The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-05-21 00:00:00

.1. '
so powerfol Iniseltiof. As to the danger of the Atwell prineildert el repalsioe aMOngst faellinti. Noe let if
establishment, end the will of the clergy, which bad boss , he seppoord that the kw on this subject was clearly I
involved i ill a argoimest, he wished to God time Ate awry.
the parochial owlish, elergo—(Hear, Lear)—toold be ex. andermosid. The Marriage Act declared that all
a nined at the bor. He would trust the decision of the the, insn'ilget of persons ander age, -celebrated
oirestios epee their assertions. What, then, was in the was, without the consent of the natural parents
ilf *.weistemewt? The well-paid episcopal clergy of the err gaterdnorts simald he invalid. But when
country. As to the charge or isainuatiost of trenching on the Act mentioned a natural mother, it was
ehurth peoperty, by promoting as alteration of the potato
tithe Maua one of the last who would attempt to reduce not supposed that it meant that the consent of a
the property proeirfi of (tat body. tie wished that citfieri it OM l mmh" t° the marriage of a child illegitimately
time of the Umiak had lees hawed as to the appoweistiow I 'men would render tile Contract valid. However,
of the church property. He considered that according to 1 the derision of one of the greatest Judge' who ever
the Scat principles of Justice, they were bound to preserve t eat in the Ecelesiamiral Court (Sir Wee. Scott), in
that property; bet it was no evasion of it to propose a the case of Legget sod Horner, altered the opinions
eirowiatation, without which it would be lepossible to col-
lees it at all. t 0...
mankind, soh eh had been held from the passing
Mr. GOULBURNroplaisseil. of the Marriage Act in 1753, to the period of make
Me. PLUNKETT reauteketi ea the impropriety and in.. ing that deetatott in 1799. It coald not therefore
convenience of going into this disteseion at presets', sad es. he reasonably argued that the law was sufficiently
pee:ally in a tone which the Petition did not reeve. The clear, and required no illustration. He should
prayer was for as •Iterallos io the colleen°. of tithes—
mot for • reduction of tither, which the Honourable Gentle-
therefore vote for the Bell, and oppose the adVird•
man himself would scarcely wish. For himself. he had went proposed by leis Hon. tool Learned Friencf. .
beets oufairly dealt with. He was not opposed to the land. Dr. Lusuitte•roe observed, that the grievances
lards—he had always berm os the best terms with them : but of the present law were so strong and pressing,
lie repeated what he bed said before, that the far greater pert i s____
attnougn perhaps not quite so great we represented
of the rhumb arose from the revenue of too heavy rents.
by Isis lion. and Learned Friend who had just sat
He explained the principle of the me boat to be intro•
dated is be merely • power for egtesdneg and con6reaing a down, Set were eufficiently urgent to justify the
very advantageous practice which had been adopted is some int rodoetion of the measure.
of the parishes,hy which the landlord sad parson came to as Dr. Pott.ustoaa said, that the measure which
agreement as to their tithes to their mutual beurSt. IN said, lie had introduced most nut be considered as con.
as before, that \remold not see his way in Use mitten's* sad
fined to the marriages of natural children. bat to
alteration of tithes:, hemmer whatever wield be held to am
ply here, would equally affect all other properly. Ile I all mariiiges generally. The Marriage Act de-
sioaid go as far as any one in geese rid of thht Oared all martiages lend without the consent of
imisacce, the tithe proctor—and that greater nu/sante, the parents Nod guardians invalid; therefore that law
tithe farmer. Let the landlord sud parson eseoptrate sod t affixed a blot which must be perpetual ; time
they would soon be rid of both. If they could not ce-ope.
could not cure the evil. The object of the pre-
sage, they men madame to suffer as they were sloilig at
Kermit. sent Bill aide to remedy • defect which had existed
Lure ENNISMORE def. nded the landlords in Ids pert of for a length of tiros., but which bad become porta-
tbe country, and attributed the heavy reels to the exactions cularly manifest within the last Obesity yeses.
or the middlemen. Perseus sometimes willingly, sometimes unknowing-
Sir J. NEWPORT said that the Howse moat be comdeced
ly, entered into the Marriage contract in this tine
by it. own papers that something //OM NMI be dose. There
were Niue parts is tea where uo potato. tithe had yet bees lawful manner, and every day they had instances
tsaeled. Sturdy they would sot leave those plates open to of ire:eons applying to the Court, after cohabiting
the demand said the leasing of the tithes made It trepoil- and having issue, endeavouring to set aside the
elide to interfere. There wee ad r Irmo le pestent • tolln. licenses obtained on their own oaths, end in fret
'notation, especially with lay lospropessiors. The patio.. , _ ...
tithe hod been
recently demanded is placer where the rent availing themselves or the benefit of their own per.
led out been isiereased these thirty years. lie had had on. jury. It could hardly then be denied that such a
eke his eye Wit hundred tithe causes of one Court, the stare grievance would require some remedy.
men of which was 9J. the =WNW* 14d. ; the highest costs The chitin was theta put and carried.
'lead. Here woven evil of loesieslable remit.
The next clause enacted, that the marriage of
Mr. DALY raid, that nothing short of • complete revision
any persons who had cohabited up to the poising
of the system week, be at all useful, and coufirmed the lee-
, timuny of the Right Hos. Baronet (Member fur Waterford). of this Act should be considered valid.
He knew of three ur four Courts, where the Seneschals got Mr. Vl' ETHERELL objected to this clause, because
from 200/. to 400/. fur judging tithe causes, the highest of it had a retrospective operation, and, on the pre.
• which was So. sumption or anieudit4 a general measure, it tended
.: . Mr. N. COOPER said a few words.
to invade private rights;• and he challenged his Hon.
Mr. GRATTA N rejoced at every word pronounced by
every Irish Geolleman this evening. They all adoritteol that and Learned Friend to produce an instance, in
she system was intolerable. There was no Irish clergyosass which a measure affectiog the poesessioa of property
who did his slaty to_kia flock, who would nut rej.iice at so bad a retrospective operation.
alteration. If the bill cooly went to Rive a leasing power, a,4
ail)
reform:l-
the Roo. sod Learned Geollemas might as welt keep it is Sir JAMES MACKINTOSH said, teat
his pocket. tory measures mind in some degree ilirVe ll retro-
Mr. CAREW presented a Petition from Cesar Colelough, spective tendency, in order to establish that quiet
•of Comity of Wexford, complaining of the tithe system. possession of rights which was necessary to preserve
Mr. COKE pretested a Petition from Wells, Norfolk,
the order and harmony of society. And when he sew
ageism any alteration is the Naription Lais.
Mr. HUME presented a Petition from the Law Statiouers the watchful guards that were tasted round the melee
orient the Bill for regulating the Stamp Duties, frivolous rights, such as a butcher's, or a baker's,
Mr. H. G. BENNETT brow& op the Report of the or a tailor's bill, he could not help expressing hair
: Masslaughter Bill. surprise that we should leave the most important
Mr. BROUGHAM observed, that one part of the Bill
interests of mare in which the happiness of father,
would have a moat beneficial operstios. It would remedy .
**s of the great defects afore criminal code, which snood wife, child were involved, exposed at all times
egaiest the canons of criminal jurisprodeaces namely, affix. to be called in question. lie admitted that
log a diaproportioard punishment to some offences, and also there was come justice in the deviation of to-
t ma.sseerael punishment to the same offence. The principle Feigners frotn our laws oa that subject, and some
i prof Aught ovens our criminal law should be this, that in truth in the remark that we protected no tights ,
all rises there should be the least possible punishment that
..moold preempt erumeo-that is, there should he the greatest brit those which came under the denomination
teulausay of human 'offering. and in all issuances that lb, of ponsids, shillings, auud pence. His flonctersible
depaalsbasent should bear • jam propos tiou t.i the crime cum. and Leaned Need (Mr. Wetherell) had thrown
silted. Nothing could weaken tie coalldence of the people out. • challenge to produce a case in wbich
femurs is the wilasusistratiou of justice, which should be al-
• law affecting property had a retrospectiit ten.
ways held sacred, than to punish the lesser offrnee with the
teary ; but did he forget that ten yests after the
s ' , r pontsbasent, etc she same crime with differeut mulish-
mint. Marriage Act was pissed, a message was carried
Some amendments were then proposed, and the Results. which had a retrospect to that period, and was in
lions, in their semorded stale, were agreed to. fact an ex pustfado law ? It was to him a matter
The Dill MSG ordered to be read • third time to-morrow. of great satisfaction that lie was not acquainted
PUBLICAIEW LICENSER. with a single individual who could be affected by
9a the motion of Mr. BENNETT, the Rill fee regu- this measure, and lie could therefore speak his
laimeliablieass Liceses was postponed to Pride) nett.
mind the more freely. Ile considered the laws as
Me, .BERNA L wished to take that opportunity of stet.
Intelsat he considered to be a defect in the Blit. He seder. they cloud at present of the most obnoxious elm-
• ,
stood drat its operation would extend ell over the country, racter. If • younger son looked with an anxious
••d exclude Losidoo and Weatcnioafrr. Now this he coosi. eye upon the property of has elder brother, and
dered would be very unjust to the brewers in the eonntry, in prying into the secrets of the family of his wife
who in fact would be taken by surprise, and it would affect
should discover some family secret that would
, most materially the property vested in publieshouses.
61e. BENNETT said, it would have been worth the deprive her of her fortune, the present law would
V( bile o f Isis Hon. Fries'd to have examined the contents of enable him to carry destruction into that family, to
tbe Bill before be bad made the representation to the Horse blast the expeciatious of the children, and send
which he had just done—for, in point of fact. the Bill would them adrift orphans through the solid. He did
iaclude London sad Westminster, and extend all over the not say that this was a ease of frequent occurrence.
country; and he protested against the opportunity his Hon. Happily
Friend bad selected for his observations, when the Bill was for the character of this country, the law
about to be postponed, as well as seines the unfoooded in. only operated as a triul of the virtue of English.
foreestion he had given to the House. men. Frequent examples might be adduced of the
Oa the motion of Mr. CH ETWYND, the Vsgraut Laws moat heroic and magnanimous conduct of younger
Aaseadosest Bill was postponed until to-asorrow.
brothees. He wee willing to admit thst the character
Mr. HOBHOUSE postponed his motion on the subject
of the repeal of the Window-light Tax, which stood for Wed- no where existed except in Fos description. bet it
aresday next, to the 19th June. was sufficient fur him to know that it had that ten.
AGRICULTURAL COMMITTER. dency. But on the subject of precedent he wished to
Me. WODEHOUSE brought up that part of the Report remind his Hon. and Learned Friend of the Act
of tits Aericeltaral Costroutee which related to the Warc- passed in 1814, respecting the suits of the clergy. •
imagist of Corn.
• It would not be contended that that measure had'.
THE MARRIAGE ACT. not a retrospective operation upon property,
On the motion of Dr. PHILLImoit• the House for the Legislature annulled three hundred suns.
went into a Committee on the Marriage Act against the cl.ergy, because, by lon disuse, the
Amendment Bill.' claims brought 'against them were considered null
Dr. l'Hirttmoae proposed en amendment to and void. 13y the present state of the law, the mar-
one of the clauses, namely, shut the words .‘ emu. ;loge contract was degraded below every other.
cal mother" should be substituted for 44 'muml species of contract. All other contracts made by
and lawful."
a minor were not, as thin was, void ab kith". iE
Mr. WZTHERELL said he considered the Ines- • minor contracted for the purchase of any thing,
sore extremely objectionable, and uncalled for. It if he took laud on rent, the contract was voidable
in feet Kehl out a bounty upon obscurity, instead f at his option on his coming to maturity; but it' he
of doing what it professed to do, that is, to eltscidate continued lass possession after he became of' age,
die laws relating to marriage. It gave an encou• and suffered the contract to remain undisturbed for
rageaseet to every young Man of 40 years of age a time. that would be tuken in law as an assent to
to violiteehe obligates's of the marriage contract the terms of the contract by which lie would become
into which he had entered, or at least to leave it a bound. But the marriage of a minor was void
chance and uncertainty whether he ratified that ab kith, and 'to continuance of the connexion
tosmage when he ationied his majority. He should after maturity, no matter for what length of time,
therefore propose that all the words after " tit it would bind either party that might afterwards be
enacted," should be left out. however, should the &spoiled to question the validity of the coronet. Its
t sense of the Committee be again,' him, at was his the case of any other contract being set aside, on
illiculien to express himself more strongly upon the ground of nullity, bull) parties were placed on
the different clatters as they were proposed. an equal footing as 'trisected the effect of their
Sir JAMES MACKINTOSU said he did not hope to contract upon their station iii society; but in the
be able to express himself in the strong language of case of a marriage contract disturbed and set Heide
his lion. and Learned Friend (.tlr. Wetherell), but as inert's' after an observance of years, our parry
lir wet hot prepared to hear any man in the king- ' only could be restored to hie former consideration.
clout assert that there was no nrces.iiy for an &lie- The condition of the unfortunate woman was
ration in the existing law ; for lie (Sir James) con. for ever lowered ; she was divested for ever
sudered the prevent laws relating to marriage of the of what constituted her honour and gave einem.
must objectionable character. They created dissen- lino in Bewley. The vld Marriage Act was
tents and discord rinongst families—they diseulved replete with injustice. It wasoriginally intended to
all the social ties, and introduced the most itetive present marquel marriages beteten young permit)*

, .
'\l
of diffettat rants in life ; k is Amity et variantee
in principle with the condition of British society;
in which all ranks were urn confounded bat blend-
ed ; it was a law to prevent marriages of affection,
and to promote those of interest; it was • law to
uphold the distinction of ranks in society. foggiest
the laws of virtue and of nature. It was intended
perhaps to protect the daughter from the poor for-
tune-hunter; but it enabled the father to sacrifice
her to the rich fortune-hunter, for the gratification
of his own interest or caprice. On those grounds
he should move to leave out the concluding part of
the clause.
Mr. WETHERELL argued in favour of the retro-
spective operation of the present Bill, from former
ensettnents of • retrospective nature in other amt.
Mr. D. GILBERT also justified the retrospective
application of the Bill by reference to an Act
passed a few years since, to give validity to dead.
and wills, under which property to a very large
animmt had passed agreeably to the intentions of
testators and devisers, bat which had not been axe.
cuted in strict and literal compliance with the forms
of legal ahsignment, being only "signed and
sealed," and not "deliVered."

The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said, the dap,.
rience of every day furnished abundant and painful
proof of the moral evils of the present state of the
law of marriage in this country. which called loudly
upon every considerate)* of moral benefit to society
for amendment; and if it were admitted that there
was a moral obligation to alter the law, he could
not bring his mind to stop at any point short of re.
!pairing the whole worse of crime and calamity aris-
ing out of the law as it at present existed. Where
a great and acknowledged evil, one calling aloud
for redress, existed, it became the Legislature
of the country to step in to the relief of the
suffering parties, and adopt such regulations as
would not only prevent the future recurreoce of
similar mischief, hut, so for as it could be done
with safety, to remove that which the defective state
of the law bad already crested. Ile could not
therefore conceive on what principle it was that
parties who had already gone into the Courts to
seek their remedy, were to be deprived of the ad-
vantage of that redress which it was the object a
the !present Bill to afford to parties hereafter placed
in similar circumstances.
Dr. Pistwuoite supported the clone its its
original form; bat the amendment of Sir J. 1111Acs-
-1,44.0.ti was agreed to without a division.
The remaining clauses of the Bill were severally
agreed to, and the noose having resumed, the Bill
was ordered to be reported to-morrow (tint day).
DISTRESS OP IRELAND.
The Irish Poor Elipploymeipt Bill went through
the Committee, and was ordered to be reported
to-morrow (this day). • .

COLONIAL TRADE.
At the request of Mr. Hume, the Committee
on the Colonial Trade Importation Duties Bid was
postpunedtill to-morrow (this day).
. .
NAVIGATION ACTS.
Mrs WALLACE, in moving the order of the thy
for the Committee on the Navigation Bill, said,
'he would take that opportanity of making a few
observations, partly to explain the rens on which
the measure was founded, and partly to remove some
of those objections which had been made to ►t, on,
as he conceived, an erroneous notion of its object.
That object was to carry into effect the proposition
which be, had stated to the House at the close of the
last Session, for timplifyingthe Navigation Laws of
the country, and extending and improving its niter.
course with foreign nation.. This was 'imposed to
be done by the repeal of • variety of Acts passed at
different periods, froM the time of Edward 111. to
the reign of Chance 11., for the regulation of the
navigation of this couriory. Tile Act of 14
Charles 11. and those which had been parsed sub.
requeirtly to that, were now generally considered as
founding the existing navigation laws of the king.
dim. Mo.t of those which had been passed pre-
viously, had by these subsequeot Acts been either
partially repealed or-rendered uheeeessary. On the
general principle of the expediency of asking the
whole law on the subject clear and explicit, lie anti-
cipated
no difference of opinion; the question of the •
particular laws which It might be fit to retain might
give rise to some discussion in the Committee.
It was the intention of this Bill to ►epeal the law
prohibiting the exportation of wool, which circum-
stances had rendered no longer necessary, and which
had indeed long ceased to be operative. The law
for regulating the importation of woollen cloths also
was declared to be no longer necessary; indeed it
had been virtually repealed by the heavy duties im-
posed iu 1787. It was his intention to preserve the
law which granted to foreigners, in any case in
which the interests of a foreigner were concerned,
the privtlege of ■ Jut', of one half British end
the other half foreign subjects, which was granted
by Edward 111. in confirmation of the Great Char-
ter, and proved the anxiety of our ancestors to give
every encouragement to foreigners in their inter.
Otarrie with thts country. The tint question for
consideration was, whether any alteration of our ex-
isting Navigation Laws was expedient ; and the
meat was, whether the alterations proposed were
such as it wind be most ad►isable to adopt. He
but heard it said that the Navigation Laws were the
foundation of the wealth and prosperity of the
country, and that the principle of those laws could
not be surrendered without leadiog to t he deatruction
•uf the shipping interest, on which oar 'national
greenest depended. If by that it were Ascent that
it was, necessary to the interests of the country to
reserve the coasting trade, the fisheries, and the
trade with those countries that had no shipping of
their own to British vessels •lime, he was quite
ready to go to that extent ; but if it were meant to
decline that Al the existing restrictions upon the
trade of foreign nations with this country should be
preserved. he could not concur in that doctrine.
He thought that many, if not most of those restric-
lions, might with perfect salety, and with great ad.
'unmet to the general interests of the country, be
removed. Though it was perfectly true that we
had a right to adopt whenever negulatiotis we might
think proper. in respect of the trade to be carried
on by foreign nations with this country. and that
foreigners would harm no right to complain of our
exe►cising such an authority ; yet tither nation*
would have a right to retaliate, and to meet pro-
hibition by prohibiton. It became a quesitoo fur
ronoiderution, therefore, how far it was for the in.
teteat of this country to provoke such retaliatory
measures. With respect to the great interests eta.

t

. A

oft
booked in our ahlppiog, in our Colook* in our
commerce. and in our COMM Get ores, if other Powers
were disposed to concur, lie Ovoid as 7 that the
present system of trade was that which would
be found the most conclusive to the prosperity
of the general interests of the Gauntry. If hair.
my heretofore observed • restrictive policy in
our trade and navigation laws, we had at length
discovered that the coarse we had been pursuing
led to consequences ultimately injurious to our own
interests, looked up to as we were by other nations
as an example of prosperity, greatness, and strength,
encouraging them to walk to our footsteps, it be.
came the wisest and soundest policy that we could
adopt, to shew them an example of an approech to
the most liberal system; which, by benefiting
them, would prove most beneficial to ourselves.
The object of the present Bill was to mark the
disposition of this country to do that, as far as
was consistent with the national interests. The
law, passed in the reign of Charles 11. were
wise in • political point of view, the object being to
pull down the naval power of our oppouents. But,
that object having been effected, the laws began
now to prove injurious. He kaew not how far the
shipping interest might be disposed to concur with
him, but he could assure them that they had not
their own interests at newt more than he had. He
knew how much and how closely the other interests of
the country were connected with their prosperity,
but he wished to promote that prosperity through
the other interests of the country, and not to their
exclusion. He knew that the safety of our com-
merce depended on the extent of our nasal power;
but it was also clear to every man who paid any
attention to the subject, that the way to foster the
naval power of the country was to cherish its com-
merce. For observation and experience taught us
that no country that wse flourishing in commerce
had been without a powerful navy at the some time.
Sitter the object of putting down the commerce of
the Dutch, wills a view to the diminution of their
naval power, which was the primary object of our
restrictive navigation laws, the system of this coun-
try had been one of successive and continual re.
taxation from those restrictions. The measures
which bad been adopted with that view, amounted
to somewhat more in number than 300 ; and yet
under that system, within the last five-and-twenty
pare, we had succeeded in carrying our commerce
td its highest pitch, and our naval power had gone
him* in hand with it. With respect to the time at
which it might be proper to enter upon a general
revision and amelioration of our navigation system,
if it were to be done at all, he should say that no
time could be so proper as the present moment. if
they looked around, they would see every
nation endeavouring to become commercial ;
they would see regulations adopted by every fo-
reign nation to foster its own trade ; but at the
same time, let them look to the restrictions and
prohibitions which all were adopting against
this country. We had no right to complain
of those regulations ourselves, having vet the ex-
ample ; but the soundest policy we could adopt,
the wisest course we could pursue, was to lead other
nations Ilse way to a more liberal systeni. The first
relaxation which lie had to propose was one that
had been almost generally approved, which was, to
permit foreign ships, manned by foreigners, to.bring
goods from any part of the country to which they
belonged. The next was in favour of a particular
pat of Europe—he meant the kingdom of the
Netherlands. By the Act of Charles 11. goods,
the produce of any country is Europe were generally
allowed to be brought into this coutory,either in the
situps of thecouotry producing them, or in British ves-
sels ; but there were certain articles, the produce of
Holland and the Netherlands, that were wholly pro-
hibited. He wished to place the kingdom of the
Netherlands in the saute lineation as the Vest of
Europe, by removing the restriction. Almost all the
commercial men who were examined by the Commit,
tee of Foreign Trade on the subject were of opt.
nion that the restriction did not of all benefit the
trade or this country, but that it was a great obsta-
cle in the way of our intercourse with that king-
dom... One objection he had heard, Which aloe out
of the difference between the Dutch quarantine laws
and our own ; the time allowed by them foe landing
certain articles being shorter than oar own. But to
meet that, if necessary. we might relax our laws.
What was found by experience to be safe for the
Dutch iu that respect could not be less safe for us.
Another regulation which he had in view related to
certain articles of Russian produce, which had
hitherto been permitted to be imported into this
country in the vessels of other nations. He should
propose to oblige them to be brought either in the
ships of that country or in British vessels, in the
same manner as the produce of other nations.
There was a subject connected with this 13111
which he had particularly to notice, in order to
remove an erroneous and unfounded impression, that
the alterations he had to propose would facilitate the
introduction of thrown 'silk into this country. That
opinion had given rise to the besetting of Members
at the dour of the House in the manner which had
been been that day, and to the violent remonstrances
and representations of the numbers of proem likely
to be thrown out of employment by such a mea-
sure, which had all been urged in a most forcible
manner, and which be could view in no other light
than so many attempts to intimidate Parliament.
His opinion was, that the throwing of silk in this
country ought to be protected. It had hitherto
been efficiently protected by • very considerable
ditty, which he did not propose in any way to touch.
That duty hitherto had lint been evaded, because
the attempt was not found to answer the purpose
of doing it ; and there wee nothing in his Bill
which would render it more easy or more profitable.
The fears which lied been entestaitied on that head
were thereforegroundless. The effect of these relax..
twos io our European policy would be to get rid of
the confusion arising out of the Act of Charles 11.
winch established one set of regulations fur one
country, and others with other countries. The pre-
, sent plan would unionist, the whole. The neat
relaxation he should propose related to America.
' It was inniecessary for him to call the attention of
the House to the field opened for commerce in South
America, or to the advantages which it preseuted.
The House was aware of the eagerness of the United
Stares of America to take advantage of the
opening, and of the steps taken liy the Pre-
sident to anticipate us in the benefits to be
derived from the trade in that quarter. He (Mr.
.Wallace) did not mean to prescribe what ought

~ ~;

•, ,

to be dose •by the Executive Government of thin
country with' regard to the recognition of the inde-
pendence of the several States of South America ;
whether they were to he recognised or not, and ;a
what period, he should leave entirely to their de.
ciaion. What be meant to propose gas, to pima
the law in such • state us to enable us to derive
mediate advantage from the communication with
them, whenever their recognition did take place. He
proposed therefore to admit the ships of those Stated,
with the produce of their own country, into our ports,
ott the same terms as they should admit our ship,.
With respect to British ships, it was not proposed to
allow them to bring every thing front every piece,
bat only from the countries *here commodities
were produced ; because that would encourage fo.
reign ships to bring goods from the most clis.
taut parts of the world to their own pone neared'
to this country, leaving to our ships only the trans..
It had been argued that other nations. from the
greater cheapness of their construction, would have
the advantage over our slupping, in the niter.
course between us and them. But the fact
had proved otherwise. For though the coon.
tries in the north of Europe had the advantage
of us in cheapness of construction, we had gained
much upon them in dist respect eines 1815.
He contended that our greatest rivals in that
respect would be the Dutch, French, and Ameri-
can. ' • and not the nations in the north of Europe.
He had felt it essestial that the transit trade should
be protected, sad that it ought not to be placed is
any risk whatever. He hail therefore thought
himself bound to propose that if goods, the predate
of Africa or America, were imported to au, port
abroad in foreign bottoms, and were afterwards
brought into thus country in British ships, the
goods should be entered for exportation oily. The
first object was to simplify the Navigasias
now scattered through a hundred Acts of Perlis.
anent ; they would be reduced to a few simple
enactments, and would be intelligible is any fo-
reigner who wished is tarry on a commercial ie.
tercourse with Great Britaio. He trusted that
if this country should thus set the example of
relaxing of her Navigation Laws, the
example
principles
the severity
would be
it commerce e Ifollowoedratce wouldbryother the.coeutr hv
t,aiel
sounder e
place.

Mr. DAVERPOST defended the silk trod' from
the imputation of being clamorous; it was at pre-
sent the only one worth carrying on, and it was very
natural they should desire to be heard.
Mr. WALLACE explained.
Sir W. DE CRESPIGNY begged to enter his pro.
test against the present Bill, because he conceiviid
it mightarssentially militate against the interests of
our ship-owners sod sailors.

Sir M. W. Ittotre did not think the eppseiren-
sions of the ship-owners were at all overcharged it
the present Bill should pass, and under all t►e ci►.
cutustances he did not cooceive this was the most
suspicious time for a change from a restricted ma
more liberal system, particularly with reference to
the rates of wages, prices of provisions, and taxes,
with which inm ship-owners were encumbered, and
which rendered it impossible fur them to compete
with fo►eignere. The Him. Gentlema■ proceeded
to give a detailed coniparisen of the expenses of s
Prussian merchant vessel of SOO runs burden, sod
an English merchant vessel of the same hinder., the
result of which was, that there was • different
against the British ship-owner,
Is the Fleet Cost fl,ooo 0 0
la the Wien
is the Provisions 274 0 0

£1,074 0 0
With this difference, which he could prove at the
bar of the House, if necessary, it war not to be
wondered at if the ship-owners Mt considerable
alarm, and he implored the House therefore to
pause before they broke down a system wider
which the country hod so long prospered; more par-
ticularly ought they to be cautious, us even the
Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Wallace) himself was
not sanguine that any positive advantage would
result from it.

The question was then put, and the House writ
into a Committee on the Bill. On the first reso-
lution being put—
Mr. DAVENPORT rose and raid, he conceived the
silk trade had not had an opportunity of bring
heard, and he would therefore muse that the lords
•• thrown silk" be left oat.

Mr. MULL was convinced that in the trade at
large the subject was not sufficiently understood,
and lie would therefore second the motion of his
Honourable Friend the Member for Cheshire.

Mr. T. WILSON thought that en opportunity
ought to be allowed to the silk trade of being heard
in a matter which they thought so materially af-
fected their interests. With respect to the mea-
sure itself, be thought it would open a dour to
smuggling ou an extensive scale.
•

Mr. ELt.ICE agreed in opinion with those who
thought that the Geutlemen concerned in the silk
trade ought to be consulted. He did not see that
there was much reason for the shirrs which they
hissi given way to, but be trusted an opportunity
would be afforded them of being heard before the
Report was brooght up.
Mr. W•Ltkca defended himself from the inept'.
tetion of having improperly pressed the measure.
The silk trade laud had oppttriunity to consider the
measure, and there ru4ht s ihl be au opportunity la
their being heard before the Report am brought ult.
Mr. IN. A. T_ sYLoil opposed the Bill; he 140004
its teudency was to trausfer the trade of England
to the opposite shores, and on that account Ire
should give it his decided opposition.
Mr. IDAVEsironT commuted to withdrew
motion.
Mr. RICARDO said his complaint egsitset the Bill
Was that it did not go far enough, and he recou•
nirtided the Right Mo. Gentleman to go on to the
same fwd.

Mr. ASTELL explained.
Mr. Alderman Hisireays said a few word+.
Mr. BROUGHAM concurred with his illoosmsb!c
Friend, the Member to, Portarliagton, in las ap
probation of the Bill, u it 'sr a portion. Stough I
very moderate portion, of that improvement in of
commercial policy for which he had always ewe
terided. Indeed, five years ago he had Prolm'd
this very measure, and some others of a similar
tendency ; but the only answer he then met woh
born those very gentlemen who now patrooisetflo
present Bill war, passing to the order a sot 00