The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-04-07 00:00:00

Three Private Rills were brought from the Com-
mons by Lord WILLIAM R USU. LL, and others, pre-
sented and read a first time.
SIILITIA OFFICERS' REGULATION BILL..
IIOI3ART moved the Oder of the Day,
that this Bill be read a third time.
The Earl of RADNOR moved a verbal Amend-
meat, which was adopted.
When the Dill had been read a third time,
moved ..he insertion of a Clause, by way of Ride,
to restore the Clause formerly inserted in the Mi-
litia Laws, respecting the Preference to be given to
Field °dicers and Captains, who had tuLmerly
served, before Officers not qualified by lauded
Property were admitted into the Regiments by the
Lord Lieutenants or Deputy Lieutenants of Coun-
ties.
Lord HOBART said, that in the Militia Mt of
the last Sessions, the Clause now moved by way of
Rider by the Noble Earl, w:is by war of experiment
left out, from an idea that it would be found to be
an improvement of the Militia ; that sufficient time
had not yet been afforded to prove, whether it was
an improvement or nut, and, thetefore, as it was a
matter that required more consideration than thb
moment would allow, he could not but feel it his
duty to oppose it.
Earl SPENCER rose and said, he did not in-
tend to have said one word on the subject of the pre,'
sAit Bill. But he owned he hail listened very at-
tentively to the various discussions which had takes •
place on the Bill, and he did expeEt to .have heard
more to prove the necessity of the alterations which
the Bill made in the constitution of the -Militia.
Not having heard that necessity established, he must
support the clause moved by the noble Earl ; and
indeed he saw ea good ground for relating it. It
was not a new clause, and therefore not obj:!dion-
able on.the plea of innovation. It was merely re-
curring to the original principles and constitution
of the Militia, and therefore, as a sincere friend to
that great and meritorious force, which he also con-
sidered as the best constionic.mal defence of the king-
dom, he could not but think it was always wise and
politic to go back to the original principles of the Mi-
litia, and adhere to them as closely as possible. For
these reasons he could not conceive that more time
was requisite for consideration of the clause, as the
noble Secretary of State had contended, and agree-
ing that if there did exist a necessity to allow the
Lord Lieutenants to admit captains and field-officers
not qualified. by law into the Militia, the provisions
of the Bills, though liable to some objeatons, were
not materially objetlionable.
The Clause, was rej.ded and the Bill read a third
time, and the usual messav sent dawn to-the Com-
mons.
BILL FOR RELIEF OF SOLF4F.RS AND SAILORS.
WOUNDED IN FORMER WARS.
The Earl of RADNOR rose and said, he meant
to move several alterations and amendments in this
Bill, which he had introduced to the House, and
therefore to adjourn the further proceeding upon it
till that day three weeks. His Lordship stated a
fait which had come within his cognizance as a ma..
gistrate ; it was this : the wife of a soldier had ac-
companied him from the place of her *ettlement In
Lan:ashire to Portsmouth, whence he was to cm.
bark for the West Indies. She wished to accom-
pany him inhis voyage, but was net allowed : there
then arose a difficulty as to the proper officer grant-
iag less to her own parish. ['his womae. his
. Lordship said, came before hint at Salisbury, in her
way to her own parish, and there he learnt the per-
ticulars of the fad ; and surely some facility to the
granting of passes to the wives of soldiers, under
mach circumstances, ought to he provided; he
, therefore meant 0 l4tr,o4ice a Clause to that
effect.
The Lord CHANCELLOR said a few words ap-
, proving of the inter ded provision.
The further consideration of the bill was ad-
' jourced to that day three weeks.
. Mr. Reynolds produced at the Bar some papers
of the proceedings in a Cause in the Court of Chan-
cery in Ireland, to the accuracy cf which he was
sworn.—Adjourned.

UOUSE OF COMMONS.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL (i.
The SPEAKER informed the House, that he
had received Minutes of the Proceedings of the
Commissioners appointed to take evidence reT4-
ing the merits of a Petition complaining of an un-
due eleCtion for the University a ; in conse-
quence of which Lc had' issued his warr4nt, which
would appear in the pest London Gazette, for re-
assembling the Committee appointed taeP(l4re i"-
to the said Petition. on t4se 25th
Sir JAMES PULTENEY brought np the Re-
port of the Commingle ippointed to inquire into the '
merits of a Petition, complaini.ag of an undue Ciec-
don fur the County of carroarthen, when it appear-
ed to the said Committee Jatnes Ilaralya
liants, Esq. was duly ele4ed to serve in Pairiamer,t,
as a Ki..ight of the shire for the sahl County; and
that the Peti;icci WAR not friolixts or vexatious.
. 4 re,rson front tbo W reasiul of ttol#nd trailAtt
. .

be reada second time on the 21st inst.
The Southwark Paving Biel was read a first
time, and passed, and Lcrd Witte AM Russzee
ordered to carry it to the Lords.
Lord Wm. RUSSELL moved the Order of the
Day, on the third reading of the Surry
Bill. On the question being put. that the BM
should pass,
Colonel WOOD said, he wished to adjourn the
further consideration of the Bill to this day fort-
night. If the Bill was equal to the promise it held
out, it would be of great public utility, but he warn
confident it was not the case, and that it would
operate very much to the disadvantage of the fate
mess, particularly in the carriage of hay and straw
to the metropolis. He, therefore, moved to ade
jouru the-Debete to this day fortnight.
Lord Wm. RUSSELL.observed, that the Bill
had already received the fullest discussion in the
Committee ; that there had been nine or ten divi-
sions on it in the several stages,- and that it had
been conduCted in every respeft with due deliberate
lion.
Mr. HURST said, the Rill underwent as minute
an investigation in the Committee as was possible I
that enquiry had beep made to the utmost extent*
and the reest satisfeflory information received. He
contended. that the rates were reasonable that any,
alteration would destroy prejeCt entirely; ansl, '
he trusted the House weteel not proceed upon bare
sug estion, to defeat the purposeseof tile Bill.
I he Bill was then passed without a division, aid
Lord Wm. Ressest, ordered to carry it to the
Lords.
Mr. BUR.DON gave notice that he would, to-
morrow, move fie- postponing the order respeiting
the Mayor of Great Grimsby, which steed, tor the
19th to the Monday following.
Sir WILLIAM SCOTT' rose. in consequence of
the notice he had given, to move for leave to bring
in a Bill respeeting the Non-residence of Cie Clergy.
He would not trespass long on the timeof the House
on the present occasion. l'he Bill which. was the
subject of his consideration underwent a variety of •
alterations, at dilFerent times, and the result was,
that further alteration was necessary. The statute
which was the ground of the Bill, was enaited be- .
fore the Reformation, and consequently before the
National Church was established ; it has• its merits,
but, in his view, it had also its demerits. He en-
larged at some length' on the power it save to in-
formers to proceed against the Clergy. 'llns power,
he said, was called into aetivity about five years
ago, and in a manner which evinced that the using
of this instrument of oppression was not attended
with public utility. It was the praftice of those in-
formers, in many instances, to commence aillions,
and then write letters fur money te withdraw them,
and he knew that many men of advanced years, and
most irreproachable habits of life, stoner than be
mentioned at a public tribunal, complied with those
demands. It had been stated by an Hon. Gentle-
man, servin for a western county, that 100 cases
of anions of-this kind had occurred, but that did
not shew that 100 caws of criminal non-resi-
dence had appeared. He knew seventh of those
cases could not be pronounced non-residence, though
subjeet to the operation 1.1 the Statute. Ile wile
induced, by consisksration of public duty, to un-
dertake a task which he knew was invidious in
the extreme, though it \yes a subject upon which
no individual was obliged to enter ----He, last
Sessions, had haradeced a Bill, which was fi.
nal)), withdrawn, le-cause he conceived, there was
not sufficient time lor deliberation, which must
strike every 'lmp, who had in recollection the
mob of Bills which had passed in the 144 agonies
the last Parli.,ment. He said, this Bill would be
fundamentally the same as thei introduced in the
last Pitrliamete, with a fey modifications. leis
Legged leave to observe, that there were certain
persons who claimed eeempfion, and whose claim
he has not rejeatel ie the Bill—with respeet to
their claims, his will was as free and unfettered as
other men's. He was convinced, that a proper at-
tccltion to the repair or rebuilding their habitations,
would ie a great 4egree prevent the non-residence
of the Clergy. 'With reeved to t.;:e Larger bene-
fices, there were many not supplied with houses,
awl he was confident they mere compellable by law
eo provide them. He saw the danger of disturbing
the present possessors, but wished to provide a re-
enedy for the future. As to inferior livings, great
relief had been Afforded by Mr..Gttleee's sket,
end also by the Corporatioa for the augmenta-
tion of Livings ; but it was found necessary to
apply that fund to other purposes. there-
fore, 'or this purpose, Woeil .suggest the ety
of advancing small sums of the public money, at
small interest, or pereaps in some cases at .no in.
.terest, and, where anprgent necessity appeared, to
give it entirely ; by this means he thought not one-
eiftla part of the instances of non-residence would
.oc,:ur. He would also suggest, whether et may not
be idvist.ihle to add ,to the funds of thi Cerpotatiose
for the; ,purpose, or whether the conselislaticu of
small and contigucceslWings, where ;Ovate interest
}vac not concerneo, wovid not he a proper treesitte ?
It wasirepoliWe for him to 4{)121 an ejt te cif th.e
Sogt:l4 m rii4 chase PG*6 ?RV fdli;44.

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