The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-02-15 00:00:00

PAPERS.

Mr. Maosesr tom the Directors of the East India Com-
patty, presoaked as •I[oolllli of the regulations passed hy
the Comennmente at ladle &trio' the year IBIS, obit* ea*
ordered to be laid ott the table.

Mr. Parte, heat the Commissioners of die Navigation of
the River Theme, preeeeted their Mensal Report.—Laiil
es she table.

LONGITUDE DISCOVERY BILL.
On be wutlo• of Viscuuut MELVILLE. the House re-
solved itself into • Committee OS this Bill; the clauses
wee agreed to, he Noose monied, and the Report was
entered to be received lasasicrow.—Ailjuurued.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, WWDKIIIIDAY, FIti*VARY 14.

A► four o'clock the SPEAKER took the Omar.

The House was occupied fur a comiderable time
in receiving the Report of Committees on Private
Bills.

Mr. Mason, from she East India Rouse, present-
ed at the bar copies of Regulations for the Govern-
ment of ludia, which were ordered to be laid on the
t►►ble.

Mr. H. SUMNER epee notice, that on Wednes-
day next he would ~,,, ve for the appointm nt of a
Committee to inquire into the state of the Orphans'
Food.
Mr. GazwFILL gave notice of two motions for
Tuesday next: Ist, For certain papers relative to
the Ordnance ; and, 281. For an Account of the
Balances of Public Monies iu the heads of the Bank
of England.
Mr. Payee, from the Cif Y, presented at the bar an
Abstract of the Annual Account of the Thames
Navigation.
Mr. Serjeant OusLow moved the appointment
of a Select Committee to take into cousideration
the laws relating to the admission of Attorneys trod
Solicitors in England, and to report to the House
their observations thereon.-o.dered, and a Com-
mittee appointed.

THE TIMBER TRADE.
__

General thawing seeing a Right Hon. Gentle-
man, a Member of the Board of Trade, in his place.
wished to ask him a question. It would be re-
membered that the existing laws for regulating the
Timber Trade from our Colonies in North Ame-
rica, and from certain European ports. had been
referred to the consideration of a Committee, with
a view to their alteration; now he wished to be
particularly informed up to what period it was the
intention of Government that the existing laws
should continue in force ? He sought to ascertain
the feeling of the Right Hon. Gentleman on lists
point, fur the information of a great number of Ins
constituents who were interested in the trade, and
this was the season when they generally communi-
cate their orders to their eorrespondelos.
Mr. WALLACC said he was fully sensible of the
inconvenience which might result to persons in-
terested in the trade from any sudden or unex-
pected alteration in the laws affecting it. It was
true that the Committee which had been appointed
to inquire into the Foreign Trade, had at this tno-
meut the rest sit subject under their consideratiou,
but he did not think that whatever measures they
might recommend to the House to adopt, could be
digested into the form of an Act of Parliament in
time to meet the expiration of the existing laws.
Ile therefore thought it might be convenient to
prolong the operation of those laws for a time;
at the same time, however. it was very desirable
thut they should not be continued a moment
longer than necessary; he therefore did slot think
it would be proper to continue them beyond the
mouth of July. He thought that that was as long a
term of extension as could reasonably be required,
because the trade had had quite sufficient motive
of the question to leud them to expect that some
alteration would be made before that time. There
were two classes of shippers in the trade—those who
made two voyages, and those who made but one.
IVith...regord to the former, it was but fair that
their first voyage should be altogether exempted
from the operation of any alteration of the laws,
because as the preparations (or that voyage most
necessarily be made at an earlier period, it would
not be fair to subject theni to the effect of altera-
tions which were not in contemplation at the time
when those preparations were made. He therefore
thoaght it quite proper that the first voyages. which
would be completed by the end of July, should be
excepted ; but not the second voyages, nor the
single voyages, the preparationo fur which being
made at a later period, must have in contempla-
tion the expected alterations. 'those alieretimis
might not be altogether unaccompanied with in-
convenience to individuals concerned in the trade;
but he did not think that was to be put in compe-
Intim with the isiconvenience which would result to
the public from the continuatiou of the operation
of he present laws for one year beyond the ex-
pected term of their expiration.
General GASCOYSE said he did not see any res.
son why the operation of the present laws might

4.:
net be peolmaged for eta thesithe. lass. ate 11Atti,of
March.
Mr. Wat.f.act repeated .sohnklie Asti Masse
stated, of the effect of the airmen! IMIMBOMPOSIII4
the steeral voyager.
Mr. RLt.scs said. lie thong* it winfilliseter hoen
better if the Right am Grudennew 41illonnalkowP
to such itzr ausweriso shin ,gnatehm ei-wo •
HOE. rti as this stabiret -egigft,lbigsdems boo
the cortaideratien of the 600111.11101111. could"
make a short Repert upon ir. ~.;
Sir ISAAC Corny said, that he InintielleteMentio
that the shippers had bees he dvabillkiefintismiirg
timber from Quebec as the grourtkaf alp tfastads..
which had woolly been cot et rind
brought 17 Lake Cluesploin iss
' Mr. Wattaict aid s fens wards which we coil'
not collect.
Mr. H. G. Reinert. usikbe held is his %slid
a Petition from Samuel Meek, ei she parallel' St.
John, Clerkenwell. whose case he 4 Ware low,
under the consideration of the Hesse, and towline)
he wished to call its most.porticister attentioe. At
present he should merely biotin that the Petite" •
lie brought up std read, eggiwe notice dirt bit
' Tuesday nest he should woke a 'patio* is. die
subject.—Ordered to be printed.
Mr. Hume moved for an account of the ewes,
of Printing for the Houses of Leads end Gam-
mons and the Public Offices, and of the Peters
supplied to the same during the last thee, Peers.
Also for a Return of the value of *seven' sat-
dies of Stationery supplied fee me of the
Houses of Lords and Commons mid the Malik
Offices, dating she last three years, disetagaisline
the amount in each year. Also for as account of
the total number and tonnage of Shipping, Sottish
and Foreign, cleared out from Ports in Great Bet-
hnal and Ireland, for Ports in Americo and the
Cape of Good Hope, with the number of Pawn-
gen, cleared out in each. during the last three
yeara—which were severally ordered.
Mr. KEITH DoUGLAS presented • Petition from
certain Snip-owners of the port of Leith. complain_
nog that the coal trade, which some years ego was
carried on there to a considerable extent, had been
almost annihilated by the Act of Parliament pursed
in 1816, for regulating the Newcastle coal trade.
Before the passing of that Act the report of coals
hum the Frith of Forth alone amounted to 34.000
tons casually. aad flow none at all were reported.
He therefore hoped the prayer of the Petitioneis
would be taken into consideration, and that some
mode might be devised of relieving them from the
isijorioes operation of the Act to which he had
alluded.

The Petition was ordered to lie on the table.
Colonel WOOD said, he had to resent a Petition
which had been placed iu his heads that morning.
It was numerously signed, and mom/ the stg►►e-
tures were those of many respectable persons, free.
holders of the county of Brecon. Though he did
nut agree in all the sentiments of the Petitioners.
yet he thought it his duty to present it. They be-
gan by expressing their feelings of loyalty and at.
iachtneut to his Majesty and to the Constitution.
and he could belir testimony to their merits in that
particular. fur he was convinced there were no
people inure loyal than the freeholders of the county
of Brecon to be found in the whole kingdom.-
Meer, hear/-they expressed their abhorrence
of the unconstitutiooal proceeding of the Bill of
Prins and Pet►slties--/Lord cheers from Me
Opposition)-they viewed the erasure of her Ma-
jesty's mune from the Liturgy as an act of
injustice, inasmuch as it was an iuffictiou of
punishment before ilial. and its continued eat-In-
non as a punishment after acquittal-•(Lord •
cheers front the Opposition)-they disapproved of
the Melon Cutnutirason-(Cheeringfrons the Oppo-
sition)-they regretted that they could wee no
hope of the adoption of any measures of economy
cud retrenchment, while so much time and money
continued to be expended in contested electious.-
Loaghter frogs the Opposition.)-He must do the
freeholders of the county of Brecon the justice to
say, that in this respect they set an honourable
example In; the imitation of the rest of the couutry.
for they used the most strenuous exertions to re-
turn their Members with the smallest possible
expense, either to the county or to the cond►.
dates.-/Hear, hear, hear.)-They concluded
with praying that the House would adept such
measures as would produce a change in his his-
jest3's Councils, and the dismissal of his Majesty's
mistere.-(Loud cheers from the Oppositina.)-
In this art article he did feel bound most entirely
to disagree, fu► he thought that to the present
Ministers the country was mainly indebted fur all
the blessings it now enjoyed.-(Laughter. and land
cheering from the Opposition )-The Gentlemen
opposite might smile at his way of thinknig. but
lie nocerely believed tl►at whatever be the distresses
which the country was now enduring, if-the Gentle-
men opposite had had the conducting of kis Majes-
ty's Codicils, thee, distresses would loom been far
greater.-(Hear, hear)-therefore, as a donee of
two evils--/ Loud hinghter from the Opposition/-
he did prefer that the present Ministers should re..
mails iii office, rather than the Geutleruen oppo.
bite should be taken into their places; for their
troducticm into puwer would ►ease the country no
hope of escape from the ills and the distress which
uow oppressed it..-(C'heere from the Ministerial
Benches, returned kg the Opposition.)
The Petition was ordered to be printed.
CONDUCT OF SHERIFFS.
Mr. Beaumont. rose to make the motion of
winch he had given notice, and be would now tin..
ceed.to state what *Ss its object. It would lie ill
the recollection of the House that nu Friday I.st
Petition was presented by the Noble Member fur
Chester, complatatag of the conduct of the
Sheriff of that county at a late county
[Mr. DAIFINPOILT here robe and was about to
make some obresvation. but upon a call of •* order,
order," from the Speaker, he immediately-sat down
again.]-1t was not his intention to refer to the par-
ticulars of the conduct of the Sheriff on that cm..

i

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.1-, ‘,

i

~'

F..' T 1

settiOs.. by manytpersoos
tefi.ititey reqr-
u'ioetrag the 'aunty ft .
~a here,
, with *Kith he relined to. comply. If a
Sheriff oessetsed any such discretionary power,' it
mutt hesorecented be derived from the Act passed
in the last Session of the late Parliament for regal.
lilting piddle meetings; far before that Act was
pooled, it 'wall of no consequence thit a Sheriff*
refused to eaU. • meeting, because it was in that
ease immediately convened without his con-
sent by the parties who signed the requisition.
'tither the Aet to which
.he alluded was in progress,
it wee mid' to be designed for the preservation of
tPe tight af the people to meet—for their pfotec-
{on hi the- eireregc,bf that right—and to give to
Cii4Nty meetings • greater degree of importance
' afro they before possessed. Such was the lan-
,
guoge thea held out by Mioisters ; thererore, as it
• appeared to him, so far from such aii exercise of
power as had been practised by these Sheriffs being
sanctioned by law, it would, if carried to that ex-
tent, hale the effect of defeating the right of pe-
titiobitig altogether. He begged it might be um.
sterstood that it was not with any intention of at-
tackilig or complaining of Of Act of Pirliament
that he brought forward this subject ; but he hoped
that, if it pottld appear that the Act did in any
• &ois* authorise such an exercise of discretion on
Ithe part of the Shenfl., the House would amend
modifylhat Act, so as to place the question
''-iii S proper and 'dear point of view. The Hon.
'Gentlemau Nailer disclaimed any view in bring.
iiisg the question before the !louse, of keeping alive
• the feelings which agitated the country at present,
and concluded 'by moving—
. " That the Petition of certain Freeholders of the County
• of Chester, preionted to the House on Friday lam, and cum-
' pilierue of the condole. ash, High Sheriff at a late Meet-
fagot that County, be referred to a Select COOSSIIIee, to
consider and report thereon."
Mr. DAVENPORT asked whether this motion
was nut in substsuce the same as that of winch
had been giveu by the Honourable Member
for Appleby ?
Mr. 13sattaosie said, that his object was not
the mine as that of the Hon. Member for Applehy.
He believed the intention of that Hun. Gentleman

to ben to ,effect the removal of the High Sheriff
from his office.
Mr. CILESVEY said, that he had understood the
intention of his lion. Friend (Mr. Beaumont) to
lien tp obtain the decision of that House upon the
plower of Sheiiffs to refuse to call county meetings,
and that such iutrionois had beret suggested by the
14 recent conduct of the Sheriffs of Gloucester,
Northuusherlawd„ Kent, and Berkshire. The
f• 116011 "Inch had induced him to give notice
of a. motion relative to the conduct of the
Sheriff of the county of Chester, was,•that liming
already exercised his discretion in calling
, the. ineetiug, lie had unduly exercised his dor-
-. cretien iu refusing to put the question on an amend-
omit to the original motion which was proposed to
the meeting, and he therefore thought there was
. sufficient ground to make his conduct the Pubject
of the censure of the House. But the manner in
winch his Hon. Frieud had worded his present mo--.
'boo seemed in fact to give it the same effect as he
.Vlr. Creevey) had intended for his own.
•,,r, /word CaIerLERBAGII said, he apprehended that
I:04,010,10n now made, and that of which the 110 e.
Member for Appleby had given notice, were so liar
congenial motions, thin they bids went to the con-
.
i,tlpct of an individual, and both comprehended an
..taquiry into the Paine trausrction, imposing upon
• , thrt individual ill onerous task of exculpating him-
self from ceinure. But before the House would
make any order of this kind, which would subject
no individual to very serious inco,venience and ex.
:robe in attending berme a Committee, and bring-
illy', up witnesses front a distant lout of the country
• to give evidence of the transaction, lie thhught it
.was essentially toecerssry that it should be put iu
. pussessiim of the fullest information that could be
tteri red from a clear sold complete itatrineitt of ilia
occurrences out of which there mottoes mi( ripe.
. Hr could a-sure the House he did not melee these
lilist tvataos.s with a view to encourage any indis-
swam tou the pint of Sheriffs, or coy improper
. intro ference in• fir deltherationio of the country:*
but he would submit atwitter it would not be
‘ti better to let the mane! AMUd as it is at present
until the I louse is better itifurtneil.
Mr. BittUaloNT, In consequence of the observe.
toyer that had been made, had no objection to pust-
iwswr a future day.
Air. Dtivatsa wished to make a few rrinatks on
the rul4ect before the House. It could not have
osi aped the noire of the House, that in the county
nkliesex the Sheriffs, iio coosseqmnice of 301• s
istegulsrity iii the Rsquisitien, refused to call a
• yuinie alerting. He had a communic•nion (win
.Alr. Sheriff IVa:thtuao, stating. that should the
. gut-Atkin relating. to the conduct of Shetiffs be
• jmought,before the Hume, he had. some papers to
-• • ikulnuit to them explaimug his motives. It was a
„measure of the utmost importance; butt Its did not
, *ink it wjis necessary that a legislative measure
vilionld. he introduced. The law of the case was
sufficiently explicit, and he should be suety its Ins
trust mg legielative measure to noterefere with old
eatabhshed . cus,toons,--/ Bear, hear. i-1-1 e was
I happy ,to hoar the declaration of the Niible Lordn
Viet no. obstruction should be throws' this way
nbut that assertion came rather etrangehuifset.islad
•n be had,himself witoesscd.in.HoMpabiee, Whew some
of big Majesty's Ministers attended, not indeed to
huppott the meeting. but to get up a counter Re.
quivition.—(llear, hew.)
The motion was postesooed.
SCOTCH JURIES.
Mr. MUMMY rose to bring before the House

call the intention of the House. In the
year 1701 a statute was passed in Scotland, which
limy be called the Habeas Corpus of that coun-
try. According' to this Act a prosecutor may
be compelled by a criminal to bring him to
trial. This undoubtedly was a great advantage,
mud was a powerful s:!curity to the liberty of the
subject ; but it sometimes imposed the greatest
hardships, ill consequence of this compulsion fisll4
lug on persons who were utterly unable to defray
the expense of a prosecution. This then was a
serious inconvenience, which should be removed;
be therefore wished the provisions of the Act should
be extruded. But there was another point of the
utmost importance, to which he prayed their atten-
tion. According to the criminal law of Scotland,
the puilishment of all offences that do not fall
within the statute, it vested in the breast of the
Judge, sod this punishment is most protect ly deno-
minated by Scotch lawyers " arbitrary punish.
'neut." With the sole option and discretiom of the
Judge rested the power of banishment, fur 7, 14
years, or for life. He did not mean to insinuate
that this power had been abused, but he thought
that the'present state of the law required the in-
tervention of the Legislature. And with respect
to the law of libel, in England the second offence
of a seditious libel was punishment by benishineni,
but in Scotland that punishment could be inflicted
on the first offence. There have been instances of
this kind, and ut present there was an instance of
all individual suffering the penalty of five years'
imprisonuient. He next complained of the exteii.
sive power of the Lord Advocate. When Cu indi-
vidual is indicted for any crime, if there should
appear an informality in the proceeding, lie can
immediately apply for a change of terms, and
thus in this way there have been instances known
where in a trial for sedition a prisoner has been
brought to the bar, in consequence of an infor-
mality sent away, and afterwards brought back.
This combination of political and judicial power
was, in his mind, highly inj urious.—(Hear, hear.)—
He would now proceed to the more immediate
question which was before the House, be meant
the manner in which Juries were chosen in Scot-
land. The law and practice of Scotland was this:
Forty-five persons were returned by the Sheriff; who
came into Court on the day upon which the Assizes
are held, and eighteen persons are selectee! to try
the cause. Then take ally circuit. there are gene-
rally four counties within the jurisdiction, and forty.
five persons are chosen from each, making 180.
Then the Judge goes the Assizes, and the list of
180 is handed to loin. He selects from these forty-
five persons, and from these the persons who are to
try any particular cause. Now again, he wished
to state that he did not impute to the Judges any
abuse of this discretion, but he thought that even
the possibility of abuse should be removed.—
( Hear, hear.)—Surely if there were any country
where Juries should be chosen with the strictest
imparti they, it was that where the life of en :fedi-
vidual may depend on the will of one man. The
remedy which lie wished to propose was this: that
instead of this nomination eii the presiding Judge,
the Jury should be chosen by ballot, and that
there should be a small amount of peremptory
challenge allowed to the parties. The prosecutor
should have the right of peremptory challenge
of three jurors, and the priiiouer the 11.11nr. It
may be asket4 why unt extend the perenivory
clialleeige beyihul three ? If they be good fur any
thing, they must he good if extended greeter
lengths. He would be most happy to mend it,
but he W0111(1 not ask too much. He was iiire the
respectable Judges who presided in these Courts
would br glad to be relieved Camp the iespeinsibilety,
said the greatest possible advantage would be con-
ferred on the country. The Hun. Member
eluded by inosilig—•‘ Fur leave to bang in a Bill
fur the better regulating the appoiuturiesit of Juries
to the criminal law in Scotland."

Lord BINNING lamented the absence of the
Lord Advocate most sincerely, and the snore in on
account of the various matters with winch his Hon.
' Friend had thought fit to preface his inidirro,
otrs;vations winch c. rtainly had no immediate bear-
ing on the question before the House. He h,ll out
the presumption to suppose I elf capairle of re-
pl) i irg to all the statements of the Hon. Mover, and
for this additional reason he regretted the absence
of the Lord Advocate. The term of " arbitrary
punishments" was introduced by that Gentlttnali
to a manlier ti at could not fail to make a great
sound-in the House, but he would state what they
" really *rant : 'len the Lord Advocate (the pub-
lic prosecutor of the country) brings a person so a
trial, and does not wish that the punishment of
death should be resorted to, he then restrict' the
punishritOt within the' discretion of the Judge,
bind then that is what is termed " arbitrary punish.
• meats." 'He !Wight that so far froda being se•
*re, it was a lenient• measure. He would not
'iihjett. to• his Hon. Friend bringing in a fill
'aisdlievingiit read a first lime, awl as to whether
rif *Mani* a•nalional advantage, lie would 'neither
Aim( or droj ; but in the absence or ull..knowledge
I Mt the liohjeet; be would submit to the direiettnO
ig. NV Hinhirribratl, Whether it' would... alt be better,
irlie had i pnieticat Object iu view, merely to bring
in Bill 'ad prtttept, and stiffer it to he on the table
I to some '
Mr. M. A.1.A11.0a complained of the Noble
Lord accusing his Hon. Friend fur britii6o,l forward
this measure in' the absence of the Lord Advocate,
whose duty it was to 'attend* at his places when a
measure of such importance to the country over
which he, in a certain manner, presided. was in-
troduced to the coasideratiou of the Houle.—.

j.,-Ilelaintsclf sem present io,the Justiciary,.
when a *elixir' trial oT great moment had
tried : he alluded, to the ease .d Muir anti
loom loud one of the first Lawyers in Englund,
Samuel Roniilly, expressed the strongest ilia-
illation at the ;node of appointing the Jury,
certainly the first Advocate that
appeared at the Scald) bar, declared that the

Court were ignorant of the law, to use
language.; and wheu the question was
ently brew& ender the consideration of
(nose, it was trot without some difficulty
e Scotch Judges gut clew off. He, there-
thought, that his Hort. Friend was perfectly
'iu bringing these matters forward. But,
we are not to say one word on the sub.
dm we be acquainted with the Scotch law,
the absence of the Lord Advocate. H•
support that doctrine when the liberty of
the subject wax concerned; and he innat take leave
to inform the Noble Lord, that, notwithstanding his
statements, he should take the liberty of judging
for himself.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. J. P. GRANT regretted the abseace of the
Lord Advocate : but he hoped he would be pre-
sent on some future occasion when the question
would be more fully discusaed. Hot he wished to
correct en error in what lied fallen from the Noble
Lord, who stated that restrictious were iutroduced
for the purpose of preventing 'capitol punishments.
Now he did not conceive that 'to be the case,
and he thought that the Justiciary Court had ra-
tioned within these few years a lamer to which
they were not entitled. Formerly tire utmost ex-
tent of their power was banishment out of Scot-
land : now they appointed a particular place, as in
England. He would not detain the House longer,
but would give all the support he could to the mo-
tion of his Hon. Frieud.
Lord BINNING explained. He did not state
that the Justiciary Court did trot exercise the
punishment of transportation fur airy crimes, ex-
cept to prevent a capital punhhinerit. He knew
there were many, and that sedition was one of
them.

The motion was agreed to without a division.
Mr. CuRTIEs moved for the return of Foreign
Corn and Flour purchased by the Victualling-
Officeduriug the last three years, together with the
■mount, price, dates, &c. He wished to know from
the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite (the Chatter 1-
lur of the Exchequer), why Americas* corn' hail
been supplied to the Colonies in preference to
British ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER would
state to the House the circumstance, from which
the transaction arose. It was undoubtedly the
wish of Ministers to supply the Colonies with
British flour, but were induced to alter their opi-
Moos from a representation that American curls
could he kept longer in • state of p►eservation.
Mr. CURWEN could not concur in the accuracy
of the statement of the Right Hon. Gentleman, or
rather hi* infrirmation, for all the American flour
was kiln-dried before it came here, slid it was ow-
ing to this circumstance that it was longer prrserv.
ed, but he could nut at all agree that the American
flour was superior to ours.
' Mr. HuME rejoieed to find a disposition on the
part of Minister* to supply the Colonies from that
place where they could do it cheapest, •nd they
should not be deterird fr it by ■ny clamour
that might be raised, for nothing, ceitainly, could
be of greater importance.
Colonel DAVIES wished to ask the lion. Gentle-
man opposite when the officers appointed as Com-
missioners to inspect the militia in the lonian
Islands would be recalled, as there was now 110
militia in existence ?
Mr. GuuLeuart stated that these were persons
on the staff, and it did not follow that because the
militia was nut embodied, that they might not be in
training.
Mr. BROUGHAM wisl►ed to know whether he
understood the Hon. Gentleman alight in stating
that there was no militia tratuing ?
Colonel DAVIE* observed that the matter would
be soon brought before the House, and he thought
properly, for it was considered a great grievance ;
if no sslmry had been paid them he should nut oh-
ject, although still it would be a hard+hip, as offi-
cers going out there were promoted. A Captrio was
imadt a Colonel, and so on, to the exclusion of
others.
Mr. GOULNURN observed, that • question had
been put to him, which he could not answer within
the limits which the House would u-ow feel disposed
to permit; but when the qaestion was fairly before
the House, every satisfaction should he given.
Mr. CHARLES GRANT moved for leave to bring
in • Bill foe regulating the office of Clerk of Assize,
or ititsi Pries, vii Ireland.
On the motion for reading the transfer of Mr.
Grant's Bill a second time, for •ppltiug certain
monies therrin n►enuoued for the service of the
year 1841—
Mr. CREEVEY ruse, and wished to know whether
this motion implied soy grant of the public money,
because if it did, he thought some longer notice
should he given.
Mr. C. GRANT observed, that he declined enter-
ing into particulars in order to more the time of the
House. The case was this: Comunis•►unets had
beau oppoititell to look into the affairs of the Regis-
trars in Ireland, and ce►tain abuses had been dis-
I covered ; it is now intended that, instead of fees,
there should be fixed salaries appointed to the
office, and these salaries should be paid out of the
Consolidated Fund, and the deficiency should be
made up by an additional duty on stamps and legal
proceed:ups.
COMMITTFg OF SUPPLY.
The CHAWCELI.OR of the EXCHEQUER moved,
that the Order of the Day for going into a Com-
mittee of Supply should be discharged.
Colonel DAVIES wished to know the reason why
the public business was to be thus postponed from
day to day. Ile objected to such unnecessary delaj s.
Lord ARCHIBALD HAMILTON wished to know
from the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite, whether
there were to be •uy modification in the Malt Tax
for Scotland ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated,
that there would not. He h•d much information
to lay before the House on that subject.
PREVENTIVE SERVICE.
Mr. WARRR referred to the very large establish-
} Sheet which was kept up on the coast to prevent
mangling, and wished to know from the Right Hon.

Geret.epopoete bow keg it %elks ',attendee-tette con.
11110e414 He was aware of the injury of stuogfling,
and of the iteceaaity fur:protecting the revenue,
and that while the expenses- of the Government
were continued 011 the irresesit scale, lie could not
call on the Right Hon. Geutlemaii for any reduc-
tion or alteration of the duties, which, perhaps,
furnished one of the most cotteitiessible allurements
to smuggling. lie would, however, willingly ask
the Right Hon. Gentleman if he felt that he
could at any coming petted isiriisiefrated to intro-
duce any remission or alteration of the revenue
system, which hail already been cuntinued fur a
considerable periud after the conclusion of the
war, with the same degree of rigour as before ?
He disliked the whole arrangements of the preven-
tive service. From Beacby Head to the Thames,
he believed that there were about 5,100 persons
employed on land and water in this service. He
thought, as to the naval branch, that nothing could
be worse for the habits of a midshipinen or young
officer, than to be engaged in this service, away
from any proper society, from the supetiutendence
of the commanding officer, or any of those restraints
which belonged to the naval service of the war;
lie had no dread of any outrages being committed
by the preventise force within the limes of neigh-
bouring district.; but with such an extensive her of
coast as the country had to guard, was it to be hoped.
that in no part of it aggressiotts would break out,
considering the great number of persoas who were
engaged in that service, and the way in which they
were armed with pistols and cutlasses ? One word
es to the Act brought in by the Secretary to the
Treasury, and passed in the last Session. By the
provisions of that Act, any person !slidinr a pint of
spirits, though not engaged in smuggling, was sub-
jected
to the penalty of 100/. A master of a small
house had lauded nit the coast, and being searched
by the revenue officers, a pint of brandy, or leas,
was found in his pocket ; he was taken before a
Magistrate, and the fine was demanded. The Act
took away from the Magistrates the power of resole-
elm' or mitigation of the fine. The Magistrate
withstood the application, though threatened with
the consequences of disobedience to the statute by
the revenue officer, because he knew the accused
to be no smuggler, and he would not rum him,
and cause the parish to (recharged with niainteming
his family, as was sure to be the case were the pe-
nalty to be enforced. He &raged the occurrence
of similar instances in other ports of the country.
Si, G. Comeliest said that no officers were ap-
pointed as midshipmen in the preventive service
who had not passed examination fur Lieutyitanto in
the war service. Their education as seamen did
not depend on their service in the preventive sys-
tem, which yet was the most honourable and useful
way of employing them which had offered since the
conclusion of the war; nor was it a service of such
ease to protect the revenue as had been assumed.
Several distinguished actions had been fought in it.
The smugglers came down in large armies; the
eonifict was conducted on an extensive plan gene-
rally, and there were regular returns etude of the
killed end wounded, as in the war. If the protection
of the revenue were to be given up, well and good,
otherwise the preventive service must be kept om a
respectable footing of force and discipline. The
officers of that service messed together, mud their
conduct had been highly creditable to them on
every pert of the coast. It was not every where
that so large a land force was needed as from
Bcachy Head to the Thames; in mint oilier
places smuggling was subjected to sea risks, and
the preventive cruisers eurrouteled the 'slued ; but
in the narrow of the Channel the cruisers were
scarcely of any use, and it was impossible to cosi-
duct the service altogether upon a better plan than
at present.
Mr. Geettrem. wished to have some explanation
upon the subject of old stores. He perceived in
the accounts for last year two neon for old stores
in the Naval and Ordnance Departments, the for-
mer 363,000/. the latter 285,000/. It did not
appear .hat she sales had been conducted by public
auction; and if riot, the public were liable to the
effects of • considerable abuse, to which sales of
old stores by private contract subjected them.
Sir G. WARRENDER said, that he had no objec-
tion to giving the fullest explanation to the plan of
sales by which the naval old stoics were disposed
of. We understood the Hon. Member to state that
the sales were public.
Mr. GRENFELL expressed his satisfaction at the
explanatiou its to the sales of naval old stores. He
hoped for the like assurance with respect to the
Oidnance Department.
Mr. WARD said, that the old stores of the ord-
nance were disposed of by private connect in ge-
neral. They preferred that way of dealing, be-
, cause, as they knew the prices, the service was pro-
tected from the injurious effects of combination to
which sales by ruction were subject.
Mr. WARRE wished to have some explanation
upon the management of the Commissioners of
Woods and Forests with respect to the new street,
which had been going on for four years, veithout
any apparent probability of its being finished.
Mr. HUI•Ii1980N expressed his readiness to fur-
nish the information sought, but thought the Hun.
Member could obtain it much more regularly, and
iu a more perfect state, from the Report of the
Commissioners of Woods, upon whom the commis-
' Dion of the new street had devolved.

61r. WARR& only wished to know if the period
•t which it would be completed had been at ull
ascertained.

Mr. Husstosow said, that the Commissioners
were going on as fast as they could, applying the
grants tit purchases and alterations, and by their
arrangements the street would in all probability
be opened in a few years.
The Committee of Supply was then postponed
till Friday next.
The Order of the Day fur smoking the House
into a Committee on Ways and Mesas was read,
and the Cotuminer preipourd till Friday.
Thy Orde► of the Deb• fur the srcund trailing of
the Malt Duties Bill %.av then rend.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved
the second reading,
Mr. CRECiEY lose to oppose the motion. They
had been sitting three weeks, and none of the
estimates of the great public servic.s for the year
had yet been laid before them. He lied heard that
the language of the Tteasury to those who sup-
'Anted them was, that it would be a short Srsaion ;
that the business would be gone through by Eas.

sion, with a view to ground upon it a vote of cen- the motion of whic)t he had given • A was Henr.)—:
sure on him; but as much inconvenience was sure It neceesary to •opol.. Court whe
• likely to arise from the right which had been fur briegipri.oesetrtheir crtaideett t been tried
assumed by Sheriffs, of exercising a discretiuu of that cnii.ltoprore•ftse Cotisrnetnik ,r Palmer, al
controlling the wishes of the freeholders, his object legislative institutions of the ceentitts • og Sir Ssrnut
witethotsome measure. might be adopted to pre- certaioJy could be of irriiitie.iMpartomut °with° approbatio
vent 'on, recurrence of !inch ''conduct in future. remove soy blot that may exist in the adminisira. Lori! Ei.l
1H,7 mentioned' this is ordee to prevent any opposi. non of criminal justice in the coun_try. Nothing ever xpltra
.on -the teirtioony of could iii'Vurther from his intention then -to impute Justiciary
(lenttethenor, ifik honourable character of the the least impropriety to any of the respectable so milder
Skriif i.obaervatiookof that UNA sirsuap wig Judges that presided in Courta_of ScntLuid, for subsequen
144, btir 111711Wd •nOiting it ill tri47theat be entertained lull the-retiPiertiiiittiCh their that How
's,,wit:b:4theinoise‘irolestet9,o g'exalted sten/lite-entitled them • btatinifteh a defect that the St
more himself clearly ithderstood, he would 're. appeared in the Criminal Code, he-could see no fore, thou
Aire} ii shortly to the etite.ef:the'Stit'riff 'of North• objection to remove it. It was with. these feelings justified it
•Nenliththolk% Oreille I iequisition had teen pre. that lie came to the consideration of this most forsooth, s
seitiriPs 11igned bymany,perfoos or the first reaper. important qoestion. In the first instance then, ject, utile)
seifirtny to the erninty.,, requesting hint' to call o there were certain points in the administration and in tt
worttng
sa the bounty for the purpose 'therein of law in Scotland to which he should briefly I could not
...a:4_ with whiA h. rolatasA *et wnrnt.i. it roll the mitention of 111. f-inniu._ 1.. the