The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-04-27 00:00:00

No. 6,989.

PARLIAMENTARr INTELLIGENCE.
HOUSE OF LORDS, TursDAY, Aram 2S.

cou witnesses were heard at their Lordships' bar in the
caul
Bloom v. Fitx,e4hbon.
Bin w Courtenay, Mr. Mansfield, Mr. Blithank, Mr. Chap.
biin, and other Members of the House of Commons, brought up
wend private Bilk, which were read a first time.
EQUITABLE LOAN BILL.
Earl GROSVENOR presented a petition from the inhabitants
of Stockport and its vicinity, in the county of Chester, in favour
of the Equitable bon Bill. Ills Lordship observed, that the sub-
rct os,i ore to which he had not paid much attention, but if the
arcanatonces connected with it were such as were described by the
peitiners, he was convinced it was well worthy of the attention of
lardshipad on the table.
Lod SCCFIELD presented a similar petition horn certain per-
sons confined within the rules of the King's Bench prison ; another
:him those within the rules of the Fleet prison ; and another from
lire confined within IVhite.crosastrect prison. The Noble
Idol observed, that the petitioners were well qualified to judge of
o,e merits of this Bill. They stated that they hail suffered mate-
Naly from the frauds of pawnbrokers. and they hoped that Parlia-
ment In Its wisdom would it: future effectually prevent the imposi-
tons of those persons. The petition from the prisoners confined
Tao then rules of the Kieg's Bench prison contained no less than
signes.—Laid on the table.
A similar petition liras por hy the Earl of TANKER-
VILLE, from the weavers of .'oitaltields.—Laid on the table.
The Earl of LAUDERDALE presented a petition from the
sugar bakes of the city of London agn,nst the Equitable Loan
Bd. The Na da-Earl said that he would Oka advaneOgc 04:_or
present opportunity to state to the ITetlie at 'What oblige, mittrl
u,do what circumstances, the Equitable Loan Bill at the present
moment stood. It had been read a first time, but no one had been
yet found to propose Its second reading. He was anxious in the
ratan time to lose no opportunity of showing how far this society
was an ev:l society, and with that view he had movea for copies of
Certain papers, which their Lordships had since ordered to be
pouted; and he hoped their Lordships would see the impolicy of
pmcreling farther, until those papers had been printed and laid
mpg the table of the House. As many of the petitioners prayed
to be heard by Counsel at the bar against the Bill, he should cer-
tainly more that they be so heard; and if they succeeded in
makingout their case, and in proving that this society was an evil
satiety, be felt assured that none of their Lordshir. would
be disposed to acquiesce in the plan for its incorporation;
based, if the establishment of this society should be proved
to be illegal, and standing in the same situation as the
convention in Ireland, which their Lordships had so recently put
down, a, a matter of course it became impossible that their Lord-
slops could agree to its est.sblishinent. On a question of so much
importance, and of so interesting a nature. he should cerrainly
move the attendance of the Judges, with a view to putting several
costions relative to the law. in order that the time of their Lord-
abipi, which was so valuable, might not be needlessly expended.
He had felt it necessary to make these observations, in order that
tleir Lordships, as well as those who were absent, might be aware
boo the case really stood.
Lord DACRE said, that he did not wish at the present moment
to press the Bill to a second reading, in consequence of the chrum.
ranee alluded to by the Noble Carl. He supposed, however, that
the papers which, on the motion of the Noble Earl, were ordered to
be printed, were not very ycluminotot, and that they would be soon
rode to bit before the House. He should be glad to know from
the Noble Earl by what tints he thought those papers would be
printed.
The Earl of LAUDERDALE in reply observed, that from
tide nature, those papers would be necessarily voluminous. and
Cut it must be some time before they went ready. He could, bole-
ro, assure their Lordships, that so far front wishing to delay the
crew, of the Bill, he ass most anxious to hare it fairly and fully
cruised, and to have the best and soundest opinions upon it, in
tedet that the public might be aware of its merits or demerits.
Log DACRE said, that at all events for the present he would
abstain from again bringing the question before the House, and
would rtgulate his so doing according to the convenience of the
Noble Earl. . . .

The petition wu then laid upon the table.
The 31arquis of BATH prrsented a petition from the manufac-
turers and tradesmen of the city of Bath, in favour of the Equitable
Loan Bill, and a similar petition from a town in the county of
Wilts.—Laid on the table.
Lord DACRE presented a petition to the same effect, from the
inhabitants of Whitechapel.-I.aid on the table.
Lord ROLLAND presented a petition Timm the Mechanics and
AMIN.' of Hammeninith Ned Kensington. in fsveur of ele ui-
table Loom 8111; • p/d DOW the front th 1.
ham, and *nattier tram those of e.sea. The
observed that he should give no opinion on the Kubject to which
those petitions referred but be should reserve the declaratinn of his
sr....tnents upon it until the question enure regularly brfore the
lime.—The petitions were laid upon the table.
CORN LAWS.
Lord 31 ELVILLE presented • petition from Edinburgh, against
is thermion in the Corn Laws.—Laid on the table.

Toe tlarl of ROSEBEHRY observed,itT;ithe country was
rich indebted to a Noble Friend near him, for starting the subject
(the Corn Laws, and to the Noble Earl opposite for stating that
he did not intend to propose any alteration In dime laws during the
present Session. He (the Earl of Boseberry) held, however. the
opoion, that it was impossible to coctinue those laws as they now
noted, but he was not prepared to deliver his sentiments as to
tint change ought to be made. He hoped that another Session
would not be allowed to palm, without having some defined and per-
anaentrneasure ; and that their Lordships, in their decision, would
rot be guided by an attention to this interest or the other, but
wouidiegislate for the common good of aIL The Noble Earl then
inserted a petition from the inhabitants of the county. of Ross.
sib by the Lord Lieutenant and by several of the Magistrates of
fat county, against any alterations in the Corn Laws.
The rotation was laid on the table.
The Marquis of L.INSDOWN said, he rose pursuant to the
notice Ile had yesterday given, to present a petition in favour
of au alteration in the Corn Laws. As it was signed by a very
numerous and a most respectable portion of the community, he felt
h Ins duty to call their Lordships attention to it. In consequence
oldie question pot by a Noble Earl last night. the opinions of the
Noble Earl opposite, sad of several other Nnble Lords had been
etched, which, If they had not then been given, would probably
bare been so on the presentation of this petition. It would be there-
for unnecessary for him to go at-length into the question now. But
I • duty to the petitioners required him to make some observations
the subject- It ruse him peculiar pleasore in presenting this
petaion, considering it as the petition of a great body, for it con-
tused r.early 6.000 names, and among them were the signatures of
Knott, if cot all, the merchants and bankers of the city of London,
to perceive that Parliament. in proposing some alteration in the
plaint system of the Corn Laws, were acting in something like it
contaeretee in the wishes of the people. It was therefore with
perulkir pleasure that he presented the petition. The petitioners
prayed far an alteration in the Corn Laws, but on the principle of
a ileetai;t• for some protecting duties, as they knew that in conse-
verice of the extent of the taxes some protection was necessary.
Kit own oninirn was, that at some pericd or other, such an altera-
tion soul.t be inevitable, but he agreed that at the present period
°I the 1.1.e410"• it would be unwise to propose it, although he was
eiktriaced that it could not with safety, even to the landed interests,
korgddayed It would be impossible to keep the question 1'
had that with an avowed intention of changing it, for any length
of Cate, without considerable inconvenience to the landed interests.
Drente it was impossible to say how soon an unprofitable season
right occur, shirt would raise the prices to Mt. and this would
rece the admission of foreign corn into the market, which would
spec...ay lower them down to 405., or perhaps 305., and thus pro-
dr:e a violent emulsion. He certainly did not expect such an oc-
currence, and there as kw probability that the porta would be open
t foreign produce since the measure recommended by the (Javan-
had taken place—that of admitting into the market corn from Ca-
nada, as well as that now in bond. But such a circumstance
‘,311 not beyond the reach of probability, because the course
er Nature and of Providence might visit us with such an
action : so long at we were liable to this affliction, we were in
40get.of this revulsion; and against such a revulsion it was the
O.4ty o: the mercantile interests., the lamled proprietors. and Paella-
trtot, to guard. In reference to what had been stated by the Noble
Jul.. (Liverpool), he would observe, that he did not think a fixed
(boy would be so liable to alteration as that Noble Earl appeared
is think, in consequence of the necessity that might arise out of
poetical events. The Noble Earl had stated, that if a war should I
ocon the difficulty would be extreme, and that indeed it would be I
iTeolaible to continue any thing like a fixed duty. But the very
effect of this war would remove the evil anticipated, as it would
)::re to the merchant an opportunity of making higher profits by
l,s freght, and be beneficial Rothe landed proprietors. as it would
!:oz, gloater iLlfietilties in the way of exportirg foreign corn.
• refine it would not be necessary eve this ease se. make any alter.
in the system, when ones that permanent system had been
-'•,Picd. He felt it necessary to make a few observations
ri a tubject connected wish this question. It had been pub-
! stated, that to the agitation which this subject had under.
loot. in this and In the other House was owing the variation anti de.
t:.'Sion in the exchange which had for some time taken place.
• ' ::ad very high and unexceptionable authority tor stating that
• variation and depression in the exehange had taken place
before the question was agitated. This agitation might err-
t.o; lo hose &mired to depress the exchange, but it certainly was
rOl the cootie. The cause originated in the extensive speculation
and other foreign produce. Ile had now discharged his
' •is the petitioners. During the next Session he would
,neur in the views of any Noble hoed who would en.
•. duce their Lordships to enter upon this subject, with
to the interests of all parties, a, d without the endue
.f any one. With reference to the respectability of the
-iers. and to the importance of the matter to which they re.
he begged that the petition might be read. It stated their
to proper, able, and respectful language.
petition from the merchants, bankers, shipowners, and
• of the City of London. praying for a revision and an alter-
. •he Corn basts, was then read.
of LIMERICK said, that he had but one observation
loaoe on the subject before the House. He agreed with the