The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-05-04 00:00:00

CLERGY RESIDENCE.

On the motion of Sir WILLIAM SCOTT, the
House resolved itself into a Committee on this Bill,
Mr. P. Carew in the Chair.

On the reading of the clause for a limitation to
the Clergy in respecß to farming,
Sir AV. GEARY moved for the clause to he
omitted, thinkiog that the Clergy should have th
same accommodation in pursuits of industry with
other Gentlemen, consulting their respeElability and
accommodation
Mr. BASTARD expressed himself forcibly to the
came eifea.
Sir R. BUXTON was against their employing
themselves in farming beyond the glebe, whichmay
be necessary for their sustenance and the hospitality
of their mansions ; they could find., in his
other means which would more encrease their re-

speCtability.
Mr. KEENE was against Clergymen holding
large farms for lucrative objeEts, which would rather
diminish than increase their respeCiability.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL and Mr. D.
RYDER also supported the clause.
Sir W. SCOTT said, his objeCt in framing this
Bill was to relieve the Clergy from the disabilities
and penalties to which they were liable from a fer-
nier statute. As the law now stood, if a Clergyman
had nor a sufficient glebe .of free lands he was not
enabled to support his household, and lie wished
them, like other Gentlemen, whoa living in the
country, to have some land about them ; for it was
no secret that in some parts of the country the poor
had not frequently any means tif procuring even a
drop of milk but from the charity and benevolence
of the resident Clergy. That did not intetfere with
their spiritual duties, mid it was •well known that
the agriculture of the country was much improved
by the care and industry of clerical Gentlemen ; but
he never meant to put them in the situation of
commercial Clergy.
Mr. WILBERFORCE allowed that the Bishops
were the best judges, hut to enable them to do jus-
tice, they ought to hear the objeCtions of the parish-
ioners, as well as the statement of the reaors.—
They should 'investigate the whole of the case, to
decide in open court, and in the presence of persons
.conversant with the laws.
Th.! CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
said, that the objet of the clause was to give pub-
licity to the
.licences for Clergy taking additional
lands for-the purposes of agriculture. From many
instances .that had occurred, these was no danger of
the clerical charaCter sinking into that of the farmer.
This Bill would not charge the bishops with any
power, which had not been uwested in them by the
original constitution of the.church. He was in fa-
vows of the licences being enrolled, but he would
oh's& to any enquiries which may prove vexatious.
Mr. WILBER.FORC.E and Mr. RYDER ex-
plained.
Mr. BRAGGE spoke strenuously in favour of
the clause, as amended, so far as that az y pa-
rishioner may make himself a part,.

F~~i"'1

Mr. 'WYNDHAM said, he El not sce the ne-
etisity of any alteration in the clause, which he
considered, in overy poi,; of view, as perfeCtly 311-
'exceptionable. It would enable the Bishops to dis-
charge their duty Nvith less trouble than they could
do, under any farther controul or disabilities. He
thought the business might be trusted to their dis-
cretion.
Sir W. DOLBEN thought that Clergymen
should he allowed farms in order to have .some
subsistence for their wives and families after their
decease, as the parochial Clergy generally live up
to the extent of their income, and leave their wives
and families afterwards unprovided for.
Sir W. GEARY explained, but said that he
would not urge the House to a division on the
clause.
After a desultory conversation, and a variety or
explanations from Members who had spoken before,
the clause was at length agreed to.
Some other clauses were then agreeed to, and
the Chairman directed to report progress, after
which the Committee was ordered to sit again on
'Finn-slay next.
The House then adjourned at half past nine
o'clock.

BY COMMAND OF *THEIR MAJESTIES.
THEATRE-ROYAL, DRURr-LANE..
TO-MORROW EVENING will be perforated a New Comedy
calld
THE MARRIAGE PROMISE.

To which w.ll be :1(1,1,41,
A HOUSE TO BE SOLD.
Thy ICth Night of the New Comedy will he on Saturday.

The CRITIQUE upon the Exhibition at Somcsstv-llotissr,
and several other interesting Articles, are excluMxt this dog
by the length (Attie Parliamentary Report.

THE BRITISH PRESS.

LONDON,
WEDNESDAY, MAY 4.

Last night we received Paris papers to the 30tIL
last, inchuive ; but they do not contain any intelli-
gence of importance: of course they take no notices
dirthly or indirectly of the present discussions be-
tween this country and France.—ln the sitting Cl
the Legislative Body of the 29th, Citizen CHAniPI ow
stated, there was every reason to believe that the
end of the Session was near at hand, and proposed
that they should proceed to the nomination of the
Grand Officer of the Grand Council of the Admi-
nistration of the Legion of on,-)r. A general
Committee was appointed for t eking the subjedt
into consideration.

The French Funds are rat'ier I( wez. The fite
per cents were, on the 29th last, at T. 3 fr.

A Dutch Mail also arr;ved •yesterday with letters
and papers of the 30th, but they are destitute of in-
teresting intelligenc "1.1 a official account of the
surrender of the Cape to the Dutch, produced a rise
in the Dutch fund-. The same uncertainty, howe-
ver, upon the subject of peace or war which is fek
here prevails in ilJllund. The French are assem-
bling an army near Nimeguen, for the purpose, it
is suppOsed, of attacking Hanover in the event of a
war with England.

A Lisbon Mail also arrived yesterday, brought
to Falmouth by the Katz George packet in twelve
days. Portugal appears to be tremblingly alive to
the result of the negcciation between England and
France. She feels that not merely her trade, but
her political exiA,T.ce as a nation, depends upon it.

The notice given by the Minist©r in the House of
Comnims on Monday, of a communication on Mon-
day next, v.-as generally considered yesterday in the
city as a pacific symptom ; the circumstances which
governed his construction we do not know. From the
mere abstraa words certainly nothing could be in-
ferred as to the nature of the communication. This
impression made the Funds brisk for a time, but they
fell back again in the course of the day. In some
of the upper circles and publi.: offices a more confi-
dent hope of the continuance of peace was enter-
tainel than at any time since the commencement of
the dispute ; while in others it was as confidently
reported, that Lord Warr worru had left Paris on
his return to London. '1 his latter rumour was the
cause assigned for the unfavourable change in the
market. A Messenger arrived last night from his
Lordship with dispatches, which will probably put
an end to all this doubt and uncertainty. It was
generally supposed, that the 'Minister hoped to re-
ceive the final answer of the French Government
this day or to-morrow. It is probable that it mar
have come a day sooner than he expelled it.

Yesterday, the dispatches for China, by the Al-
fra, were finally closed at the East-India House,
and delivered to the Purser.
'1 he Grand Council of Berne assembled for the
.first time in that city upon the 18th April. Most
of the Members appeared in black, and wore swords.
Four of them resigned, and others were appointel
in their places.
Rear-Admiral STORY, and Captains \flit; DR
-Ca patt.atz and Va.et BtAAM) of the Dutch navy,
have been called upon by public advertisement, to
appear before the High Military Tribunal of the Re.
_
'thlic, 3d

pui -.., at the Hague-, on the _ May.
It is said that France has demanded of the Court
of Vienca to prohibit the exportation of grain to
Malta, in case of a war with England.
Orders have been issued from the Admiralty for
a return of the number of ships of war that can be
got ready far sea, in the course of the present
month, -independent of those that are now getting
ready. In that department the pieparations for wat
are carrying on with more vigour than ever.