The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-02-10 00:00:00


to mins. the Resolution, and he implored every
Hon. Member to withold from M. % ters the means
of practising this wasteful extravaeaoce, for so he
would call it, in the fullest signification of the
term. Ile implored therefore, before he sat down,
every lion. Member not to vote fur the granting of
one single shilling until the Ministers came faltio
forward and slated to the House what reduction
they intended to make.—/Hear, hear.)
Mr. WARD (4 the Ordnance) observed that
the Wit. Member stated, the salaries of Officers in
the. Ordnance had been increased three or four
tones more than the original sum. Now he could
tell that Gentleman, that almost all the higher
offices had been reduced : his own salary had been
reduced about 6001. a year, and several others in
the same proportion.
Mr. HOME explained.
Mr. Ilusktssou said, that the simple question
before the House was. that the tax of one shilling
a bushel on malt, which had existed since the reign
of Queen Anne, should be continued. But the
discussion had branched out into various topics.
The ground upon which the Resolution was op-
pulled is, that the estimates are not before the
House. It would be most extraordinary if there
should exist a disposition on the part of Ministers to
refuse it ; but he could assure the House it was no
I such thing, and that no grant of any kind for the
army or navy should he wade until the Estimates
were laid before the House. He thought it most
desirable that it should be so, for it gave Gentle-
men an opportunity of examining them. But he
thought the observations which had been made
rather premature, and lie agreed with the Hon.
Gentleman opposite (Mr. Lockhart), that if the
people were to unite and turn the attention of the
Legislature to their distresses, they would best
verve their own interests.

Sir J. NEWPORT thought that as the Hosse was
in possession of such decided evidence of distress,
it would be us well to state it to Gentlemen, to
order that th.y might know the value of it. Now
lie bad evidence that great distress ;prevailed in
Birmingham ; but it is stated that account is ex-
•gger,ated ; but he had on his aide of the House
ecidemie of that distress, and if it were not so, he
should like to see a counter-statement, and that
Gentlemen opposite would point out the districts
in which this prosperity prevailed. The Right
Honourable Gentleman has stated, and he was
sure the House was glad to hear it, that the
estimates would be laid before the Flutist.—
Now lie would fairly state his opinions on that
subject. lit time of war there may be some
reason why these estimates cannot be produced, but
in times of peace he cuold not conceive, if Ministers
really meant to retrench, why they should hesitate to
lay them before the House. The Hon. Bart, then
complained of the manner in which public business
had been hurried through the House at the end of the
Session. to consequence of this, many Bills were
passed through that House into which serious
errors had crept. He recollected that about five
years ago, a Bill passed both Houses, imposing
a duty on madder, and the word madder was never
once introduced in the
Another Bill passed both Houses, imposing six
months' imprisonment, and one-hell to go to the
King; and this Bill received the Royal Assent.—
(Mack faughing.)—This was the almost necessary
consequeace of pressing 30 or 40 Bills • day
through that House in a slovenly manlier. He
wished the House to understated, that lie did not
make those statements from any feeling of hostility.
He considered it his beonden duty to do so, to
order to correct the abuses.—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. Husitissos explained.
Mr. DENIS BROWNE called the attention of the
Committee to the melancholy condition of the coun-
try, particularly that part to which he belonged
(Ireland). lit speaking of the general and univer-
sal distress thut recoiled, no language could be
considered an exaggrAtion. There they had not
the same sources of revenue u in England ; all
their income is derived from agriculture, end the
name of a farmer is now hardly to be heard amongst
tl►em. He expressed a most earnest wish that the
Session would not terminate without taking the
subject into their serious consideration, and apply
the remedy which is best calculated to alleviate
their distresses.

Mr. GLADSTONE said, the high price of grai■ had
encouraged a more exteitaive cultivation of potatoes, from
which the country now had a surplus of provisioas, anal
there was rousequeutly s great competition excited; to the
effects of that competition he was inclined to attribute
much of the distress at present felt. He 'bought it particu-
larly necessary that tits idea should not go ■broad, that the
House posses►ed the power to apply any amity to evils like
'host. With respect to what was said last night en 'besot,-
ject of the distress at Birmingham, it appeared to him—
The CHAIRMAN reminded the Hon. Member that it
was disorderly to advert to a speech made on a former sight.

Mr. BROUGHAM said it struck him that the Chairman
was himself out of order in interrupting the Hon. Member,
particularly as he bad permitted other Member, to proceed
is a similar manner. He begged to remind the Chairman,
that a Committee of Way, aid Means opened every thing,
and all subjects were fair to be discasard that any way coo-
fleeted themselves with the stale of the nation.
Mr. BItOGDEN said, it would ill become him to dictate
to the Cusnmi Bee ; but be bad thought himself called apron
to interfere, and notwithstanding the lecture witch he had re-
ceived from the Hon. and Learned Gentleman (for which
he thanked him), though he agreed with him that is a Com-
mittee of Supply every topic connected, however remote,
if it bore any relation at all, might be iatroduced, yet he
must at ill think that it was not regular to advert to a debate
of another night, fur the purpose of replyiag to what bad
been then said by some Hoa. Member.
Mr. BROUGHAM said, he did not understand the
Member was adverting to what had been said On a rut vi.
night fur any other purpose but to reply to si,me oby
lions which bad been made iu the course of the prewut
de-
bate.

M►. GLADSTONE was about to state his opinion, that
the distress at Birmiughase arose from a local cause. Soule
bra-aches of trade were certainly ou the increase. He remem-
bered that SO years ago we received all our iron frog Russia
and Sweden ; but DOW we 001 only supplied our ODD els,-
mestie coneumptiou, but seat a great dial to fortig. mar.
kris. Ii had been said that the (rims& of Members livid
ua the taxes; hot was it not natural that Miuisters shouid
prefer those in whoa they could put confidence ?
Mr. CREEVEY wished to know if the Hon. kleinhtr
could Inform him whether Mr. Falconer was connected with
any of the Members fur Liverpool, or by what iaterest
was that Mr. Stanifortb procured his situation, worth
4,0001. per annum ? _

Mr. GLADSTONE said he certainly knew Mr. Stanifoi th,
bat be believed that Gentleman had no snore csmcezioa
with either of the present Members fur Ltirtti...ol that soy
other iatleyeadent Geatleasan might bate. He belitted
that be was eolearetest, by naarriatte, wish General Tarlton.
Mr. CREEVEY should wish to be informed whether Mr.
Staatforth was sot brwmber_ia•taw to Mr. Balton ? Hr had
hero informed that greet eauvassing had bees aged fts4 the