The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-02-08 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE.

HOUSE OF LORDS, SIONDAT, Frs. 7.
Lord CLIFDEN nee to correct a misstatement that had apl
pasted in the lifersging Clirowick, of Friday last, relative to ad
observation *loch he had made before their Lordships on the pre-
ceding night. He had stated that " a Learned Irish Prelate dis-
approved of Bible Societies;" but the Paper he alluded to had re.
parted him to have said that " the Archbishop of Tuam disap-
proved (It-those Societies." He (Lord Clitilen) had not mentioned
the name of that Prelate, and should be sorry that any report of
hie having done so should reach his cars.
Mr. Adrian, the Treasury Clerk, brought up several papers.
They consisted of Accounts of Pensions granted on the Scotch Civil
List; Accounts from the Commissioners of the Northern bight-
houses; Report of the Commissioners of the Herring Fisheries ;
sod Pspe:s respecting the Regulations of the Signet t)iSce of
Scotland.
The House was then caned on to regulate the attendance of their
Lordships for bearing appeals.
IRISH AFFAIRS.
The Marquis of LANSDOWN wished to put a question to the
Noble Earl opposite ; and on the answer he received would depend
whether or not heshoultiotibmit a motion to their Lordships. The
House would probably recollect thrt when the Noble Earl, during
the last Session, proposed an initial into the state of certain parts
t Ireland, he (the Marquis of Lansdown) proposed that such
inquiry should not be limited,, but extend to the whole cf the
country. The Noble Earl had then stated, that he would give
notice when he intended to revive (hose inquiries; and he had, in
fact. given snch notice during the debate on the last night. lie
(the Marquis of Lansdown) would row ask if the Noble Earl
iar,inded those inquiries to be general or limited?
The Earl of LIVERPOOL said, that the motion he intended
to submit to their Lordships on Thursday week, would not be of
the same nature as that submitted last Session. The inquiry was
meant to extend to all Ireland. and not to any particular part.
The Marquis of LANSDOWN said, he understood from the
debate of the last night, that it was not the intention of the Noble
1::•.r1 to lay before the House any papers relative to the Catholic
Association ; he was anxious to know whether or not the Noble
Marl intended to do so?
The Earl of LIVERPOOL said, that he certainly did not in-
tend to submit any such papers.
The Marquis of LANSDONVN then gave notice, that he
shoals' to-morrow more that an humble Address be presented to his
Majesty, praying that his Majesty would he graciously pleased to
order copies of all despatches made by the Lord Lieutenant of
Ireland, relative to the origin, progress, and nature of the political
societies in Ireland.
Their Lordships were then ordered to be summoned for to-
r.: arrow.
Lord COLCHESTER laid upon the table the Report of the
Committee of their Lordships, appointed to inquire into the duties
of the Clerks of Parliament.
Earl UROSVENOR congratulated the House on the success
that had attended the labours of the Committee, by which a con-
strlerable saving had been effected, and arrangements made for the
Letter performance of the dirties.
SCOTCH JUDICATURE.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said, that a Bill had been last
Sassion brought into the House. and had received their Lordships
approbation, for improving the system of Scotch Judicature.
Before it had been so brought in. a Committee had been appointed
tin the purpose of considering the best means to effect this ob-
ject ; and persons had been appointed in Scotland to inquire into
the matter. Those persons had made a Report on the subject, and
the Bill had been drawn up conformably to that Report. The Bill
hid been adopted by their Lordships, and sent down to the other
House, where some amendments had been proposed, which pre-
vented its being paned. He thought it would be beneath the dig-
nity of their Lordships to introduce the Bill with those amend-
ments. and lie meant to bring it forward the same as when passed
last Session by their lordships; any umendreent that seemed fit
:night be adopted by a Committee. lie would take advantage of
site opportunity. to state to their Lordships in a few words what
was the object of the measure he intended to propose relative to
Joint Stock Companies. Ile would first state, that when he al.
Faded to the topic on the previous night, lie was not aware that an
important action on the subject had been pending in the Court of
King's Bench, which was decided on the very day he introduced
the matter. He would not now state his opinion of what the law
on the point was ; but he wished to state what he intended to pro.
pose to their Lordship. (We understood his Lordship to say, that
his intention was to bring in an Act, to make the sale of shares in
any Joint Stock Company illegal. until such company had been
incorporated by Royal Charter; and to punish all persons din.
pacing of any such shares )
The Earl of LAUDERDALE objected to the course proposed
by the Noble and Le trned Lord. Their Lordships were able to as-
certain what the law on the subject was by calling the Judges be-
fore them, and, having done that, to make a declaratory act. It
was of no use making a new law, if an old one existed to punish
the offence ; and this point should be first ascertained.
The LORD CHANCELLOR explained. His intention was
that the law should 'be an enactment, and not a declaratory law.
The statute of the 6th Geo. I. by which the transfer of such shares
was rendered illegal, ordered the infliction of severe punish-
ments for the offence—no less than a forfeiture of goods and chat.
teas—that it was more than probable the (Minding parties would go
unpunished. He thought that by proposing milder punishments,
there woeld be a greater probability of correcting the evil.
The House then adjourned.