The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1819-12-03 00:00:00

• " that he should have troubled the House. had he not received intelligence. within a very few days. sod which he could not doubt, that at that moment (while they were deliberating am 111111 11.11. Witter discussion) there were many wicked deliberation% carrying forward in irsriorts poet% of the comity .f Durham and about Newcastle. He thought it their duty to endeavour to rind out those who aimed at the destruction olds, laws and constitution of the country, and oho endangered all property. Ile must disagree with those who entertained dislike au t suspicion to the information which ors befo►e them, beam* it appeared anonymous. He certainly was to say, that he had received from persons of the greatest respectability. whose name) he would not .11 any account dim lose.— There were some parts of the Bills which he might not agree with ; but as far as the general tenor and meaning of them went. he must say lie thought them most riecessary.—( Hear, hear.)—Fle not any that there were nut some parts which re quired alteration; but when he saw Onto passing it) several parts of the country which lie could not disbelieve unless he lost his rye-sight, he did think it must necessary for his Majesty's Millisters to bring forward some measures which should prevent any such illegal proceedings. The question of Reform 'he considered to be to totally foreign to the subj•-ct the■ under discussion, and though he might have an opinion of reform, yet he would not go so far as some persons did. He concluded lay stating, that the whole tenor of the Bills met with his appro. beim). Tile Forl of STRATHMORE felt himself called 'mon to make a few observations on the subject. A had been held in that part of the co ttttt ry ;irie lie resided, consisting of 500 men and about 35 women ; they bore several flags with death's heads tool cross I es painted on them, and caps of liber ty ; uud , perhaps, it was not known that many of those hrrsuns hod pistols concealed under their clothes. lie bad received intelligence from Neacustle, from a minister at that place, who stated that the Magi strates in the neighbouring districts had been corn peiled to seek refuge at Newcastle; and it must he their unanimous opinion that if those Bills were not carried, the safety of the country could no longer be answered for ; and in justice to the inha bitants of the county of Durham, he must say, that he firmly believed the greater part of the people retie most loyally attached to the laws and dominion tttt . lie was iolormed that the colliers had divided themselves into 20 classes, each class having a leader—they had nightly ineetinrs. where 7'he iMack Dwarf and other seditious books were read u!oed to them, and he was told that their number was rapidly increasing. But he hoped that those ',emote would soon see the error of their ways, and out give way to factious demagogues. He also un derstood, that t i present there were 15,000 men on the banks of the Tyne almost in a slate of rebel tun, seed that unless some measures were speedily ailopted, a greeral rising was expected to take plate. On the other hand, he could bear testi mony to the excellent behaviour of the southern ir on titles : the greater ;lan of that people were now ready to come forward in support of the Constotu- Pon and laws. It was under these circumstances he bud thought it his duty to state to them the 'Our minim he had received. 'l•he Bills were then read a secoad time, and or dered to be committed to-morrow. A conversation then took place across the table between Lord HOLLAND, Earl Dxstsi.EY• and Lord LIVERPOOL. from *lnch it was finally ar ranged that the second reading of the Traverse Bid, which is fixed for to-morrow, should have the precedence, with an understanding that they should proceed afterwards in Committee on the Bills read a second time this night. The other Orders of the Day were then disposed bf, sad the House adjonrned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, THURSDAY, DICLIIIIER 2. EAST INDIA PENSIONS. Mr. Mason, from the East India Company, presented conies ~f the Resolutions of the Directors, being warrants Ice granting Penaitins under that Establishment.-4./rderrd tv l!e uu the table. SUPPLY. Cis the motion of the CIPIANCILLLOR of the Exeneenrit, th•w Item/lotions agreed lu last night in the Committee of Scpply, were reported and 'erred tu. _ WAYS AND MEANS. The MI& lion. Gentleman also postponed until immor. row, tt.e Cumulates of Ways and Means, when he intruded iu prupuse am renewal of the Land and Malt Tax. STAMP ACT. Yr. itnocoss brought up the Report of the Resolutions on the Smmp Act, when a Bill was ordered to be brought iu purNi.aut thereto. DISTRFSSFS OF THE COUNTRY. Mr. Brun? (of Wiltshire) presented a Petition from se wat pei sons (as we understood) at Bridgetown, who prayed shot the House do grant them the means of quitting this iwuntry for Upper Canada, or some other of his Majesty's Colonies, in which they errata procure employment.—The Prifiioll was laid on the *We, end ordered to be printed. STATE OF THE MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS. . Mr. litmsurr gave notice, that, on Thursday the 9th lost. lie would submit a motion to the House on the Slate of the Alanufactsriug Districts is the County of Lancaster. SEDITIOUS MEETINGS PREVENTION BILL. LordCAIPTLEIbAGH moved the Order of the Day for the second reeding of the Seditious Meet ings I'retention Bill. Jr.A M. A. TAYLOR begged to take this oppor. lowly of asking some explanation respecting the wording of the Bill. The term " Seditious Meet logs," he : thought very vague, and before he could inuke up his mind upon the principle of the mem /MTV, he wished !oink, whether the Bill, as it stood, to bg pressed without ally tuoiliticttion ? Au 1:i:•er to this plain question would decide the c.oir.e he meant to pursuit.. - bird CAITLSRICAOII was surprised that so old o Member of the House should p u t such a quest i on . Sorely tide Hon. Memb er did not mean to make fiiiwelf.the Committee upon This Bill, &Indio anti- Opiate, iu this stage of the proceeding, the details which may hereafter to due course come before the its the Comniittee the lion. Member's 4:testiest would be better answered. Even after the - • should only ray, that he felt be bail just as much experience upon points of faun as the Noble Lord. Mr. GRESI Feta. rose to take this opportunity of briefly delistring his npinimr upon this Bill. Lord CASTLEREAGH rose to order, and suggest ed that it would he a inuell more etrovrisient course for the House, and be hoped equally so for the !lon. Gentleman, to deliver his setittoteuts at sir other period of the debate. It was the usual coarse, and it had been acted upon in 1796, its Mr. Pitt's tone, that sir opening speech, descriptive of the purview of the question, should be first made to the House, •nd that then the discussion should arise u; the opening speech, lord the reply in doe course to follow. This was, he thought, the strict stud rrgiihr course of debate. Mr. M. A. TAYLOR--" That is precisely what I ask far."—( A l aug h.) Mr. CRENFELL said, he merely wished for his own personal convenience to address the House now ; but he by uo memos wished to interrupt the regular course, or to prevent the Noble Lord front making hos opening stairmelit. The Som.:iron-GE:lima b then rose to make the ()penis% statement. Mr. TIEnNET rose to order, and complained, that when his lion. Friend (Mr. Oreorsl4 yielded, it was under the idea that the Noble Lord 'limit himself to address the Douse. It now appeared that another person had risen, if, c.erefore, any Don. Member, except the Noble Lard, meant to claim the ear of the (louse, it certainly ought to be his Goo. Friend who had already risen, and not the Solicitor-General.--/Dear, heir.) Lord CASTLEREAGH mid, that. the course taken in 1796, by Mr. Pitt, wus merely to 'stove the Order of the Day, and leave to the Solicitor-Gene ral the office of opening the details of the intended Bill. Mr. TIERNEY replied, that he knew nothing of what pumsed its 1796, respecting Mr. Pitt, or the then Solicitor-General. All he knew was, the general usage of the House, and this was , that the first Alember who rose was entitled to be heard. Mr. GRENrer.r. was now loudly called for; but— The SPEAKER rose and said, that if the Hon. Member who had first risen was pvlvented from iirl dressiog the (louse on soy former occasion, it was the usual courtesy to allow him the earliest oppor litnity which he could take. If, however, he did not complain of having lost another o; t it fo_ addressing the House, perhaps the debule would be left to rise with the mover of the second reading. The Noble Lord had as yet only moved the order of the day. Mr. GRENFELI. said that he only rove to suit hit personal convenience, and had certainly given way to the Noble Lord, thinking he was about to open the debate, The SPIAKEt The Hon. Member is aware that there is no question now before the House." Mr. PauEast. said. that it behoves' Govern ment, at this crisis, to bring forward this mea sure— Mr. GRENPELL rose to order, and said that if any person but the Noble Lord was to addre s s the House, lie thought he had a claim to priority.— Mew, hear.)—Mr. l'etcevnl immediately gave way, and Mr. Grenfell proceeded to address the House. He said, that at there teas no question before the house, he could feel little difficulty in proposing the second reading of the Bill, as lie concurred in its principle. He was anxious to take this early opportunity of explaiiiing his opinion with reference to the great subject How before the House. He rose under more painful impressions than he had ever previously laboured under since he sat in that House, for he knew that his opinions on the present question, and his sense of public justice io the present exigencies of the country, were directly opposite to those of his Hoti. Friends who surruuuded him, with whom it had hitherto been his pride and gratification to act, and with whom it would be his anxious tle-iie still to act, iiid withstandiiig his present difference from them, for the remainder of his life.—(Hear, hear.) — He WAS one of those who had abstained altogether from voting either on the Amendment of his Bight Hon. Friend (Mr. Tierney), or upon the Motion of his Noble Friend near him (Lord Althorp). He had so abstained from feelings of a per,oi,al nature, and iu doing so he hoped lie had incurred no imputation of a dereliction of his public duty. The only motives which actuated him sprung from feelings of per sonal regard, he might add of affection, for both his night Hon. and his Noble Friends. Now, however, that the question came before the House in a perfect view, lie could no longer remain silent— he could no longer withhold his real Gpinion. Front the best consideration which he had been able to give the present measure—a measure, he was ready to admit, involving the dearest interests of the country, and from all the inform; - contained in the papers before the House, as well as from what had fallen from the Noble Lord under him (Lord Stanley), he ass ready to give his vote iu favour of the priuciple of all the measures auaounced by the Noble Lord opposite, reserving. however, to him self the right of considering hereafter the details of those measures, or any amendments that may lie mode to them—/Hear. hear, fr om Lord Castle . reagh j—and more particularly reserving to him self the right of considering whether any, or all of those measures should be of a temporary na ture.—/Cries of Hear, has. from the Opposition benches; I—But to the principles, lie was now ready to give his steady and hearty support.— /Hear./ The SOLICITOR-GENERAL mod, that in enlace quence of the absence of his Hight Honourable and Learned Friend (the Attorney-General), it became his duty to state to the House the na ture of the measures which his Majesty's Go verinnent found it necessary at this crisis to sub unit to the consideration of Parliament. In attempt ing to perform this unexpected task. he hoped to receive the liberal indulgence Of the [halm.. It was impossible for him to cousceal the fact, that lie was acquainted with the details of the measurer. but being acquainted with the details was a very different thing from being prepared to unfold them precision to the House; lie would, however, endeavour to slate those measures wills as much plainness, simplicity. and distinctness as possible. When those measures were stated to the House, he trusted that it would be found that um step was taken his Majesty's Ministers that was not called fur, and wis not necessiry to meet the present &sneer ous situation of the•countrys It was manifest that there was an extraordinary disposition in Get.tlenten us. the other sitle to underrate that danger. Au attempt was made the other 'tight by a Hight Hon. Gentlemen to Mit/ream upon the House. that the present thrortheis were cootitted to Lancashire, and partially to Chester. It was evident, 1,43 a -ever. from the pithwrs on the table, wool, toole t benalent of that evidence.'from the facts before the piddle, that those disorders extended much foirdier. It was stereo!, that the county of Yolk wits tout infected with them ; but the paper ? on the table proved that the views of the dangerous mod disloyal were pursued even beyuod those hearts. F those du. consent., indeed, it might perhaps lie argued, that there was 110 immediate Ihillger its dint watt of the Country; but yet there was every reason to suppose that those proceedings were likely to end in a way the most alarming, unless put down by rtrong 1114^.- cautionary measures. It was impossible to maintain the public peace iu that pert of the kingdom with. out arming the hand of the 51:agtootrete, tool even the documents hr alluded to stated distinctly that no less than absolute revolution was the object of faction there. What real-on then, he would risk, wail there for asserting that bermes .tone cod Cheahire were the miry places wha-re the niessuies of the disaffected were 'adopted ? On referring to the imperil, it would alocear that , the spirit of iiistoloordination took a nuncio wider range—it %mild appear that Nurthotaberlentl, Cumberland, Durham, and, ahnve all, the weaterit parts of' Scotland, and the immediate neighbour. howl* of Glasgow ayi.Paisley were in a .tote of insubortlinetiou ; hue 11111101.1 leave out of calculation the butte of the metropolis. the iliaortleily mid se ditious meetings which took place, the state of the seditious press there, and the ttiects of all those motels on the districts immediately adjoining—lie would allot leave out of calculation the disturbed state of VA'arteickshire ; hot taking t:oe state of the cottony hewn the Wert Holing of York-it:re to the neighbourhood of Glas g ow, a dismoce of about two hundred attire. contanoing a 111101e111134 411(1 en active population, they would Owl theisseelves stir. rouothal as it were with iltailfed and disloyalty ; aunt after taking that review, would any our sly that the precautionary torasuro a now proposed were tint called for by the alarming circumstances of the tome 2 Whtql he ciimaidereal the chainnition aunt the activity of the party against »hoot tint-e ntra sorrswere directed—when lie reflected on the r 3 Pid Judi's ))))) of their principles, from what he would CAI 111C1r head-rhuarters at Lancashire, Iloriongh the extent lie dercritaed, precamitmotry tneaeures up prated to hint as indispensable. The evidence of fuels, the knowledge of those local disturbance., the fatal experietwe afforded by the French Keen. lotion. called upon .the House to stand lot dna crisis before the Coniststotioti. lie that Revoluti to which he bud just alluded, discontent omit din loyalty west first 'motored in the manufacturing towns; they were encouraged by the watot tot' a firm and timely resirtance, aid the User:eters of the loyal plots of the country, and the activity of the disloyal led to ail the sitiodornines awl cal: 111 l i tte s of France. Having said so much, he would beg or the House to consider the eciortites and the conduct of the di,. Isyu I pies; whets they so ena4ideresi 1110 . 111, the House must see that they tended to nothing but revolution. A newspaper in Coventry had said that the revolution had already begun ; in other parts of the country the revolution appeared to be ilearly perfect mid consummated. Looking to the character of the proceeding* its the disturbed dnw islet*, it led him to this concluaion ; he therefore eutreated the House to view the measurer, and to consider the views or the disloyal; for it was only when they saw the danger its its full extent that they could come to a fair conclusion as to the oar crasity and the character of the measures proposed for combating the public danger. The first paint to which these measures were directed was that of training much to the use of arms for reitolut 1111 l ary 1,111111W,11. The next point against which they were directed, was that of collecting Mans for those truss rd, with the view, too doubt, of cerryhog on treason able designs against the Government of the country. The :hod measure. mid the most important. was the measure intended to be resorted to again.' public meetings—those meetings which the party found as the most efficient means to carry their measines onto effect—by means of which they attempted to intimidate the country, and to check all opposition whilst they encouraged support. lie would beg the House to meal their recollection to the sio blualmig and abominable designs openly avoided by that party, or carrying on assassination— lie would be. diem to reflect on the doctrines put forth on flit,' subject lay the public press—be meant that port oh it touched to the party. In one of those Reforimug Gazettes of the 311 of Jnly last. au italividual wits deriguated its a mintier so plain as slot to be mistaken, and it wss then leaked, was there no noble thetas to strike his dagger into the heart of the tyrant ? The next measure oh those prisons to which hr would direct the attention of the House, was the formation of nisitteroms awrem. blies of persons professing doctrine* of Parliamen tary Reform, but really brought together for the purpose of making* demonstration of their strength, to increase the hopes of their Importers, and to in timidate those Who Might wish to oppose them. He would nest call the attention of the House to the rtate of the press ; lie dial not mean she re.p.-cta ble press, but the cheap, or rather the low pert of the pi-se. It was admitted by the Ilion. Geotlemen at the other side, that that part of the hovers bad the moat pernicious and unfortunate ttLarts cut the lower clews. There could thee be too oppositi on apprehended from those lion. Gentlemen against the meuritie intended to be 'dowed against that portion . of the press. The whole of the my.. tem now submitted to Parliament, was to defeat the measures of the disattected ; and it was not too touch to say. that moor combined measures were the most formidable that were combined to overthrow soy Cover 1111 l rut. The queetion Was, whether the system determined out by the Govern. meat was the most wise and discreet which could be proposed ? He could say, that it was the moat anxious wish of the Gover 1111 l ent, knowing the solid duty that was cast upon them—knowing that the cositstry called fur mettsitrn to ovlpprrrs the dangerous and disloyal--the brit wish of the Go fer 1111 l rut was to trench at little es poiltle upon the ancient and established laws of the Constitu tion ; and he flattered himiself,• that when the mea sures of Goverouient were considered, that they would be found best calculated to carry int* effect ~.~~ the object they hi,' in view, fie sgreed with en lion. and !Armed Friend of his at the other aide, that it was impovoihle to con Aider those Inesatires detached from each oilier. He wuulJ therefore confine his observations not to the pasticuhr men. iire before them that night, hid would view us lie paased the ges•rst system or haws to be submitted i to thy ilatilie•••• i Mr. HsouottaY, across the table, said lie did ion misfit. that it was impossible to consoler each of these measures separately, hut that it would be difficult to discuss one of thew without touching on the others. The `iot.ictiot-Geskat L.—The system of die affection was a combisse,l system, rod the measures of (;overninent to oppose that spirits must be at,•, roaolnnrJ . unit it was unpoavible to form an opinion all a part or that sy►trut without viewing the entire us one roaluuou object. H~ wool(' now consoler the mellower intended against the press— he meant that part of it wl ich ull hands adulated had (bile so much mischief. No intlividwil was inure attached to the liberty of the p►e.s thou him. self; he had ever looked upon the trial by jury and the liberty of the press as two of the Milli 1/11111r% en which the Government of the country rested: 1 he was nut the advocate, he never would b e th e r. slovocate of measures which trespassed on either of thure valuable privileges. The violent and seditious press was 110*, ill Kel.erol, conducted by persons without character arid without property. %Yes it not join and right, that persons who directed that furnitdable engine lohould not be allowed to mike use of it fur purposes manifestly against the well-bruit( of society ? All thut was asked for way that those verso°, should be required to give some security not to atruse the taros to purposes of blissplitany and stalitiort. It was not proposed ; to put the press in the power of an arbitrary Mao. trate, but if the publisher, on a trial by a jury of his countrymen, should be found guilty of pub. liehing it libel, flint there should he a fond to meet any fine to whirl' he might he subjected: would ask, was this to Ire considered as tovediug the fair conslituti I liberty of the lore*? Nu pre. mutt censorship was iiiiendeil—(Hear, hear, from the tlppositieni—i s o limitation of the trial by jury. hear, hear, ftorn the same side.)-11 his Ma jesty's Munster* were capable of proposOrg such measures, he would tint be their organ—they would lie suer to meet with the rejsrobotion of that 'louse and of the country. Sot the evil of which he complained lead an airman universal iutluence, and must be put down ; lie looked ultimo the in tended tareason-s as timer which would r &murkily meet it. Ile begged to make an observation on the political maitre and character of those publics nom. In the Stills year of the King a Bill was brought in Cot o ffering a tax on newspapers. The words of that Act were so general as to have been considered sufficient to embrace publications of the character he now 'mimed out—the matter was cer tanily in a Court of Law, and it was argued that they were not subject to • tax. He would assisting the fact. Admitting, fur the sake of argament, that they were now in this respect to be treated as newspapers, he would ask the House was there any earthly reason why they should not be made subject to the light tax on daily newspapers? The next measure Intended respecting the press was the degree of puoishiment to be inflicted in the event of a convicting.. after a former conviction had taken place. This was not a new principle—it was recognis ed by the law. and acted on in a great variety of cases. He would ask gentlemen at the other side, whether j an offender rorivicted of a blosphemous•or seditious libel, should be allowed to brave a Court of Jus tice, or whether a discretionary power of punishing ought not to be vested in the Court, to be enforced or not according to the circumstances of the case Against a measure t •'culated to prevent evil, to curb the ',cautious spirit of every libeller, who would disgrice the fair freedom of the press, lie did lint ore that ally fair objection could be muck. He would ~ a y one word on the law against training. It had been said that the law, as it stood, was sof licelit to put down that evil. ff a person could be proved to have been trained to the use of arias, for the purpose of living those arms against Ilw state, that in itself constituted an overt act of high ireasoii. lint the difficulty was, to bring that bnaie in the 'bi n d.. o f a dory. Though every person might be morally convinced of the object and in tention oldie offender, the difficulty still was great to bring the crime home ag.iiiert him an as to make hint amenable to a Court of Justice. The object or the law now proposed was to prevent any person front training or bong unless they should previously procure license from the proper autho. rite'. Tina measure eppeareil to him so reasonable arid so necessary, as to be in little danger of meet* log a serious object:um The next measure he wirtild advert to was, that for rtecelleratiug trials for misdemeanor. A- the law stood at present, • ',re arm accused might put off his trial for two years. This was a part of the Mil law of the laud, which remained nrichauged. In cases of civil actions. the law was the biome ; but the tithe haviug been found aujust, the law was remedied, and all that was n o w required was to amend the law in rases of misdemeanor. 'fhe law was so guarded as not to {tore room for the "lightest infringes inetit co the. right of the itemised, so feee as that right wear considered fur all fair purposes. The law did lint require the party to go to • trial at the first Assize's, unless it was manifest that he hail ample time to prepare for his defeeim— It was ace impo►tant privilege of the subject, wheu accused before all i oferior Court, to have the power 141 remove the close by teribrari to a superior Cowl, for in some cases lie might apprelimid that lie would nut receive a fair tried in the Court below. 'll'he law proposed dot not deprive the sobjert of that right, best inertly enacted that the accused ►'uuld tensor.. lop case, in the tirst instance, and not wait tict;l a bill was I Iby u Jury. An other niesseeir, oleic!' was iineoded us a temporary tioritture, was the power isitetaded to be given to Nlagistnite. of seizing mine. The evidence ou the table would furnish strong reasons for that law. By the Bell. the Magistrates were to hare power to seize arms *loch appeared to he kept for bad put. !nowt, slid to seize 'hem without evairoce. Thine hum wind' utrofiteit anspicion of bring kept for bed purposes. weir piker, knives, and other weapons • but the .lsgi•trate. in other taws, was «Ot to b; auiliorized to seize other weapoop, without having evidence that they were lamed's+ to injure end dts- Ludo the pabhe prim- Rom ehw seizure by the I be considered as fi, al 'it' might bring rt ili,:w • . seizure.ll l l.l ll t gistra t e theail party t o eilit:iienrrge,elyheourifislilgeaglitlitgreamposearlabTrioo.ri,ci:lll,e:Qrseit. .111. atfantior:rinceciadt7trfteholdicser:idiSwßl a b : em is ij t ad r m a li t iuu e w . grp t t,t i ti s irle s ;li he lymi se ionaul t sc h .i.st.. t tititti. i i, :: i. t, : iii.s.. , ittiin... sure e ti s c t e n r e . d 4 : a u N.lsllloll/1, where his cise would he il l. , II:: '' would dismiss it without fur the r olisen r , the Law O ffi cers of the Crown in not reser 4ain v .t the libels of the weekly press. With respect t 4 e . ' is if i - personslly, be had nothiug to object, het he e ul cutivinced that if the charge was fairly exeintne-14itt would appear soltogrilier unjustifieble. Parnell' r . libels might no doubt he selected within th e lot three year., of a ver y b a d an d even of mu etinicioUs charucter, winch were not made the tmlie e t o f 4 prosecution—but the evil now complained of horst upon them so s udd en ly, mi d i n such a torrent thin it was found iftwosstble to ch ec k i t My s ti, hand of the lie. Thaw libels came oil s o onsim questioes.and in sods number, as to Intel' duo s s ii legal barriers. If he were asked the cyase of thn, he would a n sw er , th at h e cou ld not ileviilepe ti' whole cause. As one case, he would mention they of Mr. H u se, who was tried about le 11 iiiii 1110 b t r i t l e o c r ba K ra7 .. 0 1 1 1 ‘ , 'i . t w i I: smiaent"co recently statedou bt — i n ( fur a public a ti on , the blatipliemons maitre of ei . li th e t ar C )— ou when a person who was convicted for putd i ai l p,.. libel was) broligin up for judgment, and it is justly deouniiiiited a libel of a WAN 111.11/1/, Is character. Mr. Hone, however, was art - putted .1 he regretted to say that that acquittal was ti ii with triumph and rejoicing. This individeal ' re his prosecution was a person of lowed 4, struggling ill humble life—bat persons were ~t iii the country to enter into a voluntary wt p . lima for him, sad to advance him to ; stmt • ofilisence. to reward him fur his utfetices.—/Ha —•I'lle circumstance of his acquittal. and the rewa which followed. was one of the causes to which t might trace those libels. He did not mean to say tin that was the only cause, but certainly it 'natures, the crime of libel in a very considerable degree. 14 could not therefore but say, that it hut ill be came individuals who had acted on that occasion, stall who had voluntarily subscribed for Mr. Hone, win. had therefore tended to encourage the evil, to cow plain of the want of energy in the Law Offivers i.f the Crown. having amid so much, he wes-1 now make some observations 015 the Bill Wee them for the enppressitois of Seditious Meetings. It said that the people might mitt is any me n .- bets to consider their grievances; he would stiontsiit it—but when it was considered that those meeting. which had been held were merely to cover ulterieti and dangerous designs against the constirot:o::, surely they ought to be pot down. Gusertimt, t did not interfere spinet the right of petition—tiles only wished to regulate those meetings.—(Fires ti.:: Hon. Gentleman went into a detailed account of t'.e Bill. nearly in the same terms as described by 1...-.-I Castlereagh on Tuesday evening.]—fle thee pin. ceeded to say, that it was ttecetaaty tint stns.,- measures should be rendered perniasteat from the discontent of the people, sod the spirit which Ia I more or less manifested itself in England for i.ei last twenty years. Mr. Lfrewrost expressed himself bound by tr,, state of the country to support the Bin. He seen: into many severe ob 6 lions against the radical r-. formers, whom he denominated as traitors and rehs,4 against the State. He then proceeded to say, if the evils which he had been reciting were not pain cured—if some of the provisions of the Bills they were discussing were not pawed, the Gotternimnt would speedily be compelled to adopt coercion, without reference to the laws. It was 111 the option of the House to limit the duration of the delta t.. five or seven years. For his part, he thought r: would be much more honest fur the Hous e its pass them for an undefined period, wherein, if they found that the troubles of the districts ceased, they might repeal them, than pass ttis,ii for a limited period, at the end of which ii...- state of the country might require their ituinediute re-enactment. He thought that it would be better if the Bills were made local i their al l l lll/14!:11it.11, 11* that, without explanation, would imply that they were only to he temporary, and would cease when the evil which produced them should exist g ni longer. He could not help noticing the frespient allusions of his Hon. Friends attar him, tied he oats titularly addressed himself to his Might Hoe. Frwitil next to him (Mr. Tierney) to what they termed a system of coercion. He would fain ask his tior. Friends with what propriety they could apply that term to measures intended to secure the pulite. tranquillity ? The law so far might be called a system of coercion, as it was destgised to . prevent ga crimes ainst the public peace rod secu rity. By coercion they must mean discharging all youciliss tory measures, and silopting a system of force. tit put down the intolerable evils which were kilovolt to prevail. He contended that such coercion eetslil only be regarded as a system of crimes and punish ments, to put down what was agreed au all side, to be unbearable. His lion. Friends bad earnestly recommended some measures of conciliation : he agreed with theta in that opinion, mid would defier what he considered to be ilece.ssary for that purpose_ In the first place, be would have an inquiry insti tuted into all the iiiirticulars of the Matit.lievter question—not to gratify the rebellious mule but to satisfy the sober, loyal. and reftectisig people ofd England. The nest measure of conciliation wen-. he shook, feel inclined to propose would be ais effectual retrenchment and a vigorone ec,sooty 'it the management of the expenditure. Tin, clad not been the plait of Ministers. Their venue ignore was notorious; they discovered no quip:silly bat public opinion on this question; they openly de fended the most extravagant particulars of the put,. tic charges. There was nothing like -aticiliatitio, nor any shew of respect for ptionlar feeling, even exhibited in the measures of their ednniiistratien. He wished them to alter their iisyytein of tam end a6nei, or lie leaner that they would I: , e to lament their perseverance ill it. As to the tin , -- tion of Reform, which had beets ',united tit, ai would not say that it was eutirely unfit Ivr :•,e consideration of the House . ; he would la r lay that an inquiry into it euuld plods/iv e. e good effect in the present temper of the ii ,, it-v* and the coons'''. ; but he thought that at:, r the allay of tho resent. gessesit &intent, when I'y Commitiee there were two or three Stage. open to wit ..41i;c1166 the principle, so that the Hou. Member end *fluid haw full time to sh.ipe hi. coarse upon the pla, prit,ciple. without any anticipation of the details at WI this "illipusent. Ito Air. M. A. TevLoa replied. that aIT he asked by ' was whether the Bill was meant to be left is its and . preseta shape ?As to his being an old MeMber, he ono . .. , . - . • • ..: • • I