The Sun. — London, England, 1819-03-05 00:00:00

PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, MARCH 4. The Oaths were administered to the Earl of tridgewater, Lord Viscount raimonth, and Lord Alvanley. Mr. Carlisle presented the First Report of the Commissioners of Inquiry respecting Charitable Foundations for the Education of the Poor.—Or dered to lie upon the table. Mr. Mason, from the East India blouse, pre sented an Annual Account of Pensions., Salaries, and Gratuities.—Ordered to lie upon the table. Halford's Divorce 13,11 'was read a first time, end ordered to be read a second time to-morrow fortnight. Lord HOLLAND presented Petitions from South- wark, anti the Ward of Aldgate, against the re newal of the Insolvent Debtors' Act, or at least without greater security to Creditors against frau dulent Debtors ; and R Petition from the Pri soners confined for Debt in llchester (hot, Somerset, praying for the renewal of the above Act, or the enactment of some equivaleot measure for the relief of Debtors. His Lord, l lip took the opportunity of expressing his opinion in favour of the renewal of the Act, with such amendments as should appear requisite. The Act itself was ex perimental, and no doubt was sn passed, with the view of afterwards making such amendments as experience might suggest to be necessary. If the Act were not renewed, we should then relapse into the old state of the hi upon this subject, which, their Lordships well knew, rendered it necessary to pass an Insolvent Act eery one or two yews, The Petitions were ordered to lie on the table. CONVENTION WITH AMERICA. The Earl of DAarmay wished to know when it was intended to lay upon the table the Con ♦ention with the United States of America -! He asked the question, because the subject involved considerations of a very important nature. The Eat! of LivaaPoot. said, he expected to receive, without delay, the commands of the Prince Regent, to lay the Convention alluded to before their• Lordships,-and it would no doubt be on the table in the course of a few days. BRITISH NEGRO SLAVES. Lord HOLLAND, pursuant to his notice. tote to bring forward his promised motion on this sub ject. He prefaced it with a speech of some length, in the course of which he first adverted to what had formerly passed in that House on the subject, particularly in the Session of ISI6. An anxious hope was entertained from the. powerful influence with which his Majesty's Government could re commend to the Colonial Legislatures, not only the adoption, but the execution, of measures ef fectually conducive to the improvement and ex tension of Christian knowledge and moral in struction among those unhappy persons. He had the satisfaction of be i ng aware. that in no small degree these expectations had been realized.—lt was with pleasure he learnt (he now spoke prin cipally if not entirely of the colony of Jamaica) that the conduct of Government and of the Colonial Legislatures had completely removed all delu sions which the Negroes were found to labour under, with respect to what was really intended relative to altering their conditions ; and which would necessarily be productive of the most salu tary effects. He was happy in being able to say, that the,provisions of that great measure, which terminated legislatively this abominable traffic, was so cordially acted upon in Jamaica, that since June 1816, not a single slave was imported.— With respect to their system of moral anti reli- glut's instruction, though sonic improvements had undoubtedly taken place, much remained to be done. Oa the point of religious instruction, his Lordship principally dwelt. The Colonial Assem blies 11,1,1 first allotted to the Curates a salary of three hundred pounds West India currency •' but this being found insufficient to induce qualified Clergymen to go to that Colony, it was Hug. mewed to 5001. cm rency.—There was no doubt that there was some degree of unwillingness on the part of the Church of England Clergy to go thither ; but he thought some regulations might be adopted, which would authorize or afford encouragement to persons of certain other per• auasions to act in these colonies as a species e of subordinate assistants, but particularly io what might concern the business of scholastic educa tion. He particularly referred to the Mora vian sect. This might be done, he thought, without the least prejudice to the employmvnt of teachers of the Established Church. Another object of the Address of the House to which he had alluded, was, a due improvement in the phy sical condition of the Negroes. This, he was happy to say, appeared to be gradually taking place. A plan which he had generally conceived some time since, and turned over in his mind, as likely, if acted upon, to produce no small benefit, he begged leave to state a general outline ot, viz.: that the competent Authorities should provide that proprietors of slaves, or their agents, should keep a regiati y of all their Negroes actually bap tised, and also or the number who receive a com petent share of religious instruction ; that the testimony of such persons should be made admis sible in Courts of Justice ; that some description of small reward should he given to Negroes, in proportion to their improvement in Christian knowledge, which would nfford to these indivi duals a species of relative interest in their respec tive improvement• Their admissibility as evi dences would also ti•nd much to an amelioration of the Negro character. These were the principal points which he threw out as suggestions, hut on which he would not propose any Resolutions.-- Ile felt very cautious, however he might regard the rlignity and importance of the British Par liament, in passing any thing that appeared like an interference in the internal policy of those countries. The grand object of ame lioration in the condition of these unfor tunate persons, were it obtained only in the halt or quarter degree, would be a great attain ment for the interests of justice and humanity.— The Noble Lord concluded by moving an Address to the Prince Regent, for the production of cer tain acts or proceedings of the Colonial Legisla tures on the subject of the Negro population, • which took place, pursuant to the Address - of -Their Lordships ) at the period whiLh he ha stated. EarIBATHURST rose, and complimen►ed the Noble Lord on the candid and judicious manner in which be had introduced his motion: He could assure the House it was the anxious desire of his Majesty's Government to attain, in the most practicable and consistently expeditious manner, the great object which they all had in view. In their measures they had never lost sight of that object, and their practical attention had principally been directed to the important points of a registration of Slaves, and the moral and religious instruction of the Negro population.-- Not only that, but strong inducements were held Out in order to encourage and promote individual good conduct and improvement. It was deemed an expedient likely to contribute much to the desira ble ends in view, that an Act should be passed, pro viding that all mortgages or sales of estates, trans acted here, should he held illegsl, without they in cludeda specification and enumeration of those staves on such estates; but it any were not so specified and enumaated,t hey should not he considered as trans (erred by the sale or mortgage ; thereby render ing it the interest of the parties to make correct registrations. He was desirous such a measure as this were brought forward in the Colonial As senthlies, being anxious that the procedure should not in the least appear as compulsory on the part of this country. With respect to the considers- Lion of the moral or religious instruction of the Negro population in our Colonies, every atten tion was and would be paid to that •great object. The salaries were raised for the remuneration of Clergymen who should go to those Colonies, and every other fair and proper encouragement was held out for the purpose ; and he must say, with respect to those Reverend Prelates who were con sulted ou the occasion (particularly the Reverend Prelate to whose province such matters pecu liarly belonged), they all showed the greatest de gree of zeal and alacrity to procure proper per sons to fill those necessary situations in the Co lonies. The Noble Secretary described the na ture of. the Episcopal jurisdiction of the Dioce san of London, which, strictly speaking, was not, in point of law or regularity, so extensive or powerful in respect to those Colonies as seemed to be supposed, though, in the course of things, such matters scented generally regulated by that Diocesan. The difficulties in finding properly qualified Clergymen to perform the ditties in those Colonies were certainly great ; but every care and arrangement should be taken to surmount them. Much of what the Noble Lord referred to, es expedient for improvement, naturally lay in the hands of 'the Colonial Legislatures ; but no effort, he repeated, would be wanting on the part of his Majesty's Government in these re. spects : and with regard to the procuration of adequate clerical instructors, the Noble Earl again remarked, that steps bad been taken particularly with that view, and further exertions would be made ; b u t their Lordships would all be aware how much depended on the co-operation of the Colonial Legislature, which, however, he felt no doubt, would be cheerfully afforded. The Bishop of LONDON addressed the House at some length on the occasion (but our restricted limits will no t allow b ut a ver y general reference to his 'Lordship's speech, or of what subsequently took place). '!'be Rev. Prelate dwelt chiefly on the topic of the religious ins!ruction of the negro.po. pulation. lie described the nature and extent of the jurisdiction which was generally exercised by the See of London in such matters—the causes of the difficulties which occurred in the procuration of properly qualified Clergymen for the purpose in question—the nature of the duties .to be per. formed by such persons in the Colonies, and the advances already made with reference to Christian instruction in those quarters. The Rev. Prelate observed, that no steps were untaken on the part of the Establishment towards effecting the im portant object in question, and adverted to the important and cordial assistance be bad received front the Noble Earl at the head of the Coloni a l Department, end his Grace the Duke of Marches. ter (as Governor of Jamaica). After expatiating with much candour, clearness, and ability, on those several heads, his Lordship joined his Noble Friend in assuring' the Elouse, that no ef forts had been or should be wanting to promote the great object of religious instruction of the Negro population in the British West Indies. _ . Lord HOLLAND spoke in explanation ; atter which the questio❑ was put, and the motion agreed to by the House. COAL TAX. The Marquess of LANSDOWNE had a petition to present against any equalization of the Duty on Coals. It was, of course, of the same nature as that which the Noble Lord opposite (Lord Gren. ville) had been yesterday induced to withdraw.— He could not, huwever, concur in the . objections which bad been made to that petition. It ap peared from the votes of the other House of Par .. tiament, that the question on which this petition was founded had been agitated, and it was never the practice, as far as he knew, of either House of Parliament to reject petitions of this kind, un less they were against a tax for the imposing of whi c h there was a bill before the House. The Noble Marquess presented the petition, which was from the Borough of Caine. Viscount GRANVILL.t also presented a petition, (it was understood to be thesan►e which be yesterday withdrew),and which prayed, among other things, that the petitioners might be heard by counsel, against the equalization.of the coal tax, if any bill for that object should be introduced. long conversation took place on receiving this petition, in the course of which Lords Shaftes bury, Kenyon, Holland', and Harrowby, spoke, but which terminated in the petition being laid on the table. Viscount GRANVILLE said, that be had great satis 'actionin learning that it was not the iuiention of his Majesty's Ministers to support any proposition for the equalization of the duties on coal. He was happy to have the opportunity of stating this, as he was certain that the information would give great satisfaction to the petitioners, and to all persons in the maritime districts.--Adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The names of the defaulters on the ballot of Friday, the 19th of February, were called oTer, Wlittl MARMADUKE tAWSOST And WEI t.ESLEY LONG POLE, not being present, were ordered to be taken into custody by the Setleant-at-Arms. The defaulters on the t*o ballots of this day were ordered to be reported by the Speaker to-morrow. BARNSTAPLE ELECTION. Mr. LEY appeared at the Bar with the names of the Com mittee chosen this night by ballots to try the merits of the Petition complaining of an undue return for Barnstaple. The names were as follow : John Mansfield, Viscount CliVe, Hylton Jolliffe, Mat - pions of Worcester, Hon. Sir C. J. Greville, Hon. T. S. Bathurst, Hon. W. H. Percy, Colonel Wood, Sir T. J. T. Jones, Hon. J. B. Simpson, Earl Compton, T. F. Btlxton, T. F. Heath cote, Hon. H. G. Bennet, Win. Howes. The Report of the CoMmissioners appointed last Session to inqu.re in►o the Education of the Poor throughout Eng land, was brought up, and, on the motion of Lord CASTLE REAGH, ordcterd to be printed.—The Report appeared to be very voluminous. General WEMYSS presented two Petitions from Fifeshire, praying that some measure might be adopted for better as. cettaining the average prices of Corn.—Ordered to be laid on the table. Mr. CURWEN presented a Petition from Maryport, pray ing for an Amendment of the Prior Laws.—Ordered to be laid on the table. Sir ROHER'f WILSON presented n Petition from the Bd. rough of Southwark, praying . for an Alteration and Amend ment of ,the Insolvent Debtors' Act.—Ordered to be laid on the table. Mr. RENNET presented a Petition from Yarrow, in the North Riding of Yorkshire, praying fora Revisi , m of the Criminal Laws.—Laid on the table. Mr. DRUMMOND presented a Petition from the Land holders and Farmers of the County . of Kiticardine, praying that some measure might lie introduced for ascertaining the Average Price Corn.—Ordered to , be laid on the table. Mr. W. BURRELL presented a Petition front the OccA piers of Laud in Sussex, praying for a Protecting t)uty on Corn. He said, that although he was disposed to give every assistance to Agriculturists, he did not approve of the prayer of this Petition.—Ordered to be laid on the table. Sir JAMES GRAHAM presented a Petition from the Churchwardens and Overseers of the ( ity of Carlisle, on the suojects or Pauperism and Nor Hates, and praying that the House would take these suijects into their serious considera tion. He should propose that the Petition be referred to the ConuDittee on the Poor Laws. Mr. CURWEN felt pain instating that the Manufacturers in the Town of Carlisle were at present in the greatest dis tress.—The Petition was ordered to be printed. Mr. GKATTAN presented a Petition from the Parish of St. Peter. inn Dublin, praying for the Total Repeal of .the 1 /Vin. (low Tax.—Ordered to be laid on the table. COALS. Mr. LYGON presented a petition from the Borough of Bewdlev, against any alteration of the Doles on Coals. The CHANCELLOR of flit; EXCHEQUER hoped that all further discussion on this subject would be reserved till it was regularly brought before the House, on some motitt He could not see any advantage that could result from the discussion of the question at prcient. Mr. LAMBTON said, that a petition on this subject had been forwarded to hint, but he delayed presenting it till he received some others. which he expected from serer,:! time towns. The object of the petitioners was to loe relieved from the pressure of the present Tax. Mr. DAVENPORT said, that more serious didicalty and distress had never been known in any country than this country now felt. The manufacturers, the proprietors of coal-mines, and the lessees of coal-mines, looked tti 'Tient for protection. Ile would state his, opinion broadly; the Minister .who taxed the raw material was a tool:ow minded man) by doing it he robbed the country of thegreatest blessioz. Mr. LITTLETON regretted that the Chancellor of the Ex chequer had not said a little More as to his intentions. He had only deprecated discussion, tie thoug4 that no COlll - should be appointed on the subject. He wished to know from the Member for Durham, whether he intiuded to more fora Committee before Easter ? Mr. LANIBTON conceived it to be right that both parties should have a hearing. At the Commitice,the Hon. Member for Staffordshire, and those whom he represented, could state all the circumstances of their case. The great object was to relieve not only London, but aH Or towns alo n g the coast, and to improve the coast trade, which- was of the greatest importance. In Sunderland, one half of the inhahitants were paupers, and 100 stamen were ready to emigrate fur want of employment. The Member for Surrey could tell on what day he meant make Ws motion ou the subject; fur himself, he waited till he should receive the petitions that were preparing by the inhabitants of the coast, and he would then submit a motion on the subject it the Member fur Surrey would not. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that he should feel it his duty to oppose any motion for a Committee. He deprecated discussion, because it might be productive of touch evil, and could produce no practical good. Mt. COUWLENAY differed from the Hon. Member for Staffordshire, as to the propriety of a Committee on the sub ject. It should undergo a fair, a full, and a dispassionate in quiry. The place' which he represented (Exeter) was inte rested in the question, btit they would not oppose the amplest investigation. He would not undertake to sa y, l oo ki ng t o the conflicting interests involved bow the question ought to be di, posed of ; lint every class of persons could state its own interest before a Committee of Inquiry, which the House would not in justice refuse. Mr. HOLME SUMNER said, that since he had been alluded to, he ruse to state that he would introduce a motion on the subject, if the Members for London, who were prin cipally concerned, would not; and if it should be any satis faction to the Member for Staffordshire to know the precise day, he should he happy to communicate it to him, whenever it should be fixed. The Hon. Member represented persons connected together, and tremblingly alive to their own in terest. The alarm had spread like an electric shock. The moment you touch a manufacturer, the excitation was instan taneous and universal. He was unfortunately situated.— Those whom he represented were must grievously oppressed, and the apathy with which they bore it was most wonder ful.—(A laugh.)—But be would not neglect their interests.— He hoped the subject would have a fair investigation, and trusted that it would be coolly considered whether his con stitneets were equally burdened as other countries. He was confident this would nut be denied, notwithstanding the avowed opposition of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. , Mr. WILSON thought, that the equalization should not be pressed, if it would hurt the manufacturers; but he hoped that thu Metropolis and other places could be relieved with out burdening the manufacturer. • Mr. CALVERT hoped that the Chancellor of the Exche quer would be disappointed in his attempt as much as the Noble Lord had been lately, and that relief could be obtained from the very heavy and unequal pressure of the coal-tax.— The Hon. Member for Surrey had complained of the apathy of his constituents ; he could not do so of his constituents, for he bad already presented some Petitions from them, and he should soon present more. Mr. RENNET said, that the alarm of a Tax on Coals had spread like wild-fire through the towns; and it was no won der, considering that they were literally in a state of beggary. He would vote for taking away the tax to-morrow, but he would not vote for imposing it on others. Mr. LYTTLEMS said, that however heavy the Tax might be on London, the Manufacturing Districts were unable to bear any part of it. The Committee could nut hare for its object to inquire whether a new Tax could now be imposed. He begged to impress upon the Right Hon. Gentleman, that there were the strongest financial reasons against laying on such a Tax; had be done it a few years ago, how dreadful would be the state of distress in which the Inland Coun ties would now be plunged. But the manufactures were now reviving. Was that a time for overwhelm ... log them with a iiew Tax ? The distress and sufferings of the poor were now beginning to be relieved. By a pe tition he had lately presented, it appeared that the pour-rates in many places amounted to 40s. per acre. Was that a state of things which could bear more taxes ? If the tax was iii- tolerable to London, it would be doubly so to the inhabitants of any other place. He hoped that t lie meaning of the Right Hon. Gentleman's statement to-night was, that he would not support a new duty un coals. Mr. HART DAVIS was understood to speak in favour of the equalization of the duty. A MEMBER stated, that manufactures had not vet revived n the district which be represented,and that he ahuuld there fore. fur the best reasons, oppose a tax on coals. Mr. WAITHMAN said, that the Corporation of London had not yet given any opinion on the question. It was the inhabitants in general of the City of Westminster, and or the Borough, who had held meetings and petiiiimed on the subject. But the Corporation would soon tahe the sabject into consideration; and he had no doala but they would agree with their fellow-citizens, and petition against the grievous oppression of the tax. The petition was then read, and laid on the table. BEVERLEY ELECTION COMMITTEE. Hon. L. Du n das, J. T. Thorp; Lord Sefton, Hon. G. Pelham, .3, Bruivne, Hun. F. St. John, Hon. G. 11. L. Ihroditi, Sic t,e.l 4 ,ettiorii J. 74. Fazaiserley, W. E. Powell, Marquess of litainnoia„ P. At't n M. Wood. Mr. M IaHUEN presented a Petition from Bradford assi sL the Alteration of the Coal Duties. Mr. METHUEN a6O presented a Petition from the La !snorers in Agriculture, and other inhabitants of Wist h l 6 ' praying f o r Reli e f f rom the Weight of Taxation. W 3s ' - observed, at a time when distress of a most aggravated de scription pressed upon the labouring population of th . Country, not becoming in th e H ouse t o acce d e t o new Gra utt to the Royal Family, or to contiisue Sinecure Officers under tlfe name of Lords of the Adwiralty.—The Petition was lard upon the table. Mr. W. SMITH presented a petition from Norwich, (Oar ins for another Gaol Delivery in that City. Mr. GRAHAM, in b e half 'of Lord A. Hamilton, postpos. e h el the Notic e r e sp ec ti ng th e B urg h o f Ab er d een , f ro m the 1 0 " to the 23d instant. Mr. WILBERFORCE presented a petition from the tool t of Boston against Capital Punishments. ROMAN CATHOLICS. Lord NUGENT, previous to presenting a Pe i ' lion which he held in his bands front the Roma(' Catholics of Great Britain, praying for relief Iron; those restrictive laws which deprived !heat c l their privileges as British 'subjects, begg ed leave to make some observations. The peCtd °ll was signed by no less titan 10,300 persons who came under the description now mentioned. Be' side the signatures of many men of the highest r" spectability, the petition was also signed by dr. ven Peers -and thirteen Baronets. To this pet' Lion was also attached the signature of the Puk e of Norfolk ; Earl Marshal of Eogland. The per t ' tioners did not presume to dictate to the Hous e ) by pointing :out any particular mode o f relief , They merely prayed generally for a relief from the disabilities under which they l a bo ure d, and L e ; ', l , the mode to the %visdoos of Parli a ment. Lordship therefore hoped th a t th e H ouse wo a consent to receiving the petition. I t was a s ub i jeer which had formerly met with th e gene' , sympathy nod the general appl a us e o f - M a ny ch . ' ractets of the first distinction in the times 1 " which they lived: The times alluded to by ,Noble Lord were not very remote. Many Gentl e ' men now alive, well temeinhered those pats"': tic characters who h a d s h on e wi t h uneffi" mon lustre, reflecting honour not only. on selves, but also on human nature. They vve;i great and good men, and th e i r 'virtues w°"'` long live in the gratitude of their conotrY" men. Amongit those distinguished stipportetB of the Catholic Claims . ; was one whom O a 1-louse would long and deeply lament, the Right Hon. Mr: Elliott, who had lest behind hi!' the example of an extended and active Onb i l life, honoured with the esteem a n d a dmiration (' all parties. To the care of this great man. Windham, in his last moments, had resigned tile t support of the Catholics ; but both were now s os to the House. He then paid a tribute of pr oi' r. to Mr. Burke and Sir George Saville, as sta'ti'c i t friends to the Catholic cause. He trusted th i c the question would in a short time be br"g i. heroic the House by talents far superior tn c ` ) " s. . own, and that before the end of the lion the interests, not only of that n""o va roes class of our population, but of the wi l0 „ empire itself, would he consolidated by its cu l l s plete settlement. He anticipated such a from the uniform and steady conduct of the Li tiIOHCS, and the tone and temper of their aPPlicts. tion.. They .complained of two grieva nces; litical dissoalifi ea ri on and religious ohloguY l 3l " I stated the latter to aris e out o r the former• submitted that their disnoalification s prung 0 " of scruples for which men wele only respoosih.l,ei to their God ; and that tl:e respect which they to those scruples - was an earnest of the fide l .l with whi c h t h e y wou ld f u lfil an y ne w duties wb' c i , emancipation might entrust to their !l auds. 111 ' , 7 1 urged that political disqualification followed every where, even into the precincts of Ori va to life, and marked them out as'a sect cut off fr° all the rest on account of some d a rk suspiciont't4 But they were Englishmen Englishiaen in L'; r iti and education—Englishmen in feelings ann.otts blood. Yet through a constancy to relic l ic a scruples, which did them honour, they %Ye" wis (Need to the condition of aliens i n their ° be' ctiontry. They were, indeed, ' allowed "' o wl • queath the property which they bad received th at their ancestors, but with the conscioooeSs 0 , political disqualification would preclude that P d r o t perty bow bestowing on their descendant' t i t rank and influence and capacity o f serving Area, country, country, to which they were so d ee ply en" (l IViott could be a nobler and more ititeresting sP e- a tacle than an English Roman Catholic, eioins' o e ,i by birth and nature with rank, f o rtune, i) 01 abilities, calculated to make him areal , use the eyes of his country, sacrificing all t i advantages to the inviolability of his r a t ginits scruples The Roman• Catholics of Ghat Britain bad been treated as disaffected men ; " tr . when had they been found wanting to the s ° ', port of their country, and the glory of the elo d pine, even when they groaned under a systen the most oppressive penal laws ? Wino had bee d more active and more devoted to the defenc t e , o their country, and of Protestant Sover e l? when they were menaced by the armaments 13 . ,„ Catholic Prince, than the English Catholics the!'', selves, before those degrading penal laws 14(11 :re tered their patriotism anti the'r energies ? ‘ l . ,„" c a oot'the li.ltlingliams and Pembrokes those 0 " - e . Catholics ? And when. tine Ca'holics'were reP r o , seated as disaffected and dangerous to the G ° to stitution , it shotdd be recollected that it wa s ta those very Catholics that we owed Magna C 1° ,14 and the Declaration of our Right. With b en many pledges and faith which th e i r condoctLieo given, what reason was there to consider ti' l , dangerous He introduced the p resen t Petit i he as that of the Catholics of England, beeanse rs knew that their case dittoed in many particuiso, front that of the Irish Cath o li c s. But the " le os t sure, which he trusted would be adopted, the be adopted for the benefit of both. Had blic English Catholics separated their cause hau l of their Iti,b brethren, he did not (mow ti'`' iii an honest mall, he could have stood forwor" d o their behalf. lie called upon the House t ° the justice to the true English spirit with whic h it Catholics were animated, and to recollect t h at ,0. was its duty to conciliate and unite time fee° o in and interests of all the classes of the einVir'' „iv this spirit he presented the Pstition. n od sub'. tett it to the wisdom, the humanity, and (her mice of the House. fee liag Lord Motept:To thought- that but oue, Could prevail after the able and poweou.