The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-05-22 00:00:00

HIGHWAYS PENALTY BILL.

Sir C. Monca enured the Order of the Day for the Holm
requiring itself iglu a Committee on the Highways Penalty
Hill.

Mr. Clatwat expressed a hope that Ids lion. Friend would
suffer the Bid to go through the Committee, pro forma,
as it was a measure that required much culisiderati,m. He
had fell it necessary to send the NIII to than part of the
county with which he was connected and, its his opinion,
the further proceeding with the measure ought to he
potted till the next Session, to give the Magistracy au oppor-
tunity of ilonuitting it.
Sir C. MONflt said, if the Bench of Magistrates, in that
part of the country from which his Hon. Friend came, had
■ny specific objections to the Bill, they ought to have stated
them. But this had not been done—, uu•re general obser-
vation was made, am to the necessity of nwisrely considti
the measure. On this account, he saw no rea‘on fur delay-
ing the Bill, and he hoped his II ble Fiieud would
nut oppose the Speaker's !ravine the chair

The. Bill dies west through the Committee —Report to-
morrow.

CITY ACCOUNTS.
Sir W. CURTI'S robe. iu cosiformity with the
notice lie had given. to call the attention of the
House to a Petition which had been presented on
the sth of May, from the Corporation of the City
of Loudon, praying that they might be heard by
counsel against the production of certain ac-
counts. lie admitted the omnipotence of that
House—hut lie was sore their power never would
be used to procure a statement of the private ac-
counts of any corporate body. Before he sat down.
he should move that the Petition in question should
be referred to a trielect Committee, before whom
counsel might he heard. Ile submitted this pro-
position, because the Corporation were called on to
lay before the House an account of the net pro-
ceeds of their estat.s. and other private property.
It was contended that they milzlit to prodace these
',anent, became the Corp"raiino had called on
Parliament to grant a stint of money to enable
them to build a gaol in the City of London.
But. if they asked for a port' of the public money,
it should be observed that it was to be expended
on a public work. The gaol Newgate was so
crowded with prisoners.% ho came bout every part of
the country, that some time since it was found ne-
cessary to rr►ct another prison, which the Corpora-
tion did, at an expense or 33,11014. That they
had no right to defray this expense omit of their own
pockets. was evident, ►ince a variety of grants bad
been made, for similsr purposes, from the time of
Charles the First, down to the prevent period,
part of which was taken from the funds of the
Corporation •of the City of I. lon. LI coun‘el
were hearth, on behalf of the Petitioners, he was
cosivinced. good reasons would be adduced, to
prove that Parliament ought not to ask for the a,•-
counts in question. The lion. Barotnt concluded
by moving—
" That t►e P titian presented from the Corporation of

Mr. Serjeont Orrio.ow uhaerved that tbe prep., t
motion appeered to Mtn to he the last effort of die
City of Lonelou to get rot of all the prestous pro-
ceedings of Parliameist in this ease. The Hot..
Bit t came for:tool, set this late priiod of the
Session, and moved for a Committee, being per-
fectly aware that the Sessiou roust expire before
they could make their report. lf, tit the Hots.
Baronet had argued. proper reasons could be ad-
vanced for withholding those documents, why did
not the Hon. Ito-asset foinself. whose ecuteiless the
[louse was well aw.ae of, come forward and slate
them ? Seeing no retools. whatever fur agreeing to
such a motion. he should now move " The pre.
s
emus question,"
Sir J. SHAW shortly contended that the Petition
ought In be referred to a Select Committee.
Mr. WIroTTESI.EY, being one of those who voted
for the production of those impels, felt himself call-
ed on to support the pr.sposiimii, that counsel
should be heard before a Committee, for the pur-
pose of stating any reasons that could be adduced
against !Hying Ilse different accounts before the
flume: The proposition appeased to him to be a
very reasonable one. The °righted motion for peper•
wit: of a mostextrusive nature—arid it seemed to
him, that Perhametat never was called on to con-
cede a proposition for hearing counsel, its a care
that more decidedly demanded such an iiidulgeoce.
Sir fil. W. RIDLEY supported the mutioir fur
Committee: . .
Mr. IVitoreEr4LEY explained.
The SPEAKER said, that the present motion was
one of a very peculiar nature. The Petitioners re-
quired to be heard by counsel against something.
Against what ? Why, in oppinsit to the orders of
the Howse itself—and, with this peculiar feature,
that the reference was to be made from the [louse
to a Committee. This, he believed, was altogether
unprecedented.
Mr. H. SUMNER said, the Corporation of Lon.
don having been directly charged with rmhrzzhiug
54,0001. which was intrusted to them I',r partieul.r
purposes, he hoped they would mot shriek flout
itiquiry--but that, before they deinalided 34.0004
of the public money, they would stiffer a full in-
vestigation into the circumstances of their expen-
diture and of their funds. Whenever the (feted of
that expenditure was laid before the House, he
would shew that there was a roost extraordinary
degree of profusion and extravagance connected
with it. The conduct of the Corporation towards
the House we. most I:OIItUMNCIOUP. The order tOr
these accounts was laid before the Corporation the
very day after it was agreed to. 11'llat was there
done ? It was introduced to the Court of Com-
mon Council, who referred it to a Committee
above stairs. They considered it for four or five
weeks--and even took cousisers opinion on the
legality of the order. The accounts were then di-
rected to be presented forthwith—und the Corpo-•
ration, finding thenaiielets defeated on that point,
had now recourse to a petition, Jnr the mere par.
pose of delay. This Rua evidently a trick—for, if
counsel were once allowed to be heard, the Seniors
would terminate before the business was concluded.
If the funds of the City were not intruded for the
erection of buildings of this kind, why hail the
Corporation ever exproded them in such works ?
Now it was perfectly well known that Gillspur-
street and Ludgate prisons were built without any
assistance from Parliament. But it wee said, thug
the Corporation had no right to build prisons in
London, which were appropriated to tualefactors
from every part of the country. The house, how-
ever, could riot forget. that the specific fund from
which the expenses of erecting prisons was defrayed,
was derived from a source to which London mid
Middlesex did not pay our penny, but which Lure
extremely hard oil the neighbonring counties.
Mr. Bets NETT way of opinion that the Corpus
ration of the City of Loudon were accountable to
the Court of Chancery for the expenditure of the
fuud alluded to. There was not, he believed, a
Member of the Corporation who could lint go to
the Court of Chancery, and protest against any
improper exprptlittire of that fund. Tree House.
from misinformation, was placed in Is very asikward
situation—end. in his opinion, in order to come at
the whole truth of the case, they ought to agree
to a Committee above string, where the arguments
of counsel could he intended to.

Mr. Alderman Woo* denied, th.t the City of
London had embezzled the stash of 54,000/. as Icol
been alleged by the Honourable Member (Mr. H.
S ... ner). That Hon. Member alluded, Is sup-
posed, to the Bridge-lonise Estates. Now, the
Net was, the Corporation had uveer expetided the
funds derived from that source, for their own be-
nefit, or the benefit of any other individua:•.
They had, indeed, lent a ran of money to the
Commissioners of Sewers for the benefit of the.
County (Surrey) of which the lion. Gentleman
was one of the Representatives. That molter
would of course he repaid, awl might theta I.e
brought into account. With respect the White-
cross street prison, much motley had certainly been
expended on it ; but it was expended by the ex-
press desire of the House; and, he believed, that
prison would reflect great honour on the City of
London. which was at present put to an expense
of 9_u,0001. a-year, for the support of prisons,
which were were tilled by individuals from all parts
of the country. He trusted that the House tvo.altl
see the propriety of at to the soma,
Hon. Baronet—since by the itivestiglatioti
maitre alone, before which their eotiost I wow
an opportunity of entering into the case,
the House arrive at a just conclusion on
intricate and delicate subject.
Mr. H. SUMNER explained.
Mr. WYNN argued, that as the rig
House to interfere arose out of the portal,
ceesity of an i tttttt ediatt remedy in e.ties of
application of funds appropriated to c
purposes, the (louse in this instance bad

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••t c.ll f a the accounts or the City or London, ex-
r..iit it should appear that a case of great abuse had
been satiifactorilv made out. The Corporation
l'i.m elves h4il prayed in this instance to be heard
11 their cotiosel why these accounts and papers
•'uwld not be publicly exhibited. He was as well
aware as most persons of the delay and inconveni-
-I•ncr re...lilting from hearing counsel, but he cer-
i.iitily thought the City entitled to be heard in their
tlefeeiee, through the beet medium of advocacy they
Wight with to wire., sho•rld the order for the pro-
duction of these p•alwrs aud accuouts be persevered
in.

The Sit sera f.•lt it necessary to state what, in
this inetesice, he considered ought to be the rule of
proceeding to which the Blouse ought to conform,
although he, from a severe cold, was scarcely audi-
ble. The tnotion of the Honourable Baronet was,
that the Petition should be referred to a Select
Committee, whilst the Petition requested that the
case of the City should be permitted to be argued
by coutisel. This was rawly the place where
counsel could not be heard, counsel being usually
heard at the bar or the Douse. Nor would it he
tom:rent in the House that counsel shodld be
beard against their own order for the production of
these papers. As it now stood the only motion *as,
that the Petition should be referred to • Committee.'
I r that were adopted, then it might be considered
kerhaps expedient to allow the Committee to ascer-
tain from the coausel certain legal point*, the
i•ounisel actin rather as witnesses, on points of
law, than as counsel arguing upon such points,
and stating how far they, isorfessioually, knew whe-
ther the production of such paper* or accounts
tn'glit he prejudicial:
Mr. 111, en hoped the Honotiretile Baronet
would withdraw the Bill for a grant from Pairlia;.
Ment in aid of the City's fnude, upon which this
)Petition was founded.
Mr. N. CALVERT obserVerl, there had been ant
'muralsl delay in this application to the House,
and which would by uo means be considered to
iasply respect to the order of the Uouset which
was made on the 44th of February, whilst the
motion of the lion. Baronet had not been made un-
til the 210 of May.
Mr. Car.citseT said, that If the Bill now pend-
ing were *Withrow the order for the production of
these papers, as .1 1 lag out of that Bill, ought, as
• natural conseque cc, to be rescinded, as, in that
ease, the necessity for further inquiry on the sub-
ject would lw alto,getlwr at an rut!.
Sir I%lSt. CURTIS consented to withdraw the Bill
for aiding the funds of the City, which had been
read a first time.—[This Bill had refereuce to the
repairing of gaols to Inc City, as far as we could
collect.]
Mr. Lawns considered the question of import-
Uwe. Au absolute order of the House hail been
• Welted on ilw City to produce certain iuformation,
.gis which the City thought proper to demur. Then
the City Member came forward to move that the
Prtiti,osi of the City, begging to be heard by it.
counsel, should be referred to a Select Committee.
The precedent was one which might he carried to
o dangerous length, and the future orders of the
House for the production of iiifo.rination might
be treated with equal diorepect, and be demurred
tit, as in this instance, to the manifest inconve-
nience of public discussi and the transaction of
interesting public business. Although the order
had been issued in consequence of the solicitatino
of the City for a vote in aid of the charges depen-
dant on its estate, still the House ought not to
adopt hastily any precedent on the subject, lie
should rather suggest, that, on the Bill being with-
drawn, the order should also be withdrawn.

Mr..BRAND considered that ma with reference
to ally future prucerdings which might bake plaice
ill aid of the City, that it would he better, the
Bill bring withdrawn, that the order should also be
withdrawn ; although it might le necessary, in case
the application of the City were repeated hereafter,
to move a similar motion.

Sir JAMES GRAHAM would not consent to with-
drawing the order, except the Members for the
Cay of London should actually withdraw the Bill
now pending.
Mr. CALCRAPT considered that the lion. Baronet
bail consented to withdrawing the Bill already.
Mr. THORNTON concurred in the necessity of
rescinding the order as best calculated to preserve
11w form. of proceeding adopted by the House.
The SPEAKER considered th.t it would be needs-
airy it should appear on the Journals that the Bill
had actually been withdrawn. A motion therefore
to that effect would be necessary.
Sir Wm. CURTIS should adopt the advice of the
Speaker, and therefore moved. that the Bill alluded
to it Id be read a second time tins dsy six
months ; which was agreed to.
After a few words from Mr. SUMNER and Mr.
Alderman WooD, the order of the Wl' of last Fe-
bruary, connected with the said Bill, was also with-
drawn.

Sir FRANCIS BVIDUTT presented Petitions from
AlOogdosi, Westminster, Newington, Thornybankt
Middlesex, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Hud-
dersfield, and other places, praying fur a Reform
Ilsr'world ; which were read, and ordered to
lie on the isble.

Lord I.►uLt.t.d moved for a Select Committee
on the as:. mwd taxes, and taxes affecting shop
window's. fie 'stated that he had, previously to
leaving the country, had various communications
nn this subject with many persona in los quarter of
the country. The grievances of which they had
..m.,l4isiefi were or three kiwis The first arose frens
she severity with which, since the last order from
the Tex-office, the duties ou shop-windows had
hero enforced, and the high rates at which honors
had bren assessed, to which had beets attached very
extensive show, although the house, themselves
were inconsiderable--ia these cases they had
teen all rated at a 'such-►etst. The next evil
cornplaisied of was, the frequent visits of tra-
velling assessors going about the country to
endeavour to tioni out something which hod not
been adequately, as the Tax-office thought, as..
sew(' by the resident assessors. The last subject
of complaint was, the practice of assessing, as re-
gula►ly-employed servants in trade, children who
hail hers, at any time discovered carrying out par-
cels from the ►hops of their parents. Ile did not
his motion fo► • Com-

subject of these 'unso-
und hoped. if the Commit-
wake Bey progress is the

investigation this Session, their report would be
ready early in the neat, and that the Howe would
proceed immediately to set upon it.
The Committee was agreed to, and thereupon
nominated.

Sir JOHN NEWPORT postponed his motion for •
Bill to extend to Ireland the Modus for • Tithe of
Flax, as established by the law of England.

USURIOUS SECURITIES AND RILLS.
Sir S. ROMILLY rose to move for leave to bring
in a Bill to render valid Usurious Bills of Exchange
and Promissory Notes in favour of Endorsees not
implicated in the usurious trausaction. In moving
fur leave to bring in the Bill, he highly compli-
mented his Hon. Friend (Mr. Serjeaat °inlays) upon
the advantages the country had already derived
from that Learned Friend's late Bills, one of which
(the Bill fur extending the beuent of the Habeas
Corpus Act to certain persons) he must consider
the moat serviceable to the public and the interests
of society to be found in our legal records. To fol-
low up the project of that Learned Friend, with
respect to the abolition of the laws respecting usury,
was one of his principal objects. It was well known
that in the present state of the law, under the sta-
tute of Queen A ime, that all securities given for
money upon usurious conditions, were void in any
person's handr. The spirit of mercantile transac-
tions was hereby excessively cramped ; and it would
be a natural consequence of the relief given by this
Bill, that all good bills would immediately be di...
counted without any apprehrsision being excited
that they were usurion4 iii their origin. Discoulits
would be thus reudered more easy, and trade would
be proportionably facilitated.
Leave was then given to bring in the Bill ; and
after a kw words from Mr. Serjeant Otist,ow, Mr.
FINLAY, and Sir SAMUEL. BoMILr.Y in explana-
tion, who disclaimed any intention to include
within the provisions of the Act securities given for
rambling deists, the Bill was read a Gist and se-
cond noir, and ordered to be committed on Mon-
day next.
Mr. COOPER brought in the Bill to amend the
laws regarding County Infirmaries in Ireland;
which was resit a first and second time, arid order-
ed to be committed on Monday.

anticipate ally objection to
metier to inquire iota the
sottish and cuniplainto, and
lee afiout.l not Lc able to