The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-05-01 00:00:00

HOLYHEAD ROAD BILL.

OR the mown, or Sir 11. Panay:Lt. the Report
•hove Bill was received, and the Bill videred to be read o.
third time on Tuesday w xi.
PARIcH CLERKS BILL
Sir E pre,ented a P. twou from Drptf.,
almost the above uo the tahle.

Ain nine out of ten of all the convictions he
„new(' under it, the conviction was grounded nn
the siogle unsupported testimony of the Excise
Acer—it person incapacitated to be a witness he
the law here.—(Hour.)—To produce further proof
of the total disregard to equal and strict justice
that this law was dislinguiahed by, it wag necestary
to mention that Ireland abounded in lakes, many
f them containing numerous small island., pre-
-I,,„ting many facilities and temptations to the il-
wit 'fliese were selected as a usual scene
oihis operatione. It was sometimes difficult to
ascertain the district to which they belonged; and
in that case the Judge was permitted to impose a
6,,e ou each of the adjoining divirions. The !louse
would allow him to trouble them with frostbite
as extract from the testimony of the Member
for Birscommoit before sub Committee, illustra-
tive of this part of the ject. It stated, flirt
in the year 1813 six illicit stills having li-en
coiererl on an island in Loch (ore, ui the
mentioned county, and the gauger not having
been able to nscertain the parish to which it br.
Need. the Judge who tried the inform oast), or.
tiered the levy of a distinct hue off each a.f the s,x
adjacent parishes. AS another instance of the root-
table manner ill which the law was executed, he
might stale that a small still having; been teiz-d
tame time since in an obscure hamlet in the migh-
liourhood of Dublin. the Chief Jostler of the
King's Beath and the Attorney-General were
obliged to pay a part of the fine imposed in conse-
quence ! Bat the law did not stop there, for lie
rue clause of it, a fine of 101. or an impri.inittient
s months, was provided ag Mist any iii iii
io
potsessom an empty cask should be tumid.
641 All Excise officer would swear had contain.
hit of unlicensed whiskey—(glen., hear)
—and he hail frequently, with astonislimeist met
,liisost seen these persons make oaths to that el-
fret at Assizes.—(Hear, hear.)—The connequences
to the poor pea-totry of a law so singularly cruel
in principle and operation were such 114 Wight na-
turelly be apprehended ; they added tenfold to
the horrors of poverty and disease, and he so.
lenoilv declared that bus heart had fietpiently
sickened at beholding the !Marries intrialiwed
into whole families by the isuliscrimiliating and
unrelenting luau. of its executioti.—(llerie,
hear.)--glut there WAR one desire of the Act
which had no parallel in the annals of legislation.
Ile had already mid that the Act in question was a
re-enactment of a former law. In 1810 the distilla-
tion fine• were suspended ; in 1812 they were re-
pealed altogether ; in 1814 the law was restored ;
the Chancellor of the Exchequer thought proper
to hav,6 it re-enacted, and not satisfied with giving
it a prospective operation, by a refinement iii
legis-
lating before unknown, conferred on it a retro.
spective efficacy ; and gave the Judges of Assize
a power of re-itßiding those fines which had been
first suspended. and then repealed ! !—(Hear.,l—
furious infliction of penalties immediately con-
sequent, shewed the unfortuuate people that all e x •
jwctation of compatriots WAS vaiii—they were struck
with despair at *wring their properties and liberties
placed at the mercy of a set of unprincipled and rapa-
cious men—and they because indiffereist as to which
party prevailed, the Excise officer or the smuggler.—
Stich was the principle of the law, and acre
some of its enactment*. Why melt a cruel experi-
ment in legislation had been made in Ireland he
'lid not know ; but this he knew, that if the. Minis-
ter introduced a law into the Highlands of Scotland
fur the collection of the revenue, which confound-
ed the innocent with the guilty, he would not long
keep his place.—(Hear, hear.)—The people of
this island knew the value of just and equal laws
too well tamely to submit to an enactment of such
Ali initrai4eotia nature ; and lie trusted its members
would tint sutler the pregame of it to be collie•
iined on the sister country.—(lkur. hear.)—
The Ito: of flights directed that excessive flues
should cot be imposed on those convicted of guilt.
What would the framers of it have said, had they
been told that in future times an English
Parlia-
ment until(' paas a law which would fine the • -
cent, perhaps to their last shilling I—(Bear.)—
The advocates of the Act suppor•tl it by the ex-
ample of Alfred's system, which fiord the whole
tithing for sit offence col ttttt itted therein. But he
denied that there was any analogy between the two
cases, anal he was confirmed in his opinion by the
testimony of several respectable writers. A tithing
in Alfred's day, consisted of ten families united by
the sinceest ties. They had a perfect identity of
interests and possessions. All property was gained
and spew by them in common. Ile thought there
Was no hardship in people connected in that manner
iseing rendered responsible for the misdeeds of each
other; but When the connexion ceased, so did the re-
lative responbility.—(llear.)—Millar. in his His-
torical View of the English f.'onstitsitson and Govern-
ment, observed, that 66 that luw (A iii-ercel was to be
looked upon as a remnant of extreme simplicity,
rather than a proof of much improvement in govern-
ment." Such provisions, Mr. Dawson
were only suited to the rode manners and c lit imi of
infant uueiviti ed societies, and it was au intoleralAe
hardship that the inhabitants of a parish. or a tow to-
land, should at this day, in Ireland, he simile an-
swerable for the offences of our soother.—(/fear.)
—He hoped the Howse would pardon him for
(tooting the opiision on the RAMP *object of I time,
That writer. alluding to the law of Alfred, had mil,
That perhaps it would be reworded as destruc-
tive of liberty and commerce in a civilised State."
But it might be urged that the principle of that law
was still retained in punishing litindred4 at the pre-
sent day for crimes cominitttal snider certain cir-
cumstances within them. But this case also was
very different—Alfred's law was directed ageiust
crimes which were so by the law of nature, which
were male is se, such as murder and burglary ; and
if the Government was not sufficiently strong to
suppress these itself. it was justified in
compelling by such Means the people to assist
it. But lioa did this argument apply to moo-
demeanors— offences which were rendered so
only by the Jaw of the laud ? lit the re-
arm instance the distiller was only guilty of a
breach of the prohibitory law; lie *lid tint commit
guy thing which was a mrstum in se—awl that an-
other individual. who participated ueither in Ind
profit nor his guilt, was now to be involved to his
pumeliment, and robbed of his last farthing. be-
cause the Chancellor of the Exchequer had found
that the laws of Alfred inflicted fines on the in-
habitants of a tithing or hundred, on the commis.

Sion of heinous eiiines, was not to be ii irate.
( ilear.)—The powers the re-enacted Taw conferred
upon the Excise officers fir its execution were
so extremely strong, that if pot its 'strict op--
ration, as they frequently were, they mii.t
nvres-
Sirily have exasperated the minds of the lower
Wilco( : —they did exasperate them—and the csii.e.
(pence was, an eternal wit hetereen the parties.
The innocent stul the enlightened kid no motive
held oust to them to promote the execution of the
law. if they did not give information, they were
subjected to the same penalties with the sintiggl. r—
end, if they dui, they became victims to the rage
of the pea.antry. The lion. Member then cited
various ',arts of the evidence given before the Coin-
mittee on Illicit Distillation, in the year Iril3, as
calculated to evince the spirit of oppression and
✓apasity winch had characterised the execution of
the law, as well as the melancholy consequeuees
resultisf'er therefrom to various iiislividnals. lie
described the fraudulent minsoctimot in which
Ilinchey, an Excise officer, had been esizage,l—
cen.iire passed upon his conduct by Mr. Cof-
fey, so loapector, and hia l'olllll tttt 46011 in office
11.1t0,1111.140ifillig, by the Board of Excise—the cruel
treatment Mr.Colquhouit, who had pointed out the
goods of lsi• guilty neighbours, to Mr. Nevrinsit,
another officer, experienced from the latter. Ile
also read a Report made by Mr. Perry, is C
mis-
rioner of Excise, on the calamitous effects of the
law in the North of Ireland; and to illustrate its
effect in extruding the practice of perjury, refer.
red to a trial iii which on Excise officer wad
I found guilty of a certain offence, and senteneed
to a fine and itworisototient of t:velve months

—thongli pia i iiiii reviler was afterwards !till-
Wished 011 the confession of two of the Jury to
himself, that they knew lion to Ire i 11111 l celit, but
were resolved to brig a verdict against him, to
express their detratation of the character of all per-
SOIIIIIO his AllllllOll. The urxt consequence of the
law, after perjury, was assassination, of which the
melancholy death of Mr. Butler was 41 ilitiSt
eouelu-
sive proof. That gentleman obeyed the law—
exerted himself in jamuuting Its ex,ctition—
yet in mil-day, within a few yards of los own
house, was thistly murdered, without a single
attempt ly li*:s own iron:its and laleborers to save
loin from his fate. Ile roman,led that the whole
or she hoisted efficacy of the law was tittrilollable
to the ruiployineut of a military force ; and as a
most important confirmation of ail lie had said,
read a letter from Judge Fletcher. wherein that
learord individual, tiller stating that lie liad rojnyed
the le.st rinportunite of observnig the effects of the
Towriluod Fitting Law, room going the North-west
Circuit
thren, represented it us la ;mi.:licit to the common
sense and feelings of mankind, as well as to the
first principles of the British Constittition ; thought
it had only sprung from u desperate rrsoltitimi
to raise a reveinie in Int mil, los, nefas ; mud that
it led to Ille 11011T1S,11 timelier! of perjury in prose-
cutor., defendants, sod witnesses; sod traced
nearly all the assize business of the rowdy I)tmegal
to its iidluerice, direct or indirect. Mr. Dawson
afterward* alluded to the opinion of Sir John
Davis, •1 That no nation under the sun loved equal
and impartial justice more than the Irish;" entreat-
ed the Chancellor of the Exchequer to try the
effect of mild and equitable measures of Govern-
ment ; void robicluded by secroollog the Motion.-
1 This speech was received with laud and constant
cheerin;r.j
mr. LESLIE FOSTER dsf-nderl the law nn the
ground of its importance to the revenue, and its ef-
ficacy its suppressiog illegal distillation. Ile argued,
that great as were the moral was resulting from its
operstion, those which wroth! spring from the only
system ever proposed as a substnute would he still
greater. He took a review of the various changes
which the law respectang illicit distillation had tot-
dergone since 1810, mud produced various-cilcula.
bons respecting the quantity of stills discovered its
different counties or lielaml, to skew that the
consequence of the lining law was a material reduc-
tion In the manufacture of milicebised whiskey.
It was, he said, asserted, that the Irish were accuse
to prosecutions. They were so, where the interests
of the revenue were concerned. hi no country was
the law of society snore strong; nod he was coo-
winced that the inhabitants of towillands could in
all cases prevent the offence. Whatever, lie said,
might be the imputed defects of the present sys-
tem, he thought it far preferable to the system
proposed—a system which would go to encourage
prosecutions aria military hunting. As to what
had hero said respecting the small stills in S..rbt-
land : lii that country there were 39 mills. 11114 the
revenue they produced amounted to about gO,OOO/.
that is shoot 5001. each. In Ireland there are 12
small legal stills ; these are somewhat larger thaii
those in Scotland, but they produce a avenue of
116,000/., thus producisig a revenue of about 19
times more. But if the House would en! brge the
numberof small stills in Ireland, they would, its fact,
make smugglers with licenses, instead of having
smugglers with t them. The large distilleries
would not be able to bear ou against the increase
of small distilleries—and the eousequence would
be, that they would bring ruin and beggary on
those persons who have embarked their Capital In
large distilleries. To skew, he said, how well the
present system worked, he had to state to the
House, that, for the last year. 12,000 willows of
legal spirts had been consumed in liniishowen,
where there never was 4. gallon of legal spirits used
before.—(A laugh.)—Tlios wit% he said, the con-
sequence of the elforts that had been
made to put rlobvii illegal distillation—efforts which
would be he st a ppm. *late(' when lie stated, that 111
our flay, in no less than twenty illicit
distilleries li,ul 10,0 lensed.
Sir JOHN Sri:WAR r said, he trusted it was un-
necessary to sa), after mill the !loose hail heard,
that the present system of law was most severe,
%holiest, awd nowis-, lie hoped the House would
agree with him its thinkiiig, that ilie time had now
arrived for getting{ rid of that system rittogrOlter,
for surely no case had been made out to justify the
law. 'Flue lion. Gentleman (11r. Foster) had
stated that the system of small distilleries hail been
tried, and failed—he (sir JUllli !Stewart) was r. 014.
11:f11 11141 that statement was not correct—every ;en-
tleman who had enrolled to the subject knew that
the small Podia had never had a fair tri.ol—they were
impeded and discouraged in many ways ; indeed it
w.is impossible that th-y could have existed under
the regalatious that had beets mete—the laterees

•
or the s mill proprietors were always rdiligid In give
way to those of the proprietors of forge ;
hut above ell, they laboured tinder the 'rower the
(7ominissioners hail of witliliolthog licenses. instead
of giving every man a fair opportunity of rotoloymg
capital awl his toilnstry ni tit. fettle. The esta-
blishment of small milli would have a powerful
effect in puttee: dawn illicit distillatiosi —the pro-
prietors of moi .11 distilleries would find it their inte-
rest to pot it down—the prof de would be indisreil
to :mist iii putting down illegal distillation, and
until they assisted it could not be lint down, though
the country might be covered with military force
and revenue officers. As to the statement made by
the Ibis. Gentleman, to %hew that illegal distilla-
tion was on the decline in Ireland, lie (Sir John)
would observe, that in the first year he referred to,
corn bore a very low price in Ireland, there was nn
market, and it resulted. as a matter of esturee, that
the m111..1410011+ root slionhl find its way into illicit
distillation ; the third year he referred to, there hap-
pened to lie a litgli price, and a gore mirket fur
corn, and the Irish firmer naturally exported it.
Another year was one of great distress in I reland
besides, from the wetness or the 'resin), and the tallis
serpient want of fuel, illicit distilleries were not
worked by the people. These re:semis would trod
to exiilaiti the statement made by the Hon. Gen-
tleman ; it was to these local, temporary, and inci-
dental cuss. s that the alteration was to be traced,
and not to the effects of a system which WS4 only
',regnant with public imusarality, misfuriitie,
shill
diertintent.
Mi. FosTen. explained.
Mr. IV ELLESI.EIf l'oae said, that upon this sub-
jeett when he told an official situation in Ireland,
the subject of illegal distillereis canoe iturnediately
under his consideration. Ile differed with his Itieht
Hon. Friend, then the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer fur Irtla•id ; representation* came in from
fereut parts of the country. expressive or the horrors
and distresses the law occasioned. In consequence
or these representations, the previous tines, were re-
mitted, and the Act was suspended for two years.
fie was, he said, astonished at the statement
made by an Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Foster),
tiainely, that the system of small stills had been IQ
operation. In 1910. the noes were suspended"" ;
1911, in
an Act of Parliament was framed for the esi-
enuragetnent of small stills; and tit 1912, lie (Mrs
Pole), after great consideration. and after consulta-
tion with the Judges ;mil the law officers in Ireland,
brought in a Hill, which passed into it law. But
it should be recollected, that distillation Croon
• whether in small or in large distilleries, was
wholly suspended, and not a still of ally descrip-
tion could legally work during the whole time.
Every one, he knew that the former Aell were
ineffectual ; he brought iii a Bill with new provi-
sions, ander the first advice, lost the Irish Geistle-
men, not taking into consideration the fact that the
distillation of grain was prohibited by law, they
called out by acclainetion for the re•eiteettlient of
the kw. The Government complied with the wishes
of the gentry—in his opinion wisely complied, as all
Governments act wisely in attending to the de-
clarations and expressions of the gentry of the
country; upon that occasion, however, he divided
the House against all the Irish Members. lit 1813,
a Committee was formed to take into consideration
the state of the laws oil this subject--be would
refer the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Foster) to a stile-
oleo laid before that Committee, that the elate
which the country was then in W 45 occasioned by the
fitting system. The lion. Gentleman, he said, had
talked of the decline of illicit ditdillalian in Ireland,
hut after the two instances of IJotiegal and Tyrone,
where distillation always was most encouraged,
it was ludicrous to talk of suppressing it.--
The Right limiourahle Gentleman said, that
fechog :is he did, that the present was a horrid
system, pregnant with mischief and misfortune, no-
thing oti earth would induce him to support it; of
course his corimcirtittous opinion was, that the law
ought oat to exist.
Lord MUUDITCHARLES said, that at the last As-
sizes of Donegal, there were 31).) still lines, which,
at '251. welt. would amount to 7,5001. to he levied
off this Door and impoverished comity ; he said th it
so many unhappy persons were inirisoneil under
this law, that the gaol of the county was obliged to
lie ridaroeil.
Mr. V. FITZGERALD contended, that the law
introduced by Mr. Pole haul 101 l total, soil was.
tin
fact, the law now existing, or rather, indeed, the law
sit ',Mira Went even further than that of has Itight
lion. Friend. It was, he thought, strange logic to
impute to the law cruises of murder and of outrage,
whirls the law, in fact, was made to pot duait.
Ile stated that the system now complained or had
been established as die means of correcting int evil
previously existing, and which had arrived to a
degree of fearful magnitude. He had had no
official information for nearly two years respecting
the made in which this law had been carried iisto
effect, and being absent from the House the 'tight
on whirls paper* relNinig to the subject were laid
on the tube, lie was in fact less acquainted with
the particulars of it than perhaps any other Mem-
ber, lie hurl even desired most ansi tusly to ab-
stain from the discussion of this opiestion, lint
it wit impossible for him. He was aware of the
evils complained of, and lamented their existence,
but they were not nitributable either to the law or
to the Government of Ireland. Ou every occasion
wher.jo penalties could with propriety he remitted.
the Government uniformly afforded every
tudul-
grace that was possitile, wills a clemency which
perhaps might in some points tor exposed to cen-
sure. Alludirig to torts.t had fallen from sot flout.
Friend (Mr. I),twuoil) who :::111 supported the mo-
tion, and who li sil undertak-it to its tiotatit hits
opinions; by a quotation fume a work which could
nut he too much read, lie expressed his hop, that
those who drew lessons of wiadoin from the report
of Sir John Davis on toe state of lrelsud, would
not fail no remember the sentiniento or that di,-
tooguishrit snot-email on other ore ohms cl 1111 l retest
with that couistiy. Sir John Davis had represented
the Irish as they were, gallant. humane, Nod sen•
sitsve, told as a people who were particularly de-
„sr„u„ of "ma laws; lie hoped that those who
cheered that upiotnu when quoted buy his Hun.
Friend, and who also seemed to approve the siri-
that nu questions connected with Ireland, the
opinion of the majority of the Irish Members.
el lit prevail, would on Nlonday act iii
conforiniiy with those sentiments, and that he
should then be counted in the Warne majority

relit, his iionouralde Fric:al.—(Lord eheeriaz.)—
W hen he rose on this rift -.lion he had tint meant to
eternity the lime of the II mop for more thin live
misiotes. lint the interest he felt in the anhjeet hail
drawn him OA. With respect to the
rletarosiont of Ihe 11,111‘e nn tiaralpleo:llllt,
el Id meetly say. that lie could not regret if the
decision of the night ace wed the Confirmation of a
niessiive which he had himself proposed ; 111111
should the decision lie otherwise, it clout(' ill lie-
come loin to question the decis:on of the !louse.—
(Ilear. hear, hrar.)
Mr. W. Put.E. Mr. V. Ft rZGFRALD, owl Mr.
DaWsosi a. venally explaimil.—(Cries of " Qoe,'
lion. QOPItiON !")
Mr. A. I' FRENCH allowed, that during the last
two years there undotildeilly was a dinituutiou
in
the crime of private distillation ; but tits dill not
arise so morli from the onerat of the law. as
other circumstances which lie should mention.
The sear li-tire last was one of iilt.olote famine, in
which the landlords were actually obliged to slip-
ply their tenant, with provisions. aiiil last year fuel
Was so scaece that turf was selling at 9(1. a kisli.
The state of the country. however, in the present
year was that which should decide the opinion of
the Clouse, and in this year the practice of illicit
distillati hail increased surprisingly. !le denied
that all the people in the tocanlamle were, or could
he aware of the exisaelice of ;in illegil still iii the
ttod asked the Ileinhers fur England and
Scotland, how they would like to have their coun-
try exposed to such a and %motions sys-
tem ?—(1/ear, hear.) —lf they would not, could
they think that the Irish Gentlemen would endure
to be irod•li.ii down in slid) 14 mariner ?—(i.fror.)—
Ile 'puke iii favour of licensing small stills, and
concluded by saying, that if his opinions of the in-
jurious effects of the present law 011 the morals of
the comitly were not saw:hotted the authority of
every Judge us Ireland, lie would never optis his
mouth 14V4111 on the siihject.—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. I'F.EI, lamented that lie could toot n,tree
with the majority of the Irish Nlenthers tit their
views on this important matter ; but lie could not
hesitate, even tinder this disadvantage, to deliver
sentmients. lie IHlllelllefl, a. sows-rely as any
one, the evils which flowed 1 rum the existing
system ; hut it sl Id tint be fergotten, that
they arose at tone particular period, and were
the conscipielices of the acts of individual officers.
This, no doubt, was a proper object of complaint,
hut no one could contend that such arts ought, in .trietness
of argument, to lie urged against the measure Ihri,. These
evils also had occurred previous to the appointment of a
Committee to investigate the matter, and the measure which
had been muspended for one year was reenacted with the
simnel unanimous constitt of 11w Nish :tlenohers. The
measure was re-enacted alter a Committee--after the
examination of the Members for Ireland then in at-
tendance. There was • Member for Mayo, a Mem-
ber for Westin( alt, for Wicklow, and Sligo ; yet now
it wise required that the measure should be repealed
without any inquiry whatever. The first Member examined
was Mr. Urowne, who stated, that in the comity of Mayo
the evil had very much decreased--thal the evil hood been
got under—yet that was the time that Parliament thought
roper to repeal the law; and the consequence of suspend.
lag it for three years was an increase of the rvd to an caw-
moo. magnitude. %Vottid the Hollow now again try this ex-
periment. and he again compel!. .1 to cope with the offence
when it shall have acquired strength, and have arisen to a
gigantic height ? The Right Hou. Gentleman then read se.
yes al extracts from the examinations • f the Irish Members,
taken before the Committee, all of which were strongly
in Unmoor of the operation of the law. Such were the am-
nions of six of as respectable Menshirs for Ireland as came
from that country; men who were capelole of forming a
correct judgment on the matter, and who also expressed the
sentiments of the majority of the geutlemen in their re.
spectire counties—
Mr. A. FFRENCR here interrupted the Right llon.Gentle.
man, and reminded him that the Committee had been moved
fur by him; that he had asked the Chnswellor of the Exche-
quer when the Committee would be held. The Chancellor
of the Exchequer was silent, and the Committee were cum-
pi Ilea to examine the six members alluded to on the chem.,
aif their knowing any thing almost the inatter.—(Hene.)
Mr. PeeL continued, sad said, that surely if there were
any Irish Members in the House who were hostile to the
measure, it was competent for them to come forward and
state their opinions. He then read some extracts from two
Reports presented by Mr. Gregory to elle Treasury, on the
effects of the former it stem, and that now in practice, which
went to skew the inefficacy of the former, and the wretched-
ness soi those places where the practice of illicit distillation
prevailed. Ile remarked. that if the present system were
am-nolo4l with evil, the House should not close their eyes
sit those which attended that to which they would revert.
and concluded with a few observations on the impolicy of
admitting any vacillations in the systetis to be pursued in
this particular.—f near.) •
Mr. A F n explained, and proceeded to make some
remark' upon the proceedings of the former Comnnnttee,
when he was called to order by Mr. V. Fitzgerald.
Colonel BARRY stated, in oopoeitiou to what had fallen
from Mr. Peel, that be had beets examined on the former
Committee, and have a very decided opinion against the
system of still fines, and which lie should ever Ise ready to
maintain as destructive of the moptla and injurious to the
rots teats of Ireland.—(Hear,hrar.l.—He felt as strongly as
any man, the disadvantages of vacillations in the measures
of the Irish Government. but lamenting as he did that
the present measure had ever been adopted, lie eolith,
not hesitate to prefer a charge now to the contionauce
of so dreadful a practice. He did nut wish fur a total
and instantaneous repeal of these laws, hut he was anxious
for the establishment of aurae concomitant remedial mea-
sure, which would gradually restore the country to its eta.
feral state. The remedy might be a diminution of the
duty, and the establishment of small mills, for small stills
have never been encouraged in lieland.---(flear, hear.)—
He knew &Gentleman residing in the heart of the illicit dis-
filiation, who proposed to erect a small still of 100 gallons
to counteract this evil, but after having ispended 1.0001 on
the erection of it, he was refused a license. The only reason
alleged fur this refusal was. that there were two stills 01500
gallons each within shout ten miles of liins. The best plan
probating to be adopted would be, to refer the subject to a
Committee.—(Hear, hear.)
The cwasicELLou of the Eirsteepueit concurred in the
last suggestion which hail Callen from his Right Hun. Fs send,
relative to referring the subject to a Committee. He feared,
however,thst the finances of the united kingdom, for wh els
be was deeply responsible, would suffer severely ft-out
vacillating in the system of gosernment. He tottered
that the establishment of small dill. would he arieossl-
eii with the best effects by raising up rivals to the
illicit distillers. In this opiottots lie was confirnied by the
experience of Scotland, and be had no doubt that if the
Gentlemen of the sountry wont,' concur in upholding the
laws, the adoption of ibis plau would be aitendeol with the
happiest consequences. He alluded to the hardships said to
be suffered by the people of Iceland, but if Gentlemen would
turn their eyes so several parts of this country, particularly
t 4 those where the practice of smuggling most prevailed,
they would bad that such seven-tier were out peculiar to
Ireland.
Sir NEWPORT remarked, that of all lilt courses ever
pursued by the Ministers" of the Crows, that which they
adopted this evening was the most ainachievous. Nu opt-
niun seemed to have keen formed 014 this imports's' ;mist
by the Chancellor of the Exchequer-amid eta this as well as
on other occasions, floe consitry was to women Nu undecided
Nlissiostry awl a divided Cabinet itemi rsorring.)-.He
then entered cuts a csuaiderstior sof the queen," aid said

Ilia, eotild he conceive the morale of the people of 1r.!•..4
wool., he borer conenlied by the repeal of the present
n'tern. than by maianining it, he should not below,•
shout the line of c.indoict he ought to adopt, for he should
ever ennaider re'venite ea 'oohing worth, if pneehased at the
caroms, of the morals of the remote. Ile feared if the re-
peal were ranted, the practice of illicit distillation wmb/
insolently revive In a great extent, and redoce other not.
of I. land to the miserable condition of the coalition,
of l'yrone and Donegal. He led as a truth, of
which he was well colviiired, that by the countenanc..
shewn to the pract,ce by the tawdry Gentlemen of
Tyrone and Doilegalk the pooreV people were abanlntely
teniiiied to commit this nffenee.—.! Hoar, hear, and trier of
rl .An, urs")—Gentlemen might cry " No, no ;" hot he had
pitch authority for hie tome. (hit he eased not think of
retracting them. He reseed this tomd on the attention of
the Hussar, and conch.!./ by expreasing his belief that the
prevaill system was of aerviee to Ireland
Lord CaaTr.r.ttEaOrl thought the attack otade by the
Right Hon. Baronet sin the Chancellor of the *scholar
wits contrary to the practice of the noose, end inc 00000
with the ileeorton, he might almiiet say the decency required
in l'arliamentery trannactiops. The Noble Lord Owls cle-
f...elml the conduct of his Wight Hon. Friend. soil colienrredi
with him to thinking, that the gallant Graseral (meld to
here sit opporlouity of brining the subject fairly before the
Committer.
Mr. Ilra:erre gala, the House w-is placed ;n an cleft-tor.
Binary situation Sty the conduct of some of his
Nlittistere, in the w I they met this oneatiost. An lion.
Member, who held a high situation under the Board of Li,.
rise (Me 1.. Foster!, strongly opposed the mutt 00000 lost li.e
Right Hon. Gentleman oppoaite, and the Noble Lord also,
took upon a audits', guide a slifiereut view sit the quo-stool—
the reliant was obvious, they felt the tone of the House, sold
trembled at a division. They knew they dared not take ilia
atom. of the House sin this .abject—/Hear, lad the
Ili:lit How (rentlemmi state what he Meant 10 des in Ili^
rommittee—antild consent to repeal lII'/ )
Ile Mr. Bentiets) at note as, that he thought tin' Cent.
tiaele..s, sinless the law were at Once rep,3le•l,
!Wear. )—lt was a syntrin of eatable hiao srveiiiie on 11.0
sass or puldie rapine—one ip which it remained f r the
11.01. e 10 .3y, whether the people of Ireland shook, emaini.e
10 I,• spot/lied, and their lan& waste, or uhillser
somethioe. like jostiee altould pr. side over the reverne
slums rottotry, whit It sieve, could be the cases.. long as such 4
%%stem as 011ie prevail...l. All also convened wills (.eoth ail
from Ireland must have lit-moil of the pillage which wit
• very where endured under this 'Khoo. mer.nre. The Rizlit
Hour Gentleman floe Chatteellor of the Excluquer) 115.1 slot
that the first dery of Government Was revenue.; he, on the
rnillrary,ll ttttt ght the first ditty von the proleelioo rf It e
rople.—r kern., from all 'Net of the tharre. ;
the whole fire of Eiliope, these was notitiog to he Nero like
the stale of degradation in alt rh Ireland was by (hit
law. 111 Conlitriell they heard of the peopl.• bring
sacrificed to feresioe, but Iliere was 110 100.4 sisal ilitv
b.
Europe save that 1.1 which the at tentiou of the [louse was now
C3110%11. No whirr but in the East rind in litisi•inta rn oat
such apt il of retroile to be founds It was anise coo.usir•it
with the Right Hon. Gentleman's plan of finance—like :he
Lottery, it gave him a rCVentle, 311.1 he Cited oust
armee. It was a part of she aline creed, All that ho lir.
Bennett) could be anxious about was to strew the people r r
the country the system that his Majesty's Ministers li ul bei .1
porstiing with respect to revenue, and the trrma point ulna.,
at all luaurJa, they would exact it If the Hun.. did not
look at ousels la system as it ought, the cuoutry certainly
would —cheer.)
l'he ('oascrt.tma of the Elettssatlett .14'11441 that he ever
nerd such 311 expression!, as that rr venue, contrailisi
ed from the interests of the people. was the first object of
a Government. What he said Was this, that his first laileretk
io she situation he held was, Ist take care I Is-. 1 the 11.Vci•ile lit
Site country was rendered effective.—(Hear.)
RrNmrp7-.-,' All I shall say is, tint the Right. lion.
Gentleman'. set m was paramount' "
Mr. Wet. Partnet.t. congratulates! Ilse House on irh it ate
peered to him to he the likely result of sloe motion. Ile
lamented :list a Right Hon. Gentleman . lir. Pei l) should
have taken the plot lie had done. and shewis himself aro.
lugist for every thing which was unjust, inloleraol, suit
illlberal.
Mr. Peet felt it his duty tn require an explanation front
the Wm. G. oileman who had spoken lest. Did he comicrwe
him to have meant the expressions he bad used in the reuse
in which they were usually received, he should not
House take an opport sootily of evil niring an explanation, het
there was really something in the leinper and Manner of do:
Hon. Gentleman, which forbade him to pat a serious con-
struction on the epithets he had used, though he fi It it right
to give I • 311 oppurltillity of replanting them.
Mr. W. PARIS iLt. assured the Right Ilion. Gentleman that
there was nu individual for atom he entertemed a higher
personal respect, and that if Ise had used any dope. (-misty
harsh epithets, It must have milieu from his bring t lists
agitated at the SuCCeall of this motion.—///eni, heir.)
Mr. CHICHESTER expressed the sincere gratification he felt
at the prospect which was now held out of am...siding the law
in Ireland. He relied, that the !atoms of the Committee,
aided by the eandoor and good sense of his Majetty'• Go-
vernment, would bring this question to that issue 1.1 which
it must be the wish of (very friend of peace and good order
it should speedily at rive.—(fle.or.)
General HART participated In the gratification which the
result of this motion was so calculated to diffuse. Ott thus
auloject of illicit distillation, all lie should say was, that ha
had within: so much at heart as its utter abolition; soil it
was because he was its greatest enemy, he was the advocate
of an alteration in the present system, which tended so mut Is
to its eocouragement.
Mr. J. P. GRANT rose to make some obaervations, but
the cry of " Question r' was so loud, that he was obliged
to sit down.
The motion was then agreed to, and the Committee was
fixed fur Friday next.
Several Ace tttttt ts were brought up relative to the amount
of Duties ou 'roomed Leather imported into Ireland, att.(
the number of Vessels that navigated the llenai Strait.
Mr. Alderman HILVGATC presented a Petition from Sod.
bury, against the Pour Settlement Bill.—Ordered ter be
rioted.
Mr. Alderman Woos moved for returns of the amount of
coal contracts made by Government during the last avveit
years.
After a few words from Mr. MVSILISSON as to the form of
the mutton, it Was (Or the present withdrawn.
CLAIMS (IN FRANCE 811.1.
On the moti of Mr. Luanisoxon, the claims on Frain e
Bill was read the third 1111 w and passed.
The other Orders of the Day were then read, and the
House adjourned until Monday next.

FVREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

DUTCH MAIL.

♦PRIG 14.
SECOND CHAMBER OF THE STATES•GENERAt,

Aran. 21.

After adoption of the g.ueral laws respecting the Customs
and Excise, a beginning was made in the sitting of Ow
Second Chanllsl3. Or the States Gaismil of this slay out, the
dercussiou of the particular laws. Those upon the Order of
the Day were the five projets of laws respecting the duties
upon salt, soap and polisher, turf, coals, and the tonnage
duty. These live law. wire comprised in one general Kr-
port, presented by the Ceisteal F/101011 in the last sitting.
His Excellency the Director Gettersl of the Customs awl
Excise was present ta.day, to explain the reasons of the va-
rious laws proposed, and to defend them. After a Wilt
end pretty sainsated discussiou, all the free laws were pal iil
Ihr vote, each separately, and all passed. The Assembly
adjourned till Tuesday us at, whew it will have before it the
projects of laws relative 411 the duties um whets. Jiatitkil
liquors, beer, sod vinegar.
PrOCICOOLIII. 0.
1111 r. Sergisia, who is returned from M. Hartle.tannin. where
Ise had au other Imam the Government, has just pabtis d 4
Work, under the tide of the Weal /iodise, owitaiwisio
important Information reopecaing the rreseral reeve a ram-
tiimieselaLtPurveildreici:prubigisangdibrsiyarasei.""amedFiroNstilhigbliliteforicia4aatilliawfiri.odel...wat-

t