The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-04-19 00:00:00

SCOTCH cuitiq:Nts.

Cap'ain GORDON praeentedy
petitions from four parishes in
Per h aotiriat any alteration in the currency ittinemlatid.
51r. 31. GRANT presented a similar pent from Sutherland.
Referted to the Committee on Scotch and Irish Currency.
CORN LAWS.
11Ir. /10B1101;r:E said he rose to present a petition relative to
the itnportant question which was timt night to occupy the atten-
tion of the House. The petitioners, the operative boot-makers of
London, made those detailed statements of the price of bread
which had often been heard before; hut if the fluctuations in the
price of that important article were alone considered. they would
afford a suthe,ent reason to doubt the wisdom of the pram' system.
Ile was aware that whenever the amendment of the. Corn laws
should take place, it would be necessary at the same time to reduce
taxation. As long as the produusts of corn laboured under an op-
pressive load of taxes, their interest might be urged in favour of
high prices—as long as the ependiture was great, there Was a
reason for the maisitersance of the Corn Laws ; but be hoped
that next year all classes would'come forward and petition Parlia-
ment for a !eduction of that expenditure, The petitioner. corm
ploined that with the present prices they could not compete with
Russia in boat-making. It was ol,vious that if a free trade were
estahliehul in one brarsch of industry, "it ought to be extended to
all ; otherwise what was *dyed to one part of the community WAS
leviad on the rest. • The lion 31ember then presented a similar pe-
tition from the joiners and carpenters of London and Westminster.
—Ordered to be printed. _ .

Sir G. ROBINSON presented a petition from Northampton,
signed by 3090 persons, praying for the amendment of the Corn
Laws. _ _

retitions against any alteration in the present Corn Laws were
presented from three parishes in Oxford, by a Member whose
name did trot reach us; and from the cimnties of Aberdteo and
Kincardine, by Captain Gordon ; also front Newport, Havant,
Patella:lt. Peters&ld and Christchurch, in Hants, by Mr. Jervoi.e;
from the owners and occupiers of land in the county of Glamor-
gan, and from the other inhabitants of Glamorgan, by Sir Chris.
topher Cole; from Hyde and its vicinity, by Mr. Ilmcywond ;
from cer(oin owners and occupiers of land in the county of Lin-
coln, from Kesteven, from South Nikon, oral from Louth. by Mr.
Chaplin • and from Dover. Ashford, Rochester and Dartford,
by Sir Edward Knatchbull.—Ordered to be printed.
ELECTIVE FRANCHISE. _ .

Mr. ROBERT SMITH rose to present a petition from the
freeholders and owners of bou,es in Lincoln, complaining that the
inhabitants of a large district there were disfranchised by she ope..
ration of a statute passed under Henry IV. which separated the
town from the county. If the Crown had the power of taking
away the Aranetsise under Henry IV. he could not rice why tt
might not now exert the same author ty. lie hoped chat those who
wished to maintain the election of Parliament according to ancient
usage would hare no oh:iection to the restoration of ancient rights.
Af,er a few words from Mr. Chapman, Mr. Jones, end
Lockhart,

..S intimated his intention to bring forward some men.
sure relative to the corporate counties. many applications had
been made to him to extend the provisions of the measure he con.
templated as to cause him consid,;rable delay in the formation of
his plan ; but he hoped to be able in a few days to communicate his
intentions to the House. He was sure the most determined oppo.
nests of Parliatoentary reform would not resist a moderate and
reasonable extension of the elective franchise. . .

Mr. WILLIAMS thought that a declaratory law was requisite
in the &lie of corporate punnet, to retnave doubts. If the lion.
Member for Kingston-on-Hull did not bring forward his measure,
be hoped that his lion. Colleague (Mr. Smith) would undertake
the task, . . . . .

Sir R. HERON thought that there were strong grounds in favour
of the petitioners, who had been stripped of their r;ghts by the
oblique operation of law.
The petition was ordered to be printed.
BENEFIT SOCIETIES.

Mr.FLEMING presented a petition front Thomas Franks, mat-
ing that he had long been a member of a friendly society called the
General Uoioa," in the town of Portsea, Hants, from which he
had lately been removed, praying the (louse to take his case into
consideration, and to afford its protection to individuals belonging
to Benefit Societies.—Referred to the Committee on the 13111 fur
regulating Benefit Societies.
BEER TRADE.
Mr. FLEMING presented a petition from the retail brewers of
Southampton, praying the House to extend the privilege of selling
Table Beer.—Ordered to be printed.
EQUITABLE INVESTMENT BILL.
Sir R. VIVIAN presented a petition from the Mayor and Cor.
poration of Farnham, in favour of the measure.—Ordered to be
printed.
TOBACCO.

C. CALVERT moved that there be lejd before the House
an account of the number of p?tintla of Tobacco imported ipso'
England and Scotland, between tba sth January and sth April,
Hai, together with an account of the number of pounds weight in
the hands of the manufacturers, between the .sth April and sth
July, chewing the amount of the number of pounds On which the
duty of one shining per pound had been paid, and distinguishing
the particular sorts of Tobacco and Snu—t)rdered.ll.