The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-04-20 00:00:00

With etspect to the Resolutions of his Hon. Friend, he ventured to
say that they would. prove highly beneficial. They were at least
worthy of trial ; if a perfect remedy could not be at once devised.
they were bound to do the best they could ; if the measure failed
in its intended effect, it might be altered or set aside ; but he did
not think that the Resolutions should be neglected or opposed,
merely on account of anticipated difficulties.
Mr. CALCRAFT was decidedly adverse to the Reaolu dons.
lie did not know whether be would not take the sense of the House
on them. He thought the opinion of the Right Honourable Gen-
tleman (the Chancellor of the Exchequer), with respect to the con.
atitution of Private Committees, of very little importance, since he
had avowed his practical ignorance of them. Committees could not
be blamed If they sometimes followed the example of the Right
Hon. Gentleman, and acted too much on confidence—hasty to hear,
and always ready to decide. Hut he wished to knew what possible
`advantage could be expected from the equalizing the number of
Members capable of being on the Committees of each county ?
Whatever arguments could be found in favour of such • measure,
would apply, he supposed, to the representation of boroughs ; and
the Honourable Gentleman, in framing the Resolution, had nn.
warily become& parliamentary reformer. He thought it highly im-
proper to agitate the question at the prevent time ; it was, in fact,
to anticipate the misconduct of • future Parliament. The clop.
tlon of such a measure at the present moment, wouldobviotnly im-
ply, that the conduct of the next Parliament was expected to be
exceptionable. But the proposed arrangements appeared to hint
perfectly nugatory. The Honourable Gentleman, In his plan
of equalizing the Committee,, had proposed to take one-half
from the neighbouring counties, and the other half from the
remoter parts of the kingdom, but did the Hon. Gentleman he.
lieve that he could get the gentlemen of Devon, for example, to
attend to the business of Yorkshire ; he might perhaps vote on
that business, but he never would be induced to beer it. Neither
did the lion. Gentlenisa pretend to find any remedy for those
letters and invitations of which he complained. The Members of
Committees would be just as open as before to applications of all
aorta ; but he was sure that the Hon. Gentleman had never yielded,
and never would yield, to anonymous letters or oblique applica-
tions, and although the evil remained, he ( Mr. Calcraft) did not
feel disposed to magnify it. But the resolutions failed in another
point, they left untouched the great cause of delay. It there was
any thing objectionable in the delays of Committees, it might be
traced to the conduct of Counsel, who undertook to be present in
several Committees at the same time (hear, hear), and to the
folly of panics who employed such Counsel. (Hear' hear.)
The consequence was, that Committees were often obliged to ad-
journ, or junior Counsel only were heard, who were imperfectly in-
structed. With respect to the proposed arrangement, he found
that 200 Members were to be chosen by ballot, and seven out of
them were to constitute the Committee of Appeal. That Cov.roit-
tee would be adored to give its attendance till all the business
should be finished. Parties appealing would be bound themeelves
in the sum of 300/., and two sureties in 150:. each. All these pro.
visions appeared to him sufficient discouragemenis to appeals, and
if abuses existed, he did not think the proposed measure would
correct them; but he denied the tact of misconduct and abuse.
There were, indeed, irregularities in Committees, but it rarely hap.
tened that the parties failed of obtaining redress in the House.
There was no more injustice up stairs than below. The few errors
that were committed might be partly ascribed to the fallibility of
that confidence which necessarily took place between man and man
In acciety. In the course of this year there had been only one or
two complaints made. In one case he hail been himself a com-
plainant (hear, hear), but that case had been set right by the
House, and in that the Hon. Gentleman who brought forward these
resolutions was the chief performer. He had always found the
House willing to correct injustice, and considered the present mea-
sure quite unnecessary.
Mr. W. WYNNE and Lord A LTHODPE made a few observe-
firms, the import of which did not reach us.
Sir M.W. RIDLEY said that nine out of ten cases always found
a remedy in that House. It was ridiculous to suppose that the seine
motives which actuated the Members of • Committee would not
actuate them in the HOUR!. lie had never shrunk from his duty.
and he did not think that Members were justified in complaining of
the weight of public business; but he thought it important to
consider that next Session the Members would be constantly occu-
pied with Committees on elections, and that the effect of this nits-
sure would be to throw a degree of trouble on the House which
could hardly be supported. Ile therefore opposed the motion.
Mr. S. IVORTLEY said a few words in favour of the Resolu-
tion.
Mr. LITTLETON would only say, with respect to what had
fallen tram his Hoitouable Friend the Member for Wareham
(Mr. Calcraft), as to the conduct of a Committee of which he
had complained, that it was made wholly upon an cx pare
statetnent.
Mr. CALCRAFT explained.
The gallery was then cleared for a division, but none took place,
and the Resolution was agreed to.
Upon the Resolution for appointing the Select Committee of Ap-
peal of seven Members, to whom the Report of the Committee up
stairs should be referred,
Mr. BA NK ES rose and said, that he considered the measure
would be clogged with difficulty ; it would impose a very onerous
duty on 3lenibers of that House, and occasion great trouble; in.
convenience, and expense to the parties. In alluding to the in.
creased duty it would impose on Hon. Members, he did not refer
to himself individually, because, in all probability. he would be
Mr. S. AVOIITLEY did not consider the duty would be of that
onerous nature imagined by the lion. Member for Dorsetshlre
(Mr. Banker) ; and it was not intended:that any exemption should
be made on account of age. The Cotnmittee would not sit above
two days, and the hours for attendance would be so regulated as
to do away any difficulty on that head.
Lord MILTON considered that it would be impossible to limit
the period of the Committee's sitting. If ;there were a certain
number of votes objected to, the Committee would have to go into
them numerically, and hear the evidence upon each.
Mr. LITTLETON, and Sir J. OSBORN, said a few words.
Mr. CALCRAFT said it was a question whether the House
would enforce the duty without haring the power of enforcing at.
tendance. 'flie whole business of the House would be impeded by
inquiries as to the members of the Committee, whether ti.ey had or
had not voted up stairs, because, if such was the case, they would
be disqualified from sitting on the Committee of Appeal ; and he

wu sure, from the increwie'd time and labour it would ',lice upon
Honourable Members, the sinincot constitutions would not be
able to go through with it. The House had already so many prc.
Ihninary measures to get through, every day on its meetirg, that
it was seldom that any public business of consequence was cnsbrAl
to be brought on before seven or eight o'clock ; and if Lion. Mem.
ben, according to the resolution, were to be locked up and balloted
for, examined as to age, and as to the votes they had given up
stairs, he saw no possible way by which they could get through the
business, and therefore it wu that he was determiatd to take the
sense of the House upon it.
Sir T. D. ACLAM) said that the real use of the Committee
was apparent ; it would be a known tribunal of appeal, to which a
complaint of gross misconduct on the part of the Committee above
stairs might be carried. Ile considered it would have the effect of
correcting those acts of gross misconduct upon the part of Members,
which had been described.

Lord A. 11A3III.TON did not consider that the House would
appoint such a Committee t or it' it did, that that Committee would
conic toa decision as contemplated by the Resolivion.
.Ir. S. WO HT E said, that no panicular Member's conduct
would be made the subject or discussion in the Committee or Ap.
pad. The object was not to inquire whether Aor II did so and so,
hut whether the.votta were according to the evidence produced.
Sir M. W. 111 DLE Y said a tew words,
When the gallery was cleated for a divisions The numbers
were—

Foe the Resolution . 441 Against it . 22
Illaprity in favour of the Resolution - 22
l'pon moving the Resolution that the Secret Committee, in cases
of election appeals, should It ive the power to order either party, u
they might deem lit, to pay the whole of the expenses on each
side.

Mr. BARES moved, as an amendment, that the words " that
only one Counsel or Agent be allowed to speak on each side,"
should be added to the Resolution.

Mr. HUME said that the appeals would in much more expedi-
tiously gone through if each party were to appoint a nominee. If
Counsel were to be heard. each petitioner would claim to be heard
by Counsel, and as there might he a down petitioners, Ware would
of course be a similar number of Counsel.
After a short conversation between Mr. Stuart Wortley, Mr.
Scarlet, Mr. Littleton, and Mr. J. I'. Grant, the amendment was
agreed to without a division.
31r. S. WORTLEY gave notice that he would to-morrow move
for leave to bring in a Bill to regulate the mode of taking the poll
at the elections for the county of York.
TRADE AND MANUFACTURES.
Mr. HUME said that he had given notice of a motion for a Se-
lect Committee, to inquire what laws exist which interfere with the
Trade and Manufactures of the United Kingdom in its detail.
Many of those laws might perhaps be obsolete, and it might be
imagined on that account that there was no necessity for inquiring
into them ; but when he saw such a measure as that of the Pot.
tery Bill intrceluced iota the House, lie then felt that there was
such a necessity, and he gave notice of a motion accordingly. Since
then he hail had some communication with the President of the
Board of Trade, who was also of opinion that something should be
doe e in the matter ; but as the Session was so far advanced, he had
requested that he (.Me. Hume) should postpone it until next Ses-
sion. To this he assented, and he should therefore withdraw his
motion for the present. Still he should bt glad to see some tiny or
sixty statutes repealed, which might be enforced by any common
informer, to the great annoyance of the trades of the country. •
PAVING AND LIORTINO Towss IN IRELAND.

Mr. S. RICE moved for leave to bring inallliftWinTrOlitiatcng
and amending the laws reapecting the Paving, Watching, and
Lighting Citiev and Towna in Ireland.—Agreed to.
WRONGOCS IMPRISONMENT IN SCOTLAND.
........_

Ni. J. P. GRANT mowed for leave to bring in a Bill to amend
the Wrongous Imprisonment Act of Scotland, passed in the Bib and
9th Si, ion of the first Scotch Parliament of %William 111.
The LORD ADVOCATE:said that at this late period of the Ses.
Si" lie feared the Hon. Gentleman could hardly attain his object ;
but though he would not oppose the motion, it must not be under-
sto, ti that he pledged himself similarly to refrain with respect to
the Bill. If it was to be the same as that which was introduced
last Session, he must say that there were many things objectionable
in that.

_ .
The motion was then agreed to.
MERCHANT SEAMEN'S WAGES.
Lord EBRINGTON moved tor leave to bring in a Bill to eon.
time and perpetuate the Act 59 Geo. 111. for facilitating the
recovery of Merchant Seamen's Wages.—Agreed to.