The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-05-14 00:00:00

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letesits it appealed ottOra WOW Ter.
I—(Hear,/—and isbetflee, al v hift
wiled, he should arstaffirfroat an
ender the Crows; wit' . had
poioe.l. he was unworthy to .4_ tutting
this this address, the House would affirm khe uncon-
stitutional propositioa, that persons Kadin;
siteatioas in the revenue itie iise the in-
fluence these situations gave them in their
neighbourhood at elect**. If tie was stripped
of this influence, he would then Merely
,pot.
sees that which he might have either as a writer'. at
Glasgow, or a writer's clerk, for this was his busi-
ng,* ; and it was evident that he did not depend fur
subsistence on his tax-office, though he, of course,
derived his influenee from the latter. His offence
was • rations one, he bed gone to Mr. Dykes, and
promised him a place for his vote ; he afterward*
went to Sir Alexander Cochrane's agent to elate
whet he had done, mud a letter in furtherance of
the bribe had been actually sent to • Right Hon.
Gentleman in office' who in answer wrote dowu to
know what situation Mr. Dykes would accept. It
was clear then that the public situation of the de-
litigant gave him an influence which it was evident
he ought no longer to hold. Fur these reasons he
should vote for the motion ; if the House did not
lionetion it, they would effirin the propositiou which
he had already stated.—/Hear.)
Lord Minium was aware that, on such a Cafe as
this. he could have no weight with the (louse iu
proposition to the lion. and Learned Mover,
_but he
felt so strongly on the subject, that he would claim
the attention of the House Ishii, he stated his ma-
sons against thin motion. So impressed was he that
the prevent course was untlecesiniry, that he had, in
the Committee, successfully opposed the Chair-
owl's having en instruction to recommend it to
the House. It therefore came before them not
only without this recommendation, but stamp-
ed with the negative of the Committee. The same
feeling that induced • him to think this severity
ought to be evoieed when before the Committee,
Rill operated on his mind when the subject came
for discussion. in that House. He would refer to
the precedents which had been to ably enforced,
and would contend that not oue of them applied
,to the case before the (louse. In these cases there
Ins only one where the offender had suffered both
iMprienoment end • loss of his situation.—(Hear.)
(Mr. Wynn, " Two.")—What was the first? hors
that of the Bishop of Worcester, who hod lost his
situation, as Lord Almoner, for unduly interfering
es a Peer in the election of a Commoner ; for this
act he was nut imprisoned, but deprived of an office
worth shoot IOoL a year. Was there any analogy
between this case and that of Ferguson ? The next
precedtent was that of Martin, Mayor of Wincliel
sell, who, as Returning Officer, had been guilty of
threats to influence the return of a particular name.
For so high a crime he was merely given into the
custody of the Serjeant at Arms, and then deprived
'I of his civil situation. There was no analogy here
either between the crime or the culprit. The next
ease was that of Mr. Bursteed, in 1705, for bribery.
This individual held the important office of Re-
ceiver-General for the county of Stafford ; it was
an important station, giving the individual great in-
fluence, and yet the punishment was "Merely the
deprivation of his office. There was also the pre-
cedent of Bedell'. cue, who was Inspector of Cus-
toms near Berwick, and had actually given a bribe
to a voter for the borough of Hayden, in Yorkshire,
and fixed a part of his public eatery for the pay.
went of the stipulated sum, and yet he was not
taken into custody, hut merely deprived*, his office.
There was also the ease of Middleton, the High
Shetiff or the county of Denbigh. wise, us returoing
officer, retaftsed his relative, Sir J. Middleton, not
only in direct contradiction of his announcement of
numbers from the billable at the close of the poll,
but after a corrupt alteration in the poll-books. His
punishment was mertly the deprivation of his office.
From there precedents, it was clear that there was
no analogy between cases of such high aggravation
and that of the humble individual whose case was
before them, and who had already suffered so severe
a punishment. The Noble Lord opposite said that
Ferguson had used his influence as a surveyor of
laZes : there was not one tittle of evidence to justify
this insinuation.—/Hen.)—His salary as a sur-
veyor was lila a year, it was his chief subsistence ;
he was not • writer. imbed been said, but a clerk in
the office of a Mr. Campbell, of Glasgow, who had
• onialleslublishmewt is receive teats in that town.
Now, midst these eiresuistauces, it was evident that
if the motion wereearried, the unfortunate offender.
after already enduring a heavy punishment, would
be the victim of extreme penury. There was mat.
ter worth adverting to in this case—it was, that it
was clearly apparent throughout the whole inquiry,
Ferguson had acted uuadvisedly, and without the
knowledge or concurrence of Lord Douglas.
(Hear. Ater.)—He concluded by moving the pre-
vions question as an amendment to the motion.
Mr. BROMISM( merel rose to add his testi.
mony to that of the Noble Lord—that Lord
Douglas clearly was ignorant of Fergusou's eon-
Anti from-what appeared before the Committee.
He was glad to state this as his opinion, as he was
one of those who in the first instance thought the
friends of Lord Douglas should have ntber cbal.
kneed than opposed inquiry.
Mr. CANNING was one of those ohy thought
sufficient punishment had been inflicted on the
guilty indreiduel. It was said that the influence
of his office enabled bin to commit it—of this
there wee out the slightest proof--neither did he
think the precedents quoted far the original
motion were at all analogous. The House had
already had an opportunity of inflicting punish.
atilt ; it had to make an option, and had made
it. To punish the individual in both ways would
cause his ruin.

Mr. Wit 11 denied the justice of the inferences
drawn from the principles and practice of Courts of
Law. An inquiry in Parliament bore no similarity
to one iu a Court of Law. It bad been laid down,
that, because Ferguson confessed his guilt to the
Committee, he should not be subjected to addi-
tional punishment. But the Home did not act se
in other cases. In awe of a libel no the House,
for instance, the printer was somssesed to the bar.
sad asked who was the author sad publisher ; but
his coureoion of these facts did sot deliver himself
\from the vengeance of the House. lithe House Wee of
opinion that this mast was hut • tool in the hands of
another more powerful party behind the curtain. it
might not be deemed necessary to preceed the

•
. ,
leesgth he proposed. In bii4e.esr. the came of the
Bishop of Worcester was noise more aggravated one
than the present. An Hon. Friend had asked, if
he intended to follow up the affair by any puha.
mentary measure? He did net, because he thought
that, die prowitions already established were per.
*heft sedloient; if acted on. Iu the discussion of
the 'doe of Lord Cestlereagh (which had been pear
ed over:. as unworthy:of notiee), that Noble Lord
had moved the :previous 'question but the House
could not agree to it.—( Hear. f—Whether
meats were septennial, or triennial, or annual,
it osseous'', necessary that the House should sheer
s determination to let their vengeance fall on co,.
ruption io elections. The merit of our Constitua
lion was, that it contained in itself the elements of
Reform: With respect to what lied been throws
oat, of the obligation under which the House lay
to alike an option,. he !led *nod distinctly, when
he moved for the committal of Ferguson, that if
one punishmient, only was to be indicted, en Ad.
dress for his removal froni his situation was the one
preferable but that both one and the other would
be in the spirit of former precedents—end that
he therefore intended to propose both: Reliance
had been placed by the oppmeeti of the motion on
the circumismice, thit thi Committee did not. ip
their Reoort. 'recommend the reiboval of the With.
vidnal. However, it had *en proposed there,
and 101 l by hut one vote. , Ike looked upon the
measure be advised as a wholesome exaiiiple of jos-
Wee...peculiarly called for on the eve of a. General.
Election, to deter others holding similarW
histling.
from similar offences: The Penalty yet indicted
was very light. In point of fret, lie had moved,
that Ferguson ahould be committed to Naivete,
for the purpose of relleiriug him from the very heavy
expenses incideut to his custody by the dukes*
at Arms.

The House then divided on tbe Previous quer
tion, when there appeared—
Poe the *trims. citation
Aping it
Mektrity
The motion MA, therefore lost.
Lord latisTLialt•stai then rove and stated, that
he had • Meesaice to communicate to the house
from his Royal Highness the Prince Regent.
The Message—qua which see Muse of Lords/
—having been read from the Chair,
On the motion of Lord CirrLsezian, an an.
sliver, in the usual terms, was ordered to he convey.
ed to his Royal Highness, by such Nletubers of the
House as were of the Privy Council.
Lord Cairmintsca then moved, that the Mes-
sage of his Royal flightless be referred to • Com-
mittee of the whole House to-morrow.—Agreed to.

FORGERY.
Papers were presented, .hewing the expense of
prosecutions for forged notes by the Bank, and the
:terminal amount of notes forged, within a censers
period.
Mr. Vast FITZGERALD brought up the Irish
Grand Jucy Presentment Bill, and mowed that it
be road a first time.

Sir F. FLOOO then highly approved of the Bill—
but he rose to notice one statement by his Right
Hon. Friend (Mr. V. Fitzgerald) a few nights ago.
namely, that in 99 cases out of 100. the aSilaints
were not made, accounting for the money expended
in consequence of presentments. If the f►ct were
so, the Msgistratea of Ireland would be perjured.
as they took an oath, on their appointment, for the
faithful discharge of their duties. He must there-
fore conclude that his Right Hon. Friend hod been
in error.

The Bill was then read s llrst time. and ordered
to be read a second time to-morrow. and to be
printed.

COUNTY TREASURRRS IN IRELAND.
Mr. VISIT Ftrzataawr moved for leave to
bring in a Bill to amend and consolidate the Acts
relating to the office of County Treasurer in Ire-
land.—Agreed to.
Lord A. HAMILTON observed, that he had had
already given notice of a tion, which he meant to
bring forward to-morrow, for the production of the
correspondence between his Majesty's Government
and the Commissioners appointed to inquire into
the fees of Courts of Jostler in Scotland. respect-
ing the appointment of certain Officers in the Com-
missary Courts. The view he at present took of
the subject was, to impute blame to his Majesty's
Ministers for giving away offices after hopes had
been held out of the abolition of them, and prod-
lug an inquiry into the propriety of that procertitnc.
Mr. CfitcHtsTsa presented a Petition from the
Sovereign and lisbalsitauts of Belfast, prqtaig fur
• repeal of the Window Tax, which was ordered to
lie on the table.

PARISH SI

BILL

A Petition was presented from I'urtres against
the Parish Settlement Bill.--Read, and ordered to
lie on the table.
Lurd F0E41170111 observed, it was worth the con-
sideration of the Right Hon. Gentlemen (Mr. S.
Bourne), who had brought forward the measure, to
suspend it till next Session.
Mr. S. Booziest replied, that as the measure was
ono of great importance, it would depend on the
opinions he heard expressed in different parts of the
Hoene whether he would do so.

Lord CASTLIMIUGM was anxious the Bill should
go through this Session.
The Next stage of the Bill was then postponed
till Monday neat, and the Petition from Portant
ordered to be printed.

OFFENDERS CONVICTION REWARDS.
The Report of the Offenders Coovictioa Rr•
wards Bill wu postponed till Friday next.

COUNT LAS CAWS.
A conversation then ensiled between Mr. J. P.
GIANT and Lord CILITLIAZAGIII, after which the
former Member gave notice. that he would.
row. move for the production of the paper►
correspondence connected with the transporter's*
Count Leo Can from this country to the -

IRISH ASSESSED TAXEL
On the motion of the CZANCELLO

outlets. the Howe resolved itself into

tee Sa the Irish Ausessed Taxes Bill.

In the Committee the CiANCELLOIII
CIRQUIR mid, it had bees supposed in
Parliament was pledged to the repeal .
dow Tax, io ceeempenee of the declaration
by Mr. Cony, at the time he first
six es Chancellor of the Exchequer in

iter ernicn uK
.ould. to.mor.
ie Papers end
Insportstioo of
the continent.
oa of the En.
Ito a Commit.
DI of the Et*
in Ireland that
of the Win.
isration nods
t proposed the
the Irish Psr.