanish Ronda 11} $ 12 . 114 Lasso Acct. 114 t } Ditto 510, 114 12 NO C YESTERDAY. COUBSE OF EXCII 19 8 Uritto at Bight 19 RoUordarn ....2 U. 19 V Antwerp 12 9 11}an burgh 21 U. 37 3 Alton a 91 U. 37 4 Paris,3 day COO t 26 40 tritte ..... , 9 U. 26 05 %Herm: 25 63 fleolio ~.. . ... 7 0 Franl:.;tl - 31 ... i ... 31.154 Psteraburgh, role. 3 Us. 0i Vlenna,elrevivefl. 2 M. 10 16 Tikeste ditto 10 16 31ttdrid 30! Cadiz 36 4; Bib, • 36, Rarelona . - "6 ..361 Gibraltar 31 Leghorn 48 Genoa 4 Venice 0 Malta Naples —4 . ........1/1 Palermo ..... pse oz. 120 Lisbon 40! Oporto , 30 RtoJaneiro 45 "labia 40 1 Winos Apes 43 Dublin Clark l. Hui-1.'1414,p1' oz. .E. s. 4. Portugal Goldin coin 0 0 0 Foreign Gold in barb I 17 New onbloons 314 V New hollers 0 0 0 Silrer in bars, stand U 3 1 DRURY-LANE THEATHR. This Evenfng, S iTURO4V, Pei. 4, ;tit be pert .inn ... ed (nth il me) a now National Ballad Opera, called MAIN IN A. The principal Characters by ideana.Wallark. 91p Clair , Horn Bedford, Marley, and Fitzwililam ; Waste Stephens. Povey, and K e n,. To entionidle with the Pantomime of • ItANI.64I:IN, JACK OF All, TRADES. Harlequin, Mr. Howell; Pantaloon, Mr. T. inanchsrd t Clown, Hllll Columbine, Miss Barnett. On Monday, Malvin; and the Pantomime. COVENT-GAltdillf This livening, SATUR Mt V, ►eb. 4, will be perfdrused the Mr 0( THIg TEMPINT. Proepero, Mr. Wards; Prince Ferdinand, Mr. Cooper; Mr. illatiebard ; Sambas's., Mr. W. Farrell (Wilma ' , Mr. hyper, Dorinrta, Miss Paten; Miranda, Mlss Harnatersiey ; 4Hel , Nils. Caws*. _ 4fter whlrh the new Piece of ttORAII ; or, TIIP: GIRL Eg IV. The Charseteta by M . Egerton, t'ffinter, and Connor; Mus e . L a and ("ward, and Mre. tilorer. On Monday, Venice Preeerred i and the Pantomime. ADELPHI THEATRk, STRAND. Tale Evening, VAITIWA V, reb. 4, MIl he presented the Na t a l ", blein-Dratmetle Marietta of THE PILOTt. ----- Or. A TALE Or THE SE %. The prinelral Characters by Mewls. Terry. Yates, T. P. Cooke, and .1. Reeve; and Mrs.Fltswilliam. After which a hew Marietta, called THE ANACONDA! Tlile TERRIFIC SEELPENF OF CgYLON. Th., principal Characters by Messrs. Terry, S. Smith, glum. led J. Reeve; and Mrs. Fitzwilliarn. To oonelude with the t'nmle Pantor;titne of THE THREE GULDEN Or, 14ARLFQIIIN AND THE wizAito DWARF. Harlequin, Mr. W. Kirby; Pantaloon. Mr. F.Illott; Cimrn , Cann? Paulo; Columbine. Mlas Eihr air egg. The Bad TIIll Puss. commenced publishing yesterday ruumicg at half-past tiveo'clock. LONDON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1824. The French Papers received last night arc occupied principally with the measures connected with the opening of the Chambers. The Russian official Gazette announces that the late conspiracy had extensive ramifications in the interior of the Empire, particularly at Kiew. A list of the ringlea lers has been published by order of the Govern. mein. We cannot help listening with great suspicion to these statements. What revolutionary design could any man, not absolutely lunatic, hope to accomplish in such a country as that? IVe shall ace, in due time, what sort rf proof is brought forward to substantiate these allegations. The private correspondence of the Pilote gives us some further details of the relief of Itlissolonglii. The arrival of Aliat: its with the Greek fleet happily saved the be. siege(' when destruction menaced them in its most alarming form. The loss of the Turco-Egyptian fleet is stated at 16 vessels burned and sunk, and the slaughter of the rc. pulsed assailants on land was exceedingly great. A report was circulated that COLOCOTHONI had surprised Tripo line, and put the Egyptian garrison to the sword. ',From the Etoik dated Thursday, February 2.] PARIS, FEB. 1, The official Gazette of St. Petersburgh contains the following Ukase, addressed the 2lith December (old style), by his Majesty the Emperor to the Directing Senate : " As a testimony of our particular gratitude for the services of the late Governor of St. Petersburgh, General Milaradouitscb, we appoint to the office of Councillor of State his relation M. :Wilms. dowitseb, who is attached to the Procurator of the Senate in the first section of the fifth department." His Alsjestv the Emperor Nicholas has provisionally co ,, firrni in Weir functions all the Ambassadors, Ministers, and Char s d'Affaires at foreign Courts. New credentials hare been sent by Count Nesselrode, Minister of Foreign Affairs. The funeral procession which will bring to St. Petenburgh :be mcrtal remains of the Emperor Alexander, set out from Tagarrig on the 7th. In consequence of the division adopted for the jour ney, it will travel only fifty or sixty worsts daily. On the 111th nuary it will arrive at Charkow ; the 25th at Kursk ; the Atli at Orel ; sth February at Toula ; 12th at Moscow (where It will re main till the 15111); 20th at Titer ; 4th 51arch at Novogore.l: 9th at Zarsknjoselo. The solemn ceremony of the burial will rake place on the 24th March, the anniversary of the Emperor's acces sion to the throne. The conspiracy of the nh inst. has extensive ramifications in the interior of the empire. It has been traced chiefly at Klee.. o n the 3d January an official pamphlet was published, containing act: of the principal ringleaders. (From the Pilot' of Wednesday.l (PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE.) LEGHORN', JAY. 2^.. After so many vague and contradictory reports respecting the Ise events in Greece, we have just receivel the most authentic despatches respecting the battle which has once more saved Nis. solonght front the fury of the barbarians. The Porte. tired of the promises of Redschid, and despairing of his ever making himself master of that town, had exiled him to Asia, where death ell perhaps soon overtake him. Jussuff Pacha being appointed in his room, left Patraa, the command of which he gave up to bra. him, with the Turkish fleet and 7,000 men, commanded by the apostate Seloes. These troops joined the remains of the army of Redschid Pacha; and on the 30th December 31issqlonghi was ag:;rl attacked by sea and land. The garrison defended it with unpa ralleled courage; yet it was threatened with total destructioe, when the Greek fleet, consisting of 72 vessels, appeared in the gulf. Th^ brave illinulis minectivred on this occasion with so much ability that he forced the Turco-Egyptian fleet to a general action, which was very obstinate. The ship of sliaulis was sunk, but he happily got on board another, with his crew. At length victory declared for the Greeks; the enemy took to flight, after having lost above 111 vessels, as well frigates as brigs, which were burnt and sunk. The Greeks lost four vessels, the crews of !hien were almost all saved. As for the Turks who attacked on the land side, they not only I failed in their enterprize, but after having been driven far from the town by the girt-ton of 7,0011 men, and by 3,000 fresh troops. whom Aliaulis had landed, they were almost all destroyed. A re. port is even current at this moment, which, if true, would crown the joy of the Greeks. It is said that Colocotroni, profiting by the absence of Ibrahim niche, has made himself master Of Tripolizza, the Egyptian garrison, which has been cut to pieces. FaENCaI FUNDS.—PARis, Fes. I.—Five per Cents. zit 30e. ; Three per Cents. ti7f. Mc. • Bank Stock, 20.15 f. ' • Bente de Na ples, 78f.; Royal Spanish L oan, 11123 , 49f. Exchange on Lon don—One month, 25f. 25c. ; three months, 251.—Court As. thoilipc, Feb. I. Now that the subject of paper-currency, as connected _ . with the unrestrained issue of country bank paper, is taken under the immediati consideration of Parliament, the application of some remedy may be confidently looked for, that will provide against the recurrence of those calamitous failures by which commercial credit has been so extensively deranged. The leading measure of this reme dial system, it seems, will be the removal of the present limitation 1 114 e number of partners, which, by the is charter gralcdAn the Bank of England, cannot ex ceed six, Aluas praise is certainly due to that Com pany for the readiness with which they have consented to relinquish their exclusive privilege of exceeding thi number in favour of all minor establishments, the stability of which this concession will effectively tend to secure. The Bans itself, we think, cannot fail to he btncfited by whatever measure may have the effect of plac ing the provincial banks on an ultimately safe and sol vent basis. At present the Company is obligati, at a loss, to be provided against any season of alarm or embarrassment which may occasion a run upon the country bankers, and compel theta on a sudden to turn their sere rities into Bank of England notes to be exchanged for c 1 h, which the Directors must of necessity supply. The hear) , and unexpected demands made at the same moment on the Bankers in London, occasioned " by the necessity of pro' riding for the pressing exigencies of the banks in the country to which they are agents, operate to drain the Bank of England of specie—to enforce the curtailment cf discount—to enhance all the difficulties occasioned by tl: pressure on public and private credit, and to aggravate :i: • the mischiefs of a disordered paper currency. Tha 11,e , must supply the deficiency of gold displaced by the CNC:* bitant issue of local notes, as well as of that portion whi ..1 ii ,