The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-05-06 00:00:00

!IIIII.1.4=11G:7•71.. • . •
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IMPERIAL PdlahlbiENT.

HOUSE OF LORI)S.
vistrasnhv, MAY 5.
The Bishop of Down, the Earl of Balcarras,
and the Earl of Glasgow, took the oaths and their
Mr. Erskine was heard on, behalf of the Re-
spondent in the appeal of tlarpherson v. Ramsay
1 lannay. after which the further hearing was ad-
ponied till to-morrow.
All the Bilk on the Table read a stage each.
!KIM! 11AS.K. REsrittcriom
The I louse having resolved itself into a Commit-
tee On this Bill,
lord KING rose to move his promised clause
to oblige the Bank of Ireland at the end of six
months to pay their bills when presented for pay-
ment, in Bank of England Notes. ...Mit Lordship
entered into another discussion of tbe dice) of a de-
predation of the Irish Bank Notes. and said it had
been laid down by the ablest writer on the wealth
of nations, Dr. Adam Smith, that when the paper
of the established Bank of any country coutinuod
tong in a state of depreciation, it was an infallible
indication that the affairs of that Bank were in a
state of arrangement, most especially when accom-
panied with the rate of exchange continuing against
it. Now the state of exchange had been uniformly
against Ireland ever since the year tt3oo. Hi'. Lord-
ship entered into a discrimination between the real
exchange of any country and its nominal exchange ;
and put, as an hypothetical case, that if Spain low-
ere I the value of its coin, so as to make the currency
thicli in coining cost only !)rtl. pass for Wu 1. that
was merely a nominal excirange and not a real one.
Nis Lordship treated of the whole subjeil that his
anose went to, at considerable length, and contend-
ed, that if the depreciation of the Irish Bank Notes,
which undeniably existed at present, could be re-
moved, then, instead of Ireland being obliged to
send gold to England, she might send good bills of
exchange, as she used to make her payments pre-
vious to the depreciation taking place.
The Martinis of SLIGO said, from the pains the
Noble Lord had taken to enter into the subjea of
the Notes of the Bank of Ireland, and the effea the
large issue of them had on it, be had felt it to' be
his duty to make himself as well master of it as
he could ; and he was persuaded that the Noble
Lord's proposed clause would operate most inju-
riously, instead of answering any good purpose.
The Marquis explained himself at some length, and
stated a variety of arguments in support of his opi-
nion, concluding with declaring that he should op-
pose the clause, and

esthet bar these Ole We have,
" Than Hy to others that weknow not Sal."

The tart of LIMERICK rose to clear himself
from a sort of imputation that the Marquis of Sligo
tad apparently thrown out upon him in a part cf
his speech, when treating of the effeas produced by
the absentees of Ireland, as if he had imputed
blame to close Noble Lords and Gentry. He deuied
that he Lad made any refleCtion on them. His
I ordship objefted to the Clause.
Lord KING, and the Marquis SLIGO, spoke
again in erplanation.
The clause, on the question being put, was re-
je.ited.
Lord KING moved another clause, by way of
proviso, to compel the Direnors of the Bank of
Ireland to lay a monthly return of the issue of their
notes before both Houses of Parliament, which he
considered as the most effeCtital check upon an in-
ordinate issue and circulation of the notes of the
Ball of Ireland.
The Earl of LIMERICK said, he must oppose
the clause, because the obvious inference that would
he drawn from it would be that the. Direetors of the
Bank of inland had been conviaed of some fradu-
lent abuse of the trusts vested in them ; besides,
such a clause was wholly unnecessary, as the Noble
Lord, who was Stlillot.inly diligent in the discharge
of his parliamentary duty, might, while Parliament
was sitting, call for such returns as often as he
plc: .
Load KING supported his proviso, and said, he
would pursue the plan sugge ay.!, both with regard
to the is,ue of the notes of the Bank of England,
and the Bank of Ireland.
.1 he proviso was rejected, and the Bill gone
through and reported, without amtaidnients.
Adjourued.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
us esn v, MAY 5.
Mr. LOWTHER brought up the Report of the
Committee appointed to enqaire into the merits of
a petition from Robinson, Esq. coniplaining li
ref an undac tOr the Borough of Taunton,
stating that the sitting Members, ‘V m. Moreland
and Jidln Hammet, Lsqrs. were duly eleeted, and
that the oet;t;:on was not frieoloir. or vexatious.
Lord LEVIS° \ COWER lsrought up the till
for repairing Cerirty Bridges. Read a first time,
and ordered to be read a second time on Tuesday
next, and to he printed.
SCOrCH SCIIOOL M‘sTEits• RILL.
The LORD ADVOCATE of SCOTLAND
moved the Order of the Day for the I louse resolv-
ing itsel: into a Committee of the whole House, on
the motion for kitee to bring in :t Bill for ame-
liorating the condition of the parochial School-
/natters of Scotland.
The I louse resolved itself into a Committee of the
whole House, Mr. W. I)undas in the Chair.
The LORD A DV OCATE of SCOTLAND, en.
terei into a history of the p:uish-sehools of Scotland,
from their establishment in the year iti tti. He
said, notwithstanding the difference of the times,
The salary was the same now that it was then. He
ascribed to the establishment of those schools all
'that intelligence which was so observable in that
part of the United Kingdom. and which so much at-
trafted the attention of strangers who visited it ;
to it alw was to Ise ascribed the good morals, the
social °Met, the L,Yalty, the paucity of crimes, the
prorr attendance on divine worship, and the en_
creasing wealth of that part of the comary. The
paucity of crimes was so remarkable, that there
were more convicis transported in one Quarter Ses-
sions from Manchester, than from ail Scotland in
the course of the year. tie also observed. that the
ere;:itt;ons in Scotland, on an average slid not
amount to more than six in the year. Ile therefote
thought an establishment
produCtive, ut such hood,
drserving the
.greatest encouragement,. and the Innti.
torion wail sink into disrepute, and ',ramie a Mit-
- juacad 0f a benefit, In 1u tat, tie minimum

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of tivc salary was MO Scotch mars-, equal to 51.,
and maximum double that sum. One third' of the
parish-schools were now vacant, as persons could not
he found to devote their time for such a salary; and
in consequence of this, the situation had not been
tilted of late years, and there was nn pro-
vision made fir old age. He would propose the
minimum to he 300 and the maximum 40() marks;
and even in tl.is ease the maximum would not be
more than the hire of a day labourer. What was
an adequate salary in one part would not be so in
another. He would therefore wish to procure a
mode of increasing the salary in some instances ; the
best mode for dining this, would he to calculate the
average price of oatmeal for the last twenty-five
years, and fir the minimum at the purchase of a
clialdron and a half of oatmeal, which would be
establishinr a new minimum adequate to the wants
of the school-masters. Certain parishes were of an
extent, fe:. which one school was not sufficient ; this
he meant to remedy. He therefore moved, "That
the Chairman be direacel to move for leave to brine,
in a Bill for ameliorating the condition of the school"-
masters, and better government of the parish-schools
of Scotland."
Mr. DENT said, he had no objeCtion to the mo-
tion of the Finn. Gentleman, but he tlionght the
allusion to Manchester world as well have bcerr
omitted. And the Hon. Gentleman did not state
how many of those convias came from Scotland.
The Chairman brought up the report, and leave
was given to bring in a Bill accordingly.
General GASCOIGNE moved that theme be laid
before the House an account of the quantity of cof-
fee charged with the duty of Excise, imported pre-
vious to the last seven years.—Agreed to.
Also an account of the prosecutions for frauds in
the colleCtion of the said duties, gad the expense at-
tending the same.
Mr. VANSITTART said, there could be no
objeCtion to the account respeCting the coffee, but
respeCling the motion for producing an account of
the prosecutions, he imagined it would be difficult
and tedious to colleast them, if not impraCticable ; he
therefore wished the Hon. Gentleman would with-
draw his motion, fin- the impose of amending it.
Mr. ROSE thought the Hon. Gentleman should
narrow his motion to the proceedings in the Courts
of King's Bench and Exchequer, otherwise he
thought the produftion of the accounts impossible.
Mr. WILLIAM DUNI)AS thought, when any
Gentleman made a motion of this nature, he ought
to state his grounds for doing so, for what public
purpose, or whether for mere curiosity.
General GASCOIGN E said it was in conse-
quence of an intimation from merchants that he
made his motion. It was connected with a very
important commercial arrangement, and the whole
of the West India Agents required the production
of the accounts.

Mr. DUNDAS said, he had no ohie6tions duce
h: heard the reason; he barely asked tbe question on
parliamentary pounds, as it was not to be supposed
such motions, without stating guaunds, should be
complied with as a matter of course.

Mr. VANSITTA RT explained.
Dodor LAURENCE said, he rose to speak a
few words respecting the parliamentary grounds
stated by the Honourable Gentleman opposite to
him, he contended it was the right of any Member
to move for accounts without previous notice or ex-
planation. The Learned Gentleman then entered at
some length on the nature of the word curiosity,
which he repeated several times, and which he ob-
served was very improperly applied by the Honour-
ably Gentleman to a question which related to a
great commercial interest.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, he did
not rise to observe when short speeches or long
speeches were necessary ; but he vindicated his
Right Hon. Friend from the observations made by
the Learned Gentleman. His l ion. Friend wished
for information, and the moment he got it he ex-
pressed himself satisfied, and had no obje.lion to
the motion ; for his part he conceived the produc-
tion ct the accounts respeding prosecutions useless.
Dolor LAURENCE explained.
The question was then amended, and proposed as
That there be laid before the House,
an account of the prosecution in the Court of Ex-
chequer, fur the last sewn year:, for frauds commit•
ted in the collection of the Duties of Excise, on
coffee imported, and the expence attending the
same." And also An account of the Duties of
Excise on the home consumption of coffee for the
last seV.l7 years ;" which were agreed to.
Mr. WHITE brought up the Report of the names
of the Select Committee, chosen by ballot, to enquire
into the merits of a petition, complaining of an un-
due eletion for Kirkcudbright, who were sworn in as
follows :
J F Karin, F. 1,1. Sir J. St. Clair Erskine, Bart. .
Sir). L. Kim:, nart Mimi, Esq.
Rigid Ito;!. C Brogr, F. For; EN.
Sit J. C. L'ord Visco.nit Cle;neuts,
Dttneen, M Archal.tll, I:.
Sir R. W. V.iog!iati, Sat. Hun. T. G. Non-semen.
Johns.

NulitlNt Lf.
J. loaldAnc:or, and the Lord Advocate of Scotland.
MAYITir OF GREAT GRIMSBY.

Mr. CA LCRAFT moved the Order of the Day
for caning John Simpson, late Mayor cf. Great
Grimsby, to the liar, to be reprimanded and dis-
charged.
Mr. ROSE was certain the motion made by the
lion. Gentleman was founded in compassion. Bat
for his part he should oppose the motion, for thotodi
the prisoner appeared to be an ;,,,•noraat man, yet Ile
had the assistance of Counsel, and aEled in dire& con-
tradiEtionto the adviceof that Counsel. Fliscoudata in
admittingto thelreedomorthe Borough certain inipro-
perpersons, and other a,tt sof a sim larnature,required
a greater punishment than that of being a few days
in custody of the Serjeant at Arms, where he lived
better than be could at home. If they sutfered him
to go unpunished, what remedy could they have in
future against returning officers ?There was another
instance happened sii:ce the Revolution similar to
this, in the same Bormgh, though not so had as this,
and the Attorney-General w.is ordered to prosecute.
!here ought to be a mark set on this man to deter
others.
Mr. BLACK BURNE said, the prisoner .had
stated himself to be a pour man, not worth more
than 2001. with a wife and aye children. Now he
undefstood that he lately purchased a piece of land,
and was building a house on it, which will cost more
than what he says he is worth. Those children also
turn out to be 3z own up persons not burtheasome to
him.
Mr. CALCRAFT was coufidendy iitfamed that

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