The Sun. — London, England, 1824-03-24 00:00:00

310 t when that King was destitute of power or consequence, for sit was after the battle of Agincourt, when he was flushed with --success and in the height of his power, and when even the Emperor paid him a visit as the most renowned and victarious Monarch of his age. It was not likely then that he would apply to his Parliament for what the Right Hon. Gentleman .apposite contended was the rightful prerogative of him and his successors for ever. Whatever obsolete superannuated prero gative there might have been discovered in the mouldering annals of time gone by, fcr which, as in the case of ship money, eoese lawyers were sure to be found ready to obtain the pleasure ,of their employers, to find precedents for it was clear that it had slumbered for 200 years, and would have slumbered for ever, - but for the introduction of an Alien Bill. They were told that for nine years there had been no abuse of the power granted by art Alien Bill. It was admitted that it was an odious power, and the tendency of such an argument therefore was, to lead a British House of Commons to endure the existence of arbi trary power provided it had existed for some time without being abused.. - --(Hear, hear !)—The object of such an argu ment was to prove that the Habeas Corpus was not so valuable a blessing as had hitherto been supposed. The Right Hon. Gentleman said that no complaint had ever been made of the use of it. There was nothing extraordinary in this, for it was the peculiar nature of this Bill that no complaint should ever reach their ears from its victims. No one ever doubted . that arbitrary power was a very convenient thing; but the tendency of making a display of its conveniences was to lessen their horror at arbitrary power. In one case they were shewn its exercise was convenient—in another that it was mode rately used, till at last they would be brought to think arbi trary power was not so bad as it was described. Something had been said of their friend the Emperor of Morocco, and an opinion of his that this Bill drew a line of resemblance be twixt Middlesex and Morocco, had been treated with extraoal dinary severity. But he was not disposed to retract that opi nion. If by some extraordinary accident there should hap pen to be a mild man for seven years on the throne of Mo rocco, the situation of a fugitive in that country would be exactly the same as one here ; for in that case it would not depend on the law, but on the mild qualities who exercised this power, how he was treated. If Marcus Aurelius were on the throne of Morocco instead of the barbarian with whose uncouth name he was unacquainted, he would still quarrel with the power he exercised, although' not perhaps with the way in which he exercised it. If the House were to bring themselves long to contemplate the mere mild' exercise of power, so as in any way to diminish their objection to it, it would have the effect of weakening in their minds those principles in which . depended the security, the efficacy, and the existence of a free Constitution.—(Hear, hear !) They ought to object - to this Bill, not because men had or had not been expelled Under it, but simply because men might be expelled under He had heard an expression of satisfaction uttered in con .sequence of their good fortune, in not having experienced any abuse of this power. No nation ever yet tolerated absolute - power because it was not ill used, with Out having their mistake acorrected by the severe exercise of it, as Dotnitian succeeded '!'rajah, anti despotic Princes always followed mild ones. The Emperor of Russia had said to a friend of his, a man of genius, ,who was rather fond of paying compliments, upon his friend, telling him that his character was a constitution to his subjects, " I am then at best a happy accident." He (Sir James Mac)cintosh) differed from his Majesty, for he thoneht he was an unhappy accident, if his good government prevented the Muscovites from putting more secure guards on their liberties. —(Hear, hear !) Mr. WILLIAM LAMB supported the Bill, but in so low a tone occasionally, as to render a great part of his speech inau dible in the gallery. In answer to the arguments used against the union of this Government with the other States of Europe, he begged to observe, that it had formerly been held good policy in this country to unite with the Protestants of all Europe as their best security. The Hon. Member for West minster had taken a large view of this case, and made many observations worthy of notice. He begged to say to him that if we were not prepared for war, we were not prepared to abuse as lie had done, the Holy Alliance ; lamenting as mach as lie could do the present state of the civil and political liberties of the different States of Europe, he begged to ask, in candour, whether it was the inability or wickedness of Ministers that was to blame in the case of Spain ; or whe ther it was not rather the violence and impracticability of the liberal party in that country ? To attempt the relief of the country without a chance of success was said to retard its re foe-nation and injure it. ' The same might be said of war in our case, with all the knowledge they had of the resources of their enemy. At the period of the restoration in France, the King of France, although naturally prejudiced in favour of that party who had deserted all on his account, and whose feel ings and interests were, indeed, similar to his own—be did not show a disposition to throw himself into their arms, but evinced a strong desire to make a moderate Government, thus going :between both parties. Now, he did not think the opposite party had received him as they ought. In the same manner he thought had the Spaniards, from violent party feelings, •throwa up every thing to the enemy rather than make the slightest concession to a friend. He objected to the great lad trade assumed by the Hon. Member for Westminster in his lan guage, when he spoke upon these subjects. lie could see no advantage for instance, to be gained from the.use of the word " tyrants ;" that word served no purpose that he knew of in that Hous e — t h ere was no courage in it.—(Hear, hear, hear!) ' He would ask the lion. Member whether, in using that epithet, he meant to charge the species of Government which the Sove reigns of Europe exercised, or whether he meant to charge them for the manner in which they used their power ! It' the word tyranny was meant to be applied to Monarchies, then he would tell the Hon. Member that Republics had been guilty of as great enormities as ever were practised tinder any other form of Government. But the effects of such language was to produce personal irritation in the minds of those who possessed great power. Finding themselves less well used than the de. served, they would begin to care less to deserve good usage. Such language used in that House had the effect of exciting the subjects of different States to insurrection ; and he thought the lion. Gentleman would do well, before he created such excite ments, to consider what assistance he could offer. He would do well to consider whether he could not give more than a dinner or two, a violent speech, and a supscription of five or six thousand pounds.—(llear, hear, hear 9 —With re spect to the Bill he repeated what he had on a former occa sion said, viz.: That in the matter of foreign policy it was ne cessary to give a certain degree or credit and confidence to the Government who professed superior means of knowledge with reference to the foreign relations of the country. It was impossible to deny that there was a disposition in individuals of this country to intermix in the affairs of foreign States. It proceeded, he believed, from the noblest feelings ; perhaps they were natural, and perhaps praise-worthy, but not the less dangerous nor the less embarrassing to Governmeht. He was not the less disposed to vote for this Bill, because two suc cessive Foreign Secretaries had asked for it. With respect to the Noble Lord who had gone before the Right Hon. Gentle man in his office, whose lamented loss was so much dep lored, he would undertake to say that he was as much alive to the in terests of this country, and as little disposed to give up one particle of its liberties, as any who had gone before him, or could conic after Hear, hear !) Lord JOHN RUSSELL expressed his surprise at the condemnation bestowed by the Honourable Gentleman who had just sat down, on the application of certain epithets to the Holy Alliance, when he himself adopted the same tone when speaking of the unfortunate Spaniards. Was there any merit in pursuing such a course in a British House of Parlia ment—was there any courage in it ?—(Hear !)—He represented that by their dinners and speeches they had incited foreign ...States to Rebellion. But nothing was more untrue than this. An ' Illustrious Spaniard, speaking to him of the love of liberty which had induced him to take part in the struggles of his country, told him that it had not arisen out of any thing of modern growth, but from the speeches in the British House of Com mons in the good old times of England. This, he said, had urged him again to attempt to realize some of those blessings which belonged to this country in those times. With regard to the aid they had given the Spaniards, they had relieved them when distressed as far as they could—they had excited Them to insurrection, nor to plunge into imprudent wars. If this proved nothing else, it proved that there were yet some feelings in the English breast which did honour to the English character.—(Hear, hear!)—With respect to the Bill, it was clear that 30MC urgency was implied by the fact of the Bill being asked only for two years. Now where was this urgency ?—we were told that we were in a state of more profound peace.— In France the reigning family was established on the throne. They were t o ld th a t this country must not be a focus of sedi tion levelled against other Governments. But the Right Hon. Gentlemen did not pretend to have police spies to follow the chariot and watch the motions of foreigners, and if not, how could he render an account to foreign powers of the nature he spoke of ? The Bill he considered as calculated to affect and corrupt the spirit of our own and other Constitutions—he should therefore oppose it. Mr. PELHAM, in a speech which was inaudible in the Gallory, supported the Bill (as we understood). Mr, C. HUTCHINSON h a d not intended to offer a single word on this subject; but after the speech of the Hon. Mem ber for Hertfordshire he could not let the House adjourn with out offering a few remarks on what had fallen from him. He was surprised that an Hon. .Gentleman who was a County Member, and who, he supposed, called himself an i n d epen d ent ane,. s hould have the hardihood—(bl ear, hear) —should h ave t h e hardihood to read a lecture to Gentlemen in that House, because for years past they had used such language as they aild command against that Alliance, called Holy, which deserved to be execrated and reprobated, for their most ini ciaitous and atrocious conspiracy against the rights of man kind. lie bad used M strong language as any one, and he hoped that House, though it might not go so far as he and those who thought as he did, yet he trusted th'y were not mean enough to set down under such a lecture, which applied equally to both sides. He would ask if the war waged against Spain was not one which ought to call down the curses of every friend to liberty, and he would also ask if it had not been as severely reprobated by the Right Hon. Gentleman and •his Friends on the other side Qf the House, and by their Colleagues in the House of Lords, as it had been by himself andthOse near him ? H6'ivould wish that he had the same command of language which the Hon. Member for Hertfordshire possessed, to condemn the conduct of those with whom that war originated. Mr. W. LAMB begged to say, the Hon. Gentleman was proceeding under a misconception. Ile had not censured the sentiments of those who disapproved of the late war between France and Spain. Mr. II UTCHINSON resumed. He was glad the Hon. Gen tleman had taken an opportunity of setting himself right. He, however, complained that his argument went to condemn the conduct pursued by those who hiamed the war last year. Ile for one regretted, as thousands beside did in this country, that he had not an opportunity of proving on the field of battle how much he hated the cause in which the French had fought in that, the most unhallowed war that had ever been waged by civilized man. He repeated the expression of his reprobation and detestation of the acts of those whom he had over and over again called tyrants, and whom he wished it to be understood he again called by that name. For the motion before the Ilouse he gave it his most decided negative. He could not be sure that the powers proposed to be given would not be impro perly used, when he recollected the manner in which General Gourgaud had been hurried awaY• That he considered a cas e of !great atrocity and violence. How could it be said that they had not been abused, when, under them, the Lady of Count Montholon, on her return from St. Helena, had been re fused permission to land, though this was asked in consequence of the situation of her sick child, which he believed had died before the ship could reach the opposite shore. The case of the Italien physician who had accompanied Buonaparte to St. He lena, he mentioned as an ot i l m ie i r mo h p is e t r a l n y ce us i e n d. ue he which the powers d by the Alien Act had been f iL the Bill, but as giving his most dirweac oapgpaionssittiodnletoptrhinee:inpoletioo Mr. WARRE a large portion of those formerly exposed to its operation, residing in this country were exempted from it now ; his ob jectionsesaesdurbey was his p N r o o bl t e en Friend, i° dili 1 i n a i s t h h e e d a . r i h Ile gt h to t e l fp n re ' the regretshared lan guage which had fallen from his Hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire. When that lion. Gentleman spoke so strongly against that democratic spirit of which he camplained, he would ask him if it had not been that Democratic spirit which animated the confederated artnies in 1813 and 1814, which won them the great battl e of L e i ps i c, an d which, after a series of intermediate triumphs, achi eve d t h e f a ll of Paris ? He might also with equal justice contend, that that democratic spirit did not taltli a mischievous tendency till the Continental Powers shewed a disposition to violate, when they were in a state of peace and security, the promises which they had made in the day of danger and distress. He condemned the principles acted on by the Allied Powers, but deprecated the violent and bloody acts of a few infuriated fanatics. It was his belief, that if the Continental Sovereigns had acted on their restora tion a wise, a temperate, and a grateful part, Europe would not have been in the distracted state in which it was now seen ; the causes of which were ascribed by his Hon.- Friend to one side, and to one side only. He was not prepared to vote for the re solution, and when it came to the vote, lie hoped it would be rejected. Lord ALTHORP thought nothing but a case of absolute necessity could justify the passing of a law like that now con templated. The main' argument of the Right Honourable Gentleman came to this, that the possession of the powers given under this Bill, prevented attempts being made in this country, which would otherwise be frequent. Ile thought if plots were likely to he formed in this country by foreigners, which the law could not repress as it now stood, it would be better to give arbitrary power to the Crown, at once to correct the evil, than to pass a new Alien Bill. He could have wished the amendment iiad not contained those expressions on the character of the act which he found in it, but as it went to op pose the original motion he should vote for it. MrlSecretary PEEL did not intend to avail himself of the privileges usually conceded to make a lengthened reply. The House had to decide on a proposition of his for the introduc tion of a new Alien Bill, and on an amendment moved by the Hon. Member for Westminster. He could Fc,arcely thins the Hon. Gentleman sanuine enough to expect tirotntlre douse would adopt what lie had proposed. Ile c Honourable Gentleman might feel justified in saying this, but to declare the Alien Act a disgrace to the Statute all . Book.. The ' the House who had passed, and whose authority had given it the force of law, could not be expected to join in the declara tion. The Honourable Gentleman called on the House to say they had witnessed with horror and alarm the proceed ings of the Holy Alliance. Taking such a course would, in his opinion, amount to hardly less than a declaration of war, and would certainly make it understood that Great Britain mean to offer a place of refuge to all dissatisfied subjects. The Honourable Gentleman and himself diffeeed so much, that in argument they could hardly come in contact ; but, in the course of his speech, the Honourable Gentleman had established himself as rather a severe verbal critic on him. In the heat of debate he was aware that many expres sions escaped him, which he would gladly recall, which he could wish had never passed his lips, and unconscious of this, he should be very glad to avail himself of any hint that might be thrown out for his improvement by so competent a judge. He had used the words " mathematical demonstra tion." He lied not been aware that in this there was any thing improper, but the Hon. Gentleman had said he did not under stand the expression. He would endeavour to be more careful for the futurehow he used it. But then the Hon. Gentleman attacked him for what he had said two years ago, when he was described to have spoken of a " permanent emergency." The /iron. Gentleman kindly suggested to him, that as he had re sided for a considerable period in Ireland lie had a right thus to express himself. Would the Hon. Gentleman allow him to remark that he had fallen that night into a similar error though he had not the same defence. The lion. Gentleman had accused him of having tumbled into a pit which was already quite full of those who had previously fallen.—(A laugh.)._ He would ask if the Hon. Gentleman in describing him to have fallen into a pit which was previously quite full, had not in this case taken the bull by the horns.—(A laugh.) —He de fended the course which he had taken in bringing this subject before the House, and maintained that lie had not defended the principle of the Bill but on the ground that the positive good to be derived from it outweighed any evil that could be apprehended, and he considered it of importance, in various re spects to British interests, that a warning should b e g i ven to foreigners by thi s Bill, that if disposed to conspire against their Governments, the British metropolis was not to be made the seat of their machinations. The House divided, when the numbers were_. For the motion - - • 131 For the amendment, - 7 O 7O Majority against the amendment 61 A second division w a s then called for on the original ques tion being put. The numbers were— For the motion - - 130 Against it - - - - 73 Majority in favour of bringing In the Bill —57 While the gallery remained closed, we understand the Bill was brought in. On the motion that it should be read a first time. Mr. HUME strongly opposed the principle of the measure, condemned the conduct of the Holy Alliance, and maintained that every man who voted for the Bill then before the House would become a party to that alliance- Acts had been passed to prevent Englishmen from speaking their minds out of that House ; but, thank God, they still retained the privilege of freely expressing their sentiments in it ; and he thought no lan guage could be too strong to embody his detestation of those military tyrants, who, not content with persecuting the friends of liberty in their own country pursued them into Switzerland and other foreign parts. He thought it was desirable that this country should be separated from the last link that held it to those who could act such a part. He expressed much sorrow for what had fallen from the Honourable Member for Hert fordshire, and considered his speech presented altogether a specimen of misapplied talent.—(Cries of " Question, Ques tion !") —Honourable Members seemed impatient. He by no means wished to detain those who were anxious to retire, and they were free to take their departure.—(A laugh.)—He again commented on the conduct of the Hon. Member for Hertford, in being willing to give this measure to the Govern ment, on the presumption that it would not be abused. Be ( 3lr. Hume) would not consent to give them power which might be abused. He was surprised that a Right Hon. Gentleman oppo site (Mr. Secretary Canning) should approve of this Bill. As a material change had lately taken place in our foreign policy, he thought it of some importance that the House should know the grounds on which that Right Hon. Gentleman gave the measure his support. He wished that Right Hon. Gentleman would state to the House his view of the circumstances at home or abroad which made this measure necessary. He desired to know if he considered this in accord with the principles of the British Constitution, which he had proclaimed the pride and envy of the surrounding world. He wished to know if this were his opinion, or what were the particular circumstances which now rendered such a law necessary.—[Here the Hon. Gentleman was again interrupted by cries of " Question !" and cough ing.l—He expressed himself reluctant to detain those who had been summoned down to the House on this occasion, and as their coughs seemed troublesome he thought they would be much better at home. A Right Hon. Gentleman had said there was a difference between the present situation of the country and that in which it was seen in the year 1816, when he oppos. ed the bill. Another Honourable Gentleman had truly remark ed, that there was a change in the posture of affairs, but that that change was' all against the renewal of this Alien Bill.— He could only account for the change in the conduct of the Right Hon. Gentleman by recollecting that since 1816, he had passed over from one side of the House to the other. He again called on the Right Hon. Secretary to give his reasons for approving of this Bill. He wished to hear from him on what grounds it was now to be defended. If there were.a good case for passing it, he would give it his support; hut if 'strong grounds were not shewn for it, he should think that to pass it would be a disgrace to the House. The Right Hon. Gentle man would greatly oblige - hint by stating why he gave his sane don to a proposition of this nature. He concluded by moving as an Amendment, " That the Bill should be read a second time that day six months." Mr. Secret a ry CANNING said the Hon. Gentleman had such a " winning way"—(A laugh)—that though it certainly was not his intention td speak on this occasion ' called upon as he had been by thenon. Gentleman, he could not avoid rising to endeavour in a few words to satisfy him. He did think that under the present circumstances of this country and the world the continuance of the Alien Act with those modifications which were now proposed to be made in it, ought not to be exercised to eP r e s under law, opposed by that Souse. His reason f or t hi n ki ng so h e s h ou ld be ready stage of the Bill. For the powers whether they were ancient or not, wh e th e r they were inherent in the Crown, or c r e a t e d by statute, h e held it to be a monstrous aburdity to s u ppo se that every com munity capable of defending it se lf h a d not th e power lod ge d somewhere or other of regulating its intercourse with foreigners as it pleased. t-; xin a this future lw —ow that intercourse ought to be regulated was another consideration, whether these powers ought to be exercised by the Crown, by the Execu tive, or by the Legislative Body, was that on which a dif ference of opini6n might exist ; but to say that there was one country. where no power existed to keep out fo reigners, wtaild be to say that there existed one country which was stripped of all the rights which had hitherto be longed to every civilized community. Then came the ques tion how should such rights be exercised. To this he would reply without hesitation, that .they ought to be exercised with the greatest liberality towards foreigners, consistent with safety at home and the ,due - discharge of our engagements to others abroad. In his opinion a case could but rarely arise, and could not long continue, when such extraordinary powers would be necessary in this country. He did think that they had been so for some time ; he did not think that that time had passed away, but he thought that the evil which they were intended to meet had diminished, and in proportion as he thought so, he was willing to diminish the safeguard. He did' not think that it had wholly passed away, and in proportion as this was the case, he desired still to retain the law in question. Whenever the period arrived, at which the Alien Bill could be wholly dispensed with, no man would hail its arrival with more joy than he should. He had thus briefly answered the call made on him, by stating his reasons for favouring the Bill, but did not know whether he had satsified the Hon. Gentleman. The House then divided, when the numbers were For the motion - 129 For the amendment - e 69 Majority - 60 On our re-admission to the Gallery the Bill was read the first time, and ordered to he read a second time on Friday. SLAVE TRADE PIRACY BILL. Mr. Secretary . CANNING, understanding that an Hon. Member was desirous of saying something further on the Slave Trade Piracy Bill, consented to postpone the third reading till to-morrow, when the Bill , is to occupy the . early attention of the House. The County Courts Bill was ordered to be committed on Friday. ______ THE NEW COURTS OF I AW . Mr. BA NKES rose to move for a Select Con is to con sider of the plan for building Courts of Justice. The oppo sition he expected would come from three descriptions of p er _ sons. First, those who were parties to the erection of the in tended Courts ; secondly, those who were indifferent with re spect to the style of public buildings; and thirdly, those who thought the expence already incurred had been so great, that they were disposed to let the building go on, rather than incur y fie ti a le on a e pp a to le a m eh b e e sr in more. Ile did not take upon himself to determine that the building to which he objected was to come down, his only and disgraceful, but ob ject was to move for a Committee to make inquiry into the subject. sbiostehr Ha 0. u , , f 1 e l ns e ao,,fs did poain.r suppose Parliament were iWtye. r h e e cFo s o l n i rfi o n u ni c l e a r" dti ,„, n ,... aivro.v.ek — co ',peak In favour of that which he of late much taste had been displayed in alterations eloln -mhlyadcere.dtitaahsleb.ltooathe north front of Westminster Hall was hi arts, but so soon as the improvement we!' It was surprising' it the Right up with a horrible building. Hon. Gentleman how any person with taste could erect the building for the new Courts. Instead of being in uniformity with 'Westminster Hall, they had destroyed every appear ance of uniformity. Ever public building should be erected / with something like gran eur ; •but, in this instance, there had been a total omission of taste. Great advantage was derived' public b uildings—foreigners were induced to from handsome In Lombardy, Venic e, and many ancient cities on the Con tinent,visit countries where there thou g h were objects worthy. curiosity.— architecture , in a decayed state, was still the admiration of the World. I n th e wor k s a t the entrance of there the Regent's Park, was much to admire, and it really was building in Palace-yard should stand areproach public tas te . T h e C omm i ttee for wh i c h h e should move, would have deplorablet to public that two or three points to make out. _The first would be, Whether it was necessary to pull down the obnoxious part of the Italian facade, and carry the front to the two principal bu ttresses of the Hall. The Committee would have to enquire ,what the expence would be, and upon that point he certainly should not recommend extravagance. It was desirable the Court- 8 should adjoin Westminster-hall, and be finished with expedition, The Committee would see whether space could not be tound to er ec t a building on the other side of the Hall, [on the scite where the Exchequer-of f ice and the old range of buildings are standing. The Right Hon. Member c oncluded his observations by moving for the appointment of a Select Committee to consider , -er toe subject and report thereon. Mr. c l no y seconded th e mo ti on . Th e b u ilding was nb le.n e considered those who had the supe riorkore to blame than the architect. It was desirable some course sho u ld b e t a k en w ith a v i ew t o pro vide a remedy. hihotAbrojeucl ELLlS ti o o f the work Ll c:t Oof the EXCHEQUER wished to stalte'hwe why y H h A e could CE not , c omply with the motion of his Rt. Hon. Friend. The House should act fairly at least with the indi vidual whose taste was Concerned, and who had been rather severely dealt with by his Right Hon. Friend. That Gentleman had been called on to erect the b u ilding under circumstances N which left him no discretion with respect to style. The plan was suggested three or four Years ago, and the House at that time did not express much desire to apply public money to orna menting the metropolis. The Government had been charged with outrageous extravagance for an endeavour to promote the arts. When they moved for 30,0001. to preserve the Elgin marbles, they were called to account, and charged with impro perly voting away the public money amidst general distress. Had Government been allowed to exercise taste, they might have got rid of the whole of the arcade extending to the House of Lords, but if they had ventured to suggest such a thing he really knew not what would have become of them. As the building was for the administration of justice, it was important no time should be lost. It was stated at the time that the legal profeseion suffered great inconvenience, and a battery was actually opened on Government by the Attorney- General and the Member for Winchelsea.—(Hear, hear !)—lt was but justice to Colonel Stevenson and Mr. Soane to say the hands of those Gentlemen had been tied. - They had many years served the public, and it was parricularly essential Mr. Soane, who was a professional man, should not be unfairly cen sured. For the old building alluded to he had not much reve rence, but they must consider what was to he done with' per. sons who conducted business there. At the same time they ought to be aware, that if they removed an excrescence from one side, they might place it on the other. The defbrmity might be carried to the Speaker's house, and the windows of the new Court be made to look over the Speaker's residence. Not being able to satisfy himself that it was expedient to pull down that which was nearly completed, he could not help op posing the motion. He thought he could not consult the inte rest of the public if he agreed to it. Mr. GURNEY supported the motion. He thought the front of the new building ought to be analogous to that of Westmin ster Hall. Mr. G. BANKES knew the Architect to he a most respect able man, and a lover of the Arts. Having lived a long tune abroad, foreigners came to him, to shew them the public build ings. When they came to this new building, the question was, who made this—you have told us this was built by William Rufus; but who built this? lie was obliged to be silent, not knowing what to say. On the whole, he thought there ought to be inquiry with a view to remedy. Sir J. MACKINTOSH rose to vindicate the Professors of the Law against the charge of impatience. He should sup port the motion. All the objections he had heard were grounds for inquiry., _ _ _ Mr. j WILLIAMS wished to go into the Committee on the subject. Mr. CAVENDISH said he should vote for going into Com mittee on this building. If they did not make the inquiry pro posed bad Luildings would grow upon them. He wished to stop it ad 'inane, but did not consider the architect blameable. Mr. HUME agreed with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that if they were to study uniformity, they might go to the front of the House of Lords, the front of the Treasury, and the Council Chamber. The motion he considered an attempt to produce uniformity, where all the artists in Europe could no produce a uniform appearance. The Hon. Member defended Mr. Soane, and expressed a hope that the Chancellor of the Exchequer would resist pulling down the building, which would only lead to ,useless expence. Sir C. LONG wished to say a few words in defence of a Gentleman who had been frequently alluded to. He knew Mr. Soane, and was sure no man could be more attentive to the duties of his profession. lie agreed that it would have been better if a larger plan had been adopted with respect to the buildings around Westminster Hall. It had been desirable to finish that Italian facade which was so objectionable with rapi dity, consequently there had not been sufficient time to attend to ail the questions of taste and ornament. His plan would have been to consider Westminster Hall as the aisle of a Cathe dral, and the Courts might have been built in accordance. He could not consent to pull down the building. Col. TRENCH supported the motion. The building which he considered an excrescence had been ge nera ll y condmned, and ought to be removed. He recommended beautiful Gothic windows on each side the venerable Hall, flanked with magni ficent buttresses. An alteration might be made at moderate expence. The House then divided— Ayes Noes - - - 43 - - - 30 Majority 7 - —l3 The motion was consequently carried. The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at Half-past 'Twelve o'Clock. From the LONDON GAZErf E, March 23. THE KING'S LEVEE: • Lord Chamberlain's Office, March 23. Notice is hereby given, that his Majesty will hold a Levee at Carlton House, on Wednesday, the 7th of April next, at two o'clock.. HIS MAJESTY'S DRAWING ROOM. Lord Chamberlain's Office, March 21 Notice is hereby given, that in consequence of St. George's Day this year being in Easter Week, the King will hold a Drawing Room at St. James's Palace, on Thursday, the 29th of April next, at two o'clock, to celebrate his Majesty's Birth-day. N. B.—The Knights of tho several Orders will wear their Collars. Downing-street, March 22. The King has been pleased to appoint General Francis Marquis of Hastings, K.G. and G.C.B. and G.C.H. to be Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Island of Malta and its Dependencies. Whitehall, March 22. The King has been pleased to present the Reverend David Caruthers to the Church and Parish of Kirkden, in the Pres bytery of Aberbrothock and County of Forfar, vacant by the death of the Reverend William Milligen. The King has also been pleased to present the Reverend James Graat to the Church and Parish of South Leith, in the Presbytery of Edinburgh, vacant by the death of the Re verend Doctor Dickson. BANKRUPTCY ENLARGED. R. Smelley, Pontafract, Yorkshire, mercer, from March 27 to April 6, at eleven, at the White Lion Inn, Pontefract. BANKRUPTCY SUPERSEDED. W. Phillips, Bristol, linen-draper. BANKRUPTS. W. D. Pettingill, Great Yormouth, Norfolk, fish-merchant, to surrender March 31, April 1, and May 4, at seven, at the Nelson's Hotel, Great Yarmouth. Attornies, 11Ir. Francis, New Boswell-court, London ; and Mr. Worship, Great Yar mouth. T. Norris, Bartholomew-close , coach-master, April 3, 10, and May 4, at eleven, at the Court of Commissioners. Attorney, Mr. J. T. Cookney, Staple-inn. D. Evans Cannon-street-road , Co mmercial -road, coal-mer chant, Mar ch 30, April 13, and May 4, at ten, at the Court of Commissioners. Attornies, Messrs. Reardon and D av i s , Corbet court, Gracechur c h-street, London. T. Stirling, Commercial-road, Lambeth, slater, April 3, 10, and May 4, at twelve, a t the Court of Commi ss i oners. Attor ney, Mr. E. J. Scott, St. Mildred's-court, Poultry. C. F. Staeben, Lime-street, merchant, March 27, April 3, and May 4, at twelve, at the Court of Commissioners. Attor nies, Messrs.-Gates and Parrey, Cateaton_street, London. G. Smith Bishopsgate-street Without, butcher, March 27, April 3, and May 4, at twelve, at the Cour t of C ommissioners. Attorney, Mr. Tadhunter, Bermondsey -street. J. Pilling and W. Pilling, Mirfield, Yorkshire, cont-millers, April 7,8, and May 4, at eleven, at the Sessions House, Wake field. Attornies, Messrs. Adlington, Gregory, and Faulkner, Bedford-row, London; and Mr. T. Taylor, Wakefield. DIVIDENDS. May 3, T., J., and B. Gibbons, Wolverhampton, bankers —April 13, W. Hamilton, New City-chambers, merchant— April 20, D, S. Norton, Uxbridge, brewer—April 24, C. Ford, Regent-street, linen-draper —April 13, J. Stevens, Stafford, wine-merchant—April 13, T. Carlen, Langbourn-chambers, Fenchurch-street, coal-factor—April 15, T. Lean, Liverpool, coachmaker—April 3, T. 3lanser, Caroline-street, Commercial road, cooper—April 13, J. Jamison, Little Queen-street, St. Giles.in-the-Fields, coachmaker —April 13, H. Osborne, New Brentford, fishmonger—April 27, W. Mitchell, Turnwheel lane, sugar-factor. CERTIFICATES, Arun. 13. J. Jermy, Great Surrey-street, Blackfriars-road, linen-draper d Sp s a tr v e e e r t y :m So e u rc t h h a E nt fl:or T d : A tDevonshire,Atkinson, ului Ludgate-hill, b a t u e r .. n b e i R c a . b E h o l l e i e t: T. Drew, Orchards, Herefordshire, maltster—J. PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED. or ß. Mills and T. Newcombe, York, carriers—F. Moor houseßroad-street, and W. Elliott, Stock Exchange, stock-brokers—J. Daw son and C. E. Huxley, Kingston-upon-Thames, upholsterers — R. Hart and W. Clark, Kingston-upon-Hull, coal-merchants R. Thrale and W. Appleby, Croydon, calico-engravers—M. Clack and I. Edwards, Bridgewater-square, childbed-linen makers—J. M'Cready . and W. Rennie, Birmingham, linen drapers—W. H. Paviour and W. Penney, Birmingham, fen der-manufacturers. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF CHANCERY, MAncn 23. CAMPBELL V. WARD. The LORD CHANCELLOR pronounced his decision upon the appeal in this case to-day, confirming the Vice-Chancellor's decree in favour of the plaintiff: His Lordship said he would dispose of the question of costs on Thursday. TURNER V. TURNER. Mr. AGAR again brought this case under his Lordship's notice. The LORD CHANCELLOR said, that if all the legatees were not to hear a proportion of the plaintiff's extra costs, it would be but justice to the public to have a board erected over the entrance to Lincoln s-inn.hall with these words:—" Take notice, that every legatee who files a bill in this Court on be. half of other legatees is a fool."—( Laughter.) After some discussion, his Lordship promised to draw up an order, in which the peculiar circumstances of the case should be set forth, and send a copy of it to each of the parties. His Lordship rose at two o'clock, and stated that he would go on with the motions on Thursday. ASSIZE - INTELLIGENCE SUSSEX, HORSHAM, 11ARCR 22. POST-OFFICE PROSECUTION. Wm. George Anges, a young tnan, aged 17, son of the deputy postmaster of Chichester, was indicted for stealing from the post-office of that city, on Bth February, a letter containing bank bills and notes to the amount of 1801., the property of M essrs. Winter and Ridge, iron-merchants at Bankside, Surrey. The prisoner was also indicted at common law for the offence of stealing the same notes and bills. To this latter indictment he pleaded guilty, upon an understanding that he should not be prosecuted for the offence against the statute, whereby his life would be in jeopardy. Mr. Sergeant Owstow (with whom was Mr. NoLaw and Mr, BOLAND), for the prosecution, stated, that in consideration of the Prisoner's youth, he was not instructed to offer any evi dence upon the charge affecting the prisoner's life, and there fore upon that indictment the Jury would find the prisoner not guilty. The Jury found him Not Guilty accordingly; and for the larceny he was sentenced to be transported for 7 years. The prisoner was a young man of very respectable appearance. ENNIS ASSIZES, 31Ancn 11. AT TACK ON SIA Wm. READ.- Wm. Roughan and Wm. Brady were arraigned for tiring and wounding the Rev. Sir W. Read. Sir William deposed, that, while riding along the deer park wall of itaheens, on the sth of November last, he was fired at from a gap in the wall ; he was wounded in the thigh and shoulder; he immediately rode up to the gap, and saw three men running off—identified the prisoners as being among those whom he then saw; witness was one of the most active Magi strates in the county in putting down the Ribbonmen. Several witnesses were brought forward to prove an alibi. The Jury retired, and shortly after the Foreman informed the Court that there was no probability of their agreeing to a ver dict—they were, however, again closeted, and, in about two hours, acquitted the prisoners. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Marti:, 23 0 die Martii, 1824. Mr. SPEAKER reported the Royal Assent—to Annual Dut ies Bill, Four per Cents. Annuities Bill, Mutiny Bill, Marine Mutiny Bill, Gaol Act Amendment Bill, Exchequer Coin (Ireland) Bill, Femal e O r ph ans ' A sy l um Bill , an d 'ThirsL and farm, Carlisle and Cockermouth, Wetherby and Knares borough, Stuw-on-thc-Vold, Buxton and Stockport, Neweutt and Tomes and Bridgetown Pomeroy Roads Bills. CATHEDRAL—Derry—Petition for leave to present a Petition for a Bill referred to a Committee. DOCKS—South London—Petition for leave to present a Petit tion for Bill reported, and leave given ; Petition for BM re ferred to a Committee. St. Katherine's—Petition of Water" men of Iron Gate and St. Katherine's Ferries, to lie en tirj table. ROADS—Shipley—Bill read a third time, and passed. C° llle Bill read a second time, and committed. INCLOSUR E —SnelstOn (Derby) CHAPEL—Worthing Itr CONTICTS Bipllistssreedad. POSTAGE RATES a third time, a r.a PENITENT;A COMPANIES —General Gas Light:—Petitions from Dublin and Ilibernian Gas Light Companies, against, to lie on the table' London and Westmin s t er Oil G as —P et i t i on f or B i l l repert4"' Report to lie on the table. Annuity (Ireland)—Petition f or Bill referred to a Committee. PlLOTS—Liverpool • FERRY—Littlehampton PAvlNG—Laneaster crartoy DUTIES Bills read a second time, 1124 committed. BOARD OF WORKS (Ireland) SUSPENSION BRIDGE—St. Katherine's —Petition of the 01 4 ' ginal Waternien of Iron Gate Stairs; against, to lie on th e. table. DRAINAGE or BOGS (Irciland)—Petition for Bill referred t° Committee. FREEMASONS—Petition of Freemasons of Newtown Stewar t ' Tyrone, complaining of Act of last Session, which prohibi ts the meetings of certain Societies ; to lie on the table. P unr.tcAxs—Peti tions of Licensed Innkeepers and Victuallers of Kendal, Melford, Taunton, St. Alphage (Greenwich ) ' and Folkingliam, for the repeal of the increased Duties 012 Licences ; to lie on the table. Wool.—Petitions from Selkirk, and Northumberland, ittf; vour of the importation of F ore i gn 'Wool, combi n ing wit" h a repeal of the prohibition of th e ex p ortat i on of Brids 'Wool ; and from Steyning, against the reduction of the TO on the importation of Foreign Wool ; to lie on the table. f INSOLVENT DEBTORS ACT—Petiti on o f M erc h ants, 6 t e• of St. Giles, Camberwell, against, to lie on the table. GAME LAWS AMENDMENT—Petition of William Cobbe tt, against, to lie on th e t a bl e . COAL DuTirs—Petitions a g a i ns t th e D ut i es on C oa l s , fr°r° Lyme Regis, and Ch armout h, to li e on t h e ta b le. CANDLE DoTirs—Petition o f Candletnakers of Edinburg h ' for the repeal th ereo f ; t o li e on t h e ta bl e. VESTRY—Southwark St. John' s )—P e titi on , against, froroS t ' John's, Southwark, re f erre d t o the Committee on the But; and from St. John's, Horslydown, to lie on the table. for the TAXES—Petition from St. Ol ave , S out h war k, o r the repeal thereof ; to lie on the table. ILL-TREATMENT OF CATTLE BlLL—Petition of Inbabi tants of Smithfield. in favour, to lie on the table. FISHERIES (Scotland)—Petition from Dumfries, for the reig n " lotion of the Laws applicable to the Salmon Fisheries, t° lie on the table. NOTARIES PUBLlC—Petitions for repeal of the Duties on 14- cences, from Dumfries, and Ayr; to lie on the table. COMBINATION OF WORKMEN LAWS—Petitions of Journef * men Shoemakers, &c. of Wigan and Montrose, and CarPen' tens of 'Westminster, against, referred to the Select Coto mittee on Artizans and Machinery. TITHES COMPOSITION ACT—Petitions from Knockgrafwf' and Bansagh, against any compulsory Clause, to lie on W s table. NEWFOuNDLAND—Petition of Roman Catholics against cf: tain proposed regulations relative to their marriages, to "I on the table. Bill to make p r o v i s i on f or th e b etter co nduct of the Fisheries on the Banks of Newfoundland ordered to be brought in. PRISON LAWS—Petition from Leicester, against the operation of the Act of last Session, referred to the SelectCommit te° on Prisons. ARTIZANS ANDMACHINERYCOMMITTEE—Report broug ht up and read ; to lie on the table, and to be printed. COUNTY COURTS BlLL—Considered in Committee; C° ol. mittee report progress ; to sit again this day. SILK TRADE—BiII reported, to be read a third time on Thur s. day. COURTS OF JUSTICE (Compensation to Officers for losses $ consequence of County Courts Bill)—Committee thereupon deferred till Thursday. !NOTICES OF MOTIONS FOR THIS DAY. 1. Lord Viscount Althorpe—Bill to abolish Settlement by roi" ing and Service. 2. Mr. Kennedy—Select Committee, to inquire into the bad relating to the Salmon Fishery in Scotland. 3. Mr. ,Gipps—Motion regarding employment of Agricultur sl Labourers in Winter. ORDERS OF THE DAY FOR THIS DAY. 1. Supply—Committee. 2. Ways and Means—Committee. 3. Cattle 111-treatment Bill—Further consideration of lisPor t. 4. Slave Trade Piracy Bill—Third Reading. 15. Union Duties Bill—Committee. NOTICES GIVEN YESTERDAY. Thursday, March 25. Sir Henry Hardinge—Bill to remove doubts as to term property belonging to the Ordnance Department. Friday, March 26. Mr. Martin (of Galway),—Bill to regulate the proceetlir* by Outlawry, and subsequent proceeding by Cwsodia° thereon, in Ireland. (Deferred from March 23.) Thursday, April 1. Mr. Kennedy —Bill to regulate the relief granted to t he Poor in Scotland. PRIVATE BILLS—SECOND READINGS for Tins 1. Patrington Road 13. Thames and Medway Ca 2. Edinburgh Gas PRICE 0. F STOCKS TWO O'CLOCK. THIS Dail' AT Bank Stock shut 3 per Cent. Red. ... shut 4 er Cent. 3 per Cent. C0n5....... 9461 94 3i per Cent shut p ( Old shut ( New lo6li S per Cents. 1797 Bank Long Ann shut Imp. 3 per Cents. India Stock shut India Bonds SOs• South Sea Stock Old Annuities Ex. Bills 50 0 Ditto Small Bank for Act. India for Con. Acct....... Cons. for Acct. PRICE or FOREIGN STOCKS IN LONDON, hancri 24f AT ONE O'CLOCK. Five per Cents. 101. Scrip, 14 pm. Six per Cents. 00. Five per Cents. (Metallic) 00. Ditto New 94g. Five per Cent. Bonds, 904. Scrip, 12A prem. Five per Cent. Bonds, 1820, 00. Spanish Ditto 1821, 21. Ditto 1823, 114. f Five per Cent. Bonds, 93a. 1 Ditto New, 961. Portuguese Bonds, 00. Scrip, 0. Danish Five per Cent. Bonds, 00. Chili 81. Colombian Six per Cent. Bonds, 00. Poyais. { Itu.sian 1 French Neapolitan Austrian Prusnian New, 0. Hullett's, 1 prem. ' Anglo 6 pron. Scrip, 7 prem. :11 p,rem. ce Shares-22. Bank Shares £24 Os. Od. Seven per Cent. 95. Six per Cent. 94-102. Five per Cent. 100-102. L Three per Cent. 77. Mexican Mines; Mexican. Greek Alliance Insuranl A tn ori can PRICE OF IRISH STOCK, MAncu 20. Bank Stock 2631 Gov. Deb. 3 per cent Stock, 31 per ct Gov. Deb. 4 per cent. Gov. Deb. 5 per cent. —Stock, 4 per cent. New Treasury Bills, 5 per cent City Debentures, 5 per ct — Lying in Hospital 4 per ct — Exchange on Lond HIGH WATER AT LONDO Morning, 13 minutes after 10. Grand Canal Loan, 6 p.ct. -- Ditto 4 per cent.... 441 Ditto Stock Royal Canal Stock 2 s} Wide-street Cert. 6 per ct --- Do. Deb. with Gov. See Pipe Water Deb. 5 per ct. --- Do. Ballast Oftice Govt. Sec. 4 per cent. lon, March 19, 81. , ` BItIDGE TO-MORR OW Evening, 41 minutes after 10•