The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-03-15 00:00:00

POOR'S RATE.

Mr. E. WODEIIOCSE";;;Od7o;; return of the total amount
of poor's rate and county rate (similar to that of 11123); diAtin-
etushing therein the various bonds of property liable to as,e,antent.
He wsa induced to move for this return, because the subject, he
considered, commenced with the corn laws. Several committees
had sat on the noon rate. In one of these, in 1813, the Honourable
Member for Wootton Bassett obtained an account of the sum
levied, and it was for a similar return he now moved.
Mr. PHILIPS said a few words, after which
Mr. 310NCK observed, that the small farmer was taped by the
present system, and the large farmer got his labour cheap at the
farmer's expense.
Mr. J. SMITH knew an instancenf every man in the parish
having received parochial relief. Ile thought an appeal might be
made in such cases.

.......
Lord JOHN RUSSELL maid individuals were deterred making
appeals by the expense. He knew an instance of 101 appeal costing
_ . .

Mr. Pal 1.1. IPS and Mr. Alderman Woof) made a few observa.
thin% which we could not hear. . . .

s.
Mr. WODLHOUSE admitted the evil of connecting labour
wit b the poor's rate, and showed that the burden bore on land, as
would be evident by referring tw the coninierciallcounties in contra-
distinction to the agricultural. The Honourable Gentleman then
proceeded to read the following
POPULATION ABSTRACT, 1321.

COUNTIES WHERE THE LARGER PART OF VIE POPULA-
TION IS EMPLOYED IX HANDICRAFTS.

LANCASHIRE.-112,271 feintilies employed in trade-22.723 fa-
milies employed in agriculture—total amount:Or charge 326,4771. ;
of which 137,7901. charged on land-49,3731. trade.
WEST it I nix& of VoaKstaittE.-103,841 families employed
io trsde-31,613 in avriculture—total amount of charge, 281,963/.-
1115.6511/. charged on land-21,8251. on trade.
STAFFORnsIintE.-42 423 families employed in trade-18.283
in agriculture—total charge 140,2571.-99,7151. charged on land-
-6,0211, on trade.
Wan w rt:KS ine.-39.1133 families employed in trade-16,779
in agriculture—total charge 139,6661.-139,7251. charged on land-
-9,6181. on trade.
DER lITSIII ItE.-20.505 families employed in trade-14,532 in
agriculture—total charge 90,3361.-73,04;8/. charged on
laud-
-1,7271. on trade.
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE.-21,832 families employed in trade-
-13.664 in agriculture—total charge 81,3211.-57,13131. charged on
land-2.8631. on trade.
CH 9lf I R E.-27,105 farniliea--Trade, 111.120, agricahure—
Total charge, 117,2121.-89,79 rd. lard-5,2191. trade.

COUNTIES WHERE THE GREATER PART OP THE. POPULA-
TION IS EMPLOYED IN AGItICULTURE.-POPELATION
ABSTACT. 1821. . .

.„...
ESSEX.--33,21.6 families employed in agriculture; fa-
milies in trade. Total charge, 277,013/.-215.4931. in agriculture
—8.2041. in trade.
KENT.--30,8t9 families employed in smietilture-30.1/10 fa.
milieu in trade. 'rota charge, 373,786/..-257,917t. in agriculture
—11.258/. in trade. . .

....
LINCOLNsIintE,—.2O,BBI families employed in sericulture;
13,184 families in trade. Total charge, 193,1171.-16576111. in
sgriculture-4,0.171. in trade.
Surrnt.►.-91i,4116 tantilies employed in agriculture; 15,180
families in trade. Total charge, 239,7471.-214,4 M. in agriculture
—5,2881. in trade.
\onr•ot.x.-51,451 families employed in agriculture; 23 082
families in trade. Total charge, 2'82,15111.-224 9771. in agrieul-
ture-4,2851. in trade. . . . .

SOME RSETBIIIRE.—M472 families employed in agriculture;
23.732 families in trade. Total charge, 174,58.1 L-1341,8411. in
agriculture, 10.13/. 14a. in trade.
NORT II AM PT ONBIIIR E.-15,235 families employed in agricul-
ture; 12,100 families in trade. Total charge, 143,3161.-132,002/.
in agriculture—W4 /. in trade.
Con NWAL L.-19,3412 families employed in agriculture; 15,553
families in trade. Total charge, 112,5371.--U7,233/. in agricul-
ture-2.191i/. in trade.

I)evosr.-37,037 families employed in agriculture; 33.9135 fa-
milies in trade. Total charge, 21:7,424/.-175,412/. in agriculture,
2,1;23/. in trade.
N.B. Amount of Property—Lancashire, 3,000.060/.; Esssex,
1,010.00/. ; West Riding of Yorkshire the same as compared
with Kent or any other.
Mr. Alderman WOOD did not know what the lion. Gentleman
meant to show by all those figures which he had been reading ;
did not trade pay the rates after all ? He should be very glad to
know how the Hon. Member. if he did not enjoy a very high price
for his corn, would be able to pay the charge. It was mule
alone that paid that high price, and it was trade, in fact, which
paid the taxes of all kinds. (laughter.)
The motion was then agreed to.
TURNPIKE TRUSTS-51 IDDI.F.SEX.

Lord LI/W.IIIER, attet a few observations, obtained leave to
bring in a Bill in consolidate certain turnpike trusts in the coanty
of Middlesex.

TIRIBERr AT ELECTIONS BILL.

On the order of the day being read fur the second reading of
this Bill.

WYNN rose, not for the purposc of offering any cp-
position m the second reading of the Bill, but to state to ths Noble
Lord (J. Russell) who had introduced the Bill to the House, that
there appeared to him (Mr. I('. Wynn) so many objections to the
details of the Bill as at present prepared, That however he might
agree with the Noble Lord in principle, he should still think it
incumbent on him to oppose it, unless those objections were re-
moved, Ile had no wish to impede the progress of the Bill by de.
daring those objections nowt but would, if it should be conve-
nient to the Noble Lord, consent to the Bill going into a Commit-
tee, in order that its provisions might be considered, and to tee how
far his objections might be removed.
Lord JOH N RUSSELL said it was not his wish to press the
Right Hon. Gentleman to enter prematurely upon a statement of
his objections to the Bill, but it certainly would he more convenient
to himself (Lord J. Itus,sell) if those objections were stated at, pre.
sent, that he might take them into. consideration, and endeavour,.
either to answer them. or adopt the suggestions which might result
from them. (Cries of " Go on.")
Mr. W. W YNN then stated shortly his objections to the Bill as
at present framed. He thought there was one object which it was
intended by this Bill to effect, but which could now he efficiently
done without any further legislative act of that House. The
House at present loot the power, in the appointment of a Com-
mittee, to inquire into the matter of airy petition alleging corrup-
tion at elections, to determine whether the decisions of that Com-
mittee should be compulsory or not. The House reserved to itself
also the power of deciding whether such a Committee should be
appointed or not. If the Committee were appointed, and should
make a Report (as it would necessarily do) to the House, there still
remained a power with the House to determine whether any steps
should be taken on that Report, or whether the whole matter should
terminate. All the objects Inc which this Bill went to provide could
be equally answered by the exercise of the power of the House
itself. Then this Bill did not propose any penalty on the person
who should prefer a frivolous and'vexatious petition to the House.
The Noble Lord had also by this Bill directed that the inquiry on
petitions sliculd in all instances be entered into at the public ex-
pense. This war in his opinion holding out such a temptation to
those who might be induced to intimidate by threats persons to
whose interests they were hostile, that he thought it most objec-
tionable, and would lead to innumerable proceedings of a most vex.
atious description. Upon the whole lie was quite convinced that
the evils which would reaul' front the Bill, if passed as it at pre-
sent stood, would be an great, that he was sure, after a short trial,
the House would deem it necessary to have it scowled.
Mr. WA RR E could not agree with the Right lion. Gentleman
that the present state of the law war sufficient to correct those
errors which his Noble Friend (Lord J. Russell) proposed toil° by
this Bill. It was notoriously the case tint in a great many bo-
roughs many scandalous practices prevailed. Corruption was not
confined within the walla of' Parliament, but existed without it to a

large extent ; because however Gentlemen might 64y that the
House required reformation, it was mere affectation to deny that
those who sent them to that House wanted reform also, (ife„,
hear.) It was required among the electors as well as the chatted;
and it his Noble Friend could but induce the 'louse to make at
example of one or two of those boroughs where those notorious acg
scandalous practices prevailed, he believed such a proceeding held
ig frrrorcnt over others would do great good. It was with this view
that he was anxious to see such a Bill as this passed ; and he
thought that whatever might be the opinions of Gentlemen en the
gime:inn of reform, the House, and Ministers in particular, ought
to make the best and most effectual efforts to provide a measure that
should he efficient in correcting the shameful practices that were
curi.,l on at elections ; but he agreed with the Rignt lion. Gentle.
Man that some penalty shook' be imposed nn those persons Om
should be guilty of preferring petitions which should appear to be
frivolous and vexatious.

Mr. LOCKHART said there was nothing in the Bill before ,he
House to compel the public to pay the costa: that matter mai felt
to the option of the Committee.

Mr. 11. GURNEY thought there could be nothing more ine,.
petlient than advertising for petitions against every corrupt act
which had taken place during the last six years. lie objected to ;:ie
ietrospective effect of the Bill.
Mr. N. CALVERT contended that the election of 31embera ass
• public duty, and that those who abused that duty ought to beau.
mediately dispossessed.
Mr. W. WYNN explained..

Colonel DAVIES supported the
itpraposed measure. Generd
corruption could rarely be proved ;wu therefore nothing to say
that the House had acted upon every occasion when general 03t„
ruptinn wu proved.
Mr. W. SMITH said he knew an Matinee of a borough where
the last Mosnbee had left lOW. unpaid to each elector, and it was In.
derstnod that the nest Member was to put a number of notes for IR.
into the post.office, directed to certain individuals. It could not be
proved that those notes were received, but little doubt remainedu
to the purpose for which they were demanded.

Mr. PEA IlSk; made a few observstions, which were Inaudible.
Mr. HODHOUSE supported the motion. He was willing to
accept the smallest reform, and would not refuse the greatest which
the House could be induc:al to grant. He was confident the
country would not bear the present system much longer. A spirit
was now abroad on those subjects which it was impossible to subdue.
They should begin with themselves. The electors could not be
bribed if there was no one to bribe them, and the reform should
begin with those who applied for seats in that Horse. It would be
invidious to refer to partizular cases; but it was in the recollection
of every person, that on a recent occasion. in which an Oftener' pe.
tition was hrought before Parliament, one of the parties was sent
to gaol and the other to a gratin that House, where he was actually
sitting at the present moment. He was extremely glad that the
House by any decision recognised the necessity of doing something
on a subject which was the root of every evil. After the edniisonns
of the Right Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Wynn), he thought
' there could be no objection to go into a Committee. !Ilan,
of the regulationiconnected with elections were absurd. Amongst
others, that by which it was ordered that no Peer should hare
any influence at elevions, though it was well known that Peers
influenced the return of a majority of that House. This absent
regulation should be done away with. It was a mere mockery.
He need nut go to isolated cases. Many Members in that 'louse
represented their own money. An illustrious individual, Whale lots
the country had lately to lament, sat in that House by paying
1.0(101. a-year out of his pocket. 'Phis was well known, and yet
Gentlemen talked of the inexpediency of a sweeping reform. In his
( Mr. Hobhouse's) opinion, a sweeping reform would be blur
than now allowing the necessity, now denying it,' and then coma.
promising it. We should go on in this course until dooin's-day if
there was not a sweeping reform. Cicero said be could not coneeire
how one augur could meet another without laughing. He could
not conceive how one Member of Parliament could meet another,
and talk of the purity of election, without laughing.
Mr. FYSCH PALMER said that the mmple of England ex-
pected some kind of teforin, and if the reform did not come frurn
within, it would come at length from without.
Lord J. RUSSELL replied. It was impossible, he said, not to
know that bribery was now going on in several of the boroughs.
They expected a golden harwast in July, and the returns from
many boroughs would then be in virtue of money and nothing
else. lie had observed in the newspapers that when it was an.
nounced that his lion. Friend the member for Penryn (Mr. P.
Grenfell) had determined to resign the representation of that
borough, because something was expected which he thought it dig.
graceful to give, the solicitor for the Bank welit down to Penryn to
form a connection with the eleetco,, and he had Hole doubt thu
some of the unsoiled notes of the Bank would find their say
down. In c:nelusion, he begged for some indulgence from the
House for a new Bill so lately introduced. He would be satisfia
if the Bill after many alterations swished the House.
The Bill was then read a second ame, aol ordered to be eom.
mined on Monday next in a committee of the whole House.
. MUTINY BILL.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved the third
reading of the Mutiny Bill.
Af:er a few observations from Mr. 1.17112, and Mr. H OIMOUSE,
some verbal alterations were made it, the Bill, which vas then
passed.
The Debtor and Creditor Arrangement Bill was read a thud
time.

The commitment of the Bank Charter Amendment Bill •u
postponed to Thursday.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the Home
adjourned till to-morrow (this day) at a quarter putt eleven.