The Sun. — London, England, 1823-02-25 00:00:00

?A,RL,IAMENT• HOUSE OF LORDS, FEB. 2.1. The-House tnet at ten o'clock in the morning, anti proceeded in Appeals. The Indemnity Bill was brought up from the House of Corn. mons by Mr. Brogden and other-Members. Petitions against the Insolvent Debtors' Acts were presented by the Earl Somers from Hereford, and by the Earl of Darnley from Beasley, which, together with.othere, were ordered to lie upon the table as were' also some petitions respecting Pecu liars and the New Marriage Act, and a petition complaining of Agricultural Distress, presented by the Earl of Shaftesbury, front the county of Carmarthen. • AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS. The Earl SOMERS presented the Petition complaining of Agricultural Distress, &c. agreed to at the Hereford 'County Meeting on the 17th ult., at which Meeting his Lordship pre. sided, he hating agreed to summon It pursuant Si) requisi. tion, after the High Sheriff had declined to call it. His Lord , ship detailed the circumstances which took place at the Meet., ing, and which were stated at the time in our report of it. Ile .fought it right to enter into this debate, because he hail re. fused to sign the petition, and because he Objected to some of the allegations contained it. The Agricultural Distress was undoubtedly very great, and though it might be said that after a time that distress would be alleviated, and though it was title that great landholders might withstand the pressure, still it could not but excite the most melancholy feelings in men who were enabled to bear up against it, to see their neighbours con. tintially falling one after another around thetn, Ile certainly did nut mean to advocate any measure that could affect public credit, far from it ; public credit was to a nation, what private credit was to an individual ; but let it be recollected how much, during the war; public credit was supported by the landholders; , who cheerfully sustained the burdens imposed upon themee burdens which were the more heavy, inasmuch as in addition to the taxes they paid in common with other classes, there were • various local rates which bore exclusively upon them. It was impossible they could continue to sustain those burdens under the change of circumstances which had occurred without widely extended ruin. In addition to the depreciation of prices arising from the transition from war to peace, they had to encounter all lite baneful effects arising to them out of what was called Mr. Peel's Bill. He did not mean to say that we ought not ulti. innately to return to a metallic currency; hut het; objected to the penod, as being a peculiarly unfortunate one at which that Bill began. to operate. It certainly greatly added to the dis. tress. lie knew many instances in which estates had been mortgaged, under then existing circumstances as to their value, for the purpose of providing portions for younger children ; and the effect now was, under the change of circumstances that had taken place, that the younger children took all the pro. fits of the estate,. and nothing was left for the eldest sons, to whom it was intended by their parents the estates should devolve. His idea was, not that any measure should be adopted affecting public credit, but that the burdens now falling exclusively upon the landholders should be equally borne by the other classes of society. A man might have two hundred thousand pounds in the Funds, and might pay very little Assessed Taxes or Poor Rates, whilst he, who had that capital invested In land, not only paid taxes and rates himself, but . all his tenants occupying portions of his land, paid also taxes and rates for every part of it. This he consider ed an unfair proportionment of the burdens of the State, and one which at the present moment not only pressed most heavily . upon the' Landlords, but threatened extensive ruin. Ile was convinced that the original intention of the 43d Elizabeth was, that personal property; as well as land and houses, should be •..assessed to the Poore Rake (his Lordship quoted an opinion of the late Lord Kenyon to this effect). Ile was aware that there was considerable difficulty in assessing personal property to the Poor's Rate; but under the circumstances of distress in which the landed interest were placed, he thought this difficulty ought to be encountered. The Earl of DARNLEY repeated his opinion, that the . Agricultural Distress had reached its worst point, and that no - relief could be afforded except by means of a considerable re duction of taxation. lie observed by the votes of the House of 'COMinoilll upon the Table that a reduction of taxation had been proposed, of which, so far as it went, he of course approv . ed ; but he thought that relief might be afforded to a greater extent, and that it would be sufficient for all the purposes of public credit, to have a Sinking Fund of 2,0011,0001. instead of ' 4,00,0001. The Petition was read and ordered to lie upon the Table. I%?ARRIAUES. The Archbishop of CANTERBURV moved that the Corn. roittee on the Law regarding Marriages, should have permis. filen to report front time to time. . This having been agreed to, His ()nee presented a report from the Commitee, recom. ',mending that in the .mean time, until an ultimate decision could be come to, a short Bill should be passed, repealing all chitties of the-new Marriage Act of last Sessions, rdating to the solemnization of Marriages. The Report having been *weed to, Hie Orace presented a Bill for the purpose mentioned in the Report, stating that it was thought advisable to introduce this • maxima, with the view of allaying a very unpleasant excitement of the public mind upon tine subject, and of preventing that immorality which might arise from impediments being thrown the way of marriage. The Committee would, with the least possible delay, come to a determination upon the whole sub. „met, but its consideration would unavoidably take up some time. ' herd ELLENTIOROUGII was anxious that there should -be no misunderstanding with regard .to the object of the Bill .presented by the Most Reverend Prelate. The effect of it would be that the old law regarding marriages would be re stored, with the exceptions that the marriages could not be an nulled, and that the Surrogates, whose power.of granting.the .licenses was taken away by the Act of last Session, would .4411 not have theyower of granting such licenses. In all. other re spects the old law, with regard to the 'solettinization of mar maes, would be restored. • . The Bill was read a first time, and ordered for a second read ;u2" g to-morrow. the Marriage Legalization Bill was read a second Aime, and .connuitted for to-morrow. - • . FOREIGN The Marquis of LANSDOWN said that he rose, according .to the intention he had expressed on a former night, for the purpose of putting some questions to the Noble _Earl at The ' head of his Majesty's Government relating to Foreign Affairs. He was sure the House would feel that it could not be his wish .to provoke any premature discoSsion which might by possibi ' iity interfere with ari y neiociations that might be now going on with vieki/,fer thei4eservation of p. ace. His -object V/34, to ascertain -whether the same ground of hope that was stated .On a previous night 'as a reason for not entering into par. 'ticul;tre still existed; and he was the more anxious to ah .-stain.from 44 general discussion, if that should he the case, in consequence of the fVrturrate concurrence of opinion manifested by both Hooks of, Parliament at the comnienceMent of the Session, When ho con Sid, re Li that three weeks had now 'elapsed since the meeting of Parliament, and that , many opper 'itinitirer had since occurred of receiving communications from 'the Spanish, government, and still more from the government of Prance; wbicli, by the threat denounced against Spain, had :struck at the independence of nations, he was anxious to put it eluestion, the answer to which would be anxiously looked for by all persona—namely, whether that hope, whatever the vsaue of it might he, of preserving the., peace-of Western Europe, still , eotiated. in'the minds of his Majesty's Minieters, or whether any expectation at all wacentertained by the King's Govern ment that, peace Gould be preserved'? It would depend upon the answer which ire received whether he would put another question or not arising out of the same topic to which he had *Nay alluded. The Earl of LIVERPOOL said, that on the first day when this subject was introduced, he took .the'liberty, i.n.anewer to the the state of our foreign Noble, Marquis, of' 'explaining rela tions,' as far as he conceived to be consistent with his public duty. He had then stated that the door was not absolutely close,d .against the prospect of peace, and had deprecated any further discussion as calculated to interfere with the exertions which Ilia Majesty's Governmentiniighlmake towards the accomplish. .meet of go 'desirable an ()Wed. Whatever difference of opinion Might exist upon any other-point, there was but one as ,to the propriety of titaintainlog" a geneial'peace: He, therefore, now again deprecated any furtherdiscuseion.till..it was evident that peace could not be pregeilia. He had do difficulty in stating at the same time that epeeist circumstances had arisen since the .period before alludOtt to, and some of them recently, whith Made him more aaverse than before to any discussion of the differences, bettvevi France and Spain. lie would not shrink at a future day feint) explaining the grounds upon which his Majeity's Government had proceeded bitt us they all looked with anxiety to the preservation of what the Noble Marquis had called the peace of Western Europe, he was sure their Lordships would be induced to refrain from further obsetva. don, and especially when he stated that the forbearance which Parliament had already shewn, had afforded material advan tages to his Majesty's Government in its negotiations with these foreign Powers. The, Marquis of LANSDQWN said, that it was impossible to be dissatisfied with what had fallen from the Noble Earl, al. ways bearing in mind that Ministers were acting on their own responsibility. The observation, that the forbearance adopted • by Fatliament, had afforded advantage to the negociations of . the Government, must have the effect of closing his mouth as to the state in which those negociations at present stood ; but there was one question which he felt himself justified in putting to the Noble Earl, and to which he did not anticipate any ob jection. It was, whether, in the course of the negociations which preceded the recent difference between the Courts of France and Spaini, any engagement had been entered into as to any part which this country might take in the result of a contest ? In short, whether this country was still unshac kled as to the side which she might take supposing a war to be inevitable? The Earl of LIVERPOOL said it would be impossible to give a detailed answer to that-question, without entering into a review of the whole policy adopted by the Government for a considerable period, but this much be would say generally,that Government had entered into no engagement whatever, nor would they feel themselves justified in doing so, which could prevent them from taking any course that might be necessary to the honour and character of the nation., Lord ELLENBOROUOII said he did not rise for the pur pose of gutting any question, after the explanation of the Noble Earl, but he would not entertain any sanguine views with re spect to the preservation of peace between France and Spain since the Speech of the. King of France. The Noble Earl had stated that the same desire of peace between France and Spain which was felt by his Majesty's Ministers, was also felt by the Noble Lord who generally opposed them. In that opinion he fully agreed, and be could say for himself, hat he looked with the utmost anxiety to the prevention of any war in the present state of public feeling. But if the mediation of England was conducted upon the principle of inducing Spain to give up any part of her Constitutional privileges, we were as guilty of in. justice as the Allied Powers themselves; and the Ministers, if they had so committed themselves, would incur a heavy re. sposibility at some future period.—Adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, FEB. 24. INSOLVENT DEBTORS' ACT. Mr. WOlitlibilSE presented a petition against the Insol vent Debtors' Act from the Mayor and Corporation of the 1).o. rough of Mariborough.—Ordered to be printed. Mr. MONDAY presented similar. petitions from Chester field and Amhboume. Sir A. PELHAM presented a similar petition from Gains• borough.—Ordered to be printed. LEATHER TAX. Sir JOHN NEWPORT presented a petition from the Tanners of the City of Waterford, praying for the real of H the remainder of the Leather Tax. The onourable Baronet strongly recommended the adoption of this suggestion to the House. Mr. .f,'ALCRAFT gave notice of his intention to move, that the tax alluded to in the Petition should be repealed, in lieu of the reduetiokof the duty on carriages proposed by the Chancellor of the bitchequer ; and also for the repeal of the Tallow Duty, in place of the proposed reduction on riding horses. Mr. CuItTEIS and Mr. CultwEle expressed their opinion, that the removal of the Leather Duty would be beneficial to the Agricultural Interest. The Petition was read, and ordered to be printed. Mr, CURTEIS presented a Petition from Bexley, Sussex, against the Hop Tax. Ordered to be printed. Mr. GOULBURN brought up a Return of the Circular sent to the Cdlonels of Militia in Ireland.--Laid on the table. Mr. GOADON presented a Petition from Aberdeen, com. plaining of Agricultural Distress.—Ortiered to be 'printed. REMISSION OF TAXES IN SCOTLAND. Mr. CHARLES GRAM', seeing the Chancellor of the . Exchequer in his place, took that opportunity of asking him whether it was intended to give the same relief in the shape of taking off taxes to Scotland, as the Right Honourable Gentleman had proposed in his late .speech to administer to Ireland ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was happy in the opportunity thus affbrded him of apologizing to the Right Right fronoura,ble Gentleman and his countrymen for having omitted to advert to the important topic to which the Right Hon. Gentleman hxd just called his attention, In the statement he had had the honour to submit to the House on a former evening. Had he (unfilled on that occasion the inten tions with whi c h he comtneaced, he would not now have to make this communication. Tn answer to the Right. Hon. Gentleman's question, •he had to say that it was his intention to propose to the House to extend the same relief to Scotland as he had proposed for Ireland. Mr. CALCRAFT, seeing the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his place, renewed the notice he had given, above mention. ed, which it Was his intention to move at the proper period. Mr. CURWEN wished to know whether the Chancellor of ► the Exchequer would object to except from Window Tax alto. gether that else* of houses rated at N. with six windows. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER confessed it Aid not enter into any part of his intentions to change the view 'he had originally taken on this subject. This was to take off 50 per cent. on Window Tax in general, receiving no specific duty but that on the lower order of shop windows. Mr. 110BHOUSE. in consequence of what had fallen from the Right lion., Gentleman, gave notice, of lit. should ad here to the motion for the total abolition of this duty, which he had already intimated to the House. Mr..Ht.DIE, at the request of an Hon. Member, postponed his motion which stood for.tbis evenini to Wednesday next. Af3RICULTeth. Sir THOMAS LETHBRIDGE gave .notice, that tin the 20th of March, he would bring before the House a series of „Iles°lotions eiiplanatory of his views of Agricultural Distrps. The nondurable Baronet also presented a Petition fron Bathwiek, Somerset, praying for a Repeal of the Assessad Taxei. WAYS AND MEANS, Mr. MA BERt.iic'i;;;vea lik;tiidiOf the Day for receiv. ing the Report of the Committee of Ways and Means. Sir R. HERON took occasion to express his opinion, that the relief proyosed to be extended to the country was totally in adequate to its purpose. It was with deep regret he found the agricultural interest was to be sacrificed to the monied interest. He was exceedingly unwilling to dwell upon these topics, be. cause he was anxious to support, as far as his vote would sup port, the policy pursued by his Majesty's Ministers towards Ireland and Spain, which he considered wax upon free and con stitutlonal principlo such as never before he hail known ac tuate tho Treasury Benches. _ Sir JOHN NEWPORT, not having been in the House the other night, had had no opportunity of expressing his concur. renco in the sentiments of approbation which Fo generally pre. vatted towards the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for the con sideration he had bestowed on Ireland. lie begged to say, that in his bumble view, additionatsatisfaction must be felt, by his countrymen, in consequence of the manner in which the Right Hon. Gentleman had ac witted himself of ti is task. With respect to the taxes to be remitted, he wished it to be borne In mind that the collection of taxes generally was a con. siderible source of vexation and expence in that country.— He hoped the Right Hon. Gentleman would consent to the re. pest of the Leather Tax, the collection of which was felt as very grievous. He begged leave again to say, that he cos - dully concurred in all the sentiments of praise which had been uttered 'for the luminous and detailed statement, and the libe ral and enlightened views of the Right Hon. Gentleman's late financial speech. GRENFELL wished to know if it was the intention o f the Hon. Member for Abingdon (Mr. Maberley), to press up on the House the discussion of those Resolutions read by him the other night, and which were in the hands of Hon. Members. As to the application of the Surplus Revenue of the year, whether in _part extinction of the debt, or in remission of taxes, he was ready to admit it was a matter requiring great consi deration ; but he must say, that the ,Resolutions of his lion. Friend, mind, I* no sort of connection with the state. me% of the Chancegot of the EVrel;eTite;: Mr. MABERLEV complained of the Hon Gentleman ask ing him a question, and then going into the discussion of the subject before waiting for his an s w er . Ile need not then pro. coed with his argument to sheer that he had taken a most pre. judiced and most erroneous vied: of the matter. In answer to his question, he had to say, Unit out of deference to the Chani , cellor of the Exchequer, who did not feel prepared after his late exertions to enter into a lengthened discussion, he had post ' poned his motion to Frioay next. The Right Hon. Gent. had condescended to agree, that with the approbation of the House, although an order day, his motion should have prece dence of any other business in which he was concerned. .The Report of the Committee was then read, and the reso lutions agreed to. FOBEIGN ENLISTMENT BILL. Sir R. WILSON - thought it his duty to the petitioners, whose petition he was about to present, that he (Sir R. iVil. son) had no connection whatever with the drawing of it t 9. — It sprang from their own generous feelings and high spirit, in public meeting, legally convened and assembled in the most orderly manner. It was from the inhabitants of St. John, Southwark, and the prayer of it was the repeal of the Foreign Enlistment Bill. From circumstances of a family nature, he understood the motion of a Noble Friend of his (Lord Althorp) for the repeal of this Bill was not likely to come on on Thursday next ; but he could not help remarking on the very favourable auspices under which it was brought forward. Ile alluded to the Order in Council relative to the exportation of arms to Spain.-4 Hear, hear !)—Most gladly would he see this odious Act repealed. It had been originally passed in violation of the usages of our own and foreign countries. It was directed against the rights of the world, and had been properly treated as the ally of tyranny. He could not conclude without con. gratulating the country and his Majesty's Ministers upon the happy change in our foreign policy which had lately evinced itself in their acts and language.—(Hear, hear !) Mr. 110BHOUSE seconded the prayer of the Petition, and congratulated the House and the country upon a revocation of a particular Order in Council which bad been alluded to. If his Majesty's Ministers persisted in this line of policy, they would soon replace this country in the situation she formerly held amongst nations, anti which she would again assume.— (Hear, hear !)—lfe did think that by following up this course with the Bourbons of' France, something short of war would enable this Government to attain the objects it seemed to have in view. By the repeal of the Foreign Enlistment Bill, and the Alien Bill, we should be restored to the situa tion we had been in, and which we had lest, since our Conner.. tion with the Holy Alliance. The Bill, it had been stated at the time, was for the protection of the interests of Old Spain, and if by the same rule we were to listen to the instigations upon which It was originally passed, it would now be re pealed. Ile hoped the revocation of the Order in Council would teach the Bourbons of France what they were to expect in case of their not slackening in the impious course they were now pursuing. He (Mr. Hohhouse) had been most cautious not to utter a word ,on this subject until war should appear to be inevitable, being most desirous not in any way to hasten what must be always considered as a calamity. But he would now undertake to 'da, that if his Majesty's Ministers went into this war it wound s be hacked by the whole people.— (Hear 1)—Ile thought his Mijesty's Ministers had acted with extreme prudence throughout the whole of this matter, and if his praise were worth having, he would freely bestow it. He was not, however, talking of the late Ministry; but of the Mi nistry as it now existed • for he was convinced that if the lan ' gunge that had been tately held at Verona had been, earlier spoken, our Holy Allies would not now he engaged in the work they had in hand. Ile had been much surprised by some pas sages in.a work called a Treasury work, but not one, he was sure, of the Treasury of the present day. The title of it was, " The Crisis of the Aflitirs of Spain." This work told them to consider what would be the conduct of France—what the con. (Wet of Austria, were we to take part with Spam. But what did we care for what Prance and Austria might do in any par ticular case as regarded this country. As to Prance, he 'wished it to be borne in mind that we had beaten the French on the very same ground already.—(hear, hear I)—And as to Auatria, let her look to her Italian . provinces, now ripe for re. volt, and which every well-informed man know, ready to break out upon England holding up her finger in token of assent..--(Hear Mr. Sceretary CANNING thought the House might ex.. pect it of him that he should take some part in the discussion on the topic which had incidentally arisen. But a few words, however, did he think he was:called on to say; for amongst other qualities which had been attributed to the Government by the lion. Member who had just sat down, prudence forbade at this moment much discussion; and he was excedingly anxious to repress it if he could.—(ilear, hear 1)—Ile must, however, say, that he shoul4 be apting unfairly were he not to reject any praise onbred to him as having acted with a new spirit, and upon novel' principles, for he had found embodied in a State Paper in the Office which he had now the honour to fulfil that very course laid down, and those very principles proma. gated, a faithful. adherence to which had gamed hint the ap. probation of that House.—(Hear, hear l).-.With respect to the other compliments, the House would see that it was Impossible he could allow himself then to be led into the consideration of them.—(Hear, hear )—lle would only add, that all discus. sion was inexpedient whilst there remained a hope that what all Europe desired, might be accomplished, viz. a trap. quil result ; and that at the present moment, besides these general reasons, there were circumstances which rendered it peculiarly requisite that they should abstain from discussion. He was therefore glad that the postponement of the motion relative to the °reign Enlistment fish had been decided on ; because it would be impossible to go into discussion without bringing to bear upon it some of those topics it was desirable to avoid. It was, however, but justice for him to avow, indeed it would he ungrateful not to say, that in conducting the nego. tiatiun with the Foreign Powers alluded to thus far, he had been mainly aided by the forbearance shewn by that House.— (Cheers.) The Petition was then read and ordered to be printed. COLONEL, WOOD. Mr. CURWEN presented a Petition from a Gentleman of the name, of Wood, forrnerly.in the 3.lth Rement, complain ing of having been unjustly deprived of his Military Commis. mon, and praying for an inquiry into his case, and such relief as the merits of it should seem to deserve. Lord PALMERSTON said, the case of this Gentleman was that of an individual who was a public debtor, his Commission having been sold for the liquidation of his debt: This deface. tion arose from his being engaged in two bads about the year 1796, upon one of which he was a debtor to the extent of 38281., and upon the _other to the amount of 42071. These debts had been ascertained in the time of Mr. Windham to his entire satisfaction, and upon his recommendation the Corn. mission had been sold. Ile (Lord Palmerston) finding that there was upwards of 20001. due, and that this Gentlemen had really no property, bad taken on himself to relinquish the debt. lie believed he had been a Member of that House twice and as he had not thought proper to urge his own claims, he (Lord Pala erstone) felt coiltirmed In the view lie had taken of the justice of the . case. Colonel DAVIES said, that Colonel Wood had never heard of his being a public debtor till 1814. The fact was, it was a matter between him and iii*agent, and Government had no business to interfere in it at all. What this Gentleman now asked for was to be restored to his rank, in order to reestablish his character. lie derived no pay either retrospectively or pro spectively. Sir It. 'WILSON thought this Gentleman was entitled to the :protection of the House. • . The Petition was then read, and ordered to be printed: MR. 110WRINtL, Lord A. lIAMILiON gave notice that he should, on Thursday next, move for the Correspondence between Mr. ilowring and the Government of this country. SUPPLY REPORT. On the Report of the Committee of Supply being brought up, Mr. lIUME said, he wished to make'it few remarks on the practiW of Government in promotions in the Navy last year. The House ought to know the extent of the dead weight, as it was calle k l„ of the allowances to-naval officers. 'a return of January 1822, there were 5,889 officers, Lieutenants, and up. wards, at 01 expence of one million for half-pay alone. He did think that promotions in the Navy had now become the greatest matti:r of favour, and the greatest means of influence over that Howse, Last year there was a great number, and he had no doubt a Return would chew that scarcely any of them had any claim whatever. It was an evil of great magni tude, for the strsngtli and glory of this count r y d e pe n d e d on the state of-the Navy , He was sure that not one-tenth ought to hav e be en p romote d, and it would appear that th e half-pay re duction about ,torna b keinu xn a ai n le i . ner S eas in e ce t o b f e had been ihialadf thus weighing on the was a greater sutra than all the been promoted notwithstanding that small number a million. Out of 5 1 Officers, there were only 5 em ployment last year, and 48 in said of the Alsoines last 7 ear, viz. that Inc Staff-was greater 150 were promoted last year". He again repeated what he had than it should be. l i e wistied also to observe with iegard to the Ordnance Craft, that ther ought to be contracted for, as was th e way w i t h t he Navy Ward, and as was fecomineoded by several thmmittees to that House. Sir JOHN 081-101tN regretted that the Clerk of the Ord fiance "was not in the house to ansver the Hon. Gentleman on the topic he h a d l a st adverted to. As to the system of pro. motions in the Navy, whenever the ',lion. Gentleman should bring forward any 'seci fi c motion, the Admiralty would be found ready to justi fy that system. It would be found that on foreign stations w here promotion toot's place by casualtieti, the vacancies were filled up by MitistOPtnelt on the spot, otherwise ships would often be left fur a long time unofficered. The other promotions would be found to be of Midshipmen who had passed their examination for Lieutenants, upwards of six years, having thereby been twelve years unprompted. The others would be Lieutenants and Captains of Flag Ships coming home from foreign stations. With reprd to the reduc. tion on the whole Estimate over the last, it was 220,0001. chiefly derived from the wear and tear, and victuals. Of the arrangement with regard to the 31arines, he would reserve what he had to say for the motion of the lion. Member. The Report was then agreed to. IRISH YEOMANRY CORPS. Mr.GOULafillsf postponed the motion for the second read ing of this Act to the 6th of March. Mr. HUME observed, that unless it was the intention of Go vernment to put down the system of Orange Lodges and their connection with the Yeomanry Corps, he should consider it his duty to oppose the Bill in every stage ; so much did he consi der this Corps to disturb the peace of Ireland. Mr. DAWSON would be happy to meet the charges of the Hon. Member whenever he chose to bring them forward. In the mean time he begged to say, he considered it an unfair im putation on the great body of these Corps and Lodges to say they disturbed the peace of the country. Mr. GRATTAN expressed his concurrence with what had fallen from the lion. Member for Aberdeen. He believed it was well known one of these Corps had, done considerable mis chief in one part of Ireland. The Irish Arms Bill was also postponed to the 6th March. LATE LAW PROCEEDINGS IN IRELAND. Mr. BROWNLOW rose to move for Papers connected with certain recent transactions wh'ch had taken place in the Court of King's Bench in Ireland. As he understood that there would not be the slightest objection made to his motion, be should content himself with moving for the returns, without observation. The Hon. Member then moved for Copies of the committal of the persons who had been acquitted of an alleged riot, or conspiracy to riot, in the Dublin Theatre, on the 14th of December, 1822. Ordered. _ _ Also for Copies of the bills of indictment for the alleged riot, or conspiracy to riot, preferred before tho,,Ggand, Jury on the Ist of January, and the finding of the Jury thereon.— Ordered. Also for Copies of the cx officio informations'upon the same subject, filed in the Court of King's Bench by his Majeity's Attorney-General for Ireland. Upon this question being put, Mr. PLUNKETT said he was desirous of claiming the at tention of the House for a very few minutes, though not with any intention of offering the least opposition to the motion of the Hon. Member. He concluded it to be the Hon. Member's intention to follow up his present motion for papers with some ulterior proceedings respecting what has recently happened at Dublin ; that was the legitimate period for discussing the conduct and the acts connected with what had so taken place. This was merely a motion for papers, and it was neither his Intention to invite, nor to commence debate upon such an oc- casion. But he rose to express his extreme satisfaction at finding that at last this question was to come regularly , for ward—to express his extreme satisfaction that it was placed in the hands of an Honourable Member, who discharged his duty so well to the . ITotute and to the country upon all occasions. l i t l e el l i d ad fe n e o l m so ll o i i a e il d it el, w rr l e ta e te go v rp er ri to set r a k t e u th pon i in e- duty y t grounfa llin g b g to; the share of the Hon. Member i because upon a former occasion, when a question was put to him upon the subject of the Oahu. lic Question, a Right Hon. Baronet thought proper to enter upon this subject when be (Mr. Plunkett) had. no opportunity of reply, and to state that those were improper proceedings, upon the propriety of which the House was hereafter to be called upon to deliberate and to judge.—( Hear !)—Now, he had ex pected front the well-known talent of the 'light lion. and Learned Gentleman, that when he had anticipated the deci sion of the House, and characterised the proceedings which had been adopted as improper, he would himself have come Omani in a direct and manly manner to support the charge, by bringing those proceedings, and measures founded upon them before the consideration of the House.—(Hear, hear 1) — As this was not fhe case, whenever the Hon. Member, who now moved for these papers, should bring forward his ulterior measure, he called upon the Right Hon. Baronet to stand up in support of his opinions, by secon di ng t h e H on . M em b er upon that occasion. To that lion. Member he begged to say, that as early a day as possible would be desirable for the full discussion of the matter. He said this, not merely in re- ference to himself, though, individually, he felt a strong desire that his personal conduct should be investigated without loss of time, but because the question involved the general conduct of the Administration of the G overnment o f Ireland under the Marquis of Wellesley. ' Sir .1. STUART addressed the House in a tone of voice that was for the most part inaudible. lie st a t e d th a t h e would h o ld. ly avow tp this House and the world that the proceedings in question were unconstitutional.--(Hear I)—fle was bound to say so; for although he felt great admiration for his Right lion. Friend, if he might be allowed to call him so, yet he would nut hesitate to do his duty. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER could not help putting it to the House whether, under all the circum stances of the case, it would not be better on every account not to press discussion on the present occasion. --(Ileac, hear ! and " Go on.")—The motion was one for papers merely, and they were to be granted upon a mutual understanding between the parties concerned. The Right Hon. Bart. also declared openly his opinion that the late proceedings, though not illegal , were highly unconstitutional. Therefore as it was a matter mvolv ing questiens so important to the personal character of the At. torney-General for Ireland, so impor ant to the Government of Ireland, and consequently so important to the country at large—it required the deliberate and grave attention of the House, and had better be deferred till the House was fully pre pared to entertain it. Mr. M. FITZGERAI 4 D questioned the necessity of wait. ing for the production Of papers before the transactions in ques tion should be examined and discussed. Such wits the agitated state of men's feelin in Ireland, that it was doubtful wh e th er a public expression o f the feeling of that House were not neces sary before that agitation could be calmed. lie had lately been amongst them, and it did not appear to him that on either side the people of Ireland appeared likely to be satisfied until the Parliament had pronounced its opinion. There was no doubt of the good intention of the Right lion. the Chancellor of the gxche q uer, but to hint the grounds stated by t h at Right Hon. Gentleman, why dismission should not take place, were so many reasons why it should not be delayed a moment. The personal character of the Right lion. Gentleman, the Attorney- General for Ireland, was under imputation, and thtrefore no time should be lost in relievin g i t from that condition. The importance of the subject to the Irish Government, and to the country at large, were reasons for the same course being pur. sued. It was necessary that the opinions of the British Gen tlemen of that House should be publicly declared, in order to calm the disquietude which had been excited ; and lie there. fore claimed for his country that the subject should receive the earliest possible attention. He looked to the Hon. Member who had moved the return of these papers, for the appoint ment of the very first convenient day on which the question could be discussed.—(Hear, hear would ask that lion. Member where was the necessity of having these papers at all? After the indictments presented to the Grand Jury had been ignored, he would ask why they had been followed by ex.pffirio informations ?—( Hear !),--And this was matter of notoriety.— There were the public records of it, and it might have been proceeded on at once, without the delay of mov in g f o r p a p er s. He again entreated t hat the subject would receive the earliest possible consideration, as being of the most vital importance Ito the peace of Ireland. Mr. CROKE it said, he had looked at the two last motions With surprise, and stuadd have risen to express its had he. not felt unwilling to place himself in opposition to the course which the House seemed to adopt without objection. But he did feel strong doubt as to the propriety of the interference of the }louse with legal proceedings nut yet closed, and upon a motion to be thus granted upon the moment, without previous notice or con sideration. lie slid not mean to deny the power of the House so to interfere ; but. that right had always been exercised with extreme caution. lie left it to the best judges of Parliamen otry practice to say whether there was a prtvedent for such a line of proceeding. Would it not be better and more consis tent with the ordinary course of such measures, to have given notice of these motions, and then to have debated upon the necessity of having the papers produced at all ? lie thought, that rather than establish a precedent, and, as he thought, a bad precedent, it would b e a d v i sa bl e f or the lion. Member to withdraw the last motion, which was not yet carried, and ;dye notice of it fo r anot h er d ay, when the question could be &Up discussed. Mr. BROWNO he l ivr V ettow sa rnat id ie , nyo t . hat having had the honour to shiliiirateoevlwoiantneghdi,san Muted motions a Departm ent,to that theto theß i gßhi Right lion. li Secretaryo.the Chief of State Secret a ry fo f ur the r the mode ethleile papers , htiaetwg thought atio p n t o e d b t La t he Hear, hear 1) ....Having pro. m n e era eslcoi l guh f l o td r esbt l : re bat t j an ecta l oned an to their to they being granted, for s c h u o r t e l d ld t m he a s k e r as oo na nd tu o r f al a l o y u c te xp o ectj or ti e l as h o im re. tha T t h h i e s ohneeshofoutlidtosceerlttliino h l e y o do to , d a er n e d d tt the matte without loss or had if tine,aitadrhy sleptewas too long without notice. It was, therefore, his intention to bring the subject before the House early after the Recess, and as near to the day on which the Catholic Question was to be discussed as possible. He should state to-morrow, or next day, when he had examined the state in which business stood, the precise period at which his proposition would come before the House. Mr. ABERCROMBY dissented from the objection taken motion b e fore b l e i f e o li r e e ere' th b e le H Se oue r se e . thr if ttehe the e w A pt i L d ili t n y gs , asto to the it related had been still pending, then the objection would . . have been valid. The Honourable 51ember seemed to purpoe following up his motion for papers with the proposal of a see of censure. If this were the case, he thought it would hall been better to give notice of the present motions, and so who lie had another ground of objection, taken a preliminary debate upon the circumstances of the cart the candour of the Hon. Gentleman, whether the &same ought to be put off till after the decision of the !louse hi' the Catholic question. He would put it to any Irish , let 1 1 1 1 t lion. the be as great a friend to that question its the Rig(' torney-General for Ireland might be, or let him be as much o• posed to it as the Hon. Gentleman himself, whether he cola and he would pat tt t wish it to he decided upon under the feelings of irritatiothst o distraction which now ousted in Ireland in consequenca?t tn, late transactions in that country: Ile had the understaaainf; feel that it was a question which involved the ballas, ~, r I peace o reland, and therefore ha desired that it nitOt u e I, preached with the utmost reason and taintdeliberatlesL e , would put it to the lion. Gentleman whe ther such would e: ` l l ,' r feelings with which they approached it, if these matte s 0 ailairicid without any, decision or consi art derat i o n on the P the House of Commons. th at Iv Mr. 11110'WNLO‘V replied, as we understood hem bt , 0 thought he had been perfectly cleer in stating his debate tat-Upoc bringing forward his ulterior measure before the lir, the question of Catholic Claims. With regasi to his na ...: etre given notice of the present Motions, and meting the sr, 30 ,0 in i.llCh COW' . which he had with regard to the Papers, he was not at s" Tie that such a course was usual, or expected/ Motion was then agreed to. FOREIGN ENLISTMENT AC T ' 1 t iratte 4 Mr. BROUGHAM, in an under tone of t;ele i t s ,,e i e m iae a that in consequence of the important cointualit,e%,""7otraotel both Houses of Parliament that evening. hehs ° we— - sae° by a noble Friend of his (Lord Althorph t° PostraFogie above Act. The House beine which stood for Thursday, relating to the repeal() the Enlistment Act. ASSESSED TAXES ACT. , moved, th e , The CHANCELLOR. of th e EXCllF4l3ll!,b,,eupon„tle the House should resolve itself into a Cou rn i,Titigln I° t ", y toes!! Gentleman stated that he di r d not think it - n eee--3 1 r k• ill P. more fully into the alterations he PW°sed w 11 alleshoult Act, a ft er what he had already stated to the liotts• t he hao confine himself simply to• 1 • r esolutions into putting ns of the seve r ally greed d 0 Theßesolutions were then read, and sev er— A- bon s t°. Mr. GaENFELL and Mr. lietcr.s•ren pat V es t ,sichae:' Chancellor of the ExChequer, as to the situation 'fl oo d lase sons would be who had compounded for ttrir A3.' 12 st2 tetithi l The CHANCELLOR of the EXCllgQirkores, 1.1, such persons would have the benefit of both I"ropoet.d.i in .Cointuitee, view he took of it was this. A person who ll'il i „p l ant. for 100/. Assessed Taxes, as well upon the fitet . r,,,, , s eo upon the additional Five under the Act of last Y`''', br l'• now only pay ter aot. • a ided" 1 "rhe house resumed, and the Report was ceived on Friday. 4 , b e hale Mr. P. ,MOOR postponed the motion of whi to t barltt notite, relative to the Combination ofJournerle°' se'nnight. . ''slD ' vd SINKING Ft., • reit 0 06 . 6 .The . CHANCELLOR of the KM:AiI:C/1J" " alet l flose s that on Monday next, he should submit to the - • upon the subject of the Sinking Fund. ' IANI II• 0 io BRIGADE MAJORS OF VllO 3 _ ese , to 1,,, :Mr. 11U3I F. had a motion to submit to the IlZ ons ateo i he apprehended there would be no o bjection. _t tt reide s a Parliamentary Paper lately returned, that rewlie W: been allowed to Brigade Majors of V eotottnlYld; OP the t house had no notion that money wr.r,„s th a , 1,3,4 p by the paper that upwards of %%",` or) eerrgas in pensions and salaries to members ot • Ve °llll a of I° . et' sums were said to be granted upon the atithorisfuo j ob 0 , 1 Geo. 111. Now, in that Act there Wa s , a C 1 e nder the aii!i Presaly stated that no allowance should be mat e, _ e a 0 04 . A thority of that A ct to persons receiving lialf-leg ‘o7;ala,T;r; allowances. He moved for a return of the nal, ll r 4 o f Y eon! who had received allowances as Itrigatle-31`ei;,;ir serl ict :e's in Ireland, stating the length and nature o i l e ,` r ott ititat'': s l,:l eames of te certificates , who of tl i _ 1 t4 . ,,,, r ) date of the, the amount ot the a 110w , _." 4 t ie pe with the authorities under which, and the moth s ' . 4 by whom ,such allowances were granted• rte ale t,, tr' Mr. GOULBURN said, that with resPer h o i g treo . a ero' his_ part there would be no objection to ' n't . th• 11 6 .511 O t ,,, r '' had no wish than that of bringing the ac ts ° se t (.!ltlei"- if la{ meat fully before the . public. He only r°- a t :twe -- ash gret that, upon a previous night, and before r t e eh' IV, been produced, the lion. 31ember had iin t rno,,- - ,,,ii. of an honourable Officer, which, if he ',' s ••,l:inte k idl,,:, tt documents, o he could not have done. Ile vilf-ano. Iv - 0 0' bet b riortunity to deny as publicly as the .i ." ifisitorlogli.ji; ?referred them, the charges afri iP ';7lo /13 go' Officer The individual in question was Pr},ol b 4en 00' 4 and . the Hon. 51ember states lO l, ad ' to" to him which he that a pose ip efor Of , was not entitled to We l % A bov e 'et Las i Jar , reasons. The first wus, that he west', vele. S' . :, 10 10•4 or age ; the second, that he had been o ver,,,,e_la -)tip' service; and the third, th at h e was tit e' re 2 e eti e l se as the Hon. Member himself. Now t" P --- Itecl 0,411 e.,; these reasons.--With rd lay anti' he it'i to ll s s"cli . r the rega to year . t o in America • in year 177 n, a nti th ii„a afeinhoe4t ceived • a severe wound; so that the 1 " „. c that NI ..N:„1 great skill in figures, would be bli)lei"),,,Veti at the 0/ 0 it was considerably above the ag_e he t rAtl „ s T r e little, , 611 1.0 e i he received his allowance. For the --' e ars or ir";,;/. 'i been in the service, the found forty•five Y 4 Veoll ia- meir majesty, an d 13 e ars as it ~ do :%tsjor o f ~,,,, ste-b ~,, the Hon. Membe' "rriaion llae "'-- t 01° ' .11" r said that this pens ~ o g ee ette r P possessing all the bodily health an t.,„top to ~. daily and nightly witnessed in the Don. tier,",,!'; years ot e! llouse. Now it happened that for 1' 0 { 0 4 4 t ier claims had been in the habi t °!,,,ietnieall an d b.uns for allowances before they we re o; is ?pc.— , l all . 1 lowing was the result of a n inquiry int? e . - T rifY n e s . kt " Report of the P •* I hi es eq -- stale °UP - ot hysiciane— strictly examined 'Mai Collis as to the ligastis and 1 find him •"" to the ' . 101 1 0t re sj perfectly inadequate •ba tit of ite l I duties in • this county and in the cottotY „, ,eer ~IL , „e a imminent risk to his life. lie is sor t, i' e ' taw' l a o,# lof a delicate constitution, subject coldta ken f"e ia 1 ;00 t liver complaints, in consequence of i,,llr 0 00 ft, and also paralytic affecti 1 "--t Bear, hear :f oo d die ot teh o it to the House, whether these • • rra d ei4j . (ic e° Or ° amt'at o eer s uch se iter e ti e or not , and whether the recompence is-- - 110 ' ,1W- ings was to be described as a Job.o the tat eh ~,04 ; that the Act d'l. • r otAingo gs- re! It not give the pw 0 had * tlia h , It so happened that these Brigade Major s o ice eh t,„O dered as Civil Of fi cers. They were e%"°_,l o ,oP ee lopo,'ri of halfay, and I hat, no other military .. ~ 0 sa.,,s. compelled to retire. This had been consider.e,! gel' ~., for giving them an allowance under die N A ' 0 0 1 4 ' ~; !ection to the production of the papers• et th e ibis °I ; f? Mr. HUME explained that this was n ot the e ,,, 41 t „-e t wit' he a.Uude 1....:4 t Rear, hear, hear.)" ll e e " - t elloa 3 " ' ve r - tO fact. He spoke of two instances where the , ti t° t., te,!ie "lade ; one was Edw. Collis, whom be s . l s w o r ith'.,:ot t 1 1:, Id years in the service ; the other Was l‘ir• Ile' o ttv he applied the remainder of his observethels: sni t °,,, 0 0. take in the Newspapers the nest morninatto 140,0sid Editors to correct it. Ile was still at R 1 055 0 e 4:4, jo li 0 authority the pensi o n s h a d b ee n granted . 0 e aclPaar e 0 half-Pay anti military allowances were to ) 1 1 ) ," o i e r iif l' e teie not see how it could be made out that a • i t i' o ptt ° , o not a military man. The as well e t • he a , • I y rimy_ 0 0 • V ti he was a woman. It may be Irish law , _., , t , i( ha y s that the Act did not authorise the allowirr,„net 1/ j ( 0 i. e air. fiOULBURN said the llon.„i're„,'ree!eutth the butteapplicaion of these charges as u le ' t , t e solo., al' Collis ; nfortunately for him there a st icht oo lei t ' o. circumstances attending the case of M c air t h e . ts t ei t tl y t tl atit le peered that in the year 1780 he join - ,41 5 ' . 0 ' Carolina, and that he had servtal ten ye.- ~, 0 00' 0 But he was not allowed to retire without e i , the all t o k ad that there were proper grounds for gront in t . I'o o ,01 41 ' i tahr 3 iir'.eo the first 1 p-aee, .Major Ilritigham hat. : t 3.- ai.e rt y I an apoplectic fit, whilst on the field of cht j:„vero 01,, j a considerable time afterwards in a stew 01 T v tiog e t bel i l was afterwards examined by Dr. Per i Y i l i ghtrg c . l l l, 7;o l every one in the public service alt - w ho i' l 'iith .ev to the utmost, was well known t a ll _ trec ot o t o reported that Major ilridghani Wee ,*. r 711 ,1 ° 1 .,,,,i; a ., 0 04 nausea, and momentary loss of sight, hitipol''`d"•arls dictated strong constitutional toulenes t° moti on eits t i p his opinion , entitled him urretire.--The 0 00 fof p o i Mr. all " 4000 ,1111 I Mr. 111111 E moved for a return 0 of. t ie At tax not exonerated, made in the .tiecom'tY, Lorit,tbi 20 years ; specifying the ainottnt 11eellerltetiP.704 lected, the amount paid into the Reeel v ;dedi c 110 - plus of each year, it any, and how c l e nerrl es Q t.g e 'r, thority for such appropnation and th, re deptj l r , tt whom such overplus was paid, and wfle taoril '''' d After a tow inaudible observetions Coed to. , o ilect, cot e Mr. LUSHINGTON, the 1 110011 was er e ttj eoei l ` o set e Mr. HUal E moved for returns or ' te r the ' •1 ,0 Parish of St. Saviour, Southwark, tire o, CA 1 3 r r 'e Stock Tax. ~.. e fe at, After a few words front Mr. MoN' „el s' t ei , the motion was agreed to. a , 01 11 00,0 fe o 0 Mr. lIUME . moved fora return 0 , ~,,ore n, r b aY tors of Land and Assessed Taxest,weeing a of those taxes , in the pariah of teens . f I,' tricts—Onlered. Tra-' oft •Es TIMA - thill ;., AR3II n otice,...o • Lord PALBIERSTON gav e e t he se'nnight he should bring forteara juttrued.