The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1824-02-12 00:00:00

EIRLIAMEATART INTILLIGENCE. NOM OF LORIN. Wsusgssay, Fxs. 'Counsel wen Weed Ildemerniog in the Queensberry cause. At Sven%leak *dr Iseetbidee wet, when Mr. Solt, from tlte l Bank d MOM. st the bee, and resented an account of the ineedes by the Cosnmilaioners in discharge of the Nadeerd Debt,* the dth January, nal. Adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, WIDIZSDAY, Fes. H. The SOLICITOR-GENERA I. took the usual oaths, and his seat foe Oxford. The Han. Gentleman was obliged to renew his oaths on account of his acespoince of Ace. The CHANCELLOR of the E XV H EQUER moved for copies of all correspondence between the First hoed of the Treasury and the Chancellor of the Exchequer with the Bank, relative to the ad vance of money on Exchequer bills.—Ordered to be printed. USURY LANK. ......... 31r. Sergeant ONSLOW brought ito a Bill for prohibiting the advance of undue sums for the loan of money, and regulating the rate of interest. _ _ . The 1101 war read a first time, and orderod to be read again on 31onday. • COAL DUTY. Mr. Alderman BRYDGES presented a petition from the Ward of Bridge.sneet, praying for a repeal of the duty on coals. IRISH DEBT. Mr. MABERLY said, that he had to move for certain papers, minder to acquire •information as to the relative situation in which this country stood to Ireland, in regard of the respective expen. diture of the tem,eountries. The present was a particularly suit. able period for introducing the present motion, as the ('hancellor of th; Lxchequer intended shortly so ,bbmit to the Howe a plan for the collection of the tax." of the ensuing year. He would be ready to shape his motion in whatever manner the Right [Ton. Gel. Vernon might think proper to suggest. From the opihions which he expressed last Session, he anticipated that the Right lion. Gen tleman was not adverse to the principle of it ; he would therefore move that the House may be furnished with an account of the amount of ete debt, funded and unfurded, in Ireland, from Jan. 5. 17111, to the Union, and from the Union tethe consolidation of the Exchequers of the two eonntries, in 1819; also the charge of interest on the same, the supplies paid out of it, the drawbacks, 6.c., and the amount of population in each year. The t'IIANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, he cer tainly did not object to the principle of the motion made by the lion. Member, but when a period so far back as 17111 was referred to. be suggested to the Hon. Member the difficulty of preparing satisfactory accounts of so distant a date. His objection was, that they could not be conveniently made up within the time required ; however. as he had no objection to the principle of the motion, he would not oppose the production of the documents sought for; he begAed to say that an abstract of the items of accounts (to which the Hou. Member referred) of last year, was in a state of forward. r.et., and would he soon ready for delivery amongst Members. Mr. MABERLY (a. we understood) replied, that the accounts for which be sought might with facility be copied nom the- Irish J Annals. Ordered to be produced. IRISH LAW COITRTS. Mr. GOVLBURN brought up a Bill for regulating Fees on the SITU side of the Court of King's Bench. The Bill referred to the substitution of certain stipulated payments to the officers of the Court, in lieu of fees which they hitherto received. Read a firm tune. _ _ COLLECTION OF REVENUE. Colonel DAVIES said, that during the last Session of Parlia ment he had mentioned the made in which the revenue was col lected. He then understood it was the int-ntion of Government to take updic subject. Ile was convinced Coat a saving of several hundred thousand pounds might be made to the country in the mode of collecting the excise and export duties. It was front • conviction of the great saving that would be made to the country that he was induced to move for certain papers relative to the charge of collecting the revenue, unless Government pledged itself to take the subject op. Mr. H E KR lES said that he could not say any thing definitively further upon the subject, than that it was one %hich was under the consideration of the Lords of the Treasury. The arrange meets had not been, as yet, ultimately determined upon ; but they were in a satisfactory train, and would, he was confident, ere long be completed. BANK NOTES. 111 , ' I Mr. MANNINO was not is Ids place yeateeday when En Hon. Member (Mr. Drenfell) mold for a return of the bank notes sad bank bills in circulation from January, 1823, to the latest period, specifying the number and value of each. His absence yes terday, when the Hon. Member moved fur such documents, was oressioned by his attendances' a meeting of West India merchants, wherein he would have been in his place to resist the application of the Hoo. Member. Anterior to the restriction in 1797, it was incumbent on the Bank to furnish accounts of their issues of the uumber ar d amount of the bank notes and post bills which they circulated ; but since the sesumptioa of cash payments that re. antigen was removed hum them, and they were no longer bound by that obligation. Any perton might now send a note or post bill of any amount to the Bank, and he would receive cash for it ; and further, the Bank was not responsible to the individual. He had no objection, as a matter of private explanation, or for the Information of any eentleman who may require it, to communicate to him any knowledge he might possess. and with propriety intimate on the sub ject of the arida of the Bank t but he protested against the prin ciple of telling for papers sad documents relative to the concerns at the Beak, after the period bad mepired when such documents might with propriety be demanded. It eau not that he was unwil- Imp that the papas in this instance should be produced, but he was unwilling that the present motion should be established into a pre cedent for similar proceedian in future. Mr. OR ENFELL was of opinion that it was of the utmost im. portanes to the public, that the country should be made acquainted with die issues of the Bank. It should be recollected, that the incsay placed greater confidence in this than in any private bank —that a large capital was entrusted to its management, and that it wee thseefixe important foe the coup to be made acquainted with the cosalact of near in whom they such almost unlimited 7 ared cotdidenee. The HOD Gent. had re erred to an Act, under which he claimed exemption for the Dank from an examination into their acesents. Foe his part he was of opinion that their accounts should be subject to anneal inepection, and on Tuesday he would take the mass of the House whether or not the Bank should pro duce their 61110:11111111 annually and make them liable to the exami nation and investigation of ilie House. QUALIFICATION OF JURORS. Mr. WESTERN resumed his motion relative to the qualifies. tin of psuena serving on juries. The principle of his present bill was similar to that of last Session, to extend the eligibility of jurors to panne possessed of a certais personal property. At resent, the ti of serving oa juries was limited to those who enjoyed a snide, and in some instances to those who were possessed tit a copybold property. In London, a hundred pounds was the queilideation sum; in boroughs, forty pounds; and in other places the qualification was less. Instance* were to be found where a juror, p . osiossieg • freehold of ten guineas, was eligible so serve ono • jury. Thus frequently persons, not the most eligible or toe most competent to discharge the important duties of jury. men, were selected ; whilst others of greater competency and fitness for the situation were excluded, or rather excused from the trust (which they were so well adapted to execute. This was the evil that toadied from the exemption of persons of large personal pro perty ; but who may not happen to possess any freehold property, from anemia= as jurors. Persons of extreme poverty were found se the panel, whilst others of affluence and education were ex cluded on this account. As a proof of the statement he had made, lie would suer to the county of Essex, where, in several parishes; tte thinner of jurors was very disproportionate to the wealth of the respective parishes. The Learned Gentleman proceeded to enumerate the instances of several parishes, in which this dispro portion principally prevailed. In one, where the Rector received 4411111 L per annum, there was only one qualified juryman; in solother, which yielded an income of 91,0001., there were but 117. After detailing other lusterless, in winch the representative+ of property were ineligible as jurors, he referred to the bill which he had previously introduced, as one adjusting the portion of property which should quality a person to be a juryman. To a portion of Fennel property, be would make it also necessary that he should bs a bousehulder, and pay the assessed taxes. In his anxiety to leonine die present bill, he wassolely actuated by a sense of duty, sad by a desire of increasing the *lifeguard& sad protections of the laws and liberties of the country. The *agitate which principally related to the formation of juries, were the 4th and sth of William and Mary, and 4th of Gat rge lit. In the consolidation of these Acts, with the additions he had suggested, a satisfactory . form Could, he felt satisfied, be made out for the eligibility of jurors. It might undergo funha improvements in its progress through the House. Afar a slight allusion to the bill, which the Right Hoot ravenry (Mr. Peel) had in preparation on the seine subject, he moral For leave to bring in a bill " to atilx the Qualifications of JurOra." Mr. LEYCESTE It seconded the motion. That to those who pos. raid freehold prepertyshotad be solely assigned the duties of ones, and that others should he exeladcd from those ditties, wall attributable to the antiquated prejudirts of the old feudal policy. For his part, he thought that the justice of the country would be best admini stered by placing each member of the community under an equal *hare of hohility i of course he spoke of those who were competent to hill the important dunes of jurors. From the enlarge. meet of the qualifications of jurors, lie anticipated many advan tages ; but the particular gond which be contemplated was, from the increased attendance of j urors at the third Issue of the year. The obstacle which was hitherto made to the third assize of the year would be thereby in • great degree renioved, tied fresh faci lities Weeded for the administration of justice. It was the duty of this legislature to make an economical arrangement of the judicial men* of the country, and an efficientdistribut ion of ins fine. He saw no ma nn why one class of men, not titan competent than another, should beet rusted .ith the eiclusivedischarge of ail ii . ,purtantduty. 31 ail of their law arrangements were susceptible of improvement. It appeared then that there was no peculiar chant, in the number lour; and if it wax not fur the sake of the ancient custom, which Kaye a kind of title to that number, there cuuld be no reasonable objection to its limitation. Bat was that number sanctioned by an t-Win LANge ? Certainly net. 'Within legal memory it had been reduced froni six or sea a to four ; and a further ralustion, he was ' prise beneficial to the atiministtation of justice: -- --s this measure from the inevitahls tendency it ird Aaizes, the utility of which, if any Gen hilt, look to Hertford. Did they nut know ',Voir:, the institution of which had been so' vrocious murderer had been convicted, and n he so well merited, without living on until' stigniatieiog the country by his existence ! success to his lion. Friend's proposition, not merely fbe Its own lake,int items he regarded It as a safe peell.' minify to that measure which be felt so emeotial to the pure admi. nistration ofiustico—a thied Assizes. ••• Tbe SPE A KER rose to put the question. Captain ABERLY. I understood that the Right Hon. Stitavary (Mr. Peel) intimated his intention of bringing in a Bill similar to that now proposed. Mr. Secretary PEEL—No. Captain MAIIERLY.—WeII, if not precisely similar, I at least ' understood that it was his intention is introduce a bill, the object of which is to consolidate the laws on this subject. Then we shall have two bills—the one, the measure of the Honourable Member fix Esser, with its various provisions; and the second proceeding from the Honourable Secretary—the object of whose bill will be to comprise and consolidate all the laws on this question ; so that we shall have a bill too much. . r. WESTERN, in explanation, said he should guard against the inconveniences suggested by the Honourable Gentleman, as soon as he precisely understood it. At present he owned, that the dilemma so gravely urged was not quite intelligible to his capacity. Mr. LOCKHART could assure the Honourable Member for Essex, that he was very far from wishing to oppose the bill, for the introduction of which he was so 11011C1tOLLS ; at the same time it was a measure obviously entitled to pest consideration, and in all its stages, even in this its very commencement, the measure should be treated with extreme caution, and temperately and fully consi dered. The composition of juries was the paramount object of the bill. It had, indeed, been said by an Honourable Gentleman, that " the prejudice of our feudal ancestors had cast upon the free- holder the obligation of a juror." I (said Mr. Lockhart) think it was not in prejudice, but in the spirit of a philosophy which did honour to that age, that the office of juror was restricted to the freeholder, tw cause the freeholder is at once qualified for that duty and interested in its discharge. Upon him most properly devolved the task of defending the rights and property of his fellow-subject ; their rights from the oppression of the Crown—their property against menaced injustice. It was too much the fashion to at- 1 1 tribute some of the most judicious resolutions of our &nem- tors, as well as the wisest perseverance of our own times in • good cause to prejudice; but it is to that prejudice, as it is most improperly termed, that we owe our present enviable situation, and the blessings of our free constitution. He certainly could not ap. prove of any system that would have the effect of excluding our old yeomanry front their participation in the assizes—from the share which they had so long taken in their humble sphere in the ad ministration of justice. There was about that class of yeomanry • via irsertkr--2 steady feeling, that would not suffer them to be led away, either, on the one band, by fantastic schemes of imaginary improvements, or, on the other, by the vain threats of boasting W hitton. I regard the Trial by Jury, not merely as the palladium of English liberty, bat as the mews of di ffer ing among the peo ple—aniung the yeomanry of the country, more extensive hifonnat' non. There is scarcely &single (trial at which they assist, that is not proudly mentioned by them in all its details to their friends and associates, and thus a spirit of inquirylarises, and a desire of applying that spirit to other and more important objects. I am, however, friendly to any measure which may, without injuring the character of the law serve to consolidate and improve it. Mr. Secretary PEE!. said—l concur, in point of fact, with some parts of the statement of the lion. Member for Essex; at least to this I give my full assent, that the subject well deserves consideration, and to the suggestion of my Hon. Friend (the Mem ber for Oxford) I am convinced the House will feel themselves called on to attend. I mean that they will use in this investigation the utmost diligence, and the most extreme caution. But I can.' not understand the reasoning of my Hon. Friend, which, while it admits that essential benefits and extensive information are the its. tural offspring of Trial by Jury, to limit this advantage by cootinuing the exclusion (hear). lit very argument proves the utility of extension, and the injustice of limitation (hear). The great object of the Billed the Hon. Member for Essex, is to regu. late the qualifications of jurors by personal property ; and these qualifications he says prevail, and are acted under in many Bo rough'. Now I beg to advise the Honourable Member to consider whether a qualification such as he suggests would not extend the privilege to much too large a class. The amount of property too— the ascertainment of I property, most be a subject of consi derabie difficulty. Upon the petty constable, an officer of not a very responsible character, devolved the duty of making out the returns, and it was rather an inconvenient inquisition to assign to him the deteeminiug of who were possessed of one hundred a year. Mr. WESTERN—Four hundred is the sum that I proposed. Mr. PEEL.—WeII, any sum you please ; but I am afraid that the duty of the prityconstable will not be the leas Irksome. Therefore I should submit whether it would not be better to ma nage the qualification, either by the payment of poor's rates, or some other mode under Parliamentary regulation. Such payment, the House is aware, would at once determine the eligibility or hi. eligibility of persons to serve us Juries. The same arguments apply with respect to challenge. I am very desirous not to enter upon the details of this Bill at present. I wish to reserve them for a MOM fining opportunity, when we have the advantage of the as sistance of the Attorney and Salience General. i certainly shall not object to the Bill. With respect to the difficulty suggested by the Hon. Member opposite (Capt. Alaberly), the more effectual mode of meeting that objection, as it seems to me,.will`be to allow' this Bill to go into a Committee, where we may discuss its details and suggest our improvement. Mr. WESTERN in reply said, that he should not detain the House further than to say that he anticipated no difference between himself and the Right Hon. Secretary, as to the essentiatpartsor the proposed mama.. The present mode of seeertaihillrehe qua- Markle of Jurors was not a lees inconvenient inquisition then that peeseribed by his MIL Leave was then given to bring in a bill foe affixing the qualifi. cation of Jurors. — Mi. 4 7 1;4ERN then moved," That an Address should - be presented to his Majesty, humbly praying that he would be planed to order that there be laid before the House a return of the number' of persons tried on the Hoene Circuit in the third assizes of 1822 and litZ, specifying the ch.ares under which the prisoners wen committal, and the numbers acquitted" CRUELTY TO ANIMALS RILL. Mr. R. MARTIN said —" I rise, Sir, to ask permission Nom the House to amend a Bill which I had formerly the honour of in. traducing, and of following out to a successful termination—" The Cruelty to Animals' HilL" 31y object is to protect other animals, from the barbarous cruelty too frequently inflicted upon them, and to punish the wanton and brutal torturers. I can discover no rea son why dogs. for instance, should not be protected. Mr. HUME—And rats. Mr. BIARTIN—Oh, Eli leave the rats to you; you are better ac quainted with their " natural history." Sir, I sat that the most shameful cruelty has been long wantonly inflicted upon dogs, and I shall mention an instance which lately occurred, and of which every one must have heard who takes an interest in these subjects. An unfortunate dog, tempted perhaps by hunger, entered the shop of a fishmonger, and the monster flung upon the miserable animal a quantity of boiling water, so that the dog expired in a short time, enduring the most excruciating torture. It is a well-authenticated fact that in the cooks' shops It was formerly deemed nothing more than prudence and precaution to preserve a quantity of vitriol ready for the reception of a hungry dog. I have another object in the, amendment of this BilL lam anxious to make the cruel treatment of animals a misdemeanor. Thismeasure will give to the accused so opportunity of trial before the Quarter Sessions, instead of the summary jurisdiction which now is given under the Act, but which, still, it is not my intention to destroy. The cruelly which has been shamefully Inflicted upon horses, upon cattle of all descrip tions, cannot he adequately met by fine, but it requires a severer and a more rigorous punishment. Such punishment can only be inflicted by making the cruelty a misdemeanor. There was s case which occurred the other day at Holloway, which, for its barbarous atrocity and mean cruelty, has never, I think, been surpassed in the annals of crime. A 'insertion residing in that village applied a slow fire to the billy of a horse, and caused it to continue there until the &Houten actually frU into the flames. Sir, it is to pun ish such diabolical acts as I have described that I desire to make I cruelty to animals a misdemeanor, and I now move ycu that leave be given to bring in a Bill to amend an Act for preventing cruelty to animals. Lord SANDHAM seconded the motion. Leave was given to bring in the BilL Mr. MARTIN—I have now, Sir, another Bill topropme, to which I anticipate no opposition ; its object is to abolish bear baiting, and other brutal sports • I shall therefore move for leave to bring in a Bill to abolish bea r-baiting, &c. The SPE:IKER-11'ho seconds the motion? No Hon. Member ruse. lifahlA RT IN—lf Mr. Alderman Bridges was here he'd second 4. He told me he approved of it. (A laugh.) The motion harlot; been seconded, Mr. Secretary PEEL rose, and said that he was as much dia. pawed as isoy one to do justice to the motives of the lion. Member I for Galway. Ido not (said Mr. Peel), object to his amendment of the Cruelty to Animals Bill; but tha• a bill of this description j should be introduced as a matter of course, unaccompanied by explanation, without one argument to recommend it, and certainly j well meriting ark,nimat and discussion.—this, I own, surprises we; and I cannot acquiesce in a measure so important, and yet intro., ducal by so Mitt' an explanation. If my lion. Friend were to pro. pose that all pains inflicted on animals, except such pain as was absolutely necessary to geprive them of life fur the use of man— that all such unnecessary pain should be the subject of punish ment, then I can at least understand the equal character of my HMV Friend's legislation. If he can point out to me a particular instance where good police requires it, then am I ready to yield to the validity of the argument of expediency, and to declare that such a practice ought not to bt.• tolerated. How did the !loose act when called upon to alter the Game laws? The }louse refused, alleging for that refusal that much of the amusement of the country would be destroyed, and the life of a country gentleman rendered unbearable, when it was on all hands admitted, that to the peasantry the greatest benefits arose front the presence of country gentlemen on their own estates. ( Ileac.) With what pretence, then, let me ask it, are we to vindicate the practice of hunting or shooting from cruelty, while we enact laws against the sports of :he lower classes? (Hear. ) Is hawking less cruel than cock-fighting ? Is the wounded bird less a sufferer than the baited bear? or is it mere spurt and legitimate amusement for gentlemen, but cruelty and ferocity in the peasant? Windham said that the bear had a pleasure in the baiting, beaus. he was contending with his natural enemies. This was an extrava. gam assertion ; but it had, perhaps, some truth in it, to admit of the exaggeration. I know not, I confess, to what extent this system is to be carried, if we yiekl to the motion of my Honourable Friend the member for Oalway. Mr. MARTIN, in explanation, said he was quite sure, if his Right lion. Friend had attended any one of these sports—hear. baiting or nionkey-fighting—be would find that they stood on a very different foundation from hunting or shooting; anti however it might be the pleasure of the House to dispose of his Bill, he could assure them that the opinion of the country was in its favour. The almost universal opinion of the wise and fkeling people of England was, that these barbarous sports ought to be prohibited. STOCKS YESTERDAY. Spanish 5 par Ct. C0n5.241 5 411 Ditto for Acct. 241 Ditto 170 & 268 Ronda, Ditto 6 per Ct5.(1823) 170 1 Ditto 1081. 6s. Bondi Fr. Rants, 97f. 50c. 7.1 c. Do. Ex. 25f. 60c. Do. Scrip, 91 Ditto for Account 91 Danish Bonds, 971 1 81 Ditto Marks Banco, 92 1 Dutch Bonds Russian Inscription 82 Exchange 111 d 011 11 Ditto Metallic Stock 820 . _ _ The BRITISH PRESS commenced publishing yesterday morning at five o'clock. LONDON. THURSDAY, FEDIVARY 12, 1821. A stormy and troubled scene took place yesterday at the India House, the report of which will be found in our columns. Lord Hastings, we think, has not been fairly treated. The inquiries of Sir John Doyle should have been answered fully at once, and all mystery and disguise abandoned. The reply of the Chairman carried implica tion with it; it left a dark and mysterious shade round the character of the Noble Marquis; and if the reports in circulation respecting the claims on the Nizam, and the embezzlement of near half a million of money, were, as we are convinced, utterly groundless, the declaration to that effect should have been made at once. Let the fail ings of Lord Hastings have been what they may, or his em barrassments however heavy, his character all through life bas stood high and unimpeached ; the very breath of mer cenary suspicion never rested for an instant on him. He has returned, it is said, from India, in very limited circum stances, and is now living with his family in Italy, on a very confined income. He resigned his Government contra ry to the wishes of the Court of Directors, and his Indian Administration appears in every statement to have been prosperous, splendid, and successful. A dark tale of fraud and wholesale peculation has been for some tune whispered and in circulation from India, and early reached our cars. We gave insertion to the rumour, and on high authority, but never supposed Lord Hastings to have been connected with it. The Chairman (Mr. Wigram), as the organ of the Court of Directors, might have conceived himself justified on other occasions in re fesing to answer any official ques tions put to him without their sanction; but in this striking case the apprehension ought to have been at once dismissed land the most explicit answers given. The territory and resources of the Company in India were considerably in creased by Lord Hastings; he gave the Litt blow to the Mahratta power, and extinguished the Pindareea: pro found peace prevailed throughout Ilindoostan at his quit ting its shores, and the influence of the Company was everywhere undisputed and supreme. On what ground,' whether of economy or dissatisfaction, the vote of 50001. a-year for his services was rejected, we do not know ; but justice at least should be rendered him though generosity was silent, and the imputations on his name denied. We cannot help remarking that the language of some of the speakers in Leadenhall-street, yesterday, was mcst insulting to Lord Hastings, though professedly used in his defence : it pro ceeded, we are convinced, from warm feelings, and was poured out unpremeditatedly, but yet it ought 110 i to have been used. " The question" (one Honourable Gentleman said) " was simply whether Lord Hastings was a thief or " a pickpocket ; was it fitting that after all the achieve " ments of the Noble Marquis for the benefit of the Com " pang, the Proprietors should leave the Court with a " doubt whether he was a thief ?" Such a vindication as this carries insult with it in every sentence, and inflicts, as it goes, a deep wound on the feelings of Lord Hastings. He may truly say, " Heaven preserve me from my friends." Sir John Doyle assumed, perhaps, the war buckler too soon, and advanced too impetuously, even for a veteran, to the charge. But he is an old and attached friend of Lord Hastings, and a generous and warm-hearted man ; his whole feelings were exerted on this *occasion, and much may be pardoned to such zeal. It is perfectly clear, that after the mysterious responses which came from the India Chair yesterday, and the discussion that followed, Lord Hastings and his friends cannot be contented. The business of the Vi -ant, and the alalrming deficit, will again be brought forward, and the present mystery must be cleared up. On whose laden shoulders the burden will ultimately rest, we cannot now venture to state. A little time may, and probably will discover, who is the Oriental plunderer. The Meeting in the City yesterday, to petition for the repeal of the heavy duties on coals imported into London, will be found reported at length in our columns. Sir Charles Price was in the Chair, and opened the discussion most sensibly. The thinness of the attendance was mark edly commented on by Mr. Hunt, who was present; but accounted for, in some degree, by Alderman Wood, who stated that Meetings had already taken place in the different Wardinotes, and petitions for the repeal of this heavy and distressing impost had been agreed to ; and this, and not any public indifference to the tax, was probably the cause of the absence of many parties interested from that Meet ing. Mr. Smith gave a short but striking detail of the unequal assessment and its pressure on the inhabitants of this city. He stated that the port of London alone paid, in 1818, a duty of SOostoOL; that about four Imillions of individuals are assessed for poor-rates the monstrous sum of 2,561,000/., and pay, as coal duty, 1,049,0001.; while between four and five millions more pay for poor-rates 1,701,000/., and no coal duty at all. In 1710 the duty of three shillings a chaldron on coals was imposed by Act of Parliament for building fifty churches, eleven only of which, out of the enor mous produce of this tax, had since been built. The appropriation, therefore, originally intended, cannot have been fairly made. The coal duty is, as Sir Charles Price stated, a tax on industry, and precludes the poorer classes from the enjoyment of necessary comforts. 'We agree with the Worthy Alderman perfectly in his, idea, that natural wealth and comfort would be increased by taking off this tax ; and the very revenue, in place of being diminished, be increased. While so heavy a duty is paid in this city, and 700 sail of shipping calculated to be employed in the trade, a drawback on coals is given by Act of Parliament to the people of Cornwall and Devon ; but the former county returns forty members from its different boroughs to Par liament, and the pretext for making this concession is the working of its mines. The manufacturers of London, how ever, meet no consideration of the sort, and have still to pay this monstrous duty unrelieved. We sincerely hope that in the reductions contemplated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, this distrming tax will be included; it presses on every part of the community, but most af flictingly on the poorer classes. Several petitions against its continuance have already been laid before the Lower house; and Ministers, who now seem really disposed to consult the feelings and interests of the country, will, we hope, attend to the general call mule upon them ,for the discontinuance of this 'fax, and take a distressing burthen off the shoulders of the people of London, who are now so heavily assessed for an article of the first necessity. PRICES OF FOR ETON Austrian Scrip, 511 Rif 6 516 5 $ Ditto for Account, 1 61 a Chilian Bonds, 791 Colornb. Bonds, 704 4 Do. for Account. 70{ Neapolitan Bonds, 82. Prussian font, 92$ ' Ditto Bonds (1 P 22). NI 13 Ditto for Account 91 Russian Bonds, All 1 f Ditto for Acct. 01$ 1 2 1 4 2 Portuguese Bonds, 07$ 1 / Mex. Scrip, 5 $ 1 1 .1 pr. Mex. Alines, Untzeddo. 112 11 1 " Mr. Western last night resumed his motion relative to Yesterday a Court a Directors was held at the East In- 1 Ilia House, when the following Commanders took leave of the qualification of persons serving ou juries. The prin the Court previous to departing for their respective destina- ciple of his Bill (the Honourable Gentleman stated) was tions, viz.—Captain Head, Canning, for Bengal and China ; to extend the eligibility of jurors to persons possessed of Captain John Barnet Sotheby . , London, for St. Wiens, ' a certain p ersonal property. As the law now stands, in Bombay, and China ; Captain Montgomerie Hamilton, Dunira, and Captain Thomas Larkins, Marquis Camden, civil cases, by the 4th and sth of IVilliam and Mary, all fur Bombay and China. i jurors, other than strangers, upon trials per medietutem 1 convinced, would prove Hitt he should aupport t had to encourake a third tierlll , l questioned, let that at the vvry much depre... ted, an a. a. , ffetei she ~n etlinv-nt a !unite Ass:el. and ati n o i lighaal rum There was no Set of the kingdom with which he had not Care -1 on this subject ; and he could assure the House that = iel was scarcely a town in England not prepare d to petition in favour of his Bill. With respect to bull-batting, no man could now assert that it was not a crime, and subject to the provisions of the Bill fur preventing cruelty to animals. Bear_ baiting too was an oWence in certain parts of this coun try'. There was a law called the " Mary-la-bonne Act," which prohibited, under certain penalties, all besr-baiting and monkey-tighting within that parish. Now he asked his Right Hon. Friend, the Secretary, if he meant to move for the repeal of that law, and if not, what became of his argument as to incon sistency ? In one parish in London bear-baiting was declared an olfenve—in the next parish, considered& manly sport or a becoming pastime. Let my Right Hon. Friend relieve himself from this di lemma before be Imputes inconsistency to me in my attempt to re peal part, when I cannot achieve the abolition of all cruelty. - Mr. LOCKHART observed, that according to the argument of the Honour Me Member foe Galway, there was no necessity for this bill. .is forma bill clearly contemplated the punishment of those who practised auelty to animals—" to cattle and other animals" were the words of the bill. It was clear, therefore. that bear-baiting and bull-baiting were both prohibited. Mr. MARTIN—I am obliged to my Honourable Friend for the suggestion. I think with him. and I shall withdraw my motion. LEGACY DUTIES. Mr. HUME rose to move . several returns, and, in the first place, he had a on to throw out to the Chancellor of the Exchequer who already, by his more liberal policy, mani. feared a w ish to get rid of several impositions. Proceeding upon the same principle with the legacy tax, in the course of last year he had moved for an account of the probate and administration duty paid since the passing of the Act; but from the state of the office, his information went so far back only as the year 1797. From that period up to the rear 1808, the account was given in the gross amount; from 184.11), in annual divisions; and the House would be surprised to find. that the gross amount, up to the year 1822, amounted to 22,124,0001., raised upon the public from legacies. This most impolitic Act took this capital tram the State. The amount of that duty for the year 1818, amounted to 1,72 3 ,0001. This fallacious tax had been rendered most vexatious to the public; arrears were called for after as expiration of 12 14, or 16 years; and recently, within hip own knowledge, after the lapse of 14 years, an individual personelle known so him had been called upon is pay 881. of such arrears. Till books connected with these trans. actions were most loosely msd imperfectly kept, and though mis. takes were ;perpetually escumbrig redraw was never stfortled. Now he contended, that if Maas win thus culpably allowed to accu mulate in this offia, some peiticiple Similar to the Statute of Limi salon, should be adapted fee the preattioo of the subject. It was inexcusable that the neglect of public officers—well-paid officers, should be chargeable upon the public. He had the num ber of probates and administrations taken out each year, and also the administrations—called by another name—taken out in Scotland as reported to the proper officer. There was no excuse for neglecting so make a return at once to the legacy duty office, as, within seven days of taking out their administrations, it was necessary they should be registered in Doctors' Commons. Yet he had known an instance in which trump weeks hail elapsed and no such return made, and of coutsa when the person who wished to pay the duty appeared at the le Office, the answer was, that they mold not receive the mone y until they were furnished with the reportfrom Doctors' Commons. The' Comptrollers of Legacy Duties had done much towards the acct. Icraung these returns. fle anticipated Pram the Chancellor of the Exchequer no opposition to the m.= which he had then to make for a return of the amount of the lamp duty and legacy duty for the year ending the 6th of Janney, 1821, distinguishing the amount for England and Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that he would not object to the motion of the Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Hume), but observed, that the legacy duty was a source of consi derable wealth to the Government, andsbould not be easily given up. Wit h respect to .the grievance complained of by the Hon. Member, he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) was ready to ad mit that, great hardships had arisen in consequence of several per sons having originally avoided the law, the consequence of which was necessarily visited on their executors. It did appear that se veral legacy duties which were fairly due (because never paid), had been demanded, and it was certainly attended with considerable in. convenience, that, when they could not find the legatees, the execu tors, who had received no beoefit from the legacies, were obliged to pay the sum. But those CHCIIRPKIACCS had been long under his consideration, and he flattered himself that care would in future be taken to prevent similar occurrences. Motion agreed to. POLICE—agELAND). Mr. GRATTAN, in mowing fora any of the proceedings on a Coroner's inquest,- held in the Queen's county, Ireland, on the body of Michael 31'Caa, observed, that the unfortunate sufferer, who had been an under.agent of his (Mr. Guittan's), happened to go into a public-house. because the day was veiny. He there met with two of the tenants; soon after some of the police entered, who called for some spirits and cards. A quarrel took place, and the under.agent was killed. A Coronet's Inquest was held on the body, and a verdict returned, that the man died in consequence of inflammation in the bowels. The man, however, had stated, on his death.Md , that he had met his death in consequence of a wound which he had received 'from one of the police. He (Mr. Grauer) did not know where the policeman now was; he feared be =knot but. he thought it eery necessary that the Subject be inquired into. Mr. GOULBURN thought that the Honourable 0-ntlentan (Mr. Grattan) would, on consideration, be himself of opinion that he ought not to permit 'in prosecuting the inquiry. Ile (Mr. Goul. burn) had received no intelligence from Ireland on the subject. It appeared that the unfortunate individual had met with his death at a public-house • that a Cormer's inquest had been called ; and that they had delive red a verdict that the deceased came naturally by his death. Bin, supposing that he had actually been murdered by the police, be (Mr. Goulbum) would ask, whether it would even then be wise to call for the proceedings taken before the Coroner's Jury ? The Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Grattan) must be well aware that the Coroner's verdict did not prevent the trial of the accused. He might still be prosecuted and tried, and the prosecution might be Insututed either by the government or the family . f the deceas ed. And he(slr. Goulburn) would ask the Honourable Member if he did not think justice would be in this manner much better obtained. He could have no objection that the proceedings should i be laid before the House, and that the police should be punished if they had acted improperly , ; but he conceived it would do much to prevent the attainment of justice. , Mr. GRATTAN said. that his only end was, the attainment of justice• and that he should be perfectly satis fi ed if the Right Ho. namable Gentleman would himself take up the case, and effect the object in view. Mr. GOULBURN could not pledge himself to the prosecu. don of any individual fur a crime of which he as yet knew no thing. Mr. GRATTAN obaerved, that the prosecution would be a great expense to the family; he only wished the Right Honourable Gentleman to inquire into the case, and, if it merited his loader terence, that he would interfere. The notion was withdrawn. The House, on the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the Ex. CHEOC ER, resolved itself into a Committee of Supply. He first moved for 33,663,2001. to pay off Exchequer Bills. Mr. HUM*: asked. what was the purpose of the Bills ? The CHANCELLOR of the EX('HEQUER replied, that he could not at present answer the question of the Honourable Menthe?. _ . . Mr. HLT3IE said, he did not wish taproot the matter. Mr. BERRIES observed, that there would be a Committee of Ways and Means, when it would be a better time to put the question.—Agreed to. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER then moved for f 41,0081. to pay Exchequer Rills for carrying on public works in 1323 and 1824, and also foe building additional churches. • Agreed to. He then moved for 158,0031. for the purpose of paying the inte. rest on Exchequer Bills in 1824. Agreed to. Two millions were then granted for services of 1823. IRISH CHURCH LANDS. Mr. GOULBURN movrd t that there be laid berme the Nouse a statement of the number or acres belont a / s, to the ('hutch in Ireland, distinguishing such as were glebe and such as were held by charter. IRISH CLEROY. Mr. GOIILBURN gave notice, that on Monday he should bring forward a motion to cetera the ttside•ce of the Irish Eltrgy in their respective parishes. Mr. HERRIEb moved for • new writ for the county of West. meath, in Ireland, in the room of Gustavus Rochfort, Esq., de. ceased. The House then adjourned. PRICES OF BRITISH Bank Stock 2381 3 per Cent. Reduced, 4 3 per Cent. Cons. 911 Set 9 34 per Cent. 4 per Cent. 1024 New 4 per Cents. 1064 1 4 Long Annuities. Imperial 3 per Cents. BSI Bank for Account Cons. fur Act. V 141901111 13 TOCKS YESTERDA India Stock, 2764 India Bend*, 79 81 80 pr. India for Account, South Sea Stock, South Sea Old Annuities South Sea New Annuities Ex. Bills, 1,0001. 49 47 SO 48 pr. Ditto, KM. 81 48 pr. Ditto, Small, 82 48 pr. Lotter, Tickets, 191. 19s. Zfre rittoft WOO. Unglue, must have ten pounds a year of freehold or . eopy- , hold lands, or ancient demesne, or in rents in fee or for life; and by the 3d of George 11., in civil cases, twenty pounds a year leasehold, over and above the reserved rent * is a qualification, the lease being for the absolute term of five hundred years or more, or for any other term deter minsble upon lives. Mr. Western instanced strongly the inequality and injustice of the existing system as regards juries. From the humble qualification required in eyelid' places, where individuals possessing a freehold of only ten pounds annual profit are summoned on juries, persons. not at all eligible or competent to discharge the im portant duties of jurymen are selected, while others of much greater competency and respectability are excluded. The jury panel, in consequence, is often filled with igno rant and needy persons, to the exclusion of numbers of affluence and education. In civil cases originally, at corn- mon law, the issue was tried in the Court where the suit was depending ; but this being attended with great incon venience and expense, the statute of WestminskT, 2, c. 30, ordained that all pleas in either bench, which required only an easy examination, shall be determined in the county, before the Judges of Assize. This was the origin of trials at Nisi Prins. The 42d Edward 111. c. 11, afterwards re_ gulated the process of the Venire, and put them on the footing they now are. Before the statute of 3d Geo. 11. e. 25, the Sheriff used to return a separate Jury in every civil cause. But that Act ordains, that he shall return only one panel for the trial of all causes, such panel not to consist of less than forty-eight, nor more than seventy. two (without the particular order of the Judges who go the circuit), and their names are to be put into a box and drawn as we now see. A challenge may be made to the array if the names of the Jurors in the Distringss differ from those in the Venire. Before the 4th and sth Anne, the want of liundredors used to be a frequent cause of chal lenge; but by that Act, and th e 23 d G eo. 11., t i e Venire r is always to be de Corp. comitates. But all this extends only to civil cases, and not to appeals of felony, indictment, &c., to which the arguments of Mr. Western respecting juries applied. The principal statutes regulating the for mation of juries in these cases are the 4th and 6th of Wil liam and Mary, and the 4th of George 111. Elder these Acts, in London, the qualification for a juror is a hundred pounds; in some boroughs forty pounds; and in other places much less. Mr. Western proposed to extend the qualification to personal property; four hundred pounis was the sum he named ; and to consolidate the Acts before mentioned on the subject. Mr. Peel declared himself friendly to the principle of Mr. Western; but suggested whether it would not be better to regulate the qhalification, either by the payment of poor's rateeidir some other mode under Parliamentary regulation. 'Pik antiquated enact ments of a past age, taking their rise from the feudal system, and making freeholders aline competent to be jurors, ought, in this advanced period of wealth and . 4 civilization, to be exploded. The justice of the coun try, as Mr. Littleton properly remarked, would be best administered by placing each member of the community under an equal share of liability. We must do Mr. . Peel the justice to say, that he seems anxious, on every question of this description, to receive every useful sug gestion, and afford the readiest facility to progressive im provement in the laws and justice of the country. He does not, like hit predecessor in office, tenaciously cling to antiquated usages and enactments, merely because they are so. Under such auspices, wc trust the measures sug gested by Mr. Western will in a great degree be adopted, and render the juries of this country more discristinafing, respectable, and independent. THE KlNG.—ButorroN, FEB. 10.—The Kitig conti nues well. Though no official notification has been issued on the subject, the appearance of things about the Palace tends to show that the departure of his Majesty and the Royal Establishment is near at hand ; indeed, it k under stood that his Majesty purposes leaving this place on Thursday. Yesterday his Majesty had a numerous party la dinner at his Palace at Brighton, previous to his leaving that place. On the evening of this d a y the King is expected tom ive at his Castle at Windsor. Yesterday the Duke of York visited the Princess Sophia. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester had a DUIIItIOUi party to dinner yesterday. Yesterday Lord Viscount Granville had a long intavitit with Mr. Secretary Canning. The Attorney and Solicitor Generals transacted business yesterday at the Secretary of State's Office for the Colonial Departtncnt, where Colonel Dathuist was busily engaged for the whole of the day. Yesterday the Cabinet Ministers dined with the Earl of Westmorland, at his house in Grosvenor-square, for the first time this season. Private letters from Paris state that the King of France is dangerously indisposed, which had created some sensa tion, and had checked the rapid rise of the French Funds. Nothing is more probable than a dangerous crisis in the health of the King of France. George Dashwood, Esq. of Kirtlington Park, Woad• stock, has declared himself a Candidate for Oxfordshire, in the room of the late Mr. Fanc. The election of a Member for Eve, in the room of de late Attorney-General, will take place on Friday. Mr. Wells, we believe, perseveres in his intention to Ufa him self.—Bury Pest. The case of Smith, the Missionary. has been laid before the Privy Council by the Ministers, who wish to reheve themselves from individual responsibility, and to fe ve the decision taken on it (whatever it may be) a judicial and solemn character. There were arrivals festerday from Demerara, bnt they bring no news of interest. Elliott, the Missionary, wl , O was ordered home, is expected by the next vessel. The general bond of the Mexican loan has bee‘ depo sited in the Bank of England with the usual formiilitiev. The works for lighting the the towns of Margate and flaics gate with gas are commencing. • An experiment is begun of a new mode of sowing fullest in the vicinity of Chirnside. Instead of waiting till the field be cleared of turnips before the seed of the eusuing crop is put into the ground, two ebb furrows are drawn is each interstice between the rows of turnips, which aS. soma with wheat from a drill machine. and covered in; tile tur nips to be afterwards eaten by sheep upon the ground.--Inverness (Angrier. In some statements that have anneared in this an# ether Papers, respecting the case of Margaret Rice, a . yount woman now in St. Sepulchre's workhouse, the peril w vit° is charged with the seduction is mentioned as a Quaker. This, we are now assured, is erroneous, the imVvidnat alluded to not having been for many years past a Volt° of that Society.—Ercoing Paper. . CAPTAIN Je'st's.—ln the year 1739, one J,mtini. Captain of a v..ssel that traded to the Spanish cold :lies to South America, presented himself at the bar of the FlO . ,use of Commons. He was a plain downright man, If ho had never been concerned in any illicit trade, but bad heet t met by a Spanish guards-costa in that part of the Ame rican seas which was prohibited the Englislx. Th e Spanish Captain had seized the ship, put the crew to irons, slit the nose and cut off the ears of the motet' In this condition Captain Jenkins appeared Wfore t he Parliament ; he informed them of his misfortil 00 with that simplicity and openness which distinguish a Width sailor;—" Gentlemen, said he, " when they h a d this disfigured me 1 was threatened with death: 1 Cl pocted it ' land recommended my soul to God, and my mag i l e , to 01 country." These words, expressed so naturally, excitttll general cry of compassion and indignation ; the • , f 1"e nor determined the King and Parliament to 4 vkitv leer against Spain a month after. • to • , .• 6 •.r , • 1 • • C l 4 • • T it k 1 • • • :- , 1 e I it a to itl d 1 1 3 t p cl ia t e he •re tl •1 alk a • • 1