The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-03-23 00:00:00

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

Uwe the motion-Ontir. WILLIAMS leave was given to bring
is a Bill for allowing the Cape of Good Hope Banking Company
is sue and be sued in the name of their secretary.
BRITISH GAS LIGHT COMPANY.
Mr. DENISON presented a petition from the Gas Light and
Coke Company spin■t the British Gas Light Company Bill.
_COMMITTEE ROOMS.

Mr. CALCRAFT, seeing one of his Majesty's Ministers (Mr.
Secretary Peel) in his place, wok occasion to complain of the !neon-
-1,011421Ce suffered by Members And by the public from the want of
44tficiently spacious Committec-Roome. He had that day seen
~early one hundred rind fifty persona sitting as a Committee in the
body of the House of Commons, and however anxious Hon. Mem-
bers should be for economy, he was sure no one would say that the
House should be thus occupied ; nor would any person deny, that
proper accommodation should be afforded to Members whilst em-
rosined in transacting this very important part of the public
After a few words from Mr. S. WORTLEY and General GAS-
COYNE, who concurred in the observations of Mr. Caleraft--
Mi. Secretary PEE'. said, that every Member in the habit of
attending Committees must feel the force of what had been said.
The subject was one well worth considering, and he assured the
House that all that laid in his power should be done to de away the
inconvenience complained of.
Air. LITTLETON disapproved of the practice of holding Com-
mittees in the House, by which the air became heated, and was
with to breathe when the hour for sitting arrived.
The SPEAKER explained the circumstances under which he
had consented to haring& Committee sit in the House. The Com-
mittee-Rooms had been all occupied, and when he was applied to
he did not feel himself warranted to refore. SVhatever arrange-
ments should be made to do away the inconvenience complained of
000ld not be executed during the present Session. finless he was
ediereise instructed, he should therefore continue to allow Com.
minces to an in the House what% h appeared necessary. (Hear,
Mar.;
COURT OF CHANCERY.
Mr. BENETT presented a petition from Robert Gourley,
complaining of injury done to his Personal property by delays
in the Court of Chancery.—Ordered to lie on the table.
COUNTY RATES.

M:. BENETT presented x ctition from the Justices of the
peace in the county of Wilts.. complainin, of the pressure of the
couoty rater.— Referred to a Committee.
•.....• ,•

HOUSE AND WIN1)01,V

TAX.

Alt I.INDSAY presented a petition front the merchants and
other Mbabitants et Perth, praying for the repeal of tie House and
Winslow Tax, and also of the duty on insurimees.—Ordered to bc
printed.
CATHOLIC EMANIPATION RILL. _

Me. Esrcouit C. seeing the lionourshis Member for
Westminster (Sir F. Burdett) in his place, tool: this opportunity
of inquiring whether the Honourable Baronet and those who acted
with him on this question hod actually determined on moving foe
the second reading of the Catholic Emancipation Bill on the 14th
April, as had been stated. This day wauld fall exactly in the mid.
die of the Quarter Sessions week, and no'hing could be MOTe incon.
aenient than for Honourable Members to ni.ike arrangements to
attend the second reading of the Bill at that time. lie admitted
that the duty of Honourable Gentlemen in that House was para-
mount to their duties elsewhere ; but he was sure the llor.ourable
limpet would agree with him, that if the convenience of Honour.
able Gentletnen could be consulted without a sacrifice of public
duties it ought to be done.
iir F. RURDETT said, he had consulted with other Honour-
able Gentlemen favourable to the Emancipation Bill, and it was
considered and agreed upon amongst the friends of the measure.
that the 14th April would be a -suitable period. He should be
most a•:xtoua if possible to meet the cocaenience of every indi-
',dual. hut the House must know how clifficttit it was to do this.
Ire should take the Honourable (ierdientan's suggestion into his
sumideratirm however, and acquaint the House with his resolution
to-morrow Ithis day). •
Mr. S. cr.•tary PEEL wax convinced that the lion. Baronet was
of a fun discussion on this important measure. (" Hear,
lie.a," from Sir F. Burdett.) The period chosen certainly was not
die most likely to Mauve a hill attendance of Members. There
~ere the Nrwn:arket Races, which would occur at this time; and
the Quarter Sessions, as stated by his Hon. Friend. These cer-
tainly were not valid reasons to prevent lion. Members from at.
tending ; as only one week's daisy was asked, he hoped the
Hon. Baronet would teed the justice pf amsenting to the suggestion


which had been offered to him. lie (Mr. Peel) would not conclude I
without observing, that it was his intention to take the sense of the
House on the *stood reading of the Bill.
Mr. TIERNEY confessed he was anxious for the second read.
ing of the Bill at an early day, that i: might be sent at an early
period to the other House. It was true that leave was given to bring
in the Bill three weeks ago, but it was also true that the second
reading could not have taken place until after the Easter holidays.
As to the Newmarket Races, he did not think they were of much
consequence. Protestants and Catholics were equally fond of the
amusement of horse racing. The quesiion of Emancipation was
one of the first importance. and heimplored the House not to give
the discussion of this question any unnecessary delay. The most
active Magistrate could not find any magisterial business of so much
importance as the decision of this question ; and although he con-
curred with the Hon. Baronet in his desire to accommodate, he
hoped the Hon. Gentleman would not consent to the postponement
of the second reading, unless very sufficient retsons were brought
forward.
31r. Secretary PEEL in explanation observed, that the call of
the House, on the second reading of the Roman Catholic Emanci-
pation Bill, was fixed for the 13th April, or ly two days subsequent
to the expiration of the time to which it was understood the House
would adjourn for the Easter holidays. This was certainly a de-
panure from the ordinary practice of Parliament. Ile could not
conceive what objection the lion. Baronet could have to a week's
delay. The other measure which it was generally supposed
would accompany the proposal for Catholic Emancipation, had not
yet been made known to the House, and he (Mr. Peel) was con-
vinced, that many Honourable Members, who differed from him
in opinion, would not like to come down and vote far the Bill until
the accompanying measures were made known. (hear.)
Sir F. B('RDETT again rose to say that he would very readily
agree—so fares he properly could—to any arrangement that might
be convenient, but repeated that he wished to postpone until to-
1110170W giving any decided answer.
Sit IL FERGPSSON presented a petition from certain ship-
owners against the duties on oil and blubber.
Mr. 11113 IE presented a petition from the Ward of Aldersgate
against the house and window-tax. The Hon. Gentleman also pre.
armed a petition from the town of Manchester in favour of the
County Courts Bill.
Sir R. WILSON rose to put a question to the Colonial Secre.
tarn relative to some proceedings in Jamaica, but owing to the noise
which just at that moment prevailed, the precise terms of his ques-
tion were not distinctly audible. It was understood, however, to
relate to the trial of some individual in that island. He said, that
if the information he had received were correct, and he had every
reason to believe that it was so, the course he was then taking
would have the effect of relieving and vindicating an injured per-
son. If, on the other hand, he was misinformed, it would have
the effect of removing a calumny that had been very widely spread
The n.me of the individual in question was Michell ; he was a
pers..n who had been treated with great and most unjust severity.
Mr. W. HORTON, in answer, said, that there was already on
the table of the House a Report of the trials, to which he might
refer for information, but as the question was put, he would take
that opportunity of saying that several individuals, amongst whom
was the person alluded to by the Gallant Officer, had been sen-
tenced to the punishment which the law awarded to the crimes of
which they were convicted; that punishment was transportztion ;
and it had been changed by the Duke of Manchester into three
months' imprisonment. The Court had no option : it was bound
to pass the sentence which the law awarded.
Mr. GODLISDRN rose to request that the Honourable Mem-
ber for Aberdeen would postpone a motion of his respecting, as
we understood, the office of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. The
motion was fixed for next Thursday, and his wish was that the
consideration of it should be postponed till after the holidays.
Mr. HUM E expressed his assent.
PROVISION FOR THE POOR IN IRELAND.

Mr. GRATTAN, in conformity with the notice be had pre-
viously given, rose to move for leave to bring in a bill for the Re-
lief of the Irish Poor. It was not his intention to introduce into
that country the whole system of Poor's Rates as it existed here.
His plan was to make it optional in parishes to assemble in Ves-
tries, and to appoint Committees for the purpose of investigating
the state of the parish, and to ascertain who might be deemed,
from their good character and their poverty, fit objects of relief.
That such Committees should make reports, and should be at
liberty to collect subscriptions throughout their parishes. Should
these subscriptions ant be found sufficient for the purposes re-
quired, he proposed that the Vestry should have power to assess
the parishes to such amount as might be necessary. This, in
practice, already prevailed in some parishes in Ireland; and one
of his objects was, to relieve those who resided in Ireland from the
burthen of maintaining the poor. and Cast some of it on absent
proprietors. Ile did not intend that the proposed measure should
remain in force longer than • certain number of years, for he
trusted that at no distant period the poor of Ireland would be able
to support themselves by their own exertions. The system which
he intended to introduce was in some respects analogous to that
which prevailed in Scotland. In many of the parishes in Ireland
they already pay voluntary contributions, or such as are called so :
but which, in fact, were in a great degree compulsory. He felt it
the more necessary to introduce some measure of this nature, for
they could not at a future period come to England begging for the
Irish poor. The want of • parochial system was felt in Ireland,
and his object was to supply that want. It would have the effect
of relieving the Grand Juries from much of their present trouble,
and the resident gentry of Ireland from • heavy burthen. Had the
plan that he intended to propose been adopted in the year 1818,
they would, he was persuaded, be spared much of the suffering which
unhappily occurred in 1822. In Ireland they could never look
forward to any thing like a state of permanent tranquillity, until •
parochial system should be established. He wished now distinctly
to state his object to be the formation of an active parochial body.
The details of the measure might, he thought, be more conveniently
discussed on the second reading of the Bill. He concluded, by
moving for leave to bring ika Bill for the Relief of the Poor in
Ireland.

Mr. GOULBURN quite agreed with the Honourable Gentle-
man that the second reading would be the most convenient time
for entering into the details of which such brief notice had just then
been taken. The subjects adverted to were of the highest impor-
tance, and he could not, until the views of the Honourable Gen-
tleman were laid before the House in a more detailed shape,
pledge himself to any thing specific ; but that, of course, he would
be at all times most ready to advance whatever has a tendency to-
wards the improvement of Ireland.
Sir H. PARNELL, in addition to a few other observations,
that if the Poor's Rates were established in Ireland. the
amount of the assessments would swallow up all the rents of the
lar.ds. .

-----
Mr. V. FITZGERALD mid, that this was one of the most
important subjects that could come before the House. He thought
it necessary to state at the outset, that he considered the intro-
duction of the Poor Laws into Ireland would be attended with
the utmost danger—that it was likely to perpetuate its poverty
and to degmde its population. The country was unfortunate at
present, but it would be infi :itely more so if the poor's rates were
to be inflicted. He gave every credit to the motives and intentions
of his Honourable Friend; but he regretted that he had not
waited for the information which might be expected from the Lt.
boors of the Committee now sitting above stairs—a Committee that
let molting escape their vigilance and assiduity. For the present
he wished not to pledge himself to any opinions further duo he
bed butted, until the second reading of the intended Hill.
Sir J. MACKINTOSH, giving full credit to his Honourable
Friend for his good intentions, must still say, that the only curse
not yet inflicted on Ireland was the imposition of the Poor's
Itatee, and that he trusted this country, having for ages experi-
enced their effects, might save Ireland from the infliction.
Mr. CURWEN said, that since the Biil for pasting the Irish
poor from England to their native country, they had in many in-
stances become more prudent, sober, and industrious than before.
Mr. A. BARING thought the strong objections lay not so I
much against the use, as against the abuse of the poor laws. He
also thought that if the business of finding work were to be relin.
quished, and the objects confided to providing for the old and in-
firm,
many disadvantages would he avoided.
After a few words from My. Hum E, and 111 r. C. Witsow, and
from Mr. FITZGERALD in explanation,
Mr. 111()NCK was favourable to the intended measure. He
thorns ht his Hon. Friend (Mr. Grattan) ought not to be charged
with introducing the motion unnecessarily t it was called for by the
necessities of the whiney. Were it not for the salutary effect of the
Poor Laws in this country. the condition of the labouring classes
would be wretched in the extreme; for, but for the operation of
those laws, every farmer from one end of the kingdom to the other
would dismiss the English labourer, who cost hint 2s. per day, and
adopt the practice of employing Irish kbourers, whom he could
procure at an expense of only Is. a day. It was in consequence of
the Poor Laws alone that this did not take place, for the farmers
well knew if they refused those torn employment as labourers. they
were bound to afford them support as paupers. It was the effect of
the Poor Laws in this country to protect the labouring classes from
the oppression they would otherwise be subject to.
Mr. filINET'f was desirous that his Hon. Friend (Mr. Grattan)
should be permitted to proceed in the development of his plan. It
would be satisfactory that an seequate provision should be made
fur the poor of Intend, in order that when by the passing of the
measures of relief contemplated with regard to that country, Eng-
' list capital should be introduced (as he doubted r.ot but it would),
it might have full menus and opportunity to hercfit the country.
Ile therefore called upon his Hon. Friend to persevere in his in-
tender.
Mr. GRATTAN replied. The Reports of the Committees of
132•2 and 11123 had been of a nature to justify this measure. lie
tliought they clearly proved its necessity, and it was the facts dere-
I loped in the proceedings of those Committees which bad intlaced
hint to originate the present proposltiun.
Leave was then given.
Tit F..ITY OF GHENT.
Mr. Secretary CANNING brought up a Treaty between this
country and America, aehich had been received in England in the
summer of 1822. Ile was not aware last night that it had not been
laid upon the table of the House ; and as it find been omitted, he
took the m ;soli opportunity of correcting the mistake.
Mr. 111;31E wished to know it' all the points in dispute were ad..
justril it 'hat Treaty ?
Mr. CAN was not the Treaty of Ghent, but a stria-
rate convention which had been submitted to the consideration of
the Emperor of Russia, and returned with his determination thereon
to this country in the year 1822. It related to the restitution of
various property, and among the rest a compensation for slaves
taken front the Americans.
CUTLERY TRADE.
Mr. S. WORTLEY obtained leave to bring In a Bill for the
purpose of regulatiug the moiety trade in England.
LAW OF SETTLEMENT.
Mr. SPURGES BOURNE—The present Law cif Settlerneet;