The Sun. — London, England, 1824-05-18 00:00:00

:thetas/7 enjoined on stationers and paper merchants; with one of these the stationers complied, and with the other they did ; the proceedings were adopted in consequence of their non compliance with the second condition of the law. Mr. L. FOSTER defended the propriety of the Excise pro ceedings in the particular case adverted to by the petitioners. , Mr. S. WORTLEY presented a petition from Huddersfield, •in Yorkshire, (as we understood) against the Coal Trade. Sir C. DUNDAS presented a petition against the Beer Bill, *KM Newbury, Lord FOLKESTONE presented a Petition from Salisbury against the Excise License Duties. Mr. H. DRUMMOND presented a Petition from Stirling against the Beer Bill. Mr. HUTCII4ISON presented a Petition from the Sepa ratist* of Cork t Airaying that they may be dispensed from tak ing certain oaths. cußtnis presented a Petition from Bramsdon against the Excise License Dutial; The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved the order of the day on thefollowing Customs, Coal, and Linen Bill Report, which was brought up and ordered to be read a third time on Thursday ; the Four per Cent. Repay metit Bill, the third reading ordered on Thursday ; and the Consolidated. Fund Bill, the third reading ordered to-morrow. The Right Honourable Gentleman postponed .the further con sideration of the Beer Duties and PubliCan's Licenses Bill, which was ordered to be printed, and to stand over for a Corn mittee on Friday. • OF MAURITIUS. Mr. HUSKISSO, on the Custom Excise Report having peen brought up, wished to advert to what had been said on a .former night, relative to the Isle of Mauritius, when he (Mr.H.) happened not to be present in the House. The alteration in the lam, as it affected that island had been animadverted upon : now he begged- leave simply to explain in what that' alteration consisted. It consisted in placing that island on'a footing with the other British Colonies, as to the duties paid on the impor tation of sugar into this country. Hitherto this island was liable 4o the payment of the same duties as sugar imported from the East Indies ; but the distance of that island, the far greater expenee consequent on the exportation of its sugar, and the -far greater facilities with which sugar was imported from the West India islands, induced the cTtange of placing them .on the same regulation as the other Colonies. There was a 4611 stronger reason—the good faith of this country-Hear, hear !)—which at the time that island was ceded to his Ala jetty, was pledged to place that island on the same footing as the other Colonies in this respect. The only colourable objection that could be made to it was, that the isle of Mauritius was not subject to the same restrictions as the West India Colonies, as far as regarded the importation of slaves into it. However, although there was no positive law on this subject, yet it was almost impossible for slaves to be imported into it. He hoped . this explanation would satisfy the House as to the propriety of affording the same advantage to the isle of 141autittus as the other colonies possessed.—(Hear, hear !) The clause, to the same effect as expressed in the speech of the Right Hon. Gentleman, was then read and agreed to. The Report of the Chelsea Hospital Bill was brought up.__ Rceport ordered to-morrow. Lord A LTHORP postponed the consideration of the ques tion relative to landlords and tenants in Ireland, until a Coin_ utittee, now sitting on Irish affairs, had made its report. He therefore wished that the consideration of it might be postponed to that day six months. LAW OF MERCHANTS BILL. Mr. ROBERTSON wished to offer a • few observations. on the House resolving - itself into a Committee on , the Law of Merchants' Bill. As the interest of the. British public was affected by this Bill, he felt it his duty briefly to oppose it. Mr. HUSKISSON did not think this bill conflicted with the warehousing bill, nor as at all tending to injure the public inte rests: On the contrary, he considered it tended mainly to im prove our commercial law. A-report presented in June last year, recommended this Bill, but then it was too late to enter into any comprehensive legislation, and a short bill was then brought in. The . present was not a dry technical bill, but one of great public importance. The relations between agent and, employer should be distinctly regulated, and if the agent ex- . vectied his instructions he should suffer for it. The question here was, if an innocent third party or the agent was eo suffer ? —lf goods are only sent to an agent' for safe custody,' and he either sells or pawns them, he does wrong ; but if goods are so committed to him that he may be considered the owner, in such cases the factor should not suffer. It was. clear that a factor's abusing his trust was a breach of confidence; but an honest purchaser should not be the victim of such a breach. The prin cipal selected his agent he gave him the manifestation of agen cy, and indeed of ownership, and a principal so 'acting should bear the loss growing out of his agent's neglect or wrong-doing. Potisession alone of goods was not evidence of personal proper ty in the possession ; but in this case a difference existed.— Every thing now was done on credit. Suppose corn and but ter were shipped from Ireland, and against it a Bill was drawn, and if the bill of lading was shewn by the consigner to a per son making advances on these goods, the purchaser should not itutTer, hut the consigner, who had allowed his agent to stand in the relation which be did towards a person making a loan fide relyanee upon, or purchase of those articles, as the case might .be. Many cases of hardship eNisted under the present law,. as between principal and factor, and the object of the Bill was to regulate them. Money was not lodged with a factor, but ,other property, of which sometimes it was difficult to find out whether he was the owner or not.- Now surely somemea. :Aire should bs taken to prevent this difficulty. It was stated, that promissory' notes and Exchequer Bills, lodged with a banker as deposits, were held to be exceptions to the general rule of law ' • and why not extend the s a me rule to a bill of lading with the possession of the goods, which bill became the symbol of ownership of the property. It was fit that a. third party dealing with such a factor and under such circumstances, should be protected i n a ' lona fide advance oa such property. The principal could protect himself; 'he could restrain the negociability of a bill of lading or other and in case of infidelity lie lied th e power of punishing hint ; and would it be then, ha asked, fair to allow him to coerate injury to innocent third parties? Surely not. It was sat l that this Bill would defeat the object of the Warehousing Bill; but that he must deny altogether; it would materially faeilitate is useful operation. As the law now stood, buyers did not know whether factors were factors only, or factors and principles, and the object of his Bill was to regulate so neces sary a suhjcct. Placed as we were at the western extremity of the oil world—great as our trade now was, and greater as it would be, with to e new, it was most important that we should improve all those.advantages which our happy situation had eaabled us to make. For - these reasons he thought that the Lill should be support e d. Sir J. NEWPORT said that the commerce with Ireland• could not he carried on Tor an hour, if ineosent purchasers were to rifler from improper agents. Principals had the selection of their agents, and if those agents exceeded -their authority, an innocent third party shall not be made a sufferer. He thought the House and the country were indebted to the Right Hou. Geotleman far the introduction of so useful a measure. _ • Mr. SYK.ES regretted that this discussion was brought on in the ahs=ce of the Hon- Members for Mitilturst and Peterton, whotot opinioh3 - be wished to hear on this very important sub ject. This Bill, .id not alter the relation of consignor or con ,.sigm9e,.excent inasmuch as would realize the notion of foreign consignors, that if. an agent exceeded his instructions they were •not to he the sufferers. All the foreign jurists held that third parties making batfajiile adv ance s on p ropert y pledged to them were entitled to retain such property till they,.were re-imbursed. This Bill had his support. The. SOLICITOR-G ENERAL felt it his duty to supporta „Bill which had thr its object the . protection of innocent third panic& lie would have no objection to give tile ownef a power to restrict his commission to his factor, and to place a third party in the most secure situation. . . _ Mr. .1. SMITH said, that few questions required more con sideration tlian the present; and he was obliged to the Right , lion Gentletmta (Mr, Huskisson) for the zeal and ability with which he had met this question. Difficulties were presented in .the digesting of this measure, .but those difficulties would be ;net and answered by the provisions o f t hi s . Bill.. N o factor, except by express commission, should have the ownership of property confided to bun for sale : and as he found there was so - little objection to this measure now, he would not trouble the House, at any greater length. The SPEAK ,left the Chair, the House resolved ER having itself into a Committee of the whole House. The Bill was read a first time, and the Report was ordered.to be - received to .morrow. • WAREHOUSED WHEAT F:LI_ Mr. HUSKISSON mOvecl . the Order of_ . Te. Afar for th e . second reading Of the Warehoused Wheat Mr. lIANbLEY (as we 'understood) j t d to this - Bill, as adverse to the agricultural interest, and b i e n c troducing a new trade. In p r i nc iple and d e t a il he considered it to o be equally injurious to - the English grower of corn. This BiII mio qe it be man .-• - v:ry good for the constituents .of 'the Right Ifon. Omi t! (111 r. liuslcisson), but itwould prove destructive to the Id;n i .,ll . e read • farmers.- He •shotild therefore move that this second time this day six months. • Air. D. BROWNE. opposed the Bill. Mr. T. WILSON said, the only objection he could make to . the Bill was, if in going into a Committee, he would allow a discussion, and also place the last clause in this Bill first—ho alluded to that with- respect to the old bonded wheat. If the .itight Hon. lientlern a n . ( Mr ,- linskisson) acceded this pro- • ,p 0 , 31, he would somxut the Hill. • Ain HUSKISSON repelled the insinuation that he brought in this at the suggestion of his constituents. /le should 4 'held lii:nself unworthy of a s i tuation .under the Crown, if Le acted on private and not on Public grounds. The fact was, l i a be had - : re, eived infortoe.tioa from - 8 9 ale West India mer chants, slating that flour to a large amongst had been ith ported from Dantzic and Harnbourgh, which it was intended to ship to the West Indies, and which would prevent the necessity of relying on America for a supply. Here then their wheat was locked up for . years; it was no*, in a perishing state; and - was it or teas it rapt wise that we should allow 'fo, reigners, having flour, to send it here, and allow'the capitalists, ' who had property in. the bondedcorn, the means of reducing it to flour, and thereby render it an exportable - article? He asked if a capital of two millions, locket alp for &or .7 years, shOuld not now be allowed at last to fructify ? As the law now stood, the. rigour of the prohibitory system was such, that the cern, even if putrid, was not allowed to be sold for manure or any other object, and was it proper that some measure should not be taken to remedy such - .a law? • A large quantity of corn had been damaged at Liverpool ; some of it was rendered useless,but for the mere sustenance of pigs; sonic of it was reduced to manure. Yet, as the law now stood, even that remnant from a dreadful conflagration could not be applied to any useful purpose. Now, if Gentlemen would only look at this measure, which seemed to excite so large a portion of their sensibility, they would see that it really contemplated nothing more than placing the, corn in an exportable state. He had consulted many persens capable of giving him informatiOn on this subject, and he had found an universal opinion amongst them, that the corn should be pre,. served in that condition.. In this measure, too, he asserted from a tolerably close acquaintance with the previsions of the that there was no intention, not only not to •infringe the corn lawi,..but that they were perfectly compatible with the corn • laws. His opinions on these laws were well known, but still it would be uncandid in him, by a side wind, to defeat their • objeCt; But while on this subject, he could not avoid advert ing to the various feelings of Gentlemen on these corn laws, and the present measure. Not one month ago, they were all anxiety and apprehension lest the high price of corn should averagejustify, as the law of the opening of our ports to • foreign corn, and many of Gentlernen who now so steenue • ously opposed this Bill, were endeavouring . to devise means by which the price of corn could be kept within the legal restraint to importation. - The price, however,_ had fallen a shilling, and now they dreaded a measure, in •its effects, which would in a slight degree accomplish their original object. No man could anticipate , the - description of harvest which they were to 'navel and should •it proVe unfavourable,- the consequences would . be, that instead of this petty .14-800. quarters, the whole stored produce of the Continental.sca-ports would he let in upon-them. The - Right Honourable Member concluded by assuring the Ilouse, that, as the Representative for Liverpool, the failure of this measure was desired by his constituents ; but since he could •not yield to theirarguments, however deserving of - attention, he had felt it his ditty to sub mit the subject to their consideration, and he hoped.it would be adopted by the House. • Mr. L. FOSTERsaid that the people of Ireland had no ob:- jection that England 'should become the millers of- the world ; but their only .fear was, that like most millers, she might take to herself too large a share. •(A laugh.) He • trusted that the Bill would.proceed upon sound principles, thOugh he 'could not concur with many of its details. • • • Mr. HUSKISSON explained. Sir E. KNATOII BULL admitted that many of the eiplana. tions of the Right lion. Gentleman were perfectly satisfactory. Ile, however, was not one of those alarmists who had waited on the Right i Hon. Gentleman to i n d u ce hint to adept some measure avourable to the agriculturist, and calculated to ex clude foreign corn from our markets. He trusted that his lion. Friend would withdraw his amendment, that the Bill might gb into a Committee. • Sir - J. SEBRIGHT having - heard the statement of his Right Hon. Friend, he was convinced that the measure was not In jurious to the - agriculturist ; and as he did not pride himself upon that consistuicy which never retracted, he should co.- tainly offer no oppoSktion to the measure. • 31r LOCKHAR, r would oppose the very first steps taken to oppose the present law. He thought this question had been argued unfairly by t' i t.! Right Hon. gentleman. He complained of the suffering sy,Aained by ii . ritish capital as the law now stood, but hc-lrad . no ~.uarantee that this corn belonged to any British merchant.—(hear !)—Whatever inconvenience might arise to the holders, it was infinitely more important that the agriculturist should, understand that there was still 4 security for the landed interest. Mr. WODEHOUSE did not rise to offer any opposition to this Bill. It was likely to do some good; but, situated as he was, he could net help allading to the extensiv e ly erroneous conclusions that had gone abroad respecting the Corn Laws; and he expected that before Gentlemen condemned the prin ciple of these laws they would look a little for theraselves.into the subject. Mr. CRIPPS professed his willingneSs to support this mea sure. The alteration from six to, five bushels removed all pos sible objeCtion to the measure. •I'Vith respect to the argument of the Hop. Member for Oxfind (Mr. Lockhart) that this corn was not wholly British, it was at least tolerably certain that British merchants had considerable mortgages ot3 it. Colonel WOOD opposed the Its principle was, in his opinion, mischievous, though he thought, in point of fact, as far as ref;arded the agricultural interest, it would be inoperative. Air. HUSKISSON explained. Lord A LTHORP conceived that this Bill_ would either not affect the landed interest at all, or so slightly affect it that the shock would not peculiarly alarm them. With respect to the corn laws, they were, in his mind, founded in erroneo us and bad legisation, and some change in them was most deeply to be desired. Mr. BRIGHT observed, that in this measure there was no violation of the principle of the corn laws. The principle of this measure was to exclude, and not to a d m i t . Sir J. NEWPORT said , that with the qualifications pro posed he would have no disinclination to support this measure. Mr. PELHAM made a few obserrations which were inau dible in the gallery. Mr. SYKES said, if the capital of two millions which was locked up, was again entoloyed, it would naturally advance the mercantile interests. The Bill did not go as far as he wished, because it limited the quantity to be ground to 440;009 qrs. ; he was anxious to extend it to the whole of the bonded corn. He apwoved of the motion of the Right Hon. Gentleman, and intreated him to go forward with it, and not be prevent ed by the opposition of persons who did not know their own interests. . Sir F. BURDETT regretted that the Right Hon. Gentleman, the President of the Board of Controul, did not further in his motion. The House had heard a great deal of free prin ciples of trade in this country, but he (Sir F. Burdett) was sorry they heard so much, and that so little was done. The thing of all others to which this principle of free trade should be extended, is corn. The more of the article that was brought into the country the more would the manufactures be served ; and, so far from producing ill effects, it would give a spur to those manufactures. He felt assured that the agricultural in terests could nut be injured by it. The quantity would be of no importance while quality remained. He wished merely to state his creed on the subject, but he implored the House to take a more extended view of it. A system of tampering was common in the country ; it never persevered in any thing, but it would be better to do so than to be wavering, and keeping all in a state of uncerWiltV. His objection to the Bill way, that it was too trifling, and he wished that more decisive mea sures were adopted. In this country, when so much was talked of free trade, lie should like to know what trade was free ; Surely there were none so. The Government appears to stand much in awe of what they called the vulgar prejudice on this subject. He believed that it did not exist. 11e was of opinion that there was more in the House than out of it. His objection to it was not that it did not interfere with the Corn Laws, but that it did not interfere enough. • The Government could not bring forward a question of greater importance. What the manufacturers did was only to work up, in some shape or other, what the agriculturist produces, and as one flourishes the other .mush.flourish with it. •Ite , trusted and hoped thiat..hi..-114 ajtst_y's Ministers would think it their d u ty t o b ring th e s ubject before the House in such a way as not to he tampered with. - The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Friday next. COUNTY COURTS' BILL. _ _ -Mr. WARRE brought up the Report on the County Courts' Bill. After. a fewbbservations from Lord A LTHORP, The SPEAKER left the Chair, and the Bill was re-consi dered in the Committee. • Mr. SCARLEI.7 gave notice, that at the next stage of the Bill he would oppose it: in tote, because the Noble Lord had departed from his original plan, which was, to leave the ap pointment of the Judicial. Assessors in the hands of the Lards Lieutenants of the County, by which appointments it was now proposed to vest in the Lord Chancellor. The House resumed, the Report was received, and the Bill ordered to he read a third time on Wednesday next. On the motion that the House resolve itself into a Committee on the Welsh Judicature Bill, - Mr, ALLEN stated his senti ments on the Bill. The House then resolved itself into a Committee. The Houle resumed, and the Report was ordered to be re ceived on Friday. MA Mr. BUXTONha R v l in N g E be l e N n S c U al l l l. e A d e . xpress ed his an .. wilungness to enter on the subject of which he had given no tice, at so late a period o f t h e evening, if the House felt inclined that he should postpone it..--(Cries of " go on.")--The Hon. hen P ai ee t Al br e . d its to o ;l y e ' the repeal o o f ti s o o n m a u w ch hi o c f h th h e e A c t of Gentleman o i f :?e P n a i ; l t en t which gave. to the Royal Exchange and London Insurance Companies the exclusive privilege of marine insurance . If a person cashed to insure Ins vessel, he was compelled to. Apply to either of these .Companies, which he thought a great• hardshil), and for which no substantial reason , could be . assiOed. Evert other species of insurance was Conducted by cnrelpanieti ana he could not see why this should be excluded from it. A ship-owner might in sure his ship while building, or he might insure it when in port, wherever he pleased ; it was only while it was at sea ' that he was compelled to have recourse to these two chartered companies, and when the risk was greatest he was obliged to go fOr security to parties whom, perhaps, he did not like.— ' This system besides operated as an extrinsic hardship on mer chants in the country, at Hull, for instance. If he was desi rous if insuring his vessel he must apply to some one in Lon don to procure the insurance -broker, and to de many other matters which it might be said eeteiled an expence of 25/. per cent., and in the event of. aav- accident, against whom he haa insured, occurring, he most seek redress of parties of whom he knows nothin g , souse of whom m a y bedead, or bankrupts, thereby compelling him to employ attornies for the recovery.of his rights, and all this forsooth because he is driven to give cre dit to people of whom he,eoerhaps, knows nothing. Ile thought that the merchant ought thbe relieved from such a restriction, and to be allowed to go where he pleased for. the insurance of his ship and cargo. It might be urged that companies were equally liable to failure with individuals; this was true, but there certainly was a greater security in a company,' If it were necessary, he could clearly establish all the positions with which he had set out. He trusted therefore that the merchant would be relieved from those difficulties and restraints which had been imposed without any shadow of reason ; and it would .be a means of opening a new field of com.sherce, and of em ploying the present redundancy of capital, and would also bring into the country many foreign insurers who were now kept out from being compelled to resort to parties of whom they knew nothing. The origin of the two Chartered Marine Insurance Com panies was as follows :—ln the year 1720, the Civil List being then greatly in arrear, it was desirable to obtain a supply some where, and as the country could not be taxed further, these two Companies carte forward with 600,010/. on condition of obtain ing this exclusive grant; with certain limitations they were to pay each 300,0001., and if in the course of 31 years such a mo nopoly was found to be prejudicial to the commercial interests of the country, die charter was to be revoked on the repayment of the money advanced. Now, if it should turn out that these Companies had not fulfilled their part of the contract, there could be no objection to annul it. In fact titey had only paid 111,000/., and had. enjoyed. the benefit of the monopoly for More than treble the ler.goli of the .. .period stipulated, as it had now 'seen in eeisterce 0•1 years ; and it any Gentleman would dispassionately consider the matter, he. would admit, that, instead of its b:ing a benefit to commerce, it was preju dicial. The object of the Bill which he proposed to introduce was for the purpose of doing away with these restrictions on niariec insurance; and he therefore moved for leave to bring in • a Bill, repealing so much of the Act of 1720 as gave to the London and Royal Exchange Insurance Companies the exclu. sive privilege of marine insurance. I • Mr. PLUMMER remarked, that his Hon. Friend bad not been very accurate in the description that be had given of- the - charter by which these powers were vested in the Insurance Companies to which he had alluded. It was a charter not given for thirty-one years, but for perpetual successiori. The Hon. Member had not Lean correct either in his statement of the money paid by these Companies, as they had advanced each of them 150,000/., which was an that was demanded of them, and therefore on that score no ground had been made out against them. The attempt that his Hon. Friend was then making was no more than an endeavtrar to confiscate the private rights of those Companies. If the motion of the lion. Gentleman were seceesefid it would likewiee he the means of destroying Lloyd's Co:fix-house, without effecting insurances at a lower rate than they axe done at present, or conferring on the public any additional security or advantages. He contended that there was ample accommodation for every species of insurance already, and that the two companies hed•got their charters on conditions which could not be withdrawn, nor could they be abrogated - without the grossest injustice. Mr. Alderman THOMPSON observed, that he did not see how that branch of our commerce which related to insurance could be rendered more efficient. The Hon. Gent. was incor rect in stating it as a monopoly; there were more than 1,500 men of the highest respectability and property concerned in it, and the rates at which it was affected were fair and moderate. On the latest inquiry the amount insured at Loyd's only was 200,000,0001. , lie thought that the interest of the Members composing that Society ought to be considered : they received information from every part of the world, which they distribut ed gratuitously, and their rights would be materially affected by any new competition. At present there certainly was no groand . far disturbing these Companies; there was no petition from any body of merchants, who were chiefly interested, in it, and he therefore did not think that any case was made out, and as he thought the measure injudicious, he should oppose it. Mr. HUSK ISSON regretted that the subject had been . brought under discussion in" the absence of his Right Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the liKehequer, who, as he was favour able to the Hilt which the lion. ISievabar proposed to bring in, of which his opinions were on record, yet be was sure that he was desirous .of ...heartng• all the - objections that could be urged , -against it. He"WAS of opinion th a t companies offered greater 1 security than individuals. He found by the Report made in the year 1810, that the two chartered companies only held four one-hundredth parts of the marine insurances that had been effected,•and that the other 96 parts were held by individuals, the members of Lloyd's; he, therefore, did no t thi n k th at t h ese two incorporated companies could be' Much inj ure d by th e • repeal of the Ace, as they might alWays manage to m a int a i n a portion equal to what they had at present. He thought that, notwithstanding what...had been sa id, P ar li ament h a d a r i g h t to inquire, w h e the r POW - us which had been granted to coin ' panics were beneficial to the public or no ;'and it certainly did appear. very anomalous, that if-a merchant applied to a firm to insure his vessel, one of them might say, I cap do it as an in dividual, but not as a partner. lie did think that the power of insuring should he extended to joint stock companies and partnerships, as well as to coporations and individuals; no in terests could suffer thereby, and the public, security and con venience would be considerably enhanced. Mention had been made of the injury that Lloyd s would sustain ; if he thought this he would not advance such sentiments, as he was ready to rahnit that their ingenuity, their industry,'their honourable con- duct, their a bili t y, an d power, reflected honour on themselves and on the country ; but be certainly was much swayed by what his Hen. Friend lied stated with regard to the appoint ment of brokers and attornies. He moreover was desirous that parties should be left to their - own convenience. He was of opinion that Le took a right course in-bringing the subject be fore the House. Mr. P. GRENFE LI. said, that this was the fourth attempt made within a tew years to destroy this Charter. On the last he remembered that it was thrown out; it was in 1311, and he voted in the majority with Mr. Percival, the then Minister, Sir V. Gibbs and Sir T. Plainer, the Attorney and Solicitor Ge nerals. He therefore was convinced that he stood on high legal ground in the opposition that he _should give to the carrying through this Bill. Doctor LUSHINGTON said, the Act passed in the year 1719, upon this subject, did not tie up the hands of the House. It left them at eerrect liberty to take any practical measures they might deem expedient for the public good. For this they had especially provided in 'the 16th section of the Act. The Act had existed for 104 years, and it was prove 4 to the convic tion of all that its object was erroneous. If its object was to have insurances of beted by extensive companies, he would maintain it failed; if it was the desire of Parliament to prohi bit insurances by private individuals, it failed—it could not at tain this object ; it would be at once affecting the value of money, and changing the current of trade. He would appeal to his friend, the Honourable Member for Peterborough, and ask if there were ,not a thousand actions in one solicitor's office, in consequence of the inserances'effected by individuals imlepesaleat of 'these Corporations- These individuals might insure to any extent, but the Companies were limited to a cer-' tain amount. The meaning of the clause in the Act of Parlia ment was not to give this power to the Corporate Bodies for ever. They were allowed to enjoy it until Parliament, or the King, interfered to withdraw it ; i ns ides, if the trade was thrown open the Corporations would not be injured, they would still exist as Corporate Bodies. He would vote for the motion. Mr. T. WILSON thought the House should be just before it was generous. The words in the Act were directly in favour of the Corporations until they were expressly proved to be hurtful. Insurances could be effected without these Companies. There was no necessity for their existence. There were brokers who acted as separate individuals. With respect to insurances made with private individ ua ls there was this advantage—if an error was committed in th e rate o f insurance, there was no re medy to be had from a corpora te body; whereas priv a t e indi viduals would, as hon est men , a tford a remedy. He did not approve of the course adopted by the Hon. Member:. If the ' companies were guilty of a dereliction of duty, let it be referred to a Committee of the House, or to a tribunal competent to make the inquiry. H e wou ld vote against the m easure. , A r l b r e . Alderman soL i civ BRIDGES )R.fiEN E supported ß Au ,without pledging himself the moti on . to any opinion, did not think Parliament tied up its hands sons to prevent an interference with the q9estion. Mr. BUXTON said a few words in reply. A Hon.divisionm emwbaserloguottillyeacvalelteo bring dfor,buin The but t take place, as the Bill was then b r o ug h t i n , read a first tim e , an d or d ere d to be read a second time on Tuesday next. PETITION FROM INDIA. Dr. LUSHINGTON gave notice that he would, on Wed nesday next, present a petition from two British subjects re moved from India by the Government of that country. The other orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the Ilpuee adjourned at a Qu 4 ne:FoR4 ONE- O'CLOCK. PARLIA Al EN TA R Y PROCEEDINGS. 'SOUSE OF COMMONS. Luna', 17° the 1824. M. Snraxiitt reported the Royal Assent—to Rum Duties Bill, Sugar Bounties Bill, Exchequer Bills ( Public Works) Bill, Militia Pay (Ireland) Bill, Glass and Sweets Bill, Aliens Bill, Innkeepers Bill, Highland Roads Repair Bill, Mar riage Act Amendment Bill, British Museum County Treasurers (Ireland) Bill, Records (Ireland) Bill, Proctors Costs are - iamb Bill, Constables ( - Ireland) Bill, Hertford linion Canal Bill,—Stockton and Darlington, and Monkland and KirkinwP.och Railways Bills,-11laeltbitrti Church Bill, Bileton Market Bill, Birmingham - Assay OfEce Pill, Rudlow and Ashford Paving Bill,—Scartho, Blackburn and Preston, Greenwich and \Voolwich, East Iletford and Littlehorough, Stafford and Sandon, Stone anti S afford, Cambridge an=t Ely, City, and Faversham Roads Bills,—Macclestield School ' and Stone's Estates Bills,—and Long Crendon (Bucks), and Pamber and Inburst (Hants) Inclosures Bilis. Roans—Bluernantle Hall, Hat-will, Burrow Bridge, Durham and Tyne Bridge, Carmarthen, Radnor and Hereford, Hali fax and Huddersfield, and ShepleyLa;le Head—Bills report ed, to be ingrossed. Crampound, Wilmslow Bridge, Cart.. tertiary, Cheltenham, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, and Patrington— Bills read a 3d time, and passed. Petition of S;r T. M. Wilson, against, referred to the Committee on the Bill) - Bill reaCi a second time, r. , F.d committed. Commercial —Petition of Inhabitants of Limehouse, against, referred to the Committee on the Bill. EsTATr—Lady Grosvenor 's—Bill read a first time. INct.osurt Es --,WalrOgate Bar (York)--Bill read a second time, and committed. Sturminster (Dorset)—Bill read a third time, and passed. Alveston ( Warwick) Bill reported, to he ingrossed. CANAL—Thames and Medway 2 Bills reported, Reports to lie WATEmwo . aas—Cheltenhani on the table. MILE-END OLD TOWN RATES—Petition of Inhabitants, &c. of Stepney, against, referred to the Committee on the Bill. COMPANlF3—Austmlian—till read a third time, and passed, London and Westrainci- Oil Gas--Petition from Ilelston, in favOne, to lie on the table. EAST INDIA COMPANY'S AGREEMENT—BiII read a second time, and committed. POlTCE—Batligate—Bill reported, to he ingfossed. VEsTar —St. John's (Southwark;—Bill rend a third time. • and passed. DOCKs.South London—Five Petitions, against, referred to the Committee on the Bill. St. Katherine's—Petition of the Grand Surrey Canal Company, against, referred to the Com mittee on the Bill. IMPROVEMENTS—HuIme—BiII reported, to be ingrossed. • Paddington—Petition of the Regent's Canal Company, against, referred to the Committee on the Bill. HIDES AND SKINS BlLL—Petitions from Tanners, &c. of Brampton, Carlisle, and Sheffield, against, to lie on the table. Petitions from Ratchets of Nether Knutsford, Hurt dersfield, Leeds, Wakefield, and Sheffield, in - fa*our, to lie on the table. PAIILIANENTAIIY BEFORSI—PetitiOn of the Corporation of London, in favour, to lie on the table. BEER DUTIES BILL--Nine Petitions froni Brewers, &c., to lie on the table. Report further considered ; Bill re-com mitted, considered in Committee, and reported ; furth©r con sideration of Report on Friday ; Bill, as amended, to be printed. WAIIEHOUSED Mr/lEAT BlLL—Petitions from Staffordshire Wexford, Carlingford, Dun ga r von , an d Downsliire, against,, to lie on the table. Bill read a second time, and committed. LEATHER DUTlES—Petitions of Tanners of Cork, for the re peal thereof, to lie on the table. MALT—Petition of. Maltsters of Wexford, against importa-• tion thereof, to lie on the table. PAVER DUTIES (Ireland)—Petition of Wholesale and Retail Stationers and others of Dublin, for the alteration thereof; to lie'on the table. COAL TRADE—Dublin—Petition of Freemen, &c. of Dublin, for the regulation thereof, 1.6 lie on the table. CUSTOMS (Coals and Linens) CONSOLIDATED FUND Bills reported, to be read FOUR PER CENTS REPAYMENT ASSIZE OF BREAD a third time. PAUPER. LUNATICS MESSAGE FROM 'rim Lonns —That they have agreed to Leeds Tithes Bill, with amendments. LANCASTER CorniTY COURTS—BiII to extend the Jurisdie , don thereof, ordered to be brought in. • - MARINE INSURANCE—BiII " to repeal so much of an A c t o f the 6th year of King George 1., as restrains any other Cor_ . potations than those in the Act named, and any Societies or Partnerships, from effecting. Marine Assurances, and lend ing Money Bottomry," read a first time, to e read a se cond time on Friday se i nnight, and to be printed. LA 14 o TAx—Aceountordvved, of the total *turns levied by the provisions of 38 Geo. 3, c. 5. s. 3, upon estates, in ready money, debts, goods, wares, merebandize, and chattels, for the year ending Stn January, 1824." CksToms AND EXCISE ACTS—The following Resolutions reported and-agreed to, and Bills on the Ist,- 6th, and 10th Resolutions ordered to be brought in • " 1. That all goods, wares, merchandize, and erects, being of the growth, produce, or manufacture, of any of the territo ries or - (lominions of the Crown of Portugal, and imported into the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in any Por tuguese ship or vessel in which the same may be legally im ported, shall and May be sold by auction free of the duty im posed by law on goods and effects sold by auction on the first sale of such goods or effects, by or for the account of • the ori ginal importer thereof, within twelve months next after the importation thereof. "2. That the several duties payable on mute-tufts imported into any part of the United Kingdom, shall cease and determine. " 3. That, in lieu of the said duties, there be granted to his Majesty, on all cocoa-nuts imported into any part of the United Kingdom, the duties fallowing ; that is to say, upon all cocoa nuts of the growth or produce of any Pritish colony or plants tion the sum of Is. for every pound weight thereof; and upon. all cocoa-nuts of the growth or produce of any other country or place, the sum of Is. 3d. for every pound weight thereof. " 4. That all duties of Customs and Excise payable on or in respect of Cologne water imported into any part of the United Kingdom in flasks of bottles, or on the fl a sks or bottl e s in whi c h the same is contained, shall be repealed. " 5. That, in lieu of the said duties, there be granted to his Majesty on all Cologne water imported in flasks (thirty of such flasks containing hot more than one gallon), the sum of ls. for every such flask of s uc h water. "t. That it is expedient to continue the duties now payable by law on coals and cubit carried coastwise to any port within the Principality of Wales " 7. That the sum of 3d., part of the permanent duty payable on every pound weight of tobacco, of the growth of his Ma jesty's territories in Canada, shall cease and determine. . " 8. That, in lieu of the duties now payable on all sugars imported from the Mauritius, there be levied and paid such duties only as are now by law payable upon sugars of the like qualities and descriptions imported from any of his Majesty's plantations or possessions in the West Indies. " 9. That, in lieu of the duties now payable on all sugar im ported from places within the limits of the East India Com pany's Charter (not being the island Mauritius, and not being in the East Indies), there be levied and paid such duties as are by law payable upon sugar of the like qualities imported from places in the East Indies. " 10. That so much of an Act of the third year of the reign of his.present Majesty, for granting duties on spirits in Scot.', land, and for regulating the distillation of such spirits for home. consumption, as was not repealed by; an Act made in the last' Session of Parliament, shall be further continued." NOTICES OF NATIONS FOR THIS DAY. 1. Mr. Ca'craft—Repeal of the Leather Tax. 2. Mr. Peter Moore—Bill to repeal Combination Laws. 3. Mr. Dawson—Bill to repeal 29 Geo. '2, c. 16, which obliges the name of every partner of a Rank to be mentioned on the Notes, and prohibits Bankers from Trading as Mer chants. 4. Mr. Hume—Return of Commitments by Magistrates. 5. Mr. Hume—Return of Resident and Non-resident Clergy in Ireland ; also, manner in which the Patronage of the Church is exercised. 6. Mr. Secretary Peel—Bill to consolidate and simplify the Laws for the Transportation of Offenders. 7. Mr. Secretary Peel—To continue Act for appointing Com . missioners to inquire concerning Charities (in England) for the Education of the Poor. 8. Mr. Leake—Bill for the better examination of witnesses in the Courts of Equity at Westminster: and for empowering tke Courts of Law and Equity at Westminster to grant commissions for taking affidavits in all parts of Scotland and Ireland. ORDERS OF THE DAY FOR THIS - DAB'... I. kiarine; ; ;Apiientices Settlement Bill—Second Reading. 2. Parochial Stipends (Scotland) Act--Committee thereupon. 3. Bankrupt Laws Amendment Bill—Further consideration of Report. 4. Fisheries Bill—Further consideration of Report. 5. Saving Banks Bill—Committee. 6. Customs (Coals and Linens) Bill—Third Reading. 7. Consolidated Fund Bill—Third Reading. 8. Chelsea and Greenwich Hospitals Bill—Report. 9. Assessed Taxes Bill—Committee. • 10. Law Merchant Amendment Bill—Report. • 11. Cottnty Cottits 8i11=, , -(Comperisation to the Marshal of th 6 Court of tireat Sessions in Wales for the Counties of Cl morgan, Brecknock, and Radnor)—Committee thereupol , ' 12. Judges in Wales Bill—Report 13. County Cools Bill—Further consideration of Report. 14. Exchequer Court Fees Investment Bill—Committee. 15. Juries (seiitland) Bill—Further consideration of Report , 11. Hull Dock Lands Uill—•-Third Heading. 17. Leather and Paper Duties (Ireland - ) Bill—Second Rea:ling' Pl. Transfer of Stock Bill —.Suomi Reading. 19. Warenoitsing Charges (Ireland'—Committee thereupon: 20. Land I:ever:lie Acts—Committee thereupon. NOTICE GIVEN YESTERDAY. Tires-day, J:rn^ I. Sir Jean Newport—Motion regarding Church Rates (Ire' land). FLIENCH PAPERS. We save received the Monitetr and 01 , 2 other Paris Paperh of:Saturday, and Ow Doily of Su9' day, from which we extract the following:— ( From the itfoniteur. ) YOTIIINC4 OFFICCAL. SAtxT Ptrattl:, l.—(Froni. a Pr;Valf Later. )--", For some time pnst w.! have sufficient anivals of French ILY-r fur theconsmnptioa of the Colony. The consignments from the motkr country have been rna.e with all the regularity and, at the ',amp time, all the care not to overstock the market, that can be desired. The -result has been, that French flour has remained at s good priez., and ,that all the Colony being sure of a constant supply, (iovevn-n-tit has not had rocourse to the icaportA t.o •" tion of American flour. If the French merchants continue to conduct their operEl7 slims with the srmle pru.lence, we shall be freed froth a tr bute which necessity has too often compelled us to pay to the Americans. The remainder of the Afoniteur and a supplementary sheet, are filled with the debates in the two Chambers. of May 14. • [From etc Rfoile, dated Sunday.] Row:, MAY I.—The h ea lth o f th e P ope became daily stronger, The day bethre yesterday he repaired to the Scala Santa, near the Church of St. Joh n d e L ateran , w h ere be prayeA with that eminent devotion for which the fldthful ad" mire him.—(Diaria di Romeo All the rest of the Paper,is occupied with a short extract front the debates in the British Parliament, on the second reading of the Alien Bill in the House of Lords, and on Lord Althorp' 4 _motion relative to Ireland ; and the itepurt of the French Charm hers on the 14th May. Fit ENCII FUND'. , PARIS, MAY 15.—Five per Cent. Cons. opened at 101 f ne.; closed at 104 f. Gsc.—Bank Stock, 1507 f. 50c.—Neapo litan Five per Cents. in ducats, 115 k. ; in Francs, 101 f. 50c.--. Ren - d'EW• 173.—Royal Spanish Loan, 1823, 65.—EX change on London, one 'month, 25C. 25c. ; three ditto, 25f -10c,—( court Amilusatique, May 15.) PROM THE DUTCH PAPERS. Dutch Papers to the 16th in,tant have arrived, from ►►hick we• attract the following particulars respecting the Treaty recently concluded be tween our Government and that of the Nether lands for the reciprocal cession of territories ia the East Indies : " HAGUE, Msv 13.—The Government has given to the Second Chamber some explanations relative to the Treaty con ' eluded with Great Britain with respect to the East India pos sessions. The Treaty, stipulating the cession of some territories in Bengal i and of Malacca, is laid before the Chamber. In c these- explanations, it is observed that, with the exception o. the spice trade, a liberal system of navigation is fixed by this Treaty, and the necessary nieasures arranged to prevent anY fraud with respect to the duties; that the possessions in Bengal were formerly of importance on account of the linen trade' but that this branch of commerce has so greatly de clined, even in the British possessions, that the English rather think of sending cottons manufactured in Europe for sale to India, and the Netherlands intend to follow that example that illalaea has lost its import a n ce s i nce the establishment of the English at Poolo-Penang, and particularly at Singa ;Poeta (Sincapore); that the occupation of the latter had indeed been protested against, but that the point of right could nut well be decided, as the English then made a claim to Bali ton, the possession of which is indispensable for the tin ruine 4 of Banes.. It is then shewn that the ceition of the a bove countries may be considered as fully compensated by the tie ,. ctuisitioa of the British possessions in Sumatra, and the c's etusive,estithlishment of the authority of the Netherlands Oa j that isrand, which will give increased value to the possessions of Palembang, Padang, and the Lampongs—the more so; pw ' the very high claims on the British side for the entire liquib*" tion were fixed at the sum of a hundred thousand pound: 4 sterling, and it is possible that on a more minute calculation of the reciprocal claims the balance might have been found to he still more to the disadvantage of the Indian Treasury. In the Notes that have been exchanged on this subject, Messrs. 'Wynn and Calming, the British Plenipotentiaries, have done justice to the frank declarations of the Netherlands Government, and to the enlightened sentiments of his Majesty the King of the Netherlands, and, at the same time, expressed their willineesl to assist in putting an end to the differences which have arisen chiefly from the conduct of subordinate officers ; and they have expressed their conviction, that after This convention no other rivalry can exist in the East between the two nations, than in the consolidation of the liberal principles of policy which they have thereby manifested to the whole world." AMSTERDAM, Trl 13.—His Majesty's ship the Waterloo , of 74 guns, was launched to-day, amidst the acclamations of numerous assemblage of spectators. - • 1 THE ARMY. On Wednesday last, the Tyne Hussars, cow.; mended by Lieut.-Colonel Sir THomas BURDON, completed their military duty in Gateshead, Durham. In the forenoon of that day they were drawn out on Newcastle Town Moor, and underwent the ordeal of inspection by Major Grey, of the 2d D. G. or Scots Greys. The Regiment appearing in their new clothing, and performing th e severa l m ili tary rnanceuvres with great skill and precision, drew from Major Grey the highest terms of approbation and compliment. And he assured Lieut.- Colonel Sir • Thomas Burdon, he sho u ld h ave great p l easur e is reporting them accordingly. In the evening the Officers of the corps had a grand mess dinner, at the Queen's Head Inn, to which several friends were invited. Major Campbell filled the Chair with his usual ability, and the duties of the Vice-Chair wore very efficiently sustained by Captain Pemberton. • DUBLIN, MAY Ls.—There was a grand review of all the troops in the garrison in the Phenix-park on Thursday ; the Commander of the Forces, Lord Comtermere, was on the ground, as were many other military characters, and a great number of spectators. ' Tll E LATE RAlN.—(Further Particulars.) — The vicinity of Edmonton and Tottenham have sufTered to a considerable extent by the late heavy rains ; on Saturday those places presented a most distressing appearance, near the Angel at Edmonton four fine horses in harness, which had just left the stables for the purpose of b e ieg put to the Cambridge waggon, having gone to the river to drink, a sudden swell rose, and in an instant all the animals were carried tlowo the stream and drowned. The Stamford C-ach had scarcely passed over one of the bridges tit cross ed the main road before the bridge rose above the earth and was carried away. An extensive brick wall which enclosed the garden of Mr. Smith, Garden Tottenham, was was h e d d ow n, and the trtnomentlw inundated. All the marshes f a r r o at i l ;i ldCa Tottenham Mills to Laytonstone and Walthamstow remained yesterday complete ly overflowed, and for several miles round a scene of total - destruction presents itself. The Lonn JUSTICE Cr.rnic, we are sorry to hear, was absent from the opening of the Court yesterday, in consequence of severe family dis tress—the death of a daughter.—(Caledonian lifercur.y.) Mr. Justice DAY". from Ireland, was present in the Court of Session yesterday, and on the in-' vitation of the LORD PRESIDENT, sat within thir bar.—(Edinburgh Paper.) ih4 L] ~..,:. `~ '4 glit Ail% *ow e , 'Cot% Wi ne l 'intel ti,, -V t a ,.„ Lo o ;, F ; , sG cheat tix a t, ---,.._ ......... I , er Per pe 4 Per t anli I n►p. Indit 16, 4 1 lu or. (J oy. ov. 'lrtta City 0 1G Mori ----_., ..,. f, a f or of IlaN :~~~( di s Mr the v a t 1 , ,' , 'l.l. c on 4 1s1 fors VII d ay ( 1 11) has tt.:u rl