The Sun. — London, England, 1822-05-18 00:00:00

tin the part of one of the Licensing Magistrates of Middlesex, from an individual with whom he was not at all acquainted, but whole character he found, on inquiry, bore out the state ment which the Petition contained . He (Mr. Hume) had also sent the Petition to the Magistrate himself, in order to see what answer he could make to its allegations ; and e understood that some Honourable Member was prepare h d to make a counter statement to the House. The Petitioner, Robert Crorobie, stated, that in April, 1821, he purchased for 6001 the laze and good will of the White Horse public house, in Chelsea, which were transferred to the Petitioner with the: sanction, of the Magistrates of the district. In September, when the spirit license expired, the Petitioner ob tained a reneWat of .it from the Excise ; but when his beer li eenstaexpired, and he applied for its renewal, the Magistrates toleidtim it could not. be done. Of this refusal he comnlained, and sent a Petition,. signed by thirty respec t a ble neighbours, to tha. IsicenOng Magistrate, Mr. White, who. again refused thedicense, assigning as a reason the disorderly conduct of the houseepresnoosly to its purchase by the Petitioner. The Peti tioner submitted that he had done all in, his• power by laying his contract with the former proprietor, one Stradling, before the MaO_strates when he entered Into it, and who had given it their sanction.. He implored the House, therefore, to take his =Ate -into their consideration, and grant him such .relief as in .their wisdom might seem meet. Six R. HERON observed, that he :new -clothing of the me rits of the Petition, .but he wished it might call the attention ot the house to one particular subject of elie greatest import eneee- .He was persuaded that nothing could be more mis ehitseoua than the practice of allowing haws to have spirit licea3CV, and not beer licenses ,also. - The co nse q uence was, thattateli houses were converted into mere dram shops. . SaYer. DAWSON, in 'reply to the statement in the Petition, -• aid that the. Magistrates had had a complaint made to them that thehousesin question was -kept open until a very late hour •inehe..niese. - The Petitioner was summoned to answer to this complaint, but did not attend. • On a. second summons he did attend, and apologized for the late hours which he kept, by saying that Such had been the practice under his predecessor. The. Magistrates informed him that if he , continued to keep lateehourss he would be,fined. He did continue to do. so, and he -was fined for keeping a disorderly house. - Subsequent equivoemions - and felishoods induced the Magistrates to refuse his lieenee. • • Mr. Alderman Bridges M. Serjeant . this" low, and. Mr. Renee- each said a few words on the subject of the Petition. • Me. HUME observed, that he had inquired iu the neigh bourheod with respect to the character of the house in question, anti was infornied that it was by no means disorderly. Mr. PEEL said that the persons to whom the Hon. Member -for Montrose had spoken might possibly not have been well informed upon the subject. The house in question stood with in gates, out of the public thoroughfare, and its conduct might not be matter cf universal notoriety. There was, however, this fast—the man had been convicted and fined 10s. for keeping a disorderly house; . • • • Mr. AIME said that the house was a watering house used by Hackney-coachmen. It was necessarily, therefore, open till a late l. • After io a ns few further observations from Mr. DAWSON;the Petition was ordered to lie on the table. • NEW POST OFFICE. Mr. WILSON presented a Petition, numerously signed, from the inhabitant householders of St. Martin's-le-Grand,Fos ter-lane,comnlaining of the delay in the erection of the intend= ed new Post-Office. At present, they were ruinously incom moded by the obstructions which the preparations for that build ing had occasioned.. They prayed either that the building might immediately proceed, or that a passage should be made through the obstructions to which they adverted for the influx cf their customers. Mr. •HOBHOUSE confirmed the statement of the Petitioners as to the inconveniences which they experienceed. Six pas cages which had heretofore existed in that part of the City were • now choked up with rubbish. After a few words from Mr. Alderman WOOD, the Petition -was read and ordered to be printed. • IRISH COURT OF EXCHEQUER.. • Sir.T. NEWPORT wished to know whether it was in the • contemplation of his Majesty's Government to propose any • rneaeUre for the purpose-of carrying into effect the alterations in the Irish Court of Exchequer e which had been recommend ed by the Commissioners appointed to inquire into that subject? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied, that to subject Was one which had been for some time under the -consideration of his Majesty's GOvernment; and that he hoped, ere-long; some measure would be proposed respecting it. Sir J. NEWPORT gave notice that unless some proposition should' be Made by his Majesty's Government before Tuesday 4th of June, he would on that day submit to the House a mo tion on the subject. - • ISLE OF MAN. Mr. CURWEN presented a Petition from the House orKeys, 'in the tali - of Man, complaining of the Misappropriation, in that I:fittnd, of certain Funds which had been bequeathed for the I:tit - pose of Educating the Children of the. Poor. Mr. Secretary PELL.prornised that the subject should he in -eluired into. • Mr. CURWEN was sure that that promise would be perfect 'ly satisfaetory to the Petitioners.—The Petition , was read and crdcecd to be printed. • • AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS. Mr. WESTERN presented a Petition from the County of r e osx, complaining of the general preksure of Agricultural diGtrenS. ;lir E. HARVEY spoke shortly in faveui of the Petition. • Mr. LENN A RD - bore testimony to the respectability of the i'teeting at which the Petition was resolved upon. He had no confsdencz however in any measure proposed for the-relief of • the Agriculturists-but a reduction of taxes. 'Elie Petition was then ordered to lie on the table and be • • printed: ILCHESTER GAOL. Igr. Alderman WOOD was anxious that the Right Hon Secretary for the Home Department should explain more par tteulaily what he had said on a former night respecting Relies ter gaol. Was he to understand that his Majesty's Govern meet meant to institute a prosecution against Bridle, the late. gaoler, for the charges alleged againat him in the Report of the Commissioners ? Was it intended that the prosecution should else include the case. of the visiting Magistrates, which he thought also called for inquiry ? lie put these questions be cause he thought the prosecution of Bridle alone would be in staff cient ; and if it were not intended to call for an inquiry into the conduct of the Magistrates, he should himself give nctice of a motiare for that purpose.—(Hear.) .. Mr. PEEL begged to explain what he had said on the former night. His statement was, that he. had signified directions to his Ai aj esty's Attorney-General to institute a prosecution against :Bridle, conceiving that the Commissioners had reported certain" allegations respecting that individual which called for such a sten, and which ought not to be concluded by the mere dismissal of the gaoler. He had also signified, that a commission was directed to the Lord Lieutenant of the County and the local au theritice, desiring them to make the fullest inquiry respecting the site and condition of Ilchester gaol, and to report with the Jeaet possible delay upon the site and condition of that teicon. With respect to the visiting Magistrates, what he had said en the former night was this.;-that he had likewis e w ritten to the Lord Lieutenant, requiring that he would ap rise theite Gentiemen that en explanation was expected from -t em respecting certain matters Bet forth in the proceedings ad under the commission. But he (Mr. Peel) was anxious that the-prezecution of Bridle should precede thapresentatina.cf the. Magietrates' eaplanation, lest the latter might operate to pre write the former before his trial.—(Hear.} --For the same rea son he deprecated all discussion upon the subject at the pre - sent moment, as in his opinion its only effect must be to ex cite aprejudice which it would he more necessary to allay, si tuated M Bridle atond.—(Hear.)---It Was With that feeling he tinaight the Hon. Alderman's decision to abstain from agi tating-the question the other night was wise and proper;. and he trusted the name feeling would still operate to induce him to nontieue the same forbearance at the present moment.. Being c} his legs, he was anxious to explain two circumstances which tvere stated against the Rev. Mr. Colston by the Hon. Bart . opposite (Sir F. Burdett), and which were not adverted to in the report of the Commissioners. The lion. Bart.' had stated . that a certain door through which Mr. Hunt had access to the prison manufactory, when the prisoners had left work, had been lately , elocod by order of the Rev. Mr. Oolston , a nd Mr. Hunt •litiel thereby been deb from a passage into the yard, which - was previously accessible to him. The explanation which Mr. Colston tad transmitted upon that circumstance was this—the part of the gaol near this door was lately burned "down; and it was dot trained to rebuild it. For such a purpose, and for ...it &lane, it became necessary to asten this door, as many of the prisoners were employed in the work. The' other circum- Starlet taiiitbi to by the Hon.• Baronet was one which was certainly calculated to make a great impres'sion upcu the House, and which had, in fact, made a great impression upon him—it was the statement that a Clergyman and a Magistrate had re fused permission to Mr. Hunt's dying sister to see .him hi the prison. Now, the Pev. Mr.. Colston assured him, that up to the hour when he read the Hon. Baronet's speech, he never . even knew Mr. Hunt had a sister. It was never explained to him at the time that the person was Mr. Hunt's sister, nor had he the smallest idea of such a fact when he ordered the general rules of the prison to be enforced against Mr. Hunt. . Sir .FRANCIS MJR,PETT. said, that when Mr. Hunt found by the order . of the, Magistrate a door closed through which he had previous access, and when he knew that by the ~same Magistrate tis sister had been refased admission to him, it was natural enough for him to construe theSe facts harshly .agaietit the Rev. Mr. Colston. As to the precaution of the gaoler, he thought the matter alroady disclosed required that Ai* lousiness should not stop there. The visiting Magistrates, if they had not directly sanctioned the mal-practices which were suffered to exist in the gaol, became implicated by their con nivance.—(llear ! )—JIe hoped, therefore, his Hon, Friend (Alderman Wood) would persevere in cling for an inquiry into their conduct. He should be sorry for any occurrence which could have the elect of prejudicing the case of any man befoye trial ; but he thought the justice of the case required farther proceedings.—(Hear, hear !) Mr. PEEL submitted to the lion. Bart. whether he had not upon his own shewing said enough to - establish the-inexpedien cy of any proceeding at this moment against the magistracy.— An inquiry . respecting them at this moment might disclose facts, possibly implicating the conduct of the gaoler, and neces sarily, in such an event, putting him upon his trial with a weight of prejuilice pteviously established against hini.-=( II ear.) Sir FRANCIS BIT RDETI' said; that • the • inquiry- might also operate another way; for , if it im p licated the condiitt--of the Magistrates, that circumstance might become the gaoler's defence and justification.—(Hear.) Sir THOMAS LETHBR/DGE said, that the -discussions which had already taken place must necessarily prejudice the gaoler's case, without their being stiliniore generally provoked. Mr. Serg9ant ONSLOVI T rose to order, and submitted - whe ther this conversation ought to be protracted, to the postpone ment of the regular business.--(Hear.)—The subject was here dropped. MANSLAUGHTER BILL. On the motion, of the Hon. H. G. KENNET, the Man slaughter Bill went through a committee. —Report on Monday. RECOGNIZANCES BILL. On the motion - of Mr. N. CAI. the Recognizances Bill went through a Committee. The Report was received, and ordered to be taken into further consideration on' Friday next, and to be printed. . ST. LUKE'S. Mr. Secretary PEEL presented a Petition against die' Bills which had lately been introduced 'by Iris:Right lion... Friend (Mr. Canning), .called the Roman Catholic Peers' Bill. It cam from e fro'the Minister,- Ch urc hwardens, and inhabitants, in ves try assembled,. of the parish of St. Luke. , 4C onthiueil laugiuer: ) ROMAN CATHOLIC PEERS' BILL. Mr. CANNING molted the.third reading of:this Bill. The Bill was read a third time withou t a division. The question "that this Bill do pass" was in the same way carried in the affirmative. Mr. CANNING said, in consequence of the suggestions of some friends of his, he had thought proper to alter the title of \ the Bill; and he• should move that it be as follows A Bill to provide that Peers of the United' Kingdom,. being other wise duly qualified,smay exercise the right of sitting in Parlia ment without taking the oath, or making the declaration herein recited." • • The title was agreed to, also without a division ; but to the question, as well as upon the two preceding ones, several voices replied " No." After the Bill had gone through all these stages, Mr. PEEL rose. He hoped he might be allowed to state, that as he considered the sense of the House to have been fully taken upon this important measure, and as every thing con nected with it appeared to have been already fully argued and discussed, it die not seem that any object could be gained by his pressing Hon. Members to another division. (Hear.) This was his impression in not addressing the House on the p resent occasion. (Hear.) He trusted that he should be distinctly under stood as adopting this course only because he felt it to be of no use, after two divisions had already been tried, to .go on to a third : and he did hope that his silence in this instance would be attributed to that cause alone, as he must now leave the Bill in the hands of another branch of the Legislature. (Hear.) Mr; CANNING could not do justice to his own feelings, OT to the conduct which had been pursued by his Right Hon. Friend (Mr. Peel), Wile did not declare that the course he had pursued upon this occasion - reflected on him the highest credit. —(Cheers.)—Entertaining the strong sentiments which his Right Hon. Friend was known to cherish upon this subject, it was impossible that he could have acted in a more candid, a more liberal, or a more handsome manner. It remained only for hine(Mr. Canning) to say, that next to the gratification he should have felt in having the Right lion. Gentleman for a supporter, it had been his highest pleasure to meet him as an Opponent—(Wear, hear !)) Sir THOMAS LETH - BRIDGE could not arrest the pro gress of the Bill in this House ; but he might 'at. least be al lowed to thank God that there were three estates of this realm, this King , the Lords, and the Commons.—(Hear, hear !) • 'WEST INDIA AND AMERICAN TRADE. Mr. F. ROBINSON moved the second reading of the West India and Amezican Trade Bill. Sir W. CURTIS opposed the second reading of this Bill. WhO called for such a measure ?—(Hearehear !I—He knew of none bu L. such as acted from motives that were entirely interested. He, should oppose theßill at every stage, on account of its decid ed interference with those Navigation and Revenue Laws under which the kingdom had flourished (linings° long aperiod. What ground, what cause, was laid for any such enactments ? None, surely, that could justify it compatibly with the commercial interests of Great Britain. The only advantage that could accrue from it must be to America ; because it would allow her ships to load at ports in our West India Colonies, add to sail directly for the United States. Mr. Serjeant ONSLOW conceived, that upon every ground of, justice, policy, and humanity, the country was bound to thank his Right Hon. Friend (Mr. Robinson) for bringing for ward this Bill. It was a sufficient answer to the queries of the Hon. Baronet to say, that since the period at which the existing laws were framed, the country had acquired bth .result of two "itt i ccessful wars, a large addition of extensive, valuable, and important Colonies. The Bill was then read a second tune • and the House, on the motion of Mr. F. ROBINSON, agreed to go into a om mittee upon it on Friday next. COLONIAL TRADE BILL. Mr. F. ROBINSON moved the second reading of the Colo nial Trade Bill. e Mr. BUXTON said, that a pledge had been given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that the subject should undergo the Consideration of a Committee, and he wished that pledge to be fulfilled before the House proceeded further in the business.. He-cOntended ;hat the difference between tire prices of East, and West India sugars was such as to impose a tax of one mil lion on the consumer for the benefit of tho Weft India Planter. —The East India Merchants told them that if an ad valorem duty were imposed upon sugar, it would have the effect, by in creasing the consumption, of lowering the sugars, _which now cost 60. to 3d. per lb. If the difference then amounted to 3d. per lb., the amount of the tax at present imposed was 16,000,0001. But even take it at 8, or even 4,000,0001. the subject was so im portant that no determination ought to be come to until it had been submitted to the consideration of a Committee. But that was not the most important view of the question. The trade of the East Indies had increased in a great degree:— Take the cotton branch for instance. In 1792 the cotton im ported had only amounted to 1001bs. ; in 1813 it increased to 100,0001bs. ; in 1820 to 1,000,0001'05. ; and though no Parlia mentary return had since been made, yet he believed that it now amounted to - 2,000,00011a5. and he saw ne liMit to its ex tent. There was a great difference in the return upon different irticlei: - • -The return upon sugar was more favourable Than any "other teturlie All that he could say was, that the subject W a s highly'deserving of the attention of a Committee , and he should wish to know when the pledge given to that effect by the Chancellor of the Exchequer would be fulfilled ? Mr. ROBINSON said, that the -Act passed last year would expire the next, and the consequence would be, that if a pro posal were made to renew it, the whole subject would then un dergo an investigation. For his own part, he did not see that it necessarily followed that the adoption of the present Bill would have the effect which the lion. Gentleman had ascribed to it, viz. that of imposing a duty on East India sugars. That question stood upon distinct grounds, and its consideration by Parliament was not affected by the present Bill. .He.conceived that the removal of the restriction on the commerce between our Colonies and Europe was a measure of policy naturally arising out of the Bill which had just been assented to; there fore it was not necessary, in adopting this Bill, to clog it with conditions regarding the' duty on corresponding articles in another quarter. Mr. BRIGHT said that the expression of necessary conse quence used by the Right Hon. Gentleman was a very strong one ; and he thought the Right lion. Gentleman would do well to inform them, not whether it followed as .a necessary consequence that a duty would be imposed on East India Sugars, but whether there was any probability of such a mea sure. It behoved the Government to set. the West India mer chants at ease on those points, and no longer to perplex them with doubtful expressions, , Mr. WILLIAMS thought that no restriction ought to be imposed on the importation of Sugar from India. Mr. ELLIS said, that the only character on which this Bill would be opposed was that of hostility to the West India Colo nies. The whole question reduced itself to this, what were the natural claims of the West India Colonies, and whether the East India Traders had any grounds to similar claims ? Nlt was right that the West India Colonies should have some compensation for the restrictions which had been imposed upon them by the mother country, for her own benefit and for the encouragement of her navigation, restrictions which had throughout been bene ficial to the mother country, and burdensome to the colonies. Had the East Indies been subject to the same restrictions? He might ask whether the East India Proprietors lived in Eng land expending their money in this country, and encouraging its manufactures and its prosperity—he might ask that, but he would waive the question. But it was well.toconsider whether the East India trade had ever been subject to the same restric tions. He would ask whether the trade between the East In dies And Europe had been confined to British ships ? He be -1 lieved that it had not—he believed that the East Indies had carried on its trade as an independent country. But when the Bill had passed last Session relative to the East Indies, had any outcry been raised on the part of the West India pro prietors ? The fact was, that there was no parallel in the situation of the two countries—the East Ilidies had been sub ject to no restriction, and they therefore had no claim to those privileges which were now proposed to be conferred on the West Indies as a compensation for the sacrifices for merly made by the colonies. If they went into the question . of expediency, that question would . embrace a subject of no less magnitude than that of a dissolution of all our Colonial regu lations. It would lead them to a comparison between the re lative value of our West Indian Colonies and our East Indian mpEire; • Mr. T. WILSON maintahied, that the view of the question taken by the Gentleman who had last spoken had been calcu lated to mislead the Holm.' Mr. BUXTON explained—Lire again requested an answer to his question whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer intend ed to redeem the pledge which he had given last Session. The CHANCELLOR of the-EXCHEQUER replied in a tone so low that we could not collect his observations. Mr. MONEY thought this was not so much a question as to the conflicting interests ofehe East and West India Traders, as one which affected all the subjects of this country, who were generally injured by monopolies. The duty on cotton in India, for instance, amounted almost to a prohibition, while the natives were compelled to take our cotton manufactures. He hoped that in the consideration of this subject; some re gard would be had for the natives of the East Indies. • , Mr. W. SMITH said, he hirriolicietiltrfeeling• whatever towards the West India Traders. Indeed, he thought the preeenf question was not entirely between the East and West India in tercets and he thought it somewhat unwise i n the West to force theMiselvesagaiust the Eastindia traders. The duties in ques tion would, he wassatisfied, ultimately come out of the pockets of the consutners in Great Britain ; and would operate as a tax Of feom•one to two millions. The monopoly which was - spoken of had in the first instance been Mutual. The present Bill. would affect the interests of the Sugar Refiners of London, who were from 160 to 150 in number, and were an important pail of the public. It might be said that the interests of indi-. viduale neuet yield to general convenience ; but in ascertaining the extent of Aleut convenience, some estimate should be made of the individual sacrifice, for Without - a knowledge of that, a true opinion - could not be formed as to themreposed convenience. He had-seen it stated that the West` inaiana paid on sugar sent to this country a sum -of 3;500,01101: - a - -yeare -- Surely - this-was taking the West Italian Colonies, and not the article. If they could get the sugar from the 'East Indies at ss. less than from the West Indies, by placing an advance of five shillings on that sugar the consumer would pay it. But he wished to see the Mother Country maintain her agreements with her Colo nies. In 1753, a Petition was presented to the Legislature, frond certain persons in Great . Britain, praying that the West India Planters might be forced to cultivate those islands more extensively, in order that the people of England might have sugar at a cheaper rate, as the planters found it to their interest to send less sugar to the market than was wanted. Upon this Petition it was remarkable that nothing was done beyond ap pointing a Committee of Inquiry. The effect of this Bill was to throw open* the trade on the xene side, but not on the other. There was no reciprocity in giving all on one side, and receiv ing none on the other. If they were to act on the principle of free trade, there must be an abandonment of restrictions on both sides. Nor did he think that this country . could at this moment afford to allow the colonies to send their productions all over the world, whilst it was restricted_ to certain ports. Let this country be permitted to do the same, and he would offer no opposition. Each country ought to have the monopoly of the other. Ile had no hesitation in saying that in those Colo nies a quantity of human life had been swallowed up, which ought not to. have been swallowed up. The ground upon which he opposed this measure was purely English: Mr: BARHAM said, .that he and all parties in the colonies considered thatthis country should possess the monopoly entire. If this measure. was an invasion of the monopoly, it was not alone 'for the interest of the colonies. He did not know whether the Bill would do them any good or not; but if it should, he thought it very hard to refuse a measure from which some relief might arise. As to the Dutch colonies, lie was one of a deputation who remonstrated with the Minister on the subject, and pointed out the evils that were likely to arise,, so, that the colonies could not be charged with disregarding the measure proposed with re spect to them. He foresaw the co nsequences, and every thing he foresaw happened. The only object of the Planters now was `Merely a sustenance to 'enable them to support those who were employed - by them. This surely was not asking toomuch. Ile could not help remarking the quarter from which this cry for free trade came, front the East Indies where, till lately, a Bri tish subject could not place his foot without permission. It was impossible that East India sugar could be admitted into their markets without ruining !the Colonies, from which the, supply usually came. With respect to the amount of 1,500,0001., •an advantage was said to be-derived by, the West India Colonies from the nature of their connexion with the mother country.- 1 - le did not see where it was, for they had nothing. if, how 'ever, there were no remedy but a revival of the Slave Trade for the existing ,distress, he would say, let ruin come, if it cannot be avoided without a measure so odious. If there were any proposal for reviving that trade, he should be the first to oppose it.--, (Hear !)—He would not, however, legislate on the subject, unless it could be proved that there were sufficient grounds for it. Mr. ELI4CE gave his support to the Bill, because it was an approach to the principles of free trade from the streights of restriction. He found nothing in the speech of his Hon. Friend the Member for Norwich (bar. W. Smith), with respect to this Bill„but .general arguments against our Colonial sys tem. However he might agree in his view in that respect, he thought it was too late now to revise that system. Too much British, capital was entrusted upon the faith of, it. He (Mr, E.) could not join 'the Hon. Baronet the Member for London (Sir W. Curtis), in thinking that this measure was likely to injure our navigation interests. He apprehended nothing on that score. Nor did he think the sugar bakers had any thing to fear. He was as great an advocate for free trade as any. man in that House, if practiceble. The actual charges imposed upon a ship in the West Indies , in Trinid ad, were in all 891. This was upon one ship of three hundred tons, and these charges were increased in 1820 to 1501. upon a ship of 350 tons. Ire knew that a reformation had taken place, but much yet re mained to be done, and he wished the.lion. Member for Lon don would impress this upon the minds of his Majesty's Mi nisters, and so far assist them in their efforts in favour of the shipping interest. He had that day seen the master of a ship trading with America, and froin him he learned that the Ame rican Government's charges upon a vessel of 260 tons amount ed in all to 23 dollars-, and in shame be it said, our Consul's fee upon ,that vessel amounted to 20 dollars. If it were wished that we should be a great naval power, our ships must be placed 'on an equal footing with foreign countries. Whilst tai y Were debating on a question of this kind, he really thought they ought to take into their consideration whether it was pos sible to afford relief to the Colonies, He assured the House that any relief that could be afforded would not be misplaced,. for they Were in a state of the greatest distress. As much as was said about the condition of the agriculturists of this coun ery, it did not equal • the picture that could be, drawn of the West Indian Colonists—their case was more hopeless than that of the agriculturists of Great Britain. 'Amongst -the islands that were most in need of succour was St. Lucie. That island had a population of about 15,000. In 1814 it produced about seven or eight thousand hogsheads of sugar, and whilst under the dominion of the French it paid but owe tax, viz. 8001. for its Governor. Since it had been in our hands we had sent out a succession of Governors. ' One of these had been cashiered for unlawful exactions on the people, and under all of them the most exorbitant fees were exacted. The Governor had un, controlled authority, if he were to except the Secretary of State. The state of the colonists, therefore, might easily be conceived, not daring to make any complaint. Nor could it be considered that it would have any effect if they did, for it could scarcely be expected_ to find its way to the higher powers at home.: With regard to the revenue of the island 120,0001. was considered the return from good prices. It happened, however, that in 1817 the island was, visited by a hurricane. Two years before this it had been taxed for the maintenance of a Civil Government, and then_it was taxed to build up again what was overthrown. In 1818 there was certainly a little remission, but in 1819 there came another hurricane, and from that period to the present it had been taxed enormously to rebuild the Governor's house and other erections, and to pay persons without, number sent out there in official situations from , this country. The of ficer Who was now there as Governor was a most meritorious individual, and deserving of any reward that this country could give ; but he had rather this .country paid him than that he should be palmed upon the wretched inhabitants of this island. Its revenue was at present reduced to' 49,0001. and its taxes were 10,0001. It was impossible they could pay them ; anti it would be found that it could not go on. He did think that'the bands of the Government ought to be strengthened against the numerous applications of persons for situations in the West -India Colonies which they could not afford to keep up. He knew the difficulty which his Majesty's Ministers had to get rid of the importunities of their friends in this respect. Why would not a veteran officer of the rank of Major do forthe Government of that island a' well as a person of the rank of the Indian Go vernor? From all the persons from St. Lucie, he learned that that. island had a growing debt, and neither they nor he knew how they were to get rid of it. Some fitting mode of Government must be devised for their;' for he was ready to admit with Honourable Gentlemen on the other side, that it was obvious from experi ence that the English Constitution did not work well in prac tice in planes of that description.—(Hear hear !)—He hoped his Riglit'Hon. Friend, - the Member for.knaresborough (Mr. Tierney) would, as he had- frequently premised,: bring for ward some proposition on the subject of the Government of all the islands; for it really was time that something should be done. There was another consideration connected with the general subject of the Colonies relating to the change in the value of cur currency. He did not mean to enter into a discussion upon abstract questions with the Honourable Mem ber for Portarlington ; but merelyAo give'an illustrative proof of the evil effects of that change, in rendering the situation of the Colonists worse than it had been. It was a fact, then, that the Colonist who, before this change ? had to pay only 1501. for 1001. which he might have to remit to this country, i had now to pay for that 1001. at least 2271. Ile begged again to recur to the lamentable state of the _shipping interest of this country. Its capital was one half above diminished from what, it formerly had been ; and its profits were reduced more than one half. He mentioned this, that the House might see that the statement of the Noble Marquis at the commencement of the Session, that the agricultural interest alone was in distress, was not the fact. He assured them the Colonial shipping in terest was in the same predicament; and he hoped that lion. Gentlemen who thought so would assist in any measures for removing their burthens brought forward in the course of the Session. Mr. RICARDO said he would not occupy much of the time of the HOuse—( Hear, hear!) —But this observation he must make, that the statement of his Hon. Friend (Mr. Ellice) respecting the currency he could not believe to be correct. It was so ex traordinary, that something must be incorrect in the calculation. But this he would reserve for another time,- and he would now go to something else. If he wanted an argument for the freedom of trade, it was afforded by this case, It was afforded by his Hon: Friend, who represented the casein its true colours.. The West Indian Islands were not suffered to dispose of their produce, but they must send their raw sugars to this country merely to em ploy our shipping ; and to compensate them for this restriction they had the monopoly of our market, for they, and they only, were alloWeitto stipply us with sugar and other commodities of their production. We first imposed a restriction upon one class, and then, to compensate them, we enabled -them to prey upon another. The whole system was fraught with so much injustice as to require immediate revision. It had been asked who got the 1,500,0001. taken by the taxes from the West Indies ? lie an swered, " No one." (Hear.)—lt was a grievous burden, with out a corresponding advantage. He differed entirely from the Member. for London (Mr. T. Wilson), Nilio had stated that the consumer would not gain by taking the tax off sugar. fie Might as well have argued that the consumer would not be bene fited by taking the .tax off tea. (Hear.) The producer would always sell as cheap as he could afford, and unless a great duty were lahlon the producer, the people of England would enjoy the profit.—(Hear, hear!)—The - competition was ruin ous now to the producers. It was a competition between the poorer lands of our. West Indies' and other countries ; and in those .poorer lands it. was so, much human labour wasted, without any . adequate good. There would be, he admit- . ted, great injury done in throwing open the market of the West Indies. It would be a destruction of vested inte rests.—(Hear, hear, hear !)—But the people of England. ought to pay a tax to the West Indies—(Hear, hear ! and a laugh), for then no labour -would be wasted. By paying the tax directly to the. West Indies, the labour would be set free, and employed in a more profitable manner. We should then have the same quantity of sugar, and probably at the same price. He could not agree with his Hon. Friend the Member for Nor wich (Mr. Smith) who in d, stated that the monopolies on both sides were good. He (Mr. Ricardo) would say, that both were evils. Not only was each singly bad, but both were bad, and to get rid of the one, though not of both, would be a benefit.. He saw no reason for opposing the Bill. If they once came to act upon principles of sound reason and political wisdom, the House of Commons would never be tormented as it was now. Mr. MARRYATT, said, that of the 300,000 hogsheads of sugar exported from the West Indies, only 400 were sent to any part of the world but England. He stated this with the exception of 400 casks to Ireland. The only mode of reducing the price of sugar in this country was to lower the rate of duty. As the market now stood, the West India planter must consider Europe,as the vent for his surplus over the English market. Last year k law passed to allow East India sugar to be sent to this country in East India ships. It was said that those in terested in that trade ought to be placed on the same footing with the West India planters. He would say so too when the sugar growers in the East Indies ceased to manufacture for themselves, c onsumed English manufactures, excluded 'other ships fro their ports; in a word, when they were subjected to the same colonial restrictions, he would consent .to their being put on the same footing, but to this they had no claim while they could not or would not submit to the regulations imposed on the West' India 'interest. He wished such an alteration to be made in the existing regulations as would allow rum to be sent to the north of Europe, without incurring double charges. =---Were this done,,a considerable market would be opened for the. West India Merchants, and they would then take luniber from the Baltic, instead of procuring it from AmeriCa. Russia at present opposed our commerce, because we kept up. the war duty of 15 per cent. on the transit of he r linens.— Were that duty withdrawn, it would benefit thiS country, and forty thousand hogsheads of sugar would annually be exported to the different ports of Russia. He knew that some Gentle men of the sister country had an idea, that. permitting foreign linens'tonass through this country duty-free, would be injuri ous to their interests ; but this was merely a prejudice. Fo reigners could find - no difficulty in- sending their goods direct to the ports - for _which they were, destined, -to the great distress which had fallen on all the est India Islands: He knew it to be the intention of some of the proprietors to make no more rum, if some alteration did not take place, as at present it would not pay for distillation. At present they were selling it for one and fourpence the gallon. The freight and other . charges amounted to 9d. per gallon ; the puncheon to put it in was more than 3d., so that barely 4d. remained for the planter. One Gentleman he might mention had actually resolved, if things continued in their present state, to raise no more sugar, and to distil no mire rum; but to divide his land among his negroes, and let them try if they could maintain themselves. The effect Of this he shewed would be to increase the foreign slave trade; This it ought to be the object of Parliament to prevent, and therefore he hoped efficient measures for relieving, the planters wouldbe adopted. . Mr. WILBERFORCE thought'that while the House were. legislating for the benefit of the Colonists, some measUre should be adopted to prevent the illicit importation of slaves into the Colonies, andfor that purpose he should recommend a general Registry Bill of the. Slaves of all the Islands. Mr. BERNAL. contended that this Bill was not a boon to the West India Colonies, but to the great body of distressed ship-owners. He thought the present measure ought not to be clogged with any, legislative enactment with regard to the Registration. •.- A MEMBER,. whose name we could not learn, disclaimed all hostility to the West India Proprietors, but thought a clause necessary for the registration of slaves. Mr. MANNING- confirmed the testimony of the Hon. Member for Sandwich (Mr. Marryatt) as to the distressed state Of the IVest India Colonies. He supported the present Bill. Mr. BROUGHAM contended that it was not merely enthu siasts who-advocated the state of the West Indians, for the fact was, that the West India Planters were suffering more than even the agriculturist at home. He could agree to no conditions-but such as were founded upon sound principles ; and he trusted that the 'West bull :arts would listen to the voice of the House and of the' country, and so frame their internal regulations as to prevent a catastrophe, which violent measures could not fail to produce. They ought to redeem their pledges about the abolition of the Slave Trade; and he hoped that at the same time the monopoly would be given up. These things would, however, have to be done gradually, and the black population would have to be prepared ere they could enjoy the blessings of emancipation. The motion was agreed to, and the Bill ordered' to be co' milted this day *eek. • IRISH POOR. On the motion of Mr. 6OULBURN, the Irish Poor Em ployment Bill was read a first and second time, and ordered to be committed to-morrow. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The House having resolved itself into a Committee of Supply, Mr. GOULBURN moved that a supply of 50,0001. be grant ed for the employment of the Irish Poor, in the making of, roads and other public labour. Sir N. COL PH URST expressed his satisfaction at the measure. Mr. BECHER lamented the failure of the potatoe crop, and stated that as a leading cause of the disturbances in Ireland. Mr. J. SMITH thought the country indebted to the Right Hon. Gentleman who had brought forwar d the measure. This country owed Ireland a debt of gratitude ; and the case of a re mote parish of Ireland should be as dear to the Legislature as that of an English hundred. Mr. W. SMITH applauded the measure, and went into con siderable minuteness of detail, to shew how well the Drapers' Company . of London had attended to the interests of their 10,740 Irish tenants. Mr. R. MARTIN approved hig'nly of the measure.' He complained of the indifference of an Hon. Member (Mr. Hum; it was understood), who had proposed shortly to bring forward a motion - on the Irish Tithes ; but who had; yawned and left the House thenionrent that the sufferings of Ireland began to be agitated. He wished that the Hon. Gentleman would leave the care of Ireland to the English Meinbers, . and to her own representatives. "What was Hecuba to the Hon. Gentleman, or he to Ilecuba, that he should weep for her ?" Mr. C. MUTCHINSON defended 'Mr. Huine. ' Lord LONDONDERRY complimented this country on its liberality in coming forward to the relief of Ireland, and ex ' pressed his conviction that it would produce its proper effect upon hearts that were always ready to feel. He could assure the House that efforts were making at the same tithe in all parts of Ireland', and that the wealthy in that country were nor behind-hand in making provision for the sufferers. Captain O'GRADY concurred in the praise given to the ex— ertions made in behalf of Ireland, and congratulated the House on the prospect of some arrangement of the Tithes. He pro-• tested against the imputation that it was a party measure. After some further observations from Mr. R. Martin, Mr. G. Lamb, Mr. Goulburn, Mr. S. Rice, and Sir F. Ommanney, the Resolution was agreed to, and the Report ordered to be re ceived to-morrow. Mr. R. MARTIN moved the second reading of the Capital. Crimes Bill. Mr. Alderman lIEYGATE said a few words in support of the Bill. Mr. COURTENAY opposed the Bill, and moved that it be. read the second time that day six months. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL supported the Amend- ment. - After a few words from Mr. R. MARTIN in reply, the Amendment was carried without a division. Ou the second reading of the Sheriff-Depute Bill (Scotland) being moved, . Lord A. HAMILTON, on account of the lateness of the hour, moved that the House be counted, and, there not being 40 Members present, the House adjourned at One o'clock. LIST OF THE' MINORITY OF 141 WHO VOTED FOR 31R-WARRE'S MOTION, " That without detriment to the Public Service; the charge of • the Mission to the Swiss Cantons might be reduced to a scale of Expenditure not-exceeding the sum annually received by Lord Robert Fitzgerald and Mr. Wickham ' from May, 1792, to Jan. 1798, and for which sum the- duties of the Mission have practically been performed fur one year and - eight months preceding the recent appointment of Mr. Wynn." Visct. Farrand, R. Atercromby,Hn.J. Graham, S. Anson, Sir Geo. Grosvenor, Hon. R. Bentinck, Lord W. Grant, J. P. Burdett, Sir F. Grattan, J. Boughey, Sir J. F. Grosvenor, Gen. Bright, Henry Gurney, R. H. Birch, J. Griffiths, J. W. Benett, John Gaskell,.& - n. Browne, Dom. Gurney, Hudson Barham, F. Hotham, Lord . Beaumont, T. W. Hume,- Joseph Benyon, Benj: Haldimand, W. Brougham, Henry Heathcote, G. J. . Barnard, Lord . Howard, lion. W. Bennet; Hon.H. G. Hill, Lord Arthur Barrett, S. B. M. Hornby, Ed. Belgrave, Visc. . Hurst, R. Bernal, Ralph Hutchinson, Hon. Byng, George C. H. Baring, 11. • Hobhouie ' J. C. Burrell, Sir C. Iloneywood,W.r. Curwen, J. C. Hughes, Colonel Crompton, S. jaws, W. - - Campbell, Hon. G. Johnson, .Col. . Carter, J. . Kennedy, T. F. _ CavendiSh, C. Lethbridge, Sir T. Cancannon, Lucius Lamb, Hon. G. Caulfield, lion. H. Lester, B. L. Curteis, E. J. Lang,Lon, J. 11. Ch aloner, R. Lennard, T. B. Crespigny, Sir W. Lockhart, J. I. Colburne, N. R. Leycester, Ralph Calcraft, J. H. Lemon, Sir W. Cavendish, Ld. 0, Lloyd, Sir Ed. Cavendish, li. Latouche, R. Calvert, C. Monck, J. B. Coffin, Sir I. Maberly, John Calvert, N. Martin, .T. DaVies, Col. • MOstyn, Sir Thos. Denman, Thos. Mahon, Hon. S: Denison, W. J. Maxwell, John Ellice, Ed. Macdonald, Jas. Evans, W. Mackintosh, Sir.T. Ellis, Hon. G. A. Marjoribanks, - S. Fergusson, SizR.C. Marryatt, Jos. Fitzgeralfi,LordW: Moore, Peter Fitzroy, Lord C. Milbank, M. Frankland, Maberly, J. Newman, ..R. O'Callaghan, J. Ord, W. 'Palmer, Col. C. Power, Rd. Prittie Hon'. F. 4. 'Eyni, Palmer, C. F. Peirse, H. Powlett, Hon. W. Pryse, P. • . Ricardo, D. Robarts, Colonel • Robinson, Sir Geo. ~ Rumbold, C. E. Ruisell, Lord J. Ramsbottom; John Robarts, A.'W. . Rice, T. S. Itickford, Ridley, Sir )1. Ramsden, J. C. • Russell, R. G. Stanley,. Lord ... _.,— Scarlett,.T. - Sefton, Earl of Smiih, . Stuart, Lord J. Sykes, P. • Smith, R. Scudamore, R. „,-• . Tierney Rt.HTl•u' itchfiel Nrarcl: o f Tavistock, Marc'. c- Tynte, -C. K. Western J. C. Wilson, Sir R. Williams J. Whitbread, S. C.- Wilson, Thomas Wood, Alderman Williams. W. Whitmore, W. Whitbread, W. 11 ' White, Luke TELLERS. r d o l c m r ea, .f n bv : r DISTRESS. IN IRELAND. A Grand Dress 13a11 will be given at the Great-room Of th ' l King's Theatre, on Monday, May 27t1t, and his Majoiti h a s signified his gracious intention of bein g p resent on an occiv sion so interesting to humanity. His Grace the Duke of Devon' shire is Patron, and the Patronesses are the following dist i3- guished females : 'Duchesses—Bedford, Rutland, and Wellington. Water - Marchionesses—Lansdown, Salisbury, Stafford, 13ath, ford, Downshire, Londonderry and Conyng ham. Graf. C oun t es ses—Jersey, _Cowper, Bathurst, Harrowby, Morley,Glengall, Darnley, and Clare. ViscOuntesses—Morpeth, and Granville. A s aclies—Grantham, Gwydyr, and Marybosolagh. og Committee appointed ' by the Patroness es :---14,scqui5 Downshire, Earl of Clanwilliam, Earl of Ancratuo P43Lor, Glengall, Earl . 6f . Mountcharles, Viscount Morp etb, '2 l. ArthUr Hill, Lord Apsley , Lord G e org e Bentinck, •Visc° Granville, Hon. G. Agar Ellis, Hon. Seymour Bathurst, °I• Sir John Beresford. -- - - —rigor le' On Saturday last, upwards 'of 256 men of the 1.10 0* 1,0' Eait lndia - Compariy's Artillery and Infantry a marched e v , - the depot, Chatham, to embark at Gravesend for Inll ' 0 " vionsly to embarking they made a hand s om e collection Aflliet thcmselveSfor the distressed Irish, tb the amount of 3'21-, was 4 2.5. 6d: per man. , a t ieu Monday the Officers of the Royal Marines Wan u - o y. their barracks, Chatham, and subscribed each onadaY'l for the relief of the suffering Irish. A public meeting of the inhabitants of Sheffield t° place this day,- and a similar one at Hereford to-moiro' c 'hoc The Bath Knot of Friendly. Brothers of St. P a tricit is . 'i bits subscribed 1141. 6s. The -subscription list at Bath ex numerous liberal donationg. • d 1 1 ' Alost of the banking firms at Liverpool have subscrib,e each. Of the individual donations registered on the - JO 49 0 or. ripening of the list, not cne is under 201. The total On° , e li Tuesday was 1,6001. PORT S U T H.—At a meeting held. on Wednesday: ° t e a t ate" the Mayor, James Carter. Esq. presided, 3001. were itintL ito tb ly put down, exclusive of the donations of one day's paY,,' Officers and Seamen of the Queen Charlotte, Albion, - 1 % ° , -- so' Apollo, Grasshopper, Pigmy, .Ranger, Starling, and Ara,'„' i l from the Officers and Solditts of the Provisional BattZirlets* the Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, Sappers and '- and the Royal Marines. , „ aj elVe,. The Brighton Gazette of Thursday say s--" One cif 1.4' Sb l ; ings which do honour to a country took place at Cr' „"b"rftil', Tavern, on Saturday last, for the purpose of raisin g 5 0 ,*q cf "°- tion for the benefit of the distressed Irish. The sufferli A l e t - bon,' l 4 ' fellow subjects need only be known to be relieved ; fiß" I, - or' ) nificent subscriptions which have been made in the 's t ing" we have no dubt will be follow up b ever toyin in t" - yet dom. v Much as we regret the occ ed asion y of they contributt°°'feel we are confident that our Irish brethren will value toesgy, ings which have broughtit forward. It will a lso, if neecv.. dOt chew there is no other sentiment Cherished by us than 3 , 1 ', ` e yed desire to share the blessings and comforts we enjoy w' t ,;„. 11 0 subject living in the United..Kingdarn. We hope the oP ° long ,since gone by, when any prejudice could exist with 17 class of the community aga.inst.another. The subscriPovoien fore we left the room amounted to 1401. Parties of geQ l are to canvass the town in districts, carrying a box,- 111 . 1 %, c a y b e be sent into each house, that any sum, however contributed to the laudable object of this undertaking. 10.111119dii , .. . xxsaa %.72•Eigei.WIMMIN I V i 5 GENEALOGY. OF GEORGE I V.—G-eorge .... ree the son of G-eorge . the Thiro, .who was the grtidon of o: s 'p the s Secontl, who was the ;son Of George the First, wh'„liit. the cousin of Anne, who was - • the. sister-an-law of Wil" a i , 0 Third, who was the son-in-law of James the Second, wrlarlo the brother of Charles the Second, who was the son of ' 4. ti 3 e, the First, - who was the son of James the First, w ho vi.l'i er 1 cousin of. Elizabeth, who was sister of Mary, who vilis 1 . 1 . 5 00 Edward the SiXth, who was the son of He th e '7o'll s t : who was the son of Henry the Seventh, w h o wa s the rd t o' of Richard the Third, who was the uncle of EasT o ol'''' Fifth, who was the son of Edward the Fourth, who the cousin of Henry the Sixth, 'who was the on °' ivi/ Q the Fifth, who was the son .of Henry the Fourth , a d' was the cousin of Richard the, Second, who was the g e Se'r son, of Edward the Third, who was the son of Edwo,rd 6 , 0 o , cond, who was the son of Edward the First, who was a l % - 1( ".° %b ee 28'. Henry the Third, who was the son of John, who ther of Richard the First, Who was the son of Henr _ si , ct cond, who was the cousin of Stephen., who they ,7011) Henry the First, who was the brother of William 1331117.) was the son of 'William the Concfutror.—(DuOin Pa" ~_ _ _ .. . , ,\ Q ^~. ; ,~ pro Me den SrVG of 1 1311 tail ag; .POO 1 dvcr'i N Ye Av do 31 E 4 5 3 3 S =. i