The Sun. — London, England, 1822-06-01 00:00:00

z•not prohibited under the 46th of Geo. 111., where the words 1 were more large and extended. He was sure the persons to whom he alluded were not aware how nearly this traffic ap proached to the direct trade in slaves, and he hoped the House would excuse him for having called their attention to the cir cumstaecee, since it would be a warning to those persons that the legislature were not inattentive to their conduct.—(Hear !) Mr. HUME said, as there were at present two contending interests, the West Indian and the East Indian, in the sugar market, it was a matter worthy the consideration of the Chan cellor of the Exchequer, whether much benefit would not ac scrue if the duty on sugar were reduced considerably lower than 275. From 1803 to 1809 the duty on West Indian sugar was 295. , from 1809 to 1813 it was 26.5. ' • and now it was as high as 275. •If the duty were, reduced to 205., or even lower, the Right Hon. Gentleman would, by the increased consumption, :secure the same amount of-revenue which the existing duty speoilliced, and at the same time add very much to the comforts of the people. Th e Petition was laid. on the table, and ordered to be printed. Mr. CANNING said he' had now two Petitions to present, :the player 4 which was ip- direct contradiction to that which just been laid on dr table. The one was from certain Merchant% and- Ship-owners of Liverpool, in which they varlet that the duty which had been imposed on the im portation of East India sugar, in order to protect the West India manufacturer, end which was about to expire, should not be renewed. They stated the extent of the sugar manu facture in the East Indies, and recommended that East India -sugar-should be, allowed to be imported under bond, and that the duty on sugar should henceforth be levied according. to its valet, without any distinction between the produce of the East and of the West Indies. The second Petition was from cer tain Merchants, Agents. and Ship-owners, interested in the trade with the East Indies, and resident in London. They prayed that the duty of -10 s. per cwt. which was imposed on East India sugar in 1813, might not be renewed. The Right I fonourable Gentleman proceeded to observe, that as the Bills --to which those petitions related were then before the. House, and would perhaps come under discussion that night, but, at all events, as they must undergo considerable discussion be e fore they were passed, he thought it better to postpone any observatibns he might feel it necessary to offer on them, until they arrived at that stage when their principles and provisions -might be discussed most conveniently and effectively.—(Hear.) The two petitions were then laid on the table, and ordered -to be printed. Mr. H. ELLIS presented a petition from the agents of seve ral British West India Colonies, deprecating the encourage ment which was about to be given to theimportation of East India sugar, by which the trade of :the West India mannfae turer would be destroyed. They obsetved, that , when the East India Company's charter was renewed, a duty of 10s. per cwt. was imposed on East India sugar, to protect the interest of the West India Colonies, and they prayed that that duty, which ;vas about to expire, might berendered peemanent.— Laid on the table. Mr. lIEATHCOTE presented a petition from the Minister, Churchwardens, and Overseers of Okeham, in Rutlandshire, against the Poor Removal Bill.—Laid on the table. INFLUENCE OF THE CROWN. Mr. BROUGHAM gave notice, that he would on Friday, the 7th of June, submit a proposition to the House respecting the increase of the influence of the Crown. POOR REMOVAL BILL. Mr. SCARLETT, in rising to move the second readin g of - the Bill for-preventing the Removal of t h e Poor, expressed his regret that he had no opportunity when he intrcduced the Bill of stating the Founds upon which he rested it. He intended it • .as-one of a series Of measures which would chiefly depend upon the success of this. And he was convinced, therefore, that if • -the Other measures had been stated, those who now consider ed their interests to be ,in danger of injury from this Bill, votild, however, have entertained a very different -opinion. He saw no reason to alter the grounds upon which he rested the question last year, and they were these, that the -existing law imposed an unjust restraint upon the circulation of labour; that unlimited relief' was granted to the poor; and /hat such relief was .indiscriminately applied. These were the -effects of the law, and it was his object to remove them. The numerous projects which had been entertained at various pe riods for remedying these defects, proved the necessity of some : thing being done.. Some of these projects had been adopted, and at first acted as palliatives upon the system. But their good was soon worn out by the pernicious nature of the prin -ciple upon which the laws were founded. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman then remarked upon the difficulty of bring ing all the three heads of the subject into one discussion, and -skated that he should restrict himself to the last, although .nothing had occurred to change his opinion that all three mea eseres were absolutely necessary. He should also state, that if -the present measure were adopted and not followed up by the -two others, he should not consider his object to be effected. As the, Poor were not represented in that Houk, he trusted ethat he might be allowed to enter into a statement of their, his, tory and condition ; and in doing so, he thought he could shew that it was worse than that of any other peasantry. As the law stood, if a poor man were to apply for relief, whether he , -did so from misfortune, crime, or idleness, a Magistrate or Overseer had the power of removing him to another town ohip, however distant it might be, and there his personal liberty was restricted under the fear of punishment if he left the place. Another consequence was, that a family .so confined very frequently became beggars from genera tion to generation. He wished the principle of the laws to I be, that of the Statute of the 43d of Elizabeth, which provided that those who were impotent should be entitled to relief ; but • that those who were not so should be put in a place where they - could work, by the overseers, and those who would not work should not be allowed to eat, Upon this footing the law rested for sixty- years without any material alteration. In the reign of James First, ehere was a Statute passed to prevent paupers :leaving their families ; but it did not appear that at that time -there was.any remarkable increase in the numbers of the poor. In the reign of Charles the first, which was a time of tumult, the population of the country hail been disturbed and moved in different parts. Armies were raised and conveyed to dis - tent 'places ; one of which, being collected in Cheshire, was marched into Cornwall. They found what the result of this was so soon as in the time of Cromwell. In 1566 an ordi nance was issued, which stated that the number of idle, die . solute, and disorderly persons had of late much increased, by reason -of the defects in the statute relating to paupers -and beggars. The statute of Charles the Second then came, which inflicted the hardship upon the poor of having them removed within forty days after an application for relief. It was a most unjust and cruel principle, and, only gave to ma gistrates and overseers the power of exercising arbitrary op. pression. The Honourable and Learned Gentleman then proceeded to remark, that in the time of King William, the effects of this principle began to shew themselves: He read a report made by Mr. Locke, in the year 1696, which shewed what it had produced, even in the course of two reigns.— The report stated that the increase of the poor rates, and the -multiplication of the poor, with the consequent increase of the -tax for their- maintenance, were so commonly talked of, as not to be doubted. It went on to say that the evils Were not de -pending open want, because the times had been blessed with plenty, but upon the decrease of discipline'and industry, and -the consequent growth 'of "vice and idleness. There was one other statutauponlhe subject, passed in the reign of- George This measure was brought into the House- by Sir Edw. Heyde East, and he remembered with satisfaction • that it .was at first met by more petitioning and opposition than had "been directed against the present Bill. This was the history of ethe law as it stood, and he would next endeavour to shew its e effects. ThaOit went greatly to increase the' whole charge of • the poor upon the country, he thou ht he could demonstrate, • 'is far as such athing would admit of demonstration. He should first speak of the litigation to which it led. 'ffie Buenea - very eminent writer upon this question; stated that the' statute of e Charles tha Second bad given rise to more litigation than any law •that had ever been enacted, In the year 1815, the litiga tions upon removals ,amounted to 327,0f01. It would be an object of anifieient importance to -save this money to the coin': try; iridependent- a the comfort and. relief which- the measure was calculated to bestow upon the poor mein If .a man with a family Wal4ted a shilling to relieve a 'Child, he was -exposed to be removed by the obbrseer, although he could support the remaining part of his family; and-perhaps the place to which he would be taken would not afford hirn'the means of procuring bread for any of them. These were only a portion of the dreadful - evils of the system. If 327,0001. were ex... pended upon those removals only. which were litigated, the whole must entail an enormous .expence upon the country.— He shouldebe very much surprised to hear any Gentleman get up in that House and say that the produce of apy particular town should be confined to it, and not permitted to pass outside of its •walls. Why, then, •he would ask, was the poor man to have such a restriction imposed upon the prOduce of his la bours. The 'difference of wages in : different ,counties proved that there was an impediment in the way •of the circulation of labour. In- Sussex wages were from seven shillings to nine per week, and in Lancashire they were from ISs. to 18s. In Surrey they were -rather more thawin Sussex, and they were often found to ,be very 'different in adjoining parishes. This was sufficient proof that labour did not circulate freely. The Hon. and-Learned Member then went into seine comparative • statements of the amount of poor rates, population, and pro perty in the counties of Lepeaster and Sussex, shewing that the first predominated inn the latter "county, and that Lan cashire possessed an,' enormous- advantage on the other two heads. Ile argued that •it would be found universel that ma.. nufaeturing counties,'abounding in 'large towels, 'were under the lowest assessment. He did not, wonder, therefore, that large towns had an objection to the Bill, although he hoped -to convince them - that it would ultimately be for their benefit. Ait.'l.:e!y, he contended,. the burthe.us of Jaaintaioing the poor ought not to be greater where there was less property than where there was greater, and a system of regulation ought in justice to be adopted. The cause of the great difference would be found in the removal of the poor • and the only way to alle viate it was to suffer a' man to do what he ought to do, namely, to allow him to remove where there was the greatest demand for.his labour. fine of the great evils of the restraint upon la bour was, that it created the dangerous notion in the mind of the poor that they claimed relief as a matter of right. This notion was engrafted upon the principle of the law, and it must lead the poor man to consider that he had a right to make re. prisals upon property, in return for the oppression of restrain ing his liberty, and 'the injury done to his property in his la bour. The Act of the 37th of Elizabeth recited the great in convenience which had attended the building of cottages for the poor, and prohibited any such building unless lands were set apart with them. The provision had been repealed so lately as the reign of George 11. The Hon. and Learned Member here referred to Burn's humorous account of the business of. Over seer, who generally kept a sharp look-out after the new corners in every parish, encouraged short hirings, as a long hiring gave a settlement, and stuck at no expence to get rid of their pau pers, and fasten them uporn another parish. This last he (Mr. Scarlett) knew to be the fact. Indeed in the course of his professional experience, he had known the officers of a parish had decorated their underlings with ribbands in conse quence of succeeding upon an appeal. In fact, the object was, always to depopulate the parish. Another objection to the present law was in the fact that it created in the overseers a strong interest to distinguish their own settled poor from those whom they had the privilege of removing. The latter, he assured the House, were neglected in an astonishing de. gree ; for no care whatever was taken of their moral or their religious habits. He had received a letter from the overseer of a'parish in Cumberland, stating that great attention was invariably paid to the morals of the young women who were settled in the parish; but that the others were neglected; they were fair prey ; and if thy were got with child, they might be removed to another parish. He (Mr. S.) was satisfied that half the money now paid, if it were laid out upon proper ob jects, after proper inquiry, would answer every good purpose, and, consequently, !relieve the country of half the present ex peace. , It had been Objected against this measure, that if the power of removal were taken away, the present wholesome restraint would be removed. This argument assumed that the law of removal was a penal law. If this assumption were correct it might be advisable to extend this restraint, which was supposed to grow out of the law of removal. It might be proper to generalise the law, and remove all the Lancashire paupers, for instance, to Sussex. But he denied that the punishment of banishment was the best moral restraint which could be devised. On the contrary, he thought it was the worst. If, indeed, privation followed removal, if the removed pauper were fed upon bread and water, sit might be another question ; but as the paupers were generally fed as well in one parish as in another, where was the use of sending flourishing Idleness from one place to flourish in another? Social habits were stronger among the labouring virtuous, than among the idle and vicious classes,. and consequently the punishment of removal, if it was a punishment, fell upon the latter. Poverty might overtake virtue as well as vice, and yet the punishment upon each was equal. The local affections of the drunkard and idler were never very strong, and therefore the punish ment upon him was not so severe as that which fell upon a man of different habits. And yet he believed it would not be de nied that the good of all punishment was in the discrimination by which it was guided. If relief and punishment were dis tributed according to the merits or demerits of the object, the restraint so much talked of would be a real one, but at present it was imaginary. Another argument urged against the Bill was, that it would throw upon manufacturing towns the bur then of supporting all the illegitimate children who might be born within their walls, though the mothers of them belonged, to country parishes. Now he really bad no wish to speak dis respectfully of manufacturing towns. He was as much con nected with Manufactures as with Agriculture; but really when he beard such an argument as he had mentioned, he took it to mean neither more nor less than this, that the Manufacturers were to possess the privilege of encouraging fine and fresh young women from the country, seducing, them, getting them with child, and throwing the children upon the country. Nay, an Hon. Friend of his, the Member for Nottingham had com plained of the manufacturing towns being put to the expence even of the lying-in of these - women • so that he, to be sure, would have them delivered in good fresh country air at the ex pence of the farmer.—(A laugh.)-1 t was in this point of view that he thought the present law highly objectionable. It allow ed a woman who was pregnant to be pursued by the parish officers. seized upon, dragged into notice, and exposed to a shame which often attached to her for life, and destroyed all her future prospects. He thought the law had better be assimi lated to the law as it prevailed in many parts of Scotland, wherein no notice was taken of a pregnant woman unless she made application for assistance. His object was merely to take away the legal power of removal. He begged here to make a remark which had occurred to him, though it was not in the order of his argument. It was known that some parishes allowed weekly stms to others in preference to receiving back the poor ordered to be removed from the parish reedy. ing to the parish paying. It was equally well known that the parish receiving fed the paupers very well for a very good reason : they were feeding them at the expense of an other parish. But another consequence attended this system. If the parish receiving, received the allowance in respect of the child of a man who was settled with themselves, they took care to reduce the man's wages in proportion to the allowance for the child. This was particularly the case in manufactur ing towns. He might instance Sheffield, from which he had lately received a paper containing objections to his measure.— The Gentleman who had prepared this document, and had done him the honour to send him a copy of it, reasoned thus : Their own poor cost them 8001.' a year, and they had other poor within their walls for whom they received 12001. a year from other parishes. They conceived, therefore, that if the present Bill passed, they would be fixed with this 1,2001. and thus their. poor rates would at once be in creased to 2,0001. a-year. If this should be the consequence of their passing of the present Bill, it would, he thought, be no more than was perfectly just. But they would be encou raged to support their poor with economy, and if to the saving resulting from this they would add their lawyer's Bill every year under the present system, they would find the dif ference of expence very trifling indeed. Returning ,to the measure itself, in principle it would, he contended, produce a disposition and a necessity to examine the moral habits of the numerous applicants for parochial relief, and to distinguish between vice and misfortune. By the adoption of the mea sure he really believed that although in point of relative amount the agricultural interest would gain, the manu facturing interest would not lose. He understood that in the manufacturing districts it had become usual to encourage the labourers to subscribe towards a fund to provide against ' the necessity of applying for parochial relief. In the Parish of Salford, near Manchester, he . was informed that, in one ma. nufactory, one thousand labourers paid a penny a week to keep a perpetual fund of two hundred pounds, and that the calls upon it wire rarely more than five pounds a year.— On the whole he was - convinced that this Bill would have the effect of improving the condition of the poor, abolishing litiga tion, and, if followed up by other measures, of increasing their morality. In bringing forward this measure, he was not in fluenced by either vanity or levity. If he should find that it was not agreeable to the House, he should not press it; for of course he did not expect to carry it against any considerable opposition. If, however, the House should take it up and sup port him, he would persevere in it, regardless of the obloquy, the unpopularity, or' the' ridicule with which it might be at tended. He was willing to receive any suggestion on the sub.; ject ; to postpone the Bill, if necessary, until next Session ; but as he thought it was founded upon sound policy, he should at present move the Order of the Day for the second reading of the Bill. The SPEAKER here put the question, and declared it to be carried in the affirmative; but this declaration being objected to, it was again put under the form of an Order of the Day. Mr. MANSFIELD then,, finding that no other person rose to address the House, wished to observe, in the first instance, that the sentiments of his constituents had been very strongly expressed against the measure proposed by the Hon. and Learned Gertdeman. Concurring with them that, hotvever well intended, it was likely to prove as injurious to the poor themselves as to those who were obliged to contribute to their support, he should now move, as an amendment to the motion, that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. Mr. 310NCK seconded the tnotion.—Ho readily admitted that the existing system of our poor laws was replete with error, and great abuses must prevail, so long as the system rested on Its present basis. But these evils were, he thought, comparatively small when weighed against those of which the present measure might, if adopted, be eventually productive. The 13th of Charles 11. had been passed with an object some what similar; for so inconvenient and pernicious was the ope ration of the law found even in the unartificial state of society at that time, and the fei manufacturing towns then in exist ence, that it became necessary to correct and modify it. The great towns,. it was then found, poured out their paupers into all such parishes as were found to be in possession of the best 'stock. Then, as at the present day, the great desideratum was a more complete equalization of the burden; but, unfortunate ly, now in some towns the rates amounted to 10s. in the pound, whilst in adjacent parishes they did not exceed 2 s. The law of settlement did not, indeed, appear so incongruous or unintelli gible as had been represented. No poor man could be removed till he became chorgeable; for the policy of the legislature had always been to restrict, rather than to proniote, removals-- The practice was, he regretted to say, becoming general in va rious directions, of pulling down Cottages, and depopulating agricultural districts, in order to evade the burden of assess- ments for the poor. The fainters depended for their Tabour, during the five or six weeks of harvest, on hands obtained from neighbouring towns, to whom they gave good wages,. viz. 4s. or ss. a day, besides beer, and whom they then dismissed into the straw-yards of the more populous place from which they drew them. This was a common case in Berkshire, and, as he had reason to believe, in many other counties. Removal should not be considered in the light of a hardship—its object was charitable, and its intention to give security against that dreadful calamity of want under which the Irish were now suffering. But the great evil now was, that the manufac turer was enabled by the law to throw the cost of his produc tions on his neighbours, or even on those near whom he himself did not reside. An article might cost 1,0001., and sell but for 9001., yet the manufacturer should gain 1001. profit, and by what means? By the system of paying the wages of labour in poor rates. This took place at Reading, and still more extensively at Manchester, where, in numerous instances, wages did not exceed five or six shillings a week—a sum utterly inadequate, and therefore made up to the requisite amount by an allowance from the parish. All these evils, however, which were a source of misery to the poor, and of extortion to individuals of pro perty, would, he feared, be lamentably aug,rnented, were the present measure to receive the sanction of that House. Mr. T. COURTENAY said, though he gave great credit I to the laudable intentions of the Honourable and Learned Gentleman who introduced the measure, yet he could not support it. That some amelioration to certain parts of our poor laws was called for, he did not deny; but the present'Bill embraced too great a change to be effected at once, even if all its clauses were necessary. According to the Honourable and Learned Gentleman's plan, a pauper might still select any parish to apply to for relief, and, being relieved, there would still be nothing which could prevent his going for relief to another. In every view which he took of the question, since the Hon. and Learned Gentleman's first introduction'of a mea sure to amend the Poor Laws, he (Mr. Courtenay) felt more and , more convinced that the principle of those laws was a just one and whenever the Hon. and Learned Gentleman should again introduce the subject fully to the House, he would be ready to meet it. In conclusion, he - implored the lion . and Learned Gentleman to withdraw the measure at the present late period of the Session, and in complance with the general opinion of the country against it. After a few words in explanation from Mr. SCARLETT, Sir J. SHELLEY said lie was afraid that, in the present state of the country, the land itself would not be able to keep the poor, with the payment of rent and taxes. He thought that some remedy should be applied, and therefore he would sup port the measure of his Hon. and Learned Friend. - Mr. MABERLY, jun., next addressed the House; but most of his observations were in so low a tone that it was im possible to collect their import in the gallery. He was un derstood to oppose the Bill, as producing too violent an alteration in the laws. He also contended, that though the system of removal might be Sometimes oppressive to the poor, yet the proposed alteration would be exceedingly oppressive to the rich. The Honourable Member then read from a paper a, statement of the situation of the poor in some counties, as compared with others, and contended that the comparative ly light pressure in some places did not proceed from any re straint on the free circulation of labour, but from the vigilance and exertion of those who superintended the poor, and from the prevalence of industrious and frugal habits. irhere those causes operated, the poor laws were not so much felt; where contrary habits existed, they were oppressive. Sir M. AV. RIDLEY said he would not, after the general expression of dissent with which this Bill was met in the house, occupy much time in offering his sentiments upon it. Though he did not mean to support the Bill, yet'he did think that some modification of the law, as it affected the removal of paupers, ought to be made. Great inconvenience and great expence, he knew, were incurred by the present system of removal. Now he would throw it out as a suggestion, that magistrates should be empowered to suspend the order for removal, as in case of sickness, in cases where disputes might be likely to arise 'as to the parish of the pauper. This suspension might continue un til the parishes consulted upon the matter. By this means a great deal of expence and trouble might be saved. As to the Bill before the House, he should oppose it, because it would make that extensive alteration all at once which he thought ought to be effected gradually. The Marquis of LosrnosrpEnnv.and Mr. NOLAN rase at the same moment to address the Ilouse, but several Members hiving called " Mr. Nolan," the Noble Marquis gave way, and Mr. NOLAN proceeded. He began by alluding to a re mark that had been made—that the poor had no Representa tives in that House. He could , not suffer such an observation to pass without maintaining that there was no class of his Ma jesty's subjects whose interests were not represented there— and there was no class to whom greater attention had at all times been paid than to the poor. He thought that great ac knowledgments were due to the Honourable and Learned Gen tleman (Mr. Scarlett) for the very able, candid, and ingeni ous, manner in which he had introduced the subject; and though he (Mr. Nolan) might differ from him as to the remedy now proposed, yet he thought this advantage, at least, would result from the discussion of the question— that it would set the public mind to work upon it, and that no inconsiderable benefit might be derived from that source. It had been said that the subject was one which ought to have been taken up by his Majesty's Ministers. Now he did not think they were bound to take it up. As a measure interesting all classes, it was open to the consideration of , and might be introduced by, any Member who felt himself competent to the task. One general objection to the measure which he had was this—even if he thought favourably of it, he should hesitate to establish it as a law when he found so many petitions against it from every part of the country, and so general an opinion against its' practical effects. Another objection was, that the measure was partial, and left wholly out of consi deration the general system of the poor laws, with an its defects. When his Honourable and Learned Friend introduced his for mer Bill, he observed that it was complicated, but that every part of it depended on the other; but now he abandoned all the parts, except that which referred to the removal of pau pers, without any reference to s how they were to be sup ported. It had been objected that the unsettled poor were ir regular in their habits. Now he, on the contrary, was prepared to maintain that the fear of removal from friends and con nexions operated as a great stimulus to industry amongst that class, which stimulus would be lost by the present Bill. lie contended that this Bill was likely to produce one of the effects that his Hen. and Learned Friend opposite had deprecated, namely, to make the poor look upon that as a matter of right, which, in point of fact, was a mere matter of charitable relief. He likewise argued, that instead of checking, it would consi derably promote the expences of litigation. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY, after paying some compliments to the Hon. Member who had preceded him, pro ceeded to congratulate the House that the Poor Laws had never yet been made a subject of party discussion within its walls.— He pointed out the injustice of calling upon Ministers .to legis late hastily upon this subject, especially as the Honourable and Learned Gentleman opposite, with all the professional advan tages he possessed, had abandoned two out of the three points which he had originally introduced to their notice, and had found great difficulty in deciding how he should act even upon the third of them. He was sae that every Member in the House must be favourable to the principle on which the Bill was founded; at the same time he must be allowed to remark, that it ought to be so restrained as to keep the operation of it within proper bounds. According to the present wording of the Bill, bands of persons traversing the country would have nearly as good a right to a settlement in any place where they found themselves in need of assistance, as those who had long been resident at it. That was an evil which in his opinion ought not to be per mitted. Without going further into the details of the new Bill, he would simply state that it appeared to him to be calculated to promote litigation to an unexampled extent, and to create great additional expence, instead of furthering the cause of eco nomy. He wished the Hon: and Learned Gentleman opposite to endeavour to find out some plan to disarm his Bill of the evils which it was certain to create, if the principle of it were pushed to its full extremity. Ile could assure the Learned. Gentleman that if he did so, he would give him every assist ance in his power. Indeed he would state this once for all— that the House was bound to give every assistance in its power to any Gentleman who took the difficult subject of the poor laws into his consideration ; and that it ought to encourage in the outset any measure that was introduced to amend them.— If he were compelled to give a vote upon this measure as it stood at present, he should certainly vote against it ; but, as he was favourable to the principle of it, and thought that the ob jections which he had against its details might be remedied in a Committee, he had no wish to object to the reading of it a se cond time that evening. Sir. C. BURRELL spoke in favour of the Bill, but looked forward to its being in a more matured state. Captain MABERLY explained. Mr. CHETWYND had heard with pleasure the eloquent and argumentative speech of the Honourable and Learned Gentleman opposite, on the subject of the Poor Laws, the system of which he considered to be one of the greatest curses the country was afflicted with. A curious illustration of the ruinous system of litigation carried on between parishes occurred the other day, in a case which came before the Court of King's Bench, to determine whether fifty-two weeks made a year. He should propose to raise the rent of the tenement for a settlement from 101. to 201., when the Bill went into a Committee. Colonel WOOD said, that if the rent of the tenement were raised to 201., no poor man w mild ever have a settlement. If this Bill were read a second - time, and went into a Committee, he should propose that a falling scale be adopted, and that at a very remote point. The present laws loudly called for amend- ment ; and he should certainly support the present stage of this Bill. Mr. P. MOORE said that he concurred in the unanimous sentiments of his constituents in opposition to the Bill. Sir R. WILSON gave his unqualified approbation to the principle of the Bill of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman. Mr. Alderman BRYDGES declared himself to be against the Bill, which he thought would throw a great number of paupers from the country on the city of London. Mr. SCARLETT, in reply, said he hoped the House would allow the Bill to go into a Committee. In this case he should certainly adopt the plan of the•HoD. Member for Brecknock. After a few words from Mr. DENMAN, in opposition to the Bill, and from Mr. SCARLETT in explanation, the house divided, when the numbers were : 82 66 -16 For the amendment - For the second reading Majority - The Bill was consequently lost. On our return to the gaiety we found Mr. P. MOORE on his legs, stating that himself and two other Members had, been charged with an offence which, if true, rendered them unworthy to sit in that House. Mr. G. BENNET rose to order, and expressed himself at a loss to understand what his Hon. Friend was desirous of bringing under the notice of the House. Ile had been informed that a charge was made against one or two Members of that House, one of whom was then absent (the Member for Aber deen), and he intreated his Honourable Friend would not bring forward the complaint, whatever it might be, in the absence of the parties. He appealed to the chair whether his Hon. Friend was not out of order. Sir R. WILSON said, although he was one of the persons implicated in the charge, he wished it to stand over, as the Hon. Member for Aberdeen, who was mentioned in a a'rea sury minute on the subject, was absent. The charge was a most contemptible one. The SPEAKER said,. he had been anxious to collect from the Hon. Member who introduced the subject, the nature of the proposition he was about to submit, and he had been called on to state his opinion whether the course pursued by the Hon. Member for Coventry was orderly, or not. It was quite clear the question the Hon. Member intended to submit was a ques tion of privilege, ,affecting himself and another Member then absent. The absence of one of the Hon. Members was a strong ground to postpone further discussion on the subject. He was, however, prepared to say, although .he had no notice of what the charge was, that when an Hon. Member complained of a breach of privilege; there was no time at which he might not bring it forward. Mr. .'AIOORE said, lie was willing to conform to the rules of the House. He came forward to justify himself under a foul charge. He was taking his dinner when he received a Treasury minute of the charge.—(A cry of 'read, read.)—He really thanked the Lords of the Treasury who made the charge. It was the only instance in which he had ever expressed grati tude to them, and be really was grateful for the opportunity they had given him of defending his honour and character.— He expected they would prosecute the authors of the charge, and he should then have no hostility towards them. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he had been unwilling to interpose any observation upon what the Honourable Gentleman had stated, but if it would save his feelings, and the time of the House, he could state that himself and the Treasury Board were satisfied there was no foundation for the imputation against the Hon. Member and others, but under the circumstances reflecting on the Hon. Members, the Treasury thought it right to let them know the charge and the name of the calumniator. Mr. MOORE then expressed himseelf satisfied with the explanation of the Right Hon. Gentleman, and said he should not trespass longer on that occasion upon the attention of the House. The third reading of the Navigation Acts Amendment Bill was postponed to Tuesday. The House went into a Committee on the East India Trade Bill, and Mr. C. WYNN moved a Resolution directing the Chairman to move for leave to bring in a Bill to amend seve ral Laws in force with resvect to trade in places within the li mits of the charter of the Last India Company. The House having resumed, Mr. BROODEN obtained leave to bring in the Bill. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER alluded to the d?ath of the Teller of the Exchequer in Ireland, and hav ing stated that it was necessary to provide for the Exchequer Offices in that part of the United Kingdom, brought in a Bill to enable the Lords of the Treasury to provide for the more effectual regulation of certain Offices relating to receipts of his Majesty's Exchequer in Ireland. Sir J. NEWPORT, in consequence of the above Bill, with drew the notice he had given of a motion for the better arrange ment of that branch of the public service. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL brought in a Bill to amend the-Act for enrolling and memorializing Grants of Annuities, which was read the first time. Mr. GOULBURN gave notice that, on Monday next, in a Committee of Supply, he should move the Irish Miscellaneous Estimates. The other orders were postponed, and the House Adjourned, at HALF PAST TWELVE O'CLOCK, to Monday. I RISK DISTRESS. A Meeting was held yesterday in the Parish of Cripplegate, to receive the report of the Treasurer on the sums collected in aid of the Subscription for the Relief of Ireland. The Rev. W. HOLMES, Vicar, was called to the Chair, and stated, that from the books placed before him, he was happy 7 to inform the Meeting £l7O had been collected. The Chair man then read some communications that had been transmitted to him by the Honorary Secretaries of the Dublin Committee, detailing their proceedings. Mr. JOHN ATKINSON said, he could not refrain trom con gratulating the prOmoters of this laudable subscription on the success their exertions had been crowned with, and when the burden of their own poor was recollected, it was gratify ir.g to the benevolent mind to find that so large a sum should have been collected in their parish in little more than one day. It was certainly a matter of regret that the public assistance had not been sooner called into action, for he recollected, so long back as February last, the Editor of a respectable Even ing Paper (he alluded to THE Sus) had received information of the approrching distress, and had, with an alacrity the most praiseworthy, set on foot a subscription, but which unfortu nately had not been rupported j • others of the Public Press. He had received pleasure from the communications that had been read to them by their Rev. Chairman, and as he con ceived much public benefit would be derived from the London Committee coming as early as possible to some resolution as to the cause of the existing distress, to the recognition of some remedial principle which would prevent its recurrence, and to the suggestion of such measures for the consideration of the Le gislature, that the I oplation of Ireland may in future enjoy those advantages they are entitled to from their Union with Great Briain, he should therefore conclude by offering to their consi deration a resolution, embodying the substance of the observa tions he had made. Mr. EBENEZEIt TAYLOR commented on the resolution proposed with considerable ability, and suggested some altera tions, which were agreed to, and the following Resolution was unaninuntsly adopted : " That this Committee are highly gratified that the Dublin Committee have so judiciously given their attention to the im portant inquiries relative to the causes, extent, and best means of remedying in future the present alarming distress in Ireland, and they earnestly recommend to the London Committee to co operate with them for the purpose of discovering correctly the results thereof, and giving publicity to the same." The Vicar, Churchwardasis and Mr. ATKINSON, were de puted to attend the London dommittee, with the above Reso lution, and the balance of Subscriptions. Yesterday, a General Meeting of 'the Subscribers connected with the Association for the Relief of the Manufacturing and Labouring Poor, was held at the City of London Tavern, Bishopsga te-str eet. Lord Dortovarr took the Chair, assisted by Lord Suffield, Right Hon. J. C. Villiers, Mr. Mortlock, S. Bosanquet, Esq. Joshua Watson, Esq. W. G. Parker, Esq. Bodkin, Esq. &c. &c. &c. The object of the Meeting was stated to take into considera tion whether any reserve should be made from , the remaining fund of the above Institution, for the general purposes of the Committee; or whether the balance of the fund should be di vided between the Mendicity Society, and the Subscription for the Irish Poor. After some conversation the Question was put by the CHAIR MAN, when it was determined on to call a Public Meeting for this day fortnight, to consider of the propriety of voting the sums alluded to, to the objects mentioned, on which tbe Meet ' ing broke up. NEXT WEEK.--The Birth Day of our late revered Monarch, Next Tuesday, is the day fixed on for drawing the State Lottery • and as the whole is to be decided in One Day, the Two grand Money Prizes of Twenty Thousand Pounds, and all the other Money Capitals and small Prizes, must be drawn that day. Bisu's Offices appear to be the favourites ; perhaps this is because he sold in Shares both the Two last Prizes of T wenty Thousand Pounds ever drawj. THE ARMY. REPORT from the COMMITTEE appointed to prepare MILITIA ESTIMTES. Ordered by the House of Commons to be Printed, May 24, 1022. TILE COMMITTEE appointed to prepare Estimates of the Charge of the Disembodied Militia of Great Britain and Ire land, from the .25th of December, 1821, to the 24th of De cember, 1822, both inclusive, being 365 days, have prepared the said Estimates accordingly, viz. : [ED MILITIA Of Der, 1821, to the 365 days. Charge. X. :. d. ,994 0 ,198 0 0 456 5 0 146 0 0 9,745 10 0 6,935 0 0 2,977 15 10 35,259 0 0 27,423 13 4 2,299 10 0 9,307 10 0 116,742 4 2 7,799 14 0 48,500 0 0 07714 0 174,019 12 2 dED MILITIA Of to the 24th De- Ts Irish. 88,497 IS 8 37,930 13 6 6.-- 426,428 9 '116,703 310 i~ i g. ESTIMATE of the Charge of the DISEMBODI GREAT BRITAIN, from the 25th Deceml 24th December, 1822, both inclusive, being Pay for 89 Adjutants 84 Paymasters 5 Ditto - 2 Ditto - 89 Surgeons - 6 76 Quarter-Masters 5 89 Serjeant-Majors 110 1,288 Serjeants - 1 6 1,288 Corporals . 1 2 84 Drum Majors - 1 f; 510 Drummers . 1 0 s. d. - 8 U per diem - 6 0 - 5 0 - 4 0 Total of Pay - X. Contingent Allowance at 3d. per nintll,l for each Drummer and Private Soldier, ' r being 51,998 - - ) Allowances to Subalterns and Surgeons- Mates, and to Reduced and Retired Ad jutants, Surgeons,. and Quarter-Masters, upon account - - . - Allowance to Surgeons for Medicines and Attendance on the permanent Staff, viz. 3,259 Men, at 6d. per month for each man TOTAL CHARGE - . - ESTIMATE of the Charge of the DISE MRODI IRELAND, floin the 25th December 1821, cember 1822, both inclusive, being 365 day: per diem each Pay of 38 Adjutants at as Od 38 Surgeons . • 6 0 38 Paymasters - 6 0 38 Quarter Masters 5 0 38 Serjeant Majors 1 10 38 Q. Mast. Serjts. 1 10 608 Serjeants - 1 6 615 Corporals - 1 2 38 Drum Majors 1 6 344 Drummers - 1 0 76 Fifers - • 1 0 An Allowance at the rate of 3d. per month for each Private Man and Drummer, for defray ing the contingent Expenses of the several Corps - - - - An Allowance to 311 Surgeons at the rate of 6d. per month for each of the Non-Commissioned Officers and Drummers chi con stant pay at Head Quarters, for the Expense of necessary Medicines and Attendance, while the Militia are not cal led out for annual training or exercise Annual Allowance to Subalterns and Assistant Surgeons - - Charge foi• Agency Allowances to Retired Officers and to Supernumerary Officers, Non -commissioned Officers and Drummers An Allowance to 38 Surgeons at the rate of 6d. per month for each of those supernumerary Non-commissioned Officers and Drummers on constant pay at Head Quarters, for the Expense of necessary Medicines and At. tendance, while the Militia are not called out for annual train ing or exercise Charge for 365 days, Irish. d. s. 5,548 0 0 4,161 0 0 4,161 0 0 3,467 10 0 1,271 8 4 1,271 8 16,644 0 13,094 7 6 1,040 5 0 6,278 0 1,387 0 0 158,3'23 19 21 Total in Irish Money - 2,830 7 01 527 2 fli 125,248 17 6 11,567 1U 0 137,549 7 381 6 01 •£i • Which Sum of £126,428 9s. 24. Irish, amounts in British Money to - - May, 1822. CANTERBURY, MAY 31,—Yesterday the grenadier cow' pany of the 3d Foot (Buffs) halted in this city on their return from Dover to Chatham, to which place they marchecl•latelY:t°. form a guard of honour on the arrival of the Prince and Prin cess of Denmark. The garrison of Dover, consisting of Majors Sandharn and Taylor's companies of Artillery, and a detachment of the 3i-! or Buffs, under the command of Major Marlay, have contri buted two days' pay towards the fund for the relief of the tressed districts in Ireland. - - --Irched Major Sandham's company of the Royal Artillery nta• - t o yesterday morning from the Heights Batteries at Dover, Deal, and immediately embarked on board the Intrepid Ir°' port, and sailed for Dublin. The 44th Regiment, 700 strong, now at Chatham, are • pected to embark at Gravesend, for India, this day or tozorr", a On Sunday, the Adjutant-General, Sir H. Torrens arri%_e at Government-House, Colonel Sir A. Christie's, cl ia tbri e r and on Monday inspected the 44th Regiment, previous to To, embarkation for the East Indies. The Adjutant-General a' the wards inspected the 58th Regiment, lately returned from to West Indies. Both the Regiments acquitted themsel,"„, e d the high satisfaction of the Adjutant-General, who was Pei7ote. to express his entire approbatron of their discipline and nor economy. COURSE OF EXCHANGE, May 31. er , tkiustet dam Ditto, at Sight Rotterdam 12 6 12 10 Antwerp l2 4 2i V 6 Hanoburgh 37 S ci Us. Altona *** Paris, 3 Day's sight 2B 1 359 z°' ti' 65. , I Ditto Bourdeaux, ditto Frankfort on the [vain 3tia , Madrid lire Cadiz Bilboa 36 E tic‘ Barcelona . Seville Gibraltar .. 304 Leghorn Gco•I oill 44 -Venice, Ital. Liv. 27 60 Malta 45 -Naples 49 OP , Palermo .. Lisbon Oporto , 5l/ Itio.laneiro Dublin .... 94 ........ Cork ......34 wet Cent. ~.. ••„, BULLION. Portugal Gold, in Coin Foreign GOld, iu Bars New Doubloons ..... New Dollars Silver in Bars, Standard . L.O 0 0 L r i ''' ... .3 17 10 3 ... 0 0 0, ... 0 4 94 ...n (____......................... N ecl' MURDER OF MRS. DONATTY.—Late on V ha ve nesd.ay night the man, who was suspec ted to 12,0. been implicated in the assassinatio n of 0 ' b Donatty, arrived from Birmingham by they °,2,c0; in the custody of Mr. Goodall, th e Hig `a-ay, stable of that town ; and, on the following Aect Mr. Taylor and several other gen tlemen a tten as at the Bow-street O ffi ce, and the accused ..,it. brought into the presence of the different 7 oce nesses. A long private investiga tion toolc Pied, in the Magistrate's room., However, the acc u et s on , who is carrying on the business of a 13 ".` he cl mould-maker, at Birmingham, fully estabist_iiii, his innocence, and therefore, in justice to n we refrain from giving his name, • _ D ►I to ur a N I r.to' 41 4 th e 44, cow 't c o , A A 88