The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-06-03 00:00:00

OYSTERS.

Mr. WE3TEIII4 edits lintre to brig; inn iil
fnr the more elrectual protectinn of the Oyster
Fishery. His object was to declare the Isompon
the subject of deprediti ions upon tii.! oyster beds.
and to make them felonies, instead of toeing pu-
nished by merely imposing fines of .n 0 for each
miince. Leave was given to bring in the Tilt.
EAST INDIA COMPANY.

Mr. CREEVEY, pursuant to his notice, moved
for a copy of the exposition of the East India
Company • affaira, at hoMe and abroad, signed by
their Secretary, anal laid before the Select Com-
mittee upon Ea 4 India Mina's. Ile stated, that
in consequence of the report which had been made
by that Coinazittee, of which he had been a mem-
ber, the House would soon be called upon to
rote for a large sum of money to enable the East
India Company to pay their debts, and it was
therefore certainly necessary that the public
should know the real state of their distresses,
from an authentic document. After this paper
had been 1.. ;t1 before a Committee, it had been
'suggested that the most proper mode would
he for the Company to present a petition to
the House, upon which the Committee should
found their Repiart. This ass accordingly done ;
but the statement of their affairs, as .et tortilla' that
petition, varied so exceedius4ly from their original
one. previon,ly Oven by their Secretary, that he
thought the production of that document absolute-

ly nefetisary. hart year there had beets no India

_ ..... _
Budget laid before the House. If the statetnent in
their petition was to he the substitute ft* it, he
should only say. that delusive as the Budget gene-
rally was, that !macrame was still more so, and
therefore the public had a right to see this exposi-
tion. In it they stated, that their whole embarrass-
ments arose from the conduct of the Government
abroad in India, under the Board of Controul at

home iu 1754. He saw no possible objection that
could be made to this production.
Upon the motion being read from time Chair,
Mr. DrNDAs coin:newel with saying, it did
appear to hint and the other Gt.eitlenum on the
Comasittec, with the exception of the Hon. Gen-
tleman, that the paper moved for did not relate
to the First Report. The paper loosed for certainly
went to the whole of the India affairs, bat it re-
ferred to affairs abroad, that no documents could
be produced to support, until they were received
from India. It also went to the 'balance of debt„
due by the colutt7 us the Company. It would be
perfectly improper that the paper should be laid
before the House, without the deco ineuts relative to
the finances in the East Indies. Ile concluded by
observing. that the question for the Committee to
determine, waanot whether the Czrnatic war was a
politic or an impolitic one, or whether the conduct
of the Marquis \YcUr.ley pt 71,1.7 or not—but
to consider on the, ailitire of the Indio ('onspany.
and to report, to the best mif their judgment, the
best mode of relieving th.mi.
Lord ARCHIBALD CI iaturov so;d, he •h•sviiiTht
the question was one at the u:tst eo.l,equencts.
The Hon. Gent's wan hid stated biany rem why
it was superfluous !ro lay the paper before the
House. The question with him was not whether
this was the proper time, 1 ut he thotted the
/louse onexht to have the ltest and eirliest juror-
motion but he was to 0it.....h.aw iv., sup-
port from the present motion, if he rece!ted any
goarantee that the Report v olld not he acted
uutil sup., nscd nr."cr Imte for the p.o.
„'..n.tioa of toe l :ever bta: z..uve

this assurance, he would support tie notion of his
lionottmlide Friend. •
Mr. DVNDAS spoke in explanation, and said, it
was big intention to give ootice, that in a Com-
mittee of 'Supply he won't' move that the siren due
by the (;ortatiment should be paid to the Eist
India Company-, and he thought the paper
moved for, no: being bud before the Haase, could
nut be any preventive to the measure.
Mr. IV tI.UERFOUCE thought the Committee bad
ailed perfectly right in not laying the 'raper be-
fore the House ; ruder which consideratiou be
would oppose the motion.
Mr. %%. INDIUM tosopotted the motion.
Mr. Punt:var. opposed the motion, on the
ground that the Members were nut to possession of
the Report, u it was ordered to he printed, and not
Pet delivered, and it was impossible, without
knowing the substance of 6.. Report, to say whe-
ther the paper moved for was necessary fur their
information or not. . .

Mr. Wit:OllAM spoke in explanation.
Lord FOLKESTONE Spoke at length in favour of
the motion, and observed, that he did not under-
stand what the Hon. Gentlemen at the head of the
Board of Contralti meant by saying he would move
for the re-payment of the debts due to the Fast
bubo Company. Although he had not the Report
of the Committee in his hand, he understood it
went much farther, so as to recommend a loan to
an extent that lie thought it would be dangerous
for that Hour to concede to. He concluded by
observing, that he thought the motion war highly
commendable, and it should have his support.
Sir JOHN ANSTICTIIER opposed the motion, on
the ground that it went to prejudice the opinions
of members on the debate that would ensue on the
report of the Committee.
Mr. Tleanev opposed the measure. Being one
of the Committee, he must say belied never known
more facility sheen, or more publicity given, than
aas by the ).)praetors of the East India Company to
the Committee. lie .poke as one of them, and
thunlit the motion was eel improper one ; he
would feel happy if his Honourable Friend would
a itialraw hie motion.
Mr. PONSONOT thought the Hon. Moyer was
I highly commendable in bringing foward the !no-
tion. He only wished, that the House should bays
the aurae info:motion he had, and then form their
own opiaions. He thOUght it 0131teeeSaMty that
the lions, should have every information on the
subject, and if the country was indebted to the
Company, he wished they should be paid to the
last shilltsig ; at the saint time lie did slot approve
of pressing- the motion before the Report of the
Committee was pefectly understood. He would,
therefore, hope, that his. Hon. Friend would with-
draw 'en. mOttoo.
Mr. Com.yr.ir, under the consideration- that the
subject would be again taken into discussion when
the report wh
ambrought up, consented to withdraw
his mention.

Mr. Rosati THORNTON contended that the state
of the East India Company was so reduced as
to jnstify or warrant the strong language used by
the lion. Member, when he thought proper to de-
clare it in a bankrupt state.
BANK OF IRELAND.

TAM HENRY PETTY was anxious to hive the
order of the day on the Irii.h National liauk Char-
ter read.

Mr. FO4TIIR mot the CHANCELLOR. of the F.I-

coequals thought, in the exhausted state of the
House, from the numerous debates which had re-
cently taken place, to postpone the discussion of
the subject to a future day, perhaps meat Wedues-
day.
there was a loud rry of Proceed ! Proceed !
and, on the suggestion of Lord Hemel( Parry.
Mr. Fonts moved the order of the day for the
House resolving itself into a Committee to consider
certain resolutions relative to the renewal of the
Charter of the Bank of Ireland.

On the motion being put,
Lord II;;Nae NM rose, and spoke to the fol-
lowing effect :—" Mr. Speaker, I rise to propose
that ilistructions should be given to this Commit-
tee, to consider of a provision which should enable
Ilia Majesty's Catholic subjects of Ireland to hold
the situations of Governors and Directors of the
Bank of that country. On a former occasion the
merits of this 'imposition hod received a very full
and ample discussion ; a discussion which, in its re-
sult, will, I trust, tend to convey the language of
conciliation to that country, where it must be
the feeling mid wish of almost every man in
this House to encourage such a prins.iple.—
When I reflect on the decision which the Legis-
lature has recently 'sawed on the petitions of the
Irish Roman Catholn.n, and when I recollect that
many of those who felt strong objections to the.
grant of the ulterior measlier, still declared a wil-
lingness to make detailed concessions, and to enter
into arrangements Which were not impeded by these
questions of diihculty that stood in the way of the
final accomplishment of the Catholic hopes, I do
feel it now my duty to make my present propo-
sition as consistent a ith the general feeling of the .
House, and not liable to those leudiug objections
alone applicable to the prayer of the general pe-
tition. It ass advanced, on a former evening, in
opposition to this concession, that the Charter
of the Bank was of very long standing, and
that ao attempt hail been either made or wished
for to new-model its provisions. That Charter,
I believe, was granted in the year 178:2, a
period not likely to afford the precedent for li-
beral feelings: and when the whole of the Penal
Code against l'opery was raging in Ireland
in full force. In the year 1793, alter a deter-
mined refusal on the part of the Government
of that day to concede any of their rights
to the Irish Catholics, a change, as sudden as
the liner refusal was absolute, opened to that
descriptitio of subjects many of the most respect-
able Mikes of state, *object to certain exceptions.
The words of that statute give to them the right
of being members of every lay-corporate body,
with the exception of that of the University of
We have heard of a difference of °pi-
llion existing with respect to th.• legal interpreta-
tion of that statute, particularly as applicable to
the Bank o' Ire!aiiil ; and from what I have learned
from soine of those able persons who at that
period took a had in these discussions in the
1-ish Parliament, it does aparar that it ails the
lute:it:oil of tl I.,•gislaturc to grata to Cotha4ics

the fill participation ne,the. office,' is the 13snk.
Indeed it ants been well aacertaiited that the oast,
legal reason for their present es-elusiou has iest,d;
unsen from the omission in that Act of the meta
Charter. My preaeut object is, therefore, to can.
into effect hoth what the Irish Parliament had i:t
that time determined to give, and whet the la.:,
Catholics, from the spirit and meaning of the
enactment of 1793, had good reason to exist.%
But we have beet: tills!, front a certain quaint;,
that the more advisable plat. woo to leave Ili!,
question at it then stood ; that is, unused tamed s.
to feet, whether the Irish Catholic had she rig,..l
or net. That it was more advisable tu recog.i. z
that system of doubt and darkness, and least the
people of Ireland in a state of io'noranet aa
to the exercise of that right. Could the
consisteotly with its duties, act upon sudt
advice? Could it, with propriety, agree to con-
tinue that omission, winch had, iu tad-en
place through inadvertence, and thus at this .L 1 to
concert into design and intention that which
purely accidental. With respect to the eligibility
of the present proposition, little has been savt i.
those who had objected to it, and that little is 14,
from beiugconclusive. We had !nerd much of the
difference between this and Warr layscorponeions,
of the dose couuection between it cud the jr..
vernment, and of the naturally great political
importance it must participate. Sudi a ton-
nesiou, I presume, will be found to proceed
from a stroug feeling of a 'community of inte-
rest, and is, of all others, that which a wise Go-
verutuent ought to encourage iu that class of fel-
' low-subjects, inasmuch us it is the brat guarantee of
their loyalty and attachment. If there be a•
danger, it would arise, in a coustitutionel point ai
Yew, from too great a suhserriency of such pel,i.y
bodies to the existing Minister of the day. But
surely if ever there was a Moment • when t:,.,
House ought to avail itself of such an effort as
,t is now, that, from recent circumstances, nitre
exists amongst them such a marked sensibility to
every thing that is passing in this House, in its rc-
mute4 degree affect ng them, cheat ; as it were,
that hotly of people saw every motion of this Home
iu a mirror, where every act was exagw rated. ;Hid
the colouriug considelably hei4litened. et,
notwithstaudiug the intemperate Linguae, of setae
individuals in this House, the Irish Catholics I ok
with entasiikrable couthlerice to the of ectiono and
iirratectiou of the United Legislature ; and with sa-
tisfaction I can assert, that svhatevcr difference of
ispiuhet might exist on a particular question, thee
are in this limier scarce any. who could wish to
retread the steps of religions bigotry, aid to les
the wasted Eames of religious persecution--1 !kyr
Lear! Lear!) That WYr our true policy and 1e.,:
consolation. The ties which connected this cow,
try with the powers of the continent are rent asoo-
der, and that stupendous fabric, the work of ma-
turiee, which was called civilised Europe, is now
suloveited. There are services of another, and, I
trust, of a lore agreeable nature to be performed.
Peace has victories as much revered as those of
war ; and in the triumph of that principle Great
Britniu hos still much to conquer. We have to
conquer prejudices against our fellow-subject',
and to insure• that success which can only be
ottained by the coneentraticn and union of the
energies of all. The Noble Lord cone:tided ter
inovios. That it be giveu as an instruction to the
Conainsttee, to take the present applicatiuo into
their immediate coosideration.'

Mr. Font* spoke briefly ardrist the motion.
on the ground that it was undesired and one:diet!
far, noel violated the old Charter of the Bank o:
Ireland. .

The question was then loudly called for, a:,(1
strangers were withdrawing, when
The Cosacst.hoa !of the EICSEQUiII rose,
in oppoaitiou to the motions and is u speech of ose
hour and thirty minutes; (during which time
number of members toot their seats ou the Blinn-
Wrist' benches) recapitulated the eanmis ars;unie:T.4
which have been advanced, and the iitnnsosts sh
jectit.ns which had been wade against this Tenets-
%ion. Lie concluded by asserting. thst were he a
l'rotestant in a Catholic countrs, hew ouid use el
his political power* to obtain, by tryst ;mans, the
advancement of his own religion, and the subver-
sion of the establishment which existed.

Lord Veiny Yam—° What, though you
we; e on oath to the contrary ?"
Mr. GRATTAN observed. that he would net take
up the time of the House in reply to the Right
Honourable Gentleman more than four minatis—
Meer ! hear I—The question was not whether
the Irish Catholic petitioned fur this privilege
but that the Legislature should net quarrel ud:i
him by the refusal. To refuse him in this, was to
tickle him in these little nerves, in which the poli-
tical frame was so peculiarly susceptible. With
respect to the inducements of the Right Ho-
nourable Gentleman. if he was ',laced as a Pro-
testant. under a Popish establishment, I must
take the liberty to controdict his assertiona
for the sake of his principles: even were he so sa
ttiated, with his pride and property interested
in the existence of the religious establishment,
and with himself sworn fur the condonation
of that establishment, it would be impossible
that he could exert the political power he par
sessed to the subversion of the opposite religion,
either by violeuce or by legal steins. The Irish
Catholics did not petition for these trilling
concessions. but thence it did by no mea:lt
f s-
low that they would not wish to receive there.
The very meaning of the Act of 179$ cods-roll
upon them the °Sees in the Bonk; for if that Par-
liament denied them, it would be the most not:-
sentient that ever existed in the annals of Legishi-
tiori. To the argument of she other Bight floe.
Gentleman (Mr. Foster) I shall only say, that it
amounts to this, that b !cause one hundred years
ago the Catholics of England were excluded from
offices, therefore s similar restriction outrb!
now to ha imposed on the Irish Catholics--/Ha'
/war !) I shall not deign to make any termer
comment on such a position.
The Cu A vcrt.l.olt of the EICRIERETR and Lrel
Ilv KY PETTY explaiursl. After which the Ilex,'
divided on the motion of Lord Henry Petty—
Asrs
Nee*

IS
96

MJorits is In oar of Minister. l.l
The other Orden o'the Tnv 'etre 01.1 d1+l".••
of, as,d at /we •'t Lit. t.,t 110-hr

v

s

LONDON, '
FRIDAY. JUNE 3.

mti

No
gal
titm
ibis
vs-

'the

„~~

THE BRITISH PRESS.

A Ccattenburgli Mail arrived, ye,terday, with let-
ters and pupent to the 21st last. The Expedition
reniained at that date ht ictottetitsurgh
Whether, from change of circumstances, since it
left England, or some other can't, it appears-that
some uncertainty prevailed respecting its ultimate
destination. Colonel MinutAT, Qaarter-inas-
ter-General. ha=. in consequence, been sent home
for further instructions. lie arrived in town, ou
Saturday night, and set off, on Wednesday, for
Sweden. In Finland, the Swedes continue to
make some progress against the Russians ; and it
is even doubted whether Swenborg has been actu-
ally given tr;* to them. There is a rumour of the
second in command having refused to surrender
the place, and of his having resolved to defend it to
the last extremity. The Swedes have not made
any further progress in Norway.
The Russians who lauded is Deland, have all
been made prisoners.

We leafy stated some circumstances indicative
of a correspondence bctween our fleet off Cadiz
and persons in power at teat place, from which it
might be expected tltut arraugements were making
for the s:urrevder o 1 ill ships in that harbour. We
believe that Covernme•tt are in daily expectation
of ititelligeoce to that e :Fed.